MOVIE REVIEW: "Life of Pi"

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Every once in a while there is a movie that manages to stay in my mind forever. The last movie which managed that was “The Help”. I feel the need to watch it once a month, but I don’t do so, so it doesn’t get boring. Instead, I listen to the soundtrack 24/7. Life of Pi’s trailer didn’t move me at all, I thought it was a tribute to nature. Ang Lee’s movies were never my favorites and the novel’s contents didn’t take me to the book store either. Veronika dragged me to the movie theater and TADA I was impressed already after the opening credits.

Of course, in all technical respects, the movie is fantastic. It is brilliantly made, the best of the best managed to make the unreal scenario look real and stun us every 5 minutes. Thank God, the movie was acknowledged at this year’s Academy Awards with lots of nominees, mostly of technical nature. Let’s see how many “Life of Pi” actually wins, being rather the underdog at this year’s ceremony, probably.

The soundtrack was already acknowledged at the Golden Globes, it won! In my opinion, it is one of the best soundtracks of the least few years. It reminded me oddly of Titanic, a fact that I loved. However, what makes the movie so fascinating: it’s the contents. What a thrilling series of events. You can’t look away from the screen as everything happening is just so extraordinary. The end left me incredibly moved. I was so fascinated by the story that I had just been told, that I had to watch it again just a week later!

Let this movie win tons of Academy Awards on Sunday Night as it is one of my Top 15 favorite movies of all times. It is unbelievably touching, heartwarmingly told and beautifully acted! The end is one of the best that I have ever come across. Watch watch watch watch watch! Again and again!

 

MOVIE REVIEW: "Cloud Atlas"

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A movie that dares to be completely different from what you’ve seen. From the makers of Matrix, it does remind you at some point of the futuristic blockbuster. However, the six interwoven stories that build up this special experience of cinema are something new for everyone.

Based on the novel of the same name, the story centers around individualists; people who try to make a change. In how far the stories are connected, that you have to find out throughout the movie which makes it an event almost equally exciting and challenging as “Inception”, one of my favorite movies of all times.

The acting performances are absolutely outstanding. I don’t want to spoil why, as you know only by the time the end credits appear, what has really been behind those weird characters that have been introduced to you. The contents amazed me in every single way. Thrilling, touching, making your heart race. For those who have seen the film: I thought the best story was the Seoul-future-story and the 70ies-complott-story. Those who didn’t work as well were the future-village-story as well as the 19^th-century-sailor-story. 

I don’t want to complain on a high level, as Tom Tykwer made this German production an absolute cinema highlight of the year. Warning: THIS IS NOT for everyone. You like it or you hate it. I adored it.

 

ALBUM REVIEW: "Electra Heart" by Marina and the Diamonds

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While from her first album only “Hollywood” gathered world-wide fame, I hope that with this one, Greek-British singer Marina will have more singles on the radio! Primadonna was not a superhit, but you could hear it from time to time. I guess Marina is just not mainstream enough. Which is good!

Her second album “Electra Heart” matches up to its title. The tunes are even catchier than in the first album, her voice has maintained its incomparable, significant sound and the bass has increased! My personal favorites are the bouncy “Power & Control”, the quiet end-song “Fear and Loathing” and the all-Marina-like “Bubblegum Bitch”.

I can’t help but sing along on the streets while listening to this on my iPod and I don’t have much to criticize as Marina has stayed true to her music-style and even improved her song-writing! A consistently good album! Recommendation from both Veronika and me!

 

MOVIE REVIEW: "My Week With Marilyn"

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With this cast, I didn’t expect the movie to be anything but exceptional. Michelle Williams’s performance was applauded the day they started shooting and the cinematography came across beautifully in the trailers.

Indeed, this is one film that managed to match my expectations perfectly. I was completely stunned by how wonderfully everything was brought on the big screen. The actors are unbelievable, even the smallest roles, the music is composed very aptly and even stays in your memory, which I appreciate very much. The sets are so marvellous, you want to go to London right away.

Be it Michelle Williams and Eddie Redmayne carrying the film with their heartfelt and authentic achievements as actors, or the soundtrack, or the story which moves you, feeling a mixture of respect and pity for Marilyn. The story is transformed into the script perfectly, the movie is never boring. Go. To see it. NOW!

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MOVIE REVIEW: "Untouchable"

There was such a strong hype around the movie, that I almost decided I never wanted to see it, just to be different. However, I went for it, and oh lord, am I glad! What an amazing movie France has brought out with this one! All the hype and box office success is granted!

The story around a completely lost black young man being forced to work with a paraplegic already gives the director an interesting story to work with. The proof that he got the best out of it is that this movie manages to entertain from A to Z with laughter, tears, humor and tragic events. Within the first few minutes I already had a laugh attack but was also on the verge of tears. Now, how many movies achieve that?

Even though “Intouchables” ends up being a bit too long, feeling like you sat in the cinema hall for 4 hours, it is never boring and next to the unbelievable performances by ALL actors involved there’s an absolutely amazing soundtrack by Ludovico Einaudi that alone marks a reason why no one on this planet should miss this movie.

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ALBUM REVIEW: "Gilgamesh" by Gypsy & the Cat

photo source: [noiconexodus.blogspot.com]

When I first heard “Jona Vark” I was completely obsessed and stunned how someone could interpret the 80ies in such a new, innovative and nostalgic way. When I saw the public design of the album and practically the whole band (consisting of two Australian DJs actually), I knew I had to buy it.

It was a wise decision. The songs on this album are magical. They try to convert the 80ies’ music into something completely new. However, in the end, they just composed a perfectly handled, never-before-seen recall or souvenir of this decade which makes listeners nostalgic who haven’t even been born at that time.

Highlights are “Time To Wander” (which I’m completely obsessed with), “The Piper’s Song”, “Human Desire” and “Breakaway”. Listen to this fantastic album a thousand times, it won’t get boring! It feels like memories are evoked in you that you never had.

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Help"

The hype around this movie-turned-bestseller-novel was huge when it came out even though people asked themselves what there was to hype about. The movie stayed on top of the American Box Office Charts longer than any other film since “The Sixth Sense” in 1999! Plus, critics as well as the public are still crazy about it now. It was extremely successful at the Critic’s Choice Awards this past week and let’s see how well it does at the Golden Globe Awards TONIGHT! (I’m gonna stay up for them like every year :D).

In fact, the movie was absolutely fantastic!!! Not only was it one of the best-made and best-directed movies I have seen in recent times, it was without a doubt the best movie of 2011 (haven’t seen them all yet though). The mood and cinematography were stunning, the 60s are always a great opportunity for nice settings, houses, cars, dresses, hair-dos.

The acting took my breath away. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer have both already won tons of awards for their performances and Emma Stone, as well, delivers a wonderful performance and stays true to her resolution always playing individualistic characters. The plot was brought across very well, the storyline seemed quite consistent to me. There were absolutely no directorial holes or flaws.

WATCH this highly moving and heart-felt movie about the integration of black domestic maids in the 60s, nobody regretted it until now and I’m pretty sure this one’s hot at the Academy Awards this year.

photo sources: movie poster - [imdb.com]; [1.bp.blosgpot.com] & [3.bp.blogspot.com] 

BOOK REVIEW: „Room“ - Emma Donoghue

photo source: [unrealityshout.com]

"Room" is a one of a kind book. It's hard to describe it without letting any spoilers slip, but I can say that it's fascinating, intimidating, touching and unique - imagine all of that packed into one book and into one story. While reading it you feel confused and clueless, desperate and depressed, frustrated and compassionate. It's hard to compare "Room" to anything I have ever read before, it's special in its' own unusual way.

What I can reveal is that it's written from the perspective of a 5 year old child. After having finished the story you keep the feeling of experiencing everything, meaning your own world, in a slightly different way. By getting to know the process of how a child gets to know the whole world you start to question and examine your own.

This is a gripping story and I can recommend it to each and every one. Even this book being about 400 pages long, I finished it in almost a single sitting, surprising mysel of how fast I was able to read during the most captivating parts.

BOOK REVIEW: "1Q84" Part 3 - Haruki Murakami

photo source [goodreads.com]

This book leaves you off wanting more. It's special. Just as so many of Haruki Murakami's books, this one envelops you in an extraordinary atmosphere, where you feel so close to the characters. It's a touching, but at the same time an exciting story. Once you start reading it, you simply don't want to put it down. Even though my edition probably weighed about a ton (because it included all of the 3 published parts), I still carried it around everywhere until I finished it.

To me it's hard describing Haruki Murakami's books, probably because they are somehow so different. Even though the third part of "1Q84" slightly differs from the author's well known and loved style, the story described is one of the most interesting ones I have read by the author so far. For readers wanting to get to know Murakami for the first time, I would recommend some other book (such as "South of the Border" or "Kafka on the Shore") to truly get to know his signature style.

Even though the ending leaves you off craving for more of the characters and the story, it is still a satisfying finish. That's what I missed with the first and the second parts, you actually felt frustrated that you couldn't read once when you finished each one. Waiting for the third part was pure torture! And just to mention one last thing - I have never been a part of a certain type of hype, when I felt compelled to buy a hardcover version of a book that has just come out. Well, this time it was different. This is the first book that I actually preordered through Amazon and it was worth every single cent!

ALBUM REVIEW: "Declaration of Dependance" by Kings of Convenience

photo source: [americansongwriter.com]

It’s a classic in my list and it’s one of the best albums ever made. This band consisting of two Norwegians keeps making the right sounds and moving my heart. They have been existing for ages now, but Veronika and me only discovered them about a year or so I think. This is their latest album, it’s from 2009 and I so hope they’re launching a new one soon.

The style is very melancholic and nostalgic. It instantly evokes feelings of summer and happiness, of coziness and pure luck.  The guitar sounds and the distinctive riffs in their songs just make you want to go around and hug people. The album was also my personal official summer 2011 album so it reminds me of so many things I never want to forget.

You just have to listen to 24-25, Boat Behind, Me In You, Mrs. Cold and Rule My World to know what I’m talking about. The rest of the album is about equally as fantastic, the album has no lows, every time the next song comes up your heart wants to jump around. STRONGEST RECOMMENDATION!

 

ALBUM REVIEW: "Ritual" by The White Lies

photo source: [gazax.info]

The first album of the British indie-alternative band White Lies might not have been in the international album charts, but songs like “To Lose My Life”, “Unfinished Business”, “Death” and “E.S.T.” have become quite popular, be it on youtube or on several successful TV shows. The good news is: Their new album Ritual is even better than their first one.

The style is very consistent, however, after listening to the album for the second time no song will sound similar to another anymore, which is a major achievement! Therefore, the album is very harmonious but never gets boring as it provides really good melodies and every song boasts of a really great energy.

I won’t mention every song specifically as they’re all equally good, but maybe if you want to know the underdogs of the album, I’d pick “Streetlights” and “Come Down”. The rest is simply amazing. An alternative rock album with awesome melodies and one of my favorite albums of recent times.

 

ALBUM REVIEW: „Where We Are“ by Mackintosh Braun



photo source: atlanticrecords.com



Once again, a band I came to know through Grey’s Anatomy (however, also appearing on Gossip Girl) and, behold, probably one of the best albums in the year of 2010. I’m really fond of their calm-electronic style and their melodies as well as the attempt at a bit of a modern 80s revival. Not one single song fails to convince and entertain from the first to the last second.

The most popular song seems to be “Made For Us”, having appeared in plenty of TV shows and movies already. However, songs like “Unfortunate”, “Familiar” and “I Won’t Fall” are as stunning while “Nothing Else Is Real” and “Line In The Sand” bring a bit of a dance sound into the melancholic album. The only song I regard as inferior to the others might be “Frozen”, in another album it would be the best out of the lot though.

I’m certain this latest offer by the promising Mackintosh Braun has something in store for everyone and brings us the best chill-out and lounge sound there is at the moment.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Last Night" (2010)

This was just a really, really beautiful movie. The story begins at a party where Joanna (Keira Knightley) sees her husband’s coworker, the gorgeous Laura (Eva Mendes), and suspects them of having an affair. At home the conversation ends up in a fight and the next day Michael, Joanna’s husband (Sam Worthington), heads out on a business trip with Laura. At the same time Joanna surprisingly meets an old friend and a past love of hers, Alex (Guillaume Canet), whom she used to be in an on-off relationship before marrying. The story is told from two locations, Michael on his business trip in Philadelphia, and Joanna spending her day in New York. I wouldn’t want to reveal any more details about the story, as only in the movie, can it be told and shown in the perfect way.

This was one of the best movies I have seen in the past few months and I can probably only find things that I could praise about it.

First, the actors: Keira is simply a goddess, I adore her! Looking beautiful in the movie and her acting was just as perfect as always. I loved the actor of her long-time friend, Alex (Guillaume Canet), especially his French accent and the fact that he is a writer living in Paris :) Eva Mendes fit perfectly into the cast and her role as well. And Joanna’s husband, Michael, even though I haven’t seen him in any other movies before, completed the group of 4 main actors really well.
Second, the story-telling and all the little details around it: The shooting locations seemed carefully chosen, the music was mesmerizing and used at the best moments. The whole atmosphere created was very intimate, enveloping you emotionally into the story. I even think the ending couldn’t have been done any better, even though I have read critique about that from some people, who have seen the movie as well.

Third, simply the general impression: I can surely say that “Last Night” will be counted as one of my favorite movies. It’s possible that you need to be in a relationship, or at least have been in one, to form that emotional bond with the characters. It is the question, “Will my partner stay faithful and love me enough, to be able to resist the temptation of a beautiful woman being around him and not giving in to his actual desires?” portrayed in a cinematographically amazing way. I would recommend this movie to anyone who feels like watching a story with great acting and heart-felt emotions!