Books and/vs Movies

It’s been a while since I last made a movie review. I am just in the mood because it made me happy that the best 2012 1^st quarter movie(s, for me) are both based on a book.

I consider myself a reader than a viewer. Yes I do watch a lot of movies, I love movies! But I am more fond of reading. Imagine how delighted I am whenever books turned to movie stories depicted a scene the way I imagined it to be.

The reason why I am very excited to do this shout out today is because I have seen both movies first before I have read the book. So you will understand that I bought the books because I saw the movie. Well it was a little different for The Hunger Games. It was all the hype that made me excited to watch it. I had a dream about it. I saw the trailer, it looks promising and all my nephews & niece talked about it all the time. The book originally was catered to young adults but a reader is a reader, there is no age difference in my opinion because I am still fond of reading children’s literature up to now.

I never intend to read The Hunger Games book but I am looking forward to watching it on screen. Last Saturday night, my nephew’s copy of the book was just lying around the house. They were discussing it because both boys (Josh & Jude) were able to watch it already. My niece Shaine & I are scheduled to watch it the next day. I just got curious (it was around 10-11pm), picked up the book, started browsing and the next thing I know, it was 2 am. I finished the book and I liked it so much (love would be a very strong word and I do not intend to be a book slut by saying “love love” a book, like would be a safe word to use). The movie didn’t disappoint either. Right after the movie, we headed to the bookstore and bought the box set (all 3 books and a couple of hard bound books that I really want to have a copy, yes I splurged again on books GUILTY!). I am now on book 2 (Catching Fire), I am not in a hurry to finish it because I am saving it for my very long non-stop flight to Vancouver this Thursday.

For The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I have seen the movie first (the Hollywood version) before I decided to read the rest of the Trilogy. I’ve been hearing a lot about the book years ago but because I thought it’d be full of sex and violence I said I’m never gonna like it. W & I watched the movie because he got curious, it was Daniel Craig (he likes him) and Rooney Mara received an Oscar nod for this movie. Off we go and surprisingly I liked it too (not and will never be a Craig fan). Right after the movie I bought all 3 books. I read the first one even though I’ve seen the movie already and was able to finish the next two last month. I downloaded the original Swedish movie versions but was not able to watch them all yet. Maybe I’ll have the time for it this holy week.

So there you go. It’s not really a movie review, it’s just a shout out. I decided not to give my opinions about the movies because I like them both and I think I got my money’s worth. W wants to watch the HG movie too. I just hope it’s still on theatres when he’s in town 2 weeks from now. I will go with him and watch it again for the second time.

If you’re interested in the book vs movie review of The Hunger Games, this site is good to read: http://screenrant.com/hunger-games-movie-book-differences-johnh-160474/

Happy Monday to everyone!

Rainy Days and Fridays

I woke up feeling fine, kissed the hubby bye bye, drove to the office with breeze & positivity. Arrived in the office, thought of brewing a pot of coffee which I don’t do often. It’ll be instant coffee if I’m in a hurry but since I’m feeling good I decided to brew a pot but then I realized my boss (another coffee drinker) is not coming in. I don’t want to drown in brewed coffee the whole day.

I’m still feeling good. Answered all the emails I received from last night. After 30 minutes and since it’s still early I logged on to the social networking sites. Everyone is happy as well, it’s Friday who would not be – almost the weekend – hooray!

And then it struck me how I hate Fridays lately. I miss going out. It’s not about being married that hinders me from going out, or is it?

To make myself clear (I don’t want to sound whiny so I want to explain this) I can go out as much as I want and my husband wouldn’t stop me if it’s what makes me happy. He would happily obliged to accompany me as I hang out with friends if I want to. Or if he’s not in town, I just informed him that I’m going out and it’s okay. You see I’m blessed with an open minded husband, even when we were still boyfriends-girlfriends he didn’t attempt to stop me from seeing my friends or stay out late once in a while, because he knows what I’m up to, who I’m with and everything else that comes with it.

So what’s my problem? It’s the fact that the friends I usually hang out with are nowhere to be found. Out of the country, busy doing single ladies things, or maybe just don’t want to spend time with me. I understand 1 & 2 but the third I cannot. I am not saying that I am the most fun to be with friend, in fact I’m not. I’m boring and I only do old lady things like read, watch movies or talk over a cup of coffee. I know I am not the person you go to when you want to have fun but I know I can be the person you want to talk to when there’s something bothering you or you have nothing important to do (okay the last one hurts a little, it’s like I’m the last choice friend but I can live with that).

With all these yakety yak and without any point trying to prove, I just want not to hate Fridays, that’s all. I just want it to be normal. It may not be my favorite day because all I want for it to do is to end. I know it all depends on me but it still makes me sad.

Yes Rainy Days & Fridays makes me sad. The End.

Advance Happy Birthday Baby!

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday and I am so glad I was able to take a leave from work (well not actually I'll be on mobile mode) and spend the day with him.

Since we're here in the province we'll celebrate the day with family & friends. It is the first time that they'll have a some sort of celebration because in the words of my hubby "birthdays are just another normal day in our family". I am so looking forward for tomorrow because his birthday, another ordinary day according to him, will be celebrated. Later this afternoon my Mom-in-law, Warren & I will head to town and buy stuff for the celebration. Small preparations were already being made by the yayas as early as today. It's like a mini fiesta! 5 kilos of spaghetti, is it too much or what?

I'll take pictures, I just hope my phone cam won't let me down. I wasn't able to bring the SLR because I decided to travel lite.

I love looking forward to little wonderful things, makes me excited. Lately I realized that small things make me happier than the grandest ones. What they said about great things comes in small packaging is true and are often for free like seeing your family happy. A shared meal with them and the happy exchanges. I am so missing my family too in Manila but I'll be seeing them in a few days.

I cannot say that I am loving the rural life because I still have 2 years to enjoy my urban everyday existence but I won't lie and say that I am not excited. I just pray I won't get bored and won't miss my folks badly.

From birthday to long term married life. Here's an early cheers for my wonderful husband. I love you baby!