My first character in every game is called Avranata.  Starting with the very first Avranata in World of Warcraft, set up all the way back in 2007. The name came about randomly, literally actually I just hit randomise in the name field and up it popped. My wonderful Richard drew Avranata for me as a gift one year, I love it!

Avranata has also made an appearance in Diablo 3 as a kick arse wizard.

When Star Wars: The Old Republic was released she had a go at being a Sith Lord which suited her quite well really.

When Guild Wars 2 came out Avranata got to be run around in some of the most gorgeous fields I have ever seen in a game.

All I can say is that these women are feisty, brave and a lot cooler than me. I think, if I was a dude in any of these games I would want to be with any of these ladies. Who knows where Avranata will appear next but I promise you she will be cool.

BTW, the name of this post was inspired by my girl crush Felicia Day. Check out the clip

This photo was taken on my birthday of us in the birthday throne. Sadly the throne was to big for my sister to put in her car otherwise I am sure Charlotte would be pulling it out today.

Have a wonderful birthday darling Charlotte, you deserve fairies, balloons and cupcakes galore.

I am listening to The Great Gatsby at the moment but once I have finished I think I am going to get all of the Harry Potter books and listen. I know, that is a lot of listening especially as I am only in the car for about 35 minutes every day but still would be cool. If you are interested we use Audible.com for all our audio book needs.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. xx

The fact that I didn’t run straight to the internet to post a review probably says something. Ok, we did see it with friends and went for dinner so I wasn’t missing that to post a review but there has been plenty of time since then and this is the first that I have sat down to write.

The movie is fun, there is no denying that, but it’s not a great film. The story came across to me as lazy, which I know seems harsh, but (sorry spoiler here) when I realised that it was a retake on one of the earliest Star Trek films it started to lose me. When they then gave lines that I know belonged to Kirk to Spock I started getting annoyed.

The only good bit of story, but they didn’t really explore it, was the concept that Spock makes a choice about taking the logical path rather than feeling.  Sometimes when I’ve had a really rotten day the idea of not feeling it appeals to me but when it’s all over I am not sure I would choose to miss out on the awesome stuff to not feel the bad stuff. I wish they had spent more time on this and less time with random women in their underwear (totally happened, made no sense).

Richard says over and over again if there is a gun over the fireplace early in the film someone is probably going to get shot (ok he doesn’t say exactly that but its the general gist). Because I now look out for this stuff I had the ending sorted about 45 minutes into the film. When that happens all you are left with is the cool action and special effects. Clearly a lot of money has been thrown at this film. It is very slick. Space is huge, the space ships really do feel like they are incredibly huge (you get a sense that they wouldn’t fit on earth) and they toned down the lens flare.

I really enjoyed the 2009 Star Trek film. Great story, great action, lots of fun, cool bad guy and a great cameo by Chris Hemsworth (apparently he was seen in this film and that was what got him the role of Thor, I like that story). Makes this film even more disappointing.

At the end of the day save this one for at home, as part of a Star Trek marathon maybe. I really hope that the next film (they are bound to get #3) is better, focusing more on being explorers than trying to defeat the bad guy.

I saw The Great Gatsby yesterday. What an incredible film!

Baz Luhrmann is at his directing best with this film. All of the things that I loved from Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Australia Gatsby takes to the next level. It is as gorgeous, as luxurious and as beautiful as you would hope a Gatsby film to be.

Leonardo DiCaprio was perfection as Gatsby. He is an incredibly charming man but the little boy vulnerable edge that he brought to Gatsby, well I just wanted to hug him and tell him it was going to be ok. It cannot be denied that I have a soft spot for Leo. I fell in love at 15 when I saw him as Romeo (named my dog Romeo Wilhelm after him, Wilhelm is Leo’s middle name) but this film really did remind me that he is more than just lovely to look at with his incredible blue eyes, Leo is truly is the acting treasure of my time. Really, this film plays to all of his strengths to make Gatsby perfectly real.

I saw a 3D version, which is notable as we usually miss them, but I am glad that I did. 3D was brilliantly used in this film. From the opening graphic through to be the best use I have seen with words from the book gently coming out of the screen, it was subtle and added to the story. So often 3D is just thrown in randomly but here it was used with grace and simplicity.

My subject “Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby” was on purpose and came from something Richard said. Like with Moulin Rouge the soundtrack to this film is a great twist rather than period. And that makes the film a) distinctly Baz’ film and b) hard to do a remake of. My favourite was the remake of Beyonce’s Crazy in Love, genius reinterpretation of the song perfect for the scene. I adore Lana del Ray and her song was used to create a real mood.

By now I hope you have guessed that I think you should see this movie. Seriously go get it, I would have turned around and watched it again if I didn’t want to get home to Richard. We will definitely get it on blu-ray.

Just quickly the book is about the zombie war, it tells the story of how it starts, how we fight back and how we begin to rebuild humanity. This book is clever. Its scares the hell out of me but it also inspires me to think that humanity could survive something like this. Very much written in a style you expect people to write about World War 2 but told from a very unique perspective. It’s really a lot of short stories of different people’s experience of different aspects of the zombie war.

Now the reason I needed to talk to you about World War Z is that this week the Brad Pitt movie is being released in Australia 20 June*and I have a few things I need to get off my chest. Firstly, check out the trailer.

Now I grant that it couldn’t be just like the book. The book is after all essentially a collection of short stories and the collator of the stories isn’t enough of a character to be the protagonist but this trailer has got me concerned. Firstly, unless someone tells you that its about zombies you wouldn’t know. Secondly, they seem to be runner zombies but they weren’t in the book. The slow, oncoming mass that can’t be reasoned with, can’t be frightened and could have friends/family/colleagues is what really scares me about zombies. That these guys are just going to straight for me I know I will never out run them so I wouldn’t try. Zombie stories need to be about those who survive, not people who just stand by to die.

In the end this looks like every other end of the world movie. So I will see it (probably not with Richard but my friend Casey who originally introduced us to the book might come with me) but I am going in with very low expectations, happy to just enjoy Brad Pitt and the effort that has been put into making it an epic film. I do enjoy that Brad said in a recent interview part of his reasoning to make a zombie film was because his boys were into zombies. At least I know, should I ever meet Brad, we would have something to chat about. I wonder if he and Angelina have a zombie plan, I bet you anything it’s a lot different to ours (his probably has helicopters).

On the official page check out the iPhone app. Scan your friends to see if they are infected and be sure to tell everyone!

*once again Australians get the movie the day before the USA, starting to happen with the big global releases like with The Hunger Games.

I heard this earlier in the week and its been stuck in my head. I figured out most of the movies (not sure if that makes me proud or depressed) but it was good fun. I will admit I did not watch all the outtakes at the end.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Its the Queens Birthday long weekend for me and I couldn’t be happier. Been a big week for us at the Leukaemia Foundation and I am really looking forward to a few days off to rest.

A good cause:

Watching: Richard gave me all eight Harry Potter movies on blu-ray for my birthday and we have happily been watching those. Love Harry!

Listening: I have English Rain by Gabrielle Aplin on constant replay in my car, discovered her through iTunes and love it. I’ve also lately remembered my love of Usher.

Praying for: everyone to be well, physically and in their soul. There are so many women who I care about going through big things at the moment. Whether it be health, pregnancy, relationships or work we could all use a little extra help from above.

Reading: I just finished Z: A Story of Zelda Fitzgerald, seemed good timing with The Great Gatsby out in cinema’s, and have a couple of other books on the go. Going through a cook book phase right now – Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Its All Good and anything from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Anticipating: sticking with Hugh my folks are in Sydney on 17th to go to a one off Audience with Hugh talking about the new River Cottage Australia. I want to run away and have chickens in the country (after my wonderful birthday weekend leaning towards doing all that around Pokolbin).

I love Zooey Deschanel and this video with its pastel colour scheme and daggy dancing just made me smile. I hope you feel the same.

Have a wonderful weekend, I am having a quiet one and Richard is working poor man. xx