The Words

Hello there! The first official review post for the year 2013 will be the film The Words (2012) directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal.

My friend began recommending this film left and right and so I had to check it out. I watched this without any idea who starred in it, what it would be about and so on and so forth. So there are three sort of intertwining story lines throughout and you sorta question if any, some or all of it is really happening. It was like a book within a book within a book thing. Book-ception. So I'm going to separate the three happenings:

Clay Hammond and Daniella:

• So the film begins with Dennis Quaid reading extracts from his recent novel. As he is reading this out to a room full of critiques and interviewers and other old people who would go to these kinds of book readings, Olivia Wilde comes in to listen halfway. Woman, what the hell are you doing coming to these things late? Just because you're gorgeous....
• Anyways during the breaks between Part 1 and Part 2 of his reading, they meet and she reveals that she want to interview even though she begins spouting off that she has read and watched every interview he has ever been in and knowing EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM. I swear if it  were anyone but Olivia Wilde saying this, it'd be borderline creepy.
• Also she obviously is coming onto him and it's weird. I'm all for hot middle aged genius men (RDJ ughh) but YOU'RE OLIVIA WILDE and he's DENNIS QUAID. Everytime I see him my brain shouts "PARENT TRAP"
• Anyways afterwards they go to his place and she listens to the rest of the story
• There's more but I'm going to leave it at that for now

Rory and Dora:

• Played respectfully by Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana. They are what Hammond's story is about. They're a cute-as young couple and Rory is a struggling writer.
• It begins with an old man waiting outside in the rain as Rory and Dora go in a limo to a book honouring event for Rory's new novel. So far, alright.
• Then it flashes back to when Rory's really good novels weren't getting published because he was so new in the industry. You know this is exactly how it is for teenagers to get jobs. To get a job, we need experience but to get experience we need to get a job. CUT US SOME SLACK, ADULTS. WE'RE DESPERATE FOR MONEY AND LEARN FAST, JUST GIMME A JOB.
• As he gets rejected he needs to ask his father for a loan and his father starts going on about Rory having to take responsibility, be a man and get a job, to let this writing thing be a hobby. I related to that kind of shit HARD. The things I love to do are all the types of jobs and industries that are terrifically difficult to get into and be successful at. So when you try to pursue these things, people always try to talk you out of it or question and doubt it. That fucking sucks. To have something you love so much be so looked down upon. It just makes you feel like all the effort and work you've put into it and all the crap you've been taking from other people about it ten times worse. Like it's pointless and futile. Especially coming from family. What got me most was how he kept repeating "It's time to be a man" or some variation of that. What does being a man have to do with anything? What about being a human being and feeling happy and accomplished in life rather than trying to be someone you're not and letting it destroy who you actually are?
• Rant over
• So as Rory looks in this old book bag that Dora got for him on their honeymoon in Paris, he finds an old manuscript/novel (It's a gorgeous book bag btw. Lets go vintage/antique shopping in Paris one day guys). He reads it all and types it up on his computer because he's so taken by it.
• By now I figured out that he was going to get it published and someone would recognise the story.
• Dora convinces him to publish it and he becomes an instant success. I really really want to read that story now. Does it exist? Probably not.
• One day he is followed by the old man to the park and they begin to talk. Things get predictable when the old man reveals it was his story. 

Jack and Celia:

• The old man tells his story set in France after the war. 
• He meets this cute French waitress and they get together and be all cute and stuff. Ice cream was eaten and they taught each other their native language. It was hella adorbz. I really wanted that kind of cuteness
• Anyway he is dismissed and has to go home to the US of A but is depressed because he is madly in love with her. So he goes back to France and they reunite in making out in the middle of a French road. They get married and have a baby and all is amazing happy and cute. Which only meant that shit was going to hit the fan. Right?
• Their baby passes away from sickness and they both fall into depression drifting apart. One night while Jack is out, Celia leaves to live with her mother for some time and space away. 
• Jack is just overwhelmed with everything that he had just lost and so begins to write and write and write. Some amazing acting here by Ben Barnes and I didn't know it was Ben Barnes until I looked up the movie after I watched it and HOLY CRAP HE IS ATTRACTIVE. His sad made me sad.
• He sends Celia the story and it convinces her to go back. She puts it in an amazing looking book bag but forgets to bring it off the train.
• The mix of the tragic loss, separation and losing the story that saved Jack's sanity made it impossible for them to fully get back together and so Jack eventually moves back to the US.

Now the old man (Who is Jeremy Irons btw) told Rory this story because Rory pretty found a part of his life and soul and used it for his own gain. Dick move, Rory. To be fair, Rory does try to make things right and tells two people the truth at the expense of his own fame and fortune. He tells Dora and it kind of really confuses me how it affected her. Like, I get that he lied but I didn't think she would take it personally. He tried to tell her when she first saw it but didn't. I knew she'd be upset and angry. Just not that much. 

The ending is hella weird between Hammond and Daniella but then we find out that Hammond is Rory and that all the events in the movie did, indeed happen. 

The movie did make me cry and relate to the characters, but I think that was more out of the amazing acting rather than script or storyline. It was good and I enjoyed it. But it left me a bit confused and wanting something more out of it. Bravo to the cast though. Very well done. 

Holiday Update

I don't think there are that many spoilers in here. But just in case, the following contains spoilers for X-Factor US, The Voice US, Smash, Sherlock, Pitch Perfect, Les Miserables and The Hobbit.

So what did I do for my holidays? SO glad you asked, NO ONE. Jk jk. I spent the marjority watching various films, catching up on television shows while eating a whole lot of junk.

I'll just say right now that my past year can be described and has been documented in movie tickets and polaroids.

• X-Factor US. I wanted Carly to win. And I want her talent. But good on him!
• The Voice US. It was an amazing season but I was really surprised by the last top three. And LOL WHO REMEMBERS HEY MONDAY?
• Smash season 1. It's pretty good. Entertaining with amazing songs and great look at how musicals are made (if it's an accurate portrayal, I really wouldn't know). The personal drama near the end was irritating as hell though. Most of the characters I ended up just tolerating and there were times when I just sat there in disbelief at how ridiculous some of the conflict was (I'M LOOKING AT YOU UMA THURMAN AND PSYCHOTIC ASSISTANT GUY. Don't get me started on Ivy and Michael). Other then that I want Tom and Sam to be my sassy gay couple best friends forever and ever. 
• Re-watched Sherlock BECAUSE WHY NOT. Ughh Benedict your face. And Martin Freeman your face. And Andrew YOUR FACE. Just stop it. Every time I watch each episode, my heart bursts with feels and then my head cannot compute all the feels and then everything within me just can't. Except for Blind Banker which is probably the weakest and most boring out of the whole series. BUT HEY Watson fighting the self serve machine while Sherlock beats an Arabian Knight (I really don't know what else to call him)
• Pitch Perfect. As much as I adore and love Anna Kendrick and her spectacular voice, Rebel Wilson and creepy Asian girl were the stars in the film. Every one liner just set everyone into hysterics. Also loves the mash ups and Breakfast Club referencing AND ANNA KENDRICK CAN I HAVE YOUR DJ EQUIPMENT AND THEN TEACH ME? Be my sarcastic witty best friend please. Btw I know the Cup Song. Maybe I'll post a video of me doing it one day...
• Les Miserables. I've seen the 10th AND the 25th anniversary stage editions so I was prepared in comparison to my non-musical friends. I loved it. At first I wasn't too into Hugh Jackman's tone for the role because I was so used to Alfie  Boe's tenor to just blow my away by it's....BAM-ness (idk....) but it was better as it went on. WHEN COB WILSON CAME ON AS THE PASTOR I FREAKED BUT NO ONE ELSE KNEW. Samantha Barks as Eponine was divine. I adore her version of Eponine, a very close second only to legendary Lea Salonga. Marius was awesome apart from his head shake every time he did a virbrato thing (which is hard to control, I understand). I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the vocals by Amanda Seyfried and Russel Crowe, especially the latter. But they both hit notes and went places I never expected them to and it was very very lovely. But I have to say ALL AWARDS GO TO MISS ANNE FUCKING HATHAWAY. She made me tear up everytime she came on screen. Don't make that face, please don't cry, DON'T DIE, COME BACK. Her performance was so heartfelt and raw and emotional and the amount of emotional through acting AND singing just MADE her Fantine. 
• The Hobbit. Enjoyed it immensely more than the whole LOTR trilogy. Which would be expected because I watch ALL three with THREE ADDITIONAL HOURS of extended footage in one sitting. This had a lighter and more humorous tone which makes sense because a friend told me the novel was more child-friendly. The action scenes were damn amazing and the FORESHADOWING and things leading up to the old trilogy made me genuinely happy and glad I watched them beforehand. Martin Freeman = Everything good in the world. I really look forward to the next two. 

And so I wish everyone a Happy New Year. Let's hope it will be better than the last. 

Update

Hey non-existent readers/viewers!

Sorry for the lack of posts. Guess things have been pretty busy with the holidays and whatnot. On that note, I hope you had a great Christmas or any other occasion you celebrate at this time of year.

I'll be starting up my posts again by January and actually have a few lined up because I am going to commit to this thing goddamnit! Next year will be more organised and consistent. I aim to finish at least two series by the end of next year so that I can jump start on other projects.

I'm also aiming to take up video editing as a hobby and other stuff. Especially since I got a shit ATAR and don't think I'll get my university crap together in time, so I'll have more time for non-productive but enjoyable things. I'll just live off my imagination and delusions. And my parents....

But seriously, I'm not giving up on this and so expect more (hopefully) interesting and enjoyable reviews, starting January 2013.

Until then,
Me.

"For Good" Kristin Chenoweth & Anna Kendrick - Trevor Live 2012

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH-. You guys. OK I'm a musical geek for both broadway/stage shows and film and television. So when I just saw that Kristin Chenoweth AND Anna Kendrink were not only singing together but were singing  WICKED, I promptly lost my shit.

Throughout the performance I continued to whisper swear (my mum was watch TV behind me) and lightly  hit my head on my arm over and over again. I couldn't. I can't. And yeah. Big fan girl moment.

Doctor Who #9 S01E04 Aliens of London (Part I)

Woahhhhhhh. This was a really good episode. It was intense and funny and crazy and I was all over the place.

So Rose returns home with the Doctor and he tells her that 12 hours had passed in her time while they were traversing time and space. Rose wants to pop in and let her mother know she's alright before they go off again while the Doctor sees a missing person's flyer for Rose. How long was she actually gone for?

TWELVE MONTHS. That's a massive miscalculation there. So Rose's mother is of course furious and happy and frustrated at the same time. She wants to know where Rose has been and Rose tells her that she's been traveling. So she's telling the truth. But of course her mother doesn't believe her and starts going a bit nuts. 

So while Rose talks to the Doctor later about how she's the only one of Earth who knows about so much now, she jinxed it. A spaceship smashes the Big Ben and lands in the water. I had no idea where this episode was going. At the moment, while I understood her anger and frustrations, Rose's mum was irritating the hell out of me. I want her to know what was really going on so that everyone can be happy and fine. Her shrill voice is annoying.

Everyone starts watching the news coverage of the crash on the television and the Doctor gets fed up and wants to investigate, himself. Rose makes him promise not to leave her so he gives he a copy of the keys to the TARDIS to reassure her. You guys, this is the equivalent of a guy giving his serious girlfriend the keys to his apartment. It's freaking adorable and I'm loving it.

But thennnnnnnnnn, we get to the hospital where the body from the spaceship was being held. This whole scene just made me go crazy emotional. I was freaking out about what it might have looked like because of all the horrifying and other strange beings I've seen in previous episodes. And then it's the cutest yet terrifying yet...oaksdhfaiksjvakdsvniksdvn thing. IT'S A MINI PIG SPACEMAN WHO RUNS WITH HIS LITTLE HOOFS IN THE AIR. The noises and things I said when I saw him made my mum burst in the room with worry. Literally.

And then the pig spaceman was shot and my heart is broken. Especially when the Doctor tells us it was just a normal pig that was tampered with and it was scared out of it's mind. 

Meanwhile, Rose's old boyfriend see's the TARDIS disappear and goes to find Rose at her home. He was astoundingly loyal and dedicated to finding Rose for the past 12 months. He's been looking for her and wasn't able to move on. But then when he tells her about the Doctor disappearing, he turns into an irritating, bitter child when talking to Rose. Rose is upset that he's gone but when she sees her keys flashing and realises her mother was still with them, she panics.

At first I was SO happy that her mother finds out. I thought that meant that things would go on fine. Until she ran off without even an explanation and FUCKING CALLS THE GOVERNMENT IN HOPES OF GETTING THE DOCTOR KILLED. I understand she's trying to protect her daughter, but she acted rashly and without hearing anyone out or thinking about the facts. Ughhhhh

So the Doctor finds out that the spaceship came from space originally and as he was about to go, the government escorts him personally to where this whole alien situation was being handled. While all that domestic crap was happening up there, the Prime Minister was missing and by default, the position was given to some random guy who can't control his gas. AND THEN MUM FROM SHAUN OF THE DEAD FINDS EVERYTHING OUT. Three members of parliament are were blindingly blue glowing aliens who use human bodies as skin suits with zips on their foreheads.

As the Doctor gathers with all the other alien experts, he slowly figures out that the whole situation was a trap to get them all there. And then the Prime Minister and some other guy reveal their alien selves. This also happens in another room with Rose, Shaun of the Dead Mum and there's another one with Rose's mother. I actually don't understand what the aliens want or why but HOLY MOTHER OF CHEESE THEY ARE UGLY AND UNNERVING. Anything that blinks sideways is automatically on my list of worst things ever. 

And then to be continued. I really liked this episode. 

• "900 years of time and space and I've never been slapped by someone's mother...IT HURT"
• "Aliens and spaceships and things and I'm the only person on planet earth that knows they exit" -Spaceship crashes in broad daylight in front of all of London- "Oh that's just not fair..."
• "Excuse me, do you mind not farting while I'm saving the world?"

Supernatural S01E04 Phantom Traveler

I didn't remember what this episode was about from the name but after the first two minutes I remembered.

The place episode. Confession: I love flying on planes. I love the take off, the little safety routine dance the attendants do, the crappy movies, the screens on seat in front of you, the little table that folds out of the chair, the little kid kits they give out with colouring stuff and I EVEN LIKE THE FOOD. Everything is miniature and fun and exciting. I actually would prefer turbulence to any roller-coaster any day.

The whole episode was a bit boring to be honest. The best parts were the brotherly bonding and Dean comic relief. I really don't want to review this because there wasn't really much for me to review. Also that thing at the end when they find out that their dad is giving their number out to strangers in need on a voicemail intro thing.

OH! There was that creepy fog that looks like it came from an episode of Lost. Or did Lost copy it? Which episode/series came first? Man this was a LONG time ago.

• "Are you humming Metallica?" "It calms me down"
• "...christo..." "Excuse me?" "Christo?"
• Also:

Lord of the Rings: Two Towers & Return of the King

After literally 12 hours of watching three Lord of the Rings movie straight, everything became a blur. Not to mention the heavy amount of junk food and soft drinks. So dot points it is, covering my jumbled and overwhelmed thoughts of the three films of The Lord of the Rings:

• I really didn't like Frodo. I don't know why. I admit that's harsh considering he didn't exactly ask for all this to happen and has to carry this massive burden. But I just didn't find him likable.
• Sam was an alright character. Applauding him for actually calling Golem out on his bullshit and saving and putting up with Frodo's crap. I mean, after Frodo pretty much banished him as a friend, he saved his ass from a giant spider and orcs and CARRIED HIM OF THE MOUNTAIN OF FIRE. Most loyal friend ever.
• I believe that Legolas is really a butterfly whose only purpose in the film is serve as a plot device that would spell out, state and explain the obvious things that are happening. Everything he said was hilariously unnecessary. I also think that if the group was in the modern world, he'd be a hipster indie. He's got braids, fish plait and a love for the environment going. He's also the prettiest
• Every female in this whole franchise is useless. Liz Tyler's character was the 'woe is me'/hopeless romantic; Cate Blanchett was just weird and no likey; Eowyn, well everytime she came on screen or said something my whole group of friends would boo her off because she was coming onto Aragon and that shit ain't allowed. 
• Aragon is cool. 
• Fight scenes were amazing but arduous
• Cinematography was breathtaking
• Can we just give Martin Scorese ALL THE AWARDS FOR HIS IMPECCABLE PERFORMANCE? Smeagol and Gollum were so unsettling and disturbing and horrifying yet hilarious and pitiful. Every moment was brilliant. Especially in the beginning of Return of King where we see his descent into darkness and madness. Just amazing
• Smeagol, in my eyes, was a schizophrenic, bi-polar, psychotic 5 year old. 
• Sadness and empathy for Faramir. Sibling rivalry and parental approval/acceptance/conflict seems to transcend every dimension/realm.
• DENETHOR YOU ARE JUST THE WORST.
• Boromir...Sean Bean....You lasted longer than I thought you would but for only one movie. 
• Whyyyyyyyyyy does there have to be a giant spider? This one moved really realistically too. Ughh that thing is unnerving.
• Woah and LOL at Saruman's death. 
• PIP AND MERRY = BRO'S4LYF
• Although I do admit Legolas and Gimli come pretty close with their competition to see who could kill the most in the war. Adorbz guyzzzz.

Ok right now I'm dead tired. Overall, it was great. I think I'm a bit brain dead and overwhelmed by the amount of drama I just sat through so I can't really process properly. I'm not a big, die-hard fan but I enjoyed it. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I watched them with proper breaks in between and if I didn't see ALL the extended footage. But I saw it with a huge bunch of my friends and it was a good day. Lord of the Rings....I give it 3 out of 5 overall.

My favourite out of the three was Fellowship of the Ring. My favourite character would either be Gandalf or Aragon. Prediction count:

• People die. BOROMIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 1/1
• The ring gets destroyed at the very end. It has to be right? That's the whole point of the whole franchise? Duh. 2/2
• There's an evil force that want's the ring for evil purposes? Because they're evil? Lol. 3/3

These don't deserve points because they're bullshit predictions. But I'll give myself some anyways =)