Chrolli - why I can't concentrate these days.

There was a time when I sneered at people who got caught up in soap opera story lines. Since then, I've discovered Christian Mann and Oliver Sabel, and their fantastic storyline in the German soap opera "Verbotene Liebe" (Forbidden Love).

Top: Christian Mann, Bottom: Oliver Sabel

Their story line has been going on since 2008, and I have been following it since 2009. I have grown to love these two characters as I never thought I could. I watched as they met, fell in love against the odds, fought their way to a relationship, battling homophobia as well as every other thing couples have to deal with, and now, today, they finalised their divorce, and I couldn't stop crying. I feel completely ridiculous, but that's that.

Trying, and failing, to reconnect

Both actors, Thore Schölerman (Christian) and Jo Weil (Olli) have done a spectacular job portraying two people who simply can't make their relationship work, and the depression and desperation that follow the realisation that it's all over.

Tonight's episode was so intense and so heartbreaking that I cried my way through the entire first half of it, and now I simply don't know what to do with myself. It's interesting to get so involved in a fictional couple, especially since I'm not normally a fan of romance, but Christian and Olli have captured my heart and if the writers of Verbotene Liebe don't bring them back together soon, I'm going to have to go to Germany and kick some serious soap writer butt.

So this is the reason I currently can't focus on writing my term paper in World Literatures. Christian and Olli, you have probably ruined my grade in this subject, but nevertheless, I love you to pieces!

 

Tonight's episode, and the utterly and completely depressing end to Christian and Olli's marriage.

Random Movie Recommendation

So people usually laugh at me when I say that Jaws is one of the most frightening movies I've ever seen. But if you're just a tiny bit scared of sharks and your imagination is decent enough to compensate for nearly forty year-old special effects technology, you might just find this film a strong contender in your scary movie section.

Released in 1975, "Jaws" has become a must-see classic, though often in the category of "funny" rather than "terrifying". I, for my part, saw it for the first time about two years ago, and had to pause it several times in order to breathe. My teddy bear was firmly planted on my lap, and if it hadn't been for my furry companion, I believe I might have fainted. This with the knowledge that movies generally don't scare me.

However, I do realise that recommending this movie on the basis that it's insanely frightening would only serve to disappoint most of you when you should eventually see it (if you haven't already), for, as I mentioned, most people don't find it all that chilling. I'm intensely scared of sharks, so for me it hit home. Love the huge, swimming fiends though. Love them. They're awesome. I just have a very, very high respect for huge, fishy things.

Nevertheless, even if you are not like me (in other words, sharks don't really give you the creeping willies), this movie is still suspenseful, well-cast and, believe it or not, surprising. Roy Scheider plays the hapless Police Cheif Martin Brody, who lives on an island and is, ironically enough, terrified of the water, Robert Shaw plays the absolutely batshit insane shark hunter Sam Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss plays Matt Hooper, the young and eager marine biologist, brought to the scene by his fascination with sharks. An overall pretty decent cast.

Oh, and also, people get eaten. Which is always fun.

"Wasting Light"

So the new Foo Fighters album is finally out! I've been so excited for this album pretty much since Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace came out more than four years ago now. Four years. That's way too long to make your fans wait for a new album. But since it's the Foo Fighters, they're officially forgiven.

Also because this album is AWESOME. Critics are, as always, divided in their opinions, with some stating that Wasting Light is nothing special, and some praising it as the best album since The Colour and the Shape. I might admit that my own review of the album might be somewhat biased, as Foo Fighters is my favourite band, and as I have been anticipating this for ages, but, nevertheless, I find Wasting Light both exciting and melodious. I haven't listened extensively to all the tracks yet, but I already have several songs that I really enjoy, such as the first single, Rope, the opening song, Bridge Burning, track three, Dear Rosemary, and the second single, which is out now, White Limo. This last one takes the FF sound back to some of their earlier albums, and has much more of the original hard rock/grunge vibe. Screaming vocals by David Grohl. Dear Rosemary is probably my favourite track at the moment; it has a great beat, wonderful backing vocals by Bob Mould, of Hüsker Dü and Sugar, as well as amazing lyrics. Check it out!

Not familiar with the Foo Fighters? Here's ten reasons why you should give them a listen:

1.) David Grohl (guitar, vocal stylings, occasionally drums, song writer)
2.) The Colour and the Shape (possibly their best album)
3.) In a world of trend-oriented attention seekers, the Foo Fighters manage to remain planted on solid ground. Their music is about music, not about image.
4.) Some bands and artists get pissed off when their album is leaked before its release. Foo Fighters decided to put their entire album, with good sound quality, on their website so everyone could listen to it properly.
5.) How many bands record their seventh studio album in the lead singer's garage?
6.) Varied and interesting music. They have slow, melodious songs, loud, grungy songs and everything in between, while maintaining a distinctly "Foo Fighters" sound.
7.) Fairly easy intro into the world of rock music, if you're unfamiliar with, or new to, the genre. They saved me from my boyband faze.
8.) Wonderful live band. I'm going to see them in June, and I can't wait!
9.) Did I mention David Grohl? The rest of the band, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett, aren't too shabby either. ;)
10.) Final reason: YOU HAVE TO.