He was walking across a wire
Holding a loaded gun
Taking out every lightbulb one by one
And she was building brand new walls
To keep her safe inside
'Cos sometimes a place to live
Is just a place to hide

Well, the world keeps turning and I keep on being busy... I just never seem to have enough hours in the day for anything! Tomorrow after work I will be driving to Townsville, which is about 400 km south of Cairns for a job interview. I will be down there for about 3 days, during which time I will undergo psychometric testing, a forensic medical examination, and a panel interview. Wish me luck because if all goes to plan, this will be the start of a new direction for me.

I'm still slowly plugging away at Season 3 of Xena... about 2/3's of the way through reviewing. If I get the job I'm chasing, I will be starting in October, so I have about 2 and a half months to finish the rest of the series... shouldn't be too hard!

Movie review of the week is "Mamma Mia". I was not overly interested in seeing this one, but it was a case of this being the only film on when we went to the cinema, so this was it. I saw the Australian cast in the stage production of the show back in 2000 or 2001. Even though I like ABBA's music, I was not overly fussed on the show, and so I was a little surprised when I heard they were making the movie version. Needless to say, I was not fussed on this either!

"MAMMA MIA" (2008 )

While this film doesn't take a lot of effort, it does not really reward you well for the time you are investing in seeing it. There are a lot of problems with the film version of the stage show, not the least of which is that it really is not a true musical. This is a film with a weak plot trying which aims to fit as many ABBA songs into the show as it can. The music is fun, but it does not always work or make sense, and the plot is not strong enough to really pull it through.

The acting by the females in the film was just so over-the-top for most of the movie that I felt quite exhausted by the end. The constant squealing and screaming just never seemed to let up. On the opposite side, the men really played very little role at all, and you almost wonder why they went to the trouble of getting Colin Firth if they were just going to ignore him most of the way through.

The actors do their best with the songs, and Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried are pretty good and get it right most of the way through. Pierce Brosnan is atrocious. The best parts come in the form of the big chorus numbers, where the amusing choreography combined with a chorus of trained singers works wonders.

The costumes demand a large chunk of your attention throughout, and I thought that wardrobe did a very good job, with the costumes really contributing to the overall feel of the film. The location was also used very well, and I thought the Greek Islands were captured quite realistically.

Sadly, I just didn't really enjoy this one all that much. I tried really hard, but it just wasn't that fun. If you loved the musical, I'm sure you will enjoy this. If you didn't like the musical, or you didn't see it - I'd probably wait until it comes out on dvd. If you hate ABBA... well, you know this one isn't for you.

Finally... in other news, the week after next Kasey Chambers is bringing her 2008 Accoustic Tour to Cairns. I've got front row tickets which are not as good as they sound, since they have changed the venue at the last minute. In the previous venue, front row meant AMAZING tickets... now it means that I will be craning my neck all night to see the stage. *sigh* You just can't win. Anyway, I've mentioned Kasey before, and this tour she is promoting her new album which she wrote and recorded with her husband, Shane Nicholson. Its a brilliant country album, with some beautiful lyrics and melodies. I'm extremely excited about the concert and will let you know all about it after I've been.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Tell me will the demons come

And drag your soul down below?

How far can you run?

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you... I will be waiting
Time after time
Time after time

Hello fellow tvDOTcommers... It is finally my day off, and after having a huge sleep in (my first in many many months!) I am up and about and off to the doctors. Nothing serious, just a medical evaluation for a job application... long story involved there.

Anyway... movie review of the week is "Prince Caspian". Despite my strong anti-religious feelings, I have always been very moved by the Narnia series. Having had the books from a very young age, I re-read them once a year or so, to try and recapture the magic that I experience while in that world. They never disappoint. I also have the original made-for-television Narnia series and I really think that the original BBC production was truly able to capture the essence of Narnia. In terms of the newer movies, I was seriously disappointed with "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Somehow it just didn't quite capture the true Narnia for me. The second movie, however, is a major improvement.

"PRINCE CASPIAN" (2008 )

**Some Spoilers**

Prince Caspian: I'm not the one who abandoned Narnia.

King Peter: No... you invaded Narnia.

The general consensus seems to be that this movie is much darker than the first, but is also a much better all-round film. I have to agree on both accounts. There is definitely a darker feel to this one, but it is a story with much more serious overtones, at least in my opinion. The movie doesn't really delve deep enough into the the enormity of the issues that are touched on, such as losing faith, and non-believers, and instead favours the action and adventure side of the story. This is to be expected and doesn't really take away the enjoyment of the film.

I thought all performances in this film were excellent, with the highlight being the gorgeous Ben Barnes, who plays Caspian with relish. The interactions between the returned Pevensie children and the people of Narnia are not overdone, and are realistic. The Narnians look great, and the location is beautiful.

There are scenes added to this film which are not in the book, and this is a bit of a problem for me. If you are going to invent parts, don't remake a story, write a new one. But nevertheless, the added storylines still work well, and add drama and intrigue to the movie. We still have the ever present battle of good versus evil, and strong moral lessons to be learned. I thought this film was very professionally done. It all felt very polished, with clear messages throughout. It has a real epic feel to it, as it should do given that this is Narnia.

Overall, I really did enjoy this one, much more than the first. I feel like the movie saga has been redeemed somewhat, and I will be seeing the next film, which is believe will be "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". I'm not sure how family-oriented the films will become, because I don't really feel like this one was a 'family film', but we shall see.

Finally... in other news, I got my eyebrow pierced last Wednesday. I really like it, despite the fact that virtually no one has noticed, including the lady I share a house with! People seem to be under the impression that I have always had it, which is just not true!

Anyway... hope the week is treating everybody well.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

'Cos everyone's singing we just want to be heard

Disappearing everyday without so much as a word

Somehow...

Wanna grab a hold of that little songbird

Take her for a ride to the top of the world

Right now...

For those of you who don't know, in the Xena forums we have started up the Xenathon. We are basically watching every episode of Xena, starting with the Trilogy, on set days and then discussing it in the forum. It is quite an adventurous goal for us Xenites, but its a great concept and I am glad we are giving it a go. For those who are interested, I have already written reviews for all of Season 1 (including the Trilogy), Season 2, half of Season 3 and all of Season 6 - so feel free to read those if you want.

My movie of the week review is "The Happening". I know what has been said about this film, but sometimes a second opinion can help.

THE HAPPENING (2008 )

This movie has received pretty much overwhelmingly bad reviews, from virtually every direction. There is a lot of talk that M. Night Shyamalan has 'lost his touch' and his reputation as a film maker. I have to say that I disagree. Now, we all know that I detest genre films, and rarely go to see them. However, I have always had a lot of confidence in Shyamalan's work. I own and love "The Sixth Sense", "Signs', "The Village" and "Unbreakable". I think they are original, cleverly plotted and well executed.

"The Happening" is not as strong as those films, but by no means is it the worst film I will see this year. The concept is excellent, it is just not executed as well as it could have been. I love the idea of our planet rebelling against human damage. I think it is only a matter of time before we reap what we have sowed, and we all begin to pay in a serious way for the abuse to the planet over the last few 100 years. This is where this film is going - the plants have joined forces in a defence mechanism to protect themselves from further human damage. And this is only the beginning!

There is also a lot of talk that the film is too graphic, too gory. I disagree. It IS most definitely graphically violent, but we are pretty desensitized, and I didn't find I was all that bothered. I thought it needed that realism because we are talking about people inflicting pain and suffering UPON THEMSELVES. This is an interesting concept and for it to realise its full potential, we needed to be horrified by what we were seeing.

The weakness in this film is the characterisation and acting. The poor acting leads from the poor characters, and the complete lack of character development. You've got to care about these people for the film to matter, and you really don't. These were one-dimensional, boring and clichéd. It is a shame, because I think that all three lead actors are great - Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo have all made some great films, when given decent material to work with. Here, they have none.

If the focus had stayed on the catastrophic events occuring, then it might have saved this film. But sadly, the focus was on a bunch of people that you really didn't have any strong feelings for, and this is the final letdown.

I read that when Shymalan first presented the script to the studio, it was titled "The Green Effect". I think that this is a much better title. "The Happening" suggests that we are about to see something amazing, and while what we do get is good, its never going to live up to its title.

My advice: wait until this one comes out on dvd. I saw it with free tickets, and in a way I am glad that I was able to see it and form my own opinion. Its not going to change your world.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

Please tell me, so I can finally see... where you go when you're gone...

RIP. Robbie xx

There was never time enough
I can't breath
It's too hard to think of love
I can't breath, I can't breath

Well... two blogs in only a few days - La must be back! I have finally got my new place all set up... I shifted my bed and desk today, and after 2 weeks of sleeping on the floor, and using my PC on my lap, I was nearly in tears of happiness! Thank you for your beautiful words of sympathy and support for Lindsey and myself following Rob's death. Linds is doing amazingly well, and is flying home to Cairns on Wednesday - which goes to show her strength. I am incredibly proud of her.

I have started watching and reviewing Season 3 of Xena this weekend. I am four episodes in, just starting on The Rift (you fellow fans know what I'm talking about!). It will be a drama filled week getting through these heavy-duty episodes! It makes me feel so much more myself to be reviewing again; its what I enjoy and I think I'm getting pretty good at it! I'm also now on the Top Contributors List for Xena, which is something I have been desperate to achieve since joining tvDOTcom. I know it sounds like not much, but it really has been a huge goal of mine... so we will see how long I retain my position!

I will just throw in a short movie review for good measure. This is an older movie that was released a couple of years ago.

JINDABYNE (2006)

Jindabyne is a truly haunting film that is impossible to shake after viewing. I first saw this film on its cinema release a couple of years ago, and it is a movie that I have never forgotten. I recently bought it on a cheap dvd table (for $8.99 - its an insult to Australian films) and having watched it again found myself just as moved this time around.

As an Australian film with a primarily Aussie cast, this is an incredibly credit to the Aussie film industry. The story-line is tragic and beautifully directed. It is a story about relationships, between everyday people in everyday situations, and the huge toll that life can take on all of us. Horrible situations bring out the best in some people, but in most cases they bring out the worst. The film follows how a small community deals with the murder of a young Indigenous girl, and the repurcussions of the discovery of her body.

The acting in this film is quite astounding - the actors could be my next door neighbour, one of my customers, a friend. I imagine that the impact would be less for people not from Australia, but the acting is subperb regardless. There is no need to single anybody out - the entire cast are wonderful.

The cinematography is also beautiful - this part of Australia is at once stunningly beautiful, and desolately barren. The film balances the scenery as it balances the light and dark shades of the characters.

I will leave this one here, but this is a film that everybody needs to see. It is probably a film no one has heard of, but it will open your eyes and truly touch your soul.

So for now... take care everyone.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

As you're disappearing I'm hearing
All I wanted you to say
I should focus more on the thought of
letting you just slip away
But I get this strange feeling you're not revealing
Everything you wanted to say
So it's just a little harder for me to play the part of
Watching you walk away

Hello Friends! I am really back this time... back for a while, at least! So much has been happening in my life, and I have really missed being here so much. I cannot believe what a gap tvDOTcom left behind... just knowing what everybody is up to, and have you all brighten my day with your blogs is something that nothing in the 'real' world can replace!

Ok... so firstly, I am basically finished uni for the semester. I have a history exam in about 2 weeks, but it should be a breeze, so I am not worried, and am going to start enjoying my holidays now!

I guess the most important thing to tell you about, is the death of a very special friend of mine, Rob. He is the partner of my best girlfriend, Linds, and they have both been a very big part of my life for almost a year. Many of the movie reviews that I have written, were written about films I watched with them. I spent most weekends (and a big part of the week!) at their house.

Sadly, on Friday, May 30, Rob passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly while down in Melbourne. He was 36.

As you can imagine, it has been a fairly difficult couple of weeks since then. Last Wednesday night I flew from Cairns to Melbourne to be with Linds for a couple of days. I returned to Cairns (and the warm weather!) on Monday night, and hopefully Linds will be returning to Cairns in the next few weeks. She is an amazing and very special person, and Rob loved her very much. I cannot wait to have her back up here with me.

Linds, Me and Rob.

I have also moved house... again. Long story, but I was not happy where I was living previously, and a new place came up, so I grabbed it. Moving has been a huge drama, and I am still without a bed, mattress or computer desk (which are at the old house), but finally things are starting to get back to normal.

So, I will get back to what I do best - writing movie reviews! I will hopefully start to (slowly) catch up on some blogs, but unfortunately I will have missed out on some forever. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and missing you all, and will be around the place again.

THEN SHE FOUND ME (2007)

I saw this film today (still using up my free tickets!) and I was not overly impressed. It was a pleasant way to fill in an afternoon, however. It was directed by, and starring, Helen Hunt, who has really made some excellent films over the years. I always saw her as a woman with more to offer as an actress, and her film choices have always reflected that to me.

Having said that, I don't think that this film is really that special. To me it feels a little stilted, and sort of skips through parts that need more of a focus, and then spends a lot of time on sections of the film that seem a little pointless. I feel that it was not particularly believable, and this is a problem because you need to identify with these characters to appreciate the film.

I have to say that I thought Helen Hunt looked old. I think she is a very beautiful woman, but she looked tired throughout, and didn't pull off the 39 year old she was supposed to play. Her acting, however, was spot on - and she did the best that she could. Colin Firth was lovely as the love interest, but just a little off the edge of the radar for me. I found his up and down mood swings a little too extreme. Matthew Broderick was odd, as usual. He does nothing for me at all; just too geeky and oddball for me. Bette Midler was probably the most consistent, she doesn't break any ground but she gets there most of the time.

The film seems to be attempting to portray the complexities of life, and the flaws in everybody's character. I guess it achieves that, to a degree. Most other issues are skirted around the in the general love triangle, making babies moments. It ends on a feel-good note and you don't walk away all that disappointed. It does not feel like a film made by a first-time director, and this is a credit to Helen.

So... go and see it if you feel like it. I'd rather give my money to this film, than to the ridiculous Sex and the City movie which will guaranteed be breaking all box office records by the end of the week.

That's all she wrote.

LLa xxx

RIP. Robbie ~*hugs always*