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?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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.
Monday, February 15, 2010
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.
Friday, February 12, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
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...
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...
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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.
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.
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