BEDA #2

4.13pm

Hey guys.

I don't know why I do this to myself. -_-"

I've spent $3 on 30 min of internet just so that I can type out this blog post. There are places which charge $2 an hour and I'm sitting HERE. gosh I feel so stupid.

I was just worried that I wouldn't be able to make the 12mn deadline for tonight, so I decided to go to an internet cafe. Which are a dime a dozen here, by the way. You just have to know what the going rates are. and $6/h is just stupid.

Maybe I'll just eat less later.

Because I want to make the 12mn deadline? I don't know how to explain this. Last year I did some blogposts before the 12mn deadline and they counted as the next day. So I was pissed. But the thing is that I only get online at 11pm, or 10.30 at the earliest. I don't know what to type; my time is running out and I feel my money being steadily stolen from me.

Then I thought about doing all my blogposts the day in advance; does this make sense? eg I write another blog at 1am to night, so I don't have to do another one in the day time tomorrow, and so forth. So it would fit better with my schedule.

Okay, rant over. What should I talk about today?

Should I talk about LAN shops? I'm in a LAN shop. I think. Where the internet is fast enough and the computers have graphic cards sufficient to play LAN games. I haven't played a LAN game before, I think, which is probably why I don't understand the appeal of it. It was a popular pastime amongst my classmates, though. Which I find slightly hard to understand because LAN games cost money... well it does depend where you go to, where it's more affordable. And it makes sense when the computers are connected (okay you can tell I don't know how the hell this works) and you can play with your friends real-time. You have to be actually *good* at gaming for this to make any sense, which is probably why it doesn't make any sense for me. I won't decline an invitation, though. If anybody were to ask me. It's just that I wouldn't normally go on my own.

Money is also part of the reason why I spend so much time in libraries, because it's free entertainment. My counselor asked if I drank or smoked, as a coping mechanism, and I said no, because... it was expensive. A cigarette pack costs $12 here? or something, I haven't bought one myself. I should look out for the prices next time I go to a convenience store, though. And drinks tend to add up too. Not one drink, but to get properly drunk you need enough alcohol, and it adds up. It's depressing. "It's so depressing when people die in real life"

4.28pm

How much time do I have left? I have until 4.42. which is about 10 more minutes.

I also don't drink because I'm a freaking heath nut. Not outwardly, but as much of a health nut as you can be when you're vegetarian. I drink and I think of my liver. If I smoked I would have the image of a tar-filled lung in my mind. I don't want to have cancer. I've multiple family members who have suffered or are suffering from cancer. Heck, there are so many people I know who have died from cancer. Well it might be because people here don't die from gun violence that often. Cancer is another way to die. It's such an expensive way to go, though, because chemotherapy is so expensive, long-term care and hospital stay is expensive; you have to get live-in nurses or specialised carers if it's old people so that costs money too. Cancer is an exceedingly expensive way to die.

Dieing in your sleep, of course, costs nothing at all.

It's the same as being vegetarian. I look at my family members with high blood pressure and I get even more deterred from eating meat so I don't get clogged arteries from the saturated fat in meat. I think of the hormones that I would be consuming if I ate chicken or beef, and I don't want to have steroids messing with my bodily functions. Diabetes is a fucking expensive way to die. Kidney failure? Dialysis? Costs so much money and time and people are just making money while waiting for you to die. It depends on where you go to die, too-- there's an unnamed hospital here, connected to a nursing home, which gets all the elderly, terminally ill patients. They don't give continuous care or much attention, and they're expecting you to go anyway.

BEDA #1

Hey guys! This is my first BEDA post of 2011.
I'm doing this on my phone, while on the train. Yay for technology.
Gosh it's been so long since I've last blogged publicly, for an audience. I remember the first BEDA where maureen johnson personally put together our BEDA buddy groups. That was pretty awesome. It guaranteed that there would be someone commenting and reading our blogposts. I added a couple friends on the maureen johnson ning as well. We haven't kept in touch, though, me and my BEDA buddies. I'm not sure how it will work this year, but I'll make it a point to comment on more blogs. ^^

I'm not being very interesting so far, am I? Heh this will probably set the tone for the rest of the month. xD I have some backup posts ready for the days when I'm too busy to blog, so I hope I'll be able to make all 30 days. Last year I did a bunch of food posts on dailybooth, but good news for you guys-- you won't be seeing pictures of my lunch anymore.

mockingjay review

First off:

I've read a few spoiler-free reviews, and some people said they hated it. I've read (and watched) a few reviews with spoilers, and I'm not really sure what to think.

Part of my doubt springs from the fact that sometimes when I think books are really perfect, I tend to treat them as the CANON of all canons, and as such it is Sacrilegious for anyone to critique it. This also happened with Deathly Hallows, I am ashamed to admit. I say: "How can you hate the Epilogue?? This is the book of all books; this is the one we have waited our lives for; how can you accept it as being NOT TRUE? JKR has dictated it, and so it shall BE." And so forth.

It's easier for me to take a step back and be objective with books that I'm not as emotionally invested in. I actually have to be suspicious about the book first, before I'm able to be objective. In this case I have so much faith in Suzanne Collins to keep it superb, that I don't doubt her writing at first.

Right. The point. The real review! (Finally. This crazy devotee has calmed down.)

Regarding the plot and the killings, my first impression of it was that it was a freaking bloodbath. Gory, intense. Collins doesn't spare any details, nor underestimates how much YA readers can handle. At one point I even doubted the categorization of Mockingjay in this genre, because it has more violence than any other YA book I've read. Because of this, Collins puts you in a state of perpetual suspense, because anyone can be killed at any moment. Although predictably, when you think that everyone has died, Collins strategically leaves Katniss' family alive, as well as Peeta and Gale in the renegade squad. With all the deaths, sometimes you just know that certain people cannot die--without whom the novel cannot proceed. In this sense it's a bit unrealistic when you see 8 people die in a day, and all of the 8 *happen* to not be Peeta or Gale or Katniss, despite the fact that these three have less military training compared to the District 13 soldiers.

However, I understand why Collins has to keep Peeta and Gale alive till the end, because eventually when Katniss has to make a choice, it can't be a "default" choice, i.e. "Katniss chooses Peeta/ Gale because the other died." Katniss can't settle for either just because the other is gone. It wouldn't be real if Katniss didn't have to justify why she picked Peeta instead of Gale.

To a certain extent, I think the violence and hyperrealism of the series is what sets it apart from other YA novels. Especially in the Hunger Games, where we are displayed the Capitol's excesses and luxuries, and introduced to the concept of pitting children against each other in an arena. It's not very far from what our generation considers entertainment, especially when you consider reality TV shows Lost and Survivor. Heck, whenever I watched the TV spots for Survivor: Heroes vs Villians, I thought of Catching Fire. It's unnerving when you realise that Katniss's world isn't that far from ours. Fox News is famed for turning political moments to sensationalism; from making politics entertainment. To a certain extent most TV viewers are just like Capitol viewers when they begin to think what happens on E! Entertainment is far more interesting and important than local news.

Back to the violence! Collins kills so many people in this book and puts in so many suspenseful twists that towards the end, you're kind of numbed. When everything is moving smoothy in the sewers for a while, you kind of expect something to happen. It becomes abnormal to NOT have a twist at the end of a chapter that you expect something anyway. At the end you have the feeling that Collins has done herself in because there is little more she can do to surprise the reader, as Katniss has already lost so much.

Actually, I think this kind of numbness is symbolic because it reminds me so eerily of the way we are numb to the devastation we see every day in the news. We've seen so many deaths because of natural disasters, terrorist attacks and the like, that the announcement of a suicide bombing in Palestine doesn't bother us anymore. Collins forces us to think about our reactions (or non-reactions) to the news, and inspect the way we respond to natural disasters or civil violence.

Things I liked! A hardened, angsty Katniss, and her initial rejection of her role is something that we all can relate to. The characterization of seemingly minor characters like Finnick and Johanna. Prim's growth throughout the series. Katniss and Haymitch's relationship. It's so fascinating to look at the exchanges between Katniss, Peeta and Gale. Unlike other YA novels, where characters often try to hide the truth from each other or lie, (Alan Ryves!) Collins knows that these characters don't have a lot of time to waste. After seeing everyone else drop like flies, Peeta and Gale know that their conversation in Tigris's basement is the only chance they'll have to talk to each other before someone dies, and they are really straight with it. Katniss, too, is aware of this, and is particularly truthful when meeting Peeta in the hospital ward. This is no time for lies, or the explaining of them afterwards. There is no time for regret. That's why Gale is so frank and Katniss doesn't stop him.

Not masking the truth is an underlying theme in the series; we are shown that most characters in this book-- adults and teenagers alike-- are never entirely good or evil. Like in real life, they all have their own agendas, and Collins doesn't shield us from it. She tells it as it is, however how harsh the truth may be. No one is foolishly idealistic or impossibly brave, and this might be a relief for adolescent readers swamped by the volume of "perfect" protagonists in YA.

In all: Mockingjay would definitely sell, given the buildup and anticipation. I liked it! It was a satisfying yet powerful end. Action-packed, emotionally intense-- it keeps you on the edge of your seat. There haven't been book release parties for a book that takes itself more seriously than Twilight, and if they had one at my bookstore, I would have attended. Oh, and if you want to start the series, it's seriously addictive. Pun not intended.

Demon's Lexicon Review

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan is an engaging Young Adult Fantasy novel, but breaks away from the YA stereotype for a number of reasons.

This novel is darker that the usual YA fare, and captures the harsh realities of life on the run. Nick and Alan, brothers escaping from evil magicians, have to live in “grimly poor places” while trying to live within their means. Nick also has to make the daunting choice between saving his brother or saving Justin, a boy who has sought his help. There is no pretense of nobility here; Nick makes the choice an ordinary person would make: he chooses his brother.

Brennan also artfully weaves mythology in her book to create a world that is believable and realistic for the teen reader. Relying mostly on traditional satanic tales about demons, the author puts Nick and Alan in a world where demons possess humans, but magicians are humans who work to satisfy their own ends. They are power-hungry, and manipulate possessed humans to do their bidding.

The way Brennan conveys love and trust between the characters of Nick and Justin and between Justin and his sister, Mae, is admirable. In this novel there is are no stronger relationships than familial bonds. This is demonstrated by the time when Alan gave his talisman, which protected its wearer from demons, to Nick, who had been hurt by the magicians. Alan also has unconditional love for their mother, despite her being more of a liability than an aid when Alan and Nick have to face the magicians.

Compared to other books in its genre, The Demon’s Lexicon stands out because of its fresh approach to common motifs. Like the Twilight series, there is the brooding, adolescent male and his love interest, but we soon see that even Nick has his flaws. Unlike Bella, Mae threatens to become a thorn in Nick and Alan’s relationship, but she staunchly refuses to be used as collateral. She is characterised by her determination and fierce love for her brother, and this stands in stark contrast to the feeble and passive females in other YA fantasy novels.

Seeing that this is Brennan’s debut novel, there are inevitably some gaps in the narrative that could have been rectified by further research. The author, however, makes up for this by her lush description of the magical world, and her witty humor that would make even the most cynical teenager laugh. In all, it is a satisfying read that is refreshing in its perspective of characters common to the Young Adult genre.

Sarah Rees Brennan is well known for using social networking services such as Livejournal and Twitter to build a following, and has recently released a sequel to The Demon’s Lexicon, The Demon’s Covenant.

the last whale review

It's so HARD not to blog. Really.

So today I went to BooksActually to see Chris Pash, and it turns out I was the only customer who went *just* to see him/ hear him talk about his book. Sad times. Anyway, as I was paying for pooky's SECRET PRESENT, I spot a Who Killed Amanda Palmer atop a shelf.

ME: how much is that book?
BOOKEEPER: --insert weird look-- Um, it's $250. A signed copy. (it is all too obvious that I cannot pay for it.)

But. But. I want a WKAP so bad! *cries*

And when I start asking mr. Chris Pash for an autograph, he talks about his book. Because I am rendered speechless by this opportunity-- I had been creeping around quite suspiciously in close proximity-- he starts using handsigns/ gestures very liberally and mimes out "talking" and "thinking" and "reporters"! The way you would speak to someone who doesn't understand english.

And he remembers my name! Because he signed for only one other couple, who happened to be on the flight with him to singapore. *is starstruck* After that my heart was beating so fast and I was so excited but I had to restrain myself, because it is not socially appropriate to scream at a person. He went "Be sure to add me on facebook!"

He had to do a lot of ridiculous self-promotion though, i.e. say to every person at the counter: "Why don't you read this book? It's a really good book by Mr Chris Pash-- he's a great writer." As no one knew who the hell he was. I think it's also because I haven't seen The Last Whale in mainstream bookstores, so he has to try to promote himself as best as he can, to sell anything. Now I'm more forgiving towards Wena Poon for taking any chance she can get to get her book out there. It's hard to be an author these days.

But honestly? The Last Whale appears to many potential book-buyers as the typical tree-hugger diatribe. The one-sided "green" argument that is becoming cliched. I only bought the book because there were mentions of Bob Hunter and his hippie friends (book is set in the 70s), and their crazy attempts to stop the whale chasers. It's very rare that you see people so passionate about their cause, and so willing to sacrifice their effort and energy to decrease worldsuck. The book is very inspiring, in that effect.

I've also gotten to know more about how the "stop whaling" process goes, because there are many causes that people are contributing to right now, especially in schools as part of CIP, but usually nothing comes out of these awareness campaigns. I'm really impressed that they have achieved a consensus. The conservation process is a lot more than protesting and yelling about; real change comes when you get the attention of policymakers, and seek to communicate with the whalers themselves, to see where they're coming from.

Sometimes though, the tactics they used to get media attention strangely resemble those used in reality TV (balloon boy, anyone?). Such is the nature of real world? One part of me is surprised/ ashamed that they stooped so low, and the other part of me accepts the fact that there is no other way to make your voice heard with today's sensationalised media.

Chris Pash did an event at swf too, but reception there wasn't too good either. It was an amazing coincidence that I went to see him talk, because during that timeslot there wasn't an event at the Chamber, and I just happened to crash his event. Julian and Loki were there too, most likely. heh though they/ other swf people probably don't read this.

Shall I put up a picture of my signed book? YES.


Slowly but surely, I will learn the Code of Fangirling Conduct.

history boys movie review

just watched history boys, and its is *swoons* lovely.

The writing! Is just incredible, and really sharp and witty. There's the screenplay of it somewhere (it exists on amazon) so I'll go look for it.

The big themes are education and coming of age, but what really stood out for me was love. If one really wanted to do this systematically, there's lust between dakins/fiona, yearning in posner/dakins and tension~ in irwin/dakins. See? All the romantic relationships practically revolve around dakins, and rightfully so-- he is smouldering.

Irwin is this temp. teacher, by the way, who comes to tutor the boys on how to write clever essays for the oxbridge admissions exams.

The writing was so amazing that I had to stop and rewind some parts, especially towards the end with irwin/dakins, and irwin is so... shy and blushy and bowled over. (I almost typed "blowed over". Anyway.) And dakins is like: "you know you want me". But I can't believe irwin is such a wuss like that! He's practically melting when dakins promises him a date.

Though. At some points it's hard to see beyond the comedy and into the serious stuff. Or rather at some points these are hard to differentiate. Especially with dakin, you don't really know whether he's taking anything seriously. You don't even know where is alliances lie.

Obviously in these things the characters do not have a definite sense of morality, so I don't know why this new york times review said that

"This is a work in which the most likable and, by the play's standards, most moral figure is an obese English teacher who regularly swats his students in class and fiddles (to use the euphemism of choice) with the more attractive of them after school."

I mean morality in these things is not even a question. The history boys isn't meant to be moralistic; it's meant to show things the way they are/ were and explore the relationship between a teacher and his students. For those who haven't seen it, hector (the "obese English teacher") and his groping isn't taken seriously. There are certain doubts, like "how will I deal with it if he feels me up?" But mostly the boys think it's all a joke, a slight inclination the English Teacher happens to have; they respect him for his opinions and teachings all the same.

Granted, the NYT was reviewing the stage play, and I've only watched the movie.

But the love! (posner has for dakin) Is so endearing and sweet and... *swoons again*.

[SCRIPPS has just seen POSNER swooning over dakin]

SCRIPPS: Love can be very irritating.
POSNER: How do you know?
SCRIPPS: It's what I always think about God; he must get so pissed off, everybody adoring him all the time.
POSNER: Yes. Only you don't catch God poncing about in his underpants.

[Cut to this scene of POSNER singing]

And then there's this scene between posner and hector after that, and they talk about literature:

HECTOR: Lost boy though he is, on the far side of the world, he still has a name.
(On Hardy) A saddish life, though not unappreciated. "Uncoffined" is a typical Hardy usage. It's a compound adjective, formed by putting "un" in front of a noun. Or verb, of course. Unkissed, unrejoicing, unconfessed, unembraced. It's a turn of phrase that brings with it a sense of not sharing. Of being out of it, whether because of diffidence or shyness. But a holding back. Not being in the swim. Can you see that?

POSNER: Yes, sir. I felt that a bit.

HECTOR: The best moments in reading are when you come across something -- a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things-- that you'd thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else. A person you've never met, maybe even someone long dead. And... it's as if a hand has come out and taken yours.

The first part, the "un" bit, you can't help but feel sorry for posner and hector alike, who both have something/ someone they really want but who won't reciprocate their affections (in posner's case) or something they can't have. (being openly gay, in hector's case. He is married.)
And I don't have to mention that the reading quote has its own inherent value.

I would love to see the History Boys performed live, only there aren't any tours in my area. Will see. If you want to watch it, I watched it off youku. It's also nc16 for all those legal people who want to buy/ borrow it ^^

EDIT: I want to buy the soundtrack! The 80s songs they use as background are great, as is samuel barnett's Bewitched and Bye Bye Blackbird.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep review

13 October 2008
On [Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?]:

In most SF novels, I've always noticed that the female is ALWAYS the object of lust, not the male. Even when the narrator is female, they don't objectify the male, but the female. Lust and the promise of it has always been a recurring theme in SF novels, even good ones, so I don't blame Philip K. Dick or Orson Scott Card for that. It's just that the male protagonist always sleeps with the hot female, and the hot female is always the forbidden fruit or the irresistible bait.

Why can't males be hot instead? In today's society, it is entirely not justifiable for only females to be objectified and used as an object of temptation. This only propagates the idea that females are only to be utilised as tools for pleasure, and they are not worthy of being anything else. It is only recently that females have been sufficiently empowered of proper characterisation -- Un Lun Dun by China Mieville and Philip Pullman have great examples of female protagonists.

This is coming from a humanist to boot.

convention calamity

Convention Calamity

Mention "Science Fiction Convention" in Singapore and be prepared to receive strange looks in return. The phrase itself conjures images of nerds converging at a gathering discussing, well, geek stuff. Worse still, people might imagine Trekkies masquerading in full costume, conversing in... what else but Klingon?

Contrary to popular belief, Science Fiction (SF) Conventions are not just for an exclusive group of people obsessed with reading science fiction and fantasy. Conventions or conferences are open to one and all, from those new to the fandom, and those who have been involved in conventions for three decades. Even the attendees don't fit the stereotype of the adolescent male. Fangirls have made up a large part of convention attendance in recent years, and even mothers chaperon their minors. A demographic of fans aged 16-60 attend literary conventions, especially if they are of an academic nature. Conventions are excellent places to meet people all over the world with common interests. This is especially so with conventions of a larger nature, such as the San Francisco ComicCon. Author Neil Gaiman has said that the first convention he attended in the early 1980s was one of the first places he felt that he belonged.

Conventions held in the United Kingdom include Orbital, a science fiction and fantasy convention, Fforde fiesta, a Jasper Fforde gathering. There are three major Harry Potter Conventions occurring this year in the United States alone: Wrockstock, a wizard rock festival, Portus, and Terminus, a Harry Potter academic conference. Locally, the fanbase isn't large enough for fantasy and science fiction conventions, but there are cosplay conventions where people dress up as their favorite anime/ manga characters.

A convention mostly comprises of panels and roundtable discussions, where guests are invited to share their views on debatable issues of the fandom. For example, in a science fiction convention, panellists might discuss the relevance of early works of science fiction to our present struggles with technology. At a Harry Potter convention, wizard rockers were requested to share their views on how wrock has changed the fandom. (fan community) Roundtable discussions are sometimes impromptu and fan-initiated, and are a must at every convention. They are also one of the few opportunities fans get to meet their fellow fans, and indulge in talking or conversing with someone with the same depth of interest in their fandom.

Most conventions have the green room, where fandom-related merchandise is sold. At a comic book convention, for example, special edition issues, character figurines, t-shirts, or even light sabers are just some of the items available. There is also nightly entertainment in the form of masquerades, dances, and even wizard rock concerts. Sometimes, there are fandom-specific events. Terminus, a harry potter convention, organised Quidditch games, while anime/manga conventions have art competitions. Conventions are also opportunities for fans to show off their creative ability in the form of fanart auctions, fanfiction readings, and live podcasts.

Not many fantasy and science fiction or Harry Potter events are held in Singapore, and this has caused distress for many fans in the region. Large scale gatherings often occur in the UK and US, to popular reception. This has allowed countless fans to meet, and has provided a supportive community of insightful discussion. Book conventions and wrock concerts promote literacy to reluctant young readers, conveying the joy and passion people have for reading. Books have the power to change lives, and conventions only serve to perpetuate this notion. It has been said that when Harry Potter was first released, kids were steered away from their video games and their television sets as they discovered bravery, love and friendship within the walls of Hogwarts.

Catcher in The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

(published in The Straits Times' Young Classified)

At first glance, The Catcher in the Rye seems like an aged classic forever resigned to high school reading lists, the kind of thing that students are required to read, but hate reading. I thought it was an American novel about baseball or farming, or both, but really it’s a surprisingly easy read, especially suited to young adults.

Holden Caulfield is an underachieving youth frustrated in his dull boarding school environment. He has just been expelled yet again, after failing all his subjects except English. Caught in a exasperating situation, he leaves his boarding school a few days before he is due to, and travels back to New York City, deciding to stay at a hotel for a few nights before returning to his parents. This novel is mostly about Caulfield grappling with his angst towards the people around him, and coming to terms with his inner thoughts and emotions.

At first, the reader might think that Caulfield is the usual reckless, rebellious teenager. But as the novel goes on, we find out about his reasons for disliking people because they are “phony”, and his reasons for not applying himself, or attempting to improve. Even though this novel was written in 1945, many teens today will be able to relate to Caulfield’s feelings of resentment. We learn that he has essentially given up on school because of the way he views life, and how he is disappointed by the adults around him. As children, we tend to think that adults are infallible. But as we grow up, like Caulfield, we begin to lose faith in the hypocritical decisions adults make, and hence lose faith in society itself. Everyone has at one point, experienced the disillusion Caulfield feels, and it is this coming of age story that makes this novel so accessible.

The casual, almost conversational language of Caulfield’s narration makes this novel a smooth read. It is as if you were reading a long letter from Caulfield, what with his frequent digressions and 1940s slang. The way that curses are generously distributed throughout the narration also suggests Caulfield’s general detachment and anger towards the world around him.

Along his journey, adult mentors attempt to convince him to mend his ways. To maintain his self-assured appearance, Caulfield initially pretends to ignore their advice, but really, inside, their words make him reflect upon his actions. We see evidence of this when he feels sorry for a pair of schoolteachers who are enthusiastic about teaching literature, and also at the end, when he realizes the importance of family and of education.

Catcher in the Rye is a suitable introduction to modern American literature, as its timeless themes will be able to resonate with readers of all ages.

prince caspian movie review

(written 21 May 2008)

Prince Caspian Review!

[spoilers begin]I LOVED IT! It was really much darker and grittier this time, complete with angst on the part of Peter (William Moseley) and Prince Caspian (This guy who was in history boys). It's more depressing than the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, obviously but there still runs a "Aslan saves the day" thread. The religious undertones in this one were quite evident, too, when Aslan only appears in front of Lucy but not the others, and when Aslan is represented as this disembodied voice. Also a carving of him is in the stone table chamber, and in the movie, he is represented as this huge foil to the white witch, which peter then is remorse in front of.

Gosh I sound like I haven't read the book yet, but the last time I read it it was when LWW came out, so I can't really remember. But the most significant images that left an impression on my first reading when I was quite young were the hag -werewolf- nikibrik fight, and that turned out to be really good. Though I really wanted to see bacchus and the naiads and dryads dancing in the streets at the end/ defeating the telmarines. I mean in the books there were 2 kinds of trees, right? The old ones, like ents, as featured in the movie and the dryads and nymph-like dancing women. The trees weren't that...alive in the movie than in the book. I think you know what I mean. Okay enough nitpicking.

Lucy's (Georgie Henley) performance was very believeable, in the Aslan scenes especially. I mean when you're a child it's easier for you to imagine and interact with something that isn't actually there, right? So her interactions with Aslan were more beliveable than say Moseley's or Anna Popplewell's (Susan). But they were all great as actors and they were very true to the spirit of the books. The chemistry between them is great, too, when they trust each other and the conversations now are geared more toward an adult audience, because there's some induction involved. I like the way they communicate; like they're not just spiteful to someone without a reason, and there are bits where they hint that peter and susan are getting too old for narnia and they need to be moving on.

Another thing I liked were the epic battle scenes, and grim mood throughout. and the way they illustrated the fauns, centures and minators. It was more lord of the rings, than, say, philosopher's stone, which is good. Something which I really really hate is the way the director tried to sneak in the susan/ CASPIAN pairing oh god that was the worst. I mean it's not evident in the book but if you read especially into it, it might be, but it made susan seem so... old. Oh but she is but the pairing is simply AWFUL because Ben Barnes (caspian) had to put on this really fake telmarine accent. And in the movie he is dark. has long hair. is repulsive. And in some ways he should be more of a monach than someone who fancies susan. [spoilers end]