Film Delicacy

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Hi Bookworms! I finally got the time to watch Catching Fire last night and I'm not disappointed! The second instalment of this epic trilogy is an improvement from the first movie. It continues from the end of The Hunger Games where our star-crossed lover, Katniss and Peeta (or Peeniss for those fans out there; no pun intended) become the victors of the 74th Hunger Games. In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta has to participate in the 75th Hunger Games aka Quarter Quell. Quarter Quell happens every 25 years of the Hunger Games and the Capitol will add a twist in the Quarter Quell. This time the tributes from each districts will be taken from the pool of the existing victors. Since the only female victor from District 12 is Katniss, she has to become a tribute again while Peeta volunteer in the stead of Haymitch.

Girl Power!

Katniss and Peeta were the Victor Tribute of District 12

In our previous post about Catching Fire, the overall casting for the new characters introduced  are discussed such as Finnick and Johanna. After watching the movie, I'm very satisfied with Enobaria (she's really feral!), Mags (she's so sweet and have an amazing heart), and Plutarch Heavensbee (he has this sly vibe that suits the character). I'm not too keen on Finnick and Johanna's portrayals; very different from what I had in mind for two of my favourites in the book.While Sam Claflin had definitely hit the gym and packed some serious muscles, his Finnick came off a bit creepy for my taste. I was so looking forward to the Sugar Cube part where he met Katniss for the first time but it was lackluster and well, strange. Johanna was an entirely different matter. Jena Malone's portrayal of Johanna was just okay; not as good as I had imagined but fared better that Claflin's Finnick. I love a strong female character where she doesn't need the saving; instead she saves the boy. Johanna was that kind of girl minus saving the boy part. In the book, Johanna was sarcastic and snarky. Yes, she can be a full blown b*tch but I seriously love that girl. Whereas in the film, Johanna was a little tad too loud but I got to applaud Malone for getting away with two f-bombs during the movie. Even if she's not exactly the Johanna in the book, I still love the Johanna by Jena Malone. She is a real bad-ass chick. Brash and i-don't-give-a-damn attitude; especially when she strip naked in the elevator, it's so hilarious.

A Bowl For the Soul

CARRIE: A BLOODY PROM NIGHT

“People don't get better, they just get smarter. When you get smarter you don't stop pulling the wings off flies, you just think of better reasons for doing it.” ― Stephen King, Carrie

Since Halloween is coming up soon, I'm in the mood for some horror-fest. Now, my favourite horror story remains with Stephen King. Name a few of King's work and I'll be jumping up and down ecstatic to tell you all about the story from head to tail. Well, not that I'm much of a horror story-teller. I mean, I got creeped out myself when I watched Wes Craven's Elm Street so how do you expect me to actually  retell any horror or ghost story. I'm not a hardcore horror story fan; Rosemary's Baby and the Exorcist made me insomniac for several nights. Anyways, since there are so many of King's ingenious works I'll choose the very first book that I read which is "Carrie".

A paperback copy of Carrie

There are so many reasons why I absolutely named "Carrie" as one of the best horror stories ever written. Along with the Shining. Or Salem's Lot. Okay, you should realise by now that I'm a huge fan of Stephen King. But since the remake of "Carrie" will hit the theatres soon, a little nostalgia about the story won't hurt (fun fact: "Carrie" is the fourth book written by Stephen King but the first to be published). "Carrie" tells us the story of a girl, social misfit with the titular name, who develops a telekinesis power that she eventually uses to exact revenge on her tormentors; killing everyone in her  school and town, where this disaster left it as a ghost town after Carrie's rampage. When you started reading "Carrie", it doesn't feel like that it's a horror story but by the time you have reached the middle of the book, this is when King really starts his brilliant gift for writing horror story. 

A Bowl For the Soul

THE START OF STAR CROSSED-LOVERS

"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo." - William Shakespeare

Hello bookworms! I'm in the mood for some classics and to tell you the truth, I have an occasional liking for clichés. So, I mused my thoughts about Romeo and Juliet. The early star-crossed lover story is perhaps one of the most popular works of Shakespeare. Probably what you can call a typical tragic love story. Of course, death of both of the hero and heroine dampens the mood but still, there's no way you can deny it's a classic. 

Title page of the first edition

The story of the Montagues and Capulets was written by William Shakespeare and published in 1597. The children of the two feuding family ironically fell in love with each other hence Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet's legendary love story. They went against all odds and their love resulted in a well-planned scheme that was supposed to fake Juliet's death. Miscommunication arises leading Romeo to drink poison hence killing himself. Juliet wakes up from her deathlike-coma and finds that Romeo is truly dead and well, she stabs herself in which the story ends with both of their families reconciling. It's tragic. It's touching. It's a love story that has stayed until this modern age.

Film Delicacy

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES

Welcome to 'The City of Bones'- Jace Wayland to Clary Fray; The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Hello bookworms! I've finally watched TMI City of Bones movie yesterday. So after 2 years of building anticipation,it hit the theaters and I was ecstatic to the point of almost jumping up and down along the way to the movies. I read some of the critics review and to say the film was poor would be quiet an understatement. Of course, I know better than to expect a movie adaptation to be as good as the book itself (with exception of The Lord Of The Rings-both book and film adaptation of the trilogy give me chills).

Anyway, as I was saying the critics has given reviews that sent The City of Bones film to the gutter. Feeling the start of disappointment growing, I went ahead and watch the movie. Now the thing is there are some parts of the movie where I would have change from the start. Let's say the casting issues. People have been complaining about Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace (I know folks, I was pissed when Alex Pettyfer turned down the role- he was the perfect Jace by description but oh well), but Jamie actually made a pretty good arrogant, cool Jace. He's not as bad as I thought when he was cast. Though, I have to say he's too skinny for my liking. If only he buffed up a little more, he would have fit Jace's description even better. 

Paper to Motion Pictures

PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS

     Salutations bookworms! On a random unrelated note, this is just a filler until my next book review and I'm itching to write something all of the sudden (I'm writing this through my phone so excuse the lack of pictures, please). 

Theatrical Release Poster

Have you watched the 2nd Percy Jackson movie? Well, I haven't since it's not released in my hometown yet! I'm crossing my fingers for the movie not to be another letdown though (like the first film Percy Jackson & he Olympians: The Lighting thief - seriously a brunette Annabeth? That's just wrong from the beginning). 

Thank the gods that now they finally realise their grave mistake and decided to dye Alexandra Daddario's aka Annabeth Chase hair to a golden blonde as described by Rick Riordan in the awesome book series. Anyway, aside from that I give two thumbs up for Logan Lerman (he's a wonderful actor to begin with; I mean, have you watched him in The Perks of Being A Wallflower?! and oh, of course, his blue-green eyes earned him candy points). So far the trailer is keeping me on edge and from the looks of the promotional posters, it looks much promising than the first film (let me stress on the fact that they finally dyed Annabeth's supposedly blonde hair to well, blonde. Cue first approval clap from me).

Then again, I found out that Nathan Fillion is playing Hermes the god of thieves, travellers, and messengers. Funny thing is I can't imagine Nathan Fillion as Hermes. though I can't say for sure since I haven't watch the movie yet so that remains unknown. I love their cast for Thalia Grace, though. Paloma Kwiatkowski look exactly as I have imagined the spunky, smart Thalia to look like. So, I'm definitely gonna be queuing once Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters hits the theatre in my city.

Signing off, bookwormsoul.

A Bowl for the Soul

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

   
   “Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” - Augustus Waters; The Fault In Our Stars.

John Green was probably the most talked YA fiction author in early to mid 2013 (until now, really). His first breakthrough was Finding Alaska, and then continued by the bestselling The Fault In Our Stars. The thing about Green’s work that captured the attention of readers is the combination of ridiculously funny and endearing moments between the characters. He is able to create a universe of characters that interact with such chemistry that us, readers, could relate to. The whole concept of Green’s work is just so down-to-earth that we simply could not resist to delve further into it.

'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.'- Cassius to Brutus; Julius Caesar (Act 1, scene 2).

The Fault in Our Stars is most praised by critics and readers alike. It revolves around the budding love story of Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. They probably come off as a cliché of two teenagers finding love and having their summer fling but here’s the catch: they’re both terminal cancer patients. So, there you go. You get a glimpse of their feelings and lives and you might just be surprised at what they thought of the world aka the rest of healthy living population.

On a side note, The Fault In Our Stars were optioned by Fox 2000 with Josh Boone directing and starring Shailene Woodley!

Up next: Have you, bookworms, read the uh-mazing Heist Society series by Ally Carter? Well if you haven’t, you should. It’s ridiculously brilliant!

Signing off, bookwormsoul.