Movie Review - Skyfall!

I went to the movies last night with a friend and saw Skyfall the latest instalment in the James Bond movies.

I think both of us thoroughly enjoyed this movie.  I personally enjoyed it because it had a little bit more depth to it then some of the other more recent ones.

Without giving too much away - in this instalment James Bond actually looks like he dies at the very beginning of the movie while fighting with the villain on top of an express train trying to retrieve a computer chip which names all the MI6 agents around the world.  Bond fails to retrieve the disk when he falls off the train and into water and the disk and names on the disk are revealed, which contributes to a number of undercover MI6 agents' deaths.  Upon hearing this news Bond resurfaces in some third world looking country as a drunk womanising gambler - in other words his usual self.

Unfortunately, the movie doesn't cover exactly how he survives his fall off the train bridge down several hundred meters into icy cold water and then an equally tall waterfall, but needless to say he does.  The movie also doesn't show where he got shot, because for those who remember this, he was initially shot by the bad guy in the shoulder and the movie keeps showing how this wound aches, but makes no reference to the wound which propels him off the train and into the water????

The general gist of the movie; however is that M is the target of the bad guy, who is hell bent on revenge.  I am not going to reveal who and why as this would give away the exciting parts of the movie.  Following a ministerial hearing, Bond is sent out by M to find the villain and stop him.

The focus in this movie is very much on doing things the good old fashioned way and how the modern and new ways are not always the best ways.

This movie is about M, her history and the impact of her decisions and her strange, almost mother/son relationship with Bond.

Daniel Craig portrays Bond very well.

I think this movie has just the right amount of action, unlike Casino Royale, which I felt was just way too much action and not enough depth to the story.

The Bond series was originally created by Ian Fleming in 1964.  The entire collection of books can be purchased from the Book Depository.

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Movie Review - The Shining

I seem to be going through a phase at the moment and craving to watch scary movies.  I've heard lots of people tell me that 'The Shining' is a very scary movie.  I've avoided it so far, because I haven't been a fan of scary movies, but now because of my phase, I've decided to give it a try.

For anyone, who hasn't seen this movie please read on and for those who have seen this film also read on and see if you agree with my verdict.

The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd. The film is based on the Stephen King novel The Shining. A writer, Jack Torrance played by Jack Nicholson, takes a job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel. His young son possesses psychic abilities and is able to see things from the past and future, such as the ghosts who inhabit the hotel. Soon after settling in, the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm, and Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence; he descends into madness and attempts to murder his wife and son.

The movie runs for a total of 144 minutes, and I'm sorry if you're a fan, but it has been the longest 144 minutes of my life, which unfortunately I will never ever get back!

I know it was made in 1980 and to be fair it is not a bad movie for the era it was made in, but I don't believe it is scary for a minute.  I've seen scarier even when I wasn't going through my scary movie phase.  The scariest part of this movie was the terrible sound effects and the bad acting by all the main actors.  The music is bad enough to send anyone into a psychotic killing frenzy!

The fact that Jack Torrance is played by Jack Nicholson is also a factor contributing to my dislike of this movie.  Again I'm sorry for this, but I cannot stand Jack Nicholson, so to sit through 144 minutes of him is scary enough on its own.  I tried to imagine the star role being played by someone I liked more and even then the movie didn't get more appealing.

I've heard that the original book written by Stephen King is much better than the movie, so that may be an option for me to read it and be the judge, but to be honest I am now somewhat put off even reading the story.

Again, I'm sorry but this movie is a definite thumbs down for me.

http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=pinkacquarius

Shafted!

So I got shafted at work today!  I know I don't normally vent my personal life here, but I need to vent.

I've been with the company for just over 7 years and I've been on my current job for just over 3 and what sort of thanks do I get?  I get demoted!  That's what I get!  I don't know if anyone remembers a few weeks ago I posted on here about anxiety and depression, well that was because of my personal experiences at the time.  I had a little melt down at work and it's been just downhill from there.

Deep down I am a bit relieved because I am starting to hate my job, but then I am losing around $4000.00 a year in extra wages.  So the budget is going to suffer and I'm going to have to think of other ways of making money.  Here are my current options:

1. Get another job;
2. Step up the affiliate promotions;
3. Start writing freelance - like I've always wanted;
4. Start working on that book I've always dreamed about and fiddled with a few times; or
5. Just put up and shut up and end up a 75 year old public servant.

To be honest I like option 3 the best.  I've often thought about pursuing my writing, but I've never had the confidence to start anything.  I've now been spending so much time on here writing that I might as well start writing and seeing if anyone is interested in actually paying me for my work.  At least I still have my full-time work so it's not like I have to do it, but if it works out then it's a bonus.

I feel like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde right now.  My brain is having a fight with itself - I can do it, but you're not good enough...you know the drill!

I need to talk to my poet friend - she is awesome and she thinks I'm awesome and I love her for it.  She has too much faith in me, whereas I have none.

Any ideas?

http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=pinkacquarius

eBook Review - One of Us by Antonia Adams

I picked another book to read from my successful free downloads from iTunes.

This time I picked 'One of Us' by Antonia Adams.  

Antonia Adams joined the Xcite team in 2010, but she is no stranger to writing.  She uses various pseudonyms and her work has been published extensively in the UK and abroad for the last 25 years. She also lectures in creative writing at events around the country.

This book is a small one, comprising only of 136 pages on my iPhone 5.

The story is about successful 35 year old artist Natalie Crane who meets handsome, independent and spirited Will Falcon at her art exhibition.  A romance is quickly formed with the secretive Will, only to end in heartbreak and betrayal, so Natalie thinks.  As Natalie's art show comes to a close, so does her relationship with Will, especially since he stands her up on her last day in Dorset.

While the romance is in full swing the sex is hot and steamy and very well written.

While in Dorset, Natalie's most beloved and treasured painting, 'Waiting for her Lover' is stolen and Natalie jumps to the conclusion that it was the enigmatic Mr Falcon, who only recently was found to be admiring it too closely.

When Natalie goes back to Dorset to confront Will...a different surprise awaits her....

It is a well written story and I enjoyed it thoroughly even if it was a really quick read.

Other books written & edited by Antonia Adams include:

• Hungarian Rhapsody
• The One Thousand and One nights
• Silk Stockings
• The Game
• Foreign Affairs: Erotic Relations in Exotic Locations
• Past Pleasures: Erotica Set in Times Past
• Santa's Hot Secrets - available in 10 days - pre order now!

http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=pinkacquarius

Tribute to Bryce Courtenay

Tributes have flooded in for South African born Australian author, Bryce Courtenay, after news of his passing was released.

The 79-year-old novelist passed away at 11:30pm on Thursday night in his Canberra home, surrounded by his beloved family and pets.  He was suffering from stomach cancer.

Bryce Courtenay moved to Australia in the 1950s and has written 21 novels including the best selling Power of One, which later became a best selling movie.  His latest novel, Jack of Diamonds, was released this month through Penguin books.

Some of his other works include The Persimmon Tree and Jessica.

Bryce Courtenay was the 2012 National Year of Reading ambassador and he was one of Australia's greatest storytellers.

Biography courtesy of Wikipedia:

Born	Arthur Bryce Courtenay[1] 14 August 1933 Johannesburg, South Africa
Died	22 November 2012 (aged 79) Canberra, Australia
Occupation	Novelist
Nationality	South African/Australian
Period	1989–2012
Genres	Bildungsroman, Historical novel
Notable award(s)	British Book Awards 1990 The Power of One APA Who Weekly Reader's Choice Award 1998 Tommo & Hawk APA Who Weekly Reader's Choice Award 1999 Jessica APA Who Weekly Reader's Choice Award 2000 Jessica

Fortune Cookie

Other novels:

The Story of Danny Dunn

http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=pinkacquarius