Films:
I'm not a huge fan of films, but everyone likes a good movie don't they! My favourite types of film are probably musicals or big epic adventures.
Here are my 5 favourite films:
1. The Star Wars Trilogy
OK, I know that this is really 3 films, and if I had to choose one it
would be The Empire Strikes Back, but I think that they belong together, ie.
Seeing Empire or Jedi wouldn't be the same without having seen Star Wars first.
The whole idea of Star Wars, the worlds, characters and the music, are just so
memorable. Star Wars was the first film I remember seeing, and I used to watch
it every time I visited my grandparents, it's just not possible to get tired of it!
Fave character: Darth Vader. He has so many brilliant lines:
"The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am."
Fave moment: Luke finally overpowering Vader. Seeing someone who had seemed invincible being beaten by their own son...amazing!
Fave line: "If only you knew the power of the dark side", or "Impressive. Most impressive."
2. The Phantom Menace
I've never been so excited about the release of a film as I was about this. I bought the soundtrack well before the film came out, which made me even more excited. I booked tickets the day they came on sale for the first friday evening. I was scared that it wouldn't live up to the hype, and I did come out of the cinema slightly disappointed. My expectations had been huge, and although it didn't live up to them, it was still a brilliant film. It left me with a nagging feeling of having to see it again really soon to enjoy it fully, and I went again the next day. This time, it was up there with the trilogy, an awesome cinema experience.
I ended up going to see it another 5 times after this, and probably enjoyed it the most the 6th time of seeing it. Now that is the sign of a good film!
Fave character: Qui-Gon or Darth Maul
Fave moment: Amidala looking out sadly as the federation troops get nearer, or Darth Maul using the force to send something flying through the air which opens the door behind him.
Fave line: "Are you an angel?" or "There's always a bigger fish".
3. Brigadoon
This is a musical that was written in the 1940's, and stars Gene Kelly. It is about
a scottish village called Brigadoon which only appears for 1 day every 100 years because
of a miracle. Two American hunters, Tommy and Jeff, find the village, and the film is about
the romance of Tommy and one of the village girls, Fiona, and whether he loves her enough
to give up his life to stay. The music sounds very Scottish, and the film is extremely
magical, I really love it.
Fave character: Fiona
Fave moment: When Brigadoon first appears out of the mist.
Fave line: "Can't we two go walking together out beyond that valley of trees. Out where there's a hillside of heather curtseying gently in the breeze. That's what I'd like to do: see the heather, but, with you".
4. Camelot
Another musical by the same people that wrote Brigadoon, this combines the Arthor legend
with really nice music. I've always liked the Arthor, Guenivere and Merlin story, and
having it told in musical style makes it even better. Music seems to give a much better insight
into the emotions and moods of the film, it's lovely to watch.
Fave character: Arthor
Fave moment: When Arthor goes into the forest to look for Merlin, and finds lots of little animals instead.
Fave line: "That once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment....that was known.. as.. Camelot".
5. Madame Butterfly
This is my favourite opera, I absolutely love it. So I was really happy when this film version was shown on TV. You get to see the story in it's true setting of Japan, with real countryside etc that you wouldn't be able to recreate in a theatre. This is one of the all time classic stories (adapted later as Miss Saigon), set to really beautiful music.
Fave character: Butterfly
Fave moment: The love duet between Pinkerton and Butterfly, as they sing about how beautiful the stars are above them.
Fave line: The whole thing is in italian!
TV:
When I'm at university I hardly watch any TV, as I'm usually on the computers! But there are still programmes which I will always try and get to see, and here are my top 5:
1. Father Ted
There's not much to say really, except that I love this programme and find
it hilarious!
2. The Simpsons
For me, this is the only good comedy ever to come out of America. It's not as funny as
some comedies, but it's always very entertaining, and has an absolute wealth of classic
characters.
3. The Sky at Night
This is the only regular astronomy programme there is, and all astronomy students
should be made to watch it! Presented by Patrick Moore, one of my all time heroes, who
also appears on Gamesmaster, another great programme.
4. University Challenge
Being a student, this is the quiz show with the most appeal to me! My mum says I
should go on it, but I'm only any good at science unfortunately. Still, I might be able
to do better than the pitiful Cardiff performances I've seen in the past!
5. Pinky and the Brain
I was introduced to this cartoon by Elaine, which I'm very grateful for, but they
stopped showing it very soon after! Pinky and Brain are lab mice, and every night Brain
thinks of a way to try and take over the world. Brain is a really great character,
always saying these deadpan one-liners after Pinky's foolish acts.
More Pinky and the Brain pictures
Books:
1. The Lord of the Rings
I can't describe the brilliance of this book. It simply blew me away. It's the best
fantasy story by a long way, and, in my view, probably the most epic novel in existence.
2. The Last Legends of Earth
My favourite author is AA.Attanasio, and apart from Lord of the Rings, all my favourite
books are by him. He is a visionary sci-fi writer, and I don't know why he hasn't become more
famous. The Last Legends of Earth is about a race of beings who send someone to create an
artificial solar system outside the galaxy, where they ressurect humans who have been dead
billions of years. It's a breathtaking story, with an array of wonderous subplots.
3. Radix
This is about a lazy teenager, who, after nearly getting beaten to death, becomes super-fit,
and ends up having the most awe-inspiring adventures in a bleak, futuristic world. There is far
too much in it to give an idea of the kind of story, the breadth of imagination is so large.
4. Centuries
This book starts in the 21st century after a huge global disaster. Super intelligent robots
are developed to solve the worlds problems. Hundreds of years later the robots have come to dominate
the entire solar system. They plan to collapse the entire universe to take themselves to heaven, with only
the original robot fighting to save the rest of humankind. The book spans over about 1000 years, and
the grandness of it is simply amazing.
5. The Dark Shore
This takes place in a strange kingdom, where an evil man, banished to the dark shore by the good king,
is able to return, and brings with him cacodemons, lethal killing machines. The book tells of the
awesome struggle between a handful of rebel heroes and the evil forces from the dark shore. There are
many harrowing tortures, and gory battles, it's real excitement all the way.