Another Periodic Update

Hello, dear readers,

I'm sorry I'm so inconsistent with my blogging this summer. I promise I have no intention of stopping this blog; I'm just enjoying my summer as much as possible and have been too lazy to actually create a worthwhile post. So far I've been catching up with friends, shopping, reading, and getting back into regular fitness routines. I like the Exercise TV videos on YouTube, and I also search for random workouts so I can switch up my routine. I still hula hoop, but I also like interval workouts, Pilates, and Zumba and other dance workouts.  I do have reviews that will be coming up, some of which are quite overdue. I received a box of products for the summer Influenster VoxBox, which I will explain once I'm ready to review those. I have to actually use the products in order to review them! I also haven't been wearing face makeup, as it's been over 100 degrees [F] here. Don't worry, though; I still wear lipstick every day!

I hope all of my American readers had a fabulous July 4th! I went to my local parade with my friend, and one of our friends was actually driving in it. We hassled her until she got out of the car and came over to us. It was quite nice as I haven't been to the parade in a few years. I had to hop right in the shower after due to the fact that it hit 102 F [I don't know how to do the degree symbol; sorry!]. I then went to a barbecue with friends, including the two from the morning, and saw the local fireworks. Afterwards, we all went to see the opening night of the Katy Perry movie. Yes; you read that right. It was a great deal of fun singing loudly and dancing in the back row. I know, I know; it's definitely Oscar-worthy material.

I promise you will see a post from me before the summer's end; I just can't promise you when that will be! Have a wonderful weekend!

xEsther

This was Made for Me: Harry Potter Tag

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Hello, dear readers,

If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you'll know I love a good tag. This one seems to be made for me, so I just can't resist. Without further ado, here is the "Harry Potter Tag":

Favorite book: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows is probably my absolute favorite, with the Half-Blood Prince coming in a close second.

• Favorite movie: I want to say Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, simply because I loved it the instant it started playing. The scenery was so close to what I had imagined while reading the book, and the story was kept nearly identical to the novel's plot. There were a couple of movies that I had to warm up to after my first viewing. This was not because they were bad movies, but because of the material that was cut and/or added to the films. I also immediately fell in love with The Prisoner of Azkaban upon seeing it for the first time. I don't know why so many people disliked it. 

• Least favorite book: This is the worst question ever. I can't say the first book, because it established the whole magical world, though it was the least complex storyline. I would probably have to say The Chamber of Secrets, because its plot was pretty much directly parallel to the first novel, and the other books just added so much more to the story. I'm using the term "least favorite" loosely, you understand. I genuinely loved them all. The Order of the Phoenix was, and still is, the hardest to get through, simply because Harry is angry the entire time.

• Parts of the books/movies that made you cry: The resurrection stone scene in the final film. Need I say more? Also, the scene with Fred and George, in which they ask each other if they're ok. Let's just say that's the last time the twins ever spoke. I don't remember ever actually crying whilst reading the books. I think I was just hyperventilating the entire time I read the last book, as I literally didn't move for a day and a half out of excitement. I just couldn't stop reading.

• If you could hook up with any HP character who would it be? Really? I suppose this question is inevitable. Based on character alone, not actors...I'm sorry I can't come up with an answer. Hooking up with a fictional character? I really can't think of anyone.

• Favorite character: SO MANY! Of the professors, favorites include Lupin, McGonagall, and Snape. Snape is included because he's one of the most complicated characters in the series. Mrs. Weasley and Sirius Black are my favorites of the adults who aren't professors. Fred, George, Neville, and Luna are my favorites of the students outside the main trio. This is me restricting my answer.

• What would your Patronus be? Maybe a dolphin or an owl.

• If you could have the Resurrection Stone, Invisibility Cloak or the Elder Wand which one would you choose? Invisibility Cloak

• What House would you be in? Pottermore put me in Ravenclaw, and I have to agree.

• IF you could meet any member of the cast who would it be? That's hard. Maybe Matthew Lewis.

• Have you played any of the video games? Yes. 

• IF you were on the Quiddich team which position would you play? I would play spectator. I don't do sports. If I had to, I'd be a Seeker. I'd just have to fly around looking for something and not worry about anything else.

• Were you happy with the ending? Despite the fact that half of the characters were killed off, yes. I was very happy.

• How much does Harry Potter mean to you? It kind of consumed half my life, not in a "Harry Potter made me who I am today" sort of way. I just happened to start reading the series and watching the movies at age 9, and it all came to a close when I was 19. Now I'm 20, so I consider that a significant portion of my life. I don't think I'll ever be this excited about any other series again, hyped up or not.

That's the tag! I managed to keep a few answers short. You should do this tag, or at least think about the answers, if you're a huge Harry Potter fan.

I hope your weekend went well!

xEsther

Dug Up from the Drafts: "There's More to Me than Makeup" Tag

Totally random and unrelated photo. View from my bedroom window, taken in January. The window has a screen, 

hence the blurriness. I played with editing, but eventually decided on the original. I hate making posts without pictures!

Hello, dear readers,

I know this is another tag, and an old one at that, but I actually have a fairly decent reason for it. This is the second of the drafts that I promised to post. At last, my "Posts" box will be empty of anything but published blogs. I'm not changing the font on this one, because I rewrote the answers to suit my current situation. 


1. Do you go to school? If yes...what is your favourite subject/ what is your major?
Yes, I go to school. My major is Communications, with a minor in Spanish. Within Communications, I love film classes. However, I'm not going into the film industry; I just find those courses extremely interesting and fun. 

2. Do you work? If yes...what is your job?
I don't work at the moment, but I am looking for a summer job. I hope to find one, but, if not, I may end up taking a class instead. I do have an unpaid blogging internship online for CHAOS Magazine, and I'm applying for a copy editor internship at another website. It's also unpaid, and I'll tell you what it is if I get the position.


3. Do you read? If yes...name a few of your favourite books and/or magazines.
Yes.  Some of my favorite books are the Harry Potter series [in English and Spanish]; Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett; American Gods and Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman;  The Princess Bride, by William Goldman; The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory; Bookends by Jane Green; The Looking Glass Wars trilogy, by Frank Beddor....Honestly the list could go on and on and on.
As for magazines, my favorite is probably Marie Claire. 


4. Can you cook?
I can't properly answer that, because it's not that I can't cook; I just don't cook. I'd like to learn, but I lack motivation.


5. Do you have any siblings?
Yes. I have a sister, aged 24, and a brother, 27.


6. Do you speak any other languages?
If I were to be immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment, I think I would be able to quickly improve my spoken Spanish. I am fairly fluent as far as reading, writing, and understanding, but I could use more practice speaking. I've studied for a little over eight years, so I should hope I would pick it up! 


7. If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I'd love to travel all over Europe and the UK, just to experience the culture and the sights [The shopping wouldn't hurt either!]. Specifically, I'd like to visit Spain or another Spanish-speaking country for the reasons mentioned above. 


8. What is your idea of the perfect date?
I don't have anything specific in mind. Honestly, I think the most important thing is that it goes well!


9. What is your dream career?
I'm not 100 percent sure, but I would like to explore the world of publishing/publications. I'm also fascinated by the idea of translating books for a career.


10. Are you athletic...do you play sports/work out..or are you a couch bunny?
I'm athletic in the sense that I love working out and keeping fit. I absolutely do not play sports. My hand-eye coordination doesn't exist, and I don't have the patience for team sports.


11. What are your three favourite things (that have nothing to do with makeup/beauty)?
I'm going to skip friends and family, because they're people, not things. As far as tangible "things," I would say film, books, and music. How much more generic can I get here? More intangible things would be singing, traveling, and working out. 


12. What is the BEST thing about you? 
I love the fact that I'm easily amused by pretty much everything, which makes other people laugh as well. That probably isn't the BEST thing about me, but it's one of my personal favorite qualities.


Ahhhh, the sound of complete silence from the "Drafts" area of my profile. How I adore it. I'm not entirely sure when I initially wrote this, but it was probably before or during last fall. Like I said, the answers are up-to-date, having rewritten them yesterday. I didn't think it would be necessary to show you the old one because things have changed, and it no longer contained inaccurate information.


Have you done this tag? I think it's fun to read about the lives, loves, and dreams of other fashion/beauty/lifestyle bloggers. We all have a certain amount of "girliness" in common, but it's nice to see what else is going on with everyone. Maybe we have more in common than we thought [or even less]! 


In any case, enjoy your day, whatever you happen to be doing!


xEsther

A Tag Consisting of 11 Questions

Hello, dear readers,

I have to admit that I'm cheating a bit on this tag. You're supposed to be tagged by another blogger; answer the questions; and create 11 of your own. Then you're meant to tag 11 other bloggers. I don't plan on coming up with 11 questions, nor tagging 11 bloggers. If you want me to create my own, let me know. Otherwise, on to the questions [randomly found on Sunnie's Obsessions]:

1. What nail polish are you wearing now? 

NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Fuschia Shock

2. What’s your favorite blush?

 I don't wear blush, so I can't answer.

3. What’s the most expensive beauty product you have?

 I believe Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup is the priciest. 

4. What’s your favorite mask? 

I don't purchase masks, but I do make my own honey mask once in a great while. It consists of, [would you believe it?] honey.

5. A random fact about yourself. 

I am often the only one laughing out loud at the movie theater. Yes, I am that person. Remember me? The one you always want to smack?

6. Sephora or MAC? 

I've mentioned in a previous tag that I don't shop at either of these stores. I prefer Ulta. Between these two, I would choose Sephora for the wider range of brands and products.

7. What magazine(s) do you read? 

If you read yesterday's post, you'll know that I have too many magazines. Here's the roundup: 

• Magazines I subscribe to and/or were gifts: Marie Claire, Allure, Seventeen [though I'm starting to feel too old for it], Elle
• Magazines I get for free due to some sort of promotion/giveaway:  Shape, More [I realize this one is meant for middle-aged women.]
• My mom's magazines: Family Circle, Woman's Day
• My friend's magazines: Teen Vogue and whatever random magazines she buys for fun

8. What’s your favorite perfume?

Probably Strawberries and Champagne from Victoria's Secret. I also really like the VS Romantic Wish.

9. What’s the best base coat you have ever used?

I don't know that I have a best base coat, but I quite enjoy the Wet n Wild Shine Clear Nail Protector as a base and top coat.

10. What’s your favorite foundation?

Since I own just one, I have to say Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup.

11. Where do you want to travel the most?

I can't pick just one for this. I'm going to generalize and say Europe.

Feel free to do this tag, whether it's the proper format or not. 

Have a great weekend!

xEsther

Let's Do...A Movie Review: The Hunger Games

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Hello, dear readers,

I understand that the The Hunger Games series of novels, by Suzanne Collins, has a huge following. I decided to rebel against society and see the movie without reading the books first. It was rather nice, actually, not having to worry about the movie being different from the books, seeing as I hadn't read them. Granted, I allowed the book to be spoiled for me before going out to the theater.

The premise, as most of you already know, is that there are 12 districts that each have to send a male and female tribute to participate in the Hunger Games. This is an event that happens once a year, and is the result of an agreement between the districts and the Capitol after the districts rebelled years before. The tributes are supposed to kill each other, and only one will be victorious. The games are broadcast on TV for the districts to watch. Katniss Everdeen is the main character, and she volunteers as tribute instead of her little sister, who is initially picked. I hope I'm getting this right; please correct me if I'm muddling the details. I just don't have the desire to look up more information, and this is what I understood from the film. I'm sure everyone else probably knows better than I do about what happens in the books.

I have to say, the acting was impressive; it goes without saying that Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen) is a very talented actress. I love Stanley Tucci (the Hunger Games show's host), and the rest of the cast was great as well. I think everyone involved in the movie did a great job of capturing all the emotions coursing through the characters as they waited to see who would be called as tribute, and then as the tributes had to hide in the woods and search for the others. There was a fair amount of humor in the beginning, and then it all got sucked away by the games.

There was a very clear sense that this was a horribly sadistic game of survival, and the amount of violence disgusted me, so it definitely did a wonderful job of evoking the right emotions. The only thing I couldn't take seriously was the romance, mostly because there wasn't much development of it. As I understand it, in the novel Katniss treats the romance with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as just a ploy to get sponsors, whereas in the movie it's actually a mutual affection. Also, who would be thinking about relationships when she was fighting to the death and praying she wouldn't be murdered in her sleep?

The film editing and camera angles were brilliant as well, adding even more depth to the sense of urgency and terror in the game. There were a lot of extreme close-ups of the characters and parallel editing in order to allow the audience to feel what the characters were feeling.

Overall, this was a very good film. The cinematography and acting were fantastic, and the violence, though utterly repulsive and upsetting, gave a very clear idea of the horror of these games. The costumes and set design were very visually appealing as well, especially the fire dress and the wacky outfits from the Capitol. The weakness in the movie was the forced romance of Katniss and Peeta, which caused one of my friends and I to erupt into (silent) fits of laughter. [Side note: I got really sick of hearing, "May the odds be ever in your favor." I get that it's an ironic line; stop repeating it!]

According to the other friend with whom I saw The Hunger Games, this film stayed extremely loyal to the plot of the book. If you loved the books, I'm guessing you'll like this movie. If you can't stand violence, don't watch this. I don't plan to read the books because I don't want to have to conjure up my own images of children murdering each other, not to mention I can't understand why Collins would write a book like this. However, I did enjoy the film, and I will see the rest of the series in theaters if they're being made into movies. I think they are.

I have to say, though, I will never love a young adult series as much as Harry Potter. Just had to put that out there.

Apologies for excess rambling and lack of expertise on the series.

Have you read the books and/or seen this movie? I'd love to know your thoughts!

Happy Hunger Games.


xEsther

Pop Culture Favorites of 2011 (a.k.a. "The Master List of Mini Reviews")

Hello, dear readers,

Just recently I promised a post on my non-beauty-related favorites of 2011, seeing as it's coming up to the end of the year. I bet you're shellshocked that I'm posting this so soon after I told you about it! I'll try to limit my descriptions to a sentence or two, but if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you'll be shaking your head and rolling your eyes at me right now. So, if you can spare some time, sit back, grab a nice cup of tea, and start browsing!

[For the record, I've made the titles and headings pretty obvious, in case you don't want to read the descriptions. This is also very picture heavy to break up the content.]

Enjoy!

Favorite Films [aka the majority of the films I saw in theaters this year]:

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1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

         Two words: Alan. Rickman. His performance as Snape was as compelling as it was heartbreaking. I am ashamed to see I initially hated the film, simply because it was nothing like the book. The first of the Deathly Hallows movies was just like the book and equally slow-paced. Once I realized this part wouldn't be nearly as effective as a motion picture if it moved as slowly as the book, I fell in love. I saw this twice in theaters, and twice more on a big screen in my former university's auditorium before the film hit stores.

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    2. Midnight in Paris

         First of all, I saw this four times. In theaters. After not wanting to see it at all. I'm not going to go into detail, for once, because you can read my review . For those of you uninterested in reading my ramblings, I can sum up by saying that the cast was incredible; the direction brilliant; the plot whimsical, charming, and [dare I say it?] innovative.      

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    3. My Week with Marilyn

       As soon as I read the reviews of this film, I knew it would be great. It didn't disappoint. The cast was spectacular in this film as well, really a great ensemble, including the brilliant Michelle Williams, and hilariously overdramatic Kenneth Branagh, as well as an unknown to me, Eddie Redmayne, who plays the main character. For those of you who don't know what it's about, this is based on the diary of a young man named Colin who gets to work on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl with Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier. He chronicles the work there, as well as the week he spends with Marilyn while her husband Arthur Miller is away. 

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    4. The Help

       With wonderful performances by Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, and the recently unstoppable Emma Stone, this movie was poignant, touching, and deep. It takes place during the 1960s and centers around a wealthy college girl [Stone] who wants to write a novel from the point of view of the help, otherwise known as the African American maids in white households. Contrary to advertisements for the film, the book doesn't center on Stone's character, and that is as it should be.

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    5. The Descendants

       I had a feeling I'd like this movie before I saw it as well. I only happened upon it in a magazine and an online trailer a few weeks ago, and it seemed to be getting a lot of buzz, particularly for the performances of George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. It's about Matt [Clooney] learning to cope with being a parent to his two daughters while his wife is in a coma, as well as spreading the news that she won't make it to those who knew her. He also has to reconcile with the news that the wife he loved, even throughout their imperfect marriage, cheated on him. Running alongside this plot is the subplot that deals with Matt's family owning a great deal of land in Hawaii and his attempts to decide whether to sell it. The only complaint I have about this movie is that the older daughter's [Woodley's] friend Sid really didn't need to be in the film. I'll leave it at that.

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    6. Hugo

       A brilliantly directed film about a boy named Hugo [Asa Butterfield] who lives in the clock tower at a train station after his father [Jude Law, shown in flashbacks] passes away. He wants to fix the automaton that he and his father were working on, and, with the help of a new friend [Chloe Grace Moretz], discovers a connection between his father and the great filmmaker and pioneer of special effects, George Méliès [Ben Kingsley]. The use of 3D served to enhance the film and not dizzy the audience. A bonus for me was that the film showed clips from the earliest films ever made, by George Méliès and filmmakers, many of which I had seen and studied in my film class earlier this year.

     

Favorite TV Shows:

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1. New Girl

        Can you say "hilarious"? Zooey Deschanel's in this comedy about a quirky and awkward girl named Jess who moves into an apartment with three guys. Throw in Jess's model best friend and hilarity ensues. I don't think I can adequately describe this show and give it due credit. I'll just say it's my absolute favorite show and I honestly cannot stop laughing when I watch it. I'm surprised and thrilled that it got so popular.

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     2. Hart of Dixie

         After an anticlimactic first episode, this show, starring Rachel Bilson as Zoe Hart, slowly grew on me. It's about Zoe's attempts to fit into Bluebell, Alabama, after being told she couldn't do her medical residency in New York. Her task is to grow more of a heart when dealing with patients, and when she finds out she's inherited half of a medical practice in Bluebell, she tries to do just that. Of course there are impossible love triangles everywhere, and Zoe doesn't get a warm welcome. She's still trying to fit in, and the show grows more lovable with each passing episode.

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    3.  Castle

       Oh, what fun a show this is! Nathan Fillion stars as author Richard Castle, who shadows Detective Kate Beckett [Stana Katic] on the job and helps her solve crimes. I think this year is the fourth season, and, though I've only seen the third season beforehand, it's getting unbelievably good. Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas costar as Detective Ryan and Detective Espinoza, providing just as many laughs as Fillion. This season, they actually have substantial roles. I really recommend this show to everyone, because even though I hate murder mysteries, I still love this show. Whether you like mysteries or not, I bet you'll like the show.


Favorite Songs/Albums:

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1. Forever if Ever by Jon Mclaughlin

         I was thrilled to hear that Jon Mclaughlin came out with a new album earlier this year, and even more thrilled when I fell in love with all but maybe one or two of the songs. Standouts include "Summer is Over," "What I Want," "Without You Now," and "A Little Too Hard (& A Little Too Fast)." Mclaughlin's voice is a good mix of soothing and soulful, even if he occasionally tries too hard to be raspy. Most of the songs deal with love, a subject not unheard of, but they're written in new ways with smart lyrics. The only really bad lyrics take place in the song "My Girl Tonight," a song that's pretty to listen to but not so brilliant. Also, the guy plays keys, tambo, guitar, and possibly another instrument, as well as writing all the songs and performing. Even if you hate him, you have to admit he has talent. This is starting to sound like a review now, so I'll stop.

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     2.  "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You" by Adele

         Despite the fact that the first of the two was overplayed until I literally couldn't take the sound of it, it was one of my favorites of the year. Adele is just so talented. Enough said.

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     3.  "In Your Arms" by Kina Grannis

         Incredibly cute song with an accompanying video made of stop motion with 288, 000 jelly beans. Look it up on YouTube. Grannis was discovered in some sort of competition but ultimately became popular through her YouTube channel. 

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     4. "Gonna Get Over You" by Sara Bareilles [not a new song, but a new video was made for it]

         I love the amount of spunk that Bareilles continues to show in her songwriting, and the music video made for this catchy song is just so much fun.

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     5. "Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato

         This song was written about the struggles Lovato went through over the past year, and all I can say is that I can relate.

Favorite Books:

I didn't actually read nearly as many books as I would have liked this year, but here they are:

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1. Harry Potter y la orden del fenix by J.K. Rowling, translated by Gemma Rovira Ortega

          You've got me; this is by no means a new book. However, I finally finished the fifth book in Spanish this year. You can read about my excitement here.

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     2. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

  

         I heard of this book years ago when it was made into a movie, but I never remembered to pick it up at the library until this year. Written from the perspective of Mary Boleyn, it makes for a compelling read about one of King Henry VIII's most famous wives. I wrote a review of it here.

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    3. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

        After reading the aforementioned Boleyn book, I decided to pick up another novel by the same author, on the same subject. I plan to review this, so I won't elaborate too much, but essentially it's about two more of his wives, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, and the lady who advised them, Jane Boleyn. It rotates among the three of them as they all tell their parts of the story in first person.


Favorite Websites:

1. Beautypedia

         I've gone into great detail about this site before, right here, in fact. I reference it quite a bit for scientifically based product reviews.

     2.  Real Beauty

        I've mentioned this before, in this post, and I still enjoy reading about products and beauty tips.

     3.  Tumblr

        I talked about this in my last post, explaining that I've begun to appreciate the ease of posting pictures I enjoy without having to brainstorm ideas. It's highly entertaining, so have a peek at the link above, if you like.

     4. My Blog

        I don't feel the need to link to this, because, if you're reading this page, you're already on it. It's been loads of fun posting on here since I started it at the very end of last year.

Alas, we've come to an end. If you actually read this whole post, I am so proud of you and give you a hearty pat on the back and shake of the hand.

Those were my favorites of pop culture from 2011, and I imagine I shall continue to enjoy them!

Let me know what some of your favorites were!

Have a lovely weekend.

xEsther

The Incredible Vanishing Blogger

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Hello, dear readers,


It's been just about forever in the blogging world since I've last spoken to you. It's only fair to let you know that there has been, and will continue to be, a lot going on in my life that has been preventing me from blogging. Hence, my frequent absences have nothing to do with a lack of interest in writing!


In the meantime, I'm enjoying seeing some very good movies and getting the scoop on the Screen Actors Guild nominations, the winners of which tend to predict the outcome of the Oscars. It's funny because over the past year, my friends have started to call me a "major cinephile," which is true, but I think it's because I never actually talked about how much I get into movies and the Oscars until recently.


As a child, I always read the movie reviews as soon as I opened the newspaper, and I always looked forward to the special movie sections. I loved watching old movies at home almost every week with my family, and eagerly awaited the Oscar nominations at the end of every year. Watching the Oscars on TV always was, and still is for the most part, a family event. I guess I just never talked about it that much!


Coming up, I will have my favorites of pop culture from 2011. I know I often tell you all about the posts I plan to write, and I publish them on here months after I mention the ideas; in fact, I bet you're probably still waiting for some of them. This one, however, is planned out; the names of everything I want to share are typed up in a neat little list. All I have to do is actually write about them. This will include favorite movies, TV shows, books, music, and websites.


In November, I also caved in and created a Tumblr, thinking it would last perhaps a week. I'm still posting. If you're interested in seeing photos, posters, and stills from movies I like, as well as makeup photos, cute sayings, and whimsical pictures, feel free to browse. It's called Dizzy Daydreams. It's easier for me to look for pictures and post them than it is to come up with ideas and write posts at the moment, so that's one way you can see what I've been up to.


In any case, I hope you're all enjoying preparing for the holidays.


Happy December!


xEsther

Let's Do...A Movie Review: Midnight in Paris

Hello, dear readers,

I have one word to describe this particular film: brilliant. I saw this two weeks ago, I believe, at one of the few theaters in the area that plays "artsy" films. I find it highly upsetting that the mainstream theaters stereotype these films as ones that no one will want to see, therefore leaving us cinephiles to go out of our way to see a movie that is not a blockbuster.

Anyway, here's what one website for the film has to say about the plot:

SYNOPSIS

This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It's about a young man's great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. It stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and Carla Bruni among others.

In my opinion this is a fairly lousy synopsis.

This movie is really about a man named Gil Pender (the fabulous Owen Wilson) learning to live in the 2000s and discovering what he wants in life through taking a trip into the past. All this is, indeed, done while on vacation with his fiancée, Inez (the lovely Rachel McAdams) and her parents in Paris. Almost immediately the audience can see that Gil and Inez are of completely different mindsets. Sure, they're attracted to each other and they seem to be in love, but Gil is in love with the Paris of the 1920s, and is trying desperately to write a novel about a nostalgia shop, while Inez yearns for That life of glamour that Gil will be able to provide her as a Hollywood screenwriter.

It's almost impossible to review this movie without giving a spoiler away, though I don't consider this a spoiler. So here's a little space for you to decide whether to keep reading the next paragraph, skip to the end, or stop reading.

Does this provide enough space?

Essentially, Gil decides to walk home one night rather than going dancing with Inez and her friends, and, while sitting on the steps after losing his way, the clock strikes midnight and a twenties-style car rolls up and invites him in. Inside, Gil is driven to a hopping flapper party where he meets literary figures such as the Fitzgeralds, and piano and song man Cole Porter. 

He begins going out every midnight, meeting and greeting literary figures and getting feedback on his novel from Gertrude Stein herself (Kathy Bates). Along with getting help for his novel, he also meets a beautiful mistress of artistic men of that time period who teaches him what love should be like. 

From the dreamy opening shots of Paris in the rain, through the gorgeous scenery of 1920s hotspots and the fabulous score full of 20s hits and a memorable theme, this is an absolute treat for the eyes and ears. Top that off with spectacular acting by Wilson, who plays a character reminiscent of director Woody Allen himself, [as there always is one in Allen's films] and a really fantastic cast all around.

This movie entices instantly and makes you care about Gil. It's not really romantic in the sense of a typical boy meets girl; lots of laughter and strife happens in between; boy ends up with girl. It is, however, a tale of self-discovery focusing mainly on Gil's character alone. All the other characters, major or minor, serve to help him resolve his inner conflicts. 

Lots of laughs will be had, though I'm usually one of those people to be the only one laughing in the theater [sorry theater goers; I honestly cannot help it], and there are some poignant moments as well, but nothing is sad about this film.

All in all, I loved it. Sorry for the scatterbrained review. I actually starting writing this a day after seeing the film, and it was probably more organized in my head then.

Anyway, if you get a chance, do go see this film. It's a winner in my eyes.

To drifting into movie worlds...for an hour or two...

xEsther

Images from:  

http://www.screenwritingforhollywood.com/movie-reviews/woody-allens-new-movie-midnight-in-paris

http://wallpapers.brothersoft.com/midnight-in-paris-64597.html

"All at Once, Everything Looks Different"

Yes, dear readers,

That is a line from the song "I See the Light," which was nominated for an Oscar for the feature film of Tangled. As my best bud would say, "You're a major cinephile."[Read: movie fanatic. I was SO angry that Randy Newman's unmemorable song, the name of which escapes me, won instead.] That is actually a configuration of the line, "Turns out, Michael Bolton is a major cinephile," from The Lonely Island's song "Jack Sparrow."

If you're getting tired of my relentless quoting of movies, songs, and the like, I thoroughly apologize. Please feel free to wipe the quotes from your memory with this eraser I present to you:

"Here I come to save the day!" Oops, another quote, from "Superman" this time!
 Feel free to erase to your heart's content.

Ok, now on to why the quote is even relevant. My skincare routine is about to get a makeover. Yes, that's right. I went to the dermatologist at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m. My previous dermatologist passed away a couple of months ago, quite unfairly and too young. He was wonderful and based all his decisions on scientific knowledge with a strong basis in fact rather than recent studies.

You can probably understand my skepticism when my new dermatologist, a young and very nice lady from New York, started mentioning "the latest studies." I was also skeptical when she suggested an acne face wash. First of all, I am a firm believer in the use of gentle cleansers alongside prescription topical treatments for acne. Secondly, the active ingredients aren't on your skin long enough to remain potent when present in a face wash. Sure, there are people who claim that their acne fighting wash cleared them up, and I'm sure it helped, it wasn't because of the great acne fighting claims. I promise.

The problem with me is that I'm too interested in the science behind the ingredients in skincare products and medications and in cosmetics to be completely trusting of a relatively new dermatologist. For someone who absolutely hates taking classes in science or doing anything in the laboratory or scientific research, I obsess over science when it comes to cosmetics and skincare.

So, in short, I'll be revamping my skincare and posting something new and updated once everything is sorted out.

And for now I bid you, "So long! Farewell! Auf Wiedersehn! Goodbye!" [Sound of Music, anyone?].

I promise you to limit my quotes, at least in the next post. I just got a little movie-happy here!

xEsther




Image from http://filegets.com/image/cookie-eraser.html Quotes from memory and a bit of help from dear, old Google.