- Tuesday, December 31, 2013
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The film is a jam-packed 2 hours 41 minutes but by now, I think we all know not to expect anything less! I don't actually know the original novel plot very well, and hadn't seen An Unexpected Journey since watching it in the cinema a year ago, so the story was a little bit hazy in my memory. To recap, hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) has been appointed as "thief" and joined an energetic group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). They've set out to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), meeting familiar faces along the way from LOTR (namely Galadriel and Elrond, and who could forget Gollum?). Lots goes on, including battling goblins and other evil creatures, and the film ends on the awakening of Smaug. Not a proper recap (that's what Wikipedia's for), but basically the clan don't even make it to Smaug. Which is where The Desolation... picks up.
We're treated to a frightfest of giant spiders and orcs, and the scare factor is further intensified by scenes with the Necromancer whose enigmatic identity was previously unknown. I've been told that the Necromancer/Gandalf scenes are all non-existent in Tolkein's novel, but watching it with no previous awareness of the plot, it completely made sense. It also cleverly bridges the plot and foreshadows towards LOTR in a very visually intriguing way. Because the Necromancer is...you guessed it, Sauron. We knew that anyway, but good ol' Gandalf didn't. Another character die-hard novel fans won't be expecting is...Legolas! Credit where credit's due to the make-up and CGI people for making the age-proof elf look as youthful as ever, considering The Fellowship of the Ring was made over a decade ago. Or maybe Orlando Bloom just refuses to age. The blonde archer may not feature by name in the book, but Jackson's logic was, if he was alive then (which he definitely was), why shouldn't he? This means we get to see some seriously kick-ass action scenes.
Another new character is that of Tauriel, a feisty female elf who is also skilled with a bow! It's nice to have some female presence in an otherwise all-male main cast, plus there's a sweet minor storyline involving dwarf Kili and chemistry. Speaking of new characters, there's also brave man Bard from the little town of Laketown who I reckon will play a significant part in Part 3 which will be called There and Back Again. And let's not forget Smaug, because he plays a huge role in this film. Whilst LOTR revolves around this one little ring, which actually proves quite useful for Bilbo in the film, it can be said that The Hobbit kinda revolves around this one giant dragon. He's greedy and powerful and has stolen the Arkenstone, a gem sought by Thorin. The booming voice of Benedict Cumberbatch works remarkably well, and Smaug is brought to life by spectacular CGI. On a side note, as a bit of a Sherlock geek, it's great seeing Freeman and Cumberbatch side by side in a very different circumstance.
Speaking of Freeman, I really could not picture anyone else as Bilbo Baggins. He did a fantastic job in the first film, and this certainly continues as his character development progresses. This character insight extends to the dwarves as well, although there still isn't enough distinction for me to be able to name more than a handful - or even tell them apart for that matter. Perhaps that's just me. One dwarf that does get a named mention, and not because it's one of the only names I can remember without using Google, is of course Thorin. Armitage does a tremendous job bringing to life all the raw emotions of loss and grief along with the ambition of redemption.
I can't finish this review without at least mentioning the music, scenery and special effects. Without rambling on too much, all three are stunning. From the Ed Sheeran-penned theme song which gets better with each listen, to the breathtaking scenes of New Zealand's beautiful Middle Earth, you really are invited into the wonderfully marvellous world of Tolkein. Even though I hadn't read the book beforehand, I feel like I have a very good sense of the intended story which I think Jackson has once again captured with skill.
Whilst the film is still very long, I actually wouldn't call it unnecessarily long as everything seemed integral and purposeful to the plot. I did wonder which scene they would end the film on, and it is a cliffhanger which will keep us hanging until this time next year, no doubt. I certainly enjoyed it more than its predecessor as it just felt like there was more going on. More movement in plot, more sub-plots, more meaning and backstory. And more importantly (for me), more action. There are sprinkles of laugh-out-loud comedy thrown throughout, and thoughtful nods to the future of the franchise. I left the cinema chattering excitedly, and thinking that this whole Hobbit film thing was a good idea; a very good idea.
Another new character is that of Tauriel, a feisty female elf who is also skilled with a bow! It's nice to have some female presence in an otherwise all-male main cast, plus there's a sweet minor storyline involving dwarf Kili and chemistry. Speaking of new characters, there's also brave man Bard from the little town of Laketown who I reckon will play a significant part in Part 3 which will be called There and Back Again. And let's not forget Smaug, because he plays a huge role in this film. Whilst LOTR revolves around this one little ring, which actually proves quite useful for Bilbo in the film, it can be said that The Hobbit kinda revolves around this one giant dragon. He's greedy and powerful and has stolen the Arkenstone, a gem sought by Thorin. The booming voice of Benedict Cumberbatch works remarkably well, and Smaug is brought to life by spectacular CGI. On a side note, as a bit of a Sherlock geek, it's great seeing Freeman and Cumberbatch side by side in a very different circumstance.
Speaking of Freeman, I really could not picture anyone else as Bilbo Baggins. He did a fantastic job in the first film, and this certainly continues as his character development progresses. This character insight extends to the dwarves as well, although there still isn't enough distinction for me to be able to name more than a handful - or even tell them apart for that matter. Perhaps that's just me. One dwarf that does get a named mention, and not because it's one of the only names I can remember without using Google, is of course Thorin. Armitage does a tremendous job bringing to life all the raw emotions of loss and grief along with the ambition of redemption.
I can't finish this review without at least mentioning the music, scenery and special effects. Without rambling on too much, all three are stunning. From the Ed Sheeran-penned theme song which gets better with each listen, to the breathtaking scenes of New Zealand's beautiful Middle Earth, you really are invited into the wonderfully marvellous world of Tolkein. Even though I hadn't read the book beforehand, I feel like I have a very good sense of the intended story which I think Jackson has once again captured with skill.
Whilst the film is still very long, I actually wouldn't call it unnecessarily long as everything seemed integral and purposeful to the plot. I did wonder which scene they would end the film on, and it is a cliffhanger which will keep us hanging until this time next year, no doubt. I certainly enjoyed it more than its predecessor as it just felt like there was more going on. More movement in plot, more sub-plots, more meaning and backstory. And more importantly (for me), more action. There are sprinkles of laugh-out-loud comedy thrown throughout, and thoughtful nods to the future of the franchise. I left the cinema chattering excitedly, and thinking that this whole Hobbit film thing was a good idea; a very good idea.
- Sunday, December 29, 2013
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I've just spent over an hour watching the countdown of the nation's "favourite" Christmas song. (Fairytale of New York won, by the way.) I've also been ruining Mariah songs for the nearby public, calculated the percentage of Christmas light houses on my running route (50.9%, by the way), spent a significant amount of time searching for Christmas presents (and even more money), and I am currently sat watching Finding Nemo, having dabbled in channel-hopping The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe earlier. It can only mean one thing: Christmas.
I don't know if it's the horrific weather or the whole "you feel less Christmasy as you get older" thing, but I am feeling less Christmasy, no matter how many times I re-watch the John Lewis ad, wear a Christmas jumper, or eat mince pies/drink mulled wine/both. But with all this seasonal busyness stressing over how to cook your potatoes or answering the age-old question of "What do I buy my dad for Christmas!?", I realise I have so little time to reflect on why we came about celebrating Christmas in the first place.
I'm no stranger myself to saying something along the lines of, "I just watched Love Actually. Now it's Christmas." So does Love Actually = Christmas? Or Elf, or Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone or "Other"? Nope it most certainly doesn't. But what is Christmas to me? It used to feel so much simpler to be a kid and recite lines from carols and the school nativity play about Christ being born and there being no room at the inn. However, the whole "you feel less Christmasy as you get older" applies here too. As a Christian, Christmas is about Christ being born and that being the start (and continuation, if you think about it) of something absolutely perfect; the best present. But truthfully, it's something so much easier to say and something not necessarily reflected in my actions. I guess I'm literally swept away by the Christmas of consumerism, like the very interesting video below shows. It was played at the Christmas service at church last week and definitely something to reflect upon.
I don't know if it's the horrific weather or the whole "you feel less Christmasy as you get older" thing, but I am feeling less Christmasy, no matter how many times I re-watch the John Lewis ad, wear a Christmas jumper, or eat mince pies/drink mulled wine/both. But with all this seasonal busyness stressing over how to cook your potatoes or answering the age-old question of "What do I buy my dad for Christmas!?", I realise I have so little time to reflect on why we came about celebrating Christmas in the first place.
I'm no stranger myself to saying something along the lines of, "I just watched Love Actually. Now it's Christmas." So does Love Actually = Christmas? Or Elf, or Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone or "Other"? Nope it most certainly doesn't. But what is Christmas to me? It used to feel so much simpler to be a kid and recite lines from carols and the school nativity play about Christ being born and there being no room at the inn. However, the whole "you feel less Christmasy as you get older" applies here too. As a Christian, Christmas is about Christ being born and that being the start (and continuation, if you think about it) of something absolutely perfect; the best present. But truthfully, it's something so much easier to say and something not necessarily reflected in my actions. I guess I'm literally swept away by the Christmas of consumerism, like the very interesting video below shows. It was played at the Christmas service at church last week and definitely something to reflect upon.
Now, I'd be such a hypocrite if I said I didn't enjoy what Christmas is today and that presents (giving and receiving) don't bring a smile to my face. It's precious family time, too. However, I'd also be lying if I said all these things are the source of meaning. Yes they're traditions and are meaningful and have significant meaning. But I stand by the fact that they're all part of one bigger picture and one very small (but HUGE) little birthday all those years ago. I know all of these things, however it's not always at the forefront of my mind. Because I am swept away by everything else leaving no time to reflect.
Actually, at work the other day, a friend came up to me and said something like, "Bev, do you ever have time to reflect?" Which stumped me. Genuinely, I can't say that I always do. Thinking about Christmas is just one example; writing this alone has been the largest form of Christmas-related reflection I've done for a very long time. New Year is coming up, traditionally associated with change and improvement and all that, and I know at least one thing on that list. And also the fact that it needs to belong in a life, not just a list.
This is turning out to be a much deeper post than I thought. Even going back to the first paragraph, listing some of the festive fun, I came to the direct conclusion that it was Christmas:
"I've just spent over an hour watching the countdown of the nation's "favourite" Christmas song. (Fairytale of New York won, by the way.) I've also been ruining Mariah songs for the nearby public, calculated the percentage of Christmas light houses on my running route (50.9%, by the way), spent a significant amount of time searching for Christmas presents (and even more money), and I am currently sat watching Finding Nemo, having dabbled in channel-hopping The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe earlier. It can only mean one thing: Christmas."
But with my new-found reflection, I've been watching TV, singing out of tune, calculating useless statistics, am poorer, love Finding Nemo. There's got to be more than this...and there is. There definitely is. There's love, and there's a very special Christmas gift way cooler than all the ones under the tree: the gift of the love of Jesus. Now that's what Christmas means to me.
Merry Christmas - I hope it is filled with love and you get to spend it with those you love.
Love,
Bev xxx
- Wednesday, December 25, 2013
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I have a confession to make. I'm quite out of touch with "today's tunes", even if it is a very recent happening. My journeys revolve around trains (so no in-car radio), my going-out-and-dancing-to-the-latest-club-tracks days have decreased with age, and my recent radio listenings have been to old Christmas classics on Magic FM. Who can say no to Magic after a long day at work? Despite all this, I still love new songs when I actually make the effort to not be lazy and search for new tracks be it on Spotify, through word-of-mouth or whatever else. And I'm not the type to keep quiet when I find a song I like. I love music, and love sharing music. So...here are some songs I'd love to share with you.
Starting with...
1) Jamie Lynn Spears - How Could I Want More
2) Nina Nesbitt - Selfies
3) Leona Lewis - One More Sleep
4) Christina Perri - Human
5) John Mayer - Wildfire
6) Ed Sheeran - I See Fire
- Saturday, December 21, 2013
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Ok guys, I promised you I would get back to Beview at some point and here it is. I owe you yet another apology. Thing is, it's not like I have writer's block, as I'm constantly thinking "ooh here's a brilliant thing I could write about!"...and it's not like I don't have time because everyone has 10 minutes to spare in their busily busy lives. The problem is not logging on and getting down to it in the first place. And that is where I owe you the apology.
Soppy heartfelt stuff out the way, let's begin! Also, there was no way I could possibly watch the 50th Anniversary episode of one of my favourite shows and not write a hugely enthusiastic review/beview on it. Impossible.
Speaking of impossible things...let's talk Doctors. Three of them at the same time, which is kinda impossible. Matt Smith, the quirky eccentric one with the bow tie and fez. David Tennant, one of my first loves and eternal ambassador of Converse. Also slightly eccentric. And John Hurt, the mysterious man. And mass killer? We always knew the Doctor had a troubled past, but it was always portrayed in a way that meant we didn't think twice or lose sleep over it.
(I should probably mention now that this review contains spoilers. Lots of them. Stop reading now because you deserve to watch it without it being ruined. Also *geeky Doctor Who joke alert* I am no River Song and I don't keep spoilers to myself.)
Anyhow, back to Doctor Who. I watched this in my local cinema to get the wholesome feel and experience; there's something about the buzz and energy of everyone around you that is hard to escape, especially when everyone's in their 3D glasses oohing and aahing at the screen and chuckling quietly at the in-jokes. With special recordings from the cast - and one funny Sontaran clip - it was worth every penny. Having said that, I'll still watch it on the telly again one of these days. Doctor Who on your TV screens is always a welcome thought. Even after 50 years.
Anyhow, back to the actual plot. It was much more light-hearted than I expected. In my head, it was all doom and gloom and I even predicted a major death and regeneration, even though Moffat and co. have been promising a Christmas regeneration into "12th" Doc Peter Capaldi. I wasn't disappointed by what I did see, however. Tennant and Smith had this amazing chemistry as you laugh at their similarities eg. the glasses, and John Hurt plays the older man laughing at his younger self brilliantly. Even though technically he is younger. Timey wimey stuff gets confusing sometimes. Nevertheless, we see present-day art gallery action with U.N.I.T, mysterious paintings and evil monsters, Elizabethan weddings, and most importantly a lot of Galifrey/Time Lord stuff from the Time War. All the stories interact with each other and scenes jump seamlessly from one to the next.
So we have this dilemma: does the Time Lord end this war and commit genocide? Or does he stand by and watch his people suffer? For ages, the Doctor has had this heavy burden of being the last of the Time Lords and the one responsible for pressing that big red button of mass death. But, *spoiler alert*, Steven Moffat did say ahead of this episode that it would change everything. And boy, didn't it just! New Option 3: Freeze em and save em. We had a glimpse of this from David Tennant's farewell ep "The End of Time" several years back, and now we find out how. Frozen paintings. It's a clever little device really, and one that leads nicely onto the future, and changes how we look at the past too. Add Bad Wolf Billie Piper, nice girl Clara adding an important and timeline-changing voice (whilst allowing Doctors to take centre stage), Zygons who weren't actually very scary, and a few subtle - and not so subtle - nods to the 50 year history, and you have one helluva Doctor Who celebration.
After all, it was a celebration. Teamwork, companions, saving the day and "being a Doctor"... It was heartwarming to see hope splashed about so prominently. Even John Hurt, who I thought would be a dark and dangerous fella, had a character we all felt for in his state of hopelessness. I had been half-expecting the David Tennant Doctor to be the one trapped in the parallel universe with Rose, but the fact that it was fascinating. And yes, he did marry Elizabeth I. At least we have closure from that episode aaages ago. And I'm beginning to ramble now; the Tom Baker cameo was lovely. I'm sure fans had been expecting more appearances, but I understood that the storyline would surely have dragged on if we found places for all past Doctors and companions. It was great to see the Doctors (even if by special effects) all working together...including Capaldi! In fact, when his eyes flashed on screen, I'm fairly certain you could have heard the gasp in unison from outside the cinema.
There's probably more I can say about it. But I'd be rambling even more than I am already. My afterthoughts (apart from "wow") were that:
1) I've really missed David Tennant. I started watching Doctor Who because of him and he really was magical, slipping straight back into those shoes.
2) It was dramatic without feeling too dramatic. The world is constantly in danger in the world of Doc Who, and this was no different except it didn't quite feel like it...
3) I'm excited by the future of the show. There's a lot more on the way and this ep has proved that Doctor Who is still going strong after all this time.
4) It felt like a celebration of the show. I left the building with a smile on my face.
Overall, a very good episode! I feel like I can't quite compare it with the usual ones, and it should be viewed as a spectacle in its own right. And you know what? I enjoyed it. I really did. What's next in the weird and wonderful land of sonic screwdrivers?
*Spoilers*
- Tuesday, November 26, 2013
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I'll be first to admit that I don't have an absolute clue what "twerking" is. My going-out dance moves consist of a hilarious-slash-mortifying swimming routine. (Front crawl/back stroke/breast stroke/treading water...there's a move for it all and I'd be happy to demonstrate in person.) But I don't, and won't, twerk. I'm guessing neither would the smiley care-free old (young) Miley Cyrus. It's not just the twerking...it's the provocative dancing with the married man probs old enough to be your dad, it's the provocative dancing in front of little kids watching MTV (kids, don't watch MTV), it's the weird-please-never-do-it-again things with a foam finger. All these things are strange. But even stranger because the doer is a 20 year old girl who was, only a mere few years ago, teaching us the hoedown throwdown, in cowboy hats and not some form of latex underwear. Everything practically screams, "look at me, I've changed. This is the real me now. I've grown up." (Supposedly grown up = be "sexy".) Why is it then that young child stars, maybe particularly Disney stars, are in such a hurry to "grow up"?
I apologise for stereotyping here because this isn't the majority, it's just the ones in the spotlight. This all isn't the definitive path - look at Dakota Fanning, for example. And in some cases, it'll be more revealing clothes which are totally age-inappropriate but that's it. In other cases (the ones I am focusing on), a history of scandals will often follow the golden years, whether it's playing a controversial character in a film, sudden image shock, drug abuse, to name a few. It's trying to be as distant as possible (whether the intention is there, who know?). I see photos of 15, 16 year olds who could confidently pass for 30. Outfits even I wouldn't consider for at least another few years. Most cases aren't as extreme as the Miley VMA case study, and maybe they just have a slightly more sophisticated taste in fashion. But my point is that a 16 year old singer/actress/model etc is no typical 16 year old person. Sadly, often, they don't even have a choice.
Like I said, we live in a tragic world where fame is toxic. Your fans become obsessed with everything you do, and the paparazzi now thing you with your shoelaces undone is the best thing since sliced bread. A combination of everything plus every kind of pressure is enough to change you, or make you want to change who you are and how you are perceived, irreversibly. And whilst I am mostly shocked that Miley Cyrus is now a crotch-grabbing foam-finger-misuser who needs to cover up a bit more, I'm sad too. Because the innocent Hannah Montana character and 15 year old her has already been immortalised and will never be forgotten as long as she lives. Everyone is watching her every step, any place she treads, and every word she says. You've got to feel sorry for, and respect, how much people like Miley have had to grow up. In an actual growing up sense, not the grown up = be "sexy" way.
We're also to blame. I hold my hands up, because I am one of those people checking out the red carpet outfits on Mail Online and fueling the paparazzis' need to invade every part of a private life possible. We only get one childhood and, whilst it's all part of the tough fame game, it's still stripping you of that one childhood. Every tweet and conversation beginning with "OMG did you hear about Miley?" is adding a battery for that spotlight, and every negative comment a match for lighting the fuse. Where does that fuse lead to? In Amanda Bynes's case it was desperately bleak. But saying this, we're doing it again. If you knew what I meant by "Amanda Bynes's case", you've already invaded her private life by knowing and speculating. Myself included. We care but maybe we shouldn't have cared in the first place because we shouldn't have known in the first place. Often it's caring about the story, the gossip, and not the person. Why? Because we don't know the person in the first place and we never did. We see the interviews and the media portrayal, but unless you have Miley Cyrus on speed dial and have an invite to her wedding, you probably don't know her.
I don't really know where I'm going with this. It's more a compilation of rambled thoughts rather than a planned piece of writing where I have a conclusion or had an outcome before I began typing. All I can really end on is that I hope, behind the stage outfits and dance routines and tattoos, Miley Cyrus is still Miley Cyrus. Perhaps not the little girl we all once recognised from the telly, but that she is her own person and not a trapped by pressure, pressure and more. She's not a 12 year old girl in a sequin sparkly jacket any more It also make me hugely grateful that I - not a big production company or agent or media frenzy - owned my own childhood. The only spotlight was the one in the school nativity play where I was a dove in a stable. And the only photos were the goofy ones only my family will be able to laugh at in our family albums. You can only hope that these stars, who begin their career at such a young age, will be alright at the end of the day.
- Saturday, August 31, 2013
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For many years, I've lived in a fast-moving, power-walking, can't-be-delayed-ing place. After a short while away, it's now back to "walk quickly or you can't walk anywhere". Mainly applicable to morning rush hours and highly concentrated areas of transport. It's quite an easily-acquired skill. Here's how:
1. Walk with purpose
You might look like an idiot swinging your arms wildly back and forth, but if you walk with purpose (facial expression: determined), it's ok. Kind of.
2. Don't walk behind people on mobile phones
Attention to mobile phones means less attention to the speed of your walking. If pavements were roads, they would be road obstructions.
3. Don't walk behind people with suitcases
Either help them out and offer to carry, or keep your distance.
4. Big group? If you can't beat em, join em
There's a crowd in front of you. In the words of that children's book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt", you can't go over it, you go under it, you can't go round it - you've got to go through it! Walk through the crowd and sidestep/trot/crawl/prance through the crowd to the other side.
5. Follow in the footsteps of a quick walker
They'll make the path clear - anyone they overtake, you overtake. Warning: Follow too closely and they'll freak out.
6. Overtake with care
The key is to swerve in an out of gaps without getting into other people's ways. Spot the gaps. Can potentially be dangerous.
7. Never get in other people's ways
People in a rush are ruthless. You'll know from the side effects of following steps 1-5.
8. Look where you're going
Easier said than done.
9. Lots of big strides
Er, to walk quickly...walk quickly.
10. And sometimes, just sometimes, it's ok to run.
See that train approaching the platform 100m away from you? Run like the wind! Think Gump! Think Bolt!
Monday morning, give it a go.
1. Walk with purpose
You might look like an idiot swinging your arms wildly back and forth, but if you walk with purpose (facial expression: determined), it's ok. Kind of.
2. Don't walk behind people on mobile phones
Attention to mobile phones means less attention to the speed of your walking. If pavements were roads, they would be road obstructions.
3. Don't walk behind people with suitcases
Either help them out and offer to carry, or keep your distance.
4. Big group? If you can't beat em, join em
There's a crowd in front of you. In the words of that children's book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt", you can't go over it, you go under it, you can't go round it - you've got to go through it! Walk through the crowd and sidestep/trot/crawl/prance through the crowd to the other side.
5. Follow in the footsteps of a quick walker
They'll make the path clear - anyone they overtake, you overtake. Warning: Follow too closely and they'll freak out.
6. Overtake with care
The key is to swerve in an out of gaps without getting into other people's ways. Spot the gaps. Can potentially be dangerous.
7. Never get in other people's ways
People in a rush are ruthless. You'll know from the side effects of following steps 1-5.
8. Look where you're going
Easier said than done.
9. Lots of big strides
Er, to walk quickly...walk quickly.
10. And sometimes, just sometimes, it's ok to run.
See that train approaching the platform 100m away from you? Run like the wind! Think Gump! Think Bolt!
Monday morning, give it a go.
- Saturday, August 17, 2013
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