Hey guys.
So this will be a quick one, just to let you know I'm still alive, if anyone was missing me which they probably weren't.
I have an exam tomorrow. My last of two for this year. Thank God I picked modules without too many exams! My first exam last week went pretty good. It was seen, which means we had the question a week beforehand, but we were not allowed to take any notes in so I had to memorise my essay plan, which surprisingly I managed to do! I am only half confident on tomorrow's exam. Seen again and able to take notes in but I think I will only be able to be properly coherent and argumentative on one of the questions, not both. Want to know what I'm writing about? I thought so.
One question is about vampire fiction's criticism - I am looking at Carmilla ( from In A Glass Darkly) and Dracula, discussing erotic language and vampirism. The second question is about remote regions of the UK being just as fearful as the exotic Orient. Here, I will argue that neither are fearful but both draw on exotic description and horrific elements such as Hell. Pretty good, huh?
In other news, it's boiling hot in England right now. Probably not helping that I am not moving from the bed or the laptop, but meh. Too tired. After tomorrow, I will have the whole summer to relax and read all the books I've being putting off til after university's finished.
Apologises for the ramble. Any exams or final essays to submit before you can enjoy the sun? Until next time.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Dark Shadows
Yes, it is time for another movie review - this time, the new Tim Burton film which has received very mixed reviews. Well, now it's time to add mine to the mix!
I had read some bad reviews before going to see this last night, which was probably a bad idea. I was really looking forward to this film and some critics almost ruined it for me. So, I knew what I was letting myself in for: a man cursed to be a vampire by a scorned lover, wakes up two centuries later to find his descendants living in his run-down house. Sounds great, right? A typical Georgian man, polite and proper, waking up in the 1970's, played by Johnny Depp.
I loved the basic story, the love between Barnabas (Depp) and Josette - although it take me a while to figure out for her name was because no one was saying it properly - going through what I am assuming was her descendant Vicky. And although she was a major psychotic bitch, I really loved the character Angelique, the witch that cursed him, his family, made Josette jump off a cliff, etc. She really made me laugh but seriously, she was insane! It takes some real devotion to hate someone for centuries!
I think the one thing that did annoy me with this film was that there was a lot going on - the seven people living in the house and all their motivations and history got a little confusing, especially with a random revelation with the daughter tacked on the end. Also, the Georgian gentleman in the free-love seventies was funny at the beginning but there is only so many times he can compliment a woman's birthing hips before it gets old.
Oh, Helena Bonham Carter was brilliant. Not the leading lady but still fantastic at the drunk psychiatrist that was stealing Barnabas' blood. I could see the twist ending coming but still good.
I can't really think of anything else to mention right now. The characters were engaging and funny and interesting to keep the film going good but with so much stuff, bits were skipped over and/or ignored. I would honestly recommend seeing this film, it was good but I think it could have been better. Plus, you do have to understand Tim Burton at least a little.
I had read some bad reviews before going to see this last night, which was probably a bad idea. I was really looking forward to this film and some critics almost ruined it for me. So, I knew what I was letting myself in for: a man cursed to be a vampire by a scorned lover, wakes up two centuries later to find his descendants living in his run-down house. Sounds great, right? A typical Georgian man, polite and proper, waking up in the 1970's, played by Johnny Depp.
I loved the basic story, the love between Barnabas (Depp) and Josette - although it take me a while to figure out for her name was because no one was saying it properly - going through what I am assuming was her descendant Vicky. And although she was a major psychotic bitch, I really loved the character Angelique, the witch that cursed him, his family, made Josette jump off a cliff, etc. She really made me laugh but seriously, she was insane! It takes some real devotion to hate someone for centuries!
I think the one thing that did annoy me with this film was that there was a lot going on - the seven people living in the house and all their motivations and history got a little confusing, especially with a random revelation with the daughter tacked on the end. Also, the Georgian gentleman in the free-love seventies was funny at the beginning but there is only so many times he can compliment a woman's birthing hips before it gets old.
Oh, Helena Bonham Carter was brilliant. Not the leading lady but still fantastic at the drunk psychiatrist that was stealing Barnabas' blood. I could see the twist ending coming but still good.
I can't really think of anything else to mention right now. The characters were engaging and funny and interesting to keep the film going good but with so much stuff, bits were skipped over and/or ignored. I would honestly recommend seeing this film, it was good but I think it could have been better. Plus, you do have to understand Tim Burton at least a little.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
To tweet or not to tweet?
Hey guys, it's been a while and my internet is buffering '2 Broke Girls' so I thought I'd do an update. By the way, anyone else been watching that? It is hilarious!
Apart from all the drama of trying to finish 2 essays this week - done one, by the way, nearly finished the second - I've been thinking about The Future! Imagine that in the booming voice that normally comes with things like Star Wars and you're good. My well-meaning but occasionally annoying mother wants me to start looking for work, volunteer or otherwise. I know I finish at the end of the month, but right now, I'm just trying to survive these essays and the impending exams!
The other thing I've been thinking about - and my friend Sophie has been nagging me about - is getting Twitter. I honestly don't see the appeal but according to Sophie it's a great way to get the attention of authors and publishers and reviewers, which would be perfect with my less-than-popular book review blog and my aspiration to get into publishing.
So. I looked it up earlier, even starting signing up. But the username I wanted to use (AwfulLofOfReading) is too long apparently. So now I don't know what to call myself. I don't want to officially go by my real name, I want to be known by my blog. So, any suggestions?
What else is new? I finished all lectures last week, which is apparently surprising to most people. Yeah, it is only May and I will have a long summer - that's the great thing about university! I have one more essay to finish, hand in one tomorrow and then next Tuesday. Actually, I have a few things to do up on campus next Tuesday - hand in my last essay, tutorial and pick up my exam. Ahh, the joys of seen exams!
Ok, I think that's about it. A lot shorter than I thought but seriously - twitter name! Until next time.
Apart from all the drama of trying to finish 2 essays this week - done one, by the way, nearly finished the second - I've been thinking about The Future! Imagine that in the booming voice that normally comes with things like Star Wars and you're good. My well-meaning but occasionally annoying mother wants me to start looking for work, volunteer or otherwise. I know I finish at the end of the month, but right now, I'm just trying to survive these essays and the impending exams!
The other thing I've been thinking about - and my friend Sophie has been nagging me about - is getting Twitter. I honestly don't see the appeal but according to Sophie it's a great way to get the attention of authors and publishers and reviewers, which would be perfect with my less-than-popular book review blog and my aspiration to get into publishing.
So. I looked it up earlier, even starting signing up. But the username I wanted to use (AwfulLofOfReading) is too long apparently. So now I don't know what to call myself. I don't want to officially go by my real name, I want to be known by my blog. So, any suggestions?
What else is new? I finished all lectures last week, which is apparently surprising to most people. Yeah, it is only May and I will have a long summer - that's the great thing about university! I have one more essay to finish, hand in one tomorrow and then next Tuesday. Actually, I have a few things to do up on campus next Tuesday - hand in my last essay, tutorial and pick up my exam. Ahh, the joys of seen exams!
Ok, I think that's about it. A lot shorter than I thought but seriously - twitter name! Until next time.
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