movie – Book Dust Magic

Movie Monday: Hellhole #MovieMonday #Horror #Netflix #Halloween

Yesterday I decided to have a movie night on my own and watch a horror (because that is how I usually prefer to watch horrors: alone and in the dark).
Hellhole was the one suggesed to me because it was new on Netflix, and when I saw it was European (Polish, to be precise) I knew I wanted to give it a try.

I don’t think there is much to say about this film. It was definitely worth of time. It wasn’t anything mindblowing, but it was good. At times it felt like I was watching a drama, but then again, with all the paranormal things going on, it was definitely horror.

I liked how it took a different look on sanatory and overall it was a good, short movie to pass time. I liked it and although I think the end was a bit dry, I still enjoyed it.

Movie Monday: Where the Crawdads Sing #MovieMonday #MovieReview #WhereTheCrawdadsSing

Few months ago I read a book that became maybe the most beautiful book that I have read in my whole life: Where the Crawdads Sing.
I read the book while I was waiting for the movie to hit the theaters, and it made me even more excited for the film once I finished it.

What I was looking forward the most to see on big screen was the nature of Carolina, marsh and all the animals Kya (the main character) spent her lifetime observing.
I wasn’t disappointed at all and I can also say that, in my humble opinion, the movie was great.
I watched it with my husband (who didn’t read the book and even asked me if it was based on true events) and he liked it very much. Even the day after we watched it (aka today) he wanted to talk about it.

The only thing I felt little sorry about is how they didn’t include “Sneaky Fuckers” in the movie, because that was my favourite part of the book.

The cast was good although I have to admit I didn’t know anyone. The only actor that looked little familiar to me was the one who played Kya’s lawyer.
At this point you probably know that Taylor Swift recorded the main song from the movie, titled Carolina. The song fits perfectly for the atmosphere and the story itself. If you still haven’t had a chance to hear it, I suggest you to go and give it a try.

And of course, I do recommend this movie, but I have to stress out that this is more of a drama then a thriller like it was marketed as (at least in my country).

Movie Monday: The Black Phone #MovieMonday #TheBlackPhone #Horror

Movie Monday is a feature here on my blog, in which I’m rambling about movies I’ve watched lately.

Today I want to talk about the best movie that I have watched this year (so far): The Black Phone

The Black Phone

Guys, what a great movie I watched recently!! The Black Phone was amazing. I went into it with somewhat high expectations but I was still surprised how good and captivating it was.

In case you didn’t know, it was based on short story written by Joe Hill. I never read the story as I didn’t know about it after after I finished the film, but even though I now know how it goes, I would still take a chance to read it.

This movie is generated as a horror. It was scary at some moments, but I would rather prefer to say that it is a fiction set in late 70s with elements of magical realism.
Still, it was very violent so keep that it mind. There were scenes with brutal bullying and peer violence but also with parent hitting a child (or beat her to blood to be precise).

Otherwise, it was even a relaxing movie when all of the violence and main fabula gets out of the way, the setting was kind of nostalgic.

Actor performances were great and I am sure future big movie stars played in this movie.
As for the already acknowledged actors, Ethan Hawke’s performance was appreciable. To me he gets better and gets better roles as he gets older.

The story was well done and the only thing that was missing was the motive behind it all, but then again it reminded me how evil sometimes doesn’t need the motive. It just is.

Movie Monday: House of Gucci #MovieMonday #FamilySaga #Fashion

Movie Monday is a feature here on my blog, in which I’m rambling about movies I’ve watched lately.

Today I want to talk about a movie I watched yesterday. It is a drama about Gucci family that features so many great actors, but it also has captivating story.

House of Gucci

Yesterday me and my husband watched House of Gucci. It was available on HBO so we took an advantage of that.

I have heard good things about this film and waited on my chance to see it. It is on a longer side (2h 38m) but it was so entertaining that those two and a half hours passed by very quickly.

To be honest, when it comes to general culture there are still so many things I don’t know. Gucci family are ones I know the surname of because of their famous fashion brand, but anything about them is a great unknown to me.
So basically, I went into this movie completely blind, having no clue what happened to Gucci family members at all.

Overall, the story is sad and unfortunately true. It was a shame that one powerful family went down the hill so fast and how it took one person to wake up the worst in them.
Also, it made me wonder how greedy one can truly be?

The cast was amazing, their performance astonishing. My father who watched this movie months ago still can’t believe that Lady Gaga can act so well.
To me, everyone was perfect, but the one who stood out from them all was Jared Leto. I marvel his acting skills the most, but I can’t turn a blind eye on his capability to change his looks completely for a role. Once again he did it here (but let’s not forget all the costume designers and make up artists who did great work there), and I see, he is doing it again for his next role.

Al Pacino, Adam Driver, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Irons… There were so many good actors that anything but perfect performance would be acceptable.

Overall, a great movie that I even dare to call a family saga and one I recommend wholeheartedly.

Movie Monday: Spider-Man: No Way Home #MovieMonday #Spiderman #Marvel

I am pretty behind when it comes to movies, but today I want to take an opportunity to talk about one that blew me away. It is the latest Spider Man movie. In case you didn’t know, Spider Man is my favourite hero, and seeing not one but all of the spiders in one movie was like a dream come true (but not really, I am exaggerating here).

Me and my family are staying at my parents’ for vacation (or our days off would be a more appropriate saying), so me and my husband had to take an advantage of my father’s streaming subscriptions.

I have heard only good things about the newest Spider-man movie, so when I saw it was available to watch it was a done deal.
In case you didn’t know, out of all of the heroes out there, Spider-Man is my no 1. I was a fan ever since that first movie with Tobey Maguire (which is still my favourite til’ this day).

Watching Spider-Man: No Way Home was like walking down the memory lane. At this point I don’t know how much giving away is too much, and if there is a rule for spoilers because the movie came out some time ago. I will say some things, but won’t go into too many details.

I will say that seeing all three of Spider-Men was my favourite part. I know it has been years since the first movie, and when the second Spider-Man first was about to come out, the one with Andrew Garfield I was not thrilled because I couldn’t understand why a young guy has to be bitten again and to me, Tobey was one true Peter Parker.
The first one with Tom Holland was good but all of technology was what turned me off a little, because I liked that old school nature freak spidey.

In this movie I appreciate how all of the universes intertwined and everything made more sense. I respect how creators keep the step with time that we live in, and I hope, with time, there will be more Spider-Man movies and my favourite hero will always have new stories to tell, change along with the world we live in.

As for the movie itself, the only character that didn’t make sense to me to live in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man universe was J. Jonah Jameson, played by J. K. Simmons, as he was originally featured in the first Spider-Man where he was played by the same actor. I loved his character in that first set of movies. He was my absolutely favourite so seeing him was a pleasant surprise. However, I still don’t see the logic why he was in both universes looking the same.

The movie is action packed, entertaining and funny. It does have some sad moments but overall it is so enjoyable to watch and it would be a shame to miss it.

Beautifully written: The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (Book Review) #Magic #Witches #BookLovers

GIFTED / Today I bring you my review for the book I should have read ages ago, but I only finished it this year. Sometimes we think we have all the time in the world to pick up the book, and that was my case when it comes to The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman.
This novel was published on October 10th 2017 by Simon & Schuster, and it has 369 pages.
I want to say thank you to Simon & Schuster pr team for sending me a Netgalley widget for an eARC, in an exchange for an honest review.

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS / For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy.

Review:

Few years ago I read Faithful by Alice Hoffman and I loved it. It was one of the best books I read that year and I knew I wanted to try Hoffman’s other work at some point.
When nice people from Simon & Schuster provided me with an eARC of The Rules of Magic I was pretty happy, but then life got in a way and this magical book was left behind, neglected.
This year, I made a decision to read all the books from my dusty to-be-reviewed pile and this prequel to Practical Magic shined it’s way to my hands.

I have to confess that I have never read Practical Magic, but I’ve seen the movie many times, because it is a good movie and it’s also very popular in my country because it has Croatian actor in it (Goran Višnjić) along with two famous actresses (Nicole Kidman and Sandra l).

However, it is not obligatory to read or watch Practical Magic to read The Rules of Magic, because it is it’s prequel, and it features different characters.

What won me at the very start of my reading journey was the beautiful writing style that almost read as sing-song in some parts.
I remember I loved it the most in Faithful too, so I guess it’s save to say that Hoffman’s writing is one of the most beautiful voices out there that I have come across.

This novel is written in third person, following perspectives of three siblings who have magical abilities.
I enjoyed following each character, and I honestly can’t even say that one’s story sticks out from other. I liked them all similarly.

The story takes place in New York in sixties (and after as the story progressed) and in the small town Massachusetts. I usually love small town stories, and this time was the same, but I have to admit that I enjoyed New York parts more.

I love how this book roused emotions in me, even though the story itself wasn’t too sad or too emotional. It is a story of life, with magical realism in it.

The Rules of Magic will stay in good memory with me and my only regret is that I haven’t read it sooner.

Alice Hoffman is well received writer with a reason, and I highly recommend you to give her a try. Read this novel, Faithful, her newest release The World That We Knew, or any other of her many novels. I truly believe that you won’t regret it!

Movie Monday: The Lion King – Beautifully nostalgic #TheLionKing #MovieMonday #Disney #MovieReview

Movie Monday is a feature here on my blog, in which I’m rambling about movies I’ve watched lately.

Today I want to talk about the movie that was my most anticipated picture of 2019, and now I finally had a chance to see it.

The Lion King

The Lion King was my most anticipated movie of 2019. I couldn’t wait til’ it got to theaters, and then once it did, I couldn’t go and watch it because I found out I was pregnant and my doctor forbidden me to be anywhere near children.

I was devastated, to say the least, because knowing I wouldn’t be able to see this amazing picture on the big screen kind of broke my heart.

Nevertheless, now when it finally came out I was able to see it at home, and to say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
I can’t even find the words to describe my feelings. I felt so nostalgic, filled with all kinds of positive emotions.

I just loved it so much!

The movie is funny, as the cartoon version also is. I was little disappointed that they didn’t include my favourite scene in the movie (the one where Zazu has to sing to Scar), but they included so many new ones plus also an original song.
However, I liked the old songs so much better.

Now, let’s talk about the cuteness!
Little cubs were to die for! Simba and Nala reminded me so much of GiGi and my late Simba.
I mean, every animal in this movie was cute! Even hyenas was adorable.

This movie made me so emotional, as I knew it would because even when watching the trailer my eyes get teary.
I know that the reason behind that is the fact that I grew up with original The Lion King Movie, but this time around it was like watching enchanted version of something that was already perfect.

I highly recommend The Lion King to everyone, no exception!

Movie Monday: The Hustle – Oh so funny! #HustleMovie #MovieMonday #MovieReview #Comedy

Movie Monday is a feature here on my blog, in which I’m rambling about movies I’ve watched lately.

Today I want to talk about a comedy I watched this weekend, that was recommended to me by my frined.

The Hustle

I remember when The Hustle was in teathers and I was interested in it, but missed it because there was some other movie I decided to watch instead (don’t quote me on that, but I think it was Annabelle Comes Home).

This movie was recommended to me by my friend Monika who really enjoyed it, so I knew I’d see it at some point.

I love good comedy from time to time. It is actually my second favourite genre when it comes to movies (horrors being no 1).

The Hustle was really funny and enjoyable. I laughed at so many scenes while watching and there was one particular trick main characters used to escape that I haven’t seen before, and I thought it was so original! It still makes me smile when I think about it!

The main actresses were amazing, as it was expected from two established women in this industry.
Anne Hathaway looked so beautiful to me, I just have to mention it.

I like how the movie was not too long (1h and 33 min according to IMDb). I feel like these days most movies are at least 2 hours long, so everytime there’s a shorter one, I appreciate it.

Overall, I think The Hustle was an interesting and funny movie to watch which fulfilled it’s purpose, and that was to entertain the audience.

Movie Monday: Before I Wake – magical realism with horror elements #BeforeIWake #MovieMonday #MovieReview

Movie Monday is a feature here on my blog, in which I’m rambling about movies I’ve watched lately.

This week I want to talk about the movie I watched few days ago, that touched my heart.

Before I Wake

There’s not much one can do when all she has to do is rest, then watch plenty of movies (and tv shows).
I was lucky enough to find some good ones for the past few days, and today I want to tell you all about the one that impressed me the most: Before I Wake.

Before I Wake was recommended to be by my friend recently, because it’s a good story with horror elements, and she knows how much I enjoy horrors.

At first I was sceptic whether it’ll be just another horror that I’ll forget as soon as it’s over, but I trusted her and gave it a shot with some expectations. They weren’t extra high, but they surely weren’t low either.

The story follows a young orphan boy who was adopted by a young couple who lost their son few years ago.
The story is actually magical realism and the boy has the ability to transfer his dreams in the real world.
Everything is fine and magical while the boy sleeps well, but what happens when he has nightmares?

Guys, this movie is one of the best I’ve watched this year.
I have no doubt that the story will stay with me for the longest time, and I will recommend it to everyone I know, who still hasn’t watched it.

At first I thought this was a horror, but as the story was developing, it transformed into a beautiful piece of art that touched my heart, and I still shiver when I think about it.

It talks about child’s perspective on life and hard circumstances when one is still very young, and the love children and adults need.

I highly recommend Before I Wake to everyone. I hope this movie will touch you as it has me.

Movie Monday: The Curse of La Llorona #MovieMonday #MovieReview #TheCurseOfLaLlorona

Movie Monday is a feature here on my blog, in which I’m rambling about movies I’ve watched lately.

This week I decided to talk about yet another movie from The Conjuring universe: The Curse of La Llorona.

The Curse of La Llorona

If you follow me for a while, you already know that I always watch movies from The Conjuring universe. I love horrors, and some of those are my favourite (I mean, hello Annabelle!!).

If I’m being honest, The Curse of La Llorona didn’t appeal to me at first, after I’ve seen it’s trailer in the movies.
It was like my guts were telling me I wouldn’t like this one as much as I’d like it to, and the feeling was right.

In my humble opinion, The Curse of La Llorona (or The Curse of a Weeping Woman, as it was released in some countries by that name) was the weakest movie from this franchise.
I wasn’t scared at all, the story wasn’t as captivating either, and overall it was just a solid horror that probably wouldn’t even be popular if it wasn’t the part of this famous universe.

I’m not sure if this is a spoiler, but for one horror, I expected more dead people!

I watched it in the movie theater with my fiance and my father, and neither of them liked it either (but here I have to stress out that they are not horror fans in the first place).
At some point, people (or should I say kids) were even leaving because they didn’t want to continue with the movie, and even though this film was disappointing, it wasn’t that bad! Who knows, maybe they had to be somewhere else or something (even though I doubt that!).

At this point, I think The Conjuring universe is making movies too often, so probably that is the reason why they aren’t strong as the first couple were.
I still can’t wait for Annabelle Comes Home to hit theaters!

Overall, if you are a fan of The Conjuring I would recommend you to watch The Curse of La Llorona, but I would suggest for you to wait until it will be availabele for streaming or out on blu ray.