Chris Colfer... you have struck me.

... it's like lightning. It's frightning! So, I've just watched 'Struck By Lightning' - the cinematic writing debut from Glee's Kurt Hummell. Man, that boy can WRITE.

This was just all kinds of fantastic. I truly think he's set to be the next Zach Braff in terms of writing and directing. Just... watch this space. I wrote a little review, so I'm going to share it with you:

What I love about cinema, it's its ability to make you feel important, to make you feel a part of something - that you're not alone, that optimism does exist. It takes a very special film to make you feel like this. 'Struck By Lightning' was one of these films. A-like 'American Beauty' and 'Sunset Boulevard', this was a tale from beyond the grave and a reflection and perception of life. Except here, we had the perspective of a teenager going through the motions of graduation and acceptance of his peers along with his own, personal problems as well as struggling from 'small town syndrome' (surely that should be a medical condition, yeah?) I was reminded, quite heavily, of 'Garden State' - an excellent film from Zach Braff (who directed, wrote and starred) in which we find ourselves following a central character who is just wanting to find meaning and clarity in their lives and to make peace in their families. Chris Colfer is just a joy. I've been a fan of him since the very first episode of 'Glee' and this just proves that his true talent lies in his writing. This was such a finely crafted and mature story. Well executed, detailed, and just completely moving. I believed him completely and despite the story being told in reverse, I really routing for him. Rebel Wilson is on something of a roll lately, and her rolling (as it were) doesn't stop here. She provides wit as well as comic relief andher character is so much more than just comic relief. Allison Janney is heartbreaking as Carson's suffering mother and, as to be expected with Janney, as drugged up and alcohol-fuelled as she is at times, you can't help but feel for her. An outstanding performance. This was just one of those rare gems that ticks all the right boxes. I would've liked a bit more from Carson's father's new fiancee, and perhaps a bit more of a soundtrack would've been nice - but then would that have been a distraction? I'm not sure. I heartily recommend this to anyone who strives to better themselves.

:)

Inspired by a dead horse.

Well... not quite. Sort of. Today I was en-route to my parents on the 16:50 Northern Rail service to Nunthorpe. I thought I might have been pushing it a bit; what with it being so close to rush hour... but I was pleasantly surprised to find I could have 2 WHOLE SEATS to myself. All was going fine until we reached Seaton Carew when what should appear in front of the track? Yes. A dead horse. Perfect. Cut to me 2 hours later STILL SAT THERE. Starving I was. I'd starved myself all day as I was going out for tea, so that proved to be a mistake at the time (although food was lovely when I FINALLY got some). But... in midst of the 2 hours of people moaning... pondering their life... wondering if they'd make it home for Christmas... (I may have exaggerated the last two a bit, there) I decided to write a little poem. This often occurs on trains for me and I have no idea why. Perhaps I'm a poet and I don't even know it? But this is my poem:

There's a chill in the air and a spring in my step, A smile on my face that's been there since we met. The stars are shining; so wonderous and bright, An unmistakenably perfect December night. The cold on my face, a glove on my hand, With you in my heart I now understand. The meaning of tranquility, of love and of peace, "Joy to the world" on this Christmas Eve. All it took was one look for it all to make sense, The perfect yuletide story, no need for pretense. A symphony of splendour that plays loudly and true, You're all I need this Christmas; I'm no longer blue.

Dunno who it's about or what. But thank you to the dead horse for inspiring me, innit.

'The Hobbit' : An Unexpected(ly Fantastic Cinematic) Journey

Please forgive the long-winded title... It's just that as a lover of ALL things Lord of the Rings, I was truly expecting to not full enjoy 'The Hobbit'... I reckon that old saying of "If you go in to a film not expecting much, you get a hell of a lot more than you were expecting out of it." is true. This was beyond anything I was expecting. It couldn't wouldn't and shouldn't mean to me what the LOTR trilogy did... but it really did feeling like a Friends Reunited meetup. It was lovely to see SO many familiar faces again. To the point that I welled up. Several times.

I wrote a review on Rotten Tomatoes () and tried to post it to my FaceBook.... yet for some ungodly reason, it refuses to comply. So I've resuscitated my old Blooger account *sigh* just for some own piece of mind of having my account of my cinematic experience on this 'ere world wide web. (I don't even care if nobody reads it. I'm so besotted with the film!) "Home is now behind you. The world is ahead." It's been nine years since 'Return of the King' was released and swept the board at the OSCARS. It's been nine years since I fell in love with a fictional universe and knew the ins and outs of those that dwelled there. It had been nine years since I returned 'home'. I have watched a great many films in my time between 'ROTK' and 'The Hobbit' but none have stirred me the same way as those based within Peter Jackson's Middle Earth. 'The Hobbit' is undoubtedly flawed, yet I am completely bias. The plot may have been some 30 minutes too long, but this is a story that is rich in detail and character development. This truly felt like a loving ode to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and as such, Jackson has over-fleshed everything to make sure 'The Hobbit' gives as much as it can to fans. The casting is superb. I was worried it may be *too* obvious to recognise some of the cast as being from other works (James Nesbitt and Martin Freeman alike have been in so much - surely they can be seen as being TOO recognisable?) but this was not the case. Everyone owned their part. In particular, I was very impressed to see Brett McKenzie playing Lindir (previously FIGWIT) amongst other Kiwi-based names. Middle Earth was just as we left it - beautiful. Stunning. Surreal. Jackson truly is the only man for the job. Undoubtedly Del Toro's handy-work is apparent (in particular with regards to the goblins and trolls and their humourous means of travel) - but my favourite partnership will forever be Jackson and Howard Shore's scores. Never did a hand fit a glove quite so perfectly. I have heard many complaints about the "excessive CGI" but I honestly had no problem with it. This is a fictitious world with fictitious creatures. If anything, I expect CGI, don't you?! I particularly enjoyed the use of it on characters such as Saruman, because, let's be honest, Christopher Lee is no spring chicken, and 'The Hobbit' is set 60 years prior to 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. I take my hat off to all involved. I truly do. I'm very impressed that considering 'The Hobbit' isn't *that* lengthy a book, enough of a cliff-hanger was left at the end of 'An Unexpected Journey' for more detail and more plot to be explained. Bring on Smaug, is all I can say! That, and it's good to be home. I truly feel 13 again.