Page 6 September 1, 2016 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Entertainment Check It Out Film Review series Percy Jackson and the Olympians and the Heroes of Olympus prior to picking up this story and jumping right into the world of Greek and Roman mythology with the demigods heroes that live there, I would highly recommend doing so as there are many references to characters and events from the previous series. Either way, if it is your first time stepping into Riordan’s modern day pantheon or if you have been there time and time again with his many other books, this book will bring ancient mythology to life and leave you laughing out loud and wanting more. The El Segundo Public Library offers access to its collection of titles in a variety of formats, including traditional hardback, e-books and books on CD. To check out The Hidden Oracle: The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan, any of his other books or any other title on your to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your library card, or please contact the reference staff for further assistance. Reviewed by Katrena Woodson, Teen and Young Reader Librarian, El Segundo Public Library. • “The Light Between Oceans” is a Darkly Poetic and Affecting Love Story By Morgan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com Director Derek Cianfrance certainly has a knack for portraying “love lost and found.” His 2010 indie classic, “Blue Valentine,” is a moody and contemporary observation of one couple’s dysfunctional relationship while his 2013 indie hit, “The Place Beyond the Pines,” deals with familial struggles and the far-reaching repercussions of poor choices. Cianfrance continues to do what he does best, bringing his past experience of showcasing these same themes and questions to his first studio film, based on the acclaimed novel by M.L. Stedman, “The Light Between Oceans.” While this film is another romantic drama, written for the screen by Cianfrance, it is a small departure in terms of it being a period film, but that makes it no less relatable to modern audiences. After four years fighting abroad in World War I, all Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) craves is isolation and a relatively risk-free routine. When he is offered the position of the lighthouse keeper in a small coastal town in Western Australia, he graciously accepts. After arriving, he meets and quickly falls in love with Isabel (Alicia Vikander) and the two soon marry. Isabel follows Tom to the lighthouse, which stands in seclusion from the rest of the town. They are blissfully in love with each other, domesticating their tiny space on the island they call home and ready to start a family of their own. Their happiness comes to a sudden halt after two emotionally and physically painful miscarriages. Isabel becomes a shell of her former self, while Tom feels helpless in his efforts to console her. That is until a rowboat washes ashore with a newborn baby girl and her deceased father onboard. Isabel sees this as a sign from God and begs Tom to let her keep the baby instead of reporting the incident per his official protocol. Torn between what he knows is right and his wife’s happiness, Tom finally gives in to Isabel’s pleas. Life goes on for the couple and their newly acquired baby without consequence until Tom’s guilt catches up with him when he sees Hannah Roennfeldt (Rachel Weisz) visiting a grave site. As soon as he realizes that she is the baby girl’s birth mother, he knows the awful decision he will have to make. The moral dilemma of whether or not to expose the truth would not only devastate Isabel but ruin the relationship with the little girl they’ve come to love and call their own. It is this impossible choice and the events that follow which makes “The Light Between Oceans” so painstakingly brutal. While author M.L. Stedman takes credit for the story’s tragic circumstances, it is the colorful world created by Cianfrance that really drives the story home. Breathtaking visuals cover the screen from start to finish, with the camerawork making the characters seem so small compared to their epic surroundings. These sweeping images of the environment are juxtaposed with extreme closeups as if we are looking at the most intimate details of their relationship through a magnifying glass. In many scenes, the beats between Tom and Isabel’s dialogue last longer than a typical film’s edit, giving the characters not only a chance to act but react, which is how it achieves its heightened emotional intensity. Coming off of a strong 2015, Alicia Vikander proves why she, again, deserves to stay on the top this year. Her doe-eyed innocence and warm presence make her a protagonist worth rooting for, despite her flaws. We understand that her heart is in the right place and feel her pain as she finds herself in unspeakable situations. Michael Fassbender taps into his sensitive side as Tom, putting on a brave face for his family despite battling a moral war internally. Rachel Weisz gives a layered performance as Hannah as she experiences a rollercoaster of emotional grief and joy throughout the film. Watching these three powerful lead actors (Vikander and Weisz are Academy-Award winners, Fassbender has been nominated twice), is like truly watching magic on screen. It would be lazy to call “The Light Between Oceans” this year’s “The Notebook,” however, there is no denying the strong emotional parallels (plus the fact that Fassbender and Vikander are now dating after meeting on the set a lá Ryan Gosling and Rachel Mc- Adams). “The Light Between Oceans” isn’t easy to get through with dry eyes, but this timeless love story is as mesmerizing and beautiful as it is gut-wrenching and powerful, most definitely a top contender in this year’s best of lists. “The Light Between Oceans” is rated PG- 13 for thematic material and some sexual content. 132 minutes. In theaters everywhere on Sept. 2. • The Hidden Oracle: The Trials of Apollo By Rick Riordan. New York Times #1 Best-Selling author Rick Riordan has invited readers to step back into the world of demigods in another Percy Jackson spin-off series. This series is geared towards a fourth to ninth grade audience. The story picks up where Riordan’s last series about the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, left off. This new series The Hidden Oracle opens with Zeus punishing the God, Apollo by casting him out of Olympus and turning him into a mortal teenage boy. Apollo is forced to team up with Meg, a demigod, and head to Camp Half-blood This book is sure to thrill Riordan fans looking to return to the world of Percy Jackson and his friends. It has all of the wary narration and non-stop action that Riordan fans have come to know and love. Also the characters in this book prove to be a diverse group, which are so realistic, they feel as if they could walk right off of the page and join you in the real world. Although it is not necessary to have read Riordan’s other Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander in ‘The Light Between Oceans.’ Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures. Katrena Woodson. The Hidden Oracle: The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan.
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