The last in the series...or is it?

picture from : wedueltokill.tumblr.com


with all the trailers, posters and promotional news spouting from the marketing machine that is Warner Brothers, the next Harry Potter movie (in case you don't know yet, they're splitting it into two parts) has probably breached everyone's subconscious.

you've probably seen the poster with the burning castle on it and the title 'HP7' in the iconic font. if anything the fact that they're not bothering with full titles anymore marks how much Harry Potter has become a cultural and worldwide phenomenon.

just thinking about visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando gives me happy goosebumps all over.

as for the movies, i'm staying away from all the advertising, besides popping into mugglenet once in a while just to browse the news, all trailers and TV spots are a no go. 1- they spoil bits of the movie and 2- they mostly set you up for disappointment.

as a potter fan, i've come to accept the movies for what they are, interpretations of the book rather than pure adaptation, they don't always get it right but at least most of it looks good. don't get me wrong, i'll still be there, queuing with all the rest of them on opening day...(we might actually go in costume this year, seriously)

with the internet already brimming with arguments and information on what should or should not be in the film, i'll just say this. WB has got it's work cut out, i'm glad they split it cause that gives them more time, i hope they stay as true to the books as possible and if there's a scene in the film that wasn't in the books at all (like in the last one where the burrow was attacked) i will be very very very upset.

the stuff on tv

the dry spell is over...hopefully.

what with the new television season starting up again, lets hope that it'll spark me to write more. that being said, its been a difficult few months, struggling with assignments and coping with tv withdrawal symptoms.

reruns do not a happy tv-addict make.

so, five cheers for the new season, because three aren't enough!

After going through all the first couple of episodes. here are some thoughts. *and some spoilers*





- Big Bang Theory

its cool to see sheldon in a 'relationship', lets face it, he's the funniest one of the bunch. personally, though i love the show, the other three main characters seem to be surfing on whats already been given to them, there's nothing new. and besides being a shadow of normality popped in for some prettiness, penny is basically useless.

same goes for HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother)

its been getting stale, and a tad bit more obvious that they're re-using jokes. *gasp*
we're all simply holding on cause we HAVE to know who she is! and we will keep watching!! at least for a couple more seasons....but that's it!

- Glee

what can i say, i freaking love this show. i admit it. i'm a gleek.
not all is perfect though, that 'grilled cheeses' episode for one, seriously? is it just me or does Finn seem to be getting dumber? it's not just him either, quite a few of the characters seem to be slightly devolving. BUT, the music definitely makes up for it. the song choice seems to be getting better and better. i nearly smiled my cheeks off when Sam and Quinn sang 'lucky' in the latest episode.

- House

So the Cuddy/House boat has finally sailed. I'm really enjoying the new season, the cases are entertaining enough and all the characters have their fair share of spunk. But the relationship's what this season is gonna be all about so...hopefully that floats.

- NCIS/NCIS LA

there's a reason this show is in its eighth season and has a spin off. the regular NCIS is pretty much keeping up with the spirit of the show. And while LA is still in its early years, there has been visible improvement, though it'll need a bit more character anchoring before it can come close to its original's greatness.

- Bones

i don't think i can express how much i love this show. after what happened last season though, the drama has certainly mellowed. it's the whole will-they-won't-they thing, it's seriously got me on edge.

- Supernatural

ok....so i haven't actually watched any new episodes. I think i'm holding off on it cause, 1 - i don't want to be disappointed and 2 - its the last season (supposedly), and i have this weird thing about feeling like it never really ends if i don't watch the last episode/season.
(i still haven't watched the last season of Buffy, and i only watched the last episode of friends this june =p )



ok, there are a couple more shows, but i don't really have anything to say about them except that i like them, that's why i watch them, and you should check them out.

here's the list

- Fringe
- Chuck
- Lie to Me
- The Mentalist
- Criminal Minds


Also...i watched 'the last airbender' recently, and it sucked so much that its not worthy of its own post. so there.

hmmm

sometimes when you're alone and inside your head, you feel like you can't stop talking. and you keep talking, just to get that voice out of your head. the one telling you that you've got something to say but no one to tell. the one that has a voice that isn't your own with an accent that's not yours either and that keeps changing with every sentence.

so you talk.

about jellyfish, the way sweet perfumes make you cough, brown paper bags, strawberry cookies, musicians, motorbikes, the music that's seeping through your walls, make up, plastic cups, the pins and needles creeping from your feet up to your calves, how everything seems more interesting on TV, how everyone should get a soundtrack to match their lives, posters, blue-tack, the smell of books, friends, leather pants and what it would taste like if your whole mouth filled up with blood.

you talk until your mind goes blank, or you fall asleep.

I think that's how you get weird dreams.

hey mickey you're so fine

It's always fun to go to the cinema with a bunch of friends to catch a new movie.

But it's a whole different kind of fun when a bunch of girlfriends get together to watch a movie you've all watched before and loved!

Especially when the movie is 'Bring it on!'

Safe to say that after our amazing burrito dinner, our hilarious round of truth or dare (that's right! we did play that game!) and our usual girl drama. We were all set to cuddle up on the couch with our wine and caramelized bananas and soak in some cheer-tastic goodness.

we laughed, we cheered along, we all did the spirit fingers move (in-sync with the characters on the screen I might add, are we awesome or what!)

In short, after lots of shrieks and giggles, i realized that this is one of the reasons why movies are great things.

They bring people together, they make us laugh and they make us see that on some level, we're the same.

And its the one's that you grew up with, the ones that you can quote from and the ones that influenced your personality, that really stay with you.

No matter how cheesy they are.

Robin Hood

Every ten or so years Hollywood picks up one of the classics and repackages it so they can retell it to the current generation. Personally I can't wait for the Harry Potter series to be remade.

But back to the focus of this post. Robin Hood.

No matter how many times it's retold, whichever actor they place in his shoes and whatever little tweaks they make to the tale, one thing remains the same. At the heart of it all, Robin Hood is about bravery, justice and love. He steals from the rich to feed the poor, he leads those who are lost, but most of all he fights for those who cannot fight for themselves. Seriously, this story always makes me wish I could fight with a sword.

This newest version takes a more realistic tone to the legend. Showing us not only the man behind the hero but also giving us a more rounded view of all the other characters as well. King Richard the Lion Heart (Danny Huston) for example, is not completely hero-worshiped, we also get to see the repercussions of the crusades and his decisions. It's definitely a more serious film than the 1991 Kevin Costner adventure (I love that version, definitely worth watching if you're interested in the Robin hood legend).

The story looks at Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe), the man before he becomes Robin Hood, the Hero. It takes a much more human look at how it all comes together; how the state of the country, the attitude of Prince John (Oscar Isaac) and the need of the people push Robin into taking the steps that eventually make him an out-law and a hero to the masses.

I could go on about how a Ridley Scott movie is always worth watching, how the cast fit into their roles (it is worth mentioning that Cate Blanchett made Marion Loxley a much stronger woman and therefor a much more admirable character) and how the swash buckling thrilled me as always.

But the best thing about this movie, was that its story, though different, was true in its tone to the legend of Robin Hood. It had heart and bravery, grit and gallantry, and although it's not as magical as previous versions, or as fun, it makes a good effort.




Rating: 7.5/10. It pulled at the heart strings and there were a couple of laughs, plus the slow-mo archery is awesome.

IRONMAN 2

ahhhhh, the much awaited sequel! You tell yourself it's going to be amazing, yet you don't want to psyche yourself up too much because you don't want to be disappointed.

well, if you haven't yet seen Ironman 2 (why???), let me tell you now that it's worth it.

The sequel continues where the first Ironman ended, showing how Tony Stark deals with the world knowing that he is Ironman. As Tony handles the media, the government and his own personal demons, a new villain is introduced; Ivan Vanko, son of soviet physicist Anton Vanko, Ivan has a vendetta against the Stark legacy and wants to avenge his family's honor.

The mood of the movie is much like the last, witty, charming and narcissistic just like it's main character. This tone is prevalent throughout the film, pushing the story along and bringing the audience along for the ride.

The brilliance of Robert Downey Jr. is impeccable as he juggles the ups and downs of being Tony Stark. His performance is all the more enhanced by the firm support of the rest of the cast. Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts is the perfect foil to Tony's personality and the two make the perfect non-couple.

Those who had doubts about Don Cheadle taking up the role of Lt. Col. Rhodes/War Machine, can be rest assured that he gives a good performance, slipping seamlessly into the persona and the relationship the character has with Tony. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow also deserves applause, though she pretty much has the same expression throughout the movie, she also gives us a majorly kick-ass action sequence. One of the best by a female lead by far.

Rounding out the cast is Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko/Whiplash. Though the character's origins and name differ from the original Marvel version, Rourke makes it work. He almost outshines Downey Jr, with his calm yet sinister portrayal of a villain that at times seem almost as intelligent as Tony.

From start to finnish, the action sequences keep the audiences' rapt attention, the many gadgets, weapons and cool moves have become a staple of the Marvel franchise. These are all the more shown off in Ironman, especially now that S.H.I.E.L.D is involved. Though the special effects are not as breath taking as in the first movie (seeing as how we've seen most of it before), some off the newer introductions are still satisfyingly gasp invoking.

It's also interesting to note that now that the Marvel universes are converging and the impending Avengers movie is slowly yet surely becoming a reality, the producer's are letting in little allusions to other Marvel character's that we've not yet seen. Make sure you stay on after the credits role to catch one of these hints.

On the whole, Ironman 2 is a worthy sequel and though it's not as fresh as it's predecessor was, the solid performances and awesome action sequences make up for a story that's only almost as-good-as the first one.

Rating : 7.7/10...minus 0.3 for not being as good as the first, which might be unavoidable but, so what. If you're a Marvel fan, you can't not watch this. If you've seen Ironman, you can't not watch the sequel. If you haven't seen either movie, where HAVE you been?

The movie i watched on the plane

Every time I board a plane, my routine is mostly the same. I take out my book and my ipod, put my hand luggage in the over head space, move all the stuff off my chair (you know the blanket and pillow and earphones that the airline supplies), get comfortable and start looking through the on-board entertainment brochure.

It's very important to know what movies are playing on the flight and decide which ones I want to watch. I pick my movies even before I pick which meal I'm going to have.

It looks like a simple procedure, but it really isn't.

You see, you've got to factor in a few things.

1 - How long the flight is. Thus giving you the number of movies you can watch.
The average movie is 2-2.5 hours long, so a 7+ hour flight (e.g from brisbane to singapore, not including take off and landing when they shut down the in-flight entertainment) will allow you to watch about 3 movies.

2 - Because you might be interrupted mid-movie by the plane landing, the last movie you pick should either be something you've watched before or something that's already been released so you'll be able to find it or something you don't actually mind watching half of.

3 - New Releases. Its always nice to catch something on the plane that isn't even out in the cinemas yet. But it is about weighing pros and cons. Is it something you'd rather watch on the big screen as compared to seeing it on a screen that's 20x15cm? (think about the picture and sound quality)

4 - Romance and Comedy. These are the easy picks. Right? But then again, I'd feel weird if the dude next to me caught me watching a sex scene and as for comedy, I don't know about you but...I laugh... really loud. Then again, if you pick drama, you might end up sobbing in-front of complete strangers.

5 - Film Vs Fluff. How do you pick between a film that's gotten great reviews but is about a serious issue and a movie that will contribute to your intelligence in no way whatsoever but is something that you can easily veg-out to. (it's about maximizing value Vs relaxing on the flight)

So yeah... after all of that, the plane is pretty much in the air and the stewardess's have finished giving the safety speech and are starting to push their trolleys around to hand out the hot towels.
All I have to do then, is sit back, put my earphones on (after I've put on those new sponge thingys that they give you) and select my first movie.

Unless I need to go to the toilet first. Sometimes that happens.

The Clash of The Titans 3D

Having just read Pride and Prejudice, watched a couple of chick flicks and spent a satisfying sum of money on a few very good buys. (I went shopping =p ). Its safe to say that I'd had a fairly girly week, oh, there was also lots of cupcakes and chocolate (in the form of Easter eggs!).

So what better to inject a little sword clanging, head bashing, giant scorpion crushing action into the week than Clash of the Titans?

The story is a used one; mankind wages war on the gods of Olympus, Hades plots to destroy and conquer and a hero rises from the masses to defeat the monster and save the princess. Its nothing much we haven't seen before in other movies that use Greek mythology.

The acting is average too, even though the film boasts names like Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, they mostly just walk through the script without much effort. Sam Worthington (Avatar) puts in a good performance, plus he's already proven he can carry an action film. Though his portrayal of emotions could do with some improvement, the man looks good wielding a sword.

So, the plot is a simple one and there's not that much character development or story, why then should you see this movie?

Cause its got winged demons bursting out from hades, satisfyingly entertaining sword fights, mythical creatures like Gjinns and The Kraken and... Sam Worthington in a skirt.

It's an Action Adventure in almost every sense of the word, its not a great film but you'll get a kick out of it. So if you're looking for something that's not too sappy, dramatic or mind warping, if you're just looking for a good time of popcorn and the melodious sound of metal hitting metal, then catch this movie.




Rating : 6.5/10 ( it might actually be a 6, but it deserves an extra 0.5 for the 3D fx and action sequences)

How to train Your dragon

Remember that feeling you had when you watched/read your first adventure? That tug you felt on the inside that made you believe that if you were in that world, in those shoes, you would do just what the hero/heroin was doing and it would be Awesome?

If you've never felt this way, then I suggest you add a little whimsy into your life, believe in adventure and go watch How to Train Your Dragon (in 3D cause you pay a bit more but it's that much better).

The story follows Hiccup, a young hapless viking who wants to become a dragon hunter. When he shoots down a Night Fury (rarest and most dangerous of dragons) he finds that he cannot kill it. Their inevitable friendship lead both boy and dragon into danger, discovery and revelations that will change both their worlds.

With captivating visuals and a wide range of satisfyingly comedic characters, the movie can't help but be cool. From the sweeping thrills of flight to the eye-widening view of the viking village, the dreamworks animators do not disappoint. But its not just that the movie looks cool, its got the substance to back it up too. Each character is well developed and used to their best to tell the story. From Hiccup's Father, the viking leader worried about his quirky son to the two havoc wreaking twins in Hiccup's class, they all play their part superbly.

What ultimately drives the story though, is the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless, the dragon. As their bonds of trust, friendship and love are formed, you can't help but be attached to them as much as they're attached to one another. As you watch them become a team, you won't be able to stop yourself from cheering them on.

So, be ready for adventure, prepare to put your heart out there, let your mind suspend your disbelief, sit back, strap in, and prepare to want a dragon of your own.




Rating : 9/10 . watch this movie.

The bounty Hunter

people don't make good romantic comedies anymore.

what happened to romcoms actually having romance? it used to be that you wanted the main leads to get together, you knew they belonged together, there's a sense of sublime satisfaction at the end of the movie when they finally realize that they're in love.

its not like we dont know where the story is heading. we just want to be thoroughly entertained and absorbed on the way.

'The Bounty Hunter' is one of those stories that has a great premise and a promising trailer, but no follow through what so ever and very little actual romance.

When bounty hunter Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler) finds out that his next target is his ex-wife (Jennifer Aniston) he gladly tracks her down, intending to take her into custody, not knowing that there's a killer after her because of a story she's working on. All this leads to mayhem and shooting and lots of running.

But sadly, the plot is underdeveloped, the reasons for the killings never really seem to surface and the two main leads never seem to be in much danger.

There's not much spark either. Sure they both look good, Aniston rarely has a hair out of place even while on the run and although Butler looks hungover most of the time there's still a scene where he's topless and lookin fine. There's no doubt that they're attractive people, but theres no reason to believe that they're attracted to one another either.

On the whole, with Aniston's experienced ability and Butler's great screen presence, the movie could have done so much more. But the lazy development of both plot and character means that its just your run-of-the mill romcom. Funny at times but forgettable.

If you're looking for romance this weekend, something that'll really pull at you heartstrings and make you smile, I suggest pulling out your old DVD of 'You've got Mail' or 'While you were Sleeping'.

Now those, are romantic comedies.

melancholy

maybe its cause i've just read an article about love and how it sucks to be single, maybe its cause i just watched 'My sister's keeper', maybe its cause its raining. 

I miss home. 

Somewhere out There

I Might Have To Wait 
I'll Never Give Up 
I Guess It's Half Timing 
And The Other Half's Luck 
Wherever You Are 
Whenever It's Right 
You Come Out Of Nowhere And Into My Life 

And I Know That We Can Be So Amazing 
And Baby Your Love Is Gonna Change Me 
And Now I Can See Every Possibility 

And Somehow I Know That It Will All Turn Out 
And You'll Make Me Work So We Can Work To Work It Out 
And I Promise You Kid I'll Give So Much More Than I Get 

I Just Haven't Met You Yet 

I wish:

: Rainbows could be boxed

: moments could be relived

: eating chocolate made you thin

: there was a way to find that perfect someone, like a GPS tracker 

: Life was perfect and love was easy 

why i love a good fight

with today's technology, some could say that fight sequences can sometimes get a little bit too gratuitous and self indulgent (michael bay anyone?), but i say if it looks cool, why not? 

who doesn't love a good shoot-out/sword fight/all out war/any battle consisting of any of the various marshal arts? 

Just look at the movies that had great fights, The Matrix, Kill Bill, 300, Lord of the Rings! (seriously the list goes on and on...Fight Club, Desperado, V for Vendetta...seriously...i'm leaving out war movies cause there are just too many). All of them were made that much more jaw dropping and awesome because of the amazing fights. 

I don't know what it is but great fight scenes are just really really cool. plus once you learn about all the effort that goes into one; the choreography, the angles, the cinematography and the training, its really hard not to be completely awe-struck.  

even the ones that are tech filled like G.I Joe and Transformers..the mega robot battle in the city! and i know G.I Joe didn't really have a significant fight scene, but the Delta.6 accelerator suites deserve to be mentioned. 

sooo...now that i've revealed how much of a geek i really am....go watch some of the above movies if you're bored or if you're looking for a good battle scene.

Action movies might not always reveal truth or have amazing plots or inspiring lessons but a great action sequence always makes a movie that much cooler and more fun...what's not to love about that.  

the first one of the year

There are some people in life, with whom you just click with, you grow up with and who become permanent fixtures in your life. You can talk to them about almost anything, you laugh at everything and at each other and you always know they'll say 'yes' even before you ask for a favour.  

Its the knowing look you give each other when you share a joke, the hug thats given without being asked for and the fact that spending so much time together never lessens the quality of our fellowship.  

In 2010, i thank God for Friendships.