June 2016: Watched, Read, Loved

Hello! You might have noticed my blogging has been terribly limited lately. I planned to only blog three times a week for a few months, because life is truly speeding at this point and I barely have breaks. I haven’t even really managed three times a week for the past month and that depresses me a little, but I might have a bit more time for a few weeks so that will mean more time to spend on blogs. I’ve missed you!

This is pretty much a roundup of what I’ve been up to – entertainment wise and life wise. As mentioned, life has been hectic this June! I was away for two weeks on study time for my degree, and it always feels like such a time warp. It really is difficult removing myself from my life and living in another town for such a long time – it isn’t holiday so there is no relaxing and very little partying. I mostly end up missing my life and responsibilities, typically having moaned about them only weeks before!

In some more educational news, I passed both my semester exams! I danced and sang and danced some more. I actually got a distinction for this one lame ass subject, which is probably quite exciting when I really think of it, but I was way happier about the cardiovascular physiology that I also passed – I assure you that present me would go back a few years and stop past-me from choosing physiology as one of her majors #whatWasIThinking. I studied myself silly for that subject and it was good to be rewarded for it.

I’m also back to eating healthy – I was starting to slip back into my awful habits of eating all the nonsense out there. It’s hard, but I’m hoping it gets easier within a few weeks – I am assured that it will

I ended up watching a ton of movies that I’ve wanted to see for quite some time. I also got to watch Finding Dory in cinema, and I absolutely loved it.

A list of movies I really want to see in cinema:

Warcraft – I don’t think I’ll make this one, but I am definitely interested in seeing what is going on there.

Me Before You – it falls in either the hate or love camp at this point. I think there is some valid outrage and that disabled people really have a point, but I thought the book was done well enough and explained more eloquently what Will Traynor was about, and the movie

That is pretty much it, but there are a couple of great films also coming out (they will hopefully be great), including in particular Suicide Squad.

Movies watched at home:

Furious 6:

I’m finally done with the Furious franchise (although it might be running for a while still on the blog), and I need to properly rank them. I think my favorite remains Four, regardless of what IMDb thinks. Five is good but seriously unbelievable, and six and seven are so over the top I was rather a bit annoyed with it. Not nearly as bad as Tokyo Drift or 2 Fast 2 Furious (DON’T get me started), but I think they went way too far now.

Furious 7

As I mentioned above, they are going too far. I thought the tribute to Paul Walker was very sweet, but that is about the only thing I truly loved. I also think that the end was better than killing him off in the franchise. As with Mr. Darcy I would rather have him dead than not committed to the cause.

Pretty Woman

It is the first time I ever saw this film, and it ranks so highly now on my list of movies that I love! It is definitely not a film in the 2016 climate where everyone is offended, and that really contributed towards my love of it.

The DUFF

The DUFF was surprisingly hilarious and cute, and I really loved how it went to great lengths to not put the character through yet another makeover cameo that reinforces the belief that you should not be yourself.

The Guest

Second time watching this, and completely loved it again. Man, that Dan Stevens.

Laggies

I actually managed to review this film here. It was horrible, with a completely unrelatable character.

Quantum of Solace

QoS got a whole lot of hate online, and I’m not sure why. It’s not as good as Casino Royale, but it isn’t that bad.

Thor: The Dark World

I think I was pretty harsh on this film when it came out. It isn’t nearly that bad. Sure, it doesn’t come close to the other Marvel films but it was a fair bit of fun.

Series:

I am still working through The Vampire Diaries, and it is going painfully slow. It is not a reflection on the quality of the show, it is a reflection on the amount of time I actually have to watch the show. It’s still good though, Damon is as compelling as ever, Niklaus is endlessly fascinating and even Stefan isn’t as annoying this time around. I hope to get through all the seasons I have and do reviews on them, but I need to actually finish them up for it to happen!

I’m going to try and catch up with GoT at some point – however, I’ve accepted that with this show you either need to watch it immediately or accept that you will see spoilers. It is just too big at this point and the information is everywhere.

I also really need to get to Vikings. I loved the first season, and somehow ended up never even touching the rest. It is a damn shame.

Books:

I reread Whiskey Beach from Nora Roberts. It was one of my least favorite new releases from her when it came out, and I really thought it lacked essential things like good writing. I am revising that because this time around I felt a lot more charitable to it and I actually really enjoyed it.

I’m currently reading The Obsession by Nora Roberts and having the best time with it. I am really happy right now that I spent the cash on it, because I’ve been pining for this book for MONTHS.

I am also currently reading a whole lot of books at the same time. There is A Respectable Trade from Phillipa Gregory, which is really good when I actually sit down to read it, and a book by an Irish author (who I should write down), which is fine but pretty basic. I also really want to get to the sequel of You Before Me, and see how that goes down. I also got New Moon on a special at my local book store, which means I will get to that some time too (don’t judge). And there is another vampire novel. And I should finish this list. I should just read forever, really.

What have you been up to lately??

July 6, 2016July 3, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Books, Life, Life Lately, Movies, movies, UncategorizedTags: Fast 7, Finding Dory, Furious 6, Laggies, Life Lately, Me Before You, movie, Movies, Nora Roberts, Pretty Woman, Quantum of Solace, The DUFF, The Guest, The Obsession, Thor: The Dark World, Vampire Diaries, Whikey Beach, Worlds of Warcraft 6 Comments

Best of 2013: Movies

It is no secret that I love going to the cinema. I love the smells, the popcorn, the large screen and sharing a show with complete strangers. I get there as often as I can, especially if it seems really good.

Movies

Catching Fire

I am such a huge fan of The Hunger Games. I am starting to lean towards loving the movies more than the books (a first). The second installment in the franchise was fantastically done. I am so impressed that they managed to improve from the first movie.

Man of Steel (2013)

Pacific Rim (2013)

Generally, I don’t watch Sci-Fi. It was a surprise when I loved this movie. The effects was well done, the cast excellent, and the story solid.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Thor the Dark World (2013)

About Time (2013)

Amazing Spiderman (2012)

Honorable Mentions (Movies that might be on this list if I watched them before publication)

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Catching Fire (2013)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

What was your favorite movies of 2013?

December 11, 2013December 10, 2013 by Natasha Categories: MoviesTags: About time, Best of 2013, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, Superman, The Amazing Spiderman, The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit, Thor: The Dark World 1 Comment

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

It is not often that a sequel does better than its first instalment. I was so surprised that I enjoyed it more than Thor (2011), since I really enjoyed that a lot. I made sure I went as soon as it got released, to prevent any spills on the internet – I experienced that recently and I am still ticked off.

Bor, Odin’s father, clashed with the Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eckleston) ages ago. The Dark Elves where planning on destroying the Universe with the Aether, a very powerful weapon. The Elves’ home, Svartalfheim, is destroyed, and Bor seals the Aether in a stone column. He does not know that Malekith and his lieutenant survive.

In the present, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is sentenced to life in prison for his war crimes on Earth. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is told by Odin (Anthony Hopkins) that he will become King as soon as peace is restored to the nine realms.

*Loki in prison

Thor’s mind, however, is rooted firmly on Earth, where his love Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) lives. It has been two years since they have been together, and he misses her a lot. He has Heimdall (Edris Elba) keep an eye on her, and is alerted to when she suddenly disappears from Earth. He returns from Earth to search for her, and when she suddenly displays frightening protective techniques when someone poses a danger to her, he takes her to Asgard, much to Odin’s annoyance. Odin realises that she has been infected by the Aether, and will eventually die from the power that surges through her. Thor promises to find a way to return her to full health.

*Jane and Queen Frieda

The Aether’s release causes Malekith to awaken, and he swears vengeance on Asgard. The city is attacked, and terrible tragedies happen. Thor and Odin are divided in their grief, and Thor directly disobeys Odin’s orders and leaves Asgard to destroy Malekith. He enlists the help of Loki, knowing that he risks his life doing so. They take Jane with them, as the Aether is now within her, hoping to draw it out of her and keep her alive.

*Malekith

Loki manages to trick Malekith into taking the Aether out of Jane, but they fail to kill him. Realising the convergence of the realms is in Greenwich, the return to Earth to fight Malekith.

*The Dark Elves

Will Earth survive another attack brought upon them? Will Malekith be finally destroyed? And will Jane and Thor finally manage to reconcile?

Rating: 8/10

I really loved this film. It is better than the first one, as I mentioned earlier, and it is incredibly entertaining. There are quite a few surprises and deaths, and it all fits into a good tale.

The humor was well done and luckily not too much. The scene where everyone threatens Loki should he dare betray Thor again was hilarious. I laughed at some of the impersonations Loki pulled off to irritate Thor. Basically his entire part was extremely well written. Tom Hiddleston seemed really perfect for the role. He balances Thor’s extreme presence, and they make such an interesting pair.

This time around, Chris Hemsworth improved on his portrayal as Thor. He was fine in the first film, and in the Avengers, but both of those enabled him to become better as an actor. He really is well cast.

I would definitely recommend that you treat yourself and go watch this in cinema. It is totally worth it.

Have you watched it yet?

 

 

November 11, 2013 by Natasha Categories: Avengers, Movies, ReviewsTags: Anthony Hopkins, Chris Hemsworth, Dark Elves, Loki, Movies, Odin, Reviews, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Tom Hiddleston 12 Comments

5 Things Friday: 5 Things happening right now

South-Africa’s multiply disordered government

Our President put his foot in his mouth – Again

E-tolls is a new tolling system on the roads in Johannesburg that the South-African government hopes to implement. It is angering motorists because it is going to be ridiculously expensive, we are already paying an astronomical amount of tax and fuel prices are already so high nobody needs extra expenses.

Mr. Jacob Zuma released a statement saying plenty of unsavoury things about the anger directed towards E-tolling. Read it here. Great job, sir. We know you can’t run for President again but I’m sure your political party is super chuffed with you calling their primary voters backwards. GREAT JOB. I am actually imagining the Democratic Alliance (another political party in South-Africa) hosting a party in your honour.

Watching

I am currently watching Suits now. I expected it to be good, really, but was surprised at how much I am entertained by it. It is cut-throat, fast paced and high powered, and the characters are incredibly sarcastic and driven, and I love that.

Movies

There are finally good movies being released. I love the whole experience of the movie – going to the cinema, getting popcorn, sitting in the dark and watching something come to life on a huge screen. I haven’t been the movies for a bit – mostly because I was broke, very busy and there weren’t any great movies on. THAT is why I am so excited. I’m going to make some time soon and go see at least one or two the next few weeks.

On the 8^th of November, Thor: The Dark World is being released here in South-Africa. I can’t wait to see what Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman have done as Thor and Jane again.

Next on my watch list is Catching Fire which will be released on the 22^nd of November. Part of the Hunger Games series focuses on Peeta and Katniss when they get sent back into the arena only a year after they won the Games together. Katniss knows President Snow hates her, but will she be able to be victorious again? I am skeptic about the actor cast as Finnick Odair, but I am willing to be open minded and see if they bring the second book justice.

Excited

In a month’s time, I am traveling to Cape Town, South-Africa, to go to the WSPID conference. Cape Town is one of the places I haven’t visited in my own country, and I am honestly excited to go there.

Desperately in need of:

A car,

A new haircut.

Time: For studying, Reading, Relaxing, Sleeping and Watching Series. All these tasks are crammed into the little time I have in the evening, and it is exhausting me. Luckily I am on study leave next week, so I have time then to study.

What’s happening in your life right now?

xX N

October 25, 2013October 24, 2013 by Natasha Categories: Five Things Friday, MoviesTags: Cape Town, Car, Catching Fire, Chris Hemsworth, E-tolls, Five Things Friday, Gale Hawthrone, Hunger Games, Jacob Zuma, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, Movies, Natalie Portman, Peeta Mellark, politics, Series, South-Africa, Suits, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Time, Travelling, Wishes, WSPID conference 3 Comments