Series Review: True Blood Season 2

The quickest plot synopsis of series history:

Bill still loves Sookie and Sookie still loves Bill, but her eyes are opening to the fact that 1) he’s not human and 2) vampires do stuff that are disagreeable with morally sound humans. Eric wants Sookie to look for his maker Godric who has gone missing (all very fishy because Godric is ancient and well capable of protecting himself). Jason is dealing with the death of Amy and finds a new hobby in becoming part of the Fellowship of the Sun and their elitist vampire hunting clan. Tara is still being a selfish twat thinking just about poor her and continues befriending the decidedly odd Maryanne Forrester and “Eggs” Tally. Will everything work out yet again for the residents of Bon Temps and their long toothed friends?

Impressed or depressed?

Impressed. I really thought they improved on the overall quality of the show.

What I enjoyed:

Eric’s short hair. It looks GOOD.

Eric and Pam getting more show time. Something that was essential in my eyes. They are the most entertaining and I love how they are so not human.

Jason Stackhouse getting more show time. I get real frustrated with silly filler subplots but this is one I actually enjoy. Jason is sweet and he has some hilarious one liners. He has real potential to be something and in season two he starts realizing that becoming what you are meant to be means working hard to find out exactly what that is.

Steve and Sarah Newlin. Does anyone else think Michael McMillian and Anna Camp were perfect to be the extremist leaders of the Fellowship of the Sun? I was roaring with laughter how ridiculous they both came across and what a façade they both put up constantly. Sarah especially was a classic with her interesting views on passages in the Bible. I have to say I was snorting quite a few times at how she interprets things.

Godric (Allan Hyde) was a good addition to the show. Although he didn’t get much show time, Eric’s bond to him was beautiful and he was so wise and ancient. Miles better than book Godric!

I liked that Lafayette didn’t die like he did in the books, but why on earth did they work it that he was tortured by Eric?

I love Hoyt Fortenberry (Jim Parrack) so much. His character is just the sweetest, and he rolls mostly with everyone’s moods and tantrums. I loved how he finally started standing up against his mother and how he just adapted to whatever problem his relationship with Jessica brought up.

Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Wolf) had the potential to be an annoying disaster, but I really grew fond of her during season two. Her introduction at the end of season one seemed ominous and like a really annoying subplot, but the writers managed to redeem her by making her a symbol for sympathy rather than irritation.

The only thing I did like about the Maryanne subplot was “Eggs” Talley, but come on, can anyone seriously consider a relationship with someone whose nickname is Eggs?

What I didn’t enjoy:

Can Tara’s character be killed off? Seriously, how boring is her entire story? It is one of the most frustrating things in the show and how she always seems to get herself into shit.

Maryanne Forrester (Michelle Forbes). I didn’t like her, not one bit. Her character was overused and should have stayed a tiny subplot like the book.

I was cheering when Daphne Landry (Ashley Jones) pitched up in Sam Merlotte’s life. I was a bit dismayed because everything about the character was “bit-part” and I was proven correct in time. I do wish that Sam could get a decent woman, because let’s be honest here, he ain’t never getting Sookie.

The way Bill says Sookie gives me such a pain in my butt. HONESTLY, he sounds like he is auditioning for a steamy movie. Fuuuu

Conclusion:Not the best show ever to be on air, but fun all the same. With a few improvements it can actually be really cool.

November 27, 2014November 22, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Reviews, SeriesTags: Alexander Skarsgard, Allan Hyde, Anna Camp, Anna Paquin, Ashley Jones, Bill Compton, Daphne Landry, Eric Northman, Fellowship of the Sun, Godric, Jason Stackhouse, Lafayette, Michael McMillian, Reviews, Sam Merlotte, Sarah Newlin, Series, Sookie Stackhouse, Stephen Moyer, Steve Newlin, True Blood 9 Comments

Movie Review: Bachelorette (2012)

Katie: “I don’t understand anything anyone is talking about most of the time”

Plot: Three friends are asked to be bridesmaids at a wedding of a woman they used to ridicule back in high school. (via IMDb)

Rating: 6/10

This movie was awful. I went in knowing that it wouldn’t be great, because when are movies like these ever great? But it sucked. It marginally redeemed itself within the last twenty five minutes, but the rest was a big gnashing of teeth and wishing it could get over with.

The one thing this movie really does show well is how people make weddings all about them, and never about the happy couple. Kirsten Dunst had the pleasure of portraying a horrendous self righteous woman who couldn’t even be happy the girl that had always protected her was getting a good husband because NO she had dared to get married before her elitist friend.

Bachelorette had a very common phenomenon in that movies love to have: send out hateable characters then reveal something sad about their past just to make them more lovable in the last few minutes. I’ve often discovered that an ass is an ass even if you put a shiny ribbon on it, and screenwriters can either start writing better characters or keep them hateable to the end.

The meh factor with Kirsten Dunst and Rebel Wilson was slightly offset by the charm of Lizzy Caplan and Isla Fischer in. I really enjoy Lizzy Caplan although she is not overly famous and Isla Fischer is always predictable but not bad at playing her favourite scatterbrained characters. Bachelorette’s males aren’t much better than the females –  James Marsden as the rogue playboy no one cares enough about to tell to grow up and had Adam Scott in who really seems like a douche forever and always.  I really enjoyed Kyle Bornheimer’s character Joe – perhaps the only person in the wedding party with some resemblance of a soul?

I liked this more than Bridesmaids, so that is something I guess. I just really wish that there could be a few movies that don’t portray women as nasty, insincere friends who take no accountability for themselves or their actions.

Recommendation: NO (well, maybe if you’re high this might be funny)

November 26, 2014November 22, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Adam Scott, Isla Fischer, James Marsden, Kristen Dunst, Kyle Bornheimer, Lizzy Caplan, Movies, Rebel Wilson, Reviews, Series 4 Comments

Book Review: Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Book #5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series

Jason Stackhouse is now a werepanther, courtesy of being bitten by Felton Norris. Calvin Norris, leader of the inbred community in Hotshot, helps Jason with his transformation. Calvin keeps making it clear that he would love to get to know Sookie a whole lot better, but she is confused as to whether she wants him or his medical benefits his job gives him.

A series of shooting attacks on shapeshifters takes the South by storm. Sam is shot in the leg and needs to ask Eric for a temporary bartender to help out. Charles Twinning is sent from Fangtasia, and the eccentric pirate becomes a favourite amongst the drinkers of Bon Temps.

Colonel Flood, leader of the Long Tooth werewolf pack of Shreveport is killed by the mysterious assassin, and that means it is time for the unorthodox elections werewolves hold in such an event. Alcide invites Sookie to Flood’s funeral, but he has ulterior motives: his father is taking part in the elections and they need to know what the man is planning against him. Sookie is furious, but somehow Alcide has discovered she killed his ex-girlfriend, Debbie Pelt. She tells Alcide that his father’s opponent plans to bring his father’s gambling debts into the picture, and that is enough for them to start shielding against.

Bill brings Selah Pumphrey to Merlotte’s, and Sookie is jealous but knows she needs to accept that Bill is going to date other women as they are not a couple anymore. One night, Sookie’s house is set alight and she is saved in time by Charles and the fairy Claudine. She moves into one of Sam’s rentals until her house is restored, but the drama just won’t end – after visiting Calvin Norris, who was also shot in the sniper attacks, in the hospital, she is gunned down and lives just because she heard the other person’s excitement seconds before the shot. Sookie’s house is also burnt down, and she knows that someone wants her out of the picture. Who is behind the shifter attacks? Who placed a hit on Sookie even though she is not a supernatural creature? Can Eric accept that he might never fully remember what happened when he had temporary amnesia?

Rating: 6/10

Before completely finishing this book I really felt the need to take a break from the Stackhouse series. I returned after watching the first two seasons of True Blood, and had to get my fix until I could start on Season three.

This is the first book in the series that begins to show gaps. The torching of Sookie’s house was so ill explained. Yeah, Charles did it, but I thought so many strings were left untied with the loose explanation that was given.

Tara Thornton: Literature vs. True Blood

Right now I’m not sure which character leads as my least favourite version of her. The sub plot involving her is not required at all and not even juicy enough to make it worth the pages it is written on. Tara book version is still less annoying than Tara True Blood version, but not by far.

The book is still “Everyone loves Sookie so much” but that’s okay – Twilight was built on the same premise. I just wish there was one desirable character that didn’t want Sookie, you know. That girl lived her entire life chaste and now everyone wants a piece? Doesn’t add up.

A subplot still terribly underused is Jason becoming a werepanther. I didn’t find it significant enough to be interesting, but it could have had more show time.

Everything seems to happen at once: shootings, arson, werewolf elections, Bill’s petty relationship with someone else, etc. etc. The inclusion of Quinn could be interesting, but I am not getting my hopes up. It will probably just be another way of Sookie playing with someone’s feelings because she just isn’t sure about what to do.

Not the best of the series, but still fun enough to quickly read when your brain is exhausted from daily life!

November 25, 2014November 22, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Books, Reviews, SeriesTags: Bill Compton, Books, Dead as a Doornail, Jason Stackhouse, John Quinn, Reviews, Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Mysteries, True Blood, vampires 3 Comments

Marvelous Mondays: Days of Future Past by The Sporadic Chronicles of a Beginner Blogger

Today’s Marvel installment if from my bestie Bkushi over at The Sporadic Chronicles of a Beginner Blogger. If you haven’t, go to her site and quickly click on her follow button. I guarantee you it is worth it! Thanks for taking part mah friend!

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.”
– Charles Xavier

SYNOPSIS: The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future. – via IMDB

So after all this time, I saw that Days of Future Past was still chilling on Chemistry Kidney’s list, and I thought this was unacceptable in the most extreme kind of way. How was this possible? Does this movie not deserve love, if not at minimum its due? Well, I am here to right that.

For one, I was really excited about this movie. I was excited because Bryan Singer was coming back for it. I was thrilled because it was part of the new segment of these movies, featuring James McAvoy (and you all know how I feel about him), Michael Fassbender and some more fantastic actors and actresses. I was over the moon because it was going to be a mash up of the old and the new actors. Initially I was not sure how this was going to work out, but I had faith. I avoided reading too much about this movie because I wanted it to be fresh and new when I went in.

I was so amped to see this, and I was not disappointed at all. Days of Future Past touts some simply amazing effects (especially Blink’s portals), and the cast handled their roles incredibly well across the board, too. The story, which should have been incredibly complex, is presented in such a way that it does not lose the audience, which is no simple feat to achieve. It never once comes across as though it is treating the audience as though they don’t have the brain capacity to follow it either, which is also great. Anyway, Hugh Jackman returns to helm the role of the insanely popular Wolverine once more and it was a much better outing for him, considering The Wolverine was such a let-down. Wolverine features prominently here, but it never becomes only about him. There was such a vast amount of characters in this movie, but it didn’t cumbersome, though there are a few I would have liked to see more of. Maybe in future movies. Too many characters usually result in a terrible ordeal, but the balance was struck pretty well here.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender take up their roles of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr and both excel at it once again (as though I expected anything else). McAvoy plays a more disillusioned and broken Charles, and he plays it fantastically. Tortured, bitter, depressed and prickly, he is holed up with Hank McCoy Nicholas Hoult plays Beast really well, and I think him and McAvoy work well together, too, and the arguments that Beast has with Wolverine are excellent. There was a ridiculously hilarious bit about the revered JFK and Magneto, and it had me laughing quite a bit, seeing as how I find the Kennedy assassination wildly enthralling. Anyway. Evan Peters, whose pictures popping up just before the launch of the film did nothing to allay worries about his character appearance (though his performance was never in question), stole the show in each and every single scene he featured. It was sheer perfection, and I think he was an excellent embodiment of Quicksilver. The film struck a perfect balance between action, drama, and wittiness, and needs to be commended for that.

I feel, sadly, that Peter Dinklage was criminally underused in here. Trask represented a character that could have been so much more intense and layered had they just spent some more time on him, though I understand the movie needed to move some things along (as it is, Days of Future Past comes in at 131 minutes). Still, I would definitely have enjoyed seeing more of him. A younger Stryker features too, and naturally I had fun with that. Jennifer Lawrence returns as Mystique, and is still impressive as ever in the role. The story revolves more around her decisions and the way she thinks than anything else, but it worked for this. She is an incredibly popular mutant, so that worked out just fine. I adored seeing Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen return for a last outing as the mutants we have come to love over the years, and while their roles were not huge, they were pretty integral to all that was happening. The Sentinels themselves looked great and were well done, and it is easy to see why they would be so terrible and scary.

Overall, there is a lot to say about this movie, but I am going to stop for now. Obviously I was rather taken with this movie. If you have not seen it, go now and rectify that immediately. This was some of the most fun I’ve had at cinema in a while, and it loses none of its rewatch value, either. It is my favourite X-Men flick to date.Days of Future Pastis fun, smart, fast and entertaining – everything an X-Men film should be.

November 24, 2014November 20, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Marvelous Mondays, Movies, ReviewsTags: Blogathon, Charles Xavier, Days of Future Past, Erik Lehnsherr, Evan Peters, High Jackman, James McAvoy, Magneto, Marvelous Mondays, Michael Fassbender, Movies, Nicholas Holt, Peter Dinklage, Reviews, Wolverine, X-Men 18 Comments

Five Things Friday: PEOPLE, I agree with you

Happy Friday friends of mine!

Soooo…. Today is my last day at the office for TWO WHOLE WEEKS. I can’t really think of it right now because I might just start weeping of happiness. Next week I only have to write one teensy test to get to complete holiday mode. I will be heading to the South-African coast and I seriously can’t wait. (I will have some posts scheduled but I might be a bit delayed in comments and such)

BUT, the big reason for this post is that I finally agree with People magazine for once in my life. They selected the delectably delicious Chris Hemsworth as their hottest man alive. EEK!!!!! I know that Table Nine Mutant understands my devotion perfectly, and I have decided to brighten up your Friday with some evidence that this data is in fact, correct and just. ENJOY!!!

He looks better than I do with long hair!

Hells yeah!

#evidence

Disclaimer: This pic was not photoshopped in any way!

Okay bye now!

November 21, 2014November 20, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Five Things Friday, GeneralTags: Chris Hemsworth, Five Things Friday, People Hottest Man ALive 8 Comments

Book Reading List November/December 2014

I haven’t done one of these in a while, mainly because I’ve been busy studying my butt off and living life and such, and didn’t have any real time for reading new material. I’ve been rehashing some of my favourites, but hey, I need to explore new things in order to have new favourites, you know? I recently did a bit of reading what all my favourite authors have out there, and compiled this shiny and ambitious list today so I can remember everything and refer back #oldage

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

When I first heard the story about the young Pakistani girl that got shot in the head by the Taliban because she believed in education, it felt a little unreal and horrible. I cannot imagine that life, daily horror and constant worry. Miraculously, Malala survived and is now an international symbol for female and children rights. I need to read this book because Malala makes me believe for the survival of the human race and gives me the courage to keep on studying. She humbles me in every way possible, because even though I never make light of my access to education, it is too easy to forget how easy Westerners have access to education.

Nora Roberts: Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy (all descriptions were taken from the author’s site)

Why? Well, I adore Nora Roberts (I’ve certainly never kept it a secret). She is excellent in what she does and covers every genre she tackles so well. I’ve read most of her books – and she’s well over 200 novels, and I enjoyed at least 90% of them. Her latest reads also includes Whiskey Beach, The Witness, The Search and Black Hills and I LOVED all of those. This series seems like it has a romantic bent as well as some spooky stuff, which sounds like just the right treat to me!

#1 Dark Witch

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends. Ireland – County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives. When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope-and love-alive.

#2 Shadow Spell

With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken…
A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape—by a long-awaited kiss.
Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted—until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle.
Plenty of women have found their way to Connor’s bed, but none to his heart until now. Frustratingly, Meara is okay with just the heat, afraid to lose herself—and their friendship—to something more. But soon, Connor will see the full force and fury of what runs in his blood. And he will need his family and friends around him when his past rolls in like the fog, threatening an end to all he loves…

#3 Blood Magick

County Mayo is rich in the traditions of Ireland, legends that Branna O’Dwyer fully embraces in her life and in her work as the proprietor of The Dark Witch shop, which carries soaps, lotions, and candles for tourists, made with Branna’s special touch.

Branna’s strength and seflessness hold together a close circle of friends and family – along with their horses and hawks and her beloved hound.  But there’s a single missing link in the chain of her life: love…

She had it once – for a moment – with Finbar Burke, but a shared future is forbidden by history and blood.  Which is why Fin has spent his life traveling the world to fill the abyss left in him by Branna, focusing on work rather than passion.

The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

Marian Keyes is another favourite female literature author of mine. Her books always address serious issues like drug abuse, spousal abuse and insecurities, and they aren’t always light hearted reading. This book promises to be yet another good read by the talented lady. I can’t wait to see what she pulls out of her hat this time!

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

I have to admit that I am not crazy about all the material the author writes, but Vampire Academy grabbed me enough to read the series (but NOT love the movie), and I found true addiction when I read her Bloodlines series, the series that follows the adventures of Sydney Sage, the Alchemist that has troubles reconciling her beliefs with her feelings. This is the next instalment of the series, and I am quite excited as to what it holds for Sydney and Adrian!

Currently reading: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (Book #6 of the Southern Vampires Series)  

Hmm, even though I am slightly ashamed these are so addictive, I can’t stop. (that sentence really doesn’t make sense, does it) I don’t want to stop, so I won’t, but I can see myself being a bit scathy in the interview because this book sure leaves a lot to be desired for the sake of literature!

November 20, 2014November 17, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Books, Reviews, ThoughtsTags: Books, Charlaine Harris, Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai, Marian Keyes, Nora Roberts, Reading List, Richelle Mead, Silver Shadows, The Woman who stole my life 2 Comments

Book Review: Night Shadow (Nora Roberts)

After receiving her Law Degree with the highest honours, Deborah O’Roarke chose to become a public defender, despite receiving offers from law firms across the country. Now situated in Urbana, she works to rid the city of crimes.

It is on one such night that Deborah encounters the phenomenon that has Urbana talking – Nemesis, a crime fighting antihero who is slowly but surely saving the city from criminals in his own way. After taking down her attacker, they have a fight and he disappears from her life.

As ADA, she also meets the attractive, enigmatic billionaire Gage Guthrie, who made an amazing recovery from a comatose state. Gage immediately begins courting her, but she is conflicted because she feels attraction towards Nemesis and Gage. What will she do when she finds out they are the same person? Can either of them keep her safe from those so desperate to quiet her drug prosecutions and investigations? Will Deborah be able to accept his vigilante justice that is so against her beliefs of what is right and wrong?

Rating: 6/10

Hmm, what can I say of this book? I liked it, but the supernatural has never been Roberts’ strong suit. I liked Deborah, although I have real issues when characters have such massive names. I thought Gage Guthrie was interestingly enough written but not very really realistic or anything. I did like Deborah’s drive for her career and her surety for the things she believed in.  The book is written well (as always) and a fun, quick read. Just don’t take it too seriously!

Recommendation factor: It is very silly and fun, so if you want to read but not think too hard about it 😉

November 19, 2014November 16, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Books, ReviewsTags: Books, Deborah O'Roarke, Gage Guthrie, Nemesis, Night Shadow, Nora Roberts, Reviews 2 Comments

Movie Review: One for the Money (2012)

What happens?

After losing her job, Stephanie Plum (Katherine Heigl) is in need of a job and a life change. She starts working as a skip tracer for her cousin Vinnie (Patrick Fischler). Her big job is to apprehend Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara), a cop wanted for shooting someone off the job. Stephanie has her own interpersonal issues with Joe – he took her virginity in school and never called back, and Stephanie really isn’t too pleased about that.

Joe Morelli’s apprehension and subsequent justice is naturally more difficult and complex than it initially seems. After their first run in, Joe makes it clear that he is innocent and plans to clear his name. A trail of dead bodies makes Stephanie scared and worried that the real culprit is incredibly dangerous and now she is on his radar as well. Can Stephanie catch the real killer, help clear Joe’s name, cash in on the bond AND get herself a life?

Rating: 4.5/10

Romantic comedies generally have very basic story lines. Male heroes fall into the following categories

• Man is so broken and rude and ill adjusted and woman is the only woman who is able to change him for the better, making him realize that this woman is a fantastic asset to his life.
• Charming and womanizing man finds woman who changes his ways.
• Gawky and nerdy guy lives without love his entire life until stunningly beautiful woman hops along to realise that hot men aren’t all the rage and she should love this one.

One for the money is a movie that really doesn’t want to be categorized. It started out as a rom-com, but tried to develop into a comedy/detective story. The problem is that the story line was too flaky to work as either. I couldn’t immediately spot who the hero would be, and while that can be refreshing, you shouldn’t be disgruntled when you do finally learn who the hero is. OFTM had all three categories of men in, and they all looked like they stood a chance. Joe Morelli is not the type of man that should be celebrated on screen – he slept with her, dumped her, and then she tracks him down because she obsessed with him?!

Not to pull out my feminist hat, but Stephanie Plum needs a solid slap for even being remotely interested in the guy who slept with her and then failed to call back for roughly fifteen years. This movie is worse than traditional Disney – it tells you to pine after an asshat who banged you then left, and then to hold a grudge strong enough that you will endanger your life later on.

The acting was so bad. It felt like a highschool play with everybody trying so hard but with no success.

I actually really like Romantic Comedy movies, and I don’t care what anyone thinks of that. BUT, with movies like this one it is easy to spot why so many people won’t even give the genre a chance. This is actually worthy of Eric’s Shitfest, and I will probably consider this as an entry when it comes up.

Recommendation: Meh, don’t.

November 18, 2014November 16, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Jason O'Mara, Joe Morelli, Katherine Heighl, Movies, One for the Money, Patrick Fischler, Reviews, Rom-Com 8 Comments

Marvelous Mondays: X-Men First Class (2011) by The Girl That Loved to Review

Today’s Marvel installment is by Sherise, who has an absolutely fantastic blog over at The Girl That Loved to Review. If you are not already following Sherise, you are missing out on some excellent blogging and I suggest you rectify this matter verrrry quickly :). Thanks for taking part, Sherise!

This may be incredibly unbelievable to some of you, but I have never seen any of the movies in the X-Men trilogy. Never. The only one I had seen before First Class was X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It’s very weird when I think about it because I loved the animated X-Men cartoon show as a kid. So basically when I saw X-Men: First Class I was viewing it with fresh eyes. I knew generally about the most famous X-Men characters, but that was about it.

What drew me to the theater to see First Class it’s opening weekend, despite not being a big X-Men fan, was the combination of James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. These are two of the best actors of their generation and they elevate the X-Men franchise to new heights. They may not be big box office names outside the X-Men movies, but they are integral to the success of First Class and why I love it so much. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender have intense chemistry. They are so much fun to watch bounce off each other. I would say First Class is one of the best comic book films ever made. It is very fun and light, but it also tackles some heavy issues.

James McAvoy first won me over in Wanted. I was lured into the theater to see Angelina Jolie, but came out raving about James instead. His work in First Class is phenomenal. He brings a lot of humor to the film, especially in the first half. I get so much joy out of seeing Xavier hitting on college co-eds and guzzling down beer. And the way he says “groovy” is just, well…groovy. I think James humanizes Xavier quite a bit. Xavier is not all knowing and wise. He’s still a young guy figuring things out. But he is also firm in his beliefs and his desire to help other mutants.

Michael Fassbender blew me away previously as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. He was so sexy and smoldering. A man tormented by his inner demons and life that had been thrust upon him. Viewed through that kind of lens, Erik/Magneto is very much the same. Only in First Class it’s more like “You killed my mother, prepare to die!”

Any Princess Bride fans? What am I saying, everyone’s a Princess Bride fan. Anyways, Michael has the showier part than James. He even gets all the cool music! He makes Magneto so badass. First Class seems like one long audition to be the next James Bond. I’d watch that. While Xavier lightens the film, Magneto darkens it. He’s a pessimist basically. Michael’s charisma is incredible. I love near the end when Magneto floats out with Shaw’s body before him. He resembles a god. Throughout the movie I was blown away by him.

Okay, enough McFassy love, now let’s delve into some of the things about the film that don’t work. There are enough of them to keep this from being a truly amazing film. My biggest problem is Jennifer Lawrence and how Mystique is handled. Jennifer is fine when she is the human version of Mystique. But when she is blue skinned and yellow eyed… I don’t find her believable. Jennifer seems uncomfortable in Mystique’s skin. But when I think about it, maybe that’s the genius of her performance. Since Raven/Mystique can’t accept herself as she is. I wish she had more to do other than mope around about her appearance. I would have preferred someone older in the part though, someone more equal to James and Michael. The age thing isn’t a huge problem in First Class, but it becomes more prominent, for me anyways, in Days of Future Past.

Then there is January Jones as Emma Frost. Most of the other actors are amazing, bringing so much energy to the film. Then there’s January with all the personality of a limp fish. It almost works sometimes, since Emma is a ‘cold’ character. But more often I found myself laughing at how ridiculous she looks and her monotone delivery. And the diamond special effects on her skin looked absolutely terrible. It was horrendous. Rose Byrne is a better actress, but I hate her character. She’s basically useless except for paralyzing Xavier (well, Magneto did it too but…). And the romance between the two is even more useless.

Other highlights are Kevin Bacon as Shaw, the villain. He is convincing and it looks like he had a lot of fun with it. Nicholas Hoult is quite good as Beast. When he’s big and blue he looks like a cute teddy bear.

I love X-Men: First Class. Instead of focusing on huge fight scenes and special effects, Matthew Vaughn focuses on the characters and their relationships with one another. I find it incredibly interesting and fascinating. The way Magneto and Xavier love and need each other, yet are torn apart by their very different beliefs. And how Mystique has a different relationship with each of the two men. My love for this film is why I was disappointed with Days of Future Past. I likedDOFP, but it’s basically the Wolverine show with an emphasis on action sequences. Where were my McFassy scenes? They were so few. And there were even fewer between the older and younger Xaviers and Magnetos. I feel that First Class was a great opportunity to reboot the franchise that was then undermined by DOFP.My rating for X-Men: First Class: 8/10

November 17, 2014November 16, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: James McAvoy, marvel, Marvelous Mondays, Michael Fassbender, Movies, Reviews, X-men First Class 6 Comments

Movie Review: 47 Ronin (2013)

Plot: A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun. (IMDb)

Rating: 4.7/10

What the hell? I was expecting okay, maybe mediocre, but good heavens, this was bad. Japanese women have no acting chops (neither do the men). The two leading ladies did not impress and I couldn’t connect to them, not to the good little princess or the bad witch. The only thing bad about the witch was her acting, I was really unimpressed.

Keanu Reeves has good movies and then he has movies like this. I wanted firstly to slap his character so that Kai could start standing up for himself, and secondly I wanted to slap Reeves because I know that he has better things up his sleeve than this. The best thing about this was his beard, and that is all.

47 Ronin is based on the actual 47 Ronin men who died to avenge their lord and it could have been such an impressive and gripping story. The story disintegrates before it takes off, the characters are mean to each other and then miraculously band together to fight, the antagonist’s main crime is smirking at the camera, and to top it all off I couldn’t help but wonder why ancient Japanese spoke English. Even after a lengthy discussion with my sister on this I still felt that they could have spoken a bit of Jap, even though we wouldn’t have understood a word about it.

The trailer looked good but that is because they put all the best moments of the film into it, and nothing else was left to carry it through.

Isn’t it sad that this cool makeup was wasted on like 5.3 seconds of showtime?

Basically, I hated it, and I am so happy that I didn’t go to the cinema to watch it. I’m very sure I can shoot a better movie on my phone’s camera at this point.

Recommendation: DON’T

November 14, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: 47 Ronin, Hiroyuki Sanada, Keanu Reeves, Kou Sibasaki, Movies, Reviews, Rinko Kikuchi, Tandanobu Asano 12 Comments