Never Be Afraid To Live

Last night I watched the movie Into the Wild for the second time.  It still has strong emotional resonance for me.  Without wanting to give too much away, you hurt for his loss, you hurt for his family's loss, and yet you feel his joy, enthusiasm and excitement too.  This movie is inspiring and uplifting as well as a cautionary tale.  Many of the things he did could have ended in disaster (hitch-hiking, sleeping rough, kayaking down the rapids without a helmet or any experience).  Yet he experienced so much, saw so much beauty, and learned so much about life, in such a short space of time.  During his journey, he said something like: "the spirit of the human heart is discovery."  Meaning the path to happiness lies in discovering new things.  

He tried many new things, discovered new hobbies, adventure sports and skills, met new people and explored exciting new places.  Yet in the end, he discovered that "Happiness is sharing."  I think his journey, which has now been made into a film, is a great lesson to us.  The happiness and joy in his adventure, of being in the wild and discovering new things, was equally exciting as meeting new people, making friends and sharing experiences along the way.

So how can this adventure be applied to my own life?  I think life is an adventure, or a series of adventures, but you don't have to travel far and wide in dangerous situations to discover them.    You can have an adventure at home, discovering new knowledge, music, books, trying new hobbies, skills, walking and discovering new places to explore around your own home.  Perhaps get on a bus and go for a day trip, it isn't too expensive to do.  Just choose somewhere to go.  "Go out there and experience life!"  Don't just stay hiding away in your house, which is so easy to do when you're afraid to live.  Never be afraid to live.

• Discover new words (books, novels, music, art, food, drink, exercise, games)
• Explore new places (where you've never been before - take photos, walk around, discover the unseen)
• Learn new skills (crafts, techniques, hobbies, art, writing)
• Meet new people
• Make friends
• Share experiences (joy, emotions)

Then you will have discovered happiness along the way.

Never be afraid to live...

Remember Me

I just watched Remember Me, the beautiful movie starring Robert Pattinson and Pierce Brosnan. There is a line in this movie, a quote from Ghandi, it says: "Whatever you do in this life will be insignificant, but it is important that you do it. For you leave fingerprints on the people you touch in your life." And I think this is very true of the characters in this movie. Especially Robert Pattinson's character, Tyler Hawkins, who teaches his father to show his feelings and do right by his family. He brings his family closer together. This is ironic seen as another character in his life tells him he is going nowhere, with no career prospects, nothing big going for him. His own father tells him he has nothing, he pedalled on a bicycle to his office. He owns nothing, and not making anything of himself. Tyler sums it up when he says he is "Undecided... about everything!" He doesn't know where he is going or what he is doing.

I'm sure all of us have felt lost like this at some point in our lives. Having watched this film it has reminded me of how all the people I have met at some point in my life have left an impression, or a fingerprint, on my life. Some people are in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. But they all leave an impression on your life, and manage to enrich it in some way, often teaching us lessons in the process. I used to think the only way to make a difference in the world, and to leave an impression, would be to leave behind art, writing, or even a movie, as those are the people who are recognised and remembered. But we also remember if someone has been especially kind to us, a smile, a pleasant comment, these things we remember. So perhaps if we are all a bit nicer to one another, passing on a pleasantry, then perhaps we can leave a pleasant impression, and be remembered in other people's memories.

DVD - Slither

I picked this film to watch because I have developed a huge crush on Nathan Fillion since I discovered him in Firefly, and watching him play an incredibly attractive doctor in the film Waitress, my heart was lost to him! :)

When I watched the trailer for Slither, I thought this could well turn out to be a really bad American comedy. Being English, I know English comedy can be very different to American comedy, and might not be to my taste. But Nathan Fillion did look good in the clips on the trailer, so I thought I would give it a go! And I am so glad I did!

As the movie started, I thought this might not be for me, and I may well be bored brainless for the next 92 minutes, but as the story started to develop, and especially as the local residents started acting like zombies, I was hooked! I love zombie films, so anything gross, flesh-eating, and a small group of (semi)-sane people fighting for their survival, then I love it! And as I suspected before watching it, Nathan Fillion does look good in it! He reminds me a little bit more of Mal Reynolds in this, a hero with a little comedy to his character! Love it, and now I will not part with it! :)

Here's the trailer to give you a taste of it:

It's White Noise 2: The Light next, I am enjoying going through Nathan Fillion movies! :)

Falling for Firefly

I have a confession to make... I'm falling in love with Nathan Fillion! I have just started watching Firefly, and I LOVE it! I am so glad I chose to buy the complete series! I watched a trailer for it on YouTube and it looked good, now I am completely hooked! I am itching to search the net for more info and fansites of Firefly, but at the same time I don't want to find out what is going to happen next! Catch 22!

So I am now trying to resolve myself saving just some pictures and enjoying watching the series! I just don't want to risk seeing what will happen, but Nathan is just so gorgeous! I just have to have a gorgeous picture of him on my desktop wallpaper... sigh. I think I'm in Firefly Heaven!

DVD - Step Up

Today I watched Step Up, I loved it! I felt for the characters, loved the music, and loved the fashion. I really wanna go to that school! Being an artist, I would love to jump in to the art classes you briefly get to glimpse. I loved how everyone there were pursuing their dreams, be it art, singing, making music, or dancing. I was never that dedicated when I was in school - I didn't have any idea what I wanted to do for the rest of my life at that age - who does? But I love the dedication they had, their mostly happy relaxed atmosphere there.

Here's the trailer:

My social circle has diminished since I left school and sixth form, I've changed jobs quite a lot, and haven't kept any long-term friends from there. I guess my social circle needs rebuilding! Perhaps going out and taking up lessons in something new might be a good way to make new friends? It takes courage to try something new like that, but also money, and I currently work part time. I do need to learn to manage my finances better, then maybe I can look towards doing this.

I loved the fashion I found in this movie, the main actress dresses very feminine in this movie, lots of floaty skirts over leggings, feminine tops - combinations of vests and shirts. She looked good. And what I really liked, was how she didn't have the figure of a stick insect - you could relate to her. I certainly don't have the figure of a stick insect, but I'm not obese either, I consider myself quite average in build, a little puppy fat to lose! lol! But I want to look good, and I want to dress more like a woman.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

I love the Resident Evil movies, they're the reason I fell in love with zombies. Ever since I first saw the beginning trailer of Resident Evil 3 on the Playstation One console, I thought zombies were cool. Every Resident Evil game since then has impressed me, none more so than Resident Evil Code Veronica X. I loved the crazy Alexia/Alfred twins, Claire Redfield is cool, and I totally fell in love with Steve Burnside. Such a lovable character, I so would love to see him in a movie. (Here's hoping this is the one!).

I just discovered the trailer for the brand new Resident Evil: Afterlife movie, does it look good? It looks BRILLIANT!!! Alice is back, Milla Jovovich plays her brilliantly - a character invented for the films, and now a firm fan favourite. Claire Redfield, played by Heroes Ali Larter, who first appeared in the last Resident Evil: Extinction. I've now stumbled across the IMDB page to see Sienna Guillory will also be reprising her role as Jill Valentine! And just when I think I could not be happier, I saw Wesker in the new trailer, showing off his red eyes and looking menacingly into the camera as he flicks his cool shades away. I cannot wait to see this film! Check out this trailer below, you will love it!

Resident Evil: Afterlife Trailer

The brand new Resident Evil: Afterlife will hit cinemas here in the UK, on 10th September 2010! I can't wait!

DVD - 30 Days of Night

I wanted a gory scary movie, and that's exactly what I got! 30 Days of Night completely reinvents the way Vampires are seen on screen, and although it's unusual, I thought it worked very well, and reignites your interest in them.

There is a lot of screaming in this film, and a lot of blood and gore - so this definitely qualifies as an over 18 movie, and a fairly strong stomach is required. I enjoyed it, although there isn't much light relief in the movie, the Vampires are scary and creepy, and you get the feeling your just struggling to survive, which I guess would be true if Vampires really did move in and you had no sunlight for 30 days!

DVD - Twilight

Last night I watched Twilight, I am keeping to my goal of watching one of my DVD's each week, til eventually I will have watched all my DVD's. I have no idea why I bought so many until my shelves are heaving, but I should watch them if I bought them - it's about time I enjoyed them!

So, back to Twilight! I enjoyed it, but couldn't help thinking of Vampire Diaries, the TV series on ITV2 I seem to have fallen in love with! There were some similarities, but to be honest a completely different story in the end I think. And I did enjoy it, though if I had to pick between the two, for me, Stefan from Vampire Diaries makes a much sexier Vampire for me! Edward is good, and I like him, but Stefan is more tanned and I've seen him shirtless - he wins! Yummy!

In Twilight, I liked the addition of the Indians, I loved how they're a 'family' of Vampires, and the father of them seemed especially caring towards humans, he is a doctor after all. After watching this one, I'm keen to see the second one, as I get the feeling this one's a skirmish, the next one's war! :)

Twilight Trailer

DVD - Elizabethtown

Well, in keeping with my goal to watch one of my DVD's a week, this week I watched Elizabethtown, starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. It's pretty much a romantic comedy, with what they call Rock n Roll thrown in. I don't think it was a partcularly great film, as it did have a number of spoofy moments in that I don't really care for. I like my films to be believable. However, it does have some really great moments in it I think, I love the all night phone call, and I love the road trip, even meeting the family was mostly fun. I think this film misses out on being fantastic, even though it's a great story and idea.

I love the phrase "This is your life, let's do something interesting with it." I love anything inspirational in a film. But for a truly inspiring film featuring an uplifting life-affirming road trip, then I think you really ought to check out Into The Wild, a truly amazing film, with a much better feelgood factor, as well as a true rollercoaster ride for emotions, and one that stays memorable long after you've finished watching it.