When it comes to Swedes, in all likelihood, New Year's Eve will be spent in one of two ways:
- Binge drinking at a party
or - Quiet night at home in front of the telly
In a nutshell
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Swedish Ways: Nyårsafton
When it comes to Swedes, in all likelihood, New Year's Eve will be spent in one of two ways:
Friday, 30 December 2011
My Lady Gisborne by Charlotte Hawkins (2011)
Book review: My Lady Gisborne by Charlotte Hawkins (Amazon Kindle, 2011)
Set a number of years after The Tempest, the Gisbornes are still living in France, and they have several children, all of which are now roundabout 20. My Lady Gisborne focuses on one of these children, Evelyn, who meets a handsome rogue, René. However, she's promised to a Marquis, Simon, and the story is about her struggle to decide between the two of them.
Well, sort of, anyway. One, she fancies, the other one, she's supposed to get married to, and she fancies him too. And I think therein lies my problem with the story.
I finished this book a few months ago, but have delayed writing the review because I wasn't really sure what to say. That I wasn't as crazy about this one than I was the previous ones by the same author? Well, that happens, such is life. I also thought that if I leave it for a bit, time will tell what remains in memory, as I've then had time to digest it. This is it.
This review will contain spoilers.
Lady Evelyn Gisborne desires to be a proper young noble-woman, but independence runs strong in her blood. She follows her heart as well as her head, and temptation soon beckons her in the form of a handsome rogue. René Jean- Bastien is clever, bold...and forbidden, for she has been promised to another.
Simon Jean-Carré, Marquis of Laroque, is a born soldier. His life is commited to the pursuit of battle and the honor of the knight's code. When he journeys to the Gisborne estate, his only intention is to meet his promised bride. But he soon finds himself entwined in the life of a most unusual family...and falling in love with the woman he has sworn to keep at a distance.
Evelyn is torn between two loves. Will she choose the man to whom she is promised...or the dashing thief who has stolen her heart?
Set a number of years after The Tempest, the Gisbornes are still living in France, and they have several children, all of which are now roundabout 20. My Lady Gisborne focuses on one of these children, Evelyn, who meets a handsome rogue, René. However, she's promised to a Marquis, Simon, and the story is about her struggle to decide between the two of them.
Well, sort of, anyway. One, she fancies, the other one, she's supposed to get married to, and she fancies him too. And I think therein lies my problem with the story.
I finished this book a few months ago, but have delayed writing the review because I wasn't really sure what to say. That I wasn't as crazy about this one than I was the previous ones by the same author? Well, that happens, such is life. I also thought that if I leave it for a bit, time will tell what remains in memory, as I've then had time to digest it. This is it.
This review will contain spoilers.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Film review: The Boat That Rocked [Pirate Radio in America] (2009), directed by Richard Curtis
I don't think I've ever heard anything good said about this movie, or indeed read a good review of it, yet it still has a healthy 7.4 out of 10 rating on IMDb, after a good 40.6k votes. Which sort of spoils the whole "now I know why" idea.
The Boat That Rocked, written and directed by the British RomCom King Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Love Actually, Four Weddings, Bridget Jones, etc., he basically made Hugh Grant's career AND was behind The Vicar of Dibley), is set in 1966 and is a celebration of the golden era of pirate radio. It begins by telling us that it was the era of great music, and yet, the BBC played less than an hour of it every day. As a result, there were a number of pirate music stations operating offshore, such as on ships docked in international waters.
The film is a story of one such ship, transmitting Radio Rock 24 hours a day. To this vessel, young Carl (Tom Sturridge) is sent by his mum (Emma Thompson) to "shape up" - although considering the ship is all about sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, you can't help but question her motives. On board, he has his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy), who owns the station, and an assorted cast of DJs (including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris O'Dowd, Rhys Darby (the manager in Flight of the Conchords), Nick Frost and Rhys Ifans) and crew, such as Felicity (Katherine Parkinson, Jen in The IT Crowd), the cook. A lesbian, she's the only female exception to the "men only" rule.
The Boat That Rocked, written and directed by the British RomCom King Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Love Actually, Four Weddings, Bridget Jones, etc., he basically made Hugh Grant's career AND was behind The Vicar of Dibley), is set in 1966 and is a celebration of the golden era of pirate radio. It begins by telling us that it was the era of great music, and yet, the BBC played less than an hour of it every day. As a result, there were a number of pirate music stations operating offshore, such as on ships docked in international waters.
The film is a story of one such ship, transmitting Radio Rock 24 hours a day. To this vessel, young Carl (Tom Sturridge) is sent by his mum (Emma Thompson) to "shape up" - although considering the ship is all about sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, you can't help but question her motives. On board, he has his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy), who owns the station, and an assorted cast of DJs (including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris O'Dowd, Rhys Darby (the manager in Flight of the Conchords), Nick Frost and Rhys Ifans) and crew, such as Felicity (Katherine Parkinson, Jen in The IT Crowd), the cook. A lesbian, she's the only female exception to the "men only" rule.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Dean Spanley (2008)
Film review: Dean Spanley (2008), directed by Toa Fraser
Set at some time in the past, when the motor car and electric light were newfangled ideas, we meet Mr. Fisk Junior (Jeremy Northam) who meets with his elderly father, Mr. Fisk Senior (Peter O'Toole), every Thursday. The older Fisk is a grumpy old man who likes a strict schedule and will only allow the poor housekeeper (Judy Parfitt) to make him a hotpot for his tea.
One day, after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper, the Fisks go to see a talk on "the transmigration of souls" by a Swami Nala Prash (Art Malik). Junior is very taken by the idea of reincarnation, but his father sees it as nothing but "poppycock!". At the talk, they meet a conveyancer, the "colonial" (read: Australian) Mr. Wrather (Bryan Brown, always a treat), and the dean of the local church, Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), who strikes Junior as a particularly interesting character with a surprising wealth of knowledge on the subject of souls, the transmigration thereof.
The Fisks then bump into the Dean a second time, at their local gentleman's club, and find out he's particularly fond of a particular Hungarian wine, Tokay. After bumping into the man a third time, Junior decides to invite the Dean for dinner one night, luring him there with the promise of a very rare bottle of Tokay. And thus begins Mr. Fisk's talks with Dean Spanley, who under the spell of the golden liquid starts recalling a previous life ... as a dog.
One day, after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper, the Fisks go to see a talk on "the transmigration of souls" by a Swami Nala Prash (Art Malik). Junior is very taken by the idea of reincarnation, but his father sees it as nothing but "poppycock!". At the talk, they meet a conveyancer, the "colonial" (read: Australian) Mr. Wrather (Bryan Brown, always a treat), and the dean of the local church, Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), who strikes Junior as a particularly interesting character with a surprising wealth of knowledge on the subject of souls, the transmigration thereof.
The Fisks then bump into the Dean a second time, at their local gentleman's club, and find out he's particularly fond of a particular Hungarian wine, Tokay. After bumping into the man a third time, Junior decides to invite the Dean for dinner one night, luring him there with the promise of a very rare bottle of Tokay. And thus begins Mr. Fisk's talks with Dean Spanley, who under the spell of the golden liquid starts recalling a previous life ... as a dog.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
And the Xmas Giveaway winners aaare ...
After checking all the comments for who has responded, and then subtracting those that aren't eligible for either not answering the qualifying question or for not leaving contact details (yes, this was a prerequisite to enter - I either need to know you in one way or another so I know how to get hold of you if you win, and if I don't, you need to leave me a hint of how to contact you), the winners in the big Xmas Giveaway are as follows:
Rebel Heart (2001)
TV miniseries review: Rebel Heart (2001), directed by John Strickland
Rebel Heart is a BBC miniseries following a young, upper class Dubliner called Ernie Coyne (James D'Arcy), a volunteer in the Easter Rising, used to carry messages between the different rebel holds around town. He's not seen as very serious, because of his posh upbringing, which means that to the rest of the rebels, he is seen as someone who's just tagging along because it seems cool, but in a pinch, he's going to run home to his mammy.
As it happens, his strict father wants nothing to do with the politics of the day, but Ernie is truly dedicated and prooves himself an able rebel. As the Easter Rising draws to a close, we follow him through the following few years, through the War of Independence, and how he works as a messenger for Michael Collins (Brendan Coyle), and how he falls in love with Belfast girl Ita Feeney (Paloma Baeza), and so on.
Other actors include Vincent Regan as Tom O'Toole, Frank Laverty as Kelly, and Dawn Bradfield as Ursula Feeney. The first (of four) episode also features Bill Paterson as James Connolly, with Liam Cunningham as Michael Malone and Daragh O'Malley as James Grace holding fort at the Royal College of Surgeons.
As it happens, his strict father wants nothing to do with the politics of the day, but Ernie is truly dedicated and prooves himself an able rebel. As the Easter Rising draws to a close, we follow him through the following few years, through the War of Independence, and how he works as a messenger for Michael Collins (Brendan Coyle), and how he falls in love with Belfast girl Ita Feeney (Paloma Baeza), and so on.
Other actors include Vincent Regan as Tom O'Toole, Frank Laverty as Kelly, and Dawn Bradfield as Ursula Feeney. The first (of four) episode also features Bill Paterson as James Connolly, with Liam Cunningham as Michael Malone and Daragh O'Malley as James Grace holding fort at the Royal College of Surgeons.
Monday, 26 December 2011
Secret Santa ftw!
Secret Santa is awesome sometimes. Here's what I got in this year's Secret Santa over att Rollspelet Svenska Hogwarts:
I have a sneaking suspicion as to who the Secret Santa is, but even if it's not her, I still love it. Thank you, Secret Santa! You rock! :D
Also: I'll be closing the comment sections for the giveaways some time tomorrow. Not sure when, as will be AFK in the afternoon, and not sure how long for. Possibly I'll close it in the evening or morning, depending on time. Still time to enter if you like, though, but you have less than 24 hours. :)
I have a sneaking suspicion as to who the Secret Santa is, but even if it's not her, I still love it. Thank you, Secret Santa! You rock! :D
Also: I'll be closing the comment sections for the giveaways some time tomorrow. Not sure when, as will be AFK in the afternoon, and not sure how long for. Possibly I'll close it in the evening or morning, depending on time. Still time to enter if you like, though, but you have less than 24 hours. :)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)
Novella review: A Christmas Carol [En julsaga] by Charles Dickens, Swedish translation by Nils Holmberg (Peter Pauper Press, Inc / Monica Lindhs Presentböcker AB, 1993 [1843])
In this classic Christmas tale, Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is a stern and stingy man whose attitude to Christmas is "Bah! Humbug!" He hates everything that goes with the holidays - the cheerfulness of people, the charity collectors, the carol singing, you name it. He especially hates being in a good mood and spending money on frivolous things, like coal to warm up the office.
On the night to Christmas Day, he's visited by the ghost of his former business associate, who is bound to walk the earth because of the heavy chain he forged for himself in life by being a miserable, tightfisted, joyless git. He wants to save his friend from the same fate, and tells Scrooge three ghosts will visit him, and to take heed.
"Bah! Humbug!" says Scrooge, and is then visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him that he didn't always hate Christmas, what those around him are currently doing for their holidays, and what's going to happen if he continues being the way he is.
On the night to Christmas Day, he's visited by the ghost of his former business associate, who is bound to walk the earth because of the heavy chain he forged for himself in life by being a miserable, tightfisted, joyless git. He wants to save his friend from the same fate, and tells Scrooge three ghosts will visit him, and to take heed.
"Bah! Humbug!" says Scrooge, and is then visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him that he didn't always hate Christmas, what those around him are currently doing for their holidays, and what's going to happen if he continues being the way he is.
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Happy Holidays!
Hoping you have a fabulous day, wherever you are! :)
And clickie here to hop over to Y I Mum and ogle a couple of very saucy santas ... :D
And clickie here to hop over to Y I Mum and ogle a couple of very saucy santas ... :D
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Xmas Giveaway, Day 6: Item 12
Item 12 in the Christmas Giveaway is a book, or rather, a couple of books! Beyond the Legend and its sequel Forsaken Legacy by Jo Ann Mason, who is kindly providing these paperbacks. What a way to end the week - with a double giveaway! :)
Xmas Giveaway, Day 6: Item 11
Item 11 (and the penultimate one) in the Christmas Giveaway is a handcrafted natural wood wand, courtesy of Thornfield Handcrafted Wands.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Xmas Giveaway, Day 5: Item 10
Item 10 in the Christmas Giveaway is a book, or rather, a manuscript printed in a book, namely that of award-winning The Piano by Jane Campion. You know, the 1995 film set in New Zealand, starring Holly Hunter, Sam Neill, Harvey Keitel and Anna Paquin.
Xmas Giveaway, Day 5: Item 9
Item 9 in the Christmas Giveaway is a 2-disc Region 2 DVD set of Jane Eyre (2006), courtesy of the Daily Mail, which as a newspaper isn't worth the paper it's printed on, but comes in handy here. I already have the DVD of this production, so don't need it. Got it when I bought a selection of these newspaper giveaway DVDs on eBay and have been hoarding them ever since. :)
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff (2011)
TV film review: The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff (2011), written by Mark Evans
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is an affectionate and very silly parody of the works of Charles Dickens. Jedrington Secret-Past (Robert Webb) is the owner and proprietor of the titular shop, and kindhearted soul that he is, he even allows filthy street urchins to come in for a trade.
One day, the imposing Malifax Skulkingworm (Stephen Fry) arrives with the news that Mr. Secret-Past has a big debt to pay, which he inherited from an ancestor, and even though Mr. Secret-Past was an orphan, this matters not. As he can't pay the debt, his wife Conceptiva (Katherine Parkinson) and two children (Finley Christie and Ambra Lily Keegan) get taken to debtors prison, while Mr. Secret-Past has until Christmas Day - read: a few hours - to come up with the money, or he will never see his family again.
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is an affectionate and very silly parody of the works of Charles Dickens. Jedrington Secret-Past (Robert Webb) is the owner and proprietor of the titular shop, and kindhearted soul that he is, he even allows filthy street urchins to come in for a trade.
One day, the imposing Malifax Skulkingworm (Stephen Fry) arrives with the news that Mr. Secret-Past has a big debt to pay, which he inherited from an ancestor, and even though Mr. Secret-Past was an orphan, this matters not. As he can't pay the debt, his wife Conceptiva (Katherine Parkinson) and two children (Finley Christie and Ambra Lily Keegan) get taken to debtors prison, while Mr. Secret-Past has until Christmas Day - read: a few hours - to come up with the money, or he will never see his family again.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Xmas Giveaway, Day 4: Item 8
Item 8 in the Christmas Giveaway is a graphic novel, Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews and Will Conrad. It's the first of the graphic novels to bridge the gap between the TV show Firefly and the film Serenity. I'm giving this one away simply because we managed to buy two back in the day, and we only really need one.
Xmas Giveaway, Day 4: Item 7
Item 7 in the Christmas Giveaway is a book as well as an almanac: Llewellyn's 2006 Magical Almanac. Okay, so the almanac itself is out of date (although it will technically be semi-in-date again in 2012, heh), but the book itself isn't - it has many articles in it (see below), and should be of interest to those interested in Magick, Paganism and folklore. 'Tis, after all, Yule today!
Cars (2006)
Film review: Cars (2006), directed by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft
From Disney and Pixar comes the animated story of a world inhabited by antropomorphic cars, and there are no humans. Which apparently gets debated a lot, because who builds the cars and everything? But let's let that slide because it's just a piece of fun, a kid's movie, so restrain your disbelief and go with it.
Famous rookie race car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is about to win the hugely popular Piston Cup, but he ties with two other cars, amongst them the bold Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton), and has to travel all the way to California to take part in a race to settle the score once and for all.
But, in transit with Mack the truck (John Ratzenberger), McQueen slips out of the truck by accident and ends up on Route 66, in a little town called Radiator Springs, which saw its better days before the big interstate was built. There, because his arrival causes some considerable damage, he's sentenced to community service - to fix up the road he so carelessly managed to ruin.
But can the self-obsessed McQueen get to California in time for the race, or will he be stuck in "hillbilly hell" forever?
Famous rookie race car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is about to win the hugely popular Piston Cup, but he ties with two other cars, amongst them the bold Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton), and has to travel all the way to California to take part in a race to settle the score once and for all.
But, in transit with Mack the truck (John Ratzenberger), McQueen slips out of the truck by accident and ends up on Route 66, in a little town called Radiator Springs, which saw its better days before the big interstate was built. There, because his arrival causes some considerable damage, he's sentenced to community service - to fix up the road he so carelessly managed to ruin.
But can the self-obsessed McQueen get to California in time for the race, or will he be stuck in "hillbilly hell" forever?
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Xmas Giveaway, Day 3: Item 6
Item 6 in the Christmas Giveaway is a book (have you spotted the pattern yet?): Whisper of Scandal by Nicola Cornick, which I gave a 3.9 out of 5 in July 2011, when it was released, and this is my review copy up for grabs. :)
Xmas Giveaway, Day 3: Item 5
Item 5 in the Christmas Giveaway is a Christmas jazz CD from France: Noël en Jazz, courtesy of Yves Rocher, which is where I get all my beauty products from. I'm not keen on jazz personally, so that's why I'm giving this away.
Batman: The Dark Night Rises - trailer #2 released
Lots of trailers to post about today. Okay, not lots ... more like two. Still, that's two more than usual. Look out for Wollaton Hall in the background! :D
I'm not sure I'm all that grabbed by the trailer itself, but I do jump with glee over seeing Wollaton Hall in it.
I'm not sure I'm all that grabbed by the trailer itself, but I do jump with glee over seeing Wollaton Hall in it.
First trailer for The Hobbit released
Just in time for Christmas. Thanks, Peter Jackson!
Spontaneous comments: OMG, Richard Armitage sings!!!!
Other than that? It looks great. Can't wait for it to come out. :D
Oh, should the above video stop working, it'll still be available on the official website for The Hobbit.
Spontaneous comments: OMG, Richard Armitage sings!!!!
Other than that? It looks great. Can't wait for it to come out. :D
Oh, should the above video stop working, it'll still be available on the official website for The Hobbit.
Full Frontal (2002)
Film review: Full Frontal (2002), directed by Steven Soderbergh
When pressing the info-button for this film, it said it was a comedy about seven-odd people whose paths come together at a party. Starring David Duchovny. Well, that's good enough for me. Except there was a distinct lack of David Duchovny, boo hiss, which it seems a lot of people have found as well - having bought the DVD because he's first billed. He's in it all of like five minutes, if that.
Instead, what we have is a film within a film within a film, yes really. It's rather confusing. There's a film being shot, starring Julia Roberts as a reporter interviewing a film star, played by Blair Underwood, following him across the country for an article. Romance is brewing.
And then, there are all the other people, who are involved in making said movie, filmed on a grainy, hand-held camera in a very arty sort of way. If that doesn't ring alarm bells, I don't know what will.
Instead, what we have is a film within a film within a film, yes really. It's rather confusing. There's a film being shot, starring Julia Roberts as a reporter interviewing a film star, played by Blair Underwood, following him across the country for an article. Romance is brewing.
And then, there are all the other people, who are involved in making said movie, filmed on a grainy, hand-held camera in a very arty sort of way. If that doesn't ring alarm bells, I don't know what will.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Xmas Giveaway, Day 2: Item 4
Item 4 in the Christmas Giveaway is another book: Wuthering Hearts by Kay Woodward, which I gave a 4.5 out of 5 in July 2011, when it was released. It's sort of a modern take on Wuthering Heights for young adults (girls ~11-15 or so), and yup, this is my review copy. :)
Xmas Giveaway, Day 2: Item 3
Item 3 in the Christmas Giveaway is a souvenir notepad from Haddon Hall, which I picked up when I was there for the Jane Eyre behind the scenes tour in October ... which I still need to write about. It has the same picture that I have on my keyring and shows Haddon Hall in all its Thornfieldy splendour.
The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson (2004)
Book review: The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson (Picador, 2009 [2004])
I remember getting this book at WH Smith on some sort of 3 for 2 offer, and thought it might be something that either the Squeeze or myself might get a giggle out of. A couple of years later I took it down from the bookshelf, thinking that it's the book that the movie was based on. You know, based on the title, the cover and the "Now a major motion picture" blurb on the front.
It's not entirely true. The book and the film only have in common the title, and the concept of a squad of hippie supersoldiers. The film is about a journalist stumbling on a story, and following one of the would-be supersoldiers around. The book, on the other hand, isn't a fictional account. It's a journalist writing about how he came to hear about the First Earth Battalion, and the surrounding conspiracy theories, and so on, as he travels around America to try to substantiate the claims made by the people he has interviewed.
In 1979 a secret unit was established by the US Army. Defying all known military practice - and indeed the laws of physics - they believed that a soldier could adopt a cloak of invisibility, pass cleanly through walls, and, perhaps most chillingly, kill goats just by staring at them.
They were the First Earth Battalion. And they really weren't joking. What's more, they're back and fighting the War on Terror. So unbelievable it has to be true - this is the real-life account that inspired the film.
I remember getting this book at WH Smith on some sort of 3 for 2 offer, and thought it might be something that either the Squeeze or myself might get a giggle out of. A couple of years later I took it down from the bookshelf, thinking that it's the book that the movie was based on. You know, based on the title, the cover and the "Now a major motion picture" blurb on the front.
It's not entirely true. The book and the film only have in common the title, and the concept of a squad of hippie supersoldiers. The film is about a journalist stumbling on a story, and following one of the would-be supersoldiers around. The book, on the other hand, isn't a fictional account. It's a journalist writing about how he came to hear about the First Earth Battalion, and the surrounding conspiracy theories, and so on, as he travels around America to try to substantiate the claims made by the people he has interviewed.
Monday, 19 December 2011
Xmas Giveaway, Day 1: Item 2
Item 2 in the Christmas Giveaway is a book, Rags-to-Riches Bride by Mary Nichols, which I gave a 2.5 out of 5 in August 2010, but you might like it better. Or worse! Who knows! :D It's part of the Mills & Boon Historical line, which means we're talking 1837 here, aww.
Xmas Giveaway, Day 1: Item 1
Item 1 in the Christmas Giveaway is a souvenir leather bookmark. I've picked up a few different ones this autumn, because bookmarks are useful things. Please specify which one you'd like if you win, because I have a few to choose from.
Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows (2011)
Film review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), directed by Guy Ritchie
Two years ago, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson got new faces, and now, they're back in another Victorian romp. My recollection of the previous film is sketchy to say the least, so if you haven't seen the previous film, you should be okay to see this one, even though it's a sequel.
Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), the devious love interest in the previous film, is soon dispatched with, and the focus instead shifts to professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris) and the French and German who are trying to start a war with one another.
Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) is trying to combine a lot of clues all over the world, but still fails to prevent the death of a businessman. Meanwhile, Dr. Watson (Jude Law) is trying to get ready for his marriage with Mary (Kelly Reilly) - which includes a wild stag night with Sherlock and his brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry).
At the pub/club where the stag night is held, Sherlock comes across a French gypsy, Simza (Noomi Rapace, with an accent more Swedish than French, let's be honest), whose anarchist brother seems to be implicated in the plot. And so the adventure begins - from gunfights on trains to gunfights in munitions factories and chess games on cliffside castles. Hold on to your hat!
Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), the devious love interest in the previous film, is soon dispatched with, and the focus instead shifts to professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris) and the French and German who are trying to start a war with one another.
Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) is trying to combine a lot of clues all over the world, but still fails to prevent the death of a businessman. Meanwhile, Dr. Watson (Jude Law) is trying to get ready for his marriage with Mary (Kelly Reilly) - which includes a wild stag night with Sherlock and his brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry).
At the pub/club where the stag night is held, Sherlock comes across a French gypsy, Simza (Noomi Rapace, with an accent more Swedish than French, let's be honest), whose anarchist brother seems to be implicated in the plot. And so the adventure begins - from gunfights on trains to gunfights in munitions factories and chess games on cliffside castles. Hold on to your hat!
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Get ready for a week's worth of givaways
All of next week, or "starting tomorrow", I should say, there will be giveaways galore here. Well, it's coming up to Christmas, and I thought it would be fun to spread some Christmas cheer. :)
I've even bought myself a new mug - because when I saw it, I thought it was a good size - been wanting something a bit bigger! - and the colour and pattern on it is a pretty good match for this blog! Perfect!
It will be a double giveaway every day, or at least most days. A book, and a little something to go with it. Err, except they are done as separate giveaways, but if you're lucky you might get one of each. ;)
Nothing will be received before Christmas, or indeed shipped, as winners will not be drawn until Christmas Day. What's on the menu, well ... come back tomorrow and you'll find out! :) Along with what should be a review of the new Sherlock Holmes film, of which my best recollection is "woah, that's one heck of a castle!" and constant swooning over Robert Downey Gorgeous.
EDIT:
All giveaways are open until some point on the 27 December, when a winner in each will be drawn. First giveaway of the day is a thing of some sort, scheduled for 3pm / 15:00 GMT, second is a book, scheduled for 7:30pm / 19:30 GMT. Here's a link list:
I've even bought myself a new mug - because when I saw it, I thought it was a good size - been wanting something a bit bigger! - and the colour and pattern on it is a pretty good match for this blog! Perfect!
 |
| £2.50 from Asda as a separate mug. They also have entire sets of plates and stuff! :D |
It will be a double giveaway every day, or at least most days. A book, and a little something to go with it. Err, except they are done as separate giveaways, but if you're lucky you might get one of each. ;)
Nothing will be received before Christmas, or indeed shipped, as winners will not be drawn until Christmas Day. What's on the menu, well ... come back tomorrow and you'll find out! :) Along with what should be a review of the new Sherlock Holmes film, of which my best recollection is "woah, that's one heck of a castle!" and constant swooning over Robert Downey Gorgeous.
EDIT:
All giveaways are open until some point on the 27 December, when a winner in each will be drawn. First giveaway of the day is a thing of some sort, scheduled for 3pm / 15:00 GMT, second is a book, scheduled for 7:30pm / 19:30 GMT. Here's a link list:
- 19/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 1: Item 1
- 19/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 1: Item 2
- 20/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 2: Item 3
- 20/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 2: Item 4
- 21/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 3: Item 5
- 21/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 3: Item 6
- 22/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 4: Item 7
- 22/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 4: Item 8
- 23/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 5: Item 9
- 23/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 5: Item 10
- 24/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 6: Item 11
- 24/12 Xmas Giveaway, Day 6: Item 12
Friday, 16 December 2011
The Lake House (2006)
Film review: The Lake House (2006), directed by Alejandro Agresti
A romantic drama that isn't in chronological order and where your disbelief doesn't so much need suspension, but rather a restraining order. To accuse it of being predictable and far-fetched would be ... stating the bleedin' obvious.
Doctor Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) lives with her dog in a pretty lake house. She moves out, leaving a note to the next tenant in the mailbox. The tenant in question, architect Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves), gets the letter and responds to it. Problem is, he isn't the next tenant - he's the previous one.
Guess what? Kate is actually in 2006, corresponding with Alex, who is in 2003/2004. It turns into a sort of long distance relationship, but the problem is, of course, that the distance isn't measured in miles or kilometres, but in years, and a lot can happen in two of those.
The Lake House is a tricky movie to write about. On the one hand, it's a fascinating and very romantic concept and on the other, the film could have been a lot better, and it certainly is a mammoth task to keep your disbelief in check. In fact, it would be so much easier to completely slate the whole thing, but the problem is I sort of enjoyed it even though it has massive issues.
Doctor Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) lives with her dog in a pretty lake house. She moves out, leaving a note to the next tenant in the mailbox. The tenant in question, architect Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves), gets the letter and responds to it. Problem is, he isn't the next tenant - he's the previous one.
Guess what? Kate is actually in 2006, corresponding with Alex, who is in 2003/2004. It turns into a sort of long distance relationship, but the problem is, of course, that the distance isn't measured in miles or kilometres, but in years, and a lot can happen in two of those.
The Lake House is a tricky movie to write about. On the one hand, it's a fascinating and very romantic concept and on the other, the film could have been a lot better, and it certainly is a mammoth task to keep your disbelief in check. In fact, it would be so much easier to completely slate the whole thing, but the problem is I sort of enjoyed it even though it has massive issues.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Film review: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), directed by Clint Eastwood
Normally, you wouldn't catch me watching a Western. However, after a year of playing the roleplaying game Deadlands, I'm warming up to the idea. As we recently finished the campaign and in the process, I wrote two obituaries for the characters ... and as it happened, ended up using two pictures from this film to illustrate the two characters ... and then saw the film was on TV, I had to watch it.
Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) is a peaceful farmer in Missouri, but that comes to a brutal end when his wife and son are murdered by a gang of pro-Unionists. Out for revenge, and with nothing left to lose, he joins a gang of pro-Confederate rebels, and when the war has ended, their captain, Fletcher (John Vernon), decides to surrender, as they have been promised amnesty if they give themselves up. Most men, tired of fighting and wanting to go home, go with him, but Josey stays behind, refusing to surrender to the men who slaughtered his family.
Which is just as well, because the people who murdered Mrs. Wales and the boy, led by a man called Terrill (Bill McKinney) are now in the Union army, and they basically massacre the former rebels. After getting involved in this, using a Gatling gun, a bounty is put on Josey's head, and he thus becomes an outlaw, trying to find a new life in Texas, all the while running from the law, and plotting his revenge.
Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) is a peaceful farmer in Missouri, but that comes to a brutal end when his wife and son are murdered by a gang of pro-Unionists. Out for revenge, and with nothing left to lose, he joins a gang of pro-Confederate rebels, and when the war has ended, their captain, Fletcher (John Vernon), decides to surrender, as they have been promised amnesty if they give themselves up. Most men, tired of fighting and wanting to go home, go with him, but Josey stays behind, refusing to surrender to the men who slaughtered his family.
Which is just as well, because the people who murdered Mrs. Wales and the boy, led by a man called Terrill (Bill McKinney) are now in the Union army, and they basically massacre the former rebels. After getting involved in this, using a Gatling gun, a bounty is put on Josey's head, and he thus becomes an outlaw, trying to find a new life in Texas, all the while running from the law, and plotting his revenge.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Victorian Challenge 2012, gauntlet is thrown
Laura over at Laura's Reviews, who hosted the fab All About the Brontës Challenge in 2010, has come up with another great challenge: all things Victorian! Two to six (or more) items, and a whole year in which to do so, brilliant.
Duplicity (2009)
Film review: Duplicity (2009), directed by Tony Gilroy
Romantic comedy where two spies, Claire (Julia Roberts) and Ray (Clive Owen), are spying on each other and then end up doing corporate spying together and there are lots and lots of twists and turns and no one can trust anyone, trying to get company secrets and not get screwed over at the same time.
Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti star as the two rival company bosses.
I'm pretty sure I remember seeing a trailer for this film back in the day, and thought it looked pretty good. When I spotted it would be on TV recently, I decided to watch it, because it sounded good. A romantic spy comedy, brilliant. Except it isn't, really. Brilliant, that is. Or romantic. Or a comedy, for that matter.
Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti star as the two rival company bosses.
I'm pretty sure I remember seeing a trailer for this film back in the day, and thought it looked pretty good. When I spotted it would be on TV recently, I decided to watch it, because it sounded good. A romantic spy comedy, brilliant. Except it isn't, really. Brilliant, that is. Or romantic. Or a comedy, for that matter.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Film review: Romeo + Juliet (1996), directed by Baz Luhrmann
Once upon a time, someone said that Moulin Rouge! (also directed by Luhrmann) is the sort of film you either love or hate. We were talking about film reviews in class, and the person reviewing it hated it. My expression was probably aghast, because I love that film. The whimsical style and the reinvention of modern songs is absolutely amazing ... but I can see her point now. While I won't agree with her with regards to Moulin Rouge!, I will apply that criticism to Romeo + Juliet.
The story was penned by William Shakespeare, of course, and is that of two rival families, the Capulets and the Montagues, who have hated each other for as long as anyone cares to remember. The daughter of one family and the son of another fall in love with each other against the odds and that it doesn't end well. Hell, even I knew as much, and this is actually my first ever viewing of this particular story, regardless of adaptation.
The story was penned by William Shakespeare, of course, and is that of two rival families, the Capulets and the Montagues, who have hated each other for as long as anyone cares to remember. The daughter of one family and the son of another fall in love with each other against the odds and that it doesn't end well. Hell, even I knew as much, and this is actually my first ever viewing of this particular story, regardless of adaptation.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Wizarding Winter Fair - this Friday!
If you're a Harry Potter fan in the vicinity of Macclesfield, Cheshire (UK) on Friday afternoon/evening, 16 December 2011, there's a Wizarding Winter Fair to attend. I'll be there, with all my handmade wands. :)
Hope to see you there!
Hope to see you there!
If Only (2004)
Film review: If Only (2004), directed by Gil Junger
American musician Samantha (Jennifer Love Hewitt) lives with her British boyfriend Ian (Paul Nicholls) in London. Ian's a bit of a yuppie and always has more time for himself rather than for anyone else, let alone his girlfriend, whom he takes for granted. He forgets about her big graduation concert - she's only been practicing for three years - and they end up fighting, breaking up ... and while Sam's driving away in a taxi, it gets hit by another car, killing her instantly.
Suddenly, Ian has to re-evaluate his life, and he realises how much Sam meant to him. Problem is, now she's gone, and there's nothing he can do about it.
Or is there?
Waking up the next day, Ian discovers Sam is still with him. For some strange reason, they have been given one more day, to re-live the events of yesterday. Realising this, Ian decides to change the events of the day, and bring them closer together.
Suddenly, Ian has to re-evaluate his life, and he realises how much Sam meant to him. Problem is, now she's gone, and there's nothing he can do about it.
Or is there?
Waking up the next day, Ian discovers Sam is still with him. For some strange reason, they have been given one more day, to re-live the events of yesterday. Realising this, Ian decides to change the events of the day, and bring them closer together.
Friday, 9 December 2011
Franklyn (2008)
Film review: Franklyn (2008), directed by Gerald McMorrow
Franklyn was billed as a sci-fi film, where four individuals' paths meet, and two parallel worlds collide. Sounded fascinating, but was ... not exactly like that.
We meet Milo (Sam Riley) who was about to get married, but his bride dumped him, and his would-be Best Man (Richard Coyle) can't really cheer him up. Milo re-discovers an old childhood friend, Sally, who looks like a red-haired version of Emilia (Eva Green), an emo art student who attempts suicide a number of times for an art project. She doesn't get along with her mother Margaret (Susannah York, no less!) very well and keeps making video recordings.
Peter Esser (Bernard Hill) is, while all this is happening, is a religious man looking for his missing son David amongst the homeless in London, but it seems as if ex-soldier David has in fact escaped from a mental institution when he got to come home over the weekend.
And, in a dystopian metropolis known as Meanwhile City, a man called Preest (Ryan Phillippe) walks around in a mask narrating, Rorschach style, his search for "The Individual", the man he holds responsible for the death of a young girl four years previously. In Meanwhile, faith is everything, except Preest doesn't have any - he's the only one of "no religion", and the police look like someone's taken Noel Fielding and pressed "copy".
Spoilers below.
We meet Milo (Sam Riley) who was about to get married, but his bride dumped him, and his would-be Best Man (Richard Coyle) can't really cheer him up. Milo re-discovers an old childhood friend, Sally, who looks like a red-haired version of Emilia (Eva Green), an emo art student who attempts suicide a number of times for an art project. She doesn't get along with her mother Margaret (Susannah York, no less!) very well and keeps making video recordings.
Peter Esser (Bernard Hill) is, while all this is happening, is a religious man looking for his missing son David amongst the homeless in London, but it seems as if ex-soldier David has in fact escaped from a mental institution when he got to come home over the weekend.
And, in a dystopian metropolis known as Meanwhile City, a man called Preest (Ryan Phillippe) walks around in a mask narrating, Rorschach style, his search for "The Individual", the man he holds responsible for the death of a young girl four years previously. In Meanwhile, faith is everything, except Preest doesn't have any - he's the only one of "no religion", and the police look like someone's taken Noel Fielding and pressed "copy".
Spoilers below.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Geronimo (1993)
Film review: Geronimo (1993), directed by Roger Young
Geronimo is a biopic of the Apache Native American who came to be known by that name. The film begins in the early 1900s, with some kind of parade, where the old Geronimo (Jimmy Herman) is going to be a guest. The night before, he tells the story of his life to Juh (Michael Greyeyes).
We meet a young man who is in love with a beautiful girl, and in order for him to get her as a wife, her father says he requires the sum of eight horses - something seen as nigh impossible. The young man, however, says he'll bring twice that, no problem. The girl is upset with him, because now they're never going to marry in a million years, but what happens? Sixteen horses, coming right up!
They live happily together for a few years, and the adult Geronimo (Joseph Runningfox), goes to a Mexican town to trade, along with others from his tribe. They come back to find their camp on fire, and their families massacred by Mexican soldiers. The soldiers were actually not meant to attack anyone, especially not there, they were meant to keep Sonora safe, and the camp wasn't in Sonora - they just made a pre-emtive strike.
Geronimo and the survivors strike back, and that's when he gets the name Geronimo - and the reputation that ordinary bullets won't kill him. And so begins a compelling and touching story of fighting for what's right.
We meet a young man who is in love with a beautiful girl, and in order for him to get her as a wife, her father says he requires the sum of eight horses - something seen as nigh impossible. The young man, however, says he'll bring twice that, no problem. The girl is upset with him, because now they're never going to marry in a million years, but what happens? Sixteen horses, coming right up!
They live happily together for a few years, and the adult Geronimo (Joseph Runningfox), goes to a Mexican town to trade, along with others from his tribe. They come back to find their camp on fire, and their families massacred by Mexican soldiers. The soldiers were actually not meant to attack anyone, especially not there, they were meant to keep Sonora safe, and the camp wasn't in Sonora - they just made a pre-emtive strike.
Geronimo and the survivors strike back, and that's when he gets the name Geronimo - and the reputation that ordinary bullets won't kill him. And so begins a compelling and touching story of fighting for what's right.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
The Accidental Husband (2008)
Film review: The Accidental Husband (2008), directed by Griffin Dunne
Dr. Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman) gives relationship advice on a local radio station in New York City. Her style is to be realistic about love, because as much as we all love the idea of love, we're not necessarily going to live happily ever after. Emma is so down to earth in her advice that she's about 20 feet beneath it, still digging. In fact, she comes across as very bitter, which is surprising, considering she's engaged to be married to publisher Richard (Colin Firth).
One day, one of her many listeners call in - Sofia (Justina Machado) - and say she's getting married on Saturday but has cold feet. The advice from Emma is to dump the fiancé if he doesn't feel like the right guy, and move on. Said fiancé, Patrick (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), hears the show in the car, and ... isn't happy. Understandably. He had no idea there was trouble in paradise!
Seeing as how it's known that Emma is getting married, the teenage son (Jeffrey Tedmori) of the family where Patrick's boarding, hack into the city's marriage records and fabricates a marriage license, saying Patrick and Emma are married, which means, in order for Emma to marry Richard, she first has to get the anullment papers signed by her legal husband. And to do that, she has to meet him ... and, this being a romantic comedy, you know what's bound to happen.
One day, one of her many listeners call in - Sofia (Justina Machado) - and say she's getting married on Saturday but has cold feet. The advice from Emma is to dump the fiancé if he doesn't feel like the right guy, and move on. Said fiancé, Patrick (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), hears the show in the car, and ... isn't happy. Understandably. He had no idea there was trouble in paradise!
Seeing as how it's known that Emma is getting married, the teenage son (Jeffrey Tedmori) of the family where Patrick's boarding, hack into the city's marriage records and fabricates a marriage license, saying Patrick and Emma are married, which means, in order for Emma to marry Richard, she first has to get the anullment papers signed by her legal husband. And to do that, she has to meet him ... and, this being a romantic comedy, you know what's bound to happen.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Film review: Dog Soldiers (2002), directed by Neil Marshall
Private Cooper (Kevin McKidd) is trying out for special ops, but fails the training when he refuses to put a dog down for no other reason than Captain Ryan (Liam Cunningham) telling him to.
A while later, Cooper is with his team (Thomas Lockyer, Darren Morfitt, Chris Robson and Leslie Simpson), headed by Seargent Wells (Sean Pertwee), on a training mission somewhere in the wilderness of the Scottish highlands.
The training soon turns out to be something completely different, when they run into a special ops team - or rather, what's left of it (Cunningham) - and find themselves alone in the woods trying to fight an enemy they only thought existed in myths and legends ... And these ones don't just walk around in ripped jeans and well-sculpted torsos and turn into mythical creatures at the drop of a hat when there are "vampires" afoot ...
A while later, Cooper is with his team (Thomas Lockyer, Darren Morfitt, Chris Robson and Leslie Simpson), headed by Seargent Wells (Sean Pertwee), on a training mission somewhere in the wilderness of the Scottish highlands.
The training soon turns out to be something completely different, when they run into a special ops team - or rather, what's left of it (Cunningham) - and find themselves alone in the woods trying to fight an enemy they only thought existed in myths and legends ... And these ones don't just walk around in ripped jeans and well-sculpted torsos and turn into mythical creatures at the drop of a hat when there are "vampires" afoot ...
Monday, 5 December 2011
Enduring Love (2004)
Film review: Enduring Love (2004), directed by Roger Michell
A happy couple, Claire (Samantha Morton) and Joe (Daniel Craig) are on a picnic in a field somewhere near Oxford. They witness a hot air balloon crash landing in the field, and Joe tries to help the people on board. A child is still on board when a gust of wind makes the balloon take flight, and Joe and a number of other blokes helping out take flight with it, clinging on for dear life ... All except one manage to let go before they're too high up. One of them doesn't, let's go and plummets to his death.
After this, Joe gets a bad case of survivor's guilt and keeps going over ways things could have turned out without the man dying. (The kid was fine, by the way - he managed to pull himself together and pulled the right cord, bringing the balloon down a few miles away.) This obsession starts to create a strain on the relationship with Claire. At the same time, Joe is approached by one of the other witnesses, Jed (Rhys Ifans), who doesn't seem to want to leave him alone for some strange reason ...
This psychological thriller also features Bill Nighy as a friend of the couple, Andrew Lincoln as (I think?) a friend of Joe's and Ben Whishaw as one of Joe's students.
Spoilerage about the "some strange reason" ahead.
After this, Joe gets a bad case of survivor's guilt and keeps going over ways things could have turned out without the man dying. (The kid was fine, by the way - he managed to pull himself together and pulled the right cord, bringing the balloon down a few miles away.) This obsession starts to create a strain on the relationship with Claire. At the same time, Joe is approached by one of the other witnesses, Jed (Rhys Ifans), who doesn't seem to want to leave him alone for some strange reason ...
This psychological thriller also features Bill Nighy as a friend of the couple, Andrew Lincoln as (I think?) a friend of Joe's and Ben Whishaw as one of Joe's students.
Spoilerage about the "some strange reason" ahead.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Genova (2008)
Film review: Genova (2008), directed by Michael Winterbottom
Genova begins with a mother (Hope Davis) driving with her two daughters on a wintery road. They're playing a guessing game. The younger daughter does something extremely stupid, which causes a car crash in which the mother dies.
Five months later, the father of the family, Joe (Colin Firth), takes the daughters to Genova in Italy, where he's going to be a university lecturer. He has an old friend there, Barbara (Catherine Keener), who helps them settle in.
They might have moved to a diffferent continent, but they haven't escaped their grief. Youngest daughter Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine) still wakes up crying hysterically after her mother and grumpy teenager Kelly (Willa Holland) takes to exploring her sexuality with a local boy.
And that's about it.
Five months later, the father of the family, Joe (Colin Firth), takes the daughters to Genova in Italy, where he's going to be a university lecturer. He has an old friend there, Barbara (Catherine Keener), who helps them settle in.
They might have moved to a diffferent continent, but they haven't escaped their grief. Youngest daughter Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine) still wakes up crying hysterically after her mother and grumpy teenager Kelly (Willa Holland) takes to exploring her sexuality with a local boy.
And that's about it.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
The Man (2005)
Film review: The Man (2005), directed by Les Mayfield
Andy Fiddler (Eugene Levy), is a dental supplies salesman. He's overly friendly and a bit socially awkward and, shall we say, clueless. He goes from a Small Town to the Big City to attend a dental supplies conference.
Meanwhile, Big City "I don't do things by the book" cop Derrick Vann (Samuel L Jackson) is trying to bust an illegal arms dealer with the blessing of the local police force (Susie Essman), while internal affairs - headed by Miguel Ferrer ("War: it's fan-tas-tic!") - are suspecting him of murdering his partner, and so on.
Vann sets up a meeting with one of the arms dealer's henchmen (Luke Goss), and as luck would have it, identities are mistaken. Instead of undercover cop, Henchman gives the bag with the "taster" gun to Andy Fiddler, who ends up trying to pretend to be an armsdealer himself, as the dealers now believe he's the contact, and not Vann, who has to keep using him. Comedy ensues.
Meanwhile, Big City "I don't do things by the book" cop Derrick Vann (Samuel L Jackson) is trying to bust an illegal arms dealer with the blessing of the local police force (Susie Essman), while internal affairs - headed by Miguel Ferrer ("War: it's fan-tas-tic!") - are suspecting him of murdering his partner, and so on.
Vann sets up a meeting with one of the arms dealer's henchmen (Luke Goss), and as luck would have it, identities are mistaken. Instead of undercover cop, Henchman gives the bag with the "taster" gun to Andy Fiddler, who ends up trying to pretend to be an armsdealer himself, as the dealers now believe he's the contact, and not Vann, who has to keep using him. Comedy ensues.
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