End of Hiatus (Hopefully)

After a suprising long time, I return to the cyber space with lots and lots in my bag. But if tried to share them here than I'd have to write a very long time. I should at least put the names down with a few thoughts but somehow couldn't return here after the vacation I had in September. There was no computer, very very limited mobile phone access (voluntary, I only called my family to let them know I'm alright) and nothing but wonderful, wonderful sea, Bali massages, Turkish baths and great food - yeah a 5 star plus resort has its advantages, especially a special one like this where you are not disturbed by the animation team, and girls from Bali come to massage your backs and hand you cold towels and cold ginger tea while you are reading on the beach (this is not the Bali massage I have mentioned above, these were just freebies to make the guest feel more comfortable). And did I mention that this beach was called 'Silent Beach' since no children and no music was allowed?

So after that wonderful break I have returned to work and life. Read more than a few books there and the one that left the most imression was called The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. I want to read her first novel too now (but I'm hoping to get an e-reader of some sorts since the books are so much cheaper).

I'm currently reading a travelogue/memoir written by Mina Urgan (a prof in English Literature) called Bir Dinozor'un Anıları/The Travels of a Dinasour (that is because she is so old) and I love it. It feels like she is sitting right across me and talking to me. I regret that I can't ask her questions.

As for viewing I have finished two seasons of Mad Men and I'm loving the show even though everyone in it is a bad person and nothing happy every happens. The characters are very interesting, I just can't stop watching and very eager for the third season.

I have finished Korean Drama City Hall and it was a total winner. Great acting and such a delightful romance. The male character is probably the dream man for most of the women in the world. Naturally I loved him.

I also finished Japanese Drama Love Shuffle but it was fail as far as I'm concerned. I finished it but not with much enthusiasm.

So I'm back to record what I read and watch.

The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, Gulliver's Travels - End, Oburcuk Mutfakta

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009) Directed by Niels Arden Oplev, written by Nikolaj Arcel and Ramus Heisterberg, adapted from the wonderful book of the same name (orginal translation of the Swedish title is 'Man Who Hate Women').

I liked it. It kept the good parts, omitted the not so interesting parts and the locations were good. I didn't like the actors, the titular girl was a bit old (the writer makes a point on how she looks like a teenager in the novel) but the acting was not bad at all.

Gulliver's Travels ended on a high note and now I started a book of food related essays (appropriate for Ramadan - heh) written by Selim Ileri. I'm loving it.

Pleasantville, Bound - still Gulliver's Travels

Pleasantville (1998) Directed and written by Gary Ross.
It is just as nice the second time. Not more, not less.

Bound (1996) Directed and written by Wachowski bros (Andy and Larry -?- I think)
I liked it even better this time. The clean cinematography, close up shots, art direction and a good script with good acting. I liked it a lot.

I'm coming to the end of Gulliver's Travels and ironically I like these parts the best. Strong comments agreed with me more than the wittier ones.

True Blood Season II - End

Yeah I did another five episodes last night. The season ended with a cliffhanger and I'm so eager to watch more. Pretty much addicted. I love Stephen Moyer and Alexander Sarksgaard (Bill and Eric) great vampires with issues. Not only those but every side character is interesting with enough time to build a story around them and keep me interested.

Koyla, An Evening in Paris, Hangover, True Blood Season II, STILL Gulliver's Travels

Koyla (1997) Directed by Rakesh Roshan, written by Sachin Bhowmick, Ravi Kapoor, Anwar Khan and Rakesh Roshan.
It was a bit mad but still entertaining.

An Evening in Paris (1967) Directed by Shakti Samanta, written by Sachin Bhowmick, Hasrat Jaipuri, Ramesh Pant, Shailendra (lyrics)
Charming film with delightful lead actors.

Hangover (2009) Directed by Todd Phillips, written by John Lucas, Scott Moore
It was hillairous and very entertaining.

I have started True Blood Season II the day before yesterday and I'm already seven episodes in. I love this show.

Meanwhile Gulliver's Travels is dragging on. Sometimes I want to give up on it but sometimes it becomes interesting and I feel guilty for wanting to let it go.

Various films and Gulliver's Travels

I didn't realise that it has been so long since I updated. Must try to be more dilligent. Ok first God, Please Give Me More Time - End
It was good, I marathoned the end and Takeshi Kaneshiro is adorable.

Now on to the films (I will try to put everything beginning with the most recent but I may well forgot some):

Marley & Me (2008) Directed by David Frankel, written by Scott Frank and Don Roos, from a book written by John Grogan.
It is a tear jerker and I love those. Besides Owen Wilson is very likable.
Pretty Woman (1990) Directed by Gary Marshall, written by J.F Lawton
I pretty much memorised this one but it still as good as the first viewing.
The Hurt Locker (2008) Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, written by Mark Boal
I don't really like war films but this one somehow appealed to me. It look so real but also film like.
A Single Man (2009) Directed by Tom Ford, written by Tom Ford and David Scearce from a novel written by Christopher Isherwood.
I loved it but it is no wonder since Mr.Ford is heavily influenced by my all time favorite director Wong Kar Wai. And in a good way. It is similar to WKW but with the touches of Tom Ford making this film a worth inspiration. Colin Firth is an amazing actor and this performance is fantastic. This is my type of film.
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince (2009) Directed by David Yates, written by Steve Kloves from the novel written by J.K Rowling.
It is Harry Potter and I love it.
Sonbahar (lit. translation Autumn) (2008) Directed and written by Özcan Alper.
It is a moody film I think a bit influenced by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. I liked it (then again I like Nuri Bilge Ceylan) but didn't really fall for it.

Good Luck - End, God, Please Give Me More Time Episodes I-II, Girlfriday

It turned out that I liked Good Luck enough to marathon the last three episodes, it being Ramadan and the fact that I had to go to work the next day didn't help the matters but I was so sorry for poor Hajime and wanted him to fly again and I also wanted Captain Kouda and nice flight attendant lady to reunite. Thank God, Good Luck didn't dissapoint me in either matter but it still is my least fave Asian drama.

Now I started watching God, Please Give More Time (GPGMMT) and Takeshi Kaneshiro is a gift to women from God I guess since he is so perfect. I can look at him all the time and still find him extremely beautiful but also approachable. And to top it off, he is a good actor.
Now apart from Takeshi Kaneshiro I like the first two episodes of the show. The female lead looks realistic and the story is very touching and believable so far. I'm sure we'll enter the land of "only in TV" soon but so far, it feels fairly realistic.

Girlfriday is yet another chick lit and I'll just give up on Jane Green after this one. Jemima J was the only book of hers I liked.

True Blood Season I, Golmaal, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, Good Luck Episodes I-II-III

True Blood Season I was excellent. I have read the book and didn't like it but the show is fantastic. I'm very eager to watch Season II now.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) Directed by Robert B. Weide, written by Peter Straughan and Toby Young.
It was a decent passtime especially since I do like Kirsten Dunst and Megan Fox. But it is not a masterpiece or anything.

Golmaal (1979) Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, written by Sachin Bhowmick, Sailesh Dey and Dr.Rahi Massom Reza

Loved it. Amol Patekar is a good actor and I liked his laid back screen presence.

I have started to watch J-Dorama Good Luck and three episodes later this may be the one J-Dorama that I don't like, at all. I love Kimu Taku, I like planes but the characters are not so interesting and I didn't really care whether Ogaya was afraid of flying or not - and a whole episode was devoted to this. Good thing that Kimu Taku is good looking.

Aata, Primal Fear, Becoming Jane, PuCCa Gunluk End, Scarpetta

Aata (2007) Directed by V.N Aditya, written by Gopalakrishna Paruchuri, Venkatesvara Rao Paruchuri, M.S Raju, Harish Shankar
I liked it mostly for the way it looked. It was entertaining but I'm not planning to return to it again soon.

Primal Fear (1996) Directed by Gregory Hoblit, written by Steve Shagan and Ann Biderman based on the novel of the same title by William Diehl.

I has been years since the first time I watched this and at that time I remember thinking that the book was much much better. This time I'm more forgiving, maybe due to the fact that I have a crush on Edward Norton (who was excellent in this role btw)

Becoming Jane (2007) Directed by Julian Jarrold, written by Kevin Hood and Sarah Williams (also includes excerpts from letter of Jane Austen)
Ok my all time favorite writer is Jane Austen and this is a slice of her life film focusing on romance. I cried cried and cried (this second viewing more than the first since I knew what was coming). I love James McAvoy and Anne Hathaway doesn't annoy me.

Finished PuCCa Gunluk and enjoyed it very much. A critic called her Turkish Brigitte Jones and I agree although Gunluk is less sugar coated and contains some really sad parts (about child abuse). Now I have started Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell - I know she (and the series) got old but I can't give up on her since everytime I thought I'm over her, I'm pulled in by yet another back cover plot summary!

Valentine's Day, The International, PuCCa Gunluk

Valentine's Day (2010) Directed by Gary Marshall, written by Katherine Fugate, Abby Kohn and Mark Silverstein.
It was a nice film, a decent rom com but it was not as good as Mr.Marshall's Pretty Woman. Again the story that brought tears to my eyes was the one acted by Julia Roberts (sigh).

The International (2009) Directed by Tom Tykwer, written by Eric Singer.
I liked it very very much. Mr.Tykwer likes clean and uncluttered cinematography and I do enjoy his films very much. (I still don't want to watch Perfume though)

I have finished Witness The Night and it was not bad but it was not spectecular either. And I've started to read this novel called PuCCa Gunluk. This is a novel converted from a popular internet blog where PuCCa tells us about her love life, childhood etc. I like her style.

Thirst

Thirst (2009) Directed by Park Chan Wook, written by Jeong Seo Gyeong and Park Chan Wook, inspired by "Thérése Raquin" by Emile Zola (now I have to read that book)
I was not really expecting a black comedy but there it was. Really enjoyed it. The sex scenes were amazingly done and one other thing I didn't expect was to see full frontal nudity from Song Kang Ho.

Vivah, The Incredible Hulk, The Painted Veil, Inception

Vivah (2006) Directed by Sooraj R.Barjatya, written by Aash Karan Atal, Sooraj R. Barjatya
I liked this film very much. Despite the fact that I don't care for either lead.

The Incredible Hulk (2008) Directed by Louis Leterrier, written by Zak Penn.
This film was suprisingly good, maybe because I LOVE Edward Norton.

The Painted Veil (2006) Directed by John Curran , written by Ron Nyswaner, adapted from the novel written by W.Somerset Maugham.
This second viewing was just as effective as the first. Oh Edward you move my heart and body both.

Inception (2010) Directed and written by Christopher Nolan.
I liked this one very much too (this turned out to be a great film weekend) Great story telling.

3 Idiots, Kites Ellery Queen Mystery and Suspense Stories - End, Witness The Night

3 Idiots (2009) Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, written by Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Abhijit Joshi, inspired by -semi adapted- from the novel 5 Points Someone written by Chetan Bhagat.

I liked very very much. Over 40 Aamir was convincing as a university student - to my suprise.

Kites (2010) Directed by Anurag Basu, written by Anurag Basu, Robin Bhatt, Sanjeev Dutta, Akarsh Khurana, Rakesh Roshan.

This film was a mess, unintentionally hillarious.

I liked Ellery's mystery stories much better towards the end. It turned out to be a happy purchase. Started Witness The Night written by Kishwar Desai. It started nicely and I like the 45 years old protagonist and NGO social worker trying to solve the mystery of a gruesome murder of a family. This writer also wrote a book called Darlingji: True Love Story of Nargis and Sunil Dutt. I want to read that book very much.

Magnolia, Danny The Dog, The Reader, Woman on Top

This weekend was very fruitful as far film viewing is concerned. The thing is that I have stopped wanting to go to a film theater and watch the films on big screen. I have no explanation to why. But Inception is a film that should be appreciated on big screen so I think I'll try and watch it there.

Magnolia (1999) Directed and written by P.T Anderson.
I liked this one better in second viewing. Cried less but appreciated it more. It is a good film.

Danny The Dog (a.k.a Unleashed) 2005 Directed by Louis Letterie, written by Luc Besson
I think this film suffers mostly from its title. I hesitated to view it for such a long time despite loving Jet Li and action films. The title is so unappealing. The film is good though. It is flawed but works where it matters. Jet is amazing both in the fights and in acting.

The Reader (2008) Directed by Stephen Daldry, written by David Hare, adapted from the book by Bernhard Schlink.
I loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it. Great story and great story telling. Acting was perfect and Kate Winslet would be my ideal woman if I was a man. She is perfect. Anyway my only complaint about this is that everyone spoke English (with German accents too!) even though all the characters are German and the film is in Germany. Other than that it is a perfect film.

Woman on Top (2000) Directed by Fina Torres, written by Vera Blasi.
This one is not a good film but I was too lazy to change the channel. Only recommended to Penelope Cruz fans since she looks great in this one but I have seen her act much much better in almost every other film I have seen her in.

Ellery Mystery stories got better and better towards the end. I still have some to read though and I hope that they will continue to be good.

Various Films

It has been hectic for the last few days and I took two days off from work last week so the blog is not updated but I have been watching films and here is a few that stayed with me.

Tenderness (2009) Directed by John Polson, written by Emil Stern adopted from a book by Robert Cormier

I just looked at it for a few minutes and suddenly I was hooked. It got me not only with its pristine uncluttered cinematography but a well chosen cast who did everything just right.

Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) Directed by M.Sadiq, written by Tabish Sultanpuri, Saghir Usmani

I loved it. Guru Dutt was not only a good actor but also owned a certain on screen charisma too. Waheeda Rehman and Johhny Walker were also great. I loved the song J.Walker sang. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters but liked the story all the same.


Pyaasa (1957) Directed by Guru Dutt, written by Abrar Alvi.

This is my second film with Guru Dutt in it and this time he directs and I like him even better. I fell for the title character who was soo good, a bit on the preachy side but no harm. The leading ladies were both nice but I definitely prefer Waheeda Rehman to Mala Sinha.

The Blue Umbrella (2005) Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, written by Vishal Bhardwaj, Abhishek Chaubey and Minty Kunwar Tejpal, adapted from a novella written by Ruskin Bond.

It is a sweet sweet story and one that is told beautifully. I love Vishal Bhardwaj.

Notting Hill (1999) Directed by Roger Mitchell, written by Richard Curtis.
I love this no matter how many times I have seen.


I’m still reading Ellery Mysteries (but I have finished Jackie Collins’ Poor Little Bitch Girl and I enjoyed it, Jackie is nice to read)

You Got Mail

You Got Mail (1998) Directed by Nora Ephron, written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, adapted from a play written by Miklos Laszlo.

This is one of the films I keep returning to. I love the interactions and how NYC is filmed. The characters are not really “real” but the actors are so good and everthing is so proper in it. This film gives me a strange sort of comfort.

Ellery's Mysteries is a strange mix. Just when I thought I'd give it a break there is story written by John Steinbeck (who happens to be one of my favorite writers) so on it goes - for now.

Raincoat

Raincoat (2004) Directed and written by Rituparno Ghosh, adapted from a short story written by O'Henry.

I liked this very much. Aishwarya and Ajay Devgan were very good and the art direction and dialogues were great (the dialogues kind of have to be since the film is very very very talky).

Ellery Mysteries are getting better, now I'm reading a Somerset Maugham story and I think I'll seek his novels out. I like the man's style :)

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice (1995) Directed by Simon Langton, written by Sue Birtwhistle and Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's novel of the same title (my all time favorite novel).
For 2 nights I was watching this delightful TV serial and enjoying every moment of it. Colin Firth is excellent as Mr.Darcy and Jennifer Ehle is great as Elizabeth. I have never seen a better Darcy than Mr.Firth. Especially the way he looks at Elizabeth when they were in Pemberly....

I'm reading another story from Ellery Queen's mysteries this one is written by Pearl Buck, I loved her when I was a teenager and her prose is not really that bad. At least it is better than the first story.

New Moon, Burn After Reading, Ellery Queen's Book of Mystery Stories by 25 Famous Writers, Beautiful People - End

New Moon (2009) Directed by Chris Weitz, written by Melissa Rosenberg, adapted from Stephanie Meyer's book of the same title.
This second film of the Twilight Saga was very entertaining. It was actually just like reading the books.

Burn After Reading (2008) Directed and written by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen.
I loved it. Coen brothers are directors to my own heart and this film was a small gem. I especially liked Brad Pitt and not because he is handsome, that was such a juicy part and he did it justice. Of course every part was acted to perfection :)

I have started to read one of the anthologies I have got at a second hand book fair. The mystery stories are written by famous writers who didn't normally write in the genre. The first one is written by Sinclair Lewis, someone I have never heard of and even though it is an interesting story, I'll probably not seek this author out.

Beautiful People was entertaining and not much else. Ended nicely, enjoyed it but glad that I haven't paid for it. (Work place library FTW)

Brilliant Legacy - End

Yes, last night I stayed up until 04:45 a:m and finished Brilliant Legacy. It ended very very nicely and even though I'll probably be like a zombie today, it was worth it. This drama is one of my faves now.

Still reading Beautiful People and it is very entertaining as well.

Brilliant Legacy, 22 Episodes Later

I love this drama so much! Dvd has four episodes (instead of the usual three) last night and I stayed up probably later than 03:00 a:m and come to the office before 08:30 but I just couldn't leave it at the end of Episode 21, not when Hwan told Eun Seung that he likes her, that he wants her and when he kissed her.
I really like Eun Seung a lot. She is brave, smart and most importantly a good person. Her stepsis really put her into a very bad situation, lying outright just because she wanted to get Hwan for herself. And no matter what she does, Hwan loves Eun Seung, even after he has heard all the outrageous lies and they way they presented her as the worst kind of con artist. He believes in her but doesn't want to think her evil stepsis is a liar either. So he wants to believe that there is a misunderstanding.

And evil stepmom figured out that she cannot get rid of Eun Seung through lies and deception, so she now joined forces with Tae Soo's dad - she wants her daughter to marry Hwan and that Hwan will keep his shares. She promised to help Tae Soo's dad to make the company into what he likes (he wants to grow but since this will affect quality and will not be in line with Halmonim's ideals, he wasn't given permission to do it now).

These people are so evil. Poor Eun Seung doesn't even know that her father is alive. Stepmom and stepsis are try to keep them apart. And Hwan has found Eun Woo but he doesn't know Eun Woo's real identity (his bar owner friend wants to make a profit with Eun Woo's piano skills and tells everyone that Eun Woo is his cousin). Just when Hwan was about to introduce him to Eun Seung, there was a call from his Mom. Halmonim has been taken to hospital. Poor woman, I think she has Alzheimers.

I just hope that the OTP will reach a happy ending.

But today I need to sleep and not watch any other episodes. Seriously I must stop the madness. I can do it, I can stay away for one night (in fact I have to since I need to come to work tomorrow)

Meanwhile Beautiful People is entertaining but nothing special.

Antichrist, Election, Brilliant Legacy up to Episode 12, Third Girl - End, Beautiful Poeple

Antichrist (2009) Directed and written by Lars Von Trier.
This is a very disturbing film but undeniably a good one. I wouldn't want to watch it again though.

Election (1999) Directed by Alexander Payne, written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, adapted from a book written by Tom Perrotta.
This second viewing made me appreciate the film even more, Matthew Broderick (an actor I don't particularly care for) and Reese Witherspoon (an actor I like a lot) were so good. I love the story and the script too.

Brilliant Legacy is going so good that I marathoned 6 episodes Saturday night. I don't really want to marathon but everytime I somehow end up doing so. The rest of the episodes will continue on a 3 a night basis insaallah. The drama is very very good. I love the lead characters and the romance dynamics. It is funny where it should be and melodramatic where it should be. The baddies are both scary and believable. I love this drama.

I have started Beautiful People by Wendy Holden, while she is not a writer I would seek, when I somehow got hold of her books (this one came from the library at work) I find that I enjoy reading them.

Brilliant Legacy Episodes IV - V- VI

Ok last night I was at my most indulgent self. Not only I started watching 2.5 episodes after midnight, but also I have eaten a huge plate of apple crumble with vanilla, hazelnut, raspberry and black mulberry ice cream. And I'm not even kidding. It is a miracle I'm so skinny :)

Anyway the episodes are getting better and better. I love a baddie I can dislike without feeling sorry for them and the evil stepmom is a good baddie indeed. I can't wait to see how the lies she is telling left and right blow up in her face. The step sister is one of those annoying baddies, she doesn't want to do bad stuff but goes with it when someone else does the dirty work - also doesn't forget to lecture them on how evil they are - but does she change her behaviour? Nope. She keeps doing bad things (now it is because she loves Hwan and thinks that he'll marry her).

Hwan obviously is not a baddie. He is one of those bratty kids with a trauma in the past (Hwan's dad died in front of his eyes) and he is insuffarable in the initial episodes but will be reformed by circumstances and the love of our adorable heroine.

Ok one of my most favorite character types in a S.Korean TV drama is the "angel". This character is good to the last breath. She is forgiving, helpful, thoughtful and always always simply 'good'. And Eun-Su is like that. She is also a strong woman who doesn't back down from a confrontation. And even though people may think me stupid for applauding her promise to hide from Hwan the horrible truth (evil stepmom and sis threw them out right after her father's funeral, they didn't even let her know about the insurance money - to be fair, I don't think evil sis know about it either-.

Anyway I decided to give this a break solely for the reason that I have to rest! But really eager to watch the rest.

Guddi, Brilliant Legacy I-II-III, Hold Tight - End, The Third Girl

Guddi (1971) Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, written by Gulzar, dialogues by D.N Mukherjee
It was a nice film but I didn't like the lesson feel of it. The performances were all good though and I was not bored. I just didn't like it as much as I liked other films by this director.

I just gave in to the urge to give Brilliant Legacy a try and I'm so glad that I did. Wonderful 3 episodes so far and I see how this show got all the ratings etc.

Hold Tight was good till the end. I don't mind reading other books by Harlan Coben.
Currently reading, The Third Girl by Agatha Christie. It is entertaining and fun but not the best of her.

Just Cause

Just Cause (1995) Directed by Arne Glimcher, written by Jeb Stuart and Peter Stone, adapted from novel written by John Katzenbach.

I remember watching this film years ago but not much has stayed with me. And it was like watching it the first time and I enjoyed it.

Hold Tight

Last night there were guests in the house + I needed sleep so I didn't watch any films or shows.

I have started a new novel though written by Harlan Coben called Hold Tight, it is a thriller (a genre I like) and I haven't read anything from this writer. I'm enjoying it though. It is an easy prose and the characters are in my age group.

Que Sera Sera - End, Nocturnes - End

Yes, last night I have stayed up till 03:30 a:m and finished Que Sera Sera, and even though it was rather easily tidied up in the end, I'm very happy with it overall.

I have finished Nocturnes this morning in the shuttle to work and I love Kazuo Ishiguro.

Que Sera Sera Episodes 11-12

Ah this drama is keeping me on my toes all the time, even when it repeats itself. Eun Su found out that her sister's hospital bills were paid by Tae Jo (again he attempts to help her the same way he did in the earlier episodes and that time Eun Su took the money he wanted to give her incognito, and slapped the bills to his face in front of his fiancee Hye Rim - they were faking it then). Now she asked to speak to him and calmly explained how bad this sort of "helping" makes her feel. Of course Tae Jo implied that he still has feelings for her and that made her cry. Then she thought about it and decided to accept Jun Hyuk's marriage proposal. Meanwhile HyeRim is very annoying but Tae Joo sticks to his decision - it will be really hard for him to change his mind now even though he suffers, missing Eun So very much. They will have an engagement ceremony too.

Hye Rim is someone I can't understand, how can she be with someone knowing that he has feelings for another woman? On the other hand it seems that money and power are more important to Tae Jo than love. So maybe he doesn't love Eun Su "enough" (As Marianne said in Ang Lee's film Sense and Sensibility).

Still Que Sera Sera, Stone Kiss -End, Nocturnes

I'm very into this drama. So much so that even though I was really tired yesterday and it was past 23:30 at night, I decided to watch one episode (Episode 10) and it gets better and better. While this is fiction and obviously so, the situations and the dialogues are very real life. It is an interesting combination. Actors act like real people and the situations are beliveable. I love the four actors. I didn't like the actor playing Eun Su in the first episodes since she had a habit of sniffing her nose (having acted at a period of my life, I know that this is a valid method) that annoyed me but thankfully this has passed and I like her much better.

Now Tae Jo told Eun Su that he has to end their relationship and get married to Hye Rim (after the conversation with Hye rim's dad, he knows that he will have both wealth and power if he gets married to her). What we don't know is that is he doing this to finance Jin su's heart operation or the reason is simply because he got tired of being poor (as he said to Eun Su)? In a regular drama this wouldn't even be a question but here it is and I like this drama for it.

And the kissing scenes are very good.

Also I have finished Stone Kiss and it was not very good. Started reading Nocturnes, short stories by Kazuo Ishiguro and I'm loving it. Ishiguro has great prose and the little but important details make reading his books a joy.

Que Sera Sera Episodes I-II-III

I like it while not wanting to marathon it. The characters are nice and acted well. The only thing is that primary OTP's girl is not a character I like. She is very likable but also was somehow pushy to the secondary guy. Anyway the kiss scene was good and Eric Mun is good too. I don't think he is handsome but he is a good kisser. A good OTP should have a good kiss.

Also this drama is very real life like and the characters behave like normal people. I don't know if this is a good thing but so far, I'm enjoying it very much.

Hear Me

Hear Me (2009) Directed by Chen Feng Feng, there isn't any writing credit on imdb, where I get my information.

I liked it very much - I saw the twist right away, this is becoming quite a habit now, and I'm not entirely pleased about it- and it was great to watch a film where the two leads, and their co actor communicate with sign language. I cried a bit but it was a good cry.

Hum Kisise Kum Nahin

Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (2002) Directed by David Dhawan, written by Robin Bhatt, Rumi Jaffrey and Javed Siddiqui.

It was very entertaining. And that's about it except the hideous costumes Aishwarya Rai had to wear. Seriously that stylist should be send to training or something.

What's Your Rashee?, Ghajini, Starter for 10

What's Your Rashee? (2009)Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, written by Ashutosh Gowariker, Naushil Mehta, adopted from the novel titled "Kimbal Ravenswood" by Madhu Rye.

This is not a good rom com. It was insanely long and the rythm of the film was very heavy. I watched it till the end but was not entertained.

Ghajini (2008) Directed by A.R Murugadoss, written by A.R Murugadoss, dialogue by Piyush Mishra.

I still like the Southie original better but the ending of this is so romantic. The action is not as good though since Aamir looks like pocket monster.

Starter for 10 (2003) Directed by Tom Vaughan, written by David Nichols (from the novel he wrote)
This was not a bad film. I like James McAvoy and that girl from Barcelona, Barcelona.

Sense and Sensibility, Sarkar Raj, Stone Kiss, Catcher in The Rye - End

Sense and Sensibility (1995) Directed by Ang Lee, written by Emma Thompson adapted from the novel with the same title written by Jane Austen.
I like this film better with each viewing. Excellent.

Sarkar Raj (2008) Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, written by Sandeep Nath and Prashant Pandey
This is a second viewing and it was not as good as the first (unlike Sarkar which I have seen multiple times and enjoy very much each time)

I have finished Catcher in the Rye and enjoyed it but it is not my favorite novel or anything. Started reading Faye Kellerman's Stone Kiss. The only reason I like this novelist is that she has a good sense of religious belief. Not many novels are like that - but she is not really as successful (as her husband for instance) in the suspense parts. Also her lead male character has rust coloured hair peppered with gray and a rust coloured moustache. I get distracted everytime this is mentioned (but this is my fault not hers)

Mili

Mili (1975) Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, written by Bimal Dutta, Dr.Rahi Masoom Reza, Mohini N.Sippy.
A delightful film (a sad story but it was heart warming with a dash of bitter sweet). Mr.Mukherjee is one of my favorite directors and this film is marked with his style.

My Name Is Khan, Magadheera, Murderer

My Name is Khan (2010) Directed by Karan Johar, written by Shibani Bathija and Niranjan Iyengar.
It is not a good film but the melodrama is solid and I cried buckets during.
Magadheera (2009) Directed by S.S Rajamouli, written by Vijayendra Prasad, S.S Rajamouli and M.Rathnam

This film was FUN FUN FUN. Very entertaining and great use of CGI. Good looking lead actor and nice songs with decent picturisations. Everyone in it did a good job.

Murderer (2009) Directed by Chow Hin Yeung Roy, written by Chow Hin Yeung Roy and To Chi-long
It was interesting but I understood who the real murderer was early on and then it was just how they were going make it stick. The way they did it was a total WTF and they even were prepared for a sequel. I would have liked this film a bit better if they ended it properly and if I were able to take Aaron Kwok seriously. He is good looking but unfortunately I have already seen Para Para Sakura and it had a bad effect.

I'm still reading Catcher in the Rye and liking it a bit better now.

War And Peace (Film) III - IV End, Catcher In The Rye

The last two sections of War And Peace were really trying my patience. The only scenes I like were Petya's last hours. I'm happy that the film is over. I don't really like leaving films unwatched but I can't avoid it sometimes. I'm glad I resisted this time though because I wouldn't return to it (probably never!)

I have started Catcher In The Rye written by J.D Salinger. It is very good so far.

War And Peace (The Film) II, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest - End

The second film was a bit better since it dealt not with war but with romance (of Natasha and Andrei) and how that romance ended. I even cried at one scene, very nicely film post hunt dinner with Natasha's uncle. A scene I loved in the novel.
It looks like the third film will be focused on Napoleon's attemt to invade Russia and battle of Borodino which is bad news since I really don't like war films.

I have finished The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest last night (and stayed up until past 03:30 a:m against my better judgement) It was good to the last drop. So sorry that we will not be able to read another Millenium novel. Maybe someone else will write one but it will not taste the same.

War And Peace (The Film) I

War And Peace (1967) Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, written by Sergei Bondarchuk and Vasili Solovyov, adapted from Leo Tolstoy's novel with the same title.

I didn't like the parts I have watched so far. The print is washed out, the actors look old and they don't really act that good and it has none of the vibrancy of the novel. So far I only liked Papa Bolkonsky and Princess Maria. One of my favorite literary heroes Andrei Bolkonsky is not well represented. Anyhow I plan to finish it purely for the story. The war scenes were not that bad but they are not that good either and I felt sorry for the horses (some of them died during filming if the dvd excerpt should be believed) The songs were the only things I really liked.

Thank God for The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest since it is going really well.

Dostana, Pyar Ke Side Effects

Dostana (2008) Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, written by Anvita Dutt Guptan and Tarun Mansukhani
This film is eye candy and served its purpose in this second viewing.

Pyar Ke Side Effects (2006) Directed by Saket Chaudhary, written by Saket Chaudhary, Pratibha Acharya and Vijay Krishna Acharya.
I liked this make pov rom com and was entertained but it is not that good.

Love Actually, Vallavan, Murder by Numbers, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Time Traveler's Wife

Love Actually (2003) Directed and written by Richard Curtis

I like it everytime I watch it and can't help but cry. Good rom com excellent cast.

Vallavan (2006) Directed by T.R Silambarasan, written by Balakumaran and T.R Silambarasan

I guess I was not really in the right mood for this film. I was totally bored despite all the action in it. The lead star was cute but I didn't like him (tried to but to no avail)

Murder by Numbers (2002) Directed by Barbet Schoreder, written by Tony Gayton

It was good despite it being a second viewing. Sandra Bullock is a nice actor and fit great for the role. I can't help but like Ryan Gosling since Fracture.

Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) Directed by Siddarth Anand, written by Devika Bhagat, Anvita Dutt Guptan, story by Aditya Chopra (very big name so he is credited in the opening even)

I liked this more than I thought I would. It was entertaining despite Deepika being totally freaky, especially in the song.

Time Traveller's Wife (2009) Directed by Robert Schwentke, written by Bruce Joel Rubin adapted from the book of the same title written by Audrey Niffeneger.

Didn't like the book and didn't really care for the film either. Yes I cried but it was mostly due to good acting by Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.

My mother broke her arm and I took two days off from work (combined with a bank holiday) so have time to watch films but I don't really want to read The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest, it is a good book and I don't want to finish it so soon.

Shocker

Shocker (1989) Directed and written by Wes Craven.
This is a film I have been meaning to watch for years. Somehow I was never able to. My sister saw this in the bargain bin the other day and thought of me. I watched it last night and it was not very scary (I fell asleep towards the end and had to rewatch the last ten minutes) but I liked it maybe due to the back story of the purchase. The soundtrack was not bad though.

Meanwhile I'm loving The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. I feel sad that this is the last book in the series and the novelist has passed away...

Haeundae, Joe Versus The Volcano

Haeundae (2009) Directed and written by Yun Jae Gyun.
It is a disaster film and the special effects were good. Koreans have a knack for melodrama (at least as far as I'm concerned) I planned on being entertained by the over melodramatic scenes (disaster films are not really faves of mine) but I have found myself crying towards the end (I blame Sol Kung Gu, a good actor even when in a not so age appropriate role)

Joe Versus The Volcano (1990) Directed and written by John Patrick Shanley.
I remember liking this film way back and I enjoyed it again at this second viewing. I understand why the box office was not very good though (despite the lead actors being Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).
I also watched a big chunk of Kate and Leopold which I didn't like when I first saw it but felt more at ease with it this time around (Meg Ryan's lip job was obvious and not in a good way though) and I never think Hugh Jackman is a good romantic lead (good in a film like Australia but again not as a romantic lead).

Rock On! Ali ile Ramazan - End, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest

Rock On! (2008) Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, written by Farhan Akthar, Pubali Chaudhuri Abhishek Kapoor.
I liked it more than I thought I would. Even shed tears during some scenes. Decent film.

I have finished Ali ile Ramazan and very glad that I did, do not plan on checking that one out again soon.

And finally the last of the Salander series (as I call them), The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. It is sad to know that the writer is dead since the first two novels were of my own heart and I'm really into the third one which starts right where the second one ended.

Closer, Six Suspects - End, Ali ile Ramazan

Closer (2004) Directed by Mike Nicholls, written by Patrik Marber (from his own play).
I don't know how many times I have seen this film but I like it just the same each time. It is not hard to wonder why though since I love Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts, think Clive Owen a brilliant actor and both he and Jude Law are very easy on the eyes.
Lots of close up shots of the actors, everyone looking really natural (no botox or such enhancements) it is a good film about relationships and breakups.

I have finished Six Suspects, enjoyed it very much and started Ali ile Ramazan (can be translated as 'Ali with Ramazan' I suppose) It tells the story of two men who grew up at an orphanage (one of them sexually abused by the director, the other witnessed his mother killing his father and then commit suicide). Written by one of my favorite novelists Perihan Magden, this novel is good but certainly not a very enjoyable read. And not because of the profanity or the sex scenes but because it is so sad. Our pov is Ramazan who is a whore but he loves his boyfriend very much and tries a way out. Ali is more damaged, addicted to paint thinner and whatever pill he can get his hands on, he is slowly giving up hanging on to life despite the fact that he loves Ramazan just as much. It is a very sad tale and I know that it will not end well since this is fiction based on real life. Ms. Magden read the story on page three of the newspaper and decided to write a novel.

Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Directed by Gurinder Chadha, written by Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges

I remember loving this film the first time I saw it but I didn't like it as much in this viewing. It is still a nice film but didn't leave that emotional impact.

De Dana Dan, Sliding Doors and still Six Suspects

De Dana Dan (2009) Directed by Priyadarshan and written by Rajasenan
I thought I wouldn't like this one but the second half won me over. I love farce and this was done very good. The lead actors Akshay and Sunil were old for the parts.

Sliding Doors (1998) Directed and written by Peter Howitt.
I liked it a bit less at this second viewing but still it is a nice rom-dram.

Six Suspects is good and entertaining and sometimes brilliant but I'm not in love with it.

Avatar, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall-End, Six Suspects

Last night I watched
Avatar (2009) Directed and written by James Cameron.
I liked it very very much. James Cameron tells good stories and it was visually amazing too (again Mr.Cameron knows how to do things right)

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall has ended and it was good to the last drop. Maybe I like it more than I would have because it is a religious book and I'm a religious person. I don't know. It was good though.

Now I started Six Suspects written by Vikas Swarup (whose Slumdog Millionaire was a good read) and it started very well, I hope it keeps that way :)

IRIS - End, Vengeance and still The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (I'm enjoying it a lot)

I have finished IRIS and it was strange that I was distanced from the drama as it went forward in story. It ended predictably and the only time I shed tears was when N.Korean assassin confessed her love for our hero - to her superior.
It was not an emotional drama and the action scenes ended up being the only good things in it. And I do think that secondary guy is more handsome than our hero.

Vengeance (2009) Directed by Johnnie To, written by Wai Ka Fai .
I love this due and I did enjoy the film despite the fact that I had seen all before. Johnnie To is a master. The opening scene I knew that the bullet will come out of the key hole and blew his brains out but I was startled none the less. Go To!

IRIS Episodes IV-V-VI-VII-VIII-IX

Ok IRIS lost a bit of its initial lustre as the episodes flew by. It is still very interesting and engaging but there are so many intrigues and a quick fast forward (to first 6 months and then another 3 months) that it is not that fun anymore. Still it is a decent show and I hope that it will pick up a bit in the next episodes.

So far our hero and heroine both think the other dead and feel miserable. Our hero has lost another loved one (Yuki, the cute Japanese school girl) due to his unwilling part in one of the intrigues (I hope that they will all unite at some point) And now he and the North Korean assassin decided to join N.Korean intelligence to get his revenge on NSS. I'm hoping that this is a trick to uncover IRIS -which we have found out is a top secret organisation that benefits from selling weapons to countries that have tension between them, IRIS readily provides tension when there is none- otherwise it is too stupid a plan. At the end of episode IX we are treated a scene where NSS is busting a N.Korean terrorist cell (which is actually a group of North Korean spies on a mission in Seoul) which our hero is a part of.

Meanwhile The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is amazingly going great. I like the prose so much that even though this is not a book I'm eager to read without every stopping, I grew more fond of it than I probably should have.

IRIS Episodes I-II-III

Yesterday my IRIS shipment arrived and of course I started to watch last night and I'm loving it. Lee Byung Hun is a fave actor of mine (despite the eating style kissing and obvious lipstick) and he is so good here. The other male lead is the one in My Boss My Hero and I like him too (but I suspect he will turn into a bad guy) The leading lady is Kim Tae Hee and what do you know? I like her too.

The firs three episodes kind of breezed by with good introductions to the characters and their interactions. We get the cute vacation scenes (which were so cute and loving) and the actions scenes. There is the mystery cool assasin after the IRIS list and the dubious boss. Lost nuclear technology and a President who is very interested in it.

It is a bit 24 meets Alias but better than both of them (not that I have watched 24, never really interested in it and Alias turned boring after UST between the leads was over) there is amnesia, our lead doesn't really remember anything that happened before he was 7 (but memories start to come back).
In the introduction we get to see the hero completing a mission (all of these guys are secret agents btw) only to get wounded and when he requested help to get out, was refused by the boss (that's why I thought he was dubious right from the start).
At the end of Episode 3 we found out that hero's past is kept secret on purpose (the priest in the orphanage talked to some unknown people that he came and asked). Hero and heroine had sex and are head over heels in love. The secondary guy (potential baddie) loves the girl but was not able to say anything since both of them (separately) assured him that they love eachother.
They are now in Prague to assess and protect (she is a profiler apart being a field agent when she chooses to) a North Korean nuclear scientist (oh yeah) who wanted asylum in South Korea. President ordered them to receive him after the assessment of his motives. And they delivered him to S.Korean agents but he and our hero had a little chat in the church and he gave the hero a necklace with a cross as pendant. I suspect the IRIS list - we are not told anything about this list yet, other than the name - is in it since when the mysterious cool assassin killed all these nameless agents and asked where the list is, nuclear scientist feined ignorance before the died.

I love the romance scenes and how real they look. The kisses are so natural the chemistry so warm and sexy. Wow, this show had great ratings and I agree with the Korean population. So far it rocks!

Meanwhile I'm still reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and liking it better and better. Anne B has a sly style which makes gentle fun of the protagonist (who is currently falling for the eponymous tenant) without being mean towards him. And I love reading about English at Victorian times.

Various films, 3 Mistakes of My Life - End, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

This weekend was a good one filmwise
Mystic Pizza (1988) Directed by Donald Petrie, written by Amy Holden Jones, Parry Howze, Randy Howze and Alfred Uhry.
I liked it very much. No suprise given my love of romantic films + Julia Roberts (who was wonderful in it)
Devdas (2002) Directed by Sanjay Leela Bansali, written by Sanjay Leela Bansali and Prakash Kapadia from the book written by Saratchandra Chatterjee.

I loved it. Lush, exquiste decors, costumes - art direction, beautiful cinematography, great dances and attractive leads who can act. Loved it better the second time.

I watched The Proposal a second time when I came across it on TV and liked it just as much.

Maqbool (2003) Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, written by Abbas Tyrewalla and Vishal Bhardwaj, from Macbeth by William Shakespeare.
It is a good film but not a good Shakespeare adaptation. Still I was captivated till the end.

3 Mistakes of My Life ended the usual Chatan Bhagat way (and I'm not complaining) and now I started another book I got from the book fair. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brönte. I like it well enough so far but it doesn't have the same energy as Austen or Hardy.

Rocket Singh and 3 Mistakes of My Life, Greek Tycoon Inexperienced Mistress-End

Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009) Directed by Shimit Amin, written by Jaidep Sahni.
I loved this film. How clean the cinematography was and the sweetness and good intentions (not realistic but so much fun). Ranbir Kapoor was very good as the eponymous salesman.

Mills&Boon is finished but I didn't get the same pleasure from it, it wasn't like the times I was a teenager and didn't know men in M&B novels are not very realistic.
I have started the only novel of Chetan Bhagat I have not read yet called 3 Mistakes of My Life. It is no suprise that I like it. The prose is light and easygoing but also effective. These are great airport books but they also work at non airport locations since I stayed reading it last night. But didn't finish it and now there are only a few pages left and I'm delaying the pleasure of knowing what happened to the two remaing lead characters.

Striker

Striker (2010) Directed by Chandan Arora, written by Sunita Rajwar, Iqbal Merchant, Chandan Arora, Sagar Kapoor, Vijay Maurya and Pankaj Saraswat.

This was not a good film. I love Siddarth but he was not good as the lead character.

Films, The Piano Tuner - End, Greek Tycoon, Inexperienced Mistress

Films I have seen this weekend:
Race to Witch Mountain (2009) Directed by Andy Fickman, written by Mark Lopez, Matt Bomback from the book of the same name by Alexander Key
This is not a good film, I saw the trailers and wanted to see it but in the end it was dissapointing. I like Dwayne Johnson though.

Gran Torino (2008) Directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Nick Schenk
Now this is a good film. Eastwoon never dissapointed me and this film is no exception. Great story telling with a gimmick and Eastwood perfectly cast himself in the lead role. Loved it.

The Piano Tuner ended as I expected and turned out to be good buy from the second hand book fair.

Now I'm reading a Mills and Boon novel appropriately titled
Greek Tycoon, Inexperienced Mistress by Lynne Graham which is typical M&B despite being the "modern" version. These books warped my teen years and most probably are among the reasons why I seek a "perfect" man. But I haven't read one for years and forgot how enjoyable they were.

Chellata

Yet another blind buy in India that turned out to be good. Perhaps it is not entirely a blind buy since I have read about the lead actor and some of his film on internet and when I saw his face on the cover I just went ahead and purchased it.

Chellata (2006) Directed and written by M.D Sindhar. I'm not 100% sure about the writing part since I cannot really find information about who wrote it on net.
I liked it very much. It is a rom com heavy on the com and the people looked really real. It is a bit sad that most of the actors around now has mixtures of plastic that one feels better when watching real looking people on screen.
The lead actor Ganesha is really cute like a stuffed animal. Despite not being a very good dancer nor really acting that well I enjoyed watching him on screen and was firmly rooting for him to find happiness. My first Kannada film ended being really nice.

Meanwhile The Piano Tuner is just as good towards the end but I feel that the ending will not be happy one. Not that this is a book that completely relies on the plot but as I remember the the beginning of the book describing a scene I presume towards the end, I feel that our protagonist the titular piano tuner will not be able to return to England from Burma. Let's see what will happen...

Aalavandhan

Aalavandhan (2001) Directed by Suresh Krisha, written by Kamal Hassan
This blind purchase from a shop in Mumbai turned out to be good one. Interesting story supported by decent visuals, especially in the hallucination scenes. The action was typical South Indian; fun, energetic but not really conscientous. I loved the story of two twins who turned out very different as they aged. After their mother committed suicide due to their father's infidelity, the father married his lover just after three months of their mother's death and this lover was not a nice woman. The father turned to drink and drugs with the encouragement of the new wife who is a woman who only married him to get his money. The boys tried to out her but dad never listened and he was prone to hitting them with his belt. Their maternal uncle wanted to take them and put them in an army boarding school (and the fact that both boys were very eager to go shows how much they suffered in their own home, their only real friend is a mentally challenged guy from one of the tribes that lives nearby) but dad only allowed one to leave. The boys tossed a coin and Vijay went with the uncle, Nandu had to remain at home. Already more affected with the suicide and treated badly by the stepmom he started to lose his mind. After his dad had a heart attack and stepmom refusing to call any medical assistance leaving his dad to die, he killed her. Then put into a mental asylum suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Vijay on the other hand did well in the army and turned out to an able commando engaged to a news reporter/anchorwoman. When she became pregnant they decided to marry immediately and visit Nandu at the mental hospital to announce the happy news. Nandu is not happy with this development since he hates women and thinks that Teju (the fiancee) will ruin Vijay and he feels that he should protect Vijay by killing Teju. Despite being a freakishly strong and a very smart man, Nandu's threats were not really taken seriously as he is locked up and under guard at the hospital. But he manages to escape with his sole purpose being killing Teju. He goes on a rampage killing people and he takes drugs which messed his mind even more. After his escape Vijay finally awakens to the threat and they decide to leave town and go their childhood home to sell it (it is a lovely home and Teju wonders whether they should keep it but Vijay replies "too many bad memories") Nandu of course is in hot pursuit supported by lucky coincidences that allows him to follow them closely but his attempts to kill Teju fail one after the other. Finally he manages to get close but Teju inadvertendly awakens those bad memories when the only thing she could do to defend herself and her child is a leather belt which she hits Nandu with.
In the end Nandu sort of commits suicide prompted by his hallucinations (finally understanding Teju is not a threat).
This film made an impact on me and made me think about nature vs.nurture. Nandu was the daredevil and the aggressive one of the twins but I wonder whetehr he'd turn out like that if he was the one who went with their uncle...

Meanwhile The Piano Tuner really makes a wonderful read. Good prose Mr.Mason, good prose.

Blue

Blue (2009) Directed by Anthony D'Souza, written by Anthony D'Souza and Mayur Puri.
This film was totally stupid. It was a sad to see all that money go to waste.

Meanwhile The Piano Tuner turned out to be my kind of book. I'm enjoying it very very much.

Various Films, Socialite Evenings - End, The Piano Tuner

This weekend I have watched :-
Paa (2009) Directed and written by R Balki.
I liked it very very much despite some stupid things happening in it. The family drama felt very real and touching. Needed lots of tissues since I couldn't stop crying. Amitabh Bachchan, great actor.

The Emperor's Club (2002) Directed by Michael Hoffman, written by Ethan Colnin (short story), screenplay Neil Tolkin.
I was expecting a school melodrama a la Dead Poets Society but this one was more interesting. It told the story of a teacher who gave a wrong decision and failed (as far as ethics, morality etc. are concerned). I enjoyed it very much despite Kevin Kline whom I dislike very much for no particular reason. The man is a good actor but I can't like him. I liked the film though.

He's Just Not That Into You (2009) Directed by Ken Kwapis, written by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, adapted from the book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tucillo.
It was not bad but it was not that good either. Just bland. But I watched it to the end and had the obligatory tears (just a couple) at some point.

Zoolander (2001) Directed by Ben Stiller, written by Derek Sather, Ben Stiller and John Hamburg
This is a fave of mine and I laugh out loud no matter how many times I have seen it before.

I have finally finished Socialite Evenings and started The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason. So far it is very good and I hope that it will continue to be so.

Wake Up Sid

Wake Up Sid (2009) Directed and written by Ayan Mukherjee, dialogues by Niranjan Iyengar.
I loved this film. I was after a light romantic film hoping that it will be semi decent but this was a good effort with a good cast and engaging storytelling.

Socialite Evenings is going on and it still is not something I love but I like it a bit better than when I started it.

Kannathil Muthamittal

Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) Directed and written by Mani Ratnam, dialogues by Sujata.
This is a gem. I think what makes stories interesting most of the time is they way they are told rather then the stories itself. And this little story is told so well that I felt for every single one of the characters and felt so close to them.

Socialite Evenings is going on but I don't feel the need to stop everything and read it (the way I felt with The Girl Who Played With Fire). It is not a total bore but not really that fine either.

Croupier, Chokher Bali - The Girl Who Played With Fire - End & Socialite Evenings

Croupier (1998) Directed by Mike Hodges, written by Paul Mayersberg
I liked it but it was too unnecessarily ambigious towards the end. Clive Owen is a delight in any case and I enjoyed watching him.

Chokher Bali (2003) Directed by Rituparno Gosh who also has written the screenplay adopting it from a novel by Rabindranath Tagore.
I liked this one too and Aishwarya Rai was really good in it. That woman is so beautiful, one can't help but feel good watching her.

I have finished The Girl Who Played With Fire and it was good to the last drop. Salander was my favorite character in The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo and it was good to read more about her.

I have started Socialite Evenings written by Shobha De and it not really bad but I'm not loving it, only liking it well. There is nothing special about this novel as far as I'm concerned although the story is interesting but doesn't really sizzle. I think maybe you have to be a rich Indian to really get it or something.

Bombay & Shantaram - End, The Girl Who Played With Fire

I have finally finished Shantaram, it didn't get better but got slightly worse towards the end. I like the author and I was in tears at the very touching ending but his prose has problems that come out as you keep reading and I decided that I would have liked this book better if it was just 150 pages or something like that.

Last night I have seen
Bombay (1995) directed and written by Mani Ratnam, dialogues by Umesh Sharma.
Loved it to bits. I was crying by the end and desperately wanted the film to have relative happy ending (I remember this also happened at Always: Sunset in the Third Street). Mani Ratnam is a good story teller and he has a way with his actors.

The Girl Who Played with Fire, the second book of the Millenium series and I got right into it loving is even better than the first one. I liked the female character better in the first novel and this novel started with her. I like the way Stieg Larsson describes things in a matter of fact way but somehow making them really interesting and a joy to read.

Bara No Nai Haya - End

I have finally finished Bara No Nai Hanaya and I have no idea why I lingered over it for such a long time. It was a three hankie viewing and it ended on a very satisfactory note. There was a special SMAPxSMAP episode at the end of the disc and what can I say? I love Takuya Kimura.

Shantaram is going well but at this point they are in Afghanistan and it is all war war war. I liked Prabaker story line much better. And there is a certain repetitivness to the prose which starts to annoy but all in all it is still captivating and I'm enjoying it very much. Just not as much as I was enjoying it at the beginning.

Meanwhile I have tried to watch films and one of them was Rocknrolla but even though I think Gerard Butler has an inexplicable (to me) hotness I managed to sleep during the middle to wake up and keep viewing without losing any of the plot. I have a self imposed rule not to include anything I have not completely seen or read here so I'll just casually mention this one.

Dead Calm, The Fugitive, Tara Road, Knowing and Shantaram (still)

This weekend was full of films
Dead Calm (1989) Directed by Philip Noyce, written by Terry Hayes from the novel by Charles Williams

I love this film more in this second viewing. It is a tight little thriller with many many close up shots.

The Fugitive (1993) Directed by Andrew Davies, written by Jeb Stuart, David Twohy, Roy Huggins
I liked this just as much this second time. Harrison Ford is great.

Tara Road (2005) Directed by Gillies MacKinnon, written by Cynthia Cidre, Shane Connaughton, adapted from Maeve Binchy's novel.

Read the novel, skip the film. Andy McDowell aged really well though and I appreciated her seemingly botox free face.

Knowing (2009) Directed by Alex Proyas, written by Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden, Stiles White.
It was nothing special, in fact I fell asleep at the last minute.

Meanwhile Shantaram is awesome. I love it more with each page and often get teary eyed.

Push-End, Kurbaan & Shantaram

I have finished Push yesterday and overall liked it a lot. Now I started reading Shantaram written by Gregory David Roberts and I'm loving it so far. Especially after just returning from Mumbai :)

Kurbaan (2009), directed by Renzil D'Silva, written by Renzil D'Silva, Niranjan Iyengar, Anurag Kashyap, story by Karan Johar.

It was OK and didn't put me to sleep but I didn't like it as much other films on the subject matter (Dil Se, Fanaa, Black & White, Aamir and New York were better films)

Various Films and Books

It has been a month since I wrote something here. Being very busy + going on an internet free vacation caused this. Here are some short comments on what I read and watched:

A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens. Excellent book. I love Dickens, not as much as I love Hardy but very close.

A Judgement in Stone, written by Ruth Rendell. I think this is one of Ruth's best. I had seen the film adaptation and also liked it very much. Go Ms.Rendell!

One Night @ The Call Center, written by Chetan Bhagat. He is a decent writer and this book was no exception. Enjoyed it very much.

The Broken Window, written by Jeffrey Deaver. Another Lincoln Rhyme novel. I think Mr.Deaver's books will be better if he eases on the twist flow a bit.

Currently reading:
Push, written by Sapphire. It is a good book and I have been crying more than once reading through it. I hope that the lead character, Precious pulls through.


On the plane I watched
All About Steve (2009), directed by Phill Trail and written by Kim Barker.
It was nothing special, I still cried (am hopeless)

More Than Blue (2009), directed and written by Won Tae-Yeon
Well it was a weepie and I wept but didn't feel close to either of the leads.

Surrogates (2009), directed by Jonathan Mostow, written by Michael Ferris, John D.Brancato, adapted from graphic novel by Robert Venditti, Brett Weldele.
It was nothing special. I think I fell asleep at some point for a few minutes but woke up and didn't really lose the plot.

At the hotel I have watched
Laws of Attraction (2004) directed by Peter Howitt, written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Robert Harling.
I liked it but then again I'm most forgiving for this genre (rom-com).

And I also watched a big chunk of The Incredible Hulk but not all of it so will not add it here.

Wow, all this amounts to so little viewing and reading. I somehow am not as eager to watch films as I used to. I wonder why and I wonder whether I'll come out of this mood.

Birthday Stories - End, Filthy Rich

I have finished Birthday Stories and it was good but I still prefer novels to reading short stories but at least I'm reading them now, as opposed to completely avoiding them in the past.

I have checked the second hand book corner at work and come across a light chick-lit novel (I actually am not comfortable with this term but it is somehow become a staple for this sort of novel) called Filthy Rich written by Wendy Holden I remember reading Ms.Holden before but she didn't leave much of an impression but it is there and why not give it a try?

Bara No Nai Hanaya Episodes 5-6

And so far I have shed tears during each episode... This is not a forceful drama and some times it is a bit weak on the screenplay but some scenes are so touching that I can't help but feeling emotional. I love to watch good people and this show provides with lots of them.

Nothing Much

I have watched 3/4 of Love Story (really a very good film) and cried my heart out. Watched the beginning of Star Wars: A New Hope and read some more of the Birthday Stories.

Wives And Daughters - End

Wives and Daughters was good to the last drop.

I have started to read a short story anthology gathered by one of my all time favorite authors Haruki Murakami. The theme of the anthology is "Birthdays". The first two stories were good and just the thing I needed after the intense W&D.

Since I always prefer a good book to a film/drama, Bara No Nai Hanaya had to wait a bit. I'll remedy that I hope and since this is the weekend maybe I'll do a marathon.

Catching Up (Bara No Nai Hanaya - Australia - Changeling and Wives and Daughters)

It has been hectic from the beginning of the week so I was not able to update here and will probably forget to mention some of the things I have seen but

Australia (2008) Directed by Baz Luhrman, written by Stuart Beattie, Baz Luhrman, Ronald Harwood and Richard Flanagan.

It is a beautiful film and a pleasure to watch. I'm puzzled as to why it didn't do so well at BO. It has a good story with adventure, good values, love, action and above all brilliant visuals. Mr.Luhrman of course is a fave director of mine but still I'd have fallen for him with this one, just as hard as I did when I saw Strictly Ballroom.

Changeling (2008) Directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Michael Straczyinsky.

Good old Clint is yet another fave director and this film didn't dissapoint. I'm not head over heels for it but it was entertaining and interesting. I think Angelina Jolie is not a good actress there is something about her performance, I can't call it bad but it was lacking. Of what, that I can't name.

Bara No Nai Hanaya - 4 Episodes in

I read about it at dangermousie's blog and purchased it based on her recommendation. So far I don't regret the purchase, far from it actually since despite its very visible failings, one of them being a lead actor who can't act (how wonderful it would have been if Takuya Kimura was in that role) it has great "moments" strength. I cried at every episode and love the lead character despite the actor. The female lead on the other hand is fantastic, she was also the lead in Pride, but here she is better looking and I liked this character better.

Meanwhile I'm very much into Wives and Daughters, so much so that I was actually in tears while reading it at the shuttle bus to work and was not able to stop myself. Poor Osbourne, poor baby, poor Aimeé and poor Squire Roger. Those scenes in the book were so powerful. Actually I think I like this one better than North and South.

I also watched some TV shows...

Persepolis

Persepolis (2007) Directed and written by Marjan Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud.

I liked it despite the fact that it was odd that the film is in French (instead of Persian). It was emotional and the animation was nice. It will not be a fave film or one that I'd want to watch again but I liked it well enough.

Wives and Daughters is wonderful.

Socha Na Tha

Socha Na Tha (2005) Directed and written by Imtiaz Ali

It is a sweet rom com with competent actors and good storytelling. Visuals are less polished than Mr.Ali's later films but I for one am not complaining.


Wives and Daughters is going so well, extremely entertaning with a delightful prose.

1408 and The Unkindness of Ravens End + Wives and Daughters

1048 (2007) Directed by Mikael Hafstrom, written by Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (adapted from a short story written by Stephen King).

It was OK, definitely not bad and to my suprise John Cusack was actually acting a character different than from his usual ones since Say Anything (what a beautiful film that was). I liked the ending in the director's cut better. Samuel L.Jackson got the second billing but he was not in the film that much.

I have started Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell and loving it so far.

The Unkindness of Ravens ended with a nice twist but still I was not able warm up to it, mainly because Wexford is not a character I care for.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Frankie & Johnny and The Day The Earth Stood Still

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009) Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, written by Rajeshwar, Rajkumar Santoshi and R.D Tailang

It was a cute film and I liked it very very much. Ranbir is not as good as his father, his grandad or either of his uncles but he has a certain charm. I loved how they used Bosphorus, Aspendos and Pamukkale in the songs. And Katrina is a delight, there is something about her I cannot name but like very much.

Frankie & Johnny (1991) Directed by Gary Marshall, written by Terence McNally (from his own play).

This is actually my third viewing and I still like this film very much. Pacino and Pfeiffer are fab as the leads and there is something sincere about it. I seem to like Gary Marshall films but I can't understand how he directed that dud Runaway Bride. Man that film was bad.

The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) Directed by Scott Derrickson written by David Scarpa (and Edmund H.North - 1951 version)

Normally I wouldn't put this here since I started to watch about 15 minutes in but I don't think I have lost much. It was not a bad film. I like Keanu Reeves very much and he was so handsome here. I like Jennifer Connely too and she was also her dependable self. I was thinking that the child is very cute and not annoying (the way they sometimes are) and now I looked him at imdb and saw that he is Will Smith's son. Good for him.

I'm getting closer to finish The Unkindness of Ravens which happens to be the least favorite among Ruth Rendell's novels. I still like it but not as much as I liked the others. I'm planning to start Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. I hope that novel will be just as good as North and South.

Star Trek

Star Trek (2009) Directed by J.J Abrams, written by Roberto Olci and Alex Kurtzman, adapted from television series by Gene Roddenberry.

I liked it very much. The script was not good but the film was directed well and I liked the cinematography a lot.

100 Years of Solitude - End, The Unkindness of Ravens

I have finished 100 Years of Solitude yesterday and I really got into it despite being emotionally a bit distant to it. But it is a wonderful book and I think a must read for any book lover.

There were guests last night and they left rather late (I'm not complaining) so there wasn't any time to watch a film. I had weird dreams though and I hope they mean good things. I so want to keep a dream journal the way the protagonist of Spring Snow, the beautiful novel written by Yukio Mishima did. But I'm too lazy to wake up and write everything I have seen down despite the idea being very very attractive and I do believe dreams can be interpreted. If these weird dreaming keeps maybe I'll start.

I have started to read The Unkindness of Ravens. Ruth Rendell never let me down so far and this is the first book in which Inspector Wexford has a starring role (he showed up at the end of The Bridesmaid but I guess it was just a cameo)

Wanted and Twilight

After Jumong it was kind of hard to return to my pre Jumong viewing habbits but I'm back in the saddle and

Wanted (2009) Directed by Prabhudeva, written by Sunir Kumal Agrawal and Shiraz Ahmed

This remake of a South Indian film is a success as far as I'm concerned. Salman Khan (an actor I don't usually care for) is excellent in the lead role supported wonderfully by Prakash Raj and Ayesha Takia. I loved it.


Twilight (2008) Directed by Catherine Hardwickle, written by Melissa Rosenberg adopted from the book of the same name written by Stephanie Meyer.

It is very similar to the book and strangely shallow for a film that is about many emotions but give me a clean cinematography with lots of close up shots and I'm happy. I enjoyed this one.

100 Years of Solutitude continues to amaze me though I still am not in love with it.

Jumong End

Yes I have completed the total 81 episodes last night and I even watched a special TV programme featuring the actors and a lame making of. The NGs were nice but after such a huge production, one expectes a better TV show. It was funny to see the actors without the period costumes.

Jumong is one of the best shows I have seen, every episode packed with excitement and enough emotion to burst me into tears (I have to admit this is not very a hard thing to do).

In fact I was thinking of how well I was holding myself in the last episode until the seperation of Hyupbo and Sayong scene. I didn't know where the tears came from but it felt so touching with Hyupbo crying and Sayong holding himself in order not to cry. It just turned the taps on.

I really admired Sosuhno in this one since she actually kept her word and left with her two sons to establish a new nation in South.

Jumong became allies (this time for real) with Daeso (who never liked Jumong but finally understood that he needed to side with him in order to achieve a victory) after his father the King was assasinated by the Han. Youngpo had just joined the King on Daeso's orders.

Well it all ended on a bittersweet note with Sosuhno leaving Jumong and Koguryo, and Yesoya being the empress and Yuri the crown prince. It said in the end that Sosuhno's younger son Onjo helped to build a nation called Baekche.
Daeso was killed by Jumong's grandson (Yuri's son) and after his death, Puyo perished.

Jumong's Koguryo prospered even more after Sosuhno's departure and Jumong died 40 years old with his dream achieved.

I think I'll suffer from withdrawal symptoms with 3 episodes a night but the ending was so lacklustre that I think this will mitigate them somehow.

Meanwhile 100 Years of Solitude is going very good and Gabriel Garcia Marquez has a very strong and impressive prose. I'm not in love with it (the way I'm with Murakami Haruki, Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy) but it is very entertaining and being in awe of this talent, I'm enjoying the book very very much.

Jumong LXXVII, LXXVIII and LXXIX

Just when I thought episode 77 would be a filler with all the flashbacks King Kumwa was having, it changed directions and turned out to be a full melodrama fest. These three episodes left me in tears and I realised how much I invested in these characters.

Jumong is now united with Yesoya and Yuri but the Jolbon side of Koguryo palace is in an unrest since they don't know what to do. As Jumong's first wife Yesoya deserves to be empress and Yuri would be the crown prince. Yuri turns out to be not only a couregous and skilled fighter, he is also a good thinker and this caused some jelaousy in Piryu. It is only normal but Yontabal's scheming sister (angry at Jumong since he punished her son for a grave mistake he did, even the son himself thinks he should be punished btw) and her side kick Yangtak poisoned Piryu's mind with their jealous and ambitious words. These two decided to kill Jumong and hired mercaneries and informed Piryu about their plan. I guess they wanted to include him to avoid the death of their families if their plan is not successful. As soon as Yontabal found out that they hired mercaneries, he informed Sosuhno and they figured out these two are upto no good. Episode 79 ended with them trying to reach Jumong and Yuri before the assassins do.

Meanwhile things in Puyo are not going very well. Daeso is trying to string both Han and Koguryo along and strenghten their resources with the gifts they are giving them in exchange for their support in the upcoming war. Jumong tricked Daeso again and I laughed out loud when he found out. He was livid! Jumong also angered Yodong's Governor by killing his brother and his advance troop in a suprise attack (Yuri's idea).

Sullan, the evil woman ordered Mauryung to put a curse on Jumong, when Youngpo saw them going to the ceremony he wanted to curse him too (Youngpo, after being imprisoned by Yodong Governor was rescued by Daeso and forced to turn over his considerable wealth to Puyo in exchange, he is very bitter, the idiot). As soon as Mauryung started cursing Jumong (with Sullan and Youngpo in tow) a lighting struck her and killed her on the spot. When the Queen heard this she finally understood that Jumong will not be defeated by these means and asked Daeso to side with Jumong and not oppose him since it will put Daeso's life in danger. Daeso answered her that he will not die easily. I sense something terrible is going to happen to him since when Mauryung saw Yuri at the palace earlier, she predicted that he will harm Daeso.

I never really liked Sosuhno but she conquered me in these three episodes. Apart from being smart she really is kind hearted and treated Yesoya so well urging her to become empress and telling her sons that titles don't really matter when people unite for a good and just cause and contribute to achieving it. I'm proud of her.
Yesoya refused to become empress but she was so happy when Sosuhno asked her to be helped on her feet to meet Jumong (and Yuri) on their return from a successful mission that I cried some more. I wish I was as kind hearted as Sosuhno.

Jumong LXXVI, LXXV and LXXVI

Last night Jumong again suprised me by a "15 Years Later". Yuri is now a young man and he has a small gang including two close friends and they do smuggling jobs. Yuri is smart and he is a great fighter. The only reason he is smuggling is to help his mother out. Yesoya is working at an inn and is very ill (coughing blood).
They reside in a small village near North Okju border.

Koguryo is a thriving nation which expanded and doing well. The two princes (Sosuhno's sons) are elder Prince Piryu, who seems to be a decent young man who is also a good fighter and very eager to go into adventures and feels ready for the tasks he hopes to be given to him.
Younger prince Onju is a darling who is training under Mopalmo and learns how to produce weapons and farm tools etc.

Jumong and Sosuhno govern together but it is clear that Jumong is the King (or Emperor as the subtitles tell us but they utter "pea" which is a word they use for the King as well)

King Kumwa is still alive (shock!) and Deaso, his mom and Sullan live in Puyo which is a poor country now. Youngpo on the other hand became a very rich merchant, thanks to his connections and apparently he has a knack for trade. But of course he is not content with what he has and wants to be King of Puyo. Well tough luck since King finally agrees to leave the throne to Daeso. And just when Queen, Sullan and the monkey like court minister (yeah he is alive too, apparently no one died) are totally happy, Jumong arrives the inauguration ceremony (everyone is invited). Jumong wants to become allies with Puyo since his enemy are the Han and wants to beat them. Yodong Governor wants Puyo to become allies with Han. Daeso needs to decide (when he asked for his father's advice the King adviced him not to allow a grudge to cloud his judgement). Jumong told him the same thing, he said that his father and mother died in Puyo but he still wants to become allies for the good of the people and to beat the Han.

Through circumstances Yuri met and fought with Prince Piryu and beat him but he didn't kill him. And they he attended the inauguration tournament (since Yesoya decided to tell him who his father is, I think she is very ill and wants him to know everything before she passes away). Oi had seen Yesoya but lost her in the crowds and when he came back to find her they already left (since Yuri is running away from the Okjuh police).
Yesoya wanted to go to Puyo in order to retrieve the tip of the sword Jumong gave her (he told her to give it to their son so that he'll recognise him) Silly Yesoya has hidden it in Puyo Palace when they were hostages. She told Yuri to get that and then she'll tell him everything about his father.

She couldn't help but attend the tournament and watch Jumong from a far but Jumong (who is a master archer and who has great eyesight) saw her and sent Oi and Hyupbo to look for her but she also understood that she has been spotted and ran away.
Yuri beat Piryu in the tournament and Daeso was very happy since he didn't want a Koguryo prince to become champion at his inauguration. Queen became very ill as soon as she heard Jumong was in the palace and couldn't even get to watch Daeso to wear the crown. I don't feel sorry for her, evil woman that she is.

Jumong wanted to visit the place where his father died while waiting for Daeso to decide whom to side with. Naro assigned Yuri to tail them. Yuri was caught and everyone wanted to kill him but Jumong let him go (and Piryu to his credit agreed with Jumong). He went away but found out that several men are on their way to attack Jumong (these are the idiot Youngpo's men, Youngpo is trying to get favours from Yodong governor by killing Jumong). And he returned to help Jumong. And when they were fighting, at one point they stood back to back against their attackers. And that's where episode 76 ended!!!!

Sosuhno and Jumong, although husband and wife, do not share that earlier intimacy of the days when they were dating. And they don't have child together. I think this is mostly because of Jumong being really aloof. I can't blame him, there was a scene where he kept the single shoe of his then three year old son. He doesn't even know whether the shoe is definitely Yuri's or not but it is the only thing left to him after -he thinks- their death. Now that he knows they are alive I bet he'll do anything to find them.

Only five episodes left...

Meanwhile 100 Years of Solitude is going great. I don't feel close to this book but it definitely takes me to another world, which is interesting and a bit mad so far.

Jumong LXXIII

I keep watching Jumong and it is integrated into my system. I wonder what will happen when this will end (The show is 81 episodes) the withdrawal symptoms scare me.

Today I woke up late and my sister had to take me to work (which is about 20 minutes away by car).

And returning to Jumong, there isn't a useless moment in it and they did good with the screenplay. It is long but each episode is full of exciting stuff and they all manage to end at a cliff hanger.

Sosuhno and Jumong got married! What happened was that even though Sosuhno willingly asked Jumong to be the new king of Koguryo, her supporters and Jolbon chiefs were all scared that Jumong will forget them when he has all the power and that Sosuhno has contributed so much to the new nation that it is only natural for her to be Queen. Jumong supporters totally opposed to the idea having the same fears themselves. Jumong had a meeting and told everyone that his first priority is to build a nation for the Josun migrants and that make sure of their wellbeing. He never intended to be King and is not qualified to govern a nation anyway. But his supporters insisted that he should be king. So Yontabal had the bright idea to marry these two. Since they are both widowers and they used to like eachother romantically, this seems to be the ideal solution. And those two agreed to it after some hesitation.

The thing is that Jumong searched for Yesoya and Yuri everywhere after he took Hyonto. Even though they believed Youngpo was lying he never gave up the search and often cried for his wife and son. But Yesoya never showed up after she escaped from Youngpo's imprisonment.

And she arrived at Keru at the day of the announcement of the new nation. Roughed up by the travels and with Yuri in her lap assuring him that he'll get to see his father today. But she found out right upon her arrival that today is the day of the announcement of the new nation and just when her face shone with happiness she learned that it is a double celebration since Sosuhno and Jumong are getting married too. She is devastated but went to the wedding and stood among the other people who are witnessing this joyous occasion. She understood that the main reason for this is to establish a nation without internal feuds. You can just see her face that she is happy for Jumong now that he has finally completed his mission but what about her and their son? She looked really poor and will poor Yuri grow up without knowing his father?

This was something I didn't see coming. I thought they would kill Yesoya or get rid of her somehow but they didn't thank God. This makes things complicated and I'm very eager to learn what'll happen.

Meanwhile Yangjung died in the battlefield and Sullan was taken prisoner but Jumong let her go. Sosuhno said -to her face - that she wouldn't do as a hostage since she has no value now that her father is dead and no one in Puyo asked for her anyway. It was a bit harsh even though Sullan deserves to DIF, still...

Of course she is so evil that as soon as she returned to Puyo she started to plot how to make Daeso King so that he can go to war against Jumong and get revenge for her father. Daeso still wants to be King but they go crazy over Jumong building a nation and becoming King before Daeso. These people are pathetic. And furthermore when Youngpo returned to Puyo, he found out that he was suspected treason (logically) and that Deaso is after him. Queen told him to leave Puyo to avoid Daeso's wrath. Even his mother didn't want him. Youngpo went to the Han capital and met Hwang (who was taken prisoner by Jumong and then exchanged with migrants). Hwang is going to be Yodong governor and he promised to take Youngpo with him.

Meanwhile King is vomitting blood and I don't feel sad for him at all. But Sullan took this opportunity to try to poison him but King's bodyguard became aware of the plot and alerted Prime Minister. Daeso killed the doctor hired by Sullan and told Sullan that he is letting her go
this time but that she musn't try to kill the King. I can't believe these people!!! They are so evil. Youngpo is normally a character I would despise but in comparison to them I feel sad for him.

I wonder what will happen to Yesoya, with no finances and nowhere to go, what will she do?

Jumong First Three Episodes of Volume 4

Jumong keeps making me entertained. It has its small faults (repetition and tired extras in some of the scenes) but I think this is a great show, definitely a keeper.

First thing, Sosuhno insisted that Jumong should be the King of the new nation (Koguryo) since his leadership much better than hers. She is a very smart and capable lady and I love the fact that she thought their mission more important than who is going to have power.

Now Jumong is trying to keep Jolbon afloat - why? Because Han and Puyo joined forces and applied an embargo to Jolbon by threatening all the other tribes (such as Okjuh and Haegin) not to trade with them. This is bad since Jolbon is eating up its resources due to the immigrants that keep coming. They first thought to trade with Gosan's salt but evil Daeso already blocked all the roads with Han's iron army backing Puyo up.
Meanwhile Daeso sent an assassin to kill Jumong but Bubuhno, the assassin actually liked the leadership of Jumong and failed to kill him (he didn't want to in the beginning but Daeso and Naro held his family hostage). Jumong forgave Bubuhno after hearing his story and told him to tell Daeso that he killed him. The timing was such that Jumong went to Eupru tribe to seek some outlaw pirates to carry food from South via sea route. So when Bubuhno returned Puyo saying that he killed Jumong, Daeso made inquiries and found out Jumong is absent from all the meetings and trainings. He also consulted Mauryung and she told Daeso that there is a cloud hanging over Jumong and Jolbon. So everyone in Puyo and Han thinks that Jumong is dead but Jolbon keeps it a secret to avoid caos.
Poor Yuhwa is devastated and asked the King to release her and Yesoya and the kid. But the King refused to let Yuhwa go. He is such an asshole. Yuhwa went on a hunger strike but the King refused to acknowledge this for four days. Yuhwa became severly ill (not suprisingly) and Bubuhno couldn't stand this any longer and told Yuhwa and Yesoya that he didn't actually kill Jumong but Jumong told him to say so in order to save Bubuhno's family. Bubuhno said he will think of a way to get Yuhwa and Yesoya out now that his family is safe and will join Jumong later on. Idiot Daeso is going to go on a war with Jolbon and now that Eyebags is sour due to lack of food and Han threat (Jumong told him that he will fight Han but now he needs to sort out the food problem first) he went to convince him to change sides again.

And Jumong is returning to Jolbon after leaving eveyrthing to Sosuhno and the pirates.

I actually wept during Bubuhno scene and the scene where Jumong convinces the pirates. The pirate leader's father was in Damul army and fought with Haemosu. His story was touching. Sosuhno decided to go with the pirates since there needs to be someone who knows how to trade food. There was this scene with Jumong and Sosuhno where Jumong told her that he doesn't really want her to go in this perilious journey. Sosuhno told him that whenever she feels afraid she will think of Jumong and the way he leads immigrants and not be afraid anymore. These two have feelings for eachother but I hope that Jumong will not act upon them since he is married to a nice woman. I hope that the script will keep on being good and will not conveniently kill Yesoya off.

Jumong LIX-LX & LXI, Jamaica Inn-End And 100 Years of Solutitude

I'm officially living and breathing Jumong. Each episode is equally exciting and they manage to finish at a cliff hanger all the time.

Yuhwa and Yesoya tried to escape from the Palace but they were caught in trying to go across Keru border.

The weird scar has gone away from King's face. Mauryung washed it with the sacred water given by the sorceress in the sacred mountain.

Queen is arranging a concubine for Daeso since Sullan cannot get pregnant. Sullan is so angry but I can't feel any pity for this evil woman.

Daeso is totally bonkers killing defenseless old men and children. He is such a physcho that he killed them himself.

People are trying to escape from Puyo because there is nothing to eat due to famine. But Daeso caught some and when he was about to kill them King arrived and questioned these poor people. I thought he was going to forgive and feed them but King is also a bit mad now and after the people suggested that he unites with Jumong, he ordered them to be beheaded and their heads to be put on display to give and idea to people who try to escape their stupid country. Seriously these guys should die as soon as possible. The King told Yuhwa that he will rather kill her than let her go.

Even comic relief villain Youngpo is not funny anymore. He does serious harm to people.

Sosuhno was wounded when trying to assassinate EyeBags but Jumong came to the rescue. He explained her his plans to regain Ancient Josun land and unite all the tribes. He wants to start by uniting Jolbon without a war. He convinced two of the tribe chiefs and EyeBags ran to Governor but Governor didn't give him any help. Daeso said to EyeBags that Puyo will provide reinforcements but EyeBags doesn't have enough money to supply them (Sosuhno burnt down their supplies).

EyeBags asked to see Jumong alone and even though everyone on Jumong's team told him not to go and they have enough power to crush EyeBags, Jumong said he'd try to avoid war and went to see him.

Now Sosuhno is with Jumong all the time and she is pining over him. But Jumong although attentive totally acts professional and thinks of his mother, wife and son. I hope that Yesoya will not die. I like Sosuhno / Jumong OTP but he is a married man now. Also there is the issue of who is going to rule over Jolbon. They didn't settle it yet. Sosuhno told her son that he will be the King of Jolbon one day but if Jumong's plans work then there will be a new, united nation.

I love Jumong, how modest, how courageous and how smart he is. But most of all he has a kind heart and is very considerate.

Meanwhile I have finished Jamaica Inn and it was a good novel. I thought about which novel to start next. Actually wanted to read another Ruth Rendell but decided to go to a different direction and give Garcia Marquez a try. Many people who like to read consider 100 Years of Soltitude their favorite novel and I remember reading a Marquez novel years ago but was not really impressed. I guess I'm mature enough now since I'm liking it very much so far.

Jumong

Jumong sucked me in so bad that even see the show in my dreams now.

And lots of things happened - and the show had the "3 Years Later" thing and now

Jumong is leading the Damul Army, he is very successful but his wife (and now 3 year old son Yuri) and his mother are still hostages in Puyo.

I said hostages since even though Daeso was kicked out by a coup initiated by Prime Minister (that sly fox deserves what is coming to him - he killed Yeomiul!) the King severed all ties with Jumong (after taking him prisoner first, then helping him escape but without his mother and wife) the King is very ambitious. But he woke up one day to find half of his face covered with a wine coloured stain that would not go away.

Daeso and Sullan were exiled to Easter Frontier but returned after YangJang asked for them. Yeah the Governor of Hyonto is still alive and kicking. Now he lusts after Puyo. Sullan cannot get pregnant but we don't know whether it is due to her or Daeso.

Youngpo, comic relief villain is back at the palace but he cannot get any break.

Sosuhno (now mother of two - I guess that child was not Jumong's after all) prepared an army in 3 years and now is back as the chief of Keru - Her husband Wootae died during an attack at eyebag chief Sonyang. Her aim is to unite and rule Jolbon but Yanjang is going ot assist Eyebag with his iron army and Sosuhno's army doesn't stand a chance against them. She asked Jumong's help, offering the area as a place to settle the new nation in (yeah the hideout is becoming too small for Jumong) but the left section of Jumong's team suggested that they need to determine who will be the ruler of the area.

Sayong is even better looking with his hair tied up. I love this hermafrodite character and not just because he is a hermafrodite. Hyubpo is a luck guy.

And lastly my love Jumong (yeah he is my love now) returned to the sacred mountain to check the bow he broke when young out. But the bow was miraculously intacts and the sorceress of the sacred mountain (the King went to see her but she told the King that Puyo will perish) appeared and told Jumong that the bow is not Puyo's sacred treasure but Ancient Josun's sacred item. And its rightful owner is Jumong. But Jumong needs to find the two other Josun items (yeah Jumong started to resemble Harry Potter) and if they fall into wrong hands then the mission of getting back the lost land of Josun will not be completed (She reminds him that Haemosu was also a chosen person but he couldn't complete the mission).

Jumong is very kind and smart (the first thing he did was searching for old Ancient Josun documents - apparently they are in Han and Puyo libraries). The map they have found of Ancient Josun shows a lot of land and he doesn't hesitate to help Sosuhno out regardless of who will be the ruler since it is a step towards the right direction in achieving his goal, which is to complete the "mission". Sosuhno of course doesn't know this and she planned an assessination attempt on Eyebags - will Jumong reach Keru in time to help Sosuhno out? Will Sosuhno get caught?

Oh Jumong I love you. You have such a good heart and you are strong and focused but you also use your brain. Not to mention the fact that you look hot with or without a beard. This man is a dream.

Jamaica Inn is going good and I love how exciting the prose of Ms.Du Maurier is.

Meanwhile I have watched

17 Again (2009) Directed by Burr Stiers, written by Jason Filardi.

It was Ok, nothing special but it didn't suck either.