Movie Monday

A few Mondays ago I saw two movies. At cinema. Previews for the Swedish market. They can be a bit late sometimes with films so I don’t know if they’ve been out for ages in other parts of the world.

First, The Ides of March with Ryan Gosling and George Clooney. From the cover and the Swedish title “Maktens Män” something like Men of Power kind of gave it away, men in politics. And it was.

Men abusing their powers, being owned by power, doing everything to be in a power position. Politics. Nothing less. Nothing more.

It was interesting. And it didn’t get too boring as films like this can. Also, now I know again how campaigning can be like.

Second, was Attack the Block. British sci-fi. Sci-fi means bad. Mostly bad. Almost always. And when it involves weird creepy creatures… I had nightmares after watching Gremlins.

On the good side, Attack the Block was very funny following a group of teens in South London mugging and fighting the creatures. And joking around so I didn’t have to keep sinking down in my chair. I was close to the floor a few times.

Of the two, I liked the second one best. They’re sort of complete contrasts. Different genres. Different worlds. Different people. Different ways of life. Shouldn’t even be comparing. But there was one thing. They all want to be in power.

My summer of music, and what a summer it was

Music is always better when it’s live and 2011 has been a big year for me. Earlier this year I saw Sade, Adele and Blackstreet. And this summer, which is now over or is it still late summer, has been filled with music. Music makes my world go round.

It started with Busy Signal in July. Two days at the festival Way Out West in mid August. A night of hip hop in late August.

Highlights

Waiting for Prince (I have seen Prince) to come on stage. An unbelievable moment to see a legend like him, even though I’m not a big fan. And when he played Purple Rain and the air was filled with purple confetti.

Wiz Khalifa’s energy and cuteness. And that he got the crowd dancing to a house track at the end leaving the stage without hardly anyone noticing because we were all dancing.

First Janelle Monae and then The Hives, both in black and white, getting the crowd to sit down.

Feeling like I was 15 again jumping to Swedish hiphopper Petter’s 90s hits. Så Klart, Vinden Har Vänt, Mikrofonkåt.

The Streets being on their last tour. Brits are among the funnest people. And why I love that country so much. Mike Skinner was great, fun, crazy, joking and telling off some guys in the crowd that were fighting.

Disappointments

Busy Signal should have come back out for an extra. Santigold excusing herself for having a cold. T-Pain.

Kanye West. My direct reaction was disappointment. He performed his hits, he talked a little bit and that was it. It was the third time I saw him so expectations were higher than they should be. But then it feels like he promises a lot and considering he was headlining…

In reflection he was all right. It was good but he should have come out for an extra number. Can’t be easy to perform the night after Prince. Runaway was his best of the night, very emotional. Til next time!

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

So clever! Morgan Spurlock makes a film about marketing, product placement and advertising completely financed by marketing, product placement and advertising. A documentary showing Morgan pursuing 1,5 million dollars to fund his documentary in an interesting and humoristic way.

And how long does it take until he’s being ruled by his sponsors, having to obey all their demands, until he’s completely selling out? He’s not selling out. He’s buying in.

First time I’ve been to a drive-in cinema. Great experience. Comfy seats. No noise from fellow spectators and you can talk as much as you want.

It was organised by Stockholm International Film Festival and sponsored by MINI Cooper where they took the chance to showcase the new model coming out, and everyone who came in a MINI were let in for free. Just for me to drool over.

I wanted a MINI before and I’m determined that I will have a MINI eventually. I want to try POM. I need to test Mane ‘n Tail. And I now know what JetBlue, Ban, Sheetz and Hyatt are.

And my birth-city is suddenly so much more appealing. No billboards. No posters. São Paulo, a metropolis with no visual pollution.

There have been talks about making a sequel to see if the film have had any effects on the businesses shown in the film. Morgan Spurlock has to stop talking about it and start making it.

Midnight In Paris

Exactly what I needed. A short light-hearted fun film full of clichés. I’m serious. It was very entertaining.

As always, films are better when I haven’t seen a trailer, read any reviews or heard anything about it. From the poster with Owen Wilson it had to be a comedy. Directed by Woody Allen. He’s a bit crazy, that’s the impression that I have, and normally it shows in the films.

And Midnight In Paris was a bit crazy. A very realistic story but then it wasn’t. The way I like it.

I loved the film from the beginning recognising the different Parisian sites. I love that city. The long intro set me in the right mood showing Paris from morning until night.

Every night Owen Wilson’s character Gil would travel to the 20s and the time of the Charleston. Loved the dresses. He would hang out with Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Picasso and Dalí and live the life he was dreaming of.

I was very happy to go to the cinema today because last time I went was about three months ago when I saw Pirates of Caribbean, the fourth in the sequel. Of course, if Johnny Depp is in it, it’s good. But there hasn’t been anything on that I’ve wanted to see throughout all summer.

Today, I had preview tickets that were free but I think everyone should see Midnight In Paris because it’s such a feel good film. And Paris is a wonderful and beautiful city. Especially in the rain.

Men Who Hate Women

…or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which is the English title of the Swedish novel and film Män Som Hatar Kvinnor. Apparently the direct translation, Men Who Hate Women, was too harsh, too offensive. Really?

I don’t care much for Swedish films but since I got a free subscription from Love Film, I had the film sent to me. And I’m happy I watched the film and didn’t read the novel. I would’ve been too disgusted.

It’s the best Swedish film I’ve watched so I understand why Hollywood is doing their adaptation. But then there’s not much original ideas coming out of Hollywood so they can’t go very wrong by nicking a success story.

It’s the best Swedish film I have ever seen. Then it’s been years since I watched one. Had a marathon about eight years ago, just before I moved to the UK. So thinking I should have another one now…

PIMMS and Lemonade

Seen the ads. Heard the ads. So many times. But it took me to move from the UK and go back to taste Pimm’s with lemonade and then have one myself.

It’s like English sangria. Very summery.  Got myself a bottle so I can mix my own at home. Will be great now that summer is here. I’m hooked.

Sitting at the pub, my friend couldn’t quite believe I had lived in England for six years and never had a Pimm’s. Sipped some of her’s and had two of my own after. Definitely hooked.

Last week, after I had been out for dinner, of the cocktail alternatives that were on the board, I chose Pimm’s with ginger ale and cucumber. Very nice too.

So next time I go back to the island I have one more thing to put on my list.

YO! Sushi

So they got a second chance. Only because I was at the airport and there wasn’t anything I really fancied amongst the overpriced options, light snacks and sandwiches.

First time I had Yo Sushi was in Reading a few years ago. I was really excited, having read about it and passing by the sushi bars many times. I didn’t like it and swore to never go back.

There weren’t enough options in the bowls passing on the conveyor belt and they didn’t come often enough. And it didn’t taste great for the price they charged. Obviously, there is a menu from where you can order other things but the excitement is in collecting bowls from the belt.

Second time around I rate them higher but I’ll keep in mind that I was in a busier restaurant at Heathrow Airport. I was very hungry, hadn’t had lunch and time was limited. So don’t go to YO! Sushi if you want to chill for a bit. You’ll get stressed only looking at the conveyor belt. It’s an eat-n-go place.

Also, when pouring water from the taps on the table be careful as the pressure is high and I made a real mess.

As for the options it was a lot better this time and bowls were coming so fast I couldn’t keep up. I went for the Salmon Selection with three slices of salmon sashimi, two salmon nigiri and two salmon maki and two California Rolls. Didn’t get full but enough to go and sit on a two-hour flight.

SADE

It’s about quality not quantity!

It’s something different when you see musicians perform that have been around for a while, which I truly appreciated when seeing Sade Tuesday night.

I had the chance to see the amazing Sade perform live and I would do it again. Only thing is that it might be in another ten years time or so if they ever decide to tour again.

Now, that it’s been made clear to me that Sade is also the name of the band and not just the beautiful singer Helen Folasade Adu, I have to give credit to the band who’ve stuck together for so many years. Even though it’s the singer’s voice that I love.

So soothing, so serene. Perfect to relax and listen to before falling asleep, which did worry me a little bit. What if… but no, it wasn’t possible, it was a breathtaking performance. One of the best.

The deepness of her voice, the sax and guitar solos, the visuals with the curtains covering the stage (see image).

All the great hits and the new tracks. Not much talk between the songs, no need for it. She was very sweet and I was awestruck by her beauty. At 52 she’s a well conserved woman. No Madonna or Whitney Houston.

And no fuss about clothes, no spectacular outfits, just nicely tailored sophisticated pieces. The heels were changed to pumps then to bare-feet.

Favourite song? Don’t ask because there are too many. Best of the night? They were all good but the ones that stood out were Pearls, Sweetest Taboo with Sade bare-feet in a long white dress and red bra, Smooth Operator with an introductory video clip, great stage setting and was then followed by the mind-blowing Jezebel.

I was touched, it touched all my senses and definitely my heart – it was a night filled with lessons in love.

Salty Chocolate (not balls)

Yes, I love chocolate. All kinds of chocolate. Lately, it’s been mostly dark chocolate. And chocolate with salt.

Nice combination. Really nice. Sweet and salt. A bit of smooth bitterness sweetness with salt. Add some nuts and it makes it even crunchier. Not that the salt per se is that crunchy.

So the one I really have fallen in love for is Karl Fazer’s Milk Chocolate With Roasted Salted Cashew Nuts. Obviously, it being milk chocolate, it’s a bit sweeter. But it’s the salted cashew nuts that I love. It’s just the right amount of crunch, salt and melting sweet cocoa.

When tasting Marabou Premium’s 70% Cocoa Sea Salt Pecan, I’d thought it would be saltier and nuttier. That’s the first bite. Once I get through a few pieces, it’s really good. It’s more chocolaty. It has more cocoa. It’s healthier. It has less crunch than Karl Fazer’s but in a good way.

It all depends on my mood. Sometimes I want something less sweet and less crunchy. And the benefit I get from dark chocolate is that one piece is enough to quench my thirst for my addiction.

Then the other one I ate a while ago was Lindt’s Excellence Dark A Touch of Sea Salt, which wasn’t bad but not great. Lindt is always good. Never had anything bad coming from them but it really was just a touch of sea salt. If you really focus on tasting the salt and put your mind into it, then you will.

Might have to go to the shops and see if I can find any other kinds of salty chocolate. Or just stick to what I know…

… nah that would be boring!

    

H&M – Fashion Against Aids

Isn’t it great when you can buy things for yourself and still help others? H&M are collaborating with a bunch of celebs in this campaign and 25% is donated to charity.

To be specific, the money goes to HIV/Aids education and prevention projects as it says on the tag.

It makes shopping so much more worthwhile. Look at what I picked up today – a really nice vest, perfect for these nice hot sunny days that we’ve had in Stockholm recently.

I will wear it with pride. And honestly there were some really nice stuff in the “Fashion Against Aids” collection. Thank you H&M!

See the collection and learn more at www.hm.com or click on the image below.