Book review: One Day by David Nicholls

A great book to read on vacation on a sunny beach (sipping away cocktails is optional ;-)

One Day by David Nicholls

Dexter and Emma spend the night together following their graduation in 1988. They talk about how they will be once they are 40. While they do not become romantically involved completely, this is the beginning of their friendship. The novel visits their lives and their relationship on July 15 in successive years in each chapter for 20 years. source: wikipedia

The format of this book makes it very interesting to read. You get older with them and it feels like you really, really know them. I've laughed out loud (which startled my sleeping husband), cried and got really angry at Dexter while I was reading this book.

It is funny, sad at times but above all it is a great must-read love story.

Fact:

• 435 pages 
• read in English
• One Day (the movie) was released in 2011. Starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess
• On Spotify you can find Emma Morley's Mix Tape. In the book she makes a mix tape cassette for Dexter in 1989 and 2000.

edit: I watched the movie, o my! You will need a lot of tissues

Tissue rating : Between 4 and 5 packs.

(tissue rating explanation)

Movie review - extremely loud and incredibly close

Whenever there is something on television that has to do with 9/11, I just have to watch it.
I automatically put down the remote and start watching. Some documentaries I have seen more than once, but it seems like I still don't understand what I'm seeing or hearing about the horrifying events of that day.

So I had to see Extremely loud and incredibly close

A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

A young boy (played by Thomas Horn) on a quest to find belongings of his father. A mother (played by Sandra Bullock) who grieves over the death of her husband, the boy's father (played by Tom Hanks)

Throughout the movie flashbacks show how family life was before 9/11. They also reveal bit by bit what happened to the boy's father on that terrible day.

Tissue Rating:

5 packs: Uncontrollable blubbering

Movie review - The Grey

In Alaska, a team of oil workers board a flight home; however, they cross a storm and the airplane crashes. Only seven workers survive in the wilderness and John Ottway, who is a huntsman that kills wolves to protect the workers, assumes leadership of the group. Shortly after they learn that they are surrounded by a pack of wolves and Ottway advises that they should seek protection in the woods. But while they walk through the heavy snow, they are chased and attacked by the carnivorous mammals.

Let's talk about bad luck. That is what the men in this movie have.
And sadly for them the bad luck isn't over after their plane crashes. Far from it to say the least.

This movie has some very scary moments (yep even Husband freaked out more than once) and a very non-Hollywood like ending. (make sure to watch the entire movie because there will be a surprise after the ending credits!)

Great acting done by Liam Neeson in a beautiful surrounding.

Although critics say this movie is horrible because of the unrealistic story line I thought it was highly entertaining. OK a bit depressing at times.

Tissue rating:
1 pack - tear up

Facts

• Did you know Liam Neeson is already 60 years old!
• The Alaskan Wolf: Wolves howl to greet one another, to indicate their location, to define their territorial boundaries, and to call the pack together. 

Movie review - Safe

Safe with Jason Statham

Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail.


Actionpacked, numerous people dying, reasonable acting, great fighting and a cute Chinese girl. end of review


Tissue rating:
no tissues needed, earplugs might be a better idea ;-)

Facts:

• features Jason Statham
• if you want to know what weapons where used in this movie ( WARNING: a lot!) you can find information here 
• released in 2012

Movie review - Intouchables

Philippe, a rich quadriplegic who owns a luxurious Parisian mansion, is interviewing to recruit a live-in carer to help him. Driss, a candidate, has no ambitions to get hired. He is just there to get a signature showing he was interviewed and rejected in order to continue to receive his welfare benefits.

Unfortunately for him, he gets hired.

The start of an improbable friendship. Based on a true story

Usually I am not a big fan of non English spoken movies ( not even Dutch ;-), but this movie is fantastic!
It's no surprise this movie is currently the second most successful French movie of all time.


Great acting, humor and personal drama makes this movie stand out.

The scenes of Paris by night are gorgeous and glamorous.

The life of Driss reflects how it it is to live in Paris when you do not have money to spend.

It's a modern Annie, but without bursting out in songs and a scary-looking butler. :-)

The only thing that at times distracted me from the movie was the resemblance of Francois Cluzet with Dustin Hoffman. In the beginning I really was impressed by how well Dustin Hoffman was speaking French :-) 

Fact:

Omar Sy received the Cesar Award for Best Actor. He is the first actor of African descent to receive this award

In need of a feel good movie? Intouchables is the movie to watch

Tissue rating: 

3 packs: Ugly cry, snot involved

Tissue rating

Don't we all love movies which can make us cry?

Sometimes I only tear up a bit, but yes there have been movies that made me cry,sob and weep uncontrollably.

I will give movies, TV-shows or books a tissue rating if they made me cry.

Tissue rating:

1 pack:  Tear up

2 packs: Tears rolling down my cheeks 

3 packs: Ugly cry, snot involved

4 packs: Sobbing

5 packs: Uncontrollable blubbering 

What is your ultimate cry movie?