The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Review:SteveMar
A hymn to boyhood: I can think of no better way sum up Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Written in 1876, this is one of those rare books that does not date. The author has created a brilliant portrayal of boys, their approach to the world, the way they think and their priorities. The book is written in such a sparkling, light, humorous way that it reads as freshly today as it ever did.So, who is Tom Sawyer. Whilst Mark Twain has created a very real character, the book works because Tom is a composite containing aspects of every boy you have ever met. He is lazy; he is dis organised; he would rather do anything than sit in school, learning; he engages in an eternal round of swapping trinkets with his friends. Tom Sawyer is a double-edged sword. His spontaneity causes him to be in constant trouble, but it also a spontaneity fuelled by a joy of life. He may hate dusty, old books, but he has boundless affection for people. He may get into fights, but he also has a passionate loyalty to his friends. Tom Sawyer is such a wonderful creation that I could happily read about his day-to-day activities without need of a plot.Despite the dominance of Tom, himself, and the picaresque picture of the village and characters among whom he lives, there is a plot. The plot itself is as traditional as it possible to get. All those spoofs of children’s story – the children overhearing the villains discussing buried treasure etc – are here. However, although the plot is, to modern eyes, archaic and the coincidences and unlikelihoods upon which the plot is based seem too contrived, this shouldn’t put anyone off reading Tom Sawyer. It is the sheer ffirmation of life and portrayal of boyhood which make this novel a timeless classic.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Originally published in Shvoong: http://www.shvoong.com/books/421654-adventures-tom-sawyer/

Oblivion, Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman

"Oblivion" - Starring Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman

Review:RadioFerg92
"Oblivion", Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy), and starring Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko, has all the ingredients you'd expect from an early-summer Hollywood blockbuster movie. Action, brilliant special effects, an all star cast.

Set in the year 2077 on a war-torn, desolate future Earth, Jack Harper (Cruise) lives in the sky, acting as repair man/security guard for the drones that protect massive machines, used to collect sea water to convert into power. The human race has evacuated to Titan, after a devastating war with an alien race known as the Scavengers. However after Harper investigates a crashed escape pod from an old spaceship, the arrival of a familiar woman heralds danger - and the realization that things may not be as they appear.

From the outset, "Oblivion" is visually stunning; sweeping wide-shots of an abandoned Earth open the film, with a voice over from Cruise setting the scene. The bleak and sparse colour palette, coupled with the minimalist production-design give the film a striking visual style. This style works perfectly with the music - a magnificent epic electronic symphony from M83.

The music is without a doubt one of - if the not THE most impressive aspect to the film. It completely drives the movie, and is probably the reason I enjoyed it as much as I did.

What is lacking, sadly, is the story. While the film sets up an interesting premise, the sci-fi cliches keep coming as the movie progresses - so much so that the ending is easily predicted half way through the film. This lack of story really brought what was otherwise a very good science-fiction film down several marks for me, and is characteristic of Kosinski's other works, most notably "Tron: Legacy".

Despite this, the film is a must for science-fiction fans, and is worth at least one viewing for everyone else.

6/10
"Oblivion" - Starring Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman Originally published in Shvoong: http://www.shvoong.com/entertainment/movies/2377731-oblivion-starring-tom-cruise-morgan/