Martha Marcy May Marlene

Elizabeth Olsen, sibling of the famous Olsen twins but a screen identity now in her own right delivers a brilliant performance in this harrowing story of how quickly and easily a naive mind can become swept up in to an unknown world.

It is a fantastic demonstration of the subleties of manipulation whilst also asking the viewer to question their own affinity to or detachment from the main character on the screen. Olsen gives such a believeable performance of a lost soul, a drifter yearning to be grounded but who then sets down her roots in a dangerous cult.

The movie is frightfully realistic and resolute.

5 stars.

Inspiration for writing continued...

So I would listen to these stories my mother would tell me without too much interest. Unfortunatley my father's stories suffered the same immediate fate. Nothing seemed to strike a chord when I was young. But the world didn't stay young for long. I grew up, experienced life in multiples ways, some good, some bad. Because of these experiences I began to search for my place in this world and funnily enough located myself within the world my parents had come from and the world within me. The stories were a key to my past meant to be resurrected, reshaped and retold. So I embarked on my biggest feat ever; to tell the world of a love story grounded in as much fact as there is fiction, coupled with myth and legend and tales of the lineage of demi-gods told in the traditional style of royal families, politics and the age old friend, conspiracy.

Inspiration for writing

When I was a child, growing up in New Zealand in the 70's and 80's was not the easiest time, especially if you were a migrant or the child of migrant parents.

It was difficult because it was a place that my parents had chosen to settle away from their cultural roots for the chance of a better life. At the time, the country was still defining it's identity as it still does today with so many different cultures here, but it was an especially sensitive time historically for people who didn't originate from New Zealand because this country was not immediately prepared for how much it would need to adapt to these other cultures.

Anyway, as a child I remember being told stories about my mothers' life growing up. I also remembered stories about my father growing up but not as much as mum. It wasn't until I became an adult that I understood why I was told these stories so often and it was because my parents needed to find a way to hold on to their identity and a life and custom that they knew in a land that they did not know.

As a young child, mum was sent to live with her grandparents and raised as one of their own. The union of her grandparents was so important to the history of Samoa bringing together some of the most significant chiefly titles ever joined under the one marriage at one time, both from the male and the female side, but interestingly, the female deemed the more higher ranking by way of pedigree and titles that she brought into the marriage.

To be continued.....

About the writer

So with the few posts I've made over the years, I guess I've not really told you much about myself. So who am I? I'm a newly found emerging writer who only discovered I had a passion in the area about four years ago when I began writing the first part of a series of novels. Named after an Aunt of mine in Fiji whom I've never met who is a writer and journalist, my maternal grandfather hoped that in naming one of my five names after her, that I would one day eventually follow in her footsteps. I grew up in West Auckland New Zealand, the youngest of six children in the 1970's. My parents migrated from the Islands and were part of the first wave of the Pacific Migration. My father was an avid fisherman who spent most of his adult working life as a Welder, my mother in a local supermarket until her health took a turn. She now enjoys a quieter life watching grandchildren and the like. Dad represented Samoa in the very first South Pacific games representing for basketball and volleyball. Dad loved sport and fishing. The two loves of his life. He now gardens. Dad doesn't fish much anymore because his knees are too weak to make the trek up and down the stairs at Muriwai beach and I know it kills him not to do what he loves. I graduated from Massey University with an undergraduate Arts degree, majoring in Psychology then returned some years later to complete a Masters in Social Work (Applied). I've worked in retail, in a paint factory, in afterschool care, hotel house keeping and community holiday programmes but for most of my professional life, I've worked with young people in a residential home, as a Youth Worker in High Schools, a Family Violence Social Worker, a Teen Parent Case Worker, an external Social Work Supervisor and as part of the leadership team of a local community volunteer youth initiative.

So where did the inspiration for writing come from you ask?

Book Review: The White Queen

Who doesn't like a story about the rise to the Throne? Philippa Gregory in all her glory with a gripping story inspired by the alluring mystery of the two prince brothers whose bodies were never recovered nor their whereabouts ever explained in the famous Tower of London. Great use of historical knowledge and the power of suggestion. Not without controversy, ambition and conspiracy: Two houses, Two Kings, One Throne. Great read. 5 stars.

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins writes a riveting action novel with all the hallmarks of great entertainment i.e tragedy, love, loss, fear, hope and triumph.

I particulaly enjoyed the deeper psychological elements that Collins toyed with, delving into the most primitive/primal instincts of survival and protection of family. The only difference was pitting human against human.

She asks of her readers to openly challenge themselves on what they believe to be moral versus immoral if they were faced with the dilemna of not only fighting for their own life, but the survival of their families and villages.

5 star read.

Book Review: Alive

This is the story of the Uruguyan Rugby Team who flew over the Andes Mountains en route for Chile but never arrived.

A gripping tale, told beautifully and honestly by Paul Piers Reid that captured the trials and tribulations of the few who survived, who were faced with the most unspeakable conditions and harrowing dilemna of no food supply for months but that of their deceased friends, family and supporters who were on board the flight.

What would you have done?

5 star read.

Movie Review: The Smurfs

For all you Smurf fans, this movie is a definate must see.

Through Gargamels' discovery of the secret Smurf Village, the Smurfs are forced to flee their home for safety. In doing so they realise a wayward Smurf has taken a dangerous detour. A sequence of events ensues in their attempt to save him where they end up being sucked into a portal that opens into downtown New York with no idea how they will ever get back. They are followed through the portal by their nemesis, Gargamel and his evil side-kick cat Azriel.

In New York they chance upon Patrick and Grace, an average New York couple struggling to find their feet in the big apple. First time expectant parents, they spark up unlikely friendships with the Smurfs, quite unprepared for what's in store.

The animation is stunning and so life like. The script is enjoyable with great comedic moments and boasting a well selected cast featuring: Glee duet Neil Patrick Harris (Patrick) and Jayma Mays (Grace) with Hank Azaria (Gargamel) Jonothan Winters (Papa Smurf) Katie Perry (Smurfette) and Sofia Vergara (Odile) to name a few.

A great watch at any age.

5 stars for me.

Movie Review: Bridesmaids

An absolute fall off your seat, laugh out loud comedy about two middle aged best friends adjusting to marriage. Annie's (Kristen Wiig) best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) asks her to be her Maid of honor. With her unruly, unorthodox and awkward approach she gives a hysterical performance of a crazed best friend hell bent on maintaining her status as 'the bestie' when threatened by Whitney (Rose Byrne) who attempts to take her place.

Pure childish humour, everything you're guilty of doing, but would never dream of repeating in public.

Stellar cast. Brilliant script. Best comedy and single stand out comedic performance since Nacho Libre.

5 stars for me.

Movie Review: All Good Things

This is the haunting story of the murder of Katie Marks; medical student and wife of David Marks, a son of one of the most prominent real estate families in New York, whose disappearance has remained an unsolved mystery until today. Starring Ryan Gosling (David Marks) and Kirsten Dunst (Katie Marks).

Gosling gives an excellent performance of a troubled, dark individual with multiple personalities living a double life; Dunst a believable all American bubbly, vibrant soul full of life and aspiration.

Their paths cross through a chance meeting that quickly develops into a full blown relationship with a catastrophic ending.

The power of suggestion was a clever tool used throughout the movie, to cast doubt on the character of the man that was David Marks and although many things were indirect there was enough to make you feel as though you knew the frightening truth of being Katie Marks. 

A 'well worth it' watch.

4 stars for me.

Movie Review: Snowtown

Hired this movie on DVD last night. The story is of a young boy from a troubled, complex life situation who grows up as one of four boys without a steady father figure. He develops a relationship with the mother's new b/f who for a time seems to be the father he's never had. He turns out to be much more and indeed a notorious serial killer.

This movie is not for the faint hearted. It's dark, eerie and frightening.
The cast is superb. Jamie (main character) gives a stellar performance.
He is able to capture the absolute terror of a child forced to witness, endure and then participate in hideous, unspeakable crimes completely paralysed by his fear of a far more powerful being, John Bunting (mother's b/f) and torn between loyalties to John and other's Jamie has known.
John is the epitomy of a callous, emotionally detached not to mention disturbed individual. He's a dangerously charismatic, moral bully with a frighteningly calm disassociative personality.

Well directed and casted. A storytelling masterpiece. 

5 stars for me.

Movie Review: Footloose 2011

So I went with a g/f to watch Footloose the other day. Not our first choice but the only one we could see in the short window of spare time we had. Overall it wasn't a majorly moving film but the cast wasn't too bad. Great to see some new faces with some witty script comedy.
Star of the show for me, definately Miles Teller who played Willard. He started to steal the limelight a bit with his hugley likeable, awkward at times but easy to connect with character. I think we've all been in his shoes at some point. I expected a bit more dancing.....afterall it was 'Footloose' but hey atleast there weren't too many corney bits.

An easy watch.

3 stars for me.

New stuff

So it's been a long time since I've blogged and so much has happened.
It seems spring is upon us and with the weather fining up people are out and about, thawing out from the winter blues, myself included.

I've decided to change things up a bit and blog on the some of the things I like.
This might include: sports, travel, books & movies as these are all special interest areas for me.

So we'll see how it goes.

The 5 love languages

Now many of us would have heard of the 5 love languages as written of by Dr. Gary Chapman:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Recieving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

Women have many simalarities and equally many differences. The type of flower you have will tell you what it needs to grow. Be observant. Spend some time getting to know us more by these languages and we'll do the same. You would be surprised how many of us don't fit into the soppy head over heals romantic category (1,2,3) and how many are more practical in nature (4,5) which actually could be a good combination for some who are equally not in the same way inclined.

Cut to the chase and let's get real about each other.

Emotional Beings

Well to understand us is to know that above all else, we are firstly emotional creatures. This could be said of both male and female genders but through social conditioning one is more likely to continue to be moreso than the other.

As a result we experience and interpret the world emotionally first before we understand it any other way.

Know this and you begin to comprehend the inner workings of the female mind.

Women: What makes us tick?

So it's time to have a little fun.

Let's delve into the deep abyss that is the female mind.

Contrary to popular belief we are not as complicated as we may seem. We are actually very easy to understand when you know what you need to know.

In this series we will look broadly at the female gender, what makes us tick and how to gain meaningful insight into who we are.

Last words: The Adolescent Brain

Now that we've covered some topical issues I hope in some way they give you something valuable things to think about.

If you're a parent, an older sibling an older cousin, aunt or an older whomever, this last piece of information may be important for you to know.

If you find yourself not being able to get through to your young person, trying to reason but never able to get them to see sense don't beat your head against the wall, there may be a perfectly good explanation for this.

There is a part of the brain that is responsible for much of the conscious thought and reasoning and it does not in fact develop fully until their early 20's. This is called the Frontal Lobe. Their ability to understand the consequences of their actions or to process emotions well for example is severely hampered by this natural developmental delay so in a sense, knowing this may help you to find a better way to deal with each situation as it comes. That's not to say completely let them off the hook, definately set your boundaries and stick with them however help yourself by not losing your head. 

Keep your cool. In time everything will come full circle. Just remember when it seems your young person isn't getting it, maybe it's because physiologically they literally can't.

So good luck. Perservere. Praise their strengths, overlook their weakness. Love them, be there for them but most of all enjoy them simply because they are yours.

Taking risks, testing the limits: What works

It is well known that young people indulge in risk taking behaviour. They constantly test the limits and consequently adolescence can be a nightmare of a time.

You may be able to minimise some of the risk by investing good time in their character development upfront.

Nurture in them a strong social conscience. Raise their level of awareness to the challenges they might face. Teach them to recognise peer pressure but more importantly to make good decisions and when they do to be prepared they may at times stand alone. Teach them the importance of keeping good company and what good friends are. Trust that from your guidance they will exercise good judgement whatever the situation whomever the company. That in reality, is all you can really do.

Sexual Orientation and Identity: What works

Sooner or later our young person will become curious about the opposite sex. Adolescence and raging hormones will do that to you. But what happens if their curiosity leans more towards same sex, transgender, bi-sexual experiences? How do you deal with that?

Simple. Truthfully assess what is most important to you; your relationship with your young person or the beliefs that you hold for them.

Following on from the previous post, we know that forcing an identity on a young person does not work. They will rebel and resent you for it. If we make the same mistake with their sexual orientation and identity, we will loose them for certain.

Young people crave so desperately, the sense of belonging and acceptance. Sometimes the hardest place to get that is in the family so many will willingly mask who they really are, carry the pain and dejection of having to pretend they are someone they are not and sacrifice their own true happiness because the fear of disappointment or being ostracized; and instead they live a double life.

This is what many of them are willing to sacrifice for the love of their family. My question is, what is the family willing to sacrifice for the love of their young person?

I am fully aware that this is a highly sensitive not to mention controversial topic and not all will agree with such a plain explanation and so I leave it to you to decide what is more important?

Identity Crisis: What works

Adolescence is the time that young people really start to develop an idea about who they are. Having said that, it doesn't mean that during this developmental stage they figure this out to any definitive degree.

As we're already aware adolescence is a crazy busy time not to mention a majorly confusing one. There's so much happening all at once that it's important to ensure something still grounds them.

Young people can benefit greatly when they know their roots. Be proud of that heritage. Help them to see the value in their culture.

Keep it real though. Be open to the fact that their reality may no longer be the same as yours. Societies these days are far more diverse and multicultural than they've ever been and with your young person growing up amongst all that, it will ultimately impact on who they become. 

Better to accept them as they see themselves then to force an identity on them that they will resent.