movies
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My Top Five Netflix Recommendations | From a Distance
This week I'm grateful for the ease on restrictions here in Australia. It's refreshing, but also very nerve-wracking to see the world turn again. So we're just proceeding with caution, but I can tell everyone's anxious for normalcy.
It's been two months. Which is about 400 years in quarantine time. And in that timeframe, my relationship with Netflix has blossomed all the more.
I'll admit some of the stuff Netflix puts out are so clearly targeted at 13-year-olds (I'm looking at you, Riverdale). But if you're like me and also like to pretend there's 25 hours in a day, here are five things on my Netflix radar that I would recommend.
my favourite quotes from Love, Actually
“There was more than one lobster at the birth of Jesus?”
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"Who do you have to screw around here to get a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit?"
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“Has she noticed you yet?”
“No. You know the thing about romance is people only get together right at the very end.”
movies | isle of dogs
"Will you help him? The little pilot?"
"Why should I?"
"Because he's a twelve year old boy. Dogs love those."
After nearly a decade,
comes another stop-motion-animated movie, directed by film visionary Wes
Anderson. Released in March 2018, Isle of Dogs features the voices of Bill Murray, Edward Norton,
Scarlett Johansson, and Yoko Ono, among others.
Different from most of Anderson’s films which were mostly set in the 20th century, Isle of Dogs takes
place in a dystopian Japan. It consists of a villainous dictator, controversial
government decisions, and young teenage activists strongly voicing their
demands for change. (Sound familiar?)
movies | loved lately
Rain has been pouring endlessly and the air has grown colder and it's this phase of the year that I like to call "sleep weather." Whatever it brings, though, be it rain or snow, depending on where you live, we can't deny that December is a perfect month for cocooning in our own bedrooms. Wrapped up in our thick blankets, closing the curtains, turning the night light on, a warm drink in hand, occupying ourselves with a good movie or a good book.
I've watched many movies this year and although I couldn't possibly remember all of them, I've watched several within this past few weeks that turned out to be incredible. Splayed across different genres, listed below, in no particular order, are all the films I've watched recently that for me, left a very lasting impact.
I've watched many movies this year and although I couldn't possibly remember all of them, I've watched several within this past few weeks that turned out to be incredible. Splayed across different genres, listed below, in no particular order, are all the films I've watched recently that for me, left a very lasting impact.
(Click the photos to see the trailers!)
"Some of us get dipped in flat. Some in satin, some in gloss. But every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare."
flipped
I've never been an advocate of cheesy romances, but this one was just too adorable to forget. I know I'm about 7 years late to watching this movie, but I fell in love with it almost instantly. It follows the story of two kids, Julie Baker, and Bryce Loski, also described as her "first love." Because he resents Julie for she is quite the creative, smart-and-gutsy oddball compared to the other prim-perfect girls in school, things start to get complicated as he has no choice but to encounter her on a daily basis, since they're neighbors.
The film doesn't solely dive into the romance aspect, but also highlights another important value which is family. The story is told from both sides, so I loved seeing that boy-vs-girl perspective on how silly, ambiguous, and helplessly devoted young, unrequited love can be. The 1957 setting also won my heart, for sure. This movie is not only timeless, but also very sweet and endearing. Heart eyes all over.
"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."
dead poet's society
Glorious. Just, everything about it. This has to be one of the best and most inspiring movies I've seen in my entire life (and that's really saying something.) The production actually aired in 1989 but if there's one thing I always seem to have faith in, it's old Hollywood films. Dead Poet's Society tells an exciting, engaging story of an English teacher (played by the late iconic Robin Williams) in a highly esteemed prep school, educating his law-and-med-school-ready boys to "seize the day" and follow their heart.
The life lessons gained from watching this film is irreplaceable. It stretched the scope of literature to use it to teach us of passion, love, courage, and the beauty of pursuing our dreams. Personally, as someone with a deep love for writing, and a firm belief that words and ideas can, in fact, change the world, this film also strengthened my sense of purpose. Also, Neil Perry is gorgeous. That's all.
"Do your duty, come what may. Never tolerate any injustice, and never compromise on self-respect."
neerja
Before anyone ridicules me for choosing a Bollywood film, I implore you, friends, to give this one a chance. I know films from India have a bad rep for "too much" of the dancing or passionate love affairs, but this is not one of them. Based on a true story, it features the heroic act of one Neerja Bhanot (played exquisitely by the beautiful Sonam Kapoor), an air hostess who saved hundreds of passengers on a plane terrorist hijacking that took place in Pakistan, September 1986.
I applaud the directors, cast and crew of this film for creating such a vivid display of courage and endurance, especially through the main character. We need to make more room for films that feature strong female characters, and this is one of those films. I feel like most of the world clearly doesn't know about this story, or movie, but it deserves so much more recognition. Also, I may or may not have cried more than once through the duration of this movie. Just, turn on those subtitles and I promise, you won't regret it.
"Can you imagine a world in which we end up together?"
the big sick
As I'd mentioned before, it's very rare that I find a love-story-centered film to be enjoyable. But I gotta admit that sometimes, I can be a total sucker for good and witty rom-coms. For the first movie I've seen that highlights a story of an interracial relationship, The Big Sick did not disappoint. Based on a true story, it follows the life of Kumail, a stand-up comedian, and Pakistani, trying to "make it" in America. Along the way, he meets Emily, a blonde, sweet grad student, and obviously, they fall in love.
In many ways entertaining and eye-opening, I got addicted to watching their chemistry develop and how utterly honest they are when they're together. They're both so clever, and sarcastic, and it just made the movie that much more likable. However, with this new relationship, Kumail faces the risk of disappointing his traditional Muslim parents. And when Emily falls into a coma with an unknown illness, Kumail has no choice but to bond with her parents, and tell the truth to his. As a comedy, it's hilarious, as a romance, it's charming, and as a rom-com, it holds more depth and authenticity than any others I've seen.
"In women, courage is often mistaken for insanity."
iron jawed angels
As a non-American, I clearly don't have my fair share of knowledge in American history. But if it's got something to do with female empowerment, bravery, and women bringing change, I'm totally here for it. Released in 2004, Iron Jawed Angels is a historical docudrama/indie film following the American women's suffrage movement during the 1910s. We're shown how these women activists risked their lives and fought (literally) for their American right to vote, but not always in the submissive, well-mannered way women were expected to be during those times.
Some of the scenes are touching, and some are still graphic enough to make the audience shift in their seats. The storyline is vigorous and focused, solely revolving around the main goal; women's suffrage. Also, I was especially awed by the irresistible Hilary Swank-Julia Ormond dynamic. Overall, whether it's from behind a desk or inside prison cells, the film incredibly embodies the spirit of their protest; an inconvenient, continuous resistance.
Some of the scenes are touching, and some are still graphic enough to make the audience shift in their seats. The storyline is vigorous and focused, solely revolving around the main goal; women's suffrage. Also, I was especially awed by the irresistible Hilary Swank-Julia Ormond dynamic. Overall, whether it's from behind a desk or inside prison cells, the film incredibly embodies the spirit of their protest; an inconvenient, continuous resistance.
"In whatever people say, there is right, there is wrong. There is nothing in between."
murder on the orient express
Give me an old-fashioned English setting, a good detective story, and a bunch of rich folks being accused of murder, and you'll definitely capture my attention. Moving on to the newly released movies this time, this has to be one of my favorites. Based on one of Agatha Christie's bestselling mystery novels, Murder on the Orient Express places "probably-the-greatest-detective-in-the-world" Hercule Poirot on the famous European train heading to London. Seeking rest, Poirot encounters an unexpected case; a man has been murdered on the Orient Express. (Because of course, in every detective story, a cold-blooded murder is always found right in the center of their supposed "holiday".)
The plot takes a turn and the scene grows dark as everyone on the train becomes a suspect to the killing. With a brilliantly complex and fascinating set of characters, the plot is increasingly compelling. The audience feels invited to make guesses and judgements on the characters alongside the detective. Compared to Sherlock, I've found that Poirot has slightly less of the arrogance and more of that grandfather-like wisdom. Both, however, carry equally great wit and finesse in their work. The one thing that made me latch onto this movie was the visuals. Astounding, to say the least. Every frame a cinematic artwork, I'd push this for Oscar's Best Picture at any given day. If you have a soft spot for mystery novels, this movie is worth a shot.
"We may have our differences, but nothing's more important than family."
coco
Last but not least, the animated movie of the year. The most amazing Pixar production in 2017, if not all time, is the movie Coco, released only a few weeks ago. Despite the fact that we had to enjoy this after sitting through a lousy Frozen "holiday special" short film (FOR 30 MINUTES), my, Coco was worth the wait. Where do I begin to describe the love I have for this movie? Shown through some breathtaking animation work and a heartwarming story, it's like Disney and Pixar closed the year by saying, "Hey! We can still make animated movies that don't suck!"
And the ultimate comeback it was, indeed. The story follows Miguel, a young Mexican boy born in a family of shoemakers, trying desperately to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. Different and never before seen in any of their other movies, I adored Disney's take on Mexico as its main setting, and Dia de los Muertos, a rich embodiment of the culture itself. Also, let's face it, we totally enjoyed the mariachi background music. For a Disney movie, it's a very fresh, new experience. Every aspect of it was captivating, including some tear-jerking moments along the way as well. Frankly, I'm undebatably emotionally attached to this film. And I think anyone who has a heart would love it just the same.
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I've decided that I won't write movie reviews anymore unless I have very strong feelings about them, so the movies listed above are, in fact, very close to my heart. I hope this gives some references and insight, and I hope everyone has a good December.
See you around?
MOVIES | Wonder Woman
"Be careful, Diana,
they do not deserve you."
Aaannddd here she is. Ex-Miss Israel and Fast & Furious side chick Gal Gadot in thigh-high boots and a suit of armour, slaying all of mankind and stomping wars (along with my self esteem) to the ground.
The highly anticipated DC movie, Wonder Woman, finally hit theatres this month, and it got us all shook. There's been a lot of hype revolving around this movie, and it's pretty understandable. With a female director and a female superhero lead, this can easily be called the movie of feminists. And I don't hate it! I got to watch this with my family a few days ago so in this review, you will find all that I have to say about it.
Born as the princess of Themyscira, Diana always wanted to grow up to be a woman capable of defending herself and joining her fellow Amazon "sisters" in battle against any danger that may come their way. At one point, an American soldier-slash-pilot, who's been assigned by the British Intelligence to spy on the Germans in the heat of a world war, Steve Trevor, crashed into the island of Themyscira. Rescued by Diana, the Amazons then learn of the great conflicts and warfare happening in the outside world. Being the noble warrior princess she is, Diana sets out on a mission to find Ares, the god of war, whom she believed was responsible, and to stop the war and to save the world. You know, as all heroes do.
I'll be a bit frank. I loved watching this movie and really did enjoy it, but in retrospect, is it the greatest movie of all time? Not quite. It was awesome, but not necessarily groundbreaking either. Even though I loved the outburst of Girl Power going on here, I still wouldn't name it the best movie ever in general. Although, I think it's already a great leap for females in the film industry, and I admire Patty Jenkins's work and Gal Gadot's performance in this movie regardless. But as much as I'm all for feminism and showing power in women, we'd expected a lot more from the film. Aside from that, though, as always, below is my review in bullet points:
- Can we start by talking about that face though? If you haven't watched the movie, you have been warned. All I'll say is Gal Gadot's facial features sent my self-esteem sliding into its grave. She is a stunning female lead, and I suppose it's quite fitting for Wonder Woman to look mystifyingly beautiful from all angles, right? I think the real achievement here is highlighting a female superhero who isn't trying to be "sultry" or "seduce" her way into fighting for justice. She doesn't let anyone stop her, she just goes out and do what she has to. It's an impressive character, and Gal Gadot carried it out wonderfully.
- I have soooo so so much love for one of the starting battle scenes where all the Amazon warriors are geared up and fighting against those Germans invading their land. It was even, in a way, moving. The scene showed the remarkable strength these women had, and to witness those gladiator moves with horses and swords and arrows and all that in slow motion? It was legendary, to say the least. Like YES. GO. DEFEAT THE PATRIARCHY. :-)
- If I'm being completely honest, the writing and storyline for this movie weren't the best I've seen. Even though there were some pretty nice dashes of humour here and there, some of the lines felt a little forced or dull. The storyline is interesting enough, but didn't quite leave a mark for me. And for the most part, that's what's been keeping people from really loving with this movie.
- Also, it was disappointing to see so many fascinating characters, yet a storyline that really doesn't do them justice. What about Steve's secretary? Or that evil villain chemist?? I do wish the movie gave us a much deeper look into the lives of these characters, but instead, it just felt like merely scratching the surface. Give us the background, more details, anything! Because for the most part, aside from some distinctive traits, not much can be taken away from them.
- The overall casting is fine. But there is one that I'm a bit on edge with, and that is (SPOILER ALERT) David Thewlis being the "Ares" we were all hearing such frightening things about. Don't get me wrong, he's a brilliant actor, but just- not so much for the role of the Ares. I just don't understand why, out of all people, was Ares the old politics man with a moustache. It's a disappointing decision, and it failed to give us that look and vibe of the "merciless, angry, vengeful god of war." Honestly, it just felt like seeing Professor Lupin in an armour of steel way too big for his size.
- I also secretly wish they gave more chances for Gal Gadot to show off her acting. Even though she didn't have to act sultry or anything, it's fair to say that her captivating beauty is a large part of what captured people's attention for this movie. But I just wished we saw more of Diana, like a little vulnerability. She's amazing as it is, but I don't know, the emotions shown in this film just didn't do much for me. It didn't shake me at my core. Maybe it's just me and how I subconsciously compared the vulnerability of Diana to that of Katniss Everdeen, or maybe it is a tiny lack in acting or heart-provoking scenes, but there was just so much more that could have been done.
- There was a lot of Greek mythology infused into the storyline of this film. From the start, the main background of the plot, all the way to Diana's save-the-world mission, they all revolved around the gods and her own belief, against what was actually the real world. Again, I don't hate it. I know that DC does tend to lean more to that direction, and it's seen in that Superman movie a while ago too. But I'm pretty sure they didn't bring it up quite as much in Superman. Significantly less than this Wonder Woman movie, where the Greek side was brought up so much that I felt like it was turning a bit too Percy Jackson for me.
So all in all, did I like this movie? Yes I liked it quite a lot. But for now, I only hope that the minor setbacks of the film don't lead people into thinking that this is "the best" that any female filmmaker or any female-superhero-lead film can do. As stunning as it was, I'm sure there'll be a lot more blockbuster films in the future representing this Girl Power essence, and this movie, on behalf of DC, simply paved the way. Despite it feeling much like the DC and female version of Captain America (no joke: Her resemblance to Peggy Carter? Their final encounter just before the guy goes off and dies in a plane? The World War? I have a point), I still got a lot of respect for this movie, and wish for more iconic ones to come.
Did you watch the movie? How did you like it and what are your thoughts?
Leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you.
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Thanks for reading. I'll write again soon.
Did you watch the movie? How did you like it and what are your thoughts?
Leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you.
Also, you can stay connected with me through my social media - links below.
MOVIES | Beauty and the Beast
For a much-talked-about, increasingly controversial, yet highly anticipated Disney movie, I'd feel like I'm cheating on it if I didn't write a review. So here it is, the famous Beauty and the Beast, an enchanting tale remade into a beautiful modern-Disney-movie production. Here's what I have to say.
I completely,
completely,
completely
lost my chill.
To start, I should mention that the original movie (animated version) of this story was what made my childhood. Belle had always been my favourite Disney princess. This gorgeous country girl who walks around reading her book, shows no interest for the village's Most Handsome Hero, has brown hair, and wears a lot of blue. Obviously, I adore her. And yes, I think Emma was brilliant.
However, when I saw the trailers, the news and all the hype prior to the release of this movie, I wasn't that excited. Even though this was my favourite, I was still doubtful about this remake. Perhaps I just knew that I would be expecting quite a lot from it, and usually when that happens, the standards aren't necessarily met. I love Emma, and the story, but the trailer just didn't sell to me. What if it's dull? We had that whole Cinderella phase last year. It's starting to get old, isn't it? But upon watching this movie, oh boy, honestly speaking, the expectations aren't only met, but also exceeded. (Trust me, I'm totally dying from how much love I have for this film. I'm just trying hard to sound more composed and put-together for this blog post. Inside, I'm still screeching.) So here's my review.
- Before I gush over how obsessed I am with it now, I'll point out the few things I didn't quite approve of. And no, I'm not referring to LeFou's taste in men. It didn't concern me, in fact, it was kind of hilarious! There were some things in the movie which I found disappointing. They might be minor things but they mattered. Firstly, I simply don't understand their choice of giving Beast those massive horns. Yes, he had those in the original movie, but not as large. This has to be the single most disappointing thing about this movie for me. It's a shame because they're the first thing you see when looking at the Beast. And for what reason?? If only they'd made it shorter and less significant, it would've been perfect. But now, it just looks bizarre. Let's not mistake his ideal look for Maleficent's, eh?
- Also, Belle's house is placed in a very, very strange setting. I vividly remember her home as being in the countryside, a little outside the village, with this small bridge in front of her garden. I wish they'd made it like that in this remake as well. Instead, her house has appeared much smaller, and apparently it's inside the village, but right in the middle??? Of a fork road??? And she's growing plants and has got a place for the horse and chickens but it's literally just in the middle of a village intersection, it seems??? On stone-cobbled streets??? I don't know, I hope I'm not the only one, but it was odd for me.
- A couple other incidents I wasn't fond of was when Maurice was in that prison cell saying goodbye to Belle, and all that time he showed very little signs of struggle. Not even that much begging for his sake! And then he just starts saying his farewell to Belle as if he's fully accepted his defeat, without looking like he's in despair, which I think he kind of should be. The other thing is how they erased Chip's line ("it tickles!") when Belle drank from him. I just expected it to still be there.
- Now, let the fangirl in me speak. Never have I ever sat in a modern-day Disney movie and experienced such a roller-coaster of emotions. All of which resulted in me a) feeling like I'm about to cry or b) actually crying. It's difficult to find movies that make me cry, but watching this was such an emotionally overwhelming experience for me. For most of the movie, I had goosebumps and was holding back tears. It was what I loved in my childhood, brought to life, in this visually astounding, unbelievably magical piece of work. I loved it all: The village, Belle, a perfect depiction of the real storyline (without some crazy twist or plot modification). I ended up crying multiple times throughout the movie. I knew all the words to "Be Our Guest", and mentally sung along to "Belle" as it was being played. That and seeing the characters brought to life, and how they match what I remembered of them so perfectly (like how similar Gaston is to the animation, and how he had the exact same voice), it shook me to the core.
- Allow me to push all the haters aside and proclaim that Emma Watson is a perfect, perfect Belle and her singing was beautiful and she is beautiful and nothing, nothing hurts. Nothing. Sure, physically, her resemblance to Belle can be questioned, but I am not complaining one bit. She's an amazing actress who's already very much like Belle in her real life and work. She's smart and well-mannered and I'd just hate for the role of Belle to fall to any other actress.
- I cannot emphasize enough on how majestic and brilliant the music is. Just extraordinary. Everything! Every single song, arrangement, all of them I'm so utterly in love with. I'm in awe of the vocals (the chorus singing was out of this world) and the instrumental art behind every single piece, they leave me speechless. Disney's done it again. But really, from a musical point of view, hands down, this movie wins.
- The camerawork is great too, but obviously I didn't expect any less from Disney. I'll just mention that one shot of Philippe, alone, running through an open field. Extraordinary.
- So finally, I'd just like to applaud the producers for creating this beautiful masterpiece. I couldn't have asked for a better remake of my most favourite story. Different from any other Disney movie, this one impacted me in a way I couldn't even begin to describe. Watching this, I was completely entranced. Still, to this minute, blown away by what this movie turned out to be. Which I must have made clear with this lengthy review. Well. Done.
Have you watched the movie? Did you enjoy it?
I'd love to know what you think about it, so leave a comment! Also, don't hesitate to follow me on any social media (links below). Let's stay in touch!
I'll write again soon.
PS: Plumette? Gor-geous.
MOVIES: Four To Watch
In a time where my schedule wasn’t so packed as it is now, I had the time to indulge in a bunch of TV shows and movies that many people recommended to me. Over the last several weeks, I’ve watched 4 different movies that I never watched before and these four really got to me. So for a blog post, I decided to compile them into a list and write my reviews for each one. Or at least I can try. Here we go.
SPOTLIGHT
When you’re trying to find movies that are both enthralling and thought-provoking, this is one of those movies. Featuring outstanding stars like Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams, this movie definitely deserves its wide recognition (including its 8.2/10 ranking in IMDb and its big win at the Oscars for Best Picture!)
The storyline of this movie itself is actually based on a group of investigative reporter/journalists working for the Boston Globe, looking deep into the story of how a significant number of priests actually took advantage of and molested an even higher number of children over the past few decades. Based on a true story, this movie showcases how these reporters worked so hard to shed light into the situation and expose it to the public, digging their way through years of archives, all to bring justice members of the Catholic church who have abused children during their time of being a part of the archdiocese.
It's not the type of movie that I'd normally watch or love, and I guess a percentage of people could find it boring with its lack of action or romance or whatever it is that millennials are drawn to these days, but I happened to enjoy this movie a lot. To be honest, it did require a lot of focus and concentration to actually watch this and keep up with the movie itself, but I was actually so fixated by the compelling story that this movie carried out. I highly admire the directors and producers of this film for being so courageous in making a movie concerning the situation, and also the outstanding stars who carried out their roles flawlessly in this production.
STILL ALICE
The first time I'd noticed this movie was when I was on a 2-hour flight heading overseas, and this was one of the movies available. But apparently, because I was probably too tired (or just plain lazy), I watched the first 2 minutes and then closed it before I could even begin to process what it was about. Fast forward to several months later, I stumbled upon this movie again so I watched it, from start to finish, and sure enough, it was quite amazing.
Truthfully, I wouldn't call this movie exactly "memorable". There were parts of it that I found kind of dull, and I also wasn't a big fan of Kristen Stewart's acting here (or anywhere, actually), but other than that, it's really just the type of movie that gets to you one way or another. Not only does it consist of Julianne Moore's astounding performance and great picture production, but it also opened up my eyes to how something like Alzheimer's disease can truly take its toll on a person's life and family.
I found it fascinating that they didn't just choose an ordinary type of character to suffer from the early onset Alzheimer's disease, but they chose Alice, who is this refined, well-educated, intelligent lady who has her life almost completely together. It was heart-wrenching to see how the situation slowly makes its way into the storyline and how you literally feel Alice's world being torn apart piece by piece, her life completely deteriorating right in front of her. Emotional, but an excellent movie nonetheless.
ZOOTOPIA
Now for an animated movie! Yay! I watched this movie with my mom the other day and I hope you're ready to hear my inner 4-year-old self being totally hyped about this movie and ranting on about this.
So to be honest, I don't know about you, but the moment a new animated movie comes out, my friends are always going to prefer watching the newest action/thriller movie instead, and I usually play along. But every time I pass the theatres, a tiny voice in my heart just goes "Can we please just see that new animated movie look at those characters they're so cute oh my God Zootopia sounds so adorable AND IT'S A DISNEY MOVIE? Even better." Something like that.
For a cute movie, I really liked that they added a plot twist factor into it. I also like how they poked at a significant situation like discrimination (in this case, between predator and prey animals) in what seems to be a lightweight children's movie. I absolutely loved this movie and found every aspect of it so entertaining and innovative. The thing I have to love most about it is the complexity of each of the characters they made. Officer Hopps, a highly-motivated and sassy bunny lady cop. Let me say that again. A bunny lady cop. Guys. How can I not love this main character? And don't even get me started on her love-hate relationship with the fox the entire time. OTP OTP OTP. A perfect combination of adventure, humour, moral values, and endless cuteness, it was a wonderful, wonderful movie that I'd totally fangirl about from time to time.
THE INTERN
If you're looking for some type of friendly comedy mood-booster movie, I'd totally recommend adding this to your list. Filmed in gorgeous (gorgeous) settings in New York, this movie was basically one of the best I've ever watched.
It features a story about a senior citizen, retired and living alone, played by Robert DeNiro (who surprisingly didn't play a role of an old man who just yells at things and is angry all the time and curses at everything this time). Looking for a little more excitement in his life, Ben Whittaker finally signs up for a senior internship program, and therefore finds himself working as an intern in this big successful fashion company, run by a young, creative, ambitious and driven CEO, Jules Austen (who also has a stunning wardrobe, by the way.) The whole process basically eventually starts to open both of them to new things, about life and about each other, resulting in a genuine friendship formed between the two.
I may only be a sucker for movies based in New York, but trust me guys, this is something anyone from anywhere would definitely enjoy. This movie could break your heart, make you laugh, or simply leave you in awe. But all things aside, it's something definitely worth watching.
And that's all I have to say for these four movies! I hope you guys enjoyed reading these reviews I wrote (or parts of it at least), and I hope you stay tuned for more posts coming to you soon.
Have you watched any of the films listed above? What did you think? Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time,
2014 Movies Review
Now that 2014 has come to an end, I feel that it is indeed an obligation for me to do a review on some of the popular movies that came out in 2014. Like my previous movie review post, I will basically be talking about several movies I already watched and I'll tell you just how much I liked (or disliked) them and reasons why.
I don't know why writing movie reviews are becoming such a thing for me, but I think it's practically because I always have a lot to say about movies. I've always been a movie person for as long as I can remember and at the end of every movie, I always have strong opinions on each of them from many different aspects of the movie itself. I enjoy and am quite familiar with the movie industry for some reason, so I'm just taking that to my advantage.
So here it goes! Enjoy my brief reviews on these eleven movies from 2014:
1. Maleficent
I think it is pretty obvious: Maleficent is one of the best movies of 2014, and one of the best Disney movies ever made. There is no denying that whatsoever, how could one even begin? The pure slaying-queen aura that is Angelina Jolie, or the mystifying excellence of Disney's animations, or the beauty and innocence of sweet Elle Fanning? From whatever aspect, this movie does deserve all the credits. Although, I do have a lot to say about this movie. So stay tuned.
I hate to say this, but I did feel like Angelina was practically 90% the reason why I loved this movie. Don't get me wrong, I will forever love Disney and this movie was indeed brilliant, but her acting, her voice, her characterization, her beauty, her presence itself kind of made the entire movie for me. I also did like how they got Angelina's daughter to play little Aurora, and I also liked that they gave a very distinct and great background story to Maleficent. The animations were indeed excellent, and I give credits to the brilliant makeup artist to perfectly construct the face of Maleficent.
Now, I hate to say this too, but even if my heart fell in love with the movie wholeheartedly, my mind still detected several things that made me rethink a lot about this movie, and eventually I didn't love this movie as much as I hoped I would.
The first and very obvious mistake to me (but apparently almost no one else noticed this) was one made by the costume designer/stylist. In the scene where Maleficent was at war with the king and his armies, Aurora found a way to Maleficent's wings, and basically Aurora crashed the glass and the wings flew freely and found their way onto Maleficent's back, and bam. Wings are back. That part was cool, but what wasn't cool was how I saw Maleficent slowly stand up after regaining her wings in, not a black overwhelming dress or a dark cape, but rather what looked like black leather jeans and a black top to match. Honestly, this ruined the idea of the whole movie to me. This was in an era long ago before our time! We're talking renaissance, Victorian maybe? Explain to me why they gave Maleficent a pair of leather jeans when she was fighting off knights and soldiers with swords in a stone chamber centuries ago. Do explain. I'm sorry, but what were they thinking? You have to stick to the chronology of the movie itself, and the costume that she was wearing in this little scene was the worst to go for. I do hope you guys could understand this.
Another thing that I didn't like was how they basically brought disgrace to Disney's other classic characters in the story. One. Why is Aurora's dad suddenly a murderous crazy evil psychopath? Why is he screaming all the time and ready to go to war? What, why? Reminding you, dear producers, that the one who actually fought with the dragon wasn't the king, but the prince. Whereas the prince, two, in the movie, did not do anything credible. All he did was gaze lovingly into Aurora's eyes and ride a pretty horse and make an attempt on kissing her. Okay, I admit that it was very clever how they twisted the plot and made Maleficent the one to give the true love's kiss. But where was the prince to cut down all the gigantic thorns to get to his true love? Or where was he to even meet the dragon? Three. I have always perceived Aurora as this composed, elegant, classy princess. I think in the original story, Aurora was dreamy and curious, but quite sensitive and mature. Most of the time, she was very calm and never asked for much, and she spoke in soft tones. I love Elle, but movie-Aurora was a lot more childish. Giggling 85% of the time, running around everywhere, a very young face and all. I felt like it was slightly off of what I've always imagined of Aurora. Four. The fairies. The good, good fairies. I know that in the original story, they did have their conflicts, but they were good and thoughtful and sincere and caring. They were basically three different loving grandmothers. This movie made them look like idiots. What was supposed to be the "caring and responsible grandmothers" turned into "idiotic grandmothers with a small case of Alzheimer's". The movie completely ruined the image of these fairies that I loved (even chose the worst set of actresses to play them). I do not want Dolores Umbridge to be the main fairy here.
Whoo, that was a lot! Overall, it's still a very acceptable movie. Very well-put together in other ways, and despite the things I didn't like, plenty seemed to impress me.
2. Robocop
I watched Robocop at the theatres on Valentine's Day with my best friends. Watching a robot movie on a day that's supposedly about love and romance? Okay, not our best decision. But anyway, this movie is kind of spectacular.
The movie kind of talks about how things are in the future, so in it we see major changes in terms of the technology. Already very advanced and modern, so I'm pretty sure the story belongs in about decades from now. The movie basically tells a story of a man who is an officer. He lost most of his body in a very critical condition because of a bomb planted in his car. And then there are these scientists and marketing people who are working to sell the idea of robot technology into America. They take this opportunity and turn the man into a robot cop. Hence, Robocop.
Honestly, I did like the whole idea, I mean the storyline, the characters, they were all pretty good. It's a good movie, but wasn't as astounding as I expected. Just another "not-quite-there" action blockbuster movie. What really impressed me was one of the actors, his name is Gary Oldman. In the movie, he plays the role of Dr. Dennett Norton, and you guys, his performance was magnificent. I don't know but he should probably get an award. Through the moments of panic and pure genius, every aspect of his performance was very well played. I actually found the other characters quite weak in terms of the acting and the characterisation. The main character himself didn't even seem to break through that boundary, you know? Like how the main character always has to make something of himself, especially in an action-packed movie like this. I felt like he didn't talk enough, or do enough. It was too much robot, not enough human. I get that that is the purpose of the movie, but it kind of leaves me yawning.
But overall, it's a good movie, and if you haven't watched it, that's okay.
3. Mockingjay Part 1
Okay, so I already did a review of this movie in this post but I felt like I needed to say a bit more.
I simply do not like how the media is seeing this. The movie practically shows Katniss slowly losing herself, then fighting in battle, Finnick expressing his darkest secrets on live television for the sake of the victors, the ruins of District 12, Peeta being beaten and losing his mind, Panem's rebellion, and so many other things. And what does the media have to say about this? So... Peeta or Gale now? I swear I'll hang these people in the hanging tree.
If you haven't read my post with a review on this, I just thought it was a really good movie overall, you guys. Very emotional and overwhelming, and a great movie to resemble the first part of Mockingjay. When reading the book, I felt kind of bored at the beginning of Mockingjay, so to be honest, I had my doubts in watching this movie. But in the end, I was impressed. Well done, Lionsgate.
4. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Can I just say: FINALLY???? I do not understand why they waited five years to make this third movie. Look at his kid, all grown up and wanting to be a DJ in Ibiza and all!
Oh well anyway, I loved this movie! I watched it with my siblings a few days ago and I adored it. It was so funny (including hilarious Hugh Jackman cameos and starring Rebel hell yeah Wilson) and I found it totally amusing. The Hugh Jackman part really cracked me up, and not to mention the very weird romance between Tilly (that's Rebel's character) and the strange Neanderthal (whose name is Laa, by the way). But the kiss with the monkey? No. Didn't like that. They went a little too far with that.
I was quite devastated when I realised that this was probably going to be their last movie ever, considering at the end Larry finally quits his job as a night guard. Also, I was actually hoping to see the museum's gala performance come back to life after the first attempt which was a disaster. Other than that, I also just really desperately want to see Rebecca get back with Larry. God knows where she is now, but it would've been so much better if they reunited at the end. Another thing that made me really sad was seeing Robin Williams on the big screen. It was so overwhelming to me, I started having heart palpitations. Made me miss him even more, like way more. Especially in the scene where Larry technically does say goodbye to Teddy. Someone revive him. :(
But anyway guys, it's a great movie. Totally impossible to pick my favourite characters, but in the movie, it's probably Teddy, Sacagawea, and Attila the Hun. They're quite brilliant. Akhmenrah is also pretty nice to look at, I guess (that sounded a little stranger than I expected). He is a perfect fit for the character! Jed and Octavius, of course, the perfect duo. Loving all the bromance happening in this movie, and I did feel like they didn't put these two guys into enough combat. Practically any combat, really! I really expected to see them fight or something, because that would be great. I do think that they should've cast someone else to play Larry's son (Jake Cherry from the first 2 movies was a lot better in my opinion), but this movie impressed me very much. I am such a fan of the Night movies, and couldn't have asked for a better end game.
5. Annie
Personal Movie Reviews
Hello, fellow earthlings!
So November is coming to an end, and I can't say I'm not devastated. Of course, November has been a pretty rough and unexpected month for me personally, but I'm mostly just surprised on how fast time goes (didn't I have that New Year's Eve gathering last week?). I don't know why I feel like life treats us all like a time-bomb, and we never know where it ends. They say that the older we get, the faster our life goes by, because there's a pure mathematical and logical reason. They say it's because a year to a 4-year-old is a quarter of his life. But, to a 30-year-old, it is a thirtieth of his life, therefore it holds the same amount but on a totally different ratio, and so on. Basically, everything is the same, but to each person, it never is. Pure insanity!
But anyway, that's not what I made this post for. I've always found movies very interesting and I watch them in the theatres really often with my friends and family. And so, I decided to list only five films that I've watched recently and I'm going to write whether I liked them or not, and why. Of course, mild spoiler alert for these movies but I'll be respectful!
1. Big Hero 6
Faith Like Potatoes
I am watching this incredible and spiritual film. It tells a story of a white farmer trying to make ends meet in the lands of Africa, along with living with his 4 kids and his wife. Then he finds Jesus and starts seeing miracles happen in his life.
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