My summer of (bookish) love...

The summer is coming to an end. I always feel abit nostalgic and melancholic at this time of the year, feeling that the summer is over too quickly. And I have to admit, abit sad that there is yet another year until I can read as much as I would like to. As you can see, I've taken a small break lately, and I'm not really sure where I'm heading with this blog. I will continue to post whenever I feel like it, but to be honest, I'm not really sure how much time I have to spare. I finished my bachelor's degree in literature this spring, but this year I'm taking a few courses to give me a bachelor's degree in Celtic and Norse Studies. And I don't really think the year after that will give me any more to spare either, because then I will hopefully start on my master's degree in Information Studies in Brighton (cross your fingers for me!)

But sometimes I do have time to spare, and this time I just wanted to share with you some of the books I've bought lately (and 'some' might be the right way to put it, because I've managed to buy around thirty books the last months... oops!). 

I went to a flee market in my hometown yesterday, and it only took me about an hour to buy ten books. They were only 10NOK each (which is around £1)!

I also received a few books from Barnes & Noble last week. Take a look at these beauties! I really love these leatherbound books from B&B, and I already have Gray's Anatomy, The Story of King Arthur and his Knights, a Dickens and a Shakespeare collection in the same series.

And look at the birthday gift my sister gave me. I've been looking at this every time I've visited Waterstones in London, but it has been too large to take with me (thanks to luggage restriction) and I've never gotten around to order it online. It is a survey of the Earth's natural history and contains some amazing photographs of over 5,000 species

Have you bought some new books lately? Or are there some gorgeous books you can't wait to get your hands on? Do share!

It seems like it has become a habbit of mine to start a post by stating how long it has been since I've last posted here. Well, it has been ages, and I can't really see how it's going to change. I just don't think I'm up to beeing that regular bloggar. I'm more on tumblr these days, but I'm not posting much there either. Anyway, I guess I will continue posting as long as I feel like it. Today is one of those days, and well, this is going to be a post about pretty much nothing. I just wanted to say hi and see how you all are doing. Are you alright? I've been pretty busy lately, with my exams and a phone inteview with Brighton university. When my holiday finaly arrived, I managed to get the common cold. Hurrah!

I also wanted to show you why posting outfits is not really my thing. This is how I look today, and lets face it: I felt silly taking these photos, and it shows! I also seem to have that Angelina leg pose syndrome. Oh, and excuse my silly ear!

Well, at least you get the idea of how I look these days.

Now I'm off to my grandparents to bake them a cake and to eat pizza! Have a lovely weekend! 

PS: if anyone would like to know, the skirt is from River Island and the blouse is from Vero Moda

10 most anticipated movies of 2012

I actually started writing an entry about my top ten movies from 2011 a while back, but I never managed to finish it. I would still like to reommend them to you, but in the meantime, here is a  list of my ten most anticipated movies of 2012 (in no particular order)

(all the movies are linked to their respective trailers)

1.

Lawless

Director: John Hillcoat

Writers: Matt Bondurant and Nick Cave

Staring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska

'Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits'
Based on the book 'The Wettest County in the World' by Matt Bondurant, this movie seems to have everything: an interesting setting, stunningly dirty cinematography, a wonderful cast (if you look past the miscast of LaBeouf), a great director (previuosly made the Proposition and the Road) and a script by Mr. Cave, which hopefully will be making the score as well.

2.

Moonrise Kingdom

Director: Wes Anderson

Writers: Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola

Staring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Frances McDormand and Jason Schwartzman
'A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them'
The wonderful director of such movies as the Royal Tenenbaums and the Fantastic Mr Fox is back with yet another colorful movie. It seems awfully cute and funny, and has an amazing cast!

3.

The Dark Knight Rises

Director: Christopher Nolan

Writer: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

Staring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Mariot Cotilard, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and Michael Cane
I can't say how long I have been looking forward to this movie. I hope and think that this will be the greatest movie in the Batman-trilogy of Christopher Nolan. And with my favourite actor playing one of my favourite villains, it is bound to be good! 

4.

Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes

Writers: Ian Fleming and John Logan

Staring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Bérénice Marlohe, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw
'Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As M16 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost'
One of my favourite directors is back with my favourite James Bond, Daniel Craig. And if that could not make it better, Ben Wishaw is in it as well. Can't wait!

5.

Prometheus

Director: Ridley Scott

Writers: Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof

Staring:  Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce
'A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race' 
Not my favourite of genres, but I loved Alien and Aliens, and lets face it: this movie looks amazing!

6.

The Hobbit

Director: Peter Jackson

Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guilermo del Toro

Staring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, etc etc

'A curious Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon smaug'
Like many others, I've had my Tolkien and LOTR phase, and like many others, I also look forward to this movie. On one hand, I can't shake the feeling that I will be somewhat dissapointed...  on the other, I know I'm going to bawl my eyes out.

7.

Django Unchained

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Kurt Russel, Kerry Washington and Sacha Baron Cohen
'With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal  Mississippi plantation owner' 
I've always been a fan of Tarantino, but there is no hiding that his last movies has not been my favourites. Still, his movies are always great fun, and I can't imagine this one being any different. Looking forward to yet another great soundtrack and some rememberal lines.

8.

Sound of My Voice
Director: Zal Batmanglij
Writer: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Staring: Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius, Brit Marling
'A journalist and his girlfrield get pulled in while they investigate a cult whose leader claims to be from the future'
A new movie from the wonderful Brit Marling. Her last movie, Another Earth, was one of my favourites from last year. Her ideas are so different from anything I've seen before, and she has a beautiful way of telling those ideas and stories.

9.

Anna Karenina

Director: Joe Wright

Writer: Tom Stoppard and Leo Tolstoy

Staring: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Michelle Dockery and Holliday Grainger
'Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky'
The amazing playwright Tom Stoppard and director Joe Wright brings the book of Leo Tolstoy to the screen. Too bad Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch and Saoirse Ronan all turned down roles, since I'm tired of both Keira and Jude. Still, I look forward to see some of the support cast, and since Wright will work with my favourite composer, Dario Marianelli, (for the fourth time) it will be a movie to look out for

10.

The 10th place is divided between three movies that are not so much anticipated, but deserves to be on the list anyway:

Brave
Directors and writers: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell
Voices: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Julie Walters
'Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse'
Highland Scotland in the 10th century. It's supposed to be darker than previous Pixar movies. I hope it will be as dreamy as it looks!

Looper
Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Staring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt
'In the year 2042, a mob hitman assassinates targets that arrive from the future of 2072. For him it's just a job... till he receives a new target: himself from the future'
Interesting director, interesting cast, interesting concept! 

Gangster Squad

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Writer: Will Beall, Paul Lieberman

Staring: Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin

'The chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s'

 Mafia, 40s/50s  and a good cast keeps this movie on the list.

MAC and cruelty free products

I have just been informed by the lovely Akira that the brand MAC is no longer producing cruelty free products, and I just wanted to share the information with you guys. I for one was very dissapointed. I have tried to keep my cosmetic and beauty products cruelty free and have been a happy customer of MAC products for a long time. It now seems like MAC has to test their products on animals in order to sell their products in China, a country that requires animal testing for their products (correct me if I'm wrong). Although I will finish the products I already have (becuase throwing away already bought products will neither help the animals nor the environment), but until MAC desides to go back to their original roots, I will have to find other cosmetical brands that produce cruelty free products. Every tip is a much welcomed one!

On a much similar note, I had to fill up my stock on iherb products today (since some of the products I bought last fall has been emptied since then). All of the products I bought are organic, cuelty free and vegan friendly. I would highly recommend both of these brands, Aubrey Organics and Avalon Organics.

Is there anybody out there?

It feels like ages since I've been on this blog. Are some of my followers still out there somewhere? I have had several half-written entries ready, but have never managed to finish writing them. I have just not been up to it. What I would like to share is the new member of my little tattoo family. Say 'hallo' to Sailor Cat: 

And while I'm at it, I thought I could show you some other members as well

(Yes, not all of these pictures are good, but you get the general idea of how it looks)

 

Academy Awards: Red Carpet

Here are my favorites from this years red carpet. Starting with my two absolute favorites:

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture

...and the rest:Mila Jovovich in Elie Saab

Maria Menounos

Two handsome boys:Gary Oldman
Christopher Plummer

The 84th Academy Awards

Just an hour until the Academy Awards begins, so here are my small Oscar predictions and thoughts:

w = previous wins
n = previous oscar nominations (that weren't wins)

Best Picture
The Artist
David Langmann
The Descendants
Jim Burke, Alexander Payne (1w,2n) , Jim Taylor (1w,1n)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Scott Rudin (1w,2n)
The Help
Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan
Hugo
Graham King (1w,1n), Martin Scorsese (1w, 6n)
Midnight in Paris
Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum
Moneyball
Micheal de Luca (1n), Rachael Horovitz, Brad Pitt (2n)
The Tree of Life
Sarah Green, Bill Pohland, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill (1n)
War Horse
Stephen Spielberg (3w, 7n) , Kathleen Kennedy (6n)
Thoughts: There were very few of the nominated movies I really loved this year. Even though I enjoyed some of them, most of them were so-so. Since it won an Golden Globe for best motion picture, The Descendants may win this award as well (I really hope not, because it was my least favorite movie of the year). Still, I do think that The Artist will win, but I hope that The Tree of Life wins. It was one of last year's most breathtaking movies. I really loved Midnight in Paris as well, but it is hardly a ground breaking movie.


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir
for A Better Life
George Clooney (1w, 3n)
for The Descendants
Jean Dujardin
for The Artist
Gary Oldman
for Tinker, Tailore, Soldier, Spy
Brad Pitt (2n)
for Moneyball
Thoughts: I really hope that Gary Oldman wins this award. He has been overlooked for so many years now, and I really loved him as Smiley. I do think that Jean Dujardin will win though, and he deserves it as well.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close (5n)
for Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis (1n)
for The Help
Rooney Mara
for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep (2w, 14n)
for The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams (2n)
for My Week With Marilyn
Thoughts: Meryl Streep will deffinetly win this one, and she really deserves it. I think she did a suberb role in The Iron Lady, and noone can become another person so completely as Streep does. Both Viola Davis and Michelle Williams are good candidates for this award as well, and even though I will be glad to see Williams win for her portrayal of Monroe, I do think and hope that Streep will take home this award


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh (3n)
for My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill
for Moneyball
Nick Nolte (2n)
for The Warrior
Christopher Plummer (1n)
for Last Station
Max von Sydow (1n)
for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Thoughts: I would love for Christopher Plummer to win, but I do think that Nick Nolte or Kenneth Branagh will take home the award.

Best Performance by an Actress in Support Role
Bérénice Bejo
for The Artist
Jessica Chastain
for The Help
Melissa McCarthy
for Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer (1n)
for Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer
for The Help
Thoughts: This one is abit tricky. I do love Jessica Chastain, but I do think she should have been nominated (and been winning) for her role in The Tree of Life. I do think and hope that Bérénice Bejo will take home the award, but Octavia Spencer may be a possible candidate as well.


Best Achievement in Directing
Woody Allen (2w,14n)
for Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanavicius
for The Artist
Terrence Malick (1n)
for The Tree of Life
Alaxander Payne (1w,2n)
for The Descentants
Martin Scorsese (1w,6n)
for Hugo
Thoughts: I do hope that Terrence Malick will win this award for his wonderful directing in The Tree of Life, but I'm afraid that Alexander Payne will take it home.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
The Artist
Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids
Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo
Margin Call
J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen (2w,14n)
Nader and Simin - A Seperation
Asghar Farhadi
Thoughts: First of all, I don't think Bridesmaids have nothing to do in the Academy Awards. I do think that The Artist will win this one, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Midnight in Paris. Still, I would like for Nader and Simin to win as well, but I do think it will take home the award for best Foreign Movie.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
The Descendants
Alexander Payne (1w, 2n), Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
Hugo
John Logan (2n)
The Ides of March
George Clooney (1w,3n), Grant Heslov (2n), Beau Wiliamon
Moneyball
Steven Zailian (1w, 2n), Aaron Sorkin (1w), Stan Chervin
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy
Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
Thoughts: I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but I do think that any of the other four will take home the award.


Best Achievement in Cinematography
The Artist
Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Jeff Cronenweth (1n)
Hugo
Robert Richardson (2w,4n)
The Tree of Life
Emmanuel Lubezki (4n)
War Horse
Janusz Kaminski (2w,2n)
Thoughts: These smaller awards are abit more difficult to say anything about. I do hope that The Tree of Life will win this award though, because it's cinematography is beyond stunning. Still, I do think that any of these nominees may take home the price

Best Achievement in Editing
The Artist
Anne-Sophie Bion, Michel Hazanavicious
The Descendants
Kevin Tent
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Angus Wall (1w,1n), Kirk Baxter (1w,1n)
Hugo
Thelma Schoonmaker (3w,3n)
Moneyball
Christopher Tellefsen
Thoughts: I'm not sure if any of these movies editing has made any real impression on me, but I do think that maybe The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will win this one, even though I would be happy for both Hugo and The Artist.

Best Achievement in Art Directing
The Artist
Laurence Bennett, Robert Gould (1n)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2
Stuart Craig (3w,6n), Stephenie McMillan (1w,3n)
Hugo
Dante Ferretti (2w,6n), Francesca Lo Schiavo (2w,5n)
Midnight in Paris
Anne Seibel, Hélène Dubreuil
War Hors
Rick Carter (1w,1n), Lee Sandales
Thoughts: I do think that all of these movies deserves this award, but I'm keeping my finger's crossed for Harry Potter


Best Achievement in Costume Design
Ananymous
Lisy Christl
The Artist
Mark Br
Hugo
Sandy Powell (3w,6n)
Jane Eyre
Michael O'Connor (1w)
W.E
Arianne Philips (1n)
Thoughts: I think that the Artist will win this award, but I am really keeping my fingers crossed for Jane Eyre (one of the movies that has been overlooked this year, and the movie that should have won the award for best score)

Best Achievement in Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnson, Matthew W Mungle (1w,2n)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2
Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight, Lisa Tomblin
The Iron Lady
Mark Coulier, J. Roy Helland
Thoughts: I would be happy for Harry Potter winning this one, but I do hope and think that The Iron Lady will win. The makeup used for aging was extremely well done!

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
TinTin
John Willliams (5w,40n)
The Artist
Ludovic Bource
Hugo
Howard Shore (3w)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Alberto Iglesias (2n)
War Horse
John Williams (5w,40n)
Thoughts: One of my favorite awards (beside the award for best costume)! I actually like everyone of the nominees, but I do think that The Artist will take home the award. I'm keeping by fingers crossed for both Hugo, Tinker and War Horse though!

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
David Parker (2w,4n), Michael Semanick (2w,6n), Ren Klyce (3n), Bo Persson
Hugo
Tom Fleischman (4n), John Midgley (2n)
Moneyball
Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, David Giammarco (1n), Ed Novick (1w,2n)
Transformers 3
Greg P. Russell (14n), Gary Summers (4w,5n), Jeffrey J Haboush (2n), Peter J Devlin (3n)
War Horse
Gary Rydstrom (4w,6n), Andy Nelson (1w,14n), Tom Johnson (2w,5n), Stuart Wilson
Thoughts: Another difficult award, but I do think that the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will win (I do hope War Horse for this one though)

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Drive
Lon Bender (1w,1n), Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Ren Klyce (3n)
Hugo
Philip Stockton, Eugine Gearty (1n)
Transformers 3
Ethan Van der Ryn (2w,1n), Erik Aadahl
War Horse
Richard Hymns (3w,4n), Gary Rydstom /7w,7n)
Thoughts: I do hope that Drive will win this one, because it is yet another movie that has been overlooked this year. I do think that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will take home this one as well though.

Best Achievement in Visiual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2
Tim Burke (1w,2n), David Vickery, Greg Butler, John Richardson (1w, 4n)
Hugo
Robert Legato (1w,1n), Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann, Alex Henning
Reel Steel
Erik Nash (1n), John Rosengrant, Danny Gordon Taylor, Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Joe Letteri (5w.1n), Dan Lemmon, R Christopher White, Daniel Barrett
Transformers 3
Scott Farrar (1w,4n), Scott Benza (1n), Matthew E. Butler, John Frazier (1w,8n)
My thoughts: Another difficult award, but I do think Harry Potter, Hugo and The Rise of the Planet of the Apes deserves it the most.

Unfortunatly, I have not been able to see enough of the movies nominated for Short Films, Foreign Language Film, Animated or Documentaries, to say anything about it.

I just wanted to let you sweethearts know that I've created two new tumblrs. Even though I have a few entries planned for this blog, I rarely have the time to actually write them. Tumblr is a place for more simple entries, so I'm abit more active there. So, beside the more "personal" tumblr, which you can find a link to on the righthand side of the screen, I've created two other tumblrs. One is for movie and tv costumes while the other is primarily for catwalk fashion:

(the pictures are linked)

The perfect score...

I'm making a summary of books, movies and tv-series read and watched in 2011. It takes a while, and even though I don't think it's any interest of yours, it is a great way for me to keep track of the year (and an excuse to make a list, which must be one of my favorite pastimes!)

In the meantime, I would like to start posting some of my favorite soundtracks. I'm a huge fan of composed soundtracks, both in movies and tv-series, and I especially love hearing instruments like the violin, cello, piano, harp and bagpipes in music. I would love to reccommend some records and composers for you, and I'm going to start this series with a list of some of my favorite music composed for tv-series. This does not necessarily include a series' theme song/opening credits or all my favorite series (if you would like to hear and see more of that, you can take a look at the list a made of tv-series here, here and here, a list I would like to continue some other day)

~~*~~


Jeff Beal ~ Carnivale








Trevor Morris ~ the Pillars of the Earth




Trevor Moris ~ The Borgias






Trevor Morris ~ The Tudors








Martin Phipps ~ The Virgin Queen
(with Mediaeval Baebes)












David Arnold ~ Sherlock




John Lunn and Don Black ~ Downton Abbey




Rob Lane ~ John Adams






Michael Kamen ~ Band of Brothers




Ramin Djawadi ~ Game of Thrones






(Oh, and I do have to add that I really like the score for Hell on Wheels, but I just could not find it anywhere)

Are there any of these you particularly like?
Do you have any recommendations of music composed for tv-series?