Cheesy Fun!

So I went to watch The Orphan the other day, and the only reason why I went to see it was because of the actors! Now those who know me know that I'm not really into the 'modren' horror film, which are always really cheesy, and knock-offs of their predecessors. So as I saw the films trailer and Vera Farmiga (The Departed, Running Scared), and Peter Sarsgaard (Boys Don't Cry, Jarhead) popped up, I thought 'hmmmm', maybe this could be different!

So I was both wrong and right, right because the two lead actors performances were on point as expected, but wrong because the movie was cheesy and predictable, although these things aren't necessarilly a bad thing! So I don't want to give the whole plot away, but a creepy kid horror movie is always good thing, check it out!

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Glourious Work

With great movies in his portfolio such as Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, the Kill Bill volumes, as well as the opinion dividing Death Proof, (which I loved a lot more than it's Grindhouse counterpart!) The genius that is Quentin Tarantino has done it again!!!! There is no doubt that Tarantino is one of the most talented and prolific directors in cinematic history. The latest release Inglorious Basterds, has been in the pipeline for sometime, with numerous script re-writes, unconfirmed actors, who are on and off the project. But it is finally here!! Now I had already resigned to the fact that I wasn't going to see this film in the cinema, mainly because my 'besties' (My best friends!) usually don't see what I call 'proper' films. Once in a while I'll be able to slip one in, in the guise of a superhero movie (Watchmen), or a horror movie (Drag Me To Hell), but this time was not the case(as proclaimed by my friends in a previous screening of another film when the IB trailer came on 'nah mate that looks dry!). So I knew I would have to watch it some other way! Anywho another friend came to the rescue and I was able to see the film, and thank the lord she did!

The main stand out performances for me were Brad Pitt, who is obviously a great actor, but again like with all his roles he is totally believable, and hilarious as the character Aldo Raine (especially the scene where they try to sneak in to the cinema using their awful Italian accents). Another great performance was from the guy who played Hans Landa AKA The Jew Hunter. Throughout the film his merciless, cruel and evil ways were portrayed so well that there is already talks of an Oscar nomination.

The enthusiastic director uses his identifiable quirks and techniques (the film is composed of numerous chapters, and the soundtrack is taken from other movies)to make this a great Tarantino movie. He was recently quoted as saying that he believes this film is his 'masterpiece'. This statement therefore made me believe before going to see it, that I was going to watch something mind blowing and exceptional. But although it was really, really, really good, it wasn't an 'oh my god' feeling at the end, or even an overwhelming sense that it was his best work. So in that sense I do see what a lot of the film critics are talking about. Although I would definitely say it's on a par with Kill Bill. Plus I still have Reservoir Dogs (I know I'm late!!) and Jackie Brown to see, so maybe either one of those could be my Tarantino masterpiece. But its safe to say that this is another accomplishment that QT can add to his list.

I recently watched two classic Brad Pitt movies, which I think are my favourites!!
Legends of the Fall and Interview with a Vampire. Buy them on Amazon if you can, for peanuts!!!


Take a look at his appearance on Ross a few weeks ago!




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Classic!!

I've been hearing this song a lot lately!! Completely forgot about The Verve, and of course everyone knows Bittersweet Symphony which is great, but this has to be my favourite song from them! Makes me a little emotional! :(

LISBOA 2009!!!!!

I have just come back from an 8 day holiday in Portugal with Miss Rachie-Pie @ Leopard Print and Lace, and Miss Hood and Proper! It was soooooo much fun!!! Just being out of London and being somewhere totally different was just amazing! I did think that NY was one of my favourite Holidays, but because it was so similar to London means that i didnt really experience anything 'new'!! Like Morocco and Nigeria, Portugal has lovely weather, beaches, culture, food and people!! and I hope that i'll get to visit there again soon!! It was also a cheap place (cheaper than LDN anyway) to live!! As per usual I over spent, on food and clothes, which means there were numerous trips to a Millenium cashpoint!!!

Aaaaaaaah Lisboa!!

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Drag Me to Hell????

Long time....no post!! Well I have been caught up in a whirlwind of assignments and trying to finish uni, having amazing vacays in Portugal/NYC, which means I have been slacking on my blogging duties. But seeing as this is my form of release, which none of my friends would care to listen to for long enough, and neither would I be selfish enough to subject them to a rant about films, means that I had to do a 'small' post about something.

Director Sam Raimi's work ranges from his groundbreaking cult horror classics, to his success in superhero mega stardom, then back again to his roots in a film I saw yesterday Drag Me To Hell.

Now this was much anticipated by me, just because I knew what Raimi had done before and although I'm not a huge fan of the Evil Dead films, I thought he would come along and show all these slasher/gorey filmmaker newbies like James Wan (Saw), and Eli Roth (Hostel) how its supposed to be done, but also bring something new to the game!!

I loved the Spiderman films, and always thought it good that a guy from a low-budget horror background, could make such great blockbuster movies. Anywho, I went in seeing the film not consciously expecting too much, but just to be scared stupid. But within the first 5 minutes I remember why I disliked the Evil Dead films (which I don't know why slipped out of my memory). The gory slapstick horror genre, never particularly 'got me going' and it didn't this time! With my bff jumping and screaming every 5 mins next to me, and her brother on the other side shouting 'oh my days, this is peng!' (East end slang for, 'oh my, this film is very good!), I realised that maybe I was subconsciously expecting too much, and in the end Raimi gave audiences what they should have been expecting when going in to see one of his horror movies, not a psychological horror that I personally would enjoy & which would make me sleep with one eye open. But something with 'big moments' intended to scare (but it was so obvious when they were coming), basically a simple minded horror film, or as the London Paper described it, a 'horror film for dummies'.

Although I wasn't thrilled, the film knew not to take itself too seriously,which was evident in the laughter of the audience, the odd person taking the piss and shouting out 'behind you', to an old lady drooling on your face, a dodgy Asian psychic, projectile nose bleeds!! Not my cup of tea!!!

Now to think of it, the only one who seemed out of sorts in the movie was the boyfriend played by Justin Long (loved Jeepers Creepers), I cant think of one moment when he was part of a gag, or had a metaphorical sly wink to the camera, it was almost as if he was in a separate film!


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Robin Thicke

This tune is soooooo lovely! I've fallen back in love in Mr Thicke!

What the 'Fudge' Was That About!!!

I went to see the much anticipated 'Watchmen' the other day. This adaptation of the much loved graphic novel by Alan Moore, has been talked about for some time now, and been in the pipeline for many years. Now although I am not a comic book geek, I have enjoyed the graphic novels that have recently been brought to the big screen, in the form of '300' and my absolute favourite in this genre 'Sin City'! But this film has to be the absolute WORST film made in this genre, and definitely the most disappointing movie of 2009 so far! OMG! Where to start!! From Dr Manhattan's blue 'willy' flying about all over the screen, to the slow and sometimes dreary plot, to the soft-core porn scenes?

Although there are countless negatives that I could keep listing, I will say on a positive note that the film was beautifully shot! The film does well to convey an authentic film noir atmosphere, and the idea of the characters living in an alternate 1985, was also very good, spotting the famous people, and well known political leaders was quite fun for a know-it-all like me! The action scenes which I did expect to be outstanding, were just that. The whole slow motion thing was cool to see, I just wish there were more. If it were a person, the trailer would have to be put on trial for perjury! It's all misleading and false-truths! How can they make such a bad film look so brilliant? Other than all this, director Zack Snyder butchers the film! Actually now to think of it, I'm trying to understand why I have so much contempt for this film? I don't think its the film at all, maybe it's the comic book as a whole that wasn't floatin' my boat!

So although I wish I could get back the 150 odd minutes wasted on this film, at least it has set the bar of what a crap comic book movie is like and no matter how much CGI and money is thrown at a project, it still can go ridiculously wrong. Writer and Director, Terry Gilliam, who is famous for his work on 'Monty Python' and Twelve Monkeys', described the project whilst in development as 'Unfilmable', and I think he was write, this is one comic book to film project that should have been left alone!



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