50 Books Challenge 2011 - # 54: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Story: Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?
Start: october 27th 2011
End: october 31st 2011
Comment: I don't like to admit it, but I can be a hopeless romantic if I'm in the right mood. Jane Austen books are perfect for those moments. In Jane Austen's time, young women were taught that it was practically their duty to 'marry well'. But if a woman turned down a suitor for being poor, she ran the risk of losing the man she loved. That's the problem for Anne Elliott, the heroine of Jane Austen's final novel. Many say that Anne was based on Austen herself. The message that "Persuasion" carries to follow your instincts and not let distractions and others persuade you otherwise. A message I believe in but it's really hard to execute. "Persuasion" isn't my favorite Austen novel, but I love it so much like all her books. She can carry you away with her stories.
Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (9)

This weeks trailers are about a mysterious key, Russian roulette, a Dr. Seuss story, the fourth installment of "Mission Impossible" and Angelina Jolie's directorial debut.

Hugo
Description: Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father (Jude Law) he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee and Emily Mortimer
Trailer: Trailer "Hugo"

13
Description: Vince Ferro is a man in desperate circumstances. While on a quick fix-it job, he steals an envelope containing instructions for a mysterious job that promises a potential fortune. He assumes a false identity and follows the instructions, only to find himself a numbered participant in an underworld Russian roulette competition, where gamblers place bets on who'll survive when the trigger is pulled. The stakes are high, but the payout is more than he can resist. Many are competing for the first time, and a precious few have even returned to play again, but are his odds any better than other players in this most deadly game? What will it take to be the last man standing?
Director: Gela Babluani
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Sam Riley, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Ray Winstone and Alexander Skarsgard
Trailer: Trailer "13"'

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
Description: a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
Director: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda
Starring: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Ed Helms and Betty White
Trailer: Trailer "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax"
Comment: I like Dr.Seuss' stories.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Description: The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this.
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg and Josh Holloway
Trailer: Trailer "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

In the Land of Blood & Honey
Description: Danijel (Goran Kostić) and Ajla (Zana Marjanović) are two people from different sides of a brutal ethnic conflict. Danijel, a soldier fighting for the Serbs, and Ajla, a Bosnian held captive in the camp he oversees, knew each other before the war, and could have found love with each other. But as the armed conflict takes hold of their lives, their relationship grows darker, their motives and connection to one another ambiguous, their allegiances uncertain.
Director: Angelina Jolie
Starring: Goran Kostíc and Zana Marjanovíc
Trailer: Trailer "In the Land of Blood & Honey"

Movie Moments: "The Notebook"

"The Notebook" is one of the best lovestories ever told. The book is great, so great I reread it this year. The movie is also beautiful and I have my favorite moments. Here they are.

Moment # 1: The carnival
Noah meets Allie for the first time. He falls for her right away. When he asks her to dance Allie says no but Noah doesn’t take no for an answer. When she’s in the ferris wheel with another guy, Noah jumps on the ride. He asks her to go out with him, while hanging on a bar with only one hand. His hand is slipping away so she agrees on going out with him. As a payback, Allie pulls down Noah’s pants while he’s still hanging on to the bar.

Moment # 2: Traffic lights
Noah tells Allie he used to watch the traffic lights change with his father, while lying on the street. Allie joins him and tells her about her passion: painting. Than Noah asks her to dance, in the middle of the road with no music playing.

Moment # 3: Allie meets Noah’s father
Allie visits Noah and she meets his father Frank. He likes her right away. Allie gives him a present, a painting she made herself. They start talking about poetry and Frank invities her for breakfast.

Moment # 4: “Say I’m a bird”
Allie and Noah are at the beach and she asks him if she could be a bird in another life. Noah tells her yes, but if she’s a bird, so is he.

Moment # 5: Windsor Plantation
Noah takes Allie to the Windsor Plantation. He tells her he wants to fix it up someday. Allie would want a white house, with blue shutters, a room overlooking the river so she can paint and a porch surrounding the house. While Allie starts playing the piano, they start kissing and want to have sex. They get naked, but decide to not go trough with it.

Moment # 6: Geese
Noah wants to take Allie somewhere to show her something. He takes her rowing and the place they visit is filled with geese. While sitting in the boat, Allie tells Noah he’s different, but also the same. When Noah and Allie are heading back, it starts to rain and all they can do is laugh,

Moment # 7: The kiss
Allie asks Noah why he never wrote her, because for her it wasn’t over. He tells her he wrote her one letter every day for a year and that it wasn’t over for him either. And it still isn’t. Than they kiss.

Moment # 8: Allie paints again
After staying with Noah for the night, Allie discovers a room overlooking the river, like she always wanted. She starts painting again, after a very long time.

Moment # 9: Allie makes her choice.
Lon is in town and knows about Noah. Allie has to make a decision, who she’s going to be with. She chooses Noah.

Moment 10: Allie remembers
Noah aka Duke has diner with Allie. She wants to know how the story ends. Than suddenly she remembers. The story was about them and she call him Noah. Unfortunately the moments doesn’t last long, because she soon mistakens him for a complete stranger again.

Favorite moment: Moment # 7: The kiss

Best of... Reese Witherspoon

Although I was never really a fan of Reese Witherspoon, I came to love her after seeing "Walk the Line". I like her more now and she did make some great movies through the years.

"Fear"
Her first big role, where she played a young girl who fell in love with Mark Wahlberg. He wasn't as sweet as he appeared. I admit that this isn't the best movie in the world, but very exciting and entertaining.

"Pleasantville"
At first I thought this was just a movie about two kids ending up in the TV world, but it had a far deeper meaning. It's a bit of a fairytale like story. Real good acting and the way it was filmed is just brilliant.

"Cruel Intentions"
A very intriguing story. It seems like another teen flick, but it goes further than that and goes beyond borders. It's about love, betrayal, seduction and deceit. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays the best part.

"Election"
"Election" is a very cynical comedy, just the way I like it. It's a modern day satire, very well performed by both Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon.

"American Psycho"
Probably the best one or her list. Christian Bale is responsible for making this film so fantastic. What I love the most is the ending, that you still don't really know if Patrick Bateman is a psycho or that it's just all in his head. Reese only has a minor role in it.

"Legally Blonde"
I didn't want to put it on this list, because I don't really love it that much. But "Legally Blonde" is just a no nonsense fun movie, a real no-brainer. And Reese is so over the top, she can totally get away with that.

"Sweet Home Alabama"
Just another romcom, I thought. But in this movie the girl doesn't go for the overall perfect and handsome man. No... she chooses the tough guy how does have flaws. Yes, not so cliché after all (maybe a little, because I could predict who she would end up with).

"Walk the Line"
Her best role so far and I don't know if she can ever top that. She played a fantastic role and she had perfect chemistry with Joaquin Phoenix. I love this movie, what a great story.

"Just Like Heaven"
I like this movie mostly because of Mark Ruffalo. He's so sweet, cute and charming in this movie. And he does look good together with Reese Witherspoon.

"Monsters Vs. Aliens"
I didn't think I would like it this much. It was a very funny animation and I especially loved Dr. Cockroach and B.O.B.

"Water for Elephants"
I have to admit that the books was really hard to top, so it was better than the movie. It did come close. I was sceptic about Robert Pattinson playing such a beloved character like Jacob, but he did a good job. Reese Witherspoon and especially Christoph Waltz did an even better job. While reading this book, I actually pictured Waltz as August and he wasn't even casted yet.

I can't wait to see "This Means War" where Tom Hardy and Chris Pine fight over Reese. Sounds awesome, trailer looked fun.

Top 5 Thursday: Favorite Male Doctors on “Grey’s Anatomy”

I hate going to the doctor or hospital. That's why my last appointment was... let's just say a very long time ago. But if we had doctors like the ones in "Grey's Anatomy" maybe I would go more often, haha. Here are my favorite male doctors from that show.

5. George O’Malley
George is just such a good hearted man, a great friend and a fantastic doctor and collegue. It broke my heart when he died, the sweetest doctor of Seattle Grace Hospital.

4. Alex Karev
When the show started, Alex was my guy. That changed after just a couple episodes because it turned out he was a douche. But even with the big mouth that Alex has, comes an even bigger heart. Even Alex has his soft side.

3. Derek Shepherd
I think he takes over the top spot on many lists, but unfortunately not mine. Off course this man is very handsome and extremely charming. Sometimes Derek is just too good to be true, but I started to like him more when I discovered some flaws. He really deserves that nickname: McDreamy.

2. Mark Sloan
Mark is a guy you just want to slap in the face because he’s so bad, but than you just want to kiss him too. Mark is irresistible and I normally hate the playboys. But come on ladies…. it’s Mark Sloan. And he’s become more responsible and caring ever since he became the father of Sofia. And I just can't forget that shower scene...

1. Jackson Avery
Jackson took over the top spot just recently. He’s not only the hottest guy on the show, but Jackson is a kind, gentle, sweet and caring man. Lexie Grey is the luckiest girl ever and the one with the best taste. She got to be with both number one and two.

They almost made the top 5: Owen Hunt

50 Books Challenge 2011 - # 53: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments # 1)

Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments # 1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Story: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....
Start: october 13th 2011
End: october 26th 2011
Comment: It was a birthday present and I really wanted to read this book because I heard so many good things about this series. And I'm really into the supernatural stories lately. I didn't know what to expect. We first meet Clary, an ordinary girl who doesn't know she's actually meant for something bigger. Sounds a bit like Harry Potter and for some reason she also reminded me of Katniss Everdeen. I didn't have the connection with Clary the way I did with both Harry and Katniss. Eventually I did, it took a while for me to really sympathize with her. Overall this book is very original, with the Shadowhunters and the entire world that is created by Clare. My favorite parts were the action sequenses. They were very fast paced and you just had to keep reading, especially the parts with the werewolves. I liked reading about all the supernatural creatures, which made me think of the TV show "Supernatural". Although this story takes place in a fictional world, the characters also deal with real-life problems. A missing mom, love triangles, friendship, betrayal. That made this book more realistic and not over-the-top. I will definitely continue the series, because I really enjoyed the first book.
Rating: 4/ 5

The Many Faces of... Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt was one of the hottest men in Hollywood and in fact... he still is. And this guy has so many different looks, that I had to make a selection. Here are some of Brad Pitt's movie looks.

Face # 1: Thelma & Louise
Role: J.D.
Comment: This role him famous. Thank God!!! Howdy, this is a good look for him.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 2: A River Runs Through It
Role: Paul Maclean
Comment: Brad kinda reminds me of a young Robert Redford in this movie. Redford also directed this movie, so maybe this where his thoughts too.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 3: Kalifornia
Role: Early Grayce
Comment: What a sleazeball, with the greasy hair. Not really my favorite Brad-look.
Rating: 2/ 5

Face # 4: True Romance
Role: Floyd
Comment: The second most lazy person ever (after the Dude). And not very bright either. But the look is OK though, I just don't want to knnow what he smells like...
Rating: 3/ 5

Face # 5: Interview with a Vampire
Role: Louis
Comment: Tom Cruise is somehow the better looking vampire. Brad is just too creepy, even when he's the 'good' vampire.
Rating: 2,5/ 5

Face # 6: Legends of the Fall
Role: Tristan
Comment: Yes! Probably my favorite look. He's like an adonis, sitting there looking all handsome. I just want to run my hands through his hair.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 7: Se7en
Role: Robert Mills
Comment: A very serious, solid look. I like it, a different Brad.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 8: Twelve Monkeys
Role: Jeffrey Goines
Comment: The reason he looks so weird in this movie is because he is. His character is a bit nuts.
Rating: 3/ 5

Face # 9: Seven Years in Tibet
Role: Heinrich Harrer
Comment: He looks like Barbie's boyfriend Ken. I hate the uber-blonde hair. It just doesn't suit him.
Rating: 2/ 5

Face # 10: Fight Club
Role: Tyler Durden
Comment: Funny looking clothes, but the rest is just fine.
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Face # 11: Snatch
Role: Mickey O'Neil
Comment: Definitely one of his weirder roles, not a very strange look though. He looks a bit chubby, but that doesn't matter. I like the hat and the beard.
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Face # 12: Troy
Role: Achilles
Comment: OK, this is the only reason I watched this terrible movie. Brad was half naked (and sometimes completely) 85% of the film. This look actually made me watch it a second time.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 13: Babel
Role: Richard Jones
Comment: The grey hair is kinda sexy. Some men can actually get away with that. They made him look really old, but I love this look.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 14: Burn After Reading
Role: Chad Feldheimer
Comment: His funniest role. And he did a good job portraying a gay man. Just the hair... a big NO. Role is awesome, look not so much.
Rating: 2,5/ 5

Face # 15: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Role: Benjamin Button
Comment: Many looks in this film, but this is the most memorable one. I said before that he looked good older, but this is too old.
Rating: 1/ 5

Face # 16: Inglourious Basterds
Role: Lt. Aldo Raine
Comment: He does this weird thing with his bottom lip, but overall his look is OK.
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (8)

This weeks trailers are about a struggling father, Sherlock Holmes, the war between China and Japan, Puss in Boots and Nicolas Sarkozy

The Descendants
Description: Matt King (George Clooney) is an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.
Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: George Clooney, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges and Matthew Lillard
Trailer: Trailer "The Descendants"

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Description: Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large - Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) - and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder�a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction, all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Fry and Rachel McAdams
Trailer: Trailer "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"
Comment: I loved the first one, so I'm definitely going to see this one.

The Flowers of War
Description: In 1937, Nanking stands at the forefront of a war between China and Japan. As the invading Japanese Imperial Army overruns China's capital city, desperate civilians seek refuge behind the nominally protective walls of a western cathedral. Here, John Miller (Christian Bale), an American trapped amidst the chaos of battle and the ensuing occupation takes shelter, joined by a group of innocent schoolgirls and thirteen courtesans, equally determined to escape the horrors taking place outside the church walls. Struggling to survive the violence and persecution wrought by the Japanese army, it is an act of heroism which eventually leads the seemingly disparate group to fight back, risking their lives for the sake of everyone. to run and nowhere to hide, fate always has a way of bringing the most unlikely heroes together.
Director: Yimou Zhang
Starring: Christian Bale
Trailer: Trailer "The Flowers of War"

Puss in Boots
Description: Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss In Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend... The Boots.
Director: Chris Miller
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zack Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thortnton
Trailer: Trailer "Puss in Boots"

The Conquest
Description: As the French people are getting ready to go to the polls to elect their new president, presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy (Denis Podalydès) has shut himself away in his home. Though Sarkozy soon learns he has won the election, he is alone, gloomy and despondent. For hours he has been trying to reach his wife, Cécilia, to no avail. The last five years start to unfurl before our eyes, recounting Sarkozy's unstoppable ascent to power, riddled with in-party backstabbing, media manipulation, riots, sarcastic confrontations and extra-marital affairs.
Director: Xavier Durringer
Starring: Denis Podalydès, Florence Pernel, Bernard Le Coq, Hippolyte Girardot
Trailer: Trailer "The Conquest"

Top 5 Thursday: Hottest Movie/ TV Vampires (male)

Vampires are a real hype and I never got that. But I do like a good vampire story (not the "Twilight" smuck off course). And there are a lot of famous actors who portrayed vampires in movies or on TV. Here are the sexiest male TV/ movie vampires.

5. David Boreanaz as Angel in “Angel” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
Most people loved the sight of Angel when he was just on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, so he got his own show. Although I never watched this show, Angel still deserves a place on this list.

4. Tom Cruise as Lestat in “Interview with the Vampire”
I normally prefer Brad Pitt over Tom Cruise. As an actor, as a person and because of the looks. But I think Tom is a better looking vampire than Brad. I think it’s because he’s so vicious and nasty.

3. Alex O’Loughlin as Mick St. John in “Moonlight”
What? “Moonlight”? Yeah, that other vampire show that was cancelled after just one season. Mick St. John, very memorable for me. Alex O’Loughlin is without a doubt one of the hottest men on TV right now, but “Moonlight” just didn’t get the succes it deserved.

2. Colin Farrell as Jerry Dandrige in “Fright Night” (2011)
I recently saw this remake in the cinema, in 3D. Not a big fan of Farrells acting, but together with “Phone Booth” and "In Bruges" this was one of the exceptions. And hell was Colin sexy in this one. He was simply irresitible and charming, although he was a very evil and brutal vampire.

1. Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore in “The Vampire Diaries
I stopped watching the show after one and a half season. Too much of the same and I just couldn’t understand Elena for chosing Stefan over Damon. I know, Damon is evil and a bit crazy, but that is so much more attractive than all the sweet vampires that don’t want to drink human blood. They are just sissies ; ) I like the evil ones, they have more character.

They almost made the top 5: Brad Pitt as Louis in “Interview with the Vampire” and Jason Patric as Michael Emerson in “The Lost Boys”.

Pic Spam: Elisabeth Harnois

As many of you already know, "CSI" has been my favorite show for years. Season 12 brought a lot of change, but is still looking good. My favorite change is bringing in character Morgan Brody, who recently even made it to my top 5 of favorite "CSI" characters. She's portrayed by Elisabeth Harnois and it's time for a pic spam dedicaded to her. Here are her best pictures.