Sandra Says Blog

  Far and Away Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play the characters Joseph Donnelly and Shannon Christie, both, with the film being set in Ireland, with Irish accents. Throwing themselves in to the roles whole-heartedly. The film is set against spectacular scenery, which adds to the quality of the film. The battle between a rich landlord’s team of men and the poor tenant farmers is played out. It is nice to see though that Mr Daniel Christie (Robert Prosky ) is not as bad as it seems, being unawar e of what his management team are up to. A scene I found funny was after Joseph was injured and was laying on the bed, Shannon being innocent and curious looks under the bowl. Shannon has a rebellious nature and determination for getting away to the United States of America to claim land that they are giving away in Oklahoma in 1893. It is ok to have ambition, but the reality may not always be as you would expect. When Joseph and Shannon find themselves in trouble once they had ...

  And Then There Were None (1945) This film based on the poem ’10 Little Indians’ almost writes itself, however, working out the 10 characters, their background stories and how to get them on to the island is well thought out , well written but complicated. The poem is such a morbid rhyme, so therefore perfect for an Agatha Christie mystery. The adaptation of the poem , to then carry out the murders is cleverly devised. Being on an island there are limitations but the murderer works it all out brilliantly. At the beginning the film reminds me of going on a coach holiday, a group of strangers having to spend time together travelling around. Except this is based in a house on an island and so no escape as you can , once you are off a coach. All the characters are guilty or accused of an indirect murder or death of another, but got away with it on a technicality. Even the butler and his wife Thomas and Ethel Rogers (Richard Haydn and Queenie Leonard) are included in th...

  I had a feeling about this story at the beginning but it still kept me guessing right up to the end. I love this story evening allowing for the obvious use of the title within this story. Although I am 99% sure there is still 1% of slight doubt. I don’t like that it got so tragically gruesome that part, on the whole, seemed unnecessary and too much.  This story certainly keeps you guessing all the way through and beyond. This is a very clever story and I love it. Thank you for reading Sandra  

  When starting to read this, what I can only describe or like to describe as a poetic story about a Battlefield.  I first thought it was about World War 2 but then reading on I thought it was about World War 1. However, because the story is called the Bowmen, it would suggest an earlier battle, which left me confused for a little while. I have to say that this story is a very clever paranormal story, I love it. I am glad the soldiers had help and if anyone, he is up there with the best. It is, however, a little strange as to the mention of vegetarian food, I would say that being vegetarian was a modern thing/term, or is this story about time travel as well as having a paranormal aspect to it also? I love it either way. Thank you for reading Sandra

  French Twist- James Patterson (book shots) This book starts with clever patterns emerging in the murder cases , but quickly spins off into another direction. I keep it all in mind as I first believe d there is a connection, although not, as yet clear, if any. At the beginning I thought in such a short book any deviation from the first case takes up space where the first investigation could take place. After chapter 12 I felt there was 2 cases going on and couldn’t figure out why. Then it got worse as it got too tragic and too graphic for my liking. Luckily it was such a short piece it was over quickly. There is however, a lot of depth in this book, there is a lot crammed into one short book. With regard to the ‘friend’ relationship between detectives Luc Moncrief and Katherine Burke it is amusing to read Inspector Elliott’s views on it. The interaction between the characters make this book a great read. At the end of this book I get it. We have the murder cases and the...

  The Shining The scenery in this film at the beginning is spectacular and along with the music really sets the scene of a start of a horror movie. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) gets the job of looking after The Overlook hotel, in the middle of nowhere during the winter months. He is going to be the ‘Caretaker’ and how hard can that be? The scenes setting up the horror story are good solid ones, Ha llorann ( Scatman Crothers) calls Jack’s son Danny (Danny Lloyd) Doc , which is his nickname his mum Wendy ( Shelley Duvall) and Dad, Jack sometimes calls him. Hallorann has noticed the Danny has a gift, Hallorann calls ‘The Shining’. The gift enables Danny to see and interact with the paranormal, and he should stay out of room 237, but he doesn’t of course. Throughout the film we see Jack changing, it is like the hotel or someone is taking over him. He seemed such a nice family man at the start of the film, and Wendy , h is wife thinks; it is because he is just a frustrat...

  Jerry Maguire A successful sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) begins to see the human cost, and realises he should take a different route. The realisation saves him from a potential break down. It is good to see, that you can still be good at your job and just a bit more caring and see the human behind the sports persona. A shock twist sees him able to follow his heart, but he is left with just one client. As part of caring Jerry finds himself in a car with the only person, Dorothy (Renee Zellweger) to leave the office with him and her son Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). Jerry soon finds out you don’t try and compete with a child, this is so cute to watch unfold. During the film we see the realistic reaction of a relative to what Dorothy has given up and what situation she has found herself in. The film it becomes heart-warming but deviates from the sporting aspect of it. It shows the perils of rushing into something for the wrong reasons. It all becomes good at the end once...

  Bergerac WARNING SPOILERS Sergeant James (Jim) Bergerac (John Nettles) is an alcoholic. In the first episode we see him return to Jersey after being on the main land recovering from an injury. This is all the information we find out, it is a good place to start , however, his job is hanging in the balance. It does seem strange as at the very start of a series for Jim to lose his job , it would make for a very short television programme. We all know it is going to work out for him. Yes, he has to prove himself and keep fit and then we don’t then see him get the news he has still got his job. It would have been nice after sitting through the episode to see him actually get /being told the news in the end. On Jersey there isn’t actually a Bureau des Etrangers (Office of Strangers) the Bureau is fictional. This is a good backdrop to a series, with Jersey attracting tourists and rich people seeking a tax haven. One question that does spring to mind , is , should there be a ...