Watched, Read, Loved: April 2017

April is the best month for South-Africa. Seriously – we have so many public holidays people are actually nice to each other. I took off a chunk of time as well, and it did me the world of good. I actually got some sleep in, saw my bestie and watched some amazing films. Without further ado, here is my rundown of April 2017.

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Movies:

BEauty poster

Beauty and the Beast (2017): The painful excitement that came when I heard they were doing a live animation of my favorite Disney classic was excruciating. Would it work? Would it fail? The QUESTIONS that plagued me.Additionally, B&B was released in South-Africa later than the rest of the world because of South-Africaitis, and there were conflicting reports to be read. Anyway, grabbing popcorn and sitting down to see this was really wonderful. I liked it, and will watch it again. I had Gaston stuck in my head for a week. I better not hear that tune soon.

One day

One Day (2011): HATED IT.

basic instinct

Basic Instinct(1992): This is part of my Blindspot 2017 series. This year I am doing remarkably well with it, because Zoë and I watched a bunch of them in December because #besties. Basic Instinct is next on the list and quite the shocker. OMFG my poor eyes.I might never recover.

Anywhere but home (2008): I thought this comedy was quite funny the second time around (I know I’ve seen this before but I can barely remember it). It’s also titled “Four Christmases”. I’ve never understood exactly why some movies get two titles. Anyway, if you can believe that someone like Reese Witherspoon would end up with someone like Vince Vaughn, you can get through the movie. It has some funny moments, and sure they are the typical things you’d expect, but they are funny regardless.

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Twilight: New Moon (2009): I’ve been meaning to blog about Twilight as a set for ages now. I did Twilight (2008) easily, but had a couple of months delay by what succeeds it. New Moon is the most insufferable – both book and movie – but I sat through it eventually.

Eclipse

Twilight: Eclipse (2010): Eclipse is a strong successor and definitely superior to the ghastly New Moon. Edward is still an obsessive stalker, Bella is still pathetic, R. Patz and Kristen Stewart still can’t act. But decisively better than the infuriating New Moon.

Safe Haven (2013): The casting for Nicholas Sparks film is never specified for acting abilities. I guess the author/filmmaker knows his audience too well, and knows if he provides enough pretty people the film will be acceptable to his fans. He’s not wrong. I enjoyed Safe Haven and the acting is really better than the acting in The Lucky One. The kids were cute and the story was okay.

Hes-Just-Not-That-Into-You-2009

He’s just not that into you (2009): I always enjoy watching HJNTIY. My brother-in-law did not appreciate us making him watch it though, telling me that it is not also a guy-friendly film as I initially thought.

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Warm Bodies (2013): I just love this film. Nicholas Hoult is a zombie, and when he eats the brains ofTeresa Palmer’s boyfriend, he starts seeing some memories and slowly returns to human form. The cast, led by Hoult, are all quite charming and for a story that shouldn’t work it works really well.

DUFF4

The DUFF (2015):yes, I watched it again. One of my favorite films at the moment. Such hilarity.lethal weapon

Lethal Weapon 1 (1987) & Lethal Weapon 2 (1989):
It was my first time around watching this buddy-cop series, and I really enjoyed it. The 1980’s were a glorious time to be alive obviously!

Blood wars

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

SO SLOPPY.

chef

Chef (2014): Chef is a film about good food and happy endings, and well deserved of its’ praise. I really quite liked this film!

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Arrival (2016): My review will be up next week. I loved this. Handsdown one of the finest films of 2016.

Drive

Drive (2011): I remember enjoying Drive the first time around, but I really couldn’t remember everything about it. I enjoyed it so much this time too, it is a phenomenal film and some of Gosling’s best work.

The guest

The Guest (2014): This film has a lot of science reasons it works well to the appreciative eye, but I can tell you that I would have loved it without the science too. Gorgeous directing, a solid plot and excellent score, this film is a great film to watch again and again.

Prisoners-E invite R2

Prisoners (2013): Prisoners currently ranks as my least favorite Villeneuve film. It is on no level a poor film, it was just not my favorite of his. And it is five hundred hours long. *Scientific fact*

PPZ

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016):

I can watch this movie indefinitely. It is the best!

CSL

Crazy Stupid Love (2011): I definitely need to review this film again – It has been ages since I’ve posted it on my blog. One of the most inoffensive romantic comedies produced in later years, this movie will make you laugh and relate with some character in here.

Nocturnal animals

Nocturnal Animals (2016): This is my new hated film. Gosh, what a spectacular waste of my life. Pretentious bullshit.

 

books

Black-Hills

Black Hills – Nora Roberts

This is a particular favorite book of mine. I enjoy Dr. Lillian Chance – she is passionate about her work in the refuge she built and is smart and cool.

born-in-shame

The Concannon Sisters trilogy – Nora Roberts

While I do enjoy this series of books – Born in Shame, Born in Ice and Born in Fire, they certainly aren’t my favorite of the author. However, her love for Ireland does show when reading this, and I particularly enjoy the description of the scenery.

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2bg

Two Broke Girls Season 4 and 5

I’m enjoying myself way too much with this comedy. It shouldn’t be as funny as it is, but I end up really laughing at it.

What did you do in April?

May – you better be good to me.

Happy May.

Firsly, April was so crap I am only too glad it is over. When I say everything went wrong, that really is the truth. I got sick, then got an ulcer, which felt like someone was drilling into my mouth at a high speed and very often. Work was insane, petrol was fucking expensive (still is, FYI), and my brand new laptop broke, and my bank balance is sadder than Zimbabwe’s.

So, May

I really hope you are good to me. I am writing exams this month, but I will take it in the hope that I 1) pass and 2) anything will be better than April. I really want to start reading constantly again. I love books and reading helps me relax. It is really the best escape valve there is because it takes you to another world completely.

I want to finish Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I do not know why it is taking so long. The book is well written and interesting and I don’t understand why I can’t just finish it.

I want to read my third Karin Slaughter book. She is an amazing author who I am still surprised I enjoy so thoroughly.

I am rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the millionth time. It is so good and entertaining and sad and funny.

Walking slash running.

The-Best-ABS-Exercise

I am finally doing frequent exercise and I just want to continue in May because it leashes the crazy. I am still going a bit slow, but I am definitely improving. I already feel much better than a few weeks ago.

Movies

I love watching rom-coms and chick flicks and I am not afraid to say it. BUT, I want to start watching some decent stuff too. I can’t wait to explore and see what I love and hate.

What are your plans for May?

I’m April’s fool right now

April, so far, really hasn’t been my month. Truly, it has been sucking. From insane work deadlines to people stealing my parking space (THE WORST CRIME) to my online orders not going through, this past week was not fun.

However, April is supposed to be one of the best months for South-Africa. We have Good Friday, Family day, Freedom Day AND workers day in the span of three weeks. Even if you have to work it is all about enjoying the super short weeks. I think the government realises we need this month’s laziness because since it’s the quarter of the year it means people are ready to commit murder without provocation. I certainly am. A combination of slight flu and internet problems and everything mentioned above is making me the grumpiest person to be around right now. everyone else, I am sorry.

What I achieved in the three first months of 2014

Car. Nothing beats that

I upgraded from my crapberry to what I believe was a very good choice, the Samsung S4 mini.

I GOT MY LAPTOP. It has Windows 8 on (not a happy place for me to be working on) but I love having it already. Sorting out internet hopefully by the end of the week and then I will be the happiest.

Basically, I already achieved at least 50% of what I wanted to achieve this year. The rest seems pretty doable considering I never thought that I would get three tasks done in one year.

Lover’s Rock, the pleasure resort

Was quite pleasurable without the bow-chicka-bow-wow its’ name might imply. Had the best long weekend I’ve had in ages, and I really, really didn’t want to return to work.

Music

I can’t imagine how I ever liked Daughtry’s music. EUGH.

Lotto

I won R10.50. I’M RICH!

Bones

I’ve started watching Bones and so far I am enjoying it completely. And I have serious lab envy.

Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

Yep, still on it. On a serious reading go slow, but I am really enjoying the book so far. It is like a very excellent textbook on marriage traditions. I love the way Gilbert writes.

Divergent, the movie

Firstly, it isn’t supposed to be like the Hunger Games. It is a completely different story. It was enjoyable but not the best adaption I’ve seen.

Candy Crush

I am fully in its clutches #Addiction

Autumn is approaching in South-Africa. It has been so blisteringly hot lately that I welcome it. It would be incorrect to say that I love summer – it is so hot and I dislike heat. Winter is very cold so I will say I’m a moderate temperature person – Autumn and Spring. I need to do some serious shopping for winter because I apparently have no clothes. Where they all disappeared to is a secret I will never know.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark was better for me, but Temple of Doom still had the wow factor although Winnie was the most incredibly annoying heroine possibly ever created.

#nomakeupselfie

I think raising awareness about cancer is amazing and important, but I also think that actually doing something so support research is much more important. I honestly think that this craze is just about getting more attention than anything else. And really, I don’t deserve to see your makeup less face when I go on Facebook before my first cup of coffee. I have done nothing bad enough to my life to be so frightened.

News

I used to haunt news sites, desperate for information about what was going on in the world. Now, I just don’t go on. When did the world become so horrible and full of despair? Ugandans are getting slaughtered in churches, the Ukraine vs. Russia vs. the United States is still going on, Oscar Pistorius is still in his court battle and the petrol price is still going up. So pardon me for steering clear from such depression. I hate that there is a craze about something and after a few months the world forgets while the citizens of a ravaged country has to struggle on.

Being Healthy

I really don’t want to say this too quickly, but it would seem I have a moderate control over my taste buds again. I am working hard at eating things that are good for my body, and exercising at least three times a week. It is an ongoing thing this healthy lifestyle, with ups and downs and irritations that wants you to swallow a box of chocolates with a glass of Coke, but I guess the thing is to never give up.

The Bane(s) of my existence

The eternally “sick”. There are people in the world that copes better with cancer and Aids than somepeople do with a bit of flu.

People who are incapable of closing a door and leaves it to slam close.

People who don’t know how a door buzzer works.

People who are rude and have no social etiquette.

People who don’t understand sarcasm.

People who are incapable of seeing the viewpoints of others.

People who think they are the best in everything.

And the worst?People who manages to be all of the above

Oh, and slow internet. Luckily annoying people can’t be slow internet, because then I would be wearing an orange jumpsuit by now.

And people who stink. MEH

Links I loved the last few weeks:

Barry Roux is taking over the internet

Some Pretty Little Liars Data

This blog post has the PRETTIEST shoes on EVER! BUY all the shoes!!