Scattered Strawberry Summer

After having watched nothing but Sherlock for the past few weeks, we tried to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S, 5 minutes later we changed it to unaired Sherlock pilot... :))

Watched Third Star because of Benedict. Maybe I shouldn't have, it's too sad and I'm not really in the mood for sad films, I still haven't recovered from Reichenbach fall episode.

 I also finished Van Gogh: painted with words. Even though I'm not really into Van Gogh,I found it rather interesting.  Every word spoken by the actors in this film is sourced from the letters that Van Gogh sent to his younger brother Theo, and of those around him.

 The performance by Ben was brilliant, although I thought he was too handsome to portray Van Gogh, even with that ugly beard.

Next I'm going to watch Stuart: Life Backwards, Hawking, The Last Enemy, Amazing Grace. etc. All starring Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch. I previously wrote, that I'm going to watch everything he has been in. Does this qualify me for the cumberbitch status? :)) oh you should see my tumblr...

I think I am really annoying person to watch films/tv shows with. I mock them, I comment everything. I also can't help but question the motivations and behaviour of characters which is quite often totally irrational. I hate when one character gets angry on another character for not apparent or ridiculous reason, quite often showing women to be absolute pain in the ass. The screenwriters are trying to make a conflict but can't be bothered to find a good basis for it.

I hate it when something what's supposed to be realistic, it totally isn't.

I hate when they use cliches, especially I hate "the speach". If you have seen any Hollywood film,especially if it's a romcom, you should know what I am talking about. It's when at the end of the film, one of the main characters gives a supposedly moving speach, saying I'm sorry, it was all my fault or/and I really love you, in most occasions in front of a huge crowd of people ( because it doesn't count otherwise, you know). In these moments I feel like throwing a brick to the screen, although it's not its fault.

The other thing is, I tend to guess a lot of things that are going to happen in a film. Really a lot. It's not the most difficult thing in the world, but my BF finds hugely annoying, sometimes he thinks I just pretend to have not seen the film, and actually know the plot. I don't. I just guess, sometimes I even surprise myself how much I can predict.


I like films with happy endings. But by that I mean main characters surviving. What I find rather rather disappointing when watching a film is when you realise that the girl will end up with that guy in the first 5 minutes.


Also, a lot of films are based on books. and I have read quite a few books... So I'd be watching a film based on a book that I've read and I'd be commenting how they omitted an important,I'd  be totally annoyed that they  totally change a character (for instance Rebecca in Bridget Jones), I realise some things have to be changed and stuff to make  it work on film but still, in most cases it's just an attempt to make it more digestible for the mass audience.

A film that is based on a book really works for me is really the trilogy, Lord of the Rings, it's indeed spectacular. Or maybe it's because I don't really remember what was in the books because I read them  when I was 10-12 year old.

I can't waaaaaait for the Hobbit. For many reasons... I actually haven't read the Hobbit, because at the time I was into the LOTR, that book hasn't been translated into my native language yet. I still have time until the film  comes out.

 It's not going to be very techy, I'm very much an amateur.

It's called CCTV lens (not that kind of CCTV, though ;) ). Aperture 1.4, 25mm. I wanted 25mm because it's equivalent to 50mm in 35mm film cameras.

The price is very attractive, ~£23 with adaptor (ebay).  As I am a  graduate with part-time manual job, I can't really afford to buy pancake lens (lumix 20mm 1.8 ~£200). I was very wary about the quality of lens, couldn't find any reviews, but when I found UK seller, I thought to go for it. If it's totally piece of shit, I could just return.

First, it arrived without any instructions or product description. As I needed an adaptor, putting lens on wasn't straightforward. Still not sure there I was supposed to put rubber bands on (???). If you know, drop a line.

One of the reasons I bought is I wanted have a wide aperture. The other is shooting in poor lighting conditions. This lens performs very well in both, especially considering the price.

Of course, there are some issues, only because it's not lumix, so I have to shoot in w/o lens mode, which means- no automatic focus, I really like with my lumix you can choose focus area by touch, can't do that, obviously. Also, what I miss, is that in manual focusing regime, the camera zooms in so you can focus very accurately, that does not work in w/o lens mode, so I have to zoom in manually as well. No biggy, but still.

With such a wide aperture, focusing accurately is vital. I'll have to learn that. Keeping in mind the price, this lens my just be not as sharp as well.  Some shots you can see in my previous post. Considering the lighting, I am absolutely amazed by the quality of the pictures. We have those supposedly environmentally friendly light bulbs that are rather dim. With my kit lens, it would be totally crappy and grainy image. 

Last thing, it's small, it looks a bit funny on my camera. It looks as if my camera have outgrown its lens :)). 

In short, it's really good value for money and I'm really happy I got it. Might upload some more pictures shot with that lens when I find the time to actually upload the pictures on my pc.

Some time in the future, I'll buy the pancake lens I mentioned before, but for now, this lens is works for me just fine.

Finally watched the first two episodes of Sherlock 2nd series. Saying I enjoyed it would be understatement. It was absolutely brilliant, especially the first episode, Scandal in Belgravia. I am now totally Sherlocked.

It's complicated, it's funny, it's brilliant. The soundtrack, cinematography, the casting, oh just about everything is brilliant.  

                                               

The power play between Sherlock and Irene is certainly my favourite part




my favourite scene.ever. if anyone has the full scene, give me a link

Sherlock Holmes: Sentiment is a chemical defect found in the losing side.

Irene Adler: Sentiment? What are you talking about?

Sherlock Holmes: You.

Irene Adler: Oh dear God. Look at the poor man. You don’t actually think I was interested in you? Why? Because you’re the great Sherlock Holmes, the clever detective in the funny hat?

Sherlock Holmes: No...[Takes her hand and leans in to whisper] because I took your pulse. Elevated. Your pupils dilated. I imagine John Watson thinks love’s a mystery to me, but the chemistry is incredibly simple and very destructive. When we first met, you told me that a disguise is always a self portrait, how true of you, the combination to your safe – your measurements. [Holds up her phone] But this, this is far more intimate. This is your heart, and you should never let it rule your head. [He starts entering digits] You could have chosen any random number and walked out of here today with everything you worked for. But you just couldn’t resist it, could you? I’ve always assumed that love is a dangerous disadvantage. Thank you for the final proof.

[She grabs his hand, desperate. Tears are starting to form]

Irene Adler: Everything I said. It’s not real. I was just playing the game.

Sherlock Holmes: I know. And this is just losing.

[He holds up her phone, having finally deduced her password. It reads I AM S-H-E-R LOCKED]

The star of the show is obviously Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch. I don't think I have ever been mesmerised with anyone's acting before, he's absolutely brilliant. Every time he launches into incredibly fast deductions it takes my breath away. Also, somehow he managed to make this character so likeable despite him really being socio-path and annoyingly smart. Sherlock made my list “tv/film characters that I wish were real people”, joining Chandler Bing, Miranda and Sheldon Cooper.

Last episode of the series tomorrow. Why only 3 episodes, seriously? OK, they are very long, but it's still not enough. Afterwards, I'll just rewatch the first series and admire the brilliant mind of Sherlock.

P.S. The world would be a better place to live if all reality shows were replaced by quality shows like Sherlock.

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UPDATE

I noticed that lots of traffic to my blog are generated by people googling Benedict. Dear Cumberfans, I just wanted to let you know that the best source for Benny's pictures is tumblr. Try it, his tag is endless http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/benedict-cumberbatch