The Killing Doll

The Killing Doll was one of the safe novels I keep aside. They are safe because I have a good idea that I'll like them. Ruth Rendell is one of my favorite crime writers (except, for some reason her Wexford novels) and I was not wrong to pick that one up right after A Gesture Life. It is not nice to finish a great novel and then barge on one that makes you cringe in a bad way. Safe novels are for such times. After reading it (once again Ms. Rendell is so good on giving us glimps to the psyches of disturbed people and for further satisfaction, everyone got their just desserts - well except the sister of one of the killers, that girl was wrong to shut the door on her bro) now I feel ready to embark on an adventure of risking to start a book that I may not like. 

Winter's Tale

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Winter's Tale is one of those puzzling films. It has a good story, decent cast with likable actors, good soundtrack, very good special effects etc. But somehow they all combine to an average film. Some films just have bad juju I suppose.



I cried but only because I'm a softie. 

A Gesture Life

A Gesture Life is a novel I picked up at a second hand bookstore in Washington D.C. And probably just because it was there since despite the fact that I respected Native Speaker, I didn't particularly like it. And I'm so happy that I have this writer another chance. Loved this one to bits. The story is told from the view of our main character and it is constructed as to allow us peel layer after layer till we reach  SPOILER (as happy and ending as we were ever going to get). Highly recommended with not only an interesting story but also a delightful prose. 

Miss Granny

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Miss Granny is a film I was eager to watch but there was not a dvd. So when my Sister offered me to loan it from her "files" I decided to give it a go.

And I loved it. This is one of the best examples of a regular S.Korean comedy which made me fall for this country's cinema.

Our heroine is an old woman who had to suffer a lot to raise his son on her own. Now he is a professor and he has two children and our Granny lives with them happily making her daughter in law uncomfortable (what's this with mother in laws? Really) She has her half time job at a senior's café, a very good friend (who is in love with her) from her childhood days and generally all is well. And her daughter in law develops a heart condition due to stress and since her source of stress is our granny, she is about to be placed at a senior's home. This is a tough blow in this society and very similar to my own. While she was feeling sorry for herself, she decides to have her passport photo taken and by a miracle turns into a 20 year old. This is hillarious right from the start since her looks are 20 years old but her hairstyle and dress is for her 70 year old self. It takes her some time to adapt but she does and even manages to make her dream of becoming a professional singer true and also develops a mutual crush on a hot guy. But does she feel happy not having her son as her son and having her grandson as her friends. She still hangs out with her old friend and he is the first one she confides in.

I laughed, I cried and generally had a ball with this one. 

Machete

Machete was chosen because I was hoping that at least it would be fun but this ended up being a false hope as far as I'm concerned. This film gave nothing to me. And now Roberto Rodrigues officially spent all his credit he has on me due to El Mariachi (which was a good film). 

The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria was another film I have purchased on the whim (since I don't really like Emily Blunt though she is a decent actor) due to it being a costume drama - and I have a weakness for these. Therefore imagine my surprise when I actually liked it very very much.

It is a slice of life film of a monarch who has to deal with stuff but also it is a love story. The director Jean Marc Valleé chose to tell the story in snap shot scenes that give us clues on the progress. Snap Victoria is bullied by her mother's lover, snap Victoria eats at a feast with the King and familiarises herself with Melbourne, snap she meets Albert, snap Albert pines for her in Germany etc. Another thing I didn't see comings was how much I actually cried during. For some reason I started at the wedding proposal scenes (kudos to both actors) and continued on after that. I'm very happy that this one turned out to be an unexpected keeper. I still don't care for Emily Blunt though.

Kundo

Kundo was a film I was curious about since it seemed like a good action film with a revenge plot (now I love those) And I like Ha Jung Woo ever since The Chaser (that was a good film). Anyway as you have probably guessed I didn't like it as much. It was OK nothing bad but nowhere near as good, say War of the Arrows. However being the superficial viewer, I ended up being very happy with the viewing since Kang Dong Won was so beautiful to look at. The man looked good from every angle and I wish I was able to screen cap from TV since none of the screen caps on line does his good looks justice. However he was the villain so I didn't fall in love just gave my eyes a what we call in my country "an eye bath".