Book: Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis

About the life of Victor Ward- or is that Johnson? Set in the typical soulless society Ellis seems to know so well, Victor is a young man caught in a world which dictates that fame is far more important than values. Everything is glamorama- skin deep, where everything is a set, everybody has a role and a line to deliver. Where having it all is never enough. Our main character seem to fit in this mindset perfectly, but as he tries so escape the mess his apathetic greed gets him into, Victor realises that not everything is what it seems. Slowly, the story transforms itself into something much darker than the glitz and superficial glam of celebrity society. Glamorama has the same taste as Ellis’ other books; almost slowly paced, with succinct writing which is punctuated with sudden bursts of morbid description or insane artistry. It’s as gripping as it is apathetic, shallow as it is revolutionary. It’s sharp and blunt and everything in between. You will be left with a ‘What The Fuck’ on your tongue, and this book is not meant for everybody; so seemingly shallow you can drown in it, but hell, if your read it right, this book is totally worth it.

Quote: MTV: “So how does it feel to be the It Boy of the moment?"

ME: “Fame has a price tag but reality’s still a friend of mine.”

MTV: “How do other people perceive you?”

ME: “I’m a bad boy, I’m a legend. But in reality, everything’s a big world party and there are no VIP rooms.”

Film: Avatar (2009)

This is a brilliant movie to just watch. About humans playing the destructive role in an alien planet, and the story of how a small group of people get to know the culture enough to want to protect it. One thing must be said; it’s not an overly deep film. Yes it’s streaked with environmental themes, and a storyline filled with battle and betrayal, but its very black and white. Cliched characters and an immovable good-and-bad. So yes, if you want an intellectual moral battle, I suggest you go read Crime and Punishment. For those of you who want to stare at a screen for three hours with your mouth open and drooling slightly (I much prefer option B) then read on.
Avatar is a movie made to entertain. The alien world is spectacular; the colours, movement, creatures and plant life are made to capture attention. Everything seems to be much more alive than over here, the special effects creating a planet in which we wished we lived in. The culture of the aliens was also enchanting, the acting of a level that lets you easily forget that you are watching a film and allows you to submerge in their ways, in their grief and celebration. The soundtrack was also very good, the interwoven tribal voices fitting the feel of the movie perfectly.
So, if you want a few hours of simply watching visual imagination at its best, then I highly recommend this film. You will end up with the insatiable longing to have an Avatar of your own, and will most probably walk out the cinema looking at your ugly pink human hands with a look a faint disgust on your face. Despite that, most of you will end up with a sigh and a smile on your face cause that’s what happens when you look at something pretty for so long. Simple as that!

Trailer

Movie: Stranger Than Fiction

This movie surprised me. I was expecting a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, most of which I can’t help but switch off from by the middle of the predictable story-line. But this movie was different; not only was it charmingly funny and not over-sweetly romantic, it held a sort of frank, unpretentious uniqueness that many film lack these days.

The film centres on Harold Crick, a man stuck in a life of mundane routine and solitude, who one day suddenly finds himself hearing the voice of a woman skilfully narrating aspects of his life. From that point on his life spirals out of control- but as we find out, that may not exactly be a bad thing.

The acting was superb (Will Ferrell! Who would have thought!?), with each character endearing in their own exceptional way (the narrator herself I fell in love with- the way she immersed herself in her books- it was obvious throughout the film that her writing did not only control the fate of Harold Crick, but her own life as well). The film was also dusted with some small, perfect moments which charmed me completely. The scene at the guitar shop. The ocean of files. The first kiss. The look between the professor and narrator at the end of it.

All in all I give this movie a splendid 9/10. If you want something light but worthwhile, this is it.

Link to online film: here

Some quotes:

Harold Crick: This may sound like gibberish to you...but I think I'm in a tragedy.

Penny Escher: [in hospital] What are we doing here? I don't even think we're supposed to be in here.
Kay Eiffel: You told me I needed visual stimulation.
Penny Escher: Yeah, I meant a museum or something.
Kay Eiffel: I don't need a museum. I need the infirm.
Penny Escher: You are the infirm.

Harold Crick: Miss Pascal, I think I owe you an apology. IRS agents... we're given rigorous aptitude tests before we can work. Unfortunately for you, we aren't tested on tact or good manners. So... I-I... I apologize. I o-ogled you....Sorry.

Pause.
Ana Pascal: Apology accepted ...(pause)...But only because you stammered.

Kay Eiffel: (gives her a sarcastic look) I don't need a nicotine patch, Penny. I smoke cigarettes.

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