MOVIE REVIEW: The Great Gatsby

businessinsider.com

„The Great Gatsby“ is like this person you meet and you want to be friends with the person so badly cause she’s so good looking but it seems like there will be nothing more than small talk between you. Seeing this person from afar made you have big expectations, but you have to admit being handsome or beautiful is just not it.

The cinematography of this film is absolutely breathtaking. The sets are stunning, not only because the 20ies have been very well transferred to the big screen but also because everything takes place entirely in NEW YORK City of course. That makes looking at it a treat. Reading the cast, I was also convinced that I would not be disappointed here, which I certainly wasn’t – apart from the point that I really think Leonardo DiCaprio starts looking old and used (!). How sad!

For me, the highlight of the film was the music. Featuring artists such as the wonderful Lana del Rey, Kanye West, will.i.am, Emeli Sandé, Sia and even Nero, I really loved how the modern sound was combined with the old-fashioned, picturesque scenery. [Chanting “Young And Beautiful” until this day!]

However: In all the flashy lights, stunning gowns and mind-blowing sets, the movie failed to move me on a higher level. I was fine with everything that happened. I didn’t feel an overload of sympathy for anyone in particular, neither could I identify with any of them. That doesn’t mean there were no scenes that I thought were great, but it means content-wise I was never convinced. That with an excessive over-length made me question why Moulin Rouge director NEVER learns form the mistakes of his previous movie! Bummer! 3 stars for everything glittery, shiny and gorgeous to look at! 

 

BOOK REVIEW: "The Prisoner of Heaven" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

image via

I’ve heard a lot of praise for the works of Carlos Ruiz Zafón from friends who have read his books. “The Prisoner of Heaven” was picked up by chance at an airport, mostly because I was intrigued by the description on the back.

“The secret World of the Cemetery of Forgotten books, hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona... a novel full of creaking trapdoors, a novel where even the subplots have subplots.”

This pretty much sums up what this story is about. But first of all I have to honour the author’s style which is impeccable, captivating & simply a delight to follow through all the pages. In times where all those “Twilights” & “Shades of Grey” dominate the bestseller list, this book is like a breath of refreshing spring air.

With about 280 pages it’s a quick read but the author still manages to envelop you in the magical atmosphere of the story. Set in Barcelona, you almost feel yourself sitting on a park bench of that exact city and reading the book there. In a short description - the book is intriguing, with quite a few twists & turns and extremely atmospherical.
By the time you reach the ending, you have probably managed to build a close connection with the main characters, so that the final outcomes are heart touching.
My judgement consists of 4 out of 5 stars, so just a minor reduction for some parts which weren’t as exciting as the rest and most of all because I’m not such a fan of open endings :)

OUTFIT DU JOUR: [Flashback]

Here's an outfit of last August that has never been posted! It marked the end of summer and looks like fall and I'm posting it now in spring :)

Hair was black back then, skin tanned and mood happy! The photos are shot close to where Veronika lives!

Right now, I'm busy doing my finals at university here in Vienna and can easily say I've never had as much to do! I hope y'all can enjoy this beautiful season more excessively than me, having to sit indoors and write my diploma thesis.

Never mind, enjoy the outfit and forgive the rare postings :) For more updates, follow me and also Veronika on instagram (see box on the left side!) or like our Facebook page! Have a good one you all!

 Blazer: Vintage

Tee: Desigual

Pants: H&M

Shoes: American Eagle

Sunnies: Forever 21

Accessories: Topman

MOVIE REVIEW: "OZ - The Great and Powerful"

image via

My expectations for this film were kind of dismal, as I watched it ONLY for its female actors! What a casting coup. Academy Award nominated people and a seemingly stunning fictional world tore lots and lots of people to the cinemas to watch this movie, which is a kind of a prequel to the actual Oz-story. "Somewhere over the Rainbow" is NOT featured in the film, as its rights are held by Warner. ;)

The movie is not boring. However, some parts seemed very long to me, especially in comparison to some very racy parts. Mila Kunis doesn’t seem to fit the role of Theodora quite well, however, after changing into a witch she pulls off her thing remarkably, screaming a lot. Rachel Weisz is over-qualified and SO is Michelle Williams. Just having won a Golden Globe, I can’t seem to understand why she’s signing a role she only has to smile and chirr for? And James Franco looks strangely old in this one, which irritates from time to time.

Visually this movie convinced me on every possible level! 3D worked out fine I admit. What irritated me the most, however, was that the whole movie didn’t seem to find its tonality. For a children’s movie too brutal and dramatic, for an adult film way too childish. Thank God every single joke of Zack “monkey Finley” Braff was a big laugh!

 

PHOTO POST: insta memories {4}

Spring has finally arrived here in Vienna and it couldn't feel more like a blessing after what feels like the longest winter ever! So here's a little insight of how the past few days have been spent, mostly marvelling over the sunny days, the first spring flowers and enjoying some yummy meals - as usual ;)

sunrises in the morning // celebrating Felix's birthday

breakfasts during the weekend // fell in love with this chandelier at an art exhibition

first spring time flowers // my hair is getting shorter & shorter

architecture in vienna on a sunny & a cloudy day :)

treats while going to see movies at the cinema // yet another sunrise from my balcony at home ^^

studying outside in the nature for the first time // the Zurich lake during a trip to Switzerland

magical looking hallways in Zurich // table setting for a family dinner on Easter Sunday

sunset over the fairy-tale-looking houses Zurich // on the way in the car with rolled down windows, thats's the definite sign for me that spring has arrived :D 

ALBUM REVIEW: "Halcyon" by Ellie Goulding

http://cdn.idolator.com

I’ve been a fan of hers ever since her first album came out which I thought was absolutely incredible with songs like “Guns And Horses”, “Starry Eyed” and “Every Time You Go”. Looking forward to her concert on April 25^th, here’s a review of what I think about Ellie Goulding’s second outing!

The first song “Don’t Say A Word” seems like an intro song to me as it lacks a chorus. It doesn’t really stay in mind. “My Blood” is already the highlight of the album – what an extraordinary track you just can’t get it out of your head. “Anything Could Happen” might be the most popular song, I hear it in commercials and TV-shows ALL the time! Its mood is quite catchy. “Only You” is certainly not my favorite, as I think it comes across quite annoying, though it improves with time. The title track “Halcyon” is what I expect from an Ellie Goulding album; breathtaking. “Figure 8” is the last highlight, a dub-step sounding song that completely manages to get your body shakin’.

“Joy”, “Explosions” and “Hanging On” have nice melodies, but you forget about them easily. “Atlantis” is cool, having an unusual edge to it, the last one “Dead In The Water” is pleasant to listen to. I’m not incredibly impressed by Ellie Goulding’s second one, as the first one was so path-breaking. She certainly stayed true to her style and tries out new things in terms of sound and voice-mixing and still, all songs are nice to listen to, but “Halcyon” in general is less groovy and lacks a chartbuster like “Lights”! Can’t wait for the concert though and, hey, it’s still Ellie Goulding!

 

OUTFIT DU JOUR: [22.03]

The Viennese Belvedere garden is stealing the show on these pictures! Veronika and I are enjoying our Easter holidays; right now, she's off to beautiful Zürich (safe travels!) while I'm stuck here writing my diploma thesis in order to finish my last semester in Vienna. Next semester I'll be off to England where it's hopefully not gonna be as frosty for such a long time-span.

This will quite surely be our last winter outfit we post, i hope you like it even though my color scheme is normally a bit lighter, as you know. It was terribly cold when we shot this and it still is, with April knocking at our doors. By my birthday it had better be warm, that's my one demand.
All you have NICE Easter Holidays or Spring Break or whatever it may be! ;)

Jacket: Zara

Pants: Zara

Shoes: Topman

Sweater: Review / Peek&Cloppenburg

Bag: Asos

MOVIE REVIEW: "Silver Linings Playbook"

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/

I know, by now the movie’s name is just “Silver Linings” but I went for the original name, that came before all this Acadamy Award craze surrounding the film that I thought was completely inappropriate. I saw this a while ago and thought it was a nice movie with witty scenes. However, then I got to know it was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and was happy I saw it without expectations.

Nominated for the BIG 5 as well as EVERY acting category, one must expect a brilliant, surprising, fantastic event. But what’s left is a film as simple as can be that is saved by its charm. The contents dealing with psychological disorders is quite funny especially as everyone in the film seems to have one. The dance competition in the end is quite nice. Jennifer Lawrence’s acting is superb and she was given an Academy Award win (congrats!). But what is left? 

Apart from the Best Directing category (!) where it replaced films like Argo or Les Miserables, it was also acknowledged in the Screenplay category as well as the Editing category. I’m asking myself what was so special about the editing of this film. Also, the nominees for Bradley Cooper and Jackie Weaver seemed out-of-the-world to me. Something there went wrong. Apart from that: GOOD movie. Fun. Some nice scenes. Enough for 3 stars. :)