The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - Shauna Reid

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - Shauna Reid (2008)
Originally started as a blog, Shauna Reid takes us on a journey of weightloss. An Australian lassie she starts at 25 stone, and I must say I was entertained by her story of controlling her diet and learning to exercise.

Often these stories are a bit dry and boring, but I found this one to be funny and sweet, and with a romance thrown in, it made me want to finish my chores so I could sit down and read it. 4/5

Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye Dvd (2008)

So so government gone bad, car crash. threat to the president run around movie. 2/5

Baby Mama

Baby Mama - (2008)
I never expected much from this movie, but actually it was a kind of sweet girl comedy, without turning into 12 year old boy gross humour like so many stupid comedys. Tina Fey rocks, and honestly I want her as a best friend. 3/5

Nim's Island

Nim's Island (2008)
So the Gerard Butler film festival continues. I know it is a childrens movie, I know Abigail Breslin is the star, but you really need to know that it is Gerard Bulter, on a tropical island and with a suntan.

Actually for a tweenie flick, the story was ok and the scenery was great. I'm gonna say it is a 3/5 from me.

Parky - Michael Parkinson

Parky - Michael Parkinson (2008)
You just know he is going to be a nice fellow, and in this book he tells us of growing up as a miners son with an ordinary childhood, his stint in the army, being a journalist, working in tele and then having his own show. Filled with snippets of humour and small tales about the celebrties he has met, this is gently weekend reading. Your grandad will love it. 2/5

21

21 (2008)
I'd seen the teasers on the telle, but wasn't drawn to this enought to pay out $15 for the movie. Watching it at home was fine. Based on a true life story of six MIT students, who use their maths skills to go to Vegas. A bit hollywoodised for me, but watchable and much better than the dross on the box(Will Farrell again - yuck!!). 3/5

Spooks - Series One

Spooks - Series One (2002)
Another of those tv series I have managed to miss due to work/study/life, however there is something satisfying to sitting down and watching it on dvd, in one extended watch. Story lines are more understandable, and the development of characters is more noticeable.

Spooks are the MI5, the secret service in the UK, the spies who control threat within the British borders.

4/5 - just because I want to know what happens in season two, and I am slightly hypnotised by Matthew MacFayden.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Well there has been a lot of hype around this one. In Wellington this weekend, the sevens rugby tournament has been on, which sees all the nubile 20 year olds fall into the rugby stadium, in crazy costumes and get drunk on beer and try to hook up with someone else, oh and maybe glance at the rugby.

Instead I went with a friend, and lots of older mores sensible folks to the opening night show of Slumdog Millionaire. I knew of the story as I had taken Q&A out of the library once, but not had the time to read it. I think it has echos of Charles Dickens, in it being a street child who as a 18 year old is chosen as a contestant in Who wants to be a Millionaire? He is able to answer each question, because of a certain experience growing up.

I am torn between giving it a 4/5 for its gritty realism, and a 5/5 because they made me smile by throwing in the last scene during the credits. Either way, I applaud the success of intelligent, and thought provoking movie making, without the need for putting Brad Pitt or Cate Blanchett in the movie.

The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson

The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson (2008)
The story of the imperial family of Russia, and their lives and deaths is one of the great stories of the 20th centuary. This is a novel, but based on some of the known facts. Tatiana is the second eldest daughter of the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia. Starting when she was quite young, we get a glimpse of her childhood and then teenage years growing up in a most privalidged family. We get to meet Rasputin, and see the influence he has on the family, particularly on the Tsarina.

Fictional elements of this story take Tatiana out of the palace, and have her meeting with doctors at a free clinic, and taking lovers which I don't know how possible it would have been when they were watched all the time. During the first world war, however she did train as a nurse with her sister and work at the hospital with wounded soldiers.

A 3/5, it held my interest but didn't leave me wanting more.

P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You (2008)
After deciding to have a little Gerard Butler film festival - if only because three reserved dvds arrived on my shelf at the library on one day, I was able to watch this movie, finally. After the disaster that was Lucy Sullivan getting married, I had thought this would be a predictable chick flick.

I have read the book, some time ago, and all I remeber of it was that the main characters husband dies, and sends her letters every so often to help her deal with it. In the movie, events are moved from Ireland to New York, but my failing memory meant that this story was not destroyed, by my memories of the book. Gerard Butler was awesome as playing a sensitive and fun fellow (and pretty dreamy too!! swoon!!). Hilary Swank, actually was pretty good and only slightly annoying (my goodness her teeth are huge, and sometimes she seemed a bit too pathetic), but please, please please, could someone sit on her and feed her a couple of loaves of bread. She looks like she hasn't eaten a carb her whole life. The supporting cast added a believable touch, rather than than being awkward extras - I liked Lisa Kudrow as the girlfriend searching for the perfect boy, and Harry Connick Jr as the sensitive barman/love interest.

I don't know if the boys would like it, but I thing it a perfect sunday night movie, with a bowl of popcorn and a nice cool drink. 4/5