Will it... won't it...

Has anyone read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? I guess you don't have to because they're making a movie about it with Natalie Portman (whoM I love)!!

Will it be good? Interesting? Thoughts?

~ Hurley Who?

mish mash hish hash

Everybody's bored and buggered off to somewhere more exciting. So I thought this was rather appropriate.

"Today I discovered that if I hum at a specific frequency, my right index finger will spasm. MLIA"

"Tonight, my family and I watched Coraline. Since the movie finished, we have been watching the dvd logo bounce around the screen, waiting for it to hit a corner dead on, cheering when it comes close. It hasn't yet, and we've been watching it for over an hour now. MLIA"

"Today, my family told me I was adopted. My whole family is white. I'm black. I think I figured it out. MLIA"

Also want to give props to Louis Tiffon and her fantabulous blog http://akalalouie.tumblr.com/, a blog worthy of being followed religiously.

It was actually through Louis' blog that I found this little gem: http://www.caroline-marechal.fr/agent-illustrateurs/illustrateurs/gouyette (my favourite is Antoinette Fleur).

And of course where would we be without a jolly little song and dance?

Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire (Funeral)

There's a lot of hype and interest around Arcade Fire now, especially amongst the Where The Wild Things Are fans, and rightly so. It's impossible to hate the raw anthemic guitars, sweet modulations into major keys at just the right moment and a sensitive husky Kings-Of-Leon-esque yowling over the top. Top stuff for those who hate too many lyrics but can't stand Sigur Ros.

Or some polarising stripped-back indie soul-searching? Try Aurora by Lapush. There's the safe monotonic guitar chords to make you feel like you're on a night train, a hearty dose of nice-guy mewling and the appropriate accompanying effects.

Give it a go.

Last and probably least, I'm going to chuck in this celebrity-fest released for Bandaid, just because we like Christmas with a feeble commerical sort of conscience.

[disco.read]

get yourselves a bucket, comrades.

This is for Hurley Who, yes you.

It's giving me the heebie jeebies.

{disco.read+cake.crusader+meatloaf}

Post-racialism

PS. Saw Zombieland - apparently Woody Harrelson is quite good at comedic roles and that Jesse Eisenberg looks a lot like/behaves a lot like/may in fact be the reincarnation of Michael Cera (who is not dead so scrap the latter). Also saw The Informant - only watch if you are middle-aged and bald.




- no name -

The Dunk Mug

I love this mug.

You can buy them at this awesome store.

~Louis Tiffon

Who's Reviews: An Education

An Education was a delightful film, thanks largely to Carey Mulligan. Plus, watching it in Dendy Quays meant Count Lucifer and I enjoyed a great view of the Opera House before and after the film and a fun trip to and from Circular Quay where we were accosted by, not one, but two strange men. That was an entirely appropriate entree to the central concept of this film, I guess.

Set in 1961, on the cusp of social change to attitudes about sex, this is a morally troubling film. On one level, the surface politeness of David (Peter Sarsgaard), a charming 30-plus man who makes a living doing ethically dubious things, made me almost forgive is pursuit of Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a 16/17 year old precocious schoolgirl who dreams of jazz music, Paris and the high life. But on the other hand, CL and I couldn't help but think "eugh" when you think about the basis of the story: older man seduces younger girl with charm and trips to Paris. This has 'pedophile' written all over it.

At the beginning of the film, we are immediately aware that Jenny is different to her friends. While they are insufferably obnoxious and inappropriate, she peppers her sentences with French and is altogether more self-assured and intelligent. But this proves dangerous because she is bored. Bored with studying Latin, bored with her pushy parents and bored with Graham (Matthew Beard), an adorable but clumsy schoolboy who is pursuing her. Then in comes David, a suave and charming gentleman, cough, cough, with glamorous friends Danny (Dominic Cooper from Mamma Mia) and Helen (Rosamund Pike, who is hilarious), a lifestyle of leisure and a strange attraction to her. Although there is something fishy about David and his friends, Jenny turns a blind eye to some confronting facts about them (essentially, some of their income comes from thieving).

The rest of the movie plays out with complications galore. Jenny believes her "life education" should come before her school education. She forfeits her chances of getting into Oxford when she is expelled for being with David. To the shock of her peers and encouraged by her parents (who fail to protect Jenny from David's steely grasp), she goes on not one, but two trips with David. Once to Oxford and once to Paris. Lets just say this was very cringe-worthy not because of sexual content, but because the most morally confronting issues were raised in these scenes.

Do we accept their relationship because it's consensual or is it just wrong for an older man to have a relationship with someone who is essentially a child in many respects?

Jane ignores the advice of her teacher and mentor, Miss Stubs (Olivia Williams, or Jane Fairfax in the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma). But who can blame her? Going to jazz clubs and conversations about pre-Raphaelite paintings are just so much more interesting than King Lear.

But, without giving the ending away, Jenny must eventually pay for her actions, ignorance and impatience. Cue rude awakenings, heart-breaking confrontations and attempts to rectify what was wronged.

Carey Mulligan is the 'bright star' of this film (haha CL). Even though she is 24, she manages very convincingly as a 17 year old girl. She is sufficiently wide-eyed and simultaneously stubborn to be believable as a strong-willed teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood. Emma Thompson has a nice cameo as the delightfully frumpy and anti-semitic headmistress who manages to slap some sense into Jenny in the end.

What wasn't very convincing was David and Jenny's relationship. Sure he was a smooth operator, but there was no believable chemistry. Maybe because he was a total cad, I dunno.

I spent the whole of today thinking about the end of the film. I'm not quite sure how to interpret it. Though there is technically a 'happy ending', one wonders whether or not Jenny truly values her education (with David, that is) or if she wishes to forget that chapter of her life altogether. I guess the overarching moral I gathered is that you must be educated in order to receive an education.

Rotten Tomatoes has 94% positive feedback on this film so I guess most people love it. I'd give it an 8/10. A morally stirring story where the strangest part was the fact that it was based on the life of a real woman... gross...

~ Hurley Who?

Who's Reviews: NEW MOON

I won't lie. I was SUPER DOOPER excited to watch this film. So excited that I booked tickets for La Premiere in Hoyts about one month in advance. Now that this embarrassing fact is out in the public, here is the review for New Moon......


I chose the picture of R-Pattz above because his expression pretty much sums up the mood of the entire movie. It's basically a trip down the suicidal and depressive recesses of Bella Swan's mind complete with LOTS of hot shirtless boys/men.



The movie starts off with a quote from Romeo and Juliet and there are more references to that play throughout the film. The whole 'vibe' is very much a 'doomed lovers fight to be together' feeling and Bella's depression is actually kind of convincing thanks in part of Kristen Stewart's permanent hunched shoulders, bleak expression and an appropriately emo/indie soundtrack. She probably smiles twice in the movie. It's tough being in love with a sexy vampire, I guess.



But it isn't all bad. The emerging relationship between Bella and Jacob injects some action and life into the otherwise lifeless scenes. I mean, there's only so much we can see of Bella longing for Edward, right?! It seems like the directors, writers and producers know EXACTLY what their target audience (ie. tweens) want, because Taylor Lautner barely wears a shirt in the movie, but hey, I wasn't complaining...

Despite their age gap (and fear of getting older seems to be a prominent theme in the movie which probably reflects our society's fear of ageing... according to the SMH), Jacob is pretty much hooked onto Bella and won't let go easily. But she's definately not that into him, and goes running back to Edward at the first opportunity. It might just be me, or the actors, but there is a sense that Jacob is, in some way, a better match for Bella than Edward in the film which is an aspect that I didn't pick up in the books (had to stop myself from writing 'novel'). Maybe it's Edward's extremely repressed 'desires' that makes him seem almost distant, while Jacob is pretty much smoldering everytime he looks at Bella. But the Twilight series is an epic chronicle of suppressed teenage hormones. A refreshing antidote to the oversexed and overcrazed teenagers we see in high-quality movies like American Pie.

Definately one of the highlights of the film came from the scenes with the Volturi. Michael Sheen, who plays Aro, has unfortunately very little screen time (as well as Dakota Fanning who plays Jane, the scary midget vampire) even though both actors are pretty much the best part of the movie (except, of course, Tee-Pee's abs). Aro is sufficiently frightening and Jane is just plain creepy. Together, they probably get about 10mins of screen time which doesn't do justice to their skills. Plus the shots of Rome are beautiful though there isn't much time to appreciate the scenery. In fact, the landscape is also one of the highlights.

So what do I think overall? Well, my friend and I both agreed that it was a 7/10. Points are taken off because the movie dragged. I will be the first one to admit that I wouldn't mind it dragging along if there were more gratuitous shirtless scenes, but each event seemed to focus upon Bella's depression which can get a bit boring after a while. Chris Weitz, the director, manages to make some scenes quite funny (especially with Mike Newton's character) and you can tell he really wanted to make the movie as serious as possible despite the very un-serious nature of the concept (I mean, how can we take the story line seriously with the characters declaring their eternal love at age 17 or 18?) The ending, like many movies with sequels, leaves the viewer sufficiently frustrated and annoyed. Solid effort and more polished than Twilight.

~Hurley Who?

she's got me dancing

Spurred on by the fact that there is currently an unacceptable ratio of 19 fashion posts to 18 music posts.

Calvin Harris - The Rain




[d.read]

A Potter Musical- A play in 2 acts

Hey all,

Just if you're bored.
ps this may take a while to watch. I'll attach the first part.



Her Cules

Home Truth: everything is better with lightning

Marc Johns, you understand me


For instance, these Luella wayfarers I spied at hellosandwich could only be improved if they had little lightning bolts instead of love hearts on the side (which admittedly are still pretty cute).
Ahh, that I could have such dream sunnies custom-made... When you're a famous designer maybe, Louis Tiffon? :P

c.l.

Travelling in comfort

Hehe I thought this was cool.... That's all!!

~ Hurley Who?

Ahhh......

This website makes my day. Browsing the site is a good antidote for HSC stress. I have the 'Cute diary' for 2010 and everytime I look at it, it makes me smile. It came with stickers! AND an address book!!! Can't wait to use it next year. I will be sooo organised... I hope......!!!

~ Hurley Who?

PS. I know how neurotic I sound getting totally worked up over pieces of paper... I think I've gone slightly loopy.

Just for laughs

~Louis Tiffon

Keep it up!

Make him proud everyone!!

~ Hurley Who?

In gratitude...

I would like to post these awesome wicked Givenchy shoes just for Louis...
Looks kinda like the bubonic plague struck... but I like it!!

~ Hurley Who?

I never thought I would do this

This is for you, Hurley Who.

I can't believe I just did that.

~Louis Tiffon

Here's hoping....

Recite this uplifting quote every morning for maximum HSC success... Amazing things will happen!!!

~ Hurley Who

aural respite

In a break from the horrors of the previous few posts, here are some refreshing tunes to detox and purge our systems of the bilious pus encrusted upon our eyeballs.

Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition



Temper Trap - Fader



Playing at the BDO!

And anonymous, I am waiting for a suitable opportunity to unmask your nasty stink-ridden identity, just you wait!

[d.read]

Now this is where practicality meets style

Chanel shoes with light bulbs as heels. Err...

~ Hurley Who?

PS. Sorry for all this 'random clothes and jewellrey' stuff I keep posting, but once I see something strange on the web, I have to share it

Um....... (the second time around)

I came across this lovely 'headpiece' about 2 mins ago and I had to post it. It's from Maison Michel. At an affordable cost of £1,469.32 (seriously that's the price), I just want to ask what the point of wearing this is?

Disco Read will have a field day.

~ Hurley Who?

possibly the best intros round ever

And possibly the best jokes to ever be told (note the first joke d.read - people laughed!):







- no name -

That's nice... What is it?!

The first time I saw Alexander McQueen's new collection, Plato's Atlantis, it was in MX (not a real newspaper but anywhoo). I opened the front cover and my mouth fell open.

So many thoughts in my head... UGLY! AMAZING! SEA URCHIN!

This one kind of reminds me of underwater caves like in Ariel the Mermaid Princess (I nearly types 'the Warrior Princess' haha)

Are those... nuts and bolts?!?!

There are no words for this one. It's like Michael Jackson's glove in shoe form.

~ An amazed and slightly flabbergasted Hurley Who?

PS. Sorry there's no pictures of the clothes or the models' hair. I thought there was enough strangeness for one post :)

taking the piss

Funneh. Down with playbacks!



{disco.read}

Thought you might like this

Her cules

USB styling...or lack of.

I know Her cules has a lego USB, courtesy of a kind family member, that looks very similar to the one below.

I have also seen a friend which has one of the penguin USBs:

For some pretty weird ones check out http://www.uphaa.com/blog/index.php/usb-key-hilarius/; if you cbb, here are some other ones:

~Louis Tiffon

This made me smile

Off: http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/the-talented-roosendaal-rats.html

~Louis Tiffon

distractions

So some tangential diversions from studying. I know for certain CL will very much appreciate this.
For those of you who do not know who Stuart Broad is, he is a medium-fast pace bowler and all rounder in the English cricket team, who helped (rather unfortunately) England win the Ashes this year with taking 5 wickets in a single day during the fifth deciding test.
For those of you who do not know what cricket is, go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket



[d.read]

Looks from today's shows at NY Fashion Week Spring 2010

I'm loving this change of weather & the new looks that designers are bringing in at the moment. If you haven't had your dose of fashion for sometime, here's a taste of the New York Spring 2010 collections that were released today:

Naeem Khan

Calvin Klein

Isaac Mizrahi

L'Wren Scott

Phi

Threeasfour

Ralph Lauren

A few notes on trends coming back:

• White is in - keep it fresh and crisp.
• T-bar shoes - not only flattering but more practical (straps can keep them on more easily)
• Interesting textures
• Blazers = Investment pieces; white ones are in trend but black ones are classic
• It looks like comfort is in too...slouchy pants, bias cuts and looser shirts; however,
• Cut-outs and bondage is still in - specially with interesting tights

Ah I love looking at new collections - it's crazy how much work goes into those 3 min fashion shows.

~Louis Tiffon