Les Misérables

Nine days. I cannot believe that it has taken me nine days to go and watch Les , and another five to blog about it. I'm such a slacker!

What can I even say about Les Mis? The novel was published by Victor Hugo in 1862(same person that wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame), and was first converted into a play of the same name in 1980, Paris. Now it is being shown in 311 cities all across the globe, and remains one of the most infamour musicals to go and watch. Personally, I haven't actually been to see the musical, but my mum and sister have been to the West End to see it three or four times, and they have always raved on about how good it is.

For  those who don't know, it was converted into a movie(there are already a couple of movie adaptaions) by Tom Hooper for release in 2012- it was released on 11th Jan in Britain. The cast is also incredible: featuring Anne Hathaway, Russel Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, and my personal fvourite Eddie Redmayne, among others. The film has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, too!

Here is the plot line; 
Set in early 19th-century France, it is the story of Jean Valjean, a burly French peasant of abnormal strength and potentially violent nature, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for starving relatives. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him to, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade.

You guys do not know how hard it is for me not to just sit here telling you about how much I love Eddie Redmayne! He is so good looking, ahh and so talented- it makes me sad! Anyway, I thought that they made this film perfectly. The actors that were cast were all teriffic, especially since they all had to sing really well, too. I do wish that they had included a few more songs with the young Cosette, as I really like hearing her sing, her voice is mesmerising. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by Russel Crowe's performance in this movie-  I wasn't expecting him to have such a good voice, if I'm honest, but he knocked it out of the park!

I love the music in this movie. Apparently, all of the songs were performed live on the set(they were overlain with pre-recorded songs during the editing process), which helped the actors get into the emotional side of the song more, which they did perfectly. Most of the movie was performed in song, I could probably count the number of sentences said, not sung, on one hand. My favourite songs to hear were the ones that had multiple voices singing. for example, the reprise of On My Own, near the end of the film, was mashed up with about five or six main characters singing it, but they were all singing different songs. This created a harmony, but a medley at the same time- it was truly spectacular.

All in all, Les Mis is definitely a movie that I would go and see again, and I will surely be buying the DVD on the day of release! Just watching the movie has made me desperate to get my hands on the novel, to see what it is really like.

Have you seen Les Miserables yet?
Jennifer xx

2012, where did you go?

2012, where have you gone?   Literally filing a missing persons report.

I cannot fathom how fast 2012 went by. I can still remember what I was doing on certain days in 2011! But I must accept that the year is nearly over, so I thought that it would be great to document what I've been doing. Who knows, I might want to know this stuff in the future?!



I am going to share my favourite things about this year with you guys;
FAVOURITES
Beauty;
underdog beauty product of the year
Mua plumping gloss in 'Candy Pink'. These lip glosses are not really talked about a lot, but they really do plump your lips, and at £2 each, these are definitely an underdog that I've been loving.
favourite hair product discovered this year
GHD Obedience Cream for Frizz-Free Styling. I'm pretty sure that this product has been discontinued no, but I did buy it this year. I put it on my hair when it's damp, and it prevents my hair from going completely frizzy and spastic- total lifesaver!
best magazine freebie of the year
Benefit's Cha Cha Tint. This was such a bargain from a magazine, and it is the most beautiful coral tint for your cheeks. It stays for hours too!
overall favourite nail polish of the year
Nails Inc nail polish in St. James.

Life;
best thing you've done
Started this blog! I started this blog at the end of February, and wrote my first post on the 26th. I love writing on my blog soo much, and honestly don't know what I'd be like wihout it. Bored, probably.
what are you most proud of completing this year
In England, people from the ages of 14-25 have the opportunity of completing their Duke of Edinbourgh Award. This is basically an award which challenges yourself, and provides 'rewarding opportunities for personal development'. Some friends and I did our D of E in July, but we worked really hard at it for 9 months before then. It was really hard, but I'm glad I did it(looking back-I wasn't so happy during it!)
most proud of this year
In June I took some exams with my college, and I got result which I am sooo proud of. I worked hard, and I was thrilled when I finally got them and they were that good!
favourite trip
In July I went to the Warner Bros Studios to see the Harry Potter set with my family. Having visited the Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Orlando in 2011, obviously the set tour couldn't compare. However, it was amazing to see how they filmed some of the scenes. I had a great time!

Pop Culture;
favourite tv show of the year(english)
Downton Abbey, Series 3. Call me an old bat, but this show has twice as much drama than about 10   episodes of Hollyoaks combined, and about a million times more class.
favourite tv show of the year(american)
90210. Aired in January, and I can't wait for the next season to start. Hunks and backstabbers are so entertaining, and Naomi is just hilarious.
film that you saw in the cinema that you liked the best
American Reunion. This film made me laugh soo hard! Hunger Games was a close second though.
best book you read this year
Divergent. This book is sheer brilliance; enough said.
favourite album released this year
Do I even need to say this? Red by Taylor Swift. Obviously.


And, just because good should be balanced by bad, I thought that I would include some of my 'hated' things about this year. Only a few though, so you don't get too depressed!
HATED
beauty product I spent lots on, then regretted buying
I paid about £10 on a Soap and Glory 'Thick and Fast' black mascara, but when I started using it, it was super clumpy and way too thick to use. I even tried heating the bottle with my hairdryer to make the mascara more fluid, but it was useless. I totally regret buying this product.
event that was way overrated this year
London Olympics. I am sick and tired of hearing about what heros all of the athletes are. Sports is not the only place where people can excell, you know.
tv programme 2012 would have been better without
Without question, X Factor. The hype and publicity around this show is completely out of control now. Whatever happened to people wanting to win because they were passionate about music?

How has your 2012 been? Tell me what your favourite thing about this year was in the comments!
Jenny xx

The Book vs. The Movie

Hello my chums! I am in a very jolly mood today! The sun has been shining, and I have been frolicking in a meadow with my boyfriend; haha, I wish. I have just had a great day, you know the kind. How has your day been? I will be very jealous indeed if you have been frolicking in the sun with your boyf!

Recently a lot of the books I have chosen to read have eventually been adapted into a movie, (I pick well!) so I thought to myself, I will write a blog about which was better, the book or the movie, or if in fact they tied with being equally bad or good.

First up is the renowned Dear John, beloved by sappy romantic girls wanting to read or watch a love story. However, the fact remains that in the book Dear John is not really a love story at all. There is romance and a relationship in it, but the main focus is projected onto the military and fighting aspect if the plot. And the famous Dear John love letters? There is only one, and it is a break up letter. The movie adaptation is extremely inaccurate when compared with the book, and I have to say that I really don't appreciate Channing Tatum's attempt at acting. Sorry, but it had to be said. Unfortunately Nicholas Sparks has not done it this time, two thumbs down for Dear John.

The mother of all vampire fiction novels has to be Twilight, doesn't it? Breaking Dawn is by far my favourite book and movie of the saga, and that's not just because there is more content to read. I love the character development leading up to, and during Breaking Dawn, especially in Jacob. I also liked meeting all of the new character who were introduced in Breaking Dawn. And before you ask, I was always Team Edward in the books and Team Jacob on the screen, but then Robert Pattinson got hot and I don't know which team to pick, so I'm Team Edcob. I must say that this choice between the movie and the book has proved very challenging. I have come to the conclusion that they are equally great. The book is so detailed and interesting but the movie is truly beautiful and mesmerising. I'm tied fifty/fifty.

What world would we live in without the glorious works of teenage romance novelist Meg Cabot, namely The Princess Diaries. I know it seems childish, but I love these books! There is a certain likeability to Mia which makes her a great character, and all of the other characters are fun too, very realistic, if you get what I mean. When I read this series(there are ten books in total, and all of them have totally awesome names), I found myself really getting into the story. Also, I am kind of in love with Michael, if you've read them, you'll understand. Although, the movie was a bit of a let down. The story has been changed a lot, and some crucial plot lines missed out. The whole plot of the second movie is not included in the book series at all. The books would definitely win it for me, hands down.

Is there even a bad word to say about Sara Gruen's Water For Elephants? The book completely captivated me, and I was mesmerised by the pure talent in the movie adaptation. The story, set in 1931, follows a young man who joins the circus in a fit of spontaneity and despair. Similarly when I read as watched Water For Elephants I felt like I had been transported back to 1931, and I was right there in the circus. Sara Gruen's writing is truly enchanting, and the directors of the movie didn't do a bad job either. I keep the book on my night stand because I'll always fall back on my trusty copy if any other books aren't so great, and my DVD is just waiting to be re-watched.

And her comes the inevitable. How could I put Breaking Dawn on the list, but exclude Harry Potter? A series beloved by millions, I am one of those trivia know it alls when it cones to Harry Potter, seriously, you'd want me on your quiz team. I was, and still am infatuated with Harry Potter(but not in a 'lovey' way), ever since I first picked up the books about two years ago after being badgered by a friend to read them for ages. In all honesty I don't know why I hadn't read them before that, all I knew was that i had been missing out. I finished all of the books in a month, but if I re-read them now I could do it in about two weeks - believe me, I have re-read them many times. The movies are undeniably as big a part of British culture as the book series, however, the books will always rein for me. I can't imagine not having the movies now, but the books disclose many more extra details, which I like. Also, I'm not keen on seeing Rupert Grint's snail-trail, like we did in the last movie(euughk). I'd much rather read about their adventures and leave the visual up to my imagination.

As you can probably tell, I am a major bookworm and movie fanatic. If you would like me to review a book or movie please leave the title in the comments, I would live to hear about it. This post was not meant to deter you from reading or watching certain things as these are my personal opinions, but I thought that you would like to hear my point of view on them. Have a great weekend!

Happy reading/watching;

Jenny xx