I thought I would write some film reviews of new ones I have see and some of my favourites just to share the knowledge.
This time I thought I would review Waitress, a 2007 American comedy-drama that is just brilliant.
Keri Russell plays Jenna a waitress living in American South, she is trapped in an unhappy marriage with an abusive husband called Earl, played by Jeremy Sisto who has previously starred in Clueless and is in Suburgatory.
She works in Joe's Pie Diner where she invents pies with unusual titles inspired by her life.
The way she talks about her pies and the flavours makes your mouth water and the names are perfect summing up her life around her including 'Bad Baby Pie' when she finds out she is pregnant and doesn't want the baby.
What I found out was that the writer and director Adrienne Shelly died at the age of 40, she plays Jenna's friend Dawn sadly murdered before the film hit the big time.
The film shows Jenna's desperation in wanting to run away from her husband. She puts money aside to enter a pie contest in a nearby town, which has a $25,000 prize. Her husband doesn't want her to go for fear she won't come back, which is exactly what she would do given half the chance.
It is just a really sweet film, where not a lot happens but it really pulls on the heart strings. It is funny and heartbreaking.
Jenna's friends have perfect comedic timing especially Becky played by Cheryl Hines, who also now stars in Suburgatory and the diner owner Joe who encourages her to do her own thing. She also embarks on a fling with the new doctor Jim Pomatter played by Nathan Fillion.
She begins a journal noting all her recipe ideas and also growing in love for her unborn baby.
After watching this film I want to bake more than anything, I could imagine a cupcake equivalent.
I won't spoil the ending but don't think this is a boring hum-drum film it is just a perfect film and my boyfriend loves it as well so it isn't the usual rom-com film.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Well worth the wait - The Dark Knight Rises at the IMAX
I have been a little late to the party here, but me and my boyfriend wanted to see the new Batman at the IMAX in London, the largest screen in the UK.
Well where to start, the film, the screen or the experience, it was all just fantastic.
Well first the film I won't give anything away but it ticks a lot of boxes for Batman comic book nerds. The film is just amazing! Well shot and has the perfect ending for The Dark Knight trilogy. It ties everything up in a neat bow with a little hint that more could be on its way.
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman is just the part she was meant to play. Halle Berry's is an even bigger joke in comparison but is she a match for Michelle Pfeiffer's? I don't know but it would be a close fight. She is just purrfect. Sorry...hard to resist.
Of course Christian Bale and Gary Oldman do not disappoint.
It is just a stellar cast of Christopher Nolan favorites - Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard and of course Cillian Murphy.
The film is just visually fantastic and the sound quality in the IMAX made the seats shake. Without saying too much any Batman fan would be happy, if not ecstatic with this film.
Now the IMAX the screen is huge and the ratio is more of a square than the usual letterbox in normal cinemas.
Batman and Bane were more like massive giants than stars on a screen. The film features over an hour of footage filmed with IMAX cameras, with crystal clear images and powerful digital sound technology.
The seats shook the screen took over but it coupled with the film was the perfect film experience.
I love films and I love the IMAX, it was £15 for an adult ticket but worth the money and a medium popcorn and small drink came to £6.60, bargain. It is ideally situated on the roundabout near Waterloo station.
If you haven't seen The Dark Knight Rises do it! And make an extra special trip to the IMAX, you won't regret it.
Well where to start, the film, the screen or the experience, it was all just fantastic.
Well first the film I won't give anything away but it ticks a lot of boxes for Batman comic book nerds. The film is just amazing! Well shot and has the perfect ending for The Dark Knight trilogy. It ties everything up in a neat bow with a little hint that more could be on its way.
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman is just the part she was meant to play. Halle Berry's is an even bigger joke in comparison but is she a match for Michelle Pfeiffer's? I don't know but it would be a close fight. She is just purrfect. Sorry...hard to resist.
Of course Christian Bale and Gary Oldman do not disappoint.
It is just a stellar cast of Christopher Nolan favorites - Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard and of course Cillian Murphy.
The film is just visually fantastic and the sound quality in the IMAX made the seats shake. Without saying too much any Batman fan would be happy, if not ecstatic with this film.
Now the IMAX the screen is huge and the ratio is more of a square than the usual letterbox in normal cinemas.
Batman and Bane were more like massive giants than stars on a screen. The film features over an hour of footage filmed with IMAX cameras, with crystal clear images and powerful digital sound technology.
The seats shook the screen took over but it coupled with the film was the perfect film experience.
I love films and I love the IMAX, it was £15 for an adult ticket but worth the money and a medium popcorn and small drink came to £6.60, bargain. It is ideally situated on the roundabout near Waterloo station.
If you haven't seen The Dark Knight Rises do it! And make an extra special trip to the IMAX, you won't regret it.
Monday, 13 August 2012
Wow...didn't Britain do well
I have to admit that that I have never been a fan of the Olympics, always thought it was just people running about or throwing things, nothing of any interest.
However in the past 16 days this has all changed. It all started with the opening ceremony extravaganza orchestrated by Lancashire film director Danny Boyle. It was amazing! Full of all things British - Mary Poppins, Voldemort, the industrial revolution, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, cricket, while also celebrating the great music, television shows and films from our fair isle.
It just made me feel very proud to be British, showcasing all the things that are great about our island.
Then the games began and after three days we hadn't won anything. Uh-oh interest starting to waiver.
But then we got one a silver in the cycling and then a gold (well two but counts as one) Helen Glover and Heather Stanning won gold in the women's coxless pair in the rowing.
That is when it got exciting! We won gold medals in cycling, athletics, shooting, and canoeing. Silver and bronzes in sailing, tennis, swimming, gymnastics and diving plus loads more - 29 gold, 17 silver, 19 bronze. Wow!
Watching Super Saturday was just fantastic, Jessica Ennis winning gold in the heptathlon, Greg Rutherford in the long jump and Mo Farah in the 10,000 metres, these three were added by three others in the rowing and women's team pursuit in cycling. I have never screamed at the television so much as when I was watching Jess's heats or Mo in the final straight. It was just amazing.
Names that were household names regained their crowns or added to their medal count - Bradley Wiggins the Tour de France champ and Mod God won the men's time trial; Chris Hoy won his sixth gold medal, Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Adlington did us proud.
Then there were others who are now the names the future generations will remember - the Brownlee brothers, Nicola Adams in boxing, Jade Jones in taekwondo, Anthony Ogogo in boxing and Lizzie Armitstead who won our first medal of the games in the women's road race.
So many amazing athletes in Team GB truly our greatest team.
Also it makes you look to Rio with hope for even more medals, so many young stars coming through the ranks - Laura Trott may have won two golds in cycling but she is only 20! Diver Tom Daley is only 18 and has a lot more dives in him and heptathlon rising star Katarina Johnson-Thompson who is only 19.
This really is a games to inspire future generations and I really hope it does.
Then we got to the closing ceremony a celebration of British music and boy was it! Kaiser Chiefs and Mods singing Pinball Wizard, the Spice Girls, THE SPICE GIRLS singing Wannabe and Spice up your life, The Who, Gallagher singing Wonderwall - Liam not Noel, Pet Shop Boys and loads more. It was a true celebration of the athletes and all they have accomplished and looking forward to Rio 2016.
We in Britain did do it right and I am incredibly proud to be British and can only see this growing after the Paralympics.
The Paralympics which is in two weeks! Where Team GB will hopefully do it all again, hopefully Eleanor Simmonds will get swimming glory, Sophie Warner in athletics and Shelly Woods in wheelchair racing.
COME ON TEAM GB...AGAIN!!
However in the past 16 days this has all changed. It all started with the opening ceremony extravaganza orchestrated by Lancashire film director Danny Boyle. It was amazing! Full of all things British - Mary Poppins, Voldemort, the industrial revolution, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, cricket, while also celebrating the great music, television shows and films from our fair isle.
It just made me feel very proud to be British, showcasing all the things that are great about our island.
Then the games began and after three days we hadn't won anything. Uh-oh interest starting to waiver.
But then we got one a silver in the cycling and then a gold (well two but counts as one) Helen Glover and Heather Stanning won gold in the women's coxless pair in the rowing.
That is when it got exciting! We won gold medals in cycling, athletics, shooting, and canoeing. Silver and bronzes in sailing, tennis, swimming, gymnastics and diving plus loads more - 29 gold, 17 silver, 19 bronze. Wow!
Watching Super Saturday was just fantastic, Jessica Ennis winning gold in the heptathlon, Greg Rutherford in the long jump and Mo Farah in the 10,000 metres, these three were added by three others in the rowing and women's team pursuit in cycling. I have never screamed at the television so much as when I was watching Jess's heats or Mo in the final straight. It was just amazing.
Names that were household names regained their crowns or added to their medal count - Bradley Wiggins the Tour de France champ and Mod God won the men's time trial; Chris Hoy won his sixth gold medal, Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Adlington did us proud.
Then there were others who are now the names the future generations will remember - the Brownlee brothers, Nicola Adams in boxing, Jade Jones in taekwondo, Anthony Ogogo in boxing and Lizzie Armitstead who won our first medal of the games in the women's road race.
So many amazing athletes in Team GB truly our greatest team.
Also it makes you look to Rio with hope for even more medals, so many young stars coming through the ranks - Laura Trott may have won two golds in cycling but she is only 20! Diver Tom Daley is only 18 and has a lot more dives in him and heptathlon rising star Katarina Johnson-Thompson who is only 19.
This really is a games to inspire future generations and I really hope it does.
Then we got to the closing ceremony a celebration of British music and boy was it! Kaiser Chiefs and Mods singing Pinball Wizard, the Spice Girls, THE SPICE GIRLS singing Wannabe and Spice up your life, The Who, Gallagher singing Wonderwall - Liam not Noel, Pet Shop Boys and loads more. It was a true celebration of the athletes and all they have accomplished and looking forward to Rio 2016.
We in Britain did do it right and I am incredibly proud to be British and can only see this growing after the Paralympics.
The Paralympics which is in two weeks! Where Team GB will hopefully do it all again, hopefully Eleanor Simmonds will get swimming glory, Sophie Warner in athletics and Shelly Woods in wheelchair racing.
COME ON TEAM GB...AGAIN!!
Friday, 10 August 2012
Regaining my cupcake crown with lemons
It has been a while but after some experimenting I have made my way back to cupcakes, mainly because it is boyfriend's mum's birthday and she loved the lemon cakes last time so I dusted off the Hummingbird Bakery book and set about grating some lemon zest.
When the cakes were done and cooled a took out the middle of some and filled the centre with lemon curd and on others I did a layer of lemon curd so not sure how lemony they will be.
I also made the lemon icing with a suggestion from my mum I used proper butter in the icing and it definitely worked and made them a lot stiffer.
All that is left now is to see what my boyfriend's mum thinks about them...the true test.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Enjoying the Cornish coast...
It is always nice to get away and have a little break.
Due to money me and the boyfriend were unable to go on holiday abroad this year, so after a great trip away last year to Looe in Cornwall we decided to make our way back to the Cornish coast. This time we chose Perranporth on the north coast and about a four hour drive from Petersfield.
We spent a couple of nights at the Seiners hotel right on the beach, it was heavenly and very much needed.
On the first day we were surprised that people were so far away from the sea, but we later found out the tide was out and it came right up to the hotel by the evening.
Perranporth is very small but has a few pubs, fish and chip places and restaurants. There are many caravan parks nearby so a lot of the shops are catering for those on a tighter budget and self catering.
On our first day we had a drink in The Watering Hole a pub on the beach with seats outside, not very often you get to enjoy cider on the beach in the sun. It was really busy inside as they had various screens with Olympic events on, it felt more like a sports bar but the staff dealt with the crowds well.
That night we had dinner at Waterfront Restaurant, a coral coloured building just a short walk from the beach. I had pollock with prawns in a mustard sauce and my boyfriend had squid and a ginger, chilli and lime local beer which he wouldn't stop talking about, Atlantic brewers I think.
There was also a free salad bar. It was well priced and the food was delicious, really busy and they had a sweet trolley which was nice. Really good food.
We also went out for coffee at The Cove, which had appetising cakes and night drinks a the Tye pub and Green Parrot (Wetherspoons).
On our last night we had dinner in our hotel's bar.
We stayed at Seiners and it was well worth the money, prices vary from £50-£85 and was perfect. Breakfast had a cold buffet of cereal, and hot food including full English, mackerel and scrambled eggs and pancakes with bacon and maple syrup which I had both mornings and loved. The first time it was a proper pancake and the second was the more American type, I really preferred the first day. The boyfriend had the belly busting full English.
We also had a Cornish pasty (of course) from BerryMans bakery, a steak one which was good but not as good as the one I had in Looe.
So as I said on the second night we had dinner in the bar. We had asparagus with lemon butter and a starter of Doombar (ale) cheese and toast which was delicious, not sure where the Doombar came into it but the cheese was delicious, really creamy. For our main we both had fish and chips and it wasn't too greasy just yummy.
We also took a walk along the coastal path and got break taking views of the beach, well worth it if you pack your boots (or in our case trainers).
The whole holiday was fantastic and a thoroughly needed break, we even got sunburnt! Not sure how though.
For more on Perranporth visit the tourist website: http://www.perranporthinfo.co.uk/
And our hotel: http://www.seiners.co.uk/
Due to money me and the boyfriend were unable to go on holiday abroad this year, so after a great trip away last year to Looe in Cornwall we decided to make our way back to the Cornish coast. This time we chose Perranporth on the north coast and about a four hour drive from Petersfield.
We spent a couple of nights at the Seiners hotel right on the beach, it was heavenly and very much needed.
On the first day we were surprised that people were so far away from the sea, but we later found out the tide was out and it came right up to the hotel by the evening.
Perranporth is very small but has a few pubs, fish and chip places and restaurants. There are many caravan parks nearby so a lot of the shops are catering for those on a tighter budget and self catering.
On our first day we had a drink in The Watering Hole a pub on the beach with seats outside, not very often you get to enjoy cider on the beach in the sun. It was really busy inside as they had various screens with Olympic events on, it felt more like a sports bar but the staff dealt with the crowds well.
That night we had dinner at Waterfront Restaurant, a coral coloured building just a short walk from the beach. I had pollock with prawns in a mustard sauce and my boyfriend had squid and a ginger, chilli and lime local beer which he wouldn't stop talking about, Atlantic brewers I think.
There was also a free salad bar. It was well priced and the food was delicious, really busy and they had a sweet trolley which was nice. Really good food.
We also went out for coffee at The Cove, which had appetising cakes and night drinks a the Tye pub and Green Parrot (Wetherspoons).
On our last night we had dinner in our hotel's bar.
We stayed at Seiners and it was well worth the money, prices vary from £50-£85 and was perfect. Breakfast had a cold buffet of cereal, and hot food including full English, mackerel and scrambled eggs and pancakes with bacon and maple syrup which I had both mornings and loved. The first time it was a proper pancake and the second was the more American type, I really preferred the first day. The boyfriend had the belly busting full English.
We also had a Cornish pasty (of course) from BerryMans bakery, a steak one which was good but not as good as the one I had in Looe.
So as I said on the second night we had dinner in the bar. We had asparagus with lemon butter and a starter of Doombar (ale) cheese and toast which was delicious, not sure where the Doombar came into it but the cheese was delicious, really creamy. For our main we both had fish and chips and it wasn't too greasy just yummy.
We also took a walk along the coastal path and got break taking views of the beach, well worth it if you pack your boots (or in our case trainers).
The whole holiday was fantastic and a thoroughly needed break, we even got sunburnt! Not sure how though.
For more on Perranporth visit the tourist website: http://www.perranporthinfo.co.uk/
And our hotel: http://www.seiners.co.uk/
Friday, 3 August 2012
Another cake bites the dust...
Oh well, my run of cake making had been going so well. Not so today!
A month of so ago I watched Ramsay Behind Bars on channel 4. Gordon Ramsay went to a male prison to set up a bakery. They made lemon treacle slices, which later sold Caffe Nero in certain parts of London.
I liked the look of the slices and thought I would give them a go. They didn't seem complicated but I was a little concerned as it is very different to the other cakes I have done before.
I bought all the stuff and it seemed to be going well, I had made the base and the topping. Put it all together, base, then lemon curd and then the topping.
Put it in the temperamental oven and left to cook.
However, I could then smell burning took it out and the top was a little like jelly and not 'firm to the touch' as the recipe said it should be so I turned the heat down and left.
I checked it again and it was brown on the top and felt firm so I got it out and left it to cool.
Now when I went to cut it, it wasn't cooked properly and the biscuit base crumbled and went to pieces so it resembled more of a crumble than a cake. It did taste quite nice...in pieces. So I binned it, bad I know but I was embarrassed.
I'm off all week so was going to make rosemary truffles, not sure now.
It was the boyfriend's mums birthday on Wednesday and she has requested lemon cupcakes, at least I know I can make them and may do a twist and take out a bit of the middle and put some lemon curd on them.
Well at least I know now but I really wanted the slices to work! I think the mixture was too runny. Oh dear, I would definitely not get the contract with Caffe Nero.
A month of so ago I watched Ramsay Behind Bars on channel 4. Gordon Ramsay went to a male prison to set up a bakery. They made lemon treacle slices, which later sold Caffe Nero in certain parts of London.
I liked the look of the slices and thought I would give them a go. They didn't seem complicated but I was a little concerned as it is very different to the other cakes I have done before.
I bought all the stuff and it seemed to be going well, I had made the base and the topping. Put it all together, base, then lemon curd and then the topping.
Put it in the temperamental oven and left to cook.
However, I could then smell burning took it out and the top was a little like jelly and not 'firm to the touch' as the recipe said it should be so I turned the heat down and left.
I checked it again and it was brown on the top and felt firm so I got it out and left it to cool.
Now when I went to cut it, it wasn't cooked properly and the biscuit base crumbled and went to pieces so it resembled more of a crumble than a cake. It did taste quite nice...in pieces. So I binned it, bad I know but I was embarrassed.
I'm off all week so was going to make rosemary truffles, not sure now.
It was the boyfriend's mums birthday on Wednesday and she has requested lemon cupcakes, at least I know I can make them and may do a twist and take out a bit of the middle and put some lemon curd on them.
Well at least I know now but I really wanted the slices to work! I think the mixture was too runny. Oh dear, I would definitely not get the contract with Caffe Nero.
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Film review - The Woman in Black
Horror films - I used to love the old slashers when I was a teenager but as I got older the films like Saw just didn't do it for me.
I do love a ghost story though and I heard a lot of good things about the stage play of The Woman in Black, so when the film version came out over the summer in the cinema I managed to convince my friend to come with me.
She had seen the stage play, so she had no excuse to have a go about it being scary.
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps, a solicitor who after losing his young wife and with a young son has to prove to his boss he has what it takes to be a solicitor. He is sent away to Eel Marsh House to sort out a woman's affairs after her death including all her paperwork.
However, when he turns up the locals are less than helpful, probably not helped by the mysterious woman in black and the fact that whenever she appears a children dies in awful circumstances.
This film is the highest grossing British film so far, and when you watch it you can see why.
It is a true gothic horror, dark and eerie with a lot of fog. It isn't full of big jumps, the scariest bit happens over one night and probably takes up 20 minutes of the film. But it is terrifying, well I thought so anyway.
As much as I love Daniel Radcliffe I do have a little issue with him being a dad, only because I think he looks too young to have a son but other than that the pain and sorrow in his heart is portrayed perfectly on Daniel's face.
The film is just hauntingly good. I don't like certain things in horror films - creepy kids and creepy toys, this film has both...in the first few minutes.
This film is just a pure horror film, so blood, no torture-porn just a true Hammer horror of the golden age of cinema.
The screenplay was written by Jane Goldman who also wrote Stardust, so you know it is going to be good.
I also read the book, which is just as scary. It also has a different ending but worth a read before seeing the film. However, when I read the thud, thud in the book I stopped reading, if you have seen the film you will know why.
Now I just need to see the play!
I do love a ghost story though and I heard a lot of good things about the stage play of The Woman in Black, so when the film version came out over the summer in the cinema I managed to convince my friend to come with me.
She had seen the stage play, so she had no excuse to have a go about it being scary.
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps, a solicitor who after losing his young wife and with a young son has to prove to his boss he has what it takes to be a solicitor. He is sent away to Eel Marsh House to sort out a woman's affairs after her death including all her paperwork.
However, when he turns up the locals are less than helpful, probably not helped by the mysterious woman in black and the fact that whenever she appears a children dies in awful circumstances.
This film is the highest grossing British film so far, and when you watch it you can see why.
It is a true gothic horror, dark and eerie with a lot of fog. It isn't full of big jumps, the scariest bit happens over one night and probably takes up 20 minutes of the film. But it is terrifying, well I thought so anyway.
As much as I love Daniel Radcliffe I do have a little issue with him being a dad, only because I think he looks too young to have a son but other than that the pain and sorrow in his heart is portrayed perfectly on Daniel's face.
The film is just hauntingly good. I don't like certain things in horror films - creepy kids and creepy toys, this film has both...in the first few minutes.
This film is just a pure horror film, so blood, no torture-porn just a true Hammer horror of the golden age of cinema.
The screenplay was written by Jane Goldman who also wrote Stardust, so you know it is going to be good.
I also read the book, which is just as scary. It also has a different ending but worth a read before seeing the film. However, when I read the thud, thud in the book I stopped reading, if you have seen the film you will know why.
Now I just need to see the play!
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