Amelia: A film by Mira Nair

Most professional reviewers share the same conclusion .. the following sentence boils their reviews down to one sentence: the movie stinks.

But I'm not a professional film critic. I'm the average film buff who watches movies for one main reason: to be transported to a different place or time by a story that could be inspiring, gritty, funny, emotional, romantic, thrilling or horrifying.

This movie was not perfect.. yes, there were some cheesy dialogues and not enough background on Amelia Earhart's passion for flying. But these shortcomings were made up by spectacular cinematography (breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls), authentic airplanes (they used a version of the 1937 Lockheed Electra that Amelia used on her last fateful voyage), brilliant acting (Hillary looks and acts the part to a T) and resonating music (by Gabriel Yared of "City of Angels" fame).

I'm going to take the 5th as far as Mira Nair's hand in this film is concerned. I've seen this director use more originality to bring fiery screenplays to life on the big screen ("Monsoon Wedding", "The Namesake"), so there does seem to be a disconnect between "Amelia" and her previous films.. I'll say no more :)

Don't write off the movie based on the negative reviews. Watch the film for its real appeal - the story of a courageous woman, ahead of her time, who seized every opportunity to live her dreams, whatever the consequence.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - by Alison Weir

I'm a fan of Showtime's "The Tudors", but you don't need to subscribe to cable to enter the Tudor world of political intrigue and drama - just pick up a copy of Alison Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII". The book will take you through the foundation of the Tudor monarchy to the death of its most enigmatic ruler (Henry VIII), weaving academic research, opinion, engaging story-telling and vivid descriptions into a deeply rich tapestry. The focal points of the story are the wives of Henry VIII, and the author has drawn back the curtain to reveal the fascinating personalities of these incredible women.

The turbulent times of Henry VIII's rule were defined by his choice of bride, and his choices would signal shifting loyalties, power struggles and religious turmoil not only in his own kingdom but those of his neighbors. In an age when marriage was viewed as a political strategy, the wives of Henry VIII created their own destinies, and their own identities. From Katherine of Aragon to Katherine Parr, the wives of Henry exhibited their share of personal courage, shrewd maneuvers, passion, intellect, charm - it is these qualities that make for such an interesting breadth of stories with unexpected twists and turns. Follow up this magnificent read with another one of Weir's books - "The Life of Elizabeth I".