Flying Solo

Up In The Air is one of the greatest movies I have watched in a long long time!

George Clooney is Ryan Bingham, a man hired by big businesses to fire their employees, he lives a life of solitude and is determined to reach a total of 10 million air miles.

In the run up to his sisters wedding he has to 'show the ropes' to a young new employee, Natalie; also he finally meets his match in the fiesty Alex.

It is an excellent film, slick, sexy and sophisticated. A drama about life and the connections we have with the people around us. Check out the trailer below and enjoy.

(on being fired) 'Anybody who ever built an empire, or changed the world, sat where you are now. And it's *because* they sat there that they were able to do it.' Ryan Bingham.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m-Da8Tz4_E

Results From The Polls!

Thank you to all those who took the time to vote in my polls, and the results are in!
*dramatic silence*

Readers voted: 'other' genre as their favourite genre so I would really love to know which 'other' genre you most liked to read!

A joint win between Avatar and Toy Story 3 for the best 3D film! In my opinion I felt Avatar was far better than Toy Story in 3D but there we go!!

Stay tuned folks....

A Fairytale Ending

So it is an end of an era!
Shrek Forever After was the film for this afternoon! Quite a classic, just to re-cap:
Shrek 1- Amazing
 2-Watchable
3- Appalling
4- FANTASTIC!

Shrek Forever After really has shown that Dreamworks still have imaginative writers within their team! A great storyline and obviously Donkey is as fantastic as ever and whats better; Puss In Boots is fat!!! Rarely do we get such a dramatic change in an animation series; I loved it!! Donkey's one liners were still on form (a favourite scene of mine, was him singing Whitney Houston whilst pulling the Witches wagon) however the star of the show was Rumpelstiltskin: 'bring me my angry/speech wig.' Also the boy at the birthday party with his famous 'do the roar.' This quote I imagine will be around for years to come!
I noticed a lot of intertextuality as well, especially with Harry Potter and Narnia, just like in the first film when Fiona was fighting Robin Hood, a poke at the Matrix was used. Its quite satisfying as a media studies student when you recognise the different film making techniques used.

If you are looking for a great, lighthearted family film, Shrek is your man!

Retro Rebound

Catherine Zeta Jones is a respectable actress with a great amount of talent! However 'The Rebound' is a disaster. What mother in her late 40's would smoke pot at a party of 20 years olds? What was she trying to do, fit in? I liked the storyline, Jones currently getting divorced, moving to New York where she has a reboud relationship with the babysitter/coffee shop boy who is in his 20's.
Justin Bartha is the star of this movie, he shows compassion and pure love for Zeta Jones; however the movie is drop dead boring at times, for example their first date and the self defence class to name a few. From the trailer this looks like the perfect chick flick, however don't be deceived, it is a movie to be avoided at all costs.

'There is no such thing as bad publicity.'

As a media studies student, I can tell prospective viewers that this poster does not represent the characters/film to its true potential. For starters, I have no idea why they are sitting on top of a washing machine, not once does the audience see the couple doing the laundry or anywhere near the washing.

By having a pair of knickers in Bartha's mouth does show that he is quite a forceful mans man. However he is not like that at all. His character is shy, sensitive and sweet. Not once does he make a move on Jones until she asks him to take her out!

Although the amount of plastic surgery Jones has had is coming through in this picture, she shows little expression in the film; a mother of two who is getting divorced should have worry lines, and panda eyes not flawless skin and stick thin legs.

The poster represents the movie; unrealistic and missable.

Are The Glasses Really Worth It?

I have been away for a few days so I haven't updated recently but yesterday I went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D. This raised the question in my mind as to whether the 3D glasses were really worth all the hype? 80pence I was charged for a pair of black 3D glasses to watch a film and to be honest nothing really was in 3D and nothing jumped out at me . I know this is a U rated movie however 'Big Baby' was a character better suited to 'The Grudge?'

Although I complain Toy Story 3 is by far the best Pixar film yet! The story line was fantastic and my favourite characters were back; The Potato Heads, Rex and Ham. However some were lost; Bo Peep... Did she finally find her sheep?
Also I did find the relationship between Barbie and Ken quite amusing, with Ken being very very in touch with his feminine side! One of my favourite scenes is when Mr Potatohead becomes a tortilla wrap, this thoroughly tickled me!

All in all; a wonderful film really brings you back to your childhood! However save those pennies, its just as good in 2D.

Playing with Fire...

Watched another film, what else is new? 'Intersection' with Sharon Stone and Richard Gere; now with a stellar cast like that you would think it would knock your socks off! However it is watchable. Gere has an affair with a young red headed journalist as he is bored with coming second to Stone's career. When the two of them separate, Gere struggles to come to terms with the fact that his marriage has failed. A good film with many flashbacks, the most exciting part is nearing the end when the film does come to a climatic finale. I would not watch again however Gere and Stone die hards will enjoy!

'Success is not to be measured by the position which one has reached in life, but by the obstacles one has had to overcome.' Booker. T. Washington

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Last night I saw 'Postcards From The Edge' with Shirley MaClaine and Meryl Streep (who many of you know is one of my favourite actresses). About a mother and daughter relationship, MacLaine is a has been movie star trying to kickstart her career through her pushed over the edge, druggie actress daughter. MacLaine fails to see she has a drinking problem yet is more than happy to tell everyone at a party how this year has been the toughest yet thanks to her daughter. I love a film with one liners and this film does not disappoint in that area, Streep and MacLaine bounce off each other so well. I could watch it over and over again. Such a funny film with real comedic value, based on the true story of Carrie Fisher and her mother.

Streep is one of the best actresses of our time and even her earlier films (this was made 20 years ago) show how passionate she truly is, a must-see for a girly afternoon, to watch it with you mother/daughter maybe you could all learn something about relationships...

'Its better to be hated for who are, than loved for who are not.' Kurt Cobain

Fruit Mad

This morning I have begun the day with an orange. But not your usual citrus treat; a woman's discovery of how heterosexuality is not the only sexuality just as oranges are not the only fruit. The book is split up into parts named after the books in the Bible, giving reference to how Jeanette was so tightly locked up in her mothers religious world. The book, written with a sense of sarcasm describes on the first page how sex is the devils work just as the neighbours next door are too.

Whilst we are on the topic of oranges have also bought 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess; am I too daring?

Have a lot of good films lined for this week to report on at a later date; 'Intersection' 'Postcards From The Edge' and 'Then She Found Me' to name a few. Any other recommendations; preferably with a reference to fruit?!

'Never postpone joy, always celebrate it.' PC.

A Mad Womans Destiny

When reading 'The Bluest Eye' I did not know that it was based upon a true story until I read the afterword, where Toni Morrisson knew of a little black girl at school who wished everyday for blue eyes until she had convinced herself she had them. What a sorry state of despair; I pity this poor girl; who in the book is Pecola. The book is so well written, it is a cycle where at the beginning you learn that Pecola is raped by her father and that she never escapes the vicious circle of victim hood. By the end she is indeed, mad...

Next on the reading list is 'Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit' by Jeanette Winterson. Again based on a true story of self discovery and the search for identity. 'A Gripping Read' so I'm told by the Sunday Times. However for a summer's night it's a cookie dipped in milk and a trashy magazine. I wonder who's who in celebville...

'I Will Love You Till My Very Last Breath'

This is a quote from the film 'The Young Victoria' which I watched last night. Such a love story deserves to be told with grace and respect and this one truly was. Prince Albert and Victoria so passionately loved each other and this line 'I will love you till my very last breath' is one which he says to her, after he protected her from an assassination attempt. Where has this kind of love gone nowadays? Where are the white gloved balls and love letters? Where has the raw passionate love gone? The one needed to remind you that it is your whole reason for existence. People today have become too lazy to realise that real 'love' is not replaceable or returnable. Where is the modern version of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's love? How often a day do you say 'I Love You' to that special person? Or is just another phrase nobody learnt to pronounce?

After he died; for forty years Victoria only wore black and laid out his clothes every morning in respect to him. This is true love. Love cannot be bought or shared it is a connection, a luxury a few can afford. It is happiness, madness and infinite joy. And those who are lucky enough to experience it are truly blessed.

'There is nothing more powerful than the connection between two hearts.' Gee.

Be Italian

Rob Marshall is a GENIUS! Director of Nine... fabulous film so full of life and enthusiasm.
What I loved most about the film was the cinematography, the way the songs are pigments of Guido's (Daniel Day Lewis) imagination. How he melts, personally and professionally is portrayed with such soul.

Marion Cotillard is such a beautiful actress however the real star of the show is Fergie! What a powerful voice/woman. Her song 'Be Italian' is outstanding, I would watch the film again and again just for her!

One of my favourite scenes is where Guido is at the fountain with Claudia (Nicole Kidman), the lighting is so soft and reflects magically around her flawless face; even her curls look supreme. Such a magnificent scene; lighting wise. Marshall has used such depth and consideration into every shot. Just as Stephanie (Kate Hudson) says 'every frame is like a postcard.'

Prose Becoming Poetry

Kudos for Toni Morrison her novel 'The Bluest Eye' is pure perfection. Finished the Autumn section last night now onto Winter. Have also just bought her most famous novel 'Beloved,' anyone read it?

Have a pile of books sitting on my desk all collecting dust and begging to be read. I will get around to it (one of these days!)

Have decided on impulse to end every post with a quote/life lesson/lyric; felt it was a nice touch:

'what really matters is what you do with what you have.' H.G.Wells

Wide Awake and Dreaming

Just watched 'Inception.'
A film about diving into peoples sub-conscious!! Brilliant film and I would definitely recommend to a friend!
Am interested in watching Toy Story 3 (I am a child at heart!)

Have read more of The Bluest Eye; very well written, will keep you posted.
Took out two books by Virginia Woolf: 'A Room of One's Own' and 'To The Lighthouse.'
Any thoughts??

Say Hello and Shake Hands

Hi There,

I thank you for taking the time to read an un-known blogger, I assure you (hopefully!) your time won't be wasted...

As previously explained I have undergone a challenge, one which allows me to read and watch the works of great artists... therefore by creating a blog I will have a place to write down my thoughts and theories and maybe inspire those who need inspiration...

On the way I hope to learn how (excuse the pun) not to judge a book by its cover, to broaden my literary knowledge and to enjoy the experience.

A word of warning- I am not Shakespeare so please do not expect such an enthusiastic play on words when reading instead find a modern day perspective on what seems to be perfect writing.

Comments are welcomed with open arms! And book/film recommendations are greeted with a smile!

On a rainy Thursday afternoon I am armed with a bookmark, cup of tea and Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye'
Wish me luck.