Beautiful film for romantics: Take this Waltz (2012)

I didn't feel like watching an action movie, then I saw that they were showing this film which I didn't know anything about it, only that it was a romantic film. I'm actually very glad that we decided to see it.

I have to say that it was a bit cheesy at times but also very different from any typical American romantic movie, it reminded me of some realistic scenes that you typically see in Spanish Almodovar movies such as nudity of regular people and scenes of day-to/day like a woman peeing in a toilet and even using the toilet paper. A very simple thing to do but it's not usually seen in all movies. This one really stood out for me, Canadian writer and director Sarah Polley did a good job. The plot of this fim is not complicated at all, it's just about the evolution of a longterm relationship and the impact it can have to meet an attractive stranger. What the movie tried to show was that even if you end up having a relationship with the attractive and mysterious stranger that you have chemistry with, in the end the relationship will turn into the same thing that the other relationship was. We loved the colors and photography of this film, it's really aesthetic to watch, it's like a sequence of images sometimes you feel like watching a photo-album of beautiful colorful memories. Some of the highlights for me: The scene when it's revealed the longterm joke of throwing cold water at her in the shower ; when Daniel (played by attractive Canadian actor Luke Kirby) leaves the lighthouse postcard with the message to meet again in 20 or 40 years at the lighthouse when they will kiss for the first time; the scene of swimming without touching each other and in general the performance of the actress Michelle Williams. The moral of the story, if you love someone you need to take care of this person so that the relationship doesn't get monotonous. Not an easy thing to do, you need to get creative! And above all, don't get comfortable and think that the other person will never leave you.  Last question you will be thinking of, "Shall I go and see it?" Well the answer is yes, only if you are into romantic films if not , then you will hate it!

Laughter Lounge - Live Comedy in Dublin (2012)

We got free tickets to go to the Laughter Lounge in Dublin (Thanx Elynor!) . What a best therapy against stress than laughing in the best venue to see live comedy in Dublin?!. Have to say that every time you go to see comedy, it really depends on the acts on the night. It's hard that you like all of them, it's not an easy thing to do comedy. This time out of 4 comedians, we loved 2, the other 2 were not our "cup of tea" but actually, specially with John Colleary the audience laughed a lot. The presenter of the comedians Gar Murray was one of the highlights of the night for us, I had alerady seen him before in the Laughter Lounge and I knew he was good, to me he was the best one of the night! Just check out the parody he made of the eortic novel "50 Shades", it was hilarious! Even if we didn't know the erotic novel, he explained it and it was hilarious!

The other suprise of the night was the Dubliner comedian Rory O'hanlon, he was great! We couldn't stop laughing at his parodies about Dublin life style. He's good!!

There was another comedian, the second one , can't remember his name, I think it was Paddy, we did not find him funny at all, a bit racist.., he sang a song about a beautiful Polish DNA improver working in a spa in Dublin so that you get the hint.., he started by saying that Irish people were ugly and all look like potatoes and that due to recession potential DNA-improvers from Eastern-Europe left. Ouch!

If you happen to go to the Laughter Lounge remember that you always have to book the tickets in advanced, it's usually full and they don't let you in on the night if you don't have a ticket. Ah! Don't leave the place without going into the photobooth where they take 4 photos of you for free to remember the night! They will be posted in their facebook page for free the day after!

The Page to get tickets:

http://www.laughterlounge.com/

Ah! Forgot to say that they have cocktails and drinks for a very good price!

I leave you with a vide of one of the best moments of the night for me:

Best pizza I have eaten in Dublin: Steps of Rome (restaurant)

I'm lucky enough to work with Italians and they recommend me this small but charming Italian restaurant in dublin 2 called" Steps of Rome". We had very good red house wine,  Carpaccio di Bresaola (14.50), large salad Formaggio (10.90), pizza capricciosa (12.65 euros) and a delicious Italian capuccino all for 49 euros (not bad for such a great quality meal). What a pity that I couldn't eat more because I would have loved to have had a dessert! Arg!! A good excuse to go back!! We loved it!!! A bit pricy but we didn't care because we had an excellent lunch! My Italian colleagues were not wrong at all!! Thanx Irene for giving me the exact address to find this place, I would not have not found it otherwise! They also sell food to go, if you are in a hurry. We felt like in Italy, it remind me of a pizza we had with my friend Matteo in Verona! Delicious!!

Below you can see their web page with the exact address, it's very close to grafton street, it's actually the paralel street just after HMV shop. Just to let you know that it's a very popular place and quite small so avoid busy times since they only have one waitress, so don't be in a rush and be patient! It'll be worth the wait!

http://www.stepsofrome.ie/

Much better than I expected : Step up, Miami Heat (2012)

Yes, I have to confess, we went to see "Step up, Miami Heat". For those who know us, you will know that we love dancing, so no surprises there if we went to see a movie about dance moves. We did not have any high expectations, I even thought it was going to be a cheap repetition of the other step-ups movies, well I was wrong. I actually liked this one more than the first one of the STEP up's movies. The choreography of the dance performances is very original , it's dance combined with art and also delivering a message. The photography of the movie was a bit exaggerated at times, probably because it's a 3D movie and we saw it in 2D. Of course all the dancers and extras are hot in their bath suits and bikinis and it looks like there are no regular people with their bellies on the beach in Miami. Good to know , not to go there lol you already feel tiny and unfit watching the bodies that come up in the film. The plot is simple, a dance crew called "The Mob" that plan performances in the most unexpected places without being invited.  To me, the film was very entertaining to watch, i was not tired to see their performances because each single one of them was original and vibrant. They danced with passion and with original moves. Of course, Andrés loved the protagonist female dancer, I was also happy with the protagonist male dancer lol but I have to say that Channing is still my favorite . It's a pity that he does not take part in the Step up movies anymore. Highlights of the movie for me, the final dance, vibrant!! Of course the end is cheesy and predictable but the dance really got me !! I also liked the dance in the art exhibition , when they were pretending to be sculptures! I have to say that at times, the female protagonist dancer was a bit exaggerated and I had to laugh when I saw Andrés face, I think he wanted to jump into the screen .  This film even has a good message to the world: If you want to protest about something you don't agree with, to get your message across you have to do something different, going out to the streets with signs or creating disturbance ,does not catch the attention anymore. They way they protest in the film is through original performances. Now the question is, Do I recommend this film? Well, if you love dancing and watching a group of young talented dancers in the big screen, go and see it!! It's a very aesthetic film in all senses. When it finished , we were dancing in the street! Of course, watch this film in the big screen, not on a computer, it won't be the same.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - Uhm still not very convinced.. sorry

I actually saw this movie one weekend ago, I have been thinking about it since then to see what I actually think of it but no, I still don't feel like writing much about it. I found it too long, the story didn't get me, the only thing that I enjoyed was seeing Christian Bale in the batman suit in action because I'm a big fan of him. I was nicely surprised to see "500 days of Summer" actor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Cane, I'm a big fan of both of them which was a definite plus for me. The effects were good, can't deny that, I can't say that I didn't like the film either, the only sentence that comes to my mind is that, it was too long and that the bad guy "Bane" played by Tom Hardy,was very hard to understand when he talked, we actually found it funny sometimes because we could not understand what he was saying lol. If I recommend it? Yeah, it's a film you have to see, specially if you are a batman fan (otherwise, don't bother..),.I must be weird because I did not love it like most of the people I know but this is my opinion.  My review, not very deep either but I don't feel like writing more about this film.. maybe i had too high expectations... , don't know

Movie recommended: "Ted" (2012), the toy every man would love to have lol by Belén Delgado

Since i saw the trailer of this film "Ted" I knew I had to see it, a film about an adult living with a talking  nasty teddy-bear that many men would love to have as a friend, this was promising! IT had to be funny and hell, yeah it was hilarious!! He is: Funny, nasty, womanizer, loves to drink and get high, playing nintendo games, farts etc  I haven't heard a cinema audience laughing so loud at the same time for a long time. Hottie  American actor Mark Walhberg plays an excellent role, an adult that does not want to grow up and who is attached to his very special teddy bear which was his only friend since childhood. His beautiful girlfriend in the film, actress from Ukraine, Mila Kunis (who you may remember from "Black Swan") has to put up with Ted being in the middle of her relationship all the time. Presenter of the "E" program "The Soup" plays also a small role as Mila's boss, it was great to see him in the film, he is so funny when I watch him on t.v. I don't want to tell you some of the funny jokes,you have to go and see it, I'll only tell you some of  the highlights for me: When John Benett (Mark Wahlberg) meets Flash Gordon at the party and they hang-out with Ted (LOL great!!), the scene about Ted getting hired and at the counter conquering the cashier (LOL great!!), the fight of John and Ted (Something you have never seen before a teddy bear fighting with its owner lol) and I could go on and on!! It went so fast!! And it even made me remember "Flash Gordon" I used to watch it when I was a kid myself! To me I give it a 100%!!! And no, don't take any kid to see this film, as I was saying before it's not a sweet little teddy bear but just the opposite! By the way, Andrés has asked me for a TED for his birthday!! noooooooo

Magic Mike (2012) a film for Channing's female fans

All started when my mum and I wanted to go to the cinema in Blanch and then "Magic Mike" was in one of the screens (What a better option for 2 women who did not want to think much after a very long hard day?!!). We went to buy the tickets and before even saying the movie title the guy in the box office said smiling : "Magic Mike?". Gee I had to laugh, How did he know?!! I must have had a very smiley face. I have to admit that this was a movie that personally wanted to see since after "full Monty" I had not seen a group of strippers on a big screen lol for once someone in the movie industry thought that there are a bunch of women out there that also have the right to see hot guys dancing and stripping. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a pervert or anything, I'm just a XXIth woman that wants to have the same rights as men hehe. Well, they could have done a very nice movie, it had some potential : Hot guys, original and precise dance moves but no, I'm afraid that they did not do a good job. The quality of the film is poor, I know, some of you are not surprised, I didn't expect much either, just so see Channing in action (he is a very bad actor but he can dance and has the looks !). The dialogues were so simple and so stupid that sometimes I was even embarrassed to translate them for my mum although I think she liked seeing the strippers dancing lol It's actually the best part, just seeing some of the shows they perform. Of course Channing is the best one, he plays Mike. There was also a nice "discovery" for me, British cutie actor Alex Pettifer. Some of my favorite moments of the film are: The beginning with "It's raining men" with all the strippers dancing and the moment when Alex strips for the first time in the film (I know, not very intellectual..) To me, none of the actors in the film stood out due to their acting skills (They had other skills lol), only Matthew Mc Conaughey plays a very convincing and funny role, besides he keeps in shape , spite of being in his early forties. Can't say that much about the film, if you are a fan of Channing, this is a film about him, at least you will see him dancing (This is why I don't regret it, actually all guys should go and see it and learn to move his arse like him lol)! There is no more to it! Well you will see drugs, anger for money, stripping and some beautiful beaches and a few women in tits (this last one , I guess is in the film to keep all the boyfriends happy while their girlfriends check Channing and Alex out!!). Last question will be, Do I recommend this film? well there are 2 answers: "guys, don't go ,you will get upset once you see the way Channing moves.." and for women " well, if you want to see a bunch of strippers dancing "it's raining men" go!!

Don't bother to see it: Seeking a friend for the end of the world (2012)

Uff I must be weird because I did not like this cheesy and boring movie at all, I only laughed a couple of times but it did not keep me interested in the plot and no I did not find it romantic in any way, just because the 2 protagonists do not match , at all!

I do not agree with the 60% rate given in rottentomatoes, to me it is a 40% and the 40% is because it made me think a bit after the film ended. Yeah, we started talking about what would we do if we knew that the world was going to end in a few weeks. We would be in a difficult situation since our families live in two different continents and we would also like to be together at the same time, uff I hope not to get to see this moment. The only thing I'm sure off is that the last few hours I'd like to be on Ibiza drinking mojitos on the beach dancing with Andresillo! Going back to the film, it had a few interesting ideas such as if the world is going to end in a few weeks, people will go nuts, go on riots,will have sex with anyone not worrying about getting diseases or a pregnancy, eat whatever not being worried about the food they eat or the drugs they tak or even kill themselves not knowing how to face the world ending. It was also funny to see the bar they go "friendsy"(if i remember well the name) where everyone is your friend, the waiters, the clients and they all mingle while they have something to eat (everyone wanted a friend before the end of the world, so lonely people could go there). I also have to admit though, that the actress Keira Knightley played her role very well but no in general, I insist this film didn't convince me.. I should have gone to see the new movie of batman as I wanted too (it was sold out..). So if you go to see this film, at least I warned you!! And if you go and see it and you like it.. please explain to me what got you enjoyed . To me it was very predictable and so cheesy that I wanted to puke, another film I'll easily forget.

Music group recommended: Gossip

As you know, sometimes I recommend you groups I discover by chance. Well, this time it's the American-indie-rock "Gossip" founded in 1999. I'm sure you may have heard the song "Standing in the way of control" which was a major hit in u.k. and Ireland not so long ago. What I wanted to share with you is one of their new songs that I particularly love, it's catchy and original: "Moving in the right direction". I'm sharing their video with you so that you can see that also they way they look it's not conventional with their lead singer, Beth Ditto not being the typical hot-sexy girl that some groups have to catch fans' attention, she is just big in all senses, to me specially in talent! She should be an inspiration to those big women out there , she is all personality and has her own style. If you want to know more about them, they have their own facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/gossipmusic Below you can see their new song, I can't stop listening to it!!!

Roxette's Concert , O2 Dublin, 9th July 2012

Row 28, seat 125 & 126, block E in the O2 Arena in Dublin we got to see for the very first time and probably last, one of our teen idol pop bands : Roxette. A perfect music duo: Marie Fredirksson and Per Gessle that started back in 1985, I was only 8 years then. I bought one of my first vinilos albums when I was 12 "Look Sharp" in 1989; in this album you can find one of our favorite songs of all times, which were performed at the very last minute of the concert " The look" (exciting moment!). If you tell me when I was 12 in my Spanish city that I Was going to see live Roxette in Dublin 23 years later with my husband, probably I would have not believed it! I have to say that I Was worth to wait for so long! I couldn't be in better company and in a better place! What a great atmosphere, it was packed! Not a single free seat!! The audience of course were all from their thirties onwards. People singing along the lyrics loudly. It was moving to see how everyone singing "IT must have been love", "sleeping in my car", "Dangerous","Dressed for Success" ,"How do you do?", "Joyride" well everyone sang in English but Andres, me and a few other bunch of foreigners like us that didn't speak English back then and they way we remembered the lyrics was very differently lol. It was a nice feeling to listen back to the lyrics and be able to actually understand what they were saying!!! EXCITING!!! Going back to the concert, there was only one supporting band , Taxi something was the name, can't remember because I have waited to see Roxette for too long to listen to another group. Roxette came to stage at 21.00 (we got there at 19.30), as they didn't have big screens and we were a bit far away, we pictured them with the same look they had in the 80ies, they didn't grow old for us. The gig was simple:Just both of them singing, no fancy dancers or changes of wardrobe/ stages. Their energy, their voices, the way they dressed, it was all the same!! Per didn't stop jumping all the way, what a shame I couldn't get closer to jump with him!! Marie did not jump so much, she was a bit more chilled-out but she smiled all the way and sang beautifully together with Per. They did not even take a break for the 2 remaining hours! While reading the programme of the concert I found out that Marie (female singer of Roxette), had a brain tumor at the beginning of 2002, this is why they stop performing back then. I had no idea!! Luckily she recovered , otherwise i would have never been able to see them!! Unfortunately Cancer kills anyone, it doesn't count if it you are a brilliant singer like Marie. I cold go on describing the concerts with loads of compliments, to me it was the perfect ending of a hard working day, it was a dream coming true for both my husband and I, what a joy to share it together, I found it so romantic. Thanx Roxette for existing, for going on singing so that old fans like us can enjoy your songs together!! I hope you can continue for many more years making more people happy!! Big virtual hug from a humble Spanish blogger who has grown up with your songs. We love you!

Movie review: Friends with Kids (2012)

You would be wondering what criteria I chose to go and see this movie, well,it's simple, I was going with my mum and she does not speak much English so I knew I would have to be translating most of the film, so I needed a simple movie not to go myself nuts trying to understand it myself and then translating at the same time. Well, I wasn't wrong with this one, a very simple film with a predictable American style ending. It was an o.k. film but not very original or memorable. A movie you can easily survive without. Probably you knew already from the title and you don't need me to tell you this lol. The plot, in a few words, is a bunch of friends that start having kids and their relationship changes, two of the friends decided to have a kid together without being in love but just as a deal to see if they would be happier than their married friends. You can foresee the rest.. in theory they are not in love.. they have the kid.. keep on seeing other people and things get complicated.., the end?? You guess it. If it was an Almodovar's movie , one of the would have died , become a travesti or have a gay lover but here it's not so exciting lol. Anyway! The most important thing for me was to be back in the cinema after so many weeks! Next time I need to go for a more promising film!