The thing about French films is that I never seem to really “get” them. The French have their own unique way of making films, they’re more artistic, colourful and… confusing.

I’m not saying I didn’t like Jeux d’enfants, I’m just a bit lost with its meaning. If it has one. Now, since I had no expectations considering this film, I have no reason to be disappointed. And I’m not, the film made me think and I’m always up for that. But if I look at the storyline and the plot, well, nothing really spectacular there. Maybe I just don’t get it, but it’s only for so long the same game can go on – how could they still keep on playing after decades?

I don’t know. Perhaps I look something else from my films, I just didn’t get this one. It had beautiful scenes, very colourful but other than that, I don’t know. I didn’t feel much anything during the final scene, which, I must admit, was one of the most peculiar ending scenes I’ve ever seen.

Okay, let’s see… So this is Torchwood. The show has a certain Doctor Who feel to it, so it’s justifiable to call it a spinoff. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

When I realised what Torchwood was about and who was going to play the leading role, I was excited. After all, Captain Jack Harkness was quite a charmer in the Doctor Who episodes he was in – why wouldn’t I want to see more of him, whole episodes nothing but him (well, you know)? Unfortunately, what I came to notice, was that neither John Barrowman nor Captain Jack have the intensity, the appeal to keep a complete series running. He was tremendously entertaining as a random ‘quest’ in the Doctor Who series but this is just not working.

Of course, after Doctor Who my expectations were a bit too high, but this show just has nothing much to give. It seems that whenever the writers fall short on new things to write about, they try to cover it up with sex or other relationship related mumbo-jumbo. This series relies so much on sex it gets dull after awhile. At first it was kind of interesting, the open bisexuality that was going around, and I was rather ecstatic over Gwen and Owen’s little ‘relationship’ but really, too much is just too much. Got me thinking what do the writers think of us viewers, throw in a couple of snogging scenes and a lot of sexual innuendoes and we’re happy? (well, in some cases maybe yes, but this is a Doctor Who spinoff we’re talking about here!)

Gwen totally grew on me during the series but I’ve got to say she was very badly written on the first episodes. Such a nuisance, annoying and nosy, I definitely wouldn’t have hired her. Why does she get so much more priority over the others? She’s not that special in any way, yet she’s often portrayed like she was second to Jack. Of course that’s just the way her part is written but I still don’t get it.

I thought I had a huge crush on Owen but I think not, after all. He got all brooding after ‘his lover’ left him and that’s just boring. Besides, he’s sometimes a bit too vicious and quick-tempered, not sure how good a thing that is in the end.

All in all, I’m not completely disappointed but this could have been so much better. I think I’ll still watch the second season, who knows, it might surprise me. In a good way.

Yeah… I don’t know. Call me cynical, a spoilsport, boring, whatever but I really don’t see the point of films like these; someone gets wronged, comes back haunting either his/her wrongdoers and their offspring or then just random innocent people. I mean… why? There’s no point, absolutely no reason whatsoever, but revenge, ah sweet revenge. That’s what it means to be a human being – taking revenge, making others suffer the way you have suffered. It’s just pathetic. Seriously, what could a haunted spirit/restless soul/murderous ghost possibly get from slaughtering living people? Pray, someone please tell me!

Why on earth was he called Candyman anyway?

For starters, I must say that almost 3 hours were a bit too much, even if the story did go through one lifetime in that time. The storyline just didn’t have enough content to keep the scenes interesting and many times it felt like they were extended too much, too slow motion. That put aside, the film was fantastic!

The story was beautiful, intriguing, peculiar, melancholic. Sometimes the scenes seemed to drag on a bit too long, but the last hour or so was so so beautiful and it pretty much made up for the first part of the film which I, for one reason or another, found a bit dull.

I think there could have been less interruptions to Benjamin’s story, cutting back to ‘real life’ (to the hospital) so often was unnecessary but again, as the story went on it became clearer and clearer why we were shown the dying mother and her daughter so often – they were very much part of the story as well. Still I thought it was irritating that there were so many interruptions.

Seeing Benjamin go through his life, getting younger as everybody else around him grew older, it was all just so sad. And his final scene, the way he died, it was so pure and innocent and at the same time so very heartbreaking.

To add all this the exceptionally beautiful music composed by Alexandre Desplat, I can’t help but like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it had certain depth, and it got me thinking. Not many Hollywood films do that these days. :)

Wow, I was very much pleasantly surprised! I didn’t expect much and actually only started watching this film for the beautiful costumes, but in the end got so much more! I’m not too fond of Keira Knightley but I think she did a fairly good job as Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire.

Surely, the film itself didn’t hold many historical events (as such) but all the characters had depth, the relationships between different people were built gradually but still firmly. The biggest problem in most films today is that most relationships between characters are too rushed which makes them seem unrealistic or not too believable. I do understand not everything can be shown when so much has to be fitted in to approximately two hours, but I still think the relationship-development between characters is one of the fundamental parts of good film-making and thus shouldn’t be compromised too much.

When a film’s genres include Romance and Drama, one can’t expect anything more than just that – romance, drama, relationships, even tragedy. And that’s what The Duchess is about, too. It’s not supposed to be a historical dramatisation of the real Georgiana, and when kept that in mind, this film is very enjoyable and touching, I could almost see myself watching it again at some point!

Fantastically awkward characters, great humour, this series is just so amusing! Jim Parsons makes an awesome performance as Sheldon Cooper, his inability to recognise and act in social situations is beyond hilarious. Simon Helberg is actually rather cute as Howard Wolowitz, even though his character is pitiful with a disgusting imagination… and I actually know someone who is much like him in real life. Good god, and I thought Howard was cute. Well, I still do, he’s cute in a sort of weird, unconventional way. :P

What I like most about the Big Bang Theory is that it feels authentic, the characters aren’t too over-the-top but still clearly anything but “normal”. And even though the episodes make fun of the geeky lifestyle of Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj, they do it in a mild and loving way, without judgement or pointing fingers. I like that. :)

Whoa. Just… wow. So, so, so, so, so, so, so good! I hardly know what to say, what to think, because this season was just so brilliant!

Where to start, let’s see… right! David Tennant. I swear, I’m going to miss him, he’s so quirky, blimey that Doctor, I love him. (not sure which, the character or the actor, probably both a bit, though I must admit I’m now interested in seeing David Tennant in some other role as the Doctor) The Doctor, yes, the Doctor. He seems lonelier than before, all that destruction that seems to be following him everywhere he goes, his companions leaving him… it’s all such a burden for him. I think Martha said it so well in one of the episodes – he’s like fire, stand too close and you’ll get burnt. (or something along those lines, can’t remember exactly) Even if it were best for all, he can’t be alone and the ones whose lives he has touched can’t let go of him either. I can’t blame them though, no. ^{Oh look, I’m getting all involved here, it’s just a TV series after all.}

Moving on to… Donna! Oh, Donna Donna Donna. She was exceptional, her, yes, indeed. Loud and stubborn, she was absolutely brilliant, I liked her spirit and attitude a lot. :D Oh, and I discovered that I only missed Rose for the sake of missing someone, because once she was there, back, I’d rather had her not be there. I still can’t understand what’s so special about her…

And what about the season finale? Oohhohoo, magnificent! Suspenseful, dramatic, surprising, oh I liked it all very very much. Though that scene, with Rose and the Meta-Crisis Tenth Doctor… yeah, I don’t know, a bit weird bordering on being forced to create a happy ending for Rose. Still, what a great finale! Can’t wait for next episodes! (Easter is so far away, but I must be patient…)

Wehee, this season rocked my socks! (Not that the first two didn’t, but this one was so different!)

David Tennant, still as the lovely doctor, I swear that man is hilarious, I’m going to miss him now that he’s leaving (lucky for me I still have the whole of season 4 to watch :P). The Doctor, he’s different somehow, like a part of him was left behind with Rose. Still as brilliant as ever, though.

Martha Jones, the new sidekick. Right from the first episode I liked her attitude, she was so different to Rose (and Donna), she was smart and at first I thought a lot more independent too (but was proven wrong in the end, can’t have everything it seems) and I thought she and the Doctor would be more equal. Unfortunately though as the season went on, she was reduced into this lovesick, absurd companion to the Doctor. What is it about him that makes everybody fall in love with him? I mean, perhaps I can understand that on some level but really, all his companions fall in love with him after a couple of days’ acquaintance. What’s up with that, seriously?

As the episodes went on, I noticed – and I swear I never thought I’d say this – that I was starting to miss Rose. Perhaps it was partly because she was mentioned quite a lot of times throughout the season but really, there was something about her and the chemistry between her and the Doctor was just… unique, I guess. And he certainly misses her, could it be love, I dare not say.

Ah, and we got to see Captain Jack Harkness as well for a couple of episodes! I had missed him, he is a fascinating character and a real flirt. ;) I’ll be seeing a lot more of him once I start watching Torchwood (two seasons out, can’t wait!).

What to say about the episodes then… Blink (E10) was probably my favourite, creepy on its own way, and then Human Nature and The Family of Blood (E08 and E09), it made me so sad while watching those two episodes. Gave me a new way to perceive what it is like to be a Time Lord. And then there was the season finale. Grand, ominous, but not as good as the final for the second season. Well, that one had everything to do with Rose, this finale concentrated more on the Doctor himself. Tragic in a way but at times not suspenseful enough. By no means am I disappointed, I’m still very eager to start the fourth season! :D

Yes, yes, yes! I think this season was even better than the first one. And I must say, both the Cybermen and Daleks are absolutely brilliant! Oh such fun I had watching the 13th episode, it was so great, and a fantastic final episode, too.

Oh yes, and how did David Tennant do as the 10th doctor? Well he was fantastic! The first episodes were a bit… well, it took time to get used to him but he got better and better in each episode and oh my isn’t he just charming! And so hilarious as the doctor, just enough wackiness. (and as a side note: how can anyone have such brown eyes? Oh my)

This was the first time I read Pride and Prejudice in English and the experience was interesting. And a lot easier than I had expected. Now I understand how peculiar that might sound, but let me explain. Even though I know my knowledge of the English language is extremely good, I still didn’t know how difficult Austen’s English might be for me. And yes, sometimes I had difficulties understanding what was said in the book, I had to read the same sentence twice to understand exactly what it meant and yes, there were many words new to me but in the end all that mattered very little. Of course it helped that I knew the storyline, so it was easier to follow even if I didn’t understand everything right away. Now I’m eager to read Austen’s other books in English as well, I have Emma and Sense and Sensibility waiting for me right now1 :)

As for the book and story itself, I was surprised to notice that this time I wasn’t as overwhelmed by Eliza and Darcy’s love as I was the last time I read the book. This time I paid more attention to the world and society the characters lived in. Times have changed tremendously from the 19th century, but still I cannot but resent the idea of marriage being the most important goal in life and to marry well – that was the utmost success. And even for Elizabeth, even though she is portrayed as somewhat of a rebel, that is her objective. I’ve always seen her as a rational person but now I think I must change my view of her, for she is not as different and rebellious as I had remembered. Nothing bad about that, she’s just a fictional character after all and I still enjoyed her wit very much, she is an intelligent girl, more than an average girl of that time, I should think.

This book is a classic, and if for nothing else, one should read it for the sake of becoming a bit more cultured (in literature, at least). And hey, it’s one of the greatest love stories ever – that has got to mean something as well. ;)