Did You Hear About The Morgans

"After witnessing a murder, high-powered -- and estranged -- wife Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) and husband Paul (Hugh Grant) Morgan must say good-bye to sophisticated Manhattan when they enter the witness protection program together and land in Wyoming. At odds, they attempt to adjust to small-town life in this charming comedy that also stars Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen and Elisabeth Moss. Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice) writes and directs." courtesy of netflix

if you are a big fan of SJP and Hugh Grant, then you should watch it, but even though I am a fan of both and even though I laughed and enjoyed the movie I found myself drifting off at times, its slightly predictable as most romantic comedies are but it was definitley fun to watch overall. SJP character is similar to that of Carrie Bradshaw -- but its not in a weird way like you think you're watching the same person, its really only when she's in New York that you get that sense.

Everybody's Fine

"Frank (Robert De Niro) just lost his wife, and without their mother by his side, Frank's grown children aren't compelled to visit for the holidays. So he hits the road to visit them -- collecting various revelations and learning about himself along the way. Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and Melissa Leo co-star in writer-director Kirk Jones's family tale, an update of Giuseppe Tornatore's 1990 Italian film." courtesy of neftlix

This movie was so sad! I don't think i've ever cried so much in a movie that isnt supposed to be sad, if that makes sense. the way the children treat and respond to the dad, is really sad. but its not the obvious kind of sad - i guess thats what im getting at. its a really good movie though, the acting is of course great, you cant go wrong with DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell - they are all great actors and the movie has so many surprises along the way it was refreshing to watch a movie that wasnt so predictable.

I Hate Valentine's Day

"After falling in love onscreen in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Nia Vardalos and John Corbett reteam for a romantic comedy about a florist (Vardalos) who persuades a restaurateur (Corbett) to take a gamble on a no-strings-attached relationship. Vardalos, who also penned the screenplay, makes her directorial debut with this Valentine's Day-themed love story that crams the action into a single day: February 14." courtesy of netflix

for starters, this movie is not a sequel of any kind to 'my big fat greek wedding' but Nia & John are so great together (heck they are great actors when they aren't together.) I loved this movie! it was fun (a little predictble but not in an annoying way, just in a typical way.) I will tell you the "hate" of valentines day in this movie really doesnt hold up. the first half of the movie is all love and good stuff and there isnt too much bad stuff or "hate" going on in the movie, although it does happen. its definitley worth watching, Its Nia Vardalos' first directed movie, she also did the screenplay for this as well -- shes got a knack for that (she wrote the screenplay for greek wedding.)

Pirate Radio

"In 1966, hard-partying British DJs have the time of their lives running a radio station on a ship in the North Sea, broadcasting generation-defining (but banned) music to millions. The crew includes Quentin (Bill Nighy), the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Gavin (Rhys Ifans) and Dave (Nick Frost). But they face getting shut down by Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh). Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directs." courtesy of netflix

As much as I love rolling stones - everytime they say they love a movie, i usually tend to hate it. so i was a little hesitatnt about this one but Phillip Seymour Hoffman just doesn't do bad movies so I was reassured by the movie. even the first 5 minutes i was like "im not sure about this" but that was quickly subsided, this is a fun movie. I wouldnt label it as one of my favorites or as one of the movies i'm going to own and add to my collection but its definitley a good movie especially if you love rock & roll, non-confirmity, rule breaking and sex, drugs, and rock and roll. (although drugs are referenced a little i dont think you ever actually see anyone do drugs so its not that kind of movie.) the soundtrack of music is great though and the story is fun and captivating and you really feel like you know the characters and understand all their emotions. its definitley worth watching (jojo you will love this one if you havent seen it yet.)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Paranassus

"Christopher Plummer and Heath Ledger star in this quirky fantasy from director Terry Gilliam. When a deal with the devil comes due, the immortal Doctor Parnassus (Plummer) must renegotiate the pact to save his daughter. Now, with the help of his mystical theater troupe and a mysterious stranger, Parnassus attempts to right the wrongs of his past. The Oscar-nominated film is Ledger's last, with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law all completing his role." courtesy of netflix

I watched this movie solely for the reason that it was Heath's last role but I didnt know much about the movie; I had no idea Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Deppall played his role to complete it. It was amazing how it actually got pulled off, normally those 4 guys don't look that similar but in this movie it works out. It's a kind of slow movie, its a little boring, its not as crazy as it seems its going to be and Heath isn't in it that much so if you're a huge fan you're watching it because its his last movie but he really isn't in it that much.

so if you have nothing else to watch, then maybe you should watch it, but don't move it to the top of your netflix queue, its not worth it.

Avatar

'Disabled Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) travels to planet Pandora to become an avatar, ingratiate himself with the natives and help Americans mine lucrative unobtainium. But he finds himself in an interstellar conflict after falling for Na'vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). James Cameron writes and directs this Golden Globe-winning CGI odyssey that has broken box office records. Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang co-star." courtesy of netflix

I'm one of those people that usually retracts away when other people start to love something (its a bad habit of mine but it keeps me from being a follower!) So usually when movies come out and everyones all excited, I never see them (unless its an actor or story that i loveeee) so Avatar; not being in my relm of courtesy at all - I LOVED it. I watched it with my parents because they have a big screen TV and just bought a Blu-Ray so the High-Definition was amazingggg and the movie itself. James Cameron might be an asshole but how anyone ever invisions this movie is amazing, the detail that goes into the smallest things, the way of life, how they move, how they act, its outstanding and the CGI and the graphics - students should be studying it. My mom didnt like the movie so much but she did say that the graphics was amazing, and it definitley is a place you would want to go (despite the dangers) but its amazing because you look sigourney weavers avatar (she has a very distinct face) and you can see her face in it - as different as they look you can still see it. part of the movie does seem a little confusing, its fast and its long and theres alot of information (not that seems like it though) i think its something you'd have to watch more than once to really understand every detail but it was amazing - all my LOST fans out there, if you like LOST and the fantasy that comes with that, you will like Avatar.

Up

"After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) flies away on an unbelievable adventure, with Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer (Jordan Nagai), unexpectedly in tow. Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain. Other voices in the Oscar-winning film include the renowned Christopher Plummer and Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger." courtesy of netflix

If you are a fan of pixar movies, you will love this. even if your not though, its such a cute little story. they meet when they are little kids and they have all these dreams of adventures and then they grow old together - it very real life and although its a cartoon its not kiddish at all really. the little old guy is a crack up and he's so darn cute. The little wilderness boy is so cute too, he's so pudgy. what is it about little chubby boys that comes across so cute? haha there was one line I lovedd when they were little kids and she says "South America...Its like America...but SOUTH!" haha

Where The Wild Things Are

"Max (Max Records) imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts -- Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander -- crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways. Producer Tom Hanks and director Spike Jonze bring Maurice Sendak's whimsical story to life; James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Forest Whitaker and Catherine O'Hara lend their talents." courtesy of netflix

This might be out of the realm for some of you, I only watched it because I remember reading the book when I was a little kid and loving it. I was SO disappointed in this movie, it was SO boring, it was depressing, it was so far off from this fabulous fantasy story. The only thing I liked about the movie was how they captured what the monsters looked like without it being a cartoon. I never walk out of a movie or turn a movie off, so I stay optimisitc thinking the movie is gonig to get better, and it never does. I guess its alot to expect from a 20 page picture-told story book.

Seven Pounds

"An IRS agent with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers." courtesy of imdb.com

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do NOT read the netflix synopsis, I didn't read it until after I saw the movie and I think it would ruin the movie for you, watch the movie knowing as little as possible.

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I'm going to start by saying I LOVED this movie, it was one of the most inspiring movies I've ever seen. For a lot of the movie I was confused, and I almost started to be annoyed by my lack of knowledge of what was going on but I had a feeling that in the end, it would be worth it, and it was. This is one of the most honest movies, maybe not in a true sense (I doubt anyone has or ever will do what his character did in the movie.) but honest in the heart of the story. Its one of those movies that almost makes you feel like shit because your not as a great of human being (that sentence will make more sense after you've seen the movie.) but makes you inspired to almost want to be as great as him (almost, because I can't actually do what we did - that will also make more sense after you watch the movie.)

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I'm also going to say that it took me awhile to watch this movie, I had it sitting in my netflix queue for months, and its available on the instant watch; I watched boring documentaries before I watched this movie, there was something about it that I just wasnt sure about. I know my mom said she fell asleep watching it (which she does often) and without seeing the end of this movie, the whole thing would never make sense, So a lot of people said this movie was "weird" or "complicated" and its only that if you don't watch the whole thing without interuptions. I have a feeling if you watched this movie over more than once, you would catch something new everytime. I almost wanted to rewatch it immediately to go back and understand things more.

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I highly recommend watching this movie.

Love Happens

"Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston star in this romantic tale about life, loss and love. When widower and self-help guru Burke Ryan (Eckhart) unexpectedly falls for Eloise (Aniston), his latent grief threatens his chance at romance. Now, the best-selling author and expert on coping with loss must prove he's his own best teacher or risk losing love again. Martin Sheen, Judy Greer and Frances Conroy also star." courtesy of netflix


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I LOVED this movie!! partly for the fact that it is shot in Seattle (and truly is in Seattle, alot of times hollywood throws the space needle and the market into some scenes and claims it to be Seattle when its not, but I remember when they were here shooting) but its also just a good story (jojo you might like it for the connection about grieving over Josh)

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Now I personally think the title is a weird title, although there is a love story happening, its not a love story, I dont really see this movie as a chick filck or anything of the sort but its a good story, its honest to Seattle, and Jennifer Aniston plays this kind of funky character (similar to that she played in 'Along Came Polly' but more "together" and grounded) its definitley worth watching!



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however I would like to point out that a few scenes are dishonest to Seattle. there is a scene where Burke is walking through Seattle and all these cars are backed up in "traffic" and everyone is honking - seattlites dont honk (like they do in new york) we honk for the reasons the car horn was invented, we dont honk at stopped traffic. then in the scene it starts raining and immediately everyone opens their umbrella - that doesnt happen either. locals dont use umbrella's we use hoods or just bare the rain. (yeah we have umbrellas, but most of the time its not raining that hard, it doesnt rain that long, or its crazy intense rain and your umbrella will flip inside out and try and make you fly away or run into something.) is your in seattle and you see someone with an umbrella - most likely, its a tourist.



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also, there is a scene where he takes the stairs up the space needle - they wont let you do this, so dont try, its like some 2,000 steps (they do, or they did, a "race" every year for some kind of cancer jogathon kind of thing that was solely for the steps of the needle, but they arent really up to commercial code - they are really narrow and all metal (so you could easily slip) and there are no "relief" zones where you can stop off to the side. (i used to work at the needle so this is why i know this.)



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if you have any other questions about anything you see in the movie, feel free to ask me :)

The Invention of Lying

"In a world where no one fibs, fiction doesn't exist and people take each other at their literal word, unsuccessful screenwriter Mark (Ricky Gervais) gains fame and fortune -- and maybe the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Garner) -- by saying things that aren't true. Gervais co-writes and co-directs this original comedy that co-stars Rob Lowe. Look for cameos by Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K. and Philip Seymour Hoffman." courtesy of netflix

I wasn't sure I was going to like this movie because sometimes Ricky Gervais movies are a little too dull for me (that english humour i guess) but this was actually pretty hilarious, and the cast is surprinsigly large, the story itself is hilarious. people dont just tell the truth, they are thinking outloud, and the idea that everyone just says what they feel and no one gets mad about it is really refreshing. because then i started thinking the first lie was probaby told to avoid anger or conflict (which is why most people lie in the first place) its a very fun idea - I'm going to add the trailer of the movie because I think it sums up everything I want to say. its just a good laugh movie. definitley worth watching! :)

Shades of Ray

"While waiting for his girlfriend to respond to his marriage proposal, half-white, half-Pakistani actor Ray (Zachary Levi) attempts to reunite his newly separated parents, falls for a girl who shares his same mixed heritage and begins exploring his own identity. Written and directed by Jaffar Mahmood, this romantic comedy about the intersection of race and relationships also stars Sarah Shahi, Bonnie Somerville and Kathy Baker." courtesy of netflix



I loved this movie! I'm doing a project on Pakistan so I wanted to watch a movie about Pakistan (I was trying to find documentaries and more factual movies but netflix instant watch is limited) and although this doesnt really add much to my project in any way since the movie is set in California and Ray is only half Pakistani and clings to his "white" side. It was still really entertaining. Its a pretty funny movie! The dad is a crack-up and some of the characters who respond to Ray's pakistani culture is pretty funny (there is a scene where a girl hits on Ray and she says something about him being Persian and he's like "oh I'm not persian, im half pakistani" and she walks away. and Ray is an actor and everytime he auditions for a role they want him to do "his accent" and one of the guys even said "yeah like the guy on the simpsons, whats his name, yahoo?" so its really interesting to see and know how people react to his ethnicity (sadly enough because most of its true) but its a really well shot movie, the acting of Ray sometimes seems a little -- like acting. But the guy that plays Ray is SOOO cute, he reminds me of Ryan Reynolds, even his voice. But Kathy Baker and Bonnie Sommerville were great and I think you'll even recognize the father as well.

definitley worth watching!

Gigantic

"Unhappy with his life, mattress salesman Brian Weathersby (Paul Dano) pursues his lifelong obsession with adopting an infant from China. But when attractive customer Harriet (Zooey Deschanel) catches his eye, he starts pursuing her instead. Soon, Harriet's overbearing father (John Goodman) and Brian's parents (Ed Asner and Jane Alexander) become involved in their relationship, pushing Brian to take drastic action in this quirky romantic comedy." courtesy of netflix

I watched this movie solely for the fact that Zooey Deschanel was in it, but this is the kind of movie that gives "indie independent" a bad name. Although the characters are mostly unique fun (what i've come to notice as a trademark of Zooey) parts of it just don't make any sense at all. There are things in this movie that don't get explained, they just happen and your sitting there "wait, what? why?" and his character is almost a little too odd, he seems so unhappy, he doesnt smile or laugh during the entire movie -- which just confuses you on why Zooey would be attracted to him; he's not attractive at all. Its just a werid movie and not in a good way, not in a cool way like I missed the meaning, it just has no purpose. although there is a pretty funny scene when Zooey's dad is talking about how he used to have a brain tumor and he got rid of holistically and ended up "moving" the tumor and eventually threw it up. haha. (the dad is played by John Goodman so obviously he's a good actor.)

No Impact Man

"A Fifth Avenue family goes very green when writer Colin Beavan leads his wife, Michelle Conlin, and their baby daughter on a yearlong crusade to make no net impact on the environment in this engaging documentary. Among their activities: eating only locally grown organic food, generating no trash except for compost and using no carbon-fueled transportation. Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein's film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival." courtesy of netfilx

I knew this was going to be a movie that I wanted to blog about, and I was right. I only finished watching the movie a few seconds ago and already e-mailed a teacher about it as a movie to show in a sustainable design class. This movie is inspiring, scary, motivating and...whatever the right word for feeling guility is, but its rightfully so.

They talk about the guility aspect in the movie because there is a point where people apparently start to hate this family (which they dont understand why, and truly I dont either.) but someone is commenting on a theory about how it makes people feel guilty, and people don't like to feel guilty or feel like they are being told what to do or that they arent living their life properly or wrong (or even that this family is better than them which I think is what a lot of people originally perceieved.)

but I mean, I feel guilty when watching the movie, I'm watching this movie as i'm drinking out of a plastic water bottle, in my electricity lit room while I sit with trash cans full of trash - and I think "it needs to change" but deep down I know its not going to change that much. My theory on people being so angry against the family is because I think the family was going to the drastic measures, going vegeterian, making their own shampoo, living without electricity -- there is even a point in the movie where Colin even says "this is stupid, who does this? who lives without electricity?" but as you keep watching and the more he talks, hes doing it at the drastic level to make a statement, to get attention, to bring attention to the issue. He's not expecting anyone to live without electricity but he does want you to test and see how far you can go on nothing. Do you really need everything in your life? thats what its about.

"Is it possible to have a good life without wasting so much?"

definitley watch this movie!

p.s. obvioulsy you can tell my laptop has been fixed and i've been able to watch movies off netflix yet again - I'm back!

I'm Reed Fish

"A big fish in the little pond of Mud Meadows, Reed Fish (Jay Baruchel) has it all: He hosts a radio show with the mayor (Katey Sagal) and is about to wed the town beauty (Alexis Bledel). But when his high school crush (Schuyler Fisk) resurfaces, he makes choices that throw his life into chaos. DJ Qualls and Chris Parnell are among the colorful characters in this quirky comedy about a small-town love triangle, penned by the real Reed Fish." courtesy of netflix

This movie was kind of weird. and not completely in a good way, in the begining of the movie I thought I really liked it but as the story plays out its just odd you start thinking "what is this movie even about?" its pretty obvious whats going to happen in the movie, I will say it has a pretty decent soundtrack but the acting is pretty horrendous even for the some of the actors who are normal good (like Alexis Bledel) Its not a waste of time to watch it, but if its on your movie queue, take it off or move it to the very bottom. There are way better movies out there.

Ira and Abby

"A wry look at the insanity of married life, this offbeat comedy follows the ups and downs of a whirlwind romance between the brilliant yet neurotic Ira Black (Chris Messina) and the free-spirited but flaky Abby Willoughby (Jennifer Westfeldt). Hastily married after knowing each other for only a few short hours, Ira and Abby battle a series of misadventures that forces them to question just how real their love is." courtesy of netflix

I LOVED this movie. WATCH IT. I'm not even sure where to start. Its great acting, the music is good but overall the story itself, is good. its a feel-good movie but its not all fluff there is a lot of reality to the movie, its real, there are sad parts and happy parts and you don't feel like its a fake hollywood movie, its totally real. The characters are great you definitely fall in love with Abby and just like Abby says in the movie Ira has a great face, he's so damn handsome especially in his glasses - jojo you can add him to my husbands list! This is the kind of movie that makes me want to fall in love, but doesnt make me feel depressed for not having that in my life right now. It's really a lot of fun, definitley worth watching.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

"Based on the book of the same name by Peter Elkin, director Alex Gibney's documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the powerful energy company whose downfall forever changed the landscape of the business world. With a blend of fascinating footage, fast-paced interviews and a wealth of information, this film is a serious lesson in the potential trappings of dishonesty and unethical behavior dogging corporate America." courtesy of netflix

we watched this movie in my ethics class but it is totally worth watching, it is the most fascinating documentary I think I've ever watched. (okay wait I dont know, thats a hard statement to say, but its definitley up there.) The story of Enron is so complex, to me, a lot of this information was brand new (I was also younger when all this happened so I wasnt reading about it when it was going on.) but the documentary, seems to stay pretty neutral (of course its going to have a bias and a "side" but its nothing like Michael Moore) but the real footage that they use in this movie, and the real interviews with real people - its kind of hard to say that they are being bias because they are pretty good at just showing you the facts and what was going on. its definitley interesting and definitley worth watching. They cover the whole story and they do it in an interesting way, and you're just amazed that they actually could pull this off. they definitley were the smartest guys in the room, but i'm glad that karma eventually found them.

The Ramen Girl

"When her boyfriend leaves her high and dry in Tokyo, spoiled American tourist Abby (Brittany Murphy) finds solace in a neighborhood ramen noodle house run by a cantankerous old chef (Toshiyuki Nishida), who agrees to take her on as an apprentice cook. But will the dirty grunt work and endless criticism drive Abby away before she discovers the serene beauty in the perfect bowl of soup -- and in herself? Robert Allan Ackerman directs this comedy." courtesy of netflix

While I was watching this movie I kept thinking "what is it that is keeping my attention, why am I still watching this?" and I almost turned it off, but I couldn't. and in retrospect I really liked it. The acting is actually pretty off for Brittany Murphy, she is a better actress than some of this portrays but the idea of the movie is actually very cool. It surprsingly gives a lot of insight to the Japanese culture (although the movie makes it mostly seem all about ramen) its still an interesting concept. It does make me want to try real ramen though, since all i've ever eaten is instant ramen - its obviously completely different.

but I do actually recommend it, there is a lot of subtitles because Brittany Murphy never learns Japanese and her teacher never learns English so there are constantly talking to each other and never understanding each other - which is actually pretty hilarious because the teacher is a complete asshole, the teacher is actually pretty hilarious.

I did get on a Brittany Murphy kick after she passed away, I think we all do that a little, but she really was fun to watch she truly was a really pretty girl and she was soo tiny! i'd kill for her legs. I'm always envious of great legs.

Dear John

"While on leave, U.S. soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) falls for Southern college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), whose ideals and heartfelt principles are at once attractive and unfamiliar. But their love is put on hold when terrorist attacks prompt John to reenlist. Now, handwritten letters hold the lovers together. Lasse Hallstrom directs this modern romance based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks." courtesy of netflix

I didn't even really want to see this movie but my girlfriends did, so i went. its entertaining its not like I felt like I wanted to walk out of the movie. But I hated it, its sappy, its slow, its not even really all that romantic. I wont spoil anything for you i mean you know the movie is about how they spend 2 weeks together, well the 2 weeks they spent together didnt seem like all that big of a deal, in the notebook the time they spent together really seemed like it meant something, this just seemed a little bland. I really dont like the girl shes not really that pretty at all or endearing. I wouldnt watch it theatres, Maybe still rent it, My friend did read the book though and she said they were like completely different. so do keep that in mind if you read the book.

i apologize for being absent on the movie front. our DVD player broke and my laptop has been iffy lately so i havent been watching movies on netflix (we also dont have ondemand) so eventually i'll be back to the normal routine!

My Sisters Keeper

"A former defense attorney (Cameron Diaz) finds herself back in the courtroom when she and her husband (Jason Patric) are sued for medical emancipation by their 11-year-old daughter, Anna (Abigail Breslin), who is expected to donate a kidney to her dying older sister. The subsequent trial tests ethical boundaries and the limits of parental love. Joan Cusack and Alec Baldwin round out the cast in this powerful drama based on Jodi Picoult's novel." courtesy of netflix

This movie is intense. it was a little too close to home for me, especially after watching it right after i got out of the hospital. but when i was first disagnosed with lupus two years ago they originally thought I had leukemia so I had a bone marrow biopsy and i've had blood transfusions and so forth, and my sister originally said she would donate bone marrow (like the sister does in the movie) and the aunt in the movie reminds me of my aunt jojo so it was hard to watch i was bawling through most of it. its definitley a good movie but watching it, knowing its a book, you know they are leaving stuff out (and talking to people who read the book they said they did leave a lot out and its very different.)

its definitley worth watching once, but you definitley dont need to watch twice, its too intense for that. it is really good acting and its an excellent story and you can easily get encompassed in it. if i could really heavy books (i need light reading otherwise i wont continue reading it lol) i would definitley want to read it.