BLOG: WORTH IT

Ok, so I was suppose to see Disney's Toy Story 3 last night, but the the non-3D screening was SOLD OUT and the only other screening was in 3D. So it got me thinking...'WORTH'. What does 'WORTH' mean in a world where everything from what you wear and what you use to listen to music is all about the name?

If you're a cheapo, like myself you'll probably already know the following thing's I'm going to list, but for those who prefer to buy things either "impulsively" or because of their brands and often find yourself frustrated when you see the item you just bought $20-$50 a few months or weeks later, here's the secret.

MOVIES
(DVDs and Blu-ray; New Release and Bargains)

1. NEW RELEASES: always, always, always W.A.I.T. The reason why movies start of with prices that range from $25-$30 is because their prices depend on how popular the movie was. If they've been on the screen usually their DVD prices will start at $20-$25, if they've been good on the bid screen then they'll cost $25-$30 (sometimes even $35) for your small screen. Often it's the same of Blu-ray.
2. "SALES": Sale prices range from $7-$30 dollars. Depending on what you're buying, the under $10 price range are often found in stores like Target and Big W, the only problem is, these stores don't really account for what films they have in the store - especially at these prices. JB Hi-Fi and Sanity stores account for their items, but their price range don't really go down as far as $7, they maintain the $10-$20 "sale prices". The good thing for JB Hi-Fi is the fact that their prices often reflect the quality of their sales - ie. you're paying for the rating of the film and the opinion of the store - and therefore you often find the best prices in terms of box-office quality.

Aiight...IS IT WORTH IT?

HOW TO BUY DVDs and BLU-RAY

Between the two options, it depends on what you have, DVDs are often cheaper than Blu-ray, but if your new TV comes with Blu-ray, I say why waste what's comes with your screen? So here we go.

You know that a DVD/Blu-ray is worth if...

1. It comes with SPECIAL FEATURES. This may sound stupid, but it's the truth. You want to know why people download their movie from the internet? It's because sometimes that's all you get in the DVD/Blu-ray disc - JUST THE MOVIE. If a movie is priced $20 on a sale it's either because it was: a) a really good movie or b) you're paying for the actual disc and the cover it's in. Though this may be subjective it's the truth. Look, personally, if you want "JUST THE MOVIE" get it legally on iTunes or Graboid.
2. If the price NEVER changes. If you're like me and have paid $30 for a movie just because you could only to find out 6 months later it was half the price, then you know how good it feels to by $15 DVD and 6 months after that it still the price you bought it for. If the price never changes - which is VERY rare, then you know it's a good buy. Often their the ones that are popular no matter what happens, like Mean Girls or The Notebook.

Vital Tips:

1. WAIT until you know the price isn't going to get any lower.
2. Always compare the prices, if there's a lower price somewhere else, you get to save more.

CDs
(Music)

1. NEW RELEASES: Wait, often $25 CDs go down to $15 in a matter of months. NEVER rush into buying anything.
2. SINGLE/ALBUM: The Album is better, but if you only want that one song, I suggest you get an iTunes card that way you don't waste $5 on 3 other versions of the song you don't even like.

HOW TO BUY ALBUMS

1. Be sure that the CD comes with a LYRIC BOOKLET. This may seem like another stupid thing, but think about it, you're forking out $20-$25 on a CD, I mean you could buy a lot with that, but instead you decide to use it for a CD. You want the MUSIC, and therefore, often want to SING ALONG with the songs, so that means, you're not only paying for the song, you're also paying for the RIGHTS of the lyrics. You don't want a piece of paper with their faces on it, if you wanted their face you could go to their website and save them. You want to sing along, 50% of the time the internet lyrics are wrong and take time - buying a CD with lyrics kills two bird with one stone.
2. Be sure that you like MOST of the songs. If you only like 5 out of 14 then you're better off with an iTunes card. Don't pay $20-$25 on something you wont even listen to that often. Get an iTunes card that way you know which ones you want and you can use your money on other songs and items too!

Vital Tips:

1. Find someone with the CD you want, see if it's got the lyric booklet and have a listen to the CD.
2. YouTube is often a good source too, you can usually ask the vloggers questions about the album/ single you want.

iTunes
(Music and Movies)

iTunes is a great place to purchase your music and films. As much as I seem to promote it, iTunes is just like any store. Sometimes their prices are not the best and sometimes it's better to wait for the DVD price to go down rather than the iTune price. I prefer to get my music on iTunes because it's often cheaper, if not I buy the actual disc. Movies on iTunes are best if you just want the movie.

Vital Tips:

1. Just SEE the prices. If you think it's best that to buy the disc rather than downloading it's up to you.
2. Compare the prices. Sometimes iTunes it really good to see the worth of your items - songs especially.

I hope it's been helpful, if not just go on with your shopping ways. :D


Next on sL: "Toy Story 3" and the Top 10 CHILDHOOD classics.

FILM: Big Fish

So this week I decided to watch a film that caught my eye in Target a few times.


Big Fish starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Billy Crudup and Helena Bonahm Carter.

Will Bloom (Crudup) always though his father's stories were always the best, then he grew up. Sitting at his wedding reception, he listens to his father's favorite tale for the hundredth time - what he was doing the day Will was born. Truth of the matter is, Ed Bloom (McGregor, Finney), was not fishing for the greatest fish in the river, no, he was like any other father waiting for his child to be born.

But stories like that were never enough for Ed, he liked to tell his life stories with a bit of flare with a side order of imagination. Unable to understand his father's strange need to re-create the past, Will endeavors to find the truth for himself. But when his father is at his death bed, Will is led to share the story.

Begin with one big fish, and end with another big fish.


This movie was absolutely well written, a Tim Burton classic. I loved it! I thought it had a great delicate balance of creativity and reality. I loved how Will had to get in touch with his inner child again and in turn, become the story teller and his father the listener.

It's a really good family film, I recommend it to those who enjoy a laugh and a touch of Tim Burton magic.

Fun Fact: An 8-year-old MILEY CYRUS stars in this movie, she plays the character "Ruthie".

sL star rating: 5 Stars

Next on sL: "How to buy your DVDs and CDs."

BLOG: TOP 10 CHICK FLICKS

Listen up LADIES! This list doesn't come from any magazine of TV broadcast, no this came straight from a couple of my friends from facebook. I understand if you don't agree, but nevertheless, I thought it'd be fun to let you know. :D

So without further a do...

stricklyLEISURE's TOP 10 CHICK FLICKS

No# 10: NEVER BEEN KISSED (Drew Barrymore and David Arquette)

Who disagree that this film deserves to be in the list? I mean it's the story of a copy-editor of the Chicago Sun Times who landed her big break as a journalist. But in her undercover feature, she doesn't just get to be 17 again, she finds out that no matter what era you go through high school, nothing truly changes. But of course - who can resist the fact the the title holds the promise of the PERFECT kiss?

No# 9: CLUELESS (Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd)

The typical teen movie that took the 90's by storm. From the fashion trends to the quirky lingo, Clueless changed the rules of teen films. Who could forget Cher Horowitz and her band of popular, yet eloquent friends? From her long blond hair to her classic platforms, Cher ruled the school. But for someone with great ideals and the wardrobe to match it, how could she be so Clueless?

No# 8: DEFINITELY MAYBE (Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Banks and Rachel Weisz)

Love...hmmm...it's hard to define. There's a love that you share between your parent and siblings; love between you and your spouse; love between you and your children; heck! - there's even the love between you and your pets! But Will Hayes never thought he would fall in love 3 times in his life, fact of the matter is, love could be right in front of you.

No# 7: 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Larisa Oleynik)

Ahh, Shakespeare. Who can deny that he could write things straight through history? This modern adaptation of the beloved play, The Taming of The Shrew has captured all our hearts. The natural story of bad boy meets good girl - with a bit of money on the side - and (hypothetically) fall in love. No wonder we love it so much! - talk about D.R.A.M.A.

No# 6: THE PROPOSAL (Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds)

We've heard the story before, no green card, no America. But when Margaret Tate gets the boot, she decides to dig her heels and loop an engagement ring on her assistant's finger. Andrew Paxton is not happy, not only has he been sucked into this dead-end job, but now he's marrying the Devil. But who says love doesn't spring from...strong dislike?
No# 5: THE NOTEBOOK (Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling)

This list will not be complete with the Nicholas Spark classic. The story of a rich pretty girl falling in love with a strong-broad poor boy being torn apart by society and her family. But against all odds, they finally make it together in the end - and then we realise that she's forgotten everything, but he is by her side, till death brought them back together.

No# 4: A WALK TO REMEMBER (Mandy Moore and Shane West)

Another Sparks classic that cannot be overlooked. The tale of a good Christian girl who witness the miracle of her bad-boy boyfriend's attitude change. Jamie never gave Landon the time of day to insult or even involuntarily acknowledge her existence, she was an image of perfection. But when her righteousness intrigues him more than he intended, Landon finds himself so in love that he is by her side till the day she dies.

No# 3: SHE'S THE MAN (Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum)

So girls aren't as good as guys are they? Well, Viola decides she wants to prove her coach and ex-boyfriend wrong by pretending to be her brother Sebastian. When girls decided to dress up as guys, you know it's a recipe for disaster! But when push-comes-to-shove, Viola has to show her...umm...true form...in order to untangle the web of deceit that she's weaved!

No# 2: JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE (Brittany Snow, Jesse Metcalfe, Arielle Kebbel, Sophia Bush and Ashanti)

When a guy cheat's on you once it's harsh, but when a guy cheats on you 3 times, it's a war zone. Carrie, Beth and Heather all though the school stud, John Tucker was theirs. The all thought that they were the "only girl for him", but when new-girl Kate sees him for what he is, they decide that she has to become the ULTIMATE John Tucker charmer in order to pay-back all the hurt that John's inflicted on them. But Kate got cold feet...so what now? - definitely not ready to put up the white flag!

stricklyLEISURE's NO# 1 CHICK FLICK is....

MEAN GIRLS(Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried and Tina Fey)

Who can deny this ultimate chick flick the right to number 1? It's got the best quotes from, "That is sooo FETCH!" to "If you're from Africa, why are you white?" The Clueless for a whole new generation, Mean Girls takes "girl world" into serious considerations. With the reality placed before our eyes, behind all the humorous scenarios and outrageous rules, the message is loud and clear for all the ladies in the world - DON'T BE MEAN!

Hope you enjoyed!


Next on sL: "Big Fish" and why fantasy is always easier to grasp than reality.