My No1 Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio has been one of my favourite actors for a very long time. Actually scratch that, he IS my favourite actor of ALL time. I first watched him in ‘Titanic’ and I was amazed by his good looks and charm on screen. He has a genuine and likeable character that I adored as a young teenager, and obviously his natural good looks did do him favours. After that film I was a lover of DiCaprio and began following his work and back-tracking his previous films to be up-to-date with all that he had done.

I still have a few films of his to get through but what I love about DiCaprio is his choices in films. Not one of his films was a bad choice; they are all good quality in script, characters and effects for their time. Least of all he has the ability to hold his own on screen. From the beginning he gripped movie lovers with his believable performances and worked alongside some fantastic and well known actors.

In his very early career, he was seen in commercials and teen soaps such as ‘Growing Pains’ in the early 1990s but was soon making his name known in the films he first starred in.

DiCaprio’s films:

·         Critters 3 (1991)– his first film debut

·         This Boy’s Life(1992)– handpicked by Robert De Niro out of 400 young actors and received his first critical praise within the film industry for his fantastic performance as a trouble young boy with an abusive stepfather

·         What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) – Dicaprio supported Johnny Depp  in this emotional and thought provoking film where he played a young boy with learning disabilities

·         The Quick and The Dead (1995) – western based film where he played ‘The Kid’, real talent shown here even as a young actor in a supporting role

·         Basketball Diaries (1995)- leading role in this disturbing teenage thriller that opens your eyes to the world of drug addiction

·         Marvin’s Room (1996) – supporting role as a young boy in a mental institution helping his mother, played by Meryl Streep, come to terms with her father and sister’s illnesses

·         Romeo and Juliet (1996) – Fantastic as lead in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s original romantic-tragedy, using the original dialogue in a modern day film. Interesting and original concept

·         Titanic (1997) – The film to bring him international fame. Another lead role and perfectly suited as the worldly Jack Dawson. Please see my post on this for a more in-depth review

·         The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) – Played dual roles as a the villainous King Louis XIV and his locked up twin brother, again showing diversity in his roles and the ability to capture audiences

·         The Beach (2000) –Played a backpacking American who searches for a secret island commune with fellow friends to discover that all is not so serene

·         Catch Me If You Can (2002) – worked alongside Christopher Walken and Tom Hanks as a young impersonator who travelled the country for free and committed countless amounts of fraud, all before his 19^th birthday. He played a less dark character here, showing a varied acting ability

·         Gangs Of New York (2002) – Territorial gang warfare set in the mid-19^th Century of the Five Points district of New York, DiCaprio played the protagonist of the Irish faction, Amsterdam Vallon

·         The Aviator (2004) –Played Howard Hughes, the aviation pioneer who battled with OCD. Worked along Cate Blanchett and received 5 Academy Awards

·         Blood Diamond (2006)-Played diamond smuggler from Rhodesia and successfully mastered the south African Afrikaner accent

·         The Departed (2006)- played a state trooper who went undercover for an Irish mob in Boston and his role in this film earned him a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor

·         Body of Lies (2008) – paired with Russell Crowe for a spy film based around terrorist organisations and Revolutionary Road (2008) –  reunited with Kate Winslet where he portrayed a cowardly and un-heroic character than his previous films and his role in ‘Titanic’

·         Shutter Island (2010) –Fantastic in this film as an FBI investigator searching for the truth behind a missing inmate, it gets you thinking, plays on your mind and has a lot of twists. DiCaprio makes you want his character to succeed and discover the mystery of this institution as well as deeply sympathise with him

·         Inception (2010) – a film based around implanting or extracting ideas from dreams. Brilliant concept and excellent CGI effects, it is beautifully realised and just how one would imagine it. DiCaprio holds the film as the ‘extractor’ in this ‘dream-heist’

I am impressed by DiCaprio’s wealth of films as well as the quality of his acting. He doesn’t rush into playing a character, he truly realises them and almost becomes them. He learns the twitches, characteristics and accents for them and he suits every role he has played. Even with his youthful looks he has played some dark characters and made them his own.

Leonardo DiCaprio certainly knows about variety in his roles. He has played dark and disturbing characters, become a light-hearted comedian in some of his films to then acting in action-packed films or being the romantic everyman. He truly deserves the spot in Top 10 actors for me and with his skill, film choices and natural screen presence he is definitely my number 1!

Follow him on twitter as he is an active philanthropist: @LeoDiCaprio

His website: http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/

My favourite photos (just to indulge myself really):

Amsterdam!

Last year in January 2010, my friend Katie and I ventured to Amsterdam for a long weekend. We had never been there before but all of our friends had recommended it to us and told us where to go and what to visit. We booked our ticket very spur of the moment and off we went on the half an hour flight to the capital of the Netherlands.

We had been waiting to go on a trip together for a while so we were very excited. We enjoyed the ease of the short flight and were in the city before we even listened to five songs on our IPod. We grabbed a taxi and headed to our hotel which was about ten minutes away from the centre.

We stayed in Hotel Central Park and were advised by the taxi man not to walk through the park next door to us at night, as unsavoury goings on occur there! For a first night this worried us a little but as soon as we dropped our things in the small hotel room we were off to explore. We actually got lost for a good hour as we did not realise we had to take a tram to get into the centre and we did not realise what time they stopped running. We managed to find the centre point and we definitely made the most of our first night.

We found the best little coffee shop by the canal and stayed there most of the evening. I highly recommend ‘Easy Times’ as the staff are amazingly helpful and the vibe is very chilled. They play really good, relaxing music too. Lots of slow jamz!

Through being lost that first night we actually knew the place inside out! We headed back to the hotel and stopped by a convenience store to get some toothpaste and other essentials as we forgot quite a bit. Everything was in Dutch or Japanese which worried us and as you can see from the photo, our toothpaste turned out to be a disgusting mistake for Kate!

Amsterdam was originally a small fishing village in the 12^th Century and was named after the canal that runs through it. It is known now as the financial and cultural capital. We had a lot to see the next day when we finally explored the city in daylight.

As soon as we stepped out of the door we realised that overnight the whole city was covered in a blanket of beautiful white snow. It was so picturesque we took a million photos. We couldn’t believe our luck that we had come at this time of year to get snow we crave for in London!

Our first stop was of course the Van Gogh museum which is just before the main centre and accessible via the trams. We both love art so this was the perfect opportunity for us to brush up on our knowledge! We looked round for ages and admired his work. There is also an ice rink outside the museum. After that we spent ages in the snow, taking photos and had some lunch.

The cafes are what attract most people to Amsterdam, as well as the Red Light District but there is so much else to see. I must admit we did go to so many random, backstreet cafes as we loved the vibe but Bulldog is the most famous so we had to go there too! As I will soon be visiting again I am definitely staying at the Bulldog Hotel as this is the hotspot of the centre. There are so many hostels to stay in to make your stay a little cheaper and these are perfectly safe, the Bulldog also has a hostel too!

For Kate and I it was all about the shops and the architecture. The buildings were so beautiful and old looking we couldn’t stop looking up and taking photos. We shopped all day in the little random shops that sold some really quirky things. They have everything from old fashioned merry-go-rounds (which I purchased) to hemp lollies (which I also purchased)! We did of course venture into a few sex shops and I am keeping my lips sealed as to whether we purchased anything LOL.

We weren’t around to visit the flower stalls due to the weather as it wasn’t the right season for the famous tulips. It is also famous for its large amounts of bike riders as this, as well as the trams are the easiest forms of transport and I recommend being very road wary!

We found some strange artwork in the back part of the city and also featured on a show being filmed live in the square! We loved the little food stations where you could purchase hot food out of a mini vending machine. I have to say the food was pretty good. Our favourite place to eat was right in the main square, the pancake house!

For us the trip was finding out about the cultural elements of the city and we definitely found the place to be interesting. The people were so friendly and the vibe of the whole city is very laid back. The bars and restaurants are really nice and there is a great and varied nightlife!

There have been rumours that weed will only be legal to residents of the Netherlands but this has been widely criticised so it's very doubtful this will happen any time soon. Also there is a sex museum we never got to visit as well as festivals on the canal that take place over the summer months.  There is also a beautiful theatre in the heart of Amsterdam called the Stadsschouwburg which has been around since 1894.

So my overall impression of Amsterdam was a very favorable one. Since I am planning a second trip I think that says it all. It has fun and cultural elements which will suit anyone of any age. My own Mother made a trip this year with her friend and had the best time! She has so many funny stories from her trip so I can safely say that it suits everyone. If you choose to go in the winter like we did, or like my Mother in the summer, it is still a beautiful place to visit, whatever the weather as you can still do everything you set out to do.

Here are a few more photos we took from our trip:

Note: All photos taken by myself and Kate

Follow me on: @trishaaa_

Miranda!

'Miranda' is a BBC TV series that aired in 2009. Miranda Hart is the brains behind this hilarious show and I absolutely love her. Since this show first started I have sat down to watch it religiously with my Mum. It literally makes us LOL.

I love her brash attitude towards love and life. The show lets us delve into her chaotic life with all the mishaps along the way. Every show is perfectly executed for full comedic effect and it is truly a brilliant show.

The characters are all so well developed and they explain why Miranda is so unlucky in love as well as quirky. She is too tall, very clumsy and has a childish sense of humour but all this just makes her a loveable character. She is socially awkward, has a crazy Mother (who reminds me of my own...SUCH FUN!) and a love interest that is out of her league.

The set up is based around her home above her joke/gift shop and basically revolves around her finding a man! I love how she looks to the camera for private jokes between the audience and her. Some critics have found her jokes 'obvious' but I couldn't care less. As far as I am concerned she is a comedy genius and I laugh every time she turns to look at the camera, stresses about Gary (the sexy love interest), falls over or sets someone alight! Her jokes are perfectly timed and relatable, its old school comedy and it deserves a comeback.

The other characters such as 'Stevie', her best friend compliment her so well and watching the pair of them makes you want to be friends with Miranda!

I really recommend watching the two series, and let me know your feedback! There are rumours of a third series and the second has just finished airing!

>>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nzytf

Here are a few other links:

http://mirandahart.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/mermhart

Classic Cartoons

'Beauty and The Beast' (1991)

I am a big fan of the classic Walt Disney cartoons. I have recently received ‘Beauty and the Beast’ on DVD where this classic love story has been digitally restored and brought back to life. I used to watch this film; along with many of the classic Disney films such as ‘Little Mermaid’ (1989), ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (1959) and ‘Snow White’ (1937), as a child and I have always been fascinated by them.

I have to say that of all the films, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is my favourite as it has such beautiful instrumental music and a lovely meaning behind the film. What I love about it is the message it sends to all its viewers, about beauty being on the inside.

The film is dark at points and it definitely appeals to a more adult audience. The original cartoons from Disney all have this darker element in them which, as a child, did scare me. The villains in the films were always eerie and frightening.

All these films have a fantastical and magical feel to them, such as the enchanted castle in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to the mythological element of ‘Little Mermaid’. I love how they capture audiences with wonder and take you back to your childhood. They are much more intense then the cartoons nowadays. Even the modern Disney films such as ‘Cars’ (2006) or ‘The Princess and the Frog’ (2009), do not match the standard of the older generation of cartoons. The storylines, drawings and music are nothing in comparison.

For me, the music is key and if you listen to the clip you will see how this sets the scene in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and why it is a fantastic musical piece to begin a film with >>>

I think all the characters are developed well in looks, voice and furniture representation, such as the tea pot - ‘Mrs Potts’ and the candle stick - ‘Lumiere’. The storyline of the wilting rose that means the Beast must find love before the rose dies is such an enchanting and haunting story. The dark and creepy castle reflects the Beasts loathing of his current form and when he is transformed through Belle’s love the Castle changes back to its former glory.

I love how it teaches all a lesson about judging people on first appearances as well as learning to love someone for who they are, not what they look like. All Disney films tend to have some kind of message but this one is set apart from the rest. I wish all cartoons could be as good as these films but unfortunately the CGI generation is taking over and the quality is suffering because of this.

Gyptian

Due to twitter, I have been asked if I review music and to be fair, I haven't as of yet. My taste is music is very varied. I sometimes wake up and I am in the mood for a bit of Meatloaf and other mornings I am more in the mood for some Bob Marley. When I go out clubbing I am not the techno type, I love music you can bump and grind to. My preference on a night out is bashment and RnB as well as dancehall.

I am rigid when I am out clubbing, it has to be something I can sing along to and it has to have a beat you can really dance to, not something you just do the same boring movements to. I enjoy listening to more laid back music at home. I like songs that have meaning and really make you relate it to something happening in your life.

I am a big fan of Gyptian and I like his style of music because it varies from something you can sit and chill to, to a song you can really dance to. He hit us last year with his song 'Hold Yuh' where he collaborated with Nicki Minaj. Since she has been such a phenomenon, I believe this really boosted his single. This song epitomizes that summer feel and everyone was playing it in the clubs, their cars or at home.

Five years ago Gyptian had a hit with the single 'Serious Times' and this is such a laid back, chilling with your friend's kind of song. I love the quality in his voice. He has a lot of soul in his voice and all of his songs have meaning behind them if you take the time to listen. I do like his more upbeat tracks, especially 'Nah Let go' but it is one track in particular that really is on my 25 most played on my iPod. The song 'I Can Feel Your Pain' is the type of song that makes you sit back and think about the words.

I love the high notes he uses and the reference to how women should be treated is something I like in an Artist when they are being positive about it. It relates to what a lot of women want and if Gyptian can give it, then line up ladies! I have set that song on replay too many times.

His music is smooth and is slow at times but I like the variety, like I said one minute he is singing about wanting to love a woman to then wanting to grind and hold her in a different sense. All of his songs make me want to listen and I am always waiting to listen to a new track of his, or a long lost one!

I want to really get into music reviewing so I am starting small and hoping to work my way up to more detailed posts. I am a lover of all things with a good beat and baseline but more importantly IT'S THE WORDS! You should never just know the chorus, listen and hear what is behind the lyrics and what the Artist is trying to portray in their songs. Doing this makes a song much more special and relatable to you and not just any old song you listen to for a summer and then move on the next 'in' thing.

I hope Gyptian lasts long in this industry as he has brought something to the table that can rival some of my other favourite Artists such as Jah Cure and Vybz Kartel. Don't even get me started on them, they are too much to handle!

I have set out a few of my favourite songs of Gyptian and I had to throw in a couple from the Artists I mentioned above, I couldn't help myself after listening to them again on YOUTUBE, so have a listen >>>

My Village

My most recent venture out of the country has been to visit my family in Cyprus. I visit every year to see my Grandparents and spend some time in the village where my Grandmother was born. My Grandparents were from two different villages and met when my Grandfather had to do some work in her village, Silikou.

They met young but knew they wanted to be together. They married and had children and have been happily married ever since. They have lived in England to provide a better life for their four children but when retirement came, they moved back to the village where they first met and loved.

Since then they have preoccupied themselves with looking after the land they have worked so hard to buy. This land provides them with home grown vegetables and fruit as well as olive and almond trees. They have everything they need from this land. They also look after chickens so they have eggs and meat to sell to other villagers. They make a good living for themselves from houses, flats and land they have bought over the years.

Silikou is located in the Troodos Mountains which is 650 metres above sea level. There are winding roads that lead onto the cobbled streets of my village. Every year from the age of 13 onwards, I travelled to this village to spend time with my Grandparents and various cousins that would stay in the village during the hot summer months.

As I get older I appreciate what this place has to offer. It is so quiet during the day and night. Every morning you can hear the church bells ringing. My relative is the priest of this local church but was born and bred in London. He has his own website which not only gives you an insight into the village itself but the history of our Greek Orthodox Religion. Check it out >>> http://www.christopherklitou.com/index.htm

The reason for this post is that after spending some time with my cousin in the village on this particular visit, we were walking around and found ourselves talking about whether we would ever bring our children here. The conversation came up as we were reminiscing about our childhood days spent here. My cousin is only 13 but lived in the village for a while so we discussed the fun I used to have spending my summer holidays here, as did she.




  I told her about the late nights playing pool in the local 'Siloyo' which had a pool table, games, ice cream and was the local hotspot of the village. I spent every night with the freedom to do what I wanted and walked around the village with all the locals and my English-Greek cousins. I used to eat at the small taverna that was there and go to the well to drink fresh drinking water.

It was a simple existence but I made it fun by exploring the village I was from and making friends along the way. Every year as the locals and my cousins grow older we spend less and less time there and now it is my cousin Athena and I that go every year.

As we strolled around we looked at all the things we could improve to make the village a place more people would want to visit. We thought about how to create the bustling atmosphere it once had and that surrounding villages, such as Platres, still have. We saw the closed museum and the run down park and thought if we could do these up people would bring their children here more often. We thought about adding a convenience store as well as doing up the 'Siloyo' with better quality pool tables and games to attract the teenagers back to their village from the main town.

We had so many ideas and vowed  that when we made our millions, with myself writing and my cousin singing, we would come back here and restore the village to its once former glory. It is such a tame and quiet village now. It still has it's beautiful scenery but it has lost it's energy and this is why my family may not visit as much as they would do if there was more to do in the village.

There is actually a hotel called 'Village Life' in the heart of Silikou and we wondered if they had any visitors. It is done up in the traditional way and captures the essence of living in a village but what is the use without visitors?

I took some photos to show the beauty of my village and thought I would share a place that is unknown to so many people. I have never fogotten where I am from and as I promised my cousin, I will make this place a place to remember, for generations to come.

Here is a site with a bit more information about the history of Silikou >>> http://www.cyprusvillagelink.com/SylikouEnglish.asp








This is the 'Siloyo'

 



Fresh water well built into an olive tree



The water comes out cold from the tree

Another well, all provide fresh water unlike the towns





Where we light candles for the local Saint



Me exploring the village with the mountains behind me





Inside an olive tree

The road leading to the Church

Where the chickens are kept

The oldest well where the villagers fetched their water