Run for the hills!
Oh, daddy.
I just walked into my parents room to tell them about the new book that Rick Riordan is releasing to tide us over until the fifth PJatO book comes out.
Dad: Stacie, we have too many books. We need to take a step back.
Me: al;las;dla;dl YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY BOOKS. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH!
Cue me ranting about books and how I'm going to have a library like in Beauty and the Beast one day. :D
But speaking of books!
So, you all know that The Last Olympian comes out on May 5th but, to tide us over, Rick Riordan is releasing The Demigod Files on February 10th! YAAAAAAAAY SO FREAKING EXCITED. HUZZAH!
ANYWAY. What I'm currently reading?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Haven't actually started it but it's sitting right next to me so I plan to after this post (and after watching The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother). My grandma gave it to me and thinks I'll really enjoy it and apparently I'm a lot like the protagonist. I have no idea what it's about but I look forward to starting it.
The Scarlet Letter - Have to finish it by Monday. I like it enough. ROGER STILL PWNS EVERYONE IN THE FACE, KAY? And despite me always bashing Arthur and Hester in class, my project is about them. LOL. Y HALO THAR CONTRADICTION. I made a music video with angeldevilgirl using the song Listen to Your Heart from Young Frankenstein about Arthur and Hester and Kohlmeier loves it so I can't wait to present it.
Fahrenheit 451 - IT CONFUSES ME. D:
BUT MOVING ON -
OMG IT'S THE APOCALYPSE! AHHHHHHHHH!
Oh, wait, no. It's only a fire. Is it horrible of me to feel indifferent to them now? I mean, if there's not a fire in my surrounding area every year, then we must be in some alternate dimension. Seriously. It sucks but I feel so used to them and that's kind of totally wrong. Pah.
I hope everything turns out okay.
OKAY. MOVING ONE AGAIN. MOVIE REVIEW TIME!
Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Charlotte Rampling
Directed by: Saul Dibb
So I liked this movie. I mean, I'm pretty easy because it was a period film with beautiful sets, gorgeous music, lovely costumes, and talented people. Can it get any better? Well, add James McAvoy and yes but that's another topic entirely.
OKAY. SERIOUSLY. HOW DID I NEVER NOTICE THAT RALPH AND JOSEPH LOOK SO MUCH ALIKE? FREAKING BEAUTIFUL BROTHERS.
Anyway. I'll get to the amazing Ralph Fiennes in a moment. I knew the basic background of the film before seeing it because I'm just a history nerd like that although I was a bit vague on the whole aspect Bess Foster but now I know about it, of course. So it's a period drama. Obviously the details aren't going to be perfect but I think it was one of the better historical films that have come out lately. The film was handled in a very delicate manner and every scene caught your attention whether it was the music or the set or the passionate looks on the characters' faces.
The basic story is of Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire, who was married off to the Duke. It's a story of love and betrayal and politics. Georgiana can't give the Duke a son and so he beds her best friend, Bess Foster, and she meanwhile falls in love with Charles Grey, a Whig leader. That's the general gist of things and I'm sure you get the idea.
One of my favourite aspects of the film was the politics. I love the Whigs vs. Torries like I love the Antifederalists vs. Federalists so it was very enticing for me. Another thing I loved about it was that, at is core, it wasn't about betrayal or romantic feelings, it was about a mother's love for their children. That part especially moved me and really tore at my heartstrings.
So you all know the costumes were gorgeous and the music is phenomenal (I seriously need to snag the soundtrack from iTunes) and the sets are to die for and the plot isn't half bad but what about the acting?
Let me tell you the honest truth from the start: Ralph Fiennes outshone everyone bar none. Keira Knightley and her eyebrow did well and I enjoyed her perfomance. I've always loved her and this film didn't let me down. Dominic Cooper, cute as he may be, really just fell into the shadows for me. He didn't impress me save for one scene - the scene where he desperately asks Gee to run away with him and claims that he doesn't care if he has a daughter or son with her. Hayley Atwell really did well, I think, and I loved her performance.
But it was Ralph Fiennes - oh, Ralph - who really blew my mind. He practically had nothing to say and yet he stole every scene. It just goes to prove that he's an incredible actor when he can upstage people merely with his face and physical demeanour. The audience sees the Duke as nothing more than a douche who's mean and unkind but Fiennes gives this character so much more depth. However, the depth is hard to find so you must look hard.
In every scene, he just looks so sad. There's this glaze over his eyes and a heartbreaking frown and the audience can't feel for him unless they look at every side of the story. Yes, some of the things he's done to Gee are awful and unforgivable but he's a broken man inside. My heart ached whenever he spoke and I loved that he was so offbeat and awkward. In the beginning it was adorable but it got increasingly more and more sad as the film kept on.
The film was good overall though it did feel a bit long. Some of the scenes were a bit drearier than others but as a whole, I thought it was a compelling film. At least the scene with Ralph Fiennes were.
So I think it's worth a look.
Recommend this movie to other people?: Definitely. Especially to those of you who love period films or Ralph Fiennes
Buy the DVD: Most likely someday.
Grade: B
Trailer: Here
♥ Quantum of Solace (November 14 2008)
♥ Australia (November 26 2008)
♥ Frost/Nixon (December 5 2008) (Limited)
♥ Milk (December 5 2008)
♥ Doubt (December 12 2008) (Limited)
♥ Defiance (December 12 2008)
♥ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (December 25 2008)
♥ Marley & Me (December 25 2008)
♥ Valkyrie (December 26 2008)
♥ Two Lovers (January 9 2009)
♥ The Rebound (January 23 2009)
♥ The Soloist (March 13 2009)
♥ Star Trek XI (May 8 2009)
♥ Angels & Demons (May 15 2009)
♥ Public Enemies (July 1 2009)
♥ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17 2009)
♥ Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (November 13 2009)
♥ Sherlock Holmes (2010)
♥ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (November 19 2010)
♥ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (May 2011)
♥ The Last Station (Unknown Release Date)
♥ The Edge of Love (Unknown Release Date)
♥ Shoe At Your Foot (Unknown Release Date)
Ahhhh. There are so many good films coming out in these last months of the year. WANT TO SEE MILK SO BAD. -flail-
Kay. Heading off now but first I must say:
I FREAKING LOVE SHELDON AND HIS CREEPY SMILE. He makes the world happy.
And Barney makes me LOLOLOLOL.
AND OH MY FREAKING GOD HAVE YOU SEEN THE BRO CODE? I NEED THIS THING.
Catch you later, calculators.
I just walked into my parents room to tell them about the new book that Rick Riordan is releasing to tide us over until the fifth PJatO book comes out.
Dad: Stacie, we have too many books. We need to take a step back.
Me: al;las;dla;dl YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY BOOKS. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH!
Cue me ranting about books and how I'm going to have a library like in Beauty and the Beast one day. :D
But speaking of books!
So, you all know that The Last Olympian comes out on May 5th but, to tide us over, Rick Riordan is releasing The Demigod Files on February 10th! YAAAAAAAAY SO FREAKING EXCITED. HUZZAH!
ANYWAY. What I'm currently reading?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Haven't actually started it but it's sitting right next to me so I plan to after this post (and after watching The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother). My grandma gave it to me and thinks I'll really enjoy it and apparently I'm a lot like the protagonist. I have no idea what it's about but I look forward to starting it.
The Scarlet Letter - Have to finish it by Monday. I like it enough. ROGER STILL PWNS EVERYONE IN THE FACE, KAY? And despite me always bashing Arthur and Hester in class, my project is about them. LOL. Y HALO THAR CONTRADICTION. I made a music video with angeldevilgirl using the song Listen to Your Heart from Young Frankenstein about Arthur and Hester and Kohlmeier loves it so I can't wait to present it.
Fahrenheit 451 - IT CONFUSES ME. D:
BUT MOVING ON -
OMG IT'S THE APOCALYPSE! AHHHHHHHHH!
Oh, wait, no. It's only a fire. Is it horrible of me to feel indifferent to them now? I mean, if there's not a fire in my surrounding area every year, then we must be in some alternate dimension. Seriously. It sucks but I feel so used to them and that's kind of totally wrong. Pah.
I hope everything turns out okay.
OKAY. MOVING ONE AGAIN. MOVIE REVIEW TIME!
Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Charlotte Rampling
Directed by: Saul Dibb
So I liked this movie. I mean, I'm pretty easy because it was a period film with beautiful sets, gorgeous music, lovely costumes, and talented people. Can it get any better? Well, add James McAvoy and yes but that's another topic entirely.
OKAY. SERIOUSLY. HOW DID I NEVER NOTICE THAT RALPH AND JOSEPH LOOK SO MUCH ALIKE? FREAKING BEAUTIFUL BROTHERS.
Anyway. I'll get to the amazing Ralph Fiennes in a moment. I knew the basic background of the film before seeing it because I'm just a history nerd like that although I was a bit vague on the whole aspect Bess Foster but now I know about it, of course. So it's a period drama. Obviously the details aren't going to be perfect but I think it was one of the better historical films that have come out lately. The film was handled in a very delicate manner and every scene caught your attention whether it was the music or the set or the passionate looks on the characters' faces.
The basic story is of Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire, who was married off to the Duke. It's a story of love and betrayal and politics. Georgiana can't give the Duke a son and so he beds her best friend, Bess Foster, and she meanwhile falls in love with Charles Grey, a Whig leader. That's the general gist of things and I'm sure you get the idea.
One of my favourite aspects of the film was the politics. I love the Whigs vs. Torries like I love the Antifederalists vs. Federalists so it was very enticing for me. Another thing I loved about it was that, at is core, it wasn't about betrayal or romantic feelings, it was about a mother's love for their children. That part especially moved me and really tore at my heartstrings.
So you all know the costumes were gorgeous and the music is phenomenal (I seriously need to snag the soundtrack from iTunes) and the sets are to die for and the plot isn't half bad but what about the acting?
Let me tell you the honest truth from the start: Ralph Fiennes outshone everyone bar none. Keira Knightley and her eyebrow did well and I enjoyed her perfomance. I've always loved her and this film didn't let me down. Dominic Cooper, cute as he may be, really just fell into the shadows for me. He didn't impress me save for one scene - the scene where he desperately asks Gee to run away with him and claims that he doesn't care if he has a daughter or son with her. Hayley Atwell really did well, I think, and I loved her performance.
But it was Ralph Fiennes - oh, Ralph - who really blew my mind. He practically had nothing to say and yet he stole every scene. It just goes to prove that he's an incredible actor when he can upstage people merely with his face and physical demeanour. The audience sees the Duke as nothing more than a douche who's mean and unkind but Fiennes gives this character so much more depth. However, the depth is hard to find so you must look hard.
In every scene, he just looks so sad. There's this glaze over his eyes and a heartbreaking frown and the audience can't feel for him unless they look at every side of the story. Yes, some of the things he's done to Gee are awful and unforgivable but he's a broken man inside. My heart ached whenever he spoke and I loved that he was so offbeat and awkward. In the beginning it was adorable but it got increasingly more and more sad as the film kept on.
The film was good overall though it did feel a bit long. Some of the scenes were a bit drearier than others but as a whole, I thought it was a compelling film. At least the scene with Ralph Fiennes were.
So I think it's worth a look.
Recommend this movie to other people?: Definitely. Especially to those of you who love period films or Ralph Fiennes
Buy the DVD: Most likely someday.
Grade: B
Trailer: Here
♥ Quantum of Solace (November 14 2008)
♥ Australia (November 26 2008)
♥ Frost/Nixon (December 5 2008) (Limited)
♥ Milk (December 5 2008)
♥ Doubt (December 12 2008) (Limited)
♥ Defiance (December 12 2008)
♥ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (December 25 2008)
♥ Marley & Me (December 25 2008)
♥ Valkyrie (December 26 2008)
♥ Two Lovers (January 9 2009)
♥ The Rebound (January 23 2009)
♥ The Soloist (March 13 2009)
♥ Star Trek XI (May 8 2009)
♥ Angels & Demons (May 15 2009)
♥ Public Enemies (July 1 2009)
♥ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17 2009)
♥ Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (November 13 2009)
♥ Sherlock Holmes (2010)
♥ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (November 19 2010)
♥ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (May 2011)
♥ The Last Station (Unknown Release Date)
♥ The Edge of Love (Unknown Release Date)
♥ Shoe At Your Foot (Unknown Release Date)
Ahhhh. There are so many good films coming out in these last months of the year. WANT TO SEE MILK SO BAD. -flail-
Kay. Heading off now but first I must say:
I FREAKING LOVE SHELDON AND HIS CREEPY SMILE. He makes the world happy.
And Barney makes me LOLOLOLOL.
AND OH MY FREAKING GOD HAVE YOU SEEN THE BRO CODE? I NEED THIS THING.
Catch you later, calculators.