It was ok - fairly amusing, with one hilarious naked Skype scene. Meryl Streep was doing her burgeoning older woman thing, but I don't think she needed to try to hard, you know? Mostly, the movie was just interior decorating porn. Seriously gorgeous set dressing happening there. It was very gilded and glowing - luminous skin and glistening eyes and decadent food and blah blah. So, I guess my review is meh? John Krasinski was really the best part.
Trailers: Crazy Heart (Jeff Bridges plays aging country singer, very intriguing) and Robin Hood (Gladiator minus the Romans and Joaquin Phoenix).
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The tragedy of war
"What brought the tragedy home were the artefacts - the inscribed bibles and lucky charms.From this article about identifying the unknown soldiers of the First World War.
For her, the two most poignant came from Australian soldiers. The first was a small lucky charm in the shape of a boomerang, to symbolise returning home.
The other was the return half of a railway ticket from Freemantle to Perth, intended for the soldier's journey home to his family."
Friday, January 29, 2010
Accepting the inevitable
I clearly have some fluffy element missing from my bloodstream, because I am on week two of reading everything Katie Fforde has ever written and am feeling better for it. My bookclub book has been abandoned in the bottom of my bag. My bedside book has been abandoned just short of the end. The book I ordered from Amazon and couldn't wait to get my hands on has not yet been touched. Instead I am wandering rural England, admiring a world of Agas, Rayburns, lumpy jumpers, amusing cats, disreputable friends and grumpy guys who always turn out all right in the end.
That's the beauty of Katie Fforde. It all turns out all right in the end.
That's the beauty of Katie Fforde. It all turns out all right in the end.
Bye
Good bye.
Goodbye.
Bye.
Byebye.
Byebyebyebye.
Come back -
comebacktomewhenyoucan.
Because behind goodbye is
Imissyou.
Goodbye.
Bye.
Byebye.
Byebyebyebye.
Come back -
comebacktomewhenyoucan.
Because behind goodbye is
Imissyou.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Still dreaming
Although I'm making some concrete moves into the future (seriously - things are happening I hope), I'm still dreaming about the things I want. I think about my hoped for garden, with the nice field next door that houses my horse. I dream about my living room, with it's wall to wall white shelving units, lined with books. The ladder I need to reach the ones on top will be parked in a corner. The sofa and the chair probably won't match but they will be comfy. There will be thick curtains at the window, and the room will be cosy when they're closed. The little roll top desk will sit in the corner, and my laptop will live there. I will not have it in my room or on my lap. It will be in a place for Working, and I will actually use it for writing and such, not just checking TT and wandering around Facebook.
I'll have a table to eat at, and set it every day, even if it is just me eating. Because I like a table set for eating - the placemat, the plate, the knives and forks. The kitchen will call out to be cooked in - and I'll have gadgets galore. A bookshelf in the kitchen. A pantry with my stuff lined up, even though my sister would fall apart laughing at me. A full set of crockery. A couple of La Crueset dishes. An interesting project cooking on the stove. A window looking over a full garden, and herbs on the window sill.
Upstairs will have a chest on the landing. I've always wanted a big chest to store stuff in. An actual linen cupboard, with actual linen in, smelling all warm and cosy, with one of those lovely cedar pouches stored there for good measure. Two bedrooms, somewhere comfy to retreat to. A wooden sleigh bed that's begging to be slept in, a chair in the window that's begging to be read in. A bedside table that's stacked with books. A nice, tidy bathroom, with actual storage space, and an actual towel rail. Bottles with bubble bath lined up along the side - those funky little creme dispensers would do nicely. A house that's warm and cosy and mine. A garden that's small, but with secret corners that can't be seen from the house. The kind of patio that welcomes people for a braai. A corner that birds will flock to.
I want to want to get up early and ramble off into the wilderness with my dog, leaving behind a grumpy cat. I want to spend early mornings chivvying a horse around and think, gorgeous day, might go for a hack. I want to wake up on a Sunday and think - farmer's market today, better go stock up, and swing by the secondhand bookshop on the way back. I want to to be able to look around me and go, this, this is my life. These things, these things are mine. This life is what I've made, and it may not suit everyone, but damn it would make me really happy.
I'll have a table to eat at, and set it every day, even if it is just me eating. Because I like a table set for eating - the placemat, the plate, the knives and forks. The kitchen will call out to be cooked in - and I'll have gadgets galore. A bookshelf in the kitchen. A pantry with my stuff lined up, even though my sister would fall apart laughing at me. A full set of crockery. A couple of La Crueset dishes. An interesting project cooking on the stove. A window looking over a full garden, and herbs on the window sill.
Upstairs will have a chest on the landing. I've always wanted a big chest to store stuff in. An actual linen cupboard, with actual linen in, smelling all warm and cosy, with one of those lovely cedar pouches stored there for good measure. Two bedrooms, somewhere comfy to retreat to. A wooden sleigh bed that's begging to be slept in, a chair in the window that's begging to be read in. A bedside table that's stacked with books. A nice, tidy bathroom, with actual storage space, and an actual towel rail. Bottles with bubble bath lined up along the side - those funky little creme dispensers would do nicely. A house that's warm and cosy and mine. A garden that's small, but with secret corners that can't be seen from the house. The kind of patio that welcomes people for a braai. A corner that birds will flock to.
I want to want to get up early and ramble off into the wilderness with my dog, leaving behind a grumpy cat. I want to spend early mornings chivvying a horse around and think, gorgeous day, might go for a hack. I want to wake up on a Sunday and think - farmer's market today, better go stock up, and swing by the secondhand bookshop on the way back. I want to to be able to look around me and go, this, this is my life. These things, these things are mine. This life is what I've made, and it may not suit everyone, but damn it would make me really happy.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Words of wisdom
"I'm just fed up of making lemonade, you know? I just want to moan about the lemons." - The Sister, wishing for an easy life.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Notes
I share a bathroom cabinet with two of the guys I live with (one's French and one's Italian). This evening I noticed that French guy had a little note stuck on his toothbrush, saying 'Je t'aime'. Almost makes up for the fact that I had to listen to him and girlfriend make je t'aime so loudly all weekend. Almost.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
It's a truth universally acknowledged...
...that the grumpier I am, the more I enjoy seeing dead bodies on Silent Witness.
I haven't yet started to identify with the killers, but it's getting there.
I haven't yet started to identify with the killers, but it's getting there.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Daybreakers
Bloody, very bloody. But a nice spin on the usual vampires out to get us tale. Ethan Hawke was his usual understated self, Willem Dafoe keyed back the crazy to just plain eccentric, while Sam Neill enjoyed being evil a litte too much I think.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Humour Me
This was one of my favourite jokes when I was about 8 (and actually remains one of my favourite jokes):
What's green, hairy and very dangerous?
A horde of stampeding gooseberries.
Why, exactly, is this funny? I wish I knew. Is it the anthropomorphisation (I think I may have made that word up) of the fruit? Is it the hairiness? The danger? Is it the visual of a horde of gooseberries stampeding down a cliff? Or is it the fact that gooseberries are by their very nature peaceable fruits, so pretending they are otherwise is hilarious? Makes me smile every time though...
ON EDIT: Some googling showed up The Dangerous Brothers and the origin of the gooseberry jokes. You learn something new every day.
What's green, hairy and very dangerous?
A horde of stampeding gooseberries.
Why, exactly, is this funny? I wish I knew. Is it the anthropomorphisation (I think I may have made that word up) of the fruit? Is it the hairiness? The danger? Is it the visual of a horde of gooseberries stampeding down a cliff? Or is it the fact that gooseberries are by their very nature peaceable fruits, so pretending they are otherwise is hilarious? Makes me smile every time though...
ON EDIT: Some googling showed up The Dangerous Brothers and the origin of the gooseberry jokes. You learn something new every day.
Random Thought
Do you think that when Jesus was getting into trouble at home, shovelling in his food or messing everywhere, Mary said to him: "What? Were you born in a barn?" And he was all: "Um...yes?"
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Dear Cormac McCarthy
You make me want to go out and prevent your vision from becoming reality. But I fear the inevitability of a world bereft of everything but a few manmade objects. No flora, no fauna. No colour, no weather. Just grey ash and a human race spiralling into depravity. But the final chapter. There's hope there, I think. The Road could be a road to anywhere.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Books Books Books
More preciouses, purchased from Foyles on Charing Cross Road:
1) Silverthorn - Raymond E Feist
2) Dead Heat - Dick Francis and Felix Francis
3) Busman's Holiday - Dorothy L Sayers
4) The Road - Cormac McCarthy
1) Silverthorn - Raymond E Feist
2) Dead Heat - Dick Francis and Felix Francis
3) Busman's Holiday - Dorothy L Sayers
4) The Road - Cormac McCarthy
The Lion King
We went to see The Lion King on stage over the weekend. My zen-like friend had gone on about it, and H and I needed to see something amazing, and it definitely fit the bill! The costumes are just incredible. The choreography is amazing. The music just made me wail - so homesick making.
It should be inane - people prancing about on stage, wearing hats with animals on them. But, it works. And it works fantastically.
It should be inane - people prancing about on stage, wearing hats with animals on them. But, it works. And it works fantastically.
Avatar
Finally got around to seeing this (and yes, I saw it in 3D). I was initially keen to try it (Empire has been hyping all year), but when the trailer actually hit I was less than impressed. But I dutifully went to see it anyway, and I could totally take it or leave it. First of all - insanely long. I think a tighter story line would have served Cameron's ideas much better. And wow there are a lot of ideas. Definitely the best part was seeing the complexity of the culture. That level of detail was very rewarding. But the main theme (culture with intense connection to nature gets consistently screwed over by capitalist pigs wearing military uniforms, until nature delivers an arse kicking) is very much an idea of the moment, and nothing particularly new.
So what did I like? First of all, the idea of an Avatar. That throws up lots of wonderful ideas about making yourself part of a culture. Is it cheating to wear that blatant a mask? The scientists are just "demons, an empty shell" - what makes them truly part of the people? I know we get our answer at the end, but I still felt a little like it was false pretences. Very nifty conceit though.
The second thing I liked was very small, but it was a nice touch. The further Sully gets involved with the people, the more his human appearance changes. His hair gets longer, he gets thinner. The body starts to reflect the mind. I was hoping that his Avatar would just suddenly take over, making it a true mental leap, but the connection to the planet makes sense.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I don't like the 3D effect. Mostly because it gave me a headache, but also because I found it quite jarring. One of my favourite things about seeing movies in a cinema is that I get completely consumed. The 3D "experience" kept jolting me out of the story, and I didn't appreciate it.
So. You can stone me now if you want. I don't mind.
So what did I like? First of all, the idea of an Avatar. That throws up lots of wonderful ideas about making yourself part of a culture. Is it cheating to wear that blatant a mask? The scientists are just "demons, an empty shell" - what makes them truly part of the people? I know we get our answer at the end, but I still felt a little like it was false pretences. Very nifty conceit though.
The second thing I liked was very small, but it was a nice touch. The further Sully gets involved with the people, the more his human appearance changes. His hair gets longer, he gets thinner. The body starts to reflect the mind. I was hoping that his Avatar would just suddenly take over, making it a true mental leap, but the connection to the planet makes sense.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I don't like the 3D effect. Mostly because it gave me a headache, but also because I found it quite jarring. One of my favourite things about seeing movies in a cinema is that I get completely consumed. The 3D "experience" kept jolting me out of the story, and I didn't appreciate it.
So. You can stone me now if you want. I don't mind.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Dear Marian Keyes
Hmmmmmm. Marian, I have to say, your last couple of books have smacked of bitterness. They've been really good reads. But bitter enough to curdle milk.
love and kisses
Me
love and kisses
Me
It's Quite An Odd Thing
If you think about it, water falling from the sky in the form of flakes, so many that the ground is covered in 20cm of the stuff - it's quite weird.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
White Noise
I like silence, the peaceful echo of nothing, the emptiness of a quiet room. But there are days when I restlessly go from thing to thing, from DVD player to laptop to CD player to TV, wanting some kind of sound, any kind of sound, to fill the void.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Grotty Handbag Tells All
I was digging through my capacious handbag tonight, clearing out the grime in preparation for adding my Brand New Diary and Brand New Address Book to the mix. Am I the only one who sometimes picks through their stuff, pretending to be a detective?
Flicking through the pages of a largely empty diary, except for cryptic notations such as M:@8:30. Address book – also largely empty. Was she a sad old bird? Well no sir, says the PI's assistant. There's a receipt for WH Smith right here. Seems she bought that address book today. Interesting, says the PI. He digs deeper into the bag, wincing slightly as he is stabbed in the finger. He pulls out a wire keyring, eyeing the awkward jagged edge balefully. No car, he says. Well, says the assistant, pulling out a battered security pass. She works at Homebase, what do you expect? But she does like the Guardian. There are at least two here. Both crosswords semi-completed. She wasn't very good at the cryptics though.
Finally, they hit paydirt – coins and the dusty remains of some biscuits that escaped their baggie. The PI touches the 10p piece lightly to his tongue. Yes, he mumbles. Yes? asks the assistant. Yes, he answers. Definitely shortbread.
Flicking through the pages of a largely empty diary, except for cryptic notations such as M:@8:30. Address book – also largely empty. Was she a sad old bird? Well no sir, says the PI's assistant. There's a receipt for WH Smith right here. Seems she bought that address book today. Interesting, says the PI. He digs deeper into the bag, wincing slightly as he is stabbed in the finger. He pulls out a wire keyring, eyeing the awkward jagged edge balefully. No car, he says. Well, says the assistant, pulling out a battered security pass. She works at Homebase, what do you expect? But she does like the Guardian. There are at least two here. Both crosswords semi-completed. She wasn't very good at the cryptics though.
Finally, they hit paydirt – coins and the dusty remains of some biscuits that escaped their baggie. The PI touches the 10p piece lightly to his tongue. Yes, he mumbles. Yes? asks the assistant. Yes, he answers. Definitely shortbread.
Books Books Books
Latest additions:
1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson (bought for book club, and we start discussing on the 15th, so I'd better get cracking)
2) The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (I was momentarily blinded by Waterstone's 3 for 2 sticker and bought - horror of horrors - a movie tie-ing cover)
3) Company of Liars - Karen Maitland (Did I mention there was a 3 for 2 deal on? It's about the plague and I'm sure I read a review of it. Seems interesting enough)
1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson (bought for book club, and we start discussing on the 15th, so I'd better get cracking)
2) The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (I was momentarily blinded by Waterstone's 3 for 2 sticker and bought - horror of horrors - a movie tie-ing cover)
3) Company of Liars - Karen Maitland (Did I mention there was a 3 for 2 deal on? It's about the plague and I'm sure I read a review of it. Seems interesting enough)
The Game is Afoot
Even legendary Guy Ritchie hater Mark Kermode liked Sherlock Holmes. It can't really be called anything but a “cracking film”. A great script, excellent chemistry between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, and some kick-ass fight scenes made up for a slightly watery plot.
The plot was a bit bog-standard Victorian England – secret society, magical influence – but the visuals of Victorian England were super. Smoky, mysterious, busy – really evocative.
Robert Downey Jr was really excellent as the self-destructive, drug addicted detective. Clever, acerbic, and brutally jealous of Watson's fiance. Jude Law brought real energy to Watson's character (I know, I couldn't believe it either). Watson has tended to be portrayed as an idiot. But Arthur Conan Doyle wrote him as an intelligent and heroic man, equal to Holmes as a doctor, if not as a brilliantly deductive detective. It was great to see him give Holmes the kick in the arse he so regularly needs, to see his gambling, daring side, and also to see that he is as keen on getting into trouble as his partner his. Their byplay was easily the best part of the movie.
The fight scenes were really interesting – CSI style with a Holmes twist. Listening to him plot how was going to thump someone and then watching him execute it was a great plot device and well used.
Typical of Guy Ritchie movies – great supporting cast by English actors. Managed to spot Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lastrade (last seen playing the snorting Pancks in Little Dorrit) and William Houston as Constable Clark (last seen playing the yummy and heroic Dr Millais Culpin in Casualty 1909).
So, two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Amusing, adventurous – I liked Sherlock Holmes a lot.
Trailers: Book of Eli (Denzel Washington in badass mode, with a religious twist – ooooooh) and The Lovely Bones (based on the book, which I haven't read yet).
The plot was a bit bog-standard Victorian England – secret society, magical influence – but the visuals of Victorian England were super. Smoky, mysterious, busy – really evocative.
Robert Downey Jr was really excellent as the self-destructive, drug addicted detective. Clever, acerbic, and brutally jealous of Watson's fiance. Jude Law brought real energy to Watson's character (I know, I couldn't believe it either). Watson has tended to be portrayed as an idiot. But Arthur Conan Doyle wrote him as an intelligent and heroic man, equal to Holmes as a doctor, if not as a brilliantly deductive detective. It was great to see him give Holmes the kick in the arse he so regularly needs, to see his gambling, daring side, and also to see that he is as keen on getting into trouble as his partner his. Their byplay was easily the best part of the movie.
The fight scenes were really interesting – CSI style with a Holmes twist. Listening to him plot how was going to thump someone and then watching him execute it was a great plot device and well used.
Typical of Guy Ritchie movies – great supporting cast by English actors. Managed to spot Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lastrade (last seen playing the snorting Pancks in Little Dorrit) and William Houston as Constable Clark (last seen playing the yummy and heroic Dr Millais Culpin in Casualty 1909).
So, two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Amusing, adventurous – I liked Sherlock Holmes a lot.
Trailers: Book of Eli (Denzel Washington in badass mode, with a religious twist – ooooooh) and The Lovely Bones (based on the book, which I haven't read yet).
Friday, January 01, 2010
Watch It Round Up 2009
When I moved over to the UK, I had to give up my precious Ster Kinekor card, and leave behind Half Price Tuesdays. For more than a year I saw no movies at the cinema, and barely watched anything on DVD. It was a painful, painful time. But this year I was saved by Cineworld's Unlimited Card. I love it - you can go see as many movies as you like for £13 a month. It's changed my life. Seriously. Those who know me personally can attest to that fact. Anyway.
It was a pretty good year for movies all round I thought (I rediscovered watching movies on DVD as well - thank you LoveFilm! And a better paying job!). Favourites definitely included Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt, Mullholland Dr, True Romance, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Where The Wild Things Are, District 9 and The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassis.
I seemed to gravitate towards complicated psychological dramas, and also watched more documentaries than I realised. Nothing like a bit of pain and reality!
A good year.
It was a pretty good year for movies all round I thought (I rediscovered watching movies on DVD as well - thank you LoveFilm! And a better paying job!). Favourites definitely included Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt, Mullholland Dr, True Romance, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Where The Wild Things Are, District 9 and The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassis.
I seemed to gravitate towards complicated psychological dramas, and also watched more documentaries than I realised. Nothing like a bit of pain and reality!
A good year.
Read It Round Up 2009
I managed to beat 2008's total by about 10, with my final total of new books read coming in at 79. I'm so proud.
There are a lot of Nora Roberts and Katie Fforde books on the list again this year, but at the end of 2008 I promised I would try to read more "classics", and by classics I mean landmark novels, short stories and novellas. I loved Little Dorrit, and she really managed to get me over my Fear of Dickens. I also really enjoyed Revolutionary Road, The Book Thief, The Uncommon Reader and the Night Watch series. I was probably only truly disappointed by one book in 2009, and that was The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory is definitely not for me.
What I would like to do in 2010 is read more Dickens and more Thomas Hardy. I'd also like to read as much Haruki Murakami as possible. I'm hoping to write a really good Dear Author entry for each new book I read as well.
But a good year's reading all round. I was in Waterstones the day before yesterday and as I wandered the stacks I was suffused with a feeling of satisfaction. Could I have chosen a better hobby? Never!
There are a lot of Nora Roberts and Katie Fforde books on the list again this year, but at the end of 2008 I promised I would try to read more "classics", and by classics I mean landmark novels, short stories and novellas. I loved Little Dorrit, and she really managed to get me over my Fear of Dickens. I also really enjoyed Revolutionary Road, The Book Thief, The Uncommon Reader and the Night Watch series. I was probably only truly disappointed by one book in 2009, and that was The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory is definitely not for me.
What I would like to do in 2010 is read more Dickens and more Thomas Hardy. I'd also like to read as much Haruki Murakami as possible. I'm hoping to write a really good Dear Author entry for each new book I read as well.
But a good year's reading all round. I was in Waterstones the day before yesterday and as I wandered the stacks I was suffused with a feeling of satisfaction. Could I have chosen a better hobby? Never!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)