I'm going on holiday [finally] on Sunday morning, and I've already begun to think about packing.

Normally I'm good at this sort of thing, but I've never been on a Nile Cruise so I'm not sure entirely what to do for this. At least I don't need that many clothes!

For excursions to dusty places - not the pyramids and such this time. Already done that and really, it only needs doing once, and walking through the towns, I'm a fairly sensible and considerate tourist. Or so I like to think. No skirts above knee length, and I try to keep my tops conservative - not breast-bearing etc.
I mean, we want foreigners to blend in with us and respect our cultures. Why not do so when we're abroad? I was ashamed to see so many Brits in Cairo last I went who were rather fat, and wearing any old strappy thing. Thongs and fat people = no in any country, not just a largely islamic country!
It was rather gross and I've never liked thongs ever since [apart from fearing DVT anyway, and then thongs being found to cause it >.<]

So a pair of jeans and some 3/4 length jeans it is. Woot. They're good for dusty places, and I can wear my trainers quite comfortably. Well. Except for getting hot feet.

But on the boat - evening wear. There's to be a Black and White night and a Jalabea(sp) night - I'll have to get a jalabea in Luxor or Cairo - and I'm a bit stumped. I mean I can wear a blouse and my black school trousers [even though they're WAY too big in the waist now I've lost weight] but then I'd be practically identical to my grandmother who's also wearing said. Well. Not school trousers, but they're black trousers and they're just as baggy o_O

I would wear my black dress, but a) too revealing and b) ott for dinner. Damn.

Footwear's my main problem. On the boat, I can stick to flipflops everywhere. Fine. They go with all my skirts. And I can wear my gold flat shoes for the brown skirt in the evening if I wore that.

Actually. Just typing this out, I've realised I'm sorted. o_O
I'm so used to planning for 2 weeks or more, I keep forgetting it's only 11 days. Not even full 11 days really. Cause we arrive late on Sunday evening, and then leave early-ish on the 8th.


Heh. I should probably wrap Lanky One's birthday present. He knows what it is, but you know. It's his birthday - it's a present, so it gets wrapped. x] It's a nice easy shape. Easier than that can of Relentless I bought last year.

I should probably get a little surprise for him. Hm. What this year....

My first thoughts, when my grandmother asked me to go with her were mixed. On the one hand, the cast is starring 3 of my favourite actors [Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Julie Walters] on the other: I dislike Abba.

What a relief it was to learn that the actors, not Abba, were singing the songs - making them all the more enjoyable. I don't mind the songs, just can't stand Abba's voices. Fortunately, they couldn't fit in "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Fernando" into the repertoire, but the other songs were fun.

Plot

Plot's simple: Sophie's getting married, and wants to know her father. Trouble is, her mother [who has no idea about Sophie's scheme] clearly has no idea either - as her diary shows: first there was the love of her life Sam, who left her for his fiancee after a summer romance, then her rebounds Harry and Bill.
So what does Sophie do? Invites all three to her wedding, wherein chaos ensues.

The three men are neatly set off by the 3 women - Donna, Sophie's mother and her two old friends Tanya and Rosie. In the end, a wedding does take place, but not between the intended - Sophie doesn't need to get married afterall, she decides, and she and her fiance go off travelling, whilst her mother and Sam finally have their happy ending.


Cast

Meryl Streep was bloody brilliant. Her voice was still spot on [she started her career singing on stage] and she was wonderful as the ex-wild hippy girl, still flaunting it when her "back-up" singers, Tanya and Rosie encourage her. She is the Dancing Queen and will almost definitely be up for an oscar.

Julie Walters and Christine Baranski were both delicious as the comic duo. Julie Walters plays a grotesque ex-swinger Rosie (now a cookbook writer and 'lone wolf' and looks quite ridiculous next to Christine Baranski, (Tanya) a three-time married rich woman about 2 foot taller, and sporting plastic surgery. They compliment each other and Streep as "The Dynamos", their girlband from yesteryear. Julie Walters singing is quite worth the wait - her facial expression and boogy movements are wonderful and can really feel yourself relax with the cast as they more than let their hair down.

Pierce Brosnan was the dashing Sam and is perfect as the love of Streep's life. His singing had a lovely old skool rock style to it, and it was quite lovely to see him finally get round to marrying Streep.

Colin Firth was the Banker - although pictures show he was quite the Harry "Headbanger" Bright! He is more timid - as is his singing style of his solo - even though he uses "spontineity" as an excuse for everything. He works well with Brosnan - the cooler, more smouldering version, and Stellen Starsgard who is the slightly older, more adventurous looking type that ends up with Julie Walters. Starsgard was excellent as the ex-hippy traveller but doesn't sing.

Amanda Seyfried plays the bride-to-be Sophie and is lovely as the excitable, emotional 20 year old desperately trying to keep Donna from finding out why the 3 men are there. She is sweet and has a lovely voice, and is perfect for the role of Streep's daughter.


The Soundtrack was obviously all Abba - except the occasional modern piece in the background at the start and at the Hen party.
The cast sing the songs beautifully, and really made me warm to the songs - despite my original dislike. Perhaps I'd just been exposed to certain ones [Dancing Queen, Fernando and I have a Dream] too much previously.

The Choreography was brilliant - Streep's acting/dancing out of Mama Mia [best sung song by her] was funny, emotional and the backing singers and random Greeks that appeared for all the songs were comic [even if they did make you wonder where the hell they came from!].
The dancing of Streep with the delicious Walters and Baranski was not over-complicated, but merely looked as it should when they were performing as the Dynamos - rehearsed dancing on a small stage by fun-loving women.

The scenery was lovely - a nice little island, where Donna's ramshackle holiday villa is situated, with lots of steps, lovely ocean and beaches and the rooms had a nice mediteranian feel to it.

Costumes were simple, except when the Dynamos were performing. Walters looks lovely but ridiculous is 60s wear, especially next to the taller Streep and Baranski who is also very thin.
At the end of the film, Firth, Brosnan and Starsgard all don 60s body suits, and have to dance with the three women - both comical and gives you the impulse to just get up and dance even if you look like a twit!


Even if you dislike the stage production or musicals in general, I would still recommend you have a look at this film. It's fun, it's dirty in places which keeps adult interest, and it's a feel-good film.

A lovely Dreamworks film starring Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Lucy Lieu, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman.


Plot:

Po the panda dreams of being a great kung fu master like "The Furious Five" - Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Mantis and Crane.
Except he's fat, a panda [seen a vicious panda?] and his father [a duck] is a noodle enthusiast and doesn't support him in any way.

Unexpectedly, Po is chosen to fulfil an ancient prophecy, and so he joins the Furious Five in their training under Master Shifu, in order to stop the recently escaped Tai Lung, a fearsome snow leopard who believes the secret of the dragon scrolls [promised to Po] is for his eyes alone.

There is comedy and wonderfully over-the-top action scenes, which could only happen in such a cgi film.


I can't really comment on special effects - but the animals remain fluffy, and aren't at all like computerised bits of playdo. Their movements are suitable, and facial expressions are simply wonderful. The scenery was beautiful, and the voice overs were perfect. Jack Black, though I've started to dislike him lately, was brilliant as Po - matching facial expressions and just fitted the role [he is large himself].

There is a clear moral to the story - "there is no secret ingredient", and it is in the fore at the climax of the film, which isn't a disappointment after the tension build up of the rest of the film. There is a fun and exciting scene where the Furious Five have run off to stop Tai Lung themselves [Tigress wasn't convinced of Po being the prophesied master] which is wonderfully executed.

The Soundtrack was lovely - reminded me of the music reel playing at Jade Fountain, my favourite Chinese Restaurant - and was calmly in the background adding atmosphere. The action music was also perfect, and Tai Lung's theme was as sinister as his eyes and voice.


Although a "children's film", adults can also enjoy it as a work of fun, and I prophesy a rise in interest in Kung Fu-related workshops!

You know that feeling, where you move around without actually thinking about anything, or you are, just don't remember doing it exactly - as though you're not actually there, or you're watching yourself do it?

I've had quite a few of these moments. For instance JUST as I typed this, I remembered I was asked to put the heating on half an hour ago >> whoops.

In the last few days, I've applied for accommodation at university, upgraded my bank account to a university one, and I've heard tell of things people have been saying/bitching about.

Accommodation applications are a little scary, but kinda exciting. I've opted for the quieter area of my particular colleges, and made sure it's an ensuite room, cause I'm NOT sharing a bathroom x] It's also not a single-sex dorm, which could be fun - more fun having mixed company than sharing with a group of catty girls. Or overly girly girls. Who knows? I think I'd miss male company for sanity, or to give me something nice to moan about - mere laziness with dishes rather than something they're saying. *shrugs* I'm a happy person, aren't I?

My account up grade's kinda cool though - free rail pass which also gives discounts in shops,  and a free webcam. \o/ Which will be handy.
Only thing that annoyed me about the whole thing is that they asked which month and year I'm graduating. I don't know the month, do I? =/

It's odd - when I'm at home, all I can think about is how angry I am at certain people - let's just say their bitching got back to me, as they should have known it would - but when I'm with people, or out, I completely forget. Guess I'm a little bored at home, but fortunately, I'm trying to squeeze out as many outings of my bus pass as I can before it expires on the 22nd. Lame~  Don't want it to ;_; Bus fares are horribly expensive.
Might have to go to my savings account to withdraw, say, £30 for bus fares alone >>
Make sure I don't spend it on anything else. I'd have to ask for it to be all in fivers. Although, really, it's still not enough, possibly. Crap.

You know, for just £3.80, I can go to the next stop down the road and back? It's not even 3 miles there. Only reason it's over 90p, is that it's over the county border. How sad is that?
People want us to use buses more, but really, it's cheaper to go by car - even with the insane oil prices!

I'm nearing the date I'm going on holiday to Egypt, which itself signals a nearing to the 14th August, when I get the results of my Alevels, which determine pretty much a large piece of my future.
University years are damn important right? Most of my adult friends are really only friends with people they've met at uni, rather than people from before - unless, unlike my friends, they're incredibly close.

I was longing to go to university a few months ago. I wanted to get away from here, from people I knew, to get away from the nagging, to be able to be myself. As it draws nearer though, I find I'm clinging more to what I want and have now: I don't want to leave my home, the places I know, or my boyfriend. I never liked big changes - I guess the major changes that affected my life when I was little scarred me, so now I hate all changes.

It's not quite like a sudden change in hair style - I've had that. But it grew back fairly quickly, and I could switch back to a decent hair style. [hint to the wise: don't go to cheap hair dressers where the woman cutting your hair has fake nails, fake tan, fake hair colour and blatantly obvious glue chunks in her extensions.]

Moving house isn't so bad - I've done it before. A lot. I even moved country. I can handle it, and I can adapt quite quickly. I guess I'll just miss being able to see certain people when I want, or the annoying way my brother walks in and out of my room, or the way people cuddle me when I'm just standing there.
I'll probably not miss sharing the bathroom with Grandad though! Oh no. But that'll mostly be because I'm probably not having an en suit. Well. I might. See what's available after the 14th.

A lot of it's kinda scary cause I don't know what to expect. I've seen the two universities I've applied to - I know what the rooms are like, what the buildings are like, and I can even sort of remember where some places are. Student unions, the history building, main hall etc.
I just don't know what sort of routine I'll have. Or what kind of lessons/lectures I'll have. How much of a work load I'll have, where I'll find a part-time job, what sort of people I'll meet, whether I'll make any good friends at all [especially since I've shut down away from people in general lately], or whether I'll even get noticed at all. I'm used, almost, being ignored, or misunderstood, or just disliked for stupid reasons, but it's damn lonely sometimes, when I get round to thinking about it.

I guess I don't like thinking about the future at all - I have plans, sure, but the immediate future is less easy to imagine than it is say, 5 or 6 years down the line. I can imagine, almost, graduating in 3 or so year's time. I can imagine having a baby, even for christ's sake, but I can't imagine my uni years at all, or what will happen during that time.
All I know for certain is who I'll be emailing all the time, and who I won't!

Came out today, and I went to see it.

General impression: not bad, but any sequel would kill it.

Plot:

Hancock: regular bum, except with super powers. Problem is, he's got internal issues which means that when he's rejected by society, which means he pretends he doesn't care and rejects them back, therefore he's forever drunk and so of course is careless and wrecks things whilst saving people. He saves the life of an overly-nice PR man, who decides to take him under his wing to win back the public's trust and love for Hancock. There's a nice twist which I won't divulge. =D

Right. The bitty gritty. I actually have a monster of a headache at the moment, so I won't be overly thorough.

Cast

Will Smith
Excellent. He was funny, a good drunk, was more versatile than I believed him to be [I grew up with him as the Fresh Prince of BA, so I can't really see him in any other role - yes I know he's in other stuff, but I've not been convinced before.]. Perhaps this is because he's competing with his sickly sweet daughter's film. Who knows? But he worked the script well; was funny without being too slapstick-like or too nonchalant. He really fitted the role.

Charlize Theron
Super-housewife "Mary Embry" and the main twist of the film. She plays the beautiful wife of the PR that takes Hancock under his wing, and has ideas of how a superhero should behave. She REALLY takes a disliking to Hancock, for reasons found out later in the film. She plays her character with the right amount of frigidity and mothering charm that she pulls it off. Whilst the name rings a bell, I can't right now think of where else I've seen her act. x] So I can't really compare. I thought she was cool anyway.

Jason Bateman
Ray Embry is the PR that seems to see the good in everyone. He's almost cheesy, clever and adds a soft touch to the film. Along with his son Aaron who is this sweet trusting impressionable boy. [one scene, he visits Hancock in gaol, and gives him his favourite dinosaur model. awww!]

Special Effects
Seamless. I loved the way Hancock wasn't a tidy flyer as most superheroes. Superman: hands out front, lands perfectly, is tidy when beating people up, takes off perfectly, flies straight.

Hancock: leaves a crater in the road, lands loudly, arms and legs wave about a bit - when he's drunk flying, that's somewhat scary. =P Imagine if he'd been driving!
There's a fight in a massive storm - kinda reminded me of Storm from X-men's storms, but it was good. He also picks up a car and a whale, as seen in the trailers: whale was a bit cgi'd, but otherwise the whole thing was very realistic. =)

Soundtrack
The only bit I noticed was actually appropriate and rather good. It didn't overpower the film, and I didn't take it in very much, but there was no lack in atmosphere, so either the filming was brilliant, or the soundtrack was there and it just blended well. *shrugs*

Other bits
The ending was good. Kinda had two cause of the twist, and for a while, you thought the first part of the end was it. It was nicely rounded off though, and everyone was happy at the end of it. One friend thought there was a bit of American Propaganda in it [you remember Spiderman 3's was painfully obvious], cause Hancock is on a building with a bald American eagle. But I doubt many people would have noticed or twigged.

I liked the way they incorporated (in a way) two "bad guys" - one is a set of bank robbers that Hancock put in jail and are now out to get him. And the other is a smaller sideline which is a sort of red herring.

Not sure if I can really criticise it at the moment. But I would say that I did get worried about an hour in that Hancock would get boring, cause he'd cleaned up his act somewhat, which was the basic storyline, but fortunately, the twist came into play, and it picked up very well, into a nice climax and clean finish.

Overall, I'd give it a 4 out of 5.