Alias and sappy romance

Thankfully the weather is finally getting better which may well mean that my entertainment consumption may start to drop a little. The last few weeks have been ram packed full though.

I've been to the cinema a couple of times. The first film that I saw was Freedom Writers, an MTV film about a teacher who changes the lives of the kids she teaches. I wasn't sure what to expect from this film but was pleasantly surprised. It's a great true story with a cool soundtrack and a lovely message. I highly recommend it.

The other film I saw was Music and Lyrics. I wasn't sure whether to bother seeing this in the cinema as the trailer pretty much told me everything I needed to know, but my Mum insisted. If you're in need of a middle of the road rom com then it's perfect, but I won't be rushing to watch it again. Grant and Barrymore and both good but the story is just too transparent.

On DVD this week I've watched both The Holiday (to review for Entertainmentwise), and The Break-Up. I was surprised by The Break-Up's atypical ending and found that both Anniston and Vaugn were good in it. Also brilliant is the opening sequence featuring photos of the couple doing various things. It's a very creative illustration of the length and nature of their relationship.

I finished reading The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets and found that my suspicions were confirmed. It was a weak story, spread over far too many pages and with far too little suspense. Although it wasn't your average story about a woman struggling in a man's world, it was still very much chick-lit, and despite being well written, is simply not really worth the effort of reading it.

I am now tucking into Empress Orchid, another one of Richard and Judy's Book Club books; normally a good sign. I'm hoping it is nowhere near as complicated as Wild Swans as I've tried to read that book twice and failed due to it's heavy writing style.

In terms of TV, we are just beginning the long wade through Alias. I'd never seen a single episode until very recently and as loads of people kept telling me how great it was I figured it was time to give it a go. So far I'm enjoying it and I can tell it's only going to get more addictive. Thank god for my mate Jo and her box-sets.

I have not really been listening to any new music but I have been re-discovering some old stuff, namely Blur, Oasis and Gavin DeGraw. I missed out on the first two when they were around because at the time all I cared about were Boyzone, in particular Ronan Keating. The great thing about discovering old bands though is that you don't have to wait for their next release. You can get all their albums for very reasonable prices from Fopp (the god of all shops).

You probably have no idea who Gavin DeGraw is. What a shame. He's a great New York singer/songwriter whose debut album was great but for some reason didn't really get very far. His melodies are chilling and lyrics poetic and he is perfect spring listening if you tend to enjoy artists of a Jack Johnson ilk.

I only discovered him when I was asked to review the album, shame no-one paid much attention to my review. Another great band I learnt about through reviewing but never went very far are The Honeymoon. They consisted of a guy and a girl and their album was striking, haunting, original and summery all at the same time. That too is worth getting your hands on.

I have a day off work today (yay) so Dan and I are going to Wells for Starbucks, shopping and Hot Fuzz set spotting. Hope you're all good,

Keep smiling; the sun is shining,

Lauz :-)

What's all this Fuzz?

There has been a slight lapse in my blogging due to a nasty bought of gastric flu which has dominated my life for pretty much the whole of the last two weeks. This is a shame as I have had some good things to write about.

These include Hot Fuzz, Studio Ghibli, Cast Away and The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets.

The first is Hot Fuzz, filmed in Somerset's very own Wells. Until now nothing much has happened there and I never thought they could make it seem entertaining. Simon Pegg and co managed it though.

That's not the only thing they achieved though. This is a brilliant funny, innovative, enthralling film and I recommend it to everyone.

I'm currently reading The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, which was one of my recommendations on Amazon. I don't normally go in for this sort of chick lit and I now remember why.

I'm over half way through and I don't have that "I can't put this down" feeling. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect to get that on the first page as in Dan Brown books, but I do like to get it within the first hundred pages. Oh well, I'll persist.

I saw Tom Hank's Cast Away for the first time the other day and was pleasantly surprised. I seem to remember hearing negative things about it when it first came and so never rushed to watch it.

Sure it's a bit different but I think they way they portray his time on the island is brilliant. The ending's a bit annoying but hey. This is definitely worth watching.

Other films I've watched over the past couple of weeks include Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart and M Night Shyamalan's Wide Awake.

Whisper of the Heart is not quite as surreal as some of the Ghibli films but it was still good, although in more of a girly, Disney sort of way. It's the prequel to The Cat Returns and in that respect is quite interesting.

Wide Awake was the film that Shyamalan wrote and directed before Sixth Sense. Although it wasn't as instantly brilliant as his other films it was still good in a child-like, developing style sort of way. Don't rush to watch it though.

On Sunday I'm going to a preview of Freedom Writers, a film about which I don't know so it'll be in at the deep end for me on that one. I'm also off to see Music and Lyrics next Tuesday. I know it looks like your average chick flick but I happen to like those so I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

I'll fill you guys in on all that next week but until then take care.

Lauz xx

PS I love my doggy Bonnie loads and loads and hope she gets better soon

Photo by r@chel*