Election

No, not the movie. So today we had congregate in our masses to our local primary school to vote.
In Australia it is compulsory to vote in the state and national election, and today we had to vote for which party we want in Parliament and essentially did we want a new prime minister.
I'll admit to not knowing a lot about politics so my question is do you think it should be compulsory to vote?

I know a lot of people who just vote for who their parents voted for; or who have not much of an idea like me; or those who have even less of a clue. Then is it better to make it non compulsory? This doesn't necessarily mean only informed people will be voting. I'm not sure myself and I also know a lot of people who really see no difference in the 2 front runners anyway, myself included.

The Way We Were

I'm not sure why, but I love Barbara Streisand. I know she seems to play the same character every time (from what I've seen anyway) but she does it so good.
I'd say my mum probably introduced me to this movie as it's not one I would have watched by myself as a teenager, but I now proudly own it myself.

Released in 1973 the movie is not without flaws, but please indulge me as I view it through my rose coloured glasses.

IMDB sums it up rather succinctly with the phrase: Two desperate people have a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart [although I'm not sure about the desperate part].

Streisand is Katie, a headstrong, determined young lass with rather strong political (and other) views.

Robert Redford plays Hubbell (what this name ever seriously popular?) a more laid back young man. The two went to college together and led completely different lives, but shared a few moments over a beer when Hubbell got some of his writing work published, a dream Katie also shares.

They don't see each other again until several years later where she is working on a radio show, and he in the navy. They meet accidentally at a bar one night, he is ridiculously drunk and tired and she puts him up for the night, where I believe sex happens but it is an oddly filmed and scripted scene where he collapses on her bed and she undresses and joins him.

The next day he doesn't seem to have a clue about what happened the night before and Katie acts quite needy and says anytime he's in the city to come stay with her. He goes away again, then comes back and takes her up on the offer of staying at her place.

Anyway they eventually get together and get married. He becomes a screen writer and they move to LA.

Now I know nothing about this part of American history so am referencing from the holy grail of wiki: "As the Hollywood blacklist grows and McCarthyism begins to encroach on their lives, Katie's political activism resurfaces, jeopardizing Hubbell's position and reputation."

Cracks are becoming more prevalent in the relationship and Hubbell has an affair with his friend's wife while Katie is pregnant.

They eventually part just after the baby is born. Hubbell can't handle how Katie idolises him and wants him to be a 'serious' writer, and they are just too different, with Katie never going to stop with her political causes and opinions, just to make life easier for Hubbell.

The ending has been referenced in Sex and the City and in the Gilmore Girls. I actually can't remember my true original feelings about it but when I watch it now, I don't long for any other ending. Neither one of them changes throughout the movie, they both retain who they are no matter how different that is from each other. But I guess what can attract a couple in the beginning of a relationship can also divide a couple. I will say that it is dated and sad that Hubbell never even gets to know his child, but I guess this does still happen today, so perhaps not so outdated.

I guess the reason I do like this movie is because of the character of Katie. While I don't relate to her in every way (it would be nice to be so determined) I relate to her in others. She is an outsider in Hubbell's world and her strong convictions are to be admired no matter how grating or abrasive she may get.

 

One other thing, I really loved a lot of Katie's costumes in this movie and I was really disappointed google images did not really give me much to show. Also Robert Redford was 37 when he made this - you can really tell when they flashback to their college years. But I still think he's swoon worthy. And it's his birthday today, Happy 74th Birthday Rob! You're just slightly older than my granddad.

I Am Legend

So I'm a bit slow in finally reading this one and I think the build up may have ruined it a little for me.
Also since the most recent screen adaptation I've viewed is Will Smith's I Am Legend which I've now realised is completely different to the book.

Written by Richard Matheson, published in 1954, I'm sure everyone knows the story.
Robert Neville is apparently the last man on earth after a bacteria plague sweeps across the US (we assume). Everyone else is infected with this bacteria which displays symptoms of vampirism. There are the true vampires (which are actually dead but the bacteria keeps them up and moving, searching for blood) and then the other vampires which are just infected but didn't actually die and rise from the dead.
There are lots of key differences between this character and the one Will Smith portrays. In the book he is a white, alcoholic non-scientist and lives day to day just trying to survive, eventually trying to find a cure but is unsuccessful.
The title also has a darker meaning than in the film and he does not find any other 'normal' survivors.
I found this book okay. It is not horror, more a study of one man's loneliness and his continual need for survival. I realise this sounds really underwhelming, I did enjoy the book but not as much as I thought I would.

I have also seen The Omega Man with Charlton Heston which was the second film adaptation, but not the first which was The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price. Maybe this version is the most faithful to the book because Omega Man also deviated from the source material. Although it apparently had the first interracial kiss/relationship on film. Score one point for Mr Heston for taking part in something progressive.

Spock

Just a few post groomed pictures of Spock, he has had so many enquiries about being adopted (the little dogs always go fast) but he will go on trial to a lovely couple next weekend after he has a hernia removed on Friday.
I've always been a medium-big dog person but I think Spock was sent to me just to show me little dogs are great too. My boyfriend didn't even want to foster a little dog (sizeist!) but he has such a lovely personality and I love his little dance he does on his back paws when I get home! He totally prefers me as well.