Favorites of 2011

Hi everyone! How are you guys? Are you excited for the new year? I am! Whenever a new year approaches, I get really excited to see whats going to happen. It's like a new book...you're not sure what to expect, but you're dying to flip the next page.

Well, I originally planned to have my 'favorites of 2011' to be divided into three separate posts, but time was against me and I had a couple posts I wanted to post beforehand. *sighs* Oh well, I'll just jam pact this post with my three categories of 'favorites'.

Alright, there are three different categories: 1. Music 2. Movies and 3. Books (of course). I nominated about five or so to each 'favorite' and slowly and carefully eliminated one by one until there was a single nominee left. If there was a tie I used Random.org to help me break the tie. ^.^ BY THE WAY, these are of my own personal opinion...shall we begin?

CATEGORY 1: MUSIC

~Favorite Solo Artist of the Year:
Adele

~Favorite Band/group of Artists of the Year:

AZIATIX

~Favorite Song of the Year:

'Party Rockers Anthem' by LMFAO

CATEGORY 2: MOVIES ~Female Movie Character of the Year: Bulma from Dragonball: Evolution played by Emmy Rossum

~Male Movie Character of the Year:

John Dillinger from Public Enemies played by Johnny Depp

~Movie of the Year:

Red Cliff (2008)

CATEGORY 3: BOOKS

~Female Book Character of the Year:

Kate Masden from My Dangerous Duke by Gaelen Foley

~Male Book Character of the Year:

Matshuito from The Snow Fox by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer

~Author of the Year:

Gaelen Foley. In 2011, alone, I've read 3 of her books. So far I've kept up and I've read all her books. Right now I'm reading her most recent release My Ruthless Prince.

(Now it's time for the biggie....)

~Book of the Year:

*drumroll*Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn! I even "casted" this book, click here to see who I seen while reading this book... 

Do you guys like my choices? I feel very set in stone on my favorites of the year! I'm dying to see what I'll stumble upon in 2012. ^.^ Leave me your links to your 'favorites' or 'top tens' of 2011! I hope you all have a fun and safe New Years! I'll be stuck at work working a midnight. *thinks* I wonder how they got me to work a midnight -.- Anyways, have fun for me too!

PS-This is the last post of 2011. *sad face* It's so bittersweet...

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<3CaroleRae

Movie Review: Dragonball Evolution

Length: 100 mins (uncut version)
Released: April 10, 2009 (USA)
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Rating: PG; intense sequences of action/violence and brief mild language
Directed By: James Wong
Where I Got It: Borrowed it from Library

This is a remake of the famous Dragonball series. It follows Goku as a seventeen year old kid living with  his Grandpa, who obviously adopted Goku (the grandpa is Japanese and Goku is a white kid). Grandpa is training Goku how to fight and how to use his chi energy. Grandpa tells Goku about the dragonballs (he even gives him one). At the same time the evil warlord Piccolo is on a search for the dragonballs, so he can take over the universe.

There's few familar faces in this film. As Goku is Justin Chatwin (LOST, War of the World), Yun-Fate Chow (Curse of the Golden Flower) as Master Roshi, Emmy Rossum (The Phantom of the Opera, The Day After Tomorrow) as Bulma, James Marsters (PS I Love You, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Lord Piccolo, and Randall Duk Kim (Kung Fu Panda, The Matrix Reloaded, Anna and the King) as Grandpa Gohan.


Before I popped the movie into the DVD player, I made a vow to try to not compare ANYTHING in this movie to my beloved DB/DBZ anime show. I will admit...I did slip off the path a lot, but I think I tried my hardest to give this movie a chance with an empty brain. I'm proud of myself.

Okay...one of the biggest complaints that I've heard and read about was that Goku was played by a white boy. The fact that he was white didn't bug me. The thing that bugged me was that he only made due as Goku. He wasn't great, he wasn't horrid. I felt like he was just there. Maybe he should have played Krillin (har har). He didn't play Goku the way he was meant to be played.

Another complaint floating around is the fact that they have Goku in High School. When comparing between the anime to this, yes, I was very flabbergasted and mad! However, when not comparing, I felt like it was an interesting twist to the story. I felt like it added to the story. Personally, though, if I was screenwriting I would have avoided that story cliche and stuck more to the original story. It was a nice attempt, but it fell flat.

Not only did the High School bit fall flat but I felt like the dialogue and a lot of the acting died on camera too. I will give credit to those who played Bulma, Master Roshi, Piccolo, and Chi Chi, they were pretty good. However...the others...no. I'm not sure if it was the acting or just the dialogue writing or both. It just didn't work.

I really liked the special effects and the costumes. I thought the special effects were pretty cool and I felt like they were real. Like the Dragon; he was the coolest thing! I also liked the costumes, which embodied what were drawn in the anime. I especially liked Bulma's outfits and hairstyle. I wish I could get those in my size and prance around in them when I go out and about. Maybe I'll be Bulma for Halloween! ^.^

Yes, I will admit that this was a "shining piece of [poop]", buuuut I was entertained. It was like a car accident. I couldn't help but watch every single minute of it. I even put it on pause when I went to get another drink and another handful of m&ms. I would tell other DB/DBZ fans to avoid this unless they were like me and tried to avoid comparing the original with this. Come into this movie with an open-mind and you'll be entertained. You'll be highly disappointed, but entertained. Out of five stars, I have no choice but to give this 2 stars. Okay...I confess...I want the sequel to come out so I can see Vegeta and Trunks. Haha. I'm pathetic, I know.

Would I re-watch?: 
Nope. 


Favorite Character(s): Bulma and Master Roshi (he cracked me up)
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Goku 

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<3CaroleRae