What has my attention this week?
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Book: Taken by Dee Henderson
I’m in “sequel” mode in my reading right now. Having just finished all the books in my Kindle library, I’m taking a few weeks to catch up on sequels before tackling the toppling pile of paperbacks in my TBR stack. This is one of those kinda/sorta/standalone sequels. It’s very much the same song, second verse for the type of books Henderson has been writing lately. It benefits from all her usual strengths (detailed plots and spot-on research) and suffers from all her usual flaws (lack of emotion and character complexity). It’s keeping my attention, so that’s what matters most.
Movie: Thor: The Dark World directed by Alan Taylor
In the wake of my reignited Marvel mania after the release of the Civil War trailer, I sat down to rewatch Dark World. There are so many things I adore about this movie. It’s gorgeous, and it hits every note it needed to. But it also frustrates me that it didn’t hit those notes a little harder and become as good as it could have been. Still, it’s good fun and, really, a very unique movie in a lot of ways.
Music: Molly and the Zombies
Can I just take a minute to express my adoration for Gaslight Anthem? Gritty, honest lyrics, grungy vocals from lead singer Brian Fallon, and a great, almost noir-ish sound (for lack of a better description). Naturally, they can’t put out enough albums to satisfy me, so I chase around after Fallon’s sideline ventures with his Horrible Crowes group and now—to my delight—the “couch song” anthems of Molly and the Zombies.
Fashion: Red Knit Infinity Scarf
Yay for awesome birthday presents! I have a thing for scarves and hats—even though I don’t wear either often enough to really justify my stash. Right now, I’m relishing in this gorgeous red knit infinity scarf from Maurice’s. Totally makes it worthwhile to have to wear a coat outside during the cold months.
Food: Equal Exchange Organic Hot Cocoa
I’m not a hot chocolate purist. I admit it. I like the instant kind you make with water. The milk kind is good, but then all I want to do is lie around on the couch and snore for the rest of the afternoon. I also don’t like the super-sweet versions, a la Swiss Miss, and I definitely don’t like sucking down tons of sugar and saints preserve us from heaven knows what else. What I really do dig is this organic instant hot cocoa from Equal Exchange. The only problem is I can go through a tin in about a week. Ahem.
Cute Animal I Want This Week
Photo taken by Rodolfo Belloli
Let’s chat! What movie did you curl up to watch last week? What’s your favorite movie-watching medium–TV, laptop, DVD, Roku, Netflix? Tell me in the comments!
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Good list, even though I’ve only experienced Thor: The Dark World, and hot coca. I bet those two would go good together!
As far as what I am watching…. I’ve currently compiled my Christmas movies list. Ready?
(in no particular order)
1. The Polar Express
2. A Christmas Carol (Jim Carrey)
3. The Grinch (Jim Carrey)
4. A Christmas Story
5. The Lord of the Rings
6. A Very Murray Christmas
7. Harry Potter
8. Die Hard
Netflix is my main source of watching these days. No discs, just the streaming service. Although I do also have Amazon Prime and watch stuff through that on the handy little Roku. Sometimes I’ll also rent a movie on Redbox. So many options these days to find movies and TV shows!
What’s your favorite movie watching medium?
I’ve been very lax with the Christmas movies this year. White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life are yearly traditions though, so I’ll get them in before the day. I watch mostly via DVDs these days. I get them cheap and in bulk at the secondhand shop.
It’s funny that I was waiting so impatiently for this post. They are really interesting to read. 😀
These days, I have been re-watching an anime I particularly adore. As a mean to reward myself for finishing NaNos.
I have also started reading Malazan since a friend of mine is a big fan of this series. And raves about it so much that I thought I might just give it a try.
Hah. I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. 🙂 I’ve never been much of an anime fan, but I’ve been slowly getting into Ghibli’s films.
Yeah, ghibli has made some really amazing films. I am a really big anime fan.
And as a matter of fact, this series serve as a kind of book club thing for me. When in doubt what to read next, wait til Weiland tell ya. 😛
Howl’s Moving Castle blew my mind. My favorite movie this year.
I remember watching Spirited Away. Haven’t watched that yet, so I know now what is in my next to watch list. 😀
1. Books: Storming, These Three Words (@HollyJacobs1 2. Movies this week: Edge of Darkness, Topper, Shadow of the Thin Man, Fashion – ordered two fleece tops – purple and pink. Surprise – they are neon! Whoa! 4. Music U2
5. Treat – red fudge cookie with cream cheese frosting 6. Photo I took – red sky in the morning. Love this warmup exercise, KM! Mary Ellen
Ah, The Thin Man. I adore those movies. The banter is brilliant.
Haven’t been doing many movies lately, but hubby and I pulled out a DVD we hadn’t watched yet: Hellboy. We’d seen it before, but the edited TV version with commercials. I really want to go back and watch it again, and get the sequel since the third one is apparently going into production soon. Normally, we watch it on our 40-inch TV. Rarely do I watch on my laptop, despite its 17″ screen. Besides, better sound quality on the TV’s soundbar. 😉
I’m going to have to check out the music you suggested. I’ve never heard of them before, and I’m in definite new-music mode.
I loved Hellboy. Very quirky and off the wall, but lots of heart.
We like Netflix and Amazon Prime for Movies/TV. We enjoy British TV the most. We’re about to watch Season 3 of Orphan Black. We LOVED season1 and 2, so we’re psyched! We recently watched Grantchester on Amazon Prime (very good,) and The Man In The High Castle. (Could have been sooo much better.) Our fave TV this year was Poldark and Person of Interest. Different genres but both very good.
That’s too bad about The Man in the High Castle. I thought the trailer looked really good.
Yeah, I’m definitely going to go back and watch it a few more times…especially since it’s got a bit of a dieslepunk feel to it!
It’s refreshing to see some appreciation for Thor 2. While the villain was mediocre, it was a joy to see more of Asgard’s beautiful sceneries, costumes, soldier ships and weaponry.
As for me I saw Spectre the other day, the main takeaways are funny dialogues and intense action. Overall it was better than expected. Seems like the usual Bond template: forgettable story + three or four standouts scenes. Still a long way before the mold is broken. The reunion scene was fantastic, save for the cheap violence. “Here we go again, ugly stuff for the sake of edginess…” Kinda ruined an otherwise very serious and engrossing scene. Some ideas were very interesting (00 system becoming obsolete, living a sad life of deceit and murder, are a man’s judgment and adaptability irreplaceable) but there wasn’t enough emphasis. As a result, nobody’s discussing them. Missed potential. Oh well.
I also finished reading a sci-fi draft sent to me from a friend, dialogues and characters were vivid but it left me wondering how one can manage to bring originality to the huge and rich sci-fi scene.
Yeah, I have a lot of love for the Thor movies. They’re basically fantasy, but with a really different spin, which is fun. I really like the family dynamic too. I’m a sucker for brothers stories.
I watched While You Were Sleeping on Thanksgiving Day. I usually watch It’s A Wonderful Life during the Christmas season, but haven’t done so yet. I still have a VHS copy of Life that is autographed by Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu). She appeared at a Christmas special one year in a town I used to live in, so I got her to sign it.
I watch movies on DVD or (yes I STILL) have VHS movies. I’m too cheap to do Netflix and usually get my movies at the secondhand store or garage sales. Found a VHS copy of Where the Red Fern Grows the other day. Haven’t seen that one in a very long time.
It’s a Wonderful Life is a seasonal must for me. It’s a Christmas Eve Eve tradition. One of my all-time favorite movies.
I prefer Netflix because I’ve discovered the great programs of the BBC.
The BBC is great. Love their adaptations of the classics, especially.
I haven’t seen Spirited Away yet. But it’s high up on my list.