I told myself that I would update my blog regularly but I guess that's not happening. It's gotten really busy at work so I just haven't had the time. But anyhoo...I have a spare moment before I head off to bed so I will talk about ...Hunger Games.
I've just finished the first 2 books in the Hunger Games trilogy, and my goodness, they were good. It's a shame that there are only 3 books in this series because I could read them forever. They are super easy to read (since they are intended for a young adult audience) so they were a welcome break after just finishing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I've just started reading Mockingjay, the 3rd book in the Hunger Games series. This whole series has been difficult to read for the pure fact that once you start, it's hard to put down. I've had to wait until i've had long blocks of time over the weekend to just plow though the books. Reading a chapter here and there while on the metro just doesn't cut it.
So here is a brief synopsis of the trilogy. I'm assuming it takes place far into the future (It doens't really ever give a time frame) where the North America is no longer the divided into the 3 countries as we know it today. It is now called Panem, a country made up of 12 districts, ruled by a dictatorship government who pretty much keep all the districts living in poverty. Every year, the goverment chooses one boy and one girl (ages 12-18) from each district to participate in the Hunger Games where all 24 children must fight to the death until there is only one standing. This brutal event is to serve as a reminder that the Capitol is in control and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Or at least not until Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself for the Hunger Games to replace her little sister who was orignally selected.
Suzanne Collins, the author, is an excellent writer and it really is so easy to picture how the Hunger Games look like through her words. The story is action packed from beginning to end and once you pick it up and you won't be able to put the book down. I'm glad that the books have been picked up to be made into movies. It'll be awesome to see these characters brought to life.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
OMG I finished a book that's not Harry Potter!
AND...it was actually meant for adults! So I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I gotta say, since the last few books I read was either Harry Potter or Twilight, I was not prepared for the graphic nature of this book. The story included rape, incest, pedophilia, animal sacrifice, and murder...things that make Voldemort look like a gentle puppy.
The story is about an editor of a popular Swedish magazine, Mikael Blomkvist, who is accused and convicted of libel. The media attention he receives puts him on the radar of an old industry tycoon (Henrik Vangar) who hires him to investigate the disappearance of niece, which occurred 40 years ago. In the process of his investigation, Blomkvist uncovers many secrets of the Vangar family, which puts his own life at risk.
For the most part, I enjoyed the book. It starts really slow with the first few chapters more about Blomkvist's legal troubles than anything else. The actual murder mystery doesn't begin until like 100 pages in. But once it got started, it was an enjoyable read...up until the mystery was solved. You'd think that'd be where the book ends, but alas, no... Blomkvist's legal trouble needed to be resolved which took entirely too long and isn't very interesting.
I'd definitely recommend this book. Just remember that you must stick through the first few chapters. I'm going to wait a bit before continuing onto the next book of this series. I'm going to give Hunger Games a try. Apparently it's all the rage these days.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Modern Family - The MUCH ANTICIPATED GAY KISS!!!!
Fresh off its big Emmy win, Modern Family is continuing its smart hilarity heading into the 2nd season. This show is just so damn funny. I love comedies that don't rely on over-the-top outlandish characters to get laughs. The comedy of Modern Family completely relies on the cleverness of the dialogue and the excellent delivery of the dialogue by the terrific cast.
This week's episode featured the much hyped and talked about gay kiss between Mitch and Cameron. Apparently there was an uproar that it's weird for a committed gay couple not to show any affection. Although I agree that a gay couple should be able to show affection on TV just like any other couple, I don't think it needs to be made into such a big deal. I think the writers handled it wonderfully. The kiss occurred without much pomp and circumstance, just a small peck in the background. The episode focused around Mitch being unable to be affectionate because his father (Ed O'Neill) never showed affection to him while growing up. The last time he kissed his son was when Mitch was 12. The attention was all on Ed O'Neill kissing Mitch instead of Mitch and Cam. When the Mitch and Cam kiss finally happened, it was just a sweet little casual kiss just like any other couple. I'm glad it wasn't this big moment with sappy music and slow motion. A gay kiss shouldn't be a big deal and bravo to Modern Family for handling in the best way possible. Kudos!
This week's episode featured the much hyped and talked about gay kiss between Mitch and Cameron. Apparently there was an uproar that it's weird for a committed gay couple not to show any affection. Although I agree that a gay couple should be able to show affection on TV just like any other couple, I don't think it needs to be made into such a big deal. I think the writers handled it wonderfully. The kiss occurred without much pomp and circumstance, just a small peck in the background. The episode focused around Mitch being unable to be affectionate because his father (Ed O'Neill) never showed affection to him while growing up. The last time he kissed his son was when Mitch was 12. The attention was all on Ed O'Neill kissing Mitch instead of Mitch and Cam. When the Mitch and Cam kiss finally happened, it was just a sweet little casual kiss just like any other couple. I'm glad it wasn't this big moment with sappy music and slow motion. A gay kiss shouldn't be a big deal and bravo to Modern Family for handling in the best way possible. Kudos!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Old Stuff
So here's my recap about the returning shows that I've been keeping up with: 90210, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, Grey's Anatomy, Glee, and Vampire Diaries. I don't think I'll get to them all but we'll see how far I get before getting interrupted at work. :)
Glee
Let's start with Glee since it just aired last night so it's fresh in mind. I loves me some Brittany S. Pears. Next to Sue Sylvester, Brittany has the best one liners in each episode and I love how they're always peppered in randomly and in moderation. Last night's episode, although filled with quippy lines from our beloved Brittany, I feel to get the full impact of her witty Brittany-isms, they need to occur sporadically and randomly so that they take you off guard. Nevertheless, each time Brittany opened her mouth, which was a lot this episode, I LOL'd. The musical numbers were a bit of a let down. Instead of just recreating Britney's music videos, I would've much rather them incorporate the music like they usually do, as part of their rehearsals or woven into the plot. As much as I love episodes that are jam packed with random musical numbers, I also enjoy it when there is actual plot development and we learn more about each of the characters. But in any case, based on the first 2 episodes of the season, Glee has gotten off to a good start for its sophomore season. I hope to see more episodes like the first half of season 1 where the dialogue was funnier and the musical numbers were better and less random.
Vampire Diaries
So how hot is evil Elena aka Katherine? Vampire Diaries is a rare gem in the CW collection of shows. Not only does this show have the hottest cast on television, it also has substance. Pop culture has been oversaturized with vampires lately with the whole Twilight phenomenom and True Blood. But with vampires that look this good, I don't mind at all. Vampire Diaries doesn't really offer anything new in the whole Vampire/Werewolf lore, but the stories that are presented exciting and suspenseful. There really isn't a villain in the series (other than Katherine) and she didn't really show up until this season. Even Damon, the not-as-nice vampire brother, has a soft spot and isn't all bad. I'm glad they're introducing werewolves this season. What's a good vampire story without werewolves? I'm excited to see how they're going to put vampire vs werewolf and definitely looking forward to seeing more of Tyler Lockwood's arms.
Desperate Housewives
Casting Vanessa Williams as the new housewife was brilliant. Although I never watched Ugly Betty, I hear she can play quite the villainess and that's exactly what Wisteria Lane needs. Other than Katherine (Dana Delaney), I haven't really been fond of the other housewives that have been brought in. Their story lines fell flat and never really made you care about what happened to them. Based on the first episode, this season is really shaping up to be one of the best seasons for this show.
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters is one of those sleeper shows that you don't really hear a lot about, but is so damn good. It's probably in my list of top 3 shows. The writing is so consistently good filled with smart dialogue that makes you laugh and cry. The dynamic within the Walker family is so great that it makes you want to be a Walker. This season picks up one year after the tragic car crash that ended the last season. The family, for the most part, has healed. Kitty is forced to pull the plug on Robert after being in a coma for a year. Sarah is closing the deal on Narrow Lakes and is about to make the family a boat load of money ($55 million!). Justin went off to war again and now has returned as a much wiser and more mature Justin. Kevin has spent the year working on pro bono cases and is on the verge of taking in a wayward teen with his partner Scotty. If you don't watch this show already, Netflix the first 4 or 5 seasons! It's really a great show and you will not regret it!
Alright i think that's all the time i have right now.....more to come.
Glee
Let's start with Glee since it just aired last night so it's fresh in mind. I loves me some Brittany S. Pears. Next to Sue Sylvester, Brittany has the best one liners in each episode and I love how they're always peppered in randomly and in moderation. Last night's episode, although filled with quippy lines from our beloved Brittany, I feel to get the full impact of her witty Brittany-isms, they need to occur sporadically and randomly so that they take you off guard. Nevertheless, each time Brittany opened her mouth, which was a lot this episode, I LOL'd. The musical numbers were a bit of a let down. Instead of just recreating Britney's music videos, I would've much rather them incorporate the music like they usually do, as part of their rehearsals or woven into the plot. As much as I love episodes that are jam packed with random musical numbers, I also enjoy it when there is actual plot development and we learn more about each of the characters. But in any case, based on the first 2 episodes of the season, Glee has gotten off to a good start for its sophomore season. I hope to see more episodes like the first half of season 1 where the dialogue was funnier and the musical numbers were better and less random.
Vampire Diaries
So how hot is evil Elena aka Katherine? Vampire Diaries is a rare gem in the CW collection of shows. Not only does this show have the hottest cast on television, it also has substance. Pop culture has been oversaturized with vampires lately with the whole Twilight phenomenom and True Blood. But with vampires that look this good, I don't mind at all. Vampire Diaries doesn't really offer anything new in the whole Vampire/Werewolf lore, but the stories that are presented exciting and suspenseful. There really isn't a villain in the series (other than Katherine) and she didn't really show up until this season. Even Damon, the not-as-nice vampire brother, has a soft spot and isn't all bad. I'm glad they're introducing werewolves this season. What's a good vampire story without werewolves? I'm excited to see how they're going to put vampire vs werewolf and definitely looking forward to seeing more of Tyler Lockwood's arms.
Desperate Housewives
Casting Vanessa Williams as the new housewife was brilliant. Although I never watched Ugly Betty, I hear she can play quite the villainess and that's exactly what Wisteria Lane needs. Other than Katherine (Dana Delaney), I haven't really been fond of the other housewives that have been brought in. Their story lines fell flat and never really made you care about what happened to them. Based on the first episode, this season is really shaping up to be one of the best seasons for this show.
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters is one of those sleeper shows that you don't really hear a lot about, but is so damn good. It's probably in my list of top 3 shows. The writing is so consistently good filled with smart dialogue that makes you laugh and cry. The dynamic within the Walker family is so great that it makes you want to be a Walker. This season picks up one year after the tragic car crash that ended the last season. The family, for the most part, has healed. Kitty is forced to pull the plug on Robert after being in a coma for a year. Sarah is closing the deal on Narrow Lakes and is about to make the family a boat load of money ($55 million!). Justin went off to war again and now has returned as a much wiser and more mature Justin. Kevin has spent the year working on pro bono cases and is on the verge of taking in a wayward teen with his partner Scotty. If you don't watch this show already, Netflix the first 4 or 5 seasons! It's really a great show and you will not regret it!
Alright i think that's all the time i have right now.....more to come.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The New Stuff
Nikita
Just three episodes into the season, my prediction is that Nikita is here to stay. Maggie Q has finally found herself a vehicle to show off all of her...assets. Nikita brings me back to the good old days of Alias. I love watching shows with badass chicks kicking ass and Nikita definitely delivers.
For those of you who don't know the show's premise, Maggie Q plays Nikita, a women out for revenge after the secret government agency she works for (The Division) kills her fiancee. She is now hellbent on taking The Division down and has a partner (Lyndsey Fonseca) on the inside to help her do it. The show also stars Shane West and Melinda Clarke and airs on the CW on Thursdays at 9pm.
Hellcats
So, this is another one of those guilty pleasure type shows. But then again, I think all the shows I watch are guilty pleasures. Hellcats has yet to impress me, but I'm going to keep at it hoping it gets better. For a show about competitive college cheerleading, it really needs to have witty dialogue in order to succeed...that and hot people. So far, it has neither. Aly Milchalka and Ashley Tisdale are not hot enough to keep viewers interested, but I guess that ship has sailed. So if it's not going to have ultra hotness, then they need to step up the writing. Smart dialogue and humor can save the show...so hopefully it will get better. And cast some hotter people. Take a page out of the book called Vampire Diaries. Hellcats is on the CW on Wednesday at 9pm.
The Event
There's only been one episode of the Event, and I'm already hooked. The show so far is a little impossible to explain. A plane is involved, some prisoners being held by the US Government for an unknown reason, and a woman is kidnapped from a cruise ship, and her father is the one flying the aforementioned plane into a hotel where the President of the United States is staying. The premiere episode introduced a lot of elements and provided a very good set up for the season. My only hope is that it does that it doesn't turn into another Lost, or else I will have to abandon it after 2 seasons also. The Event in on NBC Mondays at 9pm.
Hawaii Five-0
Surprisingly good. I never watched the original...it was a little before my time. Basically, it's just a typical cop show. It just takes place in Hawaii. Grace Park is pretty hot (although she needs to do something about her hair) as is Alex O'Loughlin. Having hot people is pretty much a prerequisite for a show based in Hawaii since undoubtedly there will be many scenes with people in swimsuits. The show provides good drama and keeps up the suspense with a good pace. I normally don't like CBS dramas, but I think I can definitely get on board with this one. Hawaii Five-0 is on Mondays at 10pm on CBS.
Just three episodes into the season, my prediction is that Nikita is here to stay. Maggie Q has finally found herself a vehicle to show off all of her...assets. Nikita brings me back to the good old days of Alias. I love watching shows with badass chicks kicking ass and Nikita definitely delivers.
For those of you who don't know the show's premise, Maggie Q plays Nikita, a women out for revenge after the secret government agency she works for (The Division) kills her fiancee. She is now hellbent on taking The Division down and has a partner (Lyndsey Fonseca) on the inside to help her do it. The show also stars Shane West and Melinda Clarke and airs on the CW on Thursdays at 9pm.
Hellcats
So, this is another one of those guilty pleasure type shows. But then again, I think all the shows I watch are guilty pleasures. Hellcats has yet to impress me, but I'm going to keep at it hoping it gets better. For a show about competitive college cheerleading, it really needs to have witty dialogue in order to succeed...that and hot people. So far, it has neither. Aly Milchalka and Ashley Tisdale are not hot enough to keep viewers interested, but I guess that ship has sailed. So if it's not going to have ultra hotness, then they need to step up the writing. Smart dialogue and humor can save the show...so hopefully it will get better. And cast some hotter people. Take a page out of the book called Vampire Diaries. Hellcats is on the CW on Wednesday at 9pm.
The Event
There's only been one episode of the Event, and I'm already hooked. The show so far is a little impossible to explain. A plane is involved, some prisoners being held by the US Government for an unknown reason, and a woman is kidnapped from a cruise ship, and her father is the one flying the aforementioned plane into a hotel where the President of the United States is staying. The premiere episode introduced a lot of elements and provided a very good set up for the season. My only hope is that it does that it doesn't turn into another Lost, or else I will have to abandon it after 2 seasons also. The Event in on NBC Mondays at 9pm.
Hawaii Five-0
Surprisingly good. I never watched the original...it was a little before my time. Basically, it's just a typical cop show. It just takes place in Hawaii. Grace Park is pretty hot (although she needs to do something about her hair) as is Alex O'Loughlin. Having hot people is pretty much a prerequisite for a show based in Hawaii since undoubtedly there will be many scenes with people in swimsuits. The show provides good drama and keeps up the suspense with a good pace. I normally don't like CBS dramas, but I think I can definitely get on board with this one. Hawaii Five-0 is on Mondays at 10pm on CBS.
Friday, September 24, 2010
A New Beginning...
So apparently, the last time I posted on this blog was my birthday last year. I just had another birthday last week so I guess it's time to revisit this blog. My last attempt at a blog was pretty short lived partly due to the fact that my life is pretty boring and I have nothing to write about. This time around, I'm not going to focus on the happenings of my life and rather put the focus on the numerous movies and TV shows that I watch. Now that the fall TV season has returned, I should have plenty of material.
Coming up next: My commentary on some of the new shows airing this season that I've decided to add to my ever growing list of shows. Namely, Hellcats, Nikita, Hawaii Five-0, and The Event...
Coming up next: My commentary on some of the new shows airing this season that I've decided to add to my ever growing list of shows. Namely, Hellcats, Nikita, Hawaii Five-0, and The Event...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Master Cleanse
So...today is my 28th birthday and I decided that I would torture myself by starting the 10 day master cleanse, aka the Lemonade Diet. I don't know what i was thinking because it's Day 1 and i'm already regretting it. But I must persevere!
So I started the day making my 2 liters of lemonade mixture, and went to work. Then i find out that i used waaaaay too much cayenne pepper so my lemonade tastes like spicy crap. SO my first day on the cleanse did not go well. Hopefully tomorrow will be better when I actually make the lemonade correctly. It's going to be a looong and hellish 10 days...
So I started the day making my 2 liters of lemonade mixture, and went to work. Then i find out that i used waaaaay too much cayenne pepper so my lemonade tastes like spicy crap. SO my first day on the cleanse did not go well. Hopefully tomorrow will be better when I actually make the lemonade correctly. It's going to be a looong and hellish 10 days...
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