Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Looooooooooved it.

Nothing much to say, other than LOOOOOOVED IT.

There is little to nothing wrong with this.

SPOILERS:

Sad ending but necessary because basically there's no other way of putting it other than everyone needed to die at the end.

The character of Tarkin was done well, but once I knew beforehand that he would be animated in, I couldn't see anything but that. He looked a little like a playstation characters. I mean good effort, but once you know he's not actually there, you can't get past it - lots of shots of his back, etc. Which was the only problem I had with the film, well not even a problem really.

"JUST GIVE ME MORE STAR WARS"

I scream as I lay in bed ill and watch nothing but episodes 4-6 all day long. 

Moana

Before seeing this film I wasn't having the cheeriest of days, what with all that stress and worrying I tend to do on a daily basis lately over just about everything, and then not doing anything to resolve the stressing and worrying, a Disney film was really just what I needed to take me away from that mess I call a life,

So, Moana is quite a nice film. I enjoy Disney trying to make films which include other cultures, I admit that they usually don't pull it off incredibly well, but every once in a while I can let some things go and enjoy most Disney films.
What I like about this film is that Moana is not a princess, even though I do like a good princess movie as much as the next person, it was refreshing. Even though she was mainly listed to her tribe as the daughter of the chief, which is problematic in itself. BUT YET, she was in training to take over her father's role and become chief, so it's conflicting.

Dwayne The Rock Johnson is probably the most likeable part about this film, and he actually has a really good singing voice. Him being of Polynesian heritage makes it more enjoyable for some reason. Dwayne The Rock Johnson plays the character of Maui who has to be found by main character and totally not a princess Moana. In order to save her people and village from a curse put out onto their crops and fishing due to Maui being selfish and such for stealing the heart of Mother Nature for the tribe. Or something along those lines. So Moana has to meet the call of the ocean in order to save the tribe.
Ensue a lot of motivational songs and forced funny parts from her animal sidekick - again she has all the bearings of a Disney Princess, but heck she ain't got that label. There's even an inside joke from the character of Maui, a demigod, about Moana really being a princess due to her funny pet sidekick.

A very interesting and overall educational film, which doesn't let you forget that it's a Disney film. For the most part from what I can tell, Disney have done a good job of not mucking up a whole culture all together again.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Basically this is coming out very late because I am useless and have no self motivation.
I liked this film more than I thought I would.

For what it's worth I like this fashion of spin offs which are coming thick and fast. Don't really know why, I think we all agree that the well of filmmaking is becoming more and more dry, and this is a nice way to tide audiences over until a new wave of originality comes. Now that's what I call sounding pretentious,

Anyway, this film took me by surprise, I didn't even really want to go to the cinema to see it, but I did and I would have regretted it a little if I hadn't.
Although there's no two ways about it, Eddie Redmayne grates on me and I'm too sure why.
Maybe because the last few films he starred in included him playing a disabled man and a trans woman - two things which he isn't. I do think straight actors should stop being praised for playing members of the LGBTQ community. Like, there's so many gay and trans actors on this earth...
But yet, I didn't hate him so much in Fantastic Beasts. I'm pretty sure he did a good job of playing a grown ass bumbling man who always looks like a schoolboy who has been caught doing something he shouldn't be doing. But all in all fair dos to him for pulling off such a character who is likeable and yet somewhat unlikeable all at the same time.

To me Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was totally alike with Harry Potter films, and yet not alike with them as well. I like that this film is set against an unsettled wizarding world, and yet we don't have to endure some acting from Daniel Radcliffe - FYI, I don't actually hate all young posh British actors. Katherine Waterston did a very good job as Redmayne's maybe almost love interest, but more importantly a witch looking to redeem herself in her line of work at the Magical Congress.
So basically, Eddie Redmayne has good intentions on releasing a wild magical beast back into its natural habitat, but all hell breaks loose and he lets all of his collection out. Which means he must collect them all before New York is torn apart. Cue to an enjoyable main storyline. But yet something darker occurs, and that really is basically the best part about the film - Ezra Miller playing yet again another moody and self destructive teenager takes the prize for what I liked most about this film

However the real winner overall here is the actor of Dan Fogler - such a pure character.

Doctor Strange

It's alright...

It's not what I expected, concerning that I'm not as great a lover as I once was of Marvel films. Doctor Strange, well I always thought that he was a bad guy, and this film does give the impression that Steve Strange is pompous twat... but that's about it. 

Basically, he's a talented surgeon who is a massive egotistical twat, drives like a dick and gets into a crash where his hands are ruined for work and it's like ohhhh gosh no, what a shame. 

So he pisses everyone off around him trying to get them fixed, and ends up in India attempting to get them fixed by amending cells and shit. But nah bra, it's magic. Magic from a bald Tilda Swinton, who I believe is meant to actually be played by an Asian person. 

She's actually a little annoying in it, and so is Benedict Cumberbatch. All these amazing actors... doing a mediocre job. 

The writing is a tad messy, and there's a chance that they've compensated for it with all these visual effects, but I'm not complaining. I liked all the space scenes. 

It may just be the character of Steve Strange, he's so unlikable sometimes... just like Tony Stark, no wonder they appear in comics together. 

And maybe it's just me, I'm not a big fan of Marvel films anymore, and I think it's because they make me cringe a bit. Like, I think I'm the only person who really does not like the new Spiderman that much.

I never realised Aunt May was actually eligible to be a AILF all along.

Ew.

Go see it is you're into good soundtracks which run for like 3 songs throughout the whole film. And go see it for some varied funny lines. And go see it if you're really into a film which tries so god damn hard...

Sorry.

Bob wins all for the last half of 2016 (see the review before this).

A Street Cat Named Bob

Hands down... the best film of 2016...
literally.
If you don't agree, go vote Trump again and get out of my sight, you unloved freak.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: scenes of drug use, relapsing, bad trips, some horrible chavs and their poorly treated dogs.

Even though yeah I'm biased because cats are my favourite animal, it's a fun film, where you'll cry and laugh and oh my god literally it's beautiful.
A film like this is needed, even if you're not a great fan of cats and have no sole, then go see this just purely for the Christmas type feeling you'll get.

Bob for Prime Minister - literally fuck 2016 so hard.
Now let's all go eat comfort food, because there's little else enjoyable right now.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

This is a good film.

I mean I liked it, I like children's films which are slightly dark - A Series of Unfortunate Events.

And I also like Tim Burton, even if he hasn't got much originality...

I mean I can see what people mean by the second half being a plot so crazy that it tends not to make sense, and that's a small unlikable factor to it really. Some of the best characters vanish, and we're left with just the children saving the day, and it ends up with a slight air of 5 Children and It, Nanny McPhee about it. Which is getting deader by the year. 

Samuel L Jackson was possibly my favourite part about it, yet it was always gonna be hard to watch him play an enemy role without being able to swear. Like he did a good acting job here, but you could tell that he was trying hard not to drop f-bombs right and left. And if I were to say my favourite part of the film were him then that would be the honest truth.  

There's a Tim Burton cameo which I for one was so surprised by it, even if it a literal second shot of him getting hit by a walking skeleton. I never thought that he did cameos in his films, he didn't seem like that type of filmmaker - i.e. one with a big ol ego.
But yeah he is.

Rupert Everett is a good actor when it comes to comedy roles, I'm not used to seeing him in any other role really... apart from that pure joyous character in My Best Friend's Wedding. But I will say the one thing which impressed me with this film is the level of acting which has been produced, both from the young and old actors, I mean there isn't anyone who is really awful in it. And it is in the long run a good film, it's a fun film, with meaning, as well as a load of dark shit in it.
I can see what critics mean when not liking the second half of the film - they said it makes little sense. And I would agree with that, there is something about the ending which didn't sit too right with me, but then again trying to explain complicated time travel sends me up the walls. Afterall I feel that the first half is truly a good solid film, it's different, but the second half does loose that somewhat. But that doesn't necessarily mean the film is completely let down by it.

I.. I dunno how else to put it just go see it. This review is all other the shop.

Chris O'Donal should never do a fucking American accent again in the history of moving image - he wasn't even putting it on at one point, just pure Irish accent.

The Girl On The Train

I've (like half of Britain) have read the book, and yes loved it. Mainly just because it was an easy read, got in done in around 3-4 days whilst I was on my holidays in Greece. It was one of those books that when you're talked to while reading it, you get pissed off due to being drawn away from it. 

But anyway the film was good. Like the book for me I only really liked one part of it - the character of Rachael. 

I don't know about anyone else, but I hated every single character in the book, apart from Rachael. And low and behold, I hated every single character in the film, except for Rachael. 

It has to be said - Emily Blunt was absolutely flawless. I watched feeling like this could be an Oscar win for her. Everyone else in it was fine - and it doesn't help that I actually hate every single character more now that they've been visualised for me more. I mean Alison Janey is the inspector, and you've got surprisingly Laura Prepon as Rachael's flatmate, and they're both people I genuinely like, but their characters are just sort of there. 

So all in all I like this film, and maybe it's purely because of the character of Rachael and Emily Blunt's performance. But I went into this film with more than half a bottle of wine in me... I had a hard day, let's not judge. And at the end of the day i can't give you all a very good criticism on this film... because my perspective was askew and I regret nothing.

Although I would in no way advise going into watching a film at the cinema half-cut, it was a little hard to keep focus. And also the whole experience was difficult concerning not only the drink, but it was mixed in with being seated quite near to the front. 

Never again will I mix that together.

If you've read the book, you'll know that it is a very quick read, there are jumps in time, but all makes sense at the end. Now if you think that the booking ending was nice and quick, it's a lot bloody quicker in the film. And that's not necessarily a bad thing - especially when you're sat there almost going into comatose state from needing the toilet.

So yeah, I promise you that you will in no way like many of the characters, if any. But you will love Emily Blunt in it, the character of Rachael is a precious soul who only deserves goodness and NOT A FUCKING RAPIST KILLER CHARISMATIC FUCK LIKE TOM.

Why does every woman on earth seem to jump into bed with Tom, he's a evil human-being, urgh and fuck me the characters of Anna and Megan are just so unlikable. Purely just because they fall over themselves for Tom. Oh god and Scott is awful, aw y'know what just cut together clips of Rachael for me and that's the film I would rather see. 

Good luck reading any of that and wanting to see the film. 

Don't Breathe

That shit is freaking crazy...

Probably the best Horror of the year, except I would place it nearer to Thriller than Horror. By the way this film is kinda never ending - which I never thought I would say, but it made it more entertaining.
Don't Breathe follows the three most useless burglars in the world - Rocky, Alex and Money. They decide to rob a blind man, a veteran, not knowing the blueprints of the house, where to find the money they're after, and in no way thinking the blind dude has senses other than eyesight. Like he's blind, not deaf, even if they do gas him whilst he's sleeping, don't mean everyone should shout about it.
So basically, the blind veteran, who has no actual name, got an settlement of money from a rich girl who ran over his daughter and killed her. The trio plan on robbing him only for the money, and Rocky and Money decide to move out of town once completing their final hit.
All you really need to know is that Rocky is abused emotionally at home by her mum, Money is her boyfriend who dabbles in unsavoury stuff, and Alex is the son of the boss of a home security company - i.e. how the three of them get into the houses. Oh yeah he's in love with Rocky.
There is a cute doggy, but he's not very nice as he's owned by the blind man seeking revenge on the people burgling him.
But he always looks like he's smiling and I can't help still liking him.

It starts off well, and may get slow by the time the main characters actually get into robbing the blind man, and from there the jump scares take their time to appear. But when they do, oh boy oh pal old sonny dear me oh my. It is just one thing after another.

The twist - and yeah, I've just ruined the fact that there's a twist for you, sorry - it's pretty good, but I knew there was one big ass plot twist coming upon reading reviews. So I was guessing before getting in there, and had a feeling it would be that there is someone or someones locked in the basement and such, and I figured that it would children. You see I watched the last three seasons of Law & Order: SVU within about two weeks and was still in the mode.
It's not, but it's still fucked up.

I haven't actually seen that many films in the cinema this year, due to being stone cold broke and such, but this is worth it - especially within the cinema setting, you need to watch it very loudly obviously.
Anyway go see Don't Breathe because it will fuck you up... in a good way.
You're gonna wish you spend your money on seeing this in the cinema rather than Sausage Party. 

Sausage Party

... There are few words.

I just don't know...
It's amazing how Seth Rogen & co just keep getting more and more offensive, and yet make it somewhat quite funny. But this, it kinda takes the piss a bit with pushing the offensive stereotypes and such. Because throughout Sausage Party you'll find that you'll laugh a little, and then not at all.

This is a hard film to explain, it's an average film for the most part - it's mostly stoner comedy (obviously, it's talking food), and that's probably why the storyline is so lackluster and why I got so bored. Which is strange because I'm usually not too bored with stoner comedies - I use to be a regular little fuck boy-loving girl going after the more undesired boys.
Oh how far we've come.

And that's all well and good... until the ending, and kids... I am scarred for life.
It's been a whole three days since and I still want to scrub my brain clean of the images.
(SPOILERS)
I get that when individuals are high off their asses they may often wonder the process of how food could, if at all, have sexual intercourse - but I for one haven't thought about it in my life AND I DIDN'T PAY £7.90 OUT OF MY OVERDRAFT TO BE DAMAGED LIKE THAT!
An actual orgy of food isn't nice.

Some may find it hilarious and some may find it disgusting, and I know that I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I found it boring in some places, it wasn't a heck of a lot like other Rogen films. And I say I didn't like it that much, but I don't wanna be singled out like a old fogey for not liking a film everyone else is in love with.
I suppose once I realised that I'm actually not very happy watching later Seth Rogen films, apart from Bad Neighbours 1 & 2 - they were fucking great, then it's apparent that him and his friends are actually running out of material.

This film lacks body until the end - WHEN THERE'S NOTHING BUT BODY TO BE SEEN.
Urgh I feel dirty.

Purge: Election Year

If I'm honest with ya'll, the Purges are some of the most stressful films I've ever watched. I know they're good films, just sometimes depressing and mostly anxiety inducing. 

And I was in a car crash on Sunday night, so maybe this wasn't the best decision for my heart rate at the moment. 

But it's a Purge film, and it's enjoyable.

Purge: Election Year basically takes on a lot of similarities as of Purge: Anarchy 

It's just like any other Purge film, the trailer promises it to be very scary with all the masks, and rich white people hating on the poor, all that kinda stuff all over again. I say it's just like any other of the Purges, but this one has a lot more likeable characters, even some of the people purging are somewhat likeable, and by that I just mean the two most annoying and bitchy girls ever seen on film are hilarious. 

She fucking came all the way back to a deli to kill the owner, because he wouldn't let her shoplift a Terry's Chocolate Orange...

She was a good actress.

Again like any other Purge film, there's two different stories going on, essentially the white people who get caught in the middle of the outside world, and the minorities trying to just get through the night. Elizabeth Mitchell (that's Juliet from Lost to you), runs for president campaigning to end the Purge once she watched her family be tortured and killed when younger. She has Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) who survived the Purge: Anarchy, as her body guard. The pair are betrayed by other body guard and some sort of campaign manager, and basically neo-Nazis have A LOT of funding from the founding fathers to capture the senator.

Ofc the pair escape, come into contact with 'murder tourists' and are basically saved because they're kinda useless. 

The pair then come into contact with the other characters, Joe, Marcos and Laney (Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria & Betty Gabriel) = my favs. 

These are the best characters, the most funny & the most endearing. Two of whom attempt to guard their deli, while the other roams the streets in attempts to give purgers medical attention. 

And yes it's got all the same tropes, jump scares which made my insides weep. I feel the whole idea of people being stuck out the street while people Purge has just been repeated somewhat here, there are many echoes of Anarchy. Especially as the final climax serves as a replication of rich white people purging together in an act of putting their purges on as a showcase. Y'know JUST LIKE ANARCHY!

But other than that, it's a really enjoyable film, just like the others, but with a message of it being it's last in the franchise. It's full of killing which puts you on edge, as well as somewhat satisfies you - just the good guys killing the bad guys, blah, blah. It's fair acting, mostly from the three most likeable characters, you tend to forget the senator character is even there for the most part, even though she's the main reason the group are together at all. 

I would say this might be the best out of the Purge films, but I can't help but feel that Anarchy just did it a little bit better. 

Finding Dory

It's okay... I mean it's funny, and heartwarming, but perhaps is missing something.

I feel like I'm touching something which doesn't deserve to be put down, and it doesn't - Pixar takes the creative piss in entertaining the young and the old.
I just wish there had been a bit more... cleaning up on the storyline. 

It ain't no Finding Nemo, of course it's not, and I feel like the bandwagon of sequels for Pixar lately hasn't treated them so well. I say that, and am yet only looking forward to Incredibles 2 in the recent future.
I enjoyed it for the most part, I just feel that you shouldn't go in thinking it's going to be like Finding Nemo. I would admit that for about the first half hour it is just taking the same path as Finding Nemo, ridiculous with taking its time to introduce the old characters again. At the end of the film, you'll find it endearing, whilst a ever forgetful Dory suddenly having flashbacks, goes in search of her parents. Her, Marlin and Nemo set off, and I'm still unsure how Nemo got so much time off of school... then a voice comes up in my head like "Sarah, they're fish ffs".
So they meet a lot of fish along the way and by chance they end up getting lost, and being separated, and oh wow once lost the separated three end up where they're meant to be - a rather nice Aquarium of sorts, and rejoin and separate again, and oh there was a lot of getting lost and going round in circles. Anyway, Dory looks for her parents, and along the way finds an octopus, two whales, two seals, a crab couple, Sigourney Weaver, a load of fish who look like her, her childhood home and yet not her parents. And yet again still separated from father and son, Marlin and Nemo, she ends up back the sea... where she finds her parents. And I'll tell you what, it's a sad scene but so happy that it may make you tear up. But that's where the happiness ends, because there suddenly needs to be a massive climax, because it seems like the filmmakers suddenly realised that Dory hadn't actually saved the day or became the hero at all. So they were like "shit" AND PUT HER BACK IN THE AQUARIUM AWAY FROM HER LONG LOST PARENTS WHO SHE JUST FUCKING FOUND, IN ORDER TO SAVE TWO FISH WHO HAD BEEN DICKING HER ABOUT SINCE THE BEGINNING. And there's some more stuff with Hank the Octopus DRIVING A COCKING TRUCK...

You wouldn't know anyone famous was in it apart from Ellen DeGeneres unless you looked at IMDB. However it's like half Modern Family cast, and by that I am over-exaggerating, it's only Ed O'Neil and Ty Burrell. But Ed O'Neil is refreshing in playing the only role he's prone to as of late, which is a grump. The Octopus Hank, played by O'Neil however way one of he funniest characters.

Aaaaand after looking up the IMDB for Finding Dory, I regret saying that the film is lacking within the big limits, it's not really... but then again it is. This film man, it was nice, a nice film. It was fun even, and there were certain parts which I would say were very funny... It is clear though that it is a built up production and marketing had shown that it is indeed a children's film, but more fool me fo no believing that it is solely that. Yet there is the Sigourney Weaver jokes which would go over any child's head.

Finding Dory is a good film, but only to the point of it being a child's film, and I would also maybe advise you of using your cinema trip for something else if you're not looking for such a gushy film as such. The funniest parts mainlyconsider the roles of two seals played by Idris Elba and Dominic West BTW.
Now this review was all over the shop. Feel free to ignore it.

Suicide Squad

Why does everyone hate it so much? I quite liked it, I was settling in ready for a let down due to all the relatively negative reviews, but well pleasantly surprised. 

But so, I can understand why it didn't live up to the trailer, I suppose most people got the image of it being a serious film with elements of humour... not injected with the cheese I was met with. But it's lucky that I can handle a certain amount of cheese within a film. 

I realise I'm not making much sense, but neither does much of the film...

So, let's start off with it's mainly the fact that likeable characters are carrying the film throughout, I wouldn't say that the storyline is particularly amazing, as well as the directing job. David Ayers has done well, just to the point of making sure the film echoes the fact that it is in fact based on a comic book. Maybe most audiences forgot that fact, I dunno.

It's enjoyable for the most part however, it's fast-paced to point where I guess you could say it feels a little rushed at some parts. And you've got to give it to this take on antiheroes - this is one reasonably multicultural gang.

Will Smith and Margot Robbie take over the show overall, as Deadshot and Harley Quinn. Afterall we were expecting a good performance from Robbie, but I would say we got a pretty freaking great one. Other than that you'll find Captain Boomerang funny, El Diablo and Killer Croc both quite lovable in a strange way and Katana isn't given anything but a background role of  'helper'. However Viola Davis is always as good as ever, there's no two ways about it, just her presence on screen gives me life.

People who could have done better begins with Cara Delevinge, supposedly she didn't ruin the film by her hand alone, but one of the ending scenes of the Enchantress downfall made up my mind that this woman is not a good actress, She's okay... but not good. And um, I hate to say this but... I didn't really enjoy Jared Leto's Joker. Not as much as I thought I would anyway, I suppose the hype built around the whole film has let some people, fans and non-fans, down to a certain degree. The Joker is a hard role, like c'mon he was taking on a lot with it. But the promises were made and not delivered as smooth as would have liked. He seemed very awkward throughout it all, like the persona was so totally under his control that he had to force out the crazy. 

Let's just say that Margot Robbie made crazy look easy, whereas Jared Leto made me feel uncomfortable but not the right way. And also, let's face it, there's only ever going to be Heath Ledger's live action, and Mark Hamill's voice to put he shame in the Joker category. 

But here's the once part which left a bad taste in my mouth, Enchantress was so boring and over-animated it made my head hurt. Now I'm no fan of the Suicide Squad comics or their place within the DC universe, I haven't got a lot of knowledge about them, and that probably doesn't help int he way of anyone reading this sub-par review. But I came away from the cinema reasoning the choice of a fucking witch being used as the enemy. I assume her character is the same in the comics, but think of it this way if you can't get your head around the absurdness of a group of bad guys fighting against a witch. The film would've found it hard for the essential 'bad guys' to be fighting for the greater good against Superman or Batman. With the Suicide Squad joining forces with the army, it had to be an object with unnatural force for them to want to fight to save the city. 

Does that make sense?

No, none of this really does, I know. This was a hard film to review.

At the end of the day, don't come into the cinema with a mind set on what you saw in the trailer, there's a lot to the film which you won't see in the way of storyline and will probably take you by surprise if you enter with your mindset in the way of a serious superhero film. It's a comedy, with action in it, try to take your mind away from the fact that there's alien-like creatures used as an army against the protagonists and an actual witch as the force of evil.  

I would advise to go in with limited high hopes, because you will be surprised for the better. Things you will take away from Suicide Squad is the enjoyable characters, and the fact that Ben Affleck's Batman has only about 20 seconds of time on screen. 

However it has a pretty great soundtrack, songs I haven't listened to since I was 17 and attempting to write my own graphic novel...

*Ted Mosby voice* - But more on that later. 

I'm joking, no one will ever want to make my graphic novel, because I am too lazy to write anything further than these lame reviews and a couple of essays for uni... 

God help me this dissertation year. 

Ghostbusters

And so I'm being thrown into a match with a wild fuckboy, making it clear that he won't go see this film because he's read bad reviews. So it's like alright, I'll buy that, even though every review I saw was generally positive and it's like where the heck are you seeing these bad reviews? And he's like how do you know it's going to be good if you haven't seen it....

and I'm like you JUST contradicted yourself up the wall mate!! But he keeps on, and on and on, and I'm stuck in this weird fight with a 'man of science' wanting to know my favourite films, then brings up lady Ghostbusters and goes off on a rant and won't listen to what I have to say. Oh but he will listen when I ask if he won't see it because it's got women in it? Then I was told not to bring gender into it... and yet he goes on to be the rudest little bitch about Leslie Jones, and at this point lads I'm completely done with this odd angst filled freak I never asked to speak to in the first place. He says that some of his favourite films have strong female leads, so I say if it's Kill Bill... then well done you. (Detect the sarcasm)

And my boyfriend put a stop to it. 

But anyway I saw Ghostbusters, and let me tell you, if you're reading negative reviews about this film, and they are written by men? Then fucking put that away and I'll lay down the truth. 

So I'm pissed off at the craze which manages to put down the whole cast and brands them as 'ruining' the original, and at the same time singles out Leslie Jones with horrid racist trolling. Seriously, it's freaking heinous. 

Let me start this review/rightful rant with the main selling factor of Ghostbusters, the original was great and funny... but this, it's hilarious! Until you watch it, you will understand that it combines elements of SNL with each woman's individual comedy, and it god damn works well.

I cried!

I literally cried with laughter at two specific parts, concerning all three main cast members. 

And let me tell you, Leslie Jones I would say was actually the funniest member of the Ghostbusters team. She has some of the funniest lines and pulls off her character well. At the end of the day, all of the Ghostbusters cast worked well together, and I haven't laughed that hard since Deadpool. 

The reboot starts off with actually a relatively scary introduction, but only gets funnier from there. Two old friends are brought back together, Kristen Wiig - Erin Gilbert and Melissa McCarthy - Abby Yates, by the promise of ghosts after being apart due to academic purposes. So I've decided that I quite like it when, main characters start the film off in a feud. But with Ghostbusters, this time around there's no notice of the pair making up, they just sort of bond through catching ghosts, and there's very little meaningful parts, which I think works. That isn't to say that the film is just laugh upon laugh constantly, it's quite a lot more than that. Abby's lab partner Gillian Holtzmann is weird but smart, and the three gently start finding ghosts. Where Leslie Jones - Patty Tolan, steps in and joins after seeing them catch one and therefore leaves her job at the subway in order to put herself in a "room full of nightmares". 

The gang hire out the room above a Chinese restaurant along with good looking, but dumb dumb receptionist Chris Hemsworth - Kevin. And let me tell you, he took on a lot with this character, and yet happily delivered. In parts I have to say he may have stolen the show. 

So a ghost invasion ensues, thanks the help of long time freak and insecure male Neil Casey - Rowan North, who has a problem with the living and wants New York City back to the 1920-30s it seems, only with the dead walking around 'annoying' the living. 

I realise I may not be selling this film well, due to the rage towards old time fans and trolls. But I implore you to see this, take your daughters and maybe cover their eyes at one part where the bird is flipped. But this film, it was needed, whether or not it was going to be insanely funny.  

And if you think in anyway this reboot does not do the original justice, then open your fucking eyes and see all three remaining cast members make cameo appearances and GET TO FUCK! 

It seems to be a fan-base of the original wanting to insert themselves head first into Bill Murray's nether regions who want this to be a flop, but it wasn't, it's the total opposite! And Bill Murray wasn't even that funny in it, Dan Aykroyd has the funniest lines out of the three, and also Ernie Hudson's last line ended the film with the whole cinema laughing.

And note that Dan Aykroyd isn't happy with the racism being thrown around, so you're not impressing anyone, literally. I feel from my encounter with the boy who refused to see a film with funny and strong females leads, had a main problem with Leslie Jones, calling her out on acting like 'a stereotypical black woman', whilst Ernie Hudson was 'totally normal dude in the orginal'. And I've found in my time in the adult world, in the time of opening my eyes, if there's one thing white cis men hate more on this earth than women owning the fact that they are a woman... it is a black woman owning their race and gender. 

And that audience makes me sadder than anything on earth.

Go watch Ghostbusters and cheer yourself up from the world, I mean Ozzy Ozbourne makes a cameo!

The Conjuring 2

Sometimes I often wonder why I put myself through the torture of scary movies, it comes to the point where the sleepless nights and working up my anxiety and paranoia isn't worth it at the end of the day...

But having said that, The Conjuring 2, whilst scaring me, allowed me to have somewhat relaxed nights.

But then again having said that, I did watch it from behind my hands being clasped tight to my face.
Basically it's a good film, to the point where it's more entertaining in other ways rather than scaring the life out of you. The fact that there's humour injected into it makes it confusing as to what type of horror this actually is. Especially concerning the first movie being one of the most unnerving horror films I have watched in my life.

I feel that the let down could probably be down to the fact that the sequel is set in England. So in turn there pursues the ideal of British comedy coming in characters being awkward and so on.
So it's an odd mixture at times, but yet still fun to watch.
However I will say that it's long for a horror film. And the whole idea of an old man haunting a family isn't plausible. Which is the right way of thinking, because it's based on a real story from London where the little girl FAKED ALL OF IT FOR ATTENTION. Like seriously little girl? You going to play around with dark forces. The Enfield Haunting obviously was a load of bull, seeing as the kid put her hand in front of her mouth any time the ghost of Bill Wilkins came through her. And SHE EVEN ADMITTED THAT SHE WAS FAKING. But alas scraped together that she started off faking, but it suddenly got real.
Well yeah, it's based on a true story, and effectively glamorised for Hollywood.
So, a dead Bill Wilkins is haunting a little girl (supposedly), and to be fair James Wan did a good job of putting horrible images in my head. Yet, it's just and old man in the end. Racist old granddad Bill roaming around the house trying to get Songs of Praise on the telly.

Thankfully though, it's not all that and there's darker forces at work... in the style of a demon who genuinely scares me still two days after watching it. As well as that there's some 'Crooked Man' pissing about looking incredibly animated and not scaring anyone at all. That is until you find out that he was not animated at all and is in fact a human contortionist... yikes.
So two main demons, and poor old Bill isn't all to blame in the end, no it's the one who looks suspiciously like Marilyn Manson instead.    
In the end there's a one worded answer which saves the day, and I spotted what the word was way at the beginning of the film where the demon comes to visit the Warrens in their home.
GO ME!

So to sum up, there's some quite scary parts in it. But overall it's let down by the England story-line, which we all know was a hoax anyway. And full of characters who look NOTHING like their real life counterparts, it's literally ridiculous. But however the characters are likeable, and then again there's laughs as well as two dogs on screen.
So maybe go see it instead of that horrible Romance portraying non-disabled people as disabled characters.

Even if The Conjuring 2 lacks in excitement occasionally, it's got to be less of a snooze fest than that.

The Jungle Book

First of all... John Favreau is the smooshiest, even when he was in Swingers - (unpopular opinion)

TRIGGER WARNINGS: 

Fire/Violence/Death

& an unsettlingly large monkey.

The whole cast  is beautiful, just a great job all round. Except it took me ages to remember that it was in fact Giancarlo Esposito - Gus from Breaking Bad, voicing the leader of the wolf pack, being that his voice was a little more forgettable than others. 

I feel that it is a bit of a step out of the blue for something from Favreau, but then again, he made the masterpiece which is Elf... as well as the unfavourable Iron Man films which I'd rather not, like y'know? Y'know... like bore off please.

So now that Favreau is getting fulling into the swing of Children films which a lot of adults care more about, then I am happy with whatever he decides to do.

I don't think there was any animal character who I didn't want to somehow cuddle, and yes I know they're all made on computers, but I can dream of cuddly animal friends can't I? 

Baloo was just adorable, kudos to Bill Murray yet again for providing comic relief forever more. 

Scarlett Johansson being a boring old dud in it (well not a lot new there), with her 10 lines and making them BORING AS HELL. Thank god Baloo came along. Ben Kingsley and Lupita Nyong'o are both great also, but however I feel that Idris Elba steals the show as per usual. 

He shows up most of the cast by out-acting them all with his voice alone. 

God bless that man. 

Newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli does a pretty great job of acting along with make-believe animals. He's got all the simple acting talents of a child acting, like he over exaggerates simple things, but on the whole he does a pretty good job, and I look forward to what else will come of him. 

My main quip with Favreau's latest work is the bizarrely timed tune of 'I Want To Be Like You' from Christopher Walken playing King Louie. Maybe the fact that it's odd timing was pointed out to me before in another review is the reason why it seemed more obvious to me. Well any way, it seemed weird all round just due to the fact that King Louie is supposed to be angry at that point in the newly generated Jungle Book. but yet he's breaks into a supposedly happy song eventually making it sinister without meaning to... like John... you okay John? What's happening with Chris?

Walken anyway you don't see for a lot at all really, which I was a little sad about but then again there was nothing more than a crazy mob-like sensation with King Louie - you give me fire, I'll protect you for life Mowgli son. 

Imagine Don Corleone breaking out into Singing In The Rain when making you an offer you can't refuse, and the whole Mafia family screaming crazy af. 

SPOILER:

Favreau changes the whole ending, which I thought I wouldn't be happy with when it unravelled on-screen... but I'm okay with it. I know why it was done, *drum roll* that great money maker shaker that is A SEQUEL!!!!!!

One thing I will say overall is it may be in your best interests to watch it in 3D, and I never really suggest that. It was as if I was trying too hard to appreciate the graphics. I came out wishing I had waited a little longer for a quieter screening in 3D. 

Overall, you will come out to cinema a very happy soul. 

Now back to marathonning Kimmy Schmidt...

10 Cloverfield Lane

Sat in a very dark cinema my brain screamed "YAAAAS" at the performances from John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

TRIGGER WARNING: Imprisonment/Gore.
Can you have a trigger warning for Aliens?
Whoops, just gave away something big... well c'mon you should really have at least an idea of what Cloverfield was about.

And I mean it...

I can already tell that 10 Cloverfield Lane will be snubbed and underrated all year round. Let me just put it out there right now, John Goodman takes the god damn cocking biscuit with how well he plays his creepy yet somewhat adorable character. He plays Howard, who steals Mary Elizabeth Winstead, playing Michelle, off the road after crashing into her car. Michelle incidentally was running away from her boyfriend after a big fight. Then big old Howard comes along and locks her up, because apparently the 'air up in the normal world is contaminated'.

So yeah, it seems to be a hostage situation, until we meet Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) stuck down in this bunker with the two. Yet he was trying to get in when the world was 'attacked'. So Michelle is opened up the somewhat psychotic, yet lovable world of Howard the conspiracy theorist.
And there's nothing I love more than a conspiracy theory.

I loved this film from start to finish, John Goodman is flawless as ever. If you are a fan of him like me, you should go into watching this with an open mind, because he is half the cuddly bear you wish him to be every minute of every day, and half a raging lunatic. The character of Howard is very manipulative, and I can promise you that that is the most scary and unnerving factor about this film.

All along I thought this was directed by J.J. Abrams, ah beloved J.J. (He only produced it).
But nah it was directed Dan Tratchenberg, and I have to say he really made it his own, and basically he's done very little else, so kudos to him for this... my first favourite film of 2016. Yeah, and y'know what, it comes above The god damn Revenant.
Anyway, if you like Sci-Fi and a lovely homey South American aesthetic, then make sure to go see this. If for any reason, I would say that the storyline is awesome and when John Goodman smiles in a certain way, your heart will just burst.
But, like one minute you wanna be shut down in the bunker with these poor people, next minute you want to punch Goodman's character in his face....

PLUS YOU GET TO SEE JOHN GOODMAN DO A LITTLE TWERKING!!!!
NSDFOSDNGPZXFNB;DXNB;XDNFB;DOFNG'DOIF

GET
ON
THAT
JOHN!

Can you tell that I'm a John Goodman fan? 

Spotlight

It's good... like really good.
Underrated even.

Why did it take me so long to publish this I'll never be fully sure... being a student is hard when you rarely get out of bed each day.

Spotlight tells the infamous story of exposing paedophilia in the catholic church, basically. I remember how big this situation was when it came out when I was younger. I didn't fully understand much of it, but I knew that it scared me. The unveiling of the catholic church's seedy underbelly in America is demonstrated with respect in Spotlight - and by that I mean towards victims and survivors.
We see a straight-faced Michael Keaton do a pleasing job as usual, as manager of getting the truth out. Keaton's team of co-stars reflect his talent just as well, the acting you will witness only adds to this film. What I am impressed with is that this delicate story is in no way glamorised, nor is this film a thriller, nor mystery... it tells the truth essentially.

Without becoming a documentary, the utmost respect is taken when telling the stories of the survivors. Spotlight also ensures that they are heard, however still shows that sexual harassment within the Catholic still occurs to this day. The fact that it took so long for the original story to be brought to light is portrayed perfectly thanks to director Tom McCarthy.

I realise that Spotlight is probably well on its way out of cinemas right now, but it is worth buying... and that's quite rare for me to claim those standards.
Mark Ruffalo outdoes himself as portraying the fire within the a force who is met with troubles of getting the truth out.
Rachel McAdams also shines through as our main female character, her acting more subtle than that of Ruffalo, however just as effective.

Spotlight will open your eyes to just what survivors went through, as well as how long it took for their stories to be heard.
An upsetting story, but one which needs to be told.
I am very glad it won at least one Oscar this season, the filmography is very pleasing if I do say so,


In other news, I shall be writing for FilmDebate as part of my work experience and as a chance for me to stretch my writing skills.
It is quite exciting for me actually, seeing as I'm going to be graded at the end of the day for doing something I love to do in my spare time.
It won't be me reviewing films however, but with hope my first article will be on my favourite female led films.
So if you like the theme of compilation, then take a trip over to http://filmdebate.co.uk/ and attempt to find my material soon. 

Deadpool

If you haven't gotten on top of seeing this yet... you better.

Already one of the more impressionable films I've seen this year. 

So let's just begin with me stating that I have not read any Deadpool comics, I am by far a massive Dead Head and Punisher fan. I love comics though, my collection is tame to say the least, but like c'mon some prices are not for a student's pockets.

Anyway, I knew about Deadpool due to just seeing him around the internet and comic book world, but never got a chance to read any of his stories.

But this film... right from the word go it will have you in stitches.

I knew it was going to be crude and in-your-face, but it still went in deep. I would say that are about two parts where paedophilia is joked about. But other than that it's not too rough on the triggers. 

Ryan Reynolds is perfection, and makes up for his first appearance as Deadpool in that sub-par Wolverine Origins film. I mean heck he even made up for Green Lantern... *shudders* 

Which brings up a discerning question of who is worse - Ben Affleck's Daredevil or Ryan Reynolds's Green Lantern.

But anyway, Reynolds pulls off the antihero's charisma and hilarity so well that you forget about anything you've seen him in before. 

I do love how the storyline is so simple, and yet you're sat there only to watch Reynolds tell you what he's doing and when it's going to happen. Little nods to the studio makes this film even more so enjoyable as well. Whether or not you are a Deadpool fan, this is a very good film. 

I urge you to go and see Deadpool, if for anything just to brighten your life up. 

Right from the credits it's funny, and the acting from everyone in it is pretty impressive. 

Also it's obviously Marvel, so for the love of god don't leave straight away with the ending credits, and look out for Stan Lee - now that bit surprised me...

Sorry this review is so short, but there's not a lot more to say other than that you will love this film.

Breaking fourth walls never pleased me more. 

The Revenant

First off, this film struck a cord with me due to frankly boredom and depression sending me into a pit of binge watching various documentaries. Some of these docs being about Native Americans, so I've been educating myself on the life in America before the white man entered. 

The Revenant may or may not be on the better end of how Native Americans are represented in the media. 

(Do not get me started on Pocahontas).

(Especially after days on end discussing it back and forth in my Animation essay... now that was a rocky road).

Basically, Leo is great in it... but I'll be the one to say it... TOM HARDY WAS BETTER! There we go, someone had to bring it up.
Let's face it, Tom Hardy is amazing at anything at the moment. Bane, Mad Max, Kray Twins, I feel that he's not going to blow over any time soon.
Hardy's performance, for me, outshone DiCaprio's perhaps. I want to make it clear though that Leo should get the Oscar, only so everyone WILL SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT IT!
Just let the meme die people.

In The Revenant we see a lot happen within the opening, and trust me it's gruesome but awesome. And also there's a cool bear. And loads of death. And revenge. My type of film really. Director - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, I have to say has the most amazing vision. His take on filmmaking to me seems so unique, I for one haven't seen anything like his work before. Birdman shares many similar aspects as The Revenant, and yes I did love it.
I loved this film to a degree that I would say it should win Best Picture.
And that's a given and everything, but it does deserve it.
Inarritu should ave won more for Birdman in my opinion.
I say all of this and yet I've only watched half of Birdman, and nothing other than that and The Revenant... I appear to have not watched any of his other works....

Just watch the film, and then not watch it again for a very long time, so you can appreciate it better.
This 'review' has been pointless and unhelpful.
I am sorry.

The Hateful Eight

What I found whilst narrowly avoiding my Animation assignment on representation, was that this film was so so long.

Damn, it was long...

I mean it was entertaining, but I'll repeat the annual faux pas and say that yeah, it wasn't at all Tarantino's best.
I liked the narrator, and Samuel L Jackson is amazing as always.
It was good at the end of the day... just not amazing, and if I'm honest a little forgettable.
A fresh face among the old and ugly comes Channing Tatum, which was kind of nice... I mean I appreciate Time Roth as much as the next young girl with a thing for good actors, but alas his delivery was sub-par at best.

I've probably put a lot of you off, but as I said it was long and I figure that's a massive factor into a film which rarely changes scenery throughout.
However I'll say this, my most favourite part was Kurt Russell. I don't what it is, but with this and Death Proof, he always makes his characters somewhat likeable... even though they're horrible humans.
 Also Jennifer Jason Leigh knocks it out of the park with her part of Russell's prisoner. With all the amazing actors on set, the storyline still dragged a little and made me not too worried about purchasing it upon release.

Along with a small twist which you can figure out for yourself quite quickly, you'll find that it stinks of Hitchcock, and as much as I love Taratino films it's basically a repeat of a repeat.
Which I know is his style, but I'm bored of it, and no Quentin you would never have done a better job of directing Scream. (Just to put it out there). So let's all agree that this was to be appreciated for aspects you've viewed already within a different film, and get used to it, because The Hateful Eight appears as a spin-off from Django.
I'm so salty over this and I don't even know why.
Probably because I was expecting more, but it fizzled out.
Just leave me be Quentin... you've done enough.

Room

I've found my winner for Best Actress this Oscars season, by means that if I must in that list of yet again whitewashed actors and actresses.
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of rape & imprisonment.

Now this film tackles a sensitive issue, a woman is kidnapped and locked away for seven years. Out of those seven years, she gives birth to a boy within her first two years of being held captive. The man who imprisoned her to his garden shed rapes her every night and of course fathers the boy.
Let me say that this is hard-hitting, but not in such a blunt way as I expected, Room is quite poetic. We see through the eyes of 5 year old Jack, who is rather annoying, and loves Room where he has only known those fours walls all of his young life. He is annoying in the sense that he is a little bitch to his mother often, and won't help her with anything.

I mean you feel sorry for him, because how can he imagine a world he's never seen before.
Joy, his mother, suddenly uproots her storytelling of how a world outside Room does not exist. She's already told him that the people on T.V. are fake, everything they see on T.V. is actually fake. When she suddenly breaks and tells him she was lying and there are others in the world other than them, he becomes more annoying and is ruder than ever. You feel mostly bad for her due to his ignorance, but then again she put it in his head in the first place.

In short, Joy uses Jack to gain freedom from their prison, and they are rescued slowly but surely. It then begins to concentrate on their acceptance to the world Joy had left behind. With her parents divorced and the press hounding her family, Joy soon becomes unhinged and disregards her fragile son. Without providing spoilers, things become bleak, but the faith of one little boy brings Joy back to life and things become less stressful - for Joy and the audience.

Room stressed me out if I'm honest, but on the whole this was a very interesting film. I enjoyed it and took on board how emotional is was. You may cry, I sniffled at one point, only due to being close to home. The concept of this film, if you will, probably stems from how strong a mother's love can be. I dunno, something mushy like that.
Just be aware, when you watch this you may feel alienated to an extent.

Overall it's amazing acting, from both Brie Larson as 'Ma' and Jacob Tremblay as 'Jack'.
The acting from Jacob Tremblay especially, concerning his abilities to play an unappreciative yet innocent and generally impressionable little boy.
All I'm saying is that my hopes and predictions go to Brie Larson for Best Actress, because she outdid herself.