Right, so it took a while for me to bring myself down to the cinema to see this film. First, I’m not into science fiction. Second, I’m not one to fall for peer pressure but this time I did. Haven’t seen any of the Ring films or Star Wars and only bits of a few Bond films. Third, 3D!!!
I had to find out what the hype was about. I hadn’t heard anything negative about it and then it won a/a few Golden Globes and it’s been nominated for Oscars.
Of course, I watched it in 3D, no point in having to say I didn’t when people ask if I did. I wasn’t too impressed by the 3D effects though. I thought I was supposed to feel like I was being a part of the film, at least little bit. Disappointed. I had a much better 3D experience at Disney World.
Converted to science fiction, no! There will always be unanswered questions in my head with science fiction. So, looking passed this fact it was kind of nice to fantasise about the peaceful world of the Avatars. Flying on your own dragon. Glowing trees.
Still, I really enjoyed the film and found it worthwhile because of its story. How sad, selfish and ignorant human beings can be, thinking they’re in a superior position trying to force their ways onto strangers. People are just so scared disrespectful of the unknown. At least some kind of reality. But then I had read somewhere, James Cameron, the writer and director, saying the film was about people.
So is 3D now here to stay? The trailers were all in 3D and I remember watching some weekend morning shows on telly in 3D, didn’t have the special glasses but if I did it would’ve been in 3D. I did take a look behind me in the theatre what the future may look like, an audience all wearing funny glasses. And then we’ll be wearing them at home, and if going to friends, make sure to bring the glasses or it all be a big blur.
All released in 2009. Hmm… why? Coincidence, maybe.
At two occasions Obama supporters chanted the song in reference to former President George W. Bush after the election and at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Delicious sushi to go. Ok, I love sushi but it doesn’t mean that I like all sushi.
Ready-made sushi bought in boxes is almost always dry and quite tasteless. Not enough pieces, a lot of rice no filling or very little meat. It doesn’t have the freshness sushi normally has. When it’s right you feel healthy, fresh and a sense of well-being.
All right so I was in a rush and very hungry, not in the mood for sandwich. Passed by itsu, and thought sushi will do. 5 salmon makis, 3 small California rolls and ruccola and carrot salad with sunflower seeds for £5.95. Good price.
It filled me up, it was tasty and fresh. Best sushi in a box I have had. The salmon covered the whole bed of rice. Not a great fan of sesame seeds on my rolls since they come off in the soy sauce. And not enough soy sauce, which is always a problem.
Best film this year? Best film ever? Definitely Tarantino’s best ever so far!
When I saw the trailer for Inglorious Basterds, I thought, another World War II film. Aren’t there enough. Why would Quentin Tarantino do one as well?
Putting Tarantino and Brad Pitt together it makes it a must-see film. And good it was. Maybe there will never be enough World War II films. There were so many countries involved, so many stories to be told and different angles. But then fiction can be added to it too.
Inglorious Basterds, a full-on film from beginning to end. From the opening scene where a Frenchman, against his will is forced to admit hiding Jews in his house to a Nazi officer to where the Basterds’ leader leaves a mark on the same Nazi officer.
In the Nazi occupied France, Shoshanna, the Jewish girl that got away later meets up with the man who killed her family. She lives in disguise as a French cinema owner inherited by her aunt. She gets the chance to get even when her small theatre hosts the premiere of a German war film to be attended by the highest officers and Hitler himself.
The Basterds also plan their invasion of the premiere as it is their chance to end the war. The American soldiers came with a mission, to kill and hand over 100 Nazi scalps each, in Tarantino goriness style.
Perfect timing is what made this film a greater one. As well as the camera angles, skilled actors, sound effects, clever and sometimes humorous dialogue and the book chapters it was divided into giving spectators a breather.
As for all films there’s a message. For that I recommend reading Mark Blankenship’s thoughts on Inglorious Basterds who makes a valid point. Click here for his review.
So I heard it now. Yesterday morning on BBC Radio 1, Chris Moyles’ show.
Alexandra Burke’s new single. Bad Boys with Flo Rida. So what do I think? Not as good as JLS’s Beat Again. I hate that it has to be compared to the boys but it’s hard to avoid it.
I want to be nice about it and say that it will grow on me, it might. Probably not. It sounded like something out of the Eurovision. Too pop, too girlie. Not sexy enough, not sexy at all. The name of the song is Bad Boys, what else would you expect. At least Flo Rida brings some bad boy into it.
Even though it didin’t do it for me and my high expectations, it will get lots of airplay and people will love it.
What I wonder though, do those Radio 1 DJs really like everything they play? Don’t think so. Alexandra was there chatting with Chris and his crew. After they played the song, one of Chris’s friend, pretty sure it was Aled, could have been Dave pointed out that it sounds like she sings ’spinning marmite’. It really did.
It was funny. The cheesy chorus ‘The bad boys, always catching my eye. The bad boys are always spinning my mind,’ which really sounded like spinning marmite. Anyway, annoying as they can be on that Breakfast show they went on and on and on spinning marmite. Marmite, you either love it or hate it.
Tonight’s the night. Saturday night entertainment for the next few months, X Factor. I’m excited.
The audition shows start today, which is the funny part. There are so many losers who think they’re better than what they really are. And hearing Simon Cowell slag them off – the man is pure honesty, sometimes a bit to harsh. He is a big part of the show and it wouldn’t be the same without.
I do like that Cheryl Cole stepped in for Sharon Osbourne. Not as crazy and she speaks up to Simon and then there’s the fashion war between Cheryl and Dannii Minogue. I prefer curvaceous.
So last years winners, JLS, made it to number 1 with their debut single Beat Again. They didn’t actually win the competition. They came second. Alexandra Burke won. Are they holding her back until the live shows?
If everything goes right she can be big or just be another one in the bunch of pretty girls that can sing but you can’t really make out who it is.
The acts were good last year, really good. Spanish Ruth Lorenzo had an amazing voice and the energy of a bull. Diana Vicars, the blonde fairy with the very distinctive voice and funny hands. Laura White, who unexpectedly got the kick out early in the process even though being the bookies favourite. There were some good boys too, but there’s no doubt JLS were the best amongst them.
So it’ll be interesting what they’ll find this time around. Who gets what category. Who’s put through to the finals. Will the live audience at the auditions will make a difference (they’re hired shrinks to make sure no one ends up at the Priory, taking precautions that is). I heard Dannii’s getting help from sister Kylie… and Louis Walsh, doesn’t he always skip to put through one or two the best acts in his category.
Shakira is back! Her new song She Wolf, big hit. It makes me want to dance.
A bit different to Shakira’s previous sounds. Her vocals are still familiar but the electric notes come as fresh air.
And it comes with a video. The leotard that she’s wearing, fierce. The pop and locking moves, fierce. Not just the boobs, her whole body. Bye bye Fergie. And Beyonce is already practicing.
15 second preview of the video. For the full version, visit Shakira’s MySpace.
The Scorpion’s Sweet Venom: The Diary of a Brazilian Call Girl by Bruna Surfistinha. It’s Bruna’s own story of how she left home at 17 to own her living as a prostitute.
With a middle-class background, she always kept her standards and with an open-minded attitude, she was willing to try anything requested by her clients. Many stories that are detailed in the book.
She first went to live in a whore house but as her career progressed she got herself her own apartment and her own clients.
Very entertaining book to read and for some it probably works as a guide. The clients were happy to share their stories with Bruna, who at many occasions acted as a counsellor.
It’s the positive side of prostitution and how some can get lucky that is portrayed in this story.
Bruna did use drugs and not everything was fancy pansy. The fact that she had an education and came from a wealthy family plays a big role. She starts her own blog gaining unexpected popularity, through the business she meets her husband, leaves the prostitute profession and lives happily ever after… like Cinderella.
Bruna Surfistinha is the pseudonym of Raquel Pacheco.
Last week at this time I sat in a red chair in a dark room. Cinema, not what I normally do on a Sunday morning. I managed to get some free preview tickets to a film. Sin Nombre. Latin American. Excited and happy to watch a foreign film. I get bored of all the English speaking sometimes.
Sin Nombre, without name in Spanish, raises the issues of immigration and gang loyalty. Two stories twist into each other.
Sayra is reunited with her father to make the trip from Central America across Mexico to the US. Along the way they meet Casper who wants to leave his gangster life behind. It’s a tragedy.
I sat there with hope, because that’s all I could do. I wish things could be different but it’s a slap in the face because they’re not. I like films like this. You learn something. It shows how tough life can be. It’s very emotional.
“Welcome to Ping Pong, the Twenty-First Century Tea House. We have twelve stylish Central London and City based restaurants serving delicious hand-made dim sum, fragrant teas and sensational cocktails.” (From their website)
I went to the Soho restaurant on Great Marlborough Street on Sunday afternoon with two girlfriends. It turned out 3 was the perfect number. The tapas-like dishes came in threes.
Two of us had never had dim sum before so it was a new experience, a good one. Many different flavours. Steamed dumplings, sticky rice, steamed buns, chilli squid and the best prawn toast I’ve ever had.
The steamed bun was whiter than white and its sweet taste was a surprise. The dumplings were fresh, absolutely delicious and I should have had some more. The sticky rice was wrapped in a Lotus leaf with a strong smell of green tea but apparently we weren’t supposed to eat the leaf. The salmon and noodle salad with goji berries, which is a red sweet wrinkly berry, different to anything else I have had.
On top of that, my dessert, mango pudding in coconut milk was very tasty. It could have been a bit bigger.
I liked the restaurant, the atmosphere, the interior. It was contemporary, clean and welcoming. I will definitely go back and introduce others to the dim sum experience.
For me, having dim sum for the first time, was a bit like when I first had sushi. Sushi was completely different but this was eating Chinease in a new way but still incorporating some of the familiar. I hardly ever have Chinease anymore, not at restaurants, as a take-away and I don’t cook it anymore. Dim sum, however, has brought the pleasure of Chinease food back, mostly because of the way it’s served.
