Saturday, November 07, 2026

Week in Review #46

I finished one book this week! Still working on a few others.

21. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Liturgy for Daily Worship with the Psalms. Jonathan Gibson. 2026. 360 pages. [Source: Review copy] [devotional, liturgy, 5 stars]

Century of Viewing #46

1920s
1921 The Boat. I've seen this Buster Keaton short quite a few times. Always enjoyable. This is the short that is almost a sequel of sorts to One Week. I love watching him with Sybil Seely. A man takes his family on an unforgettable boat trip.....

1970s
1971 The Andromeda Strain. I read the book earlier in the year....which is good because I was watching this on PlutoTV's live Universal Monsters channel and it kept glitching. It is faithful to the book so far as I can remember. It isn't action-packed, but neither is the book. In fact the movie is probably more interesting than the book.

1980s
1983 Prisoners of the Lost Universe. Is it better than Star Knight which was Sunday's movie??? YES. Was it great B movie? It was definitely a good B movie. I didn't love the taking the Lord's name in vain, BUT, it had plenty of entertaining moments. Maybe don't go visit a mad scientists on a day with lots of quakes. And maybe especially stay away from his matter transporter. Then again that would have been a VERY short movie.
1983 Starflight One. This one might as well be called Airport something or other. This is a blend of disaster movie AND soapy-soap opera. It isn't really action-packed and thriller-y. The drama is over the top enough to be ridiculous. AND if you tend to overthink, well, it may not be for you. But it was enjoyable enough that I wanted to know how it ended.
1985 Star Knight: The Knight of the Dragon. How many Spanish films from 1985 have you watched???? I didn't set out to watch one, mind you. This is in many ways a terrible, terrible movie. HOWEVER, it does provide moments of hilarity. Is there a redeemable, likeable character in this one??? Probably not. BUT again, if you are watching with someone you love, it may just provide a LOT of laughs. THE premise: An alien visits a medieval country and is mistaken for a dragon. He is telepathic and the princess who falls for him is....let's just say....she's something else. There isn't a rating for eyebrow stroking--though a second costume for the alien was not in budget.


1990s
1996 Kingpin. Sports comedy. Bowling. Bill Murray plays a horrible, horrible, horrible jerk. It is weird, quirky, definitely crude in places. Great for being a movie you don't have to be super super attentive to follow. Had some good moments--also some moments where I just HAD to look away because they were all the too much. It should come with a warning for one scene. Well about four scenes. All for different reasons.
1996 That Thing You Do. I love, love, love this movie!!!! I love the soundtrack and the vibes. A group forms and breaks up just as quickly--but not without giving the world one hit song.

2010s
2014 Transendence. I enjoyed watching this sci-fi thriller. It was very Christopher Nolan. (Christopher Nolan did not direct, mind you.) WHICH I personally enjoyed the vibes. Great cast. Many of whom have worked with Nolan in the past. It had a few scenes where I needed to avert my eyes, but, for the most part this bittersweet story was good.
2016 Sing. I love, love, love this movie. Definitely a favorite. A talent show, of sorts, to save a theatre. WONDERFUL performances by all the animals...many shenanigans....great cast of actors.


ABCs of Viewing #6

A Andromeda Strain (1971);
B Beginning of the End (1957) Battle in Outer Space (1959) The Boat (1921)
C
D Dr. Strangelove (1964)
E Elf (2003)
F Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) Flash Gordon (1980)
G The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)
H Home Alone (1990) Howard the Duck (1986)
I It Came From Outer Space (1953)
J
K Kingpin (1996)
L
M Mad Monster Party (1967) Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) Mannequin (1987)
N
O Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
P Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) Prisoners of the Lost Universe (1983)
Q
R Return to the Batcave (2003)
S Star Knight (1985) Sing (2016) Starflight One (1983)
T Terms of Endearment (1983) That Thing You Do (1996) Transcendence (2014)
U Used People (1992)
V Monsier Verdoux (1947)
W World without End (1956)
X X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963)
Y
Z


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Week in Review #45

I am reading several books. I've finished none.

Century of Viewing #45

1960s
  • 1960 Battle in Outer Space.  A Japanese science fiction movie. I listened more than watched because it was one of those kinds of vision days. BUT it sounded awesome and delightful and one I want to watch again again on another day.
  • 1964 Dr. Strangelove. Black and white movie. DARK COMEDY. Strange, strange subject matter though extremely relevant at the time of its release. Definitely glad I watched it.

1990s
  • 1996 That Thing You Do. I love, love, love this movie!!!! I love the soundtrack and the vibes. A group forms and breaks up just as quickly--but not without giving the world one hit song.

2000s
  • 2003 Return to the Batcave. Was it ridiculous...YES. Did I enjoy it for the most part. Also yes. I didn't love it, mind you, so much that I want to watch it again and again. I don't. But I don't regret my time either.
ABC's of Viewing #5

A
B Beginning of the End (1957) Battle in Outer Space (1959)
C
D Dr. Strangelove (1964)
E Elf (2003)
F Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) Flash Gordon (1980)
G The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)
H Home Alone (1990) Howard the Duck (1986)
I It Came From Outer Space (1953)
J
K
L
M Mad Monster Party (1967) Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) Mannequin (1987)
N
O Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
P Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Q
R Return to the Batcave (2003)
S
T Terms of Endearment (1983) That Thing You Do (1996)
U Used People (1992)
V Monsier Verdoux (1947)
W World without End (1956)
X X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963)
Y
Z



© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Thursday, October 29, 2026

October Monthly Reflections



This month I read five books.

Books reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews


65. Westfallen. Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [MG speculative fiction, MG science fiction, MG dystopia, TIME TRAVEL, alternate history]
66. Xenocide. Orson Scott Card. 1991. 592 pages. [Source: Library] [audio book, 3 stars]
67. Daughter of Egypt. Marie Benedict. 2026. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy] [adult historical fiction, dual narratives, 3 stars]
68. Westfallen: The World at Midnight. Ann and Ben Brashares. 2026. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, MG speculative fiction, series book]
69. I Am A Good Dog (Dogtown #3) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 2026. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, series book]

Books reviewed at Young Readers

I didn't review any books.

Books reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

I didn't review any books.

Bibles reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

I didn't review any Bibles.

Totals

Totals for 2026
Books Read in 2026171
Pages Read in 202644499
January Totals
Books Read in January21
Pages Read in January5119
February Totals
Books read in February24
Pages Read in February4225
March Totals
Books read in March18
Pages read in March4099
April Totals
Books read in April16
Pages read in April6386
May Totals
Books Read in May11
Pages read in May4067
June Totals
Books read in June26
Pages read in June4767
July Totals
Books read in July18
Pages read in July3239
August Totals
Books read in August23
Pages read in August6965
September Totals
Books read in September9
Pages read in September4095
October Totals
Books read in October5
Pages read in October2057


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Century of Viewing, October


This month I watched 18 things--not counting twelve seasons of Flip or Flop which I never bothered adding officially.

This month's five star movies: Mannequin, Home Alone, Elf, and Dr. Strangelove.

This month's four and four and half star movies: Battle in Outer Space, Terms of Endearment, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, and Monsieur Verdoux.




© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Week in Review #44

I am reading several books. I've finished none.

Century of Viewing #44

1980s
  • 1983 Terms of Endearment. Just as sad as Steel Magnolias but without the humor and quotable quotes. Glad I watched it. If I had to sum it up, family is complicated and life doesn't go as planned.
  • 1986 Howard the Duck. It was way more adult oriented than I was expecting. That being said I didn't have many expectations. You never can tell what "PG" means. 😆😆😆 A duck from an alternate universe finds himself trapped in this one....and may just be the duck to save the day.
  • 1987 Mannequin. So glad I finally watched this 80's rom-com!!!! It has a quirky premise for sure--but has been done in the past. A man falls in love with the woman he creates. In this case, he "creates" this mannequin--piecing her together. And ends up falling in love with her after she comes to life each night in the department store. (He works the night shift).

1990s
  • 1992 Used People. Would not watch again. Probably wouldn't recommend. The description seems safe enough but this is one very weird, quirky movie...about grief and new beginnings. A widow is pursued on the very day day of her husband's funeral by an alleged 'friend' of her husband who has secretly been in love with her for twenty something years (even writing a love song for her). How well do they know each other??? Well, he spied on them through a window once. The widow's family--daughters, grandsons, extended family are all eccentric some being eccentric and CREEPY

2010s
  • 2013 Olympus Has Fallen. I would have preferred a few developed characters and a sturdier plot. BUT if you like action-action-action movies, you could always do worse. No dinosaurs, meteors, or aliens. There are sequels but I'm undecided if I'll go on with the series. We'll see. This is a "must save the President" movie.
ABCs of Viewing #4

A
B Beginning of the End (1957)
C
D
E Elf (2003)
F Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) Flash Gordon (1980)
G The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)
H Home Alone (1990) Howard the Duck (1986)
I It Came From Outer Space (1953)
J
K
L
M Mad Monster Party (1967) Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) Mannequin (1987)
N
O Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
P Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Q
R
S
T Terms of Endearment (1983)
U Used People (1992)
V Monsier Verdoux (1947)
W World without End (1956)
X X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963)
Y
Z

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews