Speed Watching

Inspired by the Speed Reading Post I though a film version would be fun too.

The point is to make an A-Z list of films you've seen.  The first one to come to mind for each letter is the one you must list. No cheating!

The rules are:
1. Go through the alphabet, and for each letter, think of a film you’ve seen that starts with that letter (A, An, and The do not count).
2. You must write down the FIRST film you think of for any given letter.
3. You must have actually SEEN the film.
4. If you think of a more impressive-sounding film for a particular letter, you CANNOT change to the more impressive-sounding film.

Let's see what genres my mind springs too...

Avatar
Beetlejuice
The China Syndrome

The Day the Earth Stood Still
Enemy at the Gate

Fatherland
Gattaca
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 
Inception
Judge Dredd
King Arthur
Leon Manhattan
No Country for Old Men
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Pan's Labyrinth
Quadrophenia
The Return of the King

Sin City
Terminator
The Untouchables
The Village of the Damned 
The War of the Worlds 
X-Men
You Only Live Twice
Zulu


I found this list much easier to compile.  mainly because a lot of films popped into my head when I was thinking of the books earlier.


Over to you Paul :-)

The Girl Who Played With Fire

I have to confess that I've given up on the written trilogy.  I was finding the beginning of this book such a slog.  I really enjoyed the first film.  More than I enjoyed the book really.  For the first time ever I decided to ditch the books for what the celluloid version has to offer.  I've realised I haven't enough time for books I'm not actually enjoying reading.

I was glad to find that the part of the book I'd found incredibly dull was absent from the film.  They obviously had to make cuts to such a large novel.  The cuts that they made to the beginning of this were spot on IMHO.

I found this film as enjoyable as I had the first.  More so as I wasn't watching for differences after the first few scenes.  I did find certain aspects of the film a little far-fetched and a tad unbelievable.  Nothing more than I've put up with many times before and probably less than I'll find in the future.  

The most interesting part of the film was the interaction of Lisbeth with other people.  She couldn't keep her distance in this film as she could in the last.  That to me was the part I enjoyed most.  Seeing her have to develop as a character due to her actions.  Learning some of her back-story was also a bonus.  Noomi Rapace is excellent in this film as she was in the last.  I think if she had dropped the ball I would have enjoyed it far less.  She dwarves the other characters.  They are just there to propel her story along.  This can't be an easy role to play given the lack of expression.

Overall I enjoyed the film but it's far from a favourite.  I want to see the final installment but I'm hardly champing at the bit. 3 out of 5 pawprints.

Speed Reading

I found this on my friend's blog http://goldfishparacetamol.blogspot.com  

The point is to make an A-Z list of books you've read.  The first one to come to mind for each letter is the one you must list. No cheating!

The rules are:
1. Go through the alphabet, and for each letter, think of a book you’ve read that starts with that letter (A, An, and The do not count).
2. You must write down the FIRST book you think of for any given letter.
3. You must have actually READ the book.
4. If you think of a more impressive-sounding book for a particular letter, you CANNOT change to the more impressive-sounding book.

I have a sense of a shamefully less than 26 list, dominated by a few authors......
The Anonymous Venetian by Donna Leon
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
An Enemy at Green Knowe by Lucy M. BostonThe Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
I
J
A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Miss Garnet's Angel by Sally Vickers
N
One Step Behind by Henning Mankell
The Poet by Michael Connelly
The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
Revelation by C. J. Sansom

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Upper Fourth at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton
Venice, Pure City by Pater Ackroyd
The War of the Worlds by H G Wells
X
Y
Z

I can't see me ever filling in X, Y and Z any time soon.  I, J and N are really bugging me though.  If I think of any I'll fill them in, in red.

I'd love to see other people's speedy alphabets.

I think the same thing with films would be interesting too....

Cute Cupcake

I'm a little tired of the rampaging hoard of cupcakes.  Maybe I'm too traditional.  This one caught my eye today though, courtesy of the I Can Haz Chzburger email.  Peacock and cake?  Well it must have been baked for me. Could I bring myself to eat such a work of culinary art though?


see more EpiCute

Lufthansa Game - Virtual Pilot

Stephen Fry tweeted about this game this morning.

It really is fun, especially if you enjoy to travel in Europe.

My name on there is Mekster.  Though I shouldn't have told you that as now you'll know how awful my geography is :-S



I do have to warn you though.  It's far too addictive to be helpful in the workplace ;-)

Virtual Pilot 2 seems kinda fun.  But it's a little too slow moving for my liking.

Thanks For the Donations

I completed the Race for Life on Sunday.  I was amazed to beat my 'Personal Best' by over 6 minutes.  I came in on 30 minutes 59 seconds.  A near miracle for me!

Best of all I managed to collect sponsorship of £355 With the added bonus of Gift Aid for UK taxpayers the total donated to Cancer Research will be £439.62  To all those sponsored me and spurred me on with their good wishes I am extremely grateful.  You all helped make it worthwhile.  I expected to struggle to reach £150 in sponsorship.  People's generosity was amazing.

I need to give a give a mention to the 'Get Running (Couch to 5K)' app which started me on my journey. http://splendid-things.co.uk/getrunning/ Starting from not having run since forced to at school was daunting.  This app helped get me going.

I started off my training on the treadmill and moved onto the roads when I'd gained a little running fitness.  I don't think you'll get me back on a treadmill unless the weather demands it.  It's so much more free and refreshing running outside.

Thanks to Mum and Dad for spurring me on on the day.  The biggest thanks of all have to go to my husband Dave.  He's given me nothing but support from the day I started.  Handing out advice, nudging me on when I got all pathetic and whined.  Helped plan my routes and ran with me on my training runs whilst ignoring the fact that I was sometimes less than charming whilst struggling.  I couldn't have done it without him.  To have him there as I crossed the finish line meant the world.

Well , next year I'm hoping to double my distance.  Don't worry though I won't be boring you all throughout that training ;-)

Plea for Sponsorship.

I have signed up to do the local Race for Life.  It is a 5k, women only run to race money for the Cancer Research Charity.  http://www.raceforlife.org/

If anyone would like to sponsor Cancer Research through me please do so via the widget below.