Melon's TV series of the week - Doctor Who

Melon: I have chosen to do Doctor Who as my TV series of the week as I am in love with it.
I started watching Doctor Who on the second episode of the second series (the first one with David Tennant). After watchig it I decided to watch all the rest, and I am now a firm fan :)
That Christmas I got the complete first series with Christopher Eccleson on DVD, and I have every series since including the specials that came out after David Tennant left ( :'( ).

I would suggest that anyone who likes sci-fi should watch this series, start from series 1 and work your way along... I thought it would take a whil for me to get over David Tennant as the Doctor when he was replaced by Matt Smith, but Matt is equally as funny :P

When Roses' and The Doctor's story supposedly finished I was quite gutted, and then when she was replaced with Martha Jones, I didn't like Martha, especially when she tried to create a romantic relationship between herself and the Doctor, but... The Doctor was still in love with Rose anyway.

I love the fourth series the most, as it has all the companions together fighting the oldest enemy... The Daleks.

I think that is enough for now... I will let you decide if you end up watching it.

RATINGS:

Series 1 - Christopher Eccleson: 10/10
Series 2 - David Tennant: 10/10
Series 3 - David Tennant: 9/10
Series 4 - David Tennant: 10/10
Series 5 - Matt Smith: 10/10
Series 6 - Matt Smith (Still on TV): 10/10

Melon xxx

Melon's book of the week - The Tide Turner

The Tide Turner - Angela McAllister

Cal has always lived in the half dark, her life shrouded by secrets.

On the day she sets off to uncover the truth she is swept up in a current of strange events.  Drawn into her fatestream are merciless predators and improbable friends; Orcara, the kelpish healer, mysterious Tarian who trades in power and knowledge, and Jake, a boy as lost and hunted as Cal herself.

Who can they trust? Who should they fear?

RATING: 8/10 - It is a nice little read between books, especially when reading a series :)

Melon xxx

Atori's book series of the week - Darkest Powers Trilogy

If your interested in reading this series, please don't read the following synopsis' as it may give too much away, but please scroll to the ratings :)

The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for disturbed teens.
At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems…? Chloe realizes that if she doesn’t uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse…? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?

The Awakening - Kelley Armstrong

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. I’m a living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I can raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever. I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends and we have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong

My name is Chloe Saunders. I’m fifteen, and I would love to be normal.
But normal is one thing I’m not.
For one thing, I’m having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother–who just happens to be a sorcerer–but, between you and me, I’m leaning toward the werewolf.
Not normal.
My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us…permanently.
Definitely not normal.
And finally, I’m a genetically altered necromancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.
As far away from normal as it gets.

RATINGS:

The Summoning: 7/10
The Awakening: 9/10
The Reckoning: 10/10

Atori xxx

UWN Graduate Fashion Show May 26th 2011

Melon: At the end of every University year the Fashion Design course has a Graduate Fashion Show in the Riverfront Theatre. (I know this as I was on the course for three years, and was in the show myself last year.) The show was once again a success and some of the designs were amazing, some beautiful and some commercial... I have collected some images of my favourite designs and collections. Except one, which I couldn't find any suitable photos for and that was:

Ella Harris: EMBRACE - Embracing... fabric, texture, romance, escapism, imperfection and fragility.  The transience of natural forms provides the main inspiration for this collection. Fabric embraces the body, in a sensitive manner and draping creating organic sculptural silhouettes.

(If I find any images to show this collection I will add them at a later date.)

The other collections and designs were:

Hannah Cooper: VISIONARY - Structural Shapes, powerful sexuality, tough luxe with an edge of sophistication.  Clothes that show contemporary realism for the intoxicatingly cool.  Creating a second skin, an extension of oneself in a relaxed form of glamour.  Inspired by visionary imagination.

Amanda Bishop: Rebellion - A rebellious womenswear collection inspired by British ceremonial military uniform; focusing on masculine structure, untraditional style lines, cut and feminine detail, a collection of flamboyant tailored jackets and coats.

First Year Collection: Every year they have a large selection of the first and second year designs entering the stage together, the following design was in the first year section. I love the design of the coat.



Franky Hesketh: Drop Dead Gorgeous - A sense of drama production and performance... embracing the female form of femininity seductively devine and elegantly with dark intimidating undertones of vampire inspired lavish couture.

Emily McCarthy: Traje de Luz - Costumes of light - A contemporary Spanish inspired collection drawing on heritage and personal passion for this heavenly, cultural country.  Simplistic silhouettes have been entwined with rich bold beautiful fabrics fusing technology with tradition innovating light technology and beautiful surface decoration is combined on the catwalk.



Rachel Higgins: Iridescence - Collection inspired by the Pembrokeshire seashore - shell shapes, clams on rocks and the way nature has shaped the shoreline.  Draping... beadwork... hand embellishment.  Silhouettes inspired by icon Grace Kelly and her flirtatious hourglass feminine silhouettes.

Anne-Marie Hodder: 1950's Edge - A collection inspired by the classic 1950s with a modern, eclectic twist.  The collection brings a very retro feel but with contemporary construction methods; Combining alternative fashion design and unconventional ideology.



Claire Andrew: Tomorrow is now - Act now, grasp life, and appreciate the world around you! Nature and contrast continually inspire.  Clouds, landscapes, cityscape's and dragonflies captured the imagination.  Textiles, textures and surfaces inspired by nature are combined to create organic contemporary silhouettes.  Visual dynamic photographic prints set the scene for this breathtaking fashion collection.

RATINGS:

Melon: Collections: 9/10 (there were some really amazing collections, but some just missed the mark)
Overall experience: 8/10 (I loved the show, but the small TV screens were hard to see and they were different colours.)

Atori: Collections: 6/10 - I didn't really like too many of the collections. Except a pair of polka dot, 50's shorts.
Overall Experience: 7/10 - Because I missed half the show because some mans big head was in the way. haha.

Melon and Atori xxx

Atori's TV series of the week - Queer as Folk

Queer as Folk - Starring: Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Michelle Clunie, Thea Gill, Scott Lowell, Peter Paige, Hal Sparks, Sharon Gless, Robert Gant and Jack Wetherall.

For five compelling seasons, Britains Smash-Hit saga became Amercia's taboo-busting touchstone of contemporary gay life. The stories of Brian, Michael, Justin, Emmett, Ted, Melanie and Lindsay are the stories of your friends, your family, our world.The setting is Pittsburgh. The characters are 20- and 30- somethings concerned about love, friendship, family and career. But any similarity to other TV shows stops there. Because Queer as Folk is an edgy, frank, startling and compelling view of contemporary gay life.
Follow Emmett, Ted, Justin and arrogant hunk Brian as they find romance in the arms of a string of Mr. Wrongs - and an occasional Mr Right - in a series that 'opens the closet of gay TV, sexuality and chucks in a neon stick of dynamite.' (James Poniewozick, Time). Set to a soundtrack as urgent and hip as the lives of its characters, Queer as Folk will shake you up, win you over, rock your world.

RATINGS: 10/10

Firstly you should know that there are a lot of graphic sex scenes, but don't let that deter you from watching it as the story lines behind the sex are greatly developed. Each character has a wonderful story to tell and a great journey to take you on.

I loved Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor's relationship and how it grew through each series. Brian Kinney was my favourite character development as he grew the most, I like him because people always saw him as the 'selfish' one and he allowed people to view him that way, but throughout each series he was always the one doing stuff for others and never letting them know it was him. Some story lines were really good, the only ones that I thought were bad were the drug scenes, as it made it appear that all they did was take drugs and have sex all the time. It also made it appear that all straight people were against gay life.  It opened my eyes to how people used to react to gay culture and how its still very prejudice now, but its less taboo now.

QUOTES:

'No matter what you look like, somebody will always be dazzled by your beauty' - Emmett Honeycutt
'I'd set you up with my sister... Only, she looks like me in a dress' - Ted Schmidt
'It's not lying if they make you lie. If the only truth they can accept is their own.' - Brian Kinney
'[to Craig Taylor](Justin's Dad) So in other words, for Justin to live here with you, he has to deny who he is... what he thinks... and how he feels. Well, that's not love. That's hate.' - Brian Kinney
'Well listen up, now that your hearing has returned... This queer says "FUCK YOU".' - Justin Taylor
'A leopard can't change his stripes and neither can a queer.' - Debbie Novotny
'[to Justin, about Brian] If you ask me, he's been pretty good to you. He saved your life, he took you in, he's putting you through school, he protects you, he looks after you... And whether you believe it or not, he loves you, more than he's ever loved anyone.' - Michael Novotny

Atori xxx

Melon's Film of the week - The Notebook

The Notebook - Starring: Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling

Behind every great love is a great story.

As teenagers, Allie and Noah begin a whirlwind courtship that soon blossoms into tender intimacy.  The young couple is quickly separated by Allie's upper-class parents who insist Noah isn't right for her.  Several years pass, and, when they meet again, their passion is rekindled, forcing Allie to choose between her soulmate and her class order.  This beautiful tale has a particularly special meaning to an older gentleman who regularly reads the timeless love story to his aging companion.

Based on the best selling novel by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook is at once heartwarming and heartbreaking and will capture you in its sweeping and emotional force.

RATINGS: 10/10 Just magical!

I first watched this film when I was 17 and it is now one of my all-time favourite movies. I love the way that Allie and Noah's relationship blossoms. I love how much of a gentleman Noah is :) ... I used to say to Atori, 'one day I'm going to get myself a Noah.' I think it's really hard for me to choose a favourite scene as I loved the entire movie. I did watch the film before I read the book, so when i read the book, I was a little confused as the book is in the opposite direction to the film... the end of the film is how the book starts. The film shows a lot more detail about their relationship than the book as it just mentions their courtship rather than saying how they met and places they went etc. If you love chick-flicks then you will love this movie! :D

Melon xxx

Book and Film of the week...

Every week, or when we remember, we will each post a film/TV series and a book of the week, one that has been read before and it could be any film that means something to one of us, a TV series we've enjoyed watching or it could be something from our childhood that we enjoyed reading. It's going to be a new feature for our blog :)

Melon and Atori xxx