NZ Film Freak

Super

Director: James Gunn
Writer: James Gunn
Released: September 2010
Starring: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Kevin Bacon
—

Wow. Okay. Where do I start? I stumbled across this film when I was searching for all the movies that Ellen Page has starred in (she’s one of my favourites actresses). Loving superhero movies anyway I thought that this was going to be a genius concoction of fantastic actors and an epic storyline…

I can’t, unfortunately, say that this was the case. The trailer is a bit misleading, portraying it solely as a comedy. However, the genre of this film is most certainly a BLACK comedy. Very sadistic, violent and rather gruesome. It would be a superhero version of the black comedy A Film With Me In It (featuring Dylan Moran) which I found equally disturbing.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy sadistic and gruesomely bloody movies. I love Quentin Tarentino’s Inglorious Basterds and horrors such as Scream and House of Wax. However, black comedies I find to have a different reaction to. Maybe because it tends to be average Joes committing crimes that are beyond their moral capabilities. Or because there tends to be little remorse or reflection by the characters involved.

Of course, Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead are two movies that are extremely impressive black comedies that have got the balance perfect between the two opposing genres.

So, getting over the sudden shock when I realised that there will be less comedic value than I expected. I love the idea of an bog-standard guy deciding to take crime into his own hands. Known as The Crimson Bolt (Wilson) and his 22-year-old manic, obsessive and highly inappropriate (and dodgy) “kid” side-kick Boltie (Page), armed with a wrench and Wolverine-inspired claws, they take care of the city’s drug dealers and robbers.

“SHUT UP CRIME!”

“DON’T STEAL!”
“DON’T DO DRUGS!”
“DON’T MOLEST KIDS!”

I do like the quirkiness and the comic-related characteristics that remind me of Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Very cool indeed.

There were a few too many scenes that I thought were just crude. Not funny, nor necessary to the storyline. I also thought that the main character Frank/The Crimson Bolt was a bit… Blank. I know that he’s not supposed to be the brightest bulb in the tanning bed, perhaps a modern day cross between Forrest Gump and Harold Crick (Stranger Than Fiction), but I don’t think he had enough emotion for the audience to really feel for him or understand where he was coming from, making me feel distant from the protagonist.

It has been a common comment by critics that this story has been told before via Kick-Ass released before Super. I can most certainly relate to this. Not only was it a very similar concept, I also found that they shared the same sort of audience. It was a superhero film targeting a much more mature audience rather that the light-hearted feel-good moral superhero movies.

Over all, a disappointment. Yet, I still feel attached to the universally popular idea of being a superhero and what would happen.

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

I love Ellen Page. She’s hilarious.

Wreck-It Ralph

Directed: Rich Moore
Written: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston and Jim Reardon
Released: November 2012
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jane Lynch and Sarah Silverman
—

Not knowing that this animation was in fact aimed at a younger audience, I was rather disappointed/bored. I know what you’re thinking, of course it’s a childish movie – it’s animation about video games.

But let me draw your attention to the likes for Ice Age (the first one), Toy Story (1, 2 and 3) and Brave. Wreck-It Ralph was in no way on par with the likes of these animated features.

Wreck-It Ralph is a ‘bad guy’ in a standard arcade machine, always out-shined by the Ned Flanders-like figure, Fix-It Felix. Ralph does not want to be the demonised figure and escapes into an arcade machine adjacent to his to win a medal and feel the sense of reward that Felix gets. But, if Ralph is killed in a game that is not his own, he will not get another life and it’s game over forever.

However, I must say, this setting has not really been done before. The mixture of nostalgic arcade games (for the parents) and the fun, colourful and exciting characters to appeal to the kids, this moral-drenched story is a fine cartoon for the holidays.

Very clever graphics that keep it ‘accurate’, such as the much more basic games having very basic graphics.

I thought it was quite a long movie which would be a draw back for children… Especially being in a cinema where we were surrounded by children, trust me, they let you know a movie is too long after about an hour…

So, Wreck-It Ralph was not quite what I expected, the target audience was not that clear, perhaps. But I can appreciate it nevertheless.

Perfect for the school holidays. A “high score” for many children and some older people too, I’m sure. A bearable film for parents.

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

Goodbye, 2012!

beatles wave
Another year is over! I have seen some pretty spectacular movies this year and I have been happy to give my stamp of approval to them. I have also come across my fair share of some pretty disastrous films that I have rated accordingly.

As of today, the NZ Film Freak website has accommodated more than 45,250 viewers from all over the world (particularly America, so thank you to you guys!) – which is a lot more than I ever expected would take notice of my blog.

So as a tribute, here’s the low-down of almost 60 movies that I have watched and rated throughout the year of 2012. There are some amazing films along with some rather tragic ones.

I have devised a genius rating system out of ten that gives an indication of whether it’s worth watching or not.

So! Without further ado, I bring to you all of FilmFreak’s film reviews starting with the best:

Gold, Jerry, Gold!
9.5/10
The Hunger Games
Moulin Rouge!
Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
American Graffiti

9/10
Big Fish
The Boat That Rocked
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight (2008)
Forrest Gum p
Juno
The King’s Speech
Little Miss Sunshine
Stranger Than Fiction
Up in the Air

Hoochie Mama!
8.5/10
About A Boy
Back To The Future I
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Horse Whisperer
Inception
Misery
Scent of a Woman
Skyfall

8/10
21
The Actors
Back To The Future III
Driving Lessons
Good Will Hunting
The Matrix
Shaun of the Dead
The Wedding Singer

7.5/10
Back To The Future II
Edward Scissorhands
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Pitch Perfect
Public Enemies
Whip It

7/10
Alice In Wonderland
Avatar
Elf
Grease
The Lost Boys
Zombieland

Giddy-Up!
6.5/10
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatball
Snow White and the Huntsman

6/10
21 Jump Street
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Hangover
Looper

5/10
The Dictator
Hit & Run
The Notebook
Total Recall

Yada, Yada, Yada…
4/10
Twilight
Two Little Boys

3.5/10
In Time

A Show About Nothing!
3/10
War Horse

2/10
Hereafter

I hope that you have enjoyed my reviews and I look forward to your comments in the future. There is a new poll made after every film review to make sure that you get an input in what you would like to see next.

I hope you have all had a very enjoyable 2012 and look forward to hearing from you next year.

Jodie.

The reasons why the world didn’t end on 21-12-12

lets get drunk

As you may have noticed, the world is not at its end. You may be pondering why this may have not occurred. Here are some of my suggestions…

tv DOCTOR WHO 1. After time travelling back to the beginning of the Mayan calendar, Doctor Who attempted to speak to the Mayan elders to extend the end of the calendar to a much further date in time. He was unsuccessful and was accused of being a witch doctor. He tried to explain that he wasn’t a Doctor Which, but a Doctor Who. After convincing them to not treat him as a threat, he was able to compromise, and settled on an agreement. That at the end of the Mayan calendar a “to be cont.” sign was to be etched at the end. Scientists, if they were to re-study the Mayan calendar today, will find this statement, thanks to the Doctor.

Superhero 2. A huge meteor was hurtling toward Earth, NASA people were freaking out (despite the many press releases stating otherwise). They called the man that is never to be spoken about publicly. His name, is Superman. Fiction? I think not! Unfortunately, the meteor was purposely laced with kryptonite by the alien beings who wanted to ruin Superman’s world. He was unable to stop the meteor in it’s path, so Iron Man, although a little drunk from his house party celebrating his updated Iron Man suit, was able to use his brain, his mind and his head too, making it possible with the use of various lasers and alcohol-induced decisions to divert the meteor. Phewph!

The world didn't end

Fail 3. Having heard about the Mayans’ little plan about ending the Earth in 2012, Vianne, a girl who lived around the time of the invention of the Mayan calendar, decided that she had to do something. She was never welcome in the Mayan society because of her super powers that were shunned by the elders who never acknowledged her existence (which is why she can not be found in any Mayan history).

Vianne climbed up to the tallest tree on the tallest mountain and leapt! She flew higher and higher, through the clouds and out into space. She then flew around the earth millions of times a second like a string being wound up into a ball. She was able to fly so fast that the atmosphere began to be disturbed and a protective film or layer was created.

grumpy cat cake A layer that we now call an ozone that protected Earth from the meteorite that was supposed to impoverish the Earth in December of 2012. Our ozone layer protects us against many things that would have damaged the world in Mayan times due to the world’s lack of ozone.

cheer-up-not-the-end-of-the-world-mayan-bar-comic 4. Ever heard of the butterfly effect? Where the tiniest of changes made by the likes of a time traveller, perhaps the indiscriminate killing of a minuscule insect could change the future forever through a domino effect. Well, in fact, what actually happened to prevent the world from being wiped from existence in 2012 was a time traveller who travelled from the year 1750AD, back in time to the year 3114 BC.

Stepping out of his time machine that looked like a bowling ball, the time traveller realised that he forgot to install a hand break, and even worse than that, he had landed on a hill. Just as he opened the door, the time machine began to roll at an alarming rate toward a river.

engineering-fail-116 Airborne, the machine continued falling down the gully and landed on the fast flowing river, landing with an unsatisfying splash like a ping-pong ball thrown into a swimming pool. Now, I know what you’re thinking, you think I’m going to say that on the way down the hill the time machine squished something that had major repercussions on the distant future…

Although during it’s time travelling voyage, it’s technological outputs misguided many migrating Monarch butterflies. The Monarch butterflies used to migrate annually to southern Mexico from Canada for the fall, however, since the day that their migrating instincts were interfered with, they now fly to central Mexico, which is their annual habit even today…

Round calendar But apart from that, in fact what happened was that as the spheric time machine rolled down the hill that was classed as “sacred” by the local native Mayan people of Southern Mexico. This was witnessed by a Mayan woman who had been put in charge of creating the Mayan Calendar. She had a rock canvas that was a rectangular shape and had begun carving the dates when suddenly a giant ball-like rock thing appeared in the distance and rolled down the sacred hill at an ever increasing speed, demolishing trees on the way.

Mesmerised by this sight, she realised that a rectangular canvas would not be inspirational or aesthetically pleasing enough, and a round rock would be required. Unfortunately, a round rock could not accommodate nearly as many dates, hence why she ran out of room by the time she got to the year 2012 rather that the previous date of 20012. Oops!

Thanks 9gag.com

Let me know what your reasons are for the lack of a 2012 apocalypse.

Jodie.

21-12-12: Survive a Zombie Apocalypse!

Zombie

Today may or may not be the end of the world.

If it is, I am predicting a zombie apocalypse, and armed with my knowledge of zombie movies, I shall guide you to survival with my top tips!

Be prepared! — Be prepared for any apocalypse!

Of course, depending on what zombie movie we are studying, depends on what actions will be required. Because the Shaun of the Dead lazy and stupid zombies need to be treated completely differently to the manic sprinters that are in Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead and Zombieland, or the vampire-like zombies in I Am Legend who have wild dog side-kicks, meaning that animals are vulnerable to the infections too!

Now, if you wanted rules specifically for the Zombieland kind of zombies, clearly all you have to do is watch that movie and take down all of the rules that Jesse Eisenberg’s character has in order to survive.

But here are mine:

if-i-became-a-zombie-youd-stay-with-me-right — Back up is always a good idea, but don’t get too attached to one another. This is survival of the fittest. Knowing little about them (like in *Zombieland*) is a smart idea.

1. Find strong back up. Of course your friends and family will be you priority, but if you’re going at this alone keep in mind that skills are what will keep you alive.

Look out for fit people with weapons or survival skills. Army dudes and people with medical training can only help.

If all else fails, find yourself a gamer. They’re in huge supply, they have quick reflexes, are stealthy, competitive and know [the theory of] handling weapons. Their body clocks are usually out of whack too, so they will happily be on watch duty at night.

2. Keep moving! As soon as you decide to hunker down you’ll be sitting ducks and that’s when you have more chance of being bored which may cause you to make more noise, therefore, attracting more attention to yourselves. Being bored increases the danger of turning on your fellow companions, or at least going a little bit mad. Plus, if you stay in one place the zombies will sniff you out anyway.

miami-zombie-00 — It doesn’t matter who or what started the zombie apocalypse – you’re finishing it! So be prepared.

3. Get armed! Knives and blunt objects, but guns will be the best option. Think of who might have weapons and team up/steal them (the weapons, not the owner of them).

If you ever get into a sticky situation, you need to know that you can protect yourself against a zombie killing machine. Aim for the head.

4. Most zombies do not possess a great natural ability to climb. So stay high! Keep above ground by climbing trees if in a rural setting, or using rooves in a suburban setting. Under ground can only be an option if it is super secure, not just a basement like in Shaun of the Dead because they will find you, and not many basements have more than one exit. At least two is essential!

5. With this huge lifestyle change, you can’t forget the basics! Keep clean, stay hydrated, get rest and stay healthy. If you have food available, still check the expiry dates! Milk past its use by date is not good for anyone, zombie apocalypse or not.

6. Have a goal. For most people getting to a safe house they heard of is what drives them, or finding the cure or getting a way better vehicle than they already have. For some, it is to get from ‘anywhere but here’/find a rescue team of some kind, and for others it is to find Twinkie bars… In any case, having a purpose is the simplest way to keep alive AND to stay sane!

7. Drive. Staying on foot means much less protection from a zombie attack. Of course, keep in mind fuel is actually necessary to keep a car going. Make sure fuel is always available by staying in deserted suburbia near the petrol stations or even better, keeping cans of petrol in the car with you.

—

Your life is about to change, there is no point in holding on to previous habits.

1. DON’T: provoke zombies. After becoming acclimatised to your situation, you may become bored without your technology – iPods, laptops, mobile phones etcetera (since electricity most likely would have been shut off, and in any case, many people would not have time to check Facebook/are dead). But use your excess time wisely, grow vegetables, find a library and get some survival books. But do not use zombies as your source of entertainment! This could be fatal. You are no longer on the top of the food chain, people!

DON’T hesitate about stealing stuff. Never been rebellious before? Don’t worry! If you need food but there is no supermarket check out assistant, it is now acceptable to steal! Need to get some new clothes? Break into the nearest vacant house (with caution) and take them – just do it! No need to knock either. Just kick the door down – even if it is unlocked! When confronted by zombies, witty comments are always desirable before killing them/running away. You have to be a badass now. You need to be a ruthless killer. Start acting like it!

3. DON’T think like a zombie. That’s the quickest way to finding yourself as a zombie. It didn’t work for Bill Murray in Zombieland, and it only worked for the people in Shaun of the Dead because their zombies were stupid. Also because they were in a comedy. YOU ARE NOT IN A COMEDY. You are in a horror – think that way. Even in small ways, if you hear something down stairs – don’t go down to check it out! Jump out the window and run! Haven’t seen Scream? Maybe you should! Brush up on your horror movie rules before becoming a part of an apocalypse. scream rules

4. DON’T be deceived by safety in numbers. You reckon you’ll be safe in the city? Think again! The more people you’re surrounded by, the quicker you’ll become surrounded by a crap load of zombies! Disease spreads rapidly in crowded areas, so don’t be a sheep, get moving!

Dead end Good luck guys! Those are just a few pearls of wisdom from me, I’m sure you have many more, so feel free to share them in a comment or on my NZ Film Freak Facebook page… While you still can!

Happy 21st of December to you! :)

Jodie.

The Notebook

The-Notebook-movie-poster-McAdams-Gosling

Writers: Jeremy Leven and Jan Sardi. Based on The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Released: 2004
Starring: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams
—

If you haven’t watched this movie, it is basically about a wealthy girl, Allison (Rachel McAdams), who fell in love with a poor country boy, Noah (Ryan Gosling), whom her parents did not approve of. She was taken away and after a few years was engaged to marry a more ‘appropriate’ man of wealth and status.

That is until Noah comes back into the picture which forces Allison to choose between a respectable, kind young wealthy man or a free spirited, kind young poor man.

Notebook_lon the_notebook_boat

As I have mentioned many times in previous posts, romance is not my cup of tea. I don’t enjoy the predictability of them, the smooching, the overly-perfect and much-too-good-looking characters, as well as the either typically happily ever after or tragic endings.

NoahTheNotebook OR the mamsy-pamsy emotional blubbering characters who through the fog of their infatuation are unable to reach logical decisions.

For example, when Noah writes to Allie every day for 365 days after she leaves (he could have just said ‘one year’, but he kept having to make a point of saying “365 days” – for effect I suppose).

Surely, after two weeks maximum, he would have rung her, visited her or at least double checked the address. I. Mean. Seriously! You silly love drunk people…

TheNotebookallie

The Notebook is no exception to my lack of support for the romance genre.

Although I do think that Rachel McAdams is what many women want to look like, and Ryan Gosling is the pin-up boy for Hollywood’s ideal.

He’s not me though; apparently he waxes his whole body on a regular basis because he doesn’t like body hair. Also, he’s too muscley, like, to the point where he looks uncomfortable to hug. Like a rock would be.

I know what you’re thinking; “but Jodie, you gave Moulin Rouge! – the most romantic film – 9.5/10. Isn’t that hypocritical?”

Well, no, because Moulin Rouge! has integrity making it more believable with various other themes other than love. Plus, its whole basis of ‘the denial of true love’ is ironic since the Bohemian era that it was based in promoted that very thing!

The Notebook and Moulin Rouge! are two very different story lines that are portrayed completely differently with various depths and convincing content. Although their genres overlap, they are apples and oranges.

The Notebook is a Nicholas Sparks story, who has written romance novels including Dear John and The Lucky One. I am lead to believe they all strive to follow very similar story lines with similar characters.

sparks_decode

Admittedly, for a romance genre it is a tasteful portrayal of the characters falling in love – it’s no 50 Shade of Grey! It’s more intimate than a chick flick but still tame enough for most people to enjoy.

notebook-green-dress

I can definitely agree that the era that The Notebook was set in was pretty awesome. It was based in the 1940s so the dresses, shoes and hair-dos were rather spectacular! I love all of Allie’s wardrobe for sure.

The sets are beautiful, from the house referred to as the “Labour of Love”, to the incredible dream-like lake. The town looks like it is straight out of the forties too.

However, the ridiculously short war scene let the authenticity down. The director obviously forgot to take down notes from the shocking war film Saving Private Ryan. But I guess romance films don’t like having accurate fighting scenes as it may loose their audience who want to be taken away to a land of perfection.

I like having to think about story lines and The Notebook is two dimensional and too simple/predictable – almost cringe-worthy at times.

But, if you love romance, I’m sure you’ll love The Notebook too. It plays out very idealistic love interests with people who are certainly easy on the eye.

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

Moulin Rouge!

moulin-rouge-original

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writer: Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
Released: 2001
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Nicole Kidman and Ewen McGregor
—

Truth, beauty, freedom and love.

I have never been a fan of sappy romance, and I still am not. Because Moulin Rouge! is not at all sappy or unbelievable, nor does the music break the suspension of disbelief. I think that it is because the acting is not over the top or overly theatrical at all.

Ewan McGregor plays the protagonist, Christian, a writer who wants to write about love, but the problem being that he has never been in love. That is until he meets Nicole Kidman’s character, Satine, a courtesan at the Moulin Rouge. Satine is forbidden to fall in love, so they must keep their relationship secret.

Christian_Satine Unfortunately, the fairytale romance unravels due to the Duke (Richard Roxburgh) – an investor in Satine and the Moulin Rouge – attempts to put an end to their love affair. Christian and Satine’s love turns into a concoction of “desire, suspicion, jealously, anger and betrayal”.

Yet, “the show must go on!”, as a beautiful parallel between the new production that the Moulin Rouge is performing called Spectacular, Spectacular and the couple’s forbidden love is intertwined with the on-stage play, which results in disastrous consequences.

Moulin-Rouge-moulin It is full of colour and energy! It feels like you’re right there in the Moulin Rouge with them. The lighting is incredible along with Baz Lurhmann’s trademark choppy edits and steadicam footage. This all adds to the excitement on the dance floor with the colourful dresses and cabaret dancers.

Throughout this is the serious and unfortunate events for each character, which is again reflected in lighting and music with very fantastical scenes. Some are metaphors such as the feeling of being on top of the world being acted quite literally.

Plus, the over all performance by the people who run the Moulin Rouge show such as Jim Broadbent’s character Harold Zidler who, although a father figure to Satine, has the priority of keeping the facade of the shows convincing to the paying customers, which is at the expense of Satine’s love for Christian.

ewan_moulinrouge The music is fantastic! They’re not songs that describe mundane things, it’s music that supports the emotion of it all. They’re modern songs by incredible artists such as Bowie, Rufus Wainwright and Elton John, as well as bands such as T.Rex, Queen and Nirvana, in an orchestral fashion, and/or medley mash-up of multiple songs, sometimes in aMoulin Rouge party style.

I have many favourite songs in this film including Your Song originally written and performed by Elton John and The Show Must Go On originally by Queen. But I have to say, I prefer the Moulin Rouge! version of every song. Elephant Love Medley is very cleverly put together with lyrics from various songs including All You Need Is Love by The Beatles, Silly Love Songs by Wings and Heroes by Bowie – the collage of twelve infamous songs is seamless!

See if you can pick out various lines from the different songs. It really picks up 2 minutes in, which is my favourite part of the song:

An example of the more serious scenes is the El Tango de Roxanne scene where some of the best dancing shown. Absolutely amazing lighting too.

Moulin Rouge! is a tragedy that reminds me of a Shakepeare play, – ironic since the director Baz Lurhmann also directed Romeo + Juliet – but the sincere romance is based within the “underworld” of cheap, make-believe love. It is layered with so much detail to notice in every scene.

Satine-Moulin-Rouge-female

Forget that it’s a musical, it’s more of a movie with a ton of music in it. Each song sung very well by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, and with convincing sincerity to keep the audience hooked.

Moulin Rouge! is a pretty heavy and emotional story – so certainly not a movie you would unwind to, despite there being some comedic scenes that almost mock the life of theatre. However, I think there is something in this film for every person to appreciate whether it’s the incredible costumes, the music, the romance or Ewan McGregor’s face.

McGregor

This has always been in my top five favourite movies, its an uplifting wonderland with a deeply moving story acted out by authentic and convincing actors.

Clearly, romance is not everybody’s cup of tea – it certainly isn’t mine – but this is not just another silly Hollywood love story.

Jodie’s rating: 9/10

This is the WORST trailer of all time.

21

Director: Robert Luketic
Writer: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb and Chris Kalyvas (screenplay) Ben Mezrich (story)
Released: 2008
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Liza Lapira, Aaron Yoo, Jacob Pitts
—

Winner, winner chicken dinner!

21 clan Inspired by true events, this exciting and high-energy journey follows Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) as he discovers the world of counting cards and the game of blackjack in Vegas. The huge financial rewards and glamorous way of life that was supposed to be a means to an end for Ben, became an addictive and extremely risky and dangerous lifestyle choice.

Ben: You know, I’m only really doing this just to pay for medical school. You know, $300,000 and then I’m out.

Jill: That’s what they all say.

Mickey and Ben This is a fast paced film of high-rollers and well-educated characters, some with intimidating power and control. A once conscientious student becomes wrapped up in the underworld of counting cards which jeopardises his future as a Harvard Medical student as blackjack team member, Professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey), turns on him.

Mickey: You didn’t do your job. You weren’t counting, you were gambling!

The genius who pushes away a possibility to change his life with a mentor with questionable motives sort of reminds me of Good Will Hunting. But 21 is a more modern, less philosophical version with much more risk to keep you on your toes.

The lighting and quick-cut editing is quite incredible. The shadows and gold lighting of the casinos reflect the mood and how well – or tragic – the circumstances are, while the editing puts you in the shoes of the counters who’s lives are rushing past at a 100 miles an hour. The disguises that they all use on each Vegas visit is a fun addition to the work that they do.

We used hand signals, too. Folded arms, the table’s hot. A touch to the eye, we need to talk. And a hand running through perfect flowing hair meant only one thing. Get out. Now.

21 casino The soundtrack to 21 is a mixture of popular artists such as Rihanna and MGMT, classic artists such as The Rolling Stones, plus some more of the middle-of-the-road artists like Peter Bjorn and John and Unkle. There are a few R&B songs that I don’t really like, but the best parts are used in the film effectively.

I thoroughly enjoy this movie. It has action, twists, intellect, good-looking people and the life that many dream of having; fortune but with exhilarating danger and the freedom that no [average] student would ever come close to having.

I would recommend this movie to anybody.
Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Dream – Priscilla Ahn

priscilla-ahn

This song is a lovely soothing tune that is relaxing and thought-provoking.

I had never heard of Priscilla Ahn until I stumbled across her in the “Narnia parts” of YouTube. I love her name, her voice and sound – especially the harmonizing.

Dream is a wonderful song. Although I can’t really relate to the religious references, I can definitely appreciate the song about life and moving on.

If you enjoy Ahn’s song, you may enjoy her more upbeat and feel-good song called “When You Grow Up“.

Jodie.

Grease

grease_

Director: Randal Kleiser
Writers: (Screenplay) Bronte Woodard and Allan Carr based on Grease by Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Released: 1978
Starring: Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
—

I have never really been a fan of musicals, but Grease is certainly an exception and an all time favourite of mine.

grease8 Musical or not, its fifties costumes and authentic hair-dos are enough to make me love this optimistic film. I love this era and it’s portrayed in the most idyllic light. Obviously Grease is essentially a stage play which isn’t lost in the movie form with the occasional fourth wall barriers lost.

Based in a high school environment, the seventeen and eighteen year old characters were almost unconvincingly played by actors in their late twenties and early thirties. But the whole shebang is so up-beat, colourful and exciting that you forget that the ages are totally wrong.

It’s a great musical because it is full of colour and lovable characters, who although are stereotyped, are easily relatable. Especially the Pink Ladies, but perhaps the T Birds were not explored individually quite as much.

1978_grease_wallpaper_004
Unfortunately each of the Pink Ladies has quite a negative moral to them.

Sandy (Olivia Newton-John): You need to change and fit in to be noticed and respected.
Rizzo (Stockard Channing): Sleeping around gets you attention. Getting pregnant is a risk, but hopefully that won’t occur, and celebrations are in order whenever she realises she isn’t pregnant. Don’t bother learning your lesson.
Frenchy (Didi Conn): A little bit ditzy and attempted to break away from the crowd and do something different. However, this was too hard and frowned upon by others, it is best to stick with the crowd.
Marty (Dinah Manoff): A little arrogant and an attention seeker who is very much into her looks. Her cold dispostion is attractive to men.
Jan (Jamie Donnelly): The unattractive ‘fat’ one. Except, she’s tiny and clearly on the lower end of the average weight scale. Staying super skinny is attractive and eating in general is clearly frowned upon.

pink ladies final scene

Looking deeper into Grease, it is clear that the morals are not to be desired. Not moving forward or being different is certainly a bad thing. But, Grease is supposed to be quite a two dimensional film that is simple and entertaining. Stereotypes and happy endings make feel-good movies, which this certainly is.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are two great actors and singers for sure! But have you heard their reunion song!? It is so sad! They should be so proud of their accomplishments in Grease, but let’s leave it in the seventies, guys.

If you want to cringe and ruin your ideals of the two protagonists of the famous musical, feel free to watch their 2012 song:

I don’t like Travolta at the best of times – his hair looks like it’s painted on and his eyes are too blue. But this is just toe-curlingly bad!

The soundtrack has many lovely sing-a-long songs with my favourites being the comedic Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee sung by Stockard Channing (Rizzo) and We Are Together. But my above-all favourite song is Blue Moon, I’m not sure who did this version, but it is certainly my favourite (*gasp!* even better than Elvis Presley’s!).

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It is a very fun, very uplifting movie that isn’t supposed to be read into too much. It was popular when it was first released in the seventies and it will continue to be extremely popular throughout future generations, I’m sure.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Edward Scissorhands

Director: Tim Burton
Writer: Caroline Thompson and Tim Burton
Released: 1990
Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder and Dianne Wiest
—

You’ll either love it or hate it. I happen to love it.

JD as ES Tim Burton’s quirky and off centre idea of normalcy is shown in Edward Scissorhands which is about a man who was created by an inventor who died before he could complete him – hence the scissors for hands. Edward finds himself embraced into suburbia which challenges the belief system of the small, gossipy population, before everything goes wrong and Edward finds himself in a more confused state than ever.

It does seem like a crazy storyline. A man with scissors for hands? Imagine trying to pitch that to a production company…

“Hey, I had this idea about a guy who was created by an inventor out of leather. But the inventor never finished him so he gave the Frankenstein-like character scissors to compensates for his lack of hands… He can’t pick anything up! And sometimes he accidentally hurts himself and others around him… Like a metaphor really… Yeah. So, we need twenty million dollars.”

Anyway! Burton did get it made, with the actors considered to play Edward Scissorhands including Tom Cruise and Michael Jackson. Thankfully, Burton decided to give the teen idol, Johnny Depp (Alice In Wonderland and Public Enemies), a chance to break his type-cast. Nobody could have played the awkward Edward character any better.

Speaking of casting, one of my favourite actresses, Dianne Wiest, (The Lost Boys and The Horse Whisperer) was the perfect choice to play Peg Boggs, the Avon lady and motherly figure to Edward. She is so sensitive and plays the part of a kind suburban house mum very well.

Caroline Thompson was the screenwriter and collaborated with Tim Burton to come up with the story originally. She has written the screenplays to the likes of The Secret Garden and Black Beauty. She is a genius! One of my idols, for sure.

Scissorsuburbs The sets look like a model set because of all of the pastel colours and cookie-cutter, two dimensional looking houses, especially in contrast with the black, gothic castle that Edward Scissorhands hides out in. It is actually a spectacular set which is an exaggeration of suburbia’s claustrophobia, uniformity and lack of individualism or creativity, which is what Edward Scissorhands inadvertently changes when he is introduced to the neighbourhood.

edward_scissorhands_kim_dancing_in_the_snow It is a comedic view on the insanity of normalcy. An entertaining watch – unlike anything you have ever seen before. It is a typical Burton film so if you’re not a fan of his work usually, you may not enjoy the weirdness of Edward Scissorhands. However, the love interest between Edward and Kim (Winona Ryder) as well as the snowy Christmas scenes makes it a great festive movie (despite the somewhat sad ending which Tom Cruise disliked).

A great movie! A fantastical change to the ordinary chick-flicks that flood the market. This is a magical, feel-good fable with a twist that will be appreciated by the whole family.

Jodie’s rating: 7.5/10
I’m not overly convinced that either of these trailers give the best feel of what the movie is really like, but here they are…

Big Fish

Director: Tim Burton
Writer: John August (Screenplay), Daniel Wallace (Novel – Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions)
Released: 2003
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Helena Bonham-Carter, Billy Crudup, Albert Finney and Ewen McGregor
—

I have mentioned this movie in quite a few other posts, relating it to Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button because of their similar stories about an average man on his adventure through life.

Big Fish is directed by Tim Burton, so already you have probably got an idea of what the feel of this film is. A little bit quirky with gothic undertones, but don’t be fooled, this is not a cookie-cutter Burton film (although it does include the incredible Helena Bonham-Carter), this is an amazing tale about Edward Bloom’s (Albert Finney/Ewan McGregor) life.

circus The protagonist is a storyteller although he is known to exaggerate and embellish the story of his life with fantastical metaphors and unbelievable occurrences. Just like Forrest Gump, Edward is a Southern man who finds himself on a road of various adventures, finds love and goes to war.

But Big Fish is a more light hearted and fantastical version where you’re not quite sure what to believe to be true. Edward Bloom’s stories take up most of the film, but it also tells the story of his son, William Bloom (Billy Crudup).

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He goes on a journey of his own, retracing his father’s footsteps to find out the real story behind all of Edward’s fabricated tales. The contrast between reality and fantasy makes the story more believable. The facts would have made uninteresting tales, whereas the elaborate stories are entertaining and unbelievable.

I love this piece of dialogue where William’s fiancé Josephine (Marion Cotillard) speaks to William Bloom about how he met is wife, Sandra (Jessica Lange/Alison Lohman). I love Bloom’s way of speaking!

Edward Bloom: Your mother-in-law was never supposed to marry me. She was engaged to somebody else.
Josephine: I never knew.
Edward Bloom: Will never told you? Probably just as well. He would have told it wrong, anyway. All the facts, none of the flavor.
Josephine: Oh. So this is a tall tale.
Edward Bloom: Well, it’s not a short one.

This clip should give you a good idea of the feel of the movie:

The music is fantastic in Big Fish. There is Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Pearl Jam as well as the compositions by the infamous Danny Elfman (who incidentally cannot read music!)

witch Fate, destiny, time, love and death. From real life giants and lion tamers to mermaids and witches, Big Fish is a fantasy/adventure/drama movie, but with a make-believe glaze over it.

It is a story of great imagination which you will want to watch over and over again and read further into the details. It’s entertaining but also pulls on the heart-strings.

Jodie’s rating: 9/10

Just noticed they have used the same piece of music from Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands… and another piece of music I recognise from Black Beauty in this trailer! All of these movies have the same composer though; Danny Elfman.

Lakehouse – Of Monsters and Men

Have you heard of this Icelandic band before? Of Monsters and Men are an AMAZING indie/folk band. They have the coolest singer I have ever come across, her name is Nanna (@nannabh89) and she is an incredible musician.

But, although I love her style and her talent, I can’t forget the rest of the band who act like they are all family in interviews and are all equally as talented… Especially Ragnar, the other front man/singer… He’s awesome.

So ANYWAY! I picked out this song, Lakehouse, because it is my favourite. But you may have heard of their hit single “Little Talks” before or my second favourite song “Mountain Sound“. All found on their album My Head Is An Animal.

They are the kind of band who would be incredible live! Enjoy this Mumford-and-Sons-but-better kind of band!

So here is the amazing song “Lakehouse” – the imagery is so vivid. This is how I imagine Iceland to be like in song-form.

Jodie.

Elf

elf Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: David Berenbaum
Released: 2003
Starring: Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell
—

‘Son of a nutcracker’! It’s almost Christmas.

Not only did Elf win the poll, but it is also appropriate as it is the festive season. This is a pretty funny Christmas comedy movie with many hilarious one-liners that have really stuck, even after all these years!

Will Ferrell does a great job playing “Buddy the Elf” – the human who was raised by Santa’s elves – who goes on a journey travelling through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, past the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops, and then, walks through the Lincoln tunnel to discover New York. This is where he finds that he is, in fact, human not elf. Along the way he spreads Christmas cheer, falls in love and meets his biological father.

His child-like innocence makes him relatable to children and misunderstood by adults resulting in very awkward, but funny situations.

This is a fantastical story touching on all of the typical Christmas morals of honesty, family and priorities. Although it is essentially a children’s film (as many festive movies are), it is a very enjoyable movies for the older audiences too, especially since Will Ferrell is in it.

elf_buddy_and_jovie_1 It includes my favourite Christmas song; Baby, It’s Cold Outside, sung by Zooey Deschanel and Will Farrell. The same song on the official soundtrack is by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone which is a great version.

Don’t be a ‘cotton-headed ninnymuggins’, this will be an entertaining Christmas film for the whole family to watch. Although I am not a fan of Christmas movies in general, Elf is a pretty good one, if not storyline-wise, at least for the comedic value of Will Ferrell‘s character.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Forrest Gump

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer: Screenplay by Eric Roth. Based Forrest Gump by Winston Groom
Released: 1994
Starring: Tom Hanks, Sally Field and Robyn Wright
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I love these films. The kind of stories that are based on a character’s life adventures are the most inspirational because the scripts tend to be quite philosophical. Forrest Gump is, of course, a very innocent story of a man’s journey through his life. The hurdles and the triumphs are all narrated by the protagonist Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks).

Forrest Gump is a film that shares the genre with the likes of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Big Fish and perhaps Driving Lessons. It’s those life stories that remind you of the stories that your grandparents’ would tell you. The morals, meanings and journeys that are motivational and inspirational make great films because they are believable and fascinating.

forrestjenny — Forrest (Hanks) and Jenny (Wright) take two very different paths in their lives, but their paths frequently cross as if they are drawn together.

Tom Hanks is an amazingly talented actor, so it’s no wonder that he makes a fantastic Forrest Gump – the innocent, yet dim, Southern man who only has three important things in his life; his Mother (Sally Field), his love, Jenny (Robyn Wright – incredible actress!) and God. His simplistic life takes many strange turns as he brushes among some of America’s major historical occurrences from the Vietnam war to exposing the Watergate scandal. As well as meeting the likes of President John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley – ending up influencing Presley’s dance moves – and John Lennon; consequently helping to inspire his hit song “Imagine”.

Sorry it’s a bit out of sync.

Forrest is such a likeable protagonist because of his lack of prejudice or anger toward others. This movie is based in the fifties and sixties in the South during the height of racism, but Forrest Gump has no part of it. He literally treats everybody the same, completely ignorant of their look, their race and beliefs.

There are some very sad scenes, but that is what makes Gump’s story so real. Although there many mockeries and memes at Gump’s expense, you can’t deny the script has many pearls of wisdom. Analysing fate and the existence of God, life and death – represented by a feather blowing in the wind. So deep!

Considering that this film was made in the nineties, the technology-use is absolutely fantastic! It has been made so incredibly well – I don’t see how it could possibly be improved by today’s technology… And ‘no’ making it 3D does not necessarily improve a film.

I have the soundtrack that I thoroughly enjoy. Alan Silvestri is the composer who has captured the feel of Forrest Gump very accurately. On the soundtrack are many popular sixties songs and artists including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvis Presley, The Youngbloods and Joan Baez. Incredible compilation!

It’s great that the drama and philosophical self-reflection is balanced out by the comedic scenes involving Forrest’s naivety, and the heart-warming moments between Forrest and Jenny. At almost two and a half hours long, this is not a film one would watch to chillax and unwind. However, it is certainly a fantastic film to have in the DVD collection at home. It is easy to get emotionally invested in as the characters are so animated and realistic.

Jodie’s Rating: 9.5/10

The Matrix

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Directors: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Writers: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Released: 1999
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves
—

Despite The Matrix being 13-years-old, it still has a high following and huge fan base. Often referenced and compared to modern films such as Inception and In Time. It explores an alternate universe – a different perspective of how we live today. That we are in a virtual world run by robots and machinery of the past.

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The Matrix is taught in universities and high schools as an example of gender roles. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is an the ‘ideal’ strong and independent female lead. She is androgynous and avoids stereotypes. Although I would love to be Trinity, she is not my favourite character.

Matrix_113Pyxurz

One of the tech guys named Tank (Marcus Chong) is probably my favourite character because he is the most enthusiastic and positive guy who shows you how the Matrix is a marvellous place, despite its gloomy, dangerous and simplistic aesthetic. You’ll realise what a likeable guy he is when he first introduces himself to Neo.

The Matrix is obviously a mind-bending concept, but once you have got the hang of it you realise that it is an entertaining idea to consider as plausible. On a less serious note, it is a fun reason behind experiencing deja-vu and the moments that fly by versus when time feels like it’s standing still. It’s all just a glitch in the Matrix!

My favourite scene – The Oracle:

This is one of the best sci-fi movies. It involves trippy concepts, awesome lines and a load of martial art action. Fantastic! I’ve always been in two minds about whether or not I like Keanu Reeves who plays the protagonist, Neo, but he’s pretty great in The Matrix.

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If you listen to the script, it could be applied in a very positive way in regards to how we live our lives. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) always has the best lines.

Morpheus: You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Morpheus: Don’t think you are, know you are. Come on. Stop trying to hit me and hit me.” In other words, stop thinking in the future and think in the present. Don’t become something, be something.

*Gasp* – it’s so deep and meaningful!

I’m sure the majority of people have watched this movie and have loved it. But if you haven’t seen it, you should, and if you didn’t like it, then watch it until you do like it.

It is a pretty deep movie, but try to understand it and apply it to real life – it is a pretty intense perspective for sure! In fact, scientists have tried to prove that we are living in a virtual world, and some believe that it could be theoretically possible.

An amazing action/sci-fi film with an incredible script!
However, the sequels get increasingly complex with more action and a lot less story.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

The Hangover

hangover2

Directed: Todd Phillips
Written: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Released: 2009
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong
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I haven’t kept up with The Hangover movies at all – in fact last night was the first time I had watched the first of the two (soon to be three) of The Hangover films (with the aid of peer pressure). I suppose I always assumed that I wouldn’t like the humour.

However, it wasn’t that bad! I wouldn’t say that I’m a huge fan of The Hangover, or that I am compelled to see the sequels. But I did find it pretty entertaining! There were some pretty hilarious moments, all involving the incredible comedy actor Zach Galifianakis. He was rather humourous in The Hangover playing Alan – the “not all there, but secret gambling genius” sort of character. Galifianakis is equally hilarious in the movie Due Date.

There were some really crazy, random, unbelievable occurrences that were all a part of the weird circumstances that these four guys found themselves in during their stag party in Las Vegas. The night that was happily forgotten by morning, became a night that they were fighting to remember as the conclusions of the night’s events became shocking in the harsh light of day.

It is certainly a very entertaining movie, even if it wasn’t really my cup of tea humour-wise, I still enjoyed it.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Big Jet Plane – Angus & Julia Stone

This song was recommended to me by a friend of mine and I absolutely adore it. It is a sad song but very relatable. They are an Australian band consisting of brother and sister; Angus and Julia.

Jodie.

Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Screenplay by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan
Released: 2012
Starring: Javier Bardem, Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes
—

I’m not a huge James Bond fan, nevertheless I can fully appreciate the epic awesomeness of the 23rd film of the 50 year-long Bond series.

This had it all. Fighting, car chases, scary bad guys and beautiful women. Obviously all of these are the ingredients necessary to make a successful and authentic Bond film. So what was different about this one?

The lighting is absolutely amazing. It really accents the traditionally spectacular surroundings that are classically chosen for Bond movies. Skyfall was most certainly no different with beautiful Scottish environment where the final fight occurs – Bond fights Silva; ice fights fire – and everything makes a full circle. The storyline was very well intertwined with the history of James Bond and supported by the amazing locations! I want to meet this location scout they used…

skyfall7 — Raoul Silva played by *Javier Bardem*

Javier Bardem plays the villain Raoul Silva which he played so convincingly! No jokes! He creeped everyone out in the theatre when he first appeared on screen with his bleached hair and he is most certainly a serious personal-space-invader, where you lean back in your seat to try and get some distance. He’s also a sadistic killer, a techno-freak and over-all a dodgy character, which makes him so perfect! An amazing villain!!

I enjoyed this film so much that I managed to ignore the fact that I really don’t like Daniel Craig... As James Bond anyway. He just seems too arrogant to be 007… Plus his blue eyes look unnaturally blue…

Judi Dench who plays M finds herself in the field with Bond which makes the stakes higher than ever! So intense! I don’t even need to go into what a fantastically talented actress Judi Dench is. She’s amazing as per usual.

benwhishawq600 — I love this guy! Q played by *Ben Whishaw*

Ben Whishaw plays the character Q – the Quarter Master – and does a spectacular job too! He was so cool with his dry humour and casual intelligence. Very cool. Very cool indeed. Actually, the casual humour was all the way through the movie by several characters which was a great way to lighten it up.

I was surprised that there were not many car chases… Only one I think. With very few flash-looking cars! To be honest I can barely distinguish a Mini Cooper to a Land Rover, but I did notice that the amount of cool-looking vehicles was at a minimum.

As a side note, the music for the opening title sequence was by Adele. I don’t think it was a bad choice at all. But, perhaps not the best? I suppose it’s the thought of having a pop star singing for a traditional and long-running film franchise, she just seems a little too superficial for a noble and deep-rooted James Bond movie..? Then again, she is very talented and I’m not sure who I would have preferred to have sung it.

Overall, this Bond film is full of twists and turns, shocking moments, action (but not to the point where it gets boring) and creativity. It is a bit of a marathon to watch at 143 minutes. So make sure you don’t drink too much before going to see it – at no point will you want to miss out on anything to run to the loo.

You won’t know what’s coming!
Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

Stranger Than Fiction

Stranger-than-Fiction-will-ferrell

Director: Marc Forster
Writer: Zach Helm
Released: 2006
Starring: Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah and Emma Thompson
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I. Love. This. Movie.

I first watched this in Media Studies class to study the narrative structure, and ever since then I have been able to watch it numerous times and never get bored… I know the entire script almost off by heart now.

Stranger Than Fiction is about a man – Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) – who can hear a voice narrating every event in his life, but it becomes sinister when the narrator casually mentions his approaching death.

Narrator: Little did he know that this simple, seemingly innocuous act would result in his imminent death.

Harold Crick now has to try and find the author to get her to stop writing before she completely writes him out of existence.

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I guess the first awesome thing about this film is the cast. Will Ferrell was never really an actor that I thought too much of until his versatility was shown in this comedy drama. He plays a very mundane and dry person, yet Ferrell’s subtle comedic value turns his character into a convincing yet entertaining person as he discovers his purpose in life is more than just being an IRS agent.

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Emma Thompson shows her insane abilities as a struggling author, yet without becoming a drag. She makes her character, Kay, so comedic yet so believable – as with all of her characters that she has ever played. You totally understand where she’s coming from. She has a lot of great come backs with no hesitation or concern for other’s emotional feelings.

Penny: And I suppose you smoked all these cigarettes?
Kay: No, they came pre-smoked.
Penny: Yeah, they said you were funny.

stranger_than_fiction-dustin

I can’t go without mentioning Dustin Hoffman. His acting is SO accurate for his character – spot on! He acts as Harold’s mentor and does so in full confidence that Harold is telling him the truth, and takes it very seriously. Professor Hilbert has many little habits that I would expect to be accurate for his career and character, such as excessive coffee consumption and loud eating.

Harold: You have to understand that this isn’t a philosophy or a literary theory or a story to me. It’s my life.
Professor Jules Hilbert: Absolutely. So just go make it the one you’ve always wanted.

Maggie Gyllenhaal as Ana Pascal

My favourite character is the baker; Ana Pascal played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. She is a rebellious yet respectable woman who brings Harold to life. I wanted to own a cookie store after I watched Stranger Than Fiction. She’s just such a cool character with strong morals.

Ana: Mr. Crick, it was a really awful day. I know, I made sure of it. So pick up the cookie, dip it in the milk, and eat it.

This movie is not a light chick-flick at all (even though it has my favourite romance storyline of all time). It is about identity and real life – the characters are not stereotyped or perfect by any stretch.

It’s about feeling out of control of your life, but with determination, focus and the right people, you can change your life to make it what you want it to be. You only have your life’s outline written for you; but you can always change it if you really want to.

The music is amazing – it goes so well with every scene – and I am most definitely going to put this on my Christmas list… *Hint hint*. My favourite song is Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric and Bottles and Bones by Califone.

The structure is perfect, and once it gets going you realise how emotionally attached to the characters you are. Because they have won you over with their subtle comedy, and lines that you will end up trying to find the perfect conversation to drop them into. My favourite line is by Ana: “You. Miscreant.”

I haven’t been able to drop that into a casual convo as of yet though.

If you enjoy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you are likely to enjoy this trippy story. However, it is a tragic comedy that everyone will enjoy.

Jodie’s rating: 9/10

Twilight

Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Writer: Stephanie Meyer (novel) and Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay)
Released: 2008
Starring: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
—

This is a rather delayed review of the first film of the Twilight Saga. But it has won the poll with an impressive 221 votes! It’s a much longer review than usual, so to keep you interested, I have put in a lot of pretty pictures. So here is my take on it:

First of all, I think we need to ignore our prejudices – whether it’s from the Twihards or the Twilight haters, and watch the film as if we have never heard about it before.

The first thing that I can comment truthfully on is the music. If anything, I do enjoy the music very much, so much so that I have bought the soundtrack. Researching into it further, the music supervisor was Alexandra Patsavas who also worked on the famous soundtracks of Grey’s Anatomy. She picks unknown and indie songs along with well-known musicians and their more unheard music. If anything, the emotion comes from the music in this film.

Emotion, however, is not something that would be seen throughout the protagonists. Bella (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire boyfriend, Edward, (Robert Pattinson) are predominately absent of extreme feelings or overall facial movement. This makes me feel awkward throughout the whole film because I can’t relate to Bella’s lack of action or opinion in anything she does

kristen_stewart_1173804060 — Kristen Stewart and Jodie Foster in the amazing thriller Panic Room. An awesome film – with surprisingly great acting on Stewart’s behalf… Where did it all go wrong?

(who would have thought that this is the same actress who played the girl in Panic Room alongside Jodie Foster!?).

Bearing in mind that she is in a house full of vampires… I’m just saying, if I were in a situation where I was hanging out with vampires for the first time, I would not have a blank appearance… I would either be totally fascinated and asking them a ton of questions, or I would locate the nearest emergency exit.

However, lets be honest, these vampires are not the traditional sort.

zurial-30-days-of-night — The type of vampire from 30 Days of Night directed by David Slade (who also directed Twilight: Eclipse)

Although it could be applauded to go outside the box and stay away from the tall, pale, black-haired, cloaked, haunting figure who has fangs and sleeps in a coffin. But I don’t think that Twilight’s Hollywood-moulded type of vampire really works for me.

Vampires are/were my favourite super-natural fantasy creature, with the likes of The Lost Boys and 30 Days of Night being just a couple of my favourite interpretations of the blood-sucking killers.

edward_sparkling-1 — “Vampire” of a different kind…

But now, every time a vampire is mentioned in casual conversation, the first thing that pollutes our mind is Meyer’s lustful image of a certain Mr. Edward Cullen, and not the fearless, sadistic killers that would once come to mind.

But the 25 year old-looking high schoolers who glittered in daylight and are transformed into sexualised and attractive killers… Well. It just doesn’t go down well for me. I think that vampire + sparkles = evil fairy… Not a pin-up highschool boy, like Hollywood has portrayed Edward Cullen to be. It makes nobody scared or nervous, but practically asks the internet to make numerous memes about him.

I would also like to note that the vampire Cullen family drive a Volvo. A Volvo. Not a dangerous motorcycle. But the immortal beings who can not be harmed drive a safe family vehicle… I… I can not fathom this peculiar choice of automobile. If I could not be hurt or killed, I would not only drive a dangerous and rebellious-looking motorbike, but I would drive it at great speeds… Without a helmet on too! What kind of vampire drives a Volvo? Aren’t they one of the safest cars on the road? Made for safety-conscious families who can in fact be injured..? But, I guess fantastical one-hundred year-old creatures with skin as cold and clammy as a rock on a chilly winters day, who would not sustain a mere scratch in a severe car crash, would also be attracted to the top safety ratings and efficient air bags… Makes sense. -_-

I also have a huge problem with how Bella is portrayed. It just seems like she is happy to throw away her entire life for a boy. She’s seventeen and runs away with some guy she just met – a guy who she knows to be a predatory killer. It just seems crazy. She was going to go to university and everything.

Plus, we are frequently reminded that she is totally vulnerable and in danger of being hurt all the time – she has to be looked after and looked out for. It just feels like she’s a pathetic and battered down “pet” – which is in fact how she is referred to in Twilight: New Moon. I always prefer a female lead to be strong, like Trinity in The Matrix and Katniss in The Hunger Games. Why would I want to be put in the shoes of a weakling?

Having had a rage at the characters and the actors, I can say that I do like the filters that were used. The ice blue filter that makes you feel cold whenever there is a vampire in the room. The accented green in the woods to show the intimidation yet fascination around Edward Cullen.
I only wish that this filtration was continued throughout the sequels because it does not show the collection of films as a uniform, but jars the relation between each addition. I can only contrast this to the Harry Potter movies where the feel of each film is similar or only enhanced with each sequel, not necessarily changed.

I would also like to comment on the use of special effects and stunts, despite some of the directorial decisions being questionable, I do think that the stunts are simple, yet effective (although perhaps not always particularly believable). Especially with the fight between Edward and James in the mirrored dance hall where the camera work was done quite well, despite the use of wires being obvious.

To end this positively negative review on a high note, here is a funny video:
Bad lip reading of Twilight...

keifer-sutherland-vampires — Keifer Sutherland is the best [looking] ‘teenage’ vampire. And at least The Lost Boys didn’t take themselves too seriously; it was a black comedy after all.

I think that there is a lot of hype over nothing, but also a bit of shame among those who secretly enjoy the film. I don’t think it’s “bad”. It’s just… poor. It could have been done better if the cast was re-thought. But, even so, the characters were pretty pathetic too… It should have become a film that faded into the background; a one-hit wonder.

I don’t think it really deserves the hype – or the hate – that it has attracted. The appreciation would have been more appropriate if the movie came and went. It would have done much better as a fantasy horror – not a fantasy highschool chick-flick.

Jodie’s rating: 4/10

Whip It

Director: Drew Barrymore
Writer: Shauna Cross
Released: 2009
Starring: Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page
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First of all, don’t be put off by Drew Barrymore as the director… Your preconceptions are invalid.

Whip It is certainly a fun and enjoyable film based around the exciting sport of Roller Derby. Since watching this movie, I really wanted to go to a Roller Derby bout which I was lucky enough to do this year. Boy, the violence portrayed in the movie is clearly through the eyes of Hollywood – it is so much more brutal in real life. Or maybe our Kiwi players are just more violent…? It was awesome nonetheless.

So, Whip It is about a seventeen year old girl called Bliss (Ellen Page <3) who discovers the world of Roller Derby and sees it as a way of setting herself free from her mother’s “50s womanhood” household.

EllenPageAliaShawkat — Pash (Alia Shawkat) and Bliss (Ellen Page) at their day job in the “bustling metropolis know as Bodeen, Texas”.

It explores friendship, change and rebellion. It is truly a cool film which makes you want to become a Roller Derby player after every watch; the energy is contagious! By the end of the film you will be picking our your derby name!

Ellen Page has always been one of my favourite actors (Inception, Juno…) and every female character has such a strength about them – almost androgynous – similar to the

LandonPigg — Bliss (Elen Page) and Oliver (Landon Pigg) make a fantastic pair, with Landon Pigg being a musician in real life, his band’s songs were included which were fantastic.

likes of Trinity from The Matrix. It’s very empowering.

I guess because Bliss (who becomes Babe Ruthless) is an “alternative” girl from a misfit town who beats all odds and becomes her own hero. A powerful message that is portrayed is that you should do what makes you happy at that moment – it doesn’t matter if it is not your career path or that you do it forever; just that you experience it and live in the moment is what matters.

Musically it transforms the potential chick-flick feel into a deeper and more emotional journey. My favourite score being “The Road To Austin” by the Section Quartet. As well as Jens Lekman’s “Your Arms Around Me” which is best heard with the scene that it is used with. They go together perfectly.

Drew Barrymore has really made a reputable name for herself behind the camera as well as in front, for sure. A fun and easy-watch but also an inspirational story that captures a vivid snapshot of Bliss’ life in a way that includes the realistic ‘ups and downs’ of life.

A feel-good comedy-drama. Worth a watch!

Jodie’s rating: 7.5/10

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Written: Screenplay: Eric Roth, Short story: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Directed: David Fincher (Fight Club, Panic Room, The Social Network…)
Released: 2008/2009
Starring: Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt
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So, I have owned this DVD for a while now and I really love it. Although I do remember the hesitation I had toward it because it was a deep and meaningful movie with… Brad Pitt in it.

Unfortunately I had not seen Fight Club and 12 Monkeys before I saw Benjamin Button, so I had no idea of his acting capabilities. I only had the handful of average movies he had starred in and gossip columns about the latest child he had adopted to judge him by.

Brad Pitt was certainly impressive, though. I’ll be the first to admit that he is in no way on my list of favourite actors. However, it did make me realise that if you ignore the publicity, the personal information that is blown out of proportion by the media, and his ridiculous long hair that screams “I DON’T WANT TO GROW UP!!”, he definitely has some talent in there!

But ultimately, this film is thought-provoking and fantastic! It is in no way a light-hearted or an easy watch, but certainly one that you should see when you have a night to yourself.

If you love Forrest Gump (screenplay also written by Eric Roth) and Big Fish, you’ll enjoy this. Just like those films, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an insightful biographical recollection of a fascinating character, whose life stories and moral outlook is inspirational to say the least.

big-fish-Sandra-Edward — Sandra and Edward

Benjamin Button is about a man who physically ages backwards but still ultimately grows up like any ‘normal’ man. Which does remind me of Forrest Gump; “What is normal anyway?” and Big Fish; “My muscles and my bones couldn’t keep up with my body’s ambition…”. It explores the life skills and influences that mould one’s character into who they fundamentally are.

ForrestJennyForrest — Forrest Gump and Jenny

The saying “an old soul” comes to mind what talking about Benjamin Button.

Of course, who one turns out to be ultimately depends on the sort of experiences that they encounter, and Benjamin Button turns out to be a very average kind of guy – just like Forrest Gump and Edward Bloom – it’s just that their amazing life stories make them admirable and interesting.

benjamin-button-Daisy — Benjamin Button and Daisy

Just like listening to a grandparent’s war stories; ordinary people in unordinary situations.

I think although parallels can be drawn from the likes of Forrest Gump and Big Fish, the innocence has been extracted from Benjamin Button’s story. Perhaps this make it more realistic. Although it is certainly a darker tale.

The special effects are certainly something to marvel at. Because it is about a man who ages backwards, the physical look of each stage from an elderly baby to a youthful man is remarkable and realistic.

This movie explores personal identity, beliefs, motivations and pressures that makes people who they are. There are constant references to fate which I find intriguing; “you never know what’s comin’ for you”.

A great and inspirational story to say the least.

Jodie’s rating: 9/10

My Favourite Advert: Greenpeace’s Sealord Parody

So in case you haven’t seen the latest advert of the New Zealand fishing company, you will find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6XU3j9uu6A

However, I feel there will be more information about the company in this spoof advert:

Food for thought.
Jodie.

Looper

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Released: September 2012
Starring: Joseph Gordan-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Paul Dano and Emily Blunt
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Updated: March 2018

I love time travelling films! I was in love with this film the moment it began as it explained the world of looping, the jargon used and the dangers of it. It was so awesome!

The first time I watch Looper, I was disappointed because I had a different storyline in mind. But I keep coming back to this movie and appreciating it more for what it is.

Looper is set in the year 2044, where 30 years into the future (2074), time-travel has been invented. Badass rich people send back the people that need ‘taking care of’, meaning the body will never be discovered in the year 2074.

This is the loopers’ job. They kill the people of 2074 in return for silver – giving them the life of drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a business where Loopers ‘take out the trash’ for the criminals of the future.

So that’s a pretty inventive setting, and the first 40 minutes or so where they explain the loopers’ occupation and what happens if they fail to do their job is very cool indeed.

When a looper is no longer needed, the criminals of the future send the looper’s future self back to the looper of 2044 to be unknowingly killed. This is called ‘closing the loop’.

However, looper Joe (Joseph Gordan-Levitt) hesitates when he recognises the target is his future self (Bruce Willis), accidentally allowing him to escape. Joe attempts to kill Old Joe and fulfil his contract, but he is too late. Old Joe is on a mission to get his life in 2074 back, and Young Joe is on a mission to kill his future self to ensure the next 30 years of his life is a comfortable one.

Old Joe is on the hunt for a child who grows up to be the baddie of the future, who is ‘closing all the loops’. He hopes that if he kills this kid, then his loop would not be closed in the future and he can stay in his happy 2074 life. Somehow.

This links into that age-old question, ‘if you could, would you kill Baby Hitler to ensure the Holocaust never happens?’. A true Stephen King thriller right there.

Hopefully this makes sense – time travel stories are always flawed and complicated. Just how I like ’em!

Just like in Total Recall, they threw in a hovering vehicle to remind the audience that they are in the future. Thanks, Hollywood.

There are some parts where you think they’ve gone a bit too far, making it a tad comical. Including Joseph Gordan-Levitt’s ‘young Bruce Willis’ face, and a kid whose tantrums cause what appear to be nuclear explosions.

Nevertheless, worth a look-see if you love time travel, gun fights or a simplified, PG version of Inception. But it is a very random kind of film.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

PS: Paul Dano from Little Miss Sunshine is in Looper! He plays Seth… His storyline is so intense!!