vicki says

my tumblr

2010-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

so I created a tumblr.
much easier to post photos/songs then on this page.

http://legend-dairy.tumblr.com/

In my body, where the shame gland should be, there is a second awesome gland.

2010-03-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

technology

2010-03-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

Modern technology
Owes ecology
An apology.
~Alan M. Eddison

paper heart

2010-01-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

'Paper Heart' is such a cute, refreshing film. When I think about it, it's like no other film I have seen before. I very much enjoyed the way it was filmed in a fictional documentary format however I do wonder how much of the 'real life' interviews were scripted/real.

The animations segments scattered throughout the film were divine! The detail in the puppets was phenomenal; a very creative genius must be behind that creation.

The film is accompanied by a very catchy soundtrack. Charlyne Yi's song 'Magic Perfume' is adorable; defiantly check it out if you enjoyed the 'Juno' soundtrack.

Quite a few words of wisdom are spoken in this film:

“True love has to be on both sides – that’s what makes it so hard.”

“We’re not a very patient society so if something goes wrong, and there’s no quick fix, they give up. If you can hang in there, it just gets better.”

If you are in the mood for an indie, funny, rom-com film, definetly check this film out :)

quote time

2010-01-11T00:59:00.000-08:00

solvable?

2010-01-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong" H.L. Mencken

true that.

2010-01-11T00:54:00.000-08:00

Get your fokkin' tentacle out of my face!

2010-01-11T00:51:00.000-08:00

skins

2010-01-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

favourites of 2009

2009-12-30T18:57:00.000-08:00

Favourite movies:
District 9
Avatar
Adventureland
Star Trek

Favourite albums:
La Roux-La Roux
Passion Pit- Manners
The xx- The xx
The Temper Trap- Conditions
Lily Allen- It's Not Me, It's You

Favourite new artists:
Passion Pit
The xx
Miike Snow
Mumford & Sons
La Roux
Hungry Kids of Hungary



Check out Rolling Stones top 100 songs of the decade.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31248926/100_best_songs_of_the_decade/27.

and their top 10 films of the decade.
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/31234572/peter_travers_10_best_movies_of_t
both fantastic lists.

photo from yosigo on flickr

life seems much more simple now

2009-12-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

source: http://thisisindexed.com/

R.B.F

2009-12-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

"The earth is like a spaceship that didn't come with an operating manual" R. Buckminster Fuller

tim walker

2009-12-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

tim walker's photography seems to possess a unique magical essence in each of his photos.

<3

wow

2009-12-29T05:21:00.000-08:00

The film Avatar, to put it simply, was EPIC.

EPIC

EPIC
EPIC
EPIC
EPIC!!!

James Cameron you are a GOD.

triple j's hottest 100

2009-12-21T18:01:00.000-08:00

my list:

The Basics - With This Ship
Boy and Bear - Mexican Mavis
La Roux - Bulletproof
Lily Allen - 22
Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
Passion Pit - Little Secrets
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Paul Dempsey - Ramona Was A Waitress
Phoenix - 1901
Temper Trap, The - Down River
I found this an extremely difficult task to complete; I had a list of about 25 songs and had to cut it back to only 10. I feel as if 2009 has been a great year for new artists and bands. I really enjoyed the Australian music scene this year; a great mix of indie/alternative artists and great hip-hop acts appeared. Many bands had great comebacks and released albums that satisfied their many fans (Eg. Muse). However, some bands released news albums which were pretty average compared to their older stuff (Eg. The Killers). I'll probably compile a list of a good/bad albums for 2009. Until then, ciao.

where the wild things are

2009-12-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

I cannot recall reading the book when I was younger but from glancing quickly through the picture book, the book seemed to lack a detailed storyline; the main focus of the book were on the accompanying drawings. With the film, there may be a beginning (Max running away), a middle (his time away from home) and an ending (journey home) but whilst watching the film, these sections all blend into one dreamlike film that seems to lack a clearly defined story. In any other film, the lack of a storyline would lead to a catastrophic film but due to the way this film has been delicately crafted, the film does not need to rely on a sturdy script for the film to bloom.

The film takes the viewer on a trancelike journey into the wild imagination of the protagonist Max (Max Records). One watches hazily as we are introduced to the mysterious creatures of the islands whose one-liners create ripples of laughter throughout the cinema. Other points in the film cause a mellow and heartfelt mood to be experienced. Do not be surprised if you begin to feel a tad disheartened.

This is not a kid’s film; kids would be quite confused with the story of the film and would find it disturbing. I believe that some mothers would have a hard time watching this film due to the honest portrayal of the mother’s parenting hardships; a single mother raising two kids, dealing with raging tempers and a runaway child. On that note, the performance by Max Records was terrific. He is such a young talented actor who provided a very genuine and honest performance.

'It’s a strange thing that this story has had such a hold over generations of children; it’s quite a dark tale. And that darkness is in the film' Margaret (At the Movies).

One of the main standouts of the film was definitely the aesthetics of the film. The setting (along the coast of Victoria) is picturesque and the colours of the film are just divine. There were so many scenes in which I wanted to take a photo to set as my wallpaper. The cinematography creates a very mystical and dreamlike setting; the handheld camera furthermore creates a more intimate feeling. The dreamlike and imaginative feel of this film is what makes it so easy to like the film. It is so easy to watch and let your mind float away. However, once the film finishes it is difficult to verbalise why you actually liked the film. You end up saying something along the lines of 'wow that was different’.

The soundtrack is fantastic. To put it simply, it makes the film. Without the songs and beats that accompany the little dialogue, the film would be rather dull. I downloaded the soundtrack shortly after watching the film and I have been listening to it on repeat. Take a listen to ‘Hidaway’ by Karen O and the Kids. Such a chilled and magical soundtrack; definitely takes you away from reality.

now this is what a bookend should look like

2009-11-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

source: http://unusual-things.blogspot.com/

listen to these songs:

2009-11-18T23:12:00.000-08:00

Mexican Mavis by Boy & Bear

Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons

Lust For Life by Girls

You'll find your bread and your butter

2009-11-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

you met me at a very strange time in my life

2009-11-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

this film is epic.

Bob Evans

2009-11-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

I got free tickets to go and see Bob Evans at the myspace music studio. It was such an intimate setting, less then 50 people in a marquee tent, just chilling around, listening to Bob Evans (Kevin Mitchell) sing songs and crack jokes with his fellow bandmember.

He played some of his latest songs such as 'Pasha Bulker', 'Brother, O Brother' and 'Hands Me Down'. He sounds exactly or maybe even better then the recordings of these songs. His bandmate (Mal) played this amazing instrument that consisted of a keyboard plus a drumkit. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to play both at one time. Props to him.

Towards the end of the 45min gig, they played some of their older songs such as 'Friend' and 'Don't You Think It's Time'. I love love love his old stuff. Overall, such a great gig and it was all for free! Too good.

childhood.

2009-09-18T20:49:00.000-07:00

source: me

Hollow Man Quote

2009-09-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

So Superman is out flying around one day, horny as hell, and he sees Wonder Woman sunning herself naked on top of the Justice League. She's laying out there all naked and spread eagle, and Superman says, "I have GOT to get me some of that Wonder P***y." Then it occurs to him, he can just fly down, get in a few quick pumps, and be gone before anyone notices anything because he's Superman, right? So he flies down real quick, does his thing, and is gone in a flash. Wonder Woman sits up real quick and says, "What the hell was that?" The Invisible Man replies, "I don't know, but my arse is killing me." Hollow Man (2000)

lol

Movie lessons tested

2009-09-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Lesson 1: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get…’Forrest Gump (1994)

Irksome words of wisdom from Mrs Gump to her fleet-footed, slow-brained offspring.

Expert: Cadbury’s spokesperson

“We try our best to make each assortment the same. There will be give or take on one or two units. But, broadly, each box will feature the same proportions throughout.

The whole point of assorted chocolates is that whatever you like, someone else won’t – and whatever they don’t like, there’s always some Granny or Auntie who will. You’re trying to cover a broad spectrum.”

Verdict: Chocolate boxes are designed to be uniform and predictable. Not like life then.

source: total film

lorenzo agius

2009-08-16T02:45:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo Agius photography

LA ROUX

2009-08-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

'...There's certain things that should be
Left unsaid
Tick tick tick tick on the watch
Life's too short for me to stop...'

quote

2009-08-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

“Tears are words the heart can't express”

PASSION PIT

2009-08-04T01:55:00.000-07:00

'....On Manners, the band's unique brand of sugary electro pop belies some darker themes that unravel with every listen. This will be one of the biggest records of the year, and rightly so' Source: Triple J

Passion Pit are frigging awesome. Their debut album 'Manners' is simply amazing, definitely my favourite album so far in 2009. I love their type of music; electro and indie music mixed in an experimental way which makes it sound truly unique.

Although this type of music is not everyone's cup of tea (I know a few people who hate this type of indie music), make sure you check out some of their tunes. Music, in particular in today's world, lacks uniqueness and has become all about how many records one can sell. So when a new band comes along, that has a blatantly obvious passion for music AND sounds genuinely 'new', it is definitely worth checking them out and supporting them.

I can't wait for themt to tour Aus. Will be awesome =)

awkward much?

2009-07-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

Poor seth rogan....rejected by Megan Fox on live TV hahaha.
I would probably have died of shame if that was me.

Origins

2009-06-01T02:31:00.001-07:00

Sherlock Holmes Trailer

2009-05-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

Your thoughts?

tight fit

2009-05-16T21:29:00.001-07:00

Source: Looking Glass Flickr page

click click

2009-05-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

I bought my first ever SLR camera a couple of weeks ago; a Sony a350 =D It has become my new favourite possession. I still get astounded by the amount of detail that each photo can hold. When comparing to my old digital camera, the photos on my SLR are about a billion times better.

Here are some photos that I have taken....I'm still trying to get used to being able to control so many aspects of taking a photo. Aperture, exposure, shutter speed, focus etc. I think I need to buy a manual or something.

(click to enlarge)

(my cat)

(my first try at long exposure...looks better when it is full size)

Bill Murray

2009-05-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

Bill Murray is definitely one of my all time favourite actors. I love most of his work; my personal favourties being Groundhog Day, What About Bob?, Lost In Translation and The Man Who Knew Too Little.

Recently he has been missing in action but he is currently filming scenes for his new film 'Get Low'.

Although the name sounds like some rap/gangsta movie, 'Get Low' is actually a drama/thriller based on a true story. Directed by Aaron Schneider, the story follows Bill Murray's character, owner of a unsuccesful funeral parlor. Robert Duvall plays Tennessee eccentric Felix "Bush" Breazealz who comes to Bill Murray to plan his own funeral, whilst he is still alive.

Not much else has been exposed about the plot/storyline but it's been classified as a thriller so there must be some twist involved.

Anyways, it's good to see Murray getting back into movies =D

in the clouds

2009-05-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

I can't wait

2009-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

Always funny...

2009-04-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

which USB would you rather?

2009-04-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

this seems like a good read....

2009-04-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America "Author Julian Montague has created an elaborate classification system of abandoned shopping carts, accompanied by photographic documentation of actual stray cart sightings. These sightings include bucolically littered locations such as the Niagara River Gorge (where many a cart has been pushed to its untimely death) and mundane settings that look suspiciously like a suburb near you."

Synchronicity

2009-04-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Photographed by Peter Funch

Favourite Film Charecters

2009-04-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Amelie Poulain- Amelie

Edna- The Incredibles

Guido Orefice- Life is Beautiful

Lester burnham- American Beauty

Ron Weasley- Harry Potter Movies

Bridget Jones

Marty McFly- Back to The Future

Ferris- Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Bob- What About Bob?

Marla Singer- Fight Club

who are your fav charecters?

Taking Woodstock

2009-04-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

'Taking Woodstock tells the true story of Tiber, played by comedian Demetri Martin, who helps organizer Michael Lang secure a concert permit in order to stage the iconic 1969 music festival in upstate New York. Martin’s character “gets waylaid by an acid trip and a three-way,” producer James Schamus told Rolling Stone. The film also features Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Watchmen’s Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Paul Dano, Imelda Staunton and Eugene Levy as Max Yasgur, whose farmland became the stage for Woodstock. Release date in Australia is 13th of August' source: Rolling Stone Magazine

I can't wait for this film! It looks really really good. It reminds me of 'Almost Famous'.
Am also loving the movie poster for it; very psychedelic.

skins finale....

2009-04-02T04:40:00.000-07:00

....was lame. worst ever season finale I have seen. It wasn't even an ending; it was more like a sudden stop in the middle of the show.

It did not answer any questions or show the 'future' of the characters. Really lame.

I'm glad that this season is over; it wasn't good at all. bring back the old skins :)

Evermore....you've changed!

2009-03-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

Aussie/NZ band Evermore have just released their much anticipated new album 'Truth of the World: Welcome to the Show'. This new album comes along with a really great, new music style and a very different look. Their debut single 'Hey Boys and Girls' is a fantastic song which is hopefully an indication of how their album will be.

However, if we flash back to circa 2003, we can see a very obvious transformation in their music but much more their appearance.....

How they used to look:

What they look like now:

Hard to believe it's the same band!
However, their new look is interesting. I like it :)
The main singer, Jon Hume, looks like Gerad Way from My Chemical Romance haha.

But I reckon they look more 'commerical' now. Before they seemed more like the nerdy, indie type of band but with this new look they definitely have a shot at the international music stage.

Welcome back Evermore!

this is hilarious hahaha

2009-03-17T03:30:00.001-07:00

worth100.com

2009-03-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

hahahaha

Late Of The Pier

2009-03-14T03:14:00.001-07:00

Sweet sweet band. They are the best electro/indie/crazy/funk/pop band I have heard in a long long time. Check out 'Bathroom Gurgle', 'Broken' and 'Focker'

Be warned, this music isn't for everyone. It is very random and quite static/crazy. If you like indie/electro music and music like 'The Foals' then check this band out.

Some reviews:
'This is a band that don't sound like anything else around at the moment, who aren't afraid to experiment with hip-busting funk, rock and power pop all jumping into bed together.'

'Truth be told, it's still a bit of a mess, but it's a glorious and galvanizing one: a convoluted construction crammed with so many immediately gratifying moments that it takes multiple listens to extricate them all--in other words, enough instant pleasures to easily outweigh its occasional grating, overreaching, and faltering.'

btw..does anyone know how to put a mp3 on your blog?

This is awkward

2009-03-14T00:29:00.000-07:00

Hugh Jackman getting his crotch grabbed by some random on a Japanese TV show. hahahaha

Films I have seen this week:

2009-03-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

Films I have seen this week:

-'In Bruges'
It's funny, in this movie there are three actors from the Harry Potter films. We have Voldermort, Mad Eye Moody and Fleur all playing slightly different characters to what they play in HP. Ralph Fiennes once again plays the bad guy, Clemence plays the sexy love interest, Colin Farrell is the angry, bitter character while Brendan Gleeson plays the loveable and honest hitman.

I don't know if I liked this film. It was enjoyable to watch but at times it was a bit boring and other parts where quite predictable. The whole inclusion of the dwarf was a bit random and only became significant to the story at the end. On that note, the ending was quite depressing and didn't really give any answers but rather, left the viewer confused.

However the movie did have its funny parts and it was enjoyable to watch the relationship between Farrell and Gleeson blossom. Fiennes is excellent at playing the bad guy; I think it's the combination of his angular face and his menacing voice which makes him the perfect actor to play evil characters. The setting in Bruges is really lovely and the actual storyline is written very well.

I would give this movie 3.5 out of 5.

-'The Reader'
Two Ralph Fiennes movies in the space of two days; it's a bit too much haha. So 'The Reader'... where Winslet won the Academy for best actress for her performance. Was it worth it? Was her performance something out of this world? Hmmm I would have to say that Winslet deserved it but her performance wasn't that amazing. When I say she deserved it, I think it's more for the fact that she is such a fine actress, is amazing in every role she plays and that it's about time she won an award. I would say her performance in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' is more award winning then her performance in 'The Reader'.
Back to the film....it was a good film. Had its highs and lows over the course of the film. This is a good summary of what the film is about by 'Rolling Stone Magazine':

'What if the person you love turns out to be a monster? That question arises when 15-year-old virgin Michael Berg (David Kross) starts a summer affair in postwar Berlin with tram conductor Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet). After sex, Michael reads to her from the works of literary giants, and then this older woman who calls him Kid disappears'

It was a really interesting story; it kept me interested for majority of the film but towards the end, Micahael's character really annoyed me and made me tune out. The ending was depressing and dragged on for ages.

I've been reading on several forums that they find it unjust that there is male frontal nudity but not female frontal nudity in this film. I'm a bit ambiguous to this debate; it should be more acceptable to have frontal nudity from both genders but at the same time I think it's more easier and less controversial if a man is shown naked rather then a women. Personally, I would rather no frontal nudity in this film but yeah, that's just my opinion.

I would give this movie 3.5/5.

-'Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging' Great soundtrack but the film is your typical teenage predictable storyline. I read the book a while ago and I thought the book was funny but the film didn't really make the funny parts funny.

To tell you the truth, I think the film portrayed Georgia and her friends as kindov desperate teenage skanks whilst the book described them as normal teenage girls. Not all 14 year old girls are that lame and desperate. I know a lot of them are like that, but the film makes a generalisation that all 14 year old girls have boyfriends, only care about snogging, go to nightclubs for birthdays and wear thongs.

I am starting to believe that book to film adaptations are never good. Stick to the books.
2/5

-'Eagle Eye' The reviews are true. This is a lame movie. So unrealistic. So pointless and stupid. A reviewer describes it perfectly: 'Like many contemporary films, Eagle Eye is over-edited to the point that some good stunt work just looks a muddle – I suppose the fear is that teenagers will get bored if an image lasts longer than a nano-second'

There is too much in this film. The idea behind the whole film was interesting but the way they filmed and edited it, made it seem so unrealistic and fake. Would love to point out some of the faults but that would mean spoilers. 1.5/5

-'The International' Boring boring boring. Didn't understand the story, found it to be lame and just so predictable in parts. It was very unrealistic and I found Naomi Watt's acting pathetic. She is unable to portray true emotion in her face and actions. Everything seems contrived and fake.

I found myself laughing at many of the parts due to the ridiculous stunt and effects. At one part, I began to count the mistakes and goofs I could see.

Really really average movie that was not at all an 'action' or a 'thriller' as it was advertised to be.I would like to give it 1/5 but I'm giving it 1.5/5 due to the laughs it provided.

-'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' The first time I saw this movie, I thought it was just another comedy but after watching it again, I realised what a great film this is. It has the perfect combination of romance and comedy and the cast is perfect. Russell Brand is once again bloody hilarious; anything he says or does makes me laugh. Jonah Hill is adorable and I love the character he plays in this film. This is a great movie where there are many instances where one can relate to. Very funny :) 4/5
So overall a pretty bad movie viewing week apart from 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'. Next week I hope to see 'Watchmen'. It looks so amazingly good. I hope it lives up to all the hype.

Vanity Fair spoof

2009-03-05T03:35:00.001-08:00

lol

2009-03-04T01:23:00.000-08:00

This happens to me wayyyy to much.
I had this major laughing attack during a church service last year. The Priest had said something which sounded like a swear word (can't remember what) but I could not stop laughing. My parents were so embarrassed and they thought that 'telling me off' would help me stop laughing, but on the contrary, it made me laugh even more. It got to the stage where the priest's helper had to escort me out of the church lol.

Good times ;)

my fav movie posters

2009-02-28T19:08:00.000-08:00

'Wee planets'

2009-02-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

Wee Planets By Alexandre Duret-Lutz
These are very very cool. Quite trippy panoramas.
More here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gadl/sets/72157594279945875/

'I am McLovin'

2009-02-28T18:14:00.000-08:00

I watched 'Superbad' last night for about the fifth or sixth time. I just love this movie. Makes me laugh everytime :)

This is probably my favourite part of the whole film.

'BBFF?' 'Best Fuckin' Friends Forever, man!'

2009-02-24T04:34:00.000-08:00

The Oscars....

2009-02-24T03:36:00.000-08:00

...were fantastic! Loved every minute of it :D

I thought the Jackman did a fantastic job. I don't really understand why many people thought he performed poorly. I think people missed the fact that he was being funny by the way he acted and performed and not through one-liner jokes. I felt that Jackman's hosting made the Oscars seem a bit more personal and more intimate. I really loved the part when Anne Hatheway and Hugh Jackman both began to sing. Anne has such a lovely voice! I forgot that she sings so well...memories from 'Ella Enchanted' have been resurfaced haha.
Moments I liked:
-'Slumdog' winning all the awards that it did :D
-Heath's win. Very well deserved
-Ben Stillers inpersonation of Jacquin Phoenix

-Sean Penn's win :)
-The whole 'Slumdog' cast coming onto the stage to accept one of the awards. Adorable.
-Kate Winslet's speech. Loved the part when she asked her dad to whistle. So cute.
-James Franco and Seth Rogan's skit

Moments I didn't like:
-The performance of 'Down to Earth'. Was really out of time, sounded bad and did no justice to the song.
-Aniston and Jack Black's lame jokes when they were presenting an award.
-Miley Cyrus' dress
-Sophia Loren face
-On the Australian telecast of the awards, they showed about 4min worth of Red Carpet footage hosted by the ever annoying Richard Wilkins ( i think that's his name). Not sure why they didn't show more, but I thought it was lame.

'Like our dawn, merely a sob of light'

2009-02-22T23:17:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.lichtfaktor.eu/

MOVIES I HAVE FINALLY SEEN

2009-02-22T22:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, at the beginning of the year I made a list of movies that I have wanted to see. I slowly began to add to this list and soon it became a mammoth list which would require weeks in order to get through at least half of those movies. So a couple of weeks ago I rented about 10 of these movies and finally watched them. Anyways, this is a list of movies which I have finally seen!

Brokeback Mountain- don't really know why I hadn't seen this movie earlier but after finally seeing it, I really really loved it. Such a strong storyline, fantastic acting and overall a beautiful movie.
Shawshank Redemption- I now understand why this movie always makes the top 5 best movies ever made. A very powerful movie; extremely moving and such a captivating storyline. Cons: in some parts the storyline was predictable and I found the ending to be too sudden. I also found out that when this movie was released at the cinemas, it performed poorly and only became famous and popular after its release on video.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- this is defiantly one of the best films i have ever seen. Such a quirky, amazing and just plain brilliant storyline. Go see it if you haven't seen it.
Blood Diamond- I was so excited to finally see this movie. Any movie with Leo in it is definitely guaranteed to be great. This movie did not fail that theory. Full of action, drama, undetected twists, this movie is the perfect action film. I loved Leo's and Djimon Hounsou performances. I don't understand why neither of them got best actor or best supporting actor at the Oscars. Weird.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang- i thought this was such a funny film. I loved Robert Downey Jr's character and his performance in this film. The storyline was unpredictable, very original and extremely funny. I also loved the narration that Downey provided throughout the film. It is also a very quotable film.
'Yeah, boo, hiss, I know. Look, I hate it too. In movies where the studio gets all paranoid about a downer ending so the guy shows up, he's magically alive on crutches, I hate that. I mean shit, why not bring them all back. But the point is in this case, this time, it really happened. Perry, like, lived. Yeah, it's a dumb movie thing, but what do you want me to do, lie about it?'
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist- This isn't the best film but it is one of the better teen-romance films. It's interesting and watchable, but at times it gets boring and slow. It's a bit annoying how the film only takes place in one night; i think that's what makes the film slow. However, the music in this film is AMAZING! Best soundtrack I have heard in such a long time. Not one song of the album is bad. Vampire Weekend, The Shout Out Louds, Takka Takka, Bishop Allen and We Are Scientists; just some of the sweet artists featured in this album.
Milk- pretty awesome film. Made me fall even more in love with Emile Hirsch and James Franco. Great storyline and performances.
I have just had a major mental blank which is preventing me from remembering anymore movies that I have seen lol. I shall update this list when my brain decides to work :)

ya

2009-02-22T21:51:00.000-08:00

apologies for not having posted in a while.
been busy with things. sounds like a lame excuse but its true =P
will start to post again from NOW!

BLINK 182 ARE GETTING BACK TOGETHER!

2009-02-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604564/20090208/blink_182.jhtml

YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! I am so so so so so so so excited about this!

their new logo

post secret

2009-02-10T01:58:00.000-08:00

'Anansi Boys' by Neil Gaiman

2009-02-10T01:36:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading this book about 10minutes ago and I am currently considering re-reading it again tonight. This book was fantastic! Gaiman is such a brilliant writer; he has the ability to mix humor, drama, romance, history and fantasy into a magical story which transports the readers into a different world.

To sum up this novel, it basically follows the life of Fat Charlie after the death of his father Anansi who was a mythological spider God. Fat Charlie is oblivious to this fact and when he is told that he is in fact a decedent of a God, believes it is rubbish and thinks he has gone mad. Fat Charlie ends up meeting his twin brother Spider, for the first time, who unlike Fat Charlie, has magical powers. What follows the brothers reunion, are many adventures, misfortunes and many funny moments. I would write more about it, but I'm afriad I will spoil the novel.

This book has definitely become one of my favourite books I have ever read. Definitely read this book if you are into fantasy and humour. It's just fantastic.

This review sums up this novel perfectly:
'Will astonish you on ever page, and at the same time have you believe every word. You'll stay up late to finish and then be sorry when it's done' Tim Powers.

I also loved the way the book was set out. Witty chapter titles; cute drawings scattered throughout the book and the 'extra' bit at the end. In this 'extras' section, there is a deleted chapter, an indepth interview with Gaiman, images from Gaiman's noteboook where he orignally wrote this story and reading discussion questions.

10/10 =)

'A Thing For Me'

2009-02-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

How awesome is this music video? I love it! I've watched it about five times and it still continues to entertain me.
The song is really good as well; a great mix of indie, electro-pop.
You can download the music video for free on the US iTunes store.

Anyone for a guitar-shaped boat?

2009-02-04T04:33:00.000-08:00

The giant guitar boat used by Josh Pyke for his music video Make You Happy is being auctioned online. It'll help raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Project. The auction begins Monday Feb 2 and will be open until Friday Feb 12. For more info and the link to the auction head to ivyleague.com.au
source: triple j

Annie Liebowitz

2009-02-04T04:14:00.000-08:00

'Super-snapper Annie Liebowitz has published a fantastic portfolio of 2009 Oscar-nommed double-acts - mostly star/director team-ups' Total Film

Darren Aronofsky/Mickey Rourke

Nicole Kidman/Baz Luhrmann

Meryl Streep/John Patrick Shanley

Danny Boyle/Dev Patel

Penelope Cruz/Woody Allen

Christopher Nolan/Heath Ledger
Gus Van Sant/Sean Penn

Sam Mendes/Kate Winslet

Woody Aldoz

2009-02-02T23:27:00.000-08:00

music game?

2009-02-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

The game
Step 1: Put your music player on shuffle.
Step 2: Post the first line from the 1st 25 songs no matter how embarrassing
Step 3: Strike through once someone guesses both the artist and the track correctly.
Step 4: For those who are guessing, looking up the lyrics is CHEATING.
Step 5: If you like the game post your own.

I've been dreaming, of the things i wrote about a boy
'Something to talk about - Badly Drawn Boy'
Hurry up and wait, so close, yet so far away
'One Step at a time by Jordin Sparks'
Here I am, lost in the light of the moon which comes through my window
'Afterglow by INXS'
Lay me down, lay me down, lay me down, lay me down
She works downtown in an unmarked bar, flying around poles
'Patricia the stripper by The Wombats'
Say yes, don't say no. I'm ready now and I want to go.
All the girls pose the same for pictures, All the boys got the same girls' hair
It's going to take a little time, while your waiting like a factory line
'M79 by Vampire Weekend'
I don't want another pretty face, I don't just want anyone to hold.
'Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney'
Mama, we all go to hell.
'Mama by My Chemical Romance'
It started with a low light, next thing I knew they ripped me from my bed
'Spaceman by the Killers'
Road tripping with my two favourite allies, fully loaded we have snacks and supplies
We were tight, but it falls apart as silver turns to blue, waxing with a candlelight
You could have knocked me out with a feather, i know you've heard this all before but we're just hell dreamers
These colours will not change, you change the way i see them
Its 6am, day after Christmas, throw on some clothes in the dark
'Brick by Ben Folds Five'
You remind me of a former love I once knew, and you carry little peace with you
Soft kiss and wine what a pretty friend of mine, we're finally intertwined
I stole the keys to the skies,we’ll leave this place for the final time
Your fingertips across my skin, the palm trees swaying in the wind, images
'Almost Lover by Fine Frenzy'
Leaves are falling down. On the beautiful ground. I heard a story from the man in red.
Everything is falling to pieces, earth is dying help me Jesus
'Anthem Part 2 by Blink 182'
People, they don't mean a thing to you, they move right through you
'Honest Mistake by the Bravery'
Hey girl you know you drive me crazy. one look put's the rhythm in my hand.
Well your just across the street, looks a mile to my feet, I wanna go to you.
'Kill by Jimmy Eat World'

mmmm some are tricky.
Good luck!

i'm kind of in love with....

2009-02-02T04:15:00.000-08:00

Emile Hirsch

From his amazing and astonishing performance in 'Into The Wild' to his carefree, rebellious attitude in 'Lords Of Dogtown', there is nothing that Emile Hirsch can't do.

His latest performance in 'Milk' is just as worthy of being among his best performances. He has the ability to transform easily and effortlessly into any character he portrays.

He isn't afraid of pushing the boundaries, and will go to extremes in order to achieve perfection in his acting. The perfect example is how Hirsch lost about 20kg to play McCandless in 'Into The Wild'. The scene that shows his extreme thiness is only about 10minutes of screentime, yet in order to maintain the autehniticty of the story, Hirsch makes sure that each detail is not overlooked.

I can't wait to see what Hirsch's acting future holds.

I am now going go watch either 'Alpha Dog' or 'The Girl Next Door' :)

post secret

2009-01-31T22:48:00.001-08:00

'the future'

2009-01-31T17:03:00.000-08:00

Skins Season 3

2009-01-31T16:11:00.000-08:00

I finally watched the new episodes from the new series of Skins. With a whole new cast with the exception of Tony's sister Effy and her weird friend Pandora, the show has taken a different path from the original series.

I found when I was watching this, that it was harder to connect with the new characters and they seemed to be wanting to resemble/mimic the characters from season 1 and 2. For example, in this series there is a character called Cook who is almost identical to Chris from season 1 and 2. They both are slightly crazy, messed up and have an outrageous sense of humour. Effy in this series, is even more messed up then she was in the previous seasons. Her list of things to do on the first day is scandalous and her provocative manner sets her up to be the major slut in the school.
One thing I do miss from the other seasons, is how the characters used to be all connected in some way. In season 3, the characters are all in separate groups and do not really associate with one another like the way they used to in previous seasons. The perfect example is how Tony, who was going out with Michelle, is best mates with Sid who ends up liking Cassie who is Michelle's friend. The closeness that all the characters had meant that it was easier to like each character and you could connect with the stories. The latest episode (ep 2) showed a bit of interconnectedness between the characters but it was surrounded by an awkward and hostile feeling. Hopefully, in the new episodes to come, new friendships form that strengthen the cast and storyline.

However, this new series has stuck to its original level of wit, humor, intriguing characters and entertainment as seen in previous seasons. It feels good that Skins is back on; it provides you an insight into a lifestyle and life which some dream of, others fear or others are living.

On a final note, the character which I'm finding I miss most is Sid. He was such a lovable, geeky, funny character who had a storyline which was realistic and understandable. I would love it if they had cameos of the previous protagonists in this series. Sid and Tony (L)

Olly Moss

2009-01-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

Olly Moss is the genius behind these remakes.
Some other designs by Moss.

an aussie summer

2009-01-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

I would like this

2009-01-21T19:11:00.000-08:00

this laptop cover

and these staplers. Seriously cool :)

What i'm listening to atm.

2009-01-21T18:22:00.000-08:00

Guilt By Association by Louis XIV

Finding Out True Love Is Blind by Louis XIV

Passion Play by William Fitzsimmons
Stumbled upon this artist and have fallen just a little bit in love. Such a melodic, relaxing and peaceful voice. He sounds like a mix of Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine and Death Cab For Cutie.

Dearth by the Foals
Not the best song by the Foals, but still a great song to listen to. I can't wait for their new album. I have listened to their old album, Antidotes, way too many times.

Shout Me Out by TV on the Radio

Another Girl Another Planet by Blink-182
Recently brought Blink-182 Greatest Hits album. I definitely recommend it a must for all Blink fans. From track number 1 'Carousel' to their last song 'Aliens exist', you follow the bands journey as they grow from an amateur college rock group, thrashing around in their garage, to a professional and amazing one of a kind rock band.
Minding My Own Business by Coconut Records
This band is really really good. Similar style to Rooney and Phantom Planet. Sounds like something you would hear on 'The OC'. Quite catchy :)

Geraldine by Glasvegas

On Board by Friendly Fires

This song is really sweet. Its a mix of electro, indie and even a bit of soul. Its a great summer dance song.

Lily Allens new album

2009-01-21T18:15:00.000-08:00

....is called 'Its not me, its you'
argh
why would you call an album that?
The album is about music not some relationship help book. The title of this album has already put me off from even downloading her new songs.

I unfortunately read a book with that exact same title, and the book was a complete and utter pile of rubbish. I beg you to never ever read that book.

Hopefully this album is good and that my quick nature to judge it is due to the association that I have with the title and that horrid book I read.

Cool album cover though.

'Looking For Alaska' the film

2009-01-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

'Looking for Alaska' is a great teenage, coming-of-age book written by John Green back in 2005. I just found this out:

'The film rights to the novel were acquired by Paramount Pictures in 2005. Mark Waters and Jessica Tuchinsky are set to produce the movie and Josh Schwartz (creator of The OC) will write the screenplay and direct the film. A release date is expected in 2010. The movie is believed to have been renamed to Famous Last Words'

Yay! yay! yay! So excited! Can't wait for this film to be released.

This is a basic summary of what 'Looking for Alaska' is about.

"Miles Halter is completely bored. He’s got nothing to look forward to when he gets out of bed in the morning. Everything about his life is completely normal. Who wants to be normal? After thinking all this he decides he wants to move to a different school where he just might find the “Great Perhaps.” Miles always had a knack for knowing people’s last words.

When Miles moves to Culver Creek Boarding School he meets some people that will change his life forever. Alaska Young is the most interesting person he will ever meet. As his year progresses and she shows him more and more about the Great Perhaps and what life really has to offer, he realizes that he is in love with her.

This is a truly inspiring story that captivated me from the very start. It showed me that life isn’t just one big boring routine until you die. Life can have a meaning and everybody can have a purpose, but this is only possible if you make it that way. Looking for Alaska is just an amazing story. It is a book that must be read."

source: http://boysbloggingbooks.blogspot.com

Chuck (TV show)

2009-01-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Although this show is yet to have shown in Australia, I have been watching season 1 online and have fallen in love with this show.

Created by Josh Schwartz (the genius behind the OC and Gossip Girl), this show is destined to be great. It is an action-comedy show, which follows the life of Chuck who is your "average computer-whiz-next-door-type of guy". The story begins when Chuck receives an email from an old friend who is a member of the CIA. The email contains all of the CIA's secret information fin the form of encrypted images. What follows, is that Chuck's brain becomes the CIA's computer.

Each episode has its fair share of action, comedy and a bit of romance. It is really funny and you can't help but fall in love with Chuck. The co-cast is just as lovable; Chuck's best mate Morgan is an absolute geek and his attempts to act 'cool' leave you laughing your head off.

Although certain aspects of the show seem a bit silly and unrealistic, these elements just make the show more charming and more enjoyable.

Definitely check this show out if your looking for a new comedy-drama-action TV series to watch. It is guaranteed enjoyment and laughter.

Honest Movie Posters

2009-01-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Source: Total Film

'If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit'

2009-01-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

Back To The Future, probably one of the best movies ever made. So original and a timeless classic.

I might have a Back To The Future marathon. I totally got the special edition box set for my birthday :P

The 17 Worst Movie Posters Of 2009

2009-01-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the-17-worst-movie-posters-of-2009

lol

Remember the Titans

2009-01-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

I watched this film last night for the first time and I regret not seeing it earlier! This film is probably one of the best ‘sporting’ movies I have ever seen. It is such a moving and powerful story, that you can’t help shed a tear in certain parts and smile when the characters put aside their racial prejudice and come together as one.

This film is based on the true story about Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) who begins to coach the Titans Football team at a high school in Virginia. It is the year 1971, and school has allowed for the integration of whites and blacks for the first time. Boone replaces the previous head coach Coach Bill Yoast (played by Will Patton), who was a legend in the community. Boone calls for both whites and blacks to join his team while appointing Yoast as assistant coach. What follows is a difficult yet rewarding journey as the team and community learn to put aside their opinions on race and to accept each other for their ‘souls’ and not their skin tone.

Produced by Disney, it is expected that certain parts are a bit corny, but if you put that aside and admire the acting and themes, then these corny parts become essential in the success and understanding of this movie. The acting is really impressive. Denzel Washington, as always, portrays his character perfectly. Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Gosling, Kate Bosworth and Donald Faison all play minor/major roles in this film.

It is truly a powerful movie that leaves a lasting message about fairness and equality in the viewers mind. 4.5/5

You can watch the whole movie (in a pretty good quality) on youtube. This is part 1.

Golden Globe Outfits

2009-01-12T01:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, I just wanted to post some hits and misses re: outfits worn at the Golden Globes. I think one of the main and only reasons people watch these award shows, is to laugh at the ridiculous outfits worn by some and to envy the others who wear outfits we can never ever afford.

HITS
How cute do they look?! Everytime I see Dev Patel, I always imagine him when he was playing Anwar in 'Skins'; he had such an awkward and confused character. He has come very far :)

Eva Mendes, stunning.

Olivia Wilde

Evan Rachel Wood

MISSES
Renee Zelwegger. The see through thing isn't working. No one wants to see skin coloured bras :S

One word, fugly.

'Ugly Betty'

Beyone looks like she is in pain and the split on the side is not flattering.

Blake is gorgeous, but this dress looks way too tight!

Golden Globe Awards Winners

2009-01-12T01:20:00.000-08:00

Best Motion Picture- Drama- Slumdog Millionaire

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama- Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture –Drama- Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Motion Picture -Musical Or Comedy- Vicky Christina Barcelona
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -Musical or Comedy- Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -Musical Or Comedy- Colin Farrell (In Bruges)
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture- Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture- Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Animated Feature Film- Wall.E
Best Foreign Language Film- Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Best Director- Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Screenplay- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Score- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Television Series– Drama- Mad Men
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series-Drama- Anna Paquin (True Blood)
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series– Drama- Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy- 30 Rock
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series- Musical Or Comedy -Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series- Musical Or Comedy- Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

I'm so happy that Slumdog Millionaire won best motion picture and best director! And yippe for Wall.E :) :) And who can't help be ecstatic that Heath Ledger won best supporting actor. His performance in 'The Dark Knight' was brilliant and flawless and he deserved every bit of that award.

Milk!

2009-01-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for this film to come out :D :D. The ensemble cast is amazing, the story looks revolutionary and it just seems brilliant! Furthermore, Emile Hirsch and James Franco are on the screen at the same time. yipeeee :D :D

It is released on the 29th of January in Australia.

The Rich List

2009-01-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

This is probably my favourite game show on TV. Although the host Andrew O'Keefe is majorly annoying and acts like a complete geek for most of the show, the actual game is heaps of fun to watch and play. Some of the topics are a bit obscene (name 40 Most Common Grape Varieties Grown in Australia for Wine) but every now and then, a topic comes up which is achievable, interesting and fun to complete.

Well I found some 'lists' which seem to fall into the appropriate genre to appear on my blog (aka they are about movies, music or books). So have a go at them and I'll post the answers later on.

Produce a list of:

Theatrically Released Movies Featuring The Stars Of 'Friend's'
Books written by Roald Dahl
Theatrically Released Movies with a 7 in the Title
Theatrically Released Feature Movies In Which Audrey Hepburn Has Appeared

My top 5 movies of 2008

2009-01-09T18:54:00.001-08:00

5) Vicky Christina Barcelona
4 stars

4) Australia
4 stars

3) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4.5 stars

2) Slumdog Millionaire
5 stars

1) WALL.E
5.5 stars

Other notable mentions:

American Teen
Hey hey its Esther Blueburger
Sex and the City
The Grocers Son
Quantam of Solace

I love this.

2009-01-08T22:44:00.000-08:00

http://little-people.blogspot.com/
such a sweet idea.

Quote by Henry David Thoreau

2009-01-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

“The heart is forever inexperienced”

My latest music downloads

2009-01-08T18:29:00.001-08:00

a few new and old songs:

'Loose Lips' by Kimya Dawson. Most people know this song from the movie 'Juno'. Know for her childish voice, and catchy chorus', Dawson is an artist whose music is unique and the true definition of indie music.

'they think we're disposable? well both my thumbs opposable!
spelled out on a double word and triple letter score an'

'Pen and Paper' by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The new single by RJA released a couple of days ago is a preview of their new and upcoming album 'Lonely Road' (due for release feb 3rd). For those familiar with RJA old music, they will find (as I did), that this new single sounds quite bland and boring. Its got a steady rock beat, catchy chorus but its nothing that hasn’t been heard before. Comparing this song to their old hits such as ‘Face Down’ and ‘Guardian Angel’, it is evident that RJA should stick to their old style of music rather then venturing into a music which lacks the core and depth they previously had.

'Stevie' by Lisa Mitchell. Since her appearance on Australian Idol, Lisa Mitchell has accomplished and established a name for herself in the folk music genre. Her airy, angelic voice sounds perfect with her meaningful and unique lyrics With her new single 'Stevie', we get a glimpse into what we will see on her debut album 'The Attic Space'. I can't wait :)
Download 'Stevie' for free from the triple j website http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/listen/mp3s.htm.

'Dying is fine' by Ra Ra Riot. Rolling Stones magazine called them the 'best indie rock band debut' of the year. They sound similar to Vampire Weekend, but these guys sound a bit more mellow and almost a bit more 'darker'. What I mean by darker is that most of their songs deal with the theme of death but at no means am I suggesting that this is an 'emo' band or such. They have the perfect mix of indie, rock and pop. Also listen to 'Can You Tell'

'Be Gentle With Me' by The Boy Least Likely To. How can you not like this song? It is so bubbly, cute and fun. Plus it is majorly catchy. To describe this song you would basically say it sounds like a cute, fun, childish tune! This song is from 2005, but I only stumbled on this by chance. Definitely check out this song. (Even the album cover is cute!)

New albums:
Folie a Deux- Fall Out Boy
This is a pretty good album by FOB. With stand out hits like 'American Suitehearts' and 'I Don't Care', this album follows their typical music style; a solid pop/rock beat with witty lyrics and song titles. The album comes with several bonus tracks such as an acoustic version of 'American Suitehearts', some remix's of several songs and their take on the classic Michael Jackson song 'Beat It'.

My personal favorites would have to be '20 Million Dollar Nose Bleed', 'The Shipped Gold Standard' and 'Coffee's For Closers'.

Overall it is a really catchy and typical FOB album; but nevertheless this album doesn't really compare to their old stuff. 3.5 out of 5

Out of curiosity, I looked up the meaning of the title 'Folie a Deux'. Folie à deux (literally, "a madness shared by two") is a rare psychiatric syndrome in which a symptom of psychosis (particularly a paranoid or delusional belief) is transmitted from one individual to another. Thanks wikipedia.

When The World Comes Down- The All-American Rejects
Words can not describe the excitement when I purchased the new album by AAR. I LOVE this band so much. After listening to this album several times, my excitement was placed on a sudden halt when I came to the realisation that this album was not at all like their old stuff. This album focuses on less 'rock' songs, rather focusing on popish ballads aimed for commerical radio. Their previous albums were filled with original rock hits. Songs which can be heard over and over again without becoming tedious. I found this album became boring after only listening to it 3 or 4 times.

I do admit that not all the songs are bad. I love 'Gives You Hell' but this song could have been majorly improved by having a stronger bass line and a louder/harder sounding drum. I even tried remixing the song so it could have a stronger beat and it does make a significant difference (for the better).

Other stand outs would be 'Sunshine' and 'Another Heart Calls'.

I'm giving this album 3/5 and I really pray that their next album is like their first debut album.

Also, the video for 'Gives You Hell' is funny. Well I thought it was funny; maybe it is just because Tyson Ritter is majorly cute when he acts nerdy haha.

The All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell

Movies I want to see:

2009-01-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

Quote by John Berger

2009-01-07T05:39:00.000-08:00

When we read a story, we inhabit it.
The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.
What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story.
And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own.

'Bright Shiny Mornings'- novel by James Fray

2009-01-07T04:57:00.000-08:00

This book is the latest from author James Fray (writer of the controversial novel 'A Million Little Pieces'). Fray's latest novel is a stunning comeback which helps proves to haters that he is in fact an exceptional writer and deserves the praise he receives.

For those who don't know Fray, he published the novel 'A Million Little Pieces' which he claimed was an autobiography about his struggle through rehab and getting over his addiction to drugs. After an appearance on the show Oprah and Oprah herself adding Fray's book to her book club, the book became a worldwide hit, selling millions of copies all over the world. However, several months after Fray reached stardom, a website declared that Fray's novel was actually embedded with millions of lies and that in actual fact, this self claimed 'autobiography' was actually a work of fiction. Fray admitted to his lies and had to face an embarrassing ordeal by once again appearing on the Oprah show and being publicly ridiculed. Oprah's exact words, 'You lied to me...you lied to me!'. A very over dramatic reaction which caused many to hate James Fray and for the sales in his novels and future novels to plummet.

I personally loved 'A Million Little Pieces', and after finding out that certain sections were in fact fake, it did not change my opinion of the novel. His latest novel is a perfect comeback and clearly reminds readers that he is in fact a remarkable writer and not some fraud.

Onto 'Bright Shiny Lights'. I thought that this novel was a pretty good read. Initially it was a bit difficult to follow what was happening; Fray writes this novel with little and/or no punctuation. However as you continue to get through the book, you easily adapt to Fray's style of writing and it becomes an effortless and easy-to-read story.

It is hard to describe what this book is about, but basically it revolves around LA (Los Angeles). We are introduced to five main characters, one being LA itself. Fray takes the reader into the journey and lives of people who are trying to fulfil their dreams and ambitions in LA. One character is a famous movie star who appears to be living the perfect life; beautiful, married, kids but in actual fact, he is a man who is secretly gay, married to a women who is actually into women and his kids were made in a petri dish. We also follow the life of a young couple who are trying to start their own life in LA. This story is a bit cliche, but their story becomes one of the most interesting towards the end.

Staying true to his typical style of cliffhangers and eye opening descriptions, Fray presents an absorbing and compulsive read, which keeps readers reading to the end. By the end of the novel, Fray has presented an honest and almost horrifying insight into the actual LA. Contrary to what we see in movies and TV, LA is far from all its glitz and glam and is rather a slum filled with thousands of struggling wannabes and ridden with poverty.

The only thing which I didn't really enjoy was that Fray sometimes dragged on the stories for too long and they became a bit tedious to read. It is quite a thick book and I do admit to skipping several pages due to boredom.

I am giving this book 4/5.

'Into The Wild'- the novel by Jon Krakauer

2009-01-05T22:46:00.000-08:00

To sum this book up in one word, amazing. This book has the ability to change the way you perceive life and to reconsider your beliefs and actions.

This novel written by Jon Krakauer is an autobiography of the young adventurer and nonconformist Christopher McCandless. Written in 1992, Krakauer describes the events that led to the discovery of McCandless' body in the Alaskan outback. The novel explores McCadnless upbringing, his decisions that led to his desire to leave society and go 'into the wild' and ultimately tries to make sense of how McCandless ended up being found dead in an abandoned bus in Alaska.

McCandless is a powerful character and his actions and words are so powerful that you can't not be moved by his words. 'If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed' just one of the many quotes written by McCandless in his diary found next to his body.

This novel is very haunting; Krakauer has the ability to mesmerise and enthral you into the narrative. I really liked the way Jon Krakauer wrote this book. He follows a non-parallel narrative, where he includes flashbacks, transcripts, interviews and current information all regarding McCandless journey and the ordeal his family was put through. Krakauer has the ability to effortlessly switch between past and present to form a smooth and easy to read story.

The movie 'Into the Wild' is an excellent adaptation of the novel. Nearly all the events and truth in the novel are retained in the movie, and there is little that has been 'hollywoodised'. Emile Hirsch also did an amazing job portraying Chris McCandless. After reading the book it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the part of McCadnless.

I’m giving this book 5/5 and I definitely recommend watching the film as well.

'San Francisco Chronicle'- Compelling and tragic...Hard to put down.
'New York Times'- Terrifying...Eloquent...A heart-rending drama of human yearning.

Hello Earthling

2009-01-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

^a visual description me (plus soccer and science geek)

So, I'm making a blog for the first time...I think this blog will basically be about my thoughts and opinions on movies, music and books that I have seen/read/heard and whatever else I feel compelled to blog about.

Let's see how this goes :)