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Content by Mark Baker
Reviewer Rank: 29
Helpful Votes:
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Reviews Written by
Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States)
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A Real Let Down for This Fan, 20 Nov 2009
Like so many others, I discovered Casting Crowns with their debut CD. Their mix of worship, challenge, and encouragement have made all three of their previous releases some of my favorites in recent years.
Their latest disc focuses almost exclusively on worship music. Frankly, I've always felt that was their weakest element. This disc doesn't do much to change my mind.
It's not that the lyrics and the ideas are bad. They just aren't nearly as solid as they are when they are calling out the church or encouraging us. There is no "What If His People Prayed" or even "East to West" here.
Not that the songs here are bad. "Until the Whole World Hears" is a call to keep preaching the gospel. "To Know You" reminds us of all we can have in Christ. "Holy One" is a fast praise song based partially around Psalm 63. And as a bonus 12th track, we get "Shadow of Your Wings," which is an early incarnation of that song. Frankly, I like both versions. And they have a new arrangement of the classic "Joyful, Joyful" that I really enjoy.
But my favorite song on the disc is "Jesus, Hold Me Now." What's interesting is the verses are from their song "The Prodigal" from their second disc. They've given it an all new chorus and melody. If you didn't know, you'd say they wrote this song from scratch.
The other problem this disc has is the music. Too many of the songs use the same tempo and instruments. It lets them blend together instead of standing out so I can really connect with them.
After listening to it constantly for two days, I can say I like it. I just don't love it like I have their previous releases. Hopefully, this is an anomaly and not a sign of things to come from this great group.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Brad is After Another Treacherous Killer, 19 Nov 2009
While Ashleigh is serving a shift as a deputy on the local force, Brad is concentrating on finishing up his latest teddy bear creation. All that changes when Ashleigh is sideswiped by a car. When the car gets away, Ashleigh returns to the scene of the accident, only to find a dead body. Brad quickly joins her as they begin processing the scene to figure out how the man died.
The victim is lying outside his farmhouse with an arrow in his chest. It looks like a freak hunting accident. But could it have been murder? Did the poacher shoot the arrow? Or was it the feuding neighbor?
I've got to admit, I found the first few chapters a tad on the slow side. But once things got going, I was hooked. There are several nice twists to this one. In fact, I thought I had it figure out at one point only to be proved wrong in the end. As always, the characters are great. I love the group of series regulars, and they shine. Plus the puns and sarcasm are beary enjoyable.
The teddy bear theme seemed incidental this time instead of a major part of the story. I didn't really mind since the plot and characters were so strong.
Don't let the teddy bear theme fool you. These are excellent mysteries that will please anyone who wants a good puzzle.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
"What Kind of Combat Experience Do You Have?" "Karate.", 17 Nov 2009
The movie is an epic journey that covers 25 years of time. It starts the day that James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is born. Through brief clips, we watch him grow up to become the "smartest repeat offender in Iowa." Meanwhile, we also watch Spock (Zachary Quinto) grow up on Vulcan. Half Vulcan and half Human, Spock struggles with where he really belongs.
Just as Kirk is finishing his academy training, an old nemesis comes back. Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan, has been waiting 25 years to finish extracting his revenge. But just what is his plan? Can Kirk stop it? And where will the next member of the Enterprise crew pop up?
Even though I've only seen maybe half a dozen of the Original Series movies, I knew enough to know what characters to watch for. And a few of them pop up in the best places. I actually had to laugh the first time we saw Scotty (Simon Pegg). They take some liberties with the characters (or my understanding of them at least), but it worked well for this movie.
When I described this movie as an epic journey, I wasn't exaggerating. It feels much longer than its running time. That's not a bad thing because I was entertained the entire time. It starts slowly, establishing the characters of Spock and Kirk, but once the villain reemerges, it grows intense quickly. And it balances some very serious drama with some truly funny laughs. The action is great, especially as we near the climax, and the effects bring everything to life.
There is not a weak performance in the cast, but that is especially true or our two leads. I've only ever seen Chris Pine as a romantic lead, but he makes a great action hero. I'm not even slightly surprised to report that Zachary Quinto absolutely nails Spock. When he was cast, I couldn't picture a better actor, and that holds true after having seen it.
This movie is a reboot of the Star Trek franchise. I knew that going in, but they way they did it left me with a very sad feeling. But it was also a great way to go about it, and my friends who are fans don't seem to mind how it was handled.
I feel like I've been on a grand journey, and I am curious where they will take Star Trek from here. Yep, sign me up for the sequel.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
A Fun Little Toy For Grown Ups, 14 Nov 2009
I wasn't really in the market for an iPod Touch, but I was given this one. Man, I absolutely love it! I've had it for a couple months now, and I can't imagine going back to life without one.
Basically, this is the non-phone version of the iPhone, which means it can do anything they can do. You can check e-mail (I have three accounts set up in it). You can search maps. You can play lots of fun games. You can download apps. You can surf the web on Safari, Apple's browser.
Of course, the catch with all of these things is that you must to connected to wireless internet to do them. You'd be surprised at just how many networks there are out there you can join. Most require a password, but many businesses offer it these days. True, it isn't a substitute for a real computer, but it is dang close.
Oh yeah, it also plays music and movies. I haven't used it for a movie, but I have found that it is nice for music on the go. Granted, my only other portable music device is an iPod Shuffle, so the ability and choose songs as I am listening to them seems lovely.
Here again, however, it would be nice if it came with a case or armband. As it is, all you can do is stick in your pocket if you want to carry it around.
Yes, it is expensive. But it would be completely worth it to me. After playing with it for a couple of months, I don't want to give it up at all.
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Talk About a Surprise in the Trunk, 12 Nov 2009
Mace Bauer was looking forward to a nice quiet evening at home, but that was before Mama called from jail. Seems the body of a man was found in her trunk, and the nice, new detective in the little town of Himmarshee, Florida, seems to think that makes her a suspect. Mace knows that can't be the case, but the detective just won't listen. And so Mace starts poking around to find a better suspect. Can she prove her mother isn't a murderer?
This book is filled with great characters. Mace and her two sisters are very distinct, yet I liked all three of them. Mama is a hoot all by herself. And the other characters are equally memorable.
The plot is fairly decent. It seemed a little uneven at times, but the story was always compelling enough that I wanted to keep reading. Likewise, the climax was a bit weak. On the other hand, it was very exciting and had me turning pages to find out how it would all turn out.
This is a fun debut helped by the memorable characters. I'll definitely give the author another chance.
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"Well, to Make a Long Story Short..." "Too Late!", 11 Nov 2009
This was the first of the movies based on a board game, and it works remarkably well. As in the classic game, we've got Miss Scarlett (Lesley Ann Warren), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn), Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), Mr. Green (Michael McKean), Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull), and Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd). The year is 1954, and the six of them have been invited to a mansion for a mysterious reason. They are met by Wadsworth the butler (Tim Curry), who says all will be revealed after dinner.
Over dinner, the six guests learn that they all live in Washington DC. And just as dinner is ending, a seventh guest shows up, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving). The other guests quickly learn that all of them are being blackmailed, and Mr. Boddy is the one doing it. The power goes out momentarily, and Mr. Boddy is dead. Now the other guests need to figure out who did it, and which of the weapons he had just passed out was used because the mayhem is just getting started.
Did I mention this was a comedy? It's definitely fashioned in the screwball sense of the term, and as such, it works quite well. I've seen it twice now, and I've laughed so hard every time. Not only are some of the actions quite over the top, the dialogue can be quite quick paced and witty.
The big gimmick of the movie is the multiple endings (just like in the game, you never know who done it). All three of them are on the DVD. Okay, so they require a grain of salt to fully believe, but they certainly work for this film.
The movie is more adult in nature than it truly needs to be. I will confess I find some of those moments funny. But parents may want to preview it before they let their kids watch it.
Looking back on it, I'm not that surprised this movie works so well. The board game really does lend itself to a mystery story. If only other games worked so well as movies.
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Funny in Parts, but Serious in Others. Ultimately, it Satisfies., 11 Nov 2009
When Carl Fredricksen was young, his hero was Charles Muntz. Charles was a world renowned explorer. It was that love that lead him to Ellie, a girl who also idolized Charles. The two eventually married.
The years went by, and the two never did fulfill their life long dream of visiting Paradise Falls in South America. Buy the time our story really begins, Carl (voiced now by Ed Asner) is a lonely old man. The land around his house has been sold to a developer who seizes on one action by Carl to take away his house, too.
The night before Carl has to leave, however, he seizes on an opportunity. He blows up hundreds of helium balloons and sets out for South America. He has a stowaway in the form of Russell (Jordan Nagai), a Wilderness Explorer looking to get his badge for helping the elderly. Together, the two set out on a wild adventure that includes a giant bird and Dug, a talking dog (Bob Peterson). Will they reach Paradise Falls?
I've got to admit that the last couple of Pixar movies haven't been the homeruns I've come to expect from them. This movie was perfect in every way, however.
So let's get the negative out of the way first. This movie is fairly predictable. I guessed most of the major plot points for the first two thirds of the film not too far into it. But, as always, the ride through those elements is absolutely wonderful. And the movie features the return of Pixar's patented climax that will not quit.
The movie expertly balances comedic and tender moments. This is especially true when Dug shows up. I can't stop laughing at his antics. But a musical montage of Carl and Ellie's life together and the climax also moved me to tears. Some have found it too serious, but I think the two are blended perfectly to present us with an uplifting message on the power of people who love us in our lives.
Of course, they bring all this together with the perfect visuals. Once again, there are some truly breathtaking moments. I don't know how they keep topping themselves in this department, but they do every time.
The movie is rated PG for mild peril related to a storm early on and elements of the climax. I think only the easily frightened will have a problem with it. Additionally, the movie does touch on death and divorce as it relates to our two main characters. Frankly, I think both are handled well, but parents might want to be prepared to discuss that with their kids.
This truly is an uplifting movie that will make you laugh and send leave you wanting to hug the ones you love. I may just have a new Pixar favorite.
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Faith in the Midst of Pain, 6 Nov 2009
In May of 2008, the Chapman family suffered the loss of their youngest daughter in a horrible accident. Out of the pain and anguish comes this very personal, very honest, very moving disc.
And before I go further, you must buy the CD as such. While the notes don't give much background, they do discuss the story behind each song here. It truly adds so much meat to the disc. And, frankly, it moved me to tears almost the entire time I was reading it.
Given the serious nature of the theme, the music is very subdued here. Most of the songs are slower, with acoustic guitar or piano forming the base with lots of strings for texture. There are percussion and other instruments, but they are very light. Normally, I might complaint about that, but here it really works.
What you will find as you listen to these songs is a man who is clinging to God and his faith while still struggling with his grief. On some songs, like "Heaven is the Face" or "Just Have to Wait," there is a man longing for the joy of Heaven. "Jesus Will Meet You There" and "Spring is Coming" offer hope in the pain. But other songs are very raw, songs like "SEE," "Questions," and even "Our God is in Control." Steven doesn't hide his pain or any of the emotions he has struggled with. Honestly, I must admit I wonder just how he recorded some of these songs. But while the songs don't offer all the answers, the simple faith in God and reminders that he is good enough are much more powerful because of it.
About the only song here that doesn't work for me is "February 20th." The song is about little Maria's conversion. I can't quite place my finger on why, but it is the weak link for me.
I will admit I have to question if this disc will get played as often as his other discs. With one overall theme, I'm not sure it will always appeal. I am sure it will be a constant companion for those going through trials. And the emotional honesty makes it absolutely worth getting for that reason.
If Steven had released just another disc, I would have bought it and enjoyed it. But his willingness to be vulnerable to his fans like this makes me respect him so much more. It may not be a classic, but it is a very important work his fans will appreciate. And the honesty might even reach beyond them.
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Setting Up the Peter Pan Legend, 5 Nov 2009
Peter is an orphan living in the late 1800's in London. One day, he and four friends are put on a ship heading for a strange country. When they arrive, they are to serve an unpleasant king, a king who executes all those who displease him. And the voyage there will be unpleasant with gross "food" and cramped quarters.
On the ship, Peter meets Molly, a girl about his own age. She is hiding a secret involving a giant chest that was brought on board at the last moment. A chest that has attracted the attention of the dread pirate Black Stache. What is the secret of the chest? Can the children protect it from those seeking it?
With as much as I love Peter Pan, I've been meaning to get to this book for a while now. Obviously, I should have gotten to it sooner because I really enjoyed it. The action moved quickly from one exciting event to another. The pages just flew by, making the large book seem shorter than it is. The authors use multiple view points to fully tell the story. Most of the time it works, but it does get a bit annoying in the final quarter. We switch points of view too much.
Since this is a prequel to the Peter Pan legend, I got a kick seeing how many of the familiar elements fall into place. Honestly, if they hadn't written any more books, we could easily stop here. Everything is in place. I especially liked Peter's character. I must admit I am most familiar with the Disney movie version, where the character is a bit arrogant and self absorbed. Here, he is a conscientious, caring boy. I like this characterization much more.
Those looking for a fantasy adventure need look no further than this exciting book. I will definitely be buying the rest in the series and reading them soon.
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Fast Quipping Mystery Show Pairing Author and Police, 3 Nov 2009
Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is a best selling author who has just killed off his meal ticket. While he struggles with writer's block creating a new lead, someone starts using his books as the basis of a series of grisly murders. When he's called in to consult on the case, he meets NY homicide detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic). Beckett is less than impressed with the always joking Castle, but the two do make a decent team tracking down the killer.
Beckett also sparks Castle. In an effort to see her more often, Castle bases his new character on her. Now he's a regular consultant with the police department, riding along with Beckett and helping her solve crimes. Will the pairing work out?
I must admit, this show snuck up on me, but I really enjoy it. True, the mysteries are rather formulaic, drawing much from the writings of best selling authors. I often have the solution figured out before Castle and Beckett, but there's often one twist that throws me along the way.
What makes the show so fun are the characters. Castle and Beckett don't exactly have an adversarial relationship, but she doesn't like having him shadowing her everywhere, either. They are constantly teasing each other with quips that make it lots of fun. Yep, another chance to get some laughs along with your mystery. Additionally, Castle's teenage daughter and mother are living with him. They really add to the texture of the show. I just love their scenes.
About the only thing that doesn't work is the romantic "tension." I know from what I've read, this is supposed to be part romance as well. I'm just not buying it. I see their relationship, at least as we've seen it so far, as more brother and sister than boyfriend and girlfriend. Honestly, the actors have great chemistry, so it is more likely how the characters are written.
Yes, the show has some flaws. But the fun more than makes up for those weaknesses. If you've missed it, get this set to get caught up quickly so you can join the fun with season two.
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