A Seriously Delayed Entry

As is probably apparent, studies have kept me busy and have taken off the edge of keeping a blog. Now I'm trying to remedy the situation.

First of all I feel I should address the matter of the latest Harry Potter movie. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1 had its premiere November 17th 2010, if my memory serves, and yes, I was there on the premiere night. And I have to say, I thought it great! It had sufficient amount of information, it had all the main things from the first half of the book, the actors have really grown up and gotten better, and there were no dull moments. In my opinion it's the best of the movies out, and I have high hopes for the last one. Part 1 has been cut off at a very reasonable point, and that scene works as a very suspenceful cliff-hanger for those who haven't read the books. Those who have read the books probably think with satisfaction: "Oh yeah, that's where all the FUN begins!"
If you haven't seen it yet, I sincerely recommend it. It's worth it, even for the Seven Potters scene alone! (Hint: My stomach was cramping from laughter. Both times I saw it.)

Just for the record, I wouldn't mind a keychain or necklace of the Deathly Hallows symbol. It's very nice and simple.

I've also seen two other new movies after my last update. RED - yeah, the one about retired CIA agents starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovitch and Morgan Freeman - didn't get good reviews, but I liked it. It was exciting and not in-your-face funny (like that stupid new Focker movie trailer, with the kid throwing up on Ben Stiller), and I loved it to bits. Though it might be worth noting that I'm slightly biased. The movie happens to feature Karl Urban in a suit, and, well... Yeah. He looks so darned good in that suit! Just look at him:

The gun helps too.

Lastly, there was Rare Exports. I was really excited to see it, because it's been talked about a lot here. It's Finnish, but it has gained a lot of international attention, and it's a very different kind of Christmas movie. It was entertaining, yes. It was great when you considered the fact that they had a very small budjet, yes. Did I like it? Yes. Did it impress me? Not so much. Though I have to say the well-placed contrasts of ordinary things and epic music was exceedingly hilarious!

So now I can progress to books. Let's start with Robin McKinley's Deerskin. It's a remake of the fairytale "Donkeyskin", and my, what a beautiful piece it is! I had read McKinley's Beauty before, but this was something completely different. First of all the style was much heavier than I'd expected, and so it took me quite some time to adjust to it. After that, I made fairly quick progress with it. The story is about a princess who, after being raped by her father, flees the castle she has lived in. The lady of the forest helps her by disguising her, and she loses all memory of what has happened. So she wanders the kingdom with her dog, a fleethound called Ash, looking for her place in life and trying to find out who she is. I fell in love with McKinley's descriptions of the dogs in the story. She must have had fleethounds herself, because she has managed to capture their behaviour splendidly.

Ah, now then. Sorcery and Cecelia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. If I was younger, say 14, it would now be my favourite book. It's an epistolary, a correspondence between two cousins, Kate and Cecy, of whom the former is in London and the latter in the country, both encountering magical situations. It's regency romance married with fantasy, and it makes very delightful reading. I'm at the moment about a 100 pages into the sequel, the Grand Tour.

I just finished today with George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I enjoyed it very much, and have actually already ordered the next part of the series, but on the other hand I don't think it will be a book I'll read over and over again. Then again, you never can tell, and I'm already quite fond of several characters and want to know what happens to them. There's also a TV series of it coming next spring, I think, and it'll be nice to see what they've done about it. A few of the actors I'm already familiar with - Sean Bean will be Eddard Stark, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is to be Ser Jaime Lannister. Looking though the faces on IMDb, I have to say I'm rather pleased with the casting. After that, it's up to acting-skills, script-writers and the director.

I guess that's all covered now. I'll mention my studies again, because it has been my first term and it's all still a little exciting - I've been doing rather well in my courses (though I haven't gotten my grades for Global and Regional Variations, English Literature or Translating from Finnish to English) and have gotten so many new friends it's almost overwhelming. But yeah, I'm happy overall.

Now, on with the reading! As I got money for Christmas, I'll be going to some bookstores tomorrow to see what is for sale, and then to some antiquaries to bookhunt. And maybe have coffee with a friend, if she has time.

Actually, that reminds me. I went to see the latest Narnia film, the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, on Boxing Day. Now, I have never read the books, or even seen the first movie. I've seen Prince Caspian, and now this third one, and that's about it. But I liked this one better than Caspian, maybe because it wasn't as epically epic. Ben Barnes's beard was less hideous than in the pictures I'd seen, and the distribution of time between events seemed balanced. It was fun, and it didn't feel long. So I'd recommend it, even though it's not a bloweth-your-minde experience. Should probably mention that I saw it in 2D, and there was one single scene during which I slightly regretted not being at the 3D version. I'm opposed to 3D in general, at least until they find a way for us glasses-people to enjoy it without pain. But I digress - here's a pic:

Yes, it's pretty epic after all.

Dinner is ready! I'll be seeing you guys more often from now on. Hopefully.

Love, Wilzo

Very Very Sorry

It's been ages since I updated last! I'm terribly sorry, and I don't have an excuse!

My first term at the University started in September, and I'm much in love with the whole business. People are great, courses are great, everything is great! There's lectures, parties, random other events... Christmas Party is coming up in a couple of weeks and then a table party with roleplaying theme. I'm going to be Karthani bondsmage from Locke Lamora, yay! :D

Mooovies. I'm trying to remember what I've seen... Toy Story 3 was superb, I laughed myself silly and squealed at the familiar toys. Seriously, it's the animation of the year! Despicable Me is also great, though I would've enjoyed it more if I had seen it before Toy Story. I'm going to see RED today, so about that later on. Hopefully.

Wicked came to Finland this fall, and I went to see it with a friend. I've read the book, and I do prefer it to the musical, but either or is fine, I guess. They spoiled Fiyero for me though, he was much better in the book, but the again the song Dancing Through Life is so delicious that I forgive them. And I knew Antti Lang would be the perfect Boq! I was delighted by his performance!

What else? I've been reading coupious amounts - two last Harry Potters, Dangerous Liaisons, Shadow's Son, Privilege of the Sword again, and last night finished House of Many Ways. I could say a few words about Shadow's Son:

It's Jon Sprunk's first novel, published this year. Quite frankly, it wasn't very good. It had potential, yes, but it was like Sprunk had just tried to make it look like a great, well-thought-out world without really doing the work. The place, it's history and the characters did little to convince me, and I was very quickly confused with all the names and titles and occupations. I started to enjoy myself around page 135, which happened to be about the middle of the book. That's okay though, I know it takes time to introduce the people and the setting to the reader, and he got me almost liking the main character Caim, but towards the end I was just extremely fed up with the guy and the female lead Josey. I'm not saying you shouldn't read it - by all means do that, particularly if you're younger than me. I think I would've loved it if I was still 15, but now it seemed a little childish. I don't know what Sprunk's target group is, as a YA book that probably works. It can also be that because it's a Gollanzc book, I expected something closer to Locke Lamora in quality and was disappointed because of that.

That turned out longer than I wanted, and I didn't even summarise the plot. O_O Oh well.

I'm not waiting to get my orders from the library, Deerskin by Robin McKinley and Sorcery and Cecilia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. The latter is fantasy of manners, and I'm very determined to find more books in that sub-genre. I'm on the hunt for such books as Through A Brazen Mirror, Tooth and Claw, the Serpent's Egg and so on. Also, Ellen Kushner told in her blog about Kathe Koja's latest book, Under the Poppy, and I'm simply dying to read it.

That's it for now, I think. I'm gonna head of to the movies to drool Karl Urban and then come home via the library. Hopefully my books arrive today, because I have nothing to read. (Except for school stuff, of course. I've got exams coming in a few weeks, and I haven't even opened A Student's Guide to English Grammar....)

With much love,
Wil

Dreams And Bunnies And Other Stuff

I've been meaning to update for a while now, but haven't for some reason. Oh well.

Because it's quite possibly the biggest thing in the cinematic world at the moment, I fell I should say a few words about Inception.

I went to see it after two friends had told me they liked it a lot. Well, I did too, sort of. The script was very good, and some of the details were intriguing, but I feel Christopher Nolan could've gotten more out of the idea. Leonardo DiCaprio did alright, I guess, though the character annoyed me to no end. And it was extremely interesting to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt in this kind of role - at least if you're used to the Third Rock From the Sun. The ending of the movie pleased me.
Yes, I am aware this is a bad review. It's been about three weeks since the movie, and the things I mention are the ones that have stuck with me. It wasn't sensational or a Best Motion Picture of the Year nominee, but it's entertaining. Take ear pluggs with you though, the effects are loud. Afterwards you may feel the need to have a big gun, just for the kicks. I know I wanted one.
Nolan should get a nomination for the script.
I like that poster, oh yes I do! It's so nifty! :D


A latter movie I saw - Miss Potter (2006).

As a Ewan McGregor fan I've been wanting to see this film, but never actually got to the cinema to see it. Now I'm glad I didn't - I cried my eyes out. Renée Zellweger was like she always is, this time a tone down from Bridget Jones and move like Barbara Novak. But oh, Ewan! He did such great work as Norman Warne! Even with the disturbing mustache. This is a short movie, only about an hour and a half, and it's very fresh and airy. I warmly recommend this. I found it to be of inspiration - Beatrix became an author despite what her family (well, her mother) thought of it, and was extremely successful, as we all know.
Here another sweet picture from the movie. I dare say it might be from my favourite scene:

You'll have to see it to know why I think it so sweet.



What else, what else? Books, maybe?
I read A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire, and came to the conclusion that yes, Wicked is the best one in the series. But this book gathered some loose ends from the two first ones, so I forgave almost all the politics.
After Maguire, I finally got my hands on the Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. With much regret I have to say I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other Riverside books, maybe because there was some magic in this one. Don't take my wrong, it's not a bad book - you can read it to just enjoy the language. But it wasn't as intricate as I had hoped, and I was slightly disappointed with the ending. I think the Privilege of the Sword remains my favourite (though I have to read it again to be sure), and chapter XXI from Swordspoint my favourite chapter. (A thought - Katharine Talbert reminds me of Elizabeth the First.)
Now I'm rereading Pratchett's Going Postal, which is rapidly taking the Hogfather's place as my favourite Discworld novel. The reason for this second reading is the movie, of which I saw trailers and am now a little suspicious about, because good books usually don't translate to film so well. But I'm hopeful - the actors seem decent.

So after I'm not with Mr von Lipwig, it's finally time to reread all the Harry Potters. I intend to do that in less than two weeks for two reasons:
1) Orientation week starts in two weeks and
2) There's a series of Oscar Wilde lectures, the first one about the Picture of Dorian Gray, and I intend to read that wonderful book again before the lecture so I'm sure to remember everything.
And then I probably have so much school stuff to read I have little time for fiction, but I'll go through the Secret History by Donna Tartt somehow. A friend just read it and was thrilled, so I promised to read it as well, seeing as we have it.

That about covers it, I think. Now I shall turn to fanfiction and then go to gym - we're dancing latin at last, after a long pause. I'm so looking forward to it, zumba is getting boring.

With love,
Wilzo

And the Oscar Goes To...

It has apparently been a while since I've last written... Please excuse me. ^^;

First of all, I want to tell me opinion about the movies I've seen.
The Wolfman would've been alright if they hadn't felt the need to scare the audience every five minutes. The movie itself isn't scary, and even though there were some intestines dropping out from people and severed arms and such, it wasn't disgusting. So, the director had to resort to sudden movements and semi-unexpected loud noises. It took half the experience away, having to keep your guard up in anticipation of a hairy creature jumping from some direction roaring loudly. The music gave it's cues, of course. Plotwise I liked the thing, though I'm still pissed at the woman involved and what happened with her - it would never work that way! Casting was great, Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins did great.

Men Who Stare At Goats, then. I thought they would've had more fun with the whacky, psychic soldiers, but sadly they didn't. It was amusing, and I did laugh, but it wasn't exactly the film experince of the year. Even Ewan McGregor didn't save this movie for me, though it made me giggle hearing him ask "What's a jedi?" I'm not sure most of the audience got the irony, but then again, why should I care? I had fun.
But I'm not going to see that movie again. Jeff Bridges was good, George Clooney was good. Not much more to say about it, I'm afraid.

I also went to Orion to see Pillow Book for the first time. It was strange, and I think it requires several reruns before you really get it, but I fell in love with McGregor's jealous/mad Jerome. If only he didn't attempt to speak other languages... French was alright, but I think he tried Japanese - and if that was Japanese, he shouldn't speak it.


The release of Scott Lynch's third book, the Republic of Thieves, has been postponed again. They're talking 'bout spring 2011, which for me seems way too long. I hope at least Bastards and the Knives is on schedule this year.

The Academy Awards are tonight, and I'm as excited as perusual. This year is a little different - I've never stayed up with so many friends! Usually I've been by myself or one friend at most, but this year we're going to be four or five! :D I'm looking forward to it, it's nice to have company. Here, far far away from Hollywood, the gala starts around 3am, so watching it live is always a little task. I, however, enjoy seeing everything there is, and not the shortened, subtitled version you can see two days later.

I wish best of luck for Mr. Tarantino and his crew. If Christoph Waltz doesn't get an Oscar, no one deserves it.

I Certainly Love Phillip Morris

I saw I Love You Phillip Morris last night. I'm a Ewan McGregor fan, so that was reason enough to pay for it - I didn't expect to like it as much as I did.

It isn't exactly a "good movie". It was funny, but then again, you can see it as just a sweet love story. It works both ways, though some moments are so clearly comedy you may feel annoyed when they interrupt a tender lovey-dovey scene. It's not Jim Carrey at his best, and it's not Ewan McGregor at his best, but you'll be entertained. Particularly if you're into conmen, gays and McGregor like I am. ;)
For all you McGregorists out there who are suspicious of this film - it's worth it! Ewan is insanely adorable in this one!

 

Yes, I'd love you too, Phillip Morris! ^^

I've also seen two other new movies during the last couple of weeks.

Sherlock Holmes was better than I thought. It wasn't how I like my Conan Doyle, but it was entertaining. Just try to forget the fact that it's the Sherlock Holmes, and imagine it's just someone with the same name. Jude Law was a surprisingly good Watson, but don't get me started on Rachel McAdams, her American accent and those darned there'll-be-a-sequel hints.

Princess and the Frog had a preview, too. And my, did I like it! It fits in well with all the old Disney classics and got me all emotional. Some rather good songs, and not one but TWO great minor characters. (I was very fond of Charlotte. She's what every girl gets like inside sometimes, even if they don't want to admit it.) Prince Naveen was rather annoying, though.

And I finally saw Dorian Gray. It was much better than I thought. I'm not sure whether Ben Barnes was acting or being himself, but either way, I enjoyed him as the naive, innocent Dorian of the beginning. Colin Firth did also very well, only a slight hint of Mr. Darcy from time to time. (He has been doing better lately, I'm happy for him!) The bits that followed the books were good, and those that didn't were simply unnecessary. We didn't need Lord Henry's daughter to mess with Dorian - or Dorian falling in love, for that matter. Props on the time skip though - no annoying "a few years later" text!



I think this pretty much sums up my latest seen movies.