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.

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.

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.

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.

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.