I’m guessing that most posts you’ve had your eyes on tells you that you need to go in blind where 10 Cloverfield Lane is concerned. Because I’m feeling all noble I will tell you that it would be a great disservice to yourself and the quality of the film to spoil it beforehand. I went in blind, and it was the best possible way to go into this. The best I can give you in terms of plot is there a woman who is in an accident and when she awakes she is told by the owner of the bunker she’s in that there has been an attack and she won’t survive outside. Is it for real? Can Michelle live in peace with Howard (John Goodman) and Ben (John Gallagher)?
Things I really liked about this film:
The atmosphere is so tense. John Goodman gives an incredible performance as Howard. The man is so strange, and despite evidence showing you that there are some truths behind his increasingly wild conspiracies, you can never be sure about his intentions.
John Gallagher as Ben – I really liked Ben. He was certainly awkward and provided some chuckles – but it was that an awkward and uncomfortable chuckling. I also enjoyed the development he had – the blind faith in Howard and how it started wavering.
Female lead – I enjoyed her sooo much. I have to say, the couple of thriller/horrors I’ve seen have all had great female leads in, and that makes me supper happy because I really can’t deal with tears and hysteria. Get up and kick some ass!
The end – like WTF hahaha. I did not expect that. It was like “Oh, this is done” and then it was like OH HELL NO, THIS IS SO NOT DONE.
Will there be a real sequel? I hope so. The film and characters deserve it. I would definitely go see it.
Elena going vampire. There, I said it. The cure was stupid, everything was stupid except the fact that she was supposed to turn into a vampire if she wanted eternity with one of the brothers.
I liked how the show headed into the fact that Stefan was finding a way to accept Damon and Elena was supposed to happen and his happiness was focused elsewhere. He had some moments where I wanted him to stop acting like a tool and grow the hell up, but at the end I liked his choice in taking some time away to deal with his adaption to life.
I also love how the relationship between the brothers have developed. They have become real brothers, and there is love and respect growing between them.
Caroline and Klaus. OMFG, I ship these two like crazy. They have so much chemistry, I love that she makes him such an idiot and that he believes that she is way more than Miss Mystic Falls. CAN THEY JUST KISS NOW? Dammit.
The Originals cross over episode. It worked exceptionally well. I am definitely investing in that show if I ever get the time, because I think I can do with more Klaus and Elijah in my life. Also, that hot guy. Looks like the villain, sure he smells like the villain, but hot damn, I need to see this pan out!
Any scene with Elijah Mikaelson in. The man just works so well on every level. He is so vastly different from his brother Klaus, and it is interesting to see how well both characters are written and developed, and not to mention how simply excellent Joseph Morgan and Daniel Gillies handle their respective roles.
For the first time in the last million seasons I am enjoying Matty Blue-Blue again. He’s had a rough time with all the vampires in Mystic Falls, and time and again he’s been involved and bitten and compelled and chased and lost friends and family and all manners of unpleasant things. I would have packed all my bags and left after my sister died if I lived there, but it would seem that Matt is very fierce (or dumb). I enjoyed him in season 4 – he wasn’t used so much that he took up too much screen time, and there is something endearingly human about him. I also tentatively approved of his relationship with Rebekah (or the sort of one). She needs someone who can bring the very best of her out, what there is of it, and this guy has been managing it for a while now.
What I didn’t like:
The Silas story.Firstly, I do feel that Mystic Falls have enough creatures to be getting on with. There are vampires, werewolves, witches and hybrids. We do not need the ultimate witch in this story, it isn’t about witches. Shane was Mr. Dodgypants from a mile away – always suspect a university lecturer that tells you to kill twelve people at once, BONNIE. Secondly, the execution sucked. Them trekking off to some island – MIGHT I JUST MENTION THAT THESE ARE HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR FINAL YEAR – finding some shadow bounty hunters/killers, Jeremy dying, Bonnie forgetting about his death, it was all just melodramatic on a level that made me fidget in my damn seat.
Elena switching off her humanity. Actually, Elena this season. Vampire Elena seemed like the logical next step. You can’t love attractive 17 year olds (that look 30) and expect to stay just as attractive as they are for the duration of your relationship if you stay mortal. I am ALL for vampire Elena, no use for her being dead. However, her whiny ass self was a lot to bear when she turned, and the whole switching off her humanity was too much because she was just way more grating, petty and bitchy than I could handle.
The new voice overs at the start of every episode. It makes a bit of sense that it had to change as the story grew, but it felt that a part of the story had fallen away.
Vampire Diaries season four remained a whole lot of fun. There is a slight dip in the quality of the content, but it is still enjoyable and the characters are still very true to each of the characters. The death of Jeremy, then Bonnie, shook me up a bit. I’d come to love them as time went by, but hey, as with all supernatural shows, I’m sure there is some way they can be revived!
Plot: A reporter is assigned to write a story about a woman who has left a string of fiances at the altar.
Rating: 7.5/10
I’ve been making a point to watch as many films lately that I’ve been meaning to see, but never able to. It’s like the unofficial blindspot list, well, because I have an official one as well (that I continuously run out of time for!)
Runaway Bride is the second venture between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, the first being the truly excellent Pretty Woman. Gere is grayer than he was, but the chemistry between the two actors are as strong as ever. It also marks a return for Hector Elizondo, also involved in Pretty Woman, and I have always enjoyed him in any role.
I had fun with this. It is obviously a romantic comedy, but it is really well written with acerbic bantering and well thought out dialogues. There are a few moments where I laughed out loud – especially Richard Gere’s hair being made an assortment of different colors. I also really liked the bits of character development in Maggie Carpenter – she obviously had to find herself before she found her man. I thought that the friendly relationship between Ike and his ex-wife and her husband was quite silly (I mean, have you MET divorced people and their ex-spouses? #awkward)
Julia Roberts – I hate that people can easily discuss a woman aging but not a man. It isn’t cool! I personally still find Roberts really beautiful, and for that reason alone I am avoiding that Mother’s Day film that has her typecast and it pisses me off. But how fresh and gorgeous was she as a young woman? It is astounding. She perfects the girl next door look and personality, and every girl wants to be her and every man wants her.
Then there is the delicious Gere – he’s a bit older here, but I get why the ladies thought he was so attractive. He did the 90’s man so well, and the ladies were probably fanning themselves every time he got on screen!
If I had to choose between Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride I’d go for Pretty Woman. I think most people would – it is a standout film can be viewed as a defining moment in Roberts’ career. However, this is a great staple to your movie diet regardless of your appreciation of the rom-com genre – I hope most people would love it!
Plot: After having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles.
Thoughts:
Littlefinger. I somehow know that he’s going to be a villain. No hope that he has moral fiber. Aiden Gillen wasn’t the most satisfying villain. There is something about polo necks that lacks the essence of masterminded evil, and more importantly, Gillen seems unconvinced about his role.
Security doors in Scorch Trials are opened by mere handles. Seems very secure.
The scene where they are relinquishing their only weapon to their friend that is becoming a zombie – Can we just talk about how stupid this is? Shoot the guy, he’s indicated that he wants to die, and take your weapon. You know, to protect yourself.
The best thing about this film is that they found water in the very first building they entered.
Let’s just quickly focus on these buildings – why are they looking like that? I need to know how buildings can be utterly destroyed by the sun. Windows are out, buildings have fallen over each other. There wasn’t a specific war, earthquake or tornado. Those are the things I’d think would lead to buildings being completely destroyed.
This villain woman. Does she think she’s Gandalf the White?
This Teresa chick. She’s irritating AF with her judgy little face. Her biggest issue is that she lost her mother due to zombitis. Well, sorry, but now every teenager must give up their enzymes??
The new girl is at least better than Teresa. She obviously has more moral fiber than Teresa, and all in all I’d like her more to end up with beautiful Thomas. I’m appreciative that we finally have a girl in this movie that isn’t completely repulsive or evil.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster – I like him. He does a good job with being a leader and a voice of reason.
So here’s my issue with the whole Scorched world – why am I seeing green trees in this scene?
New definition for Dystopia: A story perpetuating the myth that teenagers matter.
Rating: 6/10
Both movies so far have been really lopsided. The first one is arguably better, but I am still not all that sure what the hell is going on. I think reading the books would help, but I’ve heard from reputable sources that I’d pull my hair out with the writing that is going on in there. Apparently Scorch Trials are also one of those “incredibly loosely based” adaptions, so reading the books won’t help all that much. I do know now that Thomas is planning to fetch Asian Zac Efron and save his life. And hopefully pop Teresa and Gandalf while he’s at it.
The flashbacks to Chicago during the prohibition era. I really enjoy when the show makers do flashbacks – they are really well done in the show. It is good to understand a little why Klaus wants Stefan to travel with him and is the first glimpse that Klaus might have some redeeming qualities to him.
Damon in this season is on fire. He is his usual gorgeous self and as alluring as always, but he has matured and has changed his game plan when it comes to Elena, realizing that the only way he would ever get to her would be through honesty and a fair fight with Stefan.
Jeremy’s shorter hair. Can this count as something I liked? He looks much more grown up and I am so glad that floppy nonsense is gone. The character is much more stable and that can only be a good thing. I’m happy that he leaves for a bit because his story gets a bit much at times.
Caroline and Tyler. This is my second favorite relationship for Caroline. Actors Candice Accola and Michael Trevino certainly have enough chemistry to make their relationship plausible. I also really enjoy how far Tyler has come. He was the world’s biggest high school jock jackass punk in season one, but becoming a werewolf and dealing with everything that went down (and nearly killing Damon, FFS), made him grow up and take accountability for what he does.
Claire Holt as Rebekah Mikaelson. She’s annoying, that is for sure, but the character is the female version of Klaus – powerful and paranoid and worried that no one loves them.
I’m still wishing that Alaric Saltzman was my teacher in high school. Not only would he have been really nice to look at, but he is badass and besties with Damon. I mean really, what more do you want from a teacher? I like that he isn’t the together guy we met in Season one and how he lost most of his ability to cope – not blaming him, his wife and girlfriend have at this point been and been killed as vampires, something that would mess most people up quite badly. His friendship with Damon is still sob worthy and beautiful, and his death made me so mad the first time around – how many people must Damon still lose?! Losing him caused a lot of pain for Elena and Damon, and the lead up to his death was so heart
Klaus – man, after killing Jenna at the end of Season 2 I thoroughly hated him. The hate is still quite strong in the beginning of season two, and his actions remain deplorable, but as the season continues you start getting a glimpse of why he is like he is, and that he is lonely and terrified of Michael. Klaus’ puppy like devotion to Caroline is gut wrenching, and can we just discuss this whole scene?!
Which brings me to Michael –I think he was legitimately badass and worthy of scaring Klaus shitless. But we can hate him thoroughly whilst we admire him, because he is the main reason vampires exist and why Klaus is the way he is. The big reveal that although he isn’t Klaus’ father, he is the father of all the other Originals, was clever and really well done. His death is also really fiery and awesome, and the tension that is in the air with the last standoff between Klaus and Mikhael is electrifying. It is also one of Joseph Morgan’s best moments in the show – the heartache and disillusionment of not being loved by his father figure is heartbreaking to behold.
Klaus and Caroline. I do enjoy Caroline and Tyler together, and the only way I would chose her to be with someone else at this point is with Klaus. She will always speak her mind, and he really is a guy that needs it. The scene below is one of the sweetest in the entire series, and it broke my heart just a little. If you haven’t seen the show yet, I think this is the first real time where you start to wonder if Klaus has redeeming qualities.
Elena – the girl has grown. She’s angrier and feels violent towards her blood bag fate. Her character is so much stronger than in seasons one and two, and we finally see some progression.
This. Kiss.
What I didn’t like:
How many times must Caroline go through the same drama of a parent that wants to kill her? Her father pitching, THANKS CAROL, and trying to exorcise the vamp out of his daughter. At this stage it is feeling quite repetitive and unnecessary. Her father also – there was such a magnitude of possible ideas around him – that repelling compulsion without vervain? That could have been an incredible story line.
Jeremy seeing the dead. Why did the showrunners feel inclined to even include this? I couldn’t cope (again) with all the Bonnie business, and especially seeing Vicki back – I really hated the character. I did enjoy having Anna on again, she was quite cool and I really wanted her and Jeremy to work.
Bonnie – I’m bitching here again as I’ve done in the two previous seasons, but she’s whiney, entitled and really very bitchy towards her friends. She wears her witch crown like it’s a cross and it is too much to bear at the best of times.
Can I just ask why being an evil female is automatically equated with being slutty? Katherine? She’s all over every man available and the same seems to be going for Rebekah. Just an idea, but having an evil agenda doesn’t have to mean you want to bang everyone.
Matt, who is quickly becoming obsolete.
Rating: 8.5/10
I’ve always considered the second and third season of Vampire Diaries my favorites of the lot. The original story line was intact and they didn’t have to do any major modifications to keep things going. Overall this show has always had decent writing and production, and they’ve stayed consistent in the way they depict their supernatural creatures (I’m looking at you, True Blood). My favorite character in this show will always be Damon – so many layers. The third season has him becoming so much better, and it is probably mushy but I like how he can’t help being a better person because of Elena. The only other character that I have come to love almost as much is Klaus – talk about damaged and insecure, and his development throughout the show is fascinating and so good. My favorite female character is still Caroline – I’ve been on her team since season 1. I love that Klaus has a soft spot for her – the only chink in his armor. I really did like season 3!
Plot: Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they’re all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow “runners” for a shot at escape.
Rating: 6.5/10
My younger sister nagged me to watch The Maze Runner, so recently on a day off I sat down with her and watched it. I didn’t really love it, but it was okay. The most lacking thing is definitely the storyline – I get that things are supposed to be a puzzle and mysterious, but come on, at least reveal things that would make your movie make sense. Dylan O’Brien is the main character. He’s totally adorable, and I liked him as this main although can we please just all get to a point where a 25 year old male is not cast as a teenage boy? I also liked Ki Hong Lee – his role wasn’t all that clear and I didn’t understand why he was running in the Maze, but I liked him. I really don’t get why Will Poulter is popping up everywhere. I have hated this actor since We’re the Millers, which everyone knows was the worst movie of 2013.Eugh. He was obviously destined to be a pain in the ass in The Maze Runner, and he achieved it quite well because he was a pain in the ass. There were also a lot of male leads and only one female. They are probably doing this for #PLOTREASONS but it was kinda stupid. Also, like I mentioned, the plot is shrouded in mystery. I’m guessing if you read the book it would make more sense, but it seems to be a movie about a maze and some Dystopian drama and feelings. It also felt rather Divergent-ish, but it seems to be the norm that Dystopian authors “borrow” ideas here and there. So in the spirit of not moaning too much about this, I really enjoyed O’Brien and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. When they finally let us know why these kiddos were in a Maze, it was quite interesting. I liked the images of the desert stricken earth – it was so dystopic dystopian. I am planning to watch the second film, and then the third as soon as cutie pie recovers from his on-set injury. Definitely not as good as The Hunger Games, but luckily not as awful as the Divergent films.
Plot: Bridget’s focus on single life and her career is interrupted when she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch … she can only be fifty percent sure of the identity of her baby’s father.
Rating: 8.5/10
I liked every single thing about this movie. I had my reservations. Reboots are mad, sequels are a terrible idea and after 10 years even more so. I was so surprised when Bridget returned exactly as we left her – a bit more mature and world weary, without her beloved Mr. Darcy. She seems okay though – she has her friends, she’s much better at being alone and she’s quite successful. However, a rendezvous with a beautiful stranger at a music festival and a similar one with the love of her life results in a positive pregnancy test at 42 and some very awkward situations. She needs to tell her parents, something that every person on this planet probably dreads the most regardless of their age or circumstances.
If you saw my review of The Edge of Reason on Wednesday, you know that I was very unhappy with it and that it completely lost what Bridget is about. BJB is different – the core of Bridget is the same – her truly amazing thoughts and quips. Patrick Dempsey replaces Daniel as love interest #2. Is he as hilarious and as charismatic as Hugh Grant? No-one can hope to be as I still consider Grant one of the finest actors in romantic comedies. I enjoyed Daniel as a character but still feel that he’s not part of the core team of the Bridget Jones mystery.
Mr. Darcy is back, and even with additional wrinkles he might still be the love of my life too. He’s reserved and serious and I love that about him – terrible to say but his feelings feel so much more valid as a result. My main reason for concern was that I cannot live in a world where Mr. Darcy isn’t with Bridget – she carries the torch for all the rest of us awkward girls. It’s obvious that they belong together and even if Dempsey makes a convincing case there was no doubt in my heart. I did think some of her actions were rotten though – she should have pushed through with telling them that she wasn’t sure who the father is – there are a few crimes that I really think women should pull off and that is solidly one of them.
Anyway, I got off my moral high horse now. BJB is one of my favorite films of 2016 – even my mom was in stitches and I was so sure she’d get on HER high horse because of two sexual partners (THE HORRORS). It is truly hilarious, it is truly Bridget, I cannot recommend it enough and it is certainly better than THE EDGE OF FUCKING REASON.
Plot: After finding love, Bridget Jones questions if she really has everything she’s dreamed of having.
Rating: 4.5/10
I have two things I am really upset about after watching The Edge of Reason: 1) I spend R100 on this DVD – I will never be able to replace that money, no matter how hard I work. It is gone forever. 2) I wasted one hour and forty minutes on this crap, and while I can probably get over the lost hundred rand I cannot forgive that this was one hour and forty minutes of time in a life that is not infinite.
The Edge of Reason is the sequel to the wildly popular and equally awesome original Bridget Jones’ Diary. This is likely the best known case of sequelitis I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. Bridget isn’t even herself in this film – they have her essence completely wrong. Her quips are off and her personality is skewed. Mark Darcy isn’t himself – and if Colin fucking Firth cannot save a movie, no one can. Daniel is back, and he is not himself – the Daniel in the first film was more affable rouge than heartless bastard – everyone loves Daniel because he gets to a point that he cares for Bridget, genuinely cares, and would not leave her surrounded by foreign police.
The fucking story – who wrote this? WHO? Was Helen Fielding on the writing panel? I highly doubt it. How did they think it would be okay to somehow make jokes about foreign prisons and drug smuggling and lesbians?OMFL (That is now OH MY FUCKING LIFE). It is awful. The pacing is wrong, the actors are all aware that the fantastic work they did with the first film is being destroyed in front of their eyes and there is nothing they can do about it. Bridget and Mark eve lacked the intensity they had in the first film. I nearly switched this off – I was about half way through and thought I cannot do this to myself. But sometimes I get through things promising myself that I will come and tell you all about it and then I feel so much better. So here I am, and take the advice of your trusted friend here, and don’t watch the Edge of Reason. Watch the first film and definitely the new third installment (review loading tomorrow!), but avoid this piece of shit because you don’t deserve to waste your time like I did.
While I think we should start a drinking game out in public and everyone needs to drink when someone says “CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW FAST THE YEAR WENT” or something similar, I still want to ask you WHERE DID THE YEAR GO? *sips*. It has been so fast. For better or worse I am nearly in my new position for a year now. Life has changed significantly. The last two years has forced me to grow more than I can ever begin to tell you. It’s been hard and it has been enlightening.
Apologies for being incognito last week. I am currently in a war with data in this country, and I refuse to buy more data before my bundle kicks in. South-African data companies are complete sharks. Here is an infographic just how our data cost compares to the rest of the globe: I am so behind the #DataMustFall movement:
I’m well aware that I sound quite old when I say these things, but it has been ages since a movie was unique, beautiful and thought provoking. ESPM managed to be all three of those things. It is impossible to watch that film and just fall a teensy bit in-love with Jim Carrey’s awkward little character. It was so beautiful!
My blindspots this year have been awfully meh actually. I chose really good movies but I haven’t really seen any on this list that was made for me. I was so damn happy to get two so on top of each other that I loved. Alien is incredible – from its’ old school action and thriller-style to the strong female heroine, I loved everything about this movie.
Pad na Jou Hart
I got in my Afrikaans fix when I watched this film, and gosh was it worth it. It is actually a good film, and that isn’t always the case with Afrikaans/South-African films. I’m really happy and proud with what they here and can’t wait to get this up and running!
The Bourne Identity
Hmm, I love me some young Matt Damon. My bestie and I are planning a short run soon with the Bourne series – it is going to be so great! This is some of Damon’s best work and a pretty great franchise.
The Maze Runner
I’m past the point where everything dystopian matters and that is probably why I didn’t really care for this. Don’t get me wrong – it isn’t bad, but ugh, dystopia schmystopia.
Pride and Prejudice vs. Zombies
IS THIS MY FAVORITE FILM OF 2016? I have no idea how someone thought adding Zombies to Pride and Prejudice but it works sooooo well. I loved the cast, I loved the Britishness, I loved everything. Review up really soon too!
The Bourne Supremacy
Sequelities did not strike! I thought this was better than Identity, and I really enjoyed Identity.
In the movies:
Bridget Jones’ baby
I had the intense desire to get out of the house and away from my study material to regain sanity and clarity about life. Cue the only available thing in cinema – Bridget Jones’ Baby. It was a risk that paid off, because this might be my second favorite film of 2016 right now. It was Bridget, she’s back, and I loved that they left Renee Zellwegers’ face untouched and had her looked as the character, and the actress, is supposed to look: OLDER.
Series: Game of Thrones Season 6
I finally got around to watching this, and it is great. I’m doing per episode reviews, so soon you’ll see weekly reviews again of the show just when you thought it was over! #muhaha
It’s really good, they cut down on their mutilation of the female species dramatically, and the storyline remained quite strong.
The review went up here – read please! It is really quite good. Frothy, Christmassy and light, it was fast and sweet to read.
Marian Keyes – The Woman Who Stole My life
Loving this right now, and with this eccentric but well-loved author I’m never quite sure what I’m getting into. Having tons of fun though when I get to read, which isn’t often, but the book is really awesome.
Well, there we go. I’ve squished in a lot of things this month, and hope to be up and running when I emerge victorious from #DataWars
Life of this city girl 