Little Favour Review

The Short film Little Favour came out at midnight on the 5th of November. I had pre-ordered this weeks before and was very excited to see it as my idol Benedict Cumberbatch is starring in it. 

It is indeed a short film of 22 minutes. The story follows a man called Wallace(Benedict Cumberbatch) and he has just come back from the army. His friend who saved his life in the army asks for a 'Little Favour' where the title comes from but the favour goes very wrong and Wallace is forced to fight for his life and another life. 

I don't want to spoil to much for people who have seen it but I watched it as soon as it was released which I stayed up for, sleep could wait ! I can safely say that it was amazing and full of action for a short 22 minute film. All of the actors did an amazing job. The film was produced by Adam Ackland and Benedict Cumberbatch I believe, they are the best of friends. The production company is called Sunny March and this is their first short film, and I hope the first of many.

This short film has an important message however as Benedict said in an interview, he said 'This film has a message about child soldiers, and 40% of child soldiers are girls'. I believe that when a film has a message as well, that makes it even more satisfying because it isn't just there for entertainment, it stands for something. The actors involved did a great job of establishing that and I really do hope to see more in the future. 

If you haven't seen it yet then go on to iTunes and purchase it because it is definitely worth the watch. Enjoy!

A life full of music

Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Oasis etc. They are the bands that really got me in to music. That was when I was 8 or 9 years old. My dad decided he wanted to start playing the guitar and started listening to all of these bands and I didn't have an iPod then so I was forced to listen to them in the car and I started to really like the music. I am 16 now and I still listen to those bands everyday along with a load of other bands and artists. An artist I have been really liking ever since her album Born to die was advertised on the TV is Lana Del Rey. I remember when I first heard Born to die, It was winter of 2011 and I was sat on my bed and I heard a bit of the song on the advert and fell in love with the song. I bought the album on iTunes and listened to it over and over. I still do, along with her other album, or extended album Paradise.

Music is a big part of my life as blogging is. I love to write articles and listen to music. I find that music is a big part of everybody's life, it can vary, people like different genre's such as Classical, Classic Rock, Pop, Rap, R&B, the list goes on. I have been finding myself listening to a bit of classical lately, particularly Gothic pieces and Victorian period pieces. I just really love it. I take my iPod everywhere. 

I also find that music is a way of bonding with somebody. I find myself meeting new people and asking what music they like, as I did only this week with a girl I met at college enrolment day. Turns out we like the same music. I do think music is a big part of society and people turn to song lyrics as a way of listening to how they feel. Songwriting is a form of poetry, it's a form of art. 

Music has changed a lot through time, it always will but the older things are never forgotten. They are the foundations for music. Some music I like has a form of orchestration involved such as Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds which I am very fond of.

Music will never die out, it's always around and it will stay that way till the end of time.

Friedrich Nietzsche once said 'Without music, life would be a mistake'

A backwards society

Today's society, is, well it's pretty disgusting. The way society judges people is disgusting. Once one person starts to judge, the rest follow until everybody in society is judging that one person, and that one person, well, they commit suicide.

Why does it need to be this way. It doesn't really though, does it. People just judge somebody without really getting to know them. It's easy to pass a judgement but it isn't easy to have a suicide you caused on your conscience is it. You may say that the one comment you make doesn't stop the breath they take but that one comment could be the hands that push them off that bridge or put those tablets in their mouth. You never know how they feel because you don't think about what you say.

People I know have been bullied and feel like that they are worth less than other people but that is very untrue but of course, they don't believe that. That is part of the problem. You are brought up in society but then years later, they wait until you've turned your back, ready to stick the knife in, one of many.

It's really getting out of hand and what infuriates me the most is when people call me names and my friends. Why do people have to be so revolting ? I don't know the answer to that either. Maybe you can tell me. We've had quite a lot of suicides due to bullying such as the young girl who was bullied on Ask Fm. 

I just hope that the bullies think before they speak and realise the effect they have on other people and that they don't end up with death on their conscience.

Justice or no Justice, that is the question.

Last year, I did my work experience at a Magistrate Court and it was really interesting to see what kind of crimes were taking place and how they were dealt with. They allowed to us to take notes but they could not be too detailed as the information was confidential. I got to thinking about the justice system and how things are dealt with and it turns out, not very well.

I was watching a programme before on police here in England, they had gone to search their house and found loads of weapons but they hadn't found the one they were originally searching for so they got a caution. What does that say to them, that they can get away with having a few weapons. Our justice system is all wrong. Murderers are only getting 4 years but the teacher who ran away with his student gets a lot more than that, it truly is backwards.

It is very worrying to know things like this because you really do start to wonder, who do the justice system really protect ?

This is something that needs changing but I don't think it will be changed anytime soon as other things take over which is a problem. I don't believe that I am the only person who shares this opinion, however some people seem to think the same opinions but never bother to bring them to attention so the justice system and the government just believe that we will go along with anything.

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane By Neil Gaiman

I picked up this book out of the reason that I had heard a million good things about it so I decided to pick it up. I read the quotes inside of the book and thought I would see how I felt about it.

We are introduced to a man who visits a house and asks for Lettie who doesn't seem to be there because is still away. He receives some food from Old Mrs.Hempstock and goes to sit by the Ocean and then we follow his journey as a little boy which I won't spoil.

The story of his childhood is incredibly entertaining and creepy. He is a lonely little boy and he doesn't have many friends so he resorts to reading books instead. He feels like an outsider compared to his sister who is treated like an angel compared to him.

This story is one of the best stories I have read, it is not only imaginative but leaves a lasting effect of sadness and curiosity to the reader. This story is one you surely will never forget, no matter how you may try to shake the story from your brain, it will never go away, so if you pass this book, don't just walk by, take a step back and pick it up, it will not disappoint, I promise.
Great Job Neil :)

By Courtenay Gray

The Madness Underneath Book Review

The Madness Underneath is the second book in the trilogy or maybe series of The Shades Of London books by Maureen Johnson. The Madness Underneath is the follow up to The Name Of The Star. Last time, we were left with an amazing ending but it wasn't one that I feel was completely satisfying but there was obviously a reason for that, that reason being that there was going to be another book. 

I found the book as I was out shopping about a month or two ago, I walked past Waterstones and saw it, I then stepped backwards and looked at it properly and it was indeed the next book in The Shades Of London series or trilogy.

Without giving too much away, we are faced with a character called Aurora or 'Rory' as most people call her. She is an american girl who arrives at an English Boarding School. While she stays there, she discovers a society that is full of people who aren't quite the normal people. They all have something in common. Rory gets involved with these people and discovers that she is one of them.

The Madness Underneath followed up from The Name Of The Star and I felt that the beginning was a great way to start from the ending of the first book. There were many good points to this book such as character development  climax and transition. There aren't really any bad points except the endings, they leave me instantly wanting the next book and I can't wait for the next one, so well done Maureen !

Courtenay Gray

Book Review: Timeless

Hello Everyone,

I have just finished reading Timeless By Alexandra Monir and what can I say, it was spectacular !

This book had me drawn from the start, I absolutely loved it. I was literally on the edge of my seat all the way through. This book differs from others as it was very enticing. The cover was what first drew me to it then I turned over and I really liked the brief summary, so I thought I would put the book to the test of whether the book would fulfill it's potential. It certainly did...

Now, without giving too much away, I will give you a brief summary of what it is about. A girl called Michele Windsor lives in New York with her mum, they are a normal family or so Michele thinks... 
When tragedy strikes, Michele is forced to move to Los Angeles with her Grandparents but this is a strange move as she doesn't understand why she is told to go to them under the circumstances. During the inspection, Michele finds something that keeps the clock ticking, backwards and forwards. 

To find out more, you should go and purchase this book because I know for a fact that you won't be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and you will too. 

See you all in my next blog post,
Courtenay :)