Its Christmaaaas!

Hello my lovelies,

Its that time of year again and I am so excited! Christmas is my favourite time of year and with it comes so many more films, but of course you can still watch them throughout the rest of the year if you wish to. I never get bored of them despite watching them every year, it just makes me feel so much more festive and excited for Christmas to come. I still feel like a kid at Christmas, getting excited over the smallest of things and just wanting it to be Christmas already.

I expect most people have seen my favourite Christmas films already so I thought I'd group them together in my first festive post of the year. There are so, so many Christmas films out so I'll just keep it to five that I love to watch every year.

• Elf:
  I already know that some people disagree with me, but I think this may be my favourite Christmas film. It's so funny and so cute. I've seen it so many times that I actually know some of the lines off by heart now, oh dear. I have a post from 2013 all about Elf so I won't ramble on about it. I just think everyone should watch it though.
• Love Actually:
  Such a sweet rom-com showing love in different ways and relationships between multiple couples that seem to interlink in several ways. I love the cast and I never get bored of this film. I happily watch this any time of year because its so cute and just makes me happy. I love Hugh Grant in it too!
• The Holiday:
  I think the first time I watched this it wasn't actually Christmas because I didn't realise it was a Christmas film. Firstly it has Jack Black in it which just makes it pretty awesome, secondly Jude Law. Its another rom-com that's really sweet and just makes people happy when they watch it.
• Home Alone:
  If you've never seen Home Alone then where have you been hiding for so long! There's three Home Alone films but personally I think the first one is the best. Its so funny and even though I've seen it so many times it still makes me laugh every time. Its always a definite film to watch when it comes to this time of year.
• The Santa Clause:
  This is one of my family's favourites that we love to watch each year. Tim Allen is so brilliant playing Santa Claus and its so funny. Again I think there are three of these films but I think for me the best is the first one as it shows how he becomes Santa Claus which leads onto everything else. Its one of those feel good films where it starts off a bit rocky but things get turned around to result in a happy Christmas ending. Definitely another I'll be watching this year.

All these films are pretty much good for most ages and I'd recommend them all if you haven't seen them already, and even if you have watch them again! I watch them every year and they'll never get too old, or ever be boring.

Hope you're all enjoying your countdowns to Christmas and are looking forward to it wherever you are.

Until next time, thanks for reading :) x

 (Ps. I realise I said the word Christmas so, so many times. I'm sorry, it's just exciting!)

Wall Street

Hello my lovelies,

Well today has been a gloomy rainy day in the UK so I took the chance to go back to my long list and choose another to watch and share with you all.

I was hoping I'd like Wall Street as when I watch Wolf of Wall Street I really enjoyed it, but this time this film just wasn't for me so this will be very brief.

Directed by Oliver Stone in 1987, Wall Street is an American drama film focusing on the career of Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a stockbroker trying to work his way up in the business in 1985. When he gets involved with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) he thinks it will help him and at first it seems to, but he gets dragged in too deep to a point where he finds himself in trouble.

Although this film was slightly amusing at times, mostly due to John C. McGinley who plays Marvin (& Dr Cox in Scrubs), it just didn't do anything to hold my attention. I get that its an old film and set in a slightly older time, but its all dull colours and everyone looks the same, rushing around doing the same thing like robots, and maybe that's the impression they're trying to give of what its like to work on wall street. As well as this, the film also suggests that its a very 'you've either got it or you don't' kind of business where you have to do anything and everything it takes to make a name for yourself.

Although the acting was good and Sheen fit the role, I personally didn't enjoy this film just because it didn't grip me and to be completely honest there were times when I had no clue what was going on or what was being said, I don't do stockbroker jargon.

I don't think I'd watch this film again but if these business drama kind of films are your sort of thing then definitely give it a go if you can get past it being 2 hours long. There is also another starring Shia Labeouf released in 2010 that I haven't seen but might one day if I fancy getting back into this story, but maybe it could be your sort of thing.

Short and sweet, until next time, thanks for reading :) x  

Spirited Away

Hello my lovelies,

Hope you're well and looking forward to Christmas as it gets closer. Of course when it hits December I'll be getting some Christmas film reviews going but for now we continue with my never ending list of films sugested to me by so many people. Today's is Spirited Away. This Studio Ghibli film has been recommended to me by a few different people now and I can see why.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 2001, Spirited Away is a Japanese animated fantasy film which tells the story of a 10 year old girl named Chihiro as she moves home with her parents. Along the way they seem to take a wrong turn entering a land in which spirits dwell and sadly Chihiro's parents get drawn into a trap that could see them living as pigs forever if Chihiro can't save them.

(Image found on Spiritedaway.wikia.com)

Although this is a long film, and can seem slightly strange, there is just something about it that makes it a beautiful anime to watch. I'd definitely recommend watching the subtitled version as with this it tells you meanings of characters names which just adds to how well this film was made. The artwork is brilliant and the amount of different spirits is inumerable. The creativity of Studio Ghibli amazes me and although I think this is only the second film of theirs that I have seen (Grave of the Fireflies being the first), already I'd recommend them to anyone. The soundtrack the works alongside these bright and colourful scenes is is so good that its even won awards! 

Even though this is a story about a child fighting and working to free her parents so they can return to the human world, there is still some elements of humour amongst the story, for example the idea that of all animals Chihiro's parents turn into pigs due to eating so much.

(Image from Spiritedaway.wikia.com)

You don't need to be an anime lover to enjoy this film, just be prepared for its long runtime but you get so drawn in to Chihiro's determination to save her parents that the length of the film doesn't seem to matter so much. Its a film that is fit for all age groups as well so anyone can enjoy it. Basically find it and watch it, you may think its odd at first but then you;ll get into it.

Until next time, thanks for reading :) x

(Image from Spiritedaway.wikia.com)

Donnie Darko

Hello my lovelies,

Still working through this long list of suggested films I've got and adding to it nearly everyday so lots to come. Donnie Darko is up today. As usual I'll try to avoid spoilers but it can't always be helped.

Written and directed by Richard Kelly in 2001, Donnie Darko is an American sci-fi, psychological drama film based on a schizophrenic teenager in 1988 living with his family and trying to figure out what his illusions mean. Starring a very young Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie, the film follows him day to day through his home life and school, with the interruptions of his illusion Frank. Frank is a giant creepy looking bunny rabbit that tells Donnie what to do, and stupidly Donnie obeys him scared that he'll be alone otherwise.

(Image found through Google)

We're first made aware of this strange rabbit figure quite close to the beginning of the film when Donnie wakes up to a strange voice and appears to be sleep walking towards it. At this point the soundtrack gets a bit eerie so we know this thing is going to be creepy. Outside the figure introduces himself as Frank and explains to Donnie that the world will end soon, in precisely 28 days 6 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. When Donnie properly wakes up he is in a golf course with a countdown to when the world is supposed to end written on his arm. As he arrives home he is greeted by a large crowd, fire engines and a police officer trying to stop him entering the house, during the night a jet engine had almost appeared out of no where and crashed into their house, right into Donnie's bedroom. During this time although its bright because its daytime, it is also almost as if the colours are brighter because he is himself now, not seeing or hearing things that are affecting his behaviour.

Throughout the film I noticed that when this character Frank appears it is either during the night or the colours in these scenes are almost all washed out, as if to say that Franks taken over now and Donnie isn't himself for the time being. There are scenes when Donnie is with his psychotherapist, Dr Thurman, who has a brown office and when he is there its almost as if because its not dark but its also not completely light so he can be himself but also allow himself to comfortable talk about Frank and how he makes Donnie feel, and if he appears in that room he is safe from being controlled by him whilst he's there.

(Image found through Google)

The whole time I was watching this film I kept thinking that although Donnie Darko is an odd and awkward character he is also interesting which makes him seem cool in a weird way. Although we see his life and what he goes through with Frank, there is still a bit of mystery to Donnie's character. Jake Gyllenhaal I feel played this role perfectly. From the way he talks to the facial expressions he makes when talking to different people, Gyllenhaal found a great way to play Donnie and just seemed to add a little something that makes him that little more different to the other teenagers within the film.

I feel like this is another film that almost makes you think more about things in life. For example there is a scene in which they are in a lesson watching a video on controlling fear, and later the man in that video, Jim Cunningham played by Patrick Swayze, comes into the school to discuss it. He talks about being afraid of fear and letting it control your actions and how you live your life, but if you are able to overcome it then you are able to live it however you please and will be able to be happy with the actions you take. I suppose in a way this could be true as if you're too scared to do something then you'll be controlled by that until the day that you decide you can do it and stop being worried or afraid about it. This made me think because there are actually things I think I could apply this to in my own life, so its definitely a film with some kind of message.

(Image found through Google)

*Spoiler alert – if you don't want to know the ending then stop reading now*

Due to the countdown to the end of the world that Frank mentioned to Donnie, he starts thinking about time travel and whether or not its possible. There is a line in the film that mentions being able to go back and undo all the wrong that you've done, somehow Donnie figures this out and after Frank has made him do multiple things he didn't want to, and events resulting in he girlfriend being run over, Donnie and everyone is taken back in time to the night of the jet engine crashing into Donnie's room. Previously Donnie had been saved from this by following the voice he heard, but sadly this time was different. We see the same crowd but this time Donnie doesn't just turn up, his family are outside crying whilst across the street Gretchen turns up and gets told that Donnie had died, however this time around she hadn't met him yet.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but wasn't expecting that ending, and although I'd gotten a little attached to Donnie's character throughout the film, I didn't cry surprisingly for me. I can definitely understand why this gets referred to as a cult classic and I'd recommend it to anyone that hasn't seen it. It was actually voted in as Film4's no. 9 in a list of 50 films to see before you die and came in at no. 5 in Australia's 10 favourite movies. I can understand why, and I'd watch it again.

With some humour here and there, and a great soundtrack to feature alongside its intriguing plot, Donnie Darko is definitely one to watch but don't expect to just kick back and zone out to it. Although it isn't difficult to follow its definitely worth paying attention to.

Until next time, thanks for reading :) x  

(This week the video didn't want to attach but simply follow the link below if you wish to view the official trailer)

Click here for the official trailer for Donnie Darko

"I'm the daddy now!"- Scum

Hello my lovelies,

Hope you're all enjoying your week wherever you may be. Weather in the UK can't seem to make up its mind as usual making it perfect for film watching writing reviews for you guys. Today's post will be quite a brief one as I didn't have a lot to say about Scum as I found it quite difficult to get into.

Originally made for the BBC, Scum is a 1979 British crime drama film directed by Alan Clarke representing how brutal life was inside a British borstal (an institution for young offenders).

Three young men get arrive at the borstal, and everything is just straight downhill from there getting themselves mixed in with all sorts of nasty characters inside.

Before watching I was warned about this being a brutal film, but I was not expecting to see scenes of suicide. Scum is definitely not a film that you can just watch easily, its not one that's been made to be entertaining but instead almost educating viewers on how things used to be within institutions such as these.

There is so much violence and most of it is carried out just for the fun of it because they could, as well as rape and so much racism. Obviously its easy to be oblivious to these situations in reality as the saying goes 'out of sight, out of mind', but when you're watching it on a screen it really makes you think about how people actually get treated within young offenders institutions and prisons, but then almost as soon as its over its easy to tune out again and not give it a second thought.

Scum was a very different film to anything I would normally watch, and I know I say that a lot but it really was. It didn't feature any soundtrack at all, in fact the only form of music comes from a scene involving the use of a radio. Due to the lack of soundtrack it makes the film feel a lot longer and I think this is another reason for why it felt so difficult to get into.

Although I sometimes like watching films or programmes about life in prison, I didn't enjoy this one because I think it was too brutal for me, and even though that is a true fact of how prison life was in those times, I found it uncomfortable to watch and see how these men were treated by each other and also the wardens.

For once this is a film I wouldn't recommend to others. Its not that I hated it as I did find it slightly interesting, it just wasn't my sort of thing and I wouldn't watch it again. However I did find that there was another version made and released in 1982 called Scrubbers inspired by Scum, about life in a female borstal that I would give a watch to see how the two compare.

If life in prison is interesting to you and films about prison are your sort of thing then give it a go, but otherwise its not one I'll suggest to you.

Until next time, thanks for reading :) x  

'Don't ever do that again, or I'll break your head!' - Leon

 Hello my lovelies,

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Sunday included the start of something new to be coming to my blog soon, and I'm excited to share it with you guys and girls.

Working through my list of films still to watch and I saw Leon. It was another suggestion to me and I had been told that it was a good film and worth a watch. Well, I can now say that it really is! Word of warning, I think this could be a long post.

Leon, also known as Leon: the Professional (I'm still unsure as to which is the right name for it), is a 1994 English language French crime thriller which was written and directed by Luc Besson. It starts Jean Reno, Gary Oldman and Natalie Portman as three of the main characters, however when I looked it up beforehand this casting didn't excite me, needless to say it does now.

From the beginning of the film I wasn't sure if I'd like it or if it would be my sort of thing, but it didn't take long for the film to win me over. Something I had noticed at the beginning was a close up shot of a reflection in Leon's glasses, and there was something about it that just gives you that impression that Leon isn't the type of guy you want to mess with and should certainly stay on his good side. It doesn't take long to get into the action as we see Leon on a job trying to scare a guy away. Leon, played by Jean Reno, is certainly an interesting characters with his quirks such as sleeping in his arm chair each night prepared for anything that could happen but you soon warm up to him.

To try to summarise the storyline without spoilers Leon is a hit man and when Mathilda's family are shot dead by a corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield (played by Gary Oldman), he takes Mathilda in and reluctantly helps her with her revenge.

Mathilda (played by Natalie Portman) is a 12 year old girl that lives in the same building as Leon that luckily escapes an attack from agents who her father was holding drugs for. Although Leon seems to have a hard barrier up when it comes to looking after Mathilda, he gives in and she's able to break through the wall he's built up between him and other people, and he starts to take care of her and cares about helping her.

At times this film actually has its amusing moments and its a nice way to break up having so much drama just continuing non stop through the storyline. Some of the funny moments include Leon's love for his house plant that he cares for almost like a child, using his pig oven glove to cheer up Mathilda and also when they each dress up as film characters, although that scene is also a little cringey at times.

Leon and Mathilda have an odd relationship but it works well in a strange way. Some may say it seems as if Leon could be a paedophile, but he never does anything to Mathilda however much she tries to make him. Mathilda went through a tough situation for anyone to go through, so when Leon takes her in and takes care of her she feels what she thinks is real love for him, when in fact she's probably just grateful and feeling safe and looked after. I did find it slightly uncomfortable watching Mathilda trying to persuade Leon into doing things with her, she's a bit of a strange character but its obvious to see that she had a hard childhood and has felt like she's needed to grow up too soon. They have a strange bond and towards the end of the film it starts to really tug on your heartstrings.

I really liked this film and it even made me cry at the end. I now love Jean Reno and think that he is a brilliant actor. Although the film was long it was worth watching through to the end, even if it quite sad. I think it is definitely worth a watch and I'm glad I took the suggestion to watch it, so I now recommend it to all of you. It has a little bit of everything, action, drama, humour, what more do you need in a film?! Take a look and I hope you see why I now love this film.

Until next time, thanks for reading :) x 

A Clockwork Orange

 Hello my lovelies,

How is everyone doing today? Got another film from my ever growing list to share with you again. I've been told by multiple people to watch this, and well now I have and I'm not sure what to think of it. I liked it but its quite weird.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick, A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian crime film that was released in 1971. It's difficult to try to sum up this film and explain it properly, but its basically about a teenager, Alex, who enjoys Beethoven and rape, amongst the other forms of trouble he causes which he refers to as 'ultra violence'. Things take a wrong turn for him when he gets arrested and becomes a guinea pig for an experiment that could change prisoners views on violence forever.

Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) and his group of friends which he refers to as his 'droogs' are constantly out every night seeing what trouble they can cause next. They're a very strange group of friends and Alex actually creeps me out a little bit. During the film Alex narrates what's happening in slang formed from Slavic English and Cockney rhyming slang. At times I found it quite strange and didn't know what he was going on about, but I think that's just Alex in general. He is very much the type of person that likes to be in the spotlight, and likes to be the leader.

From the start of the film I could tell it was going to be an odd one. It opens to them sat in a milk bar, yes I said milk, milk mixed with drugs. Surrounded by mannequins that seemed to have names, and some of them even formed pieces of furniture. Very odd.

Leading up to Alex becoming part of an experimental treatment that are some things he does that I didn't like at all, but at the same time its not comfortable to watch him get strapped to a chair and forced to watch something that is making him ill and causing him pain, even if that is the doctors and prison guards idea of 'curing' him of his violent thoughts towards specific people such as women. They eventually decide that Alex is cured and now a reformed criminal, and allow him to be released from prison. Well lets just say he was probably safer inside, as would everyone else be.

On the outside Alex is found and recognised by people he had once caused harm to, resulting in them trying to get their own back, including his friends nearly killing him. When he thinks he's safe he's locked in a room and forced to listen to Beethoven which now causes him so much pain due to it being used during his treatment. In agonising pain he decides the only way to escape that feeling is by jumping out the window hoping it would kill him, however he is just knocked unconscious from the fall and later wakes up in hospital with several broken bones.

The treatment Alex was put through was meant to last forever and not allow him to have the violent thoughts again, however something about the fall must have reversed what they did to him. Much to Alex's delight he is no longer 'cured', and enjoys his violent thoughts once again.

A Clockwork Orange is quite a long film and once again I'm still undecided about whether I like it or not, although at times I was wanting to help Alex especially during that torturous treatment. I think at some point I might have to re-watch it at some point to properly decide if I like it.

I think its worth a watch just because its so different from most films now, and the language used is quite interesting to listen to as well, so if you fancy something different then look it up.

Until next time, thanks for reading :) x