Top 5 Wednesday: Favourite Fancasts

Top 5 Wednesday is hosted by Samatha at Thoughts on Tomes. The guidelines and topics can be found on the Goodreads group.

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Discuss your preferred fancasts for some of your favorite characters. (Fancasts means actors you’d like to play your favorite characters or imagine your favorite characters as.) 

I mentioned it a few times before, I don’t really like the idea of books being turned into movies. But, I admit, it’s fun to think about who might be the perfect actor/ress to play some of your favourite characters. I’ll start with my ideas for the upcoming Vampire Chronicles series, and then go to some random ones.

1. The Vampire Chronicles:

a) Jared Leto as Lestat

Maybe this would be a perfect match some ten years ago, but Jared Leto looks so much younger than he actually is, so I think it would work. His expressive blue eyes would be perfect for Lestat, and he looks great with every hair colour (he was blonde before anyway.) He’s a perfect combination of sweet-looking and crazy, and that exactly what we need for Lestat.

b) Luke Arnold as Louis

He already has curly brown hair. And he proved he was a great actor in Black Sails. I definitely want to see more of him, and I think the role of Louis would fit him well. Though, I think he would be a great Nicholas, too.

c) Jessica Parker Kennedy as Akasha

Another person from the Black Sails cast (what can I say, I’m a bit obsessed). While Aaliyah was perfect as Akasha in Queen of the Damned, and it will be hard to step into her shoes, it think Jessica Parker Kennedy can do it!

2. Natalie Dormer as Poison Ivy

It’s high time Poison Ivy gets her time to shine (I’m not counting the Batman and Robin movie because it was horrible, and I hate what they’re doing to Ivy in Gotham.) Natalie Dormer would be perfect for this! I’m sure she would rock red hair, and she has those eyes that kill. I would watch her in any superhero or supervillain role, to be honest, but since Poison Ivy is my favourite I really want her for this role.

3. Hugh Laurie as J. Jonah Jameson

Tom Holland was a great Spider-man! Now, Spidey will grow up eventually, and we’ll need J. Jonah Jameson to step into the story. 😛 This isn’t actually my idea, I saw it on the internet somewhere, but I loved it! Hugh Laurie would be great for this role.

4. Dan Stevens as Crake (Tales of the Ketty Jay)

This series is so much fun, and it would make a great tv show, or movie series. I’m not sure I want it to be turned into that format, but it would work. And while I’m not sure who would be a perfect Darian Frey, I’m absolutely certain Dan Stevens would be the right choice for Crake. Crake is the only aristocrat on the crew, but he is also a “mad scientist” with a troubled past kind of character, which makes him (almost) a combination od Dan Stevens’ character in Downton Abbey and David from Legion. 😉

5. Shades of Magic

a) Eddie Redmayne as Kell Maresh

Yes, Eddie Redmayne is older than Kell is supposed to be, but I’m old, too, so I don’t care. XD He’s a great actor and I can really see him as Kell.

b) Jade Hassouné as Rhy Maresh

I’ve only heard of Jade Hassouné because I’ve seen several people mention him as a their choice for Aladdin, but he immediately came to mind while I was doing this list. He is how I imagine Rhy to look like.

So, what are some of your fancasts? Do share! 😉

In First Person: My Favourite Films

In First Person is a monthly meme here on Books and Hot Tea. Every first of the month I talk about a topic that is not related to books. Feel free to leave comments and chat with me!

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Is this possible?! I actually posted In First Person post on time!

Well, happy September, people! Autumn is coming and that makes me really happy. 🙂 But, now, I’ll talk about something completely unrelated to that.

If you remember, in last month’s In First Person, I talked about films I like to watch when I just want to relax and have some fun. As much as I like the films on that list, those are not necessarily my favourites. But the films I really love are not always suitable for a cosy evening, as they can be quite disturbing. You’ll soon see why.

Before I start, I also want to stress that I’m not a big film lover. Everyone loves films, at least a little bit, but I’m not a big “movie junkie” and there are many classic films that I haven’t seen (yet). And the same is true for tv shows. I just don’t watch as many as other people seem to, and I get bored if there are too many seasons of a show. Reading one book takes a lot more time than watching one film, and since reading is my preferred free time activity, I just try to find time for it, which means something’s got to go. This doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate film as an art form. And I think these films truly are art:

Pan’s Labyrinth (original title: El laberinto del fauno)

 

IMDB description: In the falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.

Director & Writer: Guillermo del Toro

There are many layers to this film. Pan’s Labyrinth is a blend of dark fantasy, drama, and historical genre. It’s magical and creepy, but also very realistic and sincere. It’s very powerful and it disturbs me every time I watch it. And it looks beautiful!

Black Swan

IMDB description: A committed dancer wins the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” only to find herself struggling to maintain her sanity.

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Another beautiful but disturbing film on the list. I’ve heard complaints about it not representing the lives of ballet dancers realistically, but I don’t think that was the point of the film. It is about ballet, of course, but more than that it is about a person who struggles with her own ambitions, jealousy, and expectations. It’s more psychological than anything else, and I think it was done great.

Mr Nobody

IMDB description: A boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Should he go with his mother or stay with his father? Infinite possibilities arise from this decision. As long as he doesn’t choose, anything is possible.

Director & Writer: Jaco Van Dormael

This film is about much more than you might guess form the description. It’s surreal at times, but everything makes sense in the end, which is not always the case with similar films. It’s a bit hard to explain without ruining it, so I won’t say much more.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignnorance)

IMDB description: A washed-up actor, who once played a famous superhero, attempts to revive his career by writing and starring in a Broadway play.

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu (he’s also one of the writers)

Birdman is a thought-provoking film which deals with the schism between Broadway and Hollywood, without taking sides, or promoting just one view. Every character is well-developed and interesting, with many flaws, but also some virtues. It is about art, and what art really is, but at the same time it portrays the lives of actors and people around them in a realistic way. The acting is great, and the choice of Michael Keaton for the main role was perfect and even metatextual in a certain way. (What’s even more interesting is that he recently played another “birdman” – Vulture – in Spider-man: Homecoming :P)

I’ll end the list here, even though there are more great films out there, because there four really stan out to me. Apparently, I love films which are strange, but not completely, if you even understand what I’m trying to say. XD

What kind of films do you like? What are your favourites? And do you have any recommendations for me? 🙂

In First Person: Films for a Cosy Evening

In First Person is a monthly meme here on Books and Hot Tea. Every first of the month I talk about a topic that is not related to books. Feel free to leave comments and chat with me!

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Well, I should really just delete that description because I’m terrible at actually doing these posts. My last In First Person post was on the 2nd of June – even then I didn’t really publish it on the 1st. But here it is, on the 6th of August – a new In First Person post!

Anyway, I decided to talk about films for a change! I wanted to post something about my favourites, but there are too many films to pick from, so I decided to be more specific. These are the films I like to watch when I just want to relax and have some fun. They may not be the greatest cinematic achievements, but they all have something that makes me want to see them again. I’ve seen them many times already, and I’ll probably watch them again. Soon. 😉 Here are some of them:

Tangled

Let me just say, I ADORE animated films. So, I’ll start my list with them. Tangled is definitely one of my favourites. It’s probably my most watched film ever. I love all the characters, and it’s so much fun! And there’s Pascal and Max. They’re the best!

The Emperor’s New Groove

This is my other Disney favourite. I can never choose between Tangled and The Emperor’s New Groove. It has the best villains ever!

I mean, Yzma was destined to become a meme:

This film is pure fun.

Interview with a Vampire

Some may not think this film belongs to the cosy list, but in my case it does. It’s great to watch this one when it’s raining outside, it makes a perfect atmosphere. Despite its flaws, it’s one of my favourites, and every now and then I feel the need to rewatch it. It’s also a film I watch alone since other people I know don’t like it that much, and those who had to watch it with me are kind of fed up with it. XD

Guardians of the Galaxy

It’s one of the most fun superhero films out there. I love this one and it’s a great choice when I’m in the mood for a laugh. There are some other superhero films that I like to rewatch, like The Avengers, Antman, Deadpool, and I’ll probably rewatch Spiderman: Homecoming many times in the future, but those movies don’t have Groot, so Guardians are my final choice.

P.S. How cute is Baby Groot in Vol.2?! Adorable!

Star Wars (the original trilogy)

I’m not hating on the new Star Wars films, but the first three (which are not really first anymore, but you know what I mean) were the ones I watched as a child and fell in love with. Nothing can compare to that. And Ewoks. 😀

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This one is very bloody and very fun. I just love it! It looks so gloomy and wonderful at the same time. The cast is great, and the songs are, too. If you don’t mind some blood and gore, I’m sure you’ll see just how fun and aesthetically pleasing this film is.

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

I like the first Ace Ventura film, but I think the second one is much better. I loved this movies when I was a child, and I still watch it now. I’ve always wanted to be a pet detective myself and fight for animal rights. The best scene is definitely the Monopoly Guy scene. THE. BEST. Don’t fight me on this. 😛

Mamma Mia!

Another guilty pleasure film. It’s just so much fun! And I love how Pierce Brosnan is trying to sing. XD It’s very fun to sing along to this film, too. I mean, we all know ABBA songs, don’t we?

Now, I probably forgot many others… But these are some of the films that I’d chose to watch on a lazy day. So, let me know, what are some of the films you like to rewatch? Why do you watch them time and time again?

Top 5 Wednesday: Current Favourites that Aren’t Books

If you want to join, Top 5 Wendesday guidelines and topics can be found on the Goodreads group hosted by Samantha.

Oh, I love this topic! As much as I like talking about books, it’s nice to talk about some other things I like for a change. And I’m looking forward to finding out what other Wednesdayers love! 🙂

Anyway, here are some things that I love at the moment:

1. Food: Homemade Almond Butter

As I mentioned in my previous post, I discovered how to make homemade almond butter a few months ago, and I fell in love with it! It’s yummy and healthy, and you can make a lot of other things with it. I also started making my own granola bars.

2. Series: Black Sails

Now, this isn’t something I’ve just recently discovered, but the first episode of the 4th and last season of this series premiered on 29th January so I think it’s the perfect time to talk about it. I love this series so much! It’s a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, but it’s much more than that.

3.  Film: Split

I didn’t think I would love it, but this is the best film I’ve seen lately. And James McAvoy is amazing at playing all those personalities! The film did make me feel uneasy, though, and I even dreamt it. It was more of a nightmare than a dream actually. XD

4. Lifestyle: Yoga

I’m still a complete beginner, but I’m really, really loving it! I’m not the kind of person who likes to exercise, but yoga makes me feel great. 🙂 (P.S. I’m definitely not as good as the girl on the photo.)

5. This gif:

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Thanks pixabay.com for the almonds and yoga photos! 🙂

Top 5 Wednesday: Fictional Items I’d Give as Gifts

This Top 5 Wednesday topic really made me think… Most of really interesting (and helpful) fictional items that I know of come from the Harry Potter universe. But it would be silly to just name those when there are so many books out there! So I decided to choose just one item from Harry Potter. Here’s what I came up with in the end:

1. A Time-Turner (Harry Potter Series)

My first choice from Harry Potter would definitely be a Time-Turner. Everyone needs more time! 24 hours a day is sometimes just not enough to do everything yoou need to do. But I would have to be very careful, and give this to a person who would not use it to change the past and make a total mess. (I’m looking at you, Barry Allen!)

2. A flying carpet (One Thousand and One Nights)

Why not a magic lamp, you ask. Well, people always wish for the wrong things, and they often get tricked… So a flying carpet is a much better gift. And if it’s as cute as in the Disney Aladdin movie, even better. 🙂

3. Dorothy’s silver/ ruby slippers shoes (The Wizard of Oz)

With these, you could basically teleport yourself wherever you want to go. Do I need any more explaining to do? Free travel!

4. Hoverboard (Back to the Future)

Not from a book, but still fictional. I know some people who would be really happy to have one. 🙂

5. Mary Poppins’ bag

A bag that fits everything! Very, very practical for the people who like to travel. (I don’t know if she has one in the book though, I only watched the film, sorry…)

So, would you be happy to get some of these as a gift? Or is it just me? XD