NZ Film Freak

Malibu Crush

Director: James Pratt
Writer: James Pratt
Released: 2021
Starring: James Pratt, Demitra Sealy, Hayley Gia Hughes, Jessica Ross and Aiden Mckenzie

Inspired by the writing style of the Farrelly Brothers’ (Dumb & Dumber), Malibu Crush is a labour of love by award-winning actor and director, James Pratt.

It’s a quirky Indie film about two best friends from Pasadena who pretend to be highly acclaimed film school students in order to declare their love for an ex-girlfriend living in Sydney, Australia.

With the physical comedy gags peppered throughout the movie, I can not only see the Dumb & Dumber-inspired sketches, but I’m also reminded of Seinfeld‘s Kramer. (Which, automatically makes me a big fan!)

I think the only thing it’s missing is a punchy soundtrack to set it apart a little more from other indies.

However, you wouldn’t know this movie was completed on a small but respectable budget (at least in comparison to mainstream Hollywood films) or during Sydney’s heavy Covid restrictions. Its high-quality camera work takes centre stage, and the bright colours steal the show.

James Pratt is the star of Malibu Crush, both on and off-screen. He was born in Sydney and attended the acting school there. In 2012 he made a $200 short film in the outback of Australia, which was a finalist at the 2012 NBC Universal Shorts Fest in San Francisco. Since then, he has since won more than 23 acting and directing awards in Hollywood.

Malibu Crush is a must-see Indie Comedy. It’s scheduled for release in Australia and NZ on 7 September 2022, and in October across America and Europe. Watch the trailer below!

Jodie

Follow James Pratt to stay up to date:
Instagram: james_pratt7
YouTube: Jamesprattpofficial

This was a paid review.

The Days of Aqua Net – After Adam

The Days of Aqua Net is a pop-rock anthem by After Adam, and it’ll be a sure hit with Gen Z.

It’s an innocent recollection of the past, filled with nostalgia, regret and fresh perspectives.

Those were the days of aqua net
Those are the days I’ll never forget
I only have one regret
And that’s not kissing you

It reminds me of the kinds of songs that would be played in the disco scenes of children’s tv shows such as Lizzy Maguire.

The song and music video make more sense when you Google what aqua net is. It’s a brand of hairspray from the 1950s that had a huge comeback in the 80s when the trend for big hair returned.

An enjoyable and innocent tune!

This is a sponsored review via Fiverr.

Holly Anna Lisa – Tyme, LiL Flip & Killa Kyleon

Houston-born rapper Tyme has teamed up with Lil Flip and Killa Kyleon and released a new rap single called Holly Anna Lisa.

Jeseka Price of Price Royalty Publishing Company is the executive producer and music publisher of the rapping trio.

Honestly, rap is not my thing. So I probably don’t have the capacity to fully appreciate this song. But I hear that these three rappers are the real deal in the industry.

They speak so fast I can’t understand what they’re talking about. However, I do like the choir in the background. Combined with the high-pitched melody, it creates a spooky feel.

Check their song out on YouTube below, or head to Spotify!

This is a paid song review via Fiverr.

Under the Clocks (Stay) – Echolily

Echolily is a doctor by day and a bedroom musician by night.

Inspired by the likes of Sia and Bjork, this singer/songwriter is incorporating the best of her favourite artists while creating an identity of her own.

The song Under the Clocks (Stay) is an echoey and haunting song with electronic pop vibes. I could easily imagine it being remixed for the clubs!

I love how Echolily has produced the song entirely on her own. It gives the music a raw, independent quality that I really enjoy, because it’s not been overproduced or manipulated too much. I love her description of sound; electronica downtempo, synth pop, trip hop and ‘can you make that more lo-fi please?’.

My favourite thing about this song is the meaning behind it. Inspired by the love of the city of Melbourne, and the overwhelming emptiness of it during Covid. The singer says she met a man while busking outside Flinders Station (the iconic train station you would have seen on postcards), who told her that he used to meet his lover here. He’d just say ‘meet me under the clocks’ of Flinders Station. Hence the song title.

Having visited Melbourne several times, I know Flinders Station well. I totally understand the romance of its architecture, which is why I love this story so much.

Her connection with the pandemic goes beyond empty city streets. Echolily is a frontline health worker, and experienced Covid-19 head-on. I think that brings a new depth to the song.

Check out her song on YouTube or Spotify!

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

No Goodbyes – Norman Alexander

R&B singer/songwriter Norman Alexander hails from Queens, New York.

His song No Goodbyes is a catchy yet solemn tune that showcases his natural vocal talent. Despite the electronic tinny drumbeat, Norman Alexander’s voice is a far cry from the auto-tuned, synthetic sounds typical of the R&B pop genre.

A song derived from the loss of his brother and sister, the mournful chorus certainly captures the sadness felt by the singer. I think the emotional heartbreak of the song is a welcome reality check to the genre that’s so often flooded with the far more shallow aspects of life.

An authentic and heartfelt song that is definitely worth a listen. Check it out below!

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Turned to Stone – Lynne Taylor Donovan

I didn’t know there was a Canadian sub-genre of Country music. Yet, here we are.

Lynne Taylor Donovan is a country singer who has written a song called Turned to Stone.

The song itself is a pretty standard country pop song, but the accompanying video was a bit too DIY-looking, which simplified the music too much I think.

The Kim Day (from Kath & Kim) lookalike is a fair singer and is clearly enthusiastic about her music. But the melodramatics and appearance are stereotypical of the Baby Boomer generation, which took away from her vocal talents somewhat.

Having said that, I love the look of that country music bar. It reminds me of the line dancing in Thelma & Louise.

If you’re a country music fan, you’ll definitely enjoy Lynne Taylor Donovan’s song – especially the bridge, which is a very upbeat honky tonk solo.

Check it out here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Bright Light – Neil and Adam

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

The St. Louis-based duo have a few thousand followers across their channels, with Bright Light already receiving more than 8,000 plays.

While Neil and Adam’s song Bright Light does sound quite generic, I suppose that is the essence of the pop genre.

It actually sounds like the kind of song that’s played over the credits of a coming of age movie like Fault in our Stars or The Way Way Back. It’s very upbeat, positive and nostalgic.

Scared of the bright light
Burning in your heart
Waiting for the fist fight
That rages in your heart

With a catchy chorus and smooth vocals, you’re bound to enjoy it! It’s easy to sing along to, and it certainly gets stuck in your head.

Check it out:

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Storm Clouds in the Sky – Rev Peter Unger

Armed with a sliding guitar and a softly-spoken singing voice, Reverend Peter Unger is a hit in the religious community across the US. He’s won several songwriting competitions, and performs much of his work during worship services at churches.

Storm Clouds in the Sky was inspired by the questions asked by the songwriter’s granddaughter about the political turmoil in USA. The song is her grandfather’s reassurance that while things will get better, the actions of the American people will have implications for the future.

His granddaughter can be heard as the backing vocalist, which I think is a sweet nod to the conversation they had that inspired the song.

No doubt, the Covid situation also made for inspirational content for this faith-focussed song, which is why I think this song could be quite relatable to some.

Storm Clouds in the Sky honestly isn’t my cup of tea as the vocal techniques sounds a little old fashioned, but it’s a pleasant reminder that storm clouds come and go but a blue sky will always remain. Check it out here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Unhinge – Panophonic ft Dani Mari

Singer/songwriter Tom Hugo is the frontman for Panophonic, who hails from Philidelphia. He’s written this track, Unhinge, which reminds me of a classic ‘Lazy Sunday’ album jam; it threw me back to the early 2000s.

Described as electro rock/indie pop Panophonic has a unique sound, which transforms triumphantly in this track. It sounds like it should be featured on a coming-of-age film like Up in the Air.

I quite enjoyed this song, particularly the ethereal vocals of Dani Mari.

Check out their new album Awakening here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Made It Look Easy – Xavier Toscano

Featuring a rather basic lyrical pattern, sadly this song missed the mark for me.

Yeah, I made it look easy
And all I need is one shot
Because I do it like this
Yeah I do it like this

Based in San Francisco Bay, Xavier Toscano has gained more than 30,000 followers across his social media accounts, so my opinion is obviously not one shared by many!

Didn’t do it to impress
Did it to feel good
And if you dropped your jaw
Well, that’s just real cool

The amount of self-confidence in the song and video makes me feel secondary embarrassment, particularly with the overdramatic background dancers. But I suppose this goes hand in hand with this brand of pop music genre.

Nevertheless, I could imagine Xavier drawing in the crowd festivals, as his songs are easy to sing along to and would definitely create a high-energy and inclusive atmosphere.

Check out the song and music video on his YouTube account here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Where Do We Go – Blow_flyy ft Kaleb Simmons

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Where Do We Go is written and performed by independent hip-hop/rap artist, Blow_flyy, who hails from Canada. But I’ll be straight up, this is not my genre of music.

“If they talkin’ money; gotta love it,
It means more stacks to maintain this life I’m used to livin’,
Cuz this will always be a part of me
I’ve just got a bigger vision”

As far as rapping goes, I couldn’t tell you if it’s good or bad. But I was under the impression that rapping was supposed to rhyme… At least that’s what I learned from the Real Slim Shady back in o-four.

“I gots to get it lit
I could get used to this complimentary thing,
Chardonay
I’m on my way to another city
They buzzin’ like bees above; I got the honey
Ladies fallin’ head-over-heels for me”

Despite the shallow lyrics, I enjoyed the melodic ooh-aahs during the chorus. It reminded me of 1930s Disney soundtracks, like in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

I can’t say I relate to the lyrics, and the sharp drumbeat bothers my baby, so I can’t listen to it as repeatedly as I’d like to write a more in-depth review. But, I can say in all honesty that if hip-hop and rap is your thing, then you should give blow_flyy a listen.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Oh God – Peace Spirits

I haven’t heard of Peace Spirits before, but they’re sort of hippie meets 70s slow rock.

The song writer wanted to tell the story of how everyone has a moment in their lives where they experience pain, fear and anxiety, and how in that moment they will reach out for God irrespective of faith.

We hope that this song, Oh God will help us keep the faith and help us help each other, with lyrics that will touch your hearts and music that will set you free on a wonderful and inspiring musical journey! – writer, Kyla Lynn Vezina

Despite the melodramatic vocals and video, I have to admit I found the chorus got stuck in my head every time. The guitar and longing chorus reminds me of a song in the musical War of the Worlds, The Spirit of Man. I think it’s the 1970s theatrics of the music.

The spiritual nature of the song is one that you’ll either love or hate. While I’m personally not a huge fan of the general tone of the music, I expect that if you are a cat-owner with a tie-dye shirt and various crystals in your home, you’ll really connect with this song.

Nevertheless, this might just be the song you need to hear during these uncertain times. Check it out.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Adios – Hybrid Blues

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Hybrid Blues is a band that’s homegrown. The mature band members come from a wide range of backgrounds, but have all seem to have joined forces in New Zealand’s East coast city of Tauranga.

Their music is blues meets rock meets country, but it’s certainly upbeat! The rock and roll vibe of their song Adios reminds me of the darker rhythm and blues sound of Johnny Cash. I think it’s the guitar and gravelly vocals.

Adios tells a haunting story, supported by echoed vocals and a solemn guitar solo, which makes me think of The Eagles’ Hotel California.

The only thing missing is for the vocalist to totally let loose after the guitar solo. It’s as though the whole song leads up to a crescendo that isn’t quite there. I think the song should also continue the echoed vocals right through to the end with the story fading out; marching on past us.

Nevertheless, this would be an awesome band to see live! I think their passion is masked by a recording studio. I get the feeling that their live performances would give audiences chills.

It looks like they perform around New Zealand, so keep an eye out for them!

Check Adios out on Spotify!

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Oh Michaelangelo – by Alex Genadinik

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Alex Genadinik is an author, entrepreneur, life coach, marketer and small business owner, but he’s ready to add yet another string to his bow by turning his hand to writing and performing his own songs.

Oh Michaelangelo is a love song inspired by a Michelangelo painting called Creation of Adam, which is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

While the video and song don’t yet have a particularly polished finish, Genadinik successfully draws parallels between the beauty of being in love, and the beauty of the infamous painting in the song.

The alternate spelling of the painter’s name in this song evokes the personal interpretation of the artwork. As though every love is unique, as is the individual meaning found in every painting.

Alex Genadinik is influenced by artists like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan and poets like Vladimir Vysotsky, and Bulat Okudzhava, which comes across in his detailed lyrics.

And we surrender in ethereal sublime
Where souls touch and forever intertwine
With hearts in heaven while still on earth below
We’ll paint the world better than Michaelangelo

Despite the vocalist seeming more akin to speaking than singing, there is no denying the hard work that has been put into this tune – just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Listen below!

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Tenet

Tenet movie poster 2020

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Released: September 2020
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh
—

Well, right off the bat this movie screams IT’S THE SAME DIRECTOR AS INCEPTION. The familiar cast members, the editing, colour-scheme and the over-complicated storyline were just a few of the tell-tale Nolan signs.

However, as I am a massive Inception fan, I was not upset about this. In fact, I was hoping to see more of the same cast (where’s Leo at?).

This classically Nolan premiss is difficult for me to explain, so I’ve found the synopsis for you: Tenet is about a secret agent who embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III.

(The word ‘Tenet’ is a palindrome, meaning that it’s spelt the same way forwards as it is backwards; a nod to the time-travelling theme of the movie.)

If you think you recognise the protagonist (John David Washington), you don’t, because Tenet was pretty much his debut on the big screen. He is the son of Denzel Washington though.

John David Washington Tenet

Also, if you recognise the super tall, elegant woman in the movie (Elizabeth Debicki), she’s from The Great Gatsby.

Elizabeth Debicki in Tenet

Robert Pattinson wasn’t as bad as I expected but he does pout his lips a lot, which is quite distracting. I’m pleased he was given the opportunity to do an action role and avoided being trapped as the heavy drama/romance actor. (I must point out that I think he was a very poor choice as our new Batman though.)

If I learnt anything about keeping up with complicated movies, it’s that you have to listen carefully to the dialogue as that’s where the storyline is explained, and Tenet is no different. The conversations between characters last across multiple locations within a scene, with lots of details being explained.

Tenet

The complexity of the film is not to be shied away from, however. Considering the cinemas have been shut for MONTHS, Tenet was a welcome debut! It’s full of action and drama, which was a perfect balance for my husband and I to enjoy.

If you’re a time travel nut like I am, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the car chase scene, as well as all the little bits and pieces where they talk about travelling through time and debunking any holes in the science to ensure your suspension of disbelief remains firmly intact.

You may walk away from the movie feeling a bit confused over the details of the plot, but it’ll only leave you wanting to see it again to fully enjoy it the second time around. So strap on that mask and head to the cinema to see Tenet – it’s well worth it!

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

PS. If you’re seeing this in the theatres while heavily pregnant like I did, bear in mind that your baby will probably not like the scenes with all the guns and explosions. (Get ready to be kicked in the ribs a lot.)

Knives Out

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Released: November 2019
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer
—

I love whodunnits!

My friend and I have read multiple Agatha Christie novels, and while we always try to figure out the culprit before the end, we never seem to be able to get into Agatha Christie’s head.

After hearing that Knives Out was a sort of Agatha Christie mystery, I decided that I had to watch it.

While it has all the tropes of a murder-mystery, it is in fact far from being a classic or typical murder-mystery.

As a result, I found it a tiny bit disappointing. Because Agatha Christie novels are perfect in every way, and Knives Out seems to try to one up her… Which is impossible to do without the story becoming over complicated or outlandish.

The thing is, the entire plot is given away too early – or at least that’s what I thought. As though we were told too much too soon. Of course, it all makes sense when the final twist at the end knocks you off your feet. But still, I was looking forward to be taken along for the Agatha Christie ride.

Nevertheless! The enormous amount of twists and turns are sure to keep you hooked, so long as your suspension of disbelief remains.

I loved the cast and characters – Toni Collette has always been a favourite of mine, and Daniel Craig did a surprisingly good job of being an investigator from the deep south! The mansion itself seems to be a character on its own too – the aesthetic is spectacular.

Overall, it’s a good popcorn movie that you don’t have to think about too much. Every scene has been carefully choreographed, with a huge attention to detail.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Emma

Emma movie 2020 poster

Director: Autumn de Wilde
Writer: Eleanor Catton (Based on Jane Austen’s novel, Emma)
Released: February 2020
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart and Bill Nighy
—

I took a little too long to get around to writing this review! So I’ll try to remember my first impressions…

I am a Jane Austen fan – despite reading all of zero of her books. But I do own the complete book series, which I might get around to reading one day.

It was actually the 2005 movie Pride & Prejudice featuring Kiera Knightley that got me hooked, followed with the 2007 movie The Jane Austen Book Club. Both movies have stuck with me ever since.

That’s why the movie Emma appealed to me so much. Also, the hilarity of Miranda Hart in the trailer.

Emma movie miranda hart

Thanks to The Jane Austen Book Club, I knew the rough storyline already – that Emma was a match-maker who was too oblivious to notice her one true love was standing before her the whole time.

This version of the story certainly keeps the quirkiness and humour that I understand the book has, but the colour and dramatic stage play essence that director Autumn de Wilde brought to her debut film was brilliant.

I would have laid money on it that the director was Wes Anderson because of the similarity between Emma and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Identical in terms of pastel colours and swift camerawork.

Emma movie

I thought this was the debut movie for Anya Taylor-Joy who played Emma as well. But then I realised that I had seen her before; she’s in Split/Glass!

The only downside of Emma was that the funniest moments were in the trailer. The pacing was also a lot slower than I expected.

Nevertheless, the costumes were spectacular and the characters were all bright and bold!

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan
Writers: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg
Released: December 2019
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito
—

As I mentioned in the first remake – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – you can in no way compare these modern day films to the 90’s Robin Williams Jumanji masterpiece. Nor are these parody movie intended to be.

With that said, let’s begin:

Jumanji: The Next Level was everything that I expected it to be. It was clearly capitalising on the success of the first one, with the story being an after thought. However, if you didn’t see the first movie then you’d still enjoy this second instalment.

In this movie, the characters from the first film are catapulted into Jumanji again. This time, Spencer’s (Alex Wolff) grandfather (Danny Devito) and his friend (Danny Glover) joined. This was the perfect opportunity to make fun of boomers, and they didn’t hold back!

Screen Shot 2020-01-08 at 9.34.14 AM.png

It played on the most popular aspects of the first film: Jack Black pretending to be a teenage girl, Kevin Hart’s sass, crazy ways of losing one of their three lives, and hilarious one-liners.

There were new avatars such as a horse (yay) and Ming Fleetfoot, whose strength is thievery and pick-pocketing. ca-times.brightspotcdn

This movie was far more about the characters than the storyline, which was a little weak. But despite its predictability, it was another awesome kids’ movie with lots of action and comedic moments. While there was a generous sprinkling of cheese, the movie didn’t try to be anything more or less than it was; entertaining.

Would definitely recommend watching if you loved the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. If you didn’t see the first one, don’t worry, they explain the rules of the Jumanji game very well in this movie so you won’t get lost!

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Downton Abbey

downtonabbey

Director: Michael Engler
Writer: Julian Fellowes
Released: September 2019
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilton
—

From the day Downton Abbey came on Lightbox, we have been binge watching it. We aimed to watch all six series by the time the movie came out.

We succeeded. On the final week of Downton being in cinemas, we got our $10 ticket and went!

I must say, after about a month of watching back-to-back episodes, we were a bit over it by the time we watched the movie. It was basically just another episode that started right where the finale left off.

It followed the same upstairs/downstairs troubles and triumphs, but with the backdrop of the Royals coming to stay at Downton. All the while, tying up the loose ends of the final series.

The movie was ho-hum, and plodded on in the same fashion as series 5 and 6 had (not much scandal or suspense). I think the writers had been running out of steam for some time, and the movie didn’t seem to show much difference in their creativity.

I seriously believe that the best storyline for the Downton Abbey movie would have been episode 3 in the very first series – Mr Pamuk’s scandalous death. Now that was a great episode, and that would have been a fantastic movie!

But in this movie, all the characters were as they had been and so were their circumstances.

Although, I can’t deny that the TV series and the movie are all high-quality in every way – from the acting to the costumes to the historical intricacies. It is a fantastic way to understand the era – it’s like we’re following the lives of real people of the time.

It seemed that not a single second could be spared, with our favourite characteristics of every character given their own fair-share of screen time. Maggie Smith had her famous one-liners, Mary had her sharp tongue, and Mrs Hughes kept everyone in their place!

I would recommend seeing the movie. You won’t be shocked or excited. But whether you’ve seen the series or not, there is still the human interest factor that would resonate with many.

What I wouldn’t recommend, however, is to binge-watch every episode within a month and then see the movie. Because that might make you bored of the characters and overall arching storyline…

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Stan & Ollie

Stan-Ollie-poster-4-crop

Director: Jon S. Baird
Writer: Jeff Pope
Released: December 2018
Starring: Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, Nina Arianda, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston and Rufus Jones
—

Stan & Ollie is a film based on comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

It doesn’t follow the typical story line of a biopic of following the protagonist’s life from childhood through to death. Rather, it focuses more on Laurel and Hardy’s (Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly) friendship.

The relationship they had was not only heartwarming, but combined with the backdrop of the thirties and fifties, you’re left longing for simpler times where human interactions were not interrupted by technology.

The movie follows the ups and downs of the ageing duo, who are struggling for money as their careers on the stage and in front of the camera are winding down.

stan-and-ollie

It’s heartbreaking watching the two struggle, especially with their manager (Rufus Jones) taking advantage of their need to earn money.

While you don’t need to have watched any Laurel and Hardy skits, I would strongly recommend it as you’d then get the subtle references throughout the movie.

John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan were the only choices possible for the roles of Laurel and Hardy – they truely were brilliant! They even went as far as learning the mistakes that the real Laurel and Hardy made in the films. Such a cool touch!

Their wives Lucille Hardy (Shirley Henderson) and Ida Laurel (Nina Arianda) were a shadowing comedy duo themselves. They were so much more than background characters as they were almost as much a part of the story as their husbands. They really did make me laugh!

Stan-and-Ollie-Nina-Arianda-Shirley-Henderson

I was going to include the quotes that made me laugh, but I’ve realised it’s actually how the lines were delivered that made me double over!

If you’re looking for a warm film that makes you laugh as much as it makes you cry, then you must watch Stan & Ollie.

You will choke up but still splutter out a giggle through your tears.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Yesterday

57475

Director: Danny Boyle
Writers: Jack Barth and Richard Curtis
Released: June 2019
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran and Kate McKinnon
—

Yesterday is a movie exploring the world where The Beatles never existed. After a global black-out, the protagonist Jack (Himesh Patel) wakes to discover that he’s the only one who remembers The Beatles or their songs.

Thankfully, as he’s a struggling musician he’s able to bring The Beatles’s music back to life. But with the fame and fortune, guilt and doubt isn’t far behind.

Yesterday is an easy watch. It’s a great Sunday afternoon family film with a fantastic soundtrack.

yesterday-anatomy-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600

I loved the little intricacies such as the incorrect lyrics because Jack couldn’t remember all the words – and who would? Put under pressure, I doubt you could name every single Beatles track and all the lyrics that go with it.

I also liked how the film explored what The Beatles would have endured if they had of been as famous as they were in the sixties today. It was particularly interesting listening to the comments and feedback from the record company – the White Album being rejected due to the racist title, for example.

Ed Sheeran makes an appearance. In fact, he’s in the film a fair bit! Coldplay’s Chris Martin was supposed to take this role but due to schedule conflicts, he wasn’t able to do it in the end.

Lily James is a favourite of mine – she’s perfect!

LILY-AJMES-1737692

I loved the English comedy and the unexpected surprises in an otherwise cookie-cutter rom-com.

While it’s not a blockbuster it certainly is a sweet story, which is something we all need to watch sometimes.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

The Lion King (2019)

Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: Jeff Nathanson (Based on The Lion King (1994) by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton
Released: July 2019
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and James Earl Jones
—

We had such a wonderful night out to see the remake of The Lion King!

While the original 1994 Disney version wasn’t my absolute favourite movie as a child (Sleeping Beauty will always be number 1), it was certainly a movie that was ingrained in my childhood.

I used to sit close to the TV with my Simba, Narla and Scar plush toys in front of me, and act out all the scenes alongside the movie.

It was a real treat to watch The Lion King for the first time again. However, its realistic live-action animation didn’t always work in its favour because it meant that the animals couldn’t physically do what the cartoon characters could do.

the lion king 1994

Such as Simba swinging from a branch and flipping into the lake, or Pumba’s big bottom getting wedged into a log when being chased by Narla, or Scar playing with a mouse that weaved through his fingers.

None of that is physically possible for animals, which this David Attenborough-esk remake showed.

The Lion King with Timon and Pumbaa

While I was disappointed because it lacked the visual humour of the 1994 cartoon, I think younger children would be disappointed because of the visual complexity of the realistic animals. It’s not just colours and shapes with this remake; it’s a nearly a documentary style movie that I’m sure young children would get bored with.

Nevertheless, I’m forced to realise two things:
1. Just like Toy Story 4, this movie is first and foremost for my generation. The generation who remember the original so fondly and who grew up with Disney animation.

2. Kids these days are not impressed by cartoons because everything is so realistic now. So while I would have liked to see an animation that took advantage of what lions couldn’t really do, today’s children would want nothing less than an accurate representation of what lions are physically capable of.

I was also a little disappointed by the casting; it seemed like they’d spent all their money on Beyonce – who actually had a relatively small speaking role and only two songs! Although, looking back at the 1994 version, there weren’t tonnes of A-listers in that either. I just wish Rowan Atkinson remained as Zazu’s voice.

Despite how critical I’ve been, I really enjoyed it. There were some laugh-out-loud moments with the comedy duo of Timon and Pumbaa of course. (Although, there definitely could have been more funny scenes.)

The opening scene gave me chills and I loved seeing all the ‘real-life’ animals interacting. It was a lot of fun to hear the soundtrack again, which was spectacular.

I’m also pleased that The Lion King can be experienced by children for the first time again.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Green Book

Director: Peter Farrelly
Writers: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly
Released: November 2018
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini
—

I was looking forward to watching a movie full of triumphs and heart-wrenching moments. I guess I was expecting Little Miss Sunshine meets Hidden Figures meets The Help.

Sadly, Green Book was a somewhat shallow story that did not reach the emotional depths that I expected it would.

It’s about Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) who works as a bouncer before being asked to drive a successful (and rather pompous) African American musician (Doctor Don Shirley) around the deep south.

Shirley specifically asked Vallelonga to drive him from concert to concert, in part because of how dangerous it would be for him in the deep south, where racist views of the 1960s were at its most hostile.

To be perfectly blunt, I didn’t like either character.

Our introduction to Vallelonga was of him throwing drinking glasses away that two African American men drank from. Despite this prejudice, he was in no way racist or intolerant throughout the rest of the film. It was rather jarring, and also reduced the character conflict within the movie to next to none.

Shirley appears to be an extremely sheltered man who rides in the back seat of the car with a blanket over his legs, putting his nose up at deep-fried chicken, and looking down on any one who acts anything less than ‘upper class’.

I couldn’t identify with either character at all.

The movie speeds through concert after concert, city after city, lingering on a few well-thought-out racist clashes between Shirley and police or thugs in pubs. Making the film feel rather undeveloped.

The story is punctuated by the classical music that Shirley is performing, but I found this to be rather dull. I would have preferred jazz or honky tonk blues (a genre that raises its head in one of the final scenes!).

Just realised why I was disappointed with the music – the trailer features zero classical music! Only jazz and a pop song by Sam Smith… The whitest man on the planet.

It’s just not what I expected, I guess.

Jodie’s rating: 4/10

Bohemian Rhapsody

bohemian rhapsody movie poster

Director: Bryan Singer
Writer: Anthony McCarten and Peter Morgan
Released: November 2018
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander and Mike Myers
—

Bohemian Rhapsody is a biopic of Freddie Mercury’s life within the iconic band, Queen.

It’s an emotional journey with an epic soundtrack, mirroring the trauma and heartbreak of Mercury’s rise and fall in fame.

Rami Maleck plays the part of Freddie Mercury, and I think he was absolutely the perfect choice.

I didn’t realise until I was doing some research on him just now that I had in fact seen him in movies before: the pharaoh in Night at the Museum, and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 as an Egyptian vampire.

He’s a remarkable actor.

bohemian rhapsody movie

What I like about this movie is that unlike Elton John’s biopic, Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody retains the original Queen soundtrack. So it feels like a more accurate representation of Freddie Mercury and his music.

As I mentioned in my last review, Bohemian Rhapsody is quite dissimilar to Rocketman, in that it isn’t as theatrical or exaggerated. It’s down-to-Earth, which humanises the iconic Freddie Mercury in an almost documentary-style – especially since they recreated the Live Aid concert scene for scene (which I loved!).

I like how Freddie Mercury was represented. Whether it was accurate or not, it was fascinating to ‘get to know’ him in such a flattering light. He seemed kind, generous, and humble with flaws and all, which made it feel all the worse to see him being taken advantage of.

Whereas in Rocketman, Elton John was [perhaps unintentionally] portrayed in quite the opposite manner: as an egotistical, flaunting and intangible character.

I prefer more ‘human’, coming-of-age stories, which is why I think I resonated with Bohemian Rhapsody more.

If you love Queen’s music, and strong, heroic characters who rose to fame from such a familiar and common life, then you’ll love Bohemian Rhapsody.

bohemian rhapsody movie2

Despite his incredible talent as a musician, Freddie Mercury was portrayed as someone like you and I. He was fantastically ordinary – and look what he achieved.

Loved it.

I’ve been playing Queen’s music non-stop since, and I’ve been singing the operatic section on the song Bohemian Rhapsody on the way home from work everyday.

Highly recommend!

Jodie’s review: 8/10

Rocketman

Rocketman poster

Director: Dexter Fletcher
Writer: Lee Hall
Released: May 2019
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard
—

Firstly, I had a wonderful night out on my birthday! We went to see Rocketman at the movies, and it was very enjoyable indeed – thank you Sascha for organising it!

Rocketman was two hours of musical classics, sung by Taron Egerton who portrayed Elton John.

It documented Elton John’s childhood, which I found very interesting! His parents appeared to be very cold, with his nan being the only person to support him as an aspiring musician.

Then it followed him through the rise and fall of his fame and addictions.

Elton John: So how does a fat boy from nowhere get to be a soul man?
Wilson: You got to kill the person you were born to be in order to become the person you want to be.

Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), the writer of Elton’s songs, is a forever friend of his. I think their relationship was the warmest and most authentic relationship in the movie.

The casting was spot on! I couldn’t believe how authentic Bryce Dallas Howard’s English accent was.

The child actors who played Elton when he was a child were absolutely one in a million finds. They were incredible!

However, Rocketman is the perfect example of why a biopic should not be made while the main character is still alive, let alone be made by the main character – Elton John – himself.

It was Elton’s self-indulgent, ego-swamped, boastful story of his own life.

Rocketman glasses

Perhaps I wouldn’t have felt this way if I had not seen Bohemian Rhapsody recently, which was a humble reflection of the seemingly kind, gentle and generous Freddie Mercury.

In comparison, Rocketman was the total opposite.

So if you loved Bohemian Rhapsody, you would not necessarily love Rocketman, which is a theatrical, over-the-top stage show. Sort of like Mary Poppins: Returns meets La La Land meets… Well, the sparkling razzle-dazzle of Elton John.

However, if you haven’t seen Bohemian Rhapsody yet, or if you didn’t enjoy Bohemian Rhapsody, then I would encourage you to watch Rocketman. Because you’ll have a better chance of loving it.

Nevertheless, it certainly takes you on an out-of-this-world journey, which I loved.

Ultimately, it’s worth a watch if you are a fan of Elton John’s hits – which is everyone! The script includes inspirational quotes, and the costumes are outrageous.

Just be prepared for the theatrics and grotesque flaunt of wealth. An audience who has an interest in stage shows is advised.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10