Ci sono amori così travolgenti e profonde che ci seguono anche quando la nostra mente non ci appartiene più. Questa è la storia di Melanie e di Wanda; in un futuro vicino una particolare razza aliena ha preso il sopravvento sulla specie umana. Le poche persone rimaste,la resistenza, vivono in borghi nascosti ed isolati, tra loro ci sono Jamie e Jared, il fratello e il fidanzato di Melanie che, caduta in mano agli invasori, dovrebbe ormai essere solo un involucro per un anima ma proprio non vuole scomparire e,soprattutto, non vuole dimenticarli.

Viaggi, nascondigli, odio, triangoli amorosi, lotte, redenzioni, ingiustizie,stanchezza,adrenalina,speranza…non manca nulla.

L’Ospite è riuscito a piacermi davvero, il che è alquanto improbabile se pensate che il genere di libri, a mio parere, più tedioso è proprio il fantascientifico.

Eppure questo libro è diverso…

Tocca punti nascosti ma attuali: la crudeltà degli umani (ehi,prendi un giornale!), l’amicizia (esiste? Non esiste?), l’amore (se dite che non avete mai sentito nulla siete dei bugiardi!), la tenerezza fraterna ecc. sono così tanti e tutti così ben approfonditi che per elencarli tutti ci vorrebbe davvero tanto.

Nonostante sia un libro abbastanza lungo non risulta pesante; la scrittura è semplice,lineare,forse a un passo dal banale ma le descrizioni sono un qualcosa di superlativo:in alcuni tratti del viaggio senti addirittura il sole che picchia sulle spalle,la sabbia sotto i piedi e il freddo della notte.

Una storia travolgente ed emozionante che, devo dirlo,sorprende, strappa una lacrima e un grande sorriso.

Quindi era d’obbligo aspettarsi un film altrettanto valido ma.. Sogni di gloria infranti!

Noioso,divagante,quasi per nulla legato al libro!

Sembra che il caro regista Andrew Niccol abbia letto un manuale del genere “Come rovinare un libro in quattro mosse”

-Rovina la fisionomia dei personaggi (una donna mora,capelli corti,bassa e vestita in nero diviene

Diane Kruger, alta, bionda, occhi azzurro cielo e abbigliamento rigorosamente chiaro)

-Usa ambientazioni statiche,sterili e spoglie.

-Togli ogni brivido ed emozione (lo spettacolo di Pinocchio era molto più travolgente.. vogliamo Mangiafuoco come regista!)

-Dialoghi lenti,molto lenti,lentissimi (uno strazio)

In definitiva, con la convinzione che se la Bella Addormentata avesse visto questo film non sarebbe bastato un bacio a svegliarla, ci congratuliamo con voi se invece di spendere i soldi del biglietto siete stati a casa a vedere Walker Texas Ranger, in prima visione per di più.

Quindi ricordate mai giudicare un libro dalla copertina e soprattutto..mai giudicare un film dal libro!

Giada Pipitone

Part of the evening’s fun—even for us spectators—is seeing what attendees choose to wear on the red carpet at the Met Gala, which will be held on May 6 and marks the official debut of the museum’s upcoming exhibit “Punk: Chaos to Couture” (we got a sneak peek during New York Fashion Week, and it looks phenomenal). Considering attendees’ high-design attire is typically loosely inspired by the exhibition’s theme, we have a feeling this particular red carpet will be one for the record books.

However, before we can look ahead to this year’s extravaganza, we decided to look back at some past memorable Met Gala gowns that we’re still talking about.

From supermodels (Karolina Kurkova in a head-to-toe custom Rachel Zoe creation that resembled liquid gold, Gisele Bunchen‘s red-hot Valentino, Anja Rubik‘s skin-baring Anthony Vaccarello), starlets (Beyoncé in showstopping Givenchy, Diane Kruger in Jason Wu, Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana) and the fash pack (Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs, The Olsen twins in vintage couture, Chloe Sevingy in Miu Miu), there’s no denying that everyone who shows up to the year’s most major red carpet does so with a serious fashion moment in mind.

MORE: The Most Punk Rock Moments From The Met Gala
                Red Carpet Style You Have To See

]]> http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2013/05/03/from-date-night-to-brunch-exactly-what-to-wear-this-weekend/ Fri, 03 May 2013 20:30:56 +0000 brittanytalarico http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2013/05/03/from-date-night-to-brunch-exactly-what-to-wear-this-weekend/ Since we spend our days analyzing what the stars are wearing, we’re constantly coming across fresh wardrobe inspiration. And it’s only fair to share some of our favorites. Here are three outfits that will get you through the weekend looking super stylish. (Warning: These looks require some bare leg action, because we have serious spring fever in the PeopleStyleWatch.com office!)

All Access Photo/Splash News Online

Saturday night: It’s time to give your LBDs a rest ladies! (Yes, we really just said that). Take a cue from Kristin Cavallari and switch it up in this springy dress that’s perfect for a GNO, first date or wherever Saturday evening takes you. Kristin’s Aztec-print frock is almost a perfect match to this Dorothy Perkins midi (it’s a steal at $35). On the footwear front, go for Kristen’s strappy Lotteria sandals by Chinese Laundry (from her new collection!).

Sipa

Sunday brunch: Your girls are bound to appreciate a belted dress, flat boot ensemble more than a group of guys, so try out something like Diane Kruger’s cool Marni sheath for your weekly brunch date. We love that the fashionista edges it up with a black belt and rocker booties. Get the look with this geometric print daytime number from Forever 21. Since your new go-to day dress is only $27.80, splurge on these warm-weather appropriate TopShop cut-out western boots by ADVANCE. The touch of hipster flare will definitely catch some attention.

Splash News Online

Monday morning: Here’s what we love about Isla Fisher’s black blazer and breezy Lover Broderie skating dress combo: The color palette is a huge trend and it’s perfect for a day at the office that rolls into post-work happy hour. Make it work for you with a topper like this one by Tinley Road from Piperlime and this Warehouse cut-work embroidery dress from ASOS. Yea, it’s $99 but the hem detail is amazing and it will become your new summer staple.

Tell us: Which outfit(s) will you try this weekend?

RELATED PHOTOS: Get more star wardrobe inspiration here!

–Brittany Talarico

Diane Kruger wearing Jimmy Choo Metallic Malika boots during The Host’s premiere.

What an eye-catcher! Kruger has always been a fashion setter. I remember blogging about liking black lace dresses because of her. Now that pair of boots just pop out and claim attention. There are times when I just go for the crazy ones as a contrast to a solid or plain dress. I really like this pair of Choos!

Ms Kruger just gets it right every time. I love her mix of ladylike, old Hollywood glamour with a quirky, vintage edge. She is never afraid to stand out from the crowd and, while she is always beautiful during awards season, it is the more relaxed red carpet moments that I admire her for.

She does not have a stylist, which is probably why I like her even more! I know all these actor types are busy people but half the fun in getting to wear these amazing creations that designers send you is the chance to pick and choose what you like and put them together yourself. It’s the ultimate fashion addicts dream to have a wardrobe of designer clothes that actors like Diane have access to, so, if i were in her shoes, I would be ditching the stylist and playing dress up by myself too!

Hope you enjoy this Diane Kruger drool fest and take some inspiration for your own, more modest, wardrobes!

And her Joshua Jackson accessory is not too shabby either! Swoon….

Image Source: Stylusmuse.blogspot.com, Peoplewatch.com, Just Jared, Fanpop, Elle.com, Artsyarchitette.wordpress.com, Diane-Kruger.com, Newsgab, Zimbio, Goldendreamland.blogspot.com, The Style Pa, iDesigntimes, Glamour Magazine

Bonnie Chen, Suvi Koponen, and Clare Waight Keller, all in Chloé.

Elisa Sednaoui, in Diane von Furstenberg, with Christian Louboutin.

Emmanuelle Alt, in Balmain.

Haider Ackermann, with Ryan McGinley, in Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière.

Stefano Pilati with Lucie de la Falaise, in Prada.

Anne Vyalitsyna, in Prada, with Harry Winston jewels.

Alexander Wang with Azealia Banks, in a custom dress by the designer and VBH jewels.

Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, in Chanel Couture.

Yvan Mispelaere with Malin Akerman, in Diane von Furstenberg.

Cate Blanchett, in Alexander McQueen with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, and Sarah Burton.

Riccardo Tisci with Rooney Mara, in Givenchy Haute Couture.

Marchesa’s Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman, center, with Sofia Vergara, in Marchesa with Harry Winston jewels, left, and Leighton Meester, in Marchesa with Fred Leighton jewels, right.

Lana Del Rey, in custom Altuzarra, with Joseph Altuzarra.

Isabel Lucas, center, in Proenza Schouler, with Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough.

Jason Wu, with Karlie Kloss, in a dress by the designer.

Clémence Poésy, in Nina Ricci.

Marion Cotillard, in Dior.

Natalia Vodianova and Antoine Arnault, both in Louis Vuitton.

Liu Wen, in Michael Kors.

Michelle Dockery, in Ralph Lauren.

Jessica Biel, in Prada with Lorraine Schwartz jewels; with Justin Timberlake, in Tom Ford.

Amy Adams, in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture, with Fred Leighton jewels; with Giambattista Valli.

Renée Zellweger, in custom Emilio Pucci, with David Webb jewels; with designer Peter Dundas.

Carolyn Murphy, in Alexander Wang, with a VBH clutch and jewels.

Rihanna, in Tom Ford, with Repossi jewels.

Miuccia Prada, in her own design.

Catherine Martin with Baz Luhrmann, in Prada.

Nicole Miller and Cameron Silver, in a custom suit by the designer, with vintage Cartier jewels, Tod’s shoes, and a vintage Schiaparelli walking stick.

Florence Welch, in Alexander McQueen.

Mary-Kate Olsen, in The Row, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Scarlett Johansson, in Dolce & Gabbana, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Kirsten Dunst, in Rodarte, with a Van Cleef & Arpels watch.

Jessica Alba, in Michael Kors, with Wilfredo Rosado jewels and a Roger Vivier clutch.

Hailee Steinfeld, in Miu Miu.

Karen Elson and Alexa Chung, both in Marc Jacobs.

Dree Hemingway, in Topshop.

Mario Testino, in Burberry Prorsum.

Sunrise Coigney and Mark Ruffalo, both in Bottega Veneta.

Caroline Sieber, in Christopher Kane

Rachel Zoe, in her own design, with David Webb jewels.

Dee Ocleppo, in Tommy Hilfiger, with the designer.

Nina Dobrev, in Donna Karan Atelier.

China Chow, in Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture.

Arizona Muse, in Erdem, with an Edie Parker clutch.

Amber Valletta, in Prada.

Giovanna Battaglia, in Dolce & Gabbana, with Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld.

Chelsea Clinton, in Oscar de la Renta.

Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, both in Burberry Prorsum.

Kristen Stewart, in Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière, with the designer.

Claire Courtin-Clarins, Prisca Courtin-Clarins, Jenna Courtin-Clarins, and Virginie Courtin-Clarins, all in Mugler.

Carine Roitfeld, in Givenchy Haute Couture.

Angela Lindvall, in Prada.

Michael Bloomberg with Diana Taylor.

Franca Sozzani with Adrien Brody, in Prada.

Elettra Wiedemann, in Sophie Theallet, with Tiffany & Co. jewels, and a Roger Vivier clutch and shoes.

Marc Jacobs with Milla Jovovich, in Prada.

Gary Oldman and Alexandra Edenborough, both in Prada.

Sarah Jessica Parker, in Valentino Haute Couture, with VBH and Fred Leighton jewels; with Valentino Garavani.

Brit Marling, center, in Valentino, with designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.

Barry Diller with Diane von Furstenberg, in her own design.

Diego Della Valle and Farida Khelfa, with a Roger Vivier clutch.

Carey Mulligan, in Prada.

Camilla Belle, in Ralph Lauren.

Zac Posen with Amber Heard, in a custom dress by the designer.

Grace Coddington, in Prada, with a Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière necklace.

Bruno Mars, in Prada.

Elizabeth Banks, in Mary Katrantzou, with Christian Louboutin shoes and Cartier jewels.

Will Arnett, in Calvin Klein Collection, with Amy Poehler, in Fotini.

Dakota Fanning, in Louis Vuitton, with Fred Leighton jewels.

January Jones, in Atelier Versace, with Cartier jewels.

Hilary Swank, wearing Michael Kors, with Fred Leighton jewels; with Michael Kors.

Claire Danes, in J. Mendel, with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels and Christian Louboutin shoes; with Hugh Dancy, in Prada.

Anja Rubik, in Anthony Vaccarello, with Eddie Borgo jewels.

Heidi Klum, in Escada, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and Christian Louboutin shoes.

Marina Abramović, in Givenchy Haute Couture, with Pomellato jewels; with James Franco, in Gucci.

Gerard Butler, in Alexander McQueen.

Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, with Anna Hu jewels.

Cameron Diaz, in Stella McCartney for the Green Carpet Challenge, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Beyoncé Knowles, in Givenchy Haute Couture.

Ginnifer Goodwin, in Monique Lhuillier, with Brian Atwood shoes.

Ashley Greene, in Donna Karan Atelier.

Allison Williams, in Ralph Lauren.

Emma Roberts, in Escada, with Bulgari jewels.

Thakoon Panichgul with Christina Ricci, in a dress by the designer.

Chloë Sevigny, in Miu Miu, with Repossi jewels.

Alicia Keys, in Givenchy, with Pomellato jewels; and Swizz Beatz, in Givenchy.

Donatella Versace, in her own design.

Dianna Agron, in Carolina Herrera, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Eva Mendes, in Prada, with David Webb jewels.

Chanel Iman, in Tom Ford, with Cartier jewels; with the designer.

Emily Blunt, in Calvin Klein Collection, with Neil Lane jewels and a Christian Louboutin clutch; with John Krasinski, in Calvin Klein Collection.

Daniel Radcliffe, in Antonio Azzuolo, with Rose Hemingway.

Emma Stone, in Lanvin, with designer Alber Elbaz.

Janelle Monáe.

Diane Kruger, in Prada, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Ben Stiller with Christine Taylor, in J. Mendel.

Isabeli Fontana, in Emilio Pucci, with a SW1 clutch.

Kate Bosworth, in Prada, with Fred Leighton and Repossi jewels.

Tom Brady, in Tom Ford, with Gisele Bündchen, in Givenchy Haute Couture, and David Yurman jewels.

Liya Kebede, Tory Burch, Rashida Jones, and Brooklyn Decker, all in custom Tory Burch.

Jessica Chastain, in Louis Vuitton, with Harry Winston jewels.

Hamish Bowles, in Dolce & Gabbana, with Lena Dunham, in Wes Gordon, with Wilfredo Rosado jewels, a VBH clutch, and Stella McCartney shoes.

Ivanka Trump, in Peter Pilotto.

Joan Smalls, in Balmain, with designer Olivier Rousteing.

Anna Wintour, in Prada.

Bee Shaffer, in Erdem, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Steven Newhouse, with Fairchild Fashion Media’s Gina Sanders, in Kim Hicks.

Coco Rocha, in vintage Givenchy, with Wilfredo Rosado jewels and a Kotur clutch.

Bianca Brandolini d’Adda, in Dolce & Gabbana.

Chris Benz with Julie Macklowe, in a dress by the designer.

Jaime King, in custom Topshop, with Bulgari jewels.

Brooke Shields.

Rachel Roy, in her own design, with a Nancy Gonzalez clutch; with Solange Knowles, in a dress by the designer, with an Edie Parker clutch and Lady Grey jewels.

Tim Tebow, in Ralph Lauren.

Italo Zucchelli with Hanneli Mustaparta, in Calvin Klein Collection.

Olivier Theyskens with Caroline Trentini, in a dress by the designer.

David Byrne, in Adam Kimmel, with Sally Singer, in Nina Ricci.

Jessica Paré, in L’Wren Scott, with Tiffany & Co. jewels and a Christian Louboutin clutch.

Constance Jablonski, in Haider Ackermann.

Roland Mouret with Doutzen Kroes, in a dress by the designer, with Robert Clergerie shoes.

Candice Swanepoel, center, in custom Rag & Bone, with designers David Neville and Marcus Wainwright.

Nick Jonas, in custom Richard Chai, Kevin Jonas, and Joe Jonas, in Calvin Klein Collection.

Karolina Kurkova, in Rachel Zoe Collection, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Kate Upton, in Michael Kors.

Kristen Bell, in Tommy Hilfiger, with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels.

Kristen Wiig, in Stella McCartney, with Fred Leighton jewels.

La La Anthony, in custom Zac Posen, with Carmelo Anthony, in Rag & Bone.

Leslie Bibb, in Zac Posen, with a JustFab clutch.

Leslie Mann, in Nina Ricci, with Fred Leighton jewels; with Judd Apatow.

Lily Collins, in Valentino Haute Couture.

Linda Fargo, in custom Naeem Khan.

Liv Tyler, in Givenchy Haute Couture, with Fred Leighton jewels.

L’Wren Scott, in her own design, with Mick Jagger.

Katharine McPhee, in Elie Saab, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Christian Louboutin clutch.

Leighton Meester, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels.

Mia Wasikowska, in Prada.

Paula Patton, in Vera Wang, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

Poppy Delevingne, in Chanel, with Chanel jewels.

Prabal Gurung, in Antonio Azzuolo, with Greta Gerwig, in Prabal Gurung, with a Nancy Gonzalez clutch, and House of Lavande jewels.

Rosario Dawson, in Calvin Klein Collection, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, in Burberry Prorsum, with Irene Neuwirth and J/Hadley jewels, and a House of Harlow 1960 clutch.

Ryan Seacrest, in Burberry Prorsum, with Julianne Hough, in Carolina Herrera.

Shailene Woodley, in Christopher Kane, with Pomellato jewels.

Sofia Vergara, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels.

Jessica Stam, in Dior, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

Stella McCartney and M.I.A., both in looks by the designer.

Stella Tennant, in Chanel, with Chanel jewels.

Vera Wang, in her own design; with Wendi Murdoch, also in Vera Wang, with Cindy Chao jewels.

Kanye West, in Givenchy.

It’s festival season! America is known for its famous Coachella festival, Belgium for the legendary TomorrowLand festival, and soon TomorrowWorld, Germany’s “Rock am Ring” festival is only a month away too. As you can see, the world is getting prepared for summer and the love to music.

So why not start preparing your festival looks!

Here are some wonderful outfits, which hopefully will give you a little inspiration.

DAREDEVIL/ MATT MURDOCK

The easy thing would be to hire  Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Bradley Cooper to play Daredevil. Thing is, their careers are on a roll now, and neither needs to play a super-hero at this time. The better option is to go with a lesser known actor. My choice is Christopher Gorham.

Christopher Gorham currently stars as August “Auggie” Anderson in USA’s “Covert Affairs.” In the show, Gorham plays a CIA military intelligence/special ops officer who was blinded while on a mission in Iraq where he served in an Army Special Forces unit. He’s brilliant in the role and could easily pass for Matt Murdock.

KAREN PAGE

For the love interest I’d go with Diane Kruger. She’s cute, but that’s just part of it. I think Kruger is an underrated actress, she was the best part of 2011′s ”Unknown.” She has the talent to play the good girl side of Karen and the darker side as well.

FOGGY NELSON

I’m going a little older with Foggy Nelson. My choice would be John C. Reilly, famous for a bunch of stuff. Not just comedy either, dude can act. John C. Reilly can bring comic relief when it’s needed, but he can also be serious when the script calls for it.

THE HAND

For the villains I’d go with The Hand. But as the face of the ninjas, I’d cast Rick Yune. His look alone, makes him a credible villain. Starring in a James Bond movie should have helped Yune’s career, but sadly that movie was “Die Another Day.” More recently Yune starred in “Olympus Has Fallen” and “The Man with the Iron Fists.”

BEN URICH

As the chain-smoking, tough-as-nails investigative Daily Bugle reporter, I’d cast Bryan Cranston. For some reason, his role in “Argo” reminded me of Ben Urich.

Lastly, I would keep the Kingpin and Elektra away from the movie, until the post credit sequence that is.  For the big guy, I’d hire Ray Winstone. A great actor who could do something with the part. As for Elektra, my choice is Katrina Law. Check her out in “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” to see why I picked her.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

The Host, starring Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, and William Hurt, is a science fiction film based on the novel of the same name by Stephenie Meyer, the creator of the ever-so-popular Twilight Saga. The film takes place in a future where an alien race has invaded Earth and has possessed the bodies and minds of all of the humans. Only a fraction of the human population remain free and they have to run and hide from the “seekers” that are hunting them down one by one. Ronan plays one of the few humans that have escaped being possessed, but she sacrifices herself for her loved ones. The seekers think that she will lead them to the remaining free-bodied humans, but little do they know that Ronan is still able to influence the alien that is possessing her. The acting in this film is mediocre at best. Ronan pulls off her character well, but the other characters lack depth and connection to the audience. The plot is creative and has promise, but it’s poorly written and doesn’t keep you engaged. The film has a 9% rating on rottentomatoes, the popular movie rating website, which is a little harsh, but not surprising. This is the kind of movie you should watch if you’re in the mood for a cheesy chick flick. It is not the type of movie you should pay for if you want to watch a good quality story that will keep you interested.

Each April, my family lights it up blue at my house for Autism Awareness Month.  Last week marked my third year volunteering for Autism Speaks’ Annual Walk Now at the Pasadena Rose Bowl!  You may remember me posting when the Walk came to Orange County, and it is a wonderful event for the advancement of the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Last year, Daniela and I worked the A. Speaks step and repeat and Team Walk4RoyalT assembled for the first time!  Unfortunately, the team has decided to regroup for Orange County Walks, in the interest of my amazing family who comes from all over Southern California.  Daniela was also working, so I was a one-woman show this year.

On the bright side, I got to witness Autism Speaks’ first ever U-Stream being produced and broadcast for the event!  I also got to speak with so many great people on the blue carpet.

After Boyz II Men’s Shawn performed the national anthem during the opening ceremony, the Stockman Family told me about Micah’s Voice- the non-profit organization that they just started to support families in need who are affected by autism.

The fabulous Diane Kruger also attended the Walk to show her support for autism.  She told me that she plays a detective with Asperger’s syndrome in her new FX series, The Bridge.  Autism Speaks has partnered with the TV show, which premieres this summer, to help portray the disorder in a more accurate light.

Andrew Gonzalez has been the Help Group’s reigning Prom King for almost a year!  He was voted in by his classmates for his stellar attendance and positive attitude.

the Walk Now starting line

Overall, this year’s Walk Now was a success, raising 1.8 million dollars on the day of the event alone!  However, it’s bittersweet to see such a great turn out.  To realize that so many families of different backgrounds are affected by this disorder can be disheartening; but to feel the support from absolute strangers experiencing the same obstacles is comforting.

Mas, vamos combinar que na “vida real” somos um pouco resistentes à novidades como essa, né? E já que é assim, vale buscar maneiras mais discretas para apostar na tendência, em prol da praticidade, e por que não de um visual interessante e versátil? Um pequeno torcido de lado, por exemplo, pode ser uma ótima opção. E não precisa combinar a cor do grampo com a cor do cabelo: fique a vontade para apostar nos coloridos, brancos ou nos clássicos preto e loiro.

E para quem não dispensa um Do It Yourself, pode aproveitar a ideia para customizar os grampos que já tem em casa, como mostra o tutorial abaixo.

Imagens: Reprodução

This review contains spoilers and it will most definitely offend those dedicated Meyer fans. So if you like Meyer, keep away because I didn’t hold back what so ever.

Oh the joy of watching a bad movie that brings back all the motivation I had lost for weeks because it is so cheesy that it screams to be written about. I’ll just take a moment to enjoy this warm feeling. Oh yeah, yeah, I feel it, yes, mmm that’s good! Where was I? Oh yes, before I gather my negative thoughts about The Host, there are a lot, I do confess that I’m glad that it was as idiotic as it was because it reminded me that I love writing about movies… especially those I don’t like.

Now, one might think that I disliked the movie even before I saw it because it’s based on a novel by Stephenie Meyer (in case you have been living under a rock, that lady is the mother of Twilight!) and that’s probably right. I knew it wasn’t going to be good in terms of the plot but hey, a lot of mediocre plots can be saved by a better screenplay, great acting and cinematography. That was not the case with The Host, to say at least, I think Stephenie Meyer just managed to suck out some of Saoirse Ronan’s talent – so let’s take a moment of silence….

The Host is a story about aliens invading human bodies and giving them shiny (not to say sparkly) eyes that will distinguish them from regular unhosted people. That is explained by a short man-narrated clip with space and alien-faces that basically sets up the whole back story – how original. Then we see Melanie (Saoirse Ronan), a human on the run, jumping out of a window in order to kill herself because dead people can’t be used as hosts – she of course survives. Doesn’t matter that she cracked open the pavement and had no broken bones, no, I mean, why would you want to explain that in the movie? That’s ridiculous, a human jumping out of a window and surviving with just scratches is as normal as sparkly vampires.

After Melanie is hosted, The Wanderer appears as a new Melanie or in this case, in Melanie’s body but as a new character. But oh wait, Melanie is still alive and it’s a classic case of double personality – two girls in one body with sparkly eyes. And enter the not so beloved voice over! Out of all the cheesy things I saw in those 2 long hours, I think the voice over was the hardest to handle and there was a lot of it throughout the movie. It made it so cheap and campy, not to mention the fact that it brought down the talent of Ronan who I still remember from movies such as The Atonement and Hanna. She was amazing in both, especially Hanna, and now this.. oh girl, you don’t need a franchise to keep up with the young Hollywood, just do your thing!

Anyway, Melanie is almost controlling The Wanderer (later named Wanda cause Meyer likes wordplay) by the time they find the secret hiding place of a group of people that has Melanie’s brother, boyfriend (Max Irons) and of course some other hot blond dude (Jake Abel) with great deal of hair product. When the love triangle was created I literally rolled my eyes. I get it, The Host is a young adult book but can the authors just once do something different than the oh-so-predictable-love-triangle.. make the leading character doubt her sexuality and go lesbian or something! Plus, that did not stop there, Ronan was pretty much going from one dude to another to make out and there was no chemistry what so ever. Though I do think that a lot of it had to do with the way the story was presented, it was a really hasty relationship that never really went that extra mile to being something special. Not to mention the fact that poor Ronan and Irons had to make out in the rain twice just so they could get wet.

All this PDA took place while The Seeker (Diane Kruger) was trying to locate their secret hiding place – this situation had no climax, it was linear and boring To be completely honest, the whole movie didn’t have any moment of excitement or thrill what so ever. I mean the direction was all wrong, there was a lot of mushy moments but there wasn’t anything to balance it and it just kept going cheesier and cheesier. Even the end, gosh, I don’t even want to discuss the ending plus the ending-on-top-of-the-ending situation that kind of created a sequel possibility – please don’t, somebody, please listen to me, no sequel!! The Host doesn’t offer anything that could lead to a sequel, even the visuals weren’t as strong as one would expect. Yes, there were the alien-soul-things that looked kind of cool but I’m saying this because I want to justify me actually getting through with this movie. I was doing it for the wiggly-aliens that I saw twice – once in the beginning and once in the end.

Eventually, while there a lot of other things that I could write about, bad things, cheesy things and even the rest of the acting that was destined to be doomed together with Ronan’s performance, I must put an end to it now. To sum this review up, don’t watch The Host, there’s nothing you can get from it that will make your day better. Even Ronan’s fans should stay away and re-watch Hanna or something. There aren’t any memorable moments, there’s not even a great musically enhanced adventure or action scene (though those are the genres mentioned in IMDb), just mushy teen-romance with no chemistry. Now as I’ve gotten all of that off my chest, there’s one nice thing I want to dedicated  to all those Stephenie Meyer fans – she’s no talented lady but I’ll say this, I envy the fact that she continues to earn money by making bread from shit.

]]> http://moodsofmurphy.com/2013/04/26/its-all-about-the-red/ Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:36:09 +0000 sabcorp http://moodsofmurphy.com/2013/04/26/its-all-about-the-red/

If you have never seen the movie Secret Admirer then you’re missing out (Check out the trailer below). Trust me you just can’t go wrong with a younger Lori Loughlin and Kelly Preston. Honestly, I will swear by my belief that it is an underrated 80s movie that I think my generation (Y) needs to actually start appreciating – particularly the fashion. I remember this one part where Kelly Preston turns up to a party in matching red leather trousers and jacket….I nearly died, I was in love with this little ensemble immediately.

I am obsessed with red. Particularly red leather. And red vintage muscle cars (a Corvette..yes please!). Red is the colour that I believe can suit absolutely anybody (this is open to interpretation). Below are some stars that have sported the red leather;

Now because it’s not exactly cold weather at the moment I’m providing my summer interpretation of Lori Loughlin’s outfit and Tom Cochrane’s hit song Life is a Highway. When I was constructing this outfit I automatically thought that in order to create a greater effect that I would pair this amazing Miu Miu red patent effect cire pencil skirt with a classic black leather jacket and just a plain singlet. I also wanted more striking accessories. Pair them with some statement gloves, chunky earrings and boots to make the outfit that little bit more modern.

xx Miss Murphy

Some music to feed your ears:

Secret Admirer Trailer:

The following review originally was written for The Parallax Review, a film review site of which I was the co-founder and managing editor. I have decided to collect the writings I did for The Parallax Review and preserve them here. I will be posting a few of these older pieces every week. My review of Unknown was for the “In Theatres” section of The Parallax Review.

by Matt Wedge, Managing Editor

Sometimes I feel as though we don’t appreciate Liam Neeson enough. Moving easily between leading-man roles and character work, he’s able to chew the scenery when a script calls for it and just as easily dial his performance down to a subtle level approaching minimalism. Ever since his breakthrough turn in Darkman, it seems that every time I look up at the screen, there’s Neeson, doing good work in films that often aren’t worthy of his talents. Such is the case with Unknown, an otherwise soggy conspiracy thriller that Neeson practically horsewhips into watchability.

Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) is an American botanist who has traveled to Berlin with his wife, Elizabeth (January Jones), to attend a biotechnology conference. When he accidentally leaves his briefcase at the airport, he leaves Elizabeth to check into their hotel and jumps into a cab to return to the airport. But before he can get to the airport, a freak accident forces the cab off a bridge and into a river. The driver of the cab, Gina (Diane Kruger), is able to pull him to safety and disappears once paramedics arrive. In a coma for four days, he awakens to be told by the attending doctor (Karl Markovics) that he was found with no identification. When Martin explains his situation, but finds that gaps remain in his story, the doctor drops a heap of explanation on Martin — and the audience — that he may have suffered some memory loss in the accident.

Against the doctor’s wishes, Martin checks out of the hospital and goes to his hotel. There he finds Elizabeth, who claims not to know him. Even worse, another man (Aidan Quinn) claims to be Dr. Martin Harris. A fact he backs up with identification and Elizabeth’s claims. Paranoid and frightened, Martin plunges into the Berlin night, determined to find out what has happened to his life. He tracks down Gina and persuades her to help him. But even he is not sure if he’s insane or if some sinister plot has been engineered to take over his life. If you’ve seen any of the marketing for the film, you already know the answer to that question.

But even if you went into the film without any knowledge of the story, director Jaume Collet-Serra fails to ever make it much of a guessing game. From the moment that Martin meets his “other,” it’s made crystal clear who is the hero and who is the villain. All that remains is the why.

Unfortunately, the why is not very interesting. Yesterday, I wrote a review of I Am Number Four where I talked about derivative mainstream films. While that film reassembled its stolen story bits in an interesting enough manner that I was just able to recommend it, Unknown does nothing new or unusual enough with its bits and pieces of The Bourne Identity, Frantic, and Memento, to completely justify its existence.

What entertainment value is on display comes in the form of impressive work by Neeson, Kruger, and Bruno Ganz as an unrepentant former member of the East German secret police who now works as a detective specializing in missing person’s cases. Neeson and Kruger have the chemistry he lacks with the bland Jones, making a forced romantic subplot work better than it has any business doing. Ganz’s performance is full of humor as the most interesting character in the film. I would have liked to seen an entire movie just about him.

Not surprisingly, Collet-Serra takes pains to force an unnecessarily convoluted car chase into the proceedings at the expense of logic or coherent storytelling. By the time the painfully simple, yet ludicrous, explanations roll around in the third act, it’s obvious that the filmmakers are more interested in cool shots of things exploding than they are with making the protagonist someone to care about or telling a worthwhile story.

Unknown is a mediocre film that manages to stay watchable far longer than it should through some smart casting. Unfortunately, Neeson, Kruger, and Ganz can only do so much before the whole affair is crushed under the weight of the silly plot and plodding direction.

Read all the extraneous crap that goes through my head by following me on Twitter.

Isn’t is almost unbelievable that Diane Kruger styles herself? As as beautiful as she is stylish, DK is always dressed to impress, and we can’t help but be even more impressed by the fact that she does it on her own. With so many celebrities that work with stylists, many who are now celebrities themselves, it’s refreshing to see a star like DK, without a stylist, with great taste in clothing and an amazing individual fashion sense. DK is one of my favorite style icons to watch out for, as her choices for red carpet events are always incredible and unforgettable. Her choices off the red carpet are equally as anticipated, but I can’t help but favor her all dolled up in dresses of different lengths, shapes, textures, and colors. With all eyes and cameras on her, DK has proven that, even when taking red carpet risks, she knows exactly what she’s doing. DK inspires the notion that when we can trust ourselves, embrace our own style, and dress for ourselves, we can wear something with complete confidence, which is what style really comes down to.

The jury is still out on whether I like Sofia Coppola or not. I like the idea of every single one of her films but I also feel a little deflated when I actually see them. You may be horrified but one of my favourites was actually MARIE ANTOINETTE.

I know some people have a massive problem with Kirsten Dunst. I don’t! I loved that the entire film just turned pinker and pinker as the film went on. That said I remember nothing else of the film so in this case it was most certainly a case of style over substance. Oh and the cast – which included Judy Dench, Jason Schwartzman, Rose Byrne, Asia Argento, Shirley Henderson, Marianne Faithful, Danny Huston, Tom Hardy and Steve Coogan (of whom I recently wrote about in my commentary of THE LOOK OF LOVE). And the costumes were amazing!! Oh and the music (New Order, The Cure, Air and Aphex Twin but to name a few)  too! So maybe I did like it.

Last year one of my favourite films was A ROYAL AFFAIR. Then again I’m a sucker for period dramas. You can only imagine how much I enjoyed working as an extra on the upcoming TV series QUIRKE with Gabriel Byrne.

Anyway am starting to digress yes Sofia Coppola. But first I just stumbled on a French MARIE ANTOINETTE with Lea Seydoux and Diane Kruger. Bit of a different take on the old tale but I might have to watch this one as well.

So yes Sofia Coppola…I was so so excited to see SOMEWHERE and then the film started with seven minutes (approx) of 80′s heartthrob Stephen Dorff driving around a racing track…around and around. Elle Fanning was fantastic though and the publicist was hilarious, probably because I’ve worked as a publicist.

The first Sofia Coppola film I saw was LOST IN TRANSLATION. I didn’t like it! Then again the image of Scarlett Johansson walking through cherry blossoms is permanently instilled in my mind. As is her and Bill Murray sitting at the bar, and then again in the karaoke booth. And the music! And James Franco…this may have been the first film I saw him in actually. Always interesting to ask yourself when and where were you first introduced to an actor / director / producer / musician etc. At least for me it is! I do it with friends as well. Maybe I liked LOST IN TRANSLATION after all. I certainly love Bill Murray and ScarJo, and the music.

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES was also a very memorable film, but I hadn’t read the book on which it was based so don’t shoot me.

THE BLING RING

Maybe I do like Sofia Coppola after all. I will definitely be watching THE BLING RING anyway. Emma Watson is great and Judd Apatow‘s wife Leslie Mann always makes me laugh. Paris Hilton is also listed in the extended cast on IMDB so there could be some fun cameos popping up.

The Plot - Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities’ whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

Due to release in the UK (not sure about Ireland) mid July. Visit the official site at THE BLING RING