Book: A Spot of Bother (Mark Haddon)

I had already read ‘the curious incident of the dog in the night-time’ by Haddon, loved it, and was not at all disappointed by his next book. About small problem which eat people from the inside out until a family has to hit rock bottom get up again. Tackling major difficulties of life, including insanity, infidelity, love and marriage, I ended up really sorry to finish the book, which hadn’t happened to me in a long while. The thing I really loved about the novel was how found myself loving all the characters despite their flaws, which is a task much easier said than done. Their very humanity and problems was what made me love them and it felt really good to get attached to book-characters again, a feeling differing from the affection towards people on films (maybe because on the big-screen we know that the figures strutting about are real people). All in all I loved the book, loved the message it dealt, and most of all loved that, despite it all, it was a comedy.
A book I would recommend to anyone who likes books about real people with real problems written in a rather unique and wonderful style, with a twist of bitter, humorous lemon.
Vote: 8.4/10

Film: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Crap. That’s what this film was. Starting by the ruined character of the woman, who was nothing like the witty librarian I remembered from other films. Then the son, a spoilt man severely lacking charm and good looks, who I had to imagine stabbing repeatedly in order not to walk out of the cinema. The stupid jokes which fell so short of funny they didn’t even take off. The millions of senseless features which were there only for mindless entertainments (Yetis? Really!?) The film could have passed as a tolerable, summer flick, the kind you sit to watch and not think of anything...but i really wanted to stab the son.
All in all, a big, fat, stinkin’ disappointment.
Vote: 2/10. Because Lola was there to make me laugh. And the Chinese actresses were good at their job. Which was a unique feature in the film.

Film: Wall-E

You can say the film is about environmental awareness, or unconventional love between robots, but for me it was more about how one person/robot can break the monotony of life and make a difference. With visuals Pixar is sure to be proud of and the wonderful ability to give a wide and comic range of expressions to robots, it was a film both pleasing to watch and follow. It had a good soundtrack and songs that fit wonderfully with the scenes, especially the recurring theme.
For me it didn’t drag at all, the different characters which I found myself attached to (the lunatic robots, the captain) and the engaging and comically dramatic storyline keeping me engaged throughout. Personally I think it’s a film worth watching, for it’s not only entertaining but meaningful, something which many, many, many modern films seem to lack these days.
Vote: 8/10