Winter Song

I love Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. It is a hauntingly beautiful collaboration and the animation in the music video is really charming.

Music Video via YouTube

The Little Ballerina

This is beautiful. The Little Ballerina, starring Tomomi Sato, was filmed by photographer David Eustace. It is very fluid and simple. Just lovely isn't it?!

Image via David Eustace's website

Short Film via The Anthropologist

Sherlock

"I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research."

~ Sherlock Holmes

One of my weekly rituals is to watch Masterpiece Mystery on PBS. This week premiered a new series originally from the BBC. Sherlock is an edgy, contemporary adaptation of the classic by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It takes place in 21st Century London and the story lines have been updated to include current world events and technology. Even Sherlock himself has a website...

The extraordinary cast includes Benedict Cumberpatch as the infamous Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman as the loyal sidekick Dr. John Watson, and Rupert Graves as Detective Inspector Lestrade. I especially loved Cumberpatch's characterization. He has a cocky swagger that's really fun to watch. I really enjoyed Sunday's episode. It was witty, engaging, well shot, and it had some fun tidbits that loyal fans will appreciate. The first season is a bit short with only three 90 minute episodes but the series has been renewed for a second season! Did anyone watch Sunday's episode? If you want to catch up, for a short amount of time, PBS has episodes you can watch online.

P.S. Here's the BBC trailer. (It's better than the American one.) Enjoy!

Images via BBC

Trailer via You Tube

Dress The Part

Moxy Creative House has a fantastic new poster series entitled Dress The Part. The series includes 10 movie posters that are "inspired by men's style." Very cool. I really love that each design reflects the mood of the film but also that it depicts different aspects of men's fashion. The Shining is the only poster that doesn't really say "men's style" but honestly I think it's a perfect illustration of the film. Totally creepy, right?! What are your favorites?

Found via A Cup of Jo via Design Love Fest
Images via Moxy Creative House

Red

Retired, Extremely Dangerous.

This weekend I saw the film Red. Let's just say I loved this fun, popcorn movie. It has a fantastic cast, great laughs, and some crazy explosions. Bruce Willis is a retired black-ops agent who has a hit man after him. He has to recruit some old friends to help save the day. There begins the story. I'm not a believer in spoilers so I'll stop there. The performances by Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren really made this film so enjoyable. I loved every time they were onscreen. I also really liked the fact that even though they're older, they've "still got it." If you see Red, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Here's a still from the film. I think it's pretty awesome.

Images via Apple

Babies

This weekend, I finally got around to seeing the film Babies. I absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful, humorous, and heartfelt film. I loved how it showed that despite cultural differences, we are all essentially the same. My only critique with it is I wish they would have had a baby from each continent. Other than that, it was lovely.

Here's the trailer for it.

Image via the film's website.

Turner Classic Movies Project

I love these graphic illustrations from Michael Schwab. Each one is reminiscent of "Old Hollywood" glamour. They have strong silhouettes, typography, and color. The Turner Classic Movies Project currently depicts 31 iconic actors in a classic film. Every day in August, an actor is featured with TCM's Summer Under the Stars program. Unfortunately, there are only two more days left in August but you can still enjoy the illustrations!

Found via Design Crush

Images via Michael Schwab Studio

Engrained Pinhole Cameras

Erin Paysse of Engrained makes beautiful pinhole cameras from books and other unique objects. The cameras take 35mm film and have an advance and rewind reel so you can use the whole roll of film. How incredible is that?! She just started a blog and it talks a little bit about how she makes the cameras. I think I'll have to commission one to add to my camera collection.

Found via Design*Sponge

Images via Engrained

Inception

This weekend I saw Inception. It was absolutely fantastic. Beautiful visuals and a really interesting concept. I think it definitely lives up to the hype and I really appreciate that this film requires you to keep up with the story. Very well done. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll only say this, Go See It!! Right now!


Image via the film's website

The River

The River by Derek Henderson

This video was released from The Anthropologist. I think it's quite lovely. It's filmed along the river banks of the Waikato River in New Zealand and was directed by photographer Derek Henderson.

Video via The Anthropologist

Awkward Family Photos

Have you heard about Awkward Family Photos? Definitely check out their site. There are quite a few gems. Their book looks hilarious too.  Spreading the Awkwardness one family photo at a time...

Images via Awkward Family Photos and Barnes & Noble

Alice I Have Been

Here is the second book review for the Slow Readers Book Club! Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin is a historical fiction novel based on Alice Pleasance Liddell. She was the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll.

"But oh my dear, I am tired of being Alice in Wonderland. Does it sound ungrateful? It is. Only I do get tired."(p.3)

Summary:

Alice I Have Been tells the story of Alice Liddell Hargreave's life. The book is divided into three sections. It begins with her childhood, skips to her twenties, then skips again to her later years. Alice I Have Been contains a fascinating literary mystery, a royal romance, heartbreak, and war.

Alice Liddell dressed up as a beggar-maid

By Charles Dodgson

Review:

"Alice I am, Alice I will be. Alice I have been."(p.345)

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved seeing the Alice in Wonderland references and learning more about the Liddell family. Alice's relationship with Charles Dodgson, who is the infamous Lewis Carroll, I found very interesting and definitely disturbing. Whether or not there is truth to the controversy is certainly a mystery.

Alice had an interesting life. However, I found it to be a sad one. Her mother seemed very cold and distant and in a few instances cruel. There was a lot of heartbreak in her life. Deaths and of love lost. I admire her spirit. Alice found strength and determination in all that she faced. She had faults but she grew from them. There were years and experiences lost because of her past. Alice seemed haunted by it. In the end, she was able to move on from it which in return it helped to save her. It was interesting to see things come full circle. 

Overall, Alice I Have Been was an entertaining read. I must admit that since I've finished the book, I've thought quite a bit about it. It is a haunting story.

Alice Liddell as a young woman

By Julia Margaret Cameron

Alice Pleasance Liddell Hargreaves

By W. Coulbourn Brown

4 out of 5 stars

Images via Amazon, Melanie Benjamin, and Wikipedia

Lost Illustrations

In honor of the last episode of Lost, before the season finale event on Sunday, I thought it would be fun to share these awesome illustrations by Michael Blaine Myers Jr. You can buy prints here. The following images are some of my favorites but definitely check out the others!

Images via Michael Blaine Myers Jr.'s website and Imagekind