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  • Happenings, Movies, Music, NZ Music Month, Wellington

    Winging Your Way Through The Weekend, 11-12 May

    09.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Brr! What a week. Floods, a (very tiny) earthquake and although the great day star showered us in splendour the mercury hasn’t climbed very high. It’s probably safer indoors with weekend warmers. We’re going for a blog in two halves today Wellington’s what’s on closely followed by a continuation of last weeks NZ music scrape over.

    The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in its final weeks and the hilarious “The Boy With Tape On His Face” performs in Downstage Theatre Friday night. 
     
    Our friendly neighbours Lower Hutt have some sweet badge making going down for Youth Week at The Dowse Gallery if you’d like to pimp your bag, hat or jacket for free. Here’s a full run down of Youth Week events in the region.
     
    Want to get inside a navy ship and see what goes down? HMNZS Wellington will be open up for your viewing pleasure on Queens Wharf this Saturday. Don’t forget the sea legs.

    There’s also a fascinating film festival in town this weekend. Documentary Edge Festival 2013 has all sorts of interesting offerings including Only The Young a study in youth and coming of age. 
    This week we’ll take a look at the “naughties” (2000-2009) for the weekend playlist. At times you could’ve been forgiven for thinking that music had taken a turn for the worst this decade. International offerings like Axel F’s totem to annoyance Crazy Frog weasled themselves to number one. Reality superstar competitions started to change the face of how musicians are made (you web-savvy folk may’ve already encountered Dave Grohl’s thoughts about these competitions via meme). Here in New Zealand we had a go. Yes we did. New Zealand Idol delivered us (briefly) Ben Lummis and Michael Murphy, we also got Stan ‘yous’ Walker through Aussie Idol. The decade had gems, don’t get me wrong. The star of the decade was a (then) young rapper from Christchurch, Scribe. He dominated 2003’s charts with his debut single Stand Up. Hip Hop/R&B were the champion genres across the airwaves with acts like Savage (with Swing), Dei Hamo (We Gon’ Ride), swaggy Dane Rumble in his past life act Misfits Of Science, Nesian Mystik, P-Money (who has some new stuff too!) and Smashproof. Our other genres did well with Fur Patrol, Goodshirt, Atlas, Tiki Taane & company keeping the singles chart kiwi. Some other favourites include Stellar*, Zed, Salmonella Dub, Che Fu, The Datsuns, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Anika Moa. Many of these artists albums are still lingering in our CD collection, if any take your fancy have a dig through their discographies.
     
    Here’s a kiwi music video treasure from the decade to take us out, cue Kora and their EPIC anime video for Skankenstein.


  • Library Serf, Movies, Trailers

    Catching Fire trailer!

    15.04.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Is out, and it looks gripping!

    Don’t forget to read the book: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.


  • Events, Happenings, Justin, Movies, Music, Wellington

    Winging Your Way Through The Weekend

    12.04.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Highlights this week; term time’s almost up, we’re seven days into having brought the sun forward for winter and apparently the rain’s coming back for a visit. Enough small talk though, here’s this week’s ender-entry to give you a two day break from the school work.

    If you’re an adventurous titan, and like to work alliteratively, here are some things to do on Saturday – that start with ‘S’:

    Skating takes over the waterfront in two forms. The Richter City roller derby season kicks off on Saturday night at the TSB arena in a home season battle between Smash Malice and Comic Slams. For a quick scrub-up on the ins and outs of the game look no further than Y/A novel Whip It and its sister movie starring Ellen Page.

    Real Groovy linkWhip It (the movie) Image Courtesy SyndeticsWhip It (the book)

    Still keen on skating but not so sure about all the aggression – why not try your hands, or feet – or feet then hands, on the ice? The ice rink is in full operation on Queens wharf just a short hop from the TSB. For our older readers Blades Of Glory might be a quick introduction on how not to act on the ice but for some pointers and to figure out if you can make a career out of it why not check out some of our literature?

    Okay, okay enough with the skates. I wouldn’t leap into the water at the moment on account of its chill factor but one way you could get some surfing in is by checking it this sweet free free flick by Alex Monteith at The Dowse Gallery in Lower Hutt.

    And here’s a quick weekly musical digest to help shape your weekend playlist:

    Pete Wentz’s Fall Out Boy graced our shores this week on the back of their latest album drop.
    Kiwi band Tahuna Breaks are in town this weekend for their Shadow Lights album release tour and are currently sitting near the top of the NZ album charts.

    Ever wondered how animals eat their food? Here’s this weeks viral vid’ – courtesy Mister Epic Mann;

    Fowler out.


  • Movies, News

    So many screen adaptations

    18.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    YA fiction is very popular with movie makers. In more based-on-the-book movie news:

    The Maze Runner (book by James Dashner) is currently being cast, but they’ve not done the big leads (Thomas, really) yet.

    Daughter of Smoke and Bone (book by Laini Taylor) is going to be a movie! This could take a while to appear on the screen, because they’ve only just announced who’s writing the script.

    The Fault in our Stars (book by John Green) is also going to be a movie!! John Green fans will be very happy to hear this. Casting is in the “rumours” phase, so it could be a while before you can buy tickets, but it’s something to look forward to! (Also, how sad will this movie be?)

    Delirium (book by Lauren Oliver) is – a little differently – going to be made for TV. I’m not sure if this means series, mini series, or TV movie, but it’s getting a cast, including Daren Kagasoff (from The Secret Life of the American Teenager).

    Divergent (book by Veronica Roth) is also being cast, with Kate Winslett, Zoe Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley as Tris. (Shailene Woodley is also in rumours about The Fault in our Stars, busy.) Still no news on the title of the third book in the series (sorry).

    On the Jellicoe Road (book by Melina Marchetta) has a script but no cast (we think). Still, this is progress! The author’s blog has occasional news updates, for interested readers. She announced at the end of last year that Saving Francesca is also getting the film treatment. Too much!

    It is hard to keep up!


  • Internet, Library Serf, Movies

    Catching Fire Fashion Extra

    12.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    We at the teen blog like fiction and fashion, so when you put them together you get a winner. We do love the Catching Fire couture photos that have cropped up recently. Even the chairs are awesome. Finnick looks piratical (<3 the word piratical, any excuse to use it), and we’re not sure whose dress is better, Johanna’s or Katniss’ (which looks like it’s part-weapon). Stuff informs us that Effie is wearing Alexander McQueen. Here’s Perez Hilton on the topic.

    Also, make sure you re-read the book while you wait for the first teaser trailer. The movie website (complete with impressive flaming logo) is here.


  • Books, Grimm, Movies, Top 10

    Top 10: Book related 2013 movies

    07.01.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    2013 should be another great year for movies. Rebecca and Rachel are looking forward to The Perks of Being a Wallflower (starring Emma Watson (Hermione) and also Nina Dobrev from The Vampire Diaries), which is one of many intriguing upcoming book-inspired films, like:

    1. Catching Fire – November (book / IMDB page). New cast additions include Sam Claflin (who is Finnick, and from Snow White and the Huntsman) and Jenna Malone (Johanna).
    2. Beautiful Creatures – February (book / IMDB page). Based on the book by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, in which Lena is the girl of Ethan’s dreams, literally. The film stars Alice Englert (trivia: she is the daughter of New Zealand director Jane Campion) and Alden Ehrenreich. They may soon become household names.
    3. City of Bones – August (book / IMDB page). The first film, and the first book in the Mortal Instruments series, which, if you haven’t read it already and mean to, you should reserve now! Starring Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower and Godfrey Gao (as Magnus Bane).
    4. Iron Man 3 – April (graphic novels / IMDB page). IMDB says that Stan Lee might put in an appearance. We shall see!
    5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – December (book / IMDB page). Poor Smaug.
    6. Man of Steel – June (graphic novels / IMDB page). Starring Henry Cavill (Humphrey in Stardust, recommended recently by R and R – I agree, excellent sky pirate) and Russell Crowe as Jor-El (Amy Adams is Lois).
    7. Ender’s Game – October (book / IMDB page). Based on the über-popular book by Orson Scott Card, in which Ender Wiggin, genetically engineered genius, is sent to an elite school to train to save the earth from invasion by a (very) malignant alien race. NCEA seems not too bad now. The film stars Asa Butterfield (from Hugo) and Abigail Breslin (My Sister’s Keeper) and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit). They’re also Marvel comics.
    8. The Great Gatsby – June (book / IMDB page). One of the 20th century’s enduring classics, written by F Scott Fitzgerald. Gatsby hosts great parties, but that’s all most people know about him. When Nick moves in next door, he’s keen to uncover the mystery, but becoming part of Gatsby’s world may reveal a dark side. Carey Mulligan, Leonardo DiCaprio star alongside Isla Fisher, who used to be on Home and Away.
    9. The Host – March (book / IMDB page). This is the other Stephenie Meyer novel, where she tries out Sci Fi. Wanderer (or Wanda for short) is an alien who inhabits bodies. When she’s given Melanie Stryder, she can’t quite take her over, and she’s drawn into Melanie’s world of free rebels fighting the alien invasion. Saorise Ronan is Wanda, and she’s also going to be busy in:
    10. How I Live Now – release date TBA (book / IMDB page). In the award-winning book by Meg Rosoff, New Yorker Daisy is sent to live in the English countryside, which seems like a major adjustment but the sudden onset of World War III puts that in perspective as Daisy battles to survive and find her family.


  • Library Serf, Movies, Trailers

    Two Trailers

    30.11.12 | Permalink | Comment?

    As it’s Friday, a diversion is required. First, the trailer for the City of Bones movie (due out in August next year). We were a bit slow out of the starting gates, but here it is in all its splendid glory:

    Clary? Simon? Jace? Hopefully you think they are fitting. The official site for the movie is here.

    Peter Jackson’s posted an interesting clip about the inner workings of the Hobbit movie making:

    If you want to read the book before December 13th, reserve a copy here.


  • Library Serf, Movies, Trailers

    Breaking Dawn Part 2: Mini Clips

    31.10.12 | Permalink | Comment?

    Hard to imagine, but after next month there will be no more Twilight movie trailers ever. Until then, here’s a couple of little jigsaw pieces of clips of Breaking Dawn Part 2:

     And here:

     

    Cute.

    Breaking Dawn Part 2 opens in theatres in the middle of next month.


  • Library Serf, Movies, News

    Movie Adaptation News

    18.09.12 | Permalink | Comment?

    Turning novels into movies is the new black, and here are some YA novels that are getting the treatment:

    Divergent, by Veronica Roth. It has been announced that the film will be released in March 2014. See here for more. No word on the title of the third book (commonly called Detergent).

    The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater (today is its official publication day – this link here should take you to the first two chapters, courtesy of ew.com). This LA Times article here also says that the author’s book The Scorpio Races is going to become a film also. Maggie must be very happy.

    Numbers, by Rachel Ward. The script for this is being written at the moment. Here’s a review of the book, about a girl who can see the date of a person’s death in their eyes.

    The Changeover, by Margaret Mahy. Margaret Mahy’s New Zealand classic might get made, with a little help from American backers, according to TVNZ, and Stuff and others.


  • Library Serf, Movies, News, Trailers

    Breaking Dawn Part 2 Trailer

    12.09.12 | Permalink | Comment?

    Let the other games begin!

    Breaking Dawn Part 2, in which Bella leaps tall pine trees in a single bound, and in which the big show down between the Cullens and the Volturi finally takes place, has a trailer:

    The film is out on November 16th. Read the book to refresh your memory before then! Also, watch Part 1 on DVD (80c on a young adult card).


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