Recently loved movies and stuff

I'm pretty useless about reviewing things but there are three movies,one book  and two apps that I've really enjoyed recently that I wanted to do quick reviews of on this rainy holiday Monday 

I LOVED this movie. It was the first one that I've actually had to look away from because the action was too intense though. It's all bravado and stunts and it's stupid as hell but SO COOL! People start talking plot holes with these movies but the only plot hole that matters is that they'd all be dead before the first half was up if any of that ish actually happened to them. It's so slick and so shiny. There's a LOT to like about this movie if you take it for what it is and don't expect anything else. I think my fave bit was when The Rock flexed his way out of a plaster cast! LOL!!!  Oh ... and also Vin in a tux ... just sayin.

The last bit was so well done and they really did well paying tribute to their lost friend. Over all 10/10 AWESOME

This has just come out here but I think it's pretty old. It had zero advertising and the only way I knew it existed was that I saw the trailer when I went to see another movie.. but lets not go there ( Into the woods blurgh).

We have a typical love triangle/interfering parents type fairy tale here. Everyone  knows how this story goes but I adored the way they presented it. The animation is bright and bold and vaguely Tim Burton-esque ( to this untrained eye at least) and the setting is so original. It's a movie about life and love told in the realm of death. I love the idea that no one is ever really dead so long as there is someone left to remember them and the Day of the dead festival to do just that. Personally I think it's more beautiful than morbid or scary. It was a little slow to build but seriously by the time I left the theater I was so in love with this. It's one that will still be good at home even if you don't have a giant TV to play it on so go watch it people! 8/10

I hadn't heard anything about this movie at all and actually watched it at home. I just .. ITS SO GOOD! I don't even know how to write something articulate about it. It's funny and cute and made me cry, it's smart and sensitive and just the best animation I've seen in forever. LOVE LOVE LOVE Big Hero 6

This book has had a ton of hype which can sometimes make me a little wary but I saw it on the rental shelf at the Library and decided to grab it. It's hard to explain the book without giving it away but it's about an experiment done by a Doctor of Philosophy on his family and the life long effects. It's about Animal rights and what family really means. It's so many things to be honest. I found this families life absorbing and read the book in a few sittings. It feels like a true story and when I was having a discussion with my mother a few weeks later about a similar issue I had to stop and think if I'd heard it on the news or read it in this book. We are all completely beside ourselves is intense and a bit weird and in some places it feels like you've read this story before ( BUT no you haven't). It's really original and feels smart though it's one of those things that will incite people with a bit of knowledge on the subject to come out swinging against it I'm sure. Take it for what it is and don't expect a fun ride. It's unhappy and bumpy and will certainly make you think about what you think about the world. 7/10

so that's what I've been loving recently. I also want to mention this ap

I just downloaded it a couple of days ago so I'm still in the fun, figuring it out and playing with things phase but so far it's awesome. I'm using the free edition and you can make videos up to 60 seconds long and use about 10 photos and 40 seconds of video. I've made a couple of little things that are really cool :)  ... and of course this one which turned my boyfriend into the prettiest little stripper out there...

My Idol is all in Chinese but reasonably easy to figure out. At first I was a bit frustrated because the photos of my boyfriend were going onto female figures and every time I ended up as a male! I thought it was using some algorithm to decide he was just prettier than me but then I looked a bit harder LOL. Lots of fun but I'm probably going to be over it pretty quickly. 

We're off to see the Avengers this afternoon so if I like that as much as I liked the first one I'll probably review it at some point :)

xoxo

Cinderella 2015

Yesterday I had the very cool privilege of taking someone to their first movie EVER!!! My fave little girl, 3yo Sophie, her Mum and I went to see Cinderella at Mission Bay.  Sophie did so well! I was really proud of her because it's actually a really long movie and it's confusing and it's 100% not a cartoon. Unfortunately it starts with sadness, death and dying ( oops) but luckily Mum was there with pretty fantastic answers to all of the questions.

I was so surprised but... I really enjoyed this!!! I thought the marketing to women instead of/ as well as girls was a bit weird but I get it. This fairy tale has such an appeal and they've vamped it up just enough to make it relevant and give it a place in 2015.  It's still a fairy tale and of course there's the Insta-Love problem and the 'Prince has every female dance for him then chooses a bride' problem but given that it's Cinderella and a fairy tale we'll let it slide.

I loved this Cinder. She was just a little bit sassy and she never gives in.  She handles the Step mother and sisters as we've come to expect Cinderella to but you never really get the sense that she 'becomes' the slave girl or that she gives up hope of a different life.

Of course they've done a beautiful job of making it beautiful! *Sigh* - That dance at the ball. Oh MY. I now want a big swirly dress and a classical dance at my wedding. So. Freaking. Perfect.

Go see this movie people. Take it for what it is ( a fairy tale) and just get swept away. As modern females of course there are problems with this story but it's not a modern story and at the end of the day it's fun to day dream about dancing with the prince at the ball ( Harry I'm Looking at you!).

LOVE 8/10

xo

A sad week at the movies

In the last week or so I've been to two different movies and they've both been super sad! Normally I'd run the other way from all of this emotion but in the first movie I had no idea what I was getting into and in the second I knew exactly what I was getting but it was something I've been excited for for such a long time I grabbed my tissues and almost literally ran to the theater!! 

Movie one is a micro-budget New Zealand movie. I thought the story telling and the movie stuff , like acting (and stuff) were pretty amazing. This story is honestly heartbreaking. As much as I usually go to the movies to be transported to a 'better', 'funnier', 'more beautiful' world there is really something so compelling about the dark side of reality. The movie centers around Tania who is working nights to try and raise enough money to take her little brother to Australia to find their dad. It's all going well and things are working out when reality hits. I love the way that they were able to infuse so much humor into such a terribly sad story without showing any disrespect to the characters and their situation. It was hard to form an articulate response to this movie because every part of the story is something that I have no experience with and very little knowledge of.  Though I did grow up just up the road from where they filmed it :) 

Fantail is something that we can all be proud of and I'd love to see what these guys could do with a budget! 

The. Fault. In. Our. Stars... do I need to say anything else???

I have been looking forward to this movie for more than a year so I was so excited to finally get the chance to see it yesterday. I had my extra tissues so I felt prepared for what I knew was to come. I don't know what the problem really was but as much as this was an awesome adaptation of the movie, as much as the acting and scripts were great there was just something that didn't reach the same heights as the movie that played in my head while I read the book. I think perhaps I'm old and crotchety and have too high standards for movies?? I really liked this. I cried a bit and smiled in the smiley parts and honestly appreciated what I was watching but I didn't fall in love.

xo

The best movie I've seen in a YEAR

I saw this awesome gem of a movie today. It's seriously the cutest and sweetest thing!!! I smiled so hard for most of it that my face was in PAIN but 3 hours later I was still smiling. This is just sooooo good. The story is about fathers and sons, it's about how the best way to be successful is to do something you love, it's about the power of social media and importantly it has a lot of food and a lot of awesome 'Cuban' music. The cast is so good. There are cameos and supporting appearances from a ton of big names such as Robert Downy Jr and Dustin Hoffman. The rest of the main cast is  made up of great actors with faces you know even if you don't know their names. 

I have to say that Scarlet Johansson made me want to run out and get a tattoo on my shoulder. Seriously..that woman is crazy hot. Actually the movie has some really good scenery. We have Miami and New Orleans that make you want to jump straight on a plane. There's Ms Johansson and Sophia Vergara and R.D.J and to be honest... the leading man is such a teddy bear! Eye candy galore.

GO.SEE.THIS.AWESOME.MOVIE :) or get it on dvd or netflix or something.

xo

It's raining it's pouring...

It's been a little while since I've written a post actually about anything. My problem is that .. actually there is so much to write about! I've been reading and trying new things and enjoying what the lovely Auckland has to offer and at the same time going to university, doing assignments and being present with the kids in the school I'm doing my practicum in.  

I went to the film festival and saw some great documentaries in some of my favorite cinemas in the city. I cant help but take a ton of pictures when I'm in the Civic. It's just so beautiful :) The festival was really cool and I'm already looking forward to next year!

I've been spending so much time in the Library and feeling really inspired by books. After my aunts funeral my uncle sent me a book voucher to say thanks for giving a eulogy. While that in itself was all sorts of awkward I do love having a book voucher to spend. It's almost a responsibility LOL. I never waste a book voucher. It requires research and consideration and I will definitely make sure I get the right book with it. Actually this lead to a cool little encounter. I was chatting with the sales assistant in the shop on one of my intel gathering trips and she said to me ".. can I just ask.. are you a nerdfighter??" LOVE IT :) she was the first person I've ever met who knew what that meant. AWESOME 

I ended up working in a pub to get one of my assignments finished hahaha. I am so classy sometimes but seriously that place was super conducive to working and I only had one beer to keep my wedges company so no harm no foul ... right?

My friend and I tried out Ugly Bagels at the city works depot. Absolutely worth all the hype. Not great for sitting and enjoying but that's just because they're so busy and I guess they cant be blamed for that :)  The Karma Cola was such a novelty. I still have the bottle to use as a vase because I just love the design. Of course the cola was also nice.

I'd love to write about things like the New Zealand edition of Iheart radio, or meeting a boy on the perfect end of the spectrum who is just very sadly not ready to be with anybody :( - or how one guy actually called me scary last night!! SERIOUSLY hahahahahhaahahahaha  I could write about university and how I have major struggles with not going postal on most of the student body who will just NOT SHUT UP when in lectures... or the way that our current weather is freakin me out man!  or even how I am so tempted to vote for Dave in our local body elections. He is NOT the right person for the job but he's such a local personality and at least I see him every day and he knows how to spell some really hard words .. (hehehe) The problem is that none of these directions are really how this blog was intended to go. I will have to think a bit about it because I actually like writing about that sort of stuff.

This weekend I am doing awesome stuff!! Tomorrow night I'm going to my friends ukulele concert. I'm very excited about that. on Sunday I'm painting faces at the Story Lines festival. YAY meeeeee :) So hopefully I will be more in the mood to write about those experiences. 

Well happy weekend!

:)

My brain hurts! .. but I have some new jams :)

I saw this documentary at the New Zealand International Film Fest this afternoon. It made me so sad I nearly cried. It's just such a travesty what the Italian Government has allowed to happen. The scene depicted in the picture above was so disgusting. There is giant cruise ship after giant cruise ship pulling up aside the seemingly teeny buildings and creating such havoc in the water that their vibrations are literally causing the city to crumble. It's sick and all of the problems are caused by greed. So much has been sacrificed in the name of money. It really opened my eyes to the effects of unregulated tourism and how I will try to engage with the places I am lucky enough to visit if I am ever lucky enough to. I can tell you right now it will not be on a cruise ship and it will not be in a group of 30 people. 

After the movie I was walking down to my bus and came across this particularly valid protest... I think. They're protesting against a new bill which will allow the NZ spy agency (LOL) unprecedented access to our digital lives. It really made me wish that I was more informed about what's going on. I am pretty angry about this issue BUT I wouldn't say that I actually know enough to form an articulate opinion. It made me feel dumb 

So with my mind whirrrrrring away I have come home to a blissfully empty house and made some of my special pumpkin soup to enjoy when Ice road truckers comes on in a little while. I also splurged on an itunes card and have created some pretty spesh DJ sets with some of these peeps ... so many new faves :-)

*sigh* :)

City Works Depot - Dry & Tea and The Great Gatsby

Today I went into the city to take advantage of my free movie ticket. I had planned to see the Melissa McCarthy + Sandra Bullock release 'The Heat' but it only came out today and apparently my ticket was only good for movies 2 weeks old or more... mmmyeah. Ok. So I decided to finally see The Great Gatsby.  Soooooo glad I did. I completely fell for Gatsby and Daisy. The scene in Nicks lounge where they meet again for the first time was so perfect :) Have to admit though that I did close my eyes *cough - fall asleep - cough*..... It was a beautiful and exciting movie but sadly I just don't think that even Baz Lurman could overcome that story. It's a bit of a snooze. Never the less I still wanna be Carrie Mulligan. She is so damn beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the CLOTHES. OMG THE CLOTHES :-)

While I was waiting for the later than anticipated movie time I strolled up town to try and track down the City Works Depot which seems to be the home of all of the new and exciting cafe's and such in the city.  When I got there it was a little bit intimidating for all of its 'cool' AND I really wasn't hungry so I went into the Dry and Tea tea house for a pot of 'Buddhas Tears'. 

It's all very new and girly and very fancy but despite the fact that I definitely enjoyed my tea and the place is lovely it was a little underwhelming. The shop is so small that it feels like more of a takeaway place. I sat in one of their teeny booth seats while I had my pot of tea but it wasn't particularly comfortable. The selection of tea was a bit average for somewhere calling themselves a tea house. I was hoping to have a long list of exotic teas to chose from but while really nice they were pretty limited and very standard. The tea cups and the tea timer were pretty ... the prices were good ( $5.50 for a 3 cup pot) , the little cakey thing that was on my spoon was out of this world..   I don't quite know what else to say. It was nice but I wouldn't go there if I was with another person and it's not in a very central location so for now this will probably be my only visit.

X

Fast and Furious #6

I saw Fast and Furious 6 this afternoon. LOVED IT!!!! This franchise gets better and better. WOW. It's pretty much what you think it's going to be but better. As always it was carried by the indomitable  charms of Mr Diesel, the fast cars and the impossible fight scenes. Each and every person on that team should be broken into little pieces but magically they pretty much come out unscathed. My friend and I were smiling the whole way through ... and gasping and holding our breath AND comparing the lovely Vin with the terrifying Dwayne "the rock" Johnson. OMG that man is ginormous! EEEwwwwww  

I always wonder why Vin is so attractive. On paper he really doesn't work but there's just something about that hyper masculine, loyal to the core explosive type personality all wrapped up in the delightfully buff package that isn't as OTT as The Rock.   

Ahhhh Vin Diesel. Long may you make awesome movies that make my heart race a little and leave me grinning like a dork.

10/10 two thumbs UP :-)

The 48 hour Film Festival

The 48 hour film festival is a really fun amateur film maker challenge. Teams enter and they get given a set of criteria and 48 hours to make their film. As far as I could tell this year the criteria were .. in no particular order.. a point of view shot, an insomniac named Vic Meyers and the phrase 'did you hear that'.

Tonight was heat 18 and there were 13 films so you can imagine how huge the job of the judges is! It was a very eclectic crowd and all of the teams were there so you could look around and see the stars of the show in the auditorium. The one I particularly liked was made by ... or the lead character was ( I couldn't figure out which) an alien pirate ninja! AWESOME. 

A couple of films left me scratching my head, some of them made me laugh my ass off and one was a horror so well done that I was super glad it wasn't longer than 7 minutes! The tickets were free... or well, I was told they were but I don't know if the person I was with might not have 'organised' it for me.

If I had known about this before hand I would love to have gone to check out more heats. Unfortunately those damn kids require me to be prepared and ready to roll before I get in frount of them so I wont be able to go back tomorrow for a few more rounds... hehehehe yeah. damn kids! :P 

Thanks for the invite Ryan :)

Three slices of awesome

Gosh it's hard to keep up with the intended posting schedule when I've actually been out and about seeing and doing a bunch of blog worthy things. I guess its always the right choice to do it rather than report on it. Rather than have one post that takes an hour to read I am about to do a couple of broken up ones to log in all the awesome from the last couple of weeks starting with two programs on television and one movie I saw that I just love so much and wish everybody could see and experience... 

I missed a bit of this one but 'The New Normal' is just about perfect television. Its funny and modern but behind all the stereotype characters there is a smart and completely adorable show that is developing more depth as it goes on. I watched the episode about choosing god parents for the baby last night and spent most of it smiling like a dork and going Awwwwwww. This show ROCKS :)

My favourite friend is back. Mathew Perry isn't playing 'Chandler' in this one but that's not to say the characters are completely different. Perhaps if Chandler had been a self centered sports radio guy and Monica died in a horrible accident one day then this might have happened in Friends world. I love this show for all of the nutty characters who are treated with sensitivity but their eccentricities are not pandered to. I love that Ryan is evolving and that he is actually a lovely guy under it all and most of all I just think that this show is so charming and lovely.... it's hard to put into words but it's a real grower and if you watch more than one episode you're bound to be hooked.

Now this isn't a perfect pic but it is most certainly a perfect movie. I don't say that easily. In fact I may be almost impossibly hard to please when it comes to capturing my movie dollars but I saw this and ... it's perfect. Nothing else to say. Iron Man 3 has EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING is done impeccably. I just don't have enough words to be more articulate than that. Go See This Movie if you haven't. So So So So good! 

*the one thing that does surprise me about this movie is that Robert Downy Junior and Vin Diesel now have something in common! They both have franchises that get awesome after the first one :) whodathunk!