Movie Review: Hugo (2011)

Rating: PG

IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

I decided to review one of the movies that I watched on Shaw on Demand. Even though I didn’t get the full theatre experience with this movie, I enjoyed it enough to say a good word about it.

This came out around Christmastime, and it is a perfect Christmas movie. The cinematography is incredible… it almost looks as if the entire movie has been airbrushed with CGI. Every colour is super saturated and the sweeping zooms and panning is gorgeous. Just seeing this movie is beautiful in itself.

The acting is great, considering the main actor is quite young (born in 1997). I cannot believe Chloe Moretz is so gorgeous already… she’s born in the same year but she looks very mature for her age. She was a hoot… she was witty and intelligent and courageous. 

Highlights:

• Beautiful to look at
• A-list cast of talented actors
• Chloe Moretz
• Cute story and uplifting plot
• Good family movie
• Great reference to film history

Lowlights:

• Not too much ‘action,’ but very story-oriented plot

My Verdict:

I watched this with my parents and they both loved it. My mom got pretty emotional at some points, so that always makes a movie a hit for her. It wasn’t super entertaining, The movie does seem targeted toward younger audiences, but I enjoyed its ‘cuteness.’ I also really appreciated the film references. I took film in high school and university and have always loved the history of film. This is a great homage to it!

7.5/10

Movie Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

I haven’t really been watching many movies since Christmas. I’ve been buying movies from Shaw on Demand, but haven’t gone into a theatre until The Hunger Games.

Rating: PG-13

IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

The plot according to IMDB:

“Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.”

Put simply, sure. I read the books before the movie adaptation was announced, and I enjoyed it. This isn’t a book review so I’m not going to get too much into it… there are enough reviews about how the movie didn’t hold a candle to the book, how they changed too much, blahblah.

The movie is a great action movie. There isn’t as much character development as I had expected, but the director did a great job bringing the arena to life. The fight scenes were dramatic, and I did feel empathetic toward the characters. 

I’m not going to get too much into the changes in the movie… but I didn’t agree with how they changed how Katniss got the Mockingjay pin (a recurring and important symbol). Also, since so much of the book is Katniss’s thoughts and emotions, it is impossible to portray that in the film without narration or voice over. They didn’t use those, so a lot of the time you just had to focus on her facial expression.

A lot of people said that those who hadn’t read the book would be entirely lost. Well, agree but don’t entirely agree. You don’t really need a degree to know what’s going around, and reading a synopsis before the film isn’t too tough.

Highlights:

•    Nice amount of action
•    Appropriate for younger audiences
•    Good length (2.5 hours)
•    Fantastic costume design
•   Actors did a good job of portraying the characters, it was convincing

Lowlights:

•     Camera was a little shaky during action scenes making it difficult to discern what was happening. At the same time this made it less violent during the obviously vicious scenes
•     Stayed only mostly true to the novel

My Verdict:

This won’t be my favourite film of 2012, but it had a lot of entertainment value. I highly appreciate how dystopian novels are making a comeback in film. I have always been a fan of dystopian novels and I’m happy to see younger generations are enjoying them too.

7.8/10

March Glymm Box!

People just can’t quit complaining online… I’ve seen so many people frustrated with how they haven’t gotten their delivery yet. I live on the West Coast. Everything takes longer to get to me, so I’m used to it. These people are spoiled, in my opinion. I understand the concept of customer service, and of the principle of good service… but really… did forests burn when your package came late? Did children screen in the streets for their mothers? Did the earth tilt?

Nope. We’re all still here. And you’re bitching about a $10 a month subscription? If it bothers you so much then DO something. Cancel. Post ONCE about it and leave. Don’t just plague the Facebook Wall with your incessant criticisms.

Enough ranting… onto my box!

Yay for:

Ocean Nail Polish in Crimson Catwalk                                Full Size 15ml

First off, I peeked (as I usually do) and was excited to see many people got a BB cream and a nail polish. I was very fortunate to get the nail polish in a colour I actually like! I heard some people got quite sheer neutrals and those looked kind of streaky… I have a lot of reds already but it really won’t hurt to have another. I already painted my nails today but I’ll be sure to try this one out soon.

M. ASAM Magic Fini                                                               5ml

So many people complained WITHOUT TRYING THIS PRODUCT OUT FIRST that this was too dark for them. This isn’t a foundation. It’s like a BB cream. It’s meant to really, really sheer out and blend into your skin. I tried it a bit today (not on my entire face) and it was a little drying… could just be that it snowed here the last two days and my skin is just dry, but we’ll see.

Anastasia Lip Gloss in Sorbet                                               1ml

I find this quite sticky, but I have never minded sticky lip glosses… I’ve always been under the impression that lip glosses are inherently sticky so no complaints. This is actually quite pink. I usually have a lot of peach and red lip glosses, so this is nice. The packaging is also very cute, although small.

Nay for:

NuMe feather hair extensions in green and black                        Full Size (3 Extensions)

This was the main downside to the box. Many people criticized this online, and I’ll have to agree… it seems like NuMe sent out the reject colours. Some people got purple and black, red and black, yellow and black… but no neutral or normal hair colours. I understand it’s a fun piece, not meant for practicality… but it’s too young for me. And I’m still in my early 20s. I can’t imagine going into work with this in my hair either… yikes. I’d look like a bumble bee on acid.

Meh for:

Coup D’Eclat Instant Facial Energizer                                1ml

This one is very similar to the Lise Watier Flash Radiance Vial that I’ve received before in a sample box. However, I am not into glowy/radiance/sheen looks. Just isn’t my taste. But this is a nice bonus, as it wasn’t listed on the card.

Overall impression of March’s box:

I really liked most of the products… I’m ALWAYS happy to get a full size (or even sample size) or nail polish and lip gloss. Honestly I can overlook the fact that I got green feather extensions, because I did get a bonus product (the flash radiance vial). Even though I saw many people got repeat products as their bonus instead of something brand new, I am happy with what I received.

In Memoriam of... Grandpop

This morning I found out my grandfather on my mother's side has passed away. It wasn't entirely unexpected, or a surprise. He has been in the hospital a few times over the last few years, but we knew this time he wasn't responding to treatment. He is 92 years old and such a tough ol man... it's sad to know he's gone.

I wasn't close to him. My family on my father's side is not close. They do not call often, they email sometimes... but they have never been emotionally charged people. Despite this distance, I can feel the loss.

I've only been to two funerals in my lifetime, and both of those have been for my grandparents. Grandpop was my last living grandparent, so it's upsetting to know he's gone.

Regardless of religious or spiritual or personal beliefs, I believe he's in a place where he's much happier and better off. He was always a very healthy man... ate his veggies, exercised, and was walking without a cane even until he was about 91.

I'll miss my grandpop, and I hope he's resting peacefully and proud of his sons and daughters...

Haul: Nail Polish

It was my birthday a couple weeks ago, and I got a few things I had been drooling over. Some of my other birthday goodies have been digested and returned to the earth already, so these are a few of the tangible things I received!

I asked for nail polish… because who could go wrong with more nail polish!

Two of these my mom and I share from her February Julep Maven box, so I’ve included those as well.

Rimmel London in Crushed Pearl (a semi-sheer purple-pink-grey)

Wet N Wild in Gray’s Anatomy (a semi-sheer grey-purple-pink)

Sally Hansen in Mint Sorbet (a lovely mint green)

Revlon in Charismatic (an orange coral colour)

Revlon in Fashionista (a dark teal blue)

Art Deco nail brush in Forest Green

Art Deco nail brush in Tangerine

Art Deco nail brush in Red

Julep Maven in Rachel (a coppery, chocolate… red colour)

Julep Maven in Meryl (a very chic medium gray, on my nails now!)

China glazes from left to right:

China Glaze in Concrete Catwalk (a dark gray)

China Glaze in Ruby Pumps (a densely packed glittery ruby red)

China Glaze in Gaga for Green (a medium apple green)

China Glaze for Kinetic Candy (a very nice sky blue)

I’ve been really debating whether I want to get a Sally Beauty Supply membership. The problem is there are only two Sally’s stores in BC… one in Surrey and the other in Abbotsford, both very far from me. I don’t buy nail polish too often, but it seems like when I do I tend to get a lot. There’s apparently another beauty supply store on Kingsway that I have yet to check out… but their membership is $10 a year instead of the $5 at Sally’s… much to consider!

The Last Few Days

My birthday is in early March and I spent the day celebrating with some friends! 

I feel very grateful for being alive… I know a lot of people haven’t had a very good life, but I have been entirely blessed and have been fortunate and pretty lucky.

Those are prawns, I swear!

I’ve never had any major bouts of depression and I’m proud to say that I’m a pretty positive person. A big thanks to everyone to celebrated my birthday with me!

One day they'll invent smell-o-blogging and it'll be amazing...

They made me pasta and I got some cake, and some gifties that I’ll upload more on later. (I have eaten a lot of the presents, but no one can really blame me…)

Kitty!

On nom on om!

I get pretty excited for my birthday every year... I'm not a party-person nor a celebrator of most events, but I just get so incredibly stoked for the festivity and inherent excitement of things! I'm already looking forward to next year! I'm sure I'll be less enthusiastic when I'm turning 30 or something...