These Easter Hols (when I should be working on my final year essays) I've decided to watch a bunch of films I haven't seen before (and of course some old faves whenever I happen to come across them). Check it out...
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: ***** Starting my Easter off with the 1st of a trilogy that boasts more Oscars than SENSE, and one of my all-time faves I will never tire of watching. You've heard it all before, this film is big stuff. If you haven't seen it yet then what have you been doing for the entirety of the Noughties? It's definitely not for everyone - in my experience it is a Marmite-case of love it or hate it, but if you love it you will BIG-TIME love it :)
The Ugly Truth: *** This film gives as much as you can expect from a Katherine Heigl romcom. Light-hearted, fun, romance (duh), and you know the ending within 10minutes of watching the film. Romcom and Gerard Butler fans - worth a try ... everyone else - *snore*.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: ** Oh my. Terrible. There were a couple of touching scenes, but literally no more than a couple. Shipping Charles Dickens to modern-Hollywood-romance-town was NOT a good idea!
Pathology: ** I'm not sure what to make of this. I enjoyed watching it, but I wasn't impressed at the same time. It's like a B-movie horror/thriller that tries to be psychological but has a lot of flaws. The ending was terrible, the acting mediocre. The plot is interesting, but I think they wasted it. If you're a Milo Ventimiglia fan (Heroes), like me, go for it. Otherwise, don't bother.
Saving Private Ryan: ***** Fantastic film! With an all-star cast, I've seen it numerous times and it doesn't get old. The opening action sequence on the beach on D-Day is just a total immersion/spectacle/gut-wrenching awesome piece of cinema. Tom Hanks and Spielberg doing what they do best with WWII. See Band of Brothers for more!
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World: *** I am a huge Disney fan, as if you didn't know already. Disney sequels - NOT a fan! I am almost offended at the idea BUT have recently decided to give them all a go anyway. I had serious problems with the plot here - not only does love not happen happily ever after in Pocahontas, but in its sequel the Disney Princess falls in love with someone else, and when her one true love John Smith comes back, nah she's already moved on thanks. That ain't Disney love! Alright alright, she thought Smith was dead, but that's far too realistic a choice pour moi.
Ghost: *** I'm not sure how I've avoided this film for so long, but I finally managed to get the essential girly film onto my 'seen it' list. I liked it, I enjoyed watching it. There are some touching moments, it was different, and I liked the ending. Whoopi Goldberg makes this film watchable, she's very entertaining in her usual role and adds a great dimension. I can see why it's a must-see for chick flick fans.
What Lies Beneath: *** It makes you jump, it makes you tense, it's got a twist, so it's what you want from a horror movie I guess. But if you're a horror fan, like moi, you've seen it all before, same old tricks, same old thrills. If you're not so good with horrors then from what I've heard you'll enjoy this. I watched it when I was 15 on a girly sleepover and my friend screamed. It's low on the horror scale though - not too much. Horror buffs - *snore* ... not so buff - you'll probably love it!
Enchanted: ***** FUN FUN FUN! Have a sing-a-long, have a dance, have a cheer. Disney at its recent best - mocking it's own clichés whilst entertaining with a twist on age-old Disney Princess story. Don't take it seriously and you'll totally get it. ESSENTIAL for Disney fans - watch out for the hundreds of references! All-star cast and classical Disney songs.
Dude, Where's My Car?: *** One of the choice Friday-night movies of my teen years. Watching it again in my 20s was a nice trip down nostalgia lane and very fun! It's a must-see to watch it once. It's poor, it's cheesy, it's just plain stupid, but Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott bounce off each other and there are some classic moments. You'd have loved it when you were 15 so expect nothing more and you'll enjoy it.
Man on Fire: **** I'm a Dakota Fanning fan and this film doesn't disappoint. Brilliant performances, gets a tad political and confusing in the middle with a few too many important characters to keep track of, but mind-blowing finale and well worth a go.
Watchmen: *** I had high expectations for this film, maybe because of all the hype when it was released, or maybe because a lot of my friends love it, but I didn't. I got the impression that I'd be enjoying it a lot more if I knew what on earth was happening. I got the feeling there was a lot of assumed knowledge, and I don't think the transition from graphic novel to screen went quite as smoothly for this one. Entertaining, but it didn't blow me away and I had to concentrate far too hard on what was going on and why and who and what and...argh... Maybe I'm just stupid?
Meet Joe Black: ***** Astounding, breath-taking, sensitive, sensual, intelligent... I love this film. It's one of my all-time faves. Brad Pitt in one of his best roles as a brand new being with an infinity-year-old consciousness. An ancient being in a fresh mind. I won't give away why, but he is perfect. Anthony Hopkins - brilliant as ever. A true romance that will knock you off your feet. Prepare yourself for a relatively slow-moving 2hr 45mins, but it's well worth the time spent. Any faster and we'd miss the point.
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True: *** Another Disney sequel, and again another triumph! It wasn't awful. So what happened AFTER the wedding? The mice tell us the story, and I actually quite enjoyed it. Some of the old score, all the old characters, developments. A 70minutes well spent for a true Disney fan.
Definitely, Maybe: *** Abigail Breslin is fanastic, just in general. I know she's young but I was surprised she was in this film - her acting capabilities far outstrip a cheesy American RomCom. Same goes for Rachel Weisz, although she does the 'lighter' films quite well. Without Breslin's endearing performance this film could have been awful. It's the same old stuff, it's romantic, it's funny, it's boring. The female acting in the film is what gives it another star. You've seen it all before.
The Wedding Singer: *** Again with the romcom! I'm afraid after a days essay writing all I can bear is to watch something light-hearted and meaningless - and this is what you get from cheesy Hollywood romcoms. So it won't disappoint if that's what you're looking for! The greatest part of the film is the amazing 80s they've set up - perfectly clichéd, fantastically stereotypical, and very entertaining. Serious case of 'ohmygod people used to actually dress like that??' Yes. Adam Sandler is on form.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer: ***** I loved this film. It completely blew my mind. The story is enchanting and unusual, and the film isn't what you expect it to be. Your approach to it, your impressions of it, and your thoughts are not what you think they're going to be. Captivating, brilliantly acted, great score. I mean, come on, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, and John Hurt!? Amazing. The leading guy, Ben Whishaw, is relatively unknown, but I loved him. I give it a high rating because there's nothing I wanted more. It captivated my senses, entertained me, and challenged my perceptions - I seriously recommend this.
The History Boys: *** Great performances, lots of British actors slipping in there from Harry Potter to Dr Who... Not sure whether Americans would get it, it's very British - grammar school northern schoolboys trying to get into Oxbridge. It does have some nice twists though, and challenges your morals and thoughts on things. It reminded me of Dead Poets Society, but not as mind-blowing and not as inspirational.
The Mask: *** I hadn't seen this in years so thought I'd give it another go, but I don't think I really needed to. It all came screaming back to me quite quickly. But what did strike me is how far Jim Carrey has come since this film. His performance is jam-packed of all the Carrey-isms we've grown to love - the mind-boggling body movements and plasticine-like facial contortions that we've seen in all his later, more popular roles. This is the original joker in one of his craziest roles, putting on a show that resounds with his energy. An early role for Cameron Diaz too.
Blue Crush: * I didn't watch this film when it came out because I was madly in love with Orlando Bloom, and Kate Bosworth, the lead in this film, was dating him. My green-eyed monster couldn't stand the sight of her. So now that I'm sooooo over that...I decided to watch it. I shouldn't have - it was bad. Really bad. Clichéd and crap. I wasn't swept away by any of the romance, I wasn't emotionally invested in the oh-so-sad situation and 'difficultly' of the protagonist, and I was bored. And guys, it's not even worth it for the hundreds of bikini body shots.
Star Wars: ****ALRIGHT already! I've watched it now! Okay?? For three years I have suffered the outraged reactions and scorn from what feels like hundreds of people responding to my mere passing comment, 'Ahhh sorry, haven't seen any of the Star Wars movies....' Take note: this is NOT the kind of thing you should be telling people when you're a film student! Apparently I'm a disgrace, and I cannot even CONSIDER graduating in June having not seen them. So here I go...! Aaaaaaaaaand yes...I really enjoyed it! I think I enjoyed it most for hearing that genius John Williams score I've heard SO many times...all those incredibly famous quotes...the characters...the jargon...I mean everything about it is just SO famous, and I'm MOST excited that I know what it's all referring to now. It was all very fun :) Great blockbuster. AND I'VE SEEN IT NOW SO YOU CAN ALL SHUT UP! Watch this space for #2!
My Blueberry Nights: *** I didn't realllly like this film. Great short performances from Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman, but this film is quite fragmented and a bit random. I don't like to use such a vague word, but it really is just random and kind of lacks a point. I'm not sure whether it arty bordering on mainstream, or vice versa, and didn't seem to fit into either category... It has some interesting ideas about about love and relationships, but it's definitely not inspiring stuff. So it was alright I suppose, just not very conventional and not weird enough to be "weird".
- House: Latest series going swimmingly! They've taken new turns, and keeping me interested. I love House and Wilson, they're fantastic together. Genuinely likeable characters is unusual for TV :)
- Lost: This final season is BRILLIANT. Excellently written, answering ALL those darned questions, and compelling stuff! For those who gave up when it took a nose-dive into terrible TV territory around seasons 3-5... Go back ("We must go back!"), start again, and keep going. Season 6 is worth the wait.
- Flashforward: From the makers of Lost, I'm impressed so far. Starting to get a tad bored lately, but you could definitely spend an hour a week doing much less interesting things.
- 24: In the same way as Lost, 24 has found its feet again. Taking a bad turn a couple of seasons back getting stretched out and boring, this latest Season 8 is written and directed fantastically, with some cheeky Bauer in-jokes for old fans.
- Grey's Anatomy: I love the characters, I love the story lines, they couldn't go far wrong for me - I'm too emotionally invested now in season 6. But a warning - do not try and watch any later seasons without starting from the beginning. It relies on knowledge of all previous seasons to understand the complexities of relationships and characters. If you want to dip in and out, don't watch this, you'll get lost!
- Dr Who: I am a huge David Tennant fan. Do not underestimate this statement! Doctor #11, Matt Smith, had a lot to live up to! I felt truly sorry for the weight on that guy's shoulders. BUT - he's nailed it...so far... Episodes 1 and 2 were great, episode 3 I did NOT like - it was pointless, Dr Who didn't save anything because everything was fine till he showed up, and if they wanted to bring back the daleks they could have done it in 5 mins. I didn't feel the urgency, I didn't feel like "Uh oh, shit's about to happen" and "OH GOD IT'S THE END OF THE HUMAN RACE" It was just like, oh right... rainbow daleks back to destroy the universe, okay. I have high expectations for the next Weeping Angels episode, fingers crossed!
- Glee: I wasn't impressed with the new episode. It kept repeating the same thing over and over - find yourself! After 15 minutes I was just getting bugged - I GET IT! Music makes you find yourself blahblah SHUT UP and do something new!
Amongst my viewing I've also come across the TV show Mad Men - if you haven't heard of it or watched it yet, you're missing out. Fantastically directed, written, scored, costumed and acted. They have managed to make me fall head over heels in love with the 50s - the people, the cars, the clothes - this show is beautiful, daring, passionate, classy, and intelligent indulgence. All three seasons - do it now!
Returning soon to screens: True Blood and Mad Men coming June/July. Get yourself up to speed before they comes back to entertain for another season!
Easter-Film-Procrastination
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: ***** Starting my Easter off with the 1st of a trilogy that boasts more Oscars than SENSE, and one of my all-time faves I will never tire of watching. You've heard it all before, this film is big stuff. If you haven't seen it yet then what have you been doing for the entirety of the Noughties? It's definitely not for everyone - in my experience it is a Marmite-case of love it or hate it, but if you love it you will BIG-TIME love it :)The Ugly Truth: *** This film gives as much as you can expect from a Katherine Heigl romcom. Light-hearted, fun, romance (duh), and you know the ending within 10minutes of watching the film. Romcom and Gerard Butler fans - worth a try ... everyone else - *snore*.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: ** Oh my. Terrible. There were a couple of touching scenes, but literally no more than a couple. Shipping Charles Dickens to modern-Hollywood-romance-town was NOT a good idea!
Pathology: ** I'm not sure what to make of this. I enjoyed watching it, but I wasn't impressed at the same time. It's like a B-movie horror/thriller that tries to be psychological but has a lot of flaws. The ending was terrible, the acting mediocre. The plot is interesting, but I think they wasted it. If you're a Milo Ventimiglia fan (Heroes), like me, go for it. Otherwise, don't bother.
Saving Private Ryan: ***** Fantastic film! With an all-star cast, I've seen it numerous times and it doesn't get old. The opening action sequence on the beach on D-Day is just a total immersion/spectacle/gut-wrenching awesome piece of cinema. Tom Hanks and Spielberg doing what they do best with WWII. See Band of Brothers for more!Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World: *** I am a huge Disney fan, as if you didn't know already. Disney sequels - NOT a fan! I am almost offended at the idea BUT have recently decided to give them all a go anyway. I had serious problems with the plot here - not only does love not happen happily ever after in Pocahontas, but in its sequel the Disney Princess falls in love with someone else, and when her one true love John Smith comes back, nah she's already moved on thanks. That ain't Disney love! Alright alright, she thought Smith was dead, but that's far too realistic a choice pour moi.
Ghost: *** I'm not sure how I've avoided this film for so long, but I finally managed to get the essential girly film onto my 'seen it' list. I liked it, I enjoyed watching it. There are some touching moments, it was different, and I liked the ending. Whoopi Goldberg makes this film watchable, she's very entertaining in her usual role and adds a great dimension. I can see why it's a must-see for chick flick fans.
What Lies Beneath: *** It makes you jump, it makes you tense, it's got a twist, so it's what you want from a horror movie I guess. But if you're a horror fan, like moi, you've seen it all before, same old tricks, same old thrills. If you're not so good with horrors then from what I've heard you'll enjoy this. I watched it when I was 15 on a girly sleepover and my friend screamed. It's low on the horror scale though - not too much. Horror buffs - *snore* ... not so buff - you'll probably love it!
Enchanted: ***** FUN FUN FUN! Have a sing-a-long, have a dance, have a cheer. Disney at its recent best - mocking it's own clichés whilst entertaining with a twist on age-old Disney Princess story. Don't take it seriously and you'll totally get it. ESSENTIAL for Disney fans - watch out for the hundreds of references! All-star cast and classical Disney songs.Dude, Where's My Car?: *** One of the choice Friday-night movies of my teen years. Watching it again in my 20s was a nice trip down nostalgia lane and very fun! It's a must-see to watch it once. It's poor, it's cheesy, it's just plain stupid, but Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott bounce off each other and there are some classic moments. You'd have loved it when you were 15 so expect nothing more and you'll enjoy it.
Man on Fire: **** I'm a Dakota Fanning fan and this film doesn't disappoint. Brilliant performances, gets a tad political and confusing in the middle with a few too many important characters to keep track of, but mind-blowing finale and well worth a go.
Watchmen: *** I had high expectations for this film, maybe because of all the hype when it was released, or maybe because a lot of my friends love it, but I didn't. I got the impression that I'd be enjoying it a lot more if I knew what on earth was happening. I got the feeling there was a lot of assumed knowledge, and I don't think the transition from graphic novel to screen went quite as smoothly for this one. Entertaining, but it didn't blow me away and I had to concentrate far too hard on what was going on and why and who and what and...argh... Maybe I'm just stupid?
Meet Joe Black: ***** Astounding, breath-taking, sensitive, sensual, intelligent... I love this film. It's one of my all-time faves. Brad Pitt in one of his best roles as a brand new being with an infinity-year-old consciousness. An ancient being in a fresh mind. I won't give away why, but he is perfect. Anthony Hopkins - brilliant as ever. A true romance that will knock you off your feet. Prepare yourself for a relatively slow-moving 2hr 45mins, but it's well worth the time spent. Any faster and we'd miss the point.Cinderella II: Dreams Come True: *** Another Disney sequel, and again another triumph! It wasn't awful. So what happened AFTER the wedding? The mice tell us the story, and I actually quite enjoyed it. Some of the old score, all the old characters, developments. A 70minutes well spent for a true Disney fan.
Definitely, Maybe: *** Abigail Breslin is fanastic, just in general. I know she's young but I was surprised she was in this film - her acting capabilities far outstrip a cheesy American RomCom. Same goes for Rachel Weisz, although she does the 'lighter' films quite well. Without Breslin's endearing performance this film could have been awful. It's the same old stuff, it's romantic, it's funny, it's boring. The female acting in the film is what gives it another star. You've seen it all before.
The Wedding Singer: *** Again with the romcom! I'm afraid after a days essay writing all I can bear is to watch something light-hearted and meaningless - and this is what you get from cheesy Hollywood romcoms. So it won't disappoint if that's what you're looking for! The greatest part of the film is the amazing 80s they've set up - perfectly clichéd, fantastically stereotypical, and very entertaining. Serious case of 'ohmygod people used to actually dress like that??' Yes. Adam Sandler is on form.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer: ***** I loved this film. It completely blew my mind. The story is enchanting and unusual, and the film isn't what you expect it to be. Your approach to it, your impressions of it, and your thoughts are not what you think they're going to be. Captivating, brilliantly acted, great score. I mean, come on, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, and John Hurt!? Amazing. The leading guy, Ben Whishaw, is relatively unknown, but I loved him. I give it a high rating because there's nothing I wanted more. It captivated my senses, entertained me, and challenged my perceptions - I seriously recommend this.The History Boys: *** Great performances, lots of British actors slipping in there from Harry Potter to Dr Who... Not sure whether Americans would get it, it's very British - grammar school northern schoolboys trying to get into Oxbridge. It does have some nice twists though, and challenges your morals and thoughts on things. It reminded me of Dead Poets Society, but not as mind-blowing and not as inspirational.
The Mask: *** I hadn't seen this in years so thought I'd give it another go, but I don't think I really needed to. It all came screaming back to me quite quickly. But what did strike me is how far Jim Carrey has come since this film. His performance is jam-packed of all the Carrey-isms we've grown to love - the mind-boggling body movements and plasticine-like facial contortions that we've seen in all his later, more popular roles. This is the original joker in one of his craziest roles, putting on a show that resounds with his energy. An early role for Cameron Diaz too.
Blue Crush: * I didn't watch this film when it came out because I was madly in love with Orlando Bloom, and Kate Bosworth, the lead in this film, was dating him. My green-eyed monster couldn't stand the sight of her. So now that I'm sooooo over that...I decided to watch it. I shouldn't have - it was bad. Really bad. Clichéd and crap. I wasn't swept away by any of the romance, I wasn't emotionally invested in the oh-so-sad situation and 'difficultly' of the protagonist, and I was bored. And guys, it's not even worth it for the hundreds of bikini body shots.
Star Wars: ****ALRIGHT already! I've watched it now! Okay?? For three years I have suffered the outraged reactions and scorn from what feels like hundreds of people responding to my mere passing comment, 'Ahhh sorry, haven't seen any of the Star Wars movies....' Take note: this is NOT the kind of thing you should be telling people when you're a film student! Apparently I'm a disgrace, and I cannot even CONSIDER graduating in June having not seen them. So here I go...! Aaaaaaaaaand yes...I really enjoyed it! I think I enjoyed it most for hearing that genius John Williams score I've heard SO many times...all those incredibly famous quotes...the characters...the jargon...I mean everything about it is just SO famous, and I'm MOST excited that I know what it's all referring to now. It was all very fun :) Great blockbuster. AND I'VE SEEN IT NOW SO YOU CAN ALL SHUT UP! Watch this space for #2!My Blueberry Nights: *** I didn't realllly like this film. Great short performances from Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman, but this film is quite fragmented and a bit random. I don't like to use such a vague word, but it really is just random and kind of lacks a point. I'm not sure whether it arty bordering on mainstream, or vice versa, and didn't seem to fit into either category... It has some interesting ideas about about love and relationships, but it's definitely not inspiring stuff. So it was alright I suppose, just not very conventional and not weird enough to be "weird".
ANY SUGGESTIONS or RECOMMENDATIONS on what I should be watching?
Let me know!!!
Read More for the latest seasons of some great TV:
- Lost: This final season is BRILLIANT. Excellently written, answering ALL those darned questions, and compelling stuff! For those who gave up when it took a nose-dive into terrible TV territory around seasons 3-5... Go back ("We must go back!"), start again, and keep going. Season 6 is worth the wait.
- Flashforward: From the makers of Lost, I'm impressed so far. Starting to get a tad bored lately, but you could definitely spend an hour a week doing much less interesting things.
- 24: In the same way as Lost, 24 has found its feet again. Taking a bad turn a couple of seasons back getting stretched out and boring, this latest Season 8 is written and directed fantastically, with some cheeky Bauer in-jokes for old fans.
- Grey's Anatomy: I love the characters, I love the story lines, they couldn't go far wrong for me - I'm too emotionally invested now in season 6. But a warning - do not try and watch any later seasons without starting from the beginning. It relies on knowledge of all previous seasons to understand the complexities of relationships and characters. If you want to dip in and out, don't watch this, you'll get lost!
- Dr Who: I am a huge David Tennant fan. Do not underestimate this statement! Doctor #11, Matt Smith, had a lot to live up to! I felt truly sorry for the weight on that guy's shoulders. BUT - he's nailed it...so far... Episodes 1 and 2 were great, episode 3 I did NOT like - it was pointless, Dr Who didn't save anything because everything was fine till he showed up, and if they wanted to bring back the daleks they could have done it in 5 mins. I didn't feel the urgency, I didn't feel like "Uh oh, shit's about to happen" and "OH GOD IT'S THE END OF THE HUMAN RACE" It was just like, oh right... rainbow daleks back to destroy the universe, okay. I have high expectations for the next Weeping Angels episode, fingers crossed!
- Glee: I wasn't impressed with the new episode. It kept repeating the same thing over and over - find yourself! After 15 minutes I was just getting bugged - I GET IT! Music makes you find yourself blahblah SHUT UP and do something new!
Amongst my viewing I've also come across the TV show Mad Men - if you haven't heard of it or watched it yet, you're missing out. Fantastically directed, written, scored, costumed and acted. They have managed to make me fall head over heels in love with the 50s - the people, the cars, the clothes - this show is beautiful, daring, passionate, classy, and intelligent indulgence. All three seasons - do it now!
Mad Men
Returning soon to screens: True Blood and Mad Men coming June/July. Get yourself up to speed before they comes back to entertain for another season!
you need to get into ''It's always sunny in Philadelphia''
ReplyDeleteFantastic... now its you whose missing out ;)
Cinderella 3 is like, 100% the best Cinderella sequel. I reckon it's actually better than the first one, the Prince gets more of a part and he's like *squeeeeeee*! Also, the book that Perfume is based on is SO GOOD! I've not even seen the film cause the book was just so awesome, I don't want to ruin it!
ReplyDeleteOh and FYI, Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgard are totally together right now, so judging by your Eric Northman comments I'm gonna go ahead and guess that she'll be getting the green eyes for a little longer.