Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham-Carter
Genre: Fantasy-adventure
Certificate: 12
Rating: **** (awesome)
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter film series is the first one in which I have thought of the film as a piece of art. It is a shame there are only two films left to continue it with. Daniel Radcliffe's acting is a lot better as well. Equus must have been the right choice for him.
There are many scenes in the film which are more beautiful than I could have imagined - for example, although they left out Dumbledore's funeral in the film, when he died, every single Hogwarts student and professor raises their wand up in the air, lighting the tip at the same time. This is the moment in which I sobbed my heart out. Ginny and Harry's kiss is also fantastic, although predictable, and so is the scene in which The Burrow is burned down. I could keep listing the beautiful moments, but I would end up including the whole film.
The only problem I have is that there is not enough action - the film is more like a dramatic love story (including teenage awkwardness that actually does exist) rather than a battle against Voldemort. Also, for those who have never read the books, understanding Horcruxes would be extremely difficult for them, as they are not explained properly in the films like they are in the books.
This film is a must-see.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
27 Dresses (2008)
Title: 27 Dresses
Director: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden
Genre: Romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: ***** (a favourite)
27 Dresses is a delightfully funny romantic comedy, about weddings and romance. When you first start watching it, you are not sure what to expect - the idea is not the best I have come across - but after a little while, something happens. You stop worrying about how likely the situation is, and you just enjoy watching a great rom-com, which will make you laugh and smile the whole of the way through. Katherine Heigl (most known for her role as Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy)'s performance is, as per usual, flawless.
Director: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden
Genre: Romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: ***** (a favourite)
27 Dresses is a delightfully funny romantic comedy, about weddings and romance. When you first start watching it, you are not sure what to expect - the idea is not the best I have come across - but after a little while, something happens. You stop worrying about how likely the situation is, and you just enjoy watching a great rom-com, which will make you laugh and smile the whole of the way through. Katherine Heigl (most known for her role as Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy)'s performance is, as per usual, flawless.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
The Notebook (2004)
Title: The Notebook
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams
Genre: Romantic drama
Certificate: 15
Rating: *****
The Notebook is a film I have wanted to see for a long time now. When I did finally managed to watch it, I was not disappointed. There is not much I can really say here, as I do not want to give anything away. What I shall say is that, if you are anything like me, the end of this film will have you sobbing so much that you will need to re-apply all of your eye makeup, and possibly change your white blouse, as it will be going see-through due to your tears.
This is one of my favourite films of all time, it will not only make you cry, but also laugh, and it will warm your heart completely, and repair your broken belief of finding a soul-mate.
This is a DEFINITE must-watch.
Ellie May
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams
Genre: Romantic drama
Certificate: 15
Rating: *****
The Notebook is a film I have wanted to see for a long time now. When I did finally managed to watch it, I was not disappointed. There is not much I can really say here, as I do not want to give anything away. What I shall say is that, if you are anything like me, the end of this film will have you sobbing so much that you will need to re-apply all of your eye makeup, and possibly change your white blouse, as it will be going see-through due to your tears.
This is one of my favourite films of all time, it will not only make you cry, but also laugh, and it will warm your heart completely, and repair your broken belief of finding a soul-mate.
This is a DEFINITE must-watch.
Ellie May
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Star Trek (2009)
Director: J. J. Abrams
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg
Genre: Science-fiction
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****
I've never seen anything to do with Star Trek before, even though I am a lover of sci-fi. After watching this film, I am going to watch every single film and series of Star Trek, simply because I absolutely ADORE it! Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg...all are fantastic actors, and all out-do themselves in their performances in this film. The plot is great - it is extremely clever to think about someone coming back from the future and changing the past, causing that future to maybe never happen. There is a perfect balance of comedy and action in this film to make it a modern classic. One minute you are laughing, the next your pulse is racing as a fight has just broken out (and trust me, there are loads of fights). All I can do is congratulate Mr. Abrams for directing a masterpiece.
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg
Genre: Science-fiction
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****
I've never seen anything to do with Star Trek before, even though I am a lover of sci-fi. After watching this film, I am going to watch every single film and series of Star Trek, simply because I absolutely ADORE it! Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg...all are fantastic actors, and all out-do themselves in their performances in this film. The plot is great - it is extremely clever to think about someone coming back from the future and changing the past, causing that future to maybe never happen. There is a perfect balance of comedy and action in this film to make it a modern classic. One minute you are laughing, the next your pulse is racing as a fight has just broken out (and trust me, there are loads of fights). All I can do is congratulate Mr. Abrams for directing a masterpiece.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
The Children (2008)
Director: Tom Shankland
Starring: Eva Birthistle, Hannah Tointon, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jeremy Sheffield, Rachel Shelley
Genre: Horror
Certificate: 18
Rating: *****
Before watching this, I was in the perfect mood for some nice gore. However, whilst watching this, I realised that it is the first horror film I have seen that made me want to turn it off, shriek, and possibly puke. The Children is not that gory, in comparison to the Saw films, or Eden Lake. But what makes you want to scream is that fact that it is children, who are meant to be innocent, are wielding knives and other sharp objects, and are purposefully attempting to murder their older family members. These children are surprisingly well-acted, as are their parents. Although their parents aren't...sadistic like them. As the parents are completely irrational (they believe that the older teenage daughter, who is going through a rebellious stage, is attempting to murder the children), it is not hard for the children to get their own way. As well as the horror, the camera shots are actually beautiful - there is one scene in which the blood is seeping into the snow, which is an inappropriate 'wow'. This film is disturbing, and it will keep you up at night. But it is also a stroke of genius.
Starring: Eva Birthistle, Hannah Tointon, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jeremy Sheffield, Rachel Shelley
Genre: Horror
Certificate: 18
Rating: *****
Before watching this, I was in the perfect mood for some nice gore. However, whilst watching this, I realised that it is the first horror film I have seen that made me want to turn it off, shriek, and possibly puke. The Children is not that gory, in comparison to the Saw films, or Eden Lake. But what makes you want to scream is that fact that it is children, who are meant to be innocent, are wielding knives and other sharp objects, and are purposefully attempting to murder their older family members. These children are surprisingly well-acted, as are their parents. Although their parents aren't...sadistic like them. As the parents are completely irrational (they believe that the older teenage daughter, who is going through a rebellious stage, is attempting to murder the children), it is not hard for the children to get their own way. As well as the horror, the camera shots are actually beautiful - there is one scene in which the blood is seeping into the snow, which is an inappropriate 'wow'. This film is disturbing, and it will keep you up at night. But it is also a stroke of genius.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Shallow Hal (2001)
Director: Farrelly Brothers
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black, Jason Alexander
Genre: romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****
From the DVD case, this film looks like it is not going to be too good. Yet if you give it the chance it deserves, and 'don't judge a book by its cover', you will realise how good it actually is. The plot is basically about a man who only judges women from what they look like, before his perceptions are altered, and the beauty within women reflects on their beauty outside. And so, he falls in love with a beautiful woman, who he does not realise is actually fat. Yes, the plot IS cheesy, but it manages to become a beautiful film, when Jack Black's character realises that he loves his obese girlfriend, because of what she is inside. There is a scene in this which almost brought me to tears - after Hal's perceptions are re-altered, he realises that a little girl whom he played The Kissing Game with is actually a burn victim. This scene was beautifully done. Obviously, the message of this film is about seeing the inner beauty of individuals, and Shallow Hal brings it across almost too easily. A must-see.
The Ruins (2008)
Director: Carter Smith
Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson
Genre: Horror
Certificate: 18
Rating: ****
The Ruins is an interesting horror film - although it has its fair share of gore, it also genuinely is terrifying. Who would have thought that something as harmless as vines could cause so much suffering? Although at times it is hard to understand what is happening/why somebody would do that, it is actually a very good film, with disgusting (mostly medical) gore, and haunting performances from Laura Ramsey, who, along with Jena Malone, show off the best of their acting abilities here. That's not to say the others aren't good - they definitely are, but Ramsey and Malone are just...better. I accept that the plot probably isn't the best in the world, but The Ruins works with what is has, and does so extremely well. Some parts are predictable, but not so much that the film is boring. Most of the gore stems from self-amputations, and slicing into your own skin to remove some vines. All in all, although this film is not the best by any account, you still have to accept that it is pretty good.
Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson
Genre: Horror
Certificate: 18
Rating: ****
The Ruins is an interesting horror film - although it has its fair share of gore, it also genuinely is terrifying. Who would have thought that something as harmless as vines could cause so much suffering? Although at times it is hard to understand what is happening/why somebody would do that, it is actually a very good film, with disgusting (mostly medical) gore, and haunting performances from Laura Ramsey, who, along with Jena Malone, show off the best of their acting abilities here. That's not to say the others aren't good - they definitely are, but Ramsey and Malone are just...better. I accept that the plot probably isn't the best in the world, but The Ruins works with what is has, and does so extremely well. Some parts are predictable, but not so much that the film is boring. Most of the gore stems from self-amputations, and slicing into your own skin to remove some vines. All in all, although this film is not the best by any account, you still have to accept that it is pretty good.
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