Lists
Reviews
Images
Movies
TV Shows
DVDs
Music
Books
Games
Profile
Reviews by tartan_skirt
I enjoyed it
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 9 July 2008 12:54
(A review of Ye yan)This film is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, using the play as a basic framework with enough big changes to make it its own whilst still holding familiarity to the original idea. The main characters are almost all there, apart from the ghost and Horatio, the latter working out fine especially as he could have easily turned into a sidekick figure in the scheme of things. Moving away from the origins of the story, the cinematics were rather impressive. The fight and dance scenes were very well choreographed and articulated throughout, adding an artistic touch to a brutal story. The sets successfully helped provide the film with an aesthetic aspect also, especially seen in not only the physical scenery (just take a look at the cityscape at the coronation ceremony) but the lighting and colours too. Overall I rather liked the adaptation of the Western classic. A very aesthetically pleasing film with awesome fight scenes that don’t overpower the film itself, providing a good balance. My only qualm was the very end, as the question hangs in the viewer’s mind: Who? But if this is the only problem I had with the film then that’s a good thing really. I recommend this movie to fans of Asian cinema and anyone curious to see how the Hamlet adaptation went. Its worth a watch.  0 comments, Reply to this entry
A let down
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 9 July 2008 12:48
(A review of Wassup Rockers)Watching this movie I felt rather disappointed with Larry Clark and not entirely sure what he was doing, or try to do, rather. Wassup Rockers pales in comparison to both Kids and Bully (and I hope Ken Park also, which I have yet to watch at the time of writing this review), seeming much more strained and dull. In short, the film consists of a rather uninteresting storyline which picks up more and more forced scenarios. I kept thinking to myself, ok, when is the real story actually going to begin? And it never did. The only reason I would say this was actually worth watching is in comparison with his other works, otherwise I think this was a very average production, not at all up to Clark's usual standards. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
The Jungle Book
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 9 July 2008 12:46
(A review of The Jungle Book (Puffin Classics))I just read this for the first time because it was on the reading list for my second year Eng Lit course and I'm glad I did. I found it very interesting for a children’s story book, and it also makes you very aware that a lot of kids books these days barely touch upon deeper issues as works like these used to. Kipling's imperialist background shows through in the undertones of the work, making for an interesting work to read from both a storytelling perspective and that of a literary and historical study. Now to find the second collection of stories... 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Quotable goodness
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 9 July 2008 12:22
(A review of Aqua Teen Hunger Force)Now, at first I dismissed the show, but having been made to sit through every single episode (and the movie) by my friend at least five times apiece I've come to enjoy and rather like it. Sure, the humour can be crass and unusual, but watching it with someone who truly loves it makes the experience much better for all concerned, and the show has some excellent quotes to spout at random times. All that aside, I have come to appreciate the show. It has the random mayhem that so many great British comedies are praised for, just in a different manifestation. I am very aware that being British and having a penchant for home-grown comedies and wariness to a new breed of American cartoons and comedies makes me biased, but seeing some of the negative attitudes towards the show I can understand why people say they don't like it. My advice is thus: Lighten up and take it as another piece of absurd visual humour. You might just grow to like it. Tonight... You. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Hi, Dave? It's Dave here...
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 9 July 2008 12:19
(A review of Are You Dave Gorman?)Are You Dave Gorman? is a humour/travel/random book, and the result of a drunken bet between two men. And what a result. We as readers get to follow the eccentric adventures of Dave Gorman and Danny Wallace as they attempt to find "loads" of people named Dave Gorman, and as a consequence experience a multitude of highs and lows as they progress towards their goal. The way the book is written with dual narration from both men is highly entertaining and, I believe, a very successful means of telling the tale. Gorman and Wallace are no strangers to British comedy, being a comedian and journalist/comedian respectively, and thus the book is highly recommendable for fans of both British stand up comedy and writers such as Douglas Adams, Stephen Fry, and Terry Pratchett (though I don't think they are quite up to the standards of these three just yet). The book is funny and highly entertaining throughout, with a slight touch of seriousness thrown in just for the hell of it, and will leave the reader smiling at the end. :) 1 comments, Reply to this entry
Average cookbook for kids
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 9 July 2008 12:17
(A review of Kids' Cooking Step-by-step ("Australian Women's Weekly"))When my mum gave me this for Christmas I was slightly puzzled. At age 18 and living away from home and therefore cooking for myself I already know how to cook and generally don’t need a detailed step-by-step walkthrough on how to make scrambled eggs. (And I always wonder, why is it from the Australian Women’s Weekly?) As a childrens cookbook its not a bad start, though with my bias I still prefer my old copy of My First Cookbook (though it is aimed at a younger audience than this one). It is sad to see the use of the microwave become more prevalent over time though, and with recipes advising children to use the microwave this seems like a laugh in the face of older cooking methods (I’d rather melt chocolate over a pan of boiling water any day). Microwaved scrambled eggs just seems wrong to me. Looking at it from an older point of view I also noted the clichéd blonde freckled kids used in the example pictures, staring out with glee over their scrambled eggs and egg and bacon muffins. Slightly creepy, but maybe that’s just me. The recipes themselves are pretty standard enough, a couple of them being more or less copouts, even for a kid’s cookbook. Toasties filled with spaghetti from a can and sliced cheese really doesn’t require a recipe, and pre-packaged pizza bases are an outright cheat for something so easy. The layout is easy enough to follow and the language clear with pictures to illustrate. Also, for healthy minded parents this book does include quite a few vegetable and fruit-based recipes, featuring the avocado with strange frequency. Plus there is the ever-useful conversions chart in the back of the book. Eh, it’s alright, with a nice few ideas, mainly in the dinner section (but expecting a child to make a roast on their own is expecting a bit much by my standards), but its not really my kind of thing. Average at best. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Nice series
Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 27 March 2008 04:08
(A review of Ouran High School Host Club)I rather enjoyed watching Ouran High School Host Club this past week. Its a good shoujo series with an interesting storyline. Though this story tends to only emerge in the later episodes. There are quite a few loose ends however and a lot of details of the story left unsaid at the end, but this leaving to the viewers assumption is, I suppose, a working upon the ideas of the whole series. It is what you want it to be really. I will look into reading the manga series which this was based on at some point. I'm hoping that since it is an on-going manga series it won't just leave off where the anime does, since it would be nice to see an expansion on the character development already set up. I recommend this for anyone looking for a good, happy, semi-romance series. It does contain some hints of yaoi but not in a serious way, more playing on the fantasy/idea of yaoi. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Good debut
Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 27 March 2008 03:37
(A review of No Fireworks)I bought this book because the author is one of my friend's tutors for Scottish Lit and gave a talk for one of our societies (which I attended). He was talking about this (his first book to be published), his upcoming biography of Alasdair Gray, and briefly about his future novel. No Fireworks is a decent enough first novel. Glass's writing style has a slight awkwardness to it still and there were a couple of small instances where the editing could have been a little better, but nothing that made a great hindrance to my overall enjoyment of the storyline, which was worked quite well. I'm definately looking forward to his biography of Alasdair Gray, and will probably pick up his next novel if the fancy takes me in the future. Just needs a little more development of his writing and then he'll be on track. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Only Yesterday review
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 29 September 2007 02:26
(A review of Only Yesterday)Only Yesterday (Omohide poro poro) is quite a mature anime aimed at the josei audience (females from late teenage years to later), according to Wikipedia. It has a very heartfelt story that isn't usually found in animated form, but Studio Ghibli adds its own touch of magic to it without straying from reality. Unlike many other Ghibli films, this one isn't really for kids. It deals with more mature ideas that wouldn't necesarily be unsuitable for children, but they may not find it that interesting. Long periods of silence in the dialogue also highlight this, but for an older viewer it is a lovely piece of film. A wonderful film from Ghibli, unlike much of their other films from both before and after. A definite watch for fans to see what the Studio is capable outside of fantasy. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Great sewing/knitting book
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 12 September 2007 07:17
(A review of Yeah, I Made It Myself: DIY Fashion for the Not Very Domestic Goddess)From the title I knew this was a book for me (I’m turning into the granny from Goodness Gracious Me sketches who thinks she can make anything herself with a sensible list of ingredients and a smaaaaall aubergine. Watch the show then you’ll get it). I was planning on buying it for myself with birthday money but I received it from a friend who did not know that I wanted it, so all is good. Yeah! I Made It Myself is a craft book with some basic sewing patterns for dresses, skirts and bags (though sadly no trousers), main knitting techniques and a couple of patterns, and generally a good introduction for digging in charity shops for fabric to recon. I think that it probably isn’t the best choice for an absolute beginner, some general knowledge of crafting and creating should be present already to really be able to use the book to it’s full potential. That said, it wouldn’t be much use to someone who already knows what is what in sewing and knitting. I know what I’ll be making from the book: I have already searched out some handles for “A Lovely Old Lady Bag” and have attempted to make my own knitted collar already. It is full of fun projects graded by difficulty and I’m sure crafters out there will love this one. It is definitely good to see a decent British craft book out and I recommend it to those of you who have a starting interest in crafting and making your own clothing and bags to show off your creativity. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
|
