I'm back, after more than one year away from TV.com.

Here are my favorites of 2009 (Part 1).

Movies

Not a lot of people liked this movie, but I sure as hell loved it. I did not think Tobey's performance was "trying to hard". I thought this was real, and really, the question isn't about whether you survive the war or not; it's about whether you can actually live after it or not. Haunting and real, this is a must-see.

(500) Days of Summer

Without a doubt, my favorite movie and soundtrack of 2009. Some argue that the ending is a typical Hollywood ending, but it's not. Coincidence happens. This movie shows both sides of every single failed relationship, and anyone could relate... in love or not.

Precious

Heartbreaking movie, and Mo'nique deserves to win for her performance as the "evil" mother of Precious.

Art

Banksy

"Imagine a city where graffiti wasn't illegal, a city where everybody could draw wherever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall- it's wet"

- Banksy

Host of the Blog

My summer is almost over. I've spent a great whole month in London, then came back for the beach and sun. London was amazing. From watching "The Dark Knight" in an IMAX theatre at 3 am to shooting the new Snow Patrol video (yup, I'm in the new video) to ending my annual "Will & Grace" marathon with the series finale, this summer was amazing.

Adele

Adele: "Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I can call?"
"No and thank you, please Madam, I ain't lost, just wandering"

London

I miss it. One day, I'll live there again.

Entertainment

I saw "The Dark Knight" in an IMAX theatre. It was very entertaining, but unlike a lot of people thought, this is far from the best. Very far indeed. The movie was a great superhero movie with an outstanding performance by Heath Ledger, but that's about it. I even thought, overall, "Batman Begins" was better and more realistic. The best movie I've seen this summer goes to.... believe it or not....

"Wall-E". One day, when it's too late, people will look back and say this animated children's movie warned us. One day when technology does all the work and nature is dead. When everything is artificial and everyone is lazy, except for the machines, who'll be more "human" than us. Machines like Ava and Wall-E. Two other great movies I saw were "The Orphanage" and "La Vie En Rose". The first one is a shocking ghost story that will remind you of "The Others" and "Stir of Echoes", and the second is the biography of Edith Piaf, featuring one of my all-time favorite performances by a female.

A lot of TV.com members warned me about the last season. To be honest, I loved it. It was one of the best in years! Seasons 6 and 7 are among my least favorite and it was great to see the foursome bounce back for the final season. The two live episodes were amazing, so was the "Sound of Music" episode and two final episodes were so sad. I still can't get over the fact that this show is ending, and I've been collecting it for 8 years now, every summer in London, I buy and watch one season. Now I have to find something as good. I doubt I will since both this and "Friends" are my top 2 sitcoms of all time.

Remembering "Will & Grace"...

In other news.....

Music. What can I say? I always say music brings back memories more than pictures do. Some of the summer songs I heard everwhere in London include:

"Five Years Time" Noah and the Whale
"Black & Gold" Sam Sparro
"Hometown Glory" Adele
"Now You're Gone" Basshunter
"Ready for the Floor" Hot Chip
"I Won't Be Left" Tegan & Sara
"Take a Bow" Rihanna
""Violent Hill" Coldplay
"Heartbreaker" Will.Am.I
"No Air" Jordan Sparks ft. Chris Brown
"Shine On" The Kooks
"Cry for You" September
"American Boy" Estelle w/ Kanye

Oh, and yes, I'm in Snow Patrol's new music video which will premiere in October. The production agency saw my pictures and called me to ask me if I can star in their new video in a pub scene. What a coincidence since Snow Patrol is my favorite band! The new single ("Take Back the City") is stunning. I also had a chance to sit down and talk with Gary, the lead singer. He's very down-to-Earth and nice. I also got an autograph and took a picture with him, which I will post up when I get the chance.

Now, I'll leave you with Adele's powerful single about London titled "Hometown Glory":

I'm in London till mid-August. Hope all is well, will update you very soon.

Song: "Hometown Glory" by Adele

Hosts of the Blog

Cassie & Jal from "Skins"

Cassie: Like a role play. I love drama.
Jal: What?
Cassie: Do you want to play Jal or should I?
Jal: Hey!
Cassie: Shut up Cassie, I'm trying to revise here!

Top Ten Blog Hosts

10. Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang in Blog Titled: "Distance" (2 viewers)

9. Seth Cohen in Blog Titled: "I Kiss You & Make You A Queen" (8 viewers)

8. Tegan & Sara in Blog Titled: "...While I Am Sad & Broken Down *Part II*" (9 viewers)

7. Kim & Sugar (from "Sugar Rush") in Blog Titled: "In My Time of Rushing" (10 viewers)

6. The Cast of "The Office" in: "Is It Just Me or Did 'The Office' Get Depressing?" (11 viewers)

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Cassie

"Oh....... wow!"
Check this out: Cassie's Video Diary

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5. Justine & Holden ("The Good Girl") in Blog Titled: "In Memory Of" (12 viewers)

=4/3. Random British Guy in Blog Titled: "Sleep Well Tonight" (14 viewers)

=4/3. Sara Goldfarb in "Depression Is My New Best Friend" (14 viewers)

2. Lilja and Volodja ("Lilja 4-Ever") in "How Do You Live So Happily *Part I*" (18 viewers)

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Jal

Check this out: Jal's Video Diary

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1. Veronica Mars in "Veronica Mars, Get the Winchester Bros. & Heroes.... Now!" (20 viewers)

Who else than the beautiful heroine?

Now I'll leave you with some very good "Skins" videos:

Cassie "Walking With a Ghost"

A Heartbreaking Green Apple

Sweet Sunflower (by Low)

-from "Where Does the Good Go?" Tegan & Sara

I'm finally done with all of my midterms. I have one week left for finals and then I'm off to the UK! Ah, finally.

Hosts of the Blog

I used to hate these two ladies, but now, they're my guilty pleasure! They're tracks are often heard on "Grey's Anatomy", ABC. A warm welcome to our first musician hosts!

Tegan and Sara: "What do I need to do to see myself in a better mood?"

Movies

WHAT I'M WATCHING NEXT

Trainspotting

London to Brighton

QUICK REMINDER

WATCH "Lilja 4-Ever"! One of the best movies you'll ever see....

TV

I'm almost done with "How I Met Your Mother". What an entertaining yet light third season. The show's underrated. I downloaded all of season 1 of "Little Britain", and I'm watching it next. Then, I'm watching.....

VOTE FOR WHICH I SHOULD WATCH FIRST

Scrubs (Seasons 1 and 2)

-OR-

Heroes (Seasons 1 and 2)

If you've voted, please don't vote again. If you haven't, this is your last chance to advise me what to watch next! Up till now both shows got 2 votes.

Eliminated:

Private Practice

That's about it for now.

Now, my question for you. "How Do You Live So Happily While I Am Sad & Broken Down?"

COMING UP NEXT!

The Top 10 Blog Hosts:

Which host(s) got the most viewers for my the first 10 (hosted) blogs?

Featuring:

Seth Cohen
Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang
Veronica Mars
Kim & Sugar (stars of "Sugar Rush")
Sara Goldfarb -from 'Requiem for a Dream'-
Justine (Aniston) and Holden (Gyllenhaal) -from 'The Good Girl'-
Random British Guy
Cast of "The Office"
Lilja and Volodja -from 'Lilja 4-Ever'-
Tegan & Sara

CHOOSE THE NEXT BLOG HOST

Yup. Pick anyone. Your favorite character, band, actor/actress, artist. Anyone! I'll pick someone randomly to host my next blog! Enjoy.

My friends are all gone enjoying their summer vacation somewhere where it's less depressing and less boring, while I'm stuck here till July 18th. I can't wait to get out of here! This blog will be a two part-er. Highlights include "How I Met Your Mother", a voting poll for you, and one great movie you all have to check out, as well as a song you have to download.

Hosts of the Blog

Lilja and Volodjia (from "Lilja 4-Ever")

Lilja: [Volodja gives her the world as a present] Sorry, but I'm not sure it's a good present. It's windy, there's a mist. It's so cold. And this world isn't that good.

Volodja: Everyone's spitting at you, but you're not ready to die.

Movies

Lilja 4-Ever

This must be one of the best movies I have ever seen. It's about a young girl aged 16 who has literally nothing. She loses her friends, her own mother abandons her, and all she has is a younger friend who, like her, just wants to die and live in a better place. Things get worse. Then much worse. Then, after watching this, you'll appreciate how lucky and happy you can be with what you have, and that some people don't have that option, like Lilja. End child exploitation. Definately in my top 10. It reminded me a bit of "Requiem for a Dream" because of its realism and shock factor, but I like this one even more. Depressing, sad, and real, "Lilja" will break your heart. Great movie, 5/5.

TV

How I Met Your Mother

I finally finished watching "The Office" (reviewed in the previous blog), and I still love the show, but because the writers took it into a depressing direction, I needed something 'lighter' since I have been down all summer, so I turned to this. I'm watching seasons 2 and 3 for the first time, and I think they're even better than the first season.

VOTE FOR WHAT I SHOULD WATCH NEXT

I'm saving both "Veronica Mars" (season 3) and "Supernatural" (season 2) for later. Here are the nominees for you to pick from:

Heroes (Seasons 1 and 2)

Scubs (Seasons 1 and 2)

Private Practice (Season 1)

Music

Here are some discographies (meaning all songs) I've downloaded recently:

Tegan and Sara
Damien Rice
Death Cab for Cutie
The Wombats
The Subways
Ray Lamontagne
The National
Lily Allen
Just Jack
Arctic Monkeys

Must Download Song:
"About Today" The National

Beautiful and depressing song for all of you. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE download it!

Soundtrack

I love this soundtrack. As soon as the movie ended, I quickly downloaded this. Old school techno/trance with an "Eastern-Europe" feel to it, and some favorites including "Forever Young".

Part II coming soon. Till then!

2 more weeks and I'll be in London! Can't wait. My favorite part of the summer is coming soon and I'll be finally done with my stupid summer courses by then.

Hosts of the Blog

The Cast of "The Office"

Michael Scott: Last week I would've given a kidney to anyone in this office. I would've reached right into my stomach and pulled it out for them. But now, no. I don't have the relationship with these people that I thought I did. I hope they ask, so they can hear me say, "Uh, no, I only give my organs to my real friends. Go get yourself a monkey kidney."

TV

The Office

Okay. I don't know what is going on with season 4. When season 3 ended, I was like, oh boy did the British miss out on having such an amazing season. Season 3 was the best of the bunch, closely followed by season 2. Season 4 is different. Very very different. I've watched the first 7 or so episodes, and it's still worth watching, it's still addictive, but. Here is where the 'but' comes in. It's very dark. Very depressing. And not so funny anymore. Is it just me? I thought that now that Jim and Pam are finally together, the depressing stuff would go away, but it didn't. I can sense, let's not say 'drama', but a depressing 'feeling' in "The Office" this season. Why is that? Also, some of the storylines are very very weird. Like the hotel business of Dwight. I mean, seriously? Is this "The Office" or a M. Night Shayamalan movie? Watching the guy in the toilet from Jim and Pam's window was creepy. So was the sound Dwight made because of his lost love. And what about the "Blair Witch Project"-like trip Michael made in "Survivor Man". No. This is not "The Office". Creepiness and depression does not belong to this show. I downloaded it because I forgot how funny it was and how it always put me in a good mood, but now, I remain depressed. I'm not saying it's bad. It's still amazing and one of the best shows on TV. It's just.... unusual. I'll let you know more about what I think once I've finished the season. Is it just me?

True Blood

I've watched the pilot episode for this upcoming HBO drama about the lives of ordinary people living, but discriminating against, vampires. The show did impress me, and I will, without a doubt, be watching this when it airs. I love how the characters are more important that the teeth and the blood in this. I also loved the realistic feel of the show. If vampires ever come visit us, this is how it'll be. Good start, 4.5/5.

Coming Soon:

Will & Grace Season 8

My annual 'buy-1-season-per-summer' ritual ends this summer when I finally finish the series in London. I heard some good stuff about the last season, and to be honest, I wasn't impressed with seasons 6 or 7. Seasons 1, 3, and 5 are my favorite so far. Now I need a new sitcom. A new sitcome I can get annually in London (each summer 1 season) because this will be my last of "Will & Grace". Did I have to buy 3 seasons last summer? Boy do I regret this. Now I have nothing.

Movies

I've downloaded two movies. One was described as highly depressing, the other as highly disturbing. Did any of you see them?

Depressing

Lilya 4-Ever

Disturbing

Gummo

I'll leave you with something not so disturbing/depressing cause you've got enough of that in my blogs already. I mean I even found a way to make "The Office" depressing. Ha!

Cute, eh?

Ok. My depression phase is starting to fade away so yay. I still feel bad most of the day, but by the end of the day, I do feel a bit better. I'll sleep well tonight. Anyhoo, I made this blog to show you some of my very recent pictures, and the rest is for all of you British addicts. Oh, and great great news (for me). I booked a vacation in London for a few weeks. London, I miss you so.

Host of the Blog

Random British Guy: Hello, mate!

Pictures of Me

(taken last week)

(taken about a month ago)

TV

The Inbetweeners

"The Inbetweeners" is a new, fresh British sitcom centred around four loser-ish guys. A lot of critics said it's something between "Skins" and "American Pie" and "The Peep Show". The first series is just 6 episodes, but I highly enjoyed it. Series 2 starts in 2009.

Currently Downloading:

Little Britain (Series 1)

Music

I downloaded a very cool 4-disc 'Brit Box' collection that includes the best of British pop (Britpop), Alternative, and Indie. Very highly recommended. 70+ great British songs.

You have to listen to this amazing song. Pure genius!

"Supergirl" by Reamonn

As always, comment on my pictures!

Host of the Blog

This blog is all about Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Heath Ledger.

Justine: Holden - calm down! Alright?
Holen: I can't calm down! Easy if I was a h00%ker like you then I'd calm down all over town!

In Memory of...

Heath Ledger -1979-2008-

Movies

The Good Girl

What a great movie. I've watched this several times and it's still one of my favorites ever. Aniston and Gyllenhaal give great performances in this depressing, realistic view of a small 'dead' town, and it's depressed citizens. Adultery, suicide, teenage depression, isolation, boredom, murder, theft. How dark? How amazing! Great movie, 5/5.

Brokeback Mountain

I never thought I'd watch this one day, but after hearing about how depressing the movie is, I did. I like how Heath and Jake portrayed 'bored cowboys all alone', and yes, maybe Ledger's character wasn't a homosexual (maybe bisexual), I still think Gyllenhaal's was. Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger give the best performances, with Jake close after, but I thought Anne Hathaway was trying too hard. The ending was really depressing, and the 'winds' symbolized the loneliness of Ledger's character and the fact that he'll always be alone, wishing he had done something about his relationship with Jake's character. After watching this, I admit, it should have won the Best Picture over "Crash". Great movie, 5/5.

Candy

I call this a 'lighter' version of the haunting "Requiem for a Dream". Both Abbie Cornish and Heath Ledger give underrated performances in this underrated drug drama. Some of the scenes were very disturbing (miscarriage, the 'no drugs - stuck in our room' scenes, dead baby). Very ironic since drugs are the cause of Ledger's death.I liked it a lot and the ending was very bittersweet. Good movie, 4.5/5.

Office Space

Yup, I still watch comedies! This one's a winner. I laughed throughout the movie and at the beginning, the humor felt like it was an episode of "The Office". Definately a feel-good-er. My favorite character would me the fat, unemployed, mumbling, employee. Good movie, 4.5/5.

And now I leave you with the hosts of this blog..... kissing!

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Watch out for Ledger's dark performance in the new Batman. There are rumors that claim that Ledger was so attached to this dark character, and that is why he did not sleep well, causing him to overdose on drug prescriptions.

I'm having a very depressing week. Summer is here, but a cousin died of cancer today, a very close friend just found out she got stomache cancer, and all of my friends are leaving this week, travelling abroad and I'm stuck here with summer courses till July. I tried to watch something that would cheer me up like Alphabeat's "Fascination" video, "Will & Grace", and "The Office", but I find myself switching them off and putting in some depressing movies like Requiem for a Dream and Heavenly Creatures.

Host

Requiem for a Dream's Star

Sara Goldfarb: We're giving the prizes away. I JUST WANTED TO BE ON THE SHOW!

Movies

Requiem for a Dream

A few weeks ago I asked you guys for some forms of entertainment that will keep me busy and help me quit smoking. No one mentioned this! One of the best movies EVER made with one of the best female performances by Ellen Burstyn. Still won't top Charlize Theron in Monster in my books, but very close after Kathy Bates in Misery. Great movie, great score, great performances. A piece of art! Dark art. Really really dark and depressing. My favorite scene would be Sara lost in the streets of the city at the beginning of Winter. Great movie 5/5.

Heavenly Creatures

My mom allowed me to watch this when I was exactly 9 years old, and for that, I wanted to kill her. What a great movie and re-watching it is just as shocking. I remember every single 'disturbing' scene in the movie, and the last time I saw it was 11 years ago. Haunting. Great movie, 5/5.

Hard Candy

Very interesting movie with a great script. I loved it all through and the ending was shocking. That's what happens when you meet a pedophile online. 4.5/5.

Gone Baby Gone

Definately a good movie, but not as good as I thought it would be. The movie felt slow-paced, the characters did not grab me, and the storyline is ok. It fails next to movies like Mystic River, but it still is good if you compare it to other kidnapping movies. 4/5.