Thanksgiving Eve

Good morning! Today is Thanksgiving Eve! It is quite lovely to have a week of relaxation. I've been writing nonstop for 2 days, but that's not work, that's fun for me! I am happy to report that I got some sleep last night. Bliss! So here's the schedule... tomorrow I will tell you all about my Thanksgiving experience at a local Charlotte restaurant. Shhh, the restaurant is a secret and shall be revealed tomorrow!

 They are offering a three course dinner and a dessert buffet! Yay, sounds awesome...except I am allergic to eggs, so there might be one dessert on there that I can actually eat! I seriously hope and pray that there is pie!!! Nonetheless, this will be my first restaurant review. Granted I've been to this place at least three times, and know their food is delicious (lamb burgers = mmmmm). 

Check in tomorrow for the Thanksgiving verdict. Yum yum, and have a great day!

Wuthering Heights (The New Version)

I am a few weeks late posting about the new Wuthering Heights, but I have to express my disappointment. I expected emotional, poignant, performances, but what I got was appalling. 

 Staring Kaya Scodelario, and James Howson, it hate to report that this was a dud. Just boring and ridiculous.

 Firstly, what was the deal with the camera shots. Here is a quick example of each scene: Fade out from bright sunlight...linger for about one minute. Next scene...stare at a random flower, or bug crawling up a window. Next scene...stare at Heathcliff's face for at least five minutes while he does nothing but look lost, or occasionally angry. There might be a stray tear rolling down his face.

  Ugh! 

So, it continued like that for the entire movie. I am a huge British literature fan. I enjoy almost every adaptation of the classics on film, but this was by far the worst! I think I need to brush up on my Bronte, because there were just too many sick instances where Catherine would pull out Heathcliff's hair or do something to physically harm him. Or, someone was hanging a poor helpless dog by their collar on a gate post.  

To be fair, Bronte did have a dark mind and there was a brief description of a dog being left to hang in the book. It just didn't make sense in this movie, because the development of the characters didn't support such behavior.

Not to mention, every time Heathcliff ran off in anger or sorrow, he would either lay in the grass while ran poured over his face (so melodramatic) or the camera would randomly switch to a body of a dead rabbit.

Sounds interesting, I know. Trust me, it's not. It was just weird and annoying. My movie buddy and I kept looking at each other in horror during the movie, as if sharing the thought, "what is this?" "seriously?"

Well, that about sums it up. Honestly, I ran to the theaters to see this movie. The reviews said that it was the closest version to the book. I suppose I just don't like the book, if that's true. Bring me Tom Hardy back!!

P.S. Did I mention that in this version Heathcliff is black, or biracial? Well, nice twist on a modern classic, but the actor, James Howson, simply didn't live up to Heathcliffs notoriety.

Where have I been?

Greetings! It's been a long stretch since my last post about in May. I have been extremely busy, but I am happy to say that I am back and ready to share everything with you. This past year has been a constant effort to finish my book, Rise of the Flame. I am pleased to say that it is ready and in the process of being edited! 

Right now, while you're waiting for it to come out, I have provided tons of content for you to feast upon! My new writing website, www.knlee.net features short stories, excerpts from Rise of The Flame and a new fantasy series that is updated with new adventures each week. It's called The Chronicles of Koa. 

Stay tuned...because in the next couple of months, you'll also be able to purchase a few of my novellas on Amazon Kindle! I hope everyone is well, and ready for all that 2013 holds!

Top 5 Movies To See Right NOW:


1) The Avengers (obviously)
2)Cabin In The Woods (I'm serious...check it out)
3)Hunger Games (or Battle Royale *wink wink*)
4)Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol... Now on DVD
5)The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo... DVD release

Spring is here! Yay...it's 2012!
    
     Four years of waiting...and yes...The Avengers was AWESOME!!!!!
     No one can dispute this plain fact. I saw it twice over the weekend, Friday night and Sunday morning, and every showing was selling out and had long lines trailing out of the theater. Parking was nonexistent and there was such Avenger hysteria in the air, that it was palpable. I would be surprised if any other movies were seen this weekend.

                                   Why was it AWESOME?

1) The Hulk...aka...Mark Ruffalo. His portrayal of Dr. Banner was very believable and they made sure that he kept leaving hints about how cool the Hulk would be once unleashed. They delivered. My favorite parts were of the Hulk, namely in the epic conclusion of the movie.

2) Iron Man was witty as usual. Actually, everyone had pretty hilarious lines throughout the movie.

3) Tom Hiddleston. Sorry folks, I loved him in Thor as Loki, and I still love him, even though he keeps acting out. Poor boy just wants some love! Anyway, he is a great actor, and I love his character. He was a great foe for the Avengers, with just the right amount of evil and charm.

4) They are obviously spinning the idea of making a Black Widow movie. Scarlett Johansson was literally in almost every scene... and I love her!

5)Joss Whedon (The director/writer)... *silently bowing* Good job sir...good job.

                        What could they have done better?

1)I love Thor, but there could have been more character development for him. He kind of got upstaged by Iron Man.

2)Captain America...umm...can we please give him some more special abilities. I love his shield at all, but is that it? The captain was funny, and led the team well, but the captain had better have something else up his sleeve to make me want to see Captain America 2 (stay after the credits for a teaser for Avengers 2) I say this because one of my friends, who shall remain nameless, thought the villain in the scene was Red Skull, however it is actually Thanos who is a mutant member of the race of superhumans known as the Titanian Eternals...So there.

3) And I have nothing. 1 and 2 are it. Thank you.

So!!! Get up!!! Go see it tonight, and tomorrow, and the day after because it is THAT good.

Au revoir :)

Hola 2011!

Sooooo, it's been awhile! Looks like we've come full circle! I've been keeping up with the movies (of course) and doing quite a bit of writing and traveling. Guess what! The majority of my 2010 predictions were correct, as far as movies.

• Tron was awesome, I believe it's my favorite of 2010.
  
• Clash of the Titans was mediocre, it had so much potential!
  
• The remake of Let the Right One In (Let Me In) was actually pretty good. Very surprising!
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: was visually stunning, with a great plot. It sets up the stage for the second part beautifully.
• As everyone knows by now, The Kings Speech, was remarkable. Colin Firth has always been a favorite, and he embodied that character like second nature. Its best picture Oscar, was totally deserved.
• Black Swan was a psychological thriller that perfectly displayed Natalie Portmans talents. She totally pushed herself past her limits and explored a new frontier of acting. She deserved her best actress Oscar!
• The Fighter. It was okay. Markie Mark was a little flat, but Christian Bale STOLE THE SHOW! Amazing, just amazing!

More to come! Stay tuned for:

• Movie reviews and predictions
• Cooking tips! Video and recipes for the everyday cook to the wannabe gourmet chef!
  
• Travel tips with video, pictures, and reviews
• Etc etc!
  

Let the Right One In

Ok... so there's going to be a remake of the 2008 Swedish vampire film which will be released this October. I actually saw this a couple of months ago on Netflix's horror section and was very enticed by it. I love foreign films for their take on genres that have been exploited over the years. The mighty vampire, one of my favorite mythical creatures, has been shown in a whole new light, however, it's not the sweet, attractive, sexy portrayal that Twilight likes to promote. 

"Drinking human blood is bad bad," so they say.
 
Anyway, the androgenous vampire girl named Abby in Let the Right One In, is thoroughly creepy and mysterious, and shall be replayed by the awesome Chloe Grace Moretz, who I just saw in Kick Ass, as 'Hit Girl'. I do love this little girls performances in that recent movie and 500 Days of Summer. She's obviously the new Dakota/Abigail Breslin. We will see her in more many films for sure.
 
Well, it's pretty much about a quiet, shy little boy , named Owen, who gets bullied from day to day, who meets a new neighbor who lives with her father. It's always at night time when he sees her, and even though he is in sweaters and Eskimo coats, she barely wears anything, and never seems affected by the cold. These two are fast friends and before you know it, people in their town are coming up missing, or found with their blood drained, sometimes hanging upside down from trees. After the disappearance of her father, Abby soon has to fend for herself and with that, Owen starts to feel that his new friend has a terrible secret. Does it alarm him? Not really, once his bullies start to experience terrible events.
 
I think it should be left alone the original was beautifully made, however, I am curious to see the American version. I just hope they don't destroy it, kind of how they did with Ju-On, the Japanese version of The Grudge.
We'll see October 1st 2010.

Clash of the Titans

Excitement for this movie was at an all time high, however, I hate to admit that I was less than impressed. The original version was visually revolutionary in it's time, so after a couple of decades it's expected for it to be remade with modern technology. With a wonderful cast including Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Sam Worthington, who is quickly becoming the new face of the silver screen, with leading roles in movies such as Avatar and Terminator Salvation, this movie was destined to be great. Liam Neeson in Zeus, king of the Gods, and is very angry with humans for not praying to him and turning against him. He thus listens to his brother, whom he betrayed at the beginning of their existence, Hades, whom he has sent to live in misery in the underworld. Something should warn him not to trust him. I sense some treachery here!

However, Zeus is not so insightful, he allows Hades to wreck havoc on humanity, in hopes that he will once again be blessed with their prayers and increase his strength. Of course, this is not the expected outcome, this only makes Hades stronger. All the while, Zeus's son, a demi-God, named Perseus has been sent by the King of Argos to stop the Gods. Wanting revenge on Hades for killing his family, Perseus accepts this quest with vigor. With a team of soldiers, and a woman who has been watching Perseus from afar, he sets off to complete a series of tasks that will ultimately help him conquer the notorious monster called the Kraken.

Nonetheless, after a plot that seems so promising, it fell short to produce the excitement I was looking for or live up to my expectations. The action sequences were so abrupt, the dialogue faulty. With that said, I am sure there will be those who are satisfied. The story has been changed here and there, characters added, and removed. It did feel a little rushed, I wouldn't have minded if the characters would have been developed a little further, sadly most of them die right after you begin to identify and like them.

There are substantial special effects that were nice to see, my favorite part being Medussa's lair. I admit, she was a pretty cool character, once again, killed way too fast. With what's in theaters right now, I would see Clash of the Titans if you are looking for a period piece with an interesting, yet flawed premise. It will quench your thirst for action.

Top 5 Movies to Watch RIGHT NOW!!

*Shutter Island:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, and Michele Williams
Tip: Do not go to this movie expecting to be frightened, go to be entertained by clever twists and a strong, thought-provoking story.

*Alice in Wonderland:
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and the lovely Mia Wasikowska
Tip: Prepare to enter a different world, and experience a story that brings back memories of past fairy tales.

*She's Out Of My League:
Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve
Tip: Don't expect a heavy mind-bending story, get ready for many laughs and Jay Baruchels adorable charm.

*The Crazies:
Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell
Tip: Like skin tingling suspense? This is the movie for you. The perfect balance of thrills and chills, plus, you don't have to wait long to be entertained by this film, it gets going fairly quickly!

*An Education:
Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina
Tip: Embark on a journey into British life set pre-Beatles era, and follow the life changing experiences of a young girl during her entrance into womanhood.

Legion

Omg, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


Sorry, I had to vent.
Trust me, it hurts to do so, because I was so looking forward to this movie.
But really, why did they do this to us?
I wanted to like it so much, because of my love for Paul Bettany, but it just isn't possible. I admit, I kind of had a feeling that it would turn out this way, but at least I gave it a try!
Within the first 10 minutes after seeing the terrible shape-shifting of a possessed police officer and his cartoon-like sharp teeth, I had to giggle, and then I was just really upset as the film went on, and on.
This could have been so much better, the story was ridiculously flawed and really didn't make much sense, not to mentioned it was intensely contradicting of itself. Nonetheless, there were some moments that drew very near redemption.
While there were many notable actors, Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, and Kate Walsh, I was most impressed by Charles S. Dutton and Kevin Durand who played the angel Gabriel in this film. Although the storyline and dialogue was pretty bland and seemed to make fun of itself, these characters gave the best delivery by far, and displayed emotion that the other characters failed to exhibit.

Plot:
Gods angry with humanity, therefore he's going to get really creative in his destruction of mankind and send out angels who will then possess "weak-willed" individuals, who will in turn seek out an unborn child that is supposedly the only hopes for the survival of the human race!
Whew!
Ok, these people who are trapped in a diner called "Paradise Falls", in the middle of nowhere, are the only hopes of helping keep the waitress, who is mother or the unborn child alive, with the help of Gods most trusted angel, Michael.... sounds a little like The Prophecy if you ask me. However, Paul is much hotter than Eric Stoltz...
Back to the plot:
Michael thinks he knows better than God, apparently he is just having a temper tantrum and Michael must put him in his place. There's gore, there's a lot of deaths and a lot of time where there's plenty of chances to explain things further but not utilized at all. Plus, angels are very skilled in martial arts and weaponry, and for those moments when under heavy gunfire in heaven, they have bullet proof wings. Seriously?
It's pretty mindless and will probably entertain a few. Oh, and guess what, they threw a little extra haphazard material to set up for a sequel (gag). My most positive comment?
Hmmm...
Umm...
Well, Paul Bettany still looks pretty hot with wings ;)

It's been a while!

Hello everyone,
Sorry that it's been awhile since my last post. Wow, life has been busy! Much has been planned and of course I'll be telling you all about it! Many movie reviews, travel reviews, etc to come! All the movies I have been looking forward to are finally upon us. So, get ready!

Maria Mena

Maria Mena, the Norwegian pop star, has a voice that you must hear! I have been in love with her since I was in high school ever since I saw her as a featured artist on MTV back in the early 2000's.
She's beautiful, kind of resembling Sarah Silverman, and immensely talented. Coming from a family of artists, she writes most of her own songs and performs full of passion. Below is video of her singing "Just Hold Me," one of my favorites :)

Daybreakers

Omg! What? Wow! Well, ok. Sorry about my nonsensical jabber just now. I guess I'm a little stunned by this movie. Daybreakers, starring Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill was wonderful. As an avid vampire book/movie lover, this was a treat. I truly appreciate it when someone takes the whole vampire theme and put their own twists and portrayal of it. True Blood brings vampires out of hiding and has them living amongst humans, while Daybreakers goes much further.

Picture a world where vampires are the majority, ruling the earth and farming humans for blood, for their survival. Well, that's pretty much what Daybreakers is about. Too bad the human race is endangered. This causes the vampires blood supply to dwindle, causing them to slowly starve, resulting in a creepy mutation that makes them into vicious, mindless, creatures that become cannibalistic.

I am a fan of Ethan Hawke. No, not because of his looks, although that is a plus. He has been in some amazing movies and has stared along some movie legends, such as Denzel Washington in Training Day and Umma Thurman (also his ex-wife) in Gattaca, along with others like Angelina Jolie in Taking Lives and dozens of others in the movie New York I love You. He plays a hematologist who refuses to drink human blood and searches for a safe alternative. After a run in with some humans he joins forces with them and discovers that they actually have a cure, that can change he and all the other vampires back into humans!

The visuals are pretty good, except I think it's weird that all the vampires have the same colored contacts in, there are plenty of ways for them to display that they are vampires, abnormally pale skin is enough. Not to mention, all vampires wear only black in this futuristic movie. Nonetheless, it all added to the overall tone of the movie. Despite all of that I especially loved the intro and the wonderful, surprising twist at the end. I love a good twist, I hate formulaic movies that don't even try to surprise.
If you don't like blood and gore, stay away, there is a fair share in this thriller.
See it this weekend :)

Favorite little things I noticed:
Will work for blood- sign on a homeless guy
Join the vampire army, hunt humans, Uncle Sam needs you!-poster for the military

The Book Of Eli

A few weeks ago I posted an article on the most anticipated movies of 2010 and The Book of Eli was listed. Well, this movie was what I expected it to be, and more! Denzel Washington has been a favorite of mine and millions for many years. I first saw him as a young kid in Glory and even I knew he'd be a star. His acting ability is top notch, his looks stunning and add some martial arts inspired fighting and you've got the total package. I've seen Denzel fight before, but nothing like this! Amazing choreography! I'm telling you, his moves are quick, you'd think he and Wesley Snipes trained together!

The story was something of perfection!

There are no holes in my opinion. I'm not going to reveal any secrets to the movie or anything but here's a brief synopsis. It's 30 years after a terrible war and blinding flash of light from the sun, or maybe from effects of nuclear weapons, and most of the worlds population has died. A year later, after living underground, the remaining survivors walk the earth again. They must fight for clean water and supplies and little things that we take for granted now, like shampoo and chapstick, are like gold in this post-apocalyptic world. People either live in small groups of bandits, or shanty towns.

Except Denzel Washington, Eli, he is cool enough to travel solo, and can destroy anyone who gets in his way! He has something that will change the current situation of the earth and can help rebuild it as well. Then comes someone who knows the power of Eli's secret book, Gary Oldman. This guy is a wonderful actor and his role, as the villain, is totally believable. He is the ruler of a town that he built up where his henchmen have big weapons and control the people that inhabit the place. He wants Eli's book.

Remember, "it's not a book! It's a weapon!"

Also starring is Milla Kunis, and I have always loved her, but we get to see a different side of her, something that seems more real than her other roles. She truly shines. Grab a partner and quickly head to the theater to see this movie. You'll be impressed on many levels, especially the twist at the end ;)

Favorite Quote:
"You got any toys?" asks the shop keeper Denzel is bartering with.
"No, I don't play," responds Denzel.
Classic!

Picture courtesy of cinemaisdope.com

Imogen Heap

Imogen Heap the British pop star, formally of Frou Frou, is one of the most talented and creative musical artists I've ever had the pleasure of seeing and hearing. With her ethereal sounding melodies and breathtaking, yet, edgy look, she captivates every audience.

You may have heard the chart topping song Whacha Say, by Jason Derulo, well that chorus is Imogen Heap and it's a sample from her grammy nominated song "Hide and Seek." This was the first single off her album Speak For Yourself, which she wrote, produced and mixed. This is one talented woman and one of my absolute favorites.

K. Nycole Lee is CouchSurfing Across the World!!

Why wait to follow your dreams?
This it the question I have been asking myself lately. After spending a wonderful, life-changing, month in South Korea this past year, I realized that there's nothing holding me back from pursuing my dreams of traveling this beautiful world. So I started making plans to do exactly that. I admit, I was afraid to embark on that 13 hour flight across the ocean to a country I had always been intrigued by, but knew nothing of what to expect. When I arrived, all of those fears were quickly forgotten and I had the best time of my life.
I really didn't want to come back to the states!
I mentioned a few posts back a wonderful program called the CouchSurfing Project. It's a completely free and safe way to find accommodations and friendly people who are willing to show you around their cities. Couch surfing is world wide! So really, what is stopping you!? Ok, ok, there is the cost of flights and food, entertainment, etc, but once hotel fees are out of the picture, those other things aren't so hard to come up with. You just need a little budgeting and a solid plan.
So, 2010 will be a year where I'll take you with me on my excursions across the earth. I will document every unique experience and photograph all of the beautiful people I meet as well as the sights and scenery. Also, I will provide detailed reviews on tourist attractions, local "hot spots", restaurants, airlines, etc. Follow me as I cruise with some friends to Nassau, The Bahamas, fly with my family to Hawaii, trek the island of Japan, revisit some friends I met in South Korea and embark on a journey of Europe, Barcelona the starting point!
This should be exciting! I look forward to telling you all about it :)

Thor & Spiderman 4

Today it's been released that Stuart Townshead will be replaced in the film Thor, by Joshua Dallas in playing the character called Fandrall. It's no secret that I am in love with these adaptations of mythological characters, comic heroes and fantasy stories.
Even more exciting about this movie is that Kenneth Branagh is directing it. He is a pure treasure in the film industry. He can do no wrong in my eyes. I am glad that he is taking this story about the Viking god of thunder under his gifted wing. I wish that he were in it as well, who knows, he may surprise me!
Oh wait, I almost forgot to mention a few names that will surely blow your mind. Well, starring as Thor will be Chris Hemsworth (Captain Kirks father in the latest Star Trek, The Perfect Getaway) along with Natalie Portman(Love her!) Anthony Hopkins, Samuel Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard, and Rene Russo. I predict that May 20th 2011 will have lines of comic fans awaiting their chance to view this film.

In other news, very exciting news, Spiderman 4 is going in a whole new direction. Forget about Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco. They are wonderful, amazing actors but this go around, the new director wants to use a new script by James Vanderbilt and take Peter Parker back to high school with a fresh cast, and focus on his life as a teen. This should be interesting. Sam Raimi, the director of the first 3 and the former cast will be missed, but I can't wait to find out which up and coming actors they'll use next.


Picture courtesy of blogdecine.com and collider.com

The Young Victoria

This weekend I finally saw The Young Victoria, the biopic of Queen Victoria and her romance with Prince Albert. This was just what I needed. There hasn't been a good period piece in awhile and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's pretty impressive that this film was produced by Martin Scorsese and Sarah, The Duchess of York.
That just sounds cool!
Emily Blunt, the British actress who we've seen in films such as The Devil Wears Prada and Sunshine Cleaning stars as the queen of the United Kingdom. We can also see her in the upcoming movie, The Wolfman. Playing Prince Albert is Rupert Friend, also British, whom played a villainous character in the heartbreaking Boy in the Stripped Pajamas as well as Pride and Prejudice (where he met his girlfriend Keira Knightley). They were a great pair and the chemistry between them was unmistakable.
The writers and director kept to the historical facts pretty well and focused more on the story of her life before and just after her coronation as Queen. Visually, the costumes and location were beautiful and interesting. If you're looking for a lovely romantic, historical, period drama, then this is the movie for you.
Catch it in theaters now!

Mommy Makeover!! Kate Gosselin!

The beautiful mother of 8, changes her look for the new year! Recently divorced, this hot mama decided it was finally time to update her look and have a fresh start. Now that her children are all in school, she should be able to take more time out for herself and keep her look up. Good job People Magazine, she looks great!


Picture courtesy of iVillage.com

Robin Hood

Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Addy, and Matthew MacFadyen, in this 2010 remake of the classic tale, Robin Hood.

I can't wait!

We all love Russell Crowe in epic movies, Gladiator is one of my favorites. There's speculation that he'll 'toughen' Robin of Loxley up! I didn't want to see him in green tights anyway. He was originally supposed to play the Sheriff of Nottingham, but I am glad they didn't go that direction.

Then there's Cate Blanchett, oh my, I'll let you in on a little secret. This is the woman that has a secure role as a character in my latest novel. When it becomes a movie that is! She is remarkable. I love her small role in the Lord of The Rings Trilogy, and less known starring role in The Gift, opposite Keanu Reeves, Hilary Swank, Giovani Ribisi and various other stars.

Less known is Matthew MacFadyen who will play the Sheriff of Nottingham. I have a special appreciation for this British actor. His roles in many BBC masterpieces and in Pride and Prejudice opposite Keira Knightley as Mr. Darcy are wonderfully done. I am looking forward to seeing him in this big budget adventure. You can also see Mark Strong as one of King John's henchmen, you may know him from Stardust and most recently, the villain in Sherlock Holmes.

It has been directed by Ridley Scott, whom we can thank for such works as Gladiator, Blade Runner, Alien, Thelma and Louise, American Gangster, and Kingdom of Heaven. It's safe to say that this man makes amazing movies that can stand the test of time. This remake will be available for your viewing pleasure May 14th.