Tom's treasures of fiction, poetry, literature and more...

Here is my third post today and it is what I have read this month... December can be a busy time of year for a lot of people including me. But I always find time to do some reading... 1: My French... Reading challenges are just one part of my French which I keep doing to learn more and continually improve. I am on my way to 700 days!. 2: My chess... I love learning my chess too as I have enjoyed playing it since being a child. I do alongside French and hope to keep going for as long as I possibly can. 3:  Romeo and Juliet  by William Shakespeare. I was reading through parts of this play to remind myself of a quote and where it was in the play. As you can see I reviewed along with some of the many film versions that there have been. 4: Hotel information. As I went away this month, I was reading information on some hotels I was staying in. One of the hotels offered a free breakfast although there was no indication what that free breakfast entailed. It turned out quite a lot...

They keep coming... Yes, another review for a film of my favourite Shakespeare play. This time the film is the 2010 version directed by Rupert Goold. Here is a confusing film that delivers one your worst nightmares! I give to you the three witches of Macbeth, dressed as masked nurses! Every time we see them, there is always a horrid act. This includes one of the witches cleaning a large knife, or even when the three witches first meet Macbeth and Banquo, a witch holds up a patients heart. This is after the patient's death of course. I meticulously noticed that these three sinister sisters continued to appear throughout the film, even in the form of other guises to that of the masked nurses. Aside from masked nurses, witches or however they are perceived, the king and other characters are soldiers. This film is based on the idea of a war which is to be won. With soldiers shooting guns and planes heard from above, this film is a bloody and violent depiction of the Scottish play. The ...

Hello everyone, it is time for another Macbeth film review. This time I am taking you into Michael Bogdanov's rough and tough world. For one thing, the Macbeth home looks like some abandoned warehouse with missing windows or doors. But we get an impression of how this version of Macbeth is to be just from seeing the opening. The three witches, played by Lesley Joseph, Lorren Bent and Denise Black are presently discussing their affairs in a junkyard with an array of debris scattered about. When Macbeth and Banquo arrive, I thought it was cleverly done how the three witches were able to disappear in the way they did, not just 'vanish' as if. Later on when Macbeth returns to speak with them, the scene is in black and white as they make magic with their cauldron. The only colour which is present at the start of that scene is the fire. To me this was a unique take on the scene and having the fire created a sinister, troublesome atmosphere. This sums up the witches of Macbeth bec...

Today I am gifting you with my review of the 1997 film version of  Macbeth  directed by Jeremy Freeston. This version of the play opens with the fighting scene, which in the play is scene two. This is a scene that is loud, with all the men fighting with one another and charging at each other to kill in a field. That is until Macbeth comes along. The noises all stop and it goes silent until he strikes down an opposing man and all that can be heard is the final striking with the sword being delivered. Only then do we get the witches from amidst the smoke. These witches give off an appearance of peasantry, as though they are poor women. I state this based on their outfits, which are nothing special. When Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches their appearance changes to ghastly and not fully there to emphasise they are supernatural. This time they are also have blackish make up which I like because it contrasts their paleness. In general the costumes and make up was well thoug...

I just wanted to start off by wishing all those who celebrate a very happy Christmas! I am also going to give you another review, this time of the 1983 TV film of Macbeth. This is quite possibly a favourite of all the different films of Shakespeare's plays I have seen. At the start of the play, the witches are presented looking like rocks. The way they blend in with the background is clever. Then when they unfurl and show themselves in full, standing up it can be seen that they are wearing ragged clothing. Brenda Bruce, Annie Dyson and Eileen Way play the three witches well, offering a good visual idea of the witches. What adds to their opening scene is how lightning is used. It not only boosts the supernatural and mysterious atmosphere. The film additionally stood out thanks to Jane Lapotaire's Lady Macbeth who portrayed the character excellently with a huge depth to the character of Lady Macbeth and a range of such strong and vivid emotions. One particular scene is when Lady ...

It is Christmas eve so I hope to all of those who celebrate, that you have a good Christmas this year. Anyway,  here I am to give you a review of Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. Or rather the Scottish play as those in the acting world will call it. Just a little secret, but out of all the Shakespeare plays I have read, this is my favourite! I love how Shakespeare set the tone of the play by opening the play with the three witches. We looked at that opening scene with the witches in drama at school. The year after we fully studied the whole play in English. When I had the opportunity to pick a subject for one of my university assignments, I picked witches and linked it to  Macbeth . Admittedly that was not my first assignment in four years that had a link to witches. However, the witches in the play are not the only characters providing a supernatural element which I love. In act three, Macbeth is plagued by the ghost of his late friend, Banquo. I love how Banquo's ghost comes b...

Hello people. Today I am reviewing the 1979 TV film version of Measure for Measure . This film truly captured the essence of the play in my opinion. I knew I was going to review the play and then watch this film to review because I have always loved the play. I find it amusing how Shakespeare named a brothel owner 'Mistress Overdone'. Interestingly, in the play I never knew what I thought she would look like. I half expected her to look overrun but in fact when I saw Adrienne Corri's Mistress Overdone she looked how Mistress Overdone would look I guess. The one character who had an excellent appearance I must admit is Isabella. For someone wanting to become a nun I think the decision to give her an outfit all in white was a perfect decision because white symbolises innocence and angelicity. The Duke in his friar's outfit is rather clever too. Because when he first becomes this Friar Lodowick, he does nothing to cover his face. Therefore I find it amusing that no one ack...

My second blog post today is that of a review, discussing Shakespeare's problematic play Measure for Measure . This play opens with the Duke Vincentio taking leave from his duties in Vienna. In his place, is Antonio who the Duke has instructed to do his role until he returns. Shortly into the start of his tenure, Antonio punishes Claudio to death for getting his partner Juliet pregnant before marriage. Antonio wants to make an example out of Claudio so no one else does this. What stands out to me about this whole affair is how Antonio is willing to let Claudio go unpunished if his sister, Isabella is willing to sleep with Antonio. This is the same Antonio who wants to punish Claudio for doing the exact same. What is worse is that Isabella is in the process of becoming a nun when she gets visited by her brother's friend, Lucio. As she has not fully become a nun yet she can talk with him. She is even visits her brother in prison and to my disgust, he tells her to do it. All while...

Hello everyone, today I am gifting you with not one, not two but three blog posts. All week long there will be surprises I am gifting as we are in Christmas week! For today's first blog post I am taking you into York city centre where there is an cool Oxfam bookshop that can be found. I liked this bookshop. It was easy to access, though I nearly got a little lost trying to find it. Trying to pick a bookshop in York to visit was a challenge but I am glad I find this one. When I walked inside there was a member of staff who was very friendly and welcoming. If you go to a book shop, well any shop and there is a member of staff on the till, you do expect they will be welcoming. The other thing that I look out for is the stock they have. Do they have a nice range of books or is minimal? I understand some shops can only handle so many books but to have books from different categories such as fiction, historical books and children books. This shop a lot to choose from and it was a massive...

Hello everyone. I would like to start off by apologising for having a week of no posts. I went away to see some family I had not seen in a while and I had no signal or connection for the majority of my travels. But this from this week, I will be gifting presents and posting to my blog every day. For today's blog post I am going to be reviewing the CD soundtrack to the film of Romeo + Juliet from 1996. This film is an excellent mix of grungy and lovey-dovey songs it just pairs so well with the film. One song is track 12, which is 'Little Star' by Stina Nordenstam which sounds heavenly. Then we have track 4 - 'Pretty Piece of Flesh' by One Inch Punch which is more rock sounding. Another song included in the film and on the soundtrack CD is track 7 - 'Young Hearts Run Free' by Kim Mazelle. This song is more pop sounding and an example of lovey-dovey that I mentioned. However the songs differ, none stand out like a sore thumb and they all come to together cohesi...

This time it is another Romeo and Juliet film review... Quick, Baz Luhrmann's fast paced, action packed 1999 version is here! Within minutes we witness a brawl at a fuel station, with guns drawn. I find it ironic how the fuel station has a sign that reads add more fuel to the fire. The same sign keeps shot as bullets fly across the station's forecourt and this gun show only hints at what's to come. Violence, bloodshed and tragedy fill this crazy film where the lovers destined never to be together face the troubles of their frictious families feuding. Juliet's cousin Tybalt is an irritant that gets set off at the sheer sight of poor Romeo. Then there's her father with a rage so strong, I felt just a tiny bit scared. After he loses it with Juliet, her mother does not even defend her and refuses to speak with her. I find this most unpleasant! It is no one wonder she does not want to marry the man her father chooses, considering she is love with Romeo Montague. For Rome...

For this fine December Wednesday, I give to you another Romeo and Juliet film review. This time I am reviewing the 1978 BBC TV film version. This dramatic version includes a variety of cast including Alan Rickman as Tybalt, Jaqueline Hill as Lady Capulet, Rebecca Saire as Juliet and Patrick Ryecart as Romeo. Now I am going to be completely honest when I say that out of all the Romeo and Juliet film versions I have seen, this one I did not seem to enjoy as much. There were little things that bothered me such as when Capulet's manner of doing things. I was not keen on this version of Capulet. One example is at the party and he slaps one of the women  after he hugs her. This is not in a violent way I might add but it did still bother me. That might be because of different attitudes at the time but it did bother me. Also I found that while Jaqueline Hill's Lady Capulet was significant, I struggle to remember Zulema Dene's Lady Montague. I understand that Lady Capulet speaks mor...

I decided today that you can have a second review on a Romeo and Juliet film. The version I watched was the 1976 version starring Ann Hasson and Christopher Neame. This film version was interesting. Ann Hasson's Juliet was a good choice because she appeared to be a more youthful looking Juliet. This then gave her an innocence. Christopher Neame's Romeo was dashing and jokey. The pair complimented each other well. I noticed throughout the play there was lots of tensions and that kept it going well. At the start of the play for instance, we get the men fighting with each other, one even fights with an apple in his mouth. Anyway, a random woman in the street suddenly falls and screams. Another such example is with the deaths or Mercutio and Tybalt which for me is always a turning point of the play. This is Romeo's downfall and ultimately leads to Romeo and Juliet's ending of their relationship. For me, I see the play as being centred on their relationship as it develops. T...

The 1955 film version of Romeo and Juliet is one of the earliest versions of this film. It is in black and white though that does not take away from the film at all. Actually, the film was good and that is because of the characters. The acting is done well and the film are dramatic, through it's characters. I like watching a play (staged or filmed) and having the characters full of such vivid emotion. I could feel Juliet's sadness from watching her. Yes, the speech also adds to that but for me, I find the characters in this film are a strong quality to the film. One scene that highlighted this well was the fighting scene between Romeo, Tybalt and Mercutio. Tybalt's anger was evident just from the look on his face. Even if you had no idea on what would happen next because you had never read the play or watched a film on it, you could easily guess. Then there was the scene where Juliet is given the poison and she is reduced to tears. This was a nice film though it was not my ...

 Hello all. Today's the day for a review of a Shakespeare play. Here are two lovers never destined to receive their happy ending. We have the Montagues, Romeo is one of them. We have the Capulets, Juliet is one of them. Their two families have been warring with one another for so long they cannot actually remember what it was all for. Over the course of the play, lives are claimed as fights and brawls cause blood to be drawn. In the end, we see two lovers cruelly torn apart and not wanting to be so. When it comes down to it, this play demonstrates how love can be the most powerful thing. I do question Romeo's love for Juliet. His ex was one of her cousins and he brawled with another, resulting in the death of two people and Romeo's immediate exile. Thus the down fall begins in the wake of Tybalt's fury, in my opinion. The way I see the play is that if Tybalt had not gone after Romeo, Mercutio would not have suffered, nor would grief take hold of Romeo, whose actions res...

Hello everyone. It's finally time for the end of the year, December is here. Hanukkah and Christmas on their way, if you celebrate either of those. For this month I will be swapping to a new playwright to review. For this month, I will be reviewing some of the works by William Shakespeare. I was a little torn over doing Shakespeare I must admit. The thought of growing up, studying at school and college where the majority of authors were white men, got thinking... I have always looked at Shakespeare throughout my life, so did I want to continue that? Then I came to the conclusion that people bang on about him because he was good. I just think some authors who are very good do not get talked about enough. Still... I decided that William Shakespeare would be author of the month. I hope you look forward to my reviews of some of Shakespeare's work. Have a great end of the year. Until next time, Thomas.