Bluray/DVD Movie Review with no rants!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The American version of the hit and critically acclaimed Swedish film based on the best selling novel of the same name, this film directed by David Fincher, (Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Se7en), and adapted by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List and Moneyball)

This English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), as he investigates the disappearance of a wealthy patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.

First, let me say that I am a huge fan of the novels and the Swedish films staring Michael Nyqvist (Blomkvist) and Noomi Rapace (Salander) and I honestly didn't think that anyone but Rapace could play Salander. Let me tell you that I was wrong.

The film follows Stieg Larsson's book more closely than the Swedish film and I appreciated that. There is more detail into the life of Lisbeth and Mikael, there lives before they met, relationships, work, etc. I felt like I got to know the characters better in Fincher's film than in the Swedish film.

I'm not saying that Rapace wasn't a revelation in all three films and doesn't deserve the praise she is still getting from her performance, but I think I liked Mara's Lisbeth more. It's a very shocking thing to admit because I honestly have never seen such a performance than Rapace's in the Millennium Trilogy, until Mara's.

Mara's 'take' on Salander is riveting, she all but vibrates with rage. The rape scene isn't as violent as was in the Swedish film and for that, I'm grateful, although if you have read the book, you know just how awful it was. She is strong, yet weak, hideously ugly, yet beautiful, small yet strong and I love her.

Lisbeth Salander is one of the greatest characters in literature/film history. Disagree? Read and watch!

Daniel Craig is a more sexy Blomkvist than Nyqvist and it's a good thing because in the books, Blomkvist is sort of a horndog who has women throw themselves at him. I couldn't see that with the Swedish film, but oh yes, I can in the US film.

All in all, both versions are amazing, well acted and directed. If you are a fan of film and want to witness amazing acting, watch both. You will not be sorry.

Take a look at the trailers for BOTH films

 

The Swedish Film

 

 

The American Film

*Look for more movie reviews to come*

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Breaking Dawn-The Movie

So, the director of "Chicago", a very good movie, is going to be the brains behind the final film(s) in the very successful and popular Twilight Saga. Let's hope he does us proud.
First off: Make the screenwriter do a better job. Sure, she's done ok with converting Stephanie Meyer's books into films, but she also leaves a lot out. Now, I don't mean to say that everything in the books has to make it to the screen, but she seems intent on leaving out the romance. We crave the romance of Twilight/New Moon/ Eclipse/ Breaking Dawn. We read all the books, sometimes over and over and we'd like to really get the full effect of the largest, most romantic and bloody chapter in the saga:Breaking Dawn.
That means, (sorry Tweens) that it needs to have an R rating. I'm not just saying that because I'd love to see some of the honeymoon (ok, so Edward biting a pillow and breaking Esme's bed would thrill me to no end), but we need to see and experience the horror of Bella's pregnancy, Edward's utter anguish at the thought of his Bella being slowly murdered by the 'fetus' and Jacob's anger. We have the Volturi coming, Reneseme too, and tons and tons of blood. That must be shown! The birth is horrible, violent and frightening and we need to see it. We need to see the imprinting, the transformation Bella goes through, all of it. I also think it must be in two films, not just one. Too much happens in the book to shrink it to one film. Besides, two films, twice the profit!
I also hope they have a real child as Reneseme, but with the help of CGI. She is extremely beautiful and advanced so CGI would help that out a lot. Bella also needs to LOOK like a glamorous vampire. She makes men stutter, so let her shine. Get a better wig, better clothes, and some great contacts and let her shine. Let them all shine. I wanna see Bella break the rocks and her baby laugh. I wanna see it all. I'm not alone either.
Don't let us down.
Now, Twilight Fans, share YOUR thoughts below!

Youtube

Hello there my friends. I'm ranting today about YouTube. I loved YouTube and I have around 30 videos posted there. That said, s many of mine have been disabled due to 'copyright infringement' and either have no sound or have been deleted. I have friends whose accounts have been deleted.

Now, I understand that artists and so on must make money for their songs, tv show/movie clips or whatever, but come on....these videos that fans like me make are harmless. We make no money from these videos, we do them for ourselves, our friends and fans of whatever show/movie/book that we like. I make CSI/GSR and Twilight Saga videos. I have never made money (darn it) from any of them. I love watching videos. They are sometimes better than the shows we are basing them on.

I've also discovered music artists I've never heard of because of these videos by fans. Linkin Park was totally unknown to me years ago until I saw a CSI video that used one of their songs. I am now a HUGE fan of theirs . That is merely an example. There are many more.

Because of the copyright thing that is messing up our videos, there video makers, like myself, who are having a hard time making videos. We worry that no matter what disclaimer we might add to it, our hard work will be deleted. So here is what I have to say:LEAVE OUR VIDEOS ALONE. LET US SHOW OUR LOVE FOR YOUR MUSIC/BOOK/MOVIE/TV SHOW AND HONOR IT. LET US BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!

To check out my videos that still work, you can visit YouTube and look up blondecharmedone.

Just read a disturbing book....

I just finished reading "High On Arrival" by Mackenzie Phillips. It cronicles her life as a child star, abused teen, drug addict, abused adult, rape victim, mother, wife and survivor.

I wanted to read it out of the curiousity that one has when they see a wreck on the highway...you don't wanna look, but ya just can't help it.

This book, while horrifying, is a well written, deeply sad and moving insight into the life of a woman who had no chance in hell to be 'normal' and have a 'normal' childhood. She is lucky she made it out alive, I can tell you that.

In the days before Child Protective Services, Mackenzie was given cocaine at age 11 by her drug addicted father, John Phillips, and that began her 'new' life. She was used and abused by almost everyone she let into her life, and those who didn't treat her badly, she pushed away.

I have to say, I believe everything this woman says in her book. Why lie about such horrid things? I used to see her on "True Hollywood Stories" and the gossip rags about how hooked she is on drugs, how she got caught AGAIN with drugs, yada yada yada and I never EVER felt bad for her. Matter of fact, I couldn't stand her on "One Day At A Time" as Julie. She was unattractive, loud, mean and hateful. I liked Barbara on the show more. Anyway, now I see that this what all she was going through behind the scenes and I admire her.

This isn't a book for everyone, it is very disturbing and horrifying but it's also a tale of survival. I hope she continues to live a healthy, happy life.

I'm in a funk

My former favorite show is CSI Las Vegas. I wish I could love it like I used to and it's making me feel all depressed. I miss wanting to see it on Thursday nights. I miss planning the meals around the viewing. I miss talking to my friends about it. I miss working on my GSR site about the show. UGH. Even though I miss it terribly, I can't gather up enough enthusiasm for the show to even turn it on at 8pm tonight. Why? Because William Petersen left, Laurence Fishborne came on, Jorja Fox came back (which was great, but then, if Grissom and Sara are married......??????) and the writers either checked out or are asleep. The show is tired. I'm sick of it and a bunch of my friends are feeling the same way.
I want to like the show again....but unless William Petersen comes back at least for a visit, it's not gonna happen.

HEY HOLLYWOOD!!!

I know that Hollywood seems to love remaking old movies, but I have some thoughts on films that SHOULD be made....


There's been a tv show and tv movies based on this series of books, but I think a feature film (or films) would be amazing-Robert B.Parker's "Spenser" books. They are brilliantly written, have amazing stories, great characters, sex, action, crime, drama, and tons of humor.

I don't know about a feature film, but a tv show based on "The Southern Sisters Mysteries" written by Anne George would be fabulous. These books are hysterical, fun, full of humor, crime, crazy characters and drama. I love these Southern Sisters and I honestly think you would too.

There is also the "Goldie Bear" books written by Diane Mott Davidson. Filled with amazing food, fun characters, an evil ex husband and crime, these would be a great basis for a tv show or film(s).

That is all for now, but I'll have additions to this list soon.

This is why I love to rant.

This morning, I was greeted with yet another blip from the internet telling me once again that William Petersen just won't come back to CSI. Thanks.

TVGuide

Part of me thinks he (and the others) protest too much, but the other part of me says "it's over, get over it". What is a fan to do? Rant!

Funny how.........

I think it's funny how 'bad' celebs like Tiger Woods, Jessie James and John Edwards get all the press, but men, successful men, who are FAITHFUL and in loving and lasting relationships get nothing.

I am totally hooked on the reality show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" on the A&E network. Gene is "the demon" bassist/singer from KISS and is a notorious womanizer who had relationships with Diana Ross and Cher. Gene is rich beyond words and a very brilliant businessman. He's an actor, musician and he runs many many businesses. He is so funny. He's totally devoted to his ladylove of 26 years, former playboy playmate, Shannon Tweed. They have two great kids, Nick, who is almost 21 and Sophie who is almost 18. They live in a HUGE beautiful house, have beautiful things and take amazing trips, but they are N-O-R-M-
A-L people who are in love and happy and crazy about their kids. Genie (as Shannon calls him) sleeps in a red one piece PJ and loves cottage cheese and oatmeal. He worships his Mother and his kids. He is totally devoted to Shannon and I love watching them. They are so cute, so REAL, so in love and devoted that it is lovely to see. Why can't they get press? Oh, yeah, they have a show, but do we read about them every day? NOPE and why? Because they are both faithful. They raised great kids and have a great family. That's why.

Kirk Russell and Goldie Hawn are another example of the happily together for a LONG time stars. They have never married, but who cares? They are a real family. The very popular Kate Hudson, who is Goldie's look-a-like daughter, thinks of Kirk as her father. They don't get written about mainly because they are HAPPY!

I think some of the idiot celebs who are badly behaved would stop and think before doing if they DID NOT get talked about. What if no one cared? Would they keep their 'dumbsticks' in their pants? Hmmm. Think on that one for a bit and get back to me.

TV Shows and Their Endings

I love tv. I'm a fan of all kinds of shows, but I'm going to rant a bit about my all-time favorite shows and the fact that they ended.

Twin Peaks-It ended badly. As I recall, it was an unexpected ending to the show that started out as the most original show EVER put on tv. The first year was beyond amazing and always original. It whimpered away, leaving most of the avid fans wanting.

Friends-It shouldn't have ended.PERIOD.I would have watched it until the gang went into the retirement home and I think that most of us fans agree. Let's face it, the stars were tired and wanted a change, but what success have they had since? Let me let you think on that for a while.....don't hurt yourself.....there weren't many successes, so stop straining to think. Courtney Cox had a brief success with "Dirt" and I was a fan. It just ended. No wrap up of storylines, no announcement, just nada. I thought it was a wild show, and it was a great one. Too bad it ended. Jennifer Aniston had a couple of nice films, but the rest flopped, Matt Perry has done nothing that I can recall, Matt LeBlanc had the horrid "Joey" and it was painful to watch. Lisa Kudrow, the 'actress' in the bunch had a few good roles and where is David Schimmer? Did he fall off the face of the earth? All in all, the gang would have done much better to stay on tv. The show is missed, the characters are missed and the laughs are missed. I do have to say the final show was perfection.

Charmed-Boy oh boy, do I love that show, but when the powers that be at the network chose to kill it, they killed it but good. How you ask? They took money away from the production budget, they had 'Leo' leave, which saved money, but pissed off many fans, they brought in the blonde who is now the star of "The Big Bang Theory" and she could have killed it all by herself with her terrible acting. The show could have gone on, it had a huge following and could have had some more life in it. Thank the former "WB" network for that mess. One thing I can say is even though they missed the chance to have Prue come in as a ghost, the last two episodes were amazing and I cry every time I watch them.

I have other shows that I miss, but they ended fine. What shows ended badly for you? What shows that are no longer on tv do you miss?

Cheating Stars

What is wrong with all of these so called stars that are supposed to be happily married and then they are caught cheating? I, for one, am sick to death of these guys screwing anything that moves just because they think they can. Honestly, Tiger Woods should be neutered and Sandra Bullock's husband should be horse-whipped. Why do I care? Because I am a wife. I would be beyond devastated if it happened to me and I can feel their pain.

I don't know much about Tiger Woods' wife, but I'm a Sandra Bullock fan. She seems like a very nice person and I enjoy her films. Knowing (from her interviews and speeches) she absolutely adores her husband and his children and this is what makes it so awful. You can tell SHE is devoted. You can tell SHE is madly in love. My heart goes out to her.


This now brings me to the King of the bad husbands, John Gosselin. He is so gross, so nasty, so lazy and stupid, it's beyond me why any lawyer would take him as a client. Why would any woman want to date him? It's not like the press coverage they'd get would be good. I'm sick to death of hearing about him. And why does everyone hate Kate? What did she do that was so wrong? I tell you: she had to boss her idiot husband around for years because he was too stupid to do anything by himself. I admire Kate, although I think she's a bit annal. I hope she finds a nice, faithful and hardworking man to share her life.

Ok, I think I'm finished ranting on the cheaters for now, but rest assured I'll find something else to complain about very soon.