Movie Review: "Spider-Man: Homecoming"

Synopsis: High school student Peter Parker has a big secret: he's Spider-Man! He can't risk telling anyone, even his best friend or his guardian, Aunt May.  Constantly bullied at school for being a science geek, Peter has a crush on Liz, a popular girl, but can't tell her about his alter ego.  While thwarting a bank robbery, Peter discovers the bandits using what seems to be alien technology.  Where are they getting it, and how? When he unearths the villains' dastardly plans, he knows he must do everything in his power to stop them...but, will his arachnid powers be enough?

The Good: It's good to see a Spider-Man film that charts new territory.  No Uncle Ben murder scene; the spider bite is only discussed, not shown; and, Aunt May is much younger and more attractive.  It's also great to see an ethnically diverse cast, especially Disney Channel star Zendaya (Shake It Up).  The action sequences were spot-on.

The Bad: If only the makers hadn't felt the need to add too much unnecessary content to the mix.  Profanities, especially the h-word, d-word, and misuses of God's name pop up far too many times; as if that wasn't enough, the last line before the end credits features an unfinished f-word.  Turning Peter Parker's name into a crude joke was also disturbing.  This is definitely not for young children.

Conclusion: One of the things I've always liked about superhero films is that they usually keep it clean.  Sure, there's violence, but, there's not much of the profanity, sex, and other crudity that plagues "PG-13" films of other genres.  However, this movie doesn't do that; the amount of expletives and obscene jokes are completely over the top.  If they make a sequel, I hope they lighten up in that department.

Score: 2/5

Movie Review: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

Synopsis: Newt Scamander is a British wizard traveling to America in search of some magical creatures.  While in New York City, a mishap leads to the magical world getting exposed to the general public, with a wannabe baker, Jacob, right in the middle of it.  Tina, who is a bit of a witch herself, tries to help Newt get his creatures back and prevent any more magical mayhem...but, soon, they face a dark entity that has powers untold.  Will they be able to capture it before it destroys New York City?
Screenplay written by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: This one does have its moments; I'll give it that.  Newt was a likable hero, and Tina was a great right hand woman.  The sets were excellent, and really took me back to yesteryear.

The Bad: Alongside the profanity--which ranged from d-words to the British über-crudity "b----r"--this movie portrayed the Christian faith in a negative light.  A woman in a church cruelly abuses her adopted children because of their magical abilities.  Sure, it's not mentioned that it's a church in the film, but the published screenplay does so multiple times.  This was exceptionally disappointing, with Rowling claiming to be a Christian.  Also, the overall story doesn't feel very Potter-ish, and the character of Queenie was too sultry.

Conclusion: It seems like they'll make anything into a movie these days.  When I first heard that the bestselling pregnancy manual What to Expect When You're Expecting was getting the celluloid treatment, I thought: What's next? A film version of Mac OS X for Dummies? Like any business, the movie studios are in it to make money, and there are few properties that are nearly as bankable as Harry Potter.  Well, I may be the odd one out, but, I would say this: Unless you're an HP fanatic, I'd suggest skipping this; it doesn't even come close to the feel of the original books or films.

Score: 2/5

Movie Review: "Scooby-Doo Meets Batman"

Synopsis: Penguin and the Joker are on the loose again! It's up to Batman and Robin to thwart the plans of their dastardly nemeses once and for all! A mystery is also afoot, which means the Mystery, Inc. gang is on the case! Watch as the Dynamic Duo stop a money laundering scheme and prevent a major theft...all alongside Scooby-Doo and friends!

The Good: I love old-school style animation; the classic cartoons are usually much better than what passes for kiddie 'toons these days.  Scooby-Doo and Batman may sound like an odd crossover, but it works rather well.  There's plenty of action alongside the usual whodunit.  Kids who are a fan of both that insane Great Dane and the Caped Crusader are in for a treat.

The Bad: Unfortunately, older fans such as myself have likely seen this before.  Instead of being an original, feature length story, this is merely two episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies.  Unless you're completely new to Scooby, you probably saw this on Cartoon Network or somewhere else years ago.  It still makes for a fun throwback, but, for those expecting new material, forget it.  Also, in the second part, the scientist's bungling of his words was rather annoying.

Conclusion: Warner Brothers has a knack for taking its television animation and turning it into "movies".  Case in point: A while ago, I watched The Batman/Superman Movie, only for it to be a pastiche of episodes I'd already seen.  That's exactly what this is.  While kids may love it, for older fans, an actual season set would be more enjoyable.  Sure, it was fun for what it was, but, it could have been a lot better.

Score: 3/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two"

Synopsis: Harry, Ron, and Hermione are on the hunt for the Horcruxes: parts of the evil Lord Voldemort's soul.  Voldemort now has the Elder Wand, believed to be the most powerful wand in existence, and will stop at nothing to kill Harry and anyone who stands between the two of them.  Will Harry find the Horcruxes in time and defeat Voldemort once and for all, or will the Dark Lord finally succeed at what he failed to do all those years ago? It all ends here.
Based on the bestselling book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: This finale is appropriately epic at times, and has some of the most exciting and intense scenes in the entire series.  If you've followed the saga up to this point--even solely in celluloid form--you should definitely check this one out to see the resolution of the story.  The actors all do very well, and I was glad to see one iconic moment from the book involving Mrs. Weasley recreated rather poignantly.

The Bad: Since the characters are getting older, this is a bit more intense and scary than the previous films.  If you or your kids are freaked out by anything in the series prior to this, I wouldn't recommend this finale to you or them.  Also, the profanity count was a bit higher than I would have liked.

Conclusion: Finishing this gives me a serious sense of accomplishment.  For those who don't know, my plan for this month is to get through the entire Harry Potter series in both book and movie form.  While I still have Cursed Child to read and Fantastic Beasts to both read and watch, I'm proud of myself for making it this far.  Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion; I don't want to say too much as to not give the plot away.  Fans will have a blast.

Score: 4.5/5

TV DVD Review: "Batman: The Animated Series": Volume Two

Synopsis: In this second volume of the Caped Crusader's animated adventures, Gotham has gotten even crazier! Between Batman's usual villains--The Joker, the Penguin, etc.--new bad guys pop up all the time! With the help of his butler, Alfred, and his occasional sidekick, Robin, Batman will do everything in his power to save the day and put the criminals in jail...but, will even his strength, intelligence, and technology be enough?
Based on characters and stories from DC Comics.

The Good: Wow; where to start? The stories in this volume are fabulous; each one kept me gripped until the end! I adored the animation; it's much better than what you get in today's weird-looking 'toons.  All of the voice work is spot-on, especially Mark Hamill (Star Wars) as the Joker.  It's easy to see why this series is fondly remembered by those who watched it back in the day.

The Bad: The only complaint I really have is that God's name is misused a few too many times.  There's no other profanity; somehow, secular epithets weren't allowed, but blasphemous ones were.  Some discerning viewers may take issue with that.

Conclusion: Language issues aside, this second volume of the Dark Knight's adventures was a blast! I wish I had the next installment on hand; after this, I want more! Superhero fans who haven't seen this yet should definitely give it a try!

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One"

Synopsis: The war has begun! After the death of Hogwarts headmaster Professor Dumbledore, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione are determined to destroy the Horcruxes; doing so will defeat the evil Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents when Harry was just an infant.  Haunted by dreams of the Dark Lord, Harry isn't sure where to start looking...until he learns of the three Deathly Hallows, one of which is the most powerful wand in existence.  Knowing that it's his only chance of defeating Voldemort, Harry and his friends seek it out.  However, Harry has been labeled "Undesirable No. 1" by a wizard newspaper, and plenty of other wizards and witches are hot on his trail.  Will he emerge victorious?
Based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: We're almost at the conclusion of this saga, and there are a lot of loose ends to be wrapped up; this movie does so in a big way.  The action sequences are spot-on, and all of the actors--especially the three young leads--do a fabulous job.  It's great to see Fleur and Tonks appear again, and the animated sequence of the fairy tale was a nice touch.

The Bad: Since this is only based on the first half of the last book, it feels like you only get half of a movie here; all this one does is set up the events of the next (and last) film.  The profanity count was a bit excessive, and some of the violence was a bit bloody.  My biggest complaint, though, was the scene with the Horcrux showing Harry and Ron passionately embracing, which is why the MPAA warned of "brief sensuality".  Parents of young children may be rather disturbed by that; it's easily the most sexual thing in the movies so far.

Conclusion: I read the last book not long after it came out; soon after, it was announced that it would be made into two films.  It made sense, given the plot; there was no subplot to cut out.  While this movie stayed fairly true to the book, people expecting a full adventure may be disappointed.  If you buy or rent this one, make sure you get the next one at the same time, as you'll be left awaiting to see what happens next.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "The Gospel of Mark"

Synopsis: It's the greatest story ever told...as it was originally told! This word-for-word dramatization of the second of the four gospels features narration in both the King James and New International translations.  Watch as Jesus gets baptized by John, starts his ministry, heals the sick, raises the dead, is betrayed, crucified, and rises again.  You've never seen the story of Jesus like this before!

The Good: It's straight from the Bible, so, how could I find fault with it? Seriously, the budget on this one is much higher than others I've seen--particularly the first two Visual Bible films--and the sets and attention to detail really make Scripture leap off the page.  Having two different translations of the Bible available on one disc is easily the best use of the DVD technology I've ever seen.  For those who are worried about the crucifixion scene, don't be; though a bit bloody and rather dramatic, it's nowhere near as hard to watch as The Passion or even Son of God.

The Bad: Then again, some might say that this film's crucifixion scene is a downside, as it doesn't really show the brutality of such a killing; depends on how you look at it.  More to the point: The presentation of this movie is unlike any I've ever seen.  Instead of having actors speak the dialogue in English, the people onscreen all speak Aramaic, whereas the narration informs the viewers of what they're really saying, almost like an audiobook with slides.  Unless you speak the Biblical languages, you probably won't understand anything the actors say, except for the infamous "Eloi, Eloi" cry.  The narrator of the NIV version only varies his voice occasionally.  So, this movie's style may not be for everyone.

Conclusion: One of my goals this year is the same as it has been for the past few years: to read through the Bible in its entirety.  Most of the time, I use an audio Bible alongside a Bible app on my iPad, to read and hear it at the same time; as a long time fan of audiovisual media, as well as someone who grew up on closed captioning, that really helps me get something out of it.  When I get to the Gospels and Acts, I use movies such as the Visual Bible flicks--all of which are word-for-word from the original text--to not only read it (thanks to closed captions or subtitles) and hear it, but also see it.  Some time ago, I came across this at the library where I work, and knew that I could use it for my daily Bible reading.  While it was different from what I expected, it was still fabulously done.  Still, I would suggest renting or borrowing this before purchasing it; some may be turned off by the filming style.

Score: 5/5

Movie Review: "Wonder Woman" (2017)

Synopsis: All young Diana (Gal Gadot) has known is her life alongside the other Amazon women on the uncharted, hidden island Themiscyra.  That all changes when she meets Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), a soldier in World War II, who crash lands on her island while running away from the Germans.  Diana knows that Ares, the God of War, is behind the whole thing, so, she convinces the Amazons to let her go fight and try to save mankind.  When she goes into the world, Diana is confused by the sights and sounds...but, she blows away everyone with her superhuman powers.  Will that be enough to stop the war and defeat Ares, though?
Based on characters and stories from DC Comics.

The Good: When done correctly, superhero movies can be escapist fun, and that's exactly what this one was.  Plenty of action sequences, wonderful perfomances--especially by Ms. Gadot as a fish out of water--and sets and scenery that really take you back.  While it wouldn't be a superhero movie without violence, there's no gore, and blood is kept to a minimum.

The Bad: Unfortunately, the makers felt the need to add some unnecessary content into the mix.  The profanity and a scene implying sex add nothing to the story or the film itself, and could easily have been left out; with the intensity of the violence, I'm sure this flick would have earned "PG-13" without all that.  Also, this feels like the premiere to a television show; it left me wanting more.  I guess I should be grateful that a sequel is in the works.

Conclusion: Throughout both this decade and the previous one, the cinemas have been invaded by superheroes.  Heroes from both the DC and Marvel universes, as well as other do-gooders, have leapt onto the big screen in a huge way.  As a fan of such characters, I'm not complaining.  Unnecessary content aside, this was a fun one; I look forward to the sequel.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Synopsis: It's Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, and things are crazier than ever.  With Voldemort alive and on the loose again, the school is not the safe haven it once was, and Dumbledore is preparing Harry for his final battle against the Dark Lord.  Dumbledore's old friend, Professor Slughorn, takes a position at Hogwarts; it turns out Slughorn knew Voldemort when he was still known as Tom Riddle.  What secrets about the Dark Lord's past is Slughorn hiding? Harry also finds an old textbook with annotations by someone known only as the Half-Blood Prince.  Who could this person be? Meanwhile, love is in the air, and new relationships and crushes abound.  It's bound to be Harry's craziest year yet...in many ways.
Based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: What these films have done well in the past, this one excels at.  It really takes you to another time and place, and you get swept up in the events that unfold.  The special effects are amazing, and all of the actors--young and old--do exceptionally great here.

The Bad: If only it had been truer to the book.  Right from the get-go, we get a scene involving Harry nearly going on a date with a girl at a train station that is nowhere to be found in the original novel.  An action sequence involving Death Eaters causing the Weasley's house to be burned down is completely unique to the film.  Other scenes are out of order, and characters are either omitted (Fleur Delacour) or replaced (Bellatrix instead of Amycus).  Too much time is spent focusing on teen twitterpations and not enough on the core story.  You don't even find out why the Half-Blood Prince calls himself that, as he isn't really a prince.  The makers kind of botched it with this one.

Conclusion: Years ago, a random patron at the library where I work said of this film, "It's not the book."  When I saw it previously, it had been a while since I'd read the original novel, so, I couldn't comment on that front...but, while doing a book/film comparison, I'd say she was right.  Fans of the books are likely to feel alienated by the serious deviations from the source material.  Though good for what it is, this movie pales in comparison to what it could have been.  Oh, well; next up is Deathly Hallows, where things really get crazy.

Score: 3/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"

Synopsis: In the middle of summer, Harry finds himself fighting off Dementors...in the presence of his Muggle cousin! Harry soon gets a letter saying he has been expelled from Hogwarts, and the case eventually goes to trial; will he be able to prove his innocence? Hogwarts itself is going through tough times; after Harry's claim that the evil Lord Voldemort is back, the Ministry of Magic and the wizarding press smells a conspiracy, and is bending over backwards to prove Harry wrong.  The new teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge, is more focused on getting kids to pass tests than to actually learn magic, which leads to some kids starting a secret magic class and call it Dumbledore's Army.  Will they succeed in learning true magic, or will they be found out? Also, will Harry's claim that You-Know-Who has returned be proven?
Based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: This is one case--the only one of this series so far--that I would say the movie is better than the book.  The original novel plods a bit, and wastes a lot of space; it almost seems like Rowling was more worried about topping Goblet of Fire in length instead of in quality.  Still, what we have here is a great story, with excellent performances; notable additions to the cast of characters are Nymphadora Tonks and the evil Bellatrix Lestrange.  The finale is appropriately epic; I can only imagine what a treat it was on the big screen.  Profanity is kept to a minimum, and the sexual content that plagued the previous film is not present here; as sultry as it gets is one innocent kiss, which is rare for a "PG-13" film.

The Bad: Honestly, I can't think of any complaints about the film itself; it's not only a wonderful story, it keeps things clean as well.

Conclusion: People often say that the book is always better than the movie; maybe it often is, but, sometimes, I'm not so sure.  Bestselling "young adult" novels The Princess Diaries and Lemonade Mouth were much more sultry than--and, therefore, inferior to in my opinion--the celluloid adaptations; maybe that's because the films were made by Disney.  This is another case of that; the movie focuses on the best parts of the book, and doesn't waste nearly as much time.  I'm sure that people will continue reading the Harry Potter series in its entirety for years to come; however, the book was a low point for the franchise, though this film isn't.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

Synopsis: Harry is being haunted by dreams that his sworn nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort, is alive again.  After Harry arrives at Hogwarts, it is announced that his school will be host to the Triwizard Tournament, where students from other magical schools will compete in a big championship.  Harry isn't even old enough to enter, and doesn't want to anyway...but, after the three competitors from each school are drawn from the magical Goblet of Fire, a fourth name emerges: Harry Potter.  Everyone is shocked, especially Harry himself.  Who could have entered his name into the tournament? With three arduous tasks in front of him, Harry has no choice but to participate...but, the results could be deadly.
Based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: This is a darker turn for the series, as evidenced by the "PG-13" rating.  For younger viewers, the atmospheric darkness may be too much to handle; for older viewers like me, though, this is a treat.  The introduction of the lovely Fleur Delacour, as well as the convoluted plot and excellent production values, made this mostly enjoyable.

The Bad: Unfortunately, this entry is also a bit too oversexed.  Between Harry being in a bathtub while a female ghost talks to him--couldn't he have at least worn some trunks or something?--to a sexual remark here and there, to moments of immodest dress (Hermione's dress; Fleur's swimsuit, though it is a one-piece, thankfully), some may be bothered by such content.  The language also intensifies; Ron uses his signature profane phrase at least five or six times, and there's also a d-word and a p-word thrown in there as well.  So, while this is good, it also has some rougher elements.  Plus, as usual, there's way much more detail--and, in this specific case, less expletives--in the book.

Conclusion: The original novel was among the most beloved of the series; could the movie ever stack up? While it does it justice, I would still recommend checking out the book as well.  After this, I'm curious to see where the series goes.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

Synopsis: It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts, and things are definitely crazy.  The notorious murderer Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, the wizard's prison, and is apparently on the hunt for Harry.  Dementors, ghoulish creatures that guard Azkaban, are surrounding Hogwarts.  On top of that, Harry's sworn enemy Draco Malfoy makes a mistake with Hagrid's pet Hippogriff that leads to Draco getting injured...only for Draco to blame the poor creature, leading to its impending execution! Not sure what to do or where to go, Harry doesn't feel safe anywhere, even in the Hogwarts castle.  Will he be able to escape the clutches of Sirius Black before it's too late?
Based on the bestselling novel by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: The directing of this film earned serious acclaim, and it's not hard to see why; most of the movie has an overall dark mood, and the filming style illustrates that very well.  The young actors have improved here, and do their best job so far.  Of particular note are the special effects, which were really well done, especially the Patronuses.

The Bad: If only it had stayed truer to the book.  Like the previous adaptations, this one leaves a lot out, which I expected...but, what I didn't remember is that some scenes were added that were not in the novel! The shrunken head and the scene with Harry flying off into the distance were unnecessary; why couldn't they have used that time to put more scenes from the book into the film?

Conclusion: So far, this is the best one yet; the filming style is a wonder to behold.  However, for those who have read the original book cover to cover multiple times, you're bound to say, "Hey! That wasn't in there!" more than once while watching this.  Next up is Goblet of Fire, which is when things really get interesting; I'm sure I'll have a lot to say about that one.

Score: 4/5

TV DVD Review: "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo": Volume Two

Synopsis: Whenever there's a mystery, the kids in the Scooby-Doo Detective Agency are on the case! Whether it's a ghost haunting a television studio, an ice monster at a winter resort, or a ghastly samurai at a resort, you can bet that Shaggy, Velma, Freddy, Daphne, and their loyal pup Scooby-Doo will figure out who is behind it and why!
Featuring the late Don Messick and Casey Kasem, the original voices of Scooby and Shaggy.

The Good: I've been a fan of "those meddling kids" since 1998, so, how could I not like this? As entertaining as ever, these younger versions of the famed teenage sleuths and their insane Great Dane bring equal doses of laughs, action, and thrills.  As usual, the makers keep this clean: no profanity nor any sex, only mild cartoony violence, etc.

The Bad: If you've never seen this incarnation of Scooby-Doo before, let me tell you: This is unlike any of the previous versions.  It's much more cartoony; so much so, it almost feels like Looney Tunes at times.  For those who liked the fact that the old-school Hanna-Barbera episodes were more realistic than the average Saturday morning 'toon, that could be a deal-breaker.  Also, the theme music, which constantly repeats Scooby's name, was über annoying; I much prefer the old-school soundtrack.

Conclusion: When I first saw this back in the day, I was a bit surprised; it wasn't in the traditional style of Scooby-Doo cartoons, and, therefore, I felt that it was inferior to its predecessors, though still fun for what it was.  Some fans of "those meddling kids" may embrace it; others may despise it.  If you've never seen this show before, I suggest borrowing a DVD of it from the library, or streaming an episode for free, before shelling out cash for any part of this series; you may decide that it's not for you, even if you're a longtime fan of that insane Great Dane.

Score: 3.5/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Synopsis: Harry Potter is looking forward to his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...until a strange little creature, Dobby the House-Elf, comes and tells him he must not go there, because terrible things await Harry if he goes.  Harry goes anyway, and finds out that a secret place at Hogwarts, called the Chamber of Secrets, has been opened...but, the teachers don't know who's responsible.  All evidence, however, seems to point to none other than Harry himself.  Harry and his friends know that he is innocent...but, the opening of the Chamber is putting the lives of his fellow students and faculty in danger.  Will he be able to discover who the culprit really is...before someone gets killed?
Based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: Just like with the previous entry in this series, I watched this film version alongside reading the original novel.  For the most part, it stays true to its source material; even though I knew the ending from watching this flick previously, I still found myself enthralled by the details of the story.  Profanities are kept to a minimum, and there's no sexual content.

The Bad: As was the case the first time around, quite a bit was left out in this celluloid adaptation.  Also, the violence was a bit edgier; without giving away plot details, I'll say that the climax was a bit bloody, and it was rather disturbing to see a message on a wall written in blood.

Conclusion: Better in some ways, not as good in others; that's how I feel about the second Harry Potter flick.  This franchise has legions of fans, and it's not hard to see why; still, I feel that the original novels are superior to the films...so far, at least.  Maybe my opinion might change when I get towards the end, where popular opinion says the books weren't as good.

Score: 3.5/5

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

Synopsis: Orphaned as an infant, all young Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has known is a miserable life with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and bratty cousin Dudley.  However, his life does a complete turnaround when he meets Hagrid, and gets accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  When Harry finds out that Voldemort, the evil wizard who killed his parents, is on the loose again, he knows that his life is in danger.  His friends Ron and Hermione are willing to help him every step of the way...but, will even the three of them be able to stand up to a master of evil?
Based on the bestselling book by J.K. Rowling.

The Good: It's easy to see why this movie franchise became one of the most successful of all-time.  Excellent production values, great acting, a captivating story...what's not to like? Harry's triumph over dire circumstances is very inspiring.  Profanities are kept to a minimum, there's no sexual content, and the violence isn't bloody or gory.  Sounds all well and good, right?

The Bad: If only I hadn't read the book alongside watching the film.  There's so much more to the original novel that, just by watching the film, one has no clue of what's really going on; it's like reading the Cliff's Notes instead.  Also, some scary scenes are present, particularly the climax; then again, it only gets scarier from hereon out.

Conclusion: I was late to the party with Harry Potter; I didn't read the books until not long before the seventh and then-final one came out.  A few years ago, I had watched the movie series in its entirety...but, until recently, I had not read any of the books save for Cursed Child, which is actually a play.  As good as the movie is, they cut out so much of the novel, I felt that it didn't do the book justice.  People who don't read--of which there are many, especially millenials--are likely to just stick with the films; they don't know what they're missing.  While this flick is memorable, it still pales in comparison to the international bestseller that inspired it.

Score: 3/5