Life in Films and Books

Hola. Bonjour. Hello. Ni hao. Guten tag.

This "blog" keeps track of a) the movies I watch and b) the books I read in 2011.

ZE MOVIES
ZE BOOKS

[[ At the beginning of 2010, I signed up to read 100 new books. I failed that. Probably read one. Or maybe two. So this year, I'm boiling it down to 25. Seems manageable. ]]

I'm no critic, but I do like criticizing... not in a mean way, of course.

--Ivana
September 1

The Sentinel

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Billy Elliot

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Cyrus

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Seamless

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Changeling

August 3
Date Night08/01/2011 — Thumbs up. For efficiency’s sake, I’m just going to say that it was awesomeeeee.But to be more detailed, it had witty storylines and dialogue, plus a terrific cast, from the main stars to the tiny supporting roles.  

Date Night
08/01/2011

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Thumbs up. For efficiency’s sake, I’m just going to say that it was awesomeeeee.
But to be more detailed, it had witty storylines and dialogue, plus a terrific cast, from the main stars to the tiny supporting roles.  

July 28
The Kids are All RightJuly 28, 2011 — I am not up to eloquence today, so a list will have to do. Likes: Julianne Moore’s character Mark Ruffalo’s schmexxxxy ass Yaya Decosta from America’s Next Top Model (cycle 3, what???) The sex affair Mia Wasikowska (she is going to be a superstar, if she hasn’t reached that status already) And finally, Josh Hutcherson. It’s weird to think that this is the kid who used to be in Bridge of Terabithia not too long ago. Every time I see him, I fall more in love with him. So.Freaking.In.Love. He’s unbelievably handsome and kid sure knows how to act the hell out of his roles.  Dislikes: Annette Bening! Maybe I just disliked her character’s personality. Why would she even mutter that Moore’s character was a micromanager, when in fact, she’s the one who needs to control everything? And honestly, her acting was… hm, satisfying, at best. But I believe that her role and performance greatly subtracted from the movie. That Joni Mitchell scene that segued into the confrontation? Sad, yes, but not sympathetic.  So it was missing. But overall, good.

The Kids are All Right
July 28, 2011

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I am not up to eloquence today, so a list will have to do.

Likes:

  • Julianne Moore’s character
  • Mark Ruffalo’s schmexxxxy ass
  • Yaya Decosta from America’s Next Top Model (cycle 3, what???)
  • The sex affair
  • Mia Wasikowska (she is going to be a superstar, if she hasn’t reached that status already)
  • And finally, Josh Hutcherson. It’s weird to think that this is the kid who used to be in Bridge of Terabithia not too long ago. Every time I see him, I fall more in love with him. So.Freaking.In.Love. He’s unbelievably handsome and kid sure knows how to act the hell out of his roles.

 Dislikes:

  • Annette Bening! Maybe I just disliked her character’s personality. Why would she even mutter that Moore’s character was a micromanager, when in fact, she’s the one who needs to control everything?
  • And honestly, her acting was… hm, satisfying, at best. But I believe that her role and performance greatly subtracted from the movie. That Joni Mitchell scene that segued into the confrontation? Sad, yes, but not sympathetic. 

So it was missing. But overall, good.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2July 28, 2011 — Ah, yes. Somehow I neglected to mention that I finally saw HP7P2. Let’s just say that I haven’t cried so much since I saw Adam, which is admittedly, a mere few days ago, so… that’s not saying much. But it was a lot of tears! The story is absolutely beautiful and the film itself as a work of art was too. Everything from the acting (I’m looking at you, Helena!) to the direction to the cinematography. My favorite moment, though, is when Matthew Lewis came out as Neville Longbottom for the first time, and my brother next to me muttered, “WHAT… THE… FUCK…” He went on to utter more sentences of disbelief and jealousy at Matt Lewis’ BAMF status. I had to shut him up, but it was hilarious. I kept saying, “I told you so,” because I’ve only been talking about this matter for the past few months. Mwah! Bravo! Obviously, a thumbs up.  

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
July 28, 2011

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Ah, yes. Somehow I neglected to mention that I finally saw HP7P2. 
Let’s just say that I haven’t cried so much since I saw Adam, which is admittedly, a mere few days ago, so… that’s not saying much.

But it was a lot of tears! The story is absolutely beautiful and the film itself as a work of art was too. Everything from the acting (I’m looking at you, Helena!) to the direction to the cinematography.

My favorite moment, though, is when Matthew Lewis came out as Neville Longbottom for the first time, and my brother next to me muttered, “WHAT… THE… FUCK…” He went on to utter more sentences of disbelief and jealousy at Matt Lewis’ BAMF status. I had to shut him up, but it was hilarious. I kept saying, “I told you so,” because I’ve only been talking about this matter for the past few months.

Mwah! Bravo!

Obviously, a thumbs up.  

July 24
The Adjustment Bureau—07/22/2011— Well, I expected to really fall in love with this film. It was a recipe for success in my book: scifi thriller, love, adventure, John Slattery, Matt Damon, and my love, Emily Blunt. And for the most part, I liked it a lot.  BUT… something was missing. In the story, the Bureau’s system of, well, adjusting your life was supposed to be very secretive. But that doesn’t mean it should not make sense to the viewers at all. This little factor reminded me of the new Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, where unlike the first Wall Street films, it was full of technical jargon not easily followed by the everyday common man. The Adjustment Bureau was easy to understand, though I wish I didn’t feel like a confused bystander cautiously peering into a strange working of a historically underground society. Damon and Blunt’s chemistry? Terrific. So thumbs up.

The Adjustment Bureau—07/22/2011—

Well, I expected to really fall in love with this film. It was a recipe for success in my book: scifi thriller, love, adventure, John Slattery, Matt Damon, and my love, Emily Blunt. And for the most part, I liked it a lot. 

BUT… something was missing. In the story, the Bureau’s system of, well, adjusting your life was supposed to be very secretive. But that doesn’t mean it should not make sense to the viewers at all. This little factor reminded me of the new Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, where unlike the first Wall Street films, it was full of technical jargon not easily followed by the everyday common man.

The Adjustment Bureau was easy to understand, though I wish I didn’t feel like a confused bystander cautiously peering into a strange working of a historically underground society.

Damon and Blunt’s chemistry? Terrific.

So thumbs up.

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Forget Paris