I think I really, really like the movie versions of Nicholas Sparks’s novels. Having said that – I haven’t read any of his novels – just seen the films but since I’ve seen quite a few now and like them very much, it probably would be a good idea for me to read at least one of them. Who reads Nicholas Sparks and what are your thoughts on the movie adaptations?
I saw ‘The Lucky One’ today at the CINEMA (oh and after a weekend of watching DVD’s) nothing and I mean nothing beats the big screen!
‘The Lucky One’ was beautiful, inspiring and uplifting and I LOVED it. I’ve never seen myself as much of a romantic or a great lover of the genre but I think I’m wrong – I think I really do like this genre and yes, I admit a crazy romantic And Zac Efron has the most amazing blue eyes – just sayin…
‘Due Date‘ with Robert Downey Jnr and Zach Galifianakis– this title alone has always been enough reason for me not to see this film but after picking it up in Blockbuster and reading the blurb – it caught my attention and I LOVED it. What a hoot from beginning to end If you want a damn good belly laugh then this movie is for you. View the trailer here or click below:
MUSIC…
I haven’t blogged about music lately and OMG there is so much of it out there that really sings to my soul but I will only mention two in this post. The first one is by ‘Gossling’ from Melbourne, Wild Love – is this the romantic coming out in me again?
Second music video is from 360 again from Melbourne (featuring Gossling) – don’t ya just love OZ music. I’m so impressed with the Australian music scene – we really do rock on so many levels. So many genres and we are really good at them all. And OZ hip hop I reckon is the best in the world – just sayin…
Click here to listen or click below and remember to pump these songs up really loud – put on your dancing shoes and have a fricking good time
Hands up who remembers Pirate radio? You do? Congratulations – you’re old like me This movie seriously rocked and it’s a hoot from beginning to end and poignant as well. I grew up with Pirate radio. Yes, indeed. Radio Hauraki originally formed as a pirate station and operated illegally from 1966-1970 in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland New Zealand, the only offshore radio station ever to broadcast in the southern hemisphere, in a famous and historic story that saw the loss of one life. Read more here.
So watching this movie actually was more than just a fun romp for me. It brought back incredible memories of a time when Radio Hauraki would suddenly go off the air, sometimes to avoid authorities and then others when disaster struck as you can read here we all cried, we were in shock, not just for the loss of life, the loss of music. Doesn’t sound like much of big deal does it when we have radio 24/7 but back then we didn’t. Wonderful music was banned left, right and centre and if it hadn’t been for these pirate radio stations we wouldn’t have the great radio stations we have today or the music.
There would be much rejoicing in our household when Radio Hauraki would come back on air. It was an amazing and liberating time. The sixties was a time of turmoil, change, the Vietnam war, brilliant music, the list goes on. It was also a time of great spirit and heart and I’ve yet to see an era quite like it.
The Boat that rocked – well rocked! And if nothing else the soundtrack is brilliant!
Here’s some of what SMH.com.au had to say about the film:
‘IN THE mid-1960s, Britain was swinging but its radio stations were not. Still working to the staunchly moralistic guidelines set down by its founder, Lord Reith, the BBC was declining to get excited by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the other bands galvanising pop fans all over the country.
It rationed them to just a few hours of rock’n'roll a week. And so, pirate radio was born, with a mission to fill the gap. Anchored in the North Sea, beyond the reach of the country’s draconian broadcasting laws, pirate radio ships began blasting out the forbidden sounds 24 hours a day.’
I really, really liked this film. It was a great surprise and didn’t expect it to be quite as thrilling as it was. The setting of course was magick and captured the spirit of New Orleans beautifully.
(thanks to aceshowbiz.com for this synopsis)
‘Set in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and centers on a disgraced detective (Lucas) who gets an unexpected shot at redemption when the ghost of a beautiful cellist solicits his help in finding her killer.’ Starring: Josh Lucas, Terence Howard, Lake Bell and Deborah Ann Woll.
‘Instead of a Sixth Sense clone, the film is a hard-hitting character drama centered around life’s greatest mystery: death. It does this by offering a variety of perspectives on the subject: a near death experience, a lingering grief, and a complicated “gift.” Even at the age of 80, Eastwood carefully manages three story threads – piecing together a somber but empowering film that finds a solid balance between servicing the characters and the filmmaker’s message.’
Surprise, surprise. Well it was for me. I was a huge fan of the original television series that graced our screens from 1966-1973 but the Mission Impossible I and II I found so appalling I wouldn’t even go out the door for the third instalment – so why did I bother with Ghost Protocol? Simple: Simon Pegg Yes, I’m that shallow…seriously, he was wonderful including the rest of the cast – yes, even Tom Cruise *sigh*
The film was wonderful, engaging, entertaining, and fun!
Here’s some of what Philip French from the observer had to say:
‘This is the best movie in the franchise since Brian de Palma launched it in 1996, and the director is Brad Bird, an animator by training, who made Pixar’s Ratatouille and The Incredibles. Here he has a budget large enough and an Imax screen wide enough to allow him to do anything he fancies. In consequence the movie is visually remarkable as it tries to keep up with the frenetic activities of secret agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise accepting an impossible mission for the fourth time) and his new trio of likable operatives: beautiful, resourceful Paula Patton, pawky computer wizard Simon Pegg and constantly fretting analyst Jeremy Renner.’
And while we’re talking about movies check out Jason Nahrung’s latest blog post where he reviews a couple of great television shows that picked up some Golden Globes at the 69th annual event on 16 January 2012.
Are you an -aholic? Whether you’re a workaholic, shopaholic, alcoholic, it doesn’t matter because it’s all about the extremes in one area and it can apply to anything.
As writers we can become so focussed on our stories that we barely come up for air and I get that! The whole notion of -aholic came to me when I was thinking about someone very close to me and how their career was impacting on this person’s life. Over the years I’ve known many -aholic’s and/or career driven people both in the corporate and non-corporate world. Writers are career driven also, but are often overlooked as many people see ‘writers’ as hobbyists. A lot of writers have more than one job, as writing often does not pay the bills, while juggling so many balls one of them is bound to drop.
Remember the old adage ‘don’t forget to stop and smell the roses’. Yeah, yeah, whatever, but hey, if we don’t have balance in our life what do we have? If we don’t make time for family, friends, music and books and films and travel and hobbies and the cat or dog, or whatever it is that rocks your world –then you simply forget how important these things are. You forget why you feel so tired, forget why your heart doesn’t sing like it used to, forget how something as simple as a walk by the ocean or listening to music you love can fill everything up in your soul to brimming and overflowing.
When we become invested in the extremes we can do all of the above AND not even notice. You’ve heard the saying ‘Live in the moment’ well really, you know it’s damn true. We need to keep plugging away at our careers, follow our passions and work bloody hard to achieve our goals. But don’t make the mistake of falling out of love with life.
I’ve been there and visit often, so I know how easy it is to lose track of the simple but some of the most valuable things in life.
Here’s my top five ways to avoid the –aholic behaviour:
Walk by the sea or in the bush. Don’t think about anything… Get lost in your surroundings. You will be amazed at what you will find.
Listen to music. Don’t think about anything but the soul of the music, how does it make you feel? Take notice of anything that comes up for you and take the appropriate action.
Watch a movie. A genre you absolutely love and think of nothing but what you are seeing, hearing and feeling as each frame unfolds. Be immersed in nothing else.
It’s all about the doing and being in the moment of that doing. We all watch films, listen to music while we drive concentrating on the road, read books while mentally taking down our ‘to do list’ for tomorrow, walking but watching the clock so we’re back in time for whatever. Dancing in our lounge room where god forbid no-one will see how clumsy and awkward we really are. Watching the movie and thinking about all that has to be done when it finally finishes.
What are you top five things that you do to get out of your head or break -aholic cycles – what works for you? I would love to hear from you.
Midnight rambler listening to the wind outside. Just listening to the wind
And Zac Efron has the most amazing blue eyes – just sayin…
LIFE/WORK BALANCE – IS IT WORKING FOR YOU? 