Movie Review: God's Not Dead

God's Not Dead

Presented by: Pure Flix

Director: Harold Cronk

Writers: Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman

2014

Prominent Cast: Kevin Sorbo, Shane Harper, David A. R. White

Genre: Drama

Reviewed by: Leah

God's Not Dead Website

This is a movie I would recommend to everyone.  You will feel it.


Summary:

Josh Wheaton is a Christian freshman college student taking an introductory philosophy class on his way to pre-law.

Professor Jeffrey Raddison is an atheist who has no time to discuss theology when there is more than enough coursework on the "important" philosophical debates.  Thus, on the first day of his new class, he requires only three written words, to be signed, from each member of the class for him to skip an entire section.  These words are: God is dead.

Knowing that a battle of faith and will is about to be waged, Josh stands by his beliefs and refuses to write the words.  Thus he has thrown himself into the lion's den and Professor Raddison is eager to sink in his teeth.

Josh is then given a choice: write the words, drop the class, or defend God against a man who has hated him almost all of his life.

In the end, Josh's decision depends on one fact: God's Not Dead.


Review:

First of all, let me just say that I would recommend this movie to anyone.  Christian, atheist, agnostic, Pagan, Muslim, etc.  It doesn't matter who you are or what you believe, because I think anyone could take away some form of message from a movie like this.

This story is not about Christianity vs. atheism.  It's not about there being a right religion or converting those who don't wish to be converted.  The movie I just watched was not about divinity.  It was about humanity.

This is a story about free will.

A tale about choice.

And it is the story of one young man's decision to do what he think is right and stand up for his beliefs, despite what he's risking by doing so.

This is the movie I would recommend to anyone who just needs to have faith in themselves.

Watching Josh's struggle, against all the negativity and doubt that bombards him, you begin to understand what it must feel like to believe so strongly in something that you can't just turn your back on it.  And this intensity fills you as you watch this young man stand up for himself.  To look in the eyes of a man who would attempt to bully him into his own way of thinking and tell him that he's wrong.

If at any time you begin to doubt yourself and your own convictions about any matter whatsoever, I say watch this movie.

Because it makes you evaluate your priorities.  Causes you to think about what you are most passionate about.  And makes you question how you would react should anyone else tell you that you're wrong.

This movie has the ability to inspire and empower you, if you let it.

It's all about choice.


Character Portrayals:

I don't think I've ever been quite as impressed with a cast as I was with this one.  Each character was played to perfection and I just want to give a round of applause for each person who took on these roles and made them so very real.  Thank you.

And while there was such great acting from Shane Harper and David A. R. White and the other wonderful members of the cast, there are actually two roles that stood out as the most noteworthy.  Mostly because of how controversial their characters were.

The first, obviously, is Professor Radisson.  Kevin Sorbo really puts his all into making this character as believable as possible.  This portrayal as a man who is not only an atheist but a cynic leaps right off the screen.  Kevin Sorbo's performance makes Professor Radisson easily your most love-to-hate character of 2014.

And the second most notable performance belonged to Trisha LaFache for her role as Amy, an internet reporter who is a humanitarian atheist who gladly damns hunters and Christians alike.  At first, she's someone you equally love-to-hate.  Yet, as her story progresses, you begin to feel very strongly for her predicament.  While her character may not be featured as one of the most prominent as far as the cast goes, she adds more to the storyline than you would think.  And for her to be portrayed so flawlessly as Trisha LaFache has done…  It's truly a pleasure to watch.


Final Thoughts:

To wrap this up, I'll just repeat what I've been saying all this time: watch this movie.  I don't care who you are or what you believe, if the only thing you take away from this is that you have the right to stand up for yourself, no matter who is putting you down, then that is enough.

In the end, it's all up to you.

Book Review: Losing Logan by Sherry D. Ficklin

Losing Logan by Sherry D. Ficklin

Clean Teen Publishing © 2014

ARC Edition

Release Date: May 2, 2014

Paranormal Fiction

Reviewed by Leah

Losing Logan on Amazon

I have never had a book make me laugh that hard, that quickly.  Nor has it been so easy for a book to add itself to my 'Favorites' shelf!  If you have not read this book: you are missing out.

Summary:

As far as sick pranks go, Zoe thinks her ex-best friend, Logan, is playing the worst when she sees him walking around … at his own viewing.  That is, until she realizes that he's really dead … and she's the only person who can see him.

In a clash of attitudes and between constant bickering--layered with some mild threats only a ghost is capable of--Zoe eventually agrees to help him to move on.  Which they later realize means only one thing: find out who murdered him and why.

Thanks to a hasty makeover provided by Zoe's fab-u-lous best friend, Carlos, she's as ready as she's ever going to be to step into the 'herd' Logan had left behind.  She's searching for clues.  Searching for a killer.  And hopelessly falling for Logan's best friend.  All of which is a problem, considering she has to face the very disturbing reality: she's already in love with a dead guy.  One she will lose … again.

Review:

ASDFGHJKL!!!  (I've never used that before.  Ever.  Now you may realize how serious I am about this book.)

First of all, I was provided with an ARC of this beautifully funny and creative book.  The release date of this gem is May 2, 2014 and you all need this book.  I swear.

Secondly, no book will ever have a more entertaining, more heart-felt dedication than the one that resides in the first pages of 'Losing Logan' and I applaud Sherry D. Ficklin for seizing that marvelous opportunity.

Thirdly, this book will make you laugh.  It will make you cry.  Frequent bathroom breaks will be required and tissues are recommended to be kept on hand.  Also, say goodbye to sleep.  I went from about 8pm last night to roughly 4:30am this morning.  This is not a joke.  Beware of the effects this book will have on you!  And freely enjoy them all.

I was absolutely involved in every aspect of this book.  There was so much attitude and laughter in the first few pages that I was one hundred pages in before I realized we hadn't even gotten into the meat of the story yet.  But that was okay, because the first one hundred pages were my favorite and I would gladly reread them all the time.  (Carlos, please, please, can I clone you?)

The relationship between Zoe and Logan is exactly what you'd expect from two people who'd been extremely estranged during life … and suddenly find themselves stuck together once one of them is dead.  There are snarky comebacks, instant friction, and so many wonderful new insults that I sigh with envy that I'm not as quick with my tongue as Zoe.

Yet, there's also a history for them.  They were best friends once upon a time and you get to see how that affects them now.  Especially considering all of the lifestyle changes Zoe is putting herself through for Logan's sake.  He's making her a better person and she begins to open up to those around her, mending some bonds and forming some strong new ones.  Logan helps Zoe to really live and it's a beautiful thing to watch unfold.

Characters:

Zoe is … hilarious!  She is the snarky, smart-mouthed, hell-hath-no-fury kind of young woman we all wish we were in High School.  Smart and focused, it's very clear that, when she puts her mind to something, she won't let anything stand in her way.  That is especially true when it comes to Logan.  Despite having to move outside of her very secure little bubble, she willingly and quickly makes that step.  To help him.  If that isn't loyalty…  Of course, my favorite thing about Zoe has to be how judgmental she is.  Very few authors allow themselves to have judgmental MCs because they want to make them likable.  But Zoe is relatable just because of how judgmental she is.  Humans are always going to judge one another, and I'm glad to finally see an MC who has this trait … but isn't a total bitch about it.  Though a very fine line to walk, Zoe handles it like a master tight-rope-walker.

Logan … is an asshat.  And he earned every single one of those brilliant insults Zoe threw at him.  Despite that, however, we both fell very madly in love with him.  Because he earned that too.  Though he's got a very serious case of entitled, arrogant little shit, it's also covering a very soft and tender center.  And his protectiveness is only equal to his annoyance factor.  Which is exactly what there is to love about him.  And everyone will know, by the end of the book, why his is such a great loss.

CARLOS!!!!  The very fabulous, very gay, very adorable best friend.  Please, I need a clone of this man ASAP!  No one can take care of Zoe like Carlos can and his patience with her is nothing short of a miracle.  Give this man a medal!

Kyle Bruno is a sweetheart of the highest form.  He's actually way too sappy for my taste, but perhaps that's why he can handle Zoe's attitude like no one else can.  While being a puddle of water himself, this man likes his women fiery.  And his relationship with Zoe is JUST SO CUTE!!  As Zoe pointed out: he isn't perfect, but maybe he's perfect for her.

Kaylee, Logan's ex, is probably the only unrealistic character.  As it seemed to me.  I just can't imagine that much bitchiness being bottled in such a vile human being … without someone knocking her down three pegs with a round-house bitch slap.  But I've also never been in a school where cliques were a real thing, so this could just be because my High School didn't have people like her.  (Thank goodness for that!)

Plot:

So, talking to a ghost and trying to track down his very dangerous killer who is suffering from a bit of 'cornered animal' syndrome…  While simultaneously trying to figure out how to deal with loving a ghost and trying to figure out how she's possibly falling for his best friend…  Yeah, Zoe has a tough road ahead of her.  But the ways she rises to the occasion make me want to hug her.

Granted, there were moments of "what are you doing?"  "NO!  Don't do it!" and "I told you so".  But they didn't detract from the tale.  In fact, there was nothing that ruined this book.  (I'll get into that a bit later.)

In a lot of ways, it could be considered predictable.  The clues are there for you to follow, and some of us will undoubtedly figure out what's going on before Zoe does.  That's the mark of good writing.  If a book is only about solving the mystery, it's failed before it's begun.  Because it's about the journey.  Not the destination.  And following Zoe's journey is what made every moment worth it.

Setting:

I'll be honest, here, I have no clue where this was taking place.  That may or may not have been due to me not paying attention right in the beginning, however.  I'm not sure.

This is not a book loaded with purple prose or extensive descriptions.  (Except when it came to clothes, sometimes…)  So I didn't have a massively detailed setting based on every tiny detail the author threw at me.  Thank you for that.

I'm one of those readers that loves to reconstruct things in my head.  Zoe's room?  Had it down to a wonderful image that, given all the small details I had, was perfect for Logan and Zoe to hang out in.  Everything was just as I had imagined it--because no extensive description allowed for me to be wrong.

The only thing that really was detailed was the thing that needed the most detail, as far as setting goes.  Yet, this too, was left mostly to the readers' imagination.  Giving credit where credit is due: that we will all envision something differently anyway.  The basic image was there, the details were left to our own mental faculties.

Writing Style:

I'm in love.  The attention to detail here was beautiful.  And by that I mean how teenagers talk.  How they react to one another and even the vitriol comments they absolutely bombard one another with in high school.  Teenagers can be mean, judgmental, and constantly trying to make their lives have meaning.  In one form or another.  And the writing portrays all of that.  I am in awe.  (Did I also mention the humor that I will bow down to for all eternity?)

Overall Opinion:

Favorite!  Favorite, Favorite, Favorite, FAVORITE!!  (I could sing this, if you like?)

Things That Stood Out:

Okay, this is not a pet-peeve.  Or, rather, it would be in any other novel.  In this one?  Nope.  Not at all.

Tropes.  Cliches.  They were everywhere in this book.  And I didn't notice until I was done reading.

We have a bookish young woman who becomes suddenly popular.  Instantly becomes the girlfriend of the hot jock.  A love triangle … with her asshat ex-best friend.  And a crowd of bitchy mean girls we'll affectionately call the 'lemmings' until Carlos tells us to stop.

Now, normally, every single one of these tropes would have had me screaming in rage.  So why not here?  How did 'Losing Logan' save itself from the dartboard?  I'm not sure.  But I've never been happier.  Because it all works here.  It just … does.

Related Books:

Not that I'm aware of.  'Losing Logan' is a wonderful stand-alone.  (Which means: NO CLIFFHANGER!)  However, I am now convinced that I absolutely must check out more of Sherry D. Ficklin's books.

Final Thoughts:

I have never been more grateful to have so many great friends at CTP, because then I would never have gotten an ARC of this book.  It was a read that even I didn't know I needed.  I recommend it to everyone.  No matter what you like/don't like, I think you'll like this.