Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Birthday Stories - End, Filthy Rich

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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.