Survival of the "Weakest": A Book Review of "The Pianist"

In September 1939, World War II began with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. Upon reaching Warsaw, the Nazis set up a ghetto for the Jews, and things appeared alright at first, perhaps just a little tense. Yet things escalated, and the true purpose of Germany was revealed: all Jews were to be killed.

The Pianist is a memoir by Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew. In his book, Szpilman recalls his time in the Jewish ghetto of Warsaw as he struggled to survive and hide from Nazi soldiers. It was published following the war, but because the Soviet Union disapproved, it was banned. It was not until the late 1990's that it was republished in German and English. It was later adapted into a film version, though Szpilman passed away before the movie was completed.

SUMMARY

   The Pianist's author is also the main character (as this is an autobiographical memoir), Wladyslaw Szpilman in the 1930's, at both Berlin, Germany, and Warsaw, Poland. When the Nazis rose to power, Szpilman returned to Poland in 1933.

   He begins working for the Polish Radio until Germany invades in the fall of 1939. The station goes off air as he plays one of Chopin's Nocturnes. Not long after, Warsaw surrenders to Germany. The Nazis put up notices for the Poles: they will be cared for by Germany. There is even a special section for Jews! This is a relief for many Jews, though some still suspected treachery.

   It doesn't take long for the true intentions of the Nazis to be made clear. Raids occur all over Warsaw, in which Jews are abused. A little later, Jews are required to hand in property and valuables to the German state; Jewish families are permitted to own only a small portion of money, regardless of the family's size.

   The Szpilmans did not go along with their enemies and instead hid their money and valuables in strategic places around their home. But by the time 1940 came around, a section of Warsaw had been blocked with walls, and rumors circulated that this was to be the ghetto for Jews. 

   Still, Szpilman and his family were fortunate enough to already be living within the ghetto walls; they would not have to evacuate and be subject to Nazi abuse...yet.

   The ghetto quickly became a terrible place to live: full of fear, unsanitary, under the watchful eye of Nazis. However, the worst was yet to come, but Wladyslaw would (quite miraculously) survive the horrors of occupation under the Third Reich. 

CONTENT

   As a memoir of the Nazi Holocaust, The Pianist has much strong violence, some of it told in detail. It includes (but is not limited to) shootings, beatings, verbal insults, and mass murder. In one part, an elderly Jew cannot move because he is paralyzed from the waist down. Nazi soldiers take the chair in which he sits and throw him out the window, where the man hangs in a tree. There is another scene in which Jews are instructed to lie on the ground; a Nazi commander then calmly walks down the row, shooting each Jew. 

   There are occasional uses of G*d and only once is d*** used. 

   I recall no sexual content, for which I was glad. However, this was a non-fictional book, and there were not many places where such things would fit.

   The Pianist is a good story of one man's survival of brutal tyranny and death. Christians who read the memoir will clearly see God's hand in this man's life, whether he recognized it or not. 

   Szpilman's memoir delves into the human psychology of a wartime Polish Jew. There are many rewarding scenes in the book, but this book will likely leave you with a sick feeling of those who did not make it out of the ghetto alive. And this is right, as human lives are created by God. As Scripture tells us, man is made in the likeness of God, our Creator. 

   Yet this book also proves that not all Germans of the time were like the Nazis, as Winston Churchill led Great Britain to believe. Even some of the soldiers were compassionate, as one sees in the memoir. 

   I would say this book is targeted mainly for adults. I am not suggesting that teens should not read this book (as I did), but no one, even adults, should read this book lightly. The Pianist is a remarkable account of German invasion and the war years in Warsaw, but it is also a grave story of man's depravity without God, when he is left to himself.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 224

Author of book: Wladyslaw Szpilman

Published in: 1946 (under the name Death of a City), 1998 (German/English editions), 2002 (movie tie-in edition)

Primary audience: Adults

The Ideal Leader: A Movie Review of "Captain Phillips"

On April 8, 2009, a small group of Somali pirates hijacked a cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama. The ship's captain was kidnapped and taken aboard a life boat with the pirates; the U.S. Navy came to make an attempt at a rescue mission for Captain Richard Phillips. In 2013, a movie inspired/based on Richard's biographical book was released.

The film's cast included Tom Hanks as Capt. Richard Phillips, Barkhad Abdi as pirate leader Abduwali Muse, and Michael Chernus as first officer Shane Murphy.

SUMMARY

   Captain Phillips wastes no time getting to the beginning of the story. Captain Richard Phillips is placed in charge of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama. They are to go past the Somalian coast and around the Horn of Africa. With that, the ship sets off for its fateful (and historic) voyage.

   Phillips is confident they can avoid problems with pirates, yet the crew has no weapons at all. The Alabama is unarmed. Still, Phillips makes sure that the crew runs drills to be prepared in the event of a pirate attack.

   Eventually, two small boats carrying pirates give chase to the Alabama. Phillips tricks one boat into turning around by making it appear that he is calling the military by radio. The other ship is not nearly well-equipped enough to chase the cargo ship, and thus turns aside.

   All is not well, though; the pirates improve their ship with new parts. One ship, now equipped with two engines, makes another attempt at catching the Alabama. This time, the pirates finally succeed, and they board the cargo ship.

   Phillips and the officers are held hostage in the control room. The lead pirate, Abduwali Muse, makes it clear that he is now the new captain. He informs Phillips that he is no longer captain of the Alabama.

   Captain Phillips tries to stall for time. He attempts to keep a cautious relationship with the pirates. The band of pirates eventually takes the money from the ship's safe and board the lifeboat. However, they take Phillips with them, and now the Navy races to rescue the kidnapped sailor.

CONTENT

   Throughout the film, guns are fired many times. Rarely, though, do we see someone shot. Most of the film's violence is made up of tense situations. The pirates are constantly pointing guns at the Alabama's crew. There is one scene where a gun is held to a man's head, and a pirate nearly kills him. Also, toward the end, a group of people are shot, and the Captain is covered in blood. 

   As far as profanity, there is sadly quite a usage of foul language. A** is used once and s*** is used a few times. H*** is used a couple of times, as well as several uses of d*** and God's name. Unfortunately, there is also one or two brief uses of Jesus' name (completely unnecessary).

   There is no sexual content of any kind.

   Captain Phillips is a great thriller movie and a rather intense one. While there are not many deaths, the threat of guns is ever-constant. With the unfortunate amount of profanities, anyone who views this movie will want to be on guard. This is definitely not a film for the entire family, but still a good film, nonetheless, save for the language. Yet Captain Phillips is portrayed as a sacrificial leader who is willing to put his own life in danger before those of his crew (as Christ Himself laid down His life for all mankind). With some good lessons to take from Captain Phillips, moviegoers will still want to be cautious of some violence and the swear words.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 134 minutes

Rating: PG-13 (for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use)

Director: Paul Greengrass

Producers: Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti, Scott Rudin, Kevin Spacey

Music: Henry Jackman

Year of release: 2013
Primary audience: Teens, adults

Don't Trust Anyone: A Book Review of Agatha Christie's "The Secret Adversary"

Two young people are not doing well monetarily. So they naturally do what anyone else would do and place an ad for two adventurers to go anywhere, doing anything. Before they know it, they get tangled in an international conspiracy!

The Secret Adversary was Agatha Christie's second novel, though far less known today than others such as Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express. However, her second book won admiration from the New York Times Book Review. 

SUMMARY

   In May 1915, the Great War is in full swing and the RMS Lusitania has been hit by a German submarine torpedo. A mysterious man asks a young woman if she is a patriotic American and, after her answer, discreetly gives her a packet of paper. He tells her it is vital and that her chances of surviving the disaster are greater than his.

   Fast-forward four years to post-war London, just after the end of World War I. A young man, "Tommy" Beresford, and a young woman, "Tuppence" Cowley, both are out of money...and jobs. After some discussion in a café, the two create their own enterprise: "The Young Adventurers." No "unreasonable offer" will be refused.

   They find business sooner than they expected when Tuppence is trailed and hired by a Mr. Whittington. In his office, he asks her for her name. However, Tuppence decides not to give her real identity. Rather, she answers with an odd name she had overheard in the café: Jane Finn. Whittington's attitude changes at once, and he angrily asks what her demands are. Tuppence manages to bluff long enough to get some money from Whittington, who later vanishes. 

   Tommy and Tuppence decide to tackle the mysterious questions: who really is Jane Finn, and what is her importance? The pair decide to place an advertisement for anyone with information on this Miss Finn. 

   One reply to the advertisement leads the Young Adventurers to Mr. Carter, who ranks high in British intelligence. He tells the tale of Jane Finn, a young American who traveled to Europe on the Lusitania when it sank. A man gave her a vital yet secret treaty which she is to give to the American ambassador in London, England. However, both Jane Finn and the treaty disappeared. If the treaty was to resurface, it would mean great trouble for Great Britain and possibly another war. Carter offers a job to Tommy and Tuppence, who readily accept. Yet Carter warns that their job is secretive and full of great perils, including the mysterious figure of their opposition: "Mr. Brown."  

   The two young people set out on the case and eventually enlist the help of Jane's cousin, American millionaire Julius Hersheimer. The remainder of the story is packed with chases, kidnappings, espionage, and revealed mysteries.

CONTENT

   There is not as much violence in The Secret Adversary as there are tense moments. The threat of enemies constantly loom over Tommy, Tuppence, and Julius. Still, there are a few times when guns are fired at people, often during a chase scene in the book. 

    In an otherwise enjoyable adventure novel, there is a rather large amount of objectionable language. This includes many uses of h***, d***, and the British swear word "bloody." Although, I recall only one or two uses of God's name. 

   Julius plans to marry his cousin, which may seem strange (not to mention illegal) today, but it was rather common in the pre-1930's. Two characters also are surprised to find they have feelings for each other, and it is hinted that they will marry, but there is not much else in this area.

   When one hears the name "Agatha Christie," you often think of "murder mystery." While The Secret Adversary is undoubtedly a mystery, it seemed to me more of a spy thriller. While the main characters are not real "spies," the novel is quite similar to the spy and espionage genre. If you are not one for mysteries, this still might be a nice book for you to consider. 

   As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I believe The Secret Adversary can't quite compare to her other, more popular novels. Still, this was a great book to read and kept me on my toes (as the "Queen of Mystery" is known to do to her readers). While this novel is certainly too intense for children, teens and adults will likely find a great time in the book.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 320 (first edition)

Author of book: Agatha Christie

Published in: 1922

Primary audience: Teens, adults

The Boy and His Robot: A Movie Review of Martin Scorsese's "Hugo"

Based on the award-winning book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the film Hugo tells the tale of an orphan who runs the clocks in the Paris train station. The boy Hugo is obsessed with fixing an automaton (or robot), believing it will help him find a message from his father. However, he encounters so much 

more than this...

The film won five Academy Awards (as well as a nomination for Best Picture) and was considered by many to be the best family film of 2011. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Hugo stars Asa Butterfield as Hugo Cabret, Chloë Grace Moretz as Isabelle, and Ben Kingsley as Georges Méliès. 

SUMMARY

   It is the early 1930s, and a twelve-year-old boy resides in hidden apartments located inside the Paris train station. "Why?" you might ask. The boy, Hugo Cabret, attends to every clock in the station. But that is not all: he also steals mechanical parts from a toy booth.

   One day, he is caught by the bitter booth owner, and the man takes Hugo's notebook, refusing to return it. The toy-shop owner questions Hugo as to the individual who drew the pictures in the notebook. Hugo stubbornly will not answer, and the man calls for the Station Inspector. Hugo flees to his apartment. 

   The audience then learns of Hugo's past: how he lived with his father, became an orphan, and was adopted by his alcoholic Uncle Claude. The boy is taught by his uncle how to care for the clocks of the Paris train station. And here Hugo has remained day after day. However, he has been working on a mysterious mechanical man which he and his father had attempted to fix. This accounts for the stolen parts.

   That night, Hugo follows the old toy-maker to his home, and the door is slammed in his face. After inspecting the outside of the building, Hugo sees a girl in one of the upstairs bedroom. He gets her attention, and she comes down to speak with him. After hearing him out, she agrees to keep an eye on his notebook.

   The next day, Hugo goes to the toy-maker once again. The old man informs the boy that he may have a chance at earning the notebook back. Hugo must work in the shop to repay each and every part he stole. The owner will decide "when, if ever" the notebook will be returned. 

   Eventually, Hugo and the girl, named Isabelle, become friends. The two soon make a shocking discovery that will light Hugo's way, "all the way home."

CONTENT

   Hugo is not really a violent film, having little action, and just a few "chase" scenes. Still, there are two scenes where a boy is nearly run over by a train (one is a dream, the other is reality). Also, for younger children, there is a frightening (and frankly strange) scene in which Hugo imagines himself turning into a mechanical boy. In another brief scene, police find a dead man on the bank of a river. Still, this is much more of a drama than an action film. 

   This film is actually almost completely clean of foul language. There is one unfortunate, yet brief use of God's name, as well as a few minor insults. I was especially pleased with this aspect of the film, save for the one word!

   In two or three scenes, the Station Inspector speaks with a police officer concerning sexual matters. It is vague enough for younger kids to not understand, but teens and adults will grasp the meaning. The officer mentions that his wife is pregnant, and the Inspector asks as to their last "relations." When the officer says not within the past year, the Inspector remarks that the wife's pregnancy is "suspicious." Also, the Inspector tries to make conversation with the flower stall owner. After a lapse of speaking, he mentions cows having "perfectly-formed udders."

   There are a few brief scenes in which Hugo's Uncle Claude drinks alcohol and smokes cigars, being put forward as an alcoholic.

   All in all, I found Hugo to be a delightfully wonderful movie. It is rare that I find a film which I enjoy as much as the book that it was based on, and this is one such case. I even loved the music, which fit right into the classic era of 1930's France. Being clean, for the most part, it is a good movie for families, also including good lessons in perseverance and friendship. I particularly enjoyed the message that we are all here on this earth for a reason. Christians know an ultimate reason: the glorification of Christ.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 126 minutes

Rating: PG (for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Producers: Graham King, Timothy Headington, Martin Scorsese, Johnny Depp

Music: Howard Shore

Year of release: 2011

Primary audience: Family, pre-teens, teens

Protection or Freedom: A Movie Review of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"

What do you do in a world where moral values are dying and all around we see the sacrifice of our freedoms for the government to give security? In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the title character Captain Steve Rogers wrestles with protecting the people, but still giving them their unalienable rights.

The film stars Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce.

SUMMARY

   It has been two years since the events of The Avengers film and Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) is trying to work in a modern society, as he had previously been frozen from 1943 until the present. In addition, he has been working with the security department SHIELD.

   Early on in the movie, Captain America and Agent Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow) are sent to lead a strike team against terrorist-pirates who hijacked a SHIELD boat. However, while trying to rescue hostages and fighting pirates, Captain Rogers finds Black Widow downloading content from the ship's computer. He was not told about her side mission and later confronts Nick Fury at the SHIELD headquarters.

   After his encounter with Captain America, Nick Fury tries to access the items on the electronic chip from Black Widow. Much to his surprise, he finds that he is not allowed access...and that, apparently, he programmed that order! 

   He becomes worried and asks Alexander Pierce, the head of SHIELD, to delay an upcoming project. Pierce promises to do what he can but says that the World Security Council likely won't agree with the idea.

   Soon, Nick Fury is driving to meet with one of his agents but is assaulted by false "police." After his car takes much battering and is flipped over by an assassin, he makes a clever escape under the streets of Washington, D.C. He flees to Steve Roger's apartment where the assassin (called the Winter Soldier) attacks them. 

   Eventually, Steve and Natasha learn that there are terrorist forces hiding within SHIELD, and they must fight against their hidden enemies to bring the truth to light...before innocent people suffer.

CONTENT

   There is heavy violence in the film, though not necessarily gory. Guns are fired almost non-stop from the opening scene to the closing credits. Knives, rockets, and bombs are also used in addition to guns. In a few scenes, we see blood, including once when a man is stabbed. In addition to the war violence, a man's memories are erased by his brain being electrocuted (and the audience hears screams). Also, a man shoots his innocent maid after she witnesses a top secret meeting.

   In much of the movie, there was no foul language, but within the last twenty-some minutes, there were several uses of swear words: one s***, a b****, one or two uses of h***, and God's name. Sadly, this mostly clean film added this, apparently to "appeal" to audiences. It didn't appeal to me.

   The sexual content is pretty minor, but there are a couple various scenes. While undercover, Steve and Natasha kiss in an attempt to "blend in" with the crowd. Later, Natasha mentions a scar on her stomach and makes a comment about no more bikinis; Steve makes a vague comment in reply.

   The movie illustrates a good point from George Orwell's book 1984: when we want security so much, that we sacrifice privacy and freedoms, will we not lose our real security in the first place? Captain America brings this point up to Nick Fury when the latter shows the Captain some new weapons: "This isn't freedom. This is fear."

   For those who have seen The Avengers, Thor, or Captain America: The First Avenger, this second Captain America film might seem a bit of a disappointment. Now, don't get me wrong, the movie was still enjoyable and relatively clean. However, compared to Marvel's recent accomplishments, it kind of paled. I felt like I was watching more of Mission Impossible with a super hero than a Marvel movie. Still, it was a decent movie and much less dirty that some recent Hollywood releases. 

   This is a perfect movie for someone who does not necessarily enjoy superhero movies but likes action. Now if you are more of a Thor fan, this might not appeal to you quite as much.

   Overall, Captain America: The Winter Soldier features good acting, a really great plot, and some important values for Americans today. The violence, however, makes this film less of one for all ages and more geared to teens/adults. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 136 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, gunplay, and action throughout

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo 

Producer: Kevin Feige 

Music: Henry Jackman

Year of release: 2014

Primary audience: Teens, adults

No Evidence for Evolution Here: A Book Review of Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World"

Imagine living in a world where it was discovered that dinosaurs were living and flourishing on an uncharted piece of land. What kind of debate and tension would this cause in the scientific community? Sir Conan Doyle (author of the popular Sherlock Holmes books) does just that in his The Lost World.

SUMMARY

   What would a man do to win the heart of the woman he loves? If you are journalist Edward Malone, you find the most dangerous assignment you possibly can! The editor of the Daily Gazette sends the young Malone on a perilous mission: to interview Professor Challenger. While this seems easy enough, Malone is given the information that Challenger attacked several other men who approached him.

   The Professor had taken an expedition to South America, but no one could seem to get any details out of him. This is where Edward Malone comes into the spotlight. He visits the Professor and his wife for an interview under a clever disguise. When Malone's true intentions are revealed, Challenger assaults Malone. 

   Challenger is afraid of receiving more mockery because of his claims, but he finally tells Malone his secret: he has discovered a plateau serving as the home of dinosaurs! Malone is skeptical, yet Challenger offers a trip to the South American plateau, where the existence of these beasts will be proved.

   The two men are also accompanied by the scientist Professor Summerlee and explorer John Roxton. They and their native guides arrive at the plateau, but Challenger, Malone, Summerlee, and Roxton are trapped with the beasts of the island. The remainder of the story follows the adventurers as they brave monstrous dinosaurs and savage natives.

CONTENT

   One would think that a novel about explorers and dinosaurs would prove violent. While The Lost World certainly has a good share of violent material, it is not too gory. By the same token, much of the story is dialogue, sometimes merely about scientific classifications (which some, like myself, might find interesting!). People are killed and assaulted by not only dinosaurs, but also by other humans. There is the occasional use of rifles, also. 

   Language is rather minimal, with just a few uses of d*** and the English "bloody."

   There is nothing sexually immoral in the story. Malone is in love with a woman named Gladys, though she seems somewhat fickle when it comes to love. 

   The author, Arthur Conan Doyle, was an evolutionist, it would appear. His book is grounded on the theory that dinosaurs lived millions and millions of years ago, never coming face-to-face with humans. On the South American plateau, the native "humans" are evolving from monkeys to humans, and there are different tribes that are at different stages in their evolution. However, in writing The Lost World, Doyle's best "proof" for evolution actually disproves it! The creatures on the plateau are in the same state as if it was millions of years ago. But if everything is evolving to higher species, as evolutionists claim, why then would a plateau full of extinct kinds stay virtually unchanged for well over ten million years? This would actually prove an intelligent Creator! 

   While The Lost World has violence and atheist teachings, it is still a classic adventure novel that anyone can enjoy, with the right mind. If some readers are willing to overlook some possibly "dry" parts (as some might say), you will discover a decent action/adventure novel.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 272 (Modern Library, 2003 edition)

Author of book: Arthur Conan Doyle

Published in: 1912

Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens, adults