Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Valmont, Dans La Maison

Valmont  Choderlos De Laclos'un unutulmaz klasiği Tehlikeli İlişkiler uyarlamalarından halen izlememiş olduklarımdan biriydi. Milos Forman bu adaptasyonda öykü dışına epey çıkmış ve anlatımının çoğunu dönem detaylarını göstermek ve feminist vurgulamalar yapmaya ayırmış. Şimdi kadın eşitliğini savunan her eser başımın tacıdır o açıdan ancak hikaye paçoz olmuş be abi. Sen ne yaptın, aşkı yok etmiş bir kere ki bu kitabın en önemli kısmı benim için aşkın gücüdür (bu sebepten G.Kore adaptasyonu The Untold Scandal halen bence bir numara). Ne aşk kalmış ne insani bir duygu. Sadece bir iktidar savaşı ve elde etme isteği var kitapta. Ha dönem kostümleri, pazar yerleri, evler, çeşitli mekanlar gayet güzel ve detaylı verilmiş, ama bu yetmiyor zira süreside baya uzun. İkinci sorun aktör seçiminde yaşanmış. Hayır aktörler yetenekli, performanslar gayet güzel ama hiç biri rolünün adamı olamamış. Hepsi ama hepsi sırıtmış. Neyse en azından görmüş oldum ama bana başka birşey vermedi. Colin Firth bile normalde en azından göz zevkimi okşardı, burada kendisine hiç yakışmayan aptal bir saç modeliyle endam ettiği için sinir etmekten başka bir işe yaramadı.

Dans La Maison bu film çok güzel çıktı. François Ozon benim her yaptığını beğendiğim yönetmenlerden değil (hoş bundan başka epi topu iki filmini izledim) ama bu en sevdiğim filmi oldu. Bir kere konu çok hoşuma gitti. Lisede bir edebiyat öğretmeninin öğrencilerinden biri, verdiği sıradan ödevi birdenbire çok renkli hale getirir. Başka bir öğrenci ile ilgili hafta sonu yazdıkları, devamı var diye biter ve hem öğretmeni, hem de sanat galerisi yöneten eşini pek meraklandırır. Bu tefrika usulu hikaye ilerlerken biz öğretmenin - ki kendisi de zamanında kitap yazmış ama yetenekli olmadığını bilecek kadar aklı varmış- bu gencin yeteneğini geliştirme çabaları ve öğrencinin hikaye ile ilgili neler yaptığını görüyoruz. Bayıldım, bayıldım. Kesinlikle tavsiye ederim. Öğrenci rolündeki Ernst Umhauer o kadar iyi idi ki, neredeyse ne kadar göz okşadığını bile unuttum. 

Edge of Darkness


Edge of Darkness (İntikam Peşinde) yine bargain shelf'ten aldığım bir dvd oldu. Nedense halen Mel Gibson'ın oyunculuğunu severim. Onun için aldım. Sonra baktım ki yönetmen Casino Royale'i de yöneten Martin Campbell mış. Neyse bir ümit başladık ama maalesef film iyi çıkmadı. En büyük sorun senaryo ve kurgudaydı bence. Neredeyse hiç akmıyordu mübarek. Herşey tutuk, diyaloglar sahnevari ve kendini gereksizce önemseyen bir havadaydı. Aktörlere kusur bulamıyorum  zira hepsi işini en ala şekilde yapmış. Açılış sahnesi çok güzeldi. Kızın vuruluşuna kadar sadece bir hatayla aktı gitti. Ama sonra bozuldu ve bir daha toparlanamadı. Hiç tavsiye etmiyorum bu filmi. 

Grudge



Grudge (Garez) elime D&R bargain shelf'ten geçti. Aslında Japon versiyonunu izlemiş ve öyle aman aman korkmamıştım. Bu Amerikan yeniden çevrim neredeyse tamamen aslının aynısıydı. Sonra yapım belgeselini izlerken amacın tam da bu olduğunu iletti yapımcı Sam Raimi. Ben de batılı algılaması mı var bilmem ama benim bu hali daha çok hoşuma gitti. Ha uyumadım mı, tabii ki korku filmi ve uyku klasiği bozulmadı ve filmin sonlarına doğru horul horul uyudum ama uyanınca çoğu zaman yaptığım gibi kaldığım yerden devam ettim. Ve  normalde pek az olan bir şey oldu ve ben kabus bile gördüm filmden sonra. Neyse Japon versiyonundan farkı burada Batılı aktörlerin olması. Beni Japon versiyonundan daha fazla korkuttu.

Last Cinderella

Aşağıdaki yazının her tarafı spoiler dolu, bilginize.






Bu Japon dizisini sadece diğer bloglarda çok beğenildiği için seçmiştim. Basit ve eğlendirici bir rom com isteğiyle izlemeye başladım. Beklenileni verdi ama öyle derinden etkilemedi beni. Kahramanımız 40 yaşına merdiven dayamış bir kadın kuaförü Sakura (Ryoko Shinohara). İki tane yakın arkadaşı var biri Charlotte figürü diğeri Samantha figürü (Miranda'yı atlamışlar :) ). Neyse bu kadıncağız çalıştığı kuaförde (bir zincir firmanın şubesi) hak ettiği Şube Müdürlüğü'ne bir türlü getirilmemektedir. Bunun nedeni dizide tam açıklanmasa da kendisinin tamamen müşteri memnuniyeti odaklı çalışması, olayın finansal boyutunu fazla dikkate almaması olabilir. Derken şubeye bunun çok yakın bir erkek arkadaşı olan Tachibana (Fujiki Naohito) müdür olarak atanır. Aynı yaşlarda ve aynı hayat tarzında oldukları için güzel anlaşırlar ve hatta komşu olurlar. Neyse bu arada kuaför salonunun devamlı müşterilerinden bir kız Tachibana'ya sağlıksız ve saplatılı bir sevgi duymaktadır ve Sakura ve Tachibana'nın rahat ve eğlenceli iletişimini kıskanır ve üvey kardeşi Hiroto (Miura Haruma)'dan Sakura'yı baştan çıkarmasını ister. Hiroto 24 yaşında pro biker bir genç olup küçükken bu deli üvey kardeşin sırtını kazara yaktığından ve iz bıraktığından dolayı, deli kardeşe karşı kendini sorumlu hissetmekte ve hemen hemen ne derse yapmaktadır.

Tabii bu baştan çıkarma sürecinde Hiroto Sakura'nın güzel ve temiz kalbinden ve iyiliğinden çok etkilenir, iş sahtekarlıktan çıkar ve gerçek aşka dönüşür. Yani Sakura doğursaydı Hiroto kadar çocuğu olacaktı neredeyse ama o da kendini bu yakışıklı (Allah için güzel çocuktu bu aktör) ve sorunlu gence kaptırır. Bu arada Tachibana ile gayet iyi bir ilişkisi vardır ve Tachibana da aslında Sakura'ya aşık olduğunu farketmiştir.
Şimdi Sakura'nın prensi kim olacak? Benim oyum yaş ve uyumdan dolayı Tachibana'ya gitti zira gayet güzel anlaşıyorlar ve birbirlerinin yanında çok rahatlardı. Ancak beklediğim olmadı ve Sakura Hiroto'yu tercih etti ve mutluluğa yelken açtılar.

Bu dizi beni ilk izlediğim (ve genellikle Kimu Taku'nun başrolde olduğu) diziler kadar sarmadı. Hatta bu dizinin son bölümünü izler izlemez hemen bir Long Vacation izleyesim geldi. Her taraf dağınık ve toplanmak için dolapların yapılmasını bekliyor olmasaydı bulup izlerdim bile belki. 

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Aliens 2

Dün gece bir Hint filmi izlesem mi diye düşünürken, karnım çok acıktığı için Life ile beraber önce bir yemek yiyeyim dedim. Sonra aklıma Inuyasha geldi ne zamandır izlemiyordum ve heyecanlı bir yerde kalmıştı. Sonra Life beni  mıknatıs gibi kendine çekti. Bir ara bölüm bitiminde (Life'ta bölümler epey uzun) baktım saat 21:30 ve hala canım birşeyler yemek istiyor. Son iki gündür günde 500 kalori civarı aldığım için olsa gerek bir bezginlik, bir uyuşukluk. Haydi Elif dedim, kaldır kendini. Sonrasında tepsiye bir Lays Fırında Baharatlı ve meyve suyu (evde Annem'e geçmiş olsuna gelen ziyaretçilerin getirdiği bir meyve suyu bolluğu yaşanıyor ve maalesef hiç biri benim sevdiğim Dimes şeker katkısız kırmızı meyveler değil) Tamek kan portakalı etc. ve fotoda gözükmese de vazgeçilmezim Tadım tuzsuz ayçekirdeği +  



yine kardeşimden ödünç aldığım Aliens'ı koydum ve güzel güzel izledim. Bu film ben sadece bir kez izlemiş ve fazla etkisinde kalmamıştım. Bu sefer James Cameron'un ustalığını bir kez daha takdir ettim. Action gayet güzel ve en önemlisi kadınlar daha iyi bu konuda erkeklerden. Newt'i oynayan küçük kızın pek iyi bir aktör olmaması (ki aslında çok sorun değildi zira pek şekerdi ve fazla bir şey yapması gerekmiyordu) dışında beni rahatsız eden bir durum yoktu. Tabii ki yorgun beden bir ara yine uykuya daldı (yahu nedir benim bu Alien ve slasher filmlerinde fosur fosur uyumam anlamıyorum. Bir insan Alien, Aliens, Halloween ve Saw II ve Saw III'ü izlerken uyuya kalır mı? Kalır işte, ben Hsai Hou Hsien, Nuri Bilge Ceylan filmlerinde pür dikkat, nasıl bir bünye bu çözemedim) Neyse Ripley şahane bir film karakteri, hem akıllık, hem becerikli hem de iyi kalpli. Ancak Alien Ana'yı tufaya getirmesi kısmında irkildim biraz kendisinden. Yahu zaten bütün gezegeni patlatacaksın, ne demeye söz verip sözünden dönüyorsun. Bak işte bu kötülüğü yaptın ama üçüncü filmde bir sürü insan katloldu. O yumurtaları ateşe vermeseydi bütün gezegen patlayacak Alien ırkı yok olacaktı.

Neyse sonuçta gayet güzel bir akşam oldu. Ayrıca çok uğraşığ bir türlü geçemediğim Candy Crush Quest I geçtim!!!!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Monster's Ball

Dün gece düşün taşın bari Monster's Ball'u yeniden izleyeyim dedim.


Fotodaki dvd'yi kardeşimden ödünç aldım. Görüldüğü üzere her nedense Halle Berry'nin Swordfish'teki hali var kapakta (Bu arada o saçlara bayılıyorum, yani Swordfish'teki saçlarına). Neyse Türkçe'ye mantık itibariyle Kesişen Yollar olarak tercüme edilmiş bu film bu ikinci izleyişimde her nedense beni pek sarmadı. Oyuncularla falan ilgisi yok (Halle Berry'nin herkesçe sevilen performansını dengesiz ve aşırı buldum bu sefer)   hikaye gayet güzel ama Billy Bob'un her zamanki gibi mükemmel oynadığı Hank karakteri sanki bir anda çabucak değişiverdi öyle. Yahu kaç yaşına gelmiş adam, kazık kadar oğlu var, ırkçı babasının her dediğini yapıyor, kıçının kılları ağarmış ve birden bire ya içindeki iyi insan kutusundan fırlıyor, ya da post travmatik stres sendromu yaşıyor (ikinci şık ise zavallı Letitia). Şimdi ben de atonement konseptini anlıyorum. Hele de hem annesi hem de oğlu intihar etmiş bir adamın silkinip kendine gelmesi pekala mümkün ama kardeşim bir ay içinde olmaz ki bu. Neyse bütün bu düşünceler muslukların açılmasına engel değildi tabii ki de.
Bu arada film bitti, special features'dan biraz bir şeyler de izledim. Candy Crush falan oynadım ama saat hala 21:30'du. Tabii ben de hemen Keith abimizin anılarına yöneldim.

Neyse bu akşam uzun zamandır ihmal ettiğim Hint filmlerine dönüş yapayım bari. Uzun süreleri itibarıyla her halde kış geceleri için daha uygun olacaklar.

Aslında Queen In Hyu's Man'e de başlayabilirim ama Malezya'dan gelecek dvd'leri bekliyorum. Brain Brain gel bana. 

Kızılgerdan (Redbreast) - End, Bright Star, Life

Eveeeet. Dün Kızılgerdan bitti. Aslında 2.Dünya Savaşı, Naziler vs. bahsinden kitaba soğuk bakmıştım (ve kardeşimden ödünç aldım) ayrıca Harry Hole The Bat'te beni çok cezbetmemişti. Acayip melodramatik bir hikayesi olan ve alkolik bu adam nedense beni hiç etkilemedi (ne bileyim bir Rebus, bir Kay Scarpetta gibi değil). Fakat kitap vasat çeviriye ve basım hatalarına rağmen beni baştan itibaren aldı götürdü. Hiç sıkılmadım, uykum gelmedi bomba gibi başladı ve öyle devam etti. Yine Harry beni çok etkilemedi ama kitabın kendisi, 2.Dünya savaşında Almanya'nın yanında çarpışan Norveç'liler, bunların geri dönüşü ve sonraki hayatları, Harry'nin ortağı ve ilk görüşte aşık olması ve aşık olduğu kadının yaşadıkları. Ayrıca çok tehlikeli bir kötü karakterin pir ü pak kalması ve yakalanamaması (umarım bu neo Nazi serinin sonraki kitaplarında yakalanır).
Evet tabii ki de şimdi bu seriden başka kitaplar da aldığım için çok mutluyum.

Neyse bundan sonra ne okusam diye düşünerek okunacak kitapların arasına daldım. Önce elime Cold Mountain geçti. Fakat sonra düşündüm bir savaş + aşk öyküsü daha okumak istemedim, diğerinin hemen ardından. Bir kitap bitince ondan tamamen farklı bir kitap okumayı daha çok seviyorum ben.

The Wind-up Girl'e gitti elim bir ara (çok okumak istiyorum) ama onda da polisiye bir taraf var gibi geldi. Tabii Ian Rankin ve Ruth Rendell'de bana göz kırptı ama onları da polisiye olduklarından eledim. Sonra Anthony Bourdain'in kitabını mı alayım, yoksa Clint Eastwood'un biyografisini mi okuyayım derkeeeeen


da karar kıldım. Çok fazla bir müzik bilgim olmamasına rağmen ve The Beatles çok dinlediğim bir grup olmasına rağmen ve John Lennon'a bayılmama rağmen Beatles mı Stones mu deseler Stones derim her zaman. Nedense onların şarkıları bana daha gerçek geliyor. Neyse Keith Richards bey Rolling Stones grubunun gitaristi olup, genellikle sürekli "kafa bir dünya" dolaşmasıyla biliniyor.
Neyse fotodan da görüldüğü üzere kitabı öğle tatilimde Şirket'in spor salonunda yürürken okudum ve gayet güzel başladı. İngiliz edebiyatını, İngiliz mizah anlayışını seven birisi olarak daha müzik konularına gelmeden bile sanki adam karşımda muhabbet ediyor gibi keyif almaya başladım.


Dün gece Jane Campion'un yönettiği Bright Star'ı izledim. Onu da bir iş arkadaşım ödünç verdi. Ünlü İngiliz şair John Keats ve sevgilisi Fanny Browne'ın aşkını anlatan film beni hiç beklemedim bir anda acayip duygulandırdı. Öncelikle şiire hiç bir düşkünlüğüm yok. Herhalde bunca yıllık hayatımda 1 ya da 2 şiir kitabı almışsam almışımdır ki ondan bile şüpheliyim. O yüzden şiir kısımları beni pek duygulandırmasa da olayların gelişmesi ve SPOILER


kızın Annesi'nin çocuğu evine almayı kabul etmesi, evlenmelerine izin vermesi, saf ve temiz aşkları derken bir baktım musluklar açılmış. Hem de ne açılmak. Ben bile bu tepkiyi beklemiyordum (zira Jane Campion filmlerini severim ama beni duygulandırmazlar). Neyse sonunda izlediğime sevindiğim bir film oldu. 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Not so Fruitful Weekend of Films, The Great Chef - End

Joshua Meh

The Possession Meh

The only good film I tried to watch this weekend was The White Ribbon and unfortunately for some unknown reason the recording stopped probably at about 3/4 of the film. Now I need to either record it again (properly this time) or get the dvd (which may actually be a good idea since I like it a lot).

I have finished the 24th and final episode of The Great Chef last night and it was good to the last drop. I love Sung Chan and the way everything is resolved. He through his goodness reconciled with people who you'd never think he'd look at twice. And at least now everyone is sort of happy and neither of the brothers are actually at Unamjung. I still do not like Sung Chan and Ji Soo and would much rather Sung Chan ended up with Joo Hee but alas one cannot have everything. This ended up being a good ride and tears flowed at appropriate places.

Still reading and loving Redbreast, this one is so much better than both The Headhunter and The Bat.



Friday, November 15, 2013

The Blind Assassin - End, Kızılgerdan (Redbreast), The Great Chef Eps. 14

 First of all The Blind Assassin ended to my dismay (I can't believe I have not picked up every single one of Margaret Atwood books at the second hand bookstores in SF.) It is one of those special books that made me want to write. There are many writers who are my favorites but only very few who inspire me to just write and it seems like Margaret Atwood is one of them. Too bad that I have not the talent, nor the discipline. If I had the former I'd be compelled to write and if I had the latter then I'd have a more productive   time pass (not really more useful, just more productive). Anyway needless to say, I LOVED it.

Then I have started Kızılgerdan (Redbreast) which is translated to English from Norwegian and then to Turkish from that English and it shows. But to my surprise I find that I'm enjoying it very much (when I skimmed at the back of it, the neo nazi plot turned me off - hate faschist of any kind, I don't like war even in fiction) but this one is interesting and there is a romantic story too. I find it a better novel than The Bat. And I don't even care for the mystery.

As for the The Great Chef it falls victim to that time of the month. I keep falling asleep and couldn't even finish 3 episodes last night. I'm hoping I'll do better tonight since I actually like the show and Sung Chan. But recently it just doesn't have any thrills that glues to me to screen. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Great Chef Eps. 7, 8 & 9

Last night The Great Chef did not dissapoint. The mysterious angry restaurant owner'd back story was very touching (again tears were shed on my part) and Sung Chan is such a good guy with all the right values but he is also not stupid. He was perfectly aware that Bong Ju uses Min Wu to do his dirty work and comes out smelling roses saying that he didn't authorise any of it. At the end of episode 9 Sung Chan put this out in the open! Bong Ju should not think that Sung Chan is stupid just because he refuses to do bad things. I feel for Sung Chan and it looks like the OTP is the journalist girl (this plot line is so skimpy but they are holding on to it) rather than the georgeous secretary. Bong Ju is after her anyway but I though she and Sung Chan would make a nice pair. I hope that this lady is smart enough not get corrupted just because her secret love is not reciprocated (actually if she made her move one year ago then Sung Chan will surely accept it) Now Sung Chan is hanging out with the fake Sam Soon journalist more and more.


Monday, November 11, 2013

The Great Chef - Eps. 4, 5 & 6

The Great Chef is slowly but surely sucking me in. Actually I have shed unexpected tears during episode 6. I'll like this show better if it keeps on giving us snippets of lives with each episode. I'm hoping that angry restaurant owner will develop into a story.

Sadly I cannot hold off The Blind Assassin any longer. I'm loving it so much that I -try to- read sparingly but it is still coming to an end. 

Under The Hawthorn Tree, Seconds Apart, Oz The Great and Powerful, The Great Chef Eps. 1, 2 & 3

 Under The Hawthorn Tree  Zhang Yimou has always been a fave director of mine. This one is a huge weepy but told in his great storytelling style, with wonderful actors and good characters. It is so hard to meet good characters in films nowadays. They are not as complicated I suppose. But I love them and I loved this film. Also whatever political concerns he had was subtly presented.

Oz The Great and Powerful Good intentions, decent visuals and I watched it to the end. James Franco is so likable no?

Take This Waltz  Only watched this one because of good cinematography and art direction. It was so visually pleasing that I didn't mind the whole unnecessaryness of the story.

Seconds Apart yet another horror film that put me to sleep.

I have started The Great Chef last night and despite the fact that there is not much romance and Nam Sang Mi is such a Kim Sun Ah acting as Sam Soon wannabe that it is kind of annoying. I plan to go on with it since FOOD. Great visuals of food being sourced, prepared and presented. I also like challenges etc. and these episodes are all about that. Also Sung Chan is a character I like best a good person.

Meanwhile sadly The Blind Assasin approaced to the end. And it gets better and better with each page.  

Friday, November 8, 2013

An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman is an all time fave and it actually gets better with repeated viewings. This time was no exception.

Meanwhile I don't want to finish The Blind Assassin. It is just too good.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna - End, The Blind Assassin

Well last night was reserved for Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna only and it didn't dissapoint. I have found out that this novel is translated into English (along with three other languages) as Mediterranean Waltz. Haruki Murakami's novels taught me to appreciate surrealism woven into regular fiction and this one was such novel. Some parts of it were political and social observations / critiqué and I liked how they were included within. The characters seemed really one of those (unfortunately extremely) familar intellectual types going through existential crisis but as I read through their trials starting from childhood I started to like them and their worries seemed more organic as I read along. And Tuna character is the type of selfless romantic that I really  love reading in fiction. All in all this was a very good gift of literature so thank you Ms. Uzuner.

And almost started to read Redbreast by Jo Nesbo. It is the second book of the Hole series and there happened to be a Turkish translation in the house but I fear that the translation is from English (translated from Norwegian) but even though I enjoy reading his books I decided not to worry about this for a Jo Nesbo novel. Anyway in the end I decided against reading it right after Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna because it is in Turkish. I wanted to read something English so finally I have started 

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Now I have been curious about Ms.Atwood's novels, especially The Handmaiden (sadly this was not available in any of the almost all secondhand bookshops in San Francisco and Berkeley I have looked into). So I got a short story book and this one. 
So far I'm intrigued and really into it. This is such a good feeling, starting to read a book and liking it immediately. 



Monday, November 4, 2013

Nice Guy - End, Passion, The Conversation, Funny Games U.S, The Salvation of a Saint - End

Well it turned out to be a very fruitful weekend.

The Conversation It is weird but I do like Gene Hackman better now that I'm old. I also liked this film very much. Despite the fact that I'm not fond of jazz and this film's soundtrack was all jazz. I also liked how people looked real in the films. Now most of the people on film or TV look weird, plastic.

Passion Now I like Mr.De Palma's visual sensibilities. I like Rachel MacAddams and Noomi Rapace. So I ended up liking this not very good and predictable film.

Funny Games U.S Nowhere near as effective as the original. Maybe because the actors in the first one were unfamiliar hence the horror of the whole thing looked very real, maybe because I knew what was going on or maybe because the exposition here was more prominent and I was kind of a turn off. All in all this one can't hold a candle to the original.

I also finished The Salvation of a Saint and loved it nearly as much as The Devotion of Suspect X.

Nice Guy ended with a band. I actually marathoned the last 5 episodes and not because I couldn't wait to see what will happen but more due to finishing it as quick as I can. Well I underestimated the power Song Joong Ki since his performance was so so good that I have found myself shedding copious amount of tears and worrying whether he'll be alright in the end. This one is not a good drama but at least SJK was worth it. 

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Nice Guy Eps. 9 & 10

Nice Guy did a complete U turn at the end of episode 9 and we had to welcome our friend the old k-drama chestnut amnesia. And it was all going so well. Now we have a brain clot, amnesia, murder, blackmail, kidnapping and our titular Nice Guy is going from test to test to his limits.

I actually fell asleep during most of episode 10 and had to rewind and rewatch more than once. Oh well, it was good while it lasted and I want to finish it because I like SJK and MCW.

Now don't get me wrong I love a good makjang to the max but this show was somehow different you know, now it looks like it has taken its mask off.

Meanwhile Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna is going good so I have stopped Salvation of a Saint for a while to wait its turn. Meanwhile I feel so greedy for books that I feel like reading Bir Gün Tek Başına (One Day All By Yourself) a novel I have read and re read and love and also Redbreast (Turkish translation) the second Hole novel by Nesbo.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Salvation of a Saint, Nice Guy Eps. 8

Ok I wanted to treat myself lunch with some good kebab outside in the sunshine by the sea. And what better to accompany me than a good book. But I was not really that into Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna (then) and decided to treat myself to Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino. I loved The Devotion of Suspect X and this one is also very very good but now I have two good books in my hands waiting to be read (yeah what a delightful problem). It was a mistake to start that one. Well now I'm very much into Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna and really curious about what's going to happen in Salvation of a Saint (a murder mystery). And neither is the type of book that you can put down and pick up days later. I have put myself into this situation (and this is probably the only example of a happy problem :) )

I'm also very much into Nice Guy. Barely holding myself back from marathoning it. It is just so good, still not very believable but I don't care. I totally root for Maru and Eungi. And would like to see Jae Hee get her just deserts. Not a yawn in sight during this one and I actually kind of feel guilty to like Song Jun Ki this much. He looks like an angel and he is so much younger than me but I love his voice and he is a naturally talented and smart actor. A winning combination. 

Monday, October 28, 2013

The Accidental Apprentice - End, Hotel Iris - End, Nice Guy Eps I & II, Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna

As our house was being renewed (walls repainted and new floors) I have finished The Accidental Apprentice and was pleasantly surprised by the twists. Never saw them coming. Good job Mr.Swarup.
Then I have started long awaited Hotel Iris which turned out to be very good. It looks into the psyche of the maschochist.

Now I have turned to a Turkish book titled Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna (lit. translation of the title is Brown haired Ada Blue Tuna) - and it tells the story of a Brown Haired Girl called Ada (means Island) and a boy named Tuna (Turkish name for river Danube). It started with a bang and so far I like it a lot.

I also started Nice Guy and the first two episodes were alright if a bit needing to suspend belief. I like the lead trio so far and the main lead Song Jung Ki is really good. 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Rising Sun - End, The Accidental Apprentice - Renovation.

Rising Sun ended and it was a good ride but nothing that prompted me to seek out other novels written by Mr.Crichton.

And I have started The Accidental Apprentice written by Vikas Swarup. Loved his first two books and this one is already so good and I'm not even halfway yet. Also this one makes me want to watch Indian films again.

Last night Inuyasha only lasted me about four and a half episodes. Actually my mother's getting the whole house repainted (interiors) and after that the floors will be renewed. And insallah this will be a good opportunity to actually get rid of everything I have been hoarding for no reason. Let's see if I can handle this project - yeah I guess I have turned into one of those people who call everything a "project".

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Inuyasha still

Yesterday I have finally received my shipment which included Nice Guy and Queen In Hyu's Man but instead of watching them, I have returned to Inuyasha (maybe because I missed hearing Japanese talked around me- heh) and it was good to be back. Now I realised I don't really care for Sango and her giant boomerang but other than that all was fine.


Monday, October 21, 2013

From Japan Trip

World War Z  It was intense and watchable but ultimately not my kind of film.

Heat this was not a good one but for some reason I enjoyed it a lot.

A Beautiful Life it is one of those films whose sole purpose is to make you cry. Two great performances (Shu Qi and Lu Ye) wasted in this cry fest (but not in a good way if you know what I mean)

R.I.P.D  Normally this would not be a film I'd visit a theatre to watch but it was the only one in the hour available and I really wanted to watch another film in Japan. The film was forgettable but the experience was not :)

Man of Steel Despite its great visuals and handsome looking leads, this film was not a good one. Weak script and the fact that not all of the elements gelled together in it. And also Diane Lane is too young to play that role.

Life of Pi the book was way better as it usually is but I did like the film. The visuals were very very impressive and more importantly blended perfectly with the story.

I couldn't finish The Silent War since the plane has landed but sadly this is not a good film either. The point they were trying to make seemed more important than telling a story or getting a decent editor. Tony and Zhao Xun were both excellent but even if they gave the best performances in the world, it wouldn't have saved this film (I feel a bit bad writing about it since I have not completed it but left a final 10 minutes or something).

In the Woods I liked this one very much. Great pyschological suspense and the way it ended was interesting. I'll be seeking more from this author.

Revenge Wears Prada unfortunately this happened to be the only English novel I have not read in that small "books in English" section in Kyoto so I bought it and read it. It was nowhere as good as the first one (and come to think of it, none of her other books were).

And on my return:

You'll Meet a Tall Dark Stranger I love Woody Allen, and I like this film too. It is not one of his best but a lot better than a lot of other films in the world.

Dan in Real Life Only watched this because I didn't want to fall asleep (I never experience jet lag but it is always easy to fall asleep while watching tv). It was ok I suppose but I'm not enamoured with Steve Carell (yet I have seen a lot of films starring him!!!) but Juliette Binoche was a darling as she usually is.

started

Rising Sun I remember watching this film long ago and liking it but cannot remember how it ended. Now I'm reading the book and it started very good. Mr.Chrichton is a good writer and this one is turning out to be a decent airport novel (which fittingly I have purchased at the airport)




Friday, October 11, 2013

Safe Word - End, In The Woods, The Best Divorce - Eps.9

 Safe Word ended and I'm not completely unhappy with it but it sure killed my porn reading tendencies. Only romance novels for me as far as literary erotice is concerned.

I have started  In The Woods by Tana French and I'm loving it so far.

The partner switch in The Best Divorce kind of happened in the episodes I have watched yesterday. Hamasaki and Konno San started dating and Hoshino and Uehara kissed, but it was a drunken kiss initiated by Hoshino and didn't mean anything. And when these two found out that their exes started dating they were so shocked and broken hearted. Especially Hoshino, she cried and cried and I think she took the cruel criticism of Konno very hard. There was so truth in what Konno said although she could have been kinder. And now just as Hamasaki and Konno are getting their groove on, I think Konno has found out that she is pregnant (by Uehara, Hamasaki and she did not have sex) we can only guess because she arrived late to their movie date and she had that shocked and dazed expression on her fave and then we saw the used pregnancy test packet at her bathroom.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Bat - End, Safe Word, The Best Divorce Eps.7

The Bat ended on a high note. I remember having the same sensation while reading Headhunter. I guess this is Jo Nesbo's style. Slow start and it slowly escalates. Also there was skydiving in this book and the feeling was accurately described (as much as it can ever be).
Safe Word sequel to Carrie's Story and it is just as adult as it can be. And while reading this book I think I maybe cured of my S/M fiction reading since I feel myself being disgusted at some parts (although never as disgusted as my attempt at reading 120 of Sodom by Marquis De Sade -and I have already read all the other books- I remember getting physically sick- I was this close to throwing up- and I had to leave it, even thinking of returning to it makes me queasy). So it seems like I have had it with this genre. I'll finish it since I have already read 3/4 of it but I see where it is going.

Meanwhile after 7 episodes of The Best Divorce, I like it a lot. And this is mostly due to Eita. He is just so adorable but not in an idol way.
Our couples are breaking up at this point. Ex threw her no good partner out of the house, refusing to make up. And Hamasaki and Yuka were going so well but after Hamasaki uttered kind words about her ex and how nice a time he had with her, Yuka left the house. She actually wrote a long, emotional letter to him but in the end threw it out and wrote a short note at the back of some scrap paper.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Jersey Girl, Beyond Outrage, Scenic Route, Point Break, The Odd Story of Timothy Green, The Best Divorce Eps.1

This weekend was all about lying in and watching films (YES!)

So in no particular order

Jersey Girl now I have an unexplained fondness for Ben Affleck. What can I do? I love the guy. And he is so good in this one. Tears were shed and in a good way too.

Beyond Outrage it has been years since I have last seen a Takeshi Kitano film. And I still like the guy. This film is all about the power struggles between yakuza, and between police and yakuza.

Scenic Route dud of the weekend and I have to admit to fall victim to my shallow tendencies. Josh Duhamel is so easy on the eyes I said, how bad can this film be? And it was bad, very bad (I still watched it to the end for some reason)

Point Break an oldie, but still a goodie. Patrick Swayze (RIP) is so good in this. And now that the curtain of adoration has lifted from eyes, Keanu Reeves' performance was really bland. He looks great though. I liked this film even better with this viewing and thought that Johnny Utah had a major crush on Bodhi.

The Odd Story of Timothy Green liked this one a lot. The actors were fine, the sets and the costumes great.

I have also tried to watch a Korean film called The Voice of A Murderer but I fell asleep at the beginning and only woke up at the (grim) end.

Also watched the first episode of Japanese Jin and it was good. Although I doubt that I'd go ahead and purchase it.

Meanwhile The Bat makes me fall asleep. I hope that it will pick up as I read along.

Meanwhile I took a break from Inuyasha and started

The Best Divorce well this is one of those quirky Japanese dramas. Eita quickly becomes a fave actor and I think I'll go on watching since he is not only a good actor but also cute in a natural way. It is about a couple who love eachother but also extremely annoyed with eachother as they live together. Now we first get to see and listen to the man's point of view. He constantly complains about his wife's sloppy living and clumsiness. He is one of those fussy times who wipes the sink, folds the towels etc. He is doing all the housework and cooking too. The wife is one of those manic pixie dream chicks who are fun to hang out with but she doesn't contribute to the workload in the house, at all. But slowly we see that the man also kind of ignores her and his only interaction is through his complaints. One day she puts on make-up (at the advice of her colleague at the laundry she operates - the laundry used to belong to his parents) and he doesn't even notice. And when there was a considerable earthoquake his only e-mail to his wife is "is my bonzai OK?". Anyway he insisted on a divorce and she finally agrees (after realising that he is just not that into her). But as the divorce suddenly becomes serious, we see that the man actually loves her. But neither of them want to admit their feelings.

The secondary couple is the old flame of the Man's from college and her husband who is a cool looking man who appears to be a bit of a Casanova (but we are not sure of him yet).

Friday, October 4, 2013

Something Wonderful - end, The Bat, Inuyasha

Something Wonderful ended up being a great ride. Kudos Judith McNaught and thank you. Now I have started to read

The Bat written by Jo Nesbo. This is the first book his fiction detective Harry Hole appears and so far so good.

Inuyasha was once again a good viewing, however things have started to get repetitive and now I'm curios about how they will spice them up. I think the head villain Naraku has got to go. But this is one of the unlikely scenarios.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil This is my third viewing of this film an I still love it to bits. Read the novel and loved it too. I respect and liked the changes they made in the film and Edward Norton is so good.

Ok tonight my plan is to continue Inuyasha (to my surprise I actually miss it).

Something Wonderful turns out to be a rom com novel. I'm waiting for the adult scenes to show up now but anticipation is part of the fun too no? 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Pride and Glory, The Little Drummer Girl - End, Something Wonderful

Pride and Glory only watched this again last night because I love to watch Edward Norton on screen. Seriously, he is an amazing actor and I like the way he looks too. The film on the other hand was meh. Didn't stand for multiple viewings.

Finished The Little Drummer Girl and once again kudos Mr.Le Carré. I like the way he leisurely tells a story and the way it accelerates towards the end. Sadly spy genre is not a fave of mine (although this doesn't mean that I'm looking forward to read Solo). My favorite of the genre remains to be Casino Royale, which kind of blew me away so that I think have read 2 more Bond novels but never got that vibe again. Of course The Little Drummer Girl kind of wrecked me in the end (not the ending particularly which was the best possible ending for our female lead but still I needed something drastically different so I started

Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught. And it totally did the trick. I actually laughed out loud at one point. This seems (so far) especially good for people who like a perfect male lead (Duke, great looking, sexy, successful) whose cold heart will be thawed because of our lovely heroine.

Monday, September 30, 2013

The Reef, Incendies, La Sconosciuta, Silver Linings Playbook, Get Over It, Orange is the New Black, Inuyasha

This weekend I was able to fill up with films:

Silver Linings Playbook  I didn't get the big deal about this film. It was just a so so effor. Bradley Cooper is a decent actor though (for some reason I just don't like the guy, and I want to).

Get Over It Well I love rom coms and it was interesting to me to see how young everyone is.

On Sunday it was more claudy

First Orange is the New Black is not my type of show. I watched the first episode and was bored. But then again I never liked Weeds either.

The Reef  It was decent. But I think the fact that I have been at a shark cage and found myself terrified (against all reason) helped the film to creep me out.

Incendies This film kept popping up in my radar and I resisted it so far but decided to give it a go this Sunday. And I loved it. The story was compelling and I liked how leisurely it was told. Kind of similar to a Le Carré novel (I'm close to the ending of The Little Drummer Girl) which sort of fit my viewing.

La Sconosciuta  My sister recorded this one and I saw it at the programme. I started watching thinking it is a horror film (translation of the Turkish title is Mysterious Woman). There were horrible things in the film but it turned out to be one of those dramas where terrible things happen to people. I was fascinated and watched it till the end. But I don't think I would want to watch it again (unlike Incendies where truly horrible things happen to people)

Inuyasha I purchased this because of Lee Seung Gi. And it was gathering dust over at the "to watch" pile and I wanted something in Japanese (to polish up my rather meager Japanese) and thought to give it a try and I have been watching it since. But I'll probably give it a break since is 100 something episodes. I love Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo and the gang. I also want Sesshomaru to find the light and turn out to be good person. But Naraku is one despicable villain, so evil that it is very hard to pity him.


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Back to the saddle.

It has been almost a week since I returned from San Francisco (I was even thinking to prepare an on line guide to the city and advice to the people etc. but as usual I gave up on it). Sooo there have been books and films but not enough time to write about them. I'll just put a list with short notes next to them.

The Grandmaster saw it in theater in SF and loved it even though it is the butchered US version. WKW I love you

The World's End this one was not really to my taste. I kind of liked some of the jokes but all in all not really impressed.

The Family Hillarious, loved it.

Snow White and The Huntsman K-Stew's performance was so bad. The idea was good but execution was poor.

Star Trek Into The Darkness liked the first one a lot better.

The Internship not much to say about it. Feel good film.

My Little Hero Korean melodrama that made me weep buckets of tears.

Strawberry Night yet another good story, bad execution. The female lead was wrong for the part.

The Mechanic very impressive film that got me thinking. And kudos to Christian Bale. Now that is dedication.

Closer to Heaven and another dedicated actor, Kim Myung Min. And another Korean melo (although to be fair this one was a bit more realistic too) that made me weep tears.

Break Up Have no idea why I watched this film since I like neither Jennifer Anniston nor Vince Vaught. It would have been a dud without them but still I'd have gotten something out of it. Important lesson that I never get to learn, you need to love the leads in order to enjoy a rom-com (or a rom-bore with a sad ending like this one)

The Four Feathers well this one would have been a good film but there was a lot going on and they were not crammed correctly. Heath Ledger (RIP) is always good though.

In Another Country Once again I enjoy a Hong Sang Soo film a lot. This time it stars Isabelle Hupert, an actor I respect. But she was too old for this role man.

Basic Instinct I liked this film best in this watch. It sure stands up to repeated viewings.

Now to the books

Well here is the funny thing, I have read and liked this detective/whodunnit novel with Edinbourough as the back ground but I forgot not only the name of the novel (I think it is called Wrong Turn) but also the name of the writer (First name Lisa ?). Seached the net in vain :( Anyway it was a good book.

The Headhunter now I'm not sure whether I'm as in love with Mr.Nesbo as the rest of the mystery loving readers all around the world are. But this book was good and I enjoyed it.

Carrie's Story this turned out to be a good S/M erotica.

Knots and Crosses I can't believe that I have read so many Rebus books and now it is never clear whether I'm re reading them or reading them the first time. This one is the first Rebus book and even though it is not as good as the others, it still carries that particular charm and suspense. Ian Rankin, you rock.

One of the few good things about SF was that there were lots of used book stores, good ones too. I shouldn't visit the second hand book fair this year since I bought lots and lots in SF, thank God. So I'll try not to be greedy.

Currently reading

The Little Drummer Girl I'm not really interested in the stories Mr.Le Carré tells but I was curious about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy because of the film and after finishing the book - and loving the prose but not really getting into spy stuff- I have read a short synopsis of this one in the back and I was hooked. Now not as hooked as willing to pay full price for it so imagine my delight when I got it at a bargain second hand book store. And it is fascinating reading especially since Middle East situation is still on going (and we are not even there yet, they just recruited Charlie). This book is intense and I'm enjoying it.





Thursday, September 5, 2013

RED

Red I liked it more than I thought I would. I find action films with old dudes a bit odd. I mean of course there should be an old dude in the film but the hero should be someone who is able to do action no?This one entertained me since they address this problem from the start and it is Bruce Willis who does the real action and he is introduced as some kind of a super spy anyway.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Nine Tailors - End, Detective K:Secret of Virtuous Widow, Harry Q. Davasının Ardındaki Gerçek

ok The Nine Tailors ended with a sour note. I actually fell asleep reading it with the lights on (on the last two pages no less!). Anway I still like it despite the odd ending.

And I have started Harry Q.Davasının Ardındaki Gerçek by Joel Dicker. Now the novel is written in French and I'm reading the Turkish translation but for some reason I keep translating it to English in my head while reading. Despite this rather weird behaviour I'm enjoying the book a lot so far (only in Chapter 2 but already hooked) There is a reason I guess why this man is best selling novelist de jour. The original title of the book is La Verité sur L'Affaire Harry Quebert  (I think it will be The Truth of the Harry Quebert Affair).

And I have treated myself to another Kim Myung Min film called Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow which turned out to be an entertaining watch with more than a few suprising out loud laughs.

Wives and Daughters - End, Bazıları Siyah Sever

Wives and Daughters was so good that I endep up liking it better than the novel. A rare occasion as far as I'm concerned.

The Nine Tailors is going great, very satisfying read and a good mystery combined.

Meanwhile I'm reading Bazıları Siyah Sever (lit.translation Some Like Black) a collection of essays (that were published in various newspapers and on internet web sites) written by Barbaros Altuğ, who is a literary agent representing a select group of writers. He has a biting tounge but I agree with most of his observations and his literary recommendations look so good. This one is to be kept at hand.

Monday, September 2, 2013

King of Drama - End, Wives and Daughters + rewatch weekend and The Watch

King of Drama ended as well as it has started. This one was a good purchase and I suspect one would be subject to multiple viewings.

And I have started BBC's Wives and Daughters that has been gathering dust at the to watch pile. Well even though I do love a good costume drama, I just didn't like the novel that much. But the adaptation is suprisingly well and engaging. Two episosed sailed by.

This weekend was kind of a rewatch fest.

The Orphan I liked it even better this time. The idea is well executed (as opposed to the that horrible HK film The Murderer).

Young Adult  The main reason I love this film is not because it is a very good one (it is) or not because it has the clean cinematography I like (it has) but because Charlise Theron is so good in it. This rewatch was even better than the first viewing.

And I have watched this French film about a real life judicial scandal. Emberrassingly enough, I have forgotten the name of it. But it dampened my mood in its unrelenting realism. The film's problem was about the error in the justice system and I wanted to know more about the characters etc. It was nightmarish though.

And then there was

The Watch forgettable film. I watched it till the end though.






Thursday, August 29, 2013

Santa Olivia - End, The Nine Tailors

Well Santa Olivia ended as nicely as it possibly could. Thank God for happy endings.

And I have started a new writer, Dorothy L.Sayers and the book is called The Nine Tailors. I have heard the name of this novelist before but never attempted to read any of her novels and then there its was in the second hand book store staring at me at only 2 TL (1 USD) so I went for it.

And so far I'm extremely happy. I can't say I'm very interesting in ring changing. An old British hobby which went by me for all these years. But Ms. Sayers took me into it very expertly and not only that but I love the characters and how they are described. I'm only hoping that this will get better.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Santa Olivia

I have finished Children of Men and moved on to Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey. I liked the first three books of her Kushiel series and I like this one too although it is a bit of a YA novel. Sadly this one would not last long.

Meanwhile King of Drama continues to move me!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Children of Men, Elysium, A Perfect Murder, People Like Us, The Names of Love, The King of Drama Eps.5

Currently reading P.D James' Children of Men and I like it as much as the film. Great novel. Actually I think I like it even better than Innocent Blood.

On weekend I have watched

Elysium I saw this in theater and it would not have been my choice if the other alternatives were kids' films and one horror film (normally I'd go for the horror one but I'm geniuinely scared of Djinns and the plot is a woman possessed by them). Thank God that I ended up loving it. Even shed some tears.

A Perfect Murder this was a rewatched but I have seen the film so long ago that I have forgotten many things about it. And I liked to be able to watch the life of Manhattan rich and famous. Gywneth Paltrow's costumes were so good.

People Like Us for some reason this film opened the waterworks. There was no reason that it should but somehow somewhere during I started to care for these people.

The Names of Love It was not good. I have watched it till the end for some reason but seriously, I like quirky French films but this one was average at best.

The best thing I saved for last

The King of Drama now I had a feeling that I was going to like this drama. A- I love Kim Myung Min and he is so good at being an asshole but somehow making you care for him, B- I like dramas about dramas.
And thank God I was not wrong. At the end of episode 5 I just wanted to keep watching but luckily stopped myself.



Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Slacking Off (Sorry) And She Was - End, When Beauty Tamed The Beast + Various films

And She Was by Alison Gaylin ended up being decent. I liked the female PI with a real life syndrome of not being able to forget anything and I liked the show Unforgettable and the lead character was kind of similar. Although in the book she has a child.

When Beauty Tamed The Beast this is one of the cheap romance novels I like so much but our vibe didn't match with Ms.Eloise James. Her lead male is Dr.House (right to the leg) and everyone is rather too modern for my taste. To each his/her own I suppose. But I keep on reading it and liking it. Maybe she'll redeem herself in the romantic scenes...

Reservoir Dogs this one is a classic. And I still like it a lot.

I don't really remember what I have seen on weekend (shame on me). But I remember falling asleep during Inseparable woke up towards the end and all can say about it is "What were they thinking?".




Tuesday, August 13, 2013

After the Break

Well after a rather long break I'm back.

First the books

Stay Close - Harlan Coben books are not suprising anymore but they entertain me. After reading 3 of his books I'll put this writer in the airport shelf.

A Vintage Affair - Well she is not Marian Keyes or Maeve Binchy (RIP) but she was intersting to read. But not interesting enough for me to seek her other books.

The greatest surprise was that I have finally found A Painted Veil in a second hand book store and I'm loving it. Well I love the film but the book is such a joy to read that now I want to read evertything he wrote. I only know that the book's ending is different from the film so I'm looking forward to unfold the mystery.

Now I have finished  Sopranos Season 4 last night and this show is I think possibly the best TV show I have seen so far. And it doesn't get old either.

As for the films I have had the chance to watch

Dirty Dancing This may not be a good film but I love it just so much.

Good Will Hunting I liked this even better in this second viewing. Great performances by all.

Suspect X the book was very good, the film just barely mediocre.

Dancing Queen very good rom com that made me laugh and cry.


Well that's that off the top of my head.



Thursday, August 1, 2013

Argo, Windmills of the Gods - End,

Well I have forgotten to add Argo to what I have seen on weekend.

Argo now this is an entertaining film but I wonder why it got an Oscar. It was not anything that special. I do like Ben Affleck however. For some reason he always seems like a good guy.

Windmills of the Gods - I love Sydney Sheldon. He is such a good airport writer.




Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Windmills of the Gods, Sopranos Season 1

I have started and oldie but a goodie: Sidney Sheldon's The Windmills of the Gods and it is just as good as I remembered it.

I'm a bit lazy on putting the films I have watched here and probably because I watch the ones my sister has so I have no way of taking a pic of them but I have watched

Titanic It has been years since I last saw this one but I liked it even better now. Great film and why don't they make films like this anymore? (It is official, I'm middle aged) And I do have the dvd of this but the photo I took was so awful that I decided not to put it in here.

Werewolf Boy  very good melo and a fantasy type story told in a realistic way. I have shed tears but they were all good tears.

Miracle in Cell no 7 This one on the other hand ended up being a crying fest. I probably shed a jug of tears during the viewing. There is this adorable little girl who also acts well and has wonderful mimics. And the film is one those that try to squeeze out as many tears as it can out of you and is not even shy about it. I was crying yes but at the same time also resenting it a bit due to its shameless manipulation.

911 (aka Bandage) Now this is not really a good film but the lead pair worked very well. And that is just about all you need at a romantic movie no?

Now Sopranos, wow, this show is really good and it was probably a mistake to watch four episodes last night but no regrets. I think I even saw them in my dream (no wonder).




Thursday, July 25, 2013

Grbavica


Grbavica this film directed by Jamila Zbanic is not one I'd have chosen. It was loaned to me by a colleague. I'm glad I watched it though since it was a touching story, beautifully filmed (with lots of close up shots) and told and brought out tears in the end. 

The White Queen - end, Protect The Boss - End, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove

The White Queen was an easy book to read and I like how Ms.Gregory mixed up fact and fiction.

Protect the Boss was a fun ride but kind of lagged towards the end. Anyway Kim Jae Joong, great looking man.

I have started The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove written by Lauren Kate. Got this from the bargain bin and was not really expecting a decent read. Just something to keep my mind occupied and at ease while I go through fasting. This one surprised me since I felt it to be sincere so far and anyway I'm having a better time than I had expected to have.

Monday, July 22, 2013

The White Queen and lots of films and a few dramas

I'm watching more stuff but writing less about them. Ok here is what remained with me in the past weeks.

As books I'm still reading The White Queen by Philippa Gregory- it has been a while now-. While it is not as good as The Other Boleyn Girl, it is not completely bad either. I think I'll like the TV series more in this case though.

Films:

The Master Liked it a lot. Liked the visuals better than the plot.

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons Loved it to bits. Laughed and cried and enjoyed the viewing. Loving Stephen Chow just as much as I did before Kung fu Hustle and CJ17.

New World Great film. A now familiar story done to perfection with a dream cast (who gave excellent peformances) and brilliant visuals which seem to be designed for my pleasure. Still under the spell of it.

Resident Evil: Retrobution I actually fell asleep during.

Don't Click well I may have fallen asleep if I was not at the theater.

Couples I have seen the same thing done better.

GI Jane I liked it back then and I still like it now.

Dramas

Rewatched

Brilliant Legacy and it was just as good in this second viewing. Lee Seung gi is very good and Han Hye Joo is adorable.

When a Man Loves well this was more of a fast forward watch. And it is a stupid drama. Song Seung Hun is  great looking though.

Currently watching

Protect the Boss enjoying it a lot. It is light but the characters make sense. Kim Jae Joong, georgeous man.


Friday, July 5, 2013

Quake - End, Kıskanmak, Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever, Berlin File

Quake ended up being one of the best Laymon books ever. Great read.
Now I have started Kıskanmak by Nahid Sırrı Örik




And so far so good. Apparently this guy Mr.Nahid Sırrı Örik was gay and out of the closet and at the time it was so frowned upon by everyone (1930s and early 40s)  that he was kind of put aside by the literary community at the time. Now that he is "in" because one of the his novels is adopted to a film by a well known Turkish director (Zeki Demirkubuz) and this is how I get to know this. So far I have only read a few chapters but I'm loving it. The protagonist is a spinster who is very jealous of his brother and his brother's wife (she is living with them in a small Black Sea town). She is not a good person but she is smart and reading her thoughts are very entertaining and sometimes a bit sad because she thinks everyone is trying to make her miserable on purpose. Jelaousy is one of the emotions God has spared me from (the other is revenge) so I find it especially interesting to read about it (and now I remember the protagonist of Kardeşimin Hikayesi, the old guy who cannot feel anything and tries to understand the emotions by reading related fiction!!!!! Brrr). Anyway this is a good purchase and I'll seek more of his novels.

As for the films I have been very luck thank God.
First Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever (lit.translation Love Loves Coincidences) by Ömer Faruk Sorak



I have rejected this as it seemed so precious at the time of release. And I don't like either lead. But now I'm a total convert. The two main characters felt like my friends and I have shed so many tears that I was dehydrated the day after. Great melodrama, great romance and kudos to the actors because it is probably the only time I felt sympathy for these two.

Next The Berlin File by Ryu Seung Wan (supplied by my sister)

Great action, great script (aaahhh S.Korea I love it that you have managed to insert melo in this Le Carré style spy thriller) and highly recommended if you like the genre.



Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Kardeşimin Hikayesi - end, Quake, Chloe

I have finished Kardeşimin Hikayesi (My Brother's Story) earlier than I thought. And not just because the font was larger than normal. It is one of those books that you can't in honesty call a good one but somehow entertains you.

I have started

And it is classic Laymon right from the start. We have a stalker physco neighbour (who killed his mom right after the earthquake), a dad trying to reach his family, woman under rubbles, teen daughter stuck in the car with three other teens and driver's ed teacher who is trying to reach his own daughter at the other end of the city (LA) So I'm currently entertained.

Last night I have watched Chloe, which is directed by Atom Egoyan whose films I like. And this one was also very good. I like the actors, the fact that we have lots of close ups to their faces, clean tidy cinematography, an interesting story well told. This was a good purchase.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Beni Hep Sev- End, Kardeşimin Hikayesi, Masquarade, See You After School, Seven Days, Sideways, The Wish List, Final Analysis (sans the first 20 minutes), Painted Skin II

This weekend was so so good with lots of films but books first.

Beni Hep Sev (lit.translation Always Love Me) ended predictably. Again I regret having purchased all three books at once and like this girl's fashion blog much better.
And I have started
Kardeşimin Hikayesi (lit.translation My Brother's Story) a novel I'd never have purchased if not for the current book drought I'm having. And it is not an average lame-o book too.

Masquarade This one I have watched from my sister downloads and I liked it so much so that I may actually purchase it. Great performances, great story and I must have shed a bucketful of tears during.

See You After School is another one of my sister's downloads and it was fun while watching with her. It is not something I'd have purchased but had a great time viewing it.

Seven Days was an intense suspense whodunnit and it was engaging and entertaining. I especially liked the (relatively) happy ending. Another one of my sister's downloads (thanks to her I get to watch all of these)

Sideways was a Digiturk watch and I liked it even better this second viewing. You know when you are on a similar wavelength with a director and it feels so good. Sideways is that film for me and I don't even like wine that much.

The Wish List is a TV rom com that I watched at Digiturk and it was nothing special.


Painted Skin II 
I was not expecting to like this one but I loved it. It was better than the first one and the love story was very touching. I shed tears and had a good viewing.

Final Analysis another Digiturk film and I remember watching this in theatre (and don't know why I chose to see it since I don't really care for any of the three leads) maybe this time I stuck on it for nostalgic purposes but I watched it until the end, which is saying something.


Friday, June 28, 2013

Alif The Unseen - End, Beni Hep Sev

Last evening I have finished Alif The Unseen. It ended up being one of those books that I didn't want to finish. It is the type of book written by a caucasian but about an eastern country. And the lead character is a native of the county. It reminded me of John Burdett's Bangkok books (which I love and think give a good idea of a Thailand of a foreigner).
G.Willow Wilson did a good job and I'll look forward for her next novel.

Last I finally wised up and went to bed early. And I have started the third and last of the blog writer Pinkfreud's triology:


So this time she is back with her ex bf who cheated on her, broke up with her with a mobile phone message and got married a few months later. She loves him but she also met another man who makes her feel good. Anyway this is not bad but not terribly good either. It was a mistake to purchase all three books at once solely based on her blog (which is about fashion!) but at least I'm not bored.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Failed Attempt: Alien 3

Yes I have fallen asleep during this one too :(

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Failed Attempt:The Mirror Cracked

Ok last night I have attempted to watch this film I have recorded. It is one of BBC's (?) Agatha Christie series. This one was Ms.Marple and I have simply fallen asleep throughout and was only awake at the beginning and at the end. Seriously I think that I'd love this sort of thing. I'm a fan of Christie and read I think all of her Poirot novels and I love BBC period dramas and then how come every single time I'm trying to watch one of these (whether Poirot or one of the Marple's - there are two different actors for Marple) I manage to fall asleep??? It is Criminal Minds all over again (yes, whenever I try to watch a Criminal Minds episode I fall asleep about 10 minutes in)

Thank God that Alif The Unseen is going great. I actually had to stop myself from reading it last night since I don't want to finish it too soon. 

Monday, June 24, 2013

Sorun Bendeymiş - End, True Blood Season 5 - End, Alif The Unseen

 Sorun Bendeymiş ended on a high note (unpredictably) and she has already written another book about what happens after. Well I have already bought it so may as well read it in near future (probably while I'm fasting and don't need my brain cells).


So I have started a new book:





Now I need to admit that the main reason I chose it is that Alif is my name. To be honest I'm not normally interested in stories in Middle East. But I'm still experiencing the book draught and this one seemed interesting. It is about a hacker/web site body guard and so far I'm loving it. Simply loving it. I hope I continue to!

And True Blood Season Five ended with a bang




I know that it is not cool to like this show anymore (as it is not cool to like Grey's Anatomy) but I like it even better with each season. And Êric is turning out to be such a good guy.








Hawaii, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Private Benjamin, True Blood Season Five only two episodes left

 Hawaii this one interested me due to its title. I love Hawaii. And I like Max Von Sydow and Julie Christie. It ended up one of those epic book adaptations. These usually do not work well unless they are TV series. Now I wouldn't call this a good film but I watched it till the end and even got quite emotional. I think I would have liked the book version better though since compressing a story does not work well and this one obviously needed to be compressed.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist This one was an OK rom com.

Private Benjamin  Goldie Hawn is adorable. I seriously like her a lot on screen. And I liked this film better in second viewing. Its message is very good too.

I also watched a film my sister recorded before she went on vacation but it was on national tv and dubbed and I can't remember its name or anything like that. In the film a married couple found themselves as text subjects. Is their love true or not? Well they are put in two different rooms and asked questions etc. Well it was not good but I watched it to the end for some reason.

I forgot to take a pic but I have been watching True Blood Season Five all weekend and I'm loving it.
Eric is my character and man of choice in the show and they make him better and better with each episode. Of course Alexander Skarsgaard is so tall that it must be hard for the cinematographer to place him in the frame. So most of the time he bends his head. And this season his scenes are mostly with Bill and Stephen Moyer is a lot shorter so his head is down with his face looking at the camera which is an awkward position to watch and I can't even imagine how uncomfortable it must be to do it. Anyway there are only two episodes left and I feel sad.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Through The Looking Glass - End, Majou no Jouken - End, Sorun Bendeymiş


Sorun Bendeymiş Follow up of Sorun Bende Değil Sende ( I think this is best translated as "It's Not Me It's You) and it can be best translated as It Was Me Afterall. In the first book Pelin was devastated after her boyfriend of 4 years dumped her and got married in less than 6 months. The book was a sort of analysis of men a late 20s early 30s career woman may come across in the search of 'the one' (end result - no successful, in the last chapter her ex called just as she was ready to live without a man). In this one Pelin takes us how she met with her ex (maybe soon to be non ex) and goes through the relationship in all its stages. I like this girl's fashion blog where she snarks at the international celebs, and that is the reason I got these books but even though I like her prose it doesn't have a distinctive tone. And I'm kind of over this sort of thing after going through all of these with PuCCa (who is a much better writer). But I'm also entertained by this book and think it better than the first one (while with PuCCa I think the first was the best of the three).

And I have stayed up and finally finished Majou no Jouken, otherwise it will get stuck there and I'd never be able to watch anything new. It is not so bad as to make me completely abandon it (like did Celebrity Sweetheart - I can't believe I feel guilty over this) but it is not something I'm attached to either. I guess finally I didn't understand the leads. I get their love and at one point felt for them since they were being pressured from all over and tried to survive. But as the show progressed I felt that all of their problems would be solved if they only wait for one year. Anyway, this, sadly was not a good purchase.

Through The Looking Glass ended without a bang and I think Alice was much better in the first book. The explanations in the end was half as thick as Through the Looking Glass.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - End, Through the Looking Glass



Same picture again since both novels are in the same book.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was a surprisingly good read. I say surprising because it is not the type of book I like. There are too much clutter (and it is bad that I can't seem to explain it better) but at the same it is very English and I like English. So there.

And right after finishing it, I have started

Through the Looking Glass which was not as good as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -imho-. The clutter increased and I don't feel as interested.


Last night I have fallen asleep at about 21:00 p:m and I need to stay awake tonight. I'm having either too much sleep or too little. 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Küçük Prens - End

Well once again real life interfered with my fiction fest. Last night I met a friend and we chatted for more than four hours!!!!

I have finished Küçük Prens and it did the trick. Surprisingly I'm rather enjoying Alice too. 

Sorun Bende Değil Sende - End, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Little Prince

Well last night I kind of crashed into sleep. Maybe this is some sort of coping mechanism for what's happening around me (things are not very well in my country right now) so last night was sleep sleep sleep. I have finished Sorun Bende Değil Sende and liked it better towards the end. It is just that these books are for mid twenties early thirties career girls who look for love. It was entertaining though and now that I have purchased the other two books, it looks like I'll continue to be informed about the quest for love :)


Meanwhile I have started reading two books :


Küçük Prens (I think everyone knows this and if they don't they should)  This is one of the times I need the comfort of a special book and Little Prince comes to assistance. We need to understand eachother and respect our life choices.

At the same time I have started



Alice's Adventures in Wonderland well I have read it when I was a kid (probably too young to understand it) but never felt much of an Alice fan. This seemed to be a good time to give this one another chance in this small fiction draught of mine. I like English books so there is no need to be afraid I guess. I'm scared that I'm not going to like it.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Majou no Jouken Eps 6-7, Total Recall (Remake), It Could Happen to You, The Birds - End, Sorun Bende Değil Sende

Ok I have finally given in and started to root for our taboo couple. They seem to love eachother very much and the teacher is simly not mature enough to be able to think clearly. I was pretty immature at her age too (thank God it didn't manifest itself as anything drastic as the one in the show) this is the side effect of a spoiled childhood where you are loved well and a lot :)
And they are good people too. They both wanted to help the abused girl and if they had not interfered she may have committed suicide (yeah that got me into their corner pretty fast). Also his uncle didn't judge them and helped them out, who am I to do otherwise?

This weekend was again more social than I care for. So I only watched two films

Total Recall (Remake): It just was not good. I mean everything was there but somehow the whole thing lacked something (such as good acting maybe, the only good actor in the cast showed up and died in less than one minute and the second best stood only for maybe 5 min total) The leading ladies are both pretty and fit but you can't get a good performance out of them even if you add them together. Colin Farell in my case is someone I can't easily sympathise with since he looks very much like a guy who has given me troubles in the past. Maybe I should watch the original since the story could have been interesting.

It Could Happen to You This is a very good rom com and warmed the heart as it was supposed to do (I don't know how many times I have watched it but I still cry at the scenes I have cried the first time I saw it.

Meanwhile I have finished The Birds and the Other Stories, and a delightful surprise was The Little Photographer; a story I have read when I was in elementary school (secretly reading my mother's womanly magazines) and even though it was way above my age at the time, remember liking a lot. And it was even better in English (although the Turkish translation at the magazine was not half bad). All in all I love Ms. Du Maurier.




Now my book stock is dangerously low (two books remained only) so I did some shopping  and purchased three books of a blog writer (internet phenomenon, as they are known in Turkey) pinkfreud, and it is not really bad but not what I have expected. Her blog is a bit like what Joan Rivers does but done way way better.
The name of the book is Sorun Bende Değil Sende (I think the best translation would be "It is not Me It's You") I read it and don't dislike it but don't like the format (a new guy in every chapter with some pop sociology scattered through).




Thursday, June 13, 2013

Majou No Jouken - Eps. 4-5

Ok not only the teacher has slept with the student, but also she announced her love in front of the whole school. Now everyone is trying to break them up  - except her bf (who btw is in love with the teacher's now ex fiancé). Now her mom is a cool woman but her reasoning is that she should break up with the kid because she is damaging him. Not one single person says that a 17 year old kid is too young to have an affair with his teacher. You know what, I wouldn't mind that much if she was not her teacher, because she obviously loves him and is good for him. But being in a position of power over him, she should have a conscience. But the all consuming love conquered I suppose.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Majou no Jouken Eps 3, The Midnight Tour - End, The Birds and Other Stories

Well Michi has officially gone to the dark side in Majou no Jouken. She kissed the poor kid. This drama is kind of an exercise for me. I have to stop judging people and I'm trying very hard not to judge this woman. She has encouraged the kid and I don't know how they will continue to - yeah I'm having difficulty in saying this but- date. Seriously woman how could you???? (Have to stop judging).

The Midnight Tour has ended and it was not necessarily a happy one. It is kind of sad to know that Mr.Laymon will not be writing another beast novel. Rest in peace man.

Now I have started



And it is fantastic so far (well I have only read about 10 pages or so).


Now the serious problem is that my book stocks have dwindled to one unread book and it is another Laymon so I need to do some serious book shopping. I wish I was able to go to a decent bookstore and browse (like Remzi Kitabevi). 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Majou No Jouken Eps 1-2

Hmmmm it was on an impulse buy I purchased this. The story is about the romantic love between a teacher and her student. She is very young and pretty (well off and well connected parents, a decent fiance) and he is a teen full of angst (rich, dad passed away, mom is sleeping with a subordinate). They are attracted to each other and he has no problem admitting it but she is trying very hard not to give in. And she should you know, she is his teacher!!!!! But then again who am I to judge? And they don't make it easy by making the kid a capable adultish mature person, he is troubled, very young and looks like he just graduated from elementary school. So far I'm interested, watching the teacher struggle with her desire (and to be fair I think they are soul mates or something and both actors are capable enough to make me think it the first time they met) and the way she wants things. The woman has everything, loving parents who spoil her, a nice job she likes where she is doing ok (not very well mind you but ok), a decent fiancé who likes her and is eager and ready to live a life with her -he is a bit of an oaf loud and not with very good manners but he is a happy person who trusts her and wants her to keep working after marriage because -wait for it-  one of the things he likes about her is how passionate she is about her job.
So it seems like everything is going for her but she is not happy. She doesn't want to get married to this man but at the same time she is not ready to confront the obvious truth. She wants to be the good daughter, wonderful fiancé, cool teacher and is not ready to give up those for the thing she really wants. Spending time with her student and get to know him that way.

He on the other hand is a troubled kid. His father passed away and his mother took over the hospital he owned. The kid is groomed to be the heir. On the other hand there is an ambitious doctor in the hospital who has an affair with the kid's mom and wants the hospital for himself. The kid's mom is under his thumb. And the kid actually witness them make love in her office. That one was even more traumatic because now he thinks of his mom as a woman and his hormones kick in everytime he sees the teacher (who is a bit younger than his mom but they look similar in some ways).

I don't happiness for these two but the conflicts are interesting.

The Lone Star, Blade Trinity, Friends With Money, The Tower

This weekend was a social activity filled one and I was not able to watch a lot of films and they were all from Digiturk or other.

Here they are:

The Lone Star I enjoyed this one. There is a particular visual style accompanied by a great script and a soundtrack which went well the with the whole thing. Now I don't know if I'd keep seeking John Sayles' other films but  again, I had a good time with this one.

Blade Trinity it was not bad but I actually fell asleep towards the end and had to rewind twice(!).

Friends With Money Here is where I stand with Jennifer Anniston. In the entertainment gossip side of things, I'm with team Angelina. In the acting side of things, I don't think she is a good actor but is harmless in a few films (I LOVED her in 'Just Go With It' though. And this is one of the films I really like for some reason. It is not a special film, your usual U.S.A Indie, decent performances, generic cinematography with lots of talking. But I love it and loved it again in this viewing (and I didn't fall asleep).

The Tower This S.Korean disaster film had great special affects and stunts but a lousy script and all the usually good actors somehow managed to ham their performances up. We constantly snarked throughout the film but of course I cried at the end (I succumb easily to Korean melodrama).

Meanhile I'm still reading The Midnight Tour and it is I think the most violent among the three books and the beast had only a cameo (as a baby at that) so far.


Friday, June 7, 2013

The Tied Man - End





The Tied Man I have been following Danger Mousie's tumblr and she was so enamoured with this book that I had to give it a try. The only problem is that I don't have a Kindle (on principle since amazon doesn't legally sells one in Turkey) and this book is only on Kindle and nowhere else. So thanks to a nice colleague, I was able to borrow his and read it. To be honest I don't see what the big deal about this book is. Just a little role reversal, our protagonist is a female and our damsel in stress is a male. All in all it was a nice and easy read but it was nothing special as far as I'm concerned.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Stranger In My Arms - End, The Midnight Tour





Well Stranger in my Arms ended rather nicely (I even cried a bit - shame on me!) and I have decided to complete the Beast House triology and started,

The Midnight Tour which started very nicely and it is promising. There seem to be a lot characters.

Meanwhile last night I remembered I never wrote what I watched on weekend.

The Amazing Spiderman well, it is not as good as Raimi's Spiderman but I had a good time with it.

Wrong Turn 5 The make up was not very good and if you are making a gory slasher than you need to do a good make up job. You don't spend money on much else. And I didn't like it when the bad guys emerged victorious in the end.