Film Review: Little Fockers

The Focker- Byrnes family return for more comic misunderstandings and blatant mistrust.  In the third installment, set when Greg and Pam's twins are young "early humans".  Jack Byrnes (Robert Di Nero) prepares his son-in-law, Greg AKA Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller), to be the families next Patriarch.

Causes for suspicion and conflict seemed somewhat forced, and added to Jessica Alba's embarrassing performance of a drug corporation representative, makes me hope that this is the final film of it's series.  However, this film still found me constantly laughing as Greg tried to take on his father-in-law, yet again. 

I recommend this film to the fans of its predecessors, Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers.  Personally, I feel that this series peaked with the second installment and the producers should quit whilst they're ahead.  This film receives a 3 out of 5.

Book Review: The Haunting of James Hastings by Christopher Ransom

Whilst the title leads one to expect a typical Exorcism of Emily Rose type of storyline, the book itself is less about paranormal possession and more about questioning perceptions of sanity and criminality. 

The book begins with the death of James Hastings’ wife.  At first James struggles to cope with the brutal murder, drowning his anguish with the bottle but eventually begins to return to normality.  When a mysterious woman moves in next door, James’ world is shaken up once more as she tries to enter his life.  

The book twists and turns though a series of seemingly unconnected, bizarre events, the meaning of which are explained at the conclusion.  At times decisions by James, and other characters, seem unexplained and random, yet the emotionless descriptions help to create a matter-of-factly tone which I find highly effective.  The Haunting of James Hastings is impossible to put down due to the cliff hangers littering every chapter's end.  

If you’re looking for a light read for a summer afternoon, pass this book by.  However, if you like deciphering through a broken mind, read on.  I give this book 4 out of 5 for its original storyline which had me hooked from the first chapter.