SOUR APPLES (not lemons)

Hemlock..or is it Deadly?

2012-11-09T00:51:00.000-08:00

Sour Apple of the Day:

This isn't exactly the day this 'sour apple' came up but its the day it has begun to bug me. (Oh, if you didn't guess a lemon is good sour apple bad. Both deliciously zingy, apples aren't supposed to be thought. Had enough of metaphors? Good, me too.)
I've stumbled across something weird, well okay its not that odd. But this book I bought read and loved is not the one I see when I google it.
Eurgh. Today I am not making sense.

What I mean is one day I say 'Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock' in the shopping centre. It had this cover:

I love this cover. You may also notice that this version of the book is titled 'Deadly Hemlock' when the book is actually called 'Hemlock' (absolutely definitely, I triple checked) though I was curious to see the original far more widespread cover which looked like this:

Yes, to the left, the blog-format doesn't like positioning pictures tastefully (its in an all-out-war against the layout-settings I swear) Anyway my main problem is that this alternate cover is like a sour apple. Its all paranormal and magical-powers looking. I know, werewolves, but still! The Hemlock I read was really freshly realistic, it didn't try to laden us down with mystical magical possibilities and aliens and paranormal immortality (which is what the girl-in-purple-dress cover portrays..to me) Hemlock rationalised werewolves (I just put 'rational' and 'werewolf' into the same sentence...waiting for the plausible story-line gods to smite me) it makes Lycathropy into a disease, a government issue. Not hidden from the general public. All out no-holes-barred knowledge of all people. I think this matches the Deadly Hemlock cover much more. It just fits. I mean assuming that that girl in the dress on the cover is supposed to be Mackenzie, which I don't get? She looks contemplative and sorta weak, inactive. Plus why is she wearing a dress? Since when was Mackenzie the dress wearing type...I thought she was more of a practical girl.

I just adore the other cover. Plus this is in no way bashing on Kathleen Peacock, that woman is amazing. She's done this amazing job of creating an awesome BELIEVABLE story! I love! Plus I know authors have little say in the cover-artprocess.

I'll do some normal posting later on! (Hope this wasn't too cynical, 'spose it could've been a bit better)

Reviews: Detention (2011) and Another Earth (2011)

2012-10-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

Review Time! Up first We've got Another Earth (2011) and then Detention (2011)
(Yes, note that they are both 2011 movies, I'm a bit behind the times. I know)

Another Earth. Where do I begin? Its a rather melancholy film. A little depressing. However its beautifully put together and the shots just work you know? The story, although very sad, was really compelling. A girl who is so full of guilt and a man so full of grief and a loss of purpose.

This is not a sci-fi film. If anything the 'other earth' is a metaphor for the characters thoughts and dreams of 'what if?'

In our world we always question what may have happened if we'd done things differently, in 'Another Earth' that feeling of wonder, the need to know, it tangible. With the other earth looming in the background of the film it acts as a constant reminder that these characters are really wondering 'why is MY life, like this? Is the me over there just as lost as I am?'

This film is as the accolades suggest 'beautiful and haunting' But I did have one problem with it [Spoilers are happening now people, so head on down to Detention's review if you don't want to know] The romance. I know extreme situations blah blah, ect. But I thought though they needed an expression of intimacy, I didn't believe that a fully fledged romance was really the way to go. It felt off weird. At some points the soundtrack was off too, so it felt like something sinister. Or maybe it was me, as the audience, carrying around all the guilt and hurt of Rhoda, they made me feel icky. I really believed that this film could've done with a simple friendship (Admittedly the age thing was a major factor in the off-putting stuff).

In all though I did like the ending, how other Rhoda was successful and other dude (his name escapes me at this moment) had his family alive on other earth. I can't say I loved the ending, because ultimately this film wasn't about love, it was about hurt, guilt and forgiveness. So really I think contentment and a weird feeling in my stomach were going to have to suffice.

NB: I really do love the song 'That Home' By The Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson in the trailer.

Detention: OMGROFL-ILY

But in all seriousness I adored this movie. It was just so awesome! The sequences, the dialogue, the way it was cut. The utter ridiculous-randomness was so odd it was endearing. I'm going to put this out there: I was not alive in 1992. But I was born in the 90's (just a shout out to the current 'if you remember this then you we're a 90's kid' memes and everyone my age who's liking them; WE WE'RE ALL INFANTS IN THE 90's YOU ONLY BECAME CAPABLE OF BASIC FUNCTION IN THE 2000'S) So there was a lot of 90's nostalgia that I didn't understand. But I still loved it.

The cast do a great job, I didn't find one character unlikable. Even Sloan, she had a purpose in the movie and since there was a villain already I didn't see the point of hate. In fact I didn't even hate the villain. In fact, to topple that last sentence I was so busy trying to figure out what the hell was going on and laughing my head off, that I don't think I even had time to process emotions. Thats what made this film wonderful, its unclassifiable. But oh my, there was a character I did quite enjoy, just all of his lines seemed like they we're made up in a fountain of gold. Principle Verge. He began by berating someone about teen pregnancy and finished by declaring he was 'too wasted' The dialogue of this show was brilliant.

Something I also loved was the; so over the top, so terribly 'stereotypical' the characters we're made to seem. And the boring guy! Toby T! They never have boring characters in movies because they're, well, boring. But the fact that the entire time he was just taking it on the chin that everyone in detention wanted him to 'take one for the team' and confess to murder was just downright hilarious, plus his poorly-delayed scream and 'I hate this school' always makes me laugh. Just all the characters, their dialogue, the way they we're played. It was just SO GOOD. SO MUCH GOODNESS.

Now before I was saying, about the over-the-top stereotypes. All of which I adored; the 'popular kids' Ione, Gord the Canadian, the Coach, the Jock (Billy Nolan), the Goth. So I'm going to leave you with a perfect example of this, which whenever I showed the movie to someone (who just wasn't quite getting into it just then) I had to try and conceal my laughter. Plus I'll leave you with the words: See this movie!!!!

My Summer Movie Guide (Based on trailers synopsis's and casting/direction, not actual viewing))

2012-10-01T01:38:00.000-07:00

I've seen two movies as of late:

Total Recall
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Now as a young adult/teenager whatever you want to call it I can tell you now that if you're in a situation and you've got to choose between either one, pick Madagascar. Its the way to go, especially if you, like me, can't get enough of those ridiculously outspoken lemurs. I want my very own King Julien, he is essentially the heart and soul of the film. No one goes into the cinema planning on viewing the moral dilemmas like lying to people who trust you and dealing with long-term friendships of Lions and Zebras, they want to see animals doing physically impossible and illegal things whilst being incredibly witty. Thats what Madagascar delivers once again and is certainly not a waste your money if you're looking for some light-hearted entertainment.

Moving on. I've been stalking IMDB for viewing ideas since all my favourite TV shows are over and I'm three quarters through school before it gets serious. (Which is next year so hold onto your seats for some lengthy procrastination posts)

My search has led me to a number of movies I will list below, every single one of them hasn't been released over here in Australia in the cinemas (or overseas in some cases) but I did manage to view 17 Filles, which I did enjoy and as a french student kind of helped me? I don't know but I did like it because often the american take on teen pregnancy just seems unrealistic, or the acting seems that way. All the actresses in 17 Filles were wonderful and you know, LOOKED THEIR AGE. Plus they didn't have those annoying whiny voices.
Refreshing.

Onto the list:

Les Misérables

I honestly can't wait for this. I will see it in the cinemas (that's a high commendation from the penniless-pirating-generation, but tsk, what am I saying, I plan on seeing all of this list in cinema, its just a matter of money and availability) I have only just recently watched the little snippet of the actors describing how different the process was for acting this musical (with the live singing allowing them a lot of room to move) its very appealing.
It seems awesome but I really don't know much about it. I haven't read the book, I've got a basic idea of the plot and thats it. I sort of want it to be a surprise the movie. Letting my brain process things as they come like its supposed to. I don't get it when people research before they watch, it ruins the experience. Watching the trailer didn't wreck anything for me. All I gathered was that "Hey Anne Hathway can sing, what a nice surprise" so I don't have much to say about this but IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD, and I am a sucker for musicals, I can't sing but music is such a powerful medium and musicals just take that advantage to a new height. I will be watching.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Now I know it's apparently sacrilegious to booklovers or something but I haven't read this novel. And I KNOW, I know its amazing and I'd probably finish it in a day but please. My TBR list is literally 50 books long, and I still need to find the other half of Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why because I only downloaded half the audio-book.

I'm sorry. But I do so adore this trailer and book adaptions are good. Plus I'm not ignorant, I know that even though the trailer's really fun this is a seriously-challenging-drama, and thats how I suspect going from 'funny movie' to 'seriously good movie' because mixing bits of comedy into a drama always makes the characters more loveable. Not to mention the fact that this film is littered with buckets of talented, respected and experienced 'young actors' I say that because they're all about early twenties.
So basing my need-to-see upon book people hype (respected AND reliable in my opinion) and the lovely looking trailer (I really hope they can keep up the fabulous soundtrack)

Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect just seems hilarious. From my first look at the trailer I was showing it around saying "Hey, Holidays; lets see this" Its sort of the perfect movie just to go out and have fun with. Another musical (of sorts) described as a college aged 'Glee' however I'm inclined to believe the humor in this one is less unique than that of the tv show.

On the subject of humor, Adam DeVine and Rebel Wilson look like they're leading the movie. Their characters are wonderful, I mean who cares if they're only there fro entertainment value, its who I really want to see. We have that main-character girl there for plot. I rarely end up caring about to emotional growth of these characters and more about the hilarity that goes on around them, hilarity sure to be provided by the large supporting cast. Even Brittany Snow's sweetie-with-an-agenda-character is so full on (intentionally) that she's funny. Either way its another for my list of 'Got-to-watch'

Moonrise Kingdom

This movie looks so utterly gorgeous. I think that its like everything any lovely photographer tried to capture and put into instagram, but much more meaningful. I just adore the scripting and how so much of this seems like it was purposely developed from a child's perspective.
Apparently the soundtrack is to die for, and if the trailer is anything to go by then I agree with this statement!
I really want to see this because it looks like such a story-movie, lighthearted and wonderful. It kind of reminds me of all the sweet-advernture novels I read as a tiny-kid. Like the faraway tree or the wishing chair.

Artistically the movie looks fantastic, etc. I just can't wait. (Well actually it is in the cinema's right now, but I don't have the cash to spare at the moment, I've got textiles school needs to fulfil which just involve buying a lot of fabric)

Red Dawn

My main draw to watch Red Dawn (which is a bit of a standout in this list as its the only 'big-action-blockbuster') is because I am a HUGE FAN of John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War Began series. Of which there are 7 books, I've read all of them plus the 3 books in the spin off series. They were written and published in the nineties I think so some of the writing was a bit dated when I read it (which was AFTER the movie came out, but I hadn't seen the movie) some things like 'electronic mail' I did laugh at. But it was good and amazing.

In 2009, many years after the entire series was finished and re-printed Tomorrow When The War Began was released as a movie and as a huge fan of the books I loved it. Told from country-girl Ellie's POV and set right here at home in Australia. So as I was such a fan of this I did eventually come into the knowledge that the Americans had their own version or similar-thing. But I was rather reluctant to watch it as it was made in the 80's and to be honest the experience would have probably be ruined for me just because A) I don't come from the 80's, it was before my time and B) The filming technique, camera quality and special effects quality just won't be the same. (Before my time meaning I can't relate, I don't get the pop-culture references or anything like that)

But lo and behold in the era everyone's fond of a good old re-imaging and/or recycling plots and characters for unnecessary prequel stories (I'm looking at you: Total Re-call, The Hobbit, The Bourne Legacy, Twilight's still going - the franchises, so many franchises. Its like you can't make a 'meant-to-be-a-stand-alone' movie that becomes successful without people deciding to cash in and make a second-rate sequel)

Anyway back to Red-dawn. I'm excited, you could be excited for all I know. What I do know is that these are good actors, the movie looks super glossy and will probably be a great source of entertainment and even greater meaning for those who can get past the explosions. My only qualm is that they actually said who was invading, I mean isn't that politically incorrect or something? In T.W.T.W.B the director deliberately kept the soldiers non-decript and said we were invaded by a 'co-alition' Perhaps more annoying are the people who get into arguments about: "But North Korea would never be able to invade USA, this movie's stupid" are extremely annoying. Since this film is fiction then anything goes, USA hasn't been invaded as of late, does that make the entire movie impossible? Yes. But what's the bother, if we could only make movies about whats possible then the world would be a sad, limited place. Like I said: EXCITED.

Fun Size

Another: "I want entertainment so why the hell not" Fun size, as the title suggests, looks fun. Just a good movie but the thing that got me was the trailer. The main character played by Victoria Justice didn't seem overly annoying or fake, but on the contrary to many teen-movie-characters, entirely relatable. Much so due to the wonderful acting. I think they've got together a good group for this.

I like the twist of the little brother and the service station man. With the comedy lying in wait and a low-stakes plot I could say that if this movie turns out I may even watch it twice. Who knows. (Have I written that before, I feel like I have. Damn I hope this repetative-ness isn't wrecking things for your reading)

So I'll leave while saying that if we have movie-taste in common it would pay to re-visit this blog to see what I thought of all the movies here and maybe if you're bored check out 17 Filles, just get your subtitles on if you don't do french. Fabulous soundtrack. That or Glory at Sea (which is a short film, can be youtubed) AND BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD. I've been off at that film for a while now and its only just come out in some 'alternative cinemas' around and about.
This is my summer movie guide, alongside whatever else my friends cajole me into watching. Whatever I watch it'll hopefully end in awesomeness.

JLA Reading Challenge

2012-07-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. I've been hiding someone very special from all the readers here. (Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I don't have to call you 'non-existent' now)
And that very special person is........

Jennifer L. Armentrout, the extremely awesome and fantastic author of the Covenant Series and Lux Series. Plus a few other books too!

Those two series I mentioned above are just AWESOME I honestly couldn't pick between the two of them, and I do plan on reviewing them all (another fantastic thing is that both series are still in the making (at the same time, crazy right?) and this means that JLA's books are CURRENT pop-culture. This post is 'in the now' people)
As I said I do plan on reviewing these books and posting those reviews which is why I've joined the

Yes the 'JLA Reading Challenge' Hosted by 'Deity Island' who can be found here: Click Me!

This challenge sets out some handy little time-stamps for posting reviews and you can win prizes! Plus it connects you with all the other JLA fans (depending on your favorite series you may or may not count yourself as part of the 'Half Blood Legion')

Now since I can't have written it better myself here is the challenge outlined by the bloggers over at Deity Island:

I CHALLENGE YOU... to (re)read all of JLA's books and post a NEW review/post about it from August 1st-December 31st, 2012. Each month, a new post will go up explaining which book(s) to read and a Linky List will be provided for you to add your review/post. At the end of each month, we will be giving away one of Jen's books to one lucky person who links up their review/post.

Sound pretty fantastic, because face it, I would have re-read all these books anyway. Speaking of here is a lovely list of all JLA's Books (not just the ones on the challenge) and some of their fabulous covers:

Covenant Series:

Daimon (Free Prequel)
Half Blood
Pure
Deity (Not Released)
Apollyon (Not Released)
Elixir (Novella, Unreleased)

Lux Series:

Shadows (Prequel Released after Obsidian)
Obsidian
Onyx (Not Released)
Opal (Not Released)

Other Books:

Don't Look Back
Cursed
Unchained

Now I understand that this post won't always be around so there is a 'Challenge Button' located just under the Hunger Games Countdown. I'm sorry guys. I just can't bring myself to take it down, its just so pretty and something of a memrobilia piece now. Seeya Later!

Pandemonium and Delirium Review

2012-07-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm a bit late with this series I know. But hey! A dual review!
Well kind-of, I've just decided to post both my reviews here as they were some of my rare substantial ones and even though they aren't positive they do contain some very good points.

Delirium: 3.5 Stars

I honestly couldn't read this book at some points, I just got so furious! A society without love? I felt like punching whoever began that crazy notion in the face, pardon my strangely-violent reaction. I just felt sick at some points, especially when it came to the parts about obliterated love between parent and child.
Which is why I was glad that (and thank god really) Lena finally came round, at about the half-way point! I mean talk about dragging it out.

Sorry guys I was just so angry at the government in this book, I mean it hard to believe society and the government would be that stupid. Nothing would work without parental love for their children. And that was only part of it!

I suppose the writing may have been good but I didn't notice, I was too preoccupied with my frustration with the society, I had to put this down a few times because I felt so awful. What can I say? I'm a compassionate person and this was society CLEAN-CUT AND COMPASSIONLESS. I mean come on!? Who could stand reading that without wanting to kick something and simultaneously throw-up?
Now I would give this a higher rating because it invoked such feeling in me, but because I didn't like those feelings I'd give it a 3.5
Okay. I'm out.

Pandemonium: 2 Stars.

I didn't like it. It was so far from what the last book was. I missed Hanna and I felt like I'd stepped into a different series. I mean, even some consistency would be nice? I mean yes it was still Lena, and yes there was still the Delirium Laws. But there were different rules to be broken and different consequences, not to mention the whole re-shuffling of co-characters.
I mean that is a risky move, one, that in my head did not pay off. I mean just sticking with the one character: Lena, from the first book, a girl whom, to begin with I didn't particularly like.

Then there is that whole romance with the Julian kid, and I say kid because thats how I feel he was portrayed. It was just silly, I didn't feel the chemistry, the room didn't crackle with intensity as you can tell it does in other books. I was just not feeling it.

But I feel that in this world I personally would have been more of a 'FIGHT FOR MATERNAL LOVE' or 'KINSHIP LOVE' kind of person, you know? I would have loved to explore relationships like, siblings, sibling love can be very strong, heck even relatives. I would have loved to explore the Grace/Lena relationship or you know, given her a sibling that she doesn't want to split from.
Those sorts of bonds can be very serious from a young age, and they're believable, but that 'true love' stuff, that sort of deliberation 'WE WILL BE TOGETHER FOREVER' at seventeen? Really? I just found it highly unlikely, in any scenario. This world would be a whole lot more moving and dramatic if a closer look was taken at maternal and familial love.

The Life Before Her Eyes Review

2012-07-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by saying I adore this film. The way its been put together its all just eurghh! I could gush about the artistry for ages. But I won't. Because I've already done so in another technically-observant film review.

Now I will warn you now that there are NO SPOILERS in this essay. And that was unbelievably hard to do, extremely. Because this is the type of film that incorporates one amazing twist and really shocks people.

Oh Hey, I've also just learnt that this film was based upon a book. However I'm a bit hesitant to read it. Just in case I ruin a great movie. (Thats like the opposite of how I usually think when it comes to books and film adaptions)

Here goes the essay:

Film Criticism: The Life Before Her Eyes, Directed by Vadim Perelman

The Life Before Her Eyes is a film filled with deeper meaning, things that seem ordinary are actually clues to the truth, something the viewer only realizes at the end of the film. The film, set in modern day America, begins with a school shooting. The effect is immediate, pulling the viewer into the action of the film. The protagonist and her best friend are trapped in a bathroom, cornered by the shooting student. The audience never see’s what happens at the end of the confrontation as we cut to a future version of Diana (the protagonist) many years later. It continues to be edited this way throughout the movie, cutting between past and present, including the day of the shooting and the days leading up to it, in the future we Diana struggles to deal with the pain of that day, even though we the viewers still do not know what has happened.

Vadim Perelman has put The Life Before Her Eyes together very artistically, running themes through the film flawlessly using script, mis en scene and acting. At the beginning of the film there is a montage of flowers, opening, closing, flourishing and dying. Throughout the film the director continues to contribute to the mis en scene as well as incorporating the films themes of life and death through the placement of flowers at all stages of life in the film. The second main element of the film is water, this is generally referred to through the use of script, sound and mis en scene, the film frequently has the water contributing to a scene, be it the girls swimming in a pool, running past a sprinkler or in one of the most poignant moments in the film, when a main character lies in a pool of water, dying, re-playing the line ‘The heart is the body’s strongest muscle’ along with the flashback memory of that character musing aloud and theorizing that if the human body is mostly water then when someone dies, wouldn’t most of their body go back into the atmosphere. That statement in the film isn’t there to be an interesting scientific theory, it is there to be poetic and its like the icing on the cake, if you will, of all the water-related mis en scene in this film, those repeated lines really tie that film and that moment together nicely.

The editing in this film is done extremely well, it doesn’t follow your typical hollywood story’s chronological order, this films editing is done in such a complicated manner, but its the way that it has been edited that makes the story. Yes the editing is not simple to explain, but it is done so stylishly that by the end of the film you can appreciate that Vadim Perelman, Laura Kasischke (Writer of the novel, the movie is based on) and Emil Stern (wrote screenplay) aren’t just telling you a story, they are giving you pieces of a puzzle, making you a part of the journey, a tactic that gets the audience emotionally invested in the film. However Perelman doesn’t leave out information in a way that confuses the viewer, through the editing of past and present, the audience understands the question; what happened in the bathroom, to those two best friends during that school shooting. It is the answer, that piece of the puzzle, the final scene that really blows viewers away. That makes an exciting film, an enjoyable film. One that is not only entertaining, but leaves you with a sense of fulfillment, finally understanding all the things the director has shown you throughout the course of the hour. The film does make allowances for those with poor memories, compiling well-edited footage together at the end, displaying all the most important clues from the film.

The soundtrack and camera-work compliment the film well, giving hard actions like diving into a pool or getting shot a sort of slow graceful look, dragging out the moment so that viewers can fully appreciate and process them. The Life Before Her Eyes has a strong storyline and standout mis en scene that are the defining aspects of the film. Vadim Perelman makes these aspects stand out more by keeping the soundtrack and camera work professional but subtle. The camera work is stylish but the techniques used aren’t uncommon, this would be too much for one person to take in alongside the other prominent film elements.

The Life Before Her Eyes is a work of art. At first look it does appear that the film is exploring the themes of life and death, but at the same time the film looks at friendship, the focus on this theme actually outweighs the focus on life and death. The acting of the two main characters; Diana and Maureen is wonderful and this film looks at these two very different girls, the friendship they share and how that evolves in the months leading up to the school shooting. Maureen is rather quiet and comes from a good catholic family, she is the responsible caring one who helps Diana through many tough time. Diana on the other hand is rebellious, loud and though outwardly confident, quite insecure on the inside. Perhaps overshadowed by the other themes is abortion, this issue is dealt with and discussed without the viewer realizing it, often it is only after the credits are rolling that people realize just how tied in and prevalent this issue actually was, it isn’t discussed as an actual issue, merely examined. It is used as more of a plot device, a technical clue, to give it away would be to unravel the entire editing work of the entire film, as would many other aspects of the film. Seemingly ordinary parts of ‘present-day-diana’s life are clues or pieces of the film puzzle, that only take shape at the very end.

To be honest I liked this film because I understood it. And to be fair to those who didn’t I have to admit: I cheated. But not on purpose. I got the final piece of the puzzle first, so I did not have all the confusion that viewers who watched from the beginning of the film did. I walked in on the final scene of the movie, the actual audience, after the credits has come up on screen were sitting around open-mouthed asking ‘what just happened’ I was very proud that I could just stand there and explain what happened. But the disappointing thing is I will never experience what they had, an entire hour of believing you know whats going on, and then your whole understanding of the film flipped upside down because of one gigantic red-herring. The thing The Life Before Her Eyes should be commanded for is the fact that despite having only one mystery, one truth, and a multitude of clues, some that are so blatantly obvious they make you wonder if the DVD skipped a scene, The Life Before Her Eyes still manages to ‘blind-side’ all its viewers. The film is made in such a way that you cannot work it out because in the back of your mind, the actual answer to the films question is impossible. Then again, one could suppose that its the viewers fault for assuming that the film is actually asking them a question ‘what happened in the bathroom?’ when all the film is doing, is telling you the story.

By Isobel

60's: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho

2012-07-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

So for today's ppst I'm going back in time a bit, to the 60's, which incidentally, I've been studying in history for this first semester.
My reason for this spur-of-the-moment-time-travel would be the fact that I took a look at my blog today and thought 'wow'.

I couldn't even tell what it was about! So I've decided to re-vamp it a bit. Have it make some actual sense and stick to my idea of actually reviewing books/films and current pop culture I'm into. Except for today. Today I'm actually posting a 'trying' piece of english literature. That is to say I wrote an essay on Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' for my film class and thought 'why not post it here? It is a film review after all'

So here goes:

Alfred Hitcock was born in England. As a teenager he became more interested in films he began to visit the cinema frequently. The first film he directed was ‘Always Tell Your Wife’ a short comedy he but it was when he created ‘The Pleasure Garden’ a crime and romance film, that his career really began. ‘Rear Window’, ‘Strangers On A Train’ and ‘Rich and Strange’ were some of the many suspenseful action thrillers that Hitchcock created in his career. Alfred Hitchcock became famous for his thrilling films and was hence forth nicknamed ‘The Master of Suspense’ In 1960 Hitchcock created Psycho, one of cinema’s most infamous thrillers, made famous by the now iconic ‘Shower Scene’

Psycho is a film that really breaks with the classical film conventions, its created expertly by Hitchcock, utilising sound, mise en scene and camera angles. One of the most famous parts of the film psycho would have to be its soundtrack, its ability to set the atmosphere of a scene and its uniqueness to the film is quite extraordinary. We first expirience the effect of the music and its ability to tell a story and add to the plot in one of the earlier scenes; Marion, the protagonist, is packing her bags. As the camera pans away from a close up of the forty thousand dollars music that can only be described as ‘suspicious’ or ‘sneaky’ is played, this tells the audience, without being blatantly obvious, that Marion is planning to steal the money. The music is played once more as Marion is driving away, the music puts us on edge, the atmosphere is one of urgency and the music is played almost like a metaphor to Marion’s thoughts, scattered and conflicted, worrying but persisting with her plan. The soundtrack is utilized further to emphasize Anthony Perkin’s (Norman Bates) acting. While conversing with Marion, Norman begins to become agitated while talking about his mother, this is highlighted by some heightened and tense music, then immediately after some contrasting, softer, more wary music begins to play as Normans reverts to calmly talking about mad people, it really sets the tone of the scene, as if its not Marion sitting in the parlor, but you and you get the feeling that its not a comfortable place to be. Perhaps the most recognizable music of the film is the strings from the murder scene, its intense almost ear-piercing noise always comes as a shock. Hitchcock creates this suspense by, in the moments before the scene, gradually tuning out all background sound so that when the music does arrive, its big, loud and frightening. Hitchcock uses this technique throughout the film, every time Norman Bates attempts murder. Its as though the audience subconsciously recognizes that tune-out of sound and realizes what is about to unfold, raking up the suspense until the screeching of the violins bursts around the corner and breaks the suspense.

Much more subtle, at least to the occasional movie-goers eye, is the use of mise en scene. In the Bates Motel Parlor scenes there are a number of stuffed birds. At first the initial purpose of the birds seems to be to show the audience how odd Norman is but they hold a deeper meaning. Each get a close up as Marion and Norman enter, the birds are positioned as predators, making those in the parlor seem like prey. The birds cast imposing shadows across the room, giving a creepy sense, which adds to the atmosphere of Marion and Normans conversation, as well as during the scene when Norman is watching her through the peep-hole. There are many other moments of deeper meaning and significance through-out the film. At the end of the murder scene we see Marion’s blood washing away with the water and down the drain. This could be simply interpreted as how easily the evidence was slipping away. But through Hitchcocks editing the drain is given deeper meaning. The camera fades from a views of the bloody water circling the drain, to an image of Marion’s eye, dead and watching, the gurgling drain now a symbol of Marion’s life, spiraling away and finally disappearing. During the murder scene there was a great use of close ups, often of the shower head and Marion’s face, the camera didn’t linger on these shots long and moved in quick succession between them all, giving a sense of urgency to the scene. Together with the violins, the acting of Janet Leigh and just the entire unexpectedness of the plot made this scene one of the most iconic from films today.

It was the murder of Marion, the main character, that broke from many of the classic ‘hollywood’ film story conventions, of that time and of today. It’s an extremely unusual and risky move to kill off the main character so early on in the film. In common story conventions you as the audience expect the main character to make it through to the end and succeed despite all odds. So this change was shocking and refreshing, it gave the movie an edge that really made it unique. As did the black and white film stock, another break from conventional films of the time. In the 1960’s directors were moving into the new medium of coloured footage. Hitchcock purposely decided to make the film in black and white. This decision ultimately enhanced the film, making the Bates House and Motel seem grimmer, even in broad daylight, which would have assisted with the production of the film greatly. They could film in such a way that everything was visible and the buildings did not seem out of place, as they may have if the film was created in colour.

Psycho is a film that is completely balanced, the appropriate mixing of sound, acting, mise en scene, camera, editing, lighting and pure shocks. Not one of these elements could be effective on their own, but Alfred Hitchcock had a way of making all these elements come together, like a perfectly fitted jigsaw. Giving the world a movie that put a tension in their stomachs, had them on the edge of their seat, fearing what would come next but overwhelmed with curiosity, like a true master of suspense.

So hopefully you enjoyed that insight. I actually got a great mark for it, and yeah, I know this is a really technical take on the film.

The Hunger Games Review

2012-04-23T16:21:00.001-07:00

The following post details: My experience of going to the Hunger Games Midnight Premiere, the hype (or lack of) at the cinema, my 'psycho fan' nature that may well have ruined the experience (through over-zealous hyping in the days leading up, weeks and yes, you got me months (and I mean seriously distant from the premiere date) to the movie) My final review of the Hunger Games, both a spoilerish and a non-spoilerish one, for those who haven't read the book or seen the movie, which won't actually be a review because all it will be is me encouraging you to watch and/or read the goddamn thing. Plus over-critical fans and my opinions on THEIR opinions.

Here we go: Well I've been away for a little while, and I suppose that it may have come as a slight disappointment for you to find out that after going on about the fact that the Hunger Games was to become a movie, I didn't like it.

Okay. Not true. I kinda, wait I did like it. But I guess the book was just too amazing, nothing could compare. And here's just a little something I have to get out of the way, I won't mention it again just don't dispute me on it:

THE SOUNDTRACK WAS AWFUL I HATED IT. THE ELEMENT OF SOUND WAS NOT UTILISED TO ITS FULL EXTENT AND POTENTIAL.

There, the end. So lets get into it!
On the 21st of March (Yes the 21st, that is not a memory error that is the correct date, I swear on my life - if I'm wrong just chuck me in the Hunger Games) I went over to my friends place after school where we all hunger out, OH DEAR GOD LOOK AT THAT GRAMMATICAL ERROR, I wrote 'hunger' instead of 'hung' that word is just so subconsciously stuck there in my brain. Anyway, as I was saying we all hung out until about half past eleven (Thats 11:30 for all you lazy people out there) pm, just making sure we are on the same page. All because I was going to the MIDNIGHT PREMIERE OF THE HUNGER GAMES. Okay, sorry for all the caps.

The place (cinema) was surprisingly empty, they sure didn't fill out the whole theatre, but hey, what can you do? Most people would be bothered to get up this late on a school night, it just messes with you and stuffs you up the next day. So in we marched, me and about 3 of my friends, where we soon met up with another four of our friends and our crazily-pre-ordered-tickets were soon slashed and we were in. Yeah the 'low amount of people' and the fact that there were still tickets available made me feel pretty bad about going all 'psycho fan' on my friend, who for some reason was placed in the unfortunate position of buying the tickets, and pressuring insanely that we must grab those tickets the DAY they came out (Feb 22nd, in case your interested) Putting an light ending to that story I'll just go with saying that we all got our tickets over a month in advance.

The movie was nice, I think I'll have to see it again to appreciate it properly, or something. I had one too many bones to pick (But hang on a sec, I'm about to go and be a hypocrite, just you wait)

Afterwards my Mum came and picked me up, we got Mcdonalds (Because they are open 24Hrs thank god) and that was the night, of course with the viewing in between.

First off I'll launch into my Very Detailed Spoilerific Review (More like a pros and cons list):

The Hunger Games, what I liked about it;

- The acting, it was great, I thought they did a great job with the slightly measly bits of script that each person had.
- The arena, that thing was done well, I liked the forest settings, which really just matched with what I'd imagined in the book picture perfect.
- The casting, I guess this couples in with acting but still, the cast did a great job.
-The editing/animation CGI whatever you call it, of those muttations, they looked good and not at all like mannequins or half done animations (cough cough to a certain franchise)
- That feast scene, gosh that was done well, and Thresh, I really liked Thresh in the books, I found myself imagining his journey and getting emotionally attached to it so I really enjoyed him getting screen time. It gave the little suzanne-collins-fangirl inside of me just a little bit of time to squee
- The way they handled Katniss' backstory, her unresponsive mother, dead father ect. It was well done, alongside some superb acting.
- Okay, Apart from that shaky-camera shot I really admired the camera-work of this movie, it was done in an interesting way and not at all conventional Hollywood.
- CINNA!! He's just awesome. Cuddos to the actors and everything that just pulled his character together.

What I didn't like (Oh here we go);

- THE SOUNDTRACK. Thats the end of that rant.
- That hand-held, non-dolly moving shot. I just eurghh! It worked fine the first time round but the fact that it just kept showing up! Everywhere! An without the appropriate sound behind it the effect of the shot just doesn't shine through.
- The handling of the on-screen relationship between Katniss and Rue, you just didn't get to see enough bonding or really have time to develop an attachment, to care about their friendship. So when she died, I just wasn't feeling it, again the soundtrack side of things wasn't helping either. Bloody Senacre Crane got more screen-time than Rue.
- The short-ness of Katniss and Peeta's time in the cave, I know, I know, the books have much more flexibility with this than movies do, but it just felt half done you know?
- The interview scenes, something just felt missing. The spinning-fire-dress moment was very anti-climax.
- President Snow. He didn't look intimidating, more like Santa Clause than a child-murderer. He just didn't ooze power, he seemed like someone who'd be booted from presidency in the next election (If Panem had them)
- Berries. The final scene with the berries. Pretending like you will eat death-berries is pretty rebel, but actually putting them in your mouth THAT IS BADASS!! Why people? Why didn't it happen!?

What Surprised Me;

- Haymitch's character, it was just downright refreshing, to be able to explore this character whom, during Hunger Games 1, we didn't get a very large insight to.
- The soundtrack, obviously.
- The uprising in eleven, I just didn't expect it. I didn't mind it, there is going to be an uprising anyway, why not introduce it to the audience earlier? It surprised me and was taken well however I can feel that there would be some nitpicks out there who would think it strays too far off plot.

What was funny;

- The whole scene where Haymitch walks in smiling at Katniss and gives her the thumbs up. It was just too good. A great bit of film that resonated so well with Haymitch's character.
- When Katniss almost stood on Peeta's face. Come off it, we're kids and we giggle.

Obviously the plot and storyline was amazing, the lighting was used effectively, especially in those final arena scenes. I was feeling the suspense when those Muttations were let loose, and I did genuinely jump when it leapt out of nowhere (I was holding my drink at the time and clipped the straw across my face - it hurts)

Finally: What I was really surprised that people complained about as I didn't really mind.

- Madge. Okay, I'm sorry, but since when has Madge ever been a major plot point? I'd actually run into people more concerned with the absence of Madge than Rue's underdevelopment or Snow's Grandfatherlyness. 'But Isobel, this is the girl who gives her the mockingjay pin, like the fact that it belonged to her aunt, who died in the Hunger Games and incidentally, was a friend of Katniss' mother isn't important?' And I'm afraid to newsflash you with the harsh reality, but no. It is not. Aside from the fact that it would be worth about 10,000 headaches for a director to try and incorporate that into a film and then try and get the poor audience to understand why its actually important, but Madge and her background story, its only a spin off tale really. Designed to give the story a little more flesh, depth. Madge is not even a SUPPORTING CHARACTER, just to get that out of the way.

- The cornucopia. 'Its all messed up and weird shaped' 'Why isn't it gold' 'Thats the cornucopia? I thought it was the muttations' Are among the many arguments thrown out there by crazed fans who were upset that this architectural crime could possibly ruin the movie. I have two words for you: Directors Interpretation. Or producers, whoevers artistic call it is, its still climbable.

- And now for one of the most ridiculous complaints (oh and it was lengthy and heated) I'VE EVER HEARD: 'I can't believe Peeta threw the bread out the front of the bakery, its supposed to be the back!'
Wow. That just took nitpicking to a whole new level.

Anyway. Thats it for me, I'm seriously tired. In fact I'm might even give the film another go, without that critic inside me.

How Long Until The Hunger Games Comes Out (Revisited)

2011-12-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

So I figured, its been a while since I last posted about how long it would be until the Hunger Games movie comes out so here is a revised edition, because time changes. ALL THE TIME, so naturally the amount of time until the Hunger Games movie comes out would change too.

So here is a revised list:

- The time it takes to complete 2.8 full moons (cycles)

- The time it takes to boil 20,168 medium sized eggs - one at a time

- The time it takes to boil 8096 jumbo sized eggs - one at a time (it takes like 15 minutes per egg according to google)

- The time it takes to watch Avatar 749 times (710 if you buy the re-release)

- The shelf-life of a quiche is 5 days, so the shelf life of 16.88 quiches each brought in after the last one.

- The lifespan of 12 poorly cared for goldfish (one week each), they’re probably mine....

- The lifespan of 4 and a half caterpillars (relatively normal ones)

- The time it takes to listen to The 4 Chord Song by Axis of Awesome 19,618 times

- The time it takes to sit through 1012 Mercy Masses.

- The time it takes to watch ONE OF THE BEST NCIS EPISODES EVER: Truth or Consequences 2024 times

- The time it takes ME to read the entire Hunger Games series 66.36 times (I'm getting there) Honestly this one is the best way to pass the time...well I guess you could also go to school.

BUT THATS NOT ON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE ITS HOLIDAYS!!!!

Freedom until February! FUF!

EXAM WEEK

2011-12-22T01:49:00.000-08:00

Christmas is that reflective time of year. A time to think back on 2011. My year 9 School year. Right now I'm going to reflect upon the last week. The VERY last week. EXAM WEEK.

I don't really study for exams. I study in class, but at home I do whatever else it is that I do (but I can assure you 100% that its not studying)

So day 1/3 in exam week I turn up pretty pleased with myself, I like exams.

Pretty soon it turns out that the rest of the school doesn't.

So I make my way down to the place where we must wait to enter the exam room and I find my friends in various stages of panic/stressful-ness:

Case 1. (From Left people, we go from left): Is called 'BLIND' Blind being when you are very focused on that last minute revision, so focused that you cannot attempt to walk without triggering a mass-explosion and require someone to guide you.

Case 2. 'REMEMBER' Remember is when you are trying to remember important information or memorize quotes (Our first test was english) While on your way to an exam. You don't let other people talk to you while you do this. Be warned 'REMEMBER' can sometimes transform into AGRO (not listed)

Case 3. 'WAITING' Generally case three people have got it down. They can't be bothered fussing over the exam (either because they don't care or they're pretty cool with the subject) This means they'll be more efficient all morning, causing them to get places faster and wait for their friends to catch up.

Case 4. 'ASK' Case four people often wander around getting reassurance from others, they feel prepared but not prepared at the same time. Ask people act like yoyo's all morning

Case 5. 'HELP' These people help, they assist and chat. People in case five can easily evolve to case four if there is no one else around.

Case 6. 'PLOTTING' These people have had their exam cheat sheet mapped out from the beginning of term, the feel giddily superior to all the case 1, 2 and 4 people as they have a safety escape. Can be spotted by the look of cunning in their eyes, the tell-tale 'I got away with it' smile or writing on their skin. (In the case of this particular Exam day the case six girl had it on her legs)

And these were my friends. I think I would have been a case 3 or 5.

In the exam room we had to write an english essay. I became bored. Very quickly:

This exam was stupid. I also had the wonderful luck of sitting at the very back of the room. I don't even know if it was lucky. But its a detail I thought you should know. Anyway I became very bored.

So I left.

Well, I didn't really leave. But most of the time my mind just drifted and I sat there tapping my pencil. Then a teacher would give me a look and I would stare somewhere else. Teachers have an obsession with variety. You need lots of it apparently. If your going to stare, stare in 5 different places over the space of 30 minutes. Not in the one spot. PICKY.

Day two was really hot. Somehow three of us ended up squatting on the ground.

It was a little odd because we were in a crowd of 200 other year 9's but it was so much cooler down there. So we squatted in a crowd as we prepared with mini convos for our next exam.

So at some point I would finish my exam. Sometimes before time was up. I felt like pure AWESOMENESS

Its was a great moment.

And then it would die, and I would become bored.

So my imagination would take hold and this sort of thing would happen right in the exam room:

'SUP!?'
*ignore the unicorn*
'But I'm an awesome unicorn!?'
*The events pictured below occur*

I interrupted so many exams after that. On day three it was really hard to ignore that unicorn. it would just slide its head into my vision ......'sup?'...... and then after ten minutes ......'NEIGH!!!!'
It was VERY distracting.
I nearly trampled someone. Twice.

During day three, but in fact this happen EVERY EXAM (because of my unfortunate position at the back) Teachers would walk past or behind my desk and then just stand there. It was IMPOSSIBLE TO CONCENTRATE

Like this: 'Oh hey. I'm just gonna stand behind your desk and discreetly peer at your work. Is that okay?'

No. It is not.

But during my time spent in exams I came up with the perfect reaction 'Hey, how about I put a bomb in your suit, is that okay?'

Thats what I thought.

And so that was my Exam week, I forgot to bring my drink bottle to exams. It sent me a postcard but refused to give away its location:

Its a crappy drawing, I'm sorry. Oh well

And that dear reader is my Christmas-time reflection on the ending of year nine. but more specifically EXAM WEEK

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! XOXOX

Its too hot.

2011-10-14T01:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, its official. Summer is back. (No I'm not crazy - I'm from Australia, its summer here)

Basically I'm glad I was wearing my summer unifor, not my winter (like some of my friends were).

Australian Google Questions

2011-10-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

So you know how when you type into google and it suggests the most popular words (that come after the words you've typed) Like when you type 'when does' and it gives you 3 possible things that have been looked up so often that you might be wanting to look them up too. Know that?

Well, this person on Youtube (RoyStClair) Made a video about these questions, but then I thought. He doesn't live in Australia. He probably didn't use australian google. So here are a few things that australians apparently needed a search engine to know:

And for the record I only typed in like, two words - but every time I highlighted an option the whole sentence filled out my search bar (and it looks like I typed in the whole question) I assure you I did not!

"What if a ginger kid bites me?" Indeed, the 'kid', by adulthood the ginger is no longer contagious.....

"Why does my cat lick me?" - WHY ARE YOU LETTING YOUR CAT LICK YOU? Spray it with water or something!

I just picked this one because it show how clever we are (and that we can read paper instruction manuals!)

Who indeed....

I don't know, most people just wing it. Practice is unnecessary

Hell yes! he can (as many on wikianswer would vouch)

Well, so long as vampires don't start existing, then no.

It would seem that just the small minority can't be stuffed with the census....

Movie-Dumbledore's explanation = Fail, the nose is a mystery far greater than mankind itself...

Ok, so I haven't posted in a while (I have plenty to post about) but I am back at school (working hard, although I just put off Biology Homework in favor of youtube), so I'll see you later. With a better post, and every time I promise I'll post soon and in quick succession I come through, so yeah

How long till the Hunger Games Movie comes out....

2011-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hi, I've been unwell for some time now. Anyway during my time which has mainly comprised of sleeping, eating and taking panadol I have somehow found the time to be bored (I've just finished watching my NCIS rental DVDs twice) So I was thinking 'I wish the hunger games movie would hurry up and get on the big screen' I proceeded to my blog where I discovered:

188 Days until the Hunger Games Movie comes out. seriously.

So I've created a time comparison of the 188 days. So here, in all seriousness is how long until the Hunger Games Movie comes out:

- The time it takes to complete 7 full moons (cycles)

- The time it takes to boil 67,680 medium sized eggs - one at a time

- The time it takes to boil 45,120 jumbo sized eggs - one at a time

- The time it takes to watch Avatar 1671 times

- The shelf-life of a quiche is 5 days, so the shelf life of 37.6 quiches each brought in after the last one.

- The lifespan of 27 poorly cared for goldfish (one week each), they’re probably mine....

- The lifespan of 9 caterpillars (relatively normal ones)

- The time it takes to listen to The 4 Chord Song by Axis of Awesome 43,177 times

- The time it takes to sit through 2,256 Mercy Masses.

- The time it takes to watch ONE OF THE BEST NCIS EPISODES EVER: Truth or Consequences 6,578 times (I’ve only watched it 4 times)

- The time it takes to travel to the moon 58 times

- The time it takes to travel from Sydney to Hawaii 429 times

PS: When I tried to type 'panadol' the spell check said it wasn't a word and suggested 'pandas' instead. Yep, I'm sick and taking pandas

So WOO! Here is a picture:

Hey, people seem to want to know how to use a bookshelf widget...

2011-09-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

I'm serious. They do. And so everyone I will put a shelfari bookshelf widget onto my blog (bottom of page) and show you now, step by step, how I did it.

Step one, go to your Shelfari homepage. There is a button on the side that says 'widgets'

Magnified Once

Magnified twice

Magnified Thrice

Now, one you click 'widgets' you will be directed to this page:

Don't worry if yours doesn't have all that writing, they're just other widgets I've made for other things.

Click on 'Create New Widget'

Then you'll get this page:

Then select your website platform: Blogger (me!) Typepad or Wordpress. Then you'll go here:

Follow the prompts on this page until you hit continue. Then you'll be onto 'style your widget'

After this is done you'll be onto 'Save and Publish'

The page will look like this:

Copy this text code:

Then once you've copied it (just computer copy okay? Don't write it all down) Leave the page.

Go to your blog edit page thingo, (this one is bookstomovieshype.blogspot.com ) and click on design.

Select one of the 'Add Gadget' Templates, don't worry if its not in the place you want it to be, you can drag it around later, or even before you click 'Add Gadget' (if you want). Anyway this pop-up should pop-up. (How original are internet terms?)

The one you are looking for should come under 'Basics' its the HTML/JavaScript thing.

When you click on it, this pop-up will appear:

Paste what you copied into the 'content' section, title the shelf however you like.

Hit save, you should return to the design page. Save all design changes you have made to your blog and view it.

So anyway, check out the blog: bookstomovies.blogspot.com

its good.

My creepy neighbours....

2011-08-29T01:20:00.000-07:00

I decided to hit the 'next blog button' at the top of my page to discover what other people were blogging about. Stop reading now if you don't witness my transformation into a troll.

Okay, you seem to have read this far. It took me two clicks to reach a blog named 'name not disclosed because I can't be stuffed remembering it' This blog, is what I guess I could call my neighbour, a blog two clicks down from mine. And it was shocking, quite hilarious really.

First off I come across this gem of a post:

At first, when I was reading I thought that they were joking around 'Bike rides with God!!'

But they weren't.

The post continued to quote and reference the bible. Relating scriptures to things like grass, rocks, cracks in unused paths, people in cars as opposed to people on bikes. This guy had a full on spiritual journey on his bike! I'm pretty sure that God wasn't riding his bike, you know. He's not Santa, he probably gave his bike to Jesus. Who in turn came to earth and tried to baptize the bike by throwing it over some cliff. That holy bike still sits at the bottom of the ocean today.

Anyway I read the slightest little inklings of this post which included:

'Everything in this world is going to try and keep you from staying on the narrow path to McDonalds. to get you to quit, to defeat you...to make you give up, buy a car, stop riding your bike, stop calling Jenny craig, stop passing on those french fries. . . . BUT Jesus says its going to be hard but oh so worth it!

Let me stop here for a moment, and present you with a number of other things that Jesus (as found on google) claims 'hard but oh so worth it!' #1 being the topic most websites were about, getting less and less popular the higher the number:

- #8 Jesus suggests buying a solid shampoo bar - its hard (literally) but oh so worth it!

- #7 Keeping your head up (while swimming, I guess) - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

- #6 Jesus advises to help your deb date look nice - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

- #5 Jesus suggests creating a killer app - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

- #4 Jesus' Guide to Marriage - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

- #3 Jesus' Potty Training - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

- #2 Jesus suggests 'Raise your Kids!' - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

- #1 Jesus suggests: Slim Down Detox Diet - sometimes hard but oh so worth it!

I think I'll have fun with my new neighbour (lucky they have no chance of actually finding my blog...) By the way I just discovered that his name is Jeff, his about section is very informaing. His name is pretty much all it can tell me. Well, that and .......

I'll be posting again soon, seeya.

I can't get my bloody bookshelf back!

2011-08-29T00:39:00.000-07:00

I am very annoyed. Annoyed with the fact that I can't put a bookshelf at the bottom of my page. It is very irritating. So instead I've added a number of other cool gadgets - like the Hunger Games Widget, the two surveys down the side, a 'featured comments' thing down the bottom.

Also I was invited to be an editor on a website YAY! (well like, not an important one anyway. Just some random as I am)
So back to the point, I need to know when/what sort of widgets I should be putting in on the side. Anything special? I may put in some more countdown widgets (however these might be for books you don't know about ect)
Plus I have found out some devastating news - I WILL BE ON A SCHOOL TRIP WHEN THE HUNGER GAMES COMES OUT!

But the way, you can find a link to the official Hunger Games Teaser Trailer Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecmP1nrPk2I&fmt=22

It isn't just for the US, anyone from any region can access youtube so YAY! Who's excited - I AM!!!
And so yes, I will be in France on the 23rd of March. But I have not given up hope. If I happen to be with my host family, on one of those days where we can go out and do anything then maybe...just maybe....the movie might be in english and over there, and I could go see it! However there would be subtitles which could get distracting (no way am I seeing dubbed) And I'll be off to check that in just a moment!

THE HUNGER GAMES

2011-08-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

EXCITEMENT!!!!!!

Guess what - too late I'm going to tell you: THE HUNGER GAMES IS GOING TO BE A MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heres the official teaser poster:

Isn't it amazing? Ok so the Hunger Games is a book series, which, by the way, is AWESOMELY amazing. It had me crying my eyes out and spending a whole day reading, only stopping when I got threats like 'your sister is going to eat your food if you don't get here this minute' so effectively I only stopped to eat, and sleep (and I only really slept cause it was necessary)

By the way it only took me under about eight hours to finish it.

BUT THATS NOT THE POINT!!!! The point is that now I've finished the whole series. So I googled to see if there was a movie - and there is - and its nearly done!!!!

I am so excited. (you couldn't tell could you?)

Anyway I am going to spend them remainder of my time jumping up and down trying to get people to read the damn thing. (By the way if YOU haven't read it, you should, its quite short (I made up the eight hours thing because I have some kind of lapse in time-memory-recall where I don't actually know how much time has passed without looking at a clock) and back to my point of READ IT, preferably before the movie comes out, movies tend to make people lazy)

Honestly this book got me like no other before it (and people I've read twilight, Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments - also becoming a movie (but I hate the main character, Hunger Games is better), Vampire Academy, The Luxe, Inkheart, The divide) I was crying after the first chapter! The first people!

So um, yeah, you should probably go and read that book...you know..if you can be bothered.......

IM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

Update: I just added a Hunger Games countdown widget. I find it quite hilarious that it keeps burning after the music bit. So if you are suddenly trapped in an awkward conversation/silence. Open up this blog and your awkward silences can be highlighted by this weird burning sound. Sorry if its annoying. But it was necessary.

PS: There may be some other changes to the blog, but I'll be altering them after I post this so yeah.

Childhood Misadventures of Brother and I

2011-08-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

YAY HAPPY 20th POST TO ME!

And now down to business.

When I was small, a prep or perhaps it began when I was even younger, my brother and I like to be 'mischievous' and sneak out at night. We'd been sent to bed, as you are when you are small. So we would 'spy crawl' down to un-neccassarily long hallway (ducking through sliding door and checking if the coast was clear) now the real problem (as my sister and I would discover countless times years later) is that in order to get to the kitchen (our destination) the door to the lounge must be open. If it is closed you clearly have to open it. Which makes noise, too much noise. Of course noise doesn't matter if the parentals are asleep.

But they weren't. In fact, on most of our 'missions' our parents always seemed to be awake. I think it increased the risk factor and made it way more fun. This particular time Mum and Dad were watching a movie, the door was slightly open, each 10 seconds we'd more the door a centimeter wider, untill we could slip through. I'm pretty sure the movie was titanic.

Brother and I hurried in, hiding behind the crouch, being the skillful ninjas we were, we didn't make a sound.

Bad picture, but you get the idea. From there we would sneak into the kitchen, steal a cup, locate the lolly (from memory I believe they were MnM's) hiding place and fill it up.

Then under the cover of night we'd leave, otherwise we'd act like those creepy children in movies (which we hadn't seen, it was all natural, we didn't know what we were doing) and hang around. climbing onto high benches and watching/staring (like stalkers) our parents.

I think they could kind of sense that we were there like a presence, lingering, a ghost hiding there....

Anyway, this would carry on, most of the time we were caught and sent back to bed, or we got bored and gave ourselves up. We had quite the obsession with sweet things. We used to get the sugar bowl and shove teaspoons of sugar into our mouths.

There was also this really tasty sweet stuff, I don't remember what it was called. Some sort of energizer name. Anyway it was a bright orange powder, probably the kind of stuff body builders put into water or something. The point was we really liked to eat it, it tasted like fizzy oranges, so as with the sugar we'd get a-hold of the tub and heap tea-spoons into our mouths. The parents did not approve

One night my brother and I tried a different approach, I don't know how we pulled it off but we tried the 'wait until after closing hours' technique, like in those jewel heists where they wait in the toilets. Mind you we were like 5 and 6 years old so we did pretty well. At the time we had these:

(Now we have blinds) But the point was that we had such tiny bodies that we could wrap ourselves inside an opened one of these curtains and no one would be any the wiser. We had also pretended to go to bed beforehand (stuffing pillows and soft toys under our blankets, the hair was very realistic. By age 9 I was a pro at making fake-sleeping bodies)

Once everyone had left we got to work, getting to the kitchen, collecting spoons and shutting ourselves up in the pantry. We soon found the 'attempted to be hidden' orange powder stuff. We feasted.

Meanwhile the Dad re-entered the lounge-kitchen room and our uncle was with him. Which we weren't too concerned about, although we had to turn the pantry light off (which was activated by the pantry door so we had to shut it) so we had not light but that was okay.

We whispered about our dad and uncle and watching them through the crack in the door. We had a few close calls where we thought the were going to open the cupboard (which is essentially what the pantry is, you can fit in one person, or in our case, two small children)

They went to watch the TV and just when we thought we'd gotten away with it my uncle was back:

He was very confused, he actually found it very hilarious (being my dads younger brother he would find it funny that his older brothers two 5/6 year old kids were playing tricks on him)

we were not so happy. Our plan was bust.

And we were sent to bed. Our family went through a number of those orange tubs. I don't really remember why or how we stopped getting them, I do remember though, at one point when I was in junior primary school. My brother hid a tub under the decking so that we could access it whenever we wanted, although his new partner in crime was that kid from next door. And I'd found I enjoy being the boss by partnering up with my younger sister. Who was also very fun because not only did she like stealing food and sneaking around. But she also like dolls.

Sometimes we did things in threes, sometimes my brother and I did things to my younger sister (before she joined up with us) But I'll write about that later.

I will post something good soon. But not yet.

2011-08-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

Hi. I'm putting off biology homework which is due tomorrow by doing everything in my power to 'relevantly' put off a boring medial task. I've actually just got a lot of things I'd like to be doing instead of writing about genetics. Yet as the minutes tick by its less and less time I'll have to do the work. In a class where all I'll be doing is making paper lanterns like a good student who isn't paying attention.

For the record my paper lanterns are awesome. So here is my dilemma. I sit in my room like this...

Doing internet stuff as I do. Then off to the side I have my science book sitting there like a little beacon going "DUE TOMORROW DUE TOMORROW"

Then I turn back to my laptop which is going "FUNFUFUNFUNFUNFUNFUNFUNFUN"

and I randomly have Vogue on my beside table/drawers thingo going:

And so yes. I really should be getting onto that work. The thing is I can't find a pen. I also have amnesia and don't know where I left my school bag, which conveniently contains my workbook.

So anyway, I made this post, to say that my next post will be a lot more interesting. With more pictures.

I also wanted to point out how accurate this picture <---- was (by showing you a real photo):

Photo:

Ok, the drawing is a lot more colourful. ON the subject of art, I will finish this post with a painting I got into an exhibition (that sound so much fancier and formal-er when than it is) and I got a $25 encouragement award (don't worry, they don't keep the painting. I wouldn't give stuff away for $25)

Its better in real life because you can see all the oil textures an paintings in general look better in the flesh.

Seeya

The Yahoo! vs Google thing.

2011-08-09T01:46:00.000-07:00

You know, I never really concerned myself with the whole "Yahoo! Vs Google" thing. That was until google rejected me because (Can't be bothered explaining so I shall use an extremely long tale instead)

Here, I'll tell you a story.

Once there were two little not-friends. Their names were Google and Yahoo!

Now, Google was born first and quickly got used to a life in the spotlight, outshining all the other search engines. Then along came yahoo! with its colourful layout, over-joyful and jazzy font. Yahoo offered mail, news and a whole lot more.

Because of googles age it still maintained popularity, especially as there were people who needed immediate answers (and yahoo isn't exactly a search engine)

Then in 2009 I got a yahoo mail account. Because it was simple easy and I didn't want 'hotmail'

Then about a few weeks ago I used google to ask 'whats the best tracking system to check for hits on your website/s?' and google, loving itself and being 'completely modest' positions itself all over the first page.

So I clicked it. Turns out I needed a GOOGLE account to sign up for the free software. I felt discriminated against. It was cold. I was shut down. it went something like this:

I happily skipped over to the 'sign up for our free software desk' with 'I have yahoo email practically plastered to my forehead. Trust me google knew - see:

So anyway, my imaginary google desk clerk was like:

I was crushed. I bet that desk clerks office looks something like this:

So yes. I still don't have that software. All you stalkers can keep on stalking (pfft.. like I have stalkers! No randoms even read this blog!)

Good Bye. (Aren't I awesome! I totally just posted two nights in a row!)

WITH INTERNET THERE IS EVERYTHING!

2011-08-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

hi. Guess what. Today I had a day off school. I am still trying to come up with a valid reason. If truth be told I do have a valid reason: I took the day off because school is really boring on Monday's (and the rest of the week, except maybe fridays) and I wanted to use the right side of my brain (creative thinking) not the left (logic thinking) and so today I painted for about 7 hours straight. I was wearing my egyptian-poppykettle-like t-shirt, over my white t-shirt (that got ruined anyway), brown and blue glasses and a floral headband.

I looked something like this:

Of course, all my clothes were covered in paint, especially my jeans.

Anyway, now my feet really hurt from standing up that whole time. BUT IT WAS A GREAT USE OF TIME! an excellent educational day, it was relaxing and stress-free. Now I'm getting stressed again from the prospect of waking up tomorrow and going to school. God something is wrong with me.

Also the most important thing today - Just a few hours ago WE GOT INTERNET!. And by we I mean my family, duh if you read the information on my profile you'd gather that I still live at home.
When dad announced the internet, I just acted cool (because I was consumed with painting) but inside I was

Super. excited. So now I am doing all my good internet deeds. And at the same time trying to come up with a 'teacher approved valid reason' for being away. She was already highly skeptical about my last three excuses which included 'bad headaches' 'the flu' and 'headcold'

I got good old faithful:

To help me out, it gave me these wonderful excuses: (that I didn't make up myself)

-Theoretically, the class met at the appointed time. However, I adhere to the philosophy of solipsism, and therefore since I was not in class, for the the class had no subjective reality to it. Since the damn thing wasn't real, can you honestly be so bold as to say I should have attended it? Don't you think that's a little high and mighty of you?

- MTV was running a Spice- girls marathon, and I had to lift my T.V. out of the window all by myself.

-No really I was here, I was just hiding. under my invisible jacket.

-Dear Miss: If I came to school today, I would have killed you. I stayed home for your sake, really.

- I just killed my neighbor, so I have a few legal things to take care of.

- My neck broke as I tripped over the obese kids that were playing in the mud pool in their backyard

- My sea monkeys died, I'm too depressed to come in.

- Spontaneous Combustion.

-I thought I was getting a tension headache, by the afternoon I remembered I had my headband on. It was too late to come to school by then.

-Personal reasons. (Said in a concerned tone of voice - discourages any further questions, assuming your teacher has even a grain of emotion.) Mine probably doesn't! Bam!

- I hit some crazy woman's dog and she stole my homework and beat me up.

- I had the most disturbing and contagious case of Death. *cough*

-My cat was lonely

- I have a 24 hour tumor

- The dog ate our car

- The dog ate my brain

- The dog exploded

- Bill gates ate the dog.

I think I'll go with the last one (it'll really catch her off guard)

Update: Just discovered that Mum already rang the school. Yes! Now for more internet surfing!

WITHOUT INTERNET THERE IS NO ANYTHING

2011-07-30T04:27:00.000-07:00

As stated above, there isn't a lot of internet. Wait no. Let me re-phrase that. I HAVE NO INTERNET. ALso I am on a PC so I haven't got the means (nor the enthusiasm) to draw pictures. SO unfortunately, this blog post will have to be written.

Also (god I love that word) I have to say wow. I do believe that my non-existent readers have become existent. Why do I think this? Well you see, just about ten minutes ago I thought 'Hey, why don't I type my blogs name into google?' so as I usually do what my brain tells me to (its clever) I typed it in and it was the top hit on google - THATS AWESOMELY AMAZING (I was going to say 'bloody amazing' which I beleive people on the internet find offensive (I am no troll! (unless you like bruno mars (says she who has bruno mars on her ipod) Can I please be excused from not putting three brackets on the end of that sentance. (Because it would just look ridiculous)

OH YES! HOW MANY BRACKETS DID I USE!

yeah...get excited people...brackets..............awkwardness...............and I think thats pretty much all I have to say. Oh yes: NCIS is better than Supernatural, just putting that out there, just so someone can try to understand that.

Ok. Bye people.(super long bracket time, or maybe I'll just write a PS. What does PS even stand for - on a blog post. Ok I think I'll write a ps)

PS: Just so you know I still have no internet.I let you draw your own conclusions about how I got this done...But I'll give you some hints: It invovles a house (not mine) a computer (not mine, clearly its a PC FOR GODS SAKE) some internet (not mine, in case you couldn't tell OR READ) libraries (not mine either) loitering outside a petstore (not mine) sitting in a car (thats not mine) in order to loiter outside that petstore. Using some randoms unportected interenet (I wondder where all the little internet babies come from....oh yes this internet wasn't mine) spontaneously pulling out my laptop in hope that I'll find some internet thats not password protected (and not mine)

If you still can't get it you need help

The Cartoon I started in Maths Class

2011-04-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

Original Page

Also Original Page

Here is a cartoon I drew. Please. Enjoy (and also it is unfinished)

Greylead Sketches and Portraits

2011-04-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

Hey ! If you are here then you are going to have a look at my sketches and portraits and drawings ! I hope you enjoy them. If you would like more information or would like to request a drawing from me please go to http://www.shelfari.com/groups/82248/discussions/350887/Lebosis-Art-Studio and comment on my studio (which is here) discussion.

And NOW for the pictures ! They range from 2009 to 2011 :) Click on the pictures to enlarge them

An Unfinished part of a picture book

Part 2 (double spread) of the picture book

SnailOnABicycle (Tiff) STALKING

2011-04-07T03:43:00.000-07:00

Why hello, why is my font like this ? Oh well I'll just go with it. Anyway I'm here to tell you about my stalking of snail on a Bicycle youtuber Tiff F. Well you see I have been stalking her immenently, you know since I was 9 years old. Here is a documentation of my stalking which I shall name Stalkscapade. But only from 2008 not 2006: and hey my font got fixed !

2008 YEAHHHH Me on the right

2009 Yeah you can tell who I am

2010

and 2011 (now)

And so that was just the beginning. I followed her around like some kind of human leech, stopping only to eat and go to the loo. She never fought me off like most "people who are getting stalked" do so I guess I was alright. Anyway I was just a ammeter.

I WAS 9 YEARS OLD - I HADN'T EVEN STARTED ON FACEBOOK (actually I am pretty sure facebook was only invented in like 2006)

I Have more "friends" now. Just so you know. I am not alone, in my mind. Anyway I happened to be in SnailOnABicycles room and we recorded a blog TOGETHER so I am now on my stalk victims youtube channel. Check out the full vlogs, random videos and a song about shapes performed by us on www.youtube.com/SnailOnABicycle ANd do it now YAY !!!!!! Have some Shapes:

They are mighty fantastic. So Fantastic in fact. We sang a song about them. And put it. On youtube.

There you go viewers I'm on another internet platform. I'm sorry I just insulted you are not viewers but readers a much greater feat of the human intelligence.

Goodnight (you'd better be reading this while eating a nice box of shapes)