Watched, Read, Loved: April 2017

April is the best month for South-Africa. Seriously – we have so many public holidays people are actually nice to each other. I took off a chunk of time as well, and it did me the world of good. I actually got some sleep in, saw my bestie and watched some amazing films. Without further ado, here is my rundown of April 2017.

Movies:

Beauty and the Beast (2017): The painful excitement that came when I heard they were doing a live animation of my favorite Disney classic was excruciating. Would it work? Would it fail? The QUESTIONS that plagued me.Additionally, B&B was released in South-Africa later than the rest of the world because of South-Africaitis, and there were conflicting reports to be read. Anyway, grabbing popcorn and sitting down to see this was really wonderful. I liked it, and will watch it again. I had Gaston stuck in my head for a week. I better not hear that tune soon.

One Day (2011): HATED IT.

Basic Instinct(1992): This is part of my Blindspot 2017 series. This year I am doing remarkably well with it, because Zoë and I watched a bunch of them in December because #besties. Basic Instinct is next on the list and quite the shocker. OMFG my poor eyes.I might never recover.

Anywhere but home (2008): I thought this comedy was quite funny the second time around (I know I’ve seen this before but I can barely remember it). It’s also titled “Four Christmases”. I’ve never understood exactly why some movies get two titles. Anyway, if you can believe that someone like Reese Witherspoon would end up with someone like Vince Vaughn, you can get through the movie. It has some funny moments, and sure they are the typical things you’d expect, but they are funny regardless.

Twilight: New Moon (2009): I’ve been meaning to blog about Twilight as a set for ages now. I did Twilight (2008) easily, but had a couple of months delay by what succeeds it. New Moon is the most insufferable – both book and movie – but I sat through it eventually.

Twilight: Eclipse (2010): Eclipse is a strong successor and definitely superior to the ghastly New Moon. Edward is still an obsessive stalker, Bella is still pathetic, R. Patz and Kristen Stewart still can’t act. But decisively better than the infuriating New Moon.

Safe Haven (2013): The casting for Nicholas Sparks film is never specified for acting abilities. I guess the author/filmmaker knows his audience too well, and knows if he provides enough pretty people the film will be acceptable to his fans. He’s not wrong. I enjoyed Safe Haven and the acting is really better than the acting in The Lucky One. The kids were cute and the story was okay.

He’s just not that into you (2009): I always enjoy watching HJNTIY. My brother-in-law did not appreciate us making him watch it though, telling me that it is not also a guy-friendly film as I initially thought.

Warm Bodies (2013): I just love this film. Nicholas Hoult is a zombie, and when he eats the brains ofTeresa Palmer’s boyfriend, he starts seeing some memories and slowly returns to human form. The cast, led by Hoult, are all quite charming and for a story that shouldn’t work it works really well.

The DUFF (2015):yes, I watched it again. One of my favorite films at the moment. Such hilarity.

Lethal Weapon 1 (1987) & Lethal Weapon 2 (1989):
It was my first time around watching this buddy-cop series, and I really enjoyed it. The 1980’s were a glorious time to be alive obviously!

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

SO SLOPPY.

Chef (2014): Chef is a film about good food and happy endings, and well deserved of its’ praise. I really quite liked this film!

Arrival (2016): My review will be up next week. I loved this. Handsdown one of the finest films of 2016.

Drive (2011): I remember enjoying Drive the first time around, but I really couldn’t remember everything about it. I enjoyed it so much this time too, it is a phenomenal film and some of Gosling’s best work.

The Guest (2014): This film has a lot of science reasons it works well to the appreciative eye, but I can tell you that I would have loved it without the science too. Gorgeous directing, a solid plot and excellent score, this film is a great film to watch again and again.

Prisoners (2013): Prisoners currently ranks as my least favorite Villeneuve film. It is on no level a poor film, it was just not my favorite of his. And it is five hundred hours long. *Scientific fact*

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016):

I can watch this movie indefinitely. It is the best!

Crazy Stupid Love (2011): I definitely need to review this film again – It has been ages since I’ve posted it on my blog. One of the most inoffensive romantic comedies produced in later years, this movie will make you laugh and relate with some character in here.

Nocturnal Animals (2016): This is my new hated film. Gosh, what a spectacular waste of my life. Pretentious bullshit.

 

Black Hills – Nora Roberts

This is a particular favorite book of mine. I enjoy Dr. Lillian Chance – she is passionate about her work in the refuge she built and is smart and cool.

The Concannon Sisters trilogy – Nora Roberts

While I do enjoy this series of books – Born in Shame, Born in Ice and Born in Fire, they certainly aren’t my favorite of the author. However, her love for Ireland does show when reading this, and I particularly enjoy the description of the scenery.

Two Broke Girls Season 4 and 5

I’m enjoying myself way too much with this comedy. It shouldn’t be as funny as it is, but I end up really laughing at it.

What did you do in April?

May 12, 2017May 9, 2017 by Natasha Categories: 2017, Blindspot, Movies, movies, Nora Roberts, novels, reading, Review, Reviews, Romance, Series, UncategorizedTags: 2017, Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway, April, Arrival, Basic Instinct, Beauty and the Beast, Bella Swan, Ben Affleck, Black Hils, Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Chef, Crazy Stupid Love, Dan Stevens, Donny Glover, Drew Barrymore, Drive, Eclipse, Edward Cullen, Emma Watson, Forest Whitaker, He's Just Not that Into You, Hugh Jackman, Jacob Black, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connely, Jeremy Renner, Jim Sturgess, Jon Favreau, Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Justin Long, Kate Beckingsale, Kristen Stewart, LEthal Weapon, Lily James, Luke Evans, Mae Whitman, Maika Monroe, Mel Gibsen, Michael Douglas, Michael Shannon, Michael Sheen, monthly rundowns, New Moon, Nicholas Hoult, Nora Roberts, One Day, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Prisoners, Robert Downey Junior, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Gosling, Safe Haven, Scarlett Johansson, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Steve Carell, Taylor Lautner, The DUFF, The Guest, Twilight, Two Broke girls, Underworld: Blood Wars, Warm Bodies 7 Comments

Movie Review: Noah (2014)

Noah: Fire consumes all. Water cleanses. It separates the foul from the pure. The wicked from the innocent. And that which sinks from that which rises. He destroys all, but only to start again.

Plot synopsis: A man is chosen by his world’s creator to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world. via IMDb

Rating: 6/10

In possibly the worst book adaption of the century, Russell Crowe stars as Noah, the iconic Ark building Biblical character. He is moody, prone to bitching and sulking, and thus I’ve deduced that Crowe merely imitated his own personality for this. Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson are also in here, and both are fine but it is clearly either’s best work. The shots where all the animals lie sleeping looked awfully fake, and I thought it was simply silly a few times. Anthony Hopkins is some sort of magical elder that cures Emma of her infertility, and I think he is left to drown, and I found that sad because he was so nice and all.

I did like that Noah was portrayed as a human being. He isn’t a saint who never got mad, he was flawed and human and insecure. Noah’s eldest son was fine and I got why Emma had such a thing for him always, but I still felt sorry for the other son who had to leave behind his lady friend, once again to drown.

Basically, the movie is too long, and so different from the original version I don’t know who the target audience was – if not made for believers this movie doesn’t have enough weight to be considered good enough for other audiences. It is too long and too shabbily put together to be really impressive.

October 22, 2014October 20, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Emma Watson, Jennifer Connely, Logan Lerman, Noah, Russel Crowe 7 Comments

Movie Review: He’s just not that into you (2009)

He’s just not that into you, is a 2009 movie directed by Ken Kwapis that’s based on the self-help book with the same name by Greg Behrendt (I don’t read self-help books so I haven’t read it, but please let me know if you did and what you thought). The movie has a star studded cast – Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Long.

It seems too jam packed with stars at times. Also, there are a lot of plot lines happening so it takes some concentration to remember who is dating who and what is happening where.

Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) lives in Baltimore. She misunderstands everything the men that she goes on dates with do, and spend days obsessing over men she had mediocre dates with.

After a boring date with Connor Barry (Kevin Connolly), Gigi goes a bit crazy, watching the phone constantly. She heads to the bar Connor mentioned he hangs out at, and meets Alex (Justin Long). They start becoming friends and Alex gives Gigi advice about men – sometimes harsh advice, but it is obvious that he is speaking the truth about guys, because he is one. She once again misinterprets his signals and starts believing that he is into her and that everything he does is to woo her. He gets angry and asks her why she didn’t listen to a word he said, to which she replies that at least she isn’t cynical and bitter like him.

Alex’s harsh words have the desired effect – Gigi starts becoming sensible about men and life, cancelling the drama she used to love creating for herself. Alex realizes that he is in love with Gigi and that he seriously messed up. Will he be able to win her affections back?

Another part of the movie focuses on Gigi’s co-worker Jeanine (Jennifer Connelly), who is having marital problems with Ben (Bradley Cooper). Married directly out of college, Jeanine and Ben are in a rut. They are redecorating the house and apart from that stress Jeanine is also constantly worrying that Ben is smoking again, although he always denies it.

Ben meets Anna (Scarlett Johansson) in a grocery store and they start talking. He is obviously attracted to her and initially tries to distance himself. She has absolutely no qualm about seducing a married man, comforting herself by the knowledge that they might be the perfect for one another. Anna is keeping Connor on the line by acting like she’s interested but never closing the deal.

Ben and Anna sleep together and Ben decides it’s time to leave his wife. He tells her that he cheated on her and she is heartbroken, and eventually decides that it is her fault. Jeanine heads to Ben’s office and they sleep together there but she doesn’t know that Anna is hiding in the closet and witnessing everything. Anna is furious with Ben and breaks up with him. Back home Jeanine finds Ben’s cigarettes and it is that, not his infidelity, that makes her lose it and toss all his clothes out of the house, with a note telling him she is divorcing him.

Anna starts a relationship with Connor but dumps him when he wants to move in with her. He meets Mary (Drew Barrymore), Anna’s friend and the woman who is helping him with advertisements, who is also very unlucky in love. They eventually start dating.

Beth (Jennifer Aniston) is another colleague of Gigi and Jeanine. She has hands down the best man out there, Neil (Ben Affleck). Their only issue is that he won’t marry her, even after seven years of dating, because he feels marriage is not necessary and will only damage their relationship. She leaves him when her younger sister gets married and realize that she will never get marriage out of him. As time goes by she realize that he is a wonderful guy and that she is lucky to have his love with our without a ring. She asks him back, assuring him that she now knows that marriage isn’t all that important when two people are really committed. Touched by her willingness to let the issue drop, he eventually proposes.

Rating: 6.5/10

I had a good time with this movie. There are so many cringe-tastic moments in here, mostly thanks to Gigi. She is the embodiment of a phase most girls go through – desperate and needy and embarrassing in their quest to find a date. Her evolvement is endearing to watch, and Ginnifer Goodwin brings her to life with finesse. Alex is strangely compelling as a guy who is a dog to women, but he knows it and accepts it. It seemed like fine justice that he falls for Gigi when she has moved on and that he has to run around to get her attention.

I had the most sympathy for Jeanine. Her husband is a douche – in fact this is one of the only times I’ve seen Bradley Cooper as such a loser. I had no sympathy either for Anna and how her love life went up in flames, because, sweetie; if he’s married he’s out of bounds no matter how cute he is.

Beth was a good character to show how even if your relationship is perfect, most people will always find something worth moaning about. I loved Ben Affleck’s character in here – he is the best guy of them all in He’s just not that into you.

This is a great movie to show to a friend who is acting like Gigi. There are a lot of truths being told and it is a great lesson to most people. It is a very girly movie so I don’t think a lot of guys are going to love it.

February 20, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Drew Barrymore, He's Just Not that Into You, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connely, Justin Long, Kevin Connolly, Movies, Reviews, Scarlett Johannson Leave a comment