Top 5 Thursday: Christian Bale Movies

Christian Bale is a fantastic actor. Not the happiest chuck, but very persuasive and real. Also an actor who will go all the way for a role. I enjoy watching him, his performance, his characters. I ranked my favorite movies for you. And probably surprising, but none of the Batman movies are on this list.

5. Equilibrium
I have seen this movie so many times, I stopped counting. It was compaired to "The Matrix" al lot, but (and please don't kill me), this one is so much better. I think it's just taste. I like the concept and the original fighting scenes this movie has.

4. The Machinist
Fascinating! You get all the answers at the end. Great performance by Christian, and this is one of these movies where he did everything to do the job right.

3. American Psycho
Another amazing performance, a real psycho. In the end you still don't really know if he really did it all or it was just in his head. Mindfuck!

2. The Prestige
Christian tops his co-star Hugh Jackman. Brilliant acting. And a nice twist in the end. I always like that.

1. Empire of the Sun
He was just a kid, but you could already see that this was going to be a big one. Thank God he wasn't just another childstar. This is such a beautiful movie.

They almost made the top 5: Rescue Dawn, 3:10 to Yuma, Batman Begins

Quotables: "Little Miss Sunshine"

I stated my love for this movie so many times already, that it’s almost embarrassing. For the people who haven’t seen it yet: what’s wrong with you? The movie is so filled with great moments. Full of joy, happiness, sadness and hilarity. And the characters are fantastic, all of them. Here are my favourite quotes from “Little Miss Sunshine”.

Frank: Good night Dwayne.
Dwayne: [scribbles on notepad] Don't kill yourself tonight.
Frank: Not on your watch Dwayne. I wouldn't do that to you.
Dwayne: [on notepad] Welcome to hell.
Frank: Thanks Dwayne. Coming from you that means a lot.

Dwayne: You know what? Fuck beauty contests. Life is one fucking beauty contest after another. School, then college, then work... Fuck that. And fuck the Air Force Academy. If I want to fly, I'll find a way to fly. You do what you love, and fuck the rest.

Pageant Assistant Pam: [Dwayne walks swiftly by] Are you authorized to be backstage?
Dwayne: [emotionless; without stopping] No.

Richard: Sarcasm is the refuge of losers.
Frank: [sarcastically] It is? Really?
Richard: Sarcasm is losers trying to bring winners down to their level.
Frank: [sarcastically] Wow, Richard, you've really opened my eyes to what a loser I am. How much do I owe you for those pearls of wisdom?
Richard: Oh, that ones on the house.

Grandpa: Listen to me, I got no reason to lie to you, don't make the same mistakes I made when I was young. Fuck a lotta women kid, not just one woman, a lotta women.

Olive: [takes off her head phones and grandpa suddenly puts a pauses to his ongoing swearing] What are you guys talking about?
Grandpa: Politics.

Weekly Photo Challenge 2013 - Theme # 9: Forks, Knifes & Spoons

This weeks theme.

It took me only one picture to capture this theme. It's funny, if you look closely you can even see my reflection in one of the spoons.

Movie Trailer Sunday (75)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Family Weekend
Description: The 16-year-old Emily Smith-Dungy (Olesya Rulin) is an incredibly motivated, overachiever, who has grown increasingly frustrated with her parents� lack of support and guidance. Her mom, Samantha (Kristen Chenoweth), is a career-focused, no-nonsense high powered business executive. Her dad, Duncan (Matthew Modine), is a happy go-lucky artist who can't be bothered to earn a paycheck. When they missed their daughter's big jump-roping competition, Emily hits her breaking point and takes it upon herself to restore order in the home. With the help of her siblings, they unite and take their parents hostage in hopes to become a family again.
Director: Benjamin Epps
Starring: Kristin Chenoweth, Olesya Rulin, Matthew Modine, Joey King, Chloe Bridges, Shirley Jones
Trailer: Trailer "Family Weekend"
Comment: When was the last time we saw Matthew Modine in something?

The Conjuring
Description: Before there was Amityville, there was Harrisville. Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) are world renowned paranormal investigators, who were called to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most horrifying case of their lives.
Director: James Wan
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor
Trailer: Trailer "The Conjuring"
Comment: Creepy....

Erased
Description: When ex-CIA agent Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) discovers that he and his daughter have been marked for termination as part of a wide-reaching international conspiracy, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse ensues as Logan tries to outsmart his hunters and uncover the truth.
Director: Philipp Stölzl
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Olga Kurylenko, Liana Liberato
Trailer: Trailer "Erased"
Comment: Jason Bourne meets "The Net" meets "Fair Game".

Disconnect
Description: A hard-working lawyer, attached to his cell phone, can't find the time to communicate with his family. A couple is drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online. A widowed ex-cop struggles to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate. An ambitious journalist sees a career-making story in a teen that performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today's wired world.
Director: Henry-Alex Rubin
Starring: Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgard, Max Thieriot, Colin Ford, Jonah Bobo, Haley Ramm
Trailer: Trailer "Disconnect"

Eden
Description: A young Korean-American girl, abducted and forced into prostitution by domestic human traffickers, joins forces with her captors in a desperate plea to survive.
Director: Megan Griffiths
Starring: Jamie Chung, Beau Bridges, Matt O'Leary
Trailer: Trailer "Eden"

In My Mailbox (86)

Six official postvards and one private card. The first postcard came from Grodno, Belarus. I don't know what this building is, I wish te sender would have written it on the card.

Sent: february 13th 2013
Received: february 25th 2013
Distance: 1,335 km (830 miles)
Travel Time: 12 days

From Hildesheim, Germany I got this really wonderful serene postcard with a lighthouse in the back. Beautiful card.

Sent: february 21st 2013
Received: february 25th 2013
Distance: 296 km (184 miles)
Travel Time: 4 days

This cute card came from Reims, France. This sweet family of penguins. It was a double card, I don't get them a lot but it's nice for a change.

Sent: february 22nd 2013
Received: february 25th 2013
Distance: 258 km (160 miles)
Travel Time: 4 days

This card is from a zoo in Singapore. Love the compilation of the different animals that can be seen in this zoo. Especially the orangutan.

Sent: february 3rd 2013
Received: february 26th 2013
Distance: 10,441 km (6,488 miles)
Travel Time: 23 days

From Krasnogarsk, Russia I received this old building. Again, don't know what this building is. It looks like a city hall or something for the government.

Sent: january 18th 2013
Received: february 28th 2013
Distance: 5,472 km (3,400 miles)
Travel Time: 41 days

My favorite of the week also came from Russia. Kaliningrad to be exact. I like hedgehogs a lot and this card is so nice. What a sweet little creature.

Sent: february 15th 2013
Received: february 28th 2013
Distance: 1,047 km (651 miles)
Travel Time: 13 days

And another private card from Anton from Gatchina, Russia.

Thanks Aleysa, Jutta, Veronique, Rachel, Olga, Nadya and Anton for your fantastic postcards this week!

50 Books Challenge 2013 Update - February

In the shortest month of the year I managed to read 4 books, so I did better then last month.

# 4. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - 3,5/ 5
# 5. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle # 1) - 3/ 5
# 6. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - 3/ 5
# 7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - 5/ 5
Average: 3,6

Favorite of the Month: Pride and Prejudice (Like that was a surprise)

So here's next month's theme:

I had this theme last year, which was amazing. So I thought, why not do it again. Most are sequels to the books I read last year in the Dystopian month. Excited!!

50 Books Challenge 2013 - # 7: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Story: When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.
Start: february 23rd 2013
End: february 28th 2013
Comment: I stopped counting, but I know I read this book many times already. It's my most beloved novel and I don't know where to begin with explainig why. I always had a weakness for historical romance, because secretly and deep inside I'm a hopeless romantic. The setting alone screams out the romance. Elizabeth is also my favorite book heroine and I love everything about her. She is strong, has her own will and opinion and doesn't just settle for a rich man. She actually wants to feel something, fall in love first. I think that's very normal, but in this time period it's important to marry well. Elizabeth thinks that's ridiculous. And Mr.Darcy.... In real life every woman is looking for her Mr. Darcy. Although he seems very arrogant and stuck up, Darcy is the most charming man. Jane is also a favorite. I like how she is so gentle and only wants to see the good in people. Along the way of rereading it, I was again filled with such good feelings of recognition. It's a joy to read this book, every single time. "Pride and Prejudice" is romance like it should be, full of wit and unforgetable moments. If you have never read it, shame on you!
Rating: 5/ 5