July 2011 in Films, Books and Music

July 2011 has been a funny one -- it's absolutely whizzed past once again, what with two holidays, my school-leavers Prom, the end of Harry Potter and (resultantly) my childhood and the aftermath of my birthday -- meaning much film-watching and book-reading was to be done. Think I gave it a fair old go.

Films
I don't think, apart from Harry Potter (*cough* twice), I've been to the cinema this month, which is - to me - slightly tragic. That said, I've still managed to sneak in the occasional film, one old and three new.
Transformers - I know the sequel was pants, and I wasn't even bothered about watching the threequel (I'm claiming credit for that word), but you can't deny that the original was great. Funny, exciting, action-packed and pacey. Alright, so Megan Fox isn't exactly Meryl Streep and when the robot-aliens start fighting it's impossible (unless you're an obsessive teenage boy) to tell which metal limb belongs to the goodie and which to the baddie. Still. A cracking action-adventure film.
Due Date - I was expecting a Hangover-esque, cringey boy-comedy. This pretty much is a Hangover-esque, cringey boy-comedy. That said, it's also really quite funny, though there were a couple of avert-eyes-and-sigh moments.
Eskimo Day - This was a small, BBC film made at some point in the mid-nineties, featuring several different families handling of Cambridge interview day, with particular focus on a dysfunctional, privileged family from Cheltenham and a working-class family from Blackburn. Very, very funny, perceptive and generally lovely film.
Cold Enough For Snow - the sequel to Eskimo Day. Yet more ammo for the 'Sequels Are Always Shit' argument.

Music
Not a stand-out month music-wise...
Jack's Mannequin 'Dear Jack' EP - only a four-song EP, but a nice one. I always like a bit of Jack's Mannequin; they're very easy to listen to and hard to dislike. Favourite songs: 'There, There Katie' and 'Dear Jack'.
Michael Buble 'Crazy Love: Hollywood Edition' - I resent an artist releasing the same album twice, when the second one has ONE new song, and a bunch of live versions. I love Michael Buble, but I was annoyed that he made me pay twice as much money for what's essentially the same album I bought last year. Favourite song: 'Hollywood'.
Dire Straits 'Money For Nothing' - I dug this out of my Dad's CD collection and have to say that, whilst I enjoyed it, it didn't grab my attention. I didn't DISLIKE this album, I just didn't find anything particularly fantastic about it. Still a pretty good one though. Favourite songs: 'Walk Of Life', 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Twisting By The Pool'.

Books
I've read a LOT this month, but I think we can all agree that the reading material hasn't exactly been James Joyce. That said, in terms of nostalgia and old-school pageturners, it's been awesome.
When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman - read this on holiday, and whilst finding it somewhat OTT in places (that much crap could not happen to one family), the first half especially was poignant, clever and a fascinating read.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling - the beginning of my nostalgia kick. Loved it when I was six, still love it now I'm eighteen. Makes you realise how much the series progressed, whilst still retaining it's childlike appeal.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling - after Order of The Phoenix, my least favourite Harry Potter story. Still love it though.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling - my favourite. Have always, and will always treasure this book.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - it took me about seven hours to finish this book, and I adored it. I'd heard loads of hype and finally succumbed when I saw the trilogy in a 3 for 2 sale - hell, am I glad I did. Proper, action-packed, fast-moving, pageturning adventure books are not as common as I would like, and this was a superb example of what young adult books should be.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - not quite as gripping as the first in the series, but still excellent.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - unfortunately I was quite disappointed in this one. After the joy of reading that was the first two, I think I expected too much of this, and didn't find it anywhere near as addictive. I also started to find the main character's incessant moaning slightly annoying, and couldn't help but role my eyes at the 'everyone is in love with the heroine' cliche. That said, still a great read.

Things I Have Learned About Holland

I've spent the past few days in the Netherlands with my family and some old friends. We used to visit them every couple of years but, one way or another, this is the first time we've been to Holland in about ten years, and I learned some fascinating things whilst there. Observe.

What English people label as 'Dutch Apple Pie' is an insult to any and every Dutch baker.

There are thousands of cyclists, not one of which wears a helmet.

These thousands of cyclists have right of way, thus will zoom cheerfully in front of a 40mph car under the natural (and often misguided) assumption it will stop.

They have these biscuits called stroopwaffle which is what I now imagine the streets of heaven to be paved with.

The old ladies will not thank you, look at you, or even acknowledge your existence if you pick up their crutch for them.

Their version of Harrods is called De Bijenkorf and means 'The Beehive', which is a much better name than Harrods.

Prostitution is legal and not only do they not bother hiding the Amsterdam Red Light District, you can buy fridge magnets with it's name (and naked ladies) on.

Cannabis cafes are also legal, but only in Amsterdam, not the rest of Holland.

You have to join a REALLY long queue to see the Anne Frank House. And it's worth every second.

Amsterdam's canals are also Amsterdam's sewers. Swim at your own risk.

Poffertjes are NOT 'just like pancakes' and you will be VERY VERY UNPOPULAR if you suggest otherwise.

When they say that 'walking to the top of that tower won't even break you out in a sweat', they lie.

The weather is only slightly better than England's.

If you use the words 'butty', 'cob' or 'sarnie' in relation to a sandwich, you will confuse people. (That probably applies to all foreign countries, and probably large portions of England, actually...)

They drive on the right hand side, and do so in a slightly maniacal fashion.

They're really tall.

It is very, very flat.

If the entirety of the USA was as environment-friendly as Holland, there would be no global warming problem.

Twelve All Over Again

It's been a while since I wrote a post. Feel I should say something. Maybe something deep and poignant, or bitch-slap you all with some of my needle-sharp wit and cleverness, or even an intelligent rant about the true evils of the world.

But I can't do any of that, because I am currently re-visiting my childhood and being obsessed with Harry Potter. In the past four days, I've watched every single film, seen the latest one at the cinemas twice (and it only came out on Friday) re-read the first two books, watched a shameful amount of YouTube cast interviews and spent all awake moments and the majority of sleeping ones thinking about it.

No explanation, no excuses. I'm twelve again. And I like it.