Avengers: Age of Ultron – Life of this city girl

Best films of 2015: 1 – 10

Happy Thursday everyone! Somehow we all miraculously made it through the first week back at work. Let’s keep it up! To make your day worth it (jke), here is my top ten for 2015.

Note: I somehow lost my original post, so this may or may not turn out great.

10: Jurassic World

Original rating: 7.5/10

Does it still hold? It might eventually fall to a 7

What I Liked: Jurassic World managed to revive the franchise and is blockbuster entertainment at its’ finest. I adored Chris Pratt in here, and he is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

What I didn’t like: The more time passes the more the film seems incredibly sexist.

9: Kingsman: A Secret Service

Original rating: 7.5/10

Does it still hold? I actually think it deserves an 8

What I Liked: This was a really unexpectedly great film. The film is classy and very sassy and a tounge-in-the-cheek look at spy films. Colin Firth is especially in fine form. He can certainly consider more such roles!

What I didn’t like: That last scene where Buggsy goes and does the dirty with the Queen or something felt misplaced in the film.

8: Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling

Original Rating: 8/10

Does it still hold? It really deserves an 8.5/10

What I liked: The showcasing of South-African talent and the nailbiting events. I really can’t wait to give this disturbing and heart-wrenching story another watch.

7. Avengers: Age of Ultron

Original rating: 8/10

Does it still hold? I think I would rate this a 7/10 if I watched it again.

What I liked: Marvel has the ability to go really big and really grand. They are a powerhouse right now and it is obvious in anything they release in the market right now. I know everyone isn’t such a big fan of this film, because it has a number of valid issues, but I really did have a good time when I saw it in cinema.

What I didn’t like: It is excessively long. And the brave South-African cops are all lies.

6. The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Original rating: 8.5/10

Does it still hold? Yeah

What I Liked: The classy feel of the film, the hilarity, the Russian accent, the Cavil. I’m also becoming such a huge fan of Alicia Vikander that I will watch anything with her in right now.

5. Mad Max: Fury Road

Original Rating: 8.5/10

Does it still hold: 9/10

What I liked: YASSS everything.

What I didn’t like? There is nothing. Nothing.

4. Inside Out

Original Rating: 8.5/10

Does it still hold? Definitely

What I liked: This is such a surprising film and I really don’t like animations as a rule.

3. Ex Machina

Original Rating: 8.5/10

Does it still hold? Yep

What I liked: It is a well acted movie on A.I. and really worked out well. It is weird and Oscar Isaac shines. The ever delightful Domnhall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander are great in their respective roles.

2. Star Wars

Original rating: 9/10

Does it still hold? Yes

What I liked: Primarily that it is a great film that can be watched even if you don’t know everything about the franchise.

The Martian

Original Rating: 10 / 10

Does it still hold? 9.5/10

What I liked: The Martian is truly everything I could ever want in a movie.

Well, there you go. Let me know your favorite films of 2015!

January 7, 2016January 4, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2015, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: 2015, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ballade vir 'n enkeling, Best of 2015, Chris Pratt, Inside Out, Jurassic World, Kingsman: A Secret Service, Mad Max: Fury Road, Movies, Reviews, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Force Awakens 17 Comments

Movie Review: Age of Ultron (2015)

Plot: When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

Rating: 8/10

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Avengers: Age of Ultron, had the extremely difficult task of living up to its’ predecessor. My love for the first movie is well known, and I’ve reviewed it on my own site as well as on Rob’s for his Genre Grandeur.

I was extremely excited to enter the Marvel universe on Friday night, and I was not disappointed.

Age of Ultron immediately starts the action. The Avengers are united (although they sadly never share HOW the Avengers got back as a team), and they are kicking ass. Invading the Hydra building in Sokovia, they briefly meet the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and it is very clear that they are impressive enemies. Then Tony Stark is Tony Stark and uses fellow genius Bruce Banner, to set loose Ultron, a powerful creature with artificial intelligence whose main goal is human extinction.

Age of Ultron feels like one huge act. The action never stops, and the scenes flow into each other. I really enjoyed that and thought it also worked well with the slightly less over the top fighting scenes. I really enjoyed the character development. My big issue with the first Avengers were that the characters aren’t really developed – some you know because of their stand alone movie but the first Avengers is just packed with vague references and smart mouth comments between the team.

Age of Ultron tries to give you an idea that these are (mostly) people. I found the story line on Hawkeye the most interesting and never thought that would be in the books for him. I also really enjoyed the character development Natasha Romanoff got – she’s the only female Avenger from the first movie and it is clear that she’s had a sad and unsavory past, but no further background was provided. Her story is intense enough to draw outrage and sympathy on her behalf, and also endear her to the female audience.

The humor in AOU is a lot less forced and thus funnier than in the first movie. It is not only Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr.) who crack the jokes, it is everyone, and it makes the movie a lot more humorous. I liked the testosterone fight between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Iron Man. I also really enjoyed that Thor got more lines and that he actually spoke every once in a while, showing he had more potential than looking good – which he does, excellently. One of my favorite scenes is where everyone tries to lift the hammer, and Thor only gets uncomfortable when Captain America (Chris Evans) has the hammer twitching – proving that he is the only worthy Avenger of the hammer except Thor. Captain was also once again the sad guy that kills us with his desolation of having to live without Peggy Carter – just kill me already with that, okay?

Bruce Banner is played by Mark Ruffalo and I think it is one of the best casting choices they made. I work in an academic environment and let me tell you, he does the scatter brained scientist really really well. He is also very heartbreaking when dealing with his anger issues and his heartbreaking lifestyle choices. #lovetheguy

I also really appreciated Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver. He has that mouthy and badass vibe of what you would expect of him, but he also has an authentic quest for vengeance and I appreciated that.

THEN: OMFG I LOVE THE SCARLET WITCH. Elizabeth does an absolutely amazing job as the female part of the Maximoff twins. Her attitude is fierce, her quest for vengeance is pure, she looks like such a bad ass and the way her powers are brought to life on screen had me in such a fangirling in the cinema. YAY to Marvel for bringing in such an impressive character in the Avengers franchise (I might add that brings the total females up to three, and the males six thousand).

The romance in Avengers came unexpected but not unwelcome. I don’t really think it was necessary because it is not a rom-com, but it is still welcome and surprisingly sweet. The two characters involved surprised me because I would never have grouped them up, but it worked out really heart twisting in the end.

I really liked the villain. Ultron is surprisingly funny and embodies the darker side of Tony Stark’s thought. Ultron is multi-layered, extremely intelligent, not alien (good to Marvel for not going that route again) and he had me worried a lot of the time for the level of destruction he could cause. His cause was initially so noble and good, and enales great discomfort because Ultron really has something right – the human race has no idea how to maintain peace.

I thought AOU did so many things better than the first one did: humor, pacing, character development. I still like the first one more, but can’t really pinpoint why – perhaps it is Loki’s deadly charm that pushes it to the top. Age of Ultron is an excellent job done by Joss Whedon and Marvel, and the characters individually shine and as a team. It is definitely worth paying a ticket for!

April 27, 2015April 26, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Avengers, Movies, ReviewsTags: Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Widow, Captain America, Chris Evans, Elizabeth Olson, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Jeremy Renner, Natasha Romanoff, peggy Carter, Quicksilver, Robert Downey Jnr, Scarlet Witch, Scarlett Johannson, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark 12 Comments

Watchlist: April, May and Possibly June

EEK! All these movies have me super excited to see them. However, realistically I know that they will be spread over a couple of months due to exams 😦

Read, enjoy, and comment below!

Whiplash

Plot: A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential

I’m very much with the general population excited about Miles Teller. He’s got some excellent acting skills and has an everyday attractiveness to him that I particularly appreciate. I haven’t heard one bad word about this movie and would really like to check what the fuss is about. I’ve also heard that it is intense and compelling, and I really need an intense and compelling movie in my life right now.

Furious 7

Plot: Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother

I’m such a massive fan of the franchise. It is buckets full of mindless fun and the characters seems like real family. Above and beyond Paul Walker’s death and his exit from the franchise, this was already a movie I was amped for before the tragic incident of his death.

The Longest Ride

Plot: After an automobile crash, the lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man, as he reflects back on a past love.

If not only for the inappropriate comments I already wish to utter about that title, I have this thing where I love watching Nicholas Spark’s movies regardless if it is really bad or not (and let’s face it, it is mostly bad). The Longest Ride stars Scott Eastwood and Brit Robertson and seems like a very nice cheesy feast with romance and country boys making city girls fall for them. It also stars Oona Chaplin from our favourite GoT love story (fuck you, Filtch) so I would love to head out and see what these kids have to offer.

Pulp Fiction

Plot: The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster’s wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

This one is for my Blindspot choices. I’ve actually started it quite a few times but then I see the time it runs and I remember I have this life I need to run and get other things done. I would really like to see what the fuss is about and if I like it as much as the rest of the world.

Jurassic Park 2

Plot: A research team is sent to the Jurassic Park Site B island to study the dinosaurs there while another team approaches with another agenda.

I’m working through all these dinos movies before Chris Pratt graces our big screen with his adorable mug and getting chased by new mutant dinos, which translates as I’ve managed to watch one of them and procrastinated on the rest. The First movie is big buckets full of fun, so I can see myself really enjoying the rest of them!

The Godfather (with Zoë)

I’m the most scared to do this, because Mobster Bestie might rear her head if I don’t like this! #scared #running #formylife. This is also for my Blindspot series and it seems high time that I see why everyone loves it so much.

Insurgent

Plot: Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.

I will definitely wait this one out for the DVD release. Can’t see myself really getting lyrical about it, but it will be nice to continue the series.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

IT IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which movies are you looking forward to?

April 16, 2015April 14, 2015 by Natasha Categories: MoviesTags: Avengers: Age of Ultron, Insurgent, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley Pulp Fiction, The Godfather, The Longest Ride, Whiplash 10 Comments

Life lately, links and quotes, why I’m broke this month, some blog sites I love and the Versatile Blogger responses

Wow, lengthy title! I love doing these catch up posts – they are a nice way to tell everyone what is happening in my life, because I can never keep my mouth shut when something is happening to me! So here is a rundown of basically everything that is happening right now in my life. Enjoy!

Loving. My pretty couches, they make me really happy. My new job, because even though it is demanding it is so much less worries than my old job. The fact that Trevor Noah is the new host of the Daily Show, he’s hilarious, talented, hardworking and someone South-Africa can be proud of. The fact that it is April and in SA that means Public Holidays everywhere AND I get to see my bestie at the end of the month!
Smelling. Soweto. Not the best smells, but a girl needs to earn a living!
Writing.I have an idea for a story in my head that I want to try and get out. I haven’t actively attempted writing literature since a teenager so I am rather nervous about it. Trying to get all my blog posts out as soon as I’m done watching/reading because then it is much fresher.

Reading. The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes. It is odd but compelling. Although it isn’t Eleanor and Park, I am enjoying it. It is a mammoth book so I hope I can get it done by next week!
Watching. Mostly movies.Planning to do a little marathon one week soon. Keep those eyes peeled!
Craving. All things healthy. Bread has suddenly become the antichrist because it makes me feel sick. Want veggies and loads of it.
Obsessing.Life, getting assignments done and submitted, insane data usage (pretty sure my service provider is up to something illegal), the fact that Game of Thrones Season 5 is happening, sleeping early because I know it is important, getting time to relax, breathing more, getting into nature.
Wishing.That we won the Cricket World Cup. We are one of the best teams. Although the team really did do better and I’m hoping for the best next time.
Needing.More time to study and the motivation to do it.
Wanting.A GHD hair straightener and for my hair to grow again.Over the whole short do again.I want to do an updated list of my favorite books and movies – some new entries!
Trying.Nothing in particular, although getting my life in order counts. Nearly done with a scarf I have been crocheting for MONTHS AND MONTHS. Obviously not a hobby I will ever be obsessed about, but it is nice to do it once in a while.
Eating.Lots of salad because bread sucks right now.
Drinking.Coffee, water, Dry Lemon, Wine.

Why I’m broke this month:

The following movies are being released and I need to see them

The Fast and the Furious 7

Avengers: Age of Ultron!!!!

Cinderella

Versatile Blogger:

Thanks to Justine and Alex who nominated me for this. You two have wonderful blogs and I have such a great time reading it (To the other readers – get your ass in gear and go follow them).

I’m not passing the VB relay on to other bloggers, but I did think it would be nice to share 1) Ten things about me and 2) some really cool sites that you might want to check out.

Ten things about me:

My dog’s name is Nicky Noodle because she looks like a noodle. She’s the best thing in my life and I always think she’s a little cartoon character. She’s living with my sister now because my new place won’t take dogs, and I miss her so much I feel like I’ve lost an arm.

I am working full time and studying part time. I also get extremely dramatic during exam periods. Think wild eyes, scattered and incoherent sentences, mumbling, walking around with a trailing blanket. I truly go cray-cray during exams. I’m currently busy with some crazy ass assignments that is stressing me out about exams.

I consider Queen the ultimate band of all time but AC/DC is not too far behind them.

I am a news and general knowledge junkie. I am always on news sites and Buzzfeed and every possible site for random information you can imagine. I like little known facts and big political dramas. I get drawn into the hype and drama all the time and can discuss it for hours.

I hate South-African Taxis more than I can ever accurately state.

I have never been able to say for certain that THIS song is my favorite or THAT movie is the best movie out there. There are tons and tons of movies, songs and books I can listen to say that they are definitely some of my favorites.

I think napping is the answer to every problem out there.

My favorite spot in Johannesburg is Montecasino. The interior itself looks like I would imagine Hogsmead would look. It is stunning and seems very Romanesque. There are a ton of amazing restaurants and the most amazing bookshop on this planet – Skoobs. (Hint: It is a coffee shop and a bookshop = ADDICTIVE). I love spending time there and having fun. If you aren’t a casino person, that is fine as well – there’s a cinema and a place to tenpinbowl and like I mentioned before, amazing restaurants.