The Hobbit: Barrel Fight Scene

This will always be my favourite Middl Earth fight scene (even though I never like the book of "The Hobbit" so much), toegether with the epic battle in "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"... The choreography is just awesome. Oh, and the making of is kinda fun too...

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One of my most beloved painters. I've always adored his paintings. And the trailer looks superb... One more week 'til it'll be in the cinemas here...

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I finally managed to watch PARADE'S END, an HBO/BBC drama mini series starring Benedict Cumberbatch (among others in an amazing cast) based on the same-called novel by Ford Madox Ford from 1924-28. Loved it. Constantly on the verge of tears, I have to confess. It's such a sad story most of the time (don't worry, there is a Happy Ending), also because it's mostly dealing with the effects of WW I on British society in general and certain characters in particular. It's beautifully written, the set décor is very apt, the music was great and then of course acting - brilliant! (Still no fan of blonde BC but it was suitable for the role!). There's drama and love and tragedy and costumes... What more do I need?! I know there's a lot of movies, documentaries, books etc. dealing with WW I this year since it's the 100 Year Anniversary (sadly enough).This has been a turning point in history, Austria included. That's basically what the series is about - how people struggled with the situation and how it changed them. Absolutely worth watching, I'd say!

I stole a few quotes on the book (but they work with the movie adaption as well) here that perfectly sum it up:

"...by no means a simple warning as to what modern warfare is like...[but] something complex and baffling [to many contemporary readers]. There was a love story with no passionate scenes; there were trenches but no battles; there was a tragedy without a denouement." 

-Robie Macauley 

"This is what the late war was like: this is how modern fighting of the organized, scientific type affects the mind.^"

^{-Ford Madox Ford, introduction of "Man Could Stand Up"}

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That one was my fav book of Cecilia Ahern. It constantly made me laugh and cry. I loved it. Let's see if the movie can capture that magic I found in between the lines back then... Time for a re-read, I guess...

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Quite some years ago I've read Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell simply because my grandmother had bought them and everyone was already saying how incredibly good they are. Even as a complete layperson when it comes to Physics (and I admit I was never too interested in that matter) it was so well-written in a way to easily unterstand the complex matter! I really really enjoyed the read.

Some time later I caught BBC's film on TV by chance... Okay, so I'm a huge Benedict Cumberbatch now fan but back then I had no idea about him and still was impressed with both the storyline and the actor.

[ Read article here ]

So right now it's Eddie Redmayne's turn to portray Hawking. Really really curious and excited about the new film... Movie date, I'd say!

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I think I want to see this one...

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Another of my beloved books was turned into a movie. Let's see how it worked out. But knowing that Geoffrey Rush will be part of it definitely helps. Can't wait!

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Charles Dickens... One of my favourite writers. And Ralph Fiennes portraying him... It's gonna be interesting.

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Really liked that one. I love the grumpy-old-man-turned-into-nice-guy-story...

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I admit that I've always loved the so-called costume films - especially those with a real historical background. I also have to confess that I know very little about Danish history... I simply decided to watch this movie because the synopsis sounded interesting and, even more, because I love Mads Mikkelsen. Such a great actor. Never seen him in a romantic part before but he did an amazing job here, as usual. But the whole case here was simply brilliant and very convincing. Though it was a little hard to read subtitles throughout the whole film (I'd rather watch Danish OV then German subbed versions) I simply loved it. Being the cry-easy type of person (with movies only, strangely, not in real life!) I had to use a whole package of Kleenex near the end but it was so worth it...  Also, knowing both German and English, I got quite some of the Danish in the movie without reading the subtitles. Still sounds pretty funny to me (no offence to any Danish fellows!) but also a little familiar...
Highly recommend it to everyone. Not only a good history lesson but I recently learned that there are so many great European movies that never really made into the cinemas in Austria or overseas but so worth seeing them!

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Definitely very high up on my TO-DO List... Not only about an Austrian sports legend, but also with one of my favourite actors and from a great director!

EDIT: Saw it. Loved it. Go see it. And watch the OV! After reading about all the work Brühl had to do to really sound like Niki Lauda, I wanted to see (hear) it in person. All I can say is... WOW! What a great job done! Not only did they make him look like Lauda (I never really knew what Lauda looked like before his accident but I saw some pictures and my mom said the resemblance was amazing) but also had him talk EXACTLY like him. Just to be fair, the rest of the cast was amazing too. Hemsworth as James Hunt was a fantastic choice. They really worked out the rivalry very well, but even more they portrayed them excellently as individuals and also in their "relationship"... And do I really have to mention the music by Hans Zimmer?! Not really, I guess. But no good movie without a perfect soundtrack. Even if you're not into Formula 1 or any of the people in this movie, still go and watch it. I don't like this sport much and never cared so much about the Lauda legend after all - the main reasons to go were Daniel Brühl and Ron Howard in my case - but even without all that it's great entertainment!

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I'd watch this one for Mads Mikkelson alone but it seems like a pretty good movie altogether...

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Der Geschmack von Apfelkernen

Won tickets for this one last night. Though it was beautifully filmed and I kinda liked the storyline (never read the book, though), it wasn't convincing enough and the end was kinda... sudden and strange. The whole film seemed so... strained and affected... The house was really beautiful, though. I 'd buy this one for sure...
 

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EDIT (10/02/2013): Saw it last night. Loved it. The b&w, the music, the storyline, the characters, their actors... Everything. And most of the time it was like watching myself - I could so relate to the problems of the main character. Really felt like this was about my life (sometimes)...

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Some movies I'd love to see...

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Just... WOW! I want to see it...

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Sweets for my Sweet...

Tom Hiddleston eats chocolate before an interview... How cute! And it's Mozartkugeln, of course... They get everyone (and make up for going through the same stupid questions in very bad English again and again...). ^_^