2007 was a great year not only in the world of movies and television but also for me personally.
For my job, I got to travel to Shanghai and I loved the experience of going to China and I also became an Aunt.
But this year, the movies and television also brought me much joy. I usually save the best for last but in this case I'll start with what was the highlight of the 2007television season for me and that was that I found the ONE. The one version of Jane Eyre to truly love thanks to Masterpiece Theatre's January 2007 presentation of Charlotte Bronte's classic tale. I have already blogged my thoughts on it when it first aired but I cannot reiterate I much I love the latest BBC version and the performances and chemistry of Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens.
Other TV loves include my continued love for the Amazing Race and continued enjoyment of How I Met Your Mother. In terms of new shows this year, I am thouroughly charmed by Pushing Daisies and beguiled by Lee Pace as Ned the pie maker. I am also crushing Zachary Levi as Chuck in NBC's Chuck. A great and funny comedy/spy show.
In BBC land, I am in love with the second series of Robin Hood (I believe North American audiences will get it in 2008 but thanks to You Tube I am seeing it now). Things to look forward to in 2008 is the end of the writers strike so I can get new episodes of Chuck, Pushing Daisies and How I Met Your Mother. On January 13, 2008 is the start of Masterpiece Theatre's presentation of the Complete Jane Austen with Gillian Anderson hosting it. I am most looking forward to seeing Andrew Davies' take on Sense and Sensibility. He did such a great job with Pride and Prejudice and I am curious to see what he does here (as I think Emma Thompson did a fantastic job with Sense and Sensibility in 1995 -the movie that first introduced me to Kate Winslet). Also this year on Masterpiece Theatre is a new version of A Room With A View and My Boy Jack starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Speaking of Radcliffe, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix in IMAX is one of my cinematic experience highlights of 2007. Seeing the final 20 minutes of the film in 3D made the movie awesome.
As for my favourite films of 2007, there were many (and I saw a lot this year) I don't know if I have a list of top 10 films as I don't think I saw enough to make a top 10 list but I can do a list of the films that captured my heart and that I want to add to my DVD collection.
The number one movie that did that to me was Once the independent Irish film about a busker and Czech immigrant who meet and make beautiful music together. It is simple film making done very well and I love the songs to it. After seeing the movie, I immediately went home and bought the soundtrack on iTunes.
Ratatouille was also another one of those movies that had me at hello. As soon as I saw Remy and Patton Oswalt's voice coming out of him, I loved the film about a rat in Paris who loves to cook.
The Simpson's Movie was another delight this year. I saw it theatres and laughed my butt off. I chose to see it on a flight and still laughed and saw it for a third time as my flight had that as the movie and still laughed. After seeing it three times and I still laughed, you have to own that movie.
Then there was Juno. The funny, sharp and sarcastic dialogue was great. Ellen Page's delivery of them was awesome and the fact that it was filmed in Vancouver was also awesome.
In terms of 2008, there is only two movies I am for sure going to see in theatres (I am sure there is going to be more but right now there is just two). The first one comes out May 16, 2008 and that is Prince Caspian, the second film in the Chronicles of Narnia series and then on November 21, 2008 is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
As some people may know, I am not much of a reader and I usually only read a book if I know a movie version is coming out of it but a literary highlight for me was standing in line for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, It was something I had to do since it was the last book and it was an amazing experience to be surrounded by Harry Potter fans. It was also surreal for me to stay up pretty much all night reading about 200 pages (I only started at 2am then slept for a bit but started reading again at 6am to about 8am) In total I finished the novel in 24 hours (with a break to work and sleep). I didn't want it to end but I was satisfied with how JK Rowling ended the series.
I hope everyone had a great 2007 and 2008 will be just as awesome.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Amazing Race 12 Dec 23, 2007
Merry Christmas Amazing Race fans!
I am really sorry for not blogging lately but as it is the holidays, I've been enjoying my time with friends and family.
Well, my brother and I were worried that the Goths were as good as gone considering we heard that there were no non-elimination rounds for this season of the race so imagine our surprise (and relief to my brother) that the Goths were saved but now must face something called a speed bump. Will be interested in seeing what impact that will have.
My father/daughter team is still in it and still working well together (but next week looks like things are back to normal as teams visit India).
Intereting product placement for Blackberry and I thought for sure that TK and Rachel would be out because of the lost clue but the Goths getting lost helped them out.
As for the road block, I would have done because apparently as someone who wears glasses I have the better eyesight. The detour my immediate thought was to do the invention as I am the most uncoordinated person I know.
The Fast Forward was interesting but neither my brother and I would have done it as my brother doesn't like needles and I would rather go up on the ultralight. And I am fed up with Jennifer always complaining how they haven't won a leg yet. Too bad that you don't win a trip or a boat. I rather make sure I am still in the race in order for me to come in #1 where it counts and that's at the end and your prize is a million dollars.
Looking forward to next week. Happy Holidays to one and all
I am really sorry for not blogging lately but as it is the holidays, I've been enjoying my time with friends and family.
Well, my brother and I were worried that the Goths were as good as gone considering we heard that there were no non-elimination rounds for this season of the race so imagine our surprise (and relief to my brother) that the Goths were saved but now must face something called a speed bump. Will be interested in seeing what impact that will have.
My father/daughter team is still in it and still working well together (but next week looks like things are back to normal as teams visit India).
Intereting product placement for Blackberry and I thought for sure that TK and Rachel would be out because of the lost clue but the Goths getting lost helped them out.
As for the road block, I would have done because apparently as someone who wears glasses I have the better eyesight. The detour my immediate thought was to do the invention as I am the most uncoordinated person I know.
The Fast Forward was interesting but neither my brother and I would have done it as my brother doesn't like needles and I would rather go up on the ultralight. And I am fed up with Jennifer always complaining how they haven't won a leg yet. Too bad that you don't win a trip or a boat. I rather make sure I am still in the race in order for me to come in #1 where it counts and that's at the end and your prize is a million dollars.
Looking forward to next week. Happy Holidays to one and all
Sunday, December 02, 2007
The Amazing Race 12 Dec 2, 2007
Apologies again for not blogging last week but I was out to dinner and taped it. Even after watching it, I didn't blog because I was recovering from foot surgery and was really able to move around too much. But I am back this week, ready to offer my thoughts on this week's AR.
I have to say that I did like the U-Turn twist this year. Better than the Yield as you never know how long it will take you to do the other detour, which can put you further behind than the 30 minutes the Yield did.
Anyways, it was a good episode. I was a bit worried that the father-daughter team were going to be last because of the flight mistake but in the end with all the wrong turns the other teams took (and we knew thanks the gong sound effects) they ended up in third. What would we do without all the gonging!
But I am getting ahead of myself. I was watching the show with my brother and I do agree that the brother and sister team, while good, there is something a bit off with Azaria in the way that he treats his sister (the way he violently pulled her back to the curb at the beginning was uncalled for).
I thought it was interesting that the Grandson/Granddad team didn't get a good flight because it was supposedly all sold out but the other teams got on, I guess maybe knowing a few phrases in French would have helped.
When the teams touched down in Lituania, every team took off right away, while the Goths (my brother's pick to win) took their time to ask directions. They were one of the few teams to get to the church without getting lost. Ronald and Christina were smart to pay a taxi driver to lead them the way (as other past racers have done). As for the Road Block, Justin would have done as he says he is a good listener and would have done well.
The detour was interesting as I would have liked to have stayed and enjoyed the festival (maybe after teams have checked in they got to go back and had some fun). The detour, my first instinct was to do the stilts as I think I have pretty good balance and as long as you were patient and took it slow, it could be done. I was very happy that Ron and Christina finished, especially Ron considering he has a hernia. I see a lot of myself and my Dad in their relationship, which is why I am rooting for them. Counting would have been difficult but if you were methodically about it, it could be done.
I am glad those blondes are gone. They had no teamwork and always blamed each other and second guessed decisions. I knew going in they weren't going to be like another certain blonde team of races past (i.e. Dustin and Kandice -my all-time favourite Amazing Race team next to the Bowling Moms).
Here's to next week, where we see another meltdown to Nate and Jennifer.
I have to say that I did like the U-Turn twist this year. Better than the Yield as you never know how long it will take you to do the other detour, which can put you further behind than the 30 minutes the Yield did.
Anyways, it was a good episode. I was a bit worried that the father-daughter team were going to be last because of the flight mistake but in the end with all the wrong turns the other teams took (and we knew thanks the gong sound effects) they ended up in third. What would we do without all the gonging!
But I am getting ahead of myself. I was watching the show with my brother and I do agree that the brother and sister team, while good, there is something a bit off with Azaria in the way that he treats his sister (the way he violently pulled her back to the curb at the beginning was uncalled for).
I thought it was interesting that the Grandson/Granddad team didn't get a good flight because it was supposedly all sold out but the other teams got on, I guess maybe knowing a few phrases in French would have helped.
When the teams touched down in Lituania, every team took off right away, while the Goths (my brother's pick to win) took their time to ask directions. They were one of the few teams to get to the church without getting lost. Ronald and Christina were smart to pay a taxi driver to lead them the way (as other past racers have done). As for the Road Block, Justin would have done as he says he is a good listener and would have done well.
The detour was interesting as I would have liked to have stayed and enjoyed the festival (maybe after teams have checked in they got to go back and had some fun). The detour, my first instinct was to do the stilts as I think I have pretty good balance and as long as you were patient and took it slow, it could be done. I was very happy that Ron and Christina finished, especially Ron considering he has a hernia. I see a lot of myself and my Dad in their relationship, which is why I am rooting for them. Counting would have been difficult but if you were methodically about it, it could be done.
I am glad those blondes are gone. They had no teamwork and always blamed each other and second guessed decisions. I knew going in they weren't going to be like another certain blonde team of races past (i.e. Dustin and Kandice -my all-time favourite Amazing Race team next to the Bowling Moms).
Here's to next week, where we see another meltdown to Nate and Jennifer.
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