Book Review: Captured by Love

By Jason Hooker

Captured by Love is a non-fiction book combining multiple accounts about the real love stories that developed in the lives of the Vietnam War POW’s and their wives back home. It is co-authored by Lee Ellis (a former POW) and Greg Godek (relationship and romance author), who have done a remarkable job of shining light, hope and beauty into the horrific experiences of the POW’s. This positive outlook threads the writing style of every account, each of which is made from interviews and writing from the real people behind the stories. It truly is wonderful to read these true stories of beauty arising from the least likely of contexts. 

At the end of every account, the book takes a moment to pause and reflect on the values we can apply to our romantic relationships, as inspired by the real-life goodness lived out in the lives of the POW’s and their wives. Many of them were men and women of faith and testify to the powerful role their faith played in giving them endurance and hope. We are also intermittently given small insights into the factual history surrounding each story, so that we are grounded in knowledge but not so distracted by facts that it feels like a history book. Every account feels personable and emotionally evocative. 

This book is incredibly inspiring and heart-warming to read. It is an amazing experience to read about the perseverance, devotion and bravery that the POW’s and their wives upheld during times of trial, and it is a wonderful testament to the power of faith. For anyone interested in inspiring true stories, the beauty of romantic relationships, or world history, this book is a wonderful blend of elements that will inspire and uplift you. 

The authors dedicate the book to “couples everywhere that aspire to keep the love-of-their-life, soulmate-relationship vibrant and growing for a lifetime”. 

Venu Sports, the new joint streaming venture from Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp., has finally revealed what it will charge subscribers.

$42.99 a month.

The service will have a seven-day free trial, the joint venture said Thursday.

Scheduled to launch in the fall, the offering will give fans access to games from the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and other sports the three partners carry on their linear TV channels.

The aim of the platform, announced in February, is to provide a destination that will appeal to younger sports fans who are bypassing traditional pay-TV subscriptions.

Fox Corp. Chairman Lachlan Murdoch has said the potential customer pool is the 60 million U.S. households not connected to cable or satellite TV.

The trio of traditional media companies have joined forces to compete with deep-pocketed tech companies that are spending heavily to offer live sports on their streaming services.

Netflix recently announced it had acquired the rights to two NFL Christmas games in 2024, and at least one during the next two seasons. Amazon’s Prime Video just landed a significant package of NBA games in the league’s next media rights deal.

Pete Distad is chief executive of Venu Sports. He previously worked at Apple and Hulu.

Ashwin Babu starrer Shivam Bhaje is the new age divine suspense thriller directed by Apsar. The film has hit the big screens today. Check out our review to find out how it is.

Story:

Chandu (Ashwin Babu) is a loan recovery agent who falls in love with Sailaja (Digangana Suryavanshi). An unexpected incident causes Chandu to lose his eyesight. After an operation, he regains his vision, but things aren’t the same. He suspects something is wrong about the murders connected to Binary Chemical Pvt Ltd. What really happened to Chandu? What are the motives behind the murders? Who is responsible for the killings? How is the story linked to China and Pakistan? The answers will be revealed in the movie.

Plus Points:

Following Hidimba’s success, expectations for Ashwin Babu were noticeable, and he delivered a competent performance. Actress Digangana Suryavanshi fulfills her role adequately.

Arbaaz Khan performs fine as a policeman, and Hyper Aadhi provides some humour with his comedic timing. The supporting cast, Murali Sharma and Tanikella Bharani, perform their roles effectively.

Minus Points:

Despite being marketed as a new-age divine suspense thriller, the film suffers from a weak script and poor narration. The lack of engaging scenes and a coherent screenplay results in an experience that falls short of its potential, often leading to unintended comedy.

The director’s intention is clear, but the execution fails to create gripping moments that hold the audience’s attention.

The divine angle is poorly developed, making the title feel disconnected from the storyline. The few scenes hinting at a divine connection lack impact.

The film does not effectively incorporate the potential threat to India from China and Pakistan, missing an opportunity to build suspense. Additionally, the romantic subplot and some comedic elements come across as contrived.

Technical Aspects:

As both writer and director, Apsar disappoints. He lacks a more engaging script and suspenseful narration. Improved execution might have led to a more compelling film.

The background score by Vikas Badisa is adequate, enhancing certain scenes. The cinematography by Dasaradhi Shivendra is satisfactory, and production values are reasonable. While the editing by Chota K Prasad is acceptable, trimming some scenes could have improved the viewing experience.

Verdict:

On the whole, Shivam Bhaje is a disappointing thriller with a lackluster plot. Although Ashwin Babu and Arbaaz Khan deliver fine performances, the film’s weak storyline and ineffective screenplay fall short. It’s advisable to explore other entertainment options this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 2/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

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