Quentin Tarantino

Yes people, I finally got around to watching one of the 5 Tarantino films I recently purchased! I know, it took a while, but I though I'd start off with the one that I've heard the most about, Pulp Fiction.

As you may know, Tarantino is known for being different, and Pulp Fiction is no exception. It isn't linear, as in it jumps around a lot in time.

It flicks from what you presume is present to the future, and then back to the past, which you thought was the present. I know, that sounds confusing right, well basically it isn't shown in the usual start, middle and end format. It sounds hard to follow but its not.

I have to say I found it disappointing, after all the hype I've heard about it! Don't get me wrong, it’s a great film, but it’s not what I was expecting. It follows a few characters’ stories at the same time, and there is a lot of drug use in the film.

There is a scene in the middle that I loved, in the car with Vincent and Jules. You should know which one i mean, they accidentally kill someone. That whole scene is so funny and unexpected, true genius.

What disappointed me mostly about the film was that it didn't seem to have a real point, a solid story, it just pushed together different events. All were entertaining to watch, but as I said it made it feel a bit pointless. It leaves you asking a few questions.

In a way though, I guess that’s good, as it keeps it on your mind. So, I will end this by saying that it is a good film =) and if you get a chance its worth watching, especially if your a fan of Quentin Tarantino.

Paranormal Activity

The hyped up film of the minute! So does it live up to the trailers, to all the American’s shown jumping out of their skin in a film screening?

Well, I can say that half way through the film the room started giggling...now don't presume things. We all laughed because it was a scary bit and a woman at the front screeched "Can't you just make it f**k off!" Quite amusing really =)

Paranormal Activity is interesting and gripping at times, but takes a while to get into it. Don’t worry, it’s still good while it’s building up. As most of you know, if you’ve seen the trailer or seen a poster, the film is about a couple, Micah and Katie, and Katie believes that something haunts her, and has done since she was 8.

They get buy a camera, and take it around the house with them, (much to the annoyance of Katie) setting it upon a tri-pod while they sleep. The whole film is shown through the prospective of this camera, so most cinemas warn of motion sickness, though I think the affect adds greatly to the films suspense.

It begins by catching normal activity during the day, to small unexplained noises at night, resulting in a medium visiting the house. The unexplained noises grow to unexplained incidents, their severity increasing every time, with occurrences getting weirder and stronger in negativity.

I found it less jumpy than I expected, though I would say that it is good at gripping the audience. You’re on edge, waiting for something to happen. I thought it was a very well made film, and the ending is great! I’d definitely say it’s worth seeing =D

It's that time of the week again =)

So Orange Wednesdays has been and gone again, and this time, I've managed to update my blog on time!! But unfortunately I have some bad news. Me and a few housemates went to see Paranormal Actvity, and it was the opening night...

So as we stood in the loooong queue, a customer announcement was made, saying that the 8.45 showing, and the last one of the night, was fully booked. As we were already there (and it took 20 minutes to find a parking space!) we decided to stay and watch something else instead, though I had no luck in suggesting New Moon, possibly to do with the fact that my housemates were boys. Still, it was worth a try eh =)

But as one of the housemates I was with missed Harry Brown last week, we ended chose to see that. Oh I'm not complaining, it's a great film, and I enjoyed it again, plus my housemate thought that it was amazing, so it makes it a little bit satisfying while.

Anyway, the new plan is for us to try to see Paranormal Activity again, and go either tonight or Friday night. Yes, the film looks that good that we don't even mind if it’s not Orange Wednesdays, plus we can't wait that long, it’s nearly another week away!! Hehehe, you know what I mean. So, I shall be updating you again shortly…watch this space =D

I won't rate this film as i did last week =)

It's Harry Brown time!

I know this is late, and I'm sorry!! I shall explain soon =) I went to the cinema for Orange Wednesdays last week. I went with my house mates and we saw Harry Brown, as I mentioned before we all wanted to see it.

So, first is first, here are my reasons for this post being so delayed. On Thursday I got called out to work the evening last minute. On Friday I was really rushed off my feet, with work in the morning, coursework in the afternoon, and a friend’s birthday do in the evening.

Then on Saturday, I woke up at 7.30 to travel back home for the weekend, and of course, once home I never get a chance to go on the computer, plus I end up filling my time up with seeing friends and family that I don't see often. So, please forgive me =)

Right, back to the good stuff, films! Harry Brown is like the English version of Gran Torino, in a few ways. First of all, it sees the return of an infamous star that has been out of the limelight for a while. In this case, it's Michael Caine and for Gran Torino, it’s Clint Eastwood.

The second similarity, it the fact that it is about an older man who decides to take the law into their own hands and become a vigilante against the younger violent generation.

We all loved Harry Brown, it's not only a great action packed film with a great story, but its realistic as that kind of thing does go on. Harry brown is about an estate that has been taken over by rough youngsters and everyone is forced to keep quiet or be beaten, even killed.

Though it’s a gory and blood filled film, it is enjoyable for most. Even my house mate who doesn’t like any horrors, and hates gore, she said she couldn’t watch things like that all the time lol but thought it was a great film and really good story.

I’d really recommend this film, so go and see it while you can. Hopefully i shall be updating you soon, meanwhile I'll round up some friends and pick which film we want to watch on Wednesday =)

DVD night in =)

Me and my housemates decided that we'd spend the night in and watch a few films. About a week ago one of my housemates had a craving to watch Deep Impact, and so off we went to the local shopping centre, but they didn't have it in stock.

So, once we got back home he went straight onto Amazon and ordered it. It arrived the other day, and after watching 2012, a similar story in a way, we thought it'd be good to see Deep Impact and discuss the difference.

Deep Impact, starring a young Elijah Wood, is about a comet that is heading towards the earth. The comet is an E.L.E, extinction level event, and so would end humanity. A cave has been built in secret to hold 2,000 people for 2 years, as a last resort plan, until it is safe to start the world over again.

However, a space mission is the world's first beacon of hope. A team of trained astronauts head towards the comet with a plan to bury explosives within it to break it up into harmless pieces.



Both films are highly similar, not only because they are natural disaster movies but they also both have a back up plan to save a certain amount of humans to continue the race. The means are different, though only slightly, but the purpose is the same.

2012 definitely has more of a blockbuster feel to it, with lots of CGI and gripping narrow escape scenes, but Deep Impact has a more realistic feel to it, a raw feel to it, and it is a great story.

I’ll leave it up to you to decide for yourselves which one you prefer, but me and my house mates seem to like Deep Impact better, I think that ‘raw’ feeling hooked us.

Late Night, Opening Night

Ok, it was Friday night, and 4 out of the 5 of us are still in the house for the weekend. As we only have basic TV, meaning there is never really much on, we all decided we'd go to the cinema =)

The new disaster movie, 2012, had just been released and we all thought it was worth a look. So up and off we went to get to the 9pm viewing. The ticket queue wasn't too busy to say it was the opening night and a Friday night no less, but once we had bought our coke and popcorn, it was huge!

We quickly scrambled off to get some seats. Surprisingly, we found four together and settled down just in time. We knew it would be a long film, but it was midnight before we got out of the cinema.

Another late night not helped by the fact that I had an early start this morning, working 9-4.30. I'll get an early night tonight, as I have the same thing tomorrow. But anyway, back to the film. 2012 was a good story, it is based upon the world ending, as the Mayan Calendar predicted, which I’m sure you’ve all heard of.

It starts in 2010, when the problem is first discovered, and quickly flicks to 2012, when the problem begins. The public population is left unaware of the issue and are left worrying when the world is rocked by several large earthquakes.

Soon after, Los Angeles crumbles into the sea, along with other cities. Jackson Curtis, played by John Cusack, loans a plane once he realises what’s happening and makes a desperate attempt to save his family, cutting it very close to get them out of Los Angeles.

Towards the beginning, the CGI can be a little disappointing, but if you think about it, some scenes are entirely CGI and so it’s slightly understandable, anyway, it’s still watchable. At other times, the volcano eruption and the end scene, the CGI is visually amazing.

The film has a good story and good actors, making it likely to be a success. At the minute, disaster films like this are popular, and made well, the Mayan Calendar has sparked our interest, and writer’s imaginations.

Though, I hope they're wrong, long live the world! =D

Iconic Films

You know how you hear about certain films, which are iconic and classic. The kind of films that when you mentioned you haven't actually seen them, there is a sharp intake of breath from the people around you and a mass muttering shock of "you haven't seen it!!!"

Well, I'm ashamed to admit it but there are a few of films, like these, that I haven't seen. I know, it’s a crime, with me being such a film lover. We'll I'm trying to correct that. I started off with The Shining. I've always heard that it's a great horror film, a classic film that defined a new style of horror.

Even I recognise when other programs and films, The Simpson's for example, pay homage to it. The infamous line, "Here’s Johnny" is a line most people will know, even if they aren't sure where from. So, when I was given the chance to watch it, I simply had to.

It is an old film but a very well made film. Jack Nicholson plays his character so well, although his wife, Shelley Duvall, wasn't so well played. The story is interesting but I have to say it could be confusing due to the lurid and vivid imaginings of Jack that are shown throughout the film.

So, overall, it’s a good film, a classic in its own way, but compared to the multi stranded story lines of some of today’s horrors, it’s a little simple, and at nearly 2 hours long, it takes a while to get into the horror side of things.

Also, to help correct the shameful lack of iconic films that I have seen, I bought a box set of 5 Quentin Tarantino films for only £15, bargain or what! It includes both Kill Bill’s, which I have seen, as well as Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

Therefore, I shall watch them soon, and relay back to you, whether they are worth the iconic status they have built up. By the way, my house is now warm =D YAYYY, it's so nice to wake up and get ready without freezing. Chat soon =)

Cinema!!

I actually rang my landlord and he came over last night to fix the heating =D So I'm hoping, no no, praying, that it gets warmer around here soon.

Anyways, back to the point of this post. I went to the cinema last night to enjoy the wonder that is, Orange Wednesdays.

Me and my friend we're sure what we wanted to see, but we wanted to take full advantage of Orange Wednesdays. So we went to the cinema, saying we'd pick a film once we got there, we chose The Men Who Stare At Goats.

It was very different, it wasn't your typical blockbuster. The genre was far less definable and the plot wasn't straight forward or even clear at times.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is about a secret Army team, who focus on using their psychic abilities to help win the war. Lyn Cassady, played by George Clooney, used to be a member of this psychic team, and is on a secret mission in Iraq when a reported.

Bob Wilton played by Ewan McGregor, is dragged into this odd story while he is trying to prove his manhood by reporting on the war after being dumped by his wife.

The film is very original and unique. It was enjoyable to watch and funny. If you like the unusual and quirky, it's most likely a film for you, but if your the kind of person who odd films are lost on, then it's best not to bother as it isn't the usual satisfying start, middle and end film.

Oooo, the other day or so my house mate found Hook for only £3, so we all sat down on the sofa and watched that. Hook was a great film then, and is still a great film now. The food fight scene mid film is great, the icing looks so damn yummy =) If you've seen it , you'll know what i mean, though it does look a little sickly, even to me, a self confessed chocoholic.

I also got round to watching Hocus Pocus last night, it wasn't as disappointing as Ferngully and was still enjoyable, as I predicted. It has a few bits in it that are more aimed at the adults and has quite a few funny bits. I wouldn't watch it often, but for £3 I cant complain, plus, it helps you get into the Halloween spirt =) Anyway, I'm off to get some uni work done, there's an awful lot this year you know!

The Men Who Stare At Goats

Hook

Hocus Pocus

Reminiscing

Last minute, at 6 O’clock Friday night, I decided to go home for the weekend. I was persuaded because all of my housemates were off home untill Sunday and because my house is FREEZING.

My student house has only just been refurbished over the summer, and really well I might add, but for some reason, the heating does as it wants, which is ignore the settings and stay cold. Yes, I know, we need to let my landlord know so

he can fix it…it’s on my ever growing to do list.

Now, I know this isn’t my usual style, but I thought it’d be best to explain. So, while I was home, I decided to go shopping, with my mum who for once, had a day off. She wanted to go searching for a good tattooist to complete an older tattoo that she wants extended down her arm. And me, I wanted to buy some shoes that Faith had so nicely prompted me to get by emailing me, I just couldn’t resist.

As it turns out, I decided against the shoes but instead found two great pairs for the price of the ones I was looking at =) bonus! I’m getting to the point now. I could no longer avoid my instinct, my need, I wanted new DVDs. I’d previously thought about it been able to resist, but not this time!

I approached HMV and was at least sensible enough to head straight for the sale section. Once there I found a few I wanted, and I few I had to have. I dived straight for a few classics that reminded me of my childhood. You know, the few films you became hooked on when you’re a child, and you watched them over and over and over again until your parents are sick of them. I found some of them =)

And then there was Ferngully, The Last Rainforest. I loved it, Batty was sooo funny, I remember me and my brother repeating things like “gravity works” and “red light” for months on end giggling at it every time. This film however, I have to say I was disappointed, as I’ve had a chance to watch it since I bought it on Saturday. Of course though, it is aimed at children, it’s simple and short, but for £3 you can’t exactly complain.

It didn’t live up to the standards it held when I was 6, ish. Expectable really I guess but I’m sure I’ll find a chance to watch it every few years or so. Batty is such a good character, there should have been more of him in the film, that would make it loads better. As I’m older now, (and a film buff) I found myself recognising voices, some very good actors might I add. For example, Christian Slater, Tim Curry and Robin Williams are in this film =D

Hocus Pocus was only £3, I mean come on, I had to buy it. I first discovered this film at a pub on Halloween. I remember it being on TV while I was apple bobbing. Soon afterwards I got my mum to get me the video and she never saw the last of it! Although I haven’t seen it for a long time, I’m sure I’ll still think it’s a good film, maybe not as amazing as it was when I was younger, but enjoyable still.

I also bought Shawshank Redemtion, which does not remind me of my childhood, and if truth be told I only watched it for the first time about a year ago. But it is an amazing film, an absolute and timeless classic and again, it was only £3.

Wow, this is a long one. Well all I have left to say now is that i am going to the cinema tomorrow for Orange Wednesdays, though I have no idea what I'm going to see, but I will update you on Thursday probably. Unless my work load increases any more or I feel guilty about the amount I need to do and get my butt into gear lol, so chat soon =)

FernGully

Shawshank Redemtion

A classic

I managed to find a friend who wasn't going out last night. Which means they we're free to go to the cinema with me =)

We decided to see Fantastic Mr. Fox, woo. We chose an earlier showing to avoid the Orange Wednesday’s huge queues. So now I'm going to attempt to answer the question of does it live up to all the hype, and more importantly, the classic book!

Well, here goes, I actually managed to read the book recently, courtesy of Nestlé who are giving away books in certain cereals, I'm partial to Choco Shreddies you see. So after watching the film I re-read the book to remind myself how it goes.

There aren't many differences between the book and the film, and the differences that are there are clearly chosen to enhance the film. The added characters and views of certain characters, simply make the film more appealing, and don't at all take anything away from the masterpiece by Roahl Dahl.

The ending has been extended, but again, that’s just so it works better as a film, it leave you more satisfied than it otherwise would have. Yet it still manages to stay true and pretty much finish on the same thing.

Overall it is a great adaptation of a classic children's book. The stop animation works so well, and looks good. I'd recommend it whether you've always been a fan of the book, or even if you don't know what it’s about =)

Therefore I guess it does live up to the hype, with a star studded cast, great stop motion animation and it's even quirky and funny to boot!

Shockingly...More Films =D

I did it! I managed to watch a film and write a post on it, all in the space of a day. Go me =D I do need to learn to do these posts more regular and this is a good way to go lol.

The film I watched was Role Models, which is one of those films that I wanted to see in the cinema and just never got around to doing. It didn't dissapoint, it was as funny as it looked, I hate the films that show all the funny bits in the advert so when you see it, that’s it, and the rest of the film is just disappointing.

Seann William Scott does some great films, of course there's American Pie, as Stifler, who is likely to be his most famous role, but my personal favourite is Travis in The Rundown, or another name it goes by, Welcome to the Jungle =D

Role Models isn’t just funny either, its light hearted with some actual lessons hidden in it, in such a cleaver way. Role Models isn’t just funny either, its light hearted with some actual lessons hidden in it. But mainly funny =)

Danny and Wheeler work together, Wheeler loves his job and Danny is sick of it and life. One day he just looses it and lands them both a court order to do community work with 'Sturdy Wings’, taking care of children with few older role models.

The little boy, Ronnie, is so good. He is a right little gangster and his language is atrocious in a funny way. So he met his match when being paired up with Wheeler, an older version of him, who is taken for a run until they discover their shared obsession for ‘Boobies’.



Down on his luck Danny is paired with social outcast Augie, and has no idea what to do with him. They soon bond, not to every ones liking though as he shouts at his parents for not letting him do what makes him happy.

Now I’m left wondering what film to watch this week, if I manage to round up a few friends that is =) There are a few out that I want to see, 9, Fantastic Mr. Fox and I’ve heard Zombieland is a great film. Let's hope my friends can be persuaded to go and see one of them.