Showing posts with label ramble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ramble. Show all posts

Friday, 12 April 2013

My TV adventures (aka my new obsessions)

source
If you have never cried at a TV character’s death and spent half-an-hour mourning the loss before watching the next episode, you’re not watching TV right (or you are one of the lucky ones whose TV shows don’t have tragic moments.)

Whereas I can watch pretty much any type of film, I used to be very fussy when it came to TV genres. After breaking out of my Disney shell (and even then I watched stuff I was a bit young for- Boy Meets World, Teen Angel, Smart Guy etc…), I went straight for funny stuff. IT Crowd, Spaced, The Office and Friends were pretty much all I watched or was interested in. If it made me laugh, I liked it but if it meant I had to think a lot or involved too much drama, then I would usually turn it off.

Then I turned 15 and everything TV changed. The Internet exposed me to the wonderful thing called series or seasons, a TV show with a development within the story, episodes that make up a longer narrative.
During the summer after my GCSEs, I did something I never ever do; I downloaded the entire Arrested Development seasons onto my computer and stayed up between 9-2am watching dozens (DOZENS) of episodes a night. I was hooked. I had never found something like this. I was eager to watch the next one so much that on a few occasions I would stay up til 5, spend the afternoon in bed and continue where I left off the next night. x x x

Since then I’ve got through Firefly, How I Met Your Mother, Sherlock, Girls, Modern Family, Community (I have yet to complete this- damn UK broadcasting) and the love of my life right now; Game of Thrones.

Now if you’re reading this and know me personally you know that Game of Thrones has practically taken over my life. It may seem sad but, to those who watch it, it’s normal behaviour. I have never got this much into a show that is still being broadcast. I have to wait for new episodes now, which feels like torture, yet it makes the reward greater. I have expectations and excitement to gain which can be shattered easily.

Being a fan of a TV is one thing while being an emotionally involved fan of a TV show is another. It could be seen as being in a ‘fandom’, but I don’t like that term it sounds far too obsessive. At this moment in my life, all I want to talk about Game of Thrones. Not because I’m obsessed with it and living in a world away from reality, but because I like to hear what other people’s opinions are on characters and storylines, or hearing whether or not people actually like the show.

Game of Thrones seems confusing, however if you watch it, it's surprisingly easy to understand. I’ve been trying to explain characters to my sister, but until she eventually decides to watch it she won’t understand. There are dozens(!) of characters, with multiple different stories going on nevertheless it’s easy to follow, easy to understand characters and very easy to become addicted.
 







 


One day I’ll blog in more detail about why I love Game of Thrones, but for now I didn’t want to spoil it for others instead just blog about my TV tastes. If you haven't seen it, give the first episode a try (UK- Sky Demand) and if you like it you'll want to watch the rest. I believe that soon everyone will watch Game of Thrones, and you don’t want to be the one left out. 

Anyway, I am hoping to find more TV to watch once my exams are over. What do you all recommend? Here is a list of my top favourite TV shows so you can get a jist of what I like:
  • Arrested Development
  • Firefly
  • Game of Thrones
  • How I Met Your Mother
  • Modern Family
  • Spaced
I hope to watch Freaks and Geeks, Veronica Mars and the new season of Arrested Development come the end of June. Any other recommendations to add to the list?

Pin It Now!

Saturday, 17 March 2012

Ramble: My adoration for The Hunger Games novel and why I can't wait to see the girl who was on fire

Something a little different for my blog, I'm going to talk about a pretty important movie event this year, The Hunger Games.

Pin It Now!

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Oscar Nominations 2012

It's that time of the year again! Even though I haven't posted anything about awards for the last few weeks, I felt the need to blog and say something about the Academy Awards nomination.

This time last year I was overjoyed at the fact I had seen 8/10 Best Picture nominees but this year I find myself not being able to share a real opinion having only seen 2/9. But I'm still going to (irreverently) comment and * my choices to win...


Best Picture
The Artist*
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

- Ok so I know I haven't actually seen The Artist yet, but I want it to win. I've heard such great stuff about it, not just from critics, and it'll be glorious to see it win! As an unpopular opinion, the Best Pic category looks 75% decent. Hugo and The Tree of Life were beautiful and I'm sure War Horse, Midnight in Paris are too. Though, I have absolutely no idea what Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is doing, seeing as it currently stands at a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.2 on imdb. I didn't think The Help was particularly Best Picture worthy either. What about 50/50, Drive, Shame and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?


Best Director
The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants - Alexander Payne
Hugo - Martin Scorsese *
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen
The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick

-This looks a strong category! (But no Fincher?) Having only seen two, I can't really decide out of them all but know that each of these are definitely honourable. But for me, I want Marty to nab it. I adored Hugo and was very happy Martin won the Golden Globe.


Best Actor
Demián Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean Dujardin - The Artist*
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt - Moneyball

-I don't knowwww. I'm happy Oldman has been nominated which could be another unpopular opinion, but again, even though I haven't seen it, I like the idea of Jean Dujardin winning but it will be close with Clooney of course.


Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close


-I don't have a preference for Best Supporting Actor. I've only seen My Week With Marilyn from this list and even though I thought Branagh was excellent, it could really be anyone. From a friend I've heard Beginners is fantastic and Plummer's Golden Globe was agreed with. It'd be great if Jonah Hill won though- imagine!


Best Actress
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn*

-Queen Meryl has it in the bag, but I'm still completely taken by Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe. She really got into the role and performed it well so she's my favourite. If Rooney Mara wins I might cry of happiness because she's adorable.

Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help


-Even though I haven't seen The Help, I feel Chastain's nomination would be better for Tree Of Life, but her role in The Help has had a lot of buzz around it. I like the idea of McCarthy being nominated, but not winning it. This one is going to be tough to call.

Best Animated Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2*
Puss in Boots*
Rango

-I'm gutted because each year, I've pretty much seen all of the nominations for animations but this year I've seen one. ONE. I'm appalled at myself and don't think Rango lives up to winning anyway. Heard good things about Chico & Rita, Panda and Puss and don't quite know what A Cat In Paris is. I'd be happy for Dreamworks to win so either of them two.



As for the rest, I will cry tears of joy if Man or Muppet wins best original song. For over a week now I haven't got a day without singing it in my head (sometimes out loud). Rio was very catchy though.

I feel like I've slacked with listening to film scores this year. Not one of the scores I've downloaded which I've liked from a film are nominated so I have no idea.


For the complete list of nominations, click here.


The nominations this year are a bit...meh. I mean, some are obvious winners such as The Artist and The Descendants. Hugo leads the list with 12 nominations so I really hope it does well.
Others are shocking. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for starts and then Transformers 3 with 3 nominations? What is going on?!

No Ryan Gosling? Fassbender? Shame or Drive for Best Pic? Do the academy not want them both to attend the ceremony looking handsome in suits, etc? Ok, their good looks aside, their performances have been praised by critics but they're obviously too good for the academy..
Also very shocked there is nothing for Tilda Swinton in We Need To Talk About Kevin. Something's not quite right.


watch the Oscars hosted by Billy, as I'm quite a youngling, so I am very much looking forward to this!

The Academy Awards are on Feb 26th. Be sure to check back a few days after to see my thoughts on the event.

Pin It Now!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...