I have always wondered if reading more makes you less inclined towards being surprised.

The more an individual delves into fiction and its allies – comprising of thrillers and mysteries to drama and socio-political sagas, the more one becomes attuned to the various tones an author is likely to adapt to as he moves with his story.

More often, the language usage too becmes predictable and in time it becomes difficult to segregate authors with style and well, most authors. I often read in many blogs and articles that provide tips for wannabe authors and writers – “The purpose of writing is not to create something new (which is very rare). It is in fact, taking in all you knwo into a mixer grinder and preparing the best possible coriander chutney that has all possible flavours and spices known to you.”

The idea is to create an amalgamation of the best you know (from borrowed sources of course – whether consciously or unconsciously) and create a supposedly ‘new’ style.

But is it possible to isolate oneself and create an entirely different and rare piece that is not an ensemble or a major chunk of which is on one’s own intellect?

Because we spend our learning years delving into classics and allowing them to influence us (and that is the only way of growing, learning and amassing knowledge – which in many ways moulds our personality, our ideoloiges, our tastes and our notions), it is often possible that what you create on your own is a concoction of all those ingredients that you already digested as a child or a voracious reader.

Another argument can be framed thus: All that is to be done has already be done by most masters. From Shakespeare to Grisham – best sellers and classics are full of all plots and situations that can ever be framed by the human mind. Right?

Wrong.

It is this gridlock that gives one a chance to go beyond the obvious by looking at what already has been done, use one’s brain to find out li’l nuances from within the lines, be conscious of what you are reading and analyzing it.

Jhumpa Lahiri never fails to give me goosebumps – no matter how many times I have already read her stories and novel. Her stories take from the mundane existence of most human beings and paint the canvas to unfold an extraordinary Sistine Chapel. Its her eye for looking beyond the ‘mundane’ that makes life and its description in words a celebration.

Nicholas Sparks, inspite of sticking to the miniscule genre of love and relationships (is it? Becuase to the tired human brain all possible plots have been conjured up) has been successful in churning out 14+ best sellers (4 of which have made box office cash registers ringing in and two more are already being filmed).

There are a lot many authors that inspite of sticking to the same genre weave magic and never fail to surprise us.

Look for surprise and depth when you read for growth and upliftment! And you will be adding mounds of expertise and detail to your own eyes – that appreciate words and whatever lies between the lines.

Of course, when you are tired and just need a quick fix – the time tested thrillers and erotic storylines will always be there.

Siddhartha

4 Tissues

One of my very favorite books that move you emotionally is, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.

It’s the story of …..

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Stephanie Meyer has noted that each of the novels in the Twilight Saga pays homage to other literary classics. For Twilight, she has said Pride and Prejudice was the key inspiration. Well, I suppose it isn’t any worse than some of the other P&P fanfic out there. Beyond the superficial – the relationship of Bella and her father, a mother prone to hystrionics, a boyfriend who goes out of his way to avoid her (at first), and a passionate love that develops out of very little substance, oh, and a few letters thrown in here and there – there is no comparison. Bella is no Elizabeth Bennet. She is a very insecure teenager who seems to have a classic martyr complex. While Edward is a creepy stalker, made somehow wholesome by the fact that he abstains from human blood.

I assigned this book to a local book club of Red Hat ladies because of its popularity. I didn’t know what to expect. To my surprise, they all loved it! What is the appeal, I asked, because I don’t get it. It’s spiritual, one woman replied. It opens you up to the paranormal – I like the idea that there are things out there that we don’t know about. Okay, I get that. It’s a fantasy. On the other hand, these women will tell you that they don’t “like” the fantasy genre. We all have fantasies about flirting with danger. I think the idea of becoming immortal also has a certain appeal. But I still don’t get the romance. I failed to understand what the characters saw in each other. Silly me, wanting some depth of character. It had about as much substance as Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks, which I read for the same book club, not too long ago. And that one, we all agreed, was “fluff.” A quick and easy book for a day at the beach – no thinking required.

Perhaps a few Twilight fans will go on to read Pride and Prejudice. Harper has come out with a new “Twilight” edition of classics aimed at teen readers with covers reminiscent of the Twilight series. And will Pride and Prejudice fans turn to the likes of “Mr. Darcy, Vampire”? I have to admit that there is a certain logic behind imagining the haughty and stone-faced Fitzwilliam Darcy as a vampire.

What’s the best part of going out to the movies – besides watching the movie -with popcorn and candy in hand?

The Previews!

As I sat waiting to watch New Moon this past weekend – I got a glimpse of three new movies that I’m excited to see.  Two of which include my favorite: Amanda Seyfried (from Mamma Mia!).

The first movie, Letters to Juliet caught me off guard- emotionally.  The film centers around the city of Verona, Italy – Juliet’s statue/balcony – and the letters of love addressed to Juliet.  I have once visited the city and saw Juliet’s statue a couple years ago, and the preview  reminded me of Verona’s beauty. I only wish I could go visit again!

The movie is due on in May 2010 – a perfect time of year to make a trip to Italy. . .

The other Seyfried movie, Dear John, is with Channing Tatum and is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel- so automatically we all know it will be a sob-fest.  Naturally, this movie is due out in February 2010 – near Valentine’s Day  – how fitting.

Be prepared to bring tissues to the theater.

Lastly, the novel The Lovely Bones written by Alice Sebold, is coming to the big screen – and I’m excited yet terrified to watch it.  The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Saoirse Ronan (Atonement). The Lovely Bones has been one of those books that has both haunted and intrigued me.  Aspects of the book have stayed with me – in the corner of my mind – and that to me is what makes the book.  Having the ability to shock and remain with the reader demonstrates how powerful a well-written book can be.

The preview gives me goosebumps . . . its due out January 2010.

2010 looks like a promising year for the box office!

-jo

I am really looking forward to this movie, I just wish Miley wasn’t in it. In all honestly, I will never be able to take her seriously in any movie. I see her as Hannah Montana, and that’s it.

Other than that, I’m super stoked about this movie.

Video Source: Yahoo! Movies

Here is trailer for “The Last Song” starring Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”). “The Last Song” is the screen adaptation of Nicholas Spark’s book of the same name. Nicholas Sparks, author of “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember”, also co-wrote the screenplay for the film. “The Last Song” will be released in theaters on April 2, 2010. Full cast list can be found on IMDB.com.

Chifrijo from Irazú

1. Elisa and I had dinner at Irazú tonight. I’d been to the dentist this afternoon so I couldn’t eat much more than chifrijo, chicken soup, and a banana-oatmeal shake. Okay, I guess that’s a lot. And I totally got a steak sandwich to go. Lunch tomorrow, you will be incredible.
2. I’m watching Nights of Rodanthe instead of sleeping. I think there is a Nicholas Sparks movie for every decade of a woman’s life. A Walk to Remember for your teenage years. The Notebook for your twenties. Message in A Bottle for your thirties, and lastly Nights for your forties. Actually, The Notebook works for any age. As long as you are a total fucking sap like me.
3. It seems like every day I am spending more and more money on medication. See, this is what happens when you let yourself get obese and diabetic like me. Awesome.
4. Don’t even get me started on my lady parts.
5. One good thing — I made the beautiful Wheaties box graphic in this DISGRASIAN™ post about Manny Pacquiao.
6. I promise I will write about parade school for the “McDonald’s™ Thanksgiving Parade” very soon. One crappy thing about that, though: my check-in time for the parade is 6:30 AM. I need to become a morning person, and soon.
7. On that note, good night.

I have been wanting to read this book since it was announced to come out Summer of 09. Then I found out Miley Cyrus was playing the lead role of the adapted screenplay coming out April 2010. So I actually stumbled across the trailer for the movie. I didn’t even know they had one out yet. I will be honest, I am a little worried Miley can not pull off this role. There is a difference between TV acting and Film acting. My friend Vane and I are skeptical and sad at that because the story seems well written; I mean it’s Nicholas Sparks-amazing writer/novelist.

Either way, I am about to embark on this journey already in mind what I have seen on the trailer for comparison. I do hope she does well cause I could see myself truly loving this book and film. I hope the writer of the screenplay did it justice and that producers who chose Miley made a right choice.

I love Nicholas Sparks. I just wish he would more often than not keep things PG ish. I hate to rip out pages of work that I don’t feel comfortable or that its appropriate to be reading but other than that, I have sadly never been much of a reader. Have always wanted to be but it just wasn’t a natural forte of mine. Nicholas Sparks was on of the only authors that could get me to read a book in a day or two. His writing style is appealing and captivates, truly takes you to the moments written.

I remember reading The Notebook. It was this cover ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

My friend Vane took me to the library and she spotted it and said “hmm, this looks like a good book”. After we got it she knew this would make a good movie.

That was 5 years before the movie was announced to be released in theaters. That was my first Nicholas Sparks novel. I read that sucker in 2 days. I love the story. When I saw the movie, every character (no lie) was EXACTLY how I pictured them. To the “T”!

Lon, Noah, Allie… exactly! That goes to show the kind of author Nicholas Sparks is.

So in “short”, I am very excited to read this book. Now if only I had a coffeehouse here in Florida to go to and read it! =(

Dont eat yellow snow and have a god night!

Shakespear had a way with words that was fed by the mind but spoken through the heart. His talent is hard to come by and few have mastered the art of story telling like Shakespear.

But like every rule, there is an exception. Author’s like J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer have produced the best fantasy novels I’ve read – but only 1 author for me can get a spark when it comes to telling real human tales.

Perhaps by now the title has given my favorite author away, but for those who haven’t read his work, he is Nicholas Sparks. You might remember him better if I mention the film adaptation of his novel The Notebook. But far from the Hollywood hype, his tales are those of great human sacrifice and getting back up when the fall seems to have been too high. Sparks is not perfect, there can be some exaggerations in his mode of story telling. But when you pick up his book and flip through the pages you forget where you are and you are absorbed into his world. Flaws are forgotten and the essence of the story is felt. For me, Nicholas Sparks has done what he has set out to do. To tell a tale and keep the reader enthralled.

Every author has his own technique, that special touch to make a story great. For those who love to write I suggest you visit this site:

www.ejournals.ph/index.php/PIJP

Find the article on Speech Acts and Poetry. The article is informative and suitable for all you writers out there.

Have a good one y’all!

Miley Cyrus has a lead role in the new Nicholas Sparks film (author of The Notebook) called The Last Song, about the teenage daughter of divorced parents who spends the summer at her dad’s beach house. This will be her biggest serious role, if you don’t count the Hannah Montana movie. Greg Kinnear plays the dad who is a pianist and wants her to follow in his footsteps. I won’t be seeing it.

This girl cracks me up. She has a #1 hit with Party in the USA and then says she’s never even heard a Jay-Z song. And she says it with no embarrassment at all. She just doesn’t care. And now she says she doesn’t like Twilight, has never seen the film or read the books and never will. She said, “I don’t believe in it. I don’t like vampires. I don’t like any of the stuff. I don’t like the wolf that pops out on the screen when I’m watching my TV at night. I don’t like it. I don’t want anything to do with it. I don’t like the shirts, I don’t like anything about it.”

It’s not that I care what she likes or doesn’t like, but I think it’s hilarious how she has no tact and doesn’t play the celebrity game of pretending to like everyone. She is, you could say, real and her real personality is a snotty brat. I kind of dig that she doesn’t pretend she’s not.

Here’s the trailer for the film, in case you care.

Meet him. Ja, I’d like to start off this blog with this guy who happen to be so mysterious in my own words.. He has been by my side for a while now, he’s my tech-geek (technology-addicted in a good way) and he writes in German. He’s more than enough.

First of all, I know I’ve been not so reliable lately, but please do trust me, I do have a good reason for the delay! Was on a week-long holiday in Copenhagen with my fellow frontrunners to launch our Frontrunners 5 Colour party last Saturday. It was fab! Although I was unbelievably sick the whole week with a stomach flu (possibly a virus) which has left me groaning in pain during the nights when I’m supposed to be sleeping (!) What to say about Copenhagen? It’s my second time being in Copenhagen, and yet again, I’m not impressed. I love the non-EU section of Christiania (of course!) but not the rest of the city. It’s not as lovely as Oslo, not as refreshing as London, not as cool as Stockholm, and not as crazy as New York City.

Second, it’s Marcos (my fellow Swiss frontrunner)’s 27th birthday today! He’s getting older and wiser at the same time I’d like to wish him a steamy birthday today! It’s my second time celebrating a frontrunner’s birthday in four months.

Third, I received a huge post from my mum, and the box consisted of: english books by Nicholas Sparks, my euro-traveling backpack, bikinis, and my favorite tops. I needed them all for my Module 2 project in South America this December. I’m so looking forward for the travel itself. I miss traveling. Also, I’m thinking of traveling to Asia after May, when I’m all done with my Frontrunners 5 programme. I’m desperate for a sight in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Laos, and Australia.

Last, I am aware of my incompletion in university studies, and I am motivated to finish it. International Studies and Art/Painting will do me the best. Haven’t decided where, and when will I study my last two/one year(s) though.

This is a new section.  Instead of putting up each trailer one at a time, I just thought I’d chuck them all in one post.  Unless they’re specifically Changian that is.  None of these are.  Far from it.

Slamming Salmon

Releas Date: December 11 2009

The new flick from Broken Lizard, makers of the genius Supertroopers and the not so genius Clubb Dead and Beerfest.  To be honest, this doesn’t look very good, but here’s hoping.

Despicable Me

Release Date:  July 9 2010

This looks like the usual non-Pixar animated kids flick. Stuffed full of tv comedians like Steve Carrell, Jason Segal, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig and Danny McBride, lots of empty manic action like Monsters vs Aliens and completely forgettable.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Lightning Thief

Release Date: February 12, 2010

The latest in the long line of Harry Potter wannabe’s, this time directed by the useless twat who nearly sunk the HP franchise in the first place, as well as cinematic abortions Bicentenial Man and Nine Months.  I’ve never heard of this, and this trailer gives no indication as to what it’s about except for some kid that looks straight out of High School Musical riding in a presumably magic elevator to a village in the clouds.  The only saving grace is that it reunites Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean for the first time since Goldeneye.  Opens the same day as The Wolfman. One guess which one I’ll be seeing.

Dear John

Release Date:  February 5 2010

This one’s for Frankie, who as far as I can tell is Channing Tatum’s biggest fan and awaits his next flick like a kid awaits christmas.  Based on a book by Nicholas Sparks, who also subjected the world to ‘The Notebook’.  If you’ve ever had a girlfriend then you’ve had to watch that schmaltzy shitfest.  If you currently have a girlfriend or wife, I recommend dumping them of Febuary 4th 2010.  It’s the only choice of action if you want to avoid this dreck.

Three queries regarding this flick…  Has Tatum ever appeared in a flick where he isn’t in the military?  Who in their right mind decided Amanda Seyfried was attractive?  And why the bloody hell is Lasse Hallström directing this shit?

Love

Release Date:  February 14 2010

This is to coincide with Angels & Airwaves new album. I like A&A and all, but can someone watch this trailer and explain what the fuck this is?

♥ “Mammoth”

In this indie movie, Gael Garcia Bernal (“Y Tu Mama Tambien”) and Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain”) play a couple whose lives start unraveling when Bernal flirts with infidelity on a business trip in Thailand.

The story also focuses on their live-in Filipino nanny, which is exciting since very few Filipino actors breakthrough in Hollywood. “Mammoth” even features subtitles for the actors speaking the Tagalog language. With more than 1,000 votes on IMDb.com, the film has received a 7 out of 10 rating.

♥ “Salt”

This espionage thriller was originally set to have a male lead, but when Tom Cruise (“Collateral”) dropped out of the project, the role was re-written for Angelina Jolie (“Girl, Interrupted”), naturally. Jolie is Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent, who is framed for a plot to murder the president. She must prove her innocence while on the run from authorities. Leaps unto buses ensue.

♥ “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”

Jake Gyllenhaal (“Jarhead”) stars in this adaptation of a video game where he, along with a princess (Gemma Arterton from “Quantum of Solace”), must stop a villain from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.

It sounds lame when you put it like that, but from the trailers, it looks like the film has a good dose of comedy. It’s even produced by powerhouse Jerry Bruckheimer (“Pirates of the Carribean”). Sir Ben Kingsley (“Gandhi”) and Alfred Molina (“Spider-man 2″) also star. Catch the domestic and international trailers after the jump:

♥ “Brothers”

Lionsgate and Relativity Media previously released a trailer for “Brothers,” which I posted here. This is the second trailer of the drama, which stars Tobey Maguire (“Spider-man”), Natalie Portman (“Closer”) and Gyllenhaal.  It’s better if you view it without reading a synopsis first, so take a look:

♥ “The Road”

It’s based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel which tells of the end of the world. Hardly anyone is left but Viggo Mortensen (“A History of Violence”), Charlize Theron (“North Country”) and their son, newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee. Guy Pearce (“Memento”) and Robert Duvall co-star. Dimension Films has also released two trailers for this Oscar contender. They are distinctly different as one is more dreary than the other. See for yourself:

♥ “The Princess and the Frog”

Disney is going back to its roots with this animated movie. Beating the likes of singers Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys, Anika Rose (“Dreamgirls”) as well as Terrence Howard (“Hustle and Flow”) and John Goodman (“Coyote Ugly”) voice the characters. A teaser trailer and full trailer below:

♥ ”The Wolfman”

Check out a horror film that boasts of Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”), Benicio del Toro (“Traffic”), Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of the Lambs”) and Hugo Weaving (“Lord of the Rings”):

♥ “Inception”

Here’s a film that’s been kept under wraps so much so that all IMDb.com states is this: “Corporations have developed a technology to enter dreams to extract information from certain people’s heads. A CEO (Leonardo DiCaprio) enters dreams and things begin to escalate, taking a turn for the worst.”

The buzz surrounding “Inception” is mostly due to its director, Christopher Nolan, who also did “The Dark Knight” and “Memento.” However, I’m watching it for one of my favorite actresses, Ellen Page (“Juno”). Marion Cotillard (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Michael Caine (Miss Congeniality”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Brick”) and Cillian Murphy (“Batman Begins”) are in it as well.

♥ “Green Zone”

Although it’s by the same people who brought us “The Bourne” movies, I think some would hesitate to watch it since it’s another war movie. Still, Matt Damon gives it some star power.

♥ “Invictus”

Damon is one hot commodity as he also stars in this Clint Eastwood film, otherwise known as an Oscar contender. Based on a true story, Damon plays the captain of a rugby team who is enlisted by Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) to win, thus, uniting the country. Prepare to hear Damon speak with a South African accent …

♥ “Gentlemen Broncos”

Some have have predicted that “Broncos” will be a cult hit, perhaps in the same vein as “Napoleon Dynamite.” (They have the same director.) “Broncos” is a comedy about a science fiction author who steals the idea of a student (Michael Angarano from “Will and Grace”) for his next book. Jennifer Coolidge (“Legally Blonde”) is also in the movie, playing Angarano’s mom.

♥ “A Single Man”

Colin Firth (“Bridget Jones’s Diary”) plays a gay man who tries to carry on after the death of his partner. Julianne Moore (“Children of Men”) joins Firth, who is a potential Oscar nominee. Based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel, I must say the trailer is pretty original. It eerily plays on with no words the entire time. The film itself received an 8.6 rating on IMDb.com.

♥ “New Moon”

As the second part in the “Twilight” saga, we find  Bella (Kristen Stewart) left to gather the pieces with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) since the vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) left her. This time around, Stewart finds herself among werewolves and vampire royalty, the Volturi.

♥ “The Book of Eli”

Denzel Washington (“Man on Fire”) stars in this action movie set in yet another future depicting the end of the world. To salvage what’s left, Washington has to protect a sacred book. Mila Kunis (“That ’70s Show”) co-stars.

♥ “Nowhere Boy”

I don’t know why, but this feels like the most refreshing trailer out of the bunch. ”Nowhere Boy” is John Lennon (newcomer Aaron Johnson) of The Beatles. It chronicles the band’s beginnings and Lennon’s life. Kristin Scott Thomas (“Life as a House”) is part of the supporting cast.

♥ “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus”

Perhaps better known as Heath Ledger’s (“The Dark Knight”) last film, Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) strikes a deal with the devil, trading in his daughter at the age of 16. Parnassus tries to rectify his mistake by offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever can help him. Jude Law (“Closer”), Colin Farrell (“Minority Report”) and Johnny Depp (“Blow”) all stepped in to finish Ledger’s role.

♥ “When in Rome”

In this romantic comedy, Kristen Bell (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) takes some coins out of a fountain only to have the men who threw them in fall for her. The lovesick puppies include Josh Duhamel (“Transformers”), Will Arnett (“Blades of Glory”), Jon Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Bell’s real-life beau, Dax Shepard (“Baby Mama”).

♥ “Dear John”

Another Nicholas Sparks’s book, another movie adaptation. By now, I should know better than to fall for Sparks’s sap, but the trailer was enchanting. Channing Tatum (“Stop Loss”) and Amanda Seyfried (“Nine Lives”) fall in love, but Tatum, a soldier, has to return to war. *Tear*

♥ “Pirate Radio” (aka “The Boat that Rocked”)

Richard Curtis, the man behind the darling “Love Actually,” brings a new movie to the big screen. The film already has more than 11,000 voters rating it 7.6 out of 10 stars. “Radio” is a comedy about DJs who air their show on the high seas. Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) joins the ensemble cast.

♥ “The Messenger”

IMDb users give this movie 8.6 stars. “Messenger” centers on the soldiers, Woody Harrelson (“Zombieland”) and Ben Foster (“Alpha Dog”), who are tasked with notifying the loved ones of their fallen comrades. Things are complicated when Foster gets involved with a soldier’s widow. Acclaimed actresses, Samantha Morton (“Minority Report”) and Jena Malone (“Stepmom”), round out the cast.

♥ “Alice in Wonderland”

This Tim Burton film hasn’t been released yet, but it’s already won an award. “Alice” was proclaimed the Most Anticipated Fantasy Film at the 2009 Scream Awards. If that still doesn’t convince you to see it, Oscar nominees Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”) and Depp are in the movie.

“What does it mean to truly love another?”

Coming out…Feb 5

One more movie inspired by Nicholas Sparks…ahhhhh

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life–until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. “Dear John,” the letter read…and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life. -Nicholas Sparks

I haven’t read the novel yet. Lucky Me! I love to see the characters in the trailer then read the book, better than reading the back jacket….? Yes! Gonna get on this pronto! Kinda have a bad feeling that it may not be the peachiest ending ever, but I want it to be!!!

As the sun set, my patience ran out! Felt like  I have a quest to complete in Kinokuniya! Urged Mr Khoo to drive me downtown, Yes! Thank you very much!

Upon reaching the..I called it the “Nicholas Sparks Section”, I just stood in front of the books and smiled. 

Nicholas Sparks in Kinokuniya, Takashimaya

The titles all there! My heart was waving to all of them… cos  I do want to be a collector of his books. But there’s so many types of covers. Hmm

Anyway, my 2nd read after “The Notebook”… 

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Nicely laid on bed waiting for me…

Good night everyone!

Nicholas Sparks, author of  “The Notebook”. He showed how love is like from a man’s perceptive. I always thought women are giver and men takes …until I read his book.

Last night, not sure what happened. Suddenly, obsessed about getting one of his books, “The Choice”.

The Choice

Shared my deep interest with Mrs Ho over msn.. she has “The Notebook”! An hour later, took my mum out for lunch ,who then accompanied me to search for “The Choice”..

Went to following bookstores..sadly, no found:

• Popular @ tampines mall(Limited titles)
• San Bookstore (Most titles found but “The Choice” was out!)
• Times @ Tampines One(Limited titles)

I called Borders, no answer. And then Kinokuniya, bugis number is wrong while main store at Taka is unavailable..goodness!

In the end, I went online, Kinokuniya’s Bookweb to order “The Choice”. $5 per delivery… very convenient..nah decided to self-collect instead as I simply can’t wait! Hmm what’s wrong with me?

Getting impatient with things I want. Guess its because I know how to get it that’s why.

2004: The Notebook di Nick Cassavetes

Un film che l’intera critica italiana ha giustamente bocciato, riconoscendogli un unico merito (“In una produzione made in Usa che sembra sempre più orientata a soddisfare le aspettative di un pubblico giovanissimo, «Notebook» si pone in controtendenza. Il target si ribalta, prevalgono le donne e la fascia di pubblico più anziano”, Il Manifesto).

Nick Cassavetess, figlio di una coppia d’oro di Hollywood (John Cassavetes e Gena Rowlands), si  è fatto soprattutto apprezzare come regista di She’s so lovely (ottimo psicodramma che regalò la Palma d’oro a Sean Penn nel 1997).

Per il suo nuovo film trae spunto dall’ultimo romanzo di Nicholas Sparks. Questi, già autore dello zuccheroso “Le parole che non ti ho detto”, ha firmato un altro bestseller con gli stessi ingredienti: romanticismo a più non posso, sentimento (sentimentalismo) in abbondanza, passioni che sfidano il tempo e la decadenza fisica, tramonti rosso sangue e albe abbacinanti… (un critico ha detto: è uno scrittore “che, nel dar vita ai suoi libri, si arma di un calamaio colmo di miele, nel quale intinge la penna prima di lasciarla cadere su ogni pagina, conquistando così chi le volta leccandosi le dita…”).

Trattando un materiale di questo tipo è chiaro che il giovane regista si pone su una linea diametralmente opposta a quella scelta dal famoso padre (morto nel 1989), autore di lavori sempre anticonformisti, molto personali e spesso non facili.

Nick Cassavetes, che col nome che porta e con un film come She’s So Lovely alle spalle (ma qui aveva rispolverato un vecchio copione del padre) pareva destinato a ben altro, si è catapultato nel melodramma d’altri tempi descrivendoci una grande storia d’amore old style che in America ha riscosso un notevole successo e che, stranamente, è piaciuta alla maggioranza della critica statunitense.

Si parla di un uomo anziano che in una casa di riposo sta leggendo a una donna, anche lei anziana, pagine sbiadite dal tempo di vecchi quaderni di appunti: la storia di due giovani innamorati negli anni Quaranta…

Servendosi di una fotografia dai colori forti e molto patinata e di una ricca colonna sonora d’epoca, il regista intende mostrarci l’America felice, ingenua, libera di un tempo (ma è mai esistita?) in cui tutti sono spensierati, pieni di aspettative e fiduciosi nella vittoria contro i pregiudizi e le ingiustizie della società: un mondo dove l’amore supera ogni ostacolo e impedimento. Ma vi è un altro tema: il dramma esistenziale, la vecchiaia, la decadenza fisica, la malattia, l’oblio della memoria e il bisogno di ricordare.

A differenza di quanto accadeva in Pomodori verdi fritti… (la cui struttura Le pagine della nostra vita ricorda) i due piani non si armonizzano, non si integrano ma uno disturba l’altro e la loro combinazione appesantisce il tutto e fa sembrare l’opera più lunga di quanto effettivamente sia.

Il film non coinvolge, non commuove, non induce lo spettatore alla partecipazione: spettatore che è portato a chiedersi cosa stia vedendo (anche perché l’insieme sa tanto di soap televisiva). Se N.Cassavetes intendeva fare un omaggio al cinema di un tempo (come fece qualche anno fa Todd Haynes con lo splendido Lontano dal Paradiso) l’operazione è senz’altro fallita: troppa ricercatezza, troppa artificiosità, troppe ovvietà, troppe frasi ad effetto, troppa melassa elargita senza alcun pudore.

Buona la prestazione di James Garner e di Joan Allen, sprecato e inutile Sam Shepard.

Coraggiosa nel mostrare in pieno la sua vecchiaia Gena Rowlands (ma il trucco è eccessivo) e ci si sente quasi male quando vengono mostrate le sue vecchie foto (come dimenticare che donna splendida, e che attrice magnifica, era in Gloria del 1980…).

La coppia giovane è costituita da Rachel McAdams (piuttosto insulsa e monocorde) e da Ryan Gosling (di cui ricordiamo le notevoli performance in Lars e una ragazza tutta sua e Il caso Thomas Crawford).

scheda

premi e riconoscimenti

sito ufficiale

You might find it odd that I am writing about Shane West and David Bowie in the same post. Their fame levels and target audience might seem different but they fit the criteria of the post and I guess there can be people who know and like them both, since I’m one of them.

DAVID BOWIE

David Bowie during his Space Oddity days

David Bowie is a cult musician. His songs are featured in over 200 films. His first album was released in 1967 so it is safe to say he has been around for over 4 decades now. His music is influential and his songs have been sung by other artists, such as Nirvana. Given Nirvana is probably the most popular grunge band and Bowie’s unique rock/pop sound has influenced them also, it becomes quite clear he is a universal idol. Do I like all his songs? No. They are all so different from each other. But there is a Bowie song to be found to suit all your moods and a Bowie picture to fit any kind of fashion statement; from contemporary to glam and flamboyant. But Bowie’s artistic talent is not limited to singing and song writing. He has also appeared in many films. I last saw him in the 2006 movie The Prestige, playing the role of Nikola Tesla. He has also appeared in The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), The Hunger (1983), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Basquiat (1996); in addition to many other film and TV appearances. He has even played Andy Warhol, the leading man of the pop art movement. Sure, his acting might be critically praised but his name will probably never be mentioned as one of the most influential actors. But to this day, he remains as a musical icon. Below is The Hunger movie poster.

The Hunger

SHANE  WEST

Shane West as Landon in A Walk to Remember

Shane West is a young and promising actor. He is singing and playing the guitar for the band Jonny Was. Now, Shane isn’t insanely famous neither as a musician nor an actor, but he is building a strong movie resume bit by bit. He is only 31, and he has a bit of a baby face that gives him the advantage to play younger parts if he wants to. He totally passed for a high schooler in A Walk to Remember, at the age of 24. He has gotten to play Tom Sawyer alongside Sean Connery in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and he has scored one of the major roles in the long-running hospital drama ER. He has played in Echelon Conspiracy – an action movie that has quite a clever script, which is not so easy to find nowadays. This year he has starred in The Lodger, a high-paced thriller. So he has proved that he can undertake many different characters, and not just a romantic sweetheart, like he did in A Walk to Remember. Shane has a long way to go as an actor but things have been promising so far.

As for his band, I am not sure how many of his fans are just from the music scene only. I really enjoyed A Walk to Remember, an adaption of the best-selling Nicholas Sparks novel. The movie’s soundtrack was quite good, despite some of the songs were sung by Mandy Moore. Which reminds me she does act and sing, but her music is too standard pop for my taste. This soundtrack, however also contains a song by Shane’s band, known as Average Jo back then. It is modern rock with some punk energy in it and it is fun. Nothing you haven’t heard of before but it is the stuff I’d like to hear when I’m out with my friends and just want to dance and have a good time. And Shane’s movies are good for pure entertainment.

Shane is right in the middle, posing with his band Jonny Was

Azi încep cu elan o nouă rubrică, se numeşte Cartea de miercuri şi intenţionez să fac o recomandare de carte care mi-a plăcut, pe care am citit-o sau nu şi pe care o am în plan, care mi-a atras atenţia în librării sau pe vreun site sau pe care mi-a recomandat-o cineva cu insistenţă ca fiind extraordinară. O să vă rog să veniţi şi voi cu idei de cărţi care v-au plăcut şi pe care le recomandaţi. Periodic, o să strâng commenturile şi o să fac o postare cu cărţile recomandate de voi, aşa că pe cât posibil v-aş ruga să menţionaţi şi categoria de vârstă pentru care le recomandaţi sau publicul-ţintă.

Cartea pe care o recomand azi – Dragă John de Nicholas Sparks -  e o carte de suflet pentru mine, nu numai pentru că mi-a plăcut tare mult, ci şi pentru că eu am tradus-o. Am plâns pe tastatură în timp ce traduceam şi am urât şi am iubit toate personajele. Am urât-o pe Savannah că n-a fost în stare să îl aştepte şi l-am urât şi pe John pentru că s-a înrolat de prea multe ori. Am urât modul în care Savannah a gestionat relaţia lor, dar am iubit-o pentru compasiunea şi dăruirea lor. Şi l-am iubit şi pe John pentru gestul lui ultim de dragoste şi bunătate. O carte care te va face să plângi, aşa că mai bine citeşte-o singur(ă) în cameră ca să nu te trezeşti cu replici de genul “iar dai, dragă, apă la şoricei degeaba?”.