A Piece of Middle Earth

It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

I have a few friends who are big fans of The Lord of the Rings. 
I often hear them humming the movie score, quoting epic speeches or discussing their favorite characters. 
For the most part, I enjoy these encounters and participate with a smile. So it was rather a shock for my friends to discover that I had never actually read the books. It's not that I never had the intention,  all four books have been sitting on my shelf for the past few years ready to read - I just never felt particularly compelled to read them with any urgency.

Recently a friend challenged me  to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as The Hobbit by J. R. R Tolkien. In exchange, he has agreed to read 5 Jane Austen books - you're welcome ladies! I guess this was the motivation I needed to actually start the epic tale. So far, I have finished The Hobbit and am only half way through the Fellowship of the Ring; therefore I am in no position to write a review or comment on the quality of the books. 

I write this post because a certain quote captured my attention. 

Gandalf and Frodo are having a conversation about some of the more nasty, evil characters that are involved in the Lord of the Rings journey, when this comment is made: 

"He deserves Death" 

"Deserves it! I daresay he does.

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. 

Can you give it to them? 

Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement, 

for even the wise cannot see all ends." 

I don't know exactly why this quote stood out so much. 

Maybe it's the truth of the statement. There are so  many innocent people who have died, and perhaps died doing noble things. Yet in this world there is still so many who live that continue to chose an evil path. 

Maybe its contrasts our ideas if justice and judgement. Who are we to take a life when we have no power to give it back? 

Who has the ability to conquer death and give life? 

In any case, these characters in The Lord of the Rings seem to think that it is better to treat even their enemies with mercy and grace. 

What a beautiful piece of wisdom to encounter. 

Elise 

A Piece of Love

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Well, yesterday was valentines day, and that got me thinking about all things romantic. Chocolates, flowers, cards, awkward cupid shaped balloons and romance in film and literature. So today i'm going comment on some of my most recent encounters with romance in movies. 

Much Ado About Nothing (2013)

Who can get past this classic! Shakespeare's comedy has been brought to life by none other than Joss Whedon; more famous for science fiction (Firefly, The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) than  classic romance. However, he has taken this classic comedy and  produced a modern piece of art! Filmed in black and white and (for the most part) following Shakespeare's original dialogue, the romance between Beatrice and Benedict remains hysterically witty and ultimately triumphant. Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof bring so much chemistry and comedy into their roles you fall in love with these characters all over again. What truly makes this movie is the collection of so many talented actors (all friends of Whedon) that produce such a powerful and convincing performance that one can hardly believe they shot the movie in 12 days!  If you're not familiar with the story line of Much Ado, I suggest watching this movie -immediately!

You've Got Mail (1998) 

This is one of my all time favorite chic-flicks! Come on, its Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks! This movie represents all that is good and fun about romance, witty dialogue, mystery, great supporting roles and upbeat soundtrack. This movie is a modern take of the old film 'Shop Around The Corner', which is why it is a cut above other modern chick-flicks. The story is simple, and the characters are well developed. There are no big gestures or cheesy monologues, but a good light-hearted journey of two people destined to be together. The love story between the small children's bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly and her megastore competitor Joe Fox mirrors the kind of chemistry seen between Beatrice and Benedict (Much Ado) and Lizzy and Darcy (Pride and Prejudice). The pair maintain their professional rivalry whilst unknowingly falling for each other over anonymous email correspondence. This move will leave you smiling and feeling good for hours! 

How I Live Now (2013) 

This is a rather unusual love story  - which I equally hate and love. It's not very often that a movie can make you feel such extremes simultaneously. This film, based on a novel, follows Daisy (Saoirse Ronan), a difficult american teenager who is sent to England to live with her cousins. Whilst there, she falls in love with her older, and rather good looking cousin Eddie (Tom Holland). This kind of relationship is not often encouraged in real life, but in this film I found myself rooting for them as a couple. They did not seem weird or incestuous, but represented typical young adult passion and love. The story then progresses as World War 3 breaks out and the family becomes separated. For the remainder of the film we witness Daisy grow as a character as she cares for her younger cousin and tries to find her way back to Eddie. As I describe this film, it seems rather unusual and far fetched. However, director Kevin Macdonald has adapted this book into a simple and tasteful film that emphasizes the power and effect of love. Unlike other films along similar lines (Red Dawn, Tomorrow, When the War Began) this film does not romanticize  war shows it's sometimes gruesome and uncomfortable reality, yet still appeals to the young adult audience. Watch this movie of you appreciate a good soundtrack, beautiful cinematography and are willing to be challenged by their unconventional love. 

There we have it! Three very different films that I have recently watched and loved because of their representation of love and romance. Happy Belated Valentines Day! 


Elise

Photo credits: http://www.imdb.com, http://www.rogerebert.com/

A piece of the Hunger Games

In a  a sea of op-shop jumpers, tie-died t-shirts and political pins covering fair-trade, environmentally-friendly backpacks; there are some things that you would never admit to your your fellow arts student friends. Like the fact that you really enjoy reading Young Adult Fiction. 

Unfortunately I am one such student. My guilty pleasure can be found in the pages of teen romance and drama; much to the disgust of my arts student peers. That's not to say that I don't also enjoy 'meatier' books. Some of my favorites include Northanger Abbey, The Book Thief and Les Miserables. But there is something really enjoyable about slipping away and reading a lighthearted novel that can be finished in a few hours. I like entering into the teen angst, inevitable love triangles and really predictable endings. I like escaping into fictional worlds where the impossible is made possible, and somehow its always the young and naive that save the day.  

Despite my efforts to maintain my arts student credibility, my enthusiasm for YA drama reached a whole new level yesterday when I went to see  Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie. Having already read the books, I eagerly waited in line for tickets with anticipation and excitement that was only surpassed by the girl behind me with a "May the odds be ever in your favor" t-shirt.  I walked over to the ticket counter with a huge grin on my face and seated myself in a newly upholstered seat next to my sister. We watched as streams of people continued into the cinema until it was at capacity, while chatting about the book series. 

The books represent everything that is both wrong and slightly addictive about YA fiction. We bond over our mutual love for the books but we both agree that the second two books were somewhat of a disappointment compared to the first. We discuss how annoying Katniss perspective is, and how frustrated we are at the lack of redemption in the final book. We argue over Team Peeta or Team Gale; and then resolve our conflict with Team Haymitch. We describe which scenes we are most looking forward to, and the ones we hope the movie doesn't ruin. We agree that we should watch the film with an open mind, because it is a well known fact that the movie is never as good as the book 

The lights dim, and for a whole 2.5 hours we entered the world of the Hunger Games. I smiled at the heart warming moments, cringed at the awkward love triangle, shielded my eyes from the creepy animals and shed a tear along with Katniss at the ending. We even wait until the credits are finished so we can fully appreciate Coldplay's song (listen and enjoy). 

We leave the cinema with more excitement than we entered. The images that the movie provided were so much better that what we had imagined in the book. The events surrounding the characters came to life in a way that words could do no justice. The costumes were a piece of art in themselves with intricate detail and colour that could only belong on the big screen, and the symbolism of the rebellion throughout the film engaged us in a way that the book never could!

It was on the drive home when I fully lost the remainder of arts credibility as I uttered these words,

"I think the movie was better than the book."


Elise 

The First Piece

I am one of those people that can get exited about the smallest things. Like the way the pavement shimmers in the rain, how my dog greets me at the door or just the awesomeness of chocolate. 

I get excited about the latest movie coming out, and often find myself watching trailers and reading movie reviews in anticipation. Then I watch the film and spend the next three days analyzing how well it was cast, the values it shared, the cinematography, the script and most importantly - the music! 

I get excited about the latest book i'm reading, whether it be one of my required readings at uni, a best selling novel or a Bible commentary. Everything  I read reveals a new piece of information or supplies me with a new fictional world to dream about. 

I get excited about books, movies, summer time, art, music and experiencing life! 

But there are things that I don't get exited about, like children living in poverty, cars that break down, broken hearts and Vegemite.

I often find myself eager to to talk about these things with the people around me. So I thought another way that I could share these pieces of life is through a blog. 

I hope what you read here will make you smile. 

Elise