Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Gangster Squad

Hello lovelies.  Well again, not much going on (well, actually there’s been quite a bit ,but not stuff I can share at the moment) so I’ll stick with the film reviews for now.  Sorry to be a bit cryptic, but needs must.

I’ve seen another 3 films since my last post, Django Unchanged, Gangster Squad, Les Miserables.  So let’s get going...

Les Miserables *** (3 Stars)

I would have given it more if not for the absolutely shockingly bad performance from Russell Crowe!  But I’ll back up a bit.  Firstly, I’ve never seen the stage show; in fact, I think the only song that I’ve really heard from it is that one that Susan Boyle sang on her X Factor audition!  I’m not going to go into the story here, because I believe that most people know it (not that I did before I saw the film, but hey ho).  The cinematography was amazing.  The sets were fabulous, it was beautifully and majestically (now there’s a word) shot and it was actually quite over awing. 

Hugh Jackman was brilliant and looked so authentic at the beginning of the film as a down trodden con who’d been imprisoned for 19 years – brilliant, he was brilliant.  Anne Hathaway was extraordinary as Fantine and I was actually shocked at how wonderful her singing was (wish I could say the same for all the actors).  The scenes where she’s thrown out of her job and turns to prostitution are staggering.  She was amazing.  If she doesn’t win an Oscar for that, I’d be shocked.

Where it fell down terribly for me was bloody Russell Crowe.  It was shocking.  Just shocking.  He cannot sing and he made me cringe every time he came on screen.  I can still hear his awful voice in my head now and I saw it over a week ago!  I also thought it was too long and got quite bored in parts.  Now I’m sure people will be booing me while they’re reading this, but it simply wasn’t as moving as I expected it to be.  Apart from the bits with Anne Hatherway in (which were pretty much all brilliant) it was a very mediocre film for me. 

Would I see it again?  No, probably not!  Would I recommend it?  Suppose so, just for the experience.  In case you’ve been living in a cave, here’s the trailer.

 

 

Gangster Squad ***** (4.5 stars)

I really enjoyed this film and I couldn’t believe it when it was panned by the critics.  I really liked it (then again, I’ve always been partial to a good gangster film).  The story is about a gang of cops that band together (in secret) to get rid of a Jewish Underworld Boss who was trying to take over LA.  They do it in secret because most of the force are being paid off by this boss and his henchmen, so they had to act in secret without the ‘authorities’ knowing about it and stopping them.

As I say, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would have given it 5 stars but for the awful performance from Sean Penn.  Who on earth thought he could carry that role must have been bonkers.  Also, he seemed to have some sort of prosthetics covering his face that were totally unrealistic and a real distraction for me (if they weren’t prosthetics, then he’s starting to look very scary as he ages!).

If you like gangster films and don’t mind a period drama with lots of violence, then it’s definitely worth a watch and would I watch it again?  Yeah, probably.  Here’s the trailer...

 

Django Unchained ***** (5 stars)

This is, without doubt, THE best film I’ve seen in ages.  I’d give it more than 5 out of 5 if I could!  It’s the latest offering from Quentin Tarantino and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I did think it was strange at one point, that it seemed to be lacking Tarantino’s usual violence, however, I did speak (or rather think) a bit too soon and it did get VERY bloody towards the end. 

Anyway, the story ... Django is a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face to face with a German born bounty hunter.  The two band together when Django agrees to point out 3 fugitives that the bounty hunter is searching for.  In return, the bounty hunter agrees to help Django rescue his wife from her slave owners.

It’s a long film (2 hrs 46 minutes) but is action packed every step of the way.  It had a wonderful story, with lots of twists and turns.  I loved it and highly recommend it (that’s if you don’t mind violence and lots of blood that is!).  Would I watch it again, definitely.  Here’s the trailer.... Go see it, you’ll love it!
 

Right lovelies, that’s me for another day.  Until next time, be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

Quartet - Playing for Keeps

OK, last two films...

Quartet ** (2/5)

I really was looking forward to this.  A stellar cast full of some of the UK’s best veteran actors and was directed by Dustin Hoffman, however, I found it really quite condescending and trite – the acting was as good as you would expect and they did their best with a rather dreadful screenplay.  Such a shame, because it could have been brilliant.  Either that, or it was definitely more suited to the ‘older’ (even older than me) generation, more my mum’s age.  In fact, my mum would love it, which is probably why I didn't!

The story was about aging actors who live together in a home and all still think they’re wonderful (my mum did amateur dramatics all the way through my childhood and I absolutely hated watching it in front and back stage, seeing all the backbiting, backstabbing, prima-donna behaviour that went on ... it turns my stomach when I think about even now all those years later, so much so that I couldn’t go and watch a play, even a professional one if you paid me ... I’ve been ruined for life!).

So sadly, it really reminded me of that, which is probably why I had such an adverse reaction to it.  That and I recognised some of my mum’s acting ‘pals’ in there too *shudder* - some of whom were talking far too loudly and obnoxiously.

Anyway, I’d better move on, because I’m getting a bit agitated!

Playing for Keeps *** (3/5)

This had such awful reviews that I really wasn’t expecting much and I have to say that it didn’t set my world on fire, but it was what it said on the box, a bog standard romcom.

It’s about a down on his luck former football star (Gerard Butler) returns home (he lives in the US) to put his life back together.  Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s football team.  But his attempts to finally become an adult and impress his ex-wife are met with challenges from the ‘soccer moms’ who pursue him every chance they get.

If you’re bored and seen everything else or really love romcoms, then it’s worth seeing otherwise, save it for DVD.  Here’s the trailer.

 

There are some wonderful films coming up that I’m really looking forward to.  Most notable are, Les Miserables, Gangster Squad and Django Unchained.  They’ve all had wonderful reviews and I’m really looking forward to them.  I’ve also discovered the wonders of Baskin Robins ice cream (which isn’t good for my waistline especially since my diet’s been going so well) but I absolutely can’t resist their Cherry and Turkish Delight flavours – OMG, so yummy!

Right lovelies, that’s it for another day, more soon.  Until then, be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

Life of Pi, Parental Guidance, Seven Psychopaths

OK, so more film reviews.  Let’s get straight to it (before they go off the cinema!)

Life of Pi ***** (4.5/5)

I loved this film and really would probably have been a 5 only for the fact that it was about half an hour too long for me.  There was at least half an hour during the middle of the film that could have been taken out and would not have affected the plot in any way.  Having said that, I did really enjoy it. 

The cinematography was amazing and the special effects were fabulous, but it was the story that was really enjoyable with the most amazing twist at the end (don’t worry, I won’t tell you what that is).  So what’s it about? Well, the family of a 16 year old Indian boy decide to relocate their Zoo (yes, Zoo) to Canada.  However, during the sea journey their freighter was shipwrecked.  He ends up on a make shift raft with an orang-utan, a zebra, a hyena and a Bengal tiger.  The film follows his trials and tribulations in trying to keep himself and others alive!

I LOVED it!  Go see it.  It’s beautiful.  Here’s the trailer – you may have already seen it but even so, it’s worth seeing again...

 

Parental Guidance * (1/5)

“OMG – shoot me now” was the saying that kept floating through my head during this one.  Dreadful.  Awful.  Appalling.  I actually couldn’t believe quite how bad this was.  It stars Bette Midler and Billy Crystal (so you’d think it would at least be passable) who play the grandparents of three children whose parents ask them to babysit whilst they go on holiday for a few days.  Two worlds collide when the grandparents try to use their old school parenting skills on new age kids (well, that’s what they gumph says anyway).

Load of bloody rubbish.  Lame gags, unnecessary slapstick and totally unrealistic, set up scenarios.  Dreadful, dreadful film, watch it at your peril!  (No trailer because I couldn’t do that to you)

Seven Psychopaths **** (4/5)

I really enjoyed this film.  I won’t go into it too much because I think it’s gone off the cinema now (which is a shame because I really recommend it ... catch it on DVD – I nearly typed video! – you won’t be disappointed).  It’s about a struggling screenwriter, Colin Farrell, who inadvertently becomes entangled in the LA criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster’s beloved Shih Tzu.

It’s hilarious with a fabulous cast (including Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, and Wood Harrelson – the gangster), screenplay and storylines.  It’s definitely worth a watch.  It’s very different to a lot of films I’ve seen recently.

Right lovelies, more tomorrow.  Until then, be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

The Hobbit - Jack Reacher - The Impossible

Well lovelies, what can I say?  It’s certainly been a while and for that I must apologise.  I’ve had so much going on in my personal/work life (I wish I could tell you, but that wouldn’t be right ... a bit too serious) that writing has been decidedly secondary.

Firstly, let me wish you a Happy New Year ... hope you had a good one and your Christmas was better than mine.  It was the worst ever ... and culminated in me having beans on toast on my own on Christmas day ... don’t ask ... it’s too awful. 

Anyway, onward and upward, it’s a New Year and a new start for me ... hopefully.  I’ve already embarked upon the diet and I’ve lost 4 lbs this week which I’ve done the old fashioned way ie 1000 calories a day and plenty of exercise.  I’m not sure how long I’ll keep up the 1000 calories for, but I’m giving it a good go.

Secondly, let me say another huge THANK YOU – even though I haven’t posted for ages, I’ve still managed to go over the 8000 hits mark!  That’s incredible.  Thank you so much.  You guys ROCK!

Right, so what can I tell you about?  Films ... lots and lots of films.  Pretty much the only thing I’ve been up to lately.  So, what films have I seen since my last post?

The Hobbit

The Impossible

Jack Reacher

Life of Pi

Parental Guidance

Quartet

Seven Psychopaths

Playing for Keeps

 

So, let’s start with ...

 
The Hobbit – **** (4 out of 5 stars)

(I’ve added scoring now!  How advanced of me!) Well, I did enjoy it.  It was a little long and if you don’t like the Lord of the Rings films, then you won’t like this, but all in all it was really good.  The CGI was amazing as were the sets – there’s not really much more to say because you pretty much know what you’re going to get if you’ve seen the previous films.  Definitely worth a watch ... I’d even see it again!  I won’t add a trailer as I’ve already done so in other posts.

The Impossible ***** (5/5)

Loved it, best film I’ve seen this year (well, it is only the 6 January!).  So much better than I was expecting – it kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much all the way through and I cried like a baby (dunno if that’s because I’m more emotional than normal at the moment but hey ho!).

The story is a true one based on a family who were caught in Thailand during the awful tsunami of Christmas in - I think it was – 2004.  As they relax around the pool on Boxing Day a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds towards them.  The film then follows what happens to each of them.  It was gripping and really rather moving I have to say!  I thoroughly enjoyed it, but needed a lie down afterwards to recover.  Here’s the trailer...

 

Jack Reacher  *** (3/5)

Well, those who read these posts regularly will know that I’m not a fan of Titchy Tom – he just isn’t credible as an action hero for me ... he’s simply too small.  Because we know what size he is, you can tell when he’s standing next to someone whether he’s on a box or not.  I saw him interviewed about this film on The Graham Norton Show and his co-star Rosamund Pike (?) towered above him, so I was a bit distracted during the film, watching for the ‘box’ shots.

Anyway, I digress ... The story is about a gunman who shoots down five people in a seemingly random shooting.  Under interrogation, the suspect won’t say anything but just hands over a note saying ‘Get Jack Reacher’ and that’s where our Tom comes in.  He has to uncover what really happened which opens a whole bag frogs.  I can’t really say more because there are quite a few twists and I don’t want to spoil it.

I think that I may have been a little tight on the scoring for this one – it was quite entertaining, just not really my thing ... it was more of a ‘boy’ film, you know, all guns and everyone running, but it’s certainly worth a watch.

Right lovelies, that’s it for me today.  I’ll review the others over the next couple of days.  Until then, be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

Great Expectations/Silver Linings Playbook

 

Well, again, sorry peeps but not got a whole lot to report.  I really must look at getting a life!

I have, however, seen a couple of films that I wanted to share with you.  First, I saw Silver Linings Playbook on Friday.  I had read some reviews for it and it sounded really good, including a rave review from Fearne Cotton – she said it was amazing, she cried buckets at the end and she loved the soundtrack.  So with that in mind, I was really looking forward to it.

So, the story, Pat (Bradley Cooper – yum) after discovering that his wife was having an affair by walking in on her and her lover (who just happened to be playing the ‘first dance’ song from their wedding), battered him and ended up ‘doing time’ in a mental institution as a result - claiming temporary insanity.  When he’s released, he meet Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence – her from ‘The Hunger Games’), a rather dysfunctional woman with plenty of problems of her own – when her husband died, she went off the rails in a rather self-destructive manner.

All Pat wants is to get back with his wife and Tiffany offers to help but only if he’ll do something very important to her in return.  As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them.  Oh and his dad is expertly played by Robert De Niro who has an excellent ‘just woken up’ face ... Brilliant!

I really enjoyed this film.  Although it was a bit predictable in places, it was funny, warm and quite moving (although definitely didn't bring a tear to my eye at the end ... must be Fearne's hormones as she is pregnant at the moment!) - definitely worth a watch.  Here’s the trailer...

 

Today I watched ‘Great Expectations’.  I absolutely loved the original version and am not usually very keen on remakes, however, as this one has so many amazing British actors, Helen Bonham Carter (playing an inspired Miss Haversham), Robbie Coltrane, David Walliams, Tamzin Owthwaite and Ralf Fiennes, I thought that you couldn’t go far wrong with that cast ... and I wasn’t wrong.

It had all the atmosphere of the original.  The sets and costumes/make up were wonderful, the acting every bit as good as you would expect (however, the guy who played Pip – whom I don’t really know, could have been better).  HBC was totally brilliant as only she can be.  Disturbing and intriguing in equal measures.  I really can’t think of a better person that they could have chosen to play that part.  Ralf Fiennes was equally as good if not better than the actor who played the convict in the original film.  All in all, definitely one to watch.  Atmospheric, beautifully shot with a brilliant story – something that is sadly missing from so many of todays films (ba humbug!).  Here’s the trailer...

 

Oh, I nearly forgot.  I watched Gambit last week too.  I’d love to review properly and tell you what I really thought of it, but I fell asleep 10 minutes in and woke up 10 minutes before the end (I’ll swear I was snoring!).  However, from the bits I did see and taking into consideration the fact that I actually fell asleep in the first place, it wasn’t very good.  Also the fact that I haven’t bothered to watch it again, kind of speaks volumes.

However, if you do want to see it, it stars Cameron Diaz, Colin Firth and Alan Rickman.  Colin ropes Cameron in to a cunning plan to defraud Alan by selling him a knocked off painting.  That kinda sums it up.  I just remember hearing a whole lot of hullabaloo about Firthy losing his pants!  Nuff said.  Here’s the trailer...

 

Right lovelies, bed time for me.  See you soon.  Until then, have a wonderful week and be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

Fun Size, Hotel Transylvania, Frankenweenie

Last few film reviews - Fun Size, Hotel Transylvania, Frankenweenie.

Let's dive straight in ... Fun Size is an American teenager orientated film (I usually avoid those like the plague ... I’m really not a fan of teenage ‘high jinx’ ... humbug ... but I was bored and I’d seen everything else apart for Love Bite) the premise is that a girl has to look after her brother and take him trick or treating on Halloween, she doesn’t want to, he goes missing, she has to find him before her mother comes home ... cue all kinds of funny escapades.  Yada, yada, yada, yawn.

Summary, great for teenagers, there are far better films out there to see for adults.

Hotel Transylvania I quite enjoyed.  It was a lot of fun and made me laugh – as kids films usually do.  I think these animated films are very clever ... there’s enough funny stuff in there for adults to enjoy too, either that or I’m still a big kid at heart!  Awwwww.  So Hotel Transylvania is Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort where monsters and their families go to holiday without being bothered by humans.  Dracula invites some of the world’s most famous monsters to the hotel to celebrate his daughter’s 118^th birthday.  Trouble ensues when an unsuspecting human finds himself at the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis (Drac’s daughter).

It’s a lovely film and not too scary for kids ... I can’t imagine who wouldn’t enjoy this!

Lastly, Frankenweenie (I think this may have gone off cinemas now ... it has at my local cinema, but it’s worth a review anyway).  This, in case you’ve been living in a hole, is another Tim Burton offering and I guess the nearest think you can compare it to is Corpse Bride.  It had a very dark storyline and I wasn’t entirely sure if I had small kids, whether I’d want them to watch it.

The story is that a dog dies and his owner (a small boy) brings him back to life ... bits of him keep dropping off though which I found quite alarming (but then again, I’m a huge dog lover).  There weren’t many people in the theatre when I watched it, but two families with small kids did walk out ... and actually, I can’t blame them.  It’s in black and white too and the subject matter is a bit hard going.  Kids love a good story and nice bright colours, this although I did enjoy it, I couldn’t see how it would really appeal to kids when there are other fabulous films out there like Madagascar, Hotel Transylvania and Paranorman.

That’s me for another day.  Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you soon.  Be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

Breaking Dawn 2 - Review

Well, what can I say ... I LOVED IT!

As you’re probably guessing, I’ve seen the new Twilight film today and I’ve got to admit that it was the best yet.  Obviously you have to look past the unbelievably bad acting of Kirsten Stewart and Robert Pattinson (they are even more wooden than usual in this one and in parts look incredibly self conscious and embarrassed ... I was embarrassed watching them actually ... appalling - I’ll never understand how they landed those prime roles).  But that said, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the whole 1 hr 55 mins went really quickly.  Ridiculously quickly in fact!

So, the story (if you’ve not read the books ... if not, why not?  They’re so much better than the films!) starts as Bella wakes up after giving birth to Renesmee while she was still human and has now been turned into a vampire.  I have to be honest, that stuff was really interesting in the book, especially how Renesmee’s growth was described and how Bella came to terms with being a Vampire, but they kind of glossed over that, which was a bit disappointing.

Another Vampire spots the child and reports it to the Vulturi (Vampire children ie turning children into Vampires is a crime in the Vampire world and that’s what this woman assumes has been done).  The Vulturi then decided that they need to sort the problem out, however, what they actually want is Bella the one who sees the future – I’ve forgotten her name – to join their group, so set off to settle scores and bring those two into the fold.

What I will say is that there is a twist ... a BIG twist that isn’t in the book.  In fact, some Tween’s sitting behind me shouted, “That’s not in the book” followed by another shouting, “Confussed.com” which never goes down well with me.  I’m lucky in that I tend to go to the cinema during the day when it’s practically empty, however, as it’s the first day’s showing of the new film, there were more people in there than usual ... when I say ‘more people’ I mean Tweens, which are only ever surpassed by small children in the ‘intensely dislike in having to share a cinema with’.  I can’t bear it.  All that talking, giggling, shouting at the screen trying to impress friends, showing off, kicking the back of my chair (I actually grabbed the teenage kid’s foot that was sitting behind me when he stuck his foot through the gap between my chair and the next one, right next to my ear and literally growled at him! Oh dear, I really am an old grouch ... he stopped kicking me though!).

I think it was good that they did something different with the film though ... it shocked the hell out of me!  I’m not going to tell you what it is, obviously and hopefully I won’t have spoilt anything for you by even mentioning it.  But regardless, if you like the Twilight Saga, you definitely won’t be disappointed.  If you don’t like them, it’s still worth a watch ... if you don’t mind suffering incredibly poor acting!


Oh and if you're wondering how they show Renesmee's growth ... CGI ... bit weird really and not totally convincing!

Well, that’s it for now lovelies and I know I’ve posted it before, but just to whet your appetites, here’s the trailer. 

 

Until next time lovelies, enjoy the rest of your Friday and be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx