Items in Reveiw! #4

Hey everyone! :)

Last weekend I went with a group of my friends to go and see a movie. I figured that while it was still fresh and new in my mind I will go ahead and give you my review and opinion of the film! However, I will put this warning again THERE ARE SPOILERS! I don’t want to ruin a perfectly good movie plot for you, and I really do recommend going to see the movie. Which movie am I talking about? Elysium. The movie is a future thriller/action flick that stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster.

Credit for image to: First Showing Net.

The beginning of the movie gives us a look at the childhood of the main character Max and his devious habits of thieving from the over-populated, poverty stricken, community around him. The part of the community that is startling for most people is the fact that all the characters are of Spanish speaking descent (my friends and I believe that it was supposed to represent the movement of Mexicans from the impoverished side of the border into what should be a prosperous America). Elysium is, in fact, a giant space station in which all the ‘white’ English and French speaking people live. They hold all the money and power for the space station, as well as the earth.

Credit for image to: Dawn.com. An image of Elysium from space.

Originally, I thought that the movie was going to be much the same as all the other “end of the world” kind of movies, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was not. The movie follows the character of Max, who grew up on the bad side of town so to speak and his constant quest to get to Elysium. That new world is completely perfect, no one ever gets hurt or sick simply because they heal themselves in seconds with medical beds and barcodes of their DNA. All of his life Max has been saving up to get to Elysium, and it seems to be one of those childish wishes that will never be accomplished due to the poverty that ravages the citizens of the earth. Yet, it takes a major emergency to finally push Max to do whatever it takes.

Credit for image to: Ign.com. Frey and her daughter with one of the rouge agents.

After being contaminated with radiation and knowing that he is going to die within the next week, Max agrees to do anything that can get him to Elysium and heal him. Being a “lone ranger” it doesn’t appear that it would be hurting anyone for him to try and kidnap a man and steal all of the important information in his mind. However, when he comes across a friend he grew up with—Frey and her daughter—he finds out that he may not be able to do exactly what he planned. In fact, Frey risks the life of her daughter and herself in order to help him after a brutal shootout that almost killed Max. This results in the three of them eventually being kidnapped by special agents sent to capture them by Jodie Foster’s character—the defense secretary of Elysium.

I grew up with the idea of the Jetsons as a future, where a robot would become your maid and that everything would be made easier by the advancement of  technology. In Elysium, yes that does happen, but only for those who afford it. As someone who has taken a few classes on social justice issues and the overwhelming differences in economic wealth, I found Elysium to clearly show the way that the world is excelling toward a terrible fate. When the richest in the world horde everything for themselves then there will be almost nothing left for all those others who need it the most. I also found that the movie ended on an unexpected note; the death of a main character in order to save the world. Yes, that sounds cliché and as though it is predictable, but it came as a shock to most people and ended in tears for a few of my close friends. It shows that no matter where you are coming from you can still make a change in the world; one person can change everything.

Credit for image to: Film Social

All in all, I found myself on the edge of my seat and enjoying every single minute of Elysium! I may have looked a far too deep into the social justice aspects of the movie while I was watching it, but I truly did find the movie a worthwhile view. Would I go and see it again? Yes, probably, but I don’t know if it would be as good a second time around because the biggest plot twists that kept you guessing would be completely and totally ruined.

That’s it for now everyone! If you’ve seen the movie, let me know what you thought about it! If you have anything you’d like to see me review let me know in the comments as well!

Cheers! x

-A

Items in Review! #3

I take no credit for the images used, only for the minor editing and text addition. 

Hey everyone! :)

Another Monday has come and another review is just waiting for you! I decided to take a look at one of my favourite shows as of late that I watched for almost eight hours straight because I was hooked. I'll give you some hints about what it could be. It stars David Tennent, it is on the BBC, it takes place in a costal area, and is a murder-mystery show. I am truly hoping that last one gave it away for you guys, but if not I am talking about....BROADCHURCH!

I first heard about this show while watching a vlog on Tanya Burr's channel when Zoella was spending the weekend with her. I didn't think much about it, but after seeing the reactions of a number of people on Youtube about the episodes and the season finale, plus a rave review from Zoe during her monthly favourites, I decided I was going to check it out. I've never really been let down by the BBC so I figured that I would watch the first one and see what everyone was talking about. WOAH. I had no idea how quickly I was going to get sucked into this drama and how rapidly my first week or so of summer was going to disappear.

Credit to: Creative England

The show basically revolves around the lives of the people in Broadchurch following a murder in the first episode. Yes, talk about starting off with a bang! Everyone is connected with one another in some way and are constantly discovering new things about one another. I am going to start here going into a little more detail about some of my favourite things so...

SPOILER WARNING!

So I am going to start by saying the history of Jack Marshall, played by David Bradley,  is probably one of the most heartbreaking stories that I've ever head. Anyone who has watched Pretty Little Liars will be familiar with the idea of a student-teacher relationship that works out and continues going on season after season. Broadchurch shows what really happens in a lot of cases with Jack's story of love and loss, not to mention the immediate conclusions that he was doing terrible things to the young boy who was killed.

Credit to: Digital Spy

 The poor man was attacked by the media that he sold in his store and ended up taking his own life because of it. The only thing that went through my mind the entire time was that he would finally be reunited with his wife and child that had died a long time before. Those kind of stories always end up killing me inside because I cannot stand to see people hounded and wrongfully accused like that. I do know that he was a criminal and I do see why the town turned on him, but it was wrongly taken care of by the police and by news reporters. Also, I spent the entire first episode in shock that they had put Filch into the show because I am a major Harry Potter fan and love seeing the familiar faces in different shows.

Credit to: Tennet News Updates

Here we have the classically annoying characters in my opinion. Their storyline is the one that I dislike the most and just the way that they are acting. The girl, Chloe, is the older sister of the murder boy and this is her older boyfriend Dean. Instead of going to the police to report a "crime" that might have been committed by Jack to the boys in the Sea Brigade (a lot like Boy Scouts), they decided to go to the media. I mean, you have to be a huge idiot to go and do that. Secondly, I just hate the interaction that they have with one another and it just seems really fake and unimportant to the story all together. I understand that Chloe is coping with the murder of her brother but seriously? She never does anything but hide away with her boyfriend or fight with her family. I am sick of the classic moody characters and it is driving me up a wall!

One of the biggest plot twists in the world happened in this show that I think induced a lot of shock-attacks (like a heart attack but only with shock) when people finally saw it. Like I said, I watched the entire thing in 8 hours because the show only has 8 episodes in the season and all of them are currently out online. So I was super connected and invested with the lives of characters over those first 7 hours. So when the murder of the poor boy was finally revealed, my heart broke into a million pieces. If you do not want to know who this is, I would STOP READING NOW!

Credit to: The Blog of Stuart

Joe Miller! That is right ladies and gentleman, at the very end we are finally met with an end to all the questions. Joe Miller is in fact the husband of a police officer that was working the case of the murder. He knew all the details, he mourned with the family, all the while knowing what had happened. Now this is a part that seemed to just jump out of no where; he was in love with the boy that he killed. A boy that was the best friend of his own son and just seemed overly creepy to me. Now the show explains that it was just because he was worried about Danny and often felt like his own son didn't need him the way that Danny did but I still felt as though there was something sinister to it all that couldn't be confirmed or denied. All I know is that it will be interesting to see how they are going to bring his family back into the town after this murder. I think the amount of suspense the show put us through was amazing but all the time you were making judgements about characters and trying to solve a lot of things.

There is still one loophole that I would like filled and maybe it will be in the next season, but I would really like answer for it deals with Susan Wright, played by Pauline Quirke, and the reason that she moved away.

Credit to: The Independent

We find out in the second last episode that she has moved to Broadchurch in order to be closer to her son that was adopted a long time ago. Yet she moves away with a lot of mystery surrounding her. She was the last one to have the skateboard of the dead boy, and though she gives some kind of answer for it, it isn't the best and most reputable. All over, I think I get an eery feeling from Susan and I would like to see more of her in the future. There is something hidden deep down that I would love to see explored further and what is going to happen with her son. I would also love to know the reasons behind his adoption and why she is only seeking him out now.

Credit to: Cultfix

Everyone was really worried about this being a one-time deal and that would have been terrible. Yet the writers were creative in letting people know that the show would be back at some point for a second season and I for one am thrilled. I cannot wait to see what they are going to do and what kind of plot line they are going to put together. Will all the old characters be back? How much time will have passed between the first murder and this impending second one? What about the strings that still haven't been tied off completely, were they left open for the next season? I guess we'll have to wait until about 2014 for the show to come back. A whole year, that is a lot of time to keep wondering isn't it?

Well that is all and I would love to know what your opinion is on Broadchurch! Have you watched it? What did you all think about it?

Cheers! x

-A

Items in Review! #2

Hey everyone!

So please don't hate me for skipping out on Saturday, I am super sorry about it! I worked all weekend, which I may talk about on Wednesday depending on how the rest of this week goes, and it was just crazy busy. I was honestly falling asleep at about eight at night for the last three days, so not a lot of fun! However, I'm back now and off for a week so don't you worry about me missing posts this week! At least, I hope not! So, about a week ago someone mentioned wanting to hear about the dry shampoo that I have started using. Now, I'm a big believer in spreading knowledge and giving people a good chance to try new things!

 

The one that I was most excited to try was the Batiste brand that I've heard a lot about from my adventures on Youtube and watching a number of fashion/make-up videos that some people have done. So when I found it at our local Homesense, I was excited to be able to give it a shot! I decided to go with the "Cool & Crisp " smell, as I'd read that the smell can be a bit over-whelming and I'm not the kind of person who likes that. According to the instructions, it doesn't seem that difficult and takes a matter of minutes to apply. Now, I have thick hair so I've always stayed away from these kind of products on the belief that they weren't going to work and just feel cakey on my hair. I'm glad that I finally decided to give into my addiction to Youtube opinions and try it out!

I really did love it and I did notice a difference, which shocked me. I've only ever used it in the "next day pony tail" method, since I am still unsure how confident I would be with my crazy wavy hair down. It is a really good smell, nothing as strong as I expected but just enough that you don't mind breathing as you spray it in. I would recommend following the instructions about the distance from the spray and your head as this morning when I used it, I accidentally held it too close to my head and I looked like Storm from the X-Men; white hair and all. If you are like me and have terrible depth perception, never fear! It is really easy to brush or comb out, and even easier to rub into your roots like they tell you. It is pretty fool proof and a definite travel item. It would be amazing if you're spending the night someplace and need that morning hair pick-me up, or just in between proper hair washing.

 

Prior to picking up the Batiste dry-shampoo, I decided to try out Tresemmé since I use the shampoo a lot of the time. I'd heard a lot of negative reviews about it, but it had been on-sale (I believe) at the Great Canadian Superstore and I figured that it was only a few dollars to see if I liked it any better. This time I was glad that the reviews were wrong! I found that it worked really well for a next-day pony tail, although it did make my hair feel a little more gritty then the other brand. As for the kind that I picked, I basically looked at the colour on my shampoo bottle and grabbed the same dry-shampoo, so maybe a different kind would be better for my hair or take away some of the gritty feeling when I touch my roots.

One feature that I really do like with this one, over the Batiste is the fact that I can spray it all over my hair and just brush it through. I have a very hard time trying to spray directly in the area of my roots and this is just a very easy to way get it where you think it needs to go. The only thing is, again, be careful how close you put the spray to your hair. Tresemmé isn't as forgiving with the white flakes that sometimes remain if you put the spray too close to your head, and as you can kind of see in the third image, the nozzle clogs rather quickly. That is after only a couple of uses, but they do give you a way to clean it out rather easily with water. So fingers crossed that will work out!

I've not tried any other kind of dry-shampoo but I would reccomend if you are intrested in buying one, find as much information as you can! The ones that I've got work really well for my hair, but they might not work for your hair as well as a different type. If you aren't a fan of strong scents, I would suggest Batiste over Tresemmé as the smell is definitely lighter and does not linger as long. However, if you are looking for something quick and easy, Tresemmé is probably a better choice for you. I alternate between the two, mostly so my hair doesn't get too used to a certain kind and it looses the effect, so I like seeing the comparison. I think both of them work really well, but I've heard a lot of good things about other good brands and even other types (for example, a foam one that is more like a mousse). I would highly recommend giving one of them a try and seeing what is right for you!

That is it for today! If you have any questions, I would be more then happy to try and give you an answer in the comments below! Also, if you have suggestions, as always, you can post them in the comments and I'll take a look into reviewing the item on the next Monday I blog!

I hope you all had a good long weekend (Memorial Day in the United States, and Spring Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom) and I will see you all on Wednesday!

Cheers! x

-A

Items in Review!

I take no credit for the images used, only for the minor editing and text addition. 

Hey everyone! :)

So today I decided to try something a little bit different! I know most of us hate Mondays, since it seems to be one of the most hated days. So I've decided to try and do something that will bring a new perspective to your Mondays and the rest of your week! I figured that a review of a movie, book, television show, etc., would be the perfect way to kick off the beginning of a week and give you something new to look forward to at the end of the week (possibly, or maybe you'll hate what I'm reviewing, I don't control you!). So today I want to start with something that I've always loved; reading. That is right ladies and gentleman, I'm going to kick off by reviewing one of my favourite books recently  Now, I don't know if I like it all that much more because a new movie is coming out for it or if it is just the way that the author writes and tells the story, but it is truly one of my favourites! So drumroll please...

Just one of the most amazing books of all time. :)

Yes, that is right, The Book Thief  is currently the number one book on my list. I've found the best way to begin a review is to tell someone what the book was about before just delving into random facts and events that were completely moving. The book is set during the Second World War in Nazi Occupied Germany. I'm going to stop right there for a moment, since I have a feeling that I've lost a lot of you from the sheer boredom you must be worried about experiencing. Maybe it is just because I am a history major or maybe because I grew up reading books about this genre but I feel like it is severely typecast of sorts. This is a fictional story that follows the life of a young girl living in Germany at the time, that could have been any resident of the city. Therefore, I wouldn't classify it as your typical WWII kind of storyline.

Still got your attention? I hope so! So the main character of the book is a young girl, Liesel Meminger and her foster family. Liesel is not like other girls her age for the simple fact that she steals a number of books throughout the story, including from a book burning and the mayor's personal library. During the war, any kind of theft was punishable by death and was a constant risk. The story takes a turn when a Jewish man seeks safety in the basement of their home and befriends Liesel throughout his time there. I won't go and ruin the ending of the book for you, but it is one that you may or may not see coming. I sure didn't! 

One of the major things that I enjoyed about Markus Zusak's book would have to be the narrator of the story. It is an omnipresent Death-like character who tells the story from beginning to end, taking some notes from the book that Liesel herself begins writing the mayor's wife gives her an old notebook towards the end of the story. The way that Death is forever present and telling the story is a constant reminder that during that era it felt like at any moment he would arrive and take someone that you loved; that he was always there even if you couldn't see him right away. That sounds incredibly mournful but it is really just the best way that I can describe that feeling.

Secondly, I like that it isn't your traditional look at the Second World War. I enjoy the fact that it follows the life of a normal civilian that is being betrayed by her country as much as the rest of the world is. These people were just trying to lead a normal life and get their lives together following a number of tragic events, yet nothing would have prepared them for the war and you are able to see that from the arguments that take place and the mindset of a few minor characters. It is a refreshing look for someone who constantly reads biographies and more non-fiction then I probably should. Blame the history major in me I guess. 

I do have a major warning for anyone who reads the book however, you will become emotionally attached to the characters and will be glued to the pages of the book until it is finished. It is the kind of book that you become emotionally invested in and that you find yourself rooting for. The literary descriptions that flow throughout the book, from the way that Death talks about the characters or the description of the land all around them. It is honestly a beauty that I've rarely found in another book. When I was looking through reviews of the book I found one that truly stood out to me, "t's probably the first book I've read that makes me feel how I feel watching The Phantom of the Opera, if that helps explain it." (Shannon, Goodreads) That is truly the feeling that you experience and it is completely heart-wrenching all the way through!

So I hope this review wasn't terrible, I am really awful at trying to include all the information that I want to without sounding like I am repeating myself over and over again. It is an amazing book and is truly a work of art. If you have anything you'd like to see me review, let me know in the comments and I'll try and figure out a way to see/read/listen to it for two weeks from now! 

Cheers! x

-A (somelittlebirds)