Sons of Anarchy

Just a quick one, but I just had to say how impressed I was with the first episode (pilot) of Sons of Anarchy. I was really dubious about committing to another new series, and a show about motorcyle gangs just didn't really appeal. I'm so glad I gave it a shot however! I think this could be the new replacement for Breaking Bad once I've caught up to regular programming with that series.

The first thing that struck me about this episode was the music. It took me a little while to figure out in what time it was set because of the 70's-esque funky rock music. If I was more up with modern music I'd have realised that it was the likes of The Black Keys and Lions that were creating that stoner rock sound.

The second thing I noticed was the HOT male lead. Ok, so I'm gonna go a bit girlie here for a moment, but wow. Charlie Hunnam plays Jackson (Jax) Teller, and he does a good job of the whole rugged, bad boy thing. He's also a pretty decent actor too....not that you would care much if he wasn't.

Even just from the pilot, you get a good idea of which characters you'll champion, and which you'll love to hate. Jax's mother Gemma is played by Katey Sagal (interestingly, also the voice of Leela from Futurama) and gee does she play the bitch well! Another stand out is Maggie Siff who plays an ex-girlfriend of Jax's, Tara Knowles. I'm looking forward to seeing some more of her after her very good turn as Rachel Menkin in early episodes of Mad Men.

Content is certainly not lacking here either. For just one episode, it certainly packs a punch. Think gunfights, explosions, warehouse fires (including crispy fried unfortunates) and a closing scene that actually made me cry. If you have been putting off starting this series, don't wait any longer! I can't wait to catch up to the rest of the world who are already enjoying season 4.

Ok, so before I talk about Adele, I just have to say how awesome the season 3 finale and the first few episodes of season 4 of Breaking Bad have been! I think I'm going to be very sad when I catch up to regular programming!...Anyway, ADELE!

I am absolutely thrashing this awesome CD. Apart from being gorgeous, this girl has a serious set of lungs on her. 21 is a beautifully depressing album full of tales of lost love, heartbreak and life's complexities, all told passionately through Adele's rich vocal.

Her style is hard to pinpoint, but is some magic concoction of soul, blues and pop. Although some might compare her to the likes of Amy Winehouse or Duffy, there really is no comparison. The breadth of her talent is unlike anything I've heard in recent commercial music.

I think one of the most captivating things about this album is the storytelling. Characters spring into the mind fully formed, dressed with emotion and full of breath and life. I challenge anyone to listen to this album without identifying with at least one track. In fact the smash hit 'Someone Like You' is bound to bring wisps of nostalgia and longing to anyone who has ever left someone behind.

Adele's voice is just to die for. Although not what some might call perfect, her full contralto is so real and connected to the music. Fully capable of belting out with the best of them, where I feel she really excels is in the emotion conveyed in her softer moments. Don't worry, there are certainly some tracks worthy of a rousing shower chorus, but the intimate moments are the ones that really get me.

Hopefully she can manage to preserve and take care of this voice in the long run, as she has recently had to cancel many individual concerts and also half of her US tour due to vocal issues. It would be a real shame if this album wasn't followed by something equally as glorious.

Do yourself a favour and pick up this album where ever you can. I can honestly say I've been listening to it for months and still have never skipped a track.

Breaking Bad - Season 3 Finale

So, I am in love with Breaking Bad . This is such a fantastic show. I stumbled across it while looking for a replacement for my beloved House after hearing it was in its final season. Basically I was looking for something to fill the void once House was gone.

I didn't expect to find it in this series about a highschool chemistry teacher turned meth cook. But this show is so full of action, suspense, plot twists and even a healthy dose of well timed humour that I found it hard to resist.

The acting across the board is really top notch, as is the directing and writing, which doesn't always take the easy way out. A standout episode for me is season 3's 'Fly', a bottle episode of the highest degree which somehow manages to pack as much (if not more) gut wrenching suspense as some of the big budget action episodes.

Abandoning my plan of watching an episode here and there to see if I 'got into it' I devoured the entire first season in one sitting. The second and third seasons followed suit in a similar fashion. That is up until last night....

Dinner is done, the Stig is asleep, Hubby is happily playing Deus Ex on the PC and I settle in for the finale episode of season 3 (alright, I know I'm behind....). And what happens? That's right, the power goes out! I could not believe it! But of course this isn't a problem because I'm watching it on my iPad right? Nope. I was watching it over AirVideo (an awesome app, by the way) which means the files are stored away nicely on my external drive. So basically...I had nothing :(

Ah well, the best laid plans.....

Anyway, now that Stig is down for his nap, it is on like Donkey Kong! Bring on Season 3 finale!!!

This is one instance I'm happy noone reads my blog....no spoilers :P

--Slinky xxx

Green Lantern

Ok, so I was all set up to be incredibly cynical about this movie, and totally convinced that I was going to dislike it to some degree. I had every reason to feel this way. In the past, it's fair to say that comic books haven't translated so fantastically to the big screen. Spiderman was totally underwhelming. Batman is hit and miss. Transformers has it's good and bad points. Add to this the fact that I can't think of one good thing that Ryan Reynolds has been in, and that Blake Lively is best known for Gossip Girl, and I was ready to hate this film.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good action flick, and who can resist a man in tights, but my viewing history has led me to be at least sceptical of any offerings in the comic-book-to-movie line.

DESPITE all this however, I was actually pleasantly suprised! I think this film's main saving grace is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. I mean, a magic green ring that charges from a magic green lantern that charges on the power of harnessed will? Well, to say it's a slightly tenuous premise for a movie is an understatement! The great thing about this movie though, is that it's all here. The baddies are bad (and suitably misshapen and tortured in spirit), the good guy is dashing and dangerous, there are special effects out the wahzoo and just the right amount of humour. This is a film that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't aim for being more than entertaining action.

Add to this that the cast is solid throughout, and the acting of a much better level than I expected, and you have one enjoyable film. Reynolds was great in the lead role, Lively less so. She was fine, but really didn't stand out for me, and I thought her character rather bland throughout.

This isn't a movie that will make you think, or challenges the genre, but I found it very entertaining.

Horrible Bosses

Ok, so this isn't a movie that's going to win any Academy awards. It is however, pretty darn funny in parts!

Basically it's about three friends that all hate their bosses for various reasons, and end up deciding they would be better off if their annoying employers kicked the bucket.

Although the storyline in somewhat implausible, it does set the scene for some hilarious moments, and when events start spinning out of control, the guys find themselves in some pretty tricky situations.

The highlight of the film for me was Jennifer Aniston's portrayal of the maneater dentist who (quite agressively) sexually assults her employees and takes advantage of her patients while they are under. I was happily suprised by her very decent acting and spot on comic timing. Aniston's movies have been very hit and miss for me in the past, but I can say this one was a hit! She actually brought to mind Steve Martin as the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, but that's another film entirely...

Overall I found the movie well acted and directed with some genuinely funny moments. It's along the same lines as The Hangover, so will likely appeal to fans of that kind of slightly filthy, irreverent, teen-in-adult-body humour. I'm glad to say it is a step above some other movies that shoot for this style but fail, eg. Couples Retreat. I give it four stars.

Back from the Dead?

Well, well, well!

It really has been a long time since my last post! We have since moved to a lovely little town in far north Western Australia and are just loving our new country lives. I can't quite believe that it will be Stig's second birthday on the weekend! He has grown so quickly, and the time has just flown :)

Today I have randomly decided to ressurect my blog, in the hope of perhaps eventually making a little pocket money from it. I really have no idea how to do that though, so in the mean time I thought I should just work on honing my writing skills while I work out what exactly it is I am supposed to be doing!

Also I have no clear direction for this blog, other than my (momentary) resolution to post daily. I am thinking that I should stick to what I'm passionate about. As such, this blog will probably end up being mostly reviews of books and CDs with possibly a few snippets of gossip :P

Mostly it is just me procrastiating and putting off cleaning the house!

Anyways peeps, if you're reading, let me know. And I would love some suggestions on how to turn my useless ramblings into a profitable blog!

Movie - Twin Sisters

I watched a fantastic movie on SBS last night. I hadn't planned on staying up after Ninja Warrior and The Unbeatable Banzuke (both brilliant shows!), but the husband was already snoring away, so I thought I might as well see what was on next.

Twin Sisters is a moving story of twin sisters separated at a young age, and how their different lives unfolded. One grew up in a privileged Dutch family, and the other in squalor on a farm in Nazi Germany. The story flicked back and forth between their time as young women, and a chance meeting near the end of their lives.

This film has some truly heartbreaking moments, as well as some unexpected twists. Based on real events, it's shocking to think today of how utterly war destroys. Not only the loss of life and destruction during battle, but the survivors ripped apart, their lives changed forever. Not just the waste of youth in the fighting, but those left behind, who are doomed to live a future not meant for them.

This film left me thinking how things might have been, not only for these characters, but for thousands of real people, but for the war. I wonder if any can say that their lives were better for it? Was there a 'gift in the darkness' for anyone? Or were all those touched by war changed for the worse? I guess we'll never know, because we have no way of knowing what might have been.

This film made me think also about the current state of affairs in the world today. War is inevitable. There has always been war, and there always will be. War is a lucrative business. I guess it's unrealistic to wish for peace. I wonder if a day will ever come when war is considered just some strange barbaric custom that our ancestors used to do? I wonder if religion (the cause of many a war) will one day be the same? I wonder if one day our lives will unfold lazily, as they were meant to. Not wasted.

Hmmm, some interesting ramblings...what do you think?