Between the Covers: Stories from My Bookcase

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Twilight, the movie version

On Tuesday, we finally saw the movie that both Alfred and I have been waiting for. We had a nice, filling  lunch at House of Minis, also in Greenhills, right before the screening.

I felt that there are many aspects in which it could have been improved, but as it is, it wasn't all that bad. In fact, I wouldn't mind watching it again, and again. And again.

First, I didn't really like the makeup. They're all supposed to look gorgeous, perfect, god-like. Instead, they looked like hell. Except Emmet, and Victoria (didn't she look prettier than Rosalie?). Jasper and Alice were a bit of a disappointment, not to mention Rosalie who was supposed to be the yardstick for beauty herself. But as the movie progressed, they did grow on me and I was able to get past the bad makeup.

Bellas's voice. Okay, I had seen the trailer before so I was prepared to see the movie Bella and reconciled her to a smaller version I had seen in my mind while reading the books. But when I heard her speak, she felt more different to me. She looked and sounded stronger than the Bella in Twilight, the book. She was the inner Bella, you know what I mean? Meyer made her look fragile at first, one who needed protection - there was none of that in the movie version. It was like Edward's need to protect her was unfounded. Hehe.

And where was Edward's confidence and air? He looked the opposite of the confident young man I pictured him to be. He was always hunched over, even while walking.

They did an awesome job with the sunny sparkly scene. I think that was what I wanted to see the most. Hehe.

The movie was too short, in my opinion. Too short to really show the rest of the world who didn't read the book, why millions have been hooked to the saga.

Anyway... We caught an early screening on a weekday so there weren't a lot of people in the cinema. There was a group of elderly ladies who sat beside us. There were about four of them. Alfred and I looked at each other as they entered. We were wondering whether they had read the books, or had daughters/granddaughters who did. They quietly watched; in fact, I think Alfred and I were the noisiest in there.

So have you seen it? What do you think of it?

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Sophie Kinsella - The Undomestic Goddess

I finished a book on my one day off - Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess.



Samantha Sweeting is really something. She was at the top of her game and then the whole world crashes down on her. She makes rash decisions, but those eventually lead to her happiness.

I want to be like her. :)

No, not to become a housekeeper, but to learn all that stuff and actually enjoy it - cooking, and cleaning. I've never been much of a domestic myself. I know how to clean up around the house and I can find my way in the kitchen (I bake, don't I?) but to do them really really well and to enjoy it too? Hmm...

Nah, that's not really it. I want to be free like her, to finally find the life she can be truly happy with. Don't get me wrong, I am happy as it is. But sometimes, I still think about leaving my job behind and doing something completely different. Work isn't as stressful as Sam's lawyering, but it is busy. And lately, there's absolutely no "just be" time at work. No one's imposing that I don't take my breaks, but with the volume of things that need to be done - I can't help but forget to go on break. Haha.

Anyway, if you enjoyed Kinsella's writing in the Shopaholic series, then you'll like this one too. It's very easy and light reading (specially compared to Les Miz - which I still haven't finished). It's a bit too good to be true, like would things like this happen in real life? But that's the wonder of books - anything can happen.

The book had a very light approach to the debate on where women belong - at work or at home. It wasn't imposing for either side. I guess what it did was come across to let women know that ultimately, it is their choice. Samantha was brought up to look forward to just one goal - to build a career at law and be the best in that field. She owned that dream and her whole life revolved in making it happen.

An unfortunate event yanked her out from that life. She went into shockand acted in panic. And though there could have been so many bad situations she could have found herself in as a result, it was the Geigers and Lower Ebury that actually saved her.

She really did sound like a woman coming out from a bad relationship - someone who needed healing. And what a great rehab she found! Iris, who was like a mom to her, did not just teach her to cook, but taught her how to taste, and feel.

Sometimes I feel like novels like this shouldn't include a hunk of a man, so that there's no confusion about what drives the heroine to the choice she makes. Would she really have chosen her new life had there been no Nathaniel?

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net