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Wordly Obsessions

~ … the occasional ramblings of a book addict …

Wordly Obsessions

Category Archives: Movies

Get Ready to Play… ‘Hunger Games’ Name!

15 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by mywordlyobsessions in Book News, Humour, Movies

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games


This is a cool little game for anyone who like me, finds the names from ‘The Hunger Games‘ pretty cool. I found this originally over at ‘Forever Young Adults’. By answering the following questions you too can have your own ‘Hunger Games’ name. Mine turned out to be: Kimet H Rushreed. I think I can live with that! Not as good as Katniss Everdeen, but it gives me a fighting chance of winning the Games eh? What will yours be?

1) Write down the second syllable of your middle name.

  • If you do not have a middle name – what is wrong with you?  How did you know when your parents were mad at you?  Anyway, you should use the second syllable of your firstname.
  • If your middle name is only one syllable, you may use the second syllable of your lastname.
  • If none of your names have more than one syllable, your parents obviously read the children’s book Tikki-Tikki-Tembo, and you may use any syllable you like from Tikki-Tikki-Tembo-No-Sa-Rembo-Chari-Bari-Ruchi-Pip-Peri-Pembo’s name.

2) Write down the name of a plant.

3) If you are a female above the age of 30, write down the word “less.”  If you are a female under the age of 30, write down the word “met.”  If you are a man of any age, A) welcome! and B) write down the word “petra.”

4) Write down the first initial of the last name of your favorite English teacher from school.

5) Write down one simple action verb (i.e. “run,” “jump,” etc)

Now, get your results!!

Combine the answer from #1 with the answer from #3.  That is your first name.

Your middle initial is the answer to #4.

Your last name is your answer to #5 with your answer to #2 added to the end.

Can’t wait to hear what people come up with! May the odds of an attractive name be always in your favour.

Related articles
  • Learn How to Create Katniss’s Iconic Hunger Games Braid (bellasugar.com)
  • Francis Lawrence to direct The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (contactmusic.com)
  • New comic parodies ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘Twilight,’ ’50 Shades of Grey,’ and more (examiner.com)
  • The Hunger Games (shereviewseverything.wordpress.com)

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Literary Songs A-Z | D is for ‘Diamonds are Forever’ by Ian Fleming

14 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by mywordlyobsessions in Authors, Book News, Excerpts, Movies, Music

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Casino Royale, diamonds are forever, ian fleming, James Bond in film, Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Shirley Bassey, Spy Who Loved Me


Yup, it was bound to happen sometime soon. I couldn’t resist it; there had to be a Shirley Bassey in the line-up and it’s in at the letter ‘D’. ‘Diamonds are Forever’ is the fourth Fleming novel in the 007 series and it just oozes charisma and glamour. Without a doubt it epitomises the very essence of the novels. In fact, if the Bond movie franchise got one thing right again and again, it’s the quality of their opening music and Shirley Bassey is the undisputed queen of that particular success.

However, I feel the last few Bond movies have not lived up to this expectation. The music just wasn’t up to scratch, it being somewhat lacklustre and forgettable (I confess, I can’t even remember the last two Bond songs!). Even worse is the sad fact that there really IS no one good enough to take over from Bassey. Lord knows they have tried, but it just hasn’t worked. Her voice is the auditory hallmark of the 007 films and to be honest the only person who could have come close to stepping into her shoes was the late, great Amy Winehouse. But alas, that was not to be. It’s a shame that Winehouse was so self-destructive and her death is a great loss to the music world. But I believe there is still hope. There is yet some other singer out there with the special vocal chemistry that will make my skin tingle when those opening chords play and the naked ladies grace the screen in their psychedelic glory (all seen through a very suggestive ‘peeping-tom-like’ tunnel!)

I have only read two Fleming books so far: ‘Octopussy and the Living Daylights’ and ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ and found them to be entertaining in their own way, although I have it on good authority that ‘Casino Royale‘ is by far the best out the bunch. The only difference between the Bond in the novels and the Bond we are accustomed to seeing on screen is that the books don’t take the whole thing so seriously. It’s very tongue-in-cheek and quite clearly just a bit of fun. This was quite surprising after the cool, cunning and calculating Bond that Sean Connery and Roger Moore have built up over the years. I would recommend the Bond novels to anyone looking for a break from their usual genres.  If you’re not sure check out my reviews above.

But I digress; here is the opening title screen to the film. Lyrics are below, enjoy!

Diamonds are forever,
They are all I need to please me,
They can stimulate and tease me,
They won’t leave in the night,
I’ve no fear that they might desert me.

Diamonds are forever,
Hold one up and then caress it,
Touch it, stroke it and undress it,
I can see every part,
Nothing hides in the heart to hurt me.

I don’t need love,
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me,
For when love’s gone,
They’ll luster on.

Diamonds are forever,
Sparkling round my little finger.
Unlike men, the diamonds linger;
Men are mere mortals who
Are not worth going to your grave for.

I don’t need love,
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me,
For when love’s gone,
They’ll luster on.
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.
Forever and ever.

Related articles
  • 50 Years of Bond – James Bond (creativemagezine.wordpress.com)
  • James Bond: Diamonds Are Forever script full of Fleming’s handwritten corrections emerges for auction with estimate of £80,000 (dailymail.co.uk)
  • Ranking the Family of Bond (le0pard13.com)
  • Film: Primer: A guide to the James Bond films (avclub.com)

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Literary Songs A-Z | B is for… ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’

28 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by mywordlyobsessions in Book News, Movies, Music

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Audrey Hepburn, breakfast at tiffanys, deep blue something, Holly Golightly, literary songs, Tiffany & Co., truman capote


One of my favourite Capote novels ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ clocks in under the letter ‘B’. This is one of those books where the film version precedes the book in terms of popularity – and quite right too! The queen of style Audrey Hepburn’s iconic rendition of the independent single girl in the city type was an instant success. Fast forward to the 90’s and the band Deep Blue Something’s hit single ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ took the world by storm and has stayed a classic ever since.

You say that we’ve got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we’re falling apart
You’ll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don’tcare

And I said what about “Breakfast at Tiffany’s? She said, “I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it.” And I said, “Well, that’s the one thing we’ve got.”

I see you – the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through me
I guess I was wrong
So what now?
It’s plain to see we’re over,
And I hate when things are over – When so much is left undone

And I saidwhat about “Breakfast at Tiffany’s? She said, “I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it.” And I said,”Well, that’s the one thing we’ve got.”

You say that we’ve got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we’re falling apart
You’llsay the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don’t care

And I said what about “Breakfast atTiffany’s?
She said, “I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, Ithink, we both kinda liked it.” And I said, “Well, that’s the one thing we’ve got.”

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  • Breakfast at tiffany’s on the green (lucydazilma.com)
  • Breakfast at Tiffany’s “Moon River” (asparkofmoonlight.wordpress.com)
  • Now You Can Have Breakfast at Tiffany’s – For a Price (fabsugar.com)

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Celebrating World Book Day | “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by mywordlyobsessions in Book News, Education, Movies

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

84th Academy Awards, Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, animated short film, Brandon Oldenburg, Morris Lessmore, Short film, William Joyce, world book day


Since ‘World Book Day’ is almost upon us, I wanted to share a short film that sums up perfectly the real impact of books upon our daily lives – and how a world without them is almost unthinkable. Please enjoy it as much as I did and thank you to LKD for bringing it to my attention in her blog post “The Inside of My Brain On An Ordinary Day“.

“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” has garnered a number of awards including the prestigious ‘Best Animated Short Film‘ at the 84th Academy Awards and was written by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. There is also an Ipad app based on this film and a book adaption is expected to be released in late 2012.

If you’d like to know more about the short film, please visit the official website.

Please share this with as many people as you can, and let’s get literacy levels back on track. Books still have a very firm, legitimate place in our lives and without them our world is very, very empty.

Also let’s make a difference for all those who still cannot share in the joys of reading, the millions around the world who still live in poverty and destitution. You can donate some of your books to charities who will use them to get aid to those who need them. Or you can visit the World Book Day website for ideas on what to do on that day. Books can make a difference, if only we know how to treat them… please feel free to share your feelings about the film or any activities you might be doing on March 1st.

POP QUIZ! If you are up for the challenge, try to spot how many stories you can see in this short film. The beginning is obvious and reminiscent of a certain Dorothy with ruby red shoes! But what about the rest of it? Ready, steady, go!

Related articles
  • The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (crader.info)
  • Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (thehobbitofpemberlyplace.wordpress.com)
  • The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (cmintz.typepad.com)
  • Watch Pixar’s La Luna Short (thepeoplesmovies.com)
  • Review: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (storypockets.carnegielibrary.org)
  • Top 10 Children’s Picture Books for 2012 (prathambooks.org)
  • The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012 Animated Short Oscar Winner) (bluesyemre.com)
  • Morris Lessmore Has Entered Our World (insideview.ie)

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Literary Songs A-Z | A is for… ‘Alice in Wonderland’

26 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by mywordlyobsessions in Book News, Movies, Music

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

alice in wonderland, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Jefferson Airplane, lewis carroll, literary songs, Red Queen, White Knight, White Rabbit


It’s a magical moment when a song captures the soul of a well-loved book. Over the years I’ve enjoyed discovering both songs that were inspired by books and those that could very well have been. So I’ve decided to take a look and compile a little A-Z of famous (and maybe not so well-known) songs that have found life through books.

Since this is going to be in alphabetical order, our first entry must begin with:

Lewis Carroll’s delightful tale of surreal escapism has always been a firm favourite of mine. And I am so glad that the next song so perfectly sums up the wonder and fear of a world where not everything is as it seems. Here is Jefferson Airplane‘s ‘White Rabbit‘ followed by the a cover by Collide that is far darker, more techno version that far from detracting from the original, adds a certain edge and brings the song bang up to date.

And the cover: ‘White Rabbit’ by Collide…

So, which one is your favourite. I can’t decide, but with lyrics like that you can’t really go wrong no matter what you do to the song!

 One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small,
And the ones that mother gives you
Don’t do anything at all.

Go ask Alice
When she’s ten feet tall.
And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you’re going to fall,
Tell ’em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call.

Call Alice When she was just small.
When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you’ve just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low.

Go ask Alice I think she’ll know.
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead,
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen‘s “off with her head!”

Remember what the dormouse said:
“Feed your head. Feed your head. Feed your head”

Related articles
  • Rare Illustrations of “Alice in Wonderland” by Salvador Dali (complex.com)
  • Alice in Wonderland (1951) (journeysinclassicfilm.com)
  • Alice in Wonderland Party Ideas (birthdayinabox.com)
  • Alice in Wonderland Hair Ties: Kiddy but Kooky-Cute (bellasugar.com)
  • 101 Quotes From Alice in Wonderland Check It Out!!!!!! (eslschoolforenglish.wordpress.com)
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (thegoodsoldandnew.wordpress.com)
  • ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to Get Sequel Treatment (aceshowbiz.com)

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Pirates of the Caribbean:On Stranger Tides | Greenwich Gets Back To It’s Nautical Roots!

24 Friday Sep 2010

Posted by mywordlyobsessions in From Life..., Movies

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Film Set, Greenwich, Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean 4


Yes me hearties… for the last few days I’ve been watching a production team (Blackbeard Productions) work their amazing magic on the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. This is all for the fourth installment of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. You know what this means? Johnny’s in town! I have it on good authority that the scenes to be shot here will include both Depp and Penelope Cruz, which will be starting any day now (if it would just stop raining!)

On one of the boards it said that filming was due yesterday, but it seems they are running late with building the set, and make no mistake, it’s a VERY big set. Over the course of a few days they’ve completely taken over all the lawns building two separate areas from scratch and erecting a couple of tall scaffoldings covered with a blue-screen to block out views from the Thames (Canary Wharf, HSBC building etc) and the Maritime Museum opposite the main road. I’m guessing that the screens will be filled in with CGI later on. Anyway, here’s some photos I took of construction at various points in the day.

‘Construction in Progress’ – too right! The place was swarming with security and big, big cranes… I like the name though, ‘Blackbeard’. Very apt.

  

 

Set No.1 – This is supposed to act as a castle for the King of Spain, (heard it through the grapevine!). It looks very medieval. Not at all in keeping with the other buildings around. Opposite this is a lawn with rows of stables for horses and carriages. 

 

And here comes some handsome carriages, but where are the horses? There were several of these in different shapes and sizes when I went to look on Monday. These ones arrived yesterday and were hauled over to a secure place on the right. Unfortunately, I can’t tell the difference between a ‘hansom’, ‘chaise’ and a ‘trap’, so if anyone knows please post the answer!

 

Set No.2 – This is a very elaborate set that I’m guessing will be used as part of the ‘London’ scenes as it’s style is similar to the surrounding buildings. There was some writing on one of the fake walls that said ‘Windsor Facade – Carrigan Building’. I wonder what that meant? Oh, and those pillars arrived yesterday morning and despite being props were very heavy! Can you spot the guy on the ladder giving the wall a ‘wet’ effect?

 

Set No.2 (front) – Here you can appreciate just how well they’ve imitated the Baroque architecture of Greenwich. It was raining horribly yesterday. I felt sorry for the crew who had to work in these conditions, but as they say, the show must go on!  

 

Some cheerful, royal banners to add a bit of colour to the gloomy London day. It’s not very clear, but the emblem ‘GR’ is written on each flag. If you look carefully, you can spot the giant bluescreen that blocks the view of the Thames. There was an identical one just opposite that is supposed to block the sight of cars going by on the main road. 

I also saw some production crew move into the Painted Hall that’s located in the King William building. They took out all the tables and chairs, covered the floor with soft mats and had just started building something at the back of the Hall.

I’ve seen filming being done at Greenwich before, but not on this scale. A few years ago Nicole Kidman was here for ‘The Golden Compass’. Again, they were using the Painted Hall for some of the Oxford scenes (Lyra’s Oxford, not our Oxford) and before that the Jackie Chan film ‘Shanghai Knights’ had a few market scenes with the buildings as a backdrop. Parts of ‘The Wolfman’ with Benicio Del Toro also used Greenwich’s spooky, old-fashioned look for when Lawrence Talbot goes all Lycan and wrecks havoc on London.

Greenwich isn’t just a place for films though. It has its own fascinating history dating back to the 1600’s. It is a World Heritage Site and was until recently still used as a Naval College before it became a university. It has its roots firmly in the Navy and Maritime exploration. The buildings themselves were built in many stages, having passed through the hands of great architects like Sir Christopher Wren, Sir John Vanbrugh, James ‘Athenian’ Stuart and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Generations of the Royal family have lived here, and were even born here. King Henry VIII favourite place to be was the Greenwich Palace and Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary I were both born there.

So, considering all this, I think using Greenwich for the filming of ‘POTC:4’ is perfect. What better place than an Old Naval College. I mean, real pirates used to dock here on their ships. Can’t wait to see how it all looks on the big screen.  

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