The other way to fly

Riding a horse is so simple. Just get on the horse and let yourself be carried. That’s exactly what you think, isn’t it? But riding a horse is so much more. It is a unification of the rider and the horse and not quite as simple as you think. At times it can be hard work and very tiring.

But why do so many love this sport? Why don’t they play football or rugby or…?

Because it is a great sport and one of the few sports that includes animals. And it is very diverse. There are so many different ways of riding a horse. This is what makes riding so interesting.

Every day is new and different because horses are personalities and they can be easy-going one day, but moody and difficult the next. You can learn so many things if you work with them. But you should know that if you want to learn to ride a horse it can be difficult and frustrating and sometimes even dangerous when you fall off the horse. And you should be willing to not just blame your horse when things go wrong, but to scrutinise your own behaviour, too. 

And what do you need for riding? You’ll need a riding cap, breeches and riding boots. But to start with riding you can wear a crash hat, gym trousers and shoes with heels. And if you like you can wear riding gloves.

And one day you will gallop over a field thinking ‘It is like flying – just better! It is the other way to fly.

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The Hunger Games – Catching Fire

After watching the first part of ‘The Hunger Games’ I was very curious about the second. When the cinema trailer appeared on TV I couldn’t even wait to see ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’. I especially expected a big scene of the games themselves.

Catching Fire is about the main characters Katniss and Peeta and their life after the 74th Hunger Games, which they have won and about the 75th Hunger Games, where they take part again. The film starts with a ‘winner tour’, just a few month after the 74th Hunger Games.

Katniss and Peeta are visiting each of the districts to talk to the people, who lost their supporter in the game. It takes up the first half of the film. After that the game starts finally. The game itself is very exciting and adorned with many special effects. One better than the other. The actors did a very good job and the story was amazing but I was a little bit disappointed that the game was so short, because it was the best of the whole film, and also that it ends in such an abrupt manner.

Nevertheless: If you like action films with a little love story it’s a “must watch”!

The Hunger Games: Catching fire

Do you like reading books? No? Neither do I. That’s why I’m so glad that the books writen by Suzanne Collins were made into a film. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the second film of the Hunger Games and directed by Francis Lawrence.

Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson) survived the last Hunger Games. A year after winning the 74th Hunger Games, Kathniss and Peeta must go on the “Victor’s tour“ where they visit all the districts. Before leaving, Katniss is visited by the president Snow who thinks that Katniss was not acting according to his wishes when she chose to die with Peeta. Through the declaration of their victory there is an uprising because the people had hoped to see a fight. President Snow tells Katniss that while she is on tour she should better try to make sure that she puts ou “her flames“ or her friends and family (the people she cares about) will be in danger. But she carries on giving the people hope. So Snow decides to change the rules of the Hunger Games wich he is allowed to do every 25 years. He decides to give an extra edition of the Hunger Games, where all the earlyer winners will compete again. Katniss and Peeta are told by their mentor that their best chance to survive the games is to cooperate with one of of their opponents.

I must say this film has been the best film I have seen in a while. It will be worthwhile to go to the cinema to watch this amazing film, I can assure you. The film has a very exciting plot and it’s great to see how it’s done with many special effects and an eye for the details. I particular enjoyed watching this movie.

Hangover review

The last film I’ve seen was Hangover, a comedy with the main characters played by Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Grillfiankis.

In this film three helpless guys try to remember what has happened after a devastating Vegas night. Looking for one of their buddies who has gone missing, they experience a series of adventures. Once they’ve recovered from their hangover they promise each other “NEVER EVER!”.

Well this film turns out to be every bit as crass, offensive and incorrect as you would expect. But it is very funny indeed. One of the movies greatest strength is the way in which the story is told. Plus – in my opinion – all actors are fantastic.

I haven’t laughed as much for a very long time!

Review: “Pride and Prejudice”

„Pride and Prejudice“, after Jane Austen’s novel, directed by Joe Wright, is an absolutely glorious history romance about the love of a man and woman. The film combines history and an all known love stories with a lot of suspense and wonderful performances from the cast.

At first, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to see this film. I was afraid it would be boring with not much action, a love story like all the others. But it turned out to be the complete opposite:

The film is set in “the old days”, where women were supposed to marry in order to make a living. But Elizabeth Bennet (wonderfully performed by Keira Knightly) from a poor family falls in love with the rich Mr. Darcy (also a great performance by Matthew McFadyen). But just like today pride and prejudice stand in the way of their happiness.

The filmmaking is very good, wonderful romantic landscape is combined with great and emotive music. It’s absolutely beautiful to look at with gorgeous shots. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy together.

It’s a peaceful film with scenes that invite you to identify with the characters. Every character is well chosen and there aren’t any opponents. This might sound boring and it’s definitely no superhero-fights-against-bad-monster-action film. But this is what life actually was like, and you can transfer the message of this wonderful film to your own life.

It’s a film for dreamers and people who like to indulge in romances. I could watch it every day.

Why Star Wars Episode I sucks

I love all Star Wars Episodes. All except Episode One, the first movie of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, which was created by George Lucas after having finished the original trilogy.

The movie’s subtitle is “The Phantom Menace” and it tells the story of the Jedimaster Qui Gon Jiin, his student Obi Wan Kenobi, the former queen of the planet Naboo Padme Amidala and the little boy Anakin Skywalker.

The plot is quite simple. It starts with the two Jedis who search for Amidala, after the enemy forces of the “Confederation of United Systems” have attacked the planet.

After finding her, they want to escape to the capital planet Coruscant, but have to land at the desert planet Tattoine, because their spaceship is damaged. On Tattoine the group comes across the little boy Anakin Skywalker. They take him along and after a short intermezzo at Coruscant the story ends with a big battle against the confederation at Naboo.

At a glance, the movie seems to have all it takes to make it a good star wars movie: an evil enemy, a great soundtrack and epic action scenes.

But there are some parts and characters which ruined the whole movie for me.

For example, the child actor of Anakin Skywalker is not very convincing at all. He plays so annoyingly that I think every scene with him is ruined and he really destroys the whole movie with his performance.

To be honest, I really can’t recommend this movie. Imagine Star Wars Episode I “The Phantom Menace” was never made and instead start with Episode II, if you are going to watch the Star Wars Saga.

Review: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is an action-mystery film which was directed by Guy Ritchie. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law portray Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. In the movie Sherlock Holmes and his Partner Watson investigate a series of murders connected to occult rituals.

The movie is set in England in the 19th century. Holmes and Watson catch Blackwood, who has already killed five young women. After three months Blackwood is sentenced to be hanged and Watson certifies his death. However, Blackwood mysteriously returns from the death and Holmes and Watson must take up the hunt again. They have to stop Blackwood before he can initiate his masterplan: the takeover of the British government.

Sherlock Holmes is still one of my favourite movies, because it’s not like the regular detective movies from the past. In this movie there is much more action, it has great  fighting scenes and there are also funny moments. Moreover the movie benefits from the strong performance by Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, who is the opposite of a gentleman in this movie, due to the fact that in this movie he is an unlikeable person and also a bit of a psychopath. In my view this is the perfect mixture of action and comedy with a great acting Robert Downey Jr. and a profound story.

I can recommend the movie to anyone who likes action movies and a good story, but if you can’t get over the idea of Sherlock Holmes as an action hero you might be disappointed.

Let’s start playing volleyball!

Many people in the world do sports. There are sports for teams, for two or just for one single person. But what is the best sport in the world?
For me it is definitely volleyball. Why? Because it is a perfect mixture of technical skills and team spirit. All volleyball players of one team have to be talented in a similar way. If one player is bad in that sport, the team is weak, because of him. In other sports like football you could avoid that player to take part at the match, but if you play volleyball every single player is included in the game.
That is the reason why I absolutely adore playing volleyball. The benefits are a strong team spirit and exciting games with lots of energy.
If you want to take it up, please be ambitious and don’t give up too early. Learning the techniques can take quite a long time. Practice makes perfect!
You will need some knee pads, because volleyball demands that you give it all.
If you keep this in mind, I’m sure you will love it just as much as I do.

Is sport important?

Sport is necessary to stay fit and healthy. In addition to eating right, you can create a good way to stay healthy for a long time by doing sport regularly.
If you do sport you will not only stay fit, but you will also live longer. I, personally feel better after doing sport. It’s a great way to forget about your troubles at school or work. In my opinion, it’s the best compensation to your workday.

But you do have to spend enough time doing sport. If you are doing sport only once a year it won’t do anything.
Additionally you have to mind what you eat! If you are doing a lot of sport but eat lots of unhealthy food it won’t give you the effect you want.

In my opinion, sport is really important for everyone. Even if you only have time to do sport twice a week, the important thing is to do it regularly.

“The Box”

What’s a “box”? Something wooden to keep objects safe inside? No, the  box I’m talking about has a red button. And pressing that button is a matter of life or death.

“The Box” is a psychological horror and science-fiction film based on the short story “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson. The American movie is written and directed by Richard Kelly and was first released in October 2009 in Australia.

The movie is 115 minutes long and the plot takes place in the USA in the year 1976.

The main actors are Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as the couple Norma and Arthur Lewis. They live in Richmond, Virginia together with their son Walter.

One day they receive a wooden box with a red button from a mysterious old man, played by Frank Langella. The man, named Arlington Steward, makes them an unethical offer: If they  press the button they will receive one million dollars and a person they don’t know somewhere  out there in the world, will die.

After a long time of hesitating, Norma finally presses the button and the misery begins. She and her husband get more and more sucked into a dramatic predicament.

There are some exciting special effects and the brilliant soundtrack and the film music create a fantastic atmosphere. All the performances are solid, but the couple Cameron Diaz and James Marsden won’t make history as the loveliest couple in hollywood! Which brings me to my evaluation and assessment of the movie.

The first part of the film is well structured and seems quite realistic. Unfortunately, as the film goes on, it is going down hill: there is disorder, hectic action, the story gets weird. In the end, because of the obscured course of the story, the spectator gets more confused than anything else.

If it wasn’t for this chaotic second half, “the box” would be a thrilling movie right until the end.

I recommend the film to those, who are interested in watching a good science-fiction movie and who like the director Richard Kelly. His take on “button, button” is great. There is one thing that I learned after having watched this movie: I never want to get a wooden box with a red button.

However, taking into account it’s many failings, I’ll give only three of six stars.

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