Fiona's Reviews

I am Legend

2008-04-29T13:30:00.002+01:00

Living in the heart of the Irish Midlands with what amounts to limited access to new releases to the big screen means that I am now relegated to reviewing DVD releases as opposed to cinema releases. I'm not sure if it's worthwhile bothering at this stage but seeing as this site is concerned with the things I've seen and read I'm going to persevere!

I had read a review of this film at the time that it was released and had also seen the trailers on TV and had decided that it was probably one that I'd miss. The review called it boring and the trailer seemed to make too much of an effort to make the movie look action packed, which is always a suspicious move to me. So when it came out on DVD we only decided to rent it as we've been starved of movies whilst we await the release of the all the Oscar nominated films! Call it a precursor to the glut of movies I'm looking forward to seeing...

This film surprised me. Considering it's just Will Smith and his canine companion for the majority of the time on screen, and what amounts to a very small amount of speaking opportunities I was gripped by this story. The flashbacks are perfectly timed. Just as I was beginning to get frustrated with the lack of information we begin to get drip fed the back story and a picture of what has happened and where our hero came from begins to emerge.

Smith plays Robert Neville - the apparent last man alive - who is somehow resistant to the virus that has wiped out the population of the earth or changed those who survived into flesh eating zombie/vampires. I'm a sucker for vampire stories so whilst some would dismiss this instantly as sheer nonsense I allowed myself to be carried into the story.

The premise is by no means new (The Omega man and Cast Away for example). But Smith no more than Hanks in Cast Away did an excellent job in drawing you into his story, building a relationship and understanding of his position and his pain and suffering. It highlights to me what a good actor he is.

The story moves at a slow pace which I didn't find boring. I enjoyed the voyeurism of watching his daily routine and part of me was annoyed when the story moved on even though it was of course inevitable.

I don't believe in giving plot lines and revealing story lines here so I'm not going to explain what happens. It's a movie you should watch in a quiet place in order to feel the tension and if you can't abide science fiction don't even bother.

I would recommend this one as I enjoyed it immensely.

The Rose of Sebastapol by Katherine McMahon

2008-04-22T17:01:00.002+01:00

I like my historic novels as well as the next girl but I'm afraid that this particular offering by Katherine McMahon just didn't float my boat.

It had great potential as stories go. You have the romance of Florence Nightengale, the excitement of the Crimean War, a thwarted heroine and a dashing young doctor, but for me it was all a bit flat.

The heroine was well drawn as a character and totally unlikeable for most of the book. I found myself rooting for her demise rather than caring about her development as a person. Her love interest was about as interesting as watching paint dry until he goes mad and even then frankly I still didn't care.

This story had little to offer in terms of freshness or interest. It would appeal to some I have no doubt but would not come highly recommended from me.

Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Scheinmann

2008-04-04T14:10:00.003+01:00

Be prepared for a devastating story of loss and death at the very outset of this story. Normally you get a chance to get to know the characters before the author makes you cry over them but I found that I was crying before the end of the first chapter in a twist on the usual tragic love story format.

The descriptions of foreign and often less visited lands in this book is particularly intriguing and beautiful and the author gives the reader a good and lasting impression of places where most of us may never see.

The story does slow down a lot in the middle of the book but you're initial devastation experienced at the beginning carries you through the lull and makes the book impossible to put down.

This is a perfect read if you want to just curl up in silence and lose yourself in somebody else's story or in this case two people's story. It's an ideal weekend hour buster!

Holding Doors for Strangers - Kidic

2007-08-10T09:21:00.000+01:00

Holding Doors for Strangers is Kidic's first commercial release, and it's a great first start.

The band is Dublin based and I have known Morgan the lead singer for years as we went to college together and he's going out with one of my best mates! But besides that I wouldn't be reviewing them if they weren't any good.

The video (also try here if link not working) for the song is down right brilliant, funny and inspired. And the song itself is very catchy and radio friendly. The song can be downloaded in the Irish charts so go do a new band a favour and give them your support. Kidic are ones to watch.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

2007-08-01T09:29:00.000+01:00

Well it's here at last and I finally got my hands on it a week after it's general release in the English speaking world. Not bad considering I was in Japan.

So does the final book in the Harry Potter series live up to the hype and expectation of the legions of fans? I can only speak for myself on that score and I say... kind of.

It's not an anti climatic ending by any means and all the loose ends are neatly tied up which I think left the book being a bit of a disappointment. There won't be anymore and that's final.

But as for the story itself. It's fast moving from the start and sweeps you along in its complicated wake without any chance to catch your breath. There's plenty of thrills and spills to cater for all tastes and we finally see Harry, Ron and Hermione come of age. The flip side of it is that we also see some of the well loved characters in the story fall by the wayside. Some who have been there from the start and others who made later entries in the series.

As the story has progressed the plot line has increasingly become more sophisticated and intriguing and to this end the finale is appropriately and fully satisfying. Now that the theories have been put to rest is a good time to go back and read all the books from start to finish. And that's what I plan to do once I get home...

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

2007-04-03T21:39:00.000+01:00

I'm a bit nervous writing a review of this one as it is after all a modern American classic and I am after all just me. I'm not a student of English, nor a graduate in English studies and this review is not meant to be used as a study guide!

I am also nervous about writing my thoughts on this book because of the way this book made me feel.

For the first time in many years I connected with a character in a book. I lived this story with Esther and I understood without any hesitation where it was that she was coming from.

It is a book about confusion, madness, life styles, love and sex. It is a snapshot of a few months in the life of a young woman who does not know where it is that she is going, what she is supposed to do, or how she is supposed to fill the expectations that are demanded of her.

The weight of expectation that she feels in relation to her career, love life, sex life and family life drives her mad. The reality of her madness was very real to me. I could see how and why it happened to her and how she got to a position where to her, suicide was the only real option.

It was a great comfort to me to read this book. It was good to see such honesty and truth about an aspect of life which I think most of us face, in one shape or form, at some stage or other in our lives. The thing is, most of us just don't acknowledge it. It is unacceptable to acknowledge such a thing in polite company, and there is always that stigma associated with depression which makes it almost possible to address it as a topic in a real way.

I realise that many people read this book in school or college and probably analyse it to death. But I would suggest that it is not just a story for young impressionables, it's a story for all women to consider. And if you're a man it's a story which may give you an insight into what it is to be a woman and how difficult it can be at times, if you're open to it that is.

This goes in my top ten favourite books of all times and I'll be re-reading it again soon.

Once

2007-04-01T15:28:00.000+01:00

Once is a low budget movie/musical set in Dublin and starring Glen Hansard, lead singer of The Frames and Marketa Irglova. It's directed by John Carney who used to play with Glen in the Frames and is marked as an up and coming director and one to watch, apparantly. The film won the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Festival this year and I was really excited about seeing it, as I'm a well documented Frames fan!

I remember when it was being shot in Dublin 2 years ago, I know where I was when Glen was doing the busking scenes on Grafton Street. I also knew all the music featured in the movie very well as well as the majority of the locations where it was located. For this reason I found it to be a personal film and I really enjoyed watching it.

The story is best described as a snapshot of two people's lives. A moment in time when two paths cross and how they were both affected by it. It also shows a side of Dublin which I in my cosseted world just wouldn't know in an intimate way. It shows the poor of Dublin, the immigrant community, the disenfranchised and the lonely.

The music is mostly taken from an album written by Glen and Marketa called the Swell Season. I think it's one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in a very long time and I just don't get tired of listening to it.

The film itself is very simpy made. Glen does a good job in his role and is a fantastic live performer. But Marketa steals all their scenes together. She has a very pure and sweet voice and a quiet clarity of beauty that is very attractive and compelling.

It's a film I would happily recommend to anyone even someone with an anti Frames prejudice.

300

2007-03-27T18:00:00.000+01:00

This movie is everything you want it to be and more!!!

Ok so there were no elephants and rhinoceri in the historical records, but there were hundreds of thousands of Persians vs just three hundred Spartans at Thermopolyae and the rest is just window dressing.

There's lots of blood, lots of gore and lots and lots of glorious naked men!

The basic historical accuracy of the story is intact in the film which is cool, but it's been sexed up remarkably and is a cracking viewing experience! The cinematography is sumptuous, the editing is flawless. The makeup and costumes are over the top and understated in equal measure to the extent that your senses are left reeling.

Some might claim that this is a movie for boys. I would resent that implication personally, but I would concede that most girlie girls I know would hate this movie with a passion and would probably walk out. So if you're going to go see it pick your viewing mate carefully, sit back and let the blood flow! It gets a major thumbs up from me!

Maus - Art Spiegelman

2007-03-25T20:33:00.000+01:00

Maus is a comic book with a difference. It's a Pulitzer prize winning comic strip story of the authors father's experience during World War II as a Jew in Poland.

It's an amazing story which explores the author's relationship with his father, his father's relationship with his son and most importantly his father's relationship with the world and how that was coloured by his experiences during the War.

The descriptions and images used in the book are striking to say the least. The use of animal images for different races is very effective. But it's the story of Vladek's passionate will to survive and how it shaped him and his life that is the most striking element of all in this story.

Comic books may not be your thing and I can't say that they're mine but this is one that you should take a look at it. It's interesting to soak up a story in words and pictures and I had read both books in a matter of a few hours. So if you have a few hours to spare give it a go, I don't think you'll find it a waste of your time.

Primary Colours - Anonymous

2007-03-20T14:15:00.000Z

Primary Colours was first published during the Clinton administration and is undoubtedly based on the Clinton bid for election in 1992. Although this was over fifteen years ago I found that the story, the process, the drama is timeless. This is not just a book of a time, it is a book about a process.

I've become a huge fan (belatedly) of the West Wing. We've currently just started the nail biting season five and am in a constant sweat of expectation over what will happen next. Plus the increasing excitement in the States over the next Democratic nominee for President made this book an interesting choice for me and one that I enjoyed reading immensely.

Politics is a dirty business and this book in a novel form aims to show the dirtiest side of the business. It's a story about idealism and how it can be destructive. It shows you how initial good intentions can be warped by malpractice and it also highlights just how despicable moral cowardice actually is.

I would recommend this book as a good read. It provides food for thought and I personally found the description of procedures and processes involved in the American political model fascinating.

The Last Apache Girl by Jim Fergus

2007-02-18T15:53:00.000Z

Ned Giles is a seventeen year old orphan during the Depression in the USA and chooses to seek a career as a photographer on an Apache hunting expedition in Mexico rather than being taken into care on the death of his parents. On his adventure he meets beguiling, funny, bewitching and interesting characters all of whom shape his experience. The other lead character in this story is Chideh, a young Apache girl, who witnesses her nearest family being slaughtered while she is preparing to celebrate her coming of age ceremony. Her life cannot be more far removed from Ned's yet they form a connection and relationship which defines this story.

This is a very readable and enjoyable book. It is evocotive of a time and place most of us have no knowledge of and as such it is captivating. The style of writing is gripping, beautifully descriptive and thought provoking in many ways.

I would recommend this as an excellent choice for a holiday read or for a long journey. The time will fly and you'll be left wanting to know more about the Apache culture and the suppression of the Native American cultures in the United States.

My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

2006-12-19T14:38:00.000Z

I picked this one up at home one night when I was bored and got sucked into it despite my misgivings!

Overall it's not a terrible book but for a story that tackles issues like stem cell research, genetic cherry picking of children, leukemia, the right to choose life over death, and medical emancipation of children from parents it was all a bit too weak for me. There were just too many issues in one book. And as a result none of the issues were adequately tackled.

As a story it flowed well and is not badly written but even though I only finished it about 2 weeks ago I'm finding it now difficult to recall what I thought of it. This I feel is generally a bad sign. But if you're into human issue child centered stories, then you're bound to enjoy it.

Tenderwire - Clare Kilroy

2006-11-16T17:26:00.000Z

I first came across a reference to this book on the now defunct Irish radio arts show Rattlebag, where the author was interviewed and the book was reviewed favourably. I subsequently stumbled on the book shortly afterwards in a little book shop and thought why not? It sounded different.

The usual offerings by young Irish female writers in recent times haven't exactly filled me with excitement at the thought of the next release date, that is to say, and to put it bluntly I'm not really a Celia Ahern fan. The premise of tenderwire didn't seem to include love letters from dead people or lost loves so it seemed like a safe choice.

The story follows the adventures of Irish violinist Eva Tyne (isn't it a lovely lyrical name? It gets the thumbs up from me) as she stumbles upon what she thinks is a lost Stradivarius. The story follows Eva's struggle to take ownership of the instrument, her personal relationships and how they are affected by her urge and need to own this violin and the consequences of her action. It's part thriller, part love story, part something else. But what it turns into is an exciting story where you really want the heroine to succeed as she really has had enough crap to deal with and the fact that you care means the author has done a good job!

For a first book Clare Kilroy has done well, its an interesting page turner that hooks.

Cicero by Anthony Everett

2006-11-01T11:39:00.000Z

For a biography on a man who has been dead for longer than I can properly imagine this book is truly gripping, engaging and fascinating. I tend to find biographies tedious and boring and as such avoid them as much as possible however this one has changed my mind.

Cicero is a figure that I was aware of in the historical context, and especially after watching the HBO series Rome I found myself increasingly curious about him and his role in history. Many books concerning this era are stuffy and academic and pretty boring and so it was hugely refreshing to find a book like this and to be able to recommend it to anyone who has a similar curiousity to mine!

Cicero's life spans a time of huge change and development in the Roman Empire. He had first hand knowledge and interaction with Julius Ceasar, Mark Anthony, and the cast of characters which led to the fall of the Republic. He was in fact a defender of the Republic and although unsuccessful in his attempt to preserve the old instiutions was an incomparably important figure in his day.

The Departed

2006-10-19T14:12:00.000+01:00

The Departed is the latest Martin Scorsese offering and is a remake of the Chinese film Infernal Affairs which was released recently.

I loved the original so much that I saw it twice in the cinema and once on dvd and so was pretty sceptical about it being remade, even if Scorsese was the director taking on the project.

In the remade version Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio play the stooge cops and Jack Nicholson is the Don. The gangs are Irish American mafia gangs based in South Boston but the basic storyline of infiltration and subterfuge was kept and expanded upon.

Despite knowing the original story so well I found myself at the edge of my seat while watching this movie. DiCaprio did a magnificant job in convincing you of the vulnerability and sadness of his character and Damon was perfectly sleazy and dirty to the point where I shuddered when he was on screen. As for Nicholson he's sublime in this role it was made for him and he plays it to perfection.

Children of Men

2006-10-07T14:45:00.000+01:00

I'm not a massive fan of Clive Owen as an actor, but as a fan of sci-fi in general I thought that the premise for this movie looked interesting and decided to have a look despite the Clive Owen involvement.

I was very pleasantly surprised.

The story is set in the not too distant future, in a world that has fallen into anarchy and open warfare. And to top it all off, women are no longer able to produce children. In this world of the future, Britain is attempting to maintain a semblence of the status quo and law order by strictly inforcing anti refugee laws. As a result the state establishes camps for the extradition of illegal immigrants which, in reality are no better than concentration camps.

In the middle of the mayhem, terrorist bombs and general dissoloution of society we meet our hero. He is an alcoholic, middle aged government pen pusher, who used to be a radical. His story as it progresses is an interesting and engaging one and by a process of the reappearance of people from his past he is drawn into a plan to save the life of a refugee who has miraculously fallen pregnant.

Clive Owen is fantastic in this film, however it is Michael Cain who steals the show, again.

If you like a bit of sci-fi and a good thriller then I would recommend this as a good movie to go see.

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

2006-08-22T17:22:00.000+01:00

This is a harrowing enthralling, unputdownable story of good and evil, nature vs nurture, disassociation and guilt.

The story follows the letters of Eva mother of Kevin who we quickly find out is a mass murderer of classmates and others from the school he attended. Eva through letters written to her estranged husband Franklin, tells us Kevin's and her story, of his life, her insight into his life as his mother and of all the warning signals she felt she should have acted on before he acted of his own free will.

This is a book that will haunt you. It will make you wonder about having kids, rearing them and all the mistakes that can be made as none of us are infallible. It will also want to make you pull your hair out in frustration as Eva accounts for her frustration and guilt. This book will make you gasp in horror, check yourself for resident evil and ultimately haunt you long after you have finished reading it.

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote

2006-07-26T23:59:00.000+01:00

This is a disturbing yet gripping book, and without a doubt lives up to it's reputation as a modern classic. Having watched the biopic of Truman Capote earlier this year, which tells the story of how he researched and wrote this book, only increased my feelings of discomfort and horror whilst reading.

To keep it short and sweet the title In Cold Blood aptly describes the murders as well as the writer's attitude to these acts. It's well written but chilling.

The Lake House

2006-06-30T23:11:00.000+01:00

Ah yes Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunited at last! How could this not be a movie worth going to see!

I took myself off to the cinema mid afternoon this week to indulge in a movie which I fully expected to be very silly, quite slushy and probably a bit crap!

I was pleasantly surprised by it however. From other reviews I've glanced at tonight it would appear that not everyone copped the twist as early as I did, however despite this I did spend the whole movie with my fingers crossed hoping I was wrong! Pathetic I know!

I have to admit that I really enjoyed it! It was a bit silly and if it were true then the time space continuum as explained to us trekkies ad nauseum would really have been messed up by this one! But putting that aside and leaving logic and physics at the front door makes this film enjoyable.

Warning though, don't bring the boyfriend, it's probably a movie best left to us girls, they'd only wreck your head about it!

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

2006-06-30T22:51:00.000+01:00

This is not your run of the mill adult fantasy book with strange wacked out characters and heroes on quests. It's actually a very normal book which just happens to be about magic in England in the nineteenth century. I can't say it's beautifully written but it is compelling and drags you along into the story until you get to a point where you simply just can't stop reading it.

It's not the best book ever but it is very entertaining. The footnotes are a great idea as it adds the suggestion that the whole story is based on fact and is historically accurate, it also helps to sustain the illusion of reality created by basing the story around real events and battles/wars.

I personally love the fact that it is so thick! I love a good substantial book that you feel you could be reading for weeks. I think that comes from the enjoyment I always get out of reading the Lord of the Rings!

This one gets the thumbs up from me but with the caveat that it won't be everyone's cup of tea!

Persian Fire Tom Holland

2006-04-06T20:54:00.000+01:00

I finally finished this book about a month ago after "reading" it for nearly 4 months! Pretty impressive even by my standards I have to admit! I don't know why I didn't finish it quicker than this because it's a really interesting book, a great story and it's very well written. It just became my bedside table book which I only picked up on occassion, read a few pages and then turned over to go to sleep.

However after saying all that I have no qualms about recommending this one! You should learn something!

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

2006-03-27T21:13:00.000+01:00

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book. In fact I found it really difficult to read at first and also mightily confusing and a bit boring.

But I persevered and I'm delighted that I did.

This is the kind of book that sucks you in and takes over your imagination in every waking moment. I found myself reading it everywhere and anywhere, dying to know what happened next, and that's the sign of a good story in my opinion!

It's unconventional in its style, it's imagery is startling clear and the connections and coincidences in the story keep you thinking.

It's definately a book I would recommend!

Good Night and Good Luck

2006-02-21T19:41:00.000Z

This film opens with a scene in which Ed Murrow warns his audience of how television can easily and was in fact rapidly becoming a means of mere and vacuous entertainment and was not being adequately utilised as a means of education, investigation or as a vehicle for change and good. For a speech made in 1958 it showed remarkable prescience and awareness by the speaker.

This is a challenging and engaging film which uses media coverage from the day to give the effect of a docu drama rather than a fictional movie. The resulting film is fast paced and informative as it follows the succesful attempt by Murrow and Friendly to stand up to and question the tactics of Senator Joe McCarthy during the infamous McCarthy era witch hunt.

There are many different layers to this film as it covers the story one of the most interesting to me was the parallel stroy of the young married couple who had to hide the fact of their marriage from the network as it was against company policy for colleagues to be married. When they were eventually discovered it was put to them that it had been in the company's knowledge all along that they were married but now that they were forced to aly off staff they were being approached to have one party resign in order to save the job of another person who wasn't breaking company policy. It wasn't clear which one would be resigning but I guess it was the wife as condidering the era the film was set in she would be the more likely candidate. The fact that the film was focused on the fight against injustice in society by a news room team and yet there was injustice happening under their noses struck me as a brilliant parallel and was just one of the impressive achievements in this film.

Match Point

2006-02-13T21:32:00.000Z

Woody Allen's long awaited comeback to the silver screen is a real treat. He introduces the characters slowly and gives you tantalising insights into their hearts and minds without ever really showing you the real people, it is generally just hte facade that they use to portray themselves to the general public that is shown in the movie.

Jonathon Rhys Myers portrays the protagonist of the piece impecably. He is cool, aloof, manipulative and dangerous but these facets of his personality are revealed piecemeal to us until he becomes the only character we really understand and as a result and despite of his actions he becomes the only character for which we have any real sympathy for.

Scarlett Johanson plays a needy, poor, white trash American, aspiring actress who becomes caught upin the games and manipulations of upper crust English sociey without ever really seeming to understand what game it is that she is playing. She is very much the victim of the piece and while she justifiably deserves our sympathy it is very difficult to feel sympathetic towards her.

This film manages to turn on its head all that we are taught to believe about morality and right and wrong. The theme that life is based on a series of lucky calls and that there is no real free will at all is what drives this story.

It's a fascinting and entertaining movie and one that I would have no hesitation in recommending.

Munich

2006-02-04T16:37:00.000Z

Spielsberg's latest offering is about as far removed from ET as Schindler's list and then some. This is a taught, emotional, depressing and difficult movie to watch.

I found myself wishing I wasn't there at that moment watching it at various different stages during the film and felt very confused and upset on leaving the cinema.

It's not that it's graphic in a visual way. I think it's graphic in an emotional way, which is something you don't get very often in a movie. Added to that is the fact that the emotion is itself understated and therefore creeps up on you and hits you when you really aren't expecting it.

For my part I felt it went on far too long I was itching to leave after 2 hours, I had had enough. The boy felt differently he reckons it's a masterpiece and he's not wrong it's an excellent film, but I wouldn't send people to go see it. You should make that decision for yourself.

Breakfast on Pluto

2006-01-24T12:42:00.000Z

I can't stress enough how much I loved and enjoyed this film.

I found Cillian Murphy's portrayal of Patrick "Kitten" Murphy in a word fabulous. He had no trouble convincing me that he was exactly who he said he was and boy did he look fantastic doing it! Gavin Friday blew me away with his Glam rock hard man role, Brendan Gleeson as a Womble had me gasping for air I was laughing so hard and Liam Neeson as the priest with a heart and soul was a wonderful touch. But Cillian Murphy stole the show in every scene he appeared in. He was flawless, endearing, funny, loveable and likeable.

Go see it for yourself.

Homeland - Paul Mercier

2006-01-24T12:35:00.000Z

There has been great excitement about the opening play in the Abbey's new season this year so I took myself off to see it at the weekend just to see what all the excitement is about!

Homeland is a modern adaption of the story of Óisín and Tír na Óg, in a very loose fashion. It's a very fast paced play and is only one act long and 90 minutes in length. But it is non stop rapid action from start to finish during that 90 minutes. The language and delivery is so quick and so full of information and story that I found myself at times really having to concentrate to make sure that I kept up with what was happening on stage. It was brilliant like a white knuckle ride in a fair and it was delivered by all on stage perfectly. If lines were missed of fluffed I certainly didn't notice.

The story tells the tale of how this country has degenerated due to the celtic tiger boom, development, spin and brown envelopes and if I talk anymore about it, it would just spoil the effect.

The Time Traveller's Wife

2006-01-16T12:17:00.000Z

I first heard of this book on a radio advertisement when I was driving to the train station on the way back from my boyfriend's house at Christmas time. The ad made me howl with laughter and derision and I vowed never to read this book. Then I was purchasing some Christmas presents on Amazon this year and the book was on special offer for something like £4 and I decided oh what the hell I wonder how bad it really is!

I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised! I loved this book. The premise sounds really crazy, I mean why should a book based around the idea that this guy time travels throughout his lifetime, a bit like that programme Quantum Leap without the sciencey bit if you will, be in any way credible? It may not have been likely but I accepted it!

The story is a love story, a very quirky love story, that spans Clare (the wife's life) from the age of 6 to 82. It's beautifully written and really captivating and I just didn't want it to end.

If you enjoy a good read, an interesting if quirky story and memorable characters then you have to read this one!

Wuthering Heights

2006-01-10T11:20:00.000Z

This was my second time to read this classic novel by Emily Bronte, the first time I read it was well over ten years ago so I only had a vague memory of not liking Heathcliff very much when I started this story again.

On the second reading I reaffirmed with myself that I still don't like Heathcliff, I know he's tortured and misunderstood and unlucky in love but he's still a brute! And as for Cathy she was a spoilt little wretch wasn't she?

However and Hareton stole my heart and despite my dislike of the main characters I loved reading this book again. I loved the passion it stirred in me for the characters and the outcome and it has to be said that the story remains a timeless classic!

King Kong

2005-12-16T10:42:00.000Z

Being a Peter Jackson film I had great expectations about King Kong and all the reviews I came across only sought to increase my anticipation. I have to say I was not disappointed.

It starts off a little slow with probably a little too much background which is probably my only criticism of this movie.

The creatures are brilliant, the action is breathtaking. It's scary. It's funny and it's ultimately heartbreaking.

Naomi Watts is luminescently beautiful and stole every scene she was in. And as for Kong.... I just love Andy Sirkis anyway and he made him come to life in the same way as he gave Gollum his own personality and je ne c'est quoi. Jack Black also deserves a mention for playing the nasty man in his own inimitable way!

This is a classic remake of a classic film and everyone should see it. Small kids will probably be scared but it's a good type of scary!

The March of the Penguins

2005-12-12T11:24:00.000Z

I wasn't too sure about this one before I went, because while I have absoloutely nothing against penguins and their life cycle, I did watch the David Attenborough version, which was made some years ago, recently and loved it, and I wasn't convinced that there would be anything more to see in this documentary.

Unfortunately, I was right. And in my opinion the David Attenborough one was better, and more dramatic. Or maybe I only thought that because it was new the first time and not so new the second time!

It's a lovely gentle film, perfect for families and people who go awww at cute things. It's an amazing story of survival and evoloution and I don't see how the creationism argument is strengthened by this film! But that's an argument for another day!

Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire

2005-11-22T12:18:00.000Z

This HP film is by far and away the best one to date. It's a two and a half hour rollercoaster ride from start to finish and is to be highly recommended.

I am biased in that I love the books, but was very disapointed by the first two films in a massive way. In fact I didn't bother going to see the third one on the basis that I hated the first two so much. However I did see it at home and loved it, and was pleasantly proven wrong.

This film version is difficult to fault. The kids have come on in leaps and bounds in term of acting, the story is really entertaining and very dark. Voldemort makes a definitive appearance and is brilliantly portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, and the story has really begun to take off.

I think one of the best endorsements of this film is that people who have had no interest in the books or previous films have really enjoyed it. One caveat is that in my opinion this is not a film for little children. It's dark, it's violent and I jumped out my skin once or twice, despite the fact I knew what was coming!

The Constant Gardener

2005-11-14T10:55:00.000Z

This is by far and away my movie of the year to date. It is a gripping story of love, intrigue, deception and Africa and I just can't fault it.

The director Meirelles, who previously directed the equally stunning City of God, really does this story credit. The documentary style, shooting using hand held cameras gets the viewer very close to the action and the settings, to the point where you feel that if you tried a little harder you could smell the slum.

Fiennes and Weisz both do a magnificent job in portraying characters that, I for one, really cared about. Although the character Fiennes plays appears initially to be weak and inconsequential I found myself falling a little in love with him by the end of the film, as his strength, intelligence and commitment to his wife became overpowering factors in his true self.

Weisz has never convinced me before of her ability to act, but here in this film she shon. Her character is beautiful, intelligent, feisty, and loyal and there is so much to like about her that, her loss made me grieve too.

I cried during this movie. But more tellingly, I cried afterwards too, on the way home, when I thought about it. All I can say is that you won't regret going to see this one.

The Three Day Road - Joesph Boyden

2005-11-08T11:52:00.000Z

My folks recently reviewed this book at their book club meeting and it attracted very lively and animated discussion for at least three hours from the participants of the meeting. Having witnessed the excitement generated by the book I felt that I really should read it myself to find out what all the excitement was about.

I enjoyed the book. But I wouldn't say it was a fantasic read or a gripping story. I found the main characters, 2 Indian sharp shooters, to be a little remote. I liked the character of the medicine woman aunt and the accounts of life in the bush and of living in the Indian community in the wilds of Canada.

The accounts of the First World War are difficult to comment on, however having read other fictional accounts of the war, the descriptions in this book tally with other accounts. But saying this it didn't increase my knowledge of the war and the experience of those who lived through it, and I don't feel that it was in anyway a ground breaking experience in literary terms.

The best aspect of this book, for me, was the accounts of the spiritual and religious beliefs of the Indian trio, the errosion of faith and their perception of western religion. Otherwise I felt the book lacked something more definitive, maybe it tried to do too much in not enough pages. Saying that it didn't end too abruptly which for me is a cardinal sin, but it did leave me a little dissatisfied all the same.

Nanny McPhee

2005-11-07T14:03:00.000Z

I'm a sucker for kids films involving a good moral tale and a bit of magic and as such Nanny McPhee scores well.

I enjoyed it on the level that it's meant to be enjoyed, a very simple one!

The costumes, the colours the setting are all fantastically OTT and luscious. Although I could have done without the inclusion of dead men's feet in the scenes in the undertakers - very unpleasant and a damn sight more horrifying than I can only suppose it was meant to be!

But any film with the delectable Colin Firth in it is always going to have an edge with me! If you have little kids or like me are a little kid this is a sweet funny, amusing film for you to enjoy!

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

2005-11-01T15:52:00.000Z

This is by far my least favourite Austen story. I personally found it to be formulaic, dull and irritating!

The characters are the weakest of all her stories, which means that they are generally unlikeable and this left me not caring whether or not they lived happily ever after!

The heroine of the piece Fanny Price is a judgemental, weak, repressed and boring individual with very little to redeem her. The love interest Edmund is a preaching, uncertain boring and also repressed second son who's only ambition is to be a clergy man, he wasn't my type!
As a result I found myself rooting for the villain of the piece and hoped against hope that there would be a shock ending where Mr. Crawford won over Fanny's affections and they ran off together to live happily ever after. Fat chance.

If you want a decent Austen novel don't read this one, I recommend Pride & Prejudice or Sense & Sensibility as being ultimatley superiour!

The House of Flying Daggers

2005-10-24T15:26:00.000+01:00

This is a visually stunning and engaging film in the same vein as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon with some wire fighting and a bit of tree jumping being seen in both. The story is a Romeo and Juliet type affair with intrique and mystery added to the mix of martial arts and unrequited love.
It's a fantastic film. I can't praise it enough and it leaves you wanting to watch it all over again because of the sheer beauty of the cinematography. Go watch it if you haven't seen it already!

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - Playing in the Abbey Theatre Dubli

2005-08-29T10:33:00.000+01:00

This classic commentary on Victorian manners is given an excellent and surprising make over in this Connal Morrison adaptation of Wilde's most successful play.

The lead roles of Oscar Wilde and Lady Bracknall are played by the always brilliant Alan Stanford. His on stage transformation from Wilde to Lady Bracknall is hilarious (I especially loved Lady Bracknall's fabulous peacock hat!). The costumes are sumptious and it has to be said that the all male cast do them justice! The female characters of Gwendoline and Cecilly stole the show in my opinion. They were played with fabulous flippery and really brought the house down.

The Art Nouveau setting of the play is pretty and and engaging and is also deserving of a mention!

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

2005-08-16T14:28:00.000+01:00

This was my hangover film of choice this weekend as I didn't think I'd be able to handle anything very involved and I really love the original Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory not to mention all of Roald Dahl's books, so I mean how could it not be fun?

I did laugh a lot during the film which is a positive. Johnny Depp scared me as Wonka which is a negative. The Charlie kid was better than the original in terms of cuteness which is a positive. There was no Slugworth and moral lesson which was a negative. The Oompa Loompa was funny - positive. The songs were only ok. I just don't know if I liked the damn film or not?!

I think on the face of it and if I hadn't seen the original version a million times I would have liked it better, but that doesn't mean its a bad film. It's enjoyable and fun and silly and weird and its enjoyable. I just don't know if I liked it!

We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families

2005-08-09T15:53:00.000+01:00

This book by Philip Gorevitch seeks to examine the truth behind the genocide which took place in Rwanda in the early to mid nineties. Most people are now aware that the truth is that there was a genocide taking place in this small African state right under the noses of the rest of the world and no- one lifted a finger to intervene or aid those who were being targeted on ethnic grounds. Like most people at the time my knowledge of the events in Rwanda was limited to Hutus good Tutsis bad. This it turns out was due to the misinformation and lies which were propogated by both the Hutu "government" and also by the French government. It was this intervention on the side of the Hutu killers by the French and the setting up of the so called Turquoise zone in which many of the remaining Tutsis who were surviving in that area were rounded up by the French in order to "protect" them only to find on their return that the people they were supposed to protect had been murdered by wandering Hutu Interhamwe.

This book gripped and shocked me in a profound way. It does not dwell in a lewd or grisly way on the facts of the genocide but at the same time it leaves you with a very clear image of what happened during 1994 in Rwanda.

For anyone who is interested in learning about the truth behind one of the most notorious and unreported series of mass killings to happen in recent times them I recommend this even handed and well written not to mention exhaustively researched book very highly.

Seabiscuit

2005-07-25T16:06:00.000+01:00

Yes I know another old one but I had DVD weekend this weekend so bare with me!

Ah yes a movie about a horse. This was inoffensive and very relaxing film to watch. You don't have to engage your brain at all and therefore is perfect for those nights you just want to veg out in front of the telly.

Iceage

2005-07-25T15:51:00.000+01:00

This is a light hearted not at all factually acurate tale of survival of the fittest, with a warm fluffy moral twist about the importance of friendship.
What can I say? It has a cute animated kid, silly animals with great lines and lots of laughs. It did the trick for me!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2005-07-18T14:15:00.000+01:00

As promised on the other page I faithfully went and purchased my very own copy of the latest addition to the Harry Potter story line on Saturday morning. I'm not commited enough to get up in the middle of the night and haul my ass into the shops to buy it at midnight! I then spent every spare moment over the weekend reading the damn thing (I had other work to do so I didn't get to finish it until about midnight last night).

Ok so lets establish that I like the books and was indeed looking forward to sinking my teeth into this, the sixth in the series.

However, I have to report that I was really disappointed with this one. I found I trawled through the pages waiting for something to happen and I all I got was a feeling of being slightly nauseated by the predominance of "love stories". I'm all for the kids getting their kicks, but the planted images of Ron placing tonsil hockey with his chosen bird was, to be honest, gross. I can't imagine it will be a hit with the kids either! I preferred the darker angrier Harry, at least he was interesting.

The ending adds a significant punch to the storyline, however compared to the breath stopping fights at the end of both the previous books it falls short on this score as well in my opinion. I don't want to give away what happens cause I think mean spirited people do that (you know who you are!) so I won't say anymore about it. Though I will say I'm still pinching myself about the revelations and do wonder is just another layer of deception, but then I'm a sap and love a good conspiracy theory!

Although I found the Half Blood Prince overall was a bit of a wet lettuce I think the last book has been set up to be the best of all of them, this one was the filler book that just moved the story on a little bit while leaving ample opportunity for a full blooded finale. But I'll have to wait and see how that little theory pans out as well!

War of the Worlds

2005-07-01T12:02:00.000+01:00

>This Film is Brilliant! Spielberg at his rock 'n' roll loving alien best! Its a movie jam packed with tension and thrills and its a perfect summer block buster! Do you remember the bit in Signs when the family are in the basement and there is a massive build up of tension and suspension and fear? Well War of the Worlds produces that same level of tension throughout the whole movie! I just loved it! I want to go see it again!

King Leopold's Ghost

2005-06-28T17:57:00.000+01:00

This book by Adam Hochschild blew my mind. I am a little fickle when it comes to reading and to be perfectly frank just like to get my teeth into a good story and if I learn something then all the better. The lovely boy on the other hand has a library full of informative and educational material that he is constantly stuffing into his brain, and good luck to him say I as I reach for another Maeve Binchy or whatever other piece of trash I am wasting my time on! However this book is different.
It informs the reader in a very accessible and attention grabbing way of the history of the establishment and development of the Belgian colony in the Congo region of Africa. Prior to picking this book up I was aware the Congo was a Belgian colony, had briefly wondered how little Belgium could have been able to be a colonial power and then promptly forgot about it. Shame on me.
This book outlines the destruction of this territory, of its people and its natural resources by one man (who never set foot in Africa) hell bent on becoming very rich at whatever the cost. It is a tale of human tragedy and mass murder on a scale that made me at time gasp out loud. It is a shameful indictment of human nature and the depths of deprivity that people are capable of stooping to.

Overall I would whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone and would be very surprised if you didn't find it unputdownable.

A Cry From Heaven

2005-06-28T14:21:00.000+01:00

The Abbey Theatre in Dublin is currently showing Vincent Wood's A Cry From Heaven and I went to view it last night.
The story is based on the Irish mythology Deirdre of the Sorrows - which as a child was one of my favourite storys and always made me cry. I even had a crush on Naoise and wanted him to rescue me too. (If you want my version of the story just ask!)
The Abbey's production which is directed by Olivier Py is breathtaking.
The costumes and scenery are modern with the scenery being moved around and created into different locations by the cast as the play progresses. There is a huge reliance on sound and tones which succeeds in creating an air of confusion and almost puts pressure on the audience as the atmosphere builds on stage.
Its a hugely powerful story and although the theatre was by no means full on Monday night the audience seemed to be held in the powerful grip that was wrought by the players. So much so that it took about 15-20 seconds for anyone to react once the final curtain fell.

Sin City

2005-06-13T12:16:00.000+01:00

I was eagerly awaiting this Robert Rodriguez offering for the past few months. Any trailers I had seen had definately whetted my appetite and I was looking forward to a movie with a different edge and direction.
I wasn't disappointed. The adaption from the comic book format to the silver screen was very impressive and I really enjoyed what this movie had to offer. From the sublime to the ridiculous this movie has a good smattering of entertainment value, but it may not be everyones cup of tea!

Champions League Final

2005-05-26T12:50:00.000+01:00

It was with great trepidation and excitement that I settled in to watch the Champion's League Final between Liverpool FC and AC Milan. I'm not a huge Liverpool supporter by any means but at the same time I really really wanted them to win last night as a blow for the under dog if for no other reason.
But my God was it a match! AC Milan scored in the first minute of the first half which really put Liverpool on the back foot before anyone had time to find their feet. It was a great header from Maldini which looked like it surprised him as much as anyone else. The next 2 goals both came from Milan and were scored by Crespo but it has to be said that Kaka was the main play maker on the Milan side and without his incredible inch perfect pass the second Crespo goal just would not have been possible.
So at half time the score line was 3-0 and it was really beginning to look like the match was going to be a horrendous embarrassment to the 'Pool.
It was a strange night last night, normally with a scoreline like that I would have been itching to turn over and forget about the whole disaster, but this time I wasn't. I didn't feel like it was over at all and I found myself looking forward to the second half.
I am so glad I did stick it out! 3 goals in 8 minutes from Liverpool starting with a captain's strike from Gerrard and followed very quickly by a second by Smicer and then finally a penalty won by Gerrard and taken by Alonso who scored it on the rebound! It was magnificent! The game went on to extra time which saw a fabulous save by the often hit and miss Dudek and finally the decision as to who was going to win was left to penalties.
Personnally I don't think that Milan put their best men forward for the penalties but saying that watching Dudek's antics on the goal line as he imitated Grobellaar in the 1984 final I couldn't help but believe that they were going to do it! Whether it was Dudek leaping around or just the pressure of the night Milan fell apart and it was glorious to watch the reds win that trophy.
It was a truly great Champion's League Final and one that the history books will no doubt note.

Star Wars III - Revenge of the Sith

2005-05-23T12:07:00.000+01:00

Ok so every dog and divil who has any interest in popular culture at all will beat a path to the cinema to see the latest and possibly last of George Lucas's Star Wars movies. It feels a little defunct that I should bother creating my own review of the movie as there have been so many others done already. But this is my Blog and its purpose is to review the things I have seen and done recently and as Star Wars was the highlight of my weekend that's what I am going to review!
I am not a massive Star Wars fan as in I can't quote large tracts of the scripts and to be honest strain to remember all of the twists and turns of the story line. But I do have a decent grasp of the characters and the basic story line so that I can write with some degree of knowledge about the final part in this trilogy of movies.
Having read some preview reviews I was already aware that by and large this film was going to be better than the both I & II. Which is why I allowed myself to look forward to seeing this one. By and large it is far superior to Phantom Menace (which I found to be boring) and it does surpass Attack of the Clones ( which I did enjoy but wouldn't be in a rush to see again). However the script remains very weak in this film and the acting abilities of Hayden Christiansen are in a word, dire. But its the story that really attracts people to this movie and you can forgive the bad acting and terrible dialogue in this case as Lucas has finally delivered to us the missing link in the story. The story of how Annekan Skywalker was attracted to the dark side and became the infamous Darth Vadar was always what I for one wanted to hear about. I liked the way that, bad as the first two movies were, the development of Annekan as an unhappy and insecure individual can be traced, and it is this thread which holds the key to the story.
Its a pity that Hayden Christiansen just doesn't have the gravitas to pull off this role. I think that his character could have been portrayed more sympathetically which would have made his transition to the dark side more profound. Also the fact that Natalie Portman's character went from being a swash buckling hero in the 2nd movie to a wimpy weeping woman with terrible dialogue in this film was also a real shame and is a great injustice to what could have been a great female role.
Also the story involving Chancellor Palpatine was by far and away the best part of this movie, Iain McDiarmaid played a blinder and stole the show in every scene he was in.
So overall if you enjoy Star Wars and are interested in the story I don't see how you could fail not to get a kick out of this movie. If you don't like Star Wars and are one of those people who get confused about its chronology then you probably won't. Either way that's my two cents worth on a topic I'm sure most people have an opinion on.

HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy

2005-05-16T15:48:00.000+01:00

I realise the rest of the world saw HHGG weeks ago but I only got the opportunity to view it this weekend and so it will be my topic for waffling on about this week! I read the book in my early teens and remember being very confused and highly amused by it in equal measures. The film offering left me less confused and not half as amused as the book. The problem is I'm not entirely sure that that's the way it should be or not?!
Anyway the film is loads of fun. A bit silly and has some really cool visual effects such as the factory floor part - which as I do recall did not make much sense in my head when I read the book and made plenty of sense in the film.
Mmm I don't think this review is making much sense either so I think I will leave it at that.
It gets a 6 out of 10 from me.

Kingdom of Heaven

2005-05-09T11:10:00.000+01:00

Now for my first review!
For the record I love a good epic! I get a kick out of grisly battle scenes in a film and sweeping vistas, great love scenes, and lots of historical references! And so, I was quite excited about the prospect of this movie despite the fact that there have been so many complete and utter dud offerings in this genre in recent times. I won't mention the duds by name right now but you can make an intelligent stab at it!
The good news is that Kingdom of Heaven is, thankfully, not in this league. Dont' get me wrong it's not perfect. It is unsatisfactory in places and there are plot holes so large and gaping in the story that it irritated me to a large extent. Saying that though, I did enjoy it.
However the biggest problem with this film is that it tries to do too much. The hero becomes all things to all men very quickly and easily without giving us any indication of how he became so wise and knowledgeable considering he was a simple blacksmith at the start of the film. You could probably read into the events and surmise that the sum total of his experiences while travelling to Jeruseluem made the boy into a man but it really wasn't that clear from the story in the film whether this is in fact the case.

On a different level I'm not sure I like Orlando Bloom without his blonde wig and pointy ears and he didn't really convince me of his hero status in this film but he did an adequate job. He looks comfortable with a sword and lets face it he's a very pretty boy and thats always worth a point or two! Out of the substantial and impressive cast in this film, Jeremy Irons ran away with it for me. Although I have to mention Brendan Gleeson as well as he played the boorish evil minded drunk to perfection!

So that's it. Overall I enjoyed this movie. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't terrible I wouldn't say to you go out and see it immediately but at the same time if you have a spare 2 and a half hours its not a bad way to spend your time!

Reviewing Stuff

2005-05-06T14:11:00.000+01:00

I plan to use this space mostly for reviewing stuff. Haven't seen or read anything lately but will soon and that's when I will put my plan into action!