I realise the Twilight saga is very popular, but I had never really felt drawn to reading it. Partly because my time dedicated to reading had been reduced by college, revision, then the website etc, and what time I did have I was caught up in the very addictive Mark Chadbourn novels. However, some weeks ago now it was announced that Michael Sheen would be appearing as a vampire named Aro in the film of the second book in the series, New Moon.
This has prompted me to give the books a go, and I have come to the following conclusions.
I was correct in my first assumption, and that I am not the target demographic. The story is set in a high school and the main characters are around 17, or at least appear that age.
This is probably the main reason I have a problem with the book. The female lead Bella is 17, okay, thats fine, but the male lead Edward, looks 17 but is apparently about 90 years old. I then ask the question - what the fuck is he doing in highschool?
The book tells us he is from a family of vampires that do not drink human blood, and wish to live amongst humans. Maybe this is part of the pretence but it seems a bit much when they could simply say that he is homeschooled.
Also, why would someone who has walked this earth for so long be attracted to a 17 year old, let alone fall in love with one. I know that kids grow up faster these days but its all a bit peadophilic really. Let's face it - all of us at 17 thought we were grown up and knew all there was to know, and then we faced the world and realised that we knew fuck all. These two would have absolutely nothing in common.
Add to this that Bella seems to have fallen in love with Edward, simply because of his etherial beauty. He is quite obnoxious with her for quite a while, yet she still finds her self falling for his, pretty none existent, charms.
The reason for his behaviour and rudeness to her is explained by him being so drawn to feed off her, that he finds it almost unbearable to be around her - and this is her fault why exactly? If someone behaved and spoke to me the way Edward treats Bella initially, I would slap him upside the head and tell him to get lost - whatever he looked like.
Have some self respect girl!
The final annoyance is that their love for each other is demonstrated with lots of sighs and longing glances through eyelashes. There is the odd caress of the cheek, or brush of lips and although these two 'teenagers' are mad about each other, they show great restraint.
I feel that in this, the book is appealing to its demographic's false ideal of what exactly is love. Love is not really like this - certainly not between two horny teenagers who would be at it like jack rabbits lets face it. Even romantic love needs more than just a few glances from an Adonis across a cafeteria.
I don't even want to start telling you how disturbed I am over the claustrophobic, obsessive and suffocating relationship they seem to have. For any two people to be so wrapped up in each other, almost to the exclusion of everyone else, it is far from healthy.
I can fully understand now why Twilight is often referred to as the scariest fandom on the planet - it undoubtedly consists of hoards of horny lonely teenage girls all over the world, sighing and dreaming that one day they will meet their own Edward.
Sorry girls - it is just a fantasy. I suggest instead, you stop mooning over this impossibly unrealistically fantasy and go out an meet some real boys/men. They are intrinsically flawed creatures I will grant you, and will fall very short from the ideals that you have been led to expect from reading pulp like this - but then neither are we women perfect.
I actually think that the book is reasonably well written, but just think that the content is pretty formulaic. I think that if the mythology of the vampires and werewolves were a little more original, then this might have been a more interesting read.
I will however, continue on to the second book. Only because this is when Michael Sheen's character Aro, makes his first appearance.
Michael - if only you knew what I put myself through for you.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Bank Holiday Ahoy!
The first of two long weekends is looming, and I confess, I cannot wait. I have not got any plans so far, but just enjoy the fact that I can enjoy my Sunday evening, without that usual dread of Monday morning.
I am taking some steps to hopefully remedy this.
I applied for a job the other day, and have an interview shortly. I am not going to get too hopeful, but it would be quite cool if I got this new job.
In other news, Michael is continuing to twitter occasionally. When I started to 'following' @michaelsheen, he only had less than 50 followers and was still battling to remove the fake Michael. He succeeded in doing that, and now has over 4000. Great news that this is, it also sadly means that the chances of getting a response like in the early days are probably over. Oh well - I will occasionally look with fondness on the screen cap of the small virtual exchange we shared.
The site has had a few updates. We now sport a small forum. There is only a small group of active posters at the moment, but it is early days yet. If any Michael Sheen fans stumble across this post, then please do feel free to join us.
www.michael-sheen.co.uk
I am taking some steps to hopefully remedy this.
I applied for a job the other day, and have an interview shortly. I am not going to get too hopeful, but it would be quite cool if I got this new job.
In other news, Michael is continuing to twitter occasionally. When I started to 'following' @michaelsheen, he only had less than 50 followers and was still battling to remove the fake Michael. He succeeded in doing that, and now has over 4000. Great news that this is, it also sadly means that the chances of getting a response like in the early days are probably over. Oh well - I will occasionally look with fondness on the screen cap of the small virtual exchange we shared.
The site has had a few updates. We now sport a small forum. There is only a small group of active posters at the moment, but it is early days yet. If any Michael Sheen fans stumble across this post, then please do feel free to join us.
www.michael-sheen.co.uk
Thursday, 23 April 2009
May the Shinest Sheen win!
And I think... he has!
For those wondering what on earth I am Twittering on about, there has been an epic battle on Twitter between a Fake Michael Sheen and a Real Michael Sheen.
The faker made the mistake of obsessing a little too much about New Moon (the Twilight sequel that Michael will shortly be filming) and this was picked up by the many Twilight blogs out there. News of the twitter account obviously got back to Michael, so our man joined Twitter and graciously offered the Faker a chance to back off, but the stupid idiot thought this was just another faker and decided to have a pissing contest.
For us mere mortals it was amusing, the highlights were when the Real Michael posted that he was going to watch the ''making of'' docco on the Frost/Nixon dvd, which prompted the Fake Michael to tweet that the 'obsessed fan had just bought a dvd of his work'.
Calls on both sides for the other to 'fess up were trumped when the Real Michael, who had mentioned he was at the Groundlings Event being held in LA, posted a picture of himself AT the event.
To the Real Michael.... well played sir.... the fucker will rue the day he ever tried to tussle with you!
To the Fake Michael (and the other fakers) ... EPIC FAIL !!!!!!!!!!
Details of the Real Michael Sheen twitter account can be found on the website www.michael-sheen.co.uk
For those wondering what on earth I am Twittering on about, there has been an epic battle on Twitter between a Fake Michael Sheen and a Real Michael Sheen.
The faker made the mistake of obsessing a little too much about New Moon (the Twilight sequel that Michael will shortly be filming) and this was picked up by the many Twilight blogs out there. News of the twitter account obviously got back to Michael, so our man joined Twitter and graciously offered the Faker a chance to back off, but the stupid idiot thought this was just another faker and decided to have a pissing contest.
For us mere mortals it was amusing, the highlights were when the Real Michael posted that he was going to watch the ''making of'' docco on the Frost/Nixon dvd, which prompted the Fake Michael to tweet that the 'obsessed fan had just bought a dvd of his work'.
Calls on both sides for the other to 'fess up were trumped when the Real Michael, who had mentioned he was at the Groundlings Event being held in LA, posted a picture of himself AT the event.
To the Real Michael.... well played sir.... the fucker will rue the day he ever tried to tussle with you!
To the Fake Michael (and the other fakers) ... EPIC FAIL !!!!!!!!!!
Details of the Real Michael Sheen twitter account can be found on the website www.michael-sheen.co.uk
Saturday, 4 April 2009
The Boat That Rocked
It's official! Bill Nighy is THE coolest man in Britian.
I have just been to see The Boat That Rocked, and it is laugh out loud 'till tears run down your face funny. Bill was superb in it, and he oozed cool in that way that he does. I love it when he dances, as he throws shapes that cry out to be frozen into a Warhol picture.
There is a pretender to the throne however. The multi-talented Rhys Ifans stole scenes from the rest of the extremely talented cast as rock god Gavin, and he looked suitably dashing in his fine purple suit. Even the feathers in his hat did not make this man look silly.
I can't let my post go by with out a nod to Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost.
The film made me miss the halcyon days of pirate radio, even though it was all over well before I was born. I think it was the spirit of anti-establishment that pirate radio represented that I miss from modern radio. DJ's these days are well heeled and over paid, and when you do get one that does something a little reckless, the Big Bad Corporation bows to the pressure of the Daily Mail massive and bans them for 3 months.
I think that Richard Curtis has an uncanny gift and has proven true to form and provided a film that everyone that sees will walk away feeling good, and possibly even a little rebellious. I will confess, that when Iron Maiden came on the radio soon after I got in my car to drive home, I cranked up that baby and wound down the windows.... and I dont even like Iron Maiden! I actually consider them a little bit 'middle of the road'. Yes kids, I am that edgy, Maiden is middle of the road for me.
In Michael Sheen news, I have found 2 fantastic videos on You Tube that shows the man is not frightened of poking fun at himself, or at least the press's opinion of him. It is in support of a worthy cause, See Africa Differently, so please take a look at the vidz here and here.
Of course, both are available to watch on my site www.michael-sheen.co.uk
I have just been to see The Boat That Rocked, and it is laugh out loud 'till tears run down your face funny. Bill was superb in it, and he oozed cool in that way that he does. I love it when he dances, as he throws shapes that cry out to be frozen into a Warhol picture.
There is a pretender to the throne however. The multi-talented Rhys Ifans stole scenes from the rest of the extremely talented cast as rock god Gavin, and he looked suitably dashing in his fine purple suit. Even the feathers in his hat did not make this man look silly.
I can't let my post go by with out a nod to Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost.
The film made me miss the halcyon days of pirate radio, even though it was all over well before I was born. I think it was the spirit of anti-establishment that pirate radio represented that I miss from modern radio. DJ's these days are well heeled and over paid, and when you do get one that does something a little reckless, the Big Bad Corporation bows to the pressure of the Daily Mail massive and bans them for 3 months.
I think that Richard Curtis has an uncanny gift and has proven true to form and provided a film that everyone that sees will walk away feeling good, and possibly even a little rebellious. I will confess, that when Iron Maiden came on the radio soon after I got in my car to drive home, I cranked up that baby and wound down the windows.... and I dont even like Iron Maiden! I actually consider them a little bit 'middle of the road'. Yes kids, I am that edgy, Maiden is middle of the road for me.
In Michael Sheen news, I have found 2 fantastic videos on You Tube that shows the man is not frightened of poking fun at himself, or at least the press's opinion of him. It is in support of a worthy cause, See Africa Differently, so please take a look at the vidz here and here.
Of course, both are available to watch on my site www.michael-sheen.co.uk
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
All things Michael Sheen
I have been very lax with this blog, but I make no apologies as I have been rather busy.
It was mentioned in a previous post that I was finally getting off my arse and putting a website together, for Michael Sheen. It has been up now for a few weeks and I must say that I am blown away by the response.
There has been so many visits, and registrations, that it proves to me this was the right thing to do. I am enjoying myself and learning a lot, which to be honest, was the plan all along. I have had one or two wrestling matches with my content management system, and html can be a bit of a bitch at times, but so far I think I have come out on top.
It is quite addictive too. I find that once I have figured out one addition, instead of sitting back, I cannot help myself and start looking for the next . At the moment, I am trying to find a template that I like. Have you any idea how many there are out there? 1000's!!!
Anyway, should you find yourself with a spare five minutes, please stop by - and it is worth registering for a free account, as it allows you into the gallery and fans corner.
www.michael-sheen.co.uk
Right, so back to the usual ramble on films.
This weekend, we went to see Damned United. Okay... I hear you groan... we are back on to the subject of Michael Sheen, but - in my defence - it is a really good film. The plot bears only a passing resemblance to reality but I think it worked. Michael was channeling Clough, and managed to give a performance that was full of the ego and bravado that we all as Clough, but allowed a behind-the-scenes like glimpse to the man's fears, and weaknesses. All in all, I think it makes the man more lovable.
It was mentioned in a previous post that I was finally getting off my arse and putting a website together, for Michael Sheen. It has been up now for a few weeks and I must say that I am blown away by the response.
There has been so many visits, and registrations, that it proves to me this was the right thing to do. I am enjoying myself and learning a lot, which to be honest, was the plan all along. I have had one or two wrestling matches with my content management system, and html can be a bit of a bitch at times, but so far I think I have come out on top.
It is quite addictive too. I find that once I have figured out one addition, instead of sitting back, I cannot help myself and start looking for the next . At the moment, I am trying to find a template that I like. Have you any idea how many there are out there? 1000's!!!
Anyway, should you find yourself with a spare five minutes, please stop by - and it is worth registering for a free account, as it allows you into the gallery and fans corner.
www.michael-sheen.co.uk
Right, so back to the usual ramble on films.
This weekend, we went to see Damned United. Okay... I hear you groan... we are back on to the subject of Michael Sheen, but - in my defence - it is a really good film. The plot bears only a passing resemblance to reality but I think it worked. Michael was channeling Clough, and managed to give a performance that was full of the ego and bravado that we all as Clough, but allowed a behind-the-scenes like glimpse to the man's fears, and weaknesses. All in all, I think it makes the man more lovable.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
The Watchmen - my review
Went to see this, with a very excited husband this weekend.
I have heard complaints that it was slow, which is true to an extent I grant you, but I think this was to try and get over the complex 'messages' that Alan Moore always puts into his novels. My only complaint would be that at over 2½ hours, it is a bit of a bum-number. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Granted it could also be confusing for someone not familiar with the novel, for instance - the government bill banning 'masks' is very casually mentioned, but I do believe that you can enjoy it for what it is. Visually, it is splendid. Great use of colours, and I was quietly impressed with the acting.
There is an obvious danger when making a film of something that has such a large and passionate cult following as The Watchmen, is that you are never going to be able to truly please the fanboys (or girls). V for Vendetta I think suffered from the same amount of scrutiny. These kind of films always come under such fire as the fanboys always exclaim 'this character didnt say that!' or ' his hair is meant to be blond'.
If you want 100% accuracy, stay home and read the book is my response!!
As a fan of the Watchmen, the thing I was most pleased with is that they totally nailed the character Rorschach, who is definitely my favorite. The actor looked so much like the pics in the graphic novel it was spooky. Full marks also goes to Jeffrey Dean Morgan (big daddy Winchester to you Supernatural fans) as he was amazing as the Comedian. Whatta Guy!
Dr Manhattan aside, these are just a group of ordinary men and women with no special abilities that want to fight crime and make the world a better place, which is an admirable sentiment. The point that the film highlights though, is that behind the mask, they are as flawed, as contemptuous, and as misguided as the citizens they swore to protect.
I have heard complaints that it was slow, which is true to an extent I grant you, but I think this was to try and get over the complex 'messages' that Alan Moore always puts into his novels. My only complaint would be that at over 2½ hours, it is a bit of a bum-number. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Granted it could also be confusing for someone not familiar with the novel, for instance - the government bill banning 'masks' is very casually mentioned, but I do believe that you can enjoy it for what it is. Visually, it is splendid. Great use of colours, and I was quietly impressed with the acting.
There is an obvious danger when making a film of something that has such a large and passionate cult following as The Watchmen, is that you are never going to be able to truly please the fanboys (or girls). V for Vendetta I think suffered from the same amount of scrutiny. These kind of films always come under such fire as the fanboys always exclaim 'this character didnt say that!' or ' his hair is meant to be blond'.
If you want 100% accuracy, stay home and read the book is my response!!
As a fan of the Watchmen, the thing I was most pleased with is that they totally nailed the character Rorschach, who is definitely my favorite. The actor looked so much like the pics in the graphic novel it was spooky. Full marks also goes to Jeffrey Dean Morgan (big daddy Winchester to you Supernatural fans) as he was amazing as the Comedian. Whatta Guy!
Dr Manhattan aside, these are just a group of ordinary men and women with no special abilities that want to fight crime and make the world a better place, which is an admirable sentiment. The point that the film highlights though, is that behind the mask, they are as flawed, as contemptuous, and as misguided as the citizens they swore to protect.
Friday, 6 March 2009
Something to add to your browser favorites
Okay... so I know that I said I would finish my Lucian fanfic before I did this, but I got a bit excited and...
I am now the proud owner of michael-sheen.co.uk. Yeay!
It seemed such a shame that such an amazing actor only had one website that I could find. The existing website is also very badly organized (in my opinion) and infrequently updated.
I have wanted to do a website for sometime now, but have been lacking in inspiration for the actual content. When I spotted that there was an obvious deficiency I resolved to do something about it.
With some much appreciated (more than you will ever know girls ) technical assistance from the lovely 
hedgeypig and 
alicat1971 I have made some small progress.
I will endeavour to get my fic finished as soon as - only a few more chapters to go I think - and then I will quite literally, throw myself at the website.
I aim to include a theatre, TV and Film -ography, screencap gallery, news and also a fan art section. So all you Michael Sheen fans, get thee to photoshop, and send me any lovely graphics, wallpapers, banners, icons etc that you would like to share with the world. I intend to credit you all of course, with a link back to your LJ accounts (or other if you prefer).
I am now the proud owner of michael-sheen.co.uk. Yeay!
It seemed such a shame that such an amazing actor only had one website that I could find. The existing website is also very badly organized (in my opinion) and infrequently updated.
I have wanted to do a website for sometime now, but have been lacking in inspiration for the actual content. When I spotted that there was an obvious deficiency I resolved to do something about it.
With some much appreciated (more than you will ever know girls ) technical assistance from the lovely
hedgeypig 
I will endeavour to get my fic finished as soon as - only a few more chapters to go I think - and then I will quite literally, throw myself at the website.
I aim to include a theatre, TV and Film -ography, screencap gallery, news and also a fan art section. So all you Michael Sheen fans, get thee to photoshop, and send me any lovely graphics, wallpapers, banners, icons etc that you would like to share with the world. I intend to credit you all of course, with a link back to your LJ accounts (or other if you prefer).
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