FILM NIGHT - THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL REVIEW

As mentioned in my previous post, I have been on a sort of blogging hiatus for the past couple of weeks now - hopefully this post will mark the beginning of a more frequent and regular routine. As promised, I'm back with another film review - this time I'll be sharing my thoughts on The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is a film that I'd been waiting to see since before Christmas. Wes Anderson is one of my favourite film directors, so I had high hopes and expectations for this latest caper - and it certainly did not disappoint.

For those of you who don't know what the film is about, here is a brief synopsis taken from IMDb...
The Grand Budapest Hotel recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune - all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is about as star-studded as they come - and despite such a large cast, each character is endearing in their own way and played very well; I couldn't find much fault with any of the actors in this film at all. The cast is lead by Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H, a character who is the charmingly camp and comedic concierge of the titular hotel. Other supporting players include Jude Law as a young writer, Adrien Brody as the antagonistic Dmitri, Edward Norton as the police inspector Henckels and Tilda Swinton as the ill-fated Madame D. - and that's just the start of the cast list.

I found the film to be very comedic, as deadpan and black humour is something that I personally find very funny. While it can be said that the comic timing is similar to Moonrise Kingdom, the higher age rating means that you can expect more violence and little gore, which really accentuates the darkly humourous tone of the film. That's not to say that the film itself it hugely gritty or violent - there are merely glimpses of darkness that slip through the candy-coloured world every now and again to remind the audience of the political backdrop of the film.

The production design and overall aesthetics of the film are well worth a mention; as can be expected from an Anderson film, the visuals are absolutely stunning, with painfully precise cinematography and beautifully bold colouring. This lends itself well to the glamour and sophistication that the hotel aims to allude, but also keeps the tone from straying too far from comedy - it would be some achievement to make a dark crime saga with a colour scheme like this.

Overall, I would highly recommend a trip to the cinema to see this film - it is one of the best that I have seen in quite a long while. Even with its precision and loaded cast, it certainly does not feel like one of those money-grabbing blockbusters, but rather a genuine and charming film.

UPDATE: WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

I thought it would be a good idea to update you all as to where I have been for the past three or so weeks, since I feel like I haven't posted anything in quite a long time. For the last week I haven't been able to use my laptop since it's being repaired, which is kind of annoying because this means that I can't access any of my photos to use in my posts. Fortunately, it should be fixed sometime next week, so I can upload my February Favourites post (complete with all of the photos) and hopefully a film review for all of you.

I apologise that my blog has been a bit sparse as of late, but I promise that it will be business as usual as soon as I get my computer back.

Until the next time...

A BELATED JANUARY FAVOURITES

This week I thought I'd post a belated January favourites, seeing as I hadn't gotten round to doing it before. I know I'm quite late in posting my monthly favourites, but I wanted to take all of the photos outside and once again, the British weather has let me down for the past week. So, with some admittedly make-shift photographs in place, here are the things that I enjoyed this January.

URBAN DECAY NAKED 3 PALETTE

I haven't had the Naked 3 palette for very long, as I got it for my birthday, which is at the end of January. When compared to the other two Naked palettes, this one is quite different from the other two, because of its pinky hues - I personally really love these new colours, as they really bring out my blue eyes. There are also more matte and satin colours than there were in the previous palettes, which I prefer for everyday wear.

SLEEK BLUSHER IN FLAMINGO

In the pan, this blusher does look like quite a scary colour, as it is a very vibrant hot pink. The pigmentation of this product is amazing, as I have apply the tiniest amount of the product for a nice flush of colour. Because it is so vibrant and pigmented, I reckon that this shade would look good on almost any skin tone - however, if you have pale skin like me, you do have to be a bit careful not to apply too much!

NAILS INC. NAIL POLISH IN STRATFORD

My favourite kind of nail polishes are normally nudes - however, this polish from Nails Inc. is an exception to this rule. In the bottle, the colour of the polish is quite difficult to describe: it is a duo-chrome, but it has hints of gold, green, and pink it. I was expecting this polish to be very bold on the nails, but it is actually a surprisingly subtle colour. This means that the shade is very versatile, as it can be worn during the day or on a night out.

REVLON COLORSTAY ULTIMATE SUEDE LIPSTICK IN SOCIALITE

I mentioned this lipstick in my last post, but I felt that I had to put it in my January Favourites as well. Normally I don't go for pink or nude lipsticks, but I saw this one in Boots and thought that it looked like a good everyday lip colour. The shade itself is definitely a 'my-lips-but-better' shade, which is great for everyday wear but also to wear with a smoky eye makeup look. This is also the first matte lipstick that I've ever bought - I have been put off buying them in the past for fear of them drying my lips out too much, but this product has a nice creamy formulation that is also quite hydrating.

TV SERIES - BREAKING BAD AND SHERLOCK

If I'm going to be really picky, Sherlock technically isn't a monthly favourite of mine, but rather an all-time favourite. However, as the third series was aired and released last month, I'm going to include it in the list anyway. Overall, I really enjoyed Series Three - His Last Vow was my favourite of the series, as it had quite dark undertones as well as being thrilling and tense throughout. On the subject of tense programmes, I started watching Breaking Bad this month -  I think it's safe to say that I am now addicted to this show. I'm about half way through Series Four, and I can see why it is so hyped up - it is very well written and the characters are amazing because they always flit between good and bad.


So that concludes my belated January Favourites - I hope you all enjoyed this post. I've decided that my weekly posts will be published on Mondays from now on, so keep an eye out next week for a new post!

GET READY WITH ME: BIRTHDAY DINNER

On Saturday night I went out for dinner with my friends to celebrate my eighteenth birthday, which was on the 28th January. I thought I'd do a Get Ready With Me post because I've never done one before and it seems like quite a fun little post to do. So without further ado, here is my first ever Get Ready With Me post!

Boots Botanics Cleansing Cream - Clinique Clarifying Lotion - Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream

Before I put my makeup on to go out, I always redo my skincare routine. I start off by using the Boots Botanics Gentle Cleansing Cream and put it all over my face like a mask. I let that sit on my skin for a couple of minutes before washing it all off with hot water and a flannel. After that, I use the Clinique Clarifying Lotion (for skin type two) on a cotton pad and apply the product all over my face. Finally, I use the Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream to moisturise my skin - I like using this particular product because it is light on the skin and is non-greasy.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum - Urban Decay Primer Potion - Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

For my base makeup, I stuck with my tried and tested Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation. I love this product because it can be built up to medium coverage but still gives the skin a lovely healthy glow. For my under-eye concealer, I used the Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer - I haven't had it for very long, but I still think that it does the job well. I chose not to powder my skin, as I wanted a dewy finish rather than matte. After that, I prepped my eyes for eyeshadow using the Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

I decided to use my Naked 3 Palette for my eyeshadow and did quite a smoky eye look. I took the shades Factory and Mugshot and made a wash of colour across the lids. I then took more of the Factory shade together with a touch of Blackheart and smoked the colour almost up to the brow bone. While this may sound pretty dramatic, I should point out that I have hooded eyes, so the colour was just visible above the hood. I then took some of Nooner and blended it along my lower lashline, taking the colour quite low, as I think that the technique works well to create a dramatic look on a hooded eye shape.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Liquid Liner - Clinique Quickliner - Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara

To finish off the eye makeup, I used the Rimmel Glam'Eyes Liquid Liner to create a very thin line along my top lash line. I didn't want to make it too dramatic, as I wanted the focus to be on the shadow on the upper half of the eye. I then used the Clinique Quickliner to add some definition to the lower lash line - as I mentioned before with the eyeshadow, I think that bold under-eye makeup works well with a hooded eye. With all of the eyeliner in place, I then added a few coats of the waterproof version of the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara. I like to wear waterproof mascara on nights out as I know that it will stay in place and won't smudge anywhere.

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil - Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Socialite

Onto the last of the makeup now - I finished off the look by filling in my brows with the Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil. I filled them in a little heavier than I would normally to balance out the strong eye makeup. Finally I chose the Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in the colour Socialite to wear on my lips, as it is quite a muted pink colour - it's almost like a my lips but better kind of shade.

Skye Satchel from Oasis - Dress by Apricot - Shoes from Cloggs.com

Finally for my outfit - I picked out one of my favourite dresses for the occasion, which is by the brand Apricot. I managed to get it at half price just before Christmas in a sale, so I'm not sure if it will still be available to buy. I paired the dress with some opaque black tights and my studded boots from Cloggs.com, which, again, I got in the sales so they might have sold out by now. The handbag that I brought with me is still available to buy, and I absolutely love it - it is the Skye Satchel from Oasis and it costs £25.

So, there you have it - my first ever Get Ready With Me post. If you enjoyed this type of post, leave a comment below and let me know if I should do them more often. I'll probably be posting a slightly late January Favourites some time this week, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

FILM NIGHT - 12 YEARS A SLAVE REVIEW

I went to go and see 12 Years a Slave almost a week ago, but I've only decided to review the film now, after I've had time to form a proper opinion. I would begin this review as I usually would, stating that it is spoiler free. However, as this film is based on true events, there aren't really spoilers as such. With that being said, I won't ruin the ending of the film just in case. 

I would say that this film is, without a doubt, one of the most disturbing films I have ever watched. Don't be put off by that statement - the film is extraordinary and moving, but be prepared to wince at the very least at certain parts of the film. As the title suggest, the premise of the film focuses on slavery in the southern states of the USA. Taken from IMDB, here is a short synopsis of the film...

Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.

As has been announced fairly recently, many of the cast members have been nominated for Academy Award this year - and when you look at their performances, it isn't hard to understand why. Lead actor Chiwetel Ejiofor makes his portrayal of Northup very interesting, as his defiance of his oppressors is almost empowering. On the flipside, his character slips effortlessly into despair, which can be heart-wrenching (for lack of a better word) at times. However, the real stand-out performance for me comes from Michael Fassbender, whose plantation-owning character genuinely scares at times. Even when off-screen, the mere threat of his character instills dread into the audience - one particular instance is when Solomon tries to smuggle a letter out without being caught, and the tension and sense of danger is palpable. Another noteworthy performance in the film comes from Lupita Nyong'o, whose portrayal of Patsey - a sexually abused slave - is harrowing and especially impressive when taking into account that 12 Years a Slave is her feature film debut.

The visuals of the film are, surprisingly, quite artistic - there are certain shots in the film that are beautiful to behold, yet this serves the purpose of making the action onscreen even more horrific. Some of the worst instances are when one of the characters is being tortured in the foreground, yet others in the background seem oblivious to this. The music in the film helps to heighten the sense of shock in scenes like these; Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is, once again, a perfect fit for this film, although in my mind it did sound strangely reminiscent of parts of the Inception soundtrack.

So, overall I'd say that 12 Years a Slave is well worth a watch, even if it isn't the most comfortable film to view. The violence always shocks but is never over-the-top, and the acting is first rate - I'm expecting this film to win big at the Oscars this year. Let me know in the comments if you've seen this film and what your thoughts on it are.

TOP PRODUCTS FOR DRY SKIN IN WINTER

Once again, I'm going to start this post by apologising for the lack of activity in the past week and a bit. Once I sort out a new posting schedule, I'll be back to posting at least once a week on a regular basis. That aside, I wanted to do a post dedicated to moisturisers - which, admittedly, does sound like quite a strange topic. However, the cold and rain in England has really been getting to my skin recently, so I thought I'd share what products I use to combat the forces of the winter weather.

SOAP AND GLORY THE DAILY SMOOTH BODY BUTTER


I haven't had this product for very long, as I got it in a Soap and Glory set for Christmas. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this product because it keeps skin moisturised for a prolonged period of time. I wore this body butter to a New Year's party - usually, I find that body butters sink into my skin too quickly, and my skin becomes dry again by the end of a night out. This was not the case with this product - it lasts for a long time, is light on the skin, and smells gorgeous. The Righteous Butter is another body butter from Soap and Glory that works really well on dry skin, but I prefer the packaging of this product, as I'm not overly keen on body butters that come in tubs.

SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN HYDRATING LIGHT MOISTURISER

Of the two facial moisturisers that I've included on this list, this is the cheaper alternative - that does not mean that the quality of the product is compromised by any stretch of the imagination. Like the Clinique moisturiser (listed later on), this product leaves a lovely, non-greasy feeling on the skin. Better still, this product is great if you're on a budget, as it costs only £3.99.

SOAP AND GLORY SCRUB + HAPPINESS


I'm having to include another product from Soap and Glory in this list - this time, however, it's something a little different. You would be mistaken for thinking that this product is a body scrub; it's actually a scrub for your hands. I haven't seen anything like this product before, but this stuff is a revelation. Throughout the year, I get quite bad dry skin across my knuckles, and this has been exacerbated in the winter months. This hand scrub is wonderful, as it smooths and preps the skin for hand cream without being too harsh or abrasive on the skin. An additional bonus of the scrub is that it smells amazing, as its orange and mandarin scented.

CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE MOISTURISER

As you may or may not be able to tell by the picture, I have pretty much used up all of this moisturiser. I've had this little sample for quite a while and I absolutely love it - unfortunately, the full-sized product is pretty costly. This moisturiser leaves such a lovely feeling on the skin; it feels like it is hydrating but isn't greasy at all. I can confirm that this works very well in the winter, as I took it with me when I went to Iceland last year in April, and it worked fantastically well in even colder weather.

CUTICURA VITAMIN E HAND CREAM


This product is a new edition to my hand cream collection - which is growing at a rapid rate. As I got this hand cream for Christmas, I'm not sure how much it costs. Regardless of price, this is a great product because it doesn't leave a greasy feeling on your hands. The only negative point that I can make about the product is that it is unscented - while this may appeal to some people, I personally like hand cream to have a nice scent to it.

SOAP AND GLORY HAND DREAM

Finishing off the list is yet another Soap and Glory product. It probably seems a bit biased of me to include so many of them, but I honestly think that their skincare products work really well. Hand Dream is pretty much the same as its more famous counterpart Hand Food, but supposedly this version has extra vitamins and other goodies in the formula. I haven't really noticed much of a difference between the two hand creams - both are non-greasy and wonderful smelling hand creams.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my recommendations for dry skin in the winter months. Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these products or if there are some that you would recommend.

FILM NIGHT - AMERICAN HUSTLE REVIEW

*This is a spoiler free review!*

I apologise for not posting on Sunday as I would normally do, but I wanted to wait to write this film review rather than make a rushed favourites post (which will probably come later on in the week). I mentioned in my November Favourites and Top Five Films posts that I am a big fan of Silver Linings Playbook. Naturally, when I found that David O. Russell was releasing a new film with pretty much the same cast, I was immediately interested. I went and saw American Hustle last night, and overall, I have to say that I'm very impressed.

Taken from IMDB, here is the plot synopsis of the film:

A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock the USA, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.

The cast-list that American Hustle offers is hugely impressive, with plenty of Oscar nominees and winners. Of the cast, Christian Bale offers the most entertaining performance - what is hugely ironic is that he cons the audience into believing that he is truly a conman. The relationship dynamics between Bale's and Jennifer Lawrence's characters is possibly one of the most comedic aspects of the film; what's more, the arguments and humorous exchanges somehow manage to make the marriage seem more believable. The rest of the cast also manage to walk the tightrope between comedy and drama very well, although sometimes the two genres become indiscernible from one another. One of the slight issues that I have is with Amy Adams' English accent - as a Brit myself, there were times when I did question how accurate her accent was.

In terms of editing and cinematography, American Hustle has all of the qualities that I loved in Silver Linings Playbook. A lot of the shots are very idiosyncratic of David O. Russell's films; there's almost a shakiness to the camera-work, which somehow makes it feel as though you are stepping into the lives of the characters onscreen. Surprisingly, I also love the way that Russell includes music in his films and rarely uses a score - for this film, it makes it seem much more in-keeping with the era in which it is set.

To round off, American Hustle is well worth a watch - I'll be surprised if there aren't any Oscar nominations from this film. One thing I will say is that the plot might get a little confusing to some viewers at some point, but the zealousness of the cast makes for an enjoyable film regardless of understanding.

TOP FIVE FAVOURITE FILMS

A couple of months ago I posted my top five favourite books, so I decided that I should compile a list of my favourite films. This list was very difficult for me to compile and has been months in the making - as I limited myself to my top five films, this list doesn't even begin to cover all of the films that I love. I tried to keep it quite diverse and include different genres of films and different franchises. However, if anyone would like me to make another top films list, I would be more than happy to oblige. 

5) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)

If you've read my top five favourite books post, you'll know that I included the novel which the film is based on in my list. While the film adaptation isn't always accurate to its source material, it is still just as poignant and thought provoking. Despite its various differences to the novel, the film has the same essence as the book, and this is mostly because Jack Nicholson's portrayal of McMurphy is astonishingly accurate to the character in the book. The rest of the cast perform very well and bring the characters to life wonderfully - while not all of them look how I imagined the characters to appear, they certainly capture their personalities well. One little complaint that I do have about the film is that Chief is sidelined somewhat, as his role as the narrator in the novel is scrapped in the adaptation - however, this is only a very minor issue that I have with the film.

4) FIGHT CLUB (1999)

"The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club" ... I'm afraid that I'm going to be a bit rebellious and break this rule. Fight Club chronicles the tale of a depressed young man known only as 'The Narrator' (Edward Norton) who dislikes his job and turns his attention to buying furniture from Ikea. While on a business-class flight, he meets the charming soap salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), and together the two of them create an underground Fight Club. Despite its age, Fight Club is still hugely relevant to the twenty first century, as it tackles some pretty hefty political themes. At times it is thought-provoking, at others hilarious, but for its entirety Fight Club is a very watchable and entertaining film.

3) THE LORD OF THE RINGS - THE TWO TOWERS (2002)

I've been a fan of The Lord of the Rings since I was about seven years old - granted, I didn't understand the films as well back then, but the fact that the trilogy has stayed a favourite for such a long time is really a testament to its legacy. The reason that I've picked The Two Towers as my favourite of the trilogy (all though admittedly it is a close call between the first two films) is because the sense of danger is amped up. The battle sequences are more frequent and visually stunning, especially considering that the film was released over ten years ago. Even more impressive than the battle scene CGI is the motion capture work to create Gollum - even now the special effects used to create the character do not cease to amaze me.

2) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook was really an impulse buy for me, as I didn't really know what it was about but I'd heard that it was supposed to be well reviewed when I bought it on DVD. Prior to this film, I'd never seen a David O. Russell film, and I had only seen the film's leads - Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence - in The Hangover and The Hunger Games respectively. As it turns out, the film was far better than I had imagined; the plot is surprisingly refreshing, as it follows Pat Solatano (Cooper) as he tries to regain his house, his job, and his wife, Nikki, after spending eight months in a psychiatric institution. When he meets the troubled Tiffany (Lawrence), she offers him a way to rekindle his relationship with Nikki - but only if he'll do something in return for her.

1) THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

As you may or may not have guessed by now, I am a massive fan of Christopher Nolan's films. The Dark Knight was the first Nolan film that I ever watched. I'll be honest, I was doubtful that I would like it at first. However, I was soon proved wrong and was blown away by almost every aspect of the film - the plot of the film is absolutely superb, and is more akin to a gritty crime thriller than a comic book adaptation. The film follows Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) as he forges an alliance with District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) in an effort to finally rid the streets of Gotham from organised crime and a maniacal criminal called The Joker (Heath Ledger). While I agree that the portrayal of The Joker is outstanding, I feel that the rest of the cast are somewhat under appreciated. The acting in this film - including Heath Ledger's now iconic portrayal of Batman's nemesis - is sublime all round. 

So, all in all, a pretty long film post - if you've managed to make it to the end, I applaud you. This will probably be my last post in 2013 - in case I don't get round to making a separate post, I wish you all a happy new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I thought I'd just make a quick little post to wish everyone a happy and restful Christmas. Whatever you're doing today, whether it be celebrating with the family or spending the day relaxing, I hope you all have a wonderful time. 

All the best,

Image Background Sourced From...
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bokeh_all_over.jpg

CHRISTMAS NAIL POLISH PICKS

The Christmas season is upon us, which can only mean one thing - celebrations galore. With this in mind, I've picked out five of the nail polishes in my collection which I think are great for this time of year - mostly because they were the most glittery polishes that I could find! Joking aside, here are my picks for some of the best yuletide nail colours.

O.P.I NAIL LACQUER IN LAST FRIDAY NIGHT

This product is from Katy Perry's O.P.I collection (as the name of the polish suggests) from 2011, so I have had it for a little while now. Despite its age, this is a great polish for special occasions or festivities because of its sparkle. Unlike some glittery nail polishes, this one doesn't require numerous coats to build up a solid colour. The actual polish is a very pale blue, almost like a tinted top coat, and it is flecked with bright blue and silver.

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH POLISH IN DISCO BALL

I apologise for the picture quality of this polish - it is so bright and glittery that my camera couldn't focus onto it! This shade is basically a clear nail polish which is studded with different sized flecks of silver, lilac, and blue glitter. This varnish is probably best used as a top coat, as a solid colour will require several coats. Unlike the O.P.I shades on this list, this varnish is a much more affordable party polish.

MAVALA NAIL POLISH IN 370 ELEGANCE

This shade is much more wearable for everyday than the previous two - as the name of the polish suggests, this is a very elegant and sophisticated colour. What's good about this shade is that it goes with pretty much any outfit - unlike some of my other picks which are a bit more bright and bold. The colour itself is sort of a cross between nude and gold, which makes it a bit more of a Christmas colour in my book.

O.P.I NAIL LACQUER IN DIVA OF GENEVA

Again, apologies for the image quality - taking photographs next to Christmas lights is, in hindsight, not the best of ideas. I got this nail polish just the other day as an early Christmas present from one of my friends. As I'm wearing this on my nails at the present time, I thought I'd include it in the list as it is so gorgeous. Granted, deep purple probably isn't the most Christmassy colour, but this shade has a hint of gold in it. Since this was a gift, I'm not sure how expensive this polish is, but I would imagine that it would be discounted online.

O.P.I NAIL LACQUER IN THE SPY WHO LOVED ME

I've saved what I feel is the most festive of the nail polishes until last - this shade from O.P.I's James Bond collection (sorry, there have been a lot from this brand) is a great classy and Christmassy colour. This shade is a vibrant red with flecks of gold glitter in it - I can't think of anything more Christmassy! Appropriately, I got this varnish last Christmas, so it might be available to buy more cheaply now.

So there you have it - my top picks for Christmas nail polishes. Hopefully this won't be my last post before Christmas, but if it is, then I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

FILM NIGHT - THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

It's sort of become a Christmas tradition that my friends and I go and watch the latest Hobbit film on the day of its release. Having enjoyed the first film in the franchise, I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel for pretty much the whole of the year. In this second installment to the franchise, Martin Freeman reprises his role as Bilbo Baggins, who we rejoin on his quest with Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) among others, as they draw ever closer to regaining the dwarves' homeland and riches.

One of the main criticisms of An Unexpected Journey was that the film dragged out for too long and there wasn't that much action - The Desolation of Smaug, on the other hand, is much more fast-paced. Similarly to The Two Towers and The Return of the King, the film follows groups of characters doing different things, which keeps the film engaging. The fact that the quest is already underway when the film begins is probably one of the main contributors to the faster pace; however, this does mean that any new viewers to the franchise might get a little lost in some parts of the film.

As well as the faster pace, the overall mood of the series gets a bit of an overhaul in this installment. While An Unexpected Journey was quite light-hearted, its sequel places a greater emphasis on the consequences of the quest, resulting in a darker tone. This is due, in part, to the fact that both of the main antagonists of the series are fully introduced in this film - both Smaug and The Necromancer. Despite this, the film is still quite comical, with wisecracks and Lord of the Rings references in abundance. This helps to bring balance to the film - it is based on a childrens' book, after all.

Naturally, the special effects of a fantasy film are always in question, as they can arguably make or break the film. In some senses, this film does rely on CGI a little more than its predecessor, but this is mainly because of the introduction of Smaug (more on that later). The other uses of special effects aren't ground-breaking like the LOTR graphics were; they are the sort of standard that cinema-goers expect to see in any blockbuster. Visually, however, the film has made an improvement on An Unexpected Journey, as some of the camera work is a little more inventive. A particular note-worthy piece of cinematography/special effects is when Bilbo puts the ring on - instead of him disappearing, a sepia tone (that has become widely associate with wearing the ring) washes over the screen. Now - onto the subject of Smaug. I won't give away too much about what he looks like, but what I will say is that he is nothing short of impressive. Aided by Benedict Cumberbatch's vocals and motion-capture performance, the scenes where the gang finally behold the dragon are a triumph.

Overall, I'd say that the second installment in The Hobbit franchise is much more of an improvement on the last film - not that I didn't like the first film, but its successor is much more tense and action-packed. The recurring cast build on their performances well, but for me, its newcomers to the franchise that keep the film going strong, as they propel the quest closer to its end.

CHRISTMAS COOKING - APPLE AND CINNAMON PASTRIES

The taste of cinnamon is synonymous with Christmas - that is simply a fact of life. Since I'm very much in the holiday spirit (and have been since about the beginning of November), I decided to bake something a little bit festive. Granted, apple and cinnamon isn't exactly the most festive combination, but the flavours work so well together. These little pastries can be a great alternative to mince pies, or can be served up as a Christmas party snack.

INGREDIENTS:

For the pastry...
(You could use shop-bought pastry for this recipe, but I went ahead and made my own)
225 grams of plain flour
110 grams of butter
80 grams of sugar
1 egg
A little bit of milk

For the filling...
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
2 apples (plain or cooking apples - it doesn't matter)
1 lemon
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
3 teaspoons of cinnamon
1/2 a tablespoon of water
1 egg

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to about 180 to 200 degrees celsius

If you are using shop-bought pastry, skip the next couple of steps

To make the pastry, add the butter and flour to a mixing bowl and crumb the two together using your hands. When this is done, combine the sugar into the crumbed mixture - you can use a spoon or your hands to do this.

Add in the egg and some milk to soften the mixture into a ball of pastry dough - once this is done, leave it in the fridge for a while (I left it in the fridge for about an hour and a half, but if you have more time then leave it in for longer).

Once the pastry has chilled, roll it out into a large rectangle and cut out little discs using either a cookie cutter or a pastry cutting tool. Each pastry requires two discs, one for the base and one to act as a lid, so make sure you cut out twice the amount of pastries that you want. Lay out half of the discs onto a pre-lined baking tray.

Next, finely chop the apples and add them into a saucepan. To add some sharpness (and to prevent the apples from browning), add in the juice of one lemon. Add in the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a drop of water and let the mixture simmer over a low heat for four to five minutes. The mixture will be done when the apples have softened.

The pastry discs on a baking tray and the simmering apple mixture!

Place the apple mixture onto half of the pastry discs. Beat an egg in a mug and brush the egg wash over the other half of the pastry discs. Place the egg-washed pastry on top of the apple covered discs with the washed side facing down. Pinch the corners of the pastries to seal the mixture inside.

Brush the egg wash on top of the pastries, and then bake them in the oven for about five to ten minutes. Make sure you check on them frequently, as they can burn quite quickly.


I hope you've enjoyed reading this Christmassy recipe - let me know in the comments if you decide to try baking these. They are quite time consuming to make, but trust me, they really are worth the effort.