Shelf Sitters

So anyone who knows me knows that I like to read, and i'm quick at doing so. This fact basically means that I can buy a book and read it that evening. This has caused a slight problem...

Basically I currently have a pile of......16 (had to count) books just sitting on my floor (okay so technically the term should be 'floor sitters') waiting to be read. I have to be in the mindset to read books and I just haven't been recently. But I seem to not be able to walk out of a bookshop without purchasing a book, wether I've heard of it via an article or a film being released, been recommended by a sales assistant, or just liked the cover.

I am going to try and read these books before the end of next month. I would do it by the end of this month but I have exams to revise for in between reading.

I'm going to post reviews of the books as I read them so I hope that anyone who actually reads this will enjoy!

Here's a list of those 16 books;
'Logan's Run' by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson
'The Host' by Stephanie Meyer
'Department 16' by Will Hill
'Neverwhere' by Neil Gaiman
'Pretties' by Scott Westerfield
'Eragon' by Christopher Paolini
'Rivers of London' by Ben Aaronovitch
'The Hobbit' by JRR Tolkein (RE-READ)
'City of the Falling Sky' by Joseph Evans
'Seraphina' by Rachel Hartman
'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel
'The Knife of Never Letting Go' by Patrick Ness
'Let It Snow' by Lauren Myracle, John Green and Maureen Johnson
'Poison' by Chris Wooding
'The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray' by Chris Wooding
'How to Think Like Sherlock' by Daniel Smith

Film quiz...

Since the Oscars were last night, i'm in a filmic mood (when am I not?) so here's a filmic quiz, well questionnaire, I found on the tumblr I shall complete;

FILM QUESTIONS!

1. What was the last movie you watched on theaters? 

Wreck it Ralph ^^ Brilliant film recommended to me by Elliot (6 year old nephew). 

2. What was the first movie you ever remember watching on theaters?

I have a truly shitty memory, but I remember the first time I went with my friends alone was to see Click (2006, so I would have been 12 ish) for a friend's birthday. It was a bit crap.

3. Top 5 movies

I'm gonna cheat and count trilogies as one movie. My movie favourites sometimes change but the first three usually remain the same... Lord of the Rings trilogy, Back to the Future, Inception, Avengers (Assemble) and Serenity ^^

4. Top 5 directors

Again, the first four generally stay the same for me but the last sometimes changes depending on what film I'm loving at the time. So, Christopher Nolan, Peter Jackson, JJ Abrams, Joss Whedon and Ben Affleck (Loving Argo at the moment).

5. A favorite adapted movie

 I have a feeling I'm going to love The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones when that comes out later this year, and I love all Marvel films so this category changes a lot. But for today, Thor ^^

6. Your best experience on going to the movies

 Any time I go with my whole group of friends and just have a laugh :)

7. A guilty pleasure

Pitch Perfect or (500) Days of Summer

8. An overrated movie

 Citizen Kane. It's one of those films people claim they've watched to seem like a film buff. It's okay I suppose.

9. An underrated movie

 Third Star. Check it out. It's amazing.

10. A movie that not many have heard of that you’ve seen

 I think Third Star counts here too. Except for Tumblr fangirls no one I know has heard of it.

11. A movie you watched mainly for an actor

 Midnight In Paris for a brief glimpse of Tom Hiddleston ^^ It's a good film. And has Michael Sheen so all was good. Also Third Star for Benedict Cumberbatch.

12. Top 5 actors

Gonna take this to mean film actors; Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

13. Top 5 actresses

Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Ellen Page, Scarlett Johansson and Anne Hathaway (random choice for last one but I do love her).

14. VHS, DVD or Blu-Ray?

DVD or Blu Ray. Either is good. Unless watching the 101 Dalmatians cartoon in which case VHS :P

15. Favorite Disney movie (not PIXAR!)

The Lion King ^^

16. A tearjerker

 Films don't tend to make me cry. Television does frequently. The closest i've come to crying is whilst watching 'The Impossible' and that was more mental trauma than anything. I just remembered about Third Star! I cried. Like a baby.

17. A movie that you know its bad but you can’t help but love it

 Green Lantern. It's the Green Lantern! And Ryan Reynolds! And some god awful CGI!

18. Favorite Movie Soundtrack

Inception! Or the Dark Knight....basically anything by Hans Zimmer.

19. Favorite quote from a movie

 At the moment? "He's adopted...."

20. A movie that was better than the book

 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Either version. I couldn't get into the book at all.

21. First adult film you watched (thematically speaking not R-rated)

 Twin Town, when I was about 7 or 8 and my brother let me lend it by accident :P

22. A kids movie you always watch

 Tangled. My niece loves it and watches it constantly. I can't bring myself to care :P

23. Favorite Science Fiction movie

Back to the Future ^^

24. Favorite Comedy

 Zombieland pops to mind....does a ZomCom count? Scratch that, Shaun of the Dead ^^

25. Favorite Fantasy

Lord of the Rings :)

26. Favorite Love Story

(500) Days of Summer

27. A movie you hate

Mary Poppins/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Ugh.

28. Favorite animated movie

Finding Nemo

29. A movie from your favorite director you didn’t liked

 The Town, directed by Ben Affleck who is in my top 5 directors...for this week anyway :P

30. Favorite comic book movie

Oh crap....ummm....Iron Man.

31. 3 movies you’re expecting excitedly!

Only 3?! Iron Man 3, Thor 2 and Star Trek Into Darkness...and Mortal Instruments....and The Hobbit....

32. A book you read for a movie

Warm Bodies...ironically I haven't seen the film yet.

33. Favorite Musical

Really not a fan of musicals...maybe Les Mis? Only because it's out currently and it's okay.

34. Favorite fictional character

Loki. He's gloriously evil.

35. A movie you wished they never made

The Last Airbender. It was shit. I hope they remake it or something.

36. Favorite remake!

Star Trek (2009)!!! Love it ^^

Random Picture of the Day: Star Trek! Cumberbatch! Yay! (Reminds me of Loki's glass cell...)

BAFTA Predictions and hopefuls ^^

Best Film

Argo - Prediction and I actually hope it wins :D

Les Misérables

Life of Pi - Second choice

Lincoln - Also another prediction here, realistically between this and Argo.

Zero Dark Thirty

Outstanding British Film

Anna Karenina

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Les Miserables - My prediction is between this and Skyfall. People love Bond.

Seven Psychopaths

Skyfall - See above.

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

Bart Layton (director), Dimitri Doganis (producer) - The Imposter

David Morris (director), Jacqui Morris (director/producer) - McCullin

Dexter Fletcher (director/writer), Danny King (writer) - Wild Bill

James Bobin (director) - The Muppets - Random Prediction here. Not seen any of these.

Tina Gharavi (director/writer) - I Am Nasrine

Film Not in the English Language

Amour - Prediction. Only heard of this one and Rust and Bone.

Headhunters

The Hunt

Rust and Bone

Untouchable

Documentary

The Imposter - Prediction. I haven't watched any in this category.

Marley

McCullin

Searching for Sugarman

West of Memphis

Animated Film

Brave - I really hope this wins!

Frankenweenie

Paranorman - Predict this will win the category.

Director

Michael Haneke - Amour

Ben Affleck - Argo - I REALLY HOPE HE WINS! <3 So he's my prediction.

Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained

Ang Lee - Life of Pi

Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty

Original Screenplay

Amour

Django Unchained

The Master

Moonrise Kingdom - Prediction.

Zero Dark Thirty - Prediction, between this and Moonrise Kingdom anyway.

Adapted Screenplay

Argo - I just love Ben Affleck so...

Beasts of the Southern Wild - Haven't seen it but really want to and heard all good things.

Life of Pi - Up for nine awards, got to take one right?

Lincoln - Realistically this could take it.

Silver Linings Playbook - Strong category but I LOVE this film so I hope it wins.

Leading Actor

Ben Affleck - Argo - Love him but as long as he gets the director award i'm happy.

Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook - The only person I could realistically love more than Ben Affleck in this category. Really hope he wins ^^

Daniel Day Lewis - Lincoln - Realistic prediction. Though Hugh Jackman has a great chance too.

Hugh Jackman - Les Misérables - Good chance of taking it but more of an outsider.

Joaquin Phoenix - The Master - Not seen the film and haven't heard much so I doubt he'll take it.

Leading Actress

Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty

Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone - 2nd choice.

Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook - Because I love the film I hope she wins. Also, she's adorkable. And has a great chance of winning.

Helen Mirren - Hitchcock 

Emmanuel Riva - Amour

Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin - Argo

Javier Bardem - Skyfall - People love Bond, as i've said. He is pretty gloriously evil.

Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master

Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln

Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained - Poor Leo.

Supporting Actress

Amy Adams - The Master

Judi Dench - Skyfall

Sally Field - Lincoln

Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables - Heard some amazing things about her performance. Though doesnt she only appear for like 15 minutes?

Helen Hunt - The Sessions

Original Music

Dario Marianelli - Anna Karenina

Alexandre Desplat - Argo - No idea for this category so random choice between this.....

Mychael Danna - Life of Pi - .....and this.

John Williams - Lincoln

Thomas Newman - Skyfall

Cinematography

Seamus McGarvey - Anna Karenina

Danny Cohen - Les Misérables

Claudio Miranda - Life of Pi - This HAS to win. It's a gorgeous film!!

Janusz Kaminski - Lincoln

Roger Deakins - Skyfall

Editing

William Goldenberg - Argo - Between this.......

Fred Raskin - Django Unchained

Tim Squyres - Life of Pi

Stuart Baird - Skyfall

Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg - Zero Dark Thirty - .......and this for me :)

Production Design

Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer - Anna Karenina

Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson - Les Misérables

David Gropman, Anna Pinnock - Life of Pi - Choosing this purely for the tiger and the boat. Even though that's irrelevant.

Rick Carter, Jim Erickson - Lincoln

Dennis Gassner, Anna Pinnock - Skyfall

Costume Design

Jacqueline Durran - Anna Karenina

Beatrix Aruna Pasztor - Great Expectations

Paco Delgado - Les Misérables - Realistically between this and.....

Joanna Johnston - Lincoln - .....this.

Colleen Atwood - Snow White and the Huntsman - It's not going to win but hey, armor, Chris Hemsworth and awesome Chain Mail.

Make Up & Hair

Ivana Primorac - Anna Karenina

Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel, Howard Berger - Hitchcock

Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - It's the Hobbit. Automatic vote from me.

Lisa Westcott - Les Misérables 

Lois Burwell, Kay Georgiou - Lincoln - Realistically....I mean, Day-Lewis looks EXACTLY like Lincoln.

Sound

Mark Ulano, Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, Wylie Stateman - Django Unchained

Tony Johnson, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Brent Burge, Chris Ward - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Again, automatic vote from me. "Far overrrr, the misty mountains oooold...."

Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst - Les Misérables - It was ALL SINGING! Realistic prediction.

Drew Kunin, Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton, Ron Bartlett, D. M. Hemphill - Life of Pi

Stuart Wilson, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Per Hallberg, Karen Baker Landers - Skyfall

Special Visual Effects

Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Peter Bebb, Andrew Lockley - The Dark Knight Rises - Between this.....

Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - .......this......

Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer - Life of Pi

Nominees TBC - The Avengers - ......and this. This is the only film i would vote for over Hobbit, so yeah...

Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth - Prometheus

Short Animation

Here to Fall - Random Prediction. Not seen any.

I'm Fine, Thanks

The Making of Longbird

Short Film

The Curse

Good Night

Swimmer - Again not seen any so random prediction.

Tumult

The Voorman Problem

EE Rising Star Award

Elizabeth Olsen

Juno Temple - Realisticly joint between her and Olsen.

Suraj Sharma - Hope this guy wins. He's adorable with his curly hair ^^

Andrea Riseborough

Alicia Vikander

Summer in the City

Oh my God, what the hell happened this weekend?!

That's basically the general reaction of the Summer in the City goers, meant in both good and sometimes bad ways.

For the first time this year it was held indoors, in a large venue called the Brewery. Turns out it wasn't large enough.

But! Positives!

Personally I had an amazing time! And I met a lot of brilliant people.

Friday consisted of me meeting new people, and hanging out with some current friends like Tom, Luke and Adam, all of whom are members of my YouTube collab channel WelshAreComing.

I met new friends such as Olie, Jess and a load of others and had an amazing time in the gig watching Tom Law, Carrie Fletcher and Eddplant.

I said "bazinga" at the StickAid table and got a free wristband. That was fun.

A cool story from the Friday; I was sitting on some steps casually chatting to Jess when out of the corner of my eye I see Bertie Gilbert (bertiebertg/scorpius malfoy), heading to the stairs. Like a boss I thought sod it, and while still chatting to Jess, held my hand up for a high 5.

Which I recieved. And it was the most epic, all powerful high 5 ever.

All while casually chatting to Jess as if nothing was happening.

Yes i'm a BAMF.

Saturday was awesome as I got to see my friend Sani (saniday) and hang out with her for the day at SITC. I bought the starter deck of Sopio because I have a different one, me and Sani both bought Jonny Eveson posters, mine was the Summer in the City one and Sani bought the Inspector Spacetime one.

We met Myles Dyer (Blade376 on YouTube) and he was absolutely lovely, having a full conversation with us and letting us have a photo with him. And hugging me ^^

We also briefly met EddPlant and got a photo with him too, and we chatted with Lindsay (Charlie McDonnell's wonderful mother) and had a nice chat, myself having met her at last year's Summer in the City and Sani having a photograph with her).

I also managed to meet Beth Collins (Skarosoul on Tumblr) which was cool as we've been chatting on Twitter a while and it was nice to meet in person.

We sat down in one room at random and it turned out to be a talk with meekakitty and nanalew so that was fun! Afterwards in the same room Tom Milsom had a talk going on which was really interesting and funny. I also managed to hug and chat to Tom after meeting him earlier in the year at a Cardiff gathering.

One of the highlights of the day for me was seeing Eddplant, Mr Tino Forever and Hudson Taylor perform in the open mic room. At first only Harry HT was there performing for a laugh, but afterwards Alfie arrived and they performed properly including a new song called "Cinematic Lifestyle" which was brilliant! I've loved Harry and Alfie ever since last year's Summer in the City when I met them and hung out with Harry a little on the Sunday. A plus to seeing them this year was that Sani now likes them and had "Battles" in her head all day! Alfie doing some actions at the end must have sold it to her :P

Unfortunately, due to immense hunger, me and Sani didn't stay for the gig that night, which featured Orla Gartland and Bribry among others. Luckily i've already seen them perform before so no loss there.

We went to get McDonald's and then, like the nerdy weirdos we are, went in search of the St. Bart's Hospital roof that Sherlock jumped off of in "The Reichenbach Fall". After wandering suspiciously around a hospital, getting strange looks, and at least on dead end, we found it! And took pictures!

Nerdy and weird FTW!

On Sunday we were finally outside again, in Jubilee gardens. I wasn't going to go at first but then Patrick (hathi444) convinced me to. I had met him at the same gathering I met Tom Milsom...they did come together after all. And it was great to see him again! I also made more new friends including David, ASP and a few others.

Ironically, the one day we were outside there was a storm, full on thunder and lightening. Luckily it didn't last long before it stopped and the grass was eventually dry enough to sit on. I had been missing the Welsh weather anyway after the past 3 days of scorching weather, the highest temperature at one point was 31 degrees C!!! As you can probably imagine, the tube was a joy all weekend in that heat.

So, basically I had an absolutely amazing time this weekend and I cannot wait until next year!

Regan

Picture of the Day: Watching THAT scene whilst sitting outside St Bart's with Sani...weirdos we know ^^

A Blog post...

So, I woke up this morning thinking; "I'm going to make a blog, and well...

Voila!

So, this is my blog. My name is Regan Noble. I'm 17 years old (nearly 18), Welsh and a nerd. You can find a photo of me (some people like visual representations, or so i've heard) over there somewhere --->

That's enough of the basics to be getting on with I think. My hobbies include playing guitar/ukulele, video making, excessive tweeting, procrastinating, reading and watching a lot of films.

This blog is going to be my place to write anything and everything, wether it's a post about me ranting about how hard school work is (one year left till Uni...*gulp*), a review of a book or film i've read/watched recently, or even just a link to a website, photograph or a video I find interesting, it's all going to go here.

So, here goes nothing...

DFTBA

Regan

P.S. I have literally just decided that the post script will always include either a 'Song of the Day', 'Random Picture' or both...

Song of the Day: Clouds by Newton Faulkner