Well, if you’re a fan of the soundtrack (just check out YouTube for some of the best tracks), then perhaps these CD covers will be nice. The first few do exist, but I had to create two of them (numbers 2 and 7) from scratch.

Feel free to download the full size versions for your iTunes or other MP3 player of your choice.

Also, I uploaded an anime music video I created of Hellsing, song is Coldplay – Cemeteries of London.

Overall, wacky fun, dual personalities and a weird premise all round (even the geeky lead is likeable to a certain extent), makes it for a good viewing.

We were also lucky in that we had the entire cinema to ourselves, no one watched it with us, nice and quiet!

Aside from that, last weekend Maria and I went to see The Ghost Writer (I decided to link to IMDB for films from now on, instead of Wikipedia). Although it seems to have had fairly good reviews from people, I didn’t particularly like it, too convoluted at times.

Though we knew there was a mystery in the story, and the ghost was trying to uncover it, we never really knew what it was! I know this is what the whole point of a mystery is, but surely, we must need to know whether or not the mystery was simply that important to find out? To say I was disappointed when I left the cinema would be accurate.

Other news, since I’ve gotten into the habit of writing once a week at Starbucks, around 6 hours is good enough, I’m back into my writing, and brought out another chapter of a sequel to one of my loved stories (by fans no less). After a year of waiting, chapter 2 of ‘In My Arms, In My Heart’ is out.

I’m working on my Ranma/28 Days Later crossover now, trying to get this horror story out the door before I lose the impulse.

I wouldn’t state excellent, as there were a few problems with pacing, I would have liked to see more of Jake trying to fit in with his Avatar when learning the Na’vi techniques, as he seemed to get the hang of it fairly quickly (though it was approximately three months later, so you do get the impression that a lot is missing).

Characters are a tad clichéd, though there were some nice surprises (the scientist who got jealous at Jake actually didn’t turn face and backstab him, he became a decent fellow).

The CGI was incredible, though I still think that Pirates of the Caribbean (Davy Jones in particular) shows what it can really do, when you think that those octopus appendages are real, when in fact he had nothing on his face at all. The Na’vi people and Pandora was beautifully animated, showing how amazing the plants move and live, even the floating mountains, vertigo-inducing, and naturally, the wildlife, which is terrifying.

I would rate this as a must see, if only for the spectacle. If I ever get round to buying a Bluray player, this movie would benefit most from it, with all the visuals, and most likely by then, 3D technology for the home.

In other news, my new computer is up and running, and able to run Mirror’s Edge at maximum quality with no slowdown whatsoever. I’m loving every second of it.

Bought my RAM:

CPU:

and motherboard today:

I need a case, graphics card and hard drives, all of which I plan to get by the end of the week.

It takes time and isn’t automatic sadly, but since Windows Live Writer makes thing so painless in doing so, I might as well keep an archive of it here. Bear with me whilst I move over everything slowly.

In other news, for Christmas I got a 40 euro giftcard for Village Cinemas, which I love, and hope to watch 4 movies with it (given the rising cost of films in Greece). I also got God of War and God of War II from Maria, as I’ve been fairly stressed lately, and need a good old third person game to lower my blood pressure.

The new cast of Harry Potter have been confirmed. For ease of checking, the following images show the people in question.

Luna Lovegood – Evanna Lynch:

Professor Umbridge – Imelda Staunton:

Bellatrix Lestrange – Helen McCrory:

Arabella Figg (right) – Kathryn Hunter:

Kingsley Shacklebolt (left) – George Harris:

Nymphadora Tonks – Natalia Tena:

Amelia Bones - Sian Thomas:

Auror Dawlish – Richard Leaf

Young Lily Potter – Susan Shinner

Young James Potter - Robbie Jarvis

Phew, that’s it for now, apart from some missing pics of Dudley’s gang.

Overall, good choice, though I always imagined Luna to have large goggly, watery eyes, and thin face/figure and long blonde hair. At least the latter is true. Looking forward to seeing pictures of the movie.

BTW, sales in Athens are incredible. 50% off Nike trainers! Got myself a pair of those summer ‘Shox’ trainers, black with silver trimmings. Funky. Also got a suede/white/green pair of Adidas. Very nice indeed.

Munich, by Spielberg. Was drawn by the trailer, knowing a little of what happened in ‘72. Went to see it with Maria on Saturday.

Basic plot: After the deaths of the athletes, a man is hired to go and kill the people who masterminded it, leaders of a group called Black September.

You could already tell by the start that the whole thing would end in tragedy, the music playing at the assassin group’s meal (when they were discussing their ordinary jobs). These were ordinary people with ordinary lives, and you learn that from the very beginning.

However, the ‘terrorists’ were also portrayed as such, ordinary people. You feel for those who were killed, the author buying food from his local grocer in Italy, the man whose wife kept interrupting him in a fake interview, the other man who joked with Avner about the married couple next door. It was sad they way most of them died (bombs), and somewhat ironic that most of them would go wrong. There were some heart stopping moments though, when the daughter picked up the phone, the ’safe house’, the failed bomb in the TV… The ending and subsequent paranoia was well made, and you could tell the futileness of all that transpired.

For me, the sad part was the ultimate rejection at the end, how one word can make you realise that an entire country rejects you, because you refuse to return there. A powerful movie, rather gory in the gun and bomb scenes, and moving. See it if you’re after a thriller, with little out and out action, but more crafty methods, and deep thinking about morals.

Ranking: 8/10 – Thriller, unexpected twists, exciting but tragic story.

—

In her shoes: Cameron Diaz and some other woman.

Basic plot: CD sleeps with man that other woman liked, big fight ensues, and they both depart from their normal lives. CD goes away, and the other changes her job and outlook on life.

True girl movie, saw this with Maria, and an open, more feminine mind (which reminds me to lock it up again). Quite funny, and emotional, lots of lovely drama, angst and romance for all women out there. Interesting to see how both their lives changed so much just by changing one tiny aspect of it. For CD, she went off to find her grandmother, a person thought of as dead. The other woman takes extended leave from being a lawyers, and then becomes a professional dog walker.

A tad unrealistic that all their problems would be solved by such a small thing, but it resulted in love, and the feeling of being whole again via family. A whole load of character growth occurred too. Anyway, mushy movie undoubtedly, have the tissues out (for the women), though be warned for one scene in the retirement home, when the bed was empty. Caught me off guard there (though not unexpected). Watch this if you’re strong enough for your (female) emotions to be played with. Note that men can also notice things that women don’t, such as the obvious shy crush/love from the other male lead.

Ranking: 7/10 – Girls only, mushy, lovey, but better than most of the other ones.