Tomorrowland - A World Beyond

Once again, my mum and I went to the cinema to see the latest Disney film for a couple of reasons; one because it looked interesting with the various action sequences shown in the trailer and two because my mum likes George Clooney, always has.

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond is the 2015 action adventure film by Brad Bird from Disney Studios with stars including George Clooney (Ocean's Eleven, Up in the Air), Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder), Britt Robertson (The Longest Ride, Under the Dome), Raffey Cassidy (Snow White and the Huntsman, Dark Shadows), Tim McGraw (The Blind Side, Country Strong), Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy), and Keegan-Michael Key (The Lego Movie, Key and Peele).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Clooney fans; action/adventure fans

Favourite Characters: Frank

Favourite Part: Nate: Why do you love the stars so much? 
Casey: Because I want to go there.
Nate: What if nothing is there?
Casey: What if everything's there?

Good Points: Great concept; visually spectacular; Casey and Frank's relationship

Bad Points: Took a while to get into the story; parts seemed forgotten

Film Addict's May Film Choice

We all go through life with ups and downs and sometimes they are big and sometimes they are small, and this month just seems to be full of both big and small downs.  My grandad was diagnosed with cancer well over 5 years ago but we thought he beat it, the lovely stubborn man that he is but unfortunately, the cancer decided to strike twice and he took a big turn for the worst this year.  He passed away this month and though we knew it was coming, we are all going to miss him so while I've been sat here on my own, thinking about how to deal with this, I decided to dedicate Film Addict's May Film Choice to him.  While I don't know what his favourite film is because he used to watch so many and he was a man of very few words but I know that he liked war films so I have decided to pick one from my extensive film collection and chose Fury.

Fury is the 2014 war film directed by David Ayer who also wrote the screenplay.  Brad Pitt (Ocean's Trilogy, Fight Club) stars along with Shia LaBeouf (Transformers, Constantine), Logan Lerman (Perks of Being a Wallflower, Percy Jackson series), Michael Peña (American Hustle, Shooter), Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, The Wolf of Wall Street), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter series, Peter Pan), and Scott Eastwood (Gran Torino, The Longest Ride).

Rating: 6

Recommended To: War film fans

Favourite Characters: Wardaddy

Favourite Part: Wardaddy: [pointing at the tank, Fury] That's home. Do what you're told. And don't get too close to no one.

Good Points: The relationships between the crew of Fury; sense of realism throughout; good old fashion action

Bad Points: Predictable

The Age of Adaline

It's been a while since I have purposely been to the cinema to see a romance film, let alone an epic romance which has been compared to the likes of The Notebook, but when I saw the trailer for The Age of Adaline, I felt compelled to see it because I liked the look of the cast as well as the story.

The Age of Adaline is the 2015 epic romance fantasy film from Lee Toland Krieger which focusses on a young woman who no longer ages because of an unusual accident in 1937.  Blake Lively (Gossip Girl, Savages), Michiel Huisman (Orphan Black, Game of Thrones) star in The Age of Adaline along with Harrison Ford (Original Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones series), Kathy Baker (Edward Scissorhands, The Town), Amanda Crew (Charlie St. Cloud, The Haunting in Connecticut), and Ellen Burstyn (Interstellar, The Fountain).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Romance fans

Favourite Characters: Ellis

Favourite Part: Adaline: What are you doing here?
Ellis: I got something for you too.  [Pulls three books out of his bag] Some flowers.
Adaline: Daisy Miller by Henry James.  Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradburn.  White Oleander by Jenny Fitch.  [Laughs] Very clever.

Good Points: Beautifully shot; interesting premise; Harrison Ford

Bad Points: Predictable; hard to connect with Adaline at first

Film Addict's April Film Choice

Continuing on from last month where I decided that I was going to review a relatively new addition to my film collection, the Film Addict's April Film Choice is Chef, a film I really wanted to see that came out in October last year but never got the chance to see.

Chef is Jon Favreau's 2014 comedy-drama film revolving around a chef who quits his job after being pressured by his boss to keep from experimenting with his menu at his restaurant.  Stars includes Jon Favreau himself (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Couples Retreat), Sofía Vergara (Modern Family, Four Brothers), John Leguizamo (Romeo + Juliet, Ice Age), Emjay Anthony (It's Complicated, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Scarlett Johansson (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Island), Oliver Platt (Casanova, X-Men: First Class), Bobby Cannavale (Will & Grace, Win Win), Dustin Hoffman (Meet the Fockers, Rain Man), and Robert Downey, Jr. (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sherlock Holmes).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Those looking for a happy film

Favourite Characters: Martin - plot might not have worked without him

Favourite Part: Carl: I gotta pick up some equipment for the truck.  You wanna come with me and help me pick out a stove 'til Mom calls back?
Percy: Fine.
Carl: Alright.  Let's go.

Good Points: Great cast; the way social media was incorporated; great feel good film

Bad Points: Made me massively hungry; predictable plot

Avengers: Age of Ultron

I become obsessive when it comes to all things Marvel, whether it is films or comics or even figures, to the point of where I get a little nutty so it is natural to assume that I would go and see the biggest summer blockbuster out this year; in fact, it was necessary and has been commanded from on high.  I have been so excited about this film coming out since last year as I love characters that make up the Avengers alone or together and the actors that play them and I couldn't wait to see their latest escapades.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is the 2015 superhero film by Joss Whedon, a sequel to all of the recent Phase Two films of Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as 2012's The Avengers also directed by Whedon who wrote the script too.  Whedon has brought back the original Avengers cast; Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes), Chris Hemsworth (Rush), Mark Ruffalo (Begin Again), Chris Evans (Snowpiercer), Scarlett Johansson (Lucy), Jeremy Renner (The Bourne Legacy), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Paul Bettany (A Knight's Tale), Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting), and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction).  As well as the original Avengers cast, Whedon chose to bring more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe cast in such as Don Cheadle (Ocean's trilogy), Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker), Hayley Atwell (Cinderella), and Idris Elba (Luther) to fill in minor roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron while bringing in new cast members Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Elizabeth Olsen (Godzilla), and James Spader (Lincoln),to take on the more major roles, the latter of which taking over the antagonistic role this time around.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Marvel Cinematic Universe fans; superhero fans; action fans

Favourite Characters: Steve; Vision; Hawkeye; Quicksilver

Favourite Part: Thor: IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?
Ultron: [Laughs and summons more drones with his arms outstretched]  THIS is the best I can do. This is what I've been waiting for. All of you against all of me!
[Battle ensues]
Steve: You had to ask...

Good Points: Great sequel to previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films; action and comedy perfectly intertwined; ambiguous ending was great; best outing of the characters yet

Bad Points: Very busy at points

Cinderella

Disney films were a big part of my childhood and I drove my parents mad with them, playing them repeatedly which I'm surprised didn't break them eventually given that I was born in the VHS era.  It's still the same 23 years down the line, my fascination with all things Disney hasn't subsided, it may have intensified, as I continue to go and see them at the cinema and watch them at home.  This time, my mum and I went to see the latest Disney film out at the cinema, Cinderella, as we both enjoy the Disney Classic and the characters in it.

Cinderella is the 2015 romantic fantasy directed by Kenneth Branagh based on the fairy tale of the same name and borrows elements from the 1950 animated Disney Classic of the same name.  Lily James (Downton Abbey, Wrath of the Titans) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, Hope Springs) star as the romantic leads with other members of the cast including Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings series, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Stellan Skarsgård (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Good Will Hunting), Holliday Grainger (The Borgias, Jane Eyre), Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey, Highway to Dhampus), Derek Jacobi (Underworld Evolution, The King's Speech), Nonso Anozie (Dracula, The Grey), Ben Chaplin (Dorian Gray, Dates), Hayley Atwell (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Duchess), and Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter series, The King's Speech).

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Cinderella fans; Disney fans

Favourite Characters: The Prince/Kit

Favourite Part: King: You must not marry for advantage.  You must marry for love.  Find that girl.  Find her, the one they're all talking about.  The forgetful one who loses her shoes.
Prince/Kit: [at the same time] Loses her shoes. [laughs and smiles]
King: [laughs and smiles at the Prince/Kit] Be cheerful, boy.
Prince/Kit: Thank you, father.
King: Thank you, Kit.  I love you, son.
Prince/Kit: I love you father.

Good Points: Cast were fantastic; production design; the way magic was involved; wonderful adaptation

Bad Points: Very twee

Film Addict's March Film Choice

For this month and next I have decided to choose relatively new additions to my vast film collection that I have bought on a whim recently or because I like the actor and I missed it when the film was released in the cinema if they are recent.  For the Film Addict's March Film Choice, I have chosen Begin Again.

Begin Again is the 2013 musical comedy-drama directed by John Carney, starring Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean series, Pride & Prejudice) and Mark Ruffalo (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Kids are Alright) in the lead roles.  Supporting stars include Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Ender's Game), Adam Levine (leader singer of Maroon 5, American Horror Story), James Corden (Into the Woods, One Chance), Yasiin Bey (The Italian Job, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), CeeLo Green (musician), and Catherine Keener (Captain Phillips, Into the Wild).

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Ruffalo and Knightley fans

Favourite Characters: Steve - fantastic secondary character shone amongst the cast

Favourite Part: Greta: [...] No, I love your songs.  I'm...I'm...I'm being fucking horrendous right now which is exactly why I need to, um, I need to go home.
Steve: It's exactly why you need to come with.  [Slams Greta's laptop closed] Come on, I insist.
Greta: I really...
Steve: [Interrupts] Pick that up and come with me.  You're coming.  I'm not leaving you here.
Greta: Okay.
Steve: Come back, I'll find your fucking head in the oven.  Come on.

Good Points: How Dan and Greta were introduced; the music; the way New York was captured; funny; the closeness of the leads

Bad Points: Musical montages were a bit much after a while

Film Addict's February Film Choice

We all get the winter blues every so often, I know I do especially when I get stressed out or someone winds me up, so I thought I'd review a cheery film that is random and makes me smile throughout.  So, the Film Addict's January Film Choice is Ten Inch Hero.  It's nothing rude, I swear.

Ten Inch Hero is David Mackey's 2007 independent romantic comedy film; stars include Elisabeth Harnois (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Keith), Clea DuVall (Argo, Heroes), Sean Patrick Flanery (Saw 3D, The Boondock Saints), Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, Dark Angel), Danneel Harris (One Tree Hill, Friends with Benefits), and John Doe (Roswell, The Good Girl)

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Comedy fans

Favourite Characters: Priestly

Favourite Part: Priestly: You're shittin' me. Jen, please tell me you didn't leave Fuzzy sitting down there wondering.  God damn it Jen.                 
Jen: I don't expect you to understand.    
Priestly: Oh I understand.  I understand you wouldn't talk to him 'cause you were terrified he'd judge you on the basis of your looks, yet you're completely comfortable doing the exact same thing to him.  Unbelievable, god!

Good Points: The employees of the sandwich shop; touching film with interesting dialogue; visually vibrant; funny

Bad Points: Priestly at the end; Piper's storyline

Jupiter Ascending

Choices at the cinema are a bit limited at the moment depending on what you want to see seen as Fifty Shades of Grey is dominating nearly every screen at my local cinema and it doesn't seem like my cup of tea, at least not at the cinema given the content.  However, with my sister back home for the weekend, we all went to see one of the other films that came out recently for something to do as a family.

Jupiter Ascending is the 2015 space opera directed by The Wachowskis starring Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street), Mila Kunis (Black Swan, Family Guy), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, Les Misérables), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings series), and Douglas Booth (Noah, Great Expectations).  Known for their unusual films, such as The Matrix series and Cloud Atlas, the Wachowskis have brought another wonderfully weird addition to their collection.

Rating: 7

Recommended To: The Wachowskis fans

Favourite Characters: Caine; Stinger

Favourite Part: Jupiter: Because a dream is the only way any of this make sense.
Caine: Compared to what? The idea that you're the only intelligent species, on the only inhabitable planet, in a universe so full of planets that you don't even have a number to describe how many there are.

Good Points: Visually spectacular; very different than normal; Caine and Stinger's relationship

Bad Points: Really had to concentrate; Kalique seemed a little useless; predictable

Film's Addict's January Film Choice

It was one of my best friends' birthday last week so like I did back in August for my kid sister, I have dedicated the Film Addict's January Film Choice to her and she chose Serenity, the film sequel to the Firefly TV series, one of her favourite films as well as mine.

Serenity is the film continuation of Joss Whedon's TV series Firefly, a space western, with the same main cast that portrayed the crew in the TV series plus new additions which allows the world Whedon created to be expanded.  Stars of Serenity include Nathan Fillion (Castle, Slither), Gina Torres (The Matrix Reloaded, Suits), Alan Tudyk (I, Robot, Frozen), Adam Baldwin (Chuck, The Last Ship), Summer Glau (Arrow, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Jewel Staite (Stargate Atlantis, Space Cases), Sean Maher (Much Ado About Nothing, Arrow), Morena Baccarin (V, Gotham), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, American Gangster), many of whom have starred in other works that Whedon has directed and written.

Like the Film Addict's May, August, and November Film Choice, there is a special point that I have added that my friend picked and this time it was her favourite part.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Anyone; Joss Whedon fans; sci-fi fans

Favourite Characters: Mal - typical outlaw hero; Wash - always been my favourite

Favourite Part: Wash: It's okay, I'm a leaf on the wind!
Mal: What does that mean?

Good Points: Characters were fantastic; expansion of the universe Serenity is set in; continuation from the TV series

Bad Points: Not quite the same as the TV series

Special: First scene on-board Serenity

Into the Woods

It's a new year and to mix things up a bit, my mum and I went to see the new adaptation of Into the Woods as it intrigued me with the different actors that were taking part in it and the plot of the musical it was based on and how they were going to adapt that to screen even though I have never seen the musical.  Musicals aren't my favourite kind of film, even though a lot of Disney films are musical in some way, but I like to watch them occasionally so it's something different to see.

Into the Woods is the 2015 Disney musical film by Rob Marshall based on Stephen Sondheim's musical of the same name starring Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Gnomeo & Juliet), James Corden (Gavin & Stacey, One Chance), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air), Chris Pine (Star Trek series, Rise of the Guardians), Tracey Ullman (Corpse Bride, How I Met Your Mother), Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife), and Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Caribbean series).  Into the Woods is inspired by a number of fairy tales including Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood as several of the characters are brought together and a story is wound around them.

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Musical fans

Favourite Characters: Baker - great character development

Favourite Part: Jack: Magic what type of magic? 
Baker's Wife: Tell him.
Baker: Magic that, uh, defies description.

Good Points: Very surreal but very enjoyable; interesting amalgamation of fairy tales; production design is wonderful

Bad Points: Could be overcomplicated for children

Film Addict's December Film Choice

As of this month, I have graced this planet for 23 years and in celebration of that, I have decided to share with you, anyone who is out there, one of my favourite films.  My original intention was to review New Year's Eve on New Year's Eve because I thought it would fit but when I was watching it, I thought it would be a better idea to share one of my favourite films because that's what Film Addict's Choice of the Month is really, though occasionally, the definition changes whenever I think something might suit a particular month.  So this month, the Film Addict's December Film Choice is Dogma.

Dogma is a comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith in 1999 starring Ben Affleck (Gone Girl, Good Will Hunting), Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity, Good Will Hunting), Linda Fiorentino (Men in Black, Vision Quest), Alan Rickman (The Harry Potter series, Love Actually), Salma Hayek (Puss in Boots, Grown Ups), Chris Rock (Madagascar, Grown Ups), Jason Lee (My Name is Earl, The Incredibles), George Carlin (Bill and Ted's Most Excellent Adventure, Cars), Jason Mewes (Clerks, Chasing Amy), and the director himself, Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy).  Affleck, Lee, and Mewes are frequent collaborators with Smith, appearing in a number of his other work and Mewes and Smith are known for their portrayal of the dynamic duo, Jay and Silent Bob, characters that pop in various films.  Dogma triggered a lot of controversy prior to its release due to its take on Catholicism but it is not meant to offend and it is worth a watch.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Kevin Smith fans; Alan Rickman fans; Chris Rock fans; those that like quest-like stories

Favourite Characters: Metatron; Rufus; Silent Bob

Favourite Part: Rufus: He still digs humanity, but it bothers Him to see the shit that gets carried out in His name - wars, bigotry, televangelism.  But especially the fractioning of all the religions.  He said humanity took a good idea and, like always, built a belief structure on it.
Bethany: Having beliefs isn't good?
Rufus: I think it's better to have ideas.  You can change an idea.  Changing a belief is trickier...

Good Points: Love the cast and their characters; interesting take on religion; quest-like story; everything comes together nicely

Bad Points: Long film - can drag a bit

Film Addict's November Film Choice

It's that time of the month again and this month, once again, someone else has picked this month's choice; this time, it is the woman that brought me into this world, my mother, and she has chosen Ruby Sparks for the Film Addict's November Film Choice as we have watched it recently together and she thoroughly enjoyed it.  Originally, I was going to ask her to pick one for April seen as it was her birthday but she couldn't decide in time so the offer was postponed until she chose one.

Ruby Sparks is a 2012 romantic-comedy drama film directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris who have previously directed Little Miss Sunshine which also stars Paul Dano from Ruby Sparks.  Some of the stars are Paul Dano (Looper, Prisoners), Zoe Kazan (What If, ), Annette Bening (The Kids are Alright, American Beauty), Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zorro, Once Upon a Time in Mexico), Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Philomena), Elliott Gould (Ocean's Trilogy, Friends), and Chris Messina (The Mindy Project, Julie & Julia).  Kazan also wrote the screenplay for Ruby Sparks.

As I like to mention whenever I do a request for the Film Addict's Film Choice, there is an extra point I talk about as chosen by the requester and that could be a character, part of the film, or something they liked and this time it is part of the film.

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Anyone

Favourite Characters: Harry

Favourite Part: Calvin: It's like...it's like I'm falling in love with her.
Dr Rosenthal: That's wonderful.
Calvin: No, it's not.  I can't fall in love with a girl I write.
Dr Rosenthal: Why not?
Calvin: Because she's not real.
Dr Rosenthal: Isn't she?
Calvin: No.
Dr Rosenthal: Are you sure?
Calvin: Yes.  She's some motherfucking product of my imagination.

Good Points: Interesting concept; well cast

Bad Points: Wraps up too easily; no logic to Ruby's existence

Special: When Calvin proves to Harry that he made Ruby up by typing that Ruby starts to speak French and she does

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

As an avid reader and former media student, film adaptations and the way they are interpreted from the original source fascinate me because I like to see what is different and how (dis)loyal they are to key moments which is interesting as no two people see the world the same, even if it's imaginary; sometimes I am reluctant to see an adaptation if I really enjoyed the book a lot because I fear it may ruin the book for me but I know in the back of my mind that I have to put those feelings aside as I enjoy films too much.  I loved The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins because I liked the idea behind it: a young woman fighting to free her country from a tyrannical dictator who kills people on a whim as well as manipulating others to do it for him through various means so to control the population.  While I didn't see the first one in cinema because I was a poor first year student, I saw the last one and this one at the cinema with my family as the dates have coincided with my birthday (almost) so I thought I would share my thoughts and feelings on the film.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is the third film in The Hunger Games franchise, an adaptation of Suzanne Collins's trilogy of the same name, and is directed by Francis Lawrence who directed the second film as well.  As the franchise has progressed, the cast has grown and includes Jennifer Lawerence (American Hustle), Josh Hutcherson (The Kids are Alright), Liam Hemsworth (The Expendables 2), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Elizabeth Banks (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Boat That Rocked), Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman), Jena Malone (Donnie Darko), and Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice) who were in at least one of the last two films of the franchise and Julianne Moore (The Kids are Alright) and Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) have joined the cast.  Originally, Katniss Everdeen (Lawerence) and Peeta (Hutchinson) were taken away from their families and friends in District to compete in the 74th Hunger Games in Panem, a totalitarian nation which is divided into twelve districts and the Capitol, to fight for survival against 22 other twelve to eighteen year olds that have been chosen from the other distrcits to participate all as a punishment for a rebellion decades ago and now for the entertainment of the Capitol.  Normally, only one child is supposed to survive in the Hunger Games to win but Katniss suggests to Peeta, when they are only ones left, that rather than killing one another, they eat poisonous berries which forces the Capitol's hand.  So that they have a winner, they stop the teenagers before they eat the berries and name both Katniss and Peeta Victors, which sparks a rebellion amongst the districts.  The following year, during the Victor Tour are forced to continue their star-crossed lovers story that they started in the Games which they are reluctant to do; Haymitch (Harrelson) gives them some home truths as they continue to fight - that they will never be able to have a relationship with anyone else, Gale (Hemsworth) for example, because the Capitol and President Snow (Sutherland) would never allow it and kill all of those involved.  Snow orders Katniss to convince Panem and him that she and Peeta are in love over the course of the Tour but they fail to convince Snow; out of revenge, Snow changes the rules of the 3rd Quarter Quell/75th Hunger Games, decreeing that the tributes for the next games will be taken from the Victors of each district.  Katniss and Peeta end up back in the arena and form an alliance with Finnick (Claflin), Johanna (Malone), Beetee (Jeffrey Wright, Casino Royale) and Mags who are really there to get Katniss out of the arena so that she can be the face of the rebellion.  Under the guise of a plan to stop some of the other Victors, Beetee concocts a plan to destroy the arena so the rebellion can get them all out but Katniss and Peeta are not in on the plan so when it comes to getting out of the arena, Peeta is unfortunately captured by the Capitol while Katniss is taken to District 13 where the rebellion is being organised with the help of Plutarch Heavensbee (Hoffman).  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire finishes with Gale telling Katniss there is no District 12 anymore as Snow had it destroyed to hurt Katniss and Peeta emotionally, breaking their spirits.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Anyone - loads of action, romance thrown in, and a little sad

Favourite Characters: Peeta - always love him and like his arc in Mockingjay; Katniss - relatable

Favourite Part: Haymitch: I like you better without all the make-up.
Effie: I like you better when you're sober.

Good Points: Expanded scenes; all the characters have got better and better; laid good ground work for the climax

Bad Points: Explanation about Snow's roses was lost amongst the action

Film Addict's October Film Choice

I have two films that I watch at particular times of year because it gets me in the mood for a particular holiday.  In December last year, I reviewed Elf for Christmas because it's my Christmas film from my university days so I've decided to share my Halloween film for October obviously.  It may say Christmas in the title but Halloween is involved and I love it so Film Addict's October Film Choice is The Nightmare Before Christmas.  This is also a Christmas film for me but it felt more appropriate for October instead of December this time around.  I am pondering on whether I should do a film review on Christmas Day but I haven't decided yet.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is Tim Burton's stop motion musical fantasy focussed on Halloweentown and its residents; voices include Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride), Danny Elfman (Corpse Bride), Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone), William Hickey (Christmas Vacation), Glenn Shadix (Planet of the Apes), Ken Page (Dreamgirls), and Ed Ivory (Nine Months). 

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Anyone; animation fans

Favourite Characters: Zero - so cute

Favourite Part: Jack Skellington: Eureka! This year, Christmas will be - OURS!

Good Points: Animation technique; music; pure Tim Burton

Bad Points: Secondary characters don't really stand out; the romantic subplot

Gone Girl

For some reason, near the end of October/beginning of November, I happen to go to the cinema more than once, or I have in the last two years at least.  This time I went to see Gone Girl, a thriller, which I wouldn't normally go see in the cinema because sometimes I'm a bit jumpy when it comes to that sort of film and it's embarrassing in public but I fancied a change as I find Ben Affleck fascinating as an actor.

Gone Girl is the 2014 thriller, directed by David Fincher, adapted from Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.  The main cast includes Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Argo), Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day, Pride and Prejudice), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Doogie Howser, M.D.), Tyler Perry (Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Diary of a Mad Black Woman), and Carrie Coon (The Leftovers, One in a Million).

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Thriller fans; Fincher fans

Favourite Characters: Nick - Ben Affleck was great

Favourite Part: Nick: When I think of my wife, I always think of the back of her head.  I picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brain, trying to get answers.  The primal questions of a marriage: What are you thinking?  How are you feeling?  What have we done to each other?  What will we do?

Good Points: The two narrative structures working simultaneously; beginning and middle were excellent; Nick and Go

Bad Points: Could have finished a lot sooner

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a sacred thing for me and the moment I found out that Michael Bay was producing a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, I was dreading it because Bay is known for immense action scenes filled with guns and massive explosions and I personally thought that this would detract from the pure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles elements that those that grew up on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles loved.  However, I was encouraged by my mother to go and see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles because if I found it to be as bad as I was expecting it to be then it would bring some variety to my reviews as I have a tendency to pick books and films that I roughly know I will like and very rarely venture out of my comfort zone.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the 2014 science fiction action comedy based on the franchise of the same name directed by Jonathon Liebesman.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars Megan Fox (Transformers), Alan Ritchson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Jeremy Howard (Mighty Med), Pete Ploszek (Parks and Recreation), Noel Fisher (The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Danny Woodburn (Bones), William Fichtner (Prison Break), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), Tony Shalhoub (Cars), and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act).  A major selling point for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that they used for the marketing was Michael Bay acted as a producer which caused major panic across the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles loyalists.

Rating: 5

Recommended To: Bay fans - lots of visual bubblegum

Favourite Characters: Raphael - will always be my favourite

Favourite Part: Raphael: I just...uh, uh...if this is our last moment together, I just want you guys to know I'm sorry!  I'm sorry I was so hard on you!  Ugh.  Every time I pushed you, I...I threatened you, I yelled at you, I pushed you beyond your limits, it's because I believe in you!  I believe in each one of you!  I believe in you spirit and your intelligence and your potential!  And every time I talked about walking away it was because I was scared!  I just didn't think I was good enough to stand next to you and call you brothers, and say to you, I love you! I love you guys so much!

Good Points: The turtles; the introduction scenes; lots of action scenes

Bad Points: Too much focus on the human characters; Shredder; very little to the plot; NO CASEY JONES!!

Film Addict's September Film Choice

I was completely gutted last month when Robin Williams died; he was, and still is, one of my favourite actors when I was growing up because he always made me laugh and I especially loved Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire.  My original intention was to review one of his films in August but then I remembered I promised to review Treasure Planet for my sister's 20th birthday so now the Film Addict's September Film Choice is Good Will Hunting because it's another one of my favourite films from Robin Williams, plus it's my best friend's favourite film and coincidentally, it was her birthday in August so this is for her as well.

Good Will Hunting is the 1997 drama film from Gus Van Sant and stars Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society), Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity, Saving Private Ryan), Ben Affleck (Argo, Pearl Harbour), Minnie Driver (Tarzan, Princess Mononoke), and Stellan Skarsgård (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead's Man Chest).  Upon Good Will Hunting's initial release, it received almost universal critical acclaim and became a financial success; as well as critical and financial success, it was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won two: Best Supporting Actor for Williams and Best for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for Affleck and Damon.  The success of this film, being the writers of Good Will Hunting launched both Affleck's and Damon's careers which allowed them to gain more high-profile roles such as Armageddon (Affleck) and Saving Private Ryan (Damon).

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Matt Damon fans; Robin Williams fans

Favourite Characters: Chuck - voice of reason; Sean - understands Will better than Will thinks

Favourite Part: Sean: Do you have a soul mate?
Will: Define that?
Sean: Someone you can relate to, someone who opens things up for you.
Will: Sure, I got plenty.
Sean: Well, name them.
Will: Shakespeare, Nietzsche, Frost, O'Conner...
Sean: Well that's great. They're all dead.
Will: Not to me, they're not.
Sean: You can't have a lot of dialogue with them.
Will: Not without a heater and some serious smelling salts.

Good Points: Sean and Will's relationship; the use of the hero journey; great chemistry between the cast

Bad Points: First half hour dragged; predictable story

Lucy

Another trip to the cinema came today and while it's not completely different from my usual film choice when going to the cinema, this time it's a little unusual because it was by a director I don't normally watch, though I have seen some of his films before, and the entire plot was different to my usual type of film.

Lucy is the 2014 science fiction action film from Luc Besson, whom wrote, directed, and edited this film; Scarlett Johansson (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Island) stars as the titular character while Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption, The Dark Knight trilogy), Amr Waked (Contagion, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), and Choi Min-sik (Oldboy, I Saw the Devil) co-star along with Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing, Notting Hill) and Pilou Asbæk (A Hijacking, R) who play minor roles in Lucy's story.

Rating: 8

Recommended To: Scarlett Johansson fans; those looking for something weird

Favourite Characters: Lucy - interesting character

Favourite Part: Lucy: [At the beginning, voiceover] Life was given to us a billion years ago.  What have we done with it?
[...]
[At the end, voiceover] Life was given to us a billion years ago.  Now you know what you can do with it.

Good Points: Johansson's performance was wonderful; first half was great; interesting concept

Bad Points: Science jargon got too much; second half was drastically different

Film Addict's August Film Choice

My kid sister turned 20 this month and while not a big achievement (though she has lasted 20 years without me or my mother killing her), I decided to dedicate Film Addict's August Film Choice to her which meant she got to choose any film for me to review.  So this is Disney's Treasure Planet.

A faithful adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, Treasure Planet is the 2002 animated fantasy film from Ron Clements and John Musker with the voices of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, The Dark Knight Rise), Brian Murray (Dream House, In the Family), Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Nanny McPhee), David Hyde Pierce (Frasier, A Bug's Life), Martin Short (Saturday Night Live, How I Met Your Mother), Michael Wincott (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Crow), Laurie Metcalf (Toy Story, Roseanne), and Roscoe Lee Browne (Babe, Spider-Man the Animated Series) bringing this eclectic group of characters to life.  While a faithful adaptation, there is the major alteration of the film being set in space instead so to make it stand out from other Disney adaptation of Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Just like Film Addict's May Film Choice, Brother Bear, which was dedicated to my best friend, I'm going to add another point to my normal review points which reminds me of my kid sister.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Disney fans; anyone; adventure fans

Favourite Characters: Dr. Doppler - funny; Jim - loveable; Captain Amelia - just love her

Favourite Part: Captain Amelia: [to a protesting Doppler] Let me make this as... monosyllabic as possible.  I...don't much care for this crew you hired.  They're...
[to Arrow] How did I describe them, Arrow?  I said something rather good this morning before coffee.
Mr. Arrow: 'A ludicrous parcel of drivelling galoots,' ma'am.
Captain Amelia: [to Doppler] There you go, poetry.

Good Points: Variety in character designs; dialogue was great; father-son relationship explored; Silver - a villain who wasn't evil for the sake of it

Bad Points: Not a lot of female characters; Jim and his parents are the only humans

Special Point: Morph - many reasons behind this one