Apr

16

Weekend Adventure: Ed Levin County Park

Life / Photography  Posted by / 6 comments

After a week of rain and chilly temperatures this weekend was absolutely gorgeous. After a day of relaxing and cleaning on Saturday (for me), and going to a local Gun Show (for Alex), we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather on Sunday with a trip to a park for some nature, and of course pictures. We didn’t have a park in mind when we headed out, but when we drove by this little park called Ed Levin County Park, we saw water and willow trees, both of which I love, so we decided to stop there. It ended up being absolutely lovely and we spent two hours walking around, enjoying the weather, each other’s company, and of course, snapping some pictures. All in all, it was a lovely impromptu date and the perfect end to a weekend. Here are some of my favorite shots from the afternoon/evening.

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Apr

09

Ten Favorite New Doctor Who Episodes (Part One)

Television  Posted by / 0 comments

I was a little late to the Doctor Who party, not discovering it until about four months ago, but now that I am there, I am as big a fan as someone who has been watching for years. I started with the second series of new Doctor Who but went back and watched the first series with the 9th Doctor before I got too far along. Christopher Eccleston did absolutely fantastic as the 9th Doctor, and the one to reintroduce the series to a new audience. David Tennant as the 10th Doctor is pure gold and will always be my favorite. And Matt Smith as the current 11th Doctor is fantastic, both ancient and childlike, a true madman with a box. And all of the companions, I have enjoyed all of them in one way or another, except perhaps Martha. I am still not sure where she fits in my overall enjoyment of the series. I understand the point of her character, but she came after Rose who is a hard act to follow, and thus it’s easy to overlook her (they she becomes completely badass after leaving the Doctor and meeting Mickey). Anyways, enough rambling (I could talk about Doctor Who all day). In honor of one of the greatest television series of ALL TIME (old and new), here are my ten favorite episodes of the “new” Doctor Who. They are listed by title, followed by the incarnation of the Doctor, and the companions that are in that episode. This is going to be a two parter because I tend to get a bit wordy about my love for this show.

Part One: Episodes 10 through 6

10. The Doctor’s Wife (Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond/Rory Williams) – This is the only episode from series five and six. It’s not that I don’t like Matt Smith as the Doctor, because I truly do, it is that I do not enjoy the stories and supporting characters as much. Rory is fabulous, but I have failed to connect to Amy, and River just drives me up the wall. That being said, I absolutely adore this episode. Why? Well, I am glad you asked! One, it is written by Neil Gaiman, who is simply phenomenal. Two, I LOVE seeing the TARDIS as a human, finally getting to talk to the Doctor, her one true love and who she chose, rather than him choosing her (and I especially love it when he calls her “Sexy”). Three, we get a glimpse at the old control room of the TARDIS from earlier seasons. Four, the side story between Rory and Amy, is for once, centered around them, without influence of the Doctor. And finally, five, for a few brief moments we get to believe that there may still be some Time Lords in existence. All of this equals one damn great episode.

One of the most visually stunning episodes in all of Doctor Who.

9.  The End of Time (Tenth Doctor, Wilfred Mott) – I will admit, this is not the most strongly written episode. The ridiculousness of the “Master Race” was a bit much for me and I definitely laughed out loud when that came out of John Simm’s mouth. Additionally, the music and sound effects of the episode were so loud and overwhelming that at times it significantly distracted from the story. That being said, I love this episode for a few key reasons. First, I ADORE Wilf. I only wish there were more episodes with him as a companion. What a fun and utterly hilarious old man. Have you ever seen the episode of the British show Never Mind the Buzzcocks where David hosted a special Doctor Who themed episode? No? Well if you want to see Wilf (also known as Bernard Cribbins) be a sassy and hilarious old man, WATCH IT NOW. Second, I love the end where the Doctor goes and visits all of his old companions, seeing that they are all happily living life, saving Rose for last, where he goes back to before they ever met and tells her she is going to have a fantastic year. Break my heart into a million pieces.  And third, the final line uttered by the tenth Doctor, “I don’t want to go”? I cried a million tears and sobbed to my television “I don’t want you to go either”. I am pretty sure my boyfriend thinks I am crazy. Of course if I would have preferred if David Tennant never stopped being the Doctor, but if he had to leave, I think his send off was pretty fitting.

David Tennant is particularly gorgeous in this episode, especially when he is all beat up.

8. Planet of the Ood (Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble) – The first time I saw the Oods I actually laughed at how silly they looked with their spaghetti tentacles on their face. Then, fifteen minutes into this episode when Donna becomes heartbroken over how they are treated, I too felt my heart begin to break. The story of a beautiful and kind race being oppressed to the point where they become violent, it is a story we have seen/read/heard many times, yet this unique approach to it was something special and refreshing. And if you thought that Catherine Tate was only capable of playing strong comedic characters, then you will be quite surprised to see her take on this emotionally heart wrenching episode.

And when Donna started crying, my heart broke into pieces.

7. Turn Left (Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble) – What if Donna had never met the Doctor? Well, for one, I would have been quite sad, as Donna is one of my favorite companions (second to only Rose). Two, well, the world would have been a lot different, for you see, Donna is one of the most important (if not THE most important) people in history. You see, without her, the world would have changed. The Doctor would have died, Martha Jones and Sarah Jane Smith would have perished, and all of the world would have been plunged into a state of dystopia. This episode explores this and the result is nearly 50 minutes of heart wrenching and pounding storytelling where you just want Donna to realize how important she is.  Catherine Tate’s performance is so spot on and you get to see one of the few performances where she shows that she is just as strong as a dramatic actress (differing from her usual performances as a comedic actress). Oh, another reason I love this episode? Rose returns, transcending time and space and parallel worlds as she tries to find the Doctor (swoon), both to warn him of the impending end of the world, and because, well, she loves him. An absolutely fantastic episode that marks the beginning of the end for the Tenth Doctor.

The return of Rose Tyler, and my two favorite companions together.

6. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday (Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler) – Never have I cried so much as a result of a television show. I knew Rose wasn’t going to be around forever, but I did not realize just how much her departure would tear me apart. Perhaps it is because in the episode before this two-parter (Fear Her) we see how just how much these two mean to each other. Ugh. Anyways, gut-wrenchingness aside, one of the main reasons I love this particular story is because it brings in two of my favorite Doctor Who bad guys, the Cybermen and the Daleks. Another reason is because we get to see all of Rose’s family, together, and really, anything that brings Rose happiness, brings me happiness. And yes, Rose and the Doctor being separated completely guts me, but that final scene on Bad Wolf Bay? One of the best moments on television, ever. The tears were seriously pouring out of my eyes. And finally, amongst all the sadness of this episode, it has one of the most unintentionally hilarious exchanges between the Cybermen and Daleks.

Cybermen: We have five million Cybermen. How many are you? 
Dalek Sec: Four. 
Cybermen:You would destroy the Cybermen with four Daleks? 
Dalek Sec: We would destroy the Cybermen with one Dalek! You superior in only one respect. 
Cybermen: What is that? 
Dalek Sec: You are better at dying.

Don't cry Doctor! Oh, that scene on the beach. You know the one I am talking about. Shatter my heart into a million pieces.

And thus concludes part one. I had an extremely difficult time narrowing this list down, and even a more difficult time narrowing down the top five, but I think I am reasonably happy with my list. Check back soon for the second part, my top five episodes!

Dec

13

TV Miniseries Review: Alice

Reviews / Television  Posted by / 0 comments

Miniseries Title: Alice
Release Date: 2009
Primary Cast: Caterina Scorsone, Andrew-Lee Potts, Kathy Bates
Genres: Drama, Fantasy
Plot Summary (via IMDB):“Welcome to a whole new Wonderland.”

Review: I don’t actually watch too many miniseries, but my dear friend Laurie highly recommended it, so I added it to my queue. You see, we both love the story of Alice in Wonderland and she was telling me that this was her favorite television/movie version of the story. She usually has excellent taste in movies, television and books, so I figured why not give it a shot?

The movie begins in the modern world with a raven haired girl named Alice (who just happens to be a judo sensei). She is dating a handsome lad named Jack and has decided to introduce him to her mother over dinner. After dinner (which seemingly goes well), Jack takes Alice aside and gives her a ring “that has been in his family a long time”. Alice, of course, panics and refuses to take it, saying she needs to think on it. Jack departs, and as Alice is sitting there talking to her mother realizes that Jack has slipped the ring into her pocket. She quickly chases after him, only to see him kidnapped and thrown into a van. She chases after one of the men, following him through a looking glass where she arrives in Wonderland. Wonderland looks nothing like what you would expect it to look like. While it does have elements of fantasy, it feels like a large, unpleasant industrial place, with casinos made out of playing cards, owned by the Queen of Hearts (Kathy Bates). As you quickly discover, this Wonderland is the same one of the original story, but 150 years later, after the “original Alice” has come and gone. The Queen of Hearts and a corporation known as White Rabbit, kidnap Oysters (people from our world) and suck them dry of their emotions, which are then sold and consumed by the population of Wonderland so as to be able to feel varying emotions. As Alice tries looks for a way to escape she meets The Hatter (Andrew-Lee Potts), the owner of a “Tea Shop” (a place that sells the bottled emotions), who seems to take quite the liking to her and does what he can to help her find her way home. As the story plays out we meet many other familiar characters including Caterpillar, The Walrus, Tweedle Dee and Dum, the Dodo Bird (Tim Curry) and the White Knight. As the story concludes, it is not the ending you would expect, but you still can’t help be satisfied.

This was definitely one of the most unique retellings I have ever seen of Alice. While the special effects was a bit cheesy at times, that is to be expected of a miniseries airing on the SyFy (SciFi) channel. While I had never heard of any of the main actors before, I enjoyed their performances and felt they were believable, particularly Caterina Scorsone, as Alice, who was easy to connect to. Kathy Bates was made to play the Queen of Hearts and the young British bloke who played The Hatter certainly charmed me with his adorable smile and delicious accent. There were a few plot twists that kept you on your toes (and that I won’t spoil here), and the way they brought the various characters to life, and to the story, worked extremely well (Tweedle Dee and Dum as mad Doctors/Psychiatrists who torture Alice was an exceptionally excellent choice). While this isn’t a fantasy based Alice in Wonderland with over the top costumes, and a colorful fantasy world, the gritty science-fiction feel is an excellent deviation from the typical approach (which seems to be either 100% fantasy/magical or 100% real word).

Overall, I highly recommend this minseries, particularly for those who love the story of Alice in Wonderland. It is three hours long, but definitely worth the time and I sincerely doubt that you would regret it. By the way, for those who are wondering my favorite version is the 1951 animated Disney version, though this version has now firmly moved itself into second place.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Kittens

Dec

11

Movie Review: Waiting…

Movies / Reviews  Posted by / 0 comments

Movie Title: Waiting…
Movie Release Date: October 7, 2005
Primary Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Farris, Justin Long, John Francis Daley
Genres: Comedy
Plot Summary (via IMDB):“Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics.”

Review: I should probably preface this review by saying that I love Ryan Reynolds. Yes, I know, how original of me. But there is just something about his gorgeous face and winning personality that pulls me. If Ryan Reynolds has even just a cameo in a movie, you can bet I will see it. The 2009 version of Wolverine? Yes it was a terrible awful movie, but I will actually watch it more than once (and own it on DVD) simply because Ryan Reynolds played Deadpool. I guess I am what you would call a fangirl, and no, I am not ashamed to admit this. Because of my love for Ryan Reynolds, it may be difficult for me to be completely objective in writing a review for a movie in which he stars, but I promise to try my best.

Waiting…is a movie that is likely best enjoyed if you have ever worked in the restaurant industry. While I have not done so, I still found quite a bit of enjoyment in the flick. As the brief plot summary at the top states, the movie shows a day in the life of the young employees of a typical chain restaurant named Shenaniganz (similar to an Olive Garden or The Cheesecake Factory) as they attempt to keep from being bored in their likely dead end jobs. Each employee seems to be a complete exaggeration; from Anna Faris’ character who seems to not give a damn about anything, to Justin Long’s lost college student who is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life (many of us have been there), to Ryan Reynold’s illustration of an absolutely deplorable young man who does everything  he can to score with often barely legal high school girls, because they are the only ones who wont know just how bad he is in bed.

This movie is not one that you watch for it’s story or plot. Instead you watch it for it’s hilarious commentary on what it is like to be a lost and bored young adult searching for what to do with your life. At the end of the movie there is no resolution or happy ever after, instead we are shown that much of life, especially at that age, is simply about waiting.  Plus it is always fun to watch your favorite comedic actors interact (Long, Faris and Reynolds play off each other quite well). If you are looking for a mindless fun flick that will have you laughing, then this one is definitely for you. Not a high re-watch value, but for those who love comedy (or are madly in love with Ryan Reynolds) its worth an hour and a half of your time. Stick it on your Netflix queue (that’s what I did), or grab it the bargain bin at your local Target or Walmart for $6.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Kittens

Nov

11

Book Series I Love (And You Should Too)

Books  Posted by / 1 comments

I love reading. It is one of my favorite pastimes, and has been since I was a wee one. When I was younger (elementary school) I used to actually get in trouble because I would read so fast. Teachers (and parents) didn’t believe that I actually read everything, as there was no way someone could finish that fast. To prove that I actually read and understood everything, my teachers would make me give an overview of all the key points and characters. Yes, I actually had to do this. My love of reading has remained as I have gotten older and I am constantly looking for new books to read. I am open to most any genre, but I will admit, my favorite books to read are those that are part of a larger series (particular of the fantasy variety). So, in honor of that, I bring you a list of book series that I love (and that you should too). Note: some are series that have been completed, while others are still in the process of being written.

Book Series That Have Been Completed

The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) – Some of my earliest memories of reading are that of when I read The Chronicles of Narnia, more specifically, from when I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (I was in 4th grade). To this day it is still one of my favorite books, and the series as a whole is something I can read time and time again. I know many people, especially as they have gotten older, no longer enjoy this series because they view it as “Christian propaganda”, but for me, it will always be a fantastic fantasy series that I can read over and over. The series was, I believe, the first fantasy series I ever read, and is honestly, what got me into fantasy books as whole. As for specifics in the world of Narnia, my favorite character will always be Mr. Tumnus, followed by Aslan (yes, I do know that Aslan is Jesus), and I think that the White Witch is one of the most terrifying “villains’ in children’s literature.

Books Included: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle

Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) – Was there really any doubt this was going to be on the list? I am a child of the 90s and millennium after all. I read the very first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Philosopher’s Stone everywhere else), the year it was released in the United States. I was 12. From the first chapter I was hooked and bought every single book as it was released over the next 10 years. When the final book came out in the summer of 2007, I locked myself in the room for an entire day while I read it. When I was done, I read it again. And then two weeks later, I read it for a third time. I think I can safely say I have read the entire series, front to back, at least four times. One of the things I love most about the series is that it grew up as we grew up. The first book was a fun fluffy book for children to love and lose themselves in. The seventh, and final book, was dark and heart wrenching, and really made you think. These books will stand the test of time (the movies too), and when I have children, and they are old enough to read, these are  some of the first books I will give them.

Books Included: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) – I picked up this trilogy early this year after suggestions from a couple friends. I didn’t really know what to expect, as it honestly did not sound like the kind of book I would usually read. However, after a couple chapters in, I was hooked. It is set in a kind of post-apocalyptic world (of what once was America), which is a new “setting” for me and tells the story of a young girl named Katniss as she fights against a controlling government (of course, there is also a love triangle woven throughout the story). My favorite thing about the series is that it is a quick read, yet it really gets you thinking about the government, censorship, independence, love and more. It is now being adapted into a movie, which I am greatly looking forward to checking out.

Books Included: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay

The Millennium Trilogy (Stieg Larsson) – Earlier this year I took my first international trip. It was to Germany (for business) and the flight was 13 hours. Before my colleague and I boarded the plane I swung by the bookstore. The brightly colored cover of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, caught my attention and I grabbed it, along with Water For Elephants (I cried) and The Time Traveler’s Wife (I cried even more). I will admit, it took a lot of effort to get through the first half of the book. It is not that it wasn’t good, it was just extremely dense and rather difficult reading (a lot of legal and political talk). However, I am so glad I did. Immediately upon finishing the book, I bought the remaining two in the series and gobbled them up like candy. It is, without a doubt, my favorite “non-fantasy” series. It’s got murder, mystery, sex, politics, and some absolutely fantastic characters (particularly Lisbeth Salander). What makes this all the even more impressive is that the book was originally written in Swedish (and takes place in Sweden). The translation is, in my opinion, flawless. The most disappointing (and saddest) thing about these books? The series was originally supposed to be ten, but only three were written before the tragic death of Larsson.

Books Included: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) – Like Harry Potter, there was no question this trilogy would be on the list. I firmly believe that one of the main reasons the fantasy genre is as popular as it is (in movies, video games and books), is because of the phenomenal world that Tolkien created in this phenomenal series. Ok, yes, the writing is dense and often difficult to read, and the second book (The Two Towers) is insanely difficult to get through, but there is no denying that this series stands the test of time. Trying to choose a favorite character or moment is tough, but if I had to choose, I think it is a tie between Gandalf and Aragorn for favorite character, and when Gandalf comes back as Gandalf the White for a favorite moment. But really, all of the characters are amazing, and there are a gazillion fantastic moments.

Books Included: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King

Book Series Still In Progress

A Song of Ice & Fire (George R. Martin) – This series was first brought to my attention over this last summer when everyone was talking about the new Game of Thrones television show came out (staring Sean Bean). I didn’t get a chance to watch yet (it’s still on my list), but hearing about it definitely made me want to check the book series out. Luckily after I expressed interest in the series to one of my good friends, she sent me the first book to read. I was immediately sucked in. There are a number of things that make this series so enjoyable. The first is the world. It reminds me of Lord of the Rings meets Arthur, but with little to no magic, but tons of political intrigue and epic battles. It is absolutely fascinating. The second is how the books themselves are written. There is no one main character. Instead, every chapter in the book is written from the point of view of one of the many “main” characters. In the first book (titled Game of Thrones) there are eight separate “point of view” characters. And the third thing I really enjoy about the series (and also something that I hate as it rips out my heart) is that the author is not afraid to kill anyone, even one of the point of view characters. So beware; DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO ANYONE. So far there are five books out, with another two planned. Each book is quite thick and takes a bit of time to get through, so there is plenty of reading to be had.

Books Included: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance With Dragons (plus two more to be published)

The Kingkiller Chronicle (Patrick Rothfuss) – One fine day this spring I was purchasing something from Amazon (hardcover versions of Harry Potter) when I glanced in the “recommendations” section and saw this mysterious book called Name of the Wind. I knew nothing about the author and the cover wasn’t even that interesting. Yet, I added it to my cart and hit purchase. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. As with many of the book series I have listed here, it is based in a fantasy world filled with magic and mysterious creatures, but this time around, magic is treated very differently. The approach to magic is actually quite scientific and academic, which is something I have not seen in many (if any) fantasy books, and the main character is intriguing. He is certainly a hero, yet incredibly flawed. The author is an absolutely incredible writer, and when you are reading, it is hard to believe that these are his first two books…EVER. The only issue I have with this series? It took him four years between the first book (came out in 2007) and the second book (came out this year), which makes me incredibly anxious for when the third (and final) one will be released.

Books Included: The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man’s Fear (plus one more to be published)

Honorable Mentions

The Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson) – Extremely popular fantasy novels, but there are so gosh darn many of them and they are incredibly dense reads. At this time there are 13 of them, with another planed to be released in 2012. Definitely a huge time commitment.

Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) – I am pretty sure I am going to get shot for including this one, but I had to at least stick it under honorable mentions. It is by no means great literature (in fact the writing is quite terrible), but it is a fun fluffy read and can be finished relatively quickly.

The Inheritance Cycle (Christopher Paolini) – I think it is important that I admit to you that I did not make it past the first book of this series. That being said, however, I will say that the series is worth at least a try, if only because of how impressive it is that the author was 15 when he wrote the first book (and 19 when it was published).

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket) – This is a set of 13 short novels (novellas) that tell the story of the three Baudelaire children, who, after the “accidental” death of their parents, run into misfortune everywhere. They are definitely children’s stories, but they are fun and easy reads, and they are hard not to enjoy.

Would Like to Read

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan), His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman), The Southern Vampire Mysteries/The Sookie Stackhouse Novels (Charlaine Harris), The Uglies Series (Scott Westerfeld), The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices (both Cassandra Clare), Books of Ember  (Jeanne DuPrau), The Underland Chronicles (Suzanne Collins), Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer), Inkheart Trilogy (Cornelia Funke), Fablehaven (Brandon Mull), Looking Glass Wars (Frank Beddor), Shadow Children (Margaret Peterson Haddix)

What are some of your favorite book series?

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