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

7 Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

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Hello, dear readers,

Remember when I constantly posted tags? Well, I can't remember the last time I did one, so I thought it was about time I filled another one out! The name of this tag, if you perhaps missed the title of this post, is the "7 Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag."

Here we are:


1. Greed: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?
My least expensive beauty item, aside from free gifts with purchases, would probably be my Avon Flavor Savers Lip Gloss, which I believe was about $0.69 on sale. I believe the most expensive item I own is the Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. I pretty much go for drugstore makeup all the time, with the exception of the odd Clinique item.

2. Wrath: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?
Both of these answers involve nail polish. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with China Glaze nail polishes, and Revlon nail polish in Minted. I love the colors, but the polish goes on unevenly and streaky in both cases, and it often takes 3-4 coats for me to get them looking even and pretty. I don't know if it's just me, but I have a hard time with those specific polishes. As for the product that has been the hardest to get, I would say Sally Hansen Insta Dri nail polish in Blue Away. The funny thing is that my mom was actually the one looking to buy it for me, ever since we saw it at the beginning of last summer. She and my dad looked for it at every drugstore they went to, even on their vacation. We finally found it in November at one of our local Ulta stores.

3. Gluttony: What are your most delicious beauty products?
You should ask my friends. They have a penchant for sniffing my lip products, despite my warnings that the majority of them have no scent or may carry an unpleasant chemically cosmetic scent. However, I think my Liplicious lip glosses from Bath and Body Works are the best smelling. I have them in Mango Mousse, Black Cherry, Raspberry Jam, and Fruit Punch. They smell exactly as the names would imply. Yum.


4. Sloth: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?
I don't use many cosmetic items regularly as it is, so I have to answer with a skincare product. That would be lotion. I know; it's a horrible thing to neglect. I regularly moisturize my face and neck, but my hands [and the rest of me] are quite often ignored. I suppose it's ironic, considering I spend so much time and effort painting my nails. You'd think I'd want to keep my hands looking nice and smooth.

5. Pride: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?
Lipstick, without a doubt. Despite my skin deciding that now is a good time to get the kind of acne I should have already gone through during puberty, I have actually gone out the past several days with very little to no face makeup. A swipe of lipstick brings color to my very pale complexion and balances out the contrast between my fair skin and dark hair. And lipstick is just fun!


6. Lust: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?
I really don't see how this is relevant to a beauty tag, but alrighty then. There's really no specific trend or pattern for me as far as physical attributes. Nice eyes and short hair are always initial attractions, but that's very vague. Honestly, it's got way more to do with personality, and that's completely individual.

7. Envy: What makeup item would you most like to receive as a gift?
I would say a foundation, but since that's really a personal product to choose, and I've never tried any before, I'm going with a Lancome Rouge in Love lipstick. The Emma Watson ads are certainly doing their job, because I'm quite enticed by that product, despite the fact that lipsticks really shouldn't be so expensive, but that's irrelevant to the question. 


Those are my answers to the tag. I limited the requisite extra ramblings as much as possible, though I realize some of my answers aren't super specific.

I'd love to see your tag if you've done this one, or feel free to do it if you haven't. I think it's fun!

Happy Tuesday! [Random, I know. I couldn't think of anything.]

xEsther

Tales of a Disappearing Blogger

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Hello, dear readers,

It seems like it's been years since I last posted, though I know it's actually been a little over two weeks. Still, I feel like there's no excuse for staying away so long. I owe you a review on the powder products I received from Fusion of Color Cosmetics, and there is at least one tag I'd like to do. I have still been blogging for Chaos, so feel free to look over there if you have the patience to find my articles. My name happens to be at the bottom of the post in the smallest font, so I can understand if you don't want to sift through everything! It's almost entirely fashion, and I write the only regular beauty posts. However, I'd like to come back to my own blog and start posting again. Things [read: stressful situations] have settled down for me over this past week, and I am currently on spring break. I can't promise when my next post is up, but it will be sooner rather than later. I'm also aware that the majority of committed bloggers are busier than I am, hence the lack of excuses this time!

I hope March has been treating you well!

I'll be speaking to you soon.


xEsther

Oscars Fashion 2012 Best

Hello, dear readers,

Last year I made a post of my favorite Oscars fashion, and that seemed to be a hit, so I thought I'd make one for this year. Honestly, I wasn't that excited by many of the dresses, but there were still a few standouts that looked great on the actresses who wore them.

Here are my favorites:

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First-time nominee and Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Octavia Spencer dazzled in this Tadashi Shoji gown. Apparently Spencer always collaborates with Shoji, and so far the results have been amazing. The silver detail and pleats are strategically placed, enhancing her curves and drawing attention to her waist. A perfect first Oscar frock for a very deserving actress! I loved The Help, by the way.

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Is it just me, or is Penelope Cruz always the most beautiful woman on the red carpet? The only dresses I remember her wearing to events have all been spectacular. This grayish blue Giorgio Armani frock is a cross between Old Hollywood glam and Disney princess chic. In fact, it would have been a perfect addition to Anne Hathaway's wardrobe as Princess Mia in The Princess Diaries. It's very floaty and regal, and the accessories make the whole look very elegant. Another fashion hit for Ms. Cruz.

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Milla Jovovich looked lovely in Ellie Saab Couture. At first I found the bigger shoulder and the embellishments sort of off-putting, but the more I look at it, the more I understand why it's topping so many best-dressed lists. It's a stylish shape, and the details give the dress a touch of whimsy. Jovovich's look oozed with the elegance of an old silver screen siren, pairing the dress with red lips, retro waves, and tasteful accessories.

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While at first I was not thrilled by Natalie Portman's choice of polka dots [at the Oscars? Really?], I've actually come to really like the look. The dress is 1954 Christian Dior Haute Couture, and it flatters her figure very well. Last year's Best Actress Oscar winner accessorized richly with Harry Winston jewelry and a sleek, black clutch. She looked quite graceful indeed. I guess I can get over the polka dots!

After looking at over 80 Oscars fashion pictures, and watching the Oscars and pre-Oscar show as well, these ended up being my only real favorites. There were definitely other nice designer gowns, but none that were really breathtaking. I remember looking forward to the fashion of the Oscars every year since I was little, and I feel that in the past couple of years it's dulled a bit. I doubt it has to do with the recession; we all know they're wearing millions of dollars worth of clothes and accessories. 

There were certainly a lot of misses, though. These included Melissa McCarthy's pink Grecian-style dress, that had so much fabric that it made her look bigger than she is. Plus size fashion does not have to look like that. It just made me feel uncomfortable to see her in such an unflattering state. Jessica Chastain was totally overwhelmed by Alexander Wang's crazy gold butterfly design. Besides the fact that I didn't like the design, she's way too young, small, and bubbly to be wearing something that looks so old and overly ornate. And just once, I would like to see Meryl Streep wear a dress that looks as good on her as all of the roles she plays, not drowning in some drapery that looks just like that: old drapery. Gwyneth Paltrow's cape kind of made her look like she was going to a costume party.

So, there you have it: my five cents on the Oscars fashion front. Maybe I should have posted on the worst! Or not. That would have taken too long!

Did you watch the Oscars? What dresses were your favorites?

xEsther

Mini Review: Fusion of Color Lipsticks

Hello, dear readers,


You're probably used to me disappearing for stretches of time by now, but I do feel quite badly that I haven't yet reviewed Fusion of Color Cosmetics. Long story short, I found the company on mugpaint.com, and filled out a form asking whether it had an actual store. The answer was no, but the woman behind Fusion of Color, Kathy Duncan, asked if I'd like to try some samples for review.


This was almost a month ago! I tried them out weeks ago, and had all the pictures and notes ready to go, but I have yet to actually review them. This review will just be of the lipsticks, and the next will be of a couple of powder products that I have not had time to sample.


A little background on the company: Fusion of Color sells mineral makeup that's suitable for sensitive skin types. The makeup is free of parabens, oils and talc. For more information, check out the website here. The company is based in Chicago, but it ships across the U.S. and internationally. 


My photography skills were particularly poor this time, so I have tried my best to edit the photos so they appear true to color, if still quite blurry. You will see that I tried various different shots, depending on the day.


Here are the samples:

The samples came in this cute little sachet.

Clockwise from left: Bikini Butter, Valentine Matte, Cashmere Crème

Bikini Butter

Bikini Butter applied
This is horribly blurry, but that's pretty true to the color. Unfortunately, it's the best picture I could get.

The first lipstick I tried was Bikini Butter. As per the name, it went on like a lip butter and felt very creamy. It has a nice sheen to it and is sheer but buildable. It looks browner in the container, but went on a surprisingly wearable orangey coral. When I first looked at it, I was sure I wouldn't be able to pull it off, but I was wrong. It lasted quite well through lunch, though it bled a bit onto my glass. I would say this lasts for a good few hours, which I believe is a great wear time for a lip butter. This is probably my favorite formulation as far as how it feels on the lips.

Valentine Matte applied

Different lighting to show brightness

The next day, I tested out Valentine Matte lipstick. This was by far my favorite color of the bunch. It's a slightly orange-tinted, bright red color; once again, a color I didn't think I could pull off. The formulation was not drying, but it certainly wasn't hydrating; it was somewhere in between. I definitely needed a lip balm with it, as is to be expected with matte lip colors. The staying power was great; it only faded after I ate dinner, after about four hours of wear. Without eating, I think it could last another hour.

Cashmere Crème applied

Slightly different lighting

The final color and formulation was the Cashmere Crème lipstick. It is a plummy, cool-toned red, just as it is described on the website, and proved to be a nice shade on my lips. All of the lip colors I tried were just as described on the website. This product felt creamy, but I still needed a balm underneath it to hydrate my lips. It stayed on for around four hours, even after I ate.


Overall, I enjoyed all three of the lipsticks. If I had to choose one, I would be most likely to purchase the Valentine Matte lipstick because of the color.  I would not purchase the Bikini shade, because it was the least flattering of the three, simply because my pale skin doesn't look its best next to such an orangey shade. 


The full size versions of the lipsticks retail for $4.50 before shipping, so they're fairly inexpensive. Shipping is more expensive outside the continental U.S. and Canada. If you're looking for nice, natural and inexpensive lipsticks, I would honestly recommend any of these. The major downside is that there isn't a huge range of colors. There are ten shades total, not ten of each formulation, so that does limit the choice if you're looking for, say, a light pink matte. If you find a shade you like, I would say go for it.


What lipsticks are you loving lately?


xEsther

All You Need is Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Whether you're single or in a relationship; celebrate Valentine's Day or not, I hope you all have a wonderful day. You should always love everyone who's important to you, and yourself; today's just an extra reminder!

xEsther

Lately I've Been Loving...

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• Fusion of Color lipsticks. I had a few samples sent to me for review, which will be coming up soon. I'm thinking of purchasing one or two of them, as they're great quality and reasonably priced. 

• Mixing cosmetics. I've been experimenting with mixing my Cover Girl and Clinique tinted moisturizers. Cover Girl gives more moisture and feels like a lotion while depositing the sheerest amount of color, and Clinique is more liquidy and gives wonderful coverage and color for a tinted moisturizer. Mixing them is the best of both worlds.

• Taking seven lipsticks out of my collection to wear every week. I especially like coming up with ways to layer them in order to get a muted or natural pink for school and college visits. On other days, I like to wear my lipsticks on their own in order to get the full color payoff. 

• Taking walks. This mostly stemmed from my adamant anti-public transportation stance. I just happen to strongly dislike the public bus system where I am, so I decided to walk the half hour to school, and then to the library afterwards. It's reminding me of how nice it is to organically get my exercise in, outdoors.

• Pilates. I just revisited it last week after having taken a break from it, and I'm wondering why I stopped. It feels so good. Sometimes I'll just put on some music and come up with approximately half an hour of a Pilates routine. I love it.

• Sally Hansen Inta-Dri Fast Dry nail polish in Blue-Away. Long story short: My mom really liked it, but she doesn't wear nail polish, so she and my dad searched all summer to find it, to no avail. When I came home in November, my mom and I spotted it at Ulta, and she gave it to me when I started school again. I love the beautiful sky-blue color, the wide brush, and the formula.

• Reading for pleasure. I hadn't had the time to read during school, nor did I have any energy to by the end of 2011, but so far I've read three books in January [The Beach House, Jemima J, both by Jane Green; The Best Day of Someone Else's Life, by Kerry Reichs]. I'm currently working on Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe, The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory, and Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman. [And then there are at least seven unfinished books, some of which I started as long as three or four years ago. But let's not talk about those.]

• Magazines. I don't feel the need to explain.

• Meditation. I've only just started trying it, but, no matter how much I can concentrate during meditation, it always helps me feel relaxed afterwards. I need to start doing it more often.

So that's it for the moment. I know I haven't been posting often, and it's due to going on college visits, filling out applications and paperwork, writing for CHAOS, and doing my current schoolwork. That's besides personal issues that I'm dealing with. For me, it's all a bit overwhelming.

I hope your February is off to a fantastic start. You'll be hearing from me soon with a review.

xEsther