Showing posts with label children. Show all posts

Where The Wild Things Are Trailer

Say what you will, this looks amazing...

Are we allowed to review trailers? Because seriously, this is a good trailer. The film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are has been in the works for quite some time now. And they've had issues, sure, but don't we all? Originally shot in Australia, late '06, and slated for an '08 release, it's been delayed, delayed, almost done!, delayed. And it was not so long ago that Warners' studio chief had to defend the film, after reports that a number of children were brought to tears during test screenings (not that I'd see that as a bad thing): "We obviously still have a challenge on our hands. But I wouldn't call it a problem, simply a challenge. No one wants to turn this into a bland, sanitized studio movie. This is a very special piece of material and we're just trying to get it right." At last, it seems like they've got things back on track.

The film is being directed by Spike Jonze, a man responsible for some wonderfully bizzare creations. He also co-wrote the screenplay with a familiar face, Dave Eggers. But on to the trailer, which is beautiful even without the context. I really don't think I can adequately describe how gorgeous this looks. Just get a load of the awesome Arcade Fire song they've used ("Wake Up"). The book, the filmmakers, the music; they've got me sold. Let's just hope the movie meets my hype... So go on, have a look:

This could very well be a new favorite thing of mine, alongside certain staple gun threatening girls and that bit in Daft Punk's Digital Love that goes "Why don't you play the gaaammee?"Read more...

Read More 8 comments | Posted by Patrick

To bite or not to bite

Young Dracula may be a children's bbc show but it's a damn good one. The script is witty and funny, and the characters are entertaining and memorable.

Vlad is a 12-year old vampire, who moves to Britain with his family after being chased by angry peasant mobs back in Transylvania. However, Vlad doesn't want to be a vampire - he prefers to befriend the neighbours instead of biting them, an attitude which his father disapproves of.

If you're feeling that the recent vampire literature being churned out isn't, well, vampiric enough then you're absolutely right. Edward in Twilight doesn't live in a castle, burn in sunlight or even sleep in a coffin. And synthetic blood in True Blood is an interesting twist to the genre, but like everything fake in life it just isn't as sexy as the real thing.

What makes this show so great is the fact that it's so nasty. Causing havoc, draining humans of their blood, being selfish, betraying friends and family and being as evil as possible is most admirable if you're a vampire.

Forget about being nice. Put your capes on and watch this on YouTube.

The Little Prince

Here's a MUST READ classic, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry published 66 years ago today. Although it is categorised as a children's book and is most likely be shelved in the children's section where most of us adults avoid as we fear children somehow.... because they are adorable thingies with RAVISHING DEVILS within.......... ahem... This book is REALLY written for adults.

So the story is about an aviator and his meeting with the little prince. The little prince requests the aviator, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry himself to draw him a sheep. So as readers, we indulge ourselves to simplistic but pretty illustrations (not just in this part of the story but throughout the book! w o w right?!). So its a PLUS for those who like physical imagery on a page when reading. Ahh, but it sounds childish so far, picture story books... This novel; this classic, holds many wise words, philosophical viewpoints and commentary about the world we live in and the world around us. (ooOOooOOoo)

This book, seemingly innocent written for children only, has forced me, a young adult, to reflect. AND I DISLIKE reflecting!! Because it means I would have to face my inner demon child... But from reading this book, maybe this inner child is more wise than I give her credit...

It may be a life changing experience for you! Or an entertaining piece of literature anyways (because of the pretty pictures and did I mention it's not very long!? No I have not! It's very short!).

I LOVE it. So the Chicken will give it a:

And now I end my review with an excerpt because there isn't really any other way to persuade you but show you the real deal!. Go on read it,I DARE YOU! (NOTE: this is an excerpt of the first few pages so the aviator a.k.a. the narrator, has not yet met the little prince. You would have to read the book to see!)

Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the act of swallowing an animal. Here is a copy of the drawing.

In the book it said: "Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion." I pondered deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing. My Drawing Number One. It looked like this:

I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups, and asked them whether the drawing frightened them. But they answered: "Frighten? Why should any one be frightened by a hat?" My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing: I drew the inside of the boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly. They always need to have things explained. My Drawing Number Two looked like this:

Hostel Villa Saint Exupéry. (2008). The Little Prince. Retrieved March 6, 2009 from http://www.vsaint.com/