Movie Trailer Sunday (72)

This weeks trailers are about writers, a father trying to keep his newborn daughter safe, a teenage assassin in training, a wman trying to figure out the truth about Salem and soldiers trying to survive the cold.

Writers
Description: Novelist Bill Borgens (Greg Kinnear) has been struggling to keep it together since his wife Erica (Jennifer Connelly) left him for a younger man three years earlier. Instead of working on a new book, he obsesses about his ex, spies on her and her new husband while pretending to be jogging and insists that their 16 year-old son, Rusty, set a place at the Thanksgiving table for Erica every year, even though she never comes. This Thanksgiving, their 19-year-old daughter Samantha comes home from college with momentous news: her first novel has been accepted for publication. Bill is both thrilled, since he has been raising both his children to be writers since birth, and chagrined, since she wrote the book without any help from him. But when he suggests that Sam share her good news with Erica, she balks, refusing to have anything to do with the woman she believes betrayed her father. Deeply wounded by her mother's departure, Sam has constructed a wall between herself and love. She pursues only one-night stands and uncommitted hookups to protect herself from being hurt. When her classmate Lou tries to initiate a real relationship with her, she ridicules him and leaves before she has to reveal that he has touched her. When Lou stops coming to the writing seminar they both attend, Sam tracks him down and follows him to the hospital where his mother lies dying. Not even cynical Sam can resist Lou's gallantry in the face of tragedy. Meanwhile, Rusty is just the kind of guy his sister abhors - romantic, needy and hoping to rescue a damsel in distress. He gets his chance when beautiful Kate, the secret crush he dedicates his poetry to, has a fight with her abusive boyfriend, and he steps in. Soon Rusty and Kate are inseparable, but he is so blinded by love that he is unable to see how seriously troubled she really is.When Erica attends a launch event for Sam's book, she is devastated by her daughter's rejection. As the Borgens family reopens old wounds and inflicts some new ones, Kate spins out of control. It will take all of their considerable resources to save her, but they will have to put aside their grudges in order to do so.
Director: Joshua Boone
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Kristen Bell, Logan Lerman, Nat Wolff, Liana Liberato, Rusty Joiner, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Stephen King
Trailer: Trailer "Writers"
Comment: It's about time for Jennifer Connelly to return to the big screen, in a movie with an actual good plot.

Hours
Description: After Hurricane Katrina ravages New Orleans, a man is trying to keep his newborn daughter safe in the hospital.
Director: Eric Heisserer
Starring: Paul Walker
Trailer: Trailer "Hours"
Comment: It looks like Paul Walker is ACTING!

Final Girl
Description: Loner Veronica (Abigail Breslin) is new to school, shy and vulnerable, the perfect target for a group of teenage boys who lure girls into the woods to hunt and kill them for sport. It's only after they get her alone that she turns the tables on them, escaping and revealing she's armed and knows how to defend herself. Little do they know, Veronica is an assassin-in-training, and she's chosen killing these boys as her final test. When the dust clears, Veronica will find out if she can be the final girl these boys ever have a chance to hurt.
Director: Tyler Shields
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley, Alexander Ludwig, Michael Trevino, Francesca Eastwod
Trailer: Trailer "Final Girl"
Comment:I don't know what to say, but I'm sharing this because I love Abigail Breslin.

The Lords of Salem
Description: Heidi (Sheri Moon Zombie) is a radio station DJ living in Salem, Massachusetts, who receives a strange wooden box containing a record, a "gift from the Lords." Heidi listens, and the bizarre sounds within the grooves immediately trigger flashbacks of the town's violent past. Is Heidi going mad, or are the "Lords of Salem" returning for revenge on modern-day Salem?
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davidson, Jeffrey Daniel Phillips, Ken Foree, Patricia Quinn, Dee Wallace, Maria Conchita Alonso, Judy Gleeson, Meg Foster, Griffin Boice
Trailer: Trailer "The Lords of Salem"

Into the White
Description: At the beginning of World War II, a hostile chance encounter in the skies above the harsh Norwegian wilderness leaves two aircraft-one British, one German-shot down in a remote and isolated region. By strange coincidence, the crews seek shelter in the same cabin. They must battle to survive the brutal winter in order to get back to the war, and to fighting one another. Although war has made them enemies, as the days go by, animosity proves hard to maintain. Mutual need leads to unlikely friendships, and the rules of war must be put aside.
Director: Petter Næss
Starring: Rupert Grint, David Kross, Stig Henrik Hoff, Florian Lukas, Lachlan Nieboer
Trailer: Trailer "Into the White"

In My Mailbox (83)

I got some amazing postcards this week. Seven officials and one private swap. The first is already great. This polar bear postcard is just breathtaking. It's from Jyväskylä, Finland. And the senders are two dogs, funny right.

Sent: january 31st 2013
Received: february 5th 2013
Distance: 1,713 km (1,064 miles)
Travel Time: 5 days

This really funny and colorful frog postcard came from Delft, the Netherlands. The sender has the same problem as me. Sometimes you put such an effort in picking out the perfect card for someone and some people just send those free cards. I'm glad that this sender isn't one of those people.

Sent: february 4th 2013
Received: february 5th 2013
Distance: 144 km (89 miles)
Travel Time: 1 day

From St. Petersburg, Russia I got this amazing fall card. She bought the card in her favorite bookstore and when she saw this postcard she immediatly thought it would be perfect for me. I send her a card in return, because she wants to exchange cards and letters as well.

Sent: january 17th 2013
Received: february 5th 2013
Distance: 1,800 km (1,118 miles)
Travel Time: 19 days

I think that this is my favorite of the week. A killerwhale card can always me me happy. Specifically chosen for me byt the sender from Düsseldorf, Germany.

Sent: february 1st 2013
Received: february 5th 2013
Distance: 56 km (35 miles)
Travel Time: 4 days

From Kiev, Ukraine I got this fantastic bear postcard. Simply wonderful! The sender is a fan of Harry Potter too. As a thank you I send her a postcard as well and maybe in the future we will send each other more postcards or even letters.

Sent: january 30th 2013
Received: february 5th 2013
Distance: 1,722 km (1,070 miles)
Travel Time: 6 days

This gorgeous horse came from Modena, Italy. This is my second card from Italy. The sender didn't write a lot on the back, but a great card like this speaks for itself.

Sent: january 30th 2013
Received: february 7th 2013
Distance: 816 km (507 miles)
Travel Time: 8 days

This cute postcard from Cherkasy, Ukraine also didn't have a lot of writing on the back. But again, this sweet squirrel is forgiven. Lovely isn't it?

Sent: january 29th 2013
Received: february 9th 2013
Distance: 1,857 km (1,154 miles)
Travel Time: 11 days

And this card came from Gatchina, Russia. This guy send me a card before, but he was so happy with my reaction to his card that he decided to send me another. Nice right! So I send him a postcard in return. That's the least I can do.

Thanks Blue & Loki, Elize, Kristina, Norbert, Katherine, Gabriele, Alex and Anton for you great postcards!!

50 Books Challenge 2013 - # 4: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Title: Les Misérables
Author: Victor Hugo
Story: It is among the best-known novels of the 19th century. It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a twenty year period in the early 19th century that includes the Napoleonic wars and subsequent decades. Principally focusing on the struggles of the protagonist—ex-convict Jean Valjean—who seeks to redeem himself, the novel also examines the impact of Valjean's actions for the sake of social commentary.
Start: february 1st 2013
End: february 8th 2013
Comment: I saw the musical years ago and I recently saw the movie, starring Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe and Anne Hathaway. When reading this book, there were a lot of moments of recognition. Characters I know from the musical, scenes I know by heart and parts that make me cry, just like when I saw it in theatres. I just missed the songs. The story is beautiful, very dramatic and heavy. Never boring. As for the characters, Eponine has always been my favorite. I never got why Marius never saw her, the way she saw Marius. I also don't get how it's possible that after just one glance of Cosette he can already not live without her. Jean Valjean is an amazing protagonist, running from his past but it always haunts him. He has a good heart and doesn't mean any harm. Javert is a great antagonist. He doesn't stop untill he gets his hands on Jean Valjean. "Les Misérables" is a good book, better then it's 2013 film version, but I prefer the musical.
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Animated Disney Movies (No Pixar)

I love Disney, everything that has to do with Disney. I listed my five favorite Pixar movies and Pixar characters, but I never made a top 5 of my favorite animated movies by Disney (Pixar not included). So here they are.

5. Bambi

This movie starts very depressing and sad, but it's one the most beautiful Disney movies ever made. And Thumper, OMG how cute.

4. The Rescuers Down Under

I've seen this movie too many times, but I have to rewatch it again! It's been to long. Fun characters, like Frank and Wilbur. I enjoy this film every single time.

3. 101 Dalmatians 

Puppies, lots of puppies. This movie made some different artistic choices, which didn't make Disney happy at first. But those artistic choices difference "101 Dalmatians" from the rest. With that I just love the dogs as well as the leading humans Anita and Roger. And Cruelle De Vil is a flamboyant villain.

2. The Lion King

I remember seeing this in the theatre when I was invited to a birthday party. A jawdropping movie experience I can tell you! I actually saw this movie in theatres again last year, when it was rereleased in 3D. And everytime I cry when Mufasa dies.

1. Beauty and the Beast

I don't think it will ever leave the top spot. When I saw this movie for the first time, I was a fan. I wanted to have everything from that movie, I wanted to be Belle and I sang every song every day. It's an amazing movie!

They almost made the top 5: The Jungle Book, Oliver & Company, Lady and the Tramp, Brother Bear

Weekly Photo Challenge 2013 - Theme # 5: Mugs

The theme was a little harder then I thought. i have so many mugs, but I choose the one with the best color sheme.

I think it looks really nice. Green is THE color (with grey) in my house. And the Mike Wazowski mug at the end, is my favorite!

Movie Trailer Sunday (71)

This weeks trailers are about vampires, a magic teapot, an emperor, a haunted house and two couples reuniting.

Byzantium
Description: Two mysterious women seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort. Clara (Gemma Arterton) meets lonely Noel, who provides shelter in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Schoolgirl Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) befriends Frank and tells him their lethal secret. They were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood. As knowledge of their secret spreads, their past catches up on them with deathly consequence.
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Sam Riley, Jonny Lee Miller, Caleb Landry Jones, Danny Mays
Trailer: Trailer "Byzantium"

The Brass Teapot
Description: John and Alice live in small-town America in its 20s, married, very much in love, and broke. Once voted "most likely to succeed," Alice struggles to make ends meet while her friends enjoy the good life. Her husband John, neurotic and riddled with phobias, just wants to get the bills paid. But an accident leads them to a roadside antique shop where Alice is spontaneously drawn to a mysterious brass teapot. It isn't long before they realize that this is no ordinary teapot and that perhaps they have found the answer to all of their financial problems.
Director: Ramaa Mosley
Starring: Juno Temple, Michael Angarano, Alexis Bledel, Billy Magnussen, Alia Shawkat, Bobby Moynihan, Stephen Park, Debra Monk
Trailer: Trailer "The Brass Teapot"

Emperor
Description: As General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture - General Bonner Fellers (Matthew Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the country: should the Japanese Emperor, worshiped by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved?
Director: Peter Webber
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew Fox
Trailer: Trailer "Emperor"

Dark Circles
Description: When new parents Alex and Penny (Jonathan Schaech, Pell James) retreat from the city and move into a place outside town, the stress and massive sleep-deprivation caused by their infant has both of them seeing things in the house that may or may not exist. Persistent sightings of a strange woman has each of them wondering if they are suffering from hallucinations, or if their new home holds a dark, supernatural presence. As their fragile grasp on reality spirals into delirium, Alex and Penny find themselves nearly helpless to deal with the horrific truth of what is really going on in this house.
Director: Paul Soter
Starring: Pell James, Jonathan Schaech, Jennifer Foreman and Andrea Frankle
Trailer: Trailer "Dark Circles"
Comment: They always creep me out, but I like movies about haunted houses.

Between Us
Description: Two couples meet as old friends and discover their lives are tarnished by money, sex, success and children.
Director: Dan Mirvish
Starring: Julia Stiles, Taye Diggs, Melissa George, David Harbour
Trailer: Trailer "Between Us"
Comment: Always liked Julia. Sad that her movies don't get the attention anymmore.

In My Mailbox (82)

After only one card last week, I had five postcards in my mailbox this week. The first postcard I received this week came from Istanbul, Turkey. The girl who send it was only a couple months old and her mother is collecting postcards for her. Isn't that amazing?

Sent: january 19th 2013
Received: january 28th 2013
Distance: 2,092 km (1,300 miles)
Travel Time: 9 days

This postcard is just so great, so unique, nothing like all the other cards I've received. I think it's wonderful. It's from Guangzhou, China.

Sent: january 18th 2013
Received: january 29th 2013
Distance: 9,157 km (5,690 miles)
Travel Time: 11 days

This touristic card came from Menaam, the Netherlands and it's from a part of our country I really never want to visit. I don't know why, but the people have a weird dialect there. So do we, but it sounds more logical. I do like all the green in this card.

Sent: january 27th 2013
Received: january 29th 2013
Distance: 225 km (140 miles)
Travel Time: 2 days

This one came frome Kiev, Ukraine. A mapcard, with the colors of their flag.

Sent: january 16th 2013
Received: january 29th 2013
Distance: 1,722 km (1,070 miles)
Travel Time: 13 days

This adorable hedgehog came from Minsk, Belarus. I especialy like the blush on the cheeks, looks like me a bit, haha.

Sent: january 23rd 2013
Received: january 31st 2013
Distance: 1,486 km (923 miles)
Travel Time: 8 days

From Bingen am Reihn, Germany I received this buddha postcard. Very serene. Love the contrast.

Sent: january 28th 2013
Received: january 31st 2013
Distance: 191 km (119 miles)
Travel Time: 3 days

This is my favorite of the week. Lovely squirrel from Aberdeen, Great-Brittain. Send by a man!

Sent: january 28th 2013
Received: january 31st 2013
Distance: 846 km (526 miles)
Travel Time: 3 days

Today I could add a card to my US state map collection. I didn't have one from New Mexico yet. It's from Albuquerque. I love the colors in this card.

Sent: january 24th 2013
Received: february 2nd 2013
Distance: 8,407 km (5,224 miles)
Travel Time: 9 days

Thanks Eylul, Elice, Martha, Veronika, Mary, Natasha & Deshawn, Keith and Elżbieta for your postcards.