Film Reviews: Star Trek, Into Darkness

I was a huge Star Trek fan when I was younger, but haven't watched the series in years.   The original series is the one I've seen the least of, so I went to see the previous Star Trek film without much idea of what to expect.   I loved it!   It was very different to the Star Trek I remembered, and I loved the new incarnation.   So I was very eager to see this sequel when it came out, and overall I was impressed.   It had the same sort of flavour as the last film, with impressive visuals, spunky characters, great jokes and lots of nods to the original series for the fans.   Like its prequel, it was also a film for everybody, not just one for the fans, which I thought was great.   The plot is slightly on the forgettable side, but the visuals, script and acting more than make up for it.   Again, Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Chekov, Bones and Scotty are brilliant, and Benedict Cumberbatch is, of course great as Khan.   He's everywhere at the moment, isn't he?   And I loved Spock yelling Khan! at the end!   Even someone like me who has never seen Wrath of Khan knows what a famous scene that is and can appreciate what they did with reversing Spock and Kirk's roles.   I do think, though, that it isn't quite as good as its predecessor.   Still great though, and I hope they make lots more!

Songs: Les Fleurs

I'm not the world's biggest Minnie Riperton fan, but this is gorgeous.   Sweet and unusual.   And I've still got absolutely no idea what it's about.   

Book Reviews: Little Town on the Prairie

Another Laura Ingalls Wilder book.   They're semi-autobiographical books about life growing up as a pioneer girl.  This one is just as good as the previous ones.   It's more joyful than The Long Winter.   In stark contrast to the books like On the Banks of Plum Creek this one sees Laura beginning to spend a lot more time in town, socialising with other people.   And it's good to see out heroine having some fun.   A lot of the focus of this book is on the family trying to get together enough money to send Laura's sister Mary to college.   Laura gets a job in town sewing shirts to help raise money, and sees things she's never seen before, like drunkeness.   It's odd to think how taboo it was for a respectable young girl to get a job back then.   And of course there's the start of the great romance with Almanzo.   Not that Laura really knows what's going on at the time. All in all, despite it being a very different type of book to the earlier ones, this book is still just as charming and engaging and I would highly recommend it.  

  

Songs: Walking on Broken Glass

I love this song so much it was my ring tone for ages.   And look, look!   Prince George from Blackadder is in the video!   This makes me happy!   I do like Annie Lennox as well.   She's a bit different.

Photography: Other People's Pot Plants

I went round my neighbourhood with my camera and took macro photos of other people's pot plants.   This was my favourite.   No idea what it is, but it's very pretty.

Songs: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

This song never fails to make me giggle:

Books: Hook's Pictorial Edinburgh

I got a lovely present from my grandparents a little while ago.   It was a book of photographs of Edinburgh, called Hood's Pictorial Edinburgh.   They bought on a holiday to Edinburgh during the 30s.   All the photos are from that time, and I love it!   I've always loved old photos of familiar towns, because I find it very interesting to see how they've changed.   It really is a lovely book.   Here are a few photos from it: