Read, Watched, Loved: May 2017

 

Hey everybody! This post is going up super late this month – I was happily scheduling away on here and didn’t notice that I still hadn’t put this guy up. So as usual, here’s my monthly rundown (but for May). Let me know what you’ve seen and haven’t seen, and just generally how you are 🙂

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 (2017) – I don’t think anyone was able to hate this film. It was buckets of fun, and I really have such a soft spot for Baby Groot (who doesn’t?). It is similar to the first film but bigger and more of the formula that worked. The plot wasn’t as solid as the first, but I was able to have a fantastic time regardless of that.

Pride and Prejudice (2005) –I liked this movie so much that when I wanted to initially write a quick blurb for here I ended up writing out the review. It is a wonderful film. I am now convinced I need a Mr. Darcy. He’s difficult and worth it. The adaption is fantastic and the chemistry between the leads is amazing.

Sweet home Alabama (2002) – I watched this as a young person – maybe at around 21 years or so, and really enjoyed it. I have such love for Reese Witherspoon, she truly is a beautiful and talented woman. Her character has the terrible task of choosing between Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey, and this movie has humor and heart to it.

Jackie Brown (1997) – I watched this for Tom and Mark’s Decades Blogathon.It is one of the few Tarantino films I hadn’t seen as yet, and found it a great pleasure to watch.

The Host (2013) – I just had to watch this film again to compare source material to it. It is not as unforgivably bad as the internet make it out to be, and I had a rather enjoyable time watching it.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice is a slow read, that is no lie, but I enjoyed it so much. It is a wonderful, wonderful book with many events and excellent character development. It also gave me yet another book hero to attach strongly to.

Three Fates – Nora Roberts: I reviewed this before and seemed to have a good thing to say about it. Strange, because I don’t remember loving it so much. I am having a really good time rereading it again though, it is truly Nora Roberts and some good and light reading.

The Host – Stephanie Meyer: I’m not sure whether the I was a masochist or just seeking enjoyment without thinking too much about it, but I decided to pick up The Host again. It is okay and certainly better than Meyer’s previous novels. It raises some moral questions and has interesting theories despite some slow parts.

What did you do this month?

June 28, 2017June 12, 2017 by Natasha Categories: 2017, Books, Fun, Movies, movies, reading, Review, ReviewsTags: 2017, Bradley Cooper, Brenda Blethyn, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Donald Sutherland, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, Jackie Brown, Jake Abel, Jane Austen, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench, Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Max Irons, May, monthly rundowns, Movies, Nora Roberts, Nora Roberts Three Fates, Pam Grier, Patrick Dempsey, Quentin Tarantino, Rosamund Pike, Samuel L. Jackson, Saoirse Ronan, Stephanie Meyer, Sweet Home Alabama, The Host, Three Fates, Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana 7 Comments

Movies of 2014: Part One

If you’ve taken a peek at your calender, Facebook feed or internet, I am sure you know that 2014 is done. I won’t go in to how I’ll be better with stuff in 2015, because let’s face it, I won’t be 😀

2014 was a relatively successful year for movies, but it also contained a truck load of disappointments. Today’s post is a run down of about half the movies I saw this year (that was also released in 2014), with the second installment to follow. Please let me know, what you thought, and all that you loved and

Vampire Academy

I had such hopes for Vampire Academy. I’ve read all the books and when I heard it was made into a movie, I was very excited. It turned out to be one of the greatest disappointment of 2014. Not only is it a horrible book adaption with terrible directing, it didn’t capture the essence of the story or any of the characters.

Captain America: Winter Soldier

Marvel has had its ups and downs with their Avenger series, but the first and second installment of Captain  America has just been so superb.

Maleficent

I really enjoyed this Disney movie. I thought it had a beautiful message and refreshing take on a very old story.

Lego Movie

Hmmm. I’m not really a fan of any animation but this was quite well for what it was. (except for that wildly annoying and addictive song)

How to train your dragon Part 2

This movie could have worked with Toothless flying around the entire time, but I enjoyed the storyline as well. Very cute considering the big plot twist which was the equivalent to Robb Stark’s death in the animation world.

That awkward moment

Since watching Zac Efron cancels the need for a good storyline, I enjoyed this despite its flaws.

The Fault in Our Stars

Yeah, I cried like a baby. It was well adapted from the book and several levels of unfair.

Guardians of the Galaxy

It may not have been worth the hype, but it was good all around.

Grand Budapest Hotel

This is one of my favorite movies of 2014. Ralph Fiennes’ acting and the whole extravagance of the movie made for a wonderfully entertaining time.

What was your favorite movie of 2014?

December 30, 2014December 28, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Captain America: Winter Soldier, Grand Budapest Hotel, Guardians of the Galaxy, How to Train your Dragon Part 2, Lego Movie, Maleficent, Movies, Reviews, That Awkward Moment, The Fault in Our Stars, Vampire Academy 5 Comments

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

What happens?

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is abducted from earth by Ravagers seconds after his mother’s death. He is raised by them, and grows up under their leader Yongu (Michael Rooker).

Twenty-six years later Quill steals an artefact on the planet Morag. He is intercepted by Korath (Djimon Hounson), who is a servant for the cruel Ronan (Lee Pace). Yongu is furious that Peter did this without him and issues a bounty for him, while Ronan sends the assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to kill Peter and retrieve the stone.

I am Groot!

Quill, Gamora, the bounty hunter Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a genetically engineered racoon and his tree-like friend Groot (Vin Diesel) are captured when Rocket and Gamora tries to catch Quill the same time on Xandar, the home world of the Nova Corps. They are sent to a high security prison where they eventually team up with Drax (Dave Bautista), an inmate who initially wanted to kill Gamora for her connection with Ronan. Quill convinces Drax that Ronan wants Gamora dead for her betrayal and that he would be doing his enemy a favour and Drax decides to tag alone in the hopes of killing Ronan himself. Gamora reveals that she has a buyer for the orb and that if they work together they can share the cash.

After breaking out, they attempt to sell the orb, but disaster strikes and they realise how dangerous the orb is that Peter stole – it is an infinity stone that is exceptionally dangerous. They agree that getting the stone back to the Nova Corps is crucial because if Ronan gets it he will destroy Xandar.

Will they be able to elude Ronan? Can Xandar be protected by the fanatical Ronan who is intent on destroying the planet? Will the Nova Corps believe that Peter is trying to help them?

Rating: 7/10

I have to confess that I solely went to see this movie because I wanted to go to the IMAX theatre that opened in Pretoria recently at The Grove. It was so much fun. It is FAR and PRICEY but totally worth it – the mall itself is beautiful and new and wonderfully designed and the theatre is epic, although the leg space is a bit small. I really enjoyed the experience and the movie as a result.

Guardians of the Galaxy seem like something Marvel worked really hard on. it is beautifully done – the graphics are amazing and for once the 3D was actually obvious – have you felt as well that sometimes 3D seems so NOT 3D? The movie is packed with events and worlds and drama, humour and attitude.

Ronan the Accuser was frightening. He seemed genuinely cruel and without mercy, fanatical and bent on destruction. His outfit contributed towards the horror he carried with him, and his eyes genuinely seemed dead. I liked the fanatical side to the character – he wasn’t overly interested in world domination but wanted a brand of justice. It felt like a nudge to all the people in the world who murder on some misconception of giving justice to their own people.

Chris Pratt is suddenly this sexy man that has a real career beckoning in Hollywood. He is really funny as always and his character has so many quirks. He worked extremely hard to pull off a type of Iron Man superhero – who saves the day but is funny while doing it.

I really laughed at Drax – he is an ode to every person on the planet that doesn’t grasp sarcasm and is made up of pure logic. His story was sad and his initial despise of Gamora understandable. It was sweet to see how they all became closer as their adventure progressed, especially Gamora and Drax, who didn’t meet under the best of circumstances.

Good things in the movie:

Completely new story being told – very original stuff

The graphics was flat out awesome.

Chris Pratt

Groot – especially in the tiny form. He might go into the cuteness overload club alongside Toothless and Stitch.

Stan Lee – duh, as always.

Drax: NOTHING goes over my head!… My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.

Things that didn’t work:

Zoe Saldana – I feel like I can’t ever connect to her performances. She is firstly too fond of playing aliens and she doesn’t really ever feel authentic.

It sometimes feels too much – there is so much happening in this movie that you can lose track what is going down.

It is very long – three hours maybe?

The spoiler at the end of the movie was so not satisfactory considering the amount of credits you must sit through.

It didn’t give me that rush of emotions I was hoping for. I probably unfairly wanted to feel like I did the first time I watched the Avengers. This was good but the action never approached wow levels.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

August 5, 2014August 4, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Bradley Cooper, Chriss Pratt, Comics, Dave Bautista, Djimon Hounson, Drax, Gamora, Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy, Korath, Lee Pace, marvel, Michael Rooker, Movies, Reviews, Ronan the Accuser, Stan Lee, superheroes, Vin Diesel, Yonsu, Zoe Saldana 15 Comments

Five things Friday: Five completely random thoughts

Happy Friday!

Some completely random thoughts, all by me!

Source

1. Something hipsters need to stop doing: Sitting in the window seat of the aeroplane.

Everyone does it, so why are you following the mainstream?

2. To the atrocious girl at my work who told the new girl she is fat: YOU ARE HORRIBLE. And go take a look at yourself before you start giving opinions of others.

3. I fell on my left thumb as a child and it was bent for about two years before I had it surgically fixed. Now, with the repetitive motion of unscrewing things it is starting to throb like hell. Wondering what I should do about this?

4. The Pilanesberg National Park in South-Africa is so beautiful. I spent my last weekend there and saw the most beautiful scenery I have yet come across (and if you have been blessed like I have to watch the waves crash the shore at Jeffreysbay, South-Africa, you have seen some astounding beauty). I was lucky enough to see a black and a white rhino (poor, peaceful beauties that broke my heart), elephants, baby leopards playing, and tons of other animals. Thoroughly recommended.

5. I am going to watch Guardians of the Galaxy tomorrow night. Really excited, but more so because I am going to see it in IMAX – #newExperiences

August 1, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Five Things Friday, Movies, UncategorizedTags: Friday, Guardians of the Galaxy, hipsters, marvel, Pilanesberg National Park 5 Comments