Laziness personified.

Wow, I'm such a lazycakes!

I have had a very unproductive summer and autumn, filled with good intentions, and unfulfilled promises...

And I'm pretty sure that nothing's going to change that.

Anyway, I'll try to be a little more proactive regarding my writing, reading and other generally amusing past times.

Had a pretty decent week actually.

Went to see "The Town" last saturday. It's an excellent thriller, full of suspense and drama, and the acting and eye-candy isn't that bad either....

One complaint?

It needs freaking SUBTITLES!

I couldn't understand half of what was said, and if I had, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more.

Moving on...

Went to a book signing in Dublin on Thursday. Great day for me....

Not so great for the poor woman who fell off her chair in Supermacs and broke her ankle.

Ouchies.

Arrived, with books under one arm and dignity tucked away somewhere in my handbag and completely nerded out for the entire night.....ah bliss.

Got signed copies of all my books. Personalised, don't ya know, and met the wonderfully talented, and utterly hilarious Genius' that are Maggie Stiefvater, Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Michael Scott.

I was shocked when I saw JLB. One: Because she's so young.

and more importantly

Two: She is the image of my fourth class teacher!

Freaky Biscuits.

They were all really sound actually, didn't scoff at my fan-girl ness and I even got pictures taken.

Excellente!

I even got to talk to Maggie S about the double entendres in the Linger audiobook, courtesy of Dan Bitner. He played Pete O'Malley in the fabulously funny and sweet "Adventureland"....

His voice actually made me fall off a chair!

He has the sexiest voice I have ever heard....

And yes, it beats Johnny Depp any day, ladies. Take note.

Anyway, if I have time, or energy, I will read and review all the books, a well as the one I got in a goodie bag that isn't due to be released till next april.

Sigh. I loves me an ARC. :D

Ranting is so much fun, isn't it? College Life has taken it's toll on my wonderous rambling capabilities.

Sigh.

Oh, and just for fun:

READ PAPER TOWNS BY JOHN GREEN!

I promise, you won't regret it.

Signing off....

Better than signing on I guess.

Lolgasm.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. The Book Report

I spent the entire weekend dutifully devouring the latest novel from phenomenal author-- and New York Times Bestseller, Cassandra Clare-- Clockwork Angel.

And it got me out of my "I need Mockingjay" funk.

The first in a new series, The Infernal Devices, the story is a prequel to her debut series The Mortal Instruments (City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass) and is set in the atmospheric and gloomy backdrop of Victorian London in 1878.
Once again, we delve into the world of the Shadowhunters.
For those of you not in the know-- and for shame if you aren’t-- The Shadowhunter’s are a group of clandestine demon hunters that reside all across the world and originate from Idris.
And, to be honest, they’re fricking awesome and you should get yourself formally acquainted.
Anyway, this is the premise for Clockwork Angel.

“Magic is Dangerous.
Love is more dangerous still
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gas lit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by-- and torn between-- two best friends and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.”

Okay, I’ll admit, at first I was hesitant. Not because of Clare’s writing, which I have complete confidence in and marvel at just how talented she is. She writes compelling and beautiful prose that’s captivating but not overwhelming and not pretentious or overly decadent like other writers--(Stephen King: Here’s looking at you, kid)-- I was never able to really get into the whole Victorian novel, until Clockwork Angel came along. I feared that, like Pride and Prejudice, The Age of Innocence and others of the kind; I would not be able to handle it.
My fears were unfounded.
Just like The Mortal Instruments series (which, along with Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and The Darkest Powers series, is one of my favourite series to read and re-read), Clockwork Angel is action packed and thrilling, as well as ridiculously hilarious.
Considering I read the majority of the book in public places, and got very funny looks from the bouncer when I had it in my handbag in the nightclub, the fact that I gaped, laughed and cried made some people kind of uncomfortable.
But you know what?
It was so worth it.

Let’s break this down into three parts:

The plot:

It was a completely original plot, like nothing I have ever seen before. Usually, due to the amount of books I have read, and bookshelves I have broken, I can predict things before they happen. Not this time. Every twist and turn just sucked me deeper into the maelstrom of suspense and action and kept me utterly hooked till the very last page, where I cried out, begging for more.

Ugh, that sounds kind of kinky. Ignore that.

In other words, the story is ridonkulously awesome.
Another plus is that, even if you haven’t read The Mortal Instruments series, you can read the Infernal devices (Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Princess) and understand the Shadowhunter world and customs almost instantly. Just enjoy revelling in the Steampunk-y goodness.

*Note: If you giggled at the word Steampunk, join the club! You’re as big a kid as me*

And guys, if you’re worried that the story will be too “girly” for you; think again.

Considering the first line reads:

“The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts”

I don’t think you’re going to have a problem.

Next:

Romance:

One word.

HOT!

Clare has this wonderful knack of writing drool worthy boys. Although I did miss my Simon (My favourite character from TMI, as well as Isabelle, even though they’re all awesome), I was easily distracted by the amazesome-ness -- (just coined a phrase.)-- That is Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs.

For the first time in my life, I can’t choose a team.

Yes, I am a team chooser, so sue me.
Although that is the very definition of a frivolous lawsuit.

Will: Tall, black hair, blue eyes, hilarious, irritating and lovable at the same time.
Jem: Tall, Silver hair, Silver eyes, very funny, and possibly the sweetest boy alive….


I honestly can’t decide.

Insert growling noise here.

Both grow fascinated with Tessa, who has *spoiler alert* the ability to change her appearance and absorb a person’s memories and feelings while she becomes them.

Which, to be honest, is one of the coolest powers I’ve ever heard of in fiction.

Also, I want it.

Anyway….

There are two seriously smouldering scenes that leave the reader breathless.

And all because of a hand.

Just a gloved hand.

But wow.

Sorry, I digress.


The romance element is breathtaking, but there is enough action and suspense to suit everyone.

And finally.

The Characters:

Like all of Clare’s characters, everyone is likeable but complex and compelling and you genuinely grow to care for them. So much so that they almost seem like real people.
Another plus is that they’re all freaking hilarious.

Possibly my favourite line (one of many) would have to be from Mr. Will Herondale. If you read the Mortal Instruments series, you’ll see where Jace gets his sense of humour from.
Actually, I think Will is funnier.
Actually, I think Clockwork Angel, as a whole, is funnier.
And that’s saying something, folks.

Will Herondale:

“Miss Gray, Let me give you a piece of advice. The handsome young fellow who’s trying to rescue you from a hideous fate is never wrong. Not even if he says the sky is purple and made of hedgehogs”

Or:

“You know” Gabriel said, “there was a time I thought we could be friends, Will.”
“There was a time I thought I was a ferret,” Will said, “but that turned out to be an opium haze. Did you know it had that effect? Because I didn’t.”


But Will is not the only hilarious person. Each character has biting wit and cleverness that left my sides sore from laughing.

I do love a funny female protagonist; and Tessa delivers.
As does Charlotte, Sophie and Jessamine.

God, I love them all. It’s ridiculous.

Also, I am happy to report that there is an appearance by the one and only, three different kinds of fabulous Warlock, Magnus Bane.
I mean seriously, what’s not to love?

Overall:

As a whole, this book ticked every box for me, and I’m desperate for the next copy. I’ll have to sate my need for City of Fallen Angels (the next book in the Mortal Instruments series--Boo to the Yah!) by reading and re-reading Clockwork and Angel and the others.

Time well spent.

5/5 Stars.

Amazeballs.

Dark and twisted....just like I like it.

It's been a while, and I'm bored, so I thought I might get off my hindquarters and do a review. This time, it's another compare and contrast. The subject? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by the late Swedish crime writer, Stieg Larsson.



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:




The Film:

Thankfully, for fans and converts alike, the film is pretty true to the plot of the book, but it takes allowances that only prove to make the film better, rather than butchering the heart out of the story. This is how a book to film adaption should be made. Take note.

So, for those of you who haven't popped your "The Girl" cherries yet, here's a pretty basic plot summary.

Henrik Vanger is an industrialist with a terrible secret. Every year on his birthday he receives a pressed flower in a picture frame, similar to the ones he received from his favourite niece, Harriet.
The problem is, Harriet has been missing, presumed dead, for the last forty years. Henrik is certain that her killer is taunting him and seeks resolution, finally.


He contacts disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, to solve the forty year old mystery and put Harriet's mystery to rest. Blomkvist moves to the family's island and uncovers some dark secrets, and calls upon the help of master Hacker, Lisbeth Salander. What they uncover is shocking, hut-wrenching and heart-breaking all at once, and proves to be one of the most thrilling crime novels of the past decades.

So screw you, James Patterson.

The film, like I said, differs only slightly from the book, but everything is tied together nicely, and heightened from the superb performances from Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist.

The highlight of the tale, of course, is the girl with the dragon tattoo, Lisbeth Salander. Noomi Rapace is captivating in the role, taking the character wholeheartedly and convincingly. In a superb performance, I'm sure this woman will go a long way after the franchise is finished. She holds the screen magnificently, and never shies away from the hard-core nausea inducing scenes, while maintaining the character's cynicism and indifference, coupled with a hatred of vulnerability that makes Lisbeth so hard faced, yet kick ass.

The film travels smoothly from one scene to another, no apparent plot holes to fall into and stunning aerial shots of Sweden. There is great Chemistry from the entire cast, and even the most vile characters are portrayed to perfection.

I was sceptical about watching the film. Not because I thought it would be bad, quite the contrary, I knew it would be excellent as reading the book is like reading a script, once the embezzlement and logistics are over (thank god for pg 42 onwards, or else I think I would have cracked up). My problem is subtitles. Shock and or horror.

Foreign films are fine; They're actually pretty cool most of the time, but as a glasses wearer and, let's face it, an easily distracted person, I thought the subtitles would take away from the film.

However, for the subtitle phobic, the DVD does offer a dubbed audio, which was helpful, but I decided to try the subtitles and be done with it.

I wasn't sorry.

The dubbed version takes away from the film. I watched ten minutes on dubs, and felt two things;

1) I thought I might be having a stroke.

2) It reminded me of one of those old Bruce-Lee flicks.

I hate out of sequence dubbing, so Subtitles were the way to go with this.

I'll get over my aversion to them eventually....I hope. Definitely in time for the sequel, The Girl who played with Fire, die out August 24th. (Same day as Mockingjay. Mark your calenders.)


The film is phenomenal. A non-stop, thrill a minute thriller that doesn't seem to drag, surprisingly, even when nothing consequential actually happens. I hold this solely to Noomi Rapace as the beautiful, broken, dangerous and damaged Lisbeth Salander. Definitely one for a Saturday night in, or any night in for that matter.

Now, here we go.



How does it compare to the book?:



Like I said, this is how an adaption should be. True to the source material, and the only changes are the ones that have little or no consequence. Thankfully they got one thing totally right, and if they didn't, the film would have been an unmitigated disaster.

Lisbeth.

Lisbeth is, without a doubt, one of the most captivating and compelling protagonists in literature. She's completely crazy, there's no questioning that, but she is able to rationalise everything she does, and you believe her. She's a certified genius, but she's broken. You can tell just by what she says and how she reacts that she was hurt in her life, and how every little thing can affect her differently to how you would expect. She doesn't react how you expect her to react. She doesn't think like you expect her to think. It's refreshing.

I loved Lisbeth. Especially with the tattoo gun.... not a spoiler, just brilliant. She's resourceful and just plain old awesome of the highest order.

The book drags a little more than the film does, but that's to be expected from a 480 page book. I thought I would hate it from the beginning, as all there was was business this and conspiracy that and blah blah blah. The Lisbeth came and the fun began to start and I couldn't put it down.

This is a book for everyone who enjoys a good mystery, but not for those of a nervous disposition. Everyone I know who has read it has had the same adverse reaction to a particularly grizzly scene involving a budgie. Don't ask, just read.

Intrigued? You should be. If not, I probably didn't do this justice, but trust me on this like you trust Baz Luhrman on the sunscreen and Chris Nolan with a film.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is sure to become one of those novels that transcends generations and timelines, and like Harry Potter and a Picture of Dorian Gray, will be around forever.


If you like this...:



Films: Inception,
Let the right one in,
The departed,
Don't say a word,
Just general crime capers.


TV: Castle.....Just watch it, it's awe....quite a bit!


Books:

The millennium trilogy, obviously.

The Sean and Michelle books by David Baldacci (Split Second, Hour Game, Simple Genius, First Family)

Promise me by Harlan Coben,

Possibly John Connolly books like The Lovers, I'm not a huge fan, but maybe for other people.

and for the YA enthusiasts:

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.
(Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow-Kissed, Blood Promise and Spirit Bound. Last Sacrifice the final installment, due out in November, and not soon enough!) Rose Hathaway is the coolest female protag. to grace YA literature, fact. And the rights to the series have been purchased by Perger who are pitching to companies as we speak. It really is the King among the Vampire Lit. Genre, at least in YA terms, but it's amazing, check it out.

The Glass Demon by Helen Grant.
Creep little mystery that has me turning the pages as we speak.

Down the rabbit hole by Peter Abrahams.
Apparently, this is one of Stephen King's favourite books, which is funny since he doesn't like anything, so if it has his stamp of approval, it's pretty good. It's a simple small town mystery, and a thirteen year old girl who is adamant to discover who killed Crazy Katie, and how she may have led the police in the wring direction by withholding evidence. This was pretty good. I liked it, and I couldn't put it down. It's very simple, and that's not a bad thing. I liked it, I'm not sure why. If you've read it, maybe you can understand, but it's eluding me.

and of course...

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Best way to describe this is a post-apocalyptic Battle Royale meets Running man based in America. It's incredible, fast paced and "unputdownable"--That's such a stupid word, but appropriate for now. Just read it, love it and never doubt my judgement again. Due out next year. Director to be announced in the next few weeks. Chris Nolan and Matthew Vaughn for the win, methinks.



Well, that's all folks! I'm tired, not exactly coherent, and completely rusty, but like they say, that's showbiz!

Or not.

Until we meet again and other such placating sentiments....

Adieu.


XxX

Letters to Juliet: Not one for the Boys... or the Lactose Intolerant

Well, it's been a while, and I'm slightly rusty, but lets give this a bash, shall we?

Friday night meant a welcome return to the cinema after a week and a half of torture, and there's still one exam to go.

:(

I just wanted to watch something that I wouldn't have to think about....at all.

Letters to Juliet fit the bill.



Basically, the story revolves around Sophie (played by Amanda Seyfried --who seems to have an affinity for films featuring Letters), a fact checker for The New Yorker and an aspiring writer. She is currently engaged to *cough* a complete douche *cough cough* Chef named Victor, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, who takes a step away from playing Che Geuvara, as he is most well known for, to play an absolute and utter.....sorry, he just really teed me off.

Anyway, as a pre-Honeymoon Honeymoon, they go to Verona, the city of love. He spends all his time pretty much climaxing over cheese and she meets the Secretaries of Juliet. In Verona, there is a wall at juliets castle, where women send letters to the proatgonist of Shakespeare's tragic play. These women pose as Juliet and answer any and all problems posted on the wall. It's a nice idea, I suppose...

--There stands my first problem: Romeo and Juliet is not a love story. It's the tale of two infatuated morons; one horny, stupid girl and one even stupider fickle boy. I rant about this play all the time, so I'm not going to rehash the details now. I'm just a cynic, and leave it at that.--



Anywho, Sophie finds a letter hidden in the wall, that was written by a woman called Clare 50 years beforehand, and decides to write a response telling her to fight for her love, Lorenzo.

Thus bringing the highlight of the film, Charlie, into action.

Charlie accompanies his Grandmother to Verona, and confronts Sophie about the letter. After a brief argument and an even briefer encounter, Sophie decides to accompany them on their hunt for Lorenzo, and to write the story in the process.

Charlie reminds me of Sebastian in Cruel Intentions, in the way that he can be a complete and utter prick, but I still absolutely love him.

In fairness, any man who can openly and honestly find fault in Romeo and Juliet, and use crushing Sarcasm in the process wins a place in my heart.

The fact that he doesn't look like he was hit by the back end of double-decker bus also helps.

Now, lets get down to the nitty-gritty.

So what about the film?

Well, to put it simply, it's just....nice.

It's your typical formulaic fluff that's not too taxing on the brain. There aren't that many laughs throughout, as the film focuses more on the romantic element in this rom-com, but it is none the less enjoyable. It's corny, but it's hard for a film in this genre not to be layered in smatterings of cheese.

and sometimes, a cheesy film is just what the doctor ordered. Good, old-fashioned, unaldulterated cheese. :D

Seyfried and Christopher Egan (the aforementioned Charlie) have pretty decent chemistry, and you really do root for them....even though you're not sure why.


Anyway, Ladies, if you're a fan of a Walk to Remember, The Notebook, or just a bit of Romance, I'd give it a go.

If only for Charlie! ;)




Lads, give it a miss. Although, to be honest, There isn't much for you guys out there at the moment....Maybe Get him to the Greek? Toy Story 3 also rocks socks.

Anyway, it's a sunny day, and I'm procrastinating, so I just thought I'd make my blog a little less bare! :D
Updates will swarm soon enough.

XOXO.

Barney's Blog, HIMYM actually exists

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/community/barney_blog/index.php


I'm so following this!

The Full "Eclipse" Sountrack listing/

Found this on my internet travels, and decided to post the listing. After all, music builds up the atmosphere and emoitional connection in every film, and the songs soon become thw soundtracks to our lives, and other pretencious, douce-monkey esque stuff like that.

Here we go:

1. Metric – “Eclipse (All Yours)”
2. Muse – “Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)”
3. The Bravery – “Ours”
4. Florence + The Machine – “Heavy In Your Arms”
5. Sia – “My Love”
6. Fanfarlo – “Atlas”
7. The Black Keys – “Chop And Change”
8. The Dead Weather – “Rolling In On A Burning Tire”
9. Beck & Bat For Lashes – “Let’s Get Lost”
10. Vampire Weekend – “Jonathan Low”
11. Unkle– “With You In My Head (ft. The Black Angels)”
12. Eastern Conference Champions – “A Million Miles An Hour”
13. Band Of Horses – “Life On Earth”
14. Cee Lo Green – “What Part Of Forever”
15. Howard Shore - “Jacob’s Theme”


It's the typical indie-fied soumdtracks I've come to know, and love, from the Twilight saga. Muse in on there, no shocker. What did shock me is that Beck duets with Bat for Lashes? Maybe I've got it wrong somehow.

anyway, I'm gonna be buying the soudtrack regardless of the films worth, because You have to admit, it does have a certain callibre of songs that can make the musical tastebuds water.

anyhoo, ding dong walla walla bing bong, I'm gone.

X

MTV Movie Award Nominations.

It just goes to show that Teenage girls really do have an influence on everything!

BEST MOVIE (voting stays live throughout the 2010 Movie Awards ceremony)
Alice In Wonderland
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hangover
The Twilight Saga: New Moon

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE

Amanda Seyfried – Dear John
Emma Watson – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Kristen Stewart – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Zoe Saldana – Avatar

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE

Channing Tatum – Dear John
Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Robert Pattinson – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Taylor Lautner – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Zac Efron – 17 Again

BEST BREAKOUT STAR

Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air
Chris Pine – Star Trek
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Logan Lerman – Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Quinton Aaron – The Blind Side
Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE

Ben Stiller – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Bradley Cooper – The Hangover
Ryan Reynolds – The Proposal
Sandra Bullock – The Proposal
Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover

BEST VILLAIN

Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Helena Bonham Carter – Alice In Wonderland
Ken Jeong – The Hangover
Stephen Lang – Avatar
Tom Felton – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

BEST FIGHT

Beyoncé Knowles vs. Ali Larter – Obsessed
Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber vs. Ryan Reynolds – X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Logan Lerman vs. Jake Abel – Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Robert Downey Jr. vs. Mark Strong – Sherlock Holmes
Sam Worthington vs. Stephen Lang – Avatar

BEST KISS

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning – The Runaways
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds – The Proposal
Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner – Valentine’s Day
Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington – Avatar

BEST WTF MOMENT

Betty White – The Proposal, Cops a Feel
Bill Murray – Zombieland , Bill Murray?! A Zombie?!
Isabel Lucas – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Unexpected Transformation
Ken Jeong – The Hangover , Naked Trunk Surprise
Megan Fox – Jennifer’s Body, Vomits a Mysterious Black Ooze

GLOBAL SUPERSTAR (New Category)

Robert Pattinson
Kristen Stewart
Taylor Lautner
Johnny Depp
Daniel Radcliffe

BEST SCARED-AS-SH**T PERFORMANCE (New Category)

Alison Lohman – Drag Me To Hell
Amanda Seyfried – Jennifer’s Body
Jesse Eisenberg – Zombieland
Katie Featherston – Paranormal Activity
Sharlto Copley – District 9

BIGGEST BADASS STAR (New Category)

Rain
Angelina Jolie
Channing Tatum
Sam Worthington
Chris Pine


I'm pretty happy with mmost of these. C'mon Bill Murray. (I'm a Zombieland Enthusiast, and I am a little disappointed Emma Stone didn't receive any nominations).
Logan Lerman picks up two nods for his role in "Percy Jackson", which I think are well deserved, because he really did encompass the character and he can hold a screen. I see bright things in his future.

*Cough* Spider-Man 4 Reboot. He's rumoured to be in talks to play Peter Parker *Cough cough*

anyway, If you have a thought, comment, or complaint, soun-off below. God knows I won't be voicing an opinions anywhere but the intenet for a while. *sighs*

X

Hunger Games: District 12 cast

Oka, this is my attempt at making a Hunger Games casting video. It was finished in finve minutes, as you can tell, while waiting in the library, but you get the gist.

Most have scenes from TV shows and films, but I'm too technoloogically challenged to achieve that.

Oh well, That's a snippet of Youtube casting, check it out.

Yeasayer - Madder Red

Listen and Love!

soooooooooooo......

I'm having a little bit of writer's block --thank you Leaving Cert,-- so I thought I would amuse myself by posting something avout my slightly new, slightly weird obsession.

Drumroll please:

It's Youtube Casting!

If, like me, You are a youtube addict, You've probably noticed these fanvids --ooh,there's some frequently used, but pretty uncool internet lingo for you-- for your favourite books, tv shows or films that have yet to be cast.

Par Exemple, I've done a little bit of reaserch -- (also known as dossing)-- on the internets, and found a few that are not only pretty decent production value, but are actually credited by the authors of the series' themselves!

It's just cool to find cast lists, because sometimes they come true. I've seen several that were pretty much bang on the money in someway or another. They introduce you to new up and coming actors and actresses that may be flying below the radar, like Molly Quinn, who I discovered is my perfect Clary for TMI, and also discovered a little show called Catle on the way. That's what you call sa-weet! As in so good, you get two syllables for the price of one.

and they tend to have pretty decent soundtracks to boot.

so if your ever bored, or just in the mood to sit back and numb your brain, give 'em a shot. You never know, you might like them!

By the way, Balls against the Wall, the Kick-Ass sequel, is green-lighted and due to start filming next year for a 2012 release.

Boo-- and I'm just gonna say it-- Yah!

3-D or not 3-D? Who knows?

I'm wrecked, so what better time than to voice some opinion or other. It always sounds a lot more insane that way, which is just so much more fun!

Anyway....

I have a new found enemy; 3-D.
Shock and/or horror!

It's great in theory; you take a film and make it so visually dynamic that the audience can't take their eyes off the screen, therefore lining your pockets with money when the hypntoised compatriots come again and again.
That's all well and good.

But what happens when the DVD comes out?

The thing about 3-D is that yes, it's an experience; but it's also like a bar of chocolate. You taste it, and it's the best thing ever. But then you see it everywhere, taunting you, calling to you like a fog horn, and you give in to temptation, but it never seems to meet your expectations, and you can get a headache afterwords.

Okay, maybe that's not an appropriate analogy, because, honestly, who doesn't love chocolate? I suppose I'm thinking in economic terms, and the Law of diminishing marginal utility, where as a consumer consumes an extra unit of a good, eventually a stage will be reached where utility or benifit will begin to decline......


Wow, I actually was paying attention.

anyway, when you watch a DVD, and the film was released in 3-D, you can actually see where they tried to insert it post op, and to be honest, it's totally distracting.
And isn't the point of film to distract you with the story and envelop you into the world, not distract you with flim-flams, doo-dads and zip-zorps!

Who knows.

what I do know is that James Cameron is an egomaniacal idiot, and I have a pair of size six stilletto waiting in my wardrobe that wants to give him a piece of their mind.


That is all.

TFI :CA countdown

Visit the Infernal Devices website!

Now a Major Motion Picture:

This Vs. This?





Not anymore!


Hey now, hey now!

Just thought I’d blow off some steam while I wait for the kettle to boil. Guess it’s not only pots that never boil.

Sigh.

Any who, here’s the topic du jour! :

Now a Major Motion Picture:


Has anyone realised that there is a particular influx of book to film adaptations there are lately? So much so that every time I scan the shelves in Eason’s, every book I see says “Now a major motion picture”. I have no problem with this…in theory.
In reality, it’s beginning to get on my wick.
To start off, I read a lot of books. An awful lot. Let’s put it this way: My library shelves are falling down.
Again.
And my other two libraries aren’t in great shape either.
Anyway, about 87% of the books I have read in the last year alone are being adapted for the silver screen. It’s pretty cool. I mean, I get to speculate all I want about who should be in it (See: Rant below), and I can watch all the cast videos, find script leaks and enjoy the general buzz surrounding the whole thing.
And then it comes out.
Generally, I am left less than enthused about book to film adaptations. And why shouldn’t I be?
For example, I’ve read the entire Percy Jackson series, and when I saw the trailers, I thought it might be good. I hoped with all my heart that they wouldn’t hurt it.
And they didn’t hurt it.
They killed it!



They completely butchered the plot line, chopping and changing it until it was like a Percy Jackson rip-off rather than the film itself. The Annabeth they cast would have made a better Clarisse, and she just wasn’t a know-it-all in a good way, but in the “why won’t you ever just shut the fudge up?!” kind of way. Logan Lerman can hold a screen. But I always associate him with Jack and Bobby. The film was more like a game, which teed me off, and Chris Columbus tied all the ends together because it was intended to be a stand-alone rather than a series.
But they should do a sequel, just so they can fix the problems with the first one. But I won’t hold my breath.

But not all book to film adaptations are bad. In fact, some are better than the film itself.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Love the film, the book is all right. It takes a while to get into, but it’s interesting. But, in my opinion, the films kicks it’s ass more Hit-Girl kicks Dave’s!

But why has script-writing taken such a down turn? I’m struggling to think of a film that wasn’t a adapted. You’re a genius if you know seven off the top of your head.

Or an addict to IMDB!

Anyway, I was thinking something, and wondered if you could help me out? Since Harry Potter was released, has there been any book series, besides Twilight and LOTR, to have it’s sequel given the green-light?

Points if you can think of any!


Sound off, three four.

If you think this was rant-ish, you should see me at school!

XOXO

Oh my effing GG!

I'm actually beyond repair! I think I may have a shit-fit of some sort.
Okay, Maybe not. It's my dramatic side getting the better of me, but I am fairly pissed.

I just found out that Taylor Momsen may have been cast as Katniss Everdeen.



NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I have three main problems with this:

1) She couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.

2) She's really not right for the part.

3) She's not Nina Dobrev.



Nina dobrev is the perfect choice for Katniss. She can act, actually she's really really good,
She can play a bitch if needs be but can aso hold a screen, and she looks like the girl on the book cover.

Hello? Perfect!


Want proof?

Taylor Momsen:


(Brunette)




Blonde:






Nope, not seeing it.



Now:


Nina Dobrev:



Yup!







I really hope by the time I get out of college, they decide to hire me as a casting director. Because, if they think Taylor Momsen would pull off Katniss, they are sorely mistaken.



That's it for my fan-girl moment.


XOXO, you know you love me.......



Sort of.

New Beastly Movie Trailer - Official

I'm excited about this. I love NPH, and Alex Petyfer is so................ any way!

Hey, don't diss YA!

I just love to rant-y rant rant!

There is a current trend for YA literature, and currently, I’m loving it.
However, there’s a stigma attached to it that you can’t seem to shake, and it’s beginning to get on my nerves.
Recently, the whole paranormal romance trend has gone into over-drive, and it’s all good in the proverbial with me.
Reading is a means of escape; to get out your head for an hour or two and get drawn into someone else’s world, at least it is for me. The fact that I like to read teen fiction shouldn’t be a reason to look down on me; the fact that I read at all should be commended. As it should be for anyone.
Teen fiction is interesting. I know that’s a bit of a glib interpretation, but it’s the only way to put it. Adult fiction, especially the paranormal kind is so convoluted and complicated, to the point where sometimes you want to scratch out your eyes before reading another page. Ok, I admit that’s a minority, but, for example, I now refuse to read another Sookie Stackhouse book for as long as I live. The reasons are threefold:

1) Harper Connelly is a cooler female protagonist.

2) Charlaine Harris is a terrible writer. Honestly, I’m not sure how she was published, but I’m convinced it’s because of the porn element of her books. It takes up ¾ of the pages, or thereabouts.

3) The T.V. show, True Blood, is so much better.




* Review of series two coming soon……


Any who, back to TF, PR, UF, YA-- Whatever you call it, or abbreviate it to, it’s in the headlines. And now to the reason for my quasi-rant……


Books being made into films:

There’s always an ulterior motive, isn’t there?

I’m extremely excited that some of my favourite books of the moment are getting the silver-screen treatment.


The Hunger Games:



Possibly the best adventure to come out in the last decade, I defy anyone to read it and not get completely absorbed. And if you can’t take my word for it, take Stephen King’s. And those of you who know him will know he likes absolutely nothing! So that’s a compliment in in itself.
To top it all, Suzanne Collins-- the author -- is writing the script herself so that her world, and story won’t be butchered and its soul destroyed, like Rick Riordan. That poor man. Percy Jackson deserved so much better and so did he.
Plus, I just found out he has written a series about the Cahill’s, so I like him even more now. Shame about the “S” though. But I digress…..again.
Suzanne was actually a critically acclaimed screenwriter for T.V. and film before her writing career took off and she topped the NYT bestsellers list for weeks on end. Anyone remember a show called Clarissa tells it like it is? Like Clueless, it consumed my childhood.
Anyway, my point is that if the author herself is writing the script based on a literary phenomenon, it’s bound to be of epic proportions.
I already have my dream cast picked out, and will report back later when I cover it in The Book Report; my book reviews.

The Mortal Instruments:



Cassandra Clare’s epic trilogy is based in New York City and depicts the underground organisation called The Shadowhunters, who are Nephilim and utterly amazing. The characters are well drawn and the world is full of colour and flavour, and how can you not love a man who calls his cat Captain Meow? I mean, honestly?!
Anyway, the series has been picked up the makers of the Lord of the Rings, and is bound to pick up interest from big name stars and directors. I’m hoping for Guillermo Del Toro or Chris Nolan as director, since they’ll be able to depict the world and creatures, as well as connect the audience to the characters. Plus, The Orphanage is freaky!

Although, If you want scary and Spanish, watch Rec. Jiminy Cricket!

Once again; dream cast, director and book report coming to a screen near you.

Wicked Lovely:



Mellissa Marr has created this ultra-intense, fairly freaky faerie world that, and I just can’t get enough. The rights were purchased by Universal pictures and Marr herself has read the script, and loved it.
Actually to quote hr, it’s better than the book.
Now that’s saying something!


There’s a lot more to cover, but The Big Bang Theory is on, and I love Sheldon.
“Why are you such a stupid head?! That’s also rhetorical!”

Comedy genius: Jim Parsons, I love you!

I'm Free, free falling.......And I do fall an awful lot.

Finally, I can officially say that what I deemed the apocalypse actually wasn't that bad after all.
And to celebrate, I'm listening to Metric and Glee on repeat. Good times.
However, I was in the mood for a quasi-rant, so here we go....

Kick-Ass: By name and nature:







Well, everyone who’s anyone has probably seen Kick-Ass by now: Matthew Vaughn’s renegade film, which gives two fingers to the companies who rejected it by becoming a world-wide sensation.
If you haven’t………Where the hell have you been?
The first five minutes of the film set us up for a series of thrills and spills, and some action sequences that are, quite frankly, jaw-droppingly awesome.
This is when we meet Dave, a typically nerdy Peter Parker like Social reject -- (Played brilliantly by Aaron Johnson, who has a surprisingly good American accent) -- who asks his less than helpful friends why nobody has ever attempted to be a superhero? Of course, you would think a guy who gets his ass kicked on a daily basis, and gets mugged at least three times a week would just give up and become an accountant, but Dave decides to get pro-active: and Kick-Ass is born.
On his first mission as the Scuba-masked vigilante, he gets into a bit of trouble and ends up in hospital for two months after, ironically, getting his ass-kicked. His nerve endings are fried and he can’t feel pain. Every bone in his body is coated in metal from his extensive injuries, and instead of whining about it, he decides to get back to fighting crime. Some people just never learn.
And of course, they introduce his dream girl, and just for added sting, she thinks he’s gay.
Of course she does.
Johnson puts in a solid performance, and has a knack for comic timing. And for anyone who has seen Percy Jackson, He looks scarily similar to Logan Lerman, don‘t you think? I never noticed it, until he pulled on the mask, and then it was like, Bam! But, once again, I’ve gone off-topic.
The real star of the show however, is Chloe Moretz, who plays the incomparable Hit-Girl. I loved Chloe in (500) Days of Summer and I’m eagerly awaiting her turn in the American Remake of Let the Right One In. I just thought I would throw in that little titbit, since I’m very excited about it. It’s the best Vampire film to come out in ages. Screw You Neil Jordan. (Sorry, I jus really hate Interview with a Vampire; Book and Film. They suck. Pun intended).
Any who….



She’s super-sweary, very violent and you seriously would not want to meet this chick down a dark alley…..But how cute is she?
Anyway, Moretz gives a stellar performance, showing a range of emotion and making you laugh and cry in the same scene. For example, a personal favourite scene of mine is when Big Daddy -- (played by Nicholas Cage, who, miraculously, didn’t make me want to scratch my eyes out of their sockets, mainly because of his Adam West voice) -- decides to teach his eleven year old daughter what a bullet to the chest feels like, and he’ll take her for ice cream if she doesn’t whine. Later, he tells her he left it on the low Calibre, and Hit-Girl proclaims him “The kindest Daddy in the world”.
That’s not my definition of kind, personally; but each to their own, I guess.
The film is shockingly violent, and I have heard many complaints that it glamorizes gun-violence and at times, I would agree. All the characters seem very laissez-faire with the idea of shooting someone in the chest. There seems to be no consequences to their actions, and everyone’s pretty happy when people die. But, then again, the film needed a certain level of comic violence for that extra punch.
It didn’t bother me, but for those of a squeamish disposition, I would advise you to stay far away, and of not, have a bucket at the ready.
The added appeal to the film for me was that no-one had to fall in a tub of radio-active material, get bitten by a radio-active spider, or even have to born on an alien planet. Everything about Kick-Ass, no matter how ludicrous, can be found in reality. Big-Daddy wears French Riot gear; Hit-Girl could get her clothes in Penny if needs be and Kick-ass bought a scuba suit on EBay.
Personally, I’m tempted to start saving up for one of those Jet-Packs. I hear the guy from Mexico has a quality product.
All in all, Kick-ass was pretty damn class. It was fresh, funny and original, and was a definite spanner in the works for the overpopulated Superhero-Vigilante genre market. But, if I’m honest, it’s Moretz performance that really sole the show, and it would have been a lesser film without her. I hope those Oscar idiots take note: We’ve got a star on the rise.

And I’m off to find a purple wig!

If you liked Kick-Ass:

Watch: Pulp Fiction, The Dark Knight, True Romance, Spider- Man 1 &2 and Kill Bill Volume 1.

Read: Graphic Novels. Kick-Ass finished filming before Mark Millar finished the comic, so there are differences in each, but the film keeps pretty close to the source material. I’m not a big fan of Manga or Graphic Novels, so this isn’t exactly my area of expertise, but after seeing the film, I’m all for reading it.


So Kick-Ass: Not for the faint-hearted; but hey, that’s showbiz!

I saw coins. and then I saw you.

Okay, here we go. I’m kicking off with a review of Dear John; a “Love story” based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, the same emotional manipulator who brought us such classics as the Notebook and A Walk to Remember.



Dear John:

The Film:

Well, the producers certainly knew what they were doing by dragging Channing Tatum’s Adonis-esque naked torso into the first three minutes of the film. He can dance and surf; a man of many talents.
The thing that surprised me, however, is that he can actually act. Shocking, I know.
The films begins with a whirlwind romance, where nothing monumental actually happens. I know that doesn’t make a lick of sense, but it does in the context of the film. They tried to make the ordinary extraordinary and, as quoted by the always likeable Amanda Seyfried-- (who I will remember as Veronica’s murdered Best friend on the taken-before-it’s-time neo noir drama, Veronica Mars)--

“It only took two weeks for me to fall in love with you.”

Call me a cynic-- and many of you do-- but I found it a bit rushed. I’m a fan of dragging stuff out, building up the UST and making the audience want it just as much the characters do, but that’s just my worthless opinion. However I just wish it could have happened, because the love story was what let this film down.
Tatum and Seyfried’s chemistry is okay. It steadily progresses as the film does, but it still didn’t have that emotional connection that we received with Ryan and Rachel in the Notebook, or Mandy Moore and Shane West; the kind of love that makes people well up when they remember it. And I just don’t think Dear John will have that same resonance.
Amanda Seyfried is a good leading lady, she lights up the screen. --Usually. But, compared to Savannah in the book, she just wasn’t up to par, or her usual best.
However, the film, like the book is not a love story. It’s a story about love, and the most heart-warming and heart-wrenching part of the film comes from a sublime performance by Richard Jenkins, who plays John (Tatum) Tyree’s father. He is a man so consumed by his love of coins that his relationship with his son had suffered. There is an exact reason for this, which wasn’t explained clearly in the film, and I sorely missed some of the elements from the book, which dealt with the love story of the film in a much more elegant, believable way.
Seyfried didn’t seem to have much of a purpose, and that’s okay, because in the book she was mainly just a MacGuffin-- Something that moves the plot along. Thanks you, Alfred Hitchcock.
Elements of the film had a Vanity Fair feel, and others felt like a True-movies seven o’clock showing. I suppose the fact that the film had a pastel coloured back-drop and a soft-lighting mood that
I felt lacking. I prefer a dynamic picture, where every colour pops and catches the eye.
Saying that, everyone was very, very pretty; Except for Tim, Wow, that really teed me off!



And now to the good stuff:

How did it compare to the book? :



In short, it didn’t.
The book dealt with many of the issues in a far better way. Including Tim, whose character and plot I was sorely disappointed in while watching the film, was actually one of my favourite characters in the book. He was so witty, wise, and wonderful, and they completely and utterly cocked that up, which actually had a detrimental effect on the ending.
Whereas the book deals with his relationship with his autistic brother, the film decided to convert it to a father-son relationship, which wasn’t as effective or heart-warming as it could have been. The struggle in the book was more far interesting. I was really, really peeved at the second hospital scene, as well as the ending, and I assume any fan of the book is screaming into their proverbial pillows right now.
I’m a fan of Nicholas Sparks’ brand of pulling at the heart-string prose and character development. Although, I admit most of the plot lines are the same.
However, of his books that I read, I though Dear John was a better read than The Notebook, but not as poignant or heart-breaking as A Walk to Remember.
They completely re-hashed the ending of the film, to give the audience peace of mind, but I felt it lacked the emotional depth that the book had and felt a bit cheated if I’m honest.



Still, anyone who saw me afterward will I agree I was an absolute hysterical mess who would have put any X-Factor contestant to shame.
Thank you, Richard Jenkins.


So, in all, It’s a good weepy, that will devastate you if your in a fragile state, and confuse you if you think too much, A chewing Gum for the brain night out if there ever was one.

If you’re looking for a good film, something that makes you think “Wow, that was amazing, that was the best thing I’ve ever seen…”
…Then you have really low expectations. I don’t think anyone who claims to be a Cine-phile ever comes out without some complaint or another.
But I digress. Dear John is for fans of The Notebook., but not the one’s who expect an epic love story. But despite all it’s misgivings, and Patel colours, I went in smiling, and came out looking like this:





Wow, that was surreal. I fucking Hate clowns. Thanks to you, my supposedly waterproof mascara! Blatant false advertising.

Recommendations:

I’m ever-helpful.
If you like Dear John:

Watch:
The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, The Last Song, Message in a Bottle, The Majestic, My Girl, Pay it Forward, I am Sam, and any Greys anatomy episode featuring an old couple, and come prepared. Kleenex and Ben &Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge brownie at the ready.

Read:
Adult/ Chick Lit:
Anything by Nicholas Sparks, -- The first four named above, but don’t forget the Lucky One. Just like Dear John, literally, only not as good in my opinion.
The Gift by Danielle Steele,
Pay it Forward by Catherine Hyde,
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd,
The Time Traveller's Wife,
The Memory-Keeper's daughter

Young Adult/ Paranormal Romance Reading:
Anything by Sarah Dessen,
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (it’s about Zombies, but it’s heartbreaking),
Betrayal by P.C. Cast (The only decent House of Night Book),
Wicked Lovely-- a book about Faeries with an intense relationship that makes you feel its heat radiating from the pages.
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Broke my heart several times over.


I never realised how emotional I am until I came out of the cinema in flood of tears. Huh, interesting.
You learn something new everyday!

Well, I finally decided to stop whining and get on with it.
I think I hear a hallelujah chorus somewhere in the back. Thanks for that.
Anyway, there seems to be a myriad of Blogs popping up at the moment, and why not? Retro is so in right now, so I 'm joining the bandwagon.
But this is not your ordinary film review blog.
No, they're usually good.
I just decided to put my insatiable need to read a book before the film comes out, and contrast the two.
There will be plenty of news, reviews, comments, recommendations, and bitching about Miley Virus.
I'm excited already.

Talk to you later. I'm off to trawl through contless internet pages searching for the latest thing.

Mairead.
XxX

P.s. 5 months till Mockingjay comes out. I can't frigging wait!