Movie Review: Goosebumps (2015)

Plot: A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R. L. Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free on the town of Madison, Delaware.

Rating: 7/10

• Jack Black in a different role was really nice
• LoL for cameo of RL Stine
• I remember reading and being terrified of RL Stine’s work as a teenager/kid. There was a particular book involving sponges and I still won’t open a dark cupboard under the sink for the fear of a sponge attach to my hand – but just remember, give the sponge love. There was stroking involved.
• Goosebumps was actually really quite good considering that I usually hate these children entertainment movies. It might be the ties to the original material but the dramatic action was fun rather than grating.
• I haven’t seen these teenage actors in anything before this and all of them did a fantastic job. The one kid really has a McLovin vive to him, doesn’t he
• The monsters were all done really well

• Gosh, that dummy. Goodness. And that dog.
• I really liked the ending – something recurring about all the books were always that the evil always came back.

As mentioned, Goosebumps surprised me – I don’t enjoy these silly comedies often. The material was great, the monsters managed to be either rather scary, disgusting or slimy and the ending was solid, leaving an opening for a next movie if they wanted that on the cards. It’s definitely a movie that can be watched as light entertainment and really appropriate for any age group up from 11 – don’t show it to the little kids as it might frighten them!

May 30, 2016May 29, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2015, Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: dummy, Dylan Minnette, Goosebumps, Highschool, Horrors, Monsters, Odeya Rush, RL Stine, Ryan Lee 8 Comments

Ultimate Transformations – the actors who really took their jobs seriously – PART 1

Happy Friday everyone!

I’ve been thinking a while now about putting a post up like this. There are likely ten million of these floating around, but it was so much fun (for me) putting up a post that explored the actors and actresses who made incredible changes for their roles. Let me know what you think!

1. Manu Bennett as Azog the Defiler

This is more about CGI than anything else, but it is still disconcerting to see the very attractive Deathstroke (Arrow) become so very unattractive. Azog was truly gross and something The Hobbit franchise created disgustingly well (despite its many flaws!)

2. Tom Hardy as many of the characters he chooses to portray

Ah, Tom. He is as talented as he is beautiful, but he has no issues in becoming very intense and doing massive body changes for a role when needs be.

Tom Hardy in Bronson – I haven’t even seen this. I’ve heard more than once that this film is pretty gross, hence the avoidance. I mean, look at it.

Tom Hardy as Bane, The Dark Knight Rises

Tom Hardy in Star Trek – I can’t even!

3. Chris Hemsworth

Yep, you KNEW I would go here. Chris tapped into some serious muscle power to become Thor, but even though it broke my heart, he’s turnaround for Into the Sea was even more frightening impressive.

4. Benedict Cumberbatch in Zoolander 2

Yep, it happened.

5. Javier Bardem – Skyfall

*sobs uncontrollably* There are a few hair colors Bardem must never use. Like blonde.

Good Bardem,

Bad Bardem

6. Christian Bale, who ties with Tom Hardy as the most insane with body transformations

Bale as Irving Rosenfeld in American Hustle

Bale as Trevor Reznik in the Machinist – this is actually really painful to even look at! 😦

There we go for this round! I’ll put up another one at a later stage – it continues to be amazing (and terrifying) the extent these actors will go to to look the part, especially with the current technology where pretty much anything can be created.

What did you think? Which actor has gone the greatest length in your opinion?

May 27, 2016May 27, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, UncategorizedTags: actors, Azog the Defiler, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Javier Bardem, Many Bennett, Thor, Tom Hardy 12 Comments

Movie Review: Wild Child (2008)

Plot:Since Malibu brat Poppy Moore’s mom passed away, she has pushed her rich, usually absent dad Gerry shamelessly. When his patience wears out, she’s shipped off to her mother’s former English boarding school for girls, Abbey Mount. On her first day she makes enemies of most dorm mates, especially dominant lacrosse school captain Harriet, and of staff disciplinarian Mrs. Kingsley. Unwilling to accept the strict regime, she decides to misbehave and take the blame for everyone until she’s dismissed. The school only appealing feature for her is Kingsley’s dashing son Freddie. When the dream prince transfers his favor from ambitious, uptight Harriet to unruly Poppy, that changes everything

Rating: 7.5/10

Wild Child was released when I was a measly 18 years old, and it made such an impression on me. I can watch this film back to back and won’t complain – it is so much fun and has everything that makes it the perfect teen movie.

Poppy Moore is the epitome of brash American at the start – that loud voice, the insufferable attitude and the knowledge that she will have the best no matter what. Still, the attitude is hilarious when thrown into a respectable English boarding school, where class is the rule and not silly outfits and bad boyfriends. Her struggles to fit in with her English classmates and how they are really too nice with her, the ridiculous and improbable teachers, the drop dead gorgeous Alex Pettyfer (why can’t he be in more movies like this?!), who plays the perfect teen heartthrob Freddie and all those hilarious girls makes for a really lighthearted and entertaining two hours.

 

Team sport? Who wasn’t part of a team at some stage in their teenage life? I used to love that part of school – the events and team spirit. Poppy turning her Lacrosse team around while learning them that it is okay to be competitive and want to win provides a lot of laughs and that little war dance is SO high school!

A movie with girls being friends and sticking together rather than backstabbing each other? Count me in! The English actresses were all very refreshing – Kimberly Nixon, Juno Temple, Sophie Wu, Linzey Cocker and the Georgia King as the ghastly Harriet were unique and seemed like real high school girls.Who didn’t love them extra much when they decided to help Poppy get out of school?

Freddy is the reason I love Alex Pettyfer so much. He is the perfect high school heartthrob boyfriend, who manages to be sweet, decent, in an enviable position and very handsome at the same time. I wish Alex Pettyfer could be the pretty boyfriend more often! Being so British suits him.

The end is perfect – Harriet is caught out, the Lacrosse team wins their tournament, Poppy’s dad arrives to see her become what he knew was under her blonde exterior and Poppy reunites with all her friends. Who didn’t love this ending?

Wild Child is the perfect movie to love because it is so easy to watch. I thoroughly recommend a watch if you want something girly and fun!

May 25, 2016May 22, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Aidan Quinn, Alex Pettyfer, Emma Roberts, Juno Temple, Kimberly Nixon, movie, Movies, Natasha Richardson, Poppy Moore, Reviews, Sophie Wu 11 Comments

Book Review: Last Chance Saloon (Marian Keyes)

Plot:

Ever since legwarmers were cool, best friends Tara, Katherine, and Fintan have survived small-town ennui, big-city heartbreak, and endless giddy nights out on the town. But now that they’ve graduated to their slightly more serious thirties, only Fintan has what can honestly be called a “love life.” With Tara struggling daily with her eternal diet—and her dreadful, penny-pinching boyfriend—and Katherine keeping her single existence as organized as her drawer full of matching bra and panty sets, it seems they’ll never locate the exit door out of the “last chance saloon.”

But it’s always when you are least ready for change that fate insists on one. And when catastrophe inevitably follows crisis, the lives of three best friends are sure to change in unexpected ways … and not necessarily for the worse.

Rating: 7/10

One of the biggest things that deter people I know from finishing a Marian Keyes novel is that she differs so wildly in writing styles, plots and execution throughout her novels. It is actually something I enjoy but I do agree that it makes her unpredictable.

It was sometimes a frustrating read and slow at certain places, I wanted to murder some of the characters at a few points in time and I wished viciously, as I often do in life, that they could just eat some cement and harden the hell up.

The main theme around Last Chance Salloon is death. One of the main characters is diagnosed with cancer, and requests that his two oldest friends, Katherine and Tara, take chances – Katherine should get a boyfriend and Tara should dump her stupid, cruel and deadbeat boyfriend.

Let’s start with Tara here – I hated her. There are a few people in life that I can’t can’t can’t tolerate, and she managed to be all of them: Obsessed with what she’s eating, constantly, her weight, all her insecurities badly managed and her desperate obsession with ALWAYS being in a relationship (I could write for decades about how that particular character trait irritates me in people). I’m glad she finds her way in the end, but she will never be my favourite character.

I think my hate for Tara was probably fuelled by my tolerance for Katherine. I appreciated her stance that she didn’t need a relationship, and I loved how her relationship developed with Joe – he was the alpha male that Keyes pens very well, and we all want a boyfriend like that. Despite being the alpha male, he was way more sweet and tolerant of Katherine’s bullshit than she deserved.

Fintan, the other main protagonist, doesn’t get his own sections of the book, and that was fine with me. It is always risky jumping between characters when telling it from a first person perspective, and yet another layer wouldn’t have worked. He was the catalyst in the book, forcing Tara and Katherine to face their own bullshit. His decent into cancer was accurate enough to tell me that Keyes has probably seen someone in her life suffer from cancer – it was way too accurate to not be real.

It took me ages to actively commit to reading this book, but when I finally did it was rewarding. It is typically Marian Keyes – she doesn’t skirt around the most basic human emotions and deal with them head on. I really enjoyed it, probably won’t read it again, but it was fun and entertaining.

May 24, 2016May 22, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Books, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Book, Cancer, Death, Last Chance Saloon, Marian Keyes, Reading, Review 7 Comments

Movie Review: Begin Again (2013)

Plot:A chance encounter between a disgraced music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.

Rating: 7.5/10

Everything about this movie just screams romantic comedy – the title, the posters, the plot, everything. It has Adam Levine in, and no one in their right mind would actually think Adam Levine in any movie could be a good idea – the man is obviously a talented singer, but his artistic capabilities obviously run towards being behind a mike and not in front of a camera.

Begin Again was such a solid, entertaining film to watch that I am surprised it didn’t get a whole lot more press when it was released. I am such a fan of Mark Ruffalo – he is a good, dependable actor that manages to develop his characters and make you believe in them. His character in here has so many problems – a career that is falling apart, a daughter who is acting out to catch the attention of her missing father, a wife who has lost all hope in him and his own alcohol addiction that is making his situation that much worse. When he meets Keira Knightley’s character, he is moved by her music and hopes to produce her, but, nursing her own heartbreak and having a fairly large amount of artistic arrogance about her art, there is a whole lot of dancing around each other before they settle on a really unique idea (watch the movie to find out what it is)

What a really liked was:

As mentioned, Mark Ruffalo. He is my favorite guy and I should give more effort into watching movies with him in.

Keira Knightley, who, for once, didn’t irate me and had (if it is her own), a really good singing voice.

Adam Levine: Not only was there a fair amount of teasing about how he succumbed to what the music industry expects from an artist, but he acted quite well. It is really interesting to see how clean cut he appears when you put him in some decent clothes and hide all those (fascinating) tattoos.

The score – I actually would really like it as part of my collection. The music is thoughtful, unique and sad.

The development and pacing of the plot, and the end. The end had me mildly annoyed and confused, but that has since cleared and I appreciate it now. The development is never really concerned with getting your approval and does what it wants, and the characters progress naturally throughout the movie that makes you understand them a bit better.

I am really happy and really surprised by the way the film worked out in the end. It was glorious to behold!

Have you seen Begin Again? What did you think?

May 23, 2016May 22, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Adam Levine, Begin Again, Hailee Seinfeldt, Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, movie, Movies, music, Reviews 2 Comments

March to May: Watched, Read, Loved

I was all over the place with this post , claiming that I would do some monthly rundowns. I was planning to, I really was, but as you know life is a busy little bastard and all you can do sometimes is hold on for dear life and hope not to fall off the wagon.

In Cinema:

I’ve been to cinema quite a lot the last couple of months. There were a few films I wanted to watch before the internet spoiled everything, and for the most part I walked out relatively pleased.

1. Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

The biggest problem with Batman vs. Superman? It lacked heart. Not all films should be lighthearted, but BvS had no comic relief and no passion – you need either of the two. I didn’t hate it though, but I do think that DC should have worked a little harder if they really plan to have a fighting chance in an environment so dominated by their biggest rivals.

2. The Huntsman: Winter’s War 

I will definitely watch this again – it is easy, comfortable watching, not necessarily great but it was quite fun. It also contains my husband, and that can’t be ignored!

3. The Jungle Book

Beautiful and charming, it impressed me with its gorgeous CGI and traditional storyline. Not my favorite Disney live action film, but it was good nonetheless. I am still the most excited for Beauty and the Beast next year. I CAN’T WAIT.

4. Captain America: Civil War

Woohoo!! This was so great! It probably deserves a higher score from me, because on reflection I had a blast with it.

At Home:

Blindspot:

March: Love Actually – it was OKAY. Not really my favourite romantic comedy and I won’t be watching it again.

April: Home Alone – not gonna lie, I hated this. I am way too old for this shit

May: Warrior Sooo good, but not something I’d recommend as a pick me up.

Other films:

Begin Again (2013) – I really enjoyed it! It is surprising and not really as close to a romcom as it might sound, and I especially enjoyed the track.

The Fast and The Furious (2001) – This way Throw Back was the best and entertaining. I had the best time even though it is as ridiculous, gawdy, a murky story line and terrible acting. It’s all about investing in the future films, you see.

Wild Child (2008) – Wild Child is a favorite movie of 2008 for me. It has everything – the teenage drama, the love story, the gorgeous hero, friendship, everything! I had to force myself not watching it again right after!

Series:

I’m rewatching The Vampire Diaries at the moment and having a complete and utter blast.  I stopped half way into Season two to focus on exams, but I am so onboard getting my ass to season 7 eventually! Can we just say #teamDamon all the way?!

Reading:

Last Chance Salloon (Marian Keyes) – hmmm, not my favorite Marian Keyes. It was good in some places but it took me ages to get through it – long, laborious reading.

Me Before You (JoJo Moyes) – surprising and good, well thought out, not overly sloppy.

The Welcoming (Nora Roberts) – for the life of me I can’t write a review on this for some reason. It is very bland, definitely some of Nora’s most basic work. It isn’t bad or offensive, just pretty tame and nearly put me to sleep in some places.

I finally finished Big Magic after months of searching for it! I’d love to read it again, with a highlighter and a note pad.

Currently also reading:

Evening Class by Maeve Binchy. – this book is a real drag, to be honest. I don’t get why the author is compared to the likes of Marian Keyes – Binchy writes books that make me fall fast asleep. I thought perhaps this book was different from the other one I read by her, but it is shockingly the same – the exact same format and story if you take away all the frills.

Collaboration:

I reviewed over on T9M’s site The Help (2011) – such an awesome flick!

I also reviewed for Kim and Drew‘s 80’s blogathon – When Harry Met Sally – what a great film, definitely worthy of a classic status.

What have you been up to?

May 20, 2016May 19, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Life, Life Lately, UncategorizedTags: Alan Rickman, Alex Pettyfer, Anthony Mackie, Batman, Batman vs Superman, Begin Again, Ben Affleck, Bill Nighy, Billy Joel, Blindspot 2016, Books, Captain America: Civil War, Charlize Theron, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Colin Firth, Damon Salvatore, Don Cheadle, Emilia Clarke, Emma Roberts, Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Evening Class, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavil, Home Alone, Hugh Grant, Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, JoJo Moyes, Keira Knightley, Last Chance Saloon, Liam Neesn, Liam Neeson, Life, Life Lately, Love Actually, Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, Mark Ruffalo, Martin Freeman, Martine McCutcheon, Me Before You, Meg Ryan, Michelle Rodriguez, monthly rundown, Nick Nolte, Paul Walker, Robert Downey Jnr, Rowan Atkinson, Sam Claflin, Sebastian Stan, The Fast and the Furious, The Help, The Huntsman: Winter's War, The Jungle Book, The Vampire Diaries, Tom Hardy, Viola Davis, Warrior, When Harry Met Sally, Wild Child 2 Comments

Blindspot 2016: Warrior (2011)

Plot: The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he’s trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.

Rating: 8/10

Warrior made it onto my Blindspot list because I’ve heard more than once that it is a solid film and it also cast one of my favorite actors, the incredibly excellent and talented Tom Hardy.

Warrior is never slow and it is never friendly. It is not bothering with being feel good, it is bothered with telling you a story. The story is harsh and gritty and there is heartache, disappointment and pain in an unrelenting pace. There is a bit of war trauma, it is part underdog story, it is about how destructive alcoholism can be, a tale of athleticism and respect and of having your own agenda and motives that other people can comprehend. In one short sentence, thus: there is so much emotion in here.

I LOVED it. I tend to lean more to lighthearted things in life – life can be so dark and difficult that I really think that entertainment doesn’t always need to be.  But to all rules there are exceptions and I attached to this like Donald Trump attaches to his toupees – passionately. As mentioned, Tom Hardy is an actor that hopefully everyone loves, and I think he is so solid. He impressed me again, especially for completely dropping his English accent and having an American one, the harshness of his character and the chilling ability Hardy has to make you run away and search for safety. Joel Edgerton was the stunning surprise in Warrior – I rooted for this character way more than I rooted for his brother. He had this sad desperation to him that was impossible not to sympathize with.

The way Warrior progresses also has so much merit. There are very little the audience isn’t privy to throughout Warrior, it is more a scenario about when the audience in the film themselves will learn certain things.

I also really enjoyed Frank Grillo, who, for some astounding reason, is fifty. I cannot understand the powers of Hollywood when it comes to age, I really can’t. The man does not look a day over thirty five! Anyway, leaving his longevity behind, I also enjoyed the seriousness of his character too. He came across as a decent, straightforward man who knew his business and would tell you his honest opinion, nothing less.

The last hour of Warrior focuses exclusively on what the entire film builds up to – Sparta, the massive MMA event. I first thought that it was way too much time allocated, but I changed my mind – that last hour is screaming, intense, hair gripping drama that made the entire film come together.

Warrior is obviously a new favorite of mine. Even if I never watch it again, I will always remember the sheer drama and beauty of the production. It is a sports flick however, and if you really dislike them you should probably steer clear. BUT, it is intensely good and powerful, and I really hope many people can recognize that – I was disgusted to learn that this film didn’t even earn its’ budget in cinema, a testimony to the bad taste of movie goers in my opinion.

Have you seen Warrior? Did you enjoy it?

May 18, 2016May 15, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Blindspot, Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Blindspot, Blindspot 2016, Joel Edgerton, movie, Movies, Review, Tom Hardy, Warrior 21 Comments

Book Review: Me Before You (JoJo Moyes)

Plot: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time

Rating: 7.5/10

I purchased this book for the sole reason of knowing who dies when the film comes out (if anyone dies, to be more correct). I really wouldn’t walk away from the film just because of it, but it is better to be prepared than to suffer from shock in an audience.

 What I liked:

• The book isn’t soppy. I was expecting something in the line of The Notebook or a Walk to Remember, and it couldn’t have been more different. I’m not saying that there aren’t moments that make you rub your heart because of the sudden surge of pain shooting through it, but for the most part the author steers clear of cheap manipulative tricks.
• The book reads really fast and easily.
• It is pretty realistic – never once does anyone pretend that Will Traynor can be cured of being a quadriplegic, and they don’t even hint that there is some miracle treatment because there isn’t.
• SPOILER TERRIROTY: The book touches a lot on whether we have the right to force someone to live. I would say that it is the main theme of the book, and that romance is the second, but falls far behind what is really addressed in this novel. It is a really dark concept, but forcing a clear headed person who isn’t suffering from a mental illness to live in a state that is a shadow of their former selves seems incredibly cruel and selfish. There will be so many people that will say they are completely against assisted suicide and I used to be one of them, but things change when you’ve seen someone you love die of a dreaded disease and who had become a mere ghost of the person they once were. I guess that is why I had some sympathy with what Will Traynor wanted to do – he was one of the most adventure seeking men out there and he became someone that couldn’t even feed himself – that is a long way to fall in my opinion.
• The author has been compared in some articles to Marian Keyes, and I just don’t think so. Both authors have their merits, but just because two people write about British and Irish characters doesn’t mean that they even cover the same material. REMOTELY.
• The book isn’t overly littered with medical terms, you just understand the severity of Will’s condition and the complications that come with it.

What I didn’t like:

• I take it that the book takes place in England – I don’t think the country was actually ever mentioned, and I couldn’t place the characters.
• Louisa – in the beginning her main attribute is that she is Why do women in books even have to be nice anymore? Haven’t we progressed 66 years from 1950? Naturally she improves throughout the book and experience the most character development, but it is a damn shame that she is so flipping nice.
• Peter. What.a.loser.

Me Before You is thought provoking. It is sad and wonderful and full of emotion, and once the book starts progressing, it is really hard to put it down and walk away. I will move on to read its’ sequel soon, and I am really excited what it might hold. As always, I will keep you up to date!

Have you read Me Before You? What did you think?

May 17, 2016May 15, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Books, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Asssisted death, Books, Drama, Emilia Clarke, Lou Clarke, Louisa Clarke, Reviews, Romance, Sam Claflin, suspense, Will Traynor 13 Comments

Movie Review: Terminator Genisys (2015)

Plot:When John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline.

Rating: 6.5/10

Terminator Genisys serves as a tribute to Arnold Schwarzenegger just like The Expendables served as a tribute to Sylvester Stallone… unfortunately, as with The Expendables, it is more a Hunger Games tribute than anything else. Genisys made me think the following things:

• For all his faults, Jai Courteney has the most incredibly sexy voice
• And body. Anyhow.
• The scenes with a young Arnie is disconcerting. No amount of CGI can take away the afflictions time has done to him, and you know what? I was way more comfortable seeing Arnie as his older version later on.
• Speaking of GCI, it is everywhere. There are so many action sequences in the film that it is confusing and exhausting.
• Naked time travel. Really? Although, I could naked time travel with Jai Courteney. *innocent whistling*
• Emilia Clarke – loved her as Sarah Connor. It is the time of the feminist and Sarah does not need anyone’s saving. She’s badass to the point of being abrupt and saves Reece’s ass more than once.
• The story is really confusing – am I right in thinking it basically eliminates the entire previous Terminator work. Was it really okay to turn John Connor like that? It felt like utmost betrayal.
• I’m convinced Sony is Skynet. My phone is so globally connected and thinks for me most of the time. If I disappear, Sony took me out. Send help.

I didn’t hate Terminator Genisys. It made me want to rewatch all the old Terminator films – I think I saw one a few years ago but the majority is still back in my youth. Genisys isn’t strong enough to justify a complete reboot of the franchise – even though the CGI is fancy but does not cover up that the actors didn’t have good material to work with. It is overly long, contains one too many action sequences and never really gains pace. I think a few things could have been better explained and that there are a number of questions I would have liked seen answered – the time travel concept is really interesting.It isn’t bad and it isn’t offensive, but it doesn’t have the wow factor that the old ones do, and the sad fact of Hollywood will always be that none of these reboots will really do what the old ones did.

May 16, 2016May 15, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2015, Movies, movies, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: 2015, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, John Connor, Kyle Reese, movie, Movies, Reviews, Sarah Connor, Terminator, Terminator Genisys 8 Comments

Movie Review: The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016)

Plot: As a war between rival queen sisters Ravenna and Freya escalates, Eric and fellow warrior Sara, members of the Huntsmen army raised to protect Freya, try to conceal their forbidden love as they combat Ravenna’s wicked intentions

Rating: 7/10

I’m probably being very lenient with the rating, because this movie has quite a bit of flaws. For all its’ flaws it is an entertaining watch. I didn’t expect a second movie after Snow White and the Huntsman, but how could I not? Hollywood will milk a success till it lies twitching feebly on the ground, milked of everything that made it so good to start with.

The Huntsman is back, sans Snow White. She’s busy being haunted by the Mirror and is not Kristen Stewart anymore (I think Stewart was not interested in showing her face again lest we remember her shenanigans with the previous director).

The Huntsman, or Eric, is living a holistic life after defeating Ravenna, and is not impressed with the charm or charisma when the handsome Prince pitches and requests that he hunt down the Mirror and prevent evil to rise again. He takes along his two dwarf friends, who are really against female dwarves for some reason.

And for no further plot reasons than to bring romance into the story, two female dwarves join the hunting party. Soon another lady arrives – Eric’s long dead ex, Sarah, played by Jessica Chastain. Naturally questions arise and we, and Eric and Sara, see what happened that fateful day when he thought he saw her murdered.

There is also another Queen in the mix – Queen Freya (Emily Blunt), who lost all her niceness when her child was burned in her crib by her lover (I really don’t blame her for losing her niceness). As she’s Ravenna’s sister, there is plotsies afoot, and she sets out with her newly acquired power to take a lot of land by icy force and force children to love her – I mean who wouldn’t when the choice is between love and being murdered? Love comes easily then.

Winter’s War takes a lot of stories and tries to combine them. Some is really unnecessary and a lot of the time Winter’s War looks like a really pretty perfume ad, but it really isn’t bad. The cast is stellar and Emily Blunt is particularly enjoyable (though please don’t think for a second I didn’t enjoy my husband CH as well!). There is a lot of sadness, something Blunt does really well, and Charlize Theron is disgusting, frightening, beautiful and evil as her return as Ravenna. The mirror also stays amazing – how they brought that concept to the screen looks ridiculously cool.

I love love love Chris Hemsworth. I thought I would always choose him as Thor, but this roughly hewn and really charming Eric works so well. And, accents. GAWSH. I think this role suits Hemsworth well because it firstly gives him something to be other than Thor Odinson and secondly it is written in a way, and especially in the second movie, to highlight his natural charm and that gorgeous smile. I am obviously a massive fan and will gladly pitch whenever he is onscreen, but it isn’t only for the looks – he is a decent actor and although I am a bit sad to say this and it is because he hasn’t really had time to prove himself in very serious movies, he is an excellent popcorn entertainment actor.

If you want to enjoy Winter’s War, it really is possible, because it isn’t bad. I think we should all just sometimes remind ourselves that it is okay to enjoy a movie because it is fun and sweet and looks pretty – not all things need to be dark and intelligent and serious!

Some more, ehm, shots of the movie:

May 5, 2016May 3, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Movies, movies, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Dwarves, Emily Blunt, Fairytales, Ice, Jessica Chastain, Magic, Movies, Reviews, Sam Claflin, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter's War 14 Comments