Best TV Shows of the Moment

Best TV Shows of the Moment

A look at six of the best TV shows on air today, and another list soon to come with my all-time favorites.

Game of thrones

In a different world and times, kings and queens battle between each other with war, plots and secrets to sit on the Iron Thrones and rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

A TV adaptation of the famous fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones has been recognized as one of the best TV shows of late years since its premiere on 2011. Its costly production, large cast and complex plot keeps getting all the big awards and captivating mass audiences in cable TV network HBO. Great characters in beautiful settings with occasional cruelly raw scenes make this ten-episode-a-year show the most enchanting and magical one available. Already the most illegally downloaded, and the most nominated TV show at the Emmys two years in a row, Game of Thrones is set to dominate the rankings with its sixth season currently being filmed and its nomination for Best Drama at the 2015 Emmy Awards pending to become another win.

The Walking Dead

A virus has infected the human population, turning them into deadly undead creatures ravaging survivors for their flesh. Rick Grimes, a sheriff’s deputy, will lead a group of people into safety and as far as possible from imminent danger.

Boasting of being the most popular TV show today, TWD is watched by 14 million viewers around the globe. Its zombie apocalyptic theme attracts tons of fans into watching the thrilling series and even reading the comics from which the show is derived. Such frenzy it has caused that a spin-off of the show is already waiting to premiere on August 23^rd of this year, adding to the famous franchise of zombies whose sixth season comes out on October 11^th.

Downton Abbey

Beginning in the years before World War I, the Crawley family of the great Downton Manor will give us a taste of aristocracy and hushed scandal while their servants interact downstairs and serve with patience the biggest family of the English northern country-side.

With an outstanding script, historic events happening parallel to the story and lovely couples forming every now and then, Downton Abbey gives us action in its own passive way. Visually pleasing overall, and with a romantic music score to accompany it, the 2010 TV show is a piece of art of authentic value. Airing its final season on September 2015, the loved-by-all  series that brought back the 20s to fashion and trends is another contender for the 2015 Best Drama Emmy nomination with big chances to win the trophy.

House of Cards

A U.S. congressman and his wife find themselves betrayed by people they had previously trusted. Now, they plan to destroy the careers of the perpetrators while propelling themselves into political success.

This Netflix original T.V. show is everything any political drama fan would love. A touch of every kind of scandal and .House of Cards depicts life of the biggest leaders in the United States of America and of what they’re willing to do in the name of power and wrongly proclaimed greater good. Relationships between heads of state, co-workers in the White House, major news anchors and their reporters are the perfect combination for the TV show monopolized by the ultimate power couple Frank and Claire Underwood. Another heavily nominated series, its fourth season is set to premiere on 2016.

The Good Wife

Alicia Florrick was for many years the quiet and smiling wife of U.S. State’s Attorney Peter Florrick. But after a sex and corruption scandal lives her husband behind bars and her family disgraced, Alicia has no option but to go back to her working days as a litigator while also facing the critics and rejection of those who judge her for her husband’s mistakes.

The Good Wife is a TV show that got me hooked up from the minute I started watching it. With a strong leading actress, Juliana Margulies is the most awarded female of the Screen Actors Guild awards, and has already won a Golden Globe and an Emmy as Mrs. Florrick. The show has a touch of comedy and action; its strongest attribute, I’d say, is its supporting cast, several of them nominated for this year’s Emmys. The show that best portrays women strength is premiering its seventh season on October 4.

Sherlock

A modern version of the literary hero Sherlock Holmes and his partner John Watson as they solve crimes in the big city of London shows us previously unseen aspects of the duo’s relationship in the heart of Baker Street.

This version turns out to be every bit as tantalizing and mysterious as the book series. Benedict Cumberbatch is applause worthy in every scene of character eccentricity while Martin Freeman becomes the perfect awkward and fidgety Dr. Watson. A different format for those used to American TV shows, Sherlock is a mini-series of only three episodes per season that run for an hour and a half. Although waiting to air its Christmas Special on December 2015, Sherlock’s fourth season is expected to premiere on early 2017.

-AMMG

11 Best Movies of 2012 - 2014

11 Best Movies of 2012-2014

Hello readers!

Today I wanted to share with y’all a list of the best movies I’ve watched in the last three years. 2014 was a great time for cinematography, and because of that most of these were released that year. Enjoy!

Unbroken (2014)

This movie tells the real story of a young Italian-american man and his dream of becoming a successful athlete suddenly cut short by WWII. Louis Zamperini struggles with survival as a prisoner of war in a cruel Japanese camp, far away from his family and everything he loves.

Unbroken was for me a very surprising movie in a positive way. I heard about it a long time ago and how it’d be directed and produced by Angelina Jolie, and when I finally decided to watch it I actually regretted not going to the movie theater to enjoy it in a bigger screen. Unbroken was emotional, full of hope and beautiful characters; it made me rage and cry; it even has a great soundtrack, so I truly believe it was overlooked by the big awards.

Interstellar (2014)

Trying to summarize the plot of this movie is by far the hardest thing I’ve done today. I’ll only say that it deals with a space exploration mission to save humanity and its’ dying planet.

It just is one of the best movies I have EVER watched. With outstanding special effects and sound editing combined with a strong story, mind griping action and plot twists to keep you at the edge of your seat, Interstellar is in my opinion one of the greats films of the decade. It is emotional in so many aspects, and has a truly amazing cast! If you are looking for something worth your while, look no further.

Birdman (2014)

A one-hit-wonder actor plans a comeback through a Broadway play as he tries to recover his family and deal with his ego. Many emotional breakdowns and a lot of drama make Birdman an unforgettable flick.

Now with this one it would suffice to say that it won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Movie. Let me tell you that I did not know what to expect from it, I just knew it was this or the famously infamous Boyhood (thankfully I choose Birdman). Amazing portrayals by Emma Stone, Michael Keaton and Naomi Watts in a movie creatively filmed in a one shot technique are complements to the metaphor-filled story with by far the greatest concept of the year.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Peculiar mathematician Alan Turing is hired by the English Army during WWII to crack the Enigma Code with a group of fellow scientists. A battle against time to save lives would now lie in the hands of the stubborn man and his unwilling coworkers.

Another great cast with my favorite actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Allen Leech and Charles Dance. The story not only centers in the dangers of war and the complicated planning against every attack on enemy forces, but also on the life of Alan Turing and the unexpected math genius Ms. Clarke. It is emotional, exiting and thrilling in every way; truly unforgettable!

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Stephen Hawking is a young man discovering the wonders of universe and love. His heroic story of intellect and passion will give us all an insight into the most brilliant minds of our generation and how he came to be the most renowned physicist of the 21^st century.

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones make one cute couple in this biographical film. If not a conventional love story, The Theory of Everything is a great recount of the amazing life and achievements of Mr. Hawking. The movie has a beautiful score, photography and costume design. Redmayne’s Oscar worthy performance is by far the most deserving one of recognition in 2014.

Whiplash (2014)

A young drummer has only one dream, and that is to succeed in the music industry. An opportunity leads him into a music conservatory where he’ll compete to be the core drummer of the band and prove himself to the abusive instructor.

This movie is the pure story of a dedicated musician with his head to the future. Miles Teller bleeds through the commitment of his character while J. K. Simmons as the instructor scares us into never playing an instrument again. Such good performances and music turn this movie into an aggressively good film with a passive reputation.

Gravity (2013)

Dr. Stone and astronaut Matt Kowalksi aboard NASA’s shuttle Explorer escape a debris cloud in space that destroys their shuttle. Both Stone and Kowalksi are left to fend for themselves and find a way to get back to earth alive before their oxygen runs out.

Gravity was probably the best movie I watched in 2013. It is full of suspense like no other and is visually enchanting at another level; I’m sure that if they had only released the sound and music I’d still have paid to listen to it.

Sandra Bullock is known for her great comedies, but I assure you, this is a movie no one ever wants to miss, a fan of her or not. Some say it is overrated and not as good as claimed, yet I beg to differ in both aspects.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Ron Woodroof is an electrician and rodeo cowboy who lives life recklessly until he’s given 30 days to live as a result of an AIDS diagnosis. An illegal business is born out of the selling of a not approved drug that would improve his life and the ones of other infected patients, also bringing to the table a potential legal battle

Dallas Buyers Club is another movie that a little later than I should have. Once again Matthew McConaughey delivers an insuperable portrayal of a broken man, while Jared Leto gives us a taste of what a multifaceted artist he can be. A moving story of second chances and how unfair things can be for unlucky people is just the right movie for every film addict. It really is a piece of entertainment that demonstrates how unconventional love is just as powerful as any other.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Solomon Northup lives as a free and respectable man until a deceive leads him into being sold into slavery and ripped away from his family to an abusive life in the cotton fields of New Orleans.

This movie taught me how unfair the 1800s were for the black population in America. I watched with complete indignation as a learned and educated man was reduced to an enslaved servant in a household of complete sadists. How amazing the performances were is another story; Michael Fassbender stole the show with his portrayal of the evil Edwin Epps. Of course, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o were just as good and powerful. I cried as a baby for than once, and I tell you, displays of emotion come rarely to me.

Rush (2013)

Two Formula One rivals, James Hunt and Nikki Lauda, compete between each other to become the best at their field. With opposite ways of thinking and acting, Lauda and Hunt will face dangers and learn to accept adrenaline as their best friend.

This is the most underrated movie of 2013. It is highly intense and thrilling, with an amazing 1970’s setting and good new faces in the cast. I would recommend this movie to anyone because it is yet another one of those I, for some reason, find utterly heart wrenching. Some have said that not everything in the film was historically accurate, yet I think the essence of the famous rivalry was captured, and the entertainment factor was definitely not lost in the process.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Batman has gone under the radar eight years after the Joker almost destroys Gotham City, but when a new and never-dealt-with terrorist surfaces to threaten the peace and safety, Bruce Wayne will again wear cape of justice alongside Catwoman to put an end to the dangers of war.

The Dark Knight Rises was the best surprise of a superhero movie. It was intensely good with every minute; action filled with epic battle sequences and the most iconic villain out there. It struck me as fantastic how the movie was loosely inspired in Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities, with references to the book in various occasions. Honestly, the reason I watched it was because of Tom Hardy as Bane, yet afterwards I was convinced of Christopher Nolan’s superb talent as a director with all TDKR, Inception and Interstellar in his portfolio.

-AMMG 

After a break, here I am - Five must reads!

Hello to all my beloved readers!

My last entry consisted on a heads-up to what for long has been coming, the comeback of the blog. I promised I would expand my topics of discussion so that instead of only literature, my entries will also be about music, movies, and maybe even fashion! I want to keep writing about my academic life, my pursuits, dreams, and goals, and I want everyone interested to remember to visit the blog as often as they want to.

I've kept busy during all these months of absence, and I plan to tell all about it in the coming days.

For now, I'm going to share what I've been reading (and liked the most), the movies that have delighted me, and the music the keeps me awake at night. But today, read about 5 great books of different genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Non-fiction - History, Romance - Classics, and Dystopia - Sci-Fi.

5 Amazing Reads of Every Genre

And then there were none

A thrilling mystery about ten people that at first appear to be randomly selected, but that later on are revealed to have a striking similarity; They are all invited to a private island for different reasons, and after the faceless millionaire host fails to assist the reunion, they find each other at the mercy of an unknown force that for some reason conspires to rid itself of its guests before the weekend comes to an end.

This book is a relatively short novel that accomplishes a lot in few pages. If the reader doesn’t pay attention, the many characters may mix between each other and the plot becomes a disaster. My recommendation is to be patient and to try to remember little things of each of the ten, so as to be able to recognize them every time.

The brilliance of Agatha Christie’s most famous novel is not over-hyped, and is certainly not a forgettable experience.

A Storm of Swords

The war of the seven kingdoms is coming to an end, and kings are more in danger than ever. Daenerys Targaryen is discovering her strength and might as a queen, yet everyone will face life changing battles before the waters are calm again. Even though winter is coming, only in Castle Black, at the edge of Westeros, anyone seems to heed the signals of doom.

The third novel in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is just as good and compelling as the first two of the series. The book is the equivalent of the season’s three and four of the TV adaptation Game of Thrones. It contains scenes that we all wish the show had included, and tells us a bit more of the insight in every key moment and character.

Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World

This non-fiction historical book is a gripping recount of six months after the end of the Great War when even as times were unavoidably changing, no world leader seemed to be ready to let go of past ways. The peace process after the biggest war in history at the moment was complicated at best, and when every country had an idea of what it had lost, what wanted back, and what the others couldn’t get, Woodrow Wilson would become the star of the moment, and his vision would become the dream of a then-hopeless world.

This book taught me a lot about International Relations and of how the world came to be what it is today. Pure politics turned out to be incredibly entertaining and at times, funny. If there’s  one book I would advice everyone to read, this’d be it!

Far from the Madding Crowd

Bathsheba Everden is a young woman that stumbles upon an inheritance when her uncle dies. She is independent, stubborn and hard working; she wants to be respected as a farmer, and wants to keep her dignity intact as a woman. Three suitors come knocking at her door: one is a man she rightly deems too little for herself, then there’s the one with money and position, and she loves neither. The third would be the incorrect choice in every way, and she finds herself in the position of choosing which of the three would be the one to take away her independence. Ms. Everden will deal with many choices and hardships as she grows into a big landowner and admired employer.

Another masterpiece of Hardy’s, it not only tells the dilemma of a strong woman in the truly hard days for her kind, but it also shows how overcoming one’s troubles is always a journey with ups and downs. This Victorian novel will give you the truth about men and life while great characters and gripping moments will leave you wanting for more of the beautiful words of the British author.

The Fifth Wave

Cassie Sullivan is a sixteen year old trapped in a crumbling world of invasion and destruction. Waves of death and disease keep wiping humans off the face of the earth, and as the fifth one dawns, she must learn how to be strong and not look back at the memories of better and simpler days. But everything she loves is taken away, leaving her broken in the dusty floor. Evan Walker will pick her up and tell her a secret that may be the key to saving humanity and taking back what they’ve lost to the creatures that kill.

This YA novel is everything we love about dystopian, apocalyptic and romantic stories. It is one of those books that once you start you can’t really willingly put down until you’ve turned the last page. Simply put: many genres combined with a touch of Sci-Fi adapt into the perfect combination. And if with the book wasn’t enough, you also get a movie adaptation starring Chloë Grace Moretz set to come out on 2016. Cheers!

- AMMG

Sobre el futuro del blog!

Hola lectores! 

El blog atravesará ciertos cambios en las próximas semanas, lo que significa que publicaré mucho más contenido, de mayor diversidad, y con un formato ligeramente distinto. Como saben, el año pasado gané el concurso ''Qué Estás Leyendo?'' edición República Dominicana gracias a este blog, y aunque mi gusto por la lectura ciertamente no ha cambiado, quisiera desde ahora empezar a compartir mucho más con ustedes. Planeo rediseñar el blog, pues ahora el mismo no estaría limitado a la literatura, y además, lo convertiría en un blog bilingüe. Empezaré a escribir mis entradas en inglés, pues e a veces me siento más cómoda escribiendo en él. No abandonaría el español, mas el blog sería de aquí en más, eminentemente de habla inglesa. Compartiré opiniones sobre películas, libros, series de televisión, y otros temas de variedad. Espero recibir su apoyo para estos cambios que tanto me emociona llevar a cabo. 

Un beso!

Yo como escritora - Parte 10

Yo como escritora – 10ma edición

Hola lectores!

A un mes de iniciar el segundo cuatrimestre de mi décimo grado, ya estoy colectando éxitos. He participado en un concurso de ensayos organizado por la Embajada Americana en mi país, y para mi sorpresa, he resultado la ganadora.

El ensayo trata sobre la vida del afamado activista norteamericano, Martin Luther King, un poco de su mensaje y legado, y el por qué hoy en día su misión sigue siendo relevante.

Seguimos en el mes que conmemora su natalicio, así que aquí les va:

Un Hombre; Un Sueño by Ana Margarita Mercedes

Un beso,

Marga J

Sobre mi ausencia y los días en Argentina

Hola lectores!

Les cuento que ya he concluido el semestre en el colegio, y que actualmente disfruto de mis vacaciones de navidad, desde la isla donde es verano todo el año.

La última vez que les escribí, lo hice para contarles sobre mi próximo viaje a Argentina, sobre lo feliz que me encontraba de haber ganado el concurso, y que les contaría mi experiencia al regresar. Pues resulta que no pude hacerlo de inmediato, me encontraba ocupada al máximo con tareas pendientes de dos semanas de ausencia en el último mes de clase, una semana por mi experiencia en CILA 2014, y otra en la visita a Buenos Aires que este proyecto de blog me mereció. Luego, por si fuera poco, se me vino la semana de exámenes semestrales, y el tiempo apenas me dio para prepararme para los mismos.

Hoy ya todo eso es pasado, y me encuentro feliz porque este año resultó siendo uno de mis mayores éxitos, lleno de buenas experiencias y recuerdos para toda la vida.

De Argentina hay demasiado que contarles, así que lo resumiré todo con el pequeño ensayo que me pidieron escribir en clase de Español sobre el tan esperado viaje. Lo que cuento es cómo llegué a ganarlo, sobre lo que viví allí, narrándolo con un poco de poesía en prosa.

Reseña de mi viaje a Argentina

Mi viaje a Argentina fue una experiencia de la cual no me llegan más palabras que ‘‘inolvidable’’. El concurso del blog literario inició como un pasatiempo; a la noche, antes de dormir, me preparaba para reseñar un libro y contar mi experiencia como lectora desde algún aspecto del tema. Mas nunca imaginé que aquello me llevaría a ganar un boleto de avión completamente pago hacia una semana de diversión y aprendizaje en el país más meridional de América.

Trabajé durante ocho meses para crear un trabajo de calidad, motivándome en parte por ver aquel producto final digno de orgullo, y en parte por aquel premio dorado al concluir los sacrificios, y claro, cómo olvidar la satisfacción que escribir sobre lo mucho que amo leer me trae. Lo cierto es, que viajar sola a Buenos Aires me pareció una experiencia tan irreal que aún me cuesta digerirla.

Me atemorizaba tomar un vuelo lejos de algún conocido, para luego llegar a una ciudad aún más extraña para mí, y pasar cinco días de completa incertidumbre sobre lo que haría luego. Fue emocionante, para ser sincera, y no temería repetirla si se me diera la oportunidad.

Vi en Argentina una población diferente, libre, abierta al cambio, llena de orgullo nacional, e indiferente a las particularidades de las personas distintas; de aquellas que se peinan distinto, o se tiñen el pelo de un color  inusual. Vi una metrópolis contenida en un continente de prejuicios, encallada entre países que no dudan en fruncir el seño ante un tatuaje.

Buenos Aires es a ciencia cierta una ciudad cultural, con aires europeos y la inconfundible marca de Suramérica, con barrios adinerados y otros no tanto. Con parques de tal belleza que mirabas con incredulidad, y con edificios tan similares que parecía estar fríamente calculado. Era como si realmente hubiera organización, ¡vaya tesoro!

Una calle dedicada a las librerías es en Santo Domingo un sueño no realizado, mas en Buenos Aires era aquello un hecho más que tangible. Existía una librería para cada persona, para cada bolsillo, y para cada gusto en libros. Había tiendas y restaurantes en cada esquina, y existía en la mente del conductor algo de conciencia por el peatón. Vi en las mañanas de días laborables una nueva belleza, pues salían los ‘‘porteños’’  a ejercitarse y admirar el sol, sin importar el templado clima, aún existiera aquella realidad que en aquél momento para mí tan lejana era: el deber.

Si bien aquello era cierto, llegué a extrañar algo, y aquello era el calor de Santo Domingo. La inconfundible mala educación de los dominicanos, que a última instancia sabes que en algún momento compartes, por alguna razón me hacía falta. La descuidada, aunque astuta, manera de hablar de mi isla era algo que ya me costaba evitar, y más que todo, diría que la familiaridad con que cualquier extraño te trata en aquél rincón del Caribe era, y seguirá siendo, donde quiera que me encuentre, motivo de añoro.

~~~

Y de no escribirles antes de navidad, les deseo a todos felices fiestas!