War Horse (Spielberg, 2012)

Having seen War Horse on stage in the West End, and absolutely loving it, I was eagerly awaiting the film version, but simultaneously praying that it wouldn’t ruin the story for me.

Suffice to say I was not disappointed. Directorially awe- inspiring, an emotional musical score and some Oscar-worthy acting, make for an emotional and entertaining two hours.

In the West End show, the audience’ interests were directed towards the family as a unit, and whether they as a whole would come through the war. The film, however, ensures that all interest is vetted in the relationship between Albie and Joey, with Albie’s parents and the villagers playing a minor peripheral role. This is hardly surprising; Spielberg recreates war scenes with such conviction, that much more screen time is given over to this part of the film. On stage, it is harder to recreate the horrors of war, so the villagers and the build up to the war

Unfortunately, I have not read the original novel (it’s on my ever-growing to-do list), so can make no comment about the interpretation that Morpurgo intended.

One disappointment was the casting of Albie’s mother, Emily Watson. For one, I couldn’t help thinking that she was far too young and fresh faced to play the worn down role of Rose Narracott, and secondly, her acting was not outstanding.

Verdict: The stage show is still the best thing I have ever seen live, and I would urge everyone to go see it. The film is magnificent (well it’s a Spielberg, I doubt anyone would expect anything less), but it is obvious that it is made with the intention of becoming a blockbuster hit, which somehow cheapens it.

 Sad but true that “War Horse” is probably going to become more synonymous with the name “Spielberg” than “Morpurgo”, but I guess that’s what you expect if you sell your book rights to potentially the biggest director in the history of Hollywood.

This little place I know (and you should too...)

I made a fabulous discovery yesterday. It's a brand spanking new cupcake shop in the centre of York called  Sooty's Cupcakery. Ok, if I'm being honest, it wasn't a spontaneous discovery, I was going there with the purpose of reviewing it. But boy am I glad I did.

I know what you're thinking. It's just another one of those overpriced cupcake places that are taking over the world, giving yummy-mummies a place to yibber-yabber and spend their husband's hard earned money. WELL YOU'RE WRONG!

Take it from a self-titled cupcake connoisseur- I used to work in a cake shop, I've spent hours perfecting cupcake recipes, I spent the eve of my 18th birthday making and decorating 100 cupcakes-Sooty's is the bees knees, the cat's whiskers, the dog's toenails, in cupcakes (although you'll be pleased to hear that I found none of the above in my cake).

 I've been to the famous Hummingbird Bakery in Spitalfields, London, and even reviewed that one for Itchy City. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that my visit to the Hummingbird Bakery didn't even come close to my visit to Sooty's.* The service at Hummingbird was impersonal, the hot chocolate below average, and even the cupcakes, the holy grail for which I had made my journey, were nothing special.

Sooty's, on the other hand, was a dream come true. They had a wide range of flavours and toppings, and the cupcakes were only £1.49 each, and very reasonably sized-quite the opposite of the majority of similar businesses. Not only were the cupcakes cheap, they were perfectly decorated and, most importantly DELICIOUS. The cake was moist and light, not stodgy like some cakes, and the vanilla fondant was the most flavoursome I have ever had, without being overpowering. The accompanying hot chocolate was equally enjoyable, and cheaper than any chain cafe.  The staff were uber-friendly, and they had a wider range of choices than were available at Hummingbird.

I am therefore taking this opportunity to demand that all residents and students of York go to Sooty's at least once-although I can guarantee that you will want to go back. It is my understanding that different cakes are available everyday, so all the more reason to go back and sample them all. Sooty's also do cupcakes and occasion cakes to order, and you can mix and match base flavour and fondant flavour-it's like being in Willy Wonka's factory, but real!

Weekly visits to Sooty's are now inked into my diary. I'm only gutted that it arrived when I only have 6 months left in York.**


*I'm honestly not being paid to say this

** I'm actually also gutted that Sooty's has taken over the retail unit where a craft shop I liked once stood. But cupcakes will make that pain go away.

The negatives to being a student

People think that students have it easy, and I admit that to some extent we do; our bank accounts automatically fill up 3 times a year, we only have on average 30 weeks of "full time" education a year. But it's not all fun and drinking games, there are downsides to being a student too, one of which is niggling away at most final year students right now.

Perhaps one of the worst parts of being a student is the stereotypes that we are expected to live up to, which lead people to class us as one inseperable lump of society; we sleep all day and don't do any work, we sponge off the government, we drink too much. Yes, some students live up to these stereotypes only to well, but they are in the minority. I spent 8 and a half hours in the library yesterday, and kept working even after I got home. Until last month, save 4 weeks I have consistently held at least one, usually two jobs in the 2 and a half years I have been at University, to avoid sponging off the government more than necessary, and I haven't touched alcohol since cerca 1972. So yes, having to put up with the jokes about how little work I do does become tedious. But that is not the main reason I am disliking being a student right now.

The main reason I am hating being a student right now is something commonly known as 'The Guilt'. This is the feeling that washes over you when, having spent 8,9,10 hours straight working, revising, etc., you pause, be it to watch TV, or even do the most mundane of things such as cooking dinner or putting some washing on. You feel guilty that you should dare to leave the chains of your desk behind even for one second. I hate that your work as a student is never done; there is always one more article you could read. And so it is that I find myself craving the freedom of a 9-5 job, one where once you clock out at 5 o'clock, your time is yours. Time to pursue a new hobby, spend time with friends, or even veg around doing nothing if you fancy it, without the guilt of knowing that you should be doing something. I'm not saying that I want to do a job like that forever; I'm aware that the magazine industry is a hard task master, with irregular, long hours, and when I come to that, I will be ready for it. But for a couple of months after I graduate, I will be (hopefully) enjoying the freedom time-restricted employment.