Thursday 29 January 2015

Jurassic Park; comparing book to film.

Usually with franchises like this, it's the norm to read the book, then watch the film. I did this with Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games.
However, as I stated in my last post hereI never realised that Jurassic Park was a book, until a few months ago (i'm a slow reader). 
When I was younger I was obsessed with dinosaurs, and Jurassic Park was my number 1. When I was 8 I even wanted to be a palaeontologist (Google it). So you can imagine my delight when I discovered the novel by Michael Crichton.
On the whole, the book seems a lot gorier than the film. However, it's a lot easier for violence and carnage to come across on the big screen, whereas novels rely on the heavy use of adjectives to get their points across.
There are also a few character changes within the book. For instance, Lex, who's character is around 13/14 in the movie, is actually 8 years old in the novel. I have to say I agree with Steven Spielberg on this one. I prefer Lex and Tim's relationship in the film, and this wouldn't have been the same if Lex was 8. In the movie, Timmy is the younger and 'annoying' brother whereas Lex is the more mature and stubborn older sister. Their constant arguing and bickering provides a slight comical effect that then downplays the imminent danger that they are facing, therefore making the movie more child - friendly.
Other changes between the two include some differences to the storyline.
There are a lot of things that have been changed in transition from novel to movie. Having studied Media for 4 years I know that Spielberg will have had very good reasons for doing so, and I for one am glad he did.
I enjoyed the book, but it's still the film that makes it for me. Whether it's because I broke tradition and watched the film before the book, I will never know.
𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝

Wednesday 14 January 2015

My Top 5 Books.

Well, funny thing is, I don't have a top 5.

I love to read. Sometimes it's good to sit in a quiet room and take yourself off to another world like Panem or Hogwarts. Although I haven't read a massive array of books, (unless you count the likes of Jacqueline Wilson and Louise Rennison when I was younger) recently I've morphed into somewhat of a bookworm.

At the moment I'm reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Jurassic Park is definitely my most favourite film franchise (I can assure you that no one else is more excited for JP4 this summer). It was only a few months ago that I realised the movies were developed from a novel, even though it says it at the end of the film and i've watched the film 2784018 times (that is not accurate). I'm absolutely loving it so far despite having dinosaur nightmares after reading it before I go to bed!

Speaking of film franchises coming from books, the Harry Potter series is a very close second to Jurassic Park. I read the Harry Potter books as I was growing up and from the second I picked up The Philosopher's Stone, I absolutely fell in love with the wizarding world that J.K. Rowling created. My favourite book of the series has to be The Order Of The Phoenix. I read them a long time ago so I can't really remember why, I just remember enjoying that one the most, and the fact that my Mum bought me it the day it was released. That always felt pretty special to me.

Further down the age line I was introduced to the world of Panem by one of my very close friends. Reading The Hunger Games was the first time I couldn't put a book down. So naturally, I finished Catching Fire and Mockingjay a matter of weeks after starting the first one.

Then in the past year I moved onto the likes of The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (I cried), Wonder by R.J. Palacio (I cried), The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (I cried) and The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime by Mark Haddon (I didn't cry). I also read more of John Green's books such as Will Grayson, Will Grayson and An Abundance Of Katherines.

Sat on my bookshelf waiting to be read are The Lost World (obviously), Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Tales of Beedle The Bard, and I plan to read the Harry Potter series again because I'm such a Potterhead.


PS. I totes copied the idea for this post from my very best friend Tom. And you can read his ramblings here.


Tuesday 13 January 2015

2014!

I want to try and explain 2014 in a few words to you.
But to be perfectly honest,
I can't.
The best way for me to explain how my 2014 was is to skip back a few years.

Summer 2012
I discovered that I hadn't got into University, which was something I have wanted to do since I was a titch. This was the day before my family went on holiday without me for the first time. At the time I was working at my first job. My boss was a typical hot headed Italian; very passionate about his work. This meant that if you did anything slightly wrong then he would let you know about it. On the day my family went away, I went to work. I was feeling so down I just kept making silly mistakes, resulting in me getting a good telling off.
It doesn't sound that bad to anyone else, but for me, this was definitely the lowest point in my life so far. I felt like a failure for not getting into University then because I felt like I couldn't function without my family, I felt like even more of a failure.
And the cherry on top of the cake: I had just had my braces put on.

2013
My braces come off. My boyfriend, James and I go to Mexico. I go see my absolute number ones at Manchester Arena: ARCTIC MONKEYS. I also decide that this year I will rejoin my family on holiday to Mallorca.
I had re applied to University and had only recieved one offer from Leeds Metropolitan University for Events Management. However, the course requirements were 300 UCAS points.
I had 200.
'Here we go again' I thought. 'Another failed and wasted year'. 
I left it. And eventually forgot all about University and carried on working at the restaurant.
On results day, the day before I went to Mallorca, I see everyone's happy statuses on Facebook about going to University. So I logged on to UCAS to get the closure that I wouldn't be getting in yet again, and I see;
'Congratulations! Your application to study Events Management at Leeds Metropolitan University has been accepted!'
WHAT.
I hadn't done my student finance application. I hadn't planned for this in anyway whatsoever.
So naturally, I ran upstairs to my mum (who was still asleep as it was only 8am) and practically screamed in her face.
I suddenly felt so proud of myself and so incredibly happy. Like I had finally achieved something.
So after stressing about my student finance and getting my head around it all, we jetted off to sunny Mallorca the next day and when I came back, started a whole new adventure.


2014
I finish first year with a 2:1 overall. I go see my most favourite comedian, Lee Evans perform live. 12 year old me buzzes with excitement as I also go to see McBusted live. I land myself my first retail job where I meet some of my most favourite people in the world. Northern School of Contemporary Dance hire me as their Events and Marketing Intern for my placement year. I go to Salou, and I also go on my family holiday to Mallorca again - but this time James comes with us. I get drunk so many times and make an absolute fool of myself in the process as I celebrate so many different things and meet so many new people on the way, 2012 is completely forgotten.


All in all, I know this post is a bit lengthy just to tell you how good 2014 was, but it just goes to show what a difference a year can make. Summer 2013 is when everything kicked off for me and it just keeps getting better. I'm excited to see what 2015 brings - I wonder where I'm at this time next year!