I've been busy this year, so not lots of time devoted to entertainment as usual. But here are my picks for the year. Of course, this is not a thorough review coz I must have missed so many things. But as far as I've seen or listened to them, here are my favorites.
Midnight in Paris
Woody Ellen's tribute to (probably) his 2nd most favorite city in the world (2nd to New York, of course), and a very nice way of wrapping up my Paris trip this year. The film commemorates the way of life in the City of Lights that all artsy people want to travel back in time to live. It also asks you a very honest question about your very own contentment living at the very moment. Watch it if you haven't. Go to Paris if you haven't. Do both is highly recommended.
Drive
A craft piece. Beautiful cinematography. Great music. 1st rate ensemble with marvelous acting. Highly violent, yet there are moments of romance, humour, and redemption. It's a very cool movie. Every shot, every scene is well planned and beautifully executed.
X-Men First Class
I'm not a fan of super hero genre. I'm just a fan of great movies. And this one is deservingly so. Just how they put together the past of Magneto is also worth the money. The issue I have with super hero genre is that it is not believable. This one is atypical coz it is so believable that I fell in love with X-Men and made me watch all the other X-Mens that came before it (to disappointedly find out that this one is the best).
Bridesmaids
No, it is not your usual RomCom about a bridesmaid who is struggle to put together the best wedding to her best friend. Well, it is about a woman struggle to put together the best wedding to her best friend, but so much more. She is struggle with everything in life, finding out she is so emptied out at this point while others seem to be doing so well. It is so funny as much as it is so honest. So surprisingly good.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
It was not the best movie. In the middle, it was so lengthy. I do think it can stretch itself much more with better script and directing. But I like the feel of it. I like some scenes. I like the idea. I think it is the kind of movies that makes us think about where we stand on this planet. I love the scenes where the apes are taking over.
Crazy Stupid Love
The best RomCom (Romantic Comedy) of the year. And trust me, I watch lots of RomComs, I'm the queen of RomComs. It should put Ryan Gosling as sex god on the world map (if he's not there already). It is funny, cute, romantic, and got you to think just enough.
My favorite songs (and albums)
Surprise, surprise. There are very few favorite songs for me this year. It's almost like I don't listen to new music anymore, or there are not very good ones recently. So sad to see music industry gets destroyed like this. In pop, only a few names I can recall this year: Adele, and Bruno Mars.
Adele: Someone Like You
This girl is a dream. She sings from her heart (or it seems). She interprets many facets of love quite unlike anyone else, so profound, so honest, so intense. Someone Like You is only one of her many other great songs. I like what the host of Brit Awards talked about her, so I put it here.
"There's nothing quite like the feeling when you're listening to a song written by someone you don't know, whom you never met, who somehow managed to describe exactly what you felt at a particular moment in your life. This (next) artist is able to that time after time. If you've ever had a broken heart, you're about to remember it now, here's performing 'Someone Like You'. It's the beautiful Adele."
Bruno Mars: Grenade
Another very good pop singer when music industry is at loss of new bright shining stars. He has a great voice, with many great songs. I'm not that impressed with his album though, but overall a good singer.
My favorite new TV series
Game of Thrones
A new series from HBO about an exchange of thrones some time during middle age. So many characters to remember, but you'll get by. The production, the plot, and the acting are so fine. If you like the genre, you'll love it. It's dark, mysterious, well-crafted, and exciting.
New Girl
Zooey Deschanel (Yes, she is Summer from 500 Days of Summer) stars in this new series from Fox. It's a very gen Y story, but it heartens a gen X like me, so I like it. It's about a girl room-mating with three guys. She's very quirky and girly, they have some guy issues of their own, but they seem to get along. It's like watching weekly RomComs. Lighthearted and funny.
My favorite Season 9 Idol performances
I love American Idol. And my top 3 favorite shows of Season 9 are:
James Durbin: Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney)
Such a beautiful song. He sang it so honestly. You can almost touch it. It makes me love this song so much. Thanks James.
Jacob Lusk: God Bless the Child
This one is from Hollywood week. Jacob is amazing, and this song was his best performance. After this performance, how can you ever top that? Brilliant.
Pia Toscano: All in Love is Fair (Stevie Wonder)
Her voice is so beautiful and she killed that song. The song she picked is a great song by the great Stevie Wonder. Too bad she got kicked out so early. She's so good.
Old stuffs just found this year ^ ^
All in Love is Fair: Dionne Warwick
This will definitely go into my all-time favorite live performance. Dionne Warwick is so mesmerizing. Her phrasing, oh her phrasing. New singers don't sing like this anymore. What a classic. Cannot praise this enough.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
A wonderful French movie from 2007. Extraordinary and inspiring story from a real person, made into a movie so beautifully. Love it.
Departures (Okuribito)
A Japanese film that won Best Foreign Language Film from Oscar in 2009. A cellist turned encoffineer by chance. A film about life, death, courage, respect for self and others, and above all, hope.
Eva Cassidy: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
I have her songs in my iPod for over 4 years, but this year I have repaid my attention they deserve. She is so soulful. Her voice is so pure, and her style so magnetic and emotional. Can't believe lots of people don't know her. She is not cherished enough. Now I'm looking everywhere to get every record of hers.
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