Peppermint Friday Review #48: Love Rosie

I never thought I'd do a review of a Chick Flick or Rom-Com, but I really liked this film and plus the only reason I kinda watched it was that apparently and this is so not me fishing for compliments, but I sorta look like Lily Collins who is Rosie. 

The film is based of the Cecelia Ahern Noval 'Where Rainbows End' and its about two best friends Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart (played by Lily Collins and Sam Clafin) who have known each other since they were kids. At Rosie's 18th Birthday Party she kisses Alex who realises he really likes her and Rosie just wishes it never happened. Alex then loses his virginity to Bethany (played by Suki Waterhouse) Lily gets asked out by Greg (played by Christian Cooke) the 'fittest guy' in the year and she has sex with him, but the condom slips off inside her. Causing her to get pregnant and puts her dreams of owning a hotel on hold whereas Alex gets a scholarship to Harvard, but Lily doesn't tell Alex that she is now pregnant as she doesn't want to get in the way. 

5 years on from this, Lily now a mum to Katie visits Alex in Boston who now lives with his girlfriend who's pregnant and to put it mildly a complete psycho. Lily tries to talk to him about it as she's concerned he rebuffs her and says that the child that he and his girlfriend are having is gonna have two parents. Lily goes back home and reconciles with Greg who she now marries, Alex splits from his girlfriend after discovering that the baby isn't his. Rosie's father dies and Greg behaves horrifically at the funeral, Alex writes her a letter to tell her how he feels and that she deserves better. Greg finds the letter and hides it from Rosie, Rosie then finds out Greg has been cheating on her, Rosie finds the letter and is about to tell Alex how she feels, but she then finds out Bethany and Alex are engaged to be married and would like her to be the 'best man'. 

Katie and her friend Toby kissed at Alex and Bethany's party, a friendship that mirrors Rosie and Alex's. Alex then realises (finally!) that Bethany was all wrong for her and should've gave the relationship with Rosie a chance. In the end of the film well I don't think I need to tell you as we all know what happens in the end in these films in particular. I love this film the costumes, and for me I can really relate to Rosie not that I have a child which I definitely don't! but in some of the things she's been through and how she is towards her friends and Alex in particular and its the most accurate I feel of Rom-Coms. I know that it's kinda wrong where everyone in her life is beautiful even the 'ugly' moments, when she's pregnant she still looks stunning. 

The acting was all brilliantly done in this film, I know its not meant to be dramatic or anything. What I'm trying to say is it's not like its a Shakespeare or some deep emotional drama so acting for me when I watch it I don't really care about it. I loved the intense, sweet moments between Alex and Rosie throughout the whole film from when they were kids to adults it was always, always there so in the end when they finally get together you almost wanna cellotape them together and make sure noone splits them up because you love them so much. The comedy was perfectly timed aswell, loved the guy in the lift when Rosie is telling Alex about the condom on the phone is in the scene at the end when she has her own hotel and he's like 'Do I know you?' and she was remembering what happened when she was 18 and was like 'noo course not' I loved the use of that and how brilliant it was. 

Minor characters were brilliant aswell, Greg was fantastically written and played. Loved the difference of Alex's love interests to Rosie as they are all blonde and abit clingy, and Rosie is this beautiful brunette and a total opposite to the others and plus the fact that she's a brunette and supposedly looks like me I immediately like her. Rosie is played out as 'that girl' and I think that's why people like her because we can all relate to her and how she is. Plus she's not the Bridget Jones where she wants a man and is abit clumsy, she's a girl with a dream of running her own hotel but things happened and she put it on hold, not because of a man (well it is) but things happen and she does run her own hotel eventually. 

                                                                 
I love this film, the characters, the costumes are pretty aswell and fits with every character wonderfully. Katie was played brilliantly from as a little 5 year old girl and a 10 year old she was brilliant, but 10 year old Katie was amazing played by Lily Laight. You should all watch this film, as you'll love, Love Rosie! It's funny because the people who have told me to watch this film were mainly guys and they also said I'm like Rosie which is a big compliment. Give this film a chance even if you're not into Chick Flicks and Rom-Coms like me, it'll surprise you and you'll love it! I'll see you all later and have a wonderful weekend! 

Peppermint Friday Review #43: Top Gun

We're gonna talk about Top Gun today as its very american and that's the theme for this week. Its so such an amazing film, its an iconic 80s classic with Tom Cruise and has amazing quotes so it would be a crime if I didn't do a review of this. 

Its directed by Tony Scott who is Ridley Scott's brother. The story is about a pilot called Maverick (played by Tom Cruise) who is sent to Top Gun School with his co-pilots and friends. His time there he's reckless with his flying and can put people at odds with him. He also meets this astrophysicist called Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (played by Katy McGillis). As the film and story progress he pines for her attention and on top of that he wants to be the very best fighter pilot ever. 

I love this film so much, the characters are brilliant not only Maverick as I know so many guys who try to emulate him. Its funny because growing up I always wondered by boys acted like this, and maybe its because of Tom Cruise and I don't blame them because he is the artificial arrogant a-hole who gets the girl and is top of the class yet still got that James Dean 1980s charm about him. This is probably the first film I've watched of his that I actually have a crush on him, because before I didn't really still don't but there we go. 

This film is so 80s I love it, the hair on Charlie her clothes look incredible. I love that she was based of a true person as it makes the character so much better and gives her a much more lifelike image, and that she's a real person. I need her clothes so badly, her hair is just so gorgeous. The scenes with her and Maverick are brilliant, as they are both such different people, they should be together it'd be crazy for them not to be. The chemistry between them is just stunning the sex scenes are done so wonderfully it doesn't look cheap and tacky its sensual. The music really ties the film together so well, its so 80s but back then it was a modern film and I love that. 

One thing I love about this film, is that its an action but its not an action film entirely theirs love in this film. Which is great for those who are action virgins I should say, if you've never watched an action before I feel like I say that about every action film I watch as I just find them so easy to watch. The story has so many elements to it and Maverick's friends who I love and I just think they're so brilliant to watch, my personal favourites were Iceman, Goose, Stinger, they really caught my eye. The names of the friends sound like they're from a Carry On film, but they're not well sometimes they are. Most of the time its serious business thats what I love about this film, its got quite cartoony names but they're real men.

                                                           

If you like 80s films then give this film a watch as its amazing, its got brilliant music, actors the story is wonderful. Even if you're not too keen on action films give it a chance as its so good and doesn't feel like an action film if that makes sense as it has so many genres and styles added on to it. 

Peppermint Friday Review #38: The Founder

We're gonna talk about The Founder which is about the beginning of McDonalds and the troubles and just all the drama went on. 

The story starts with Ray Croc played by Michael Keaton who is a travelling salesman representing Prince Castle Milkshake makers, and it was enough to be relatively happy, but he wants more, he drives to California one day and drives to a McDonalds and is totally baffled and meets the people behind this wonderful idea of fast food, family friendly and disposable packaging environment. Maurice "Mac" McDonalds and Richard "Dick" McDonalds played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch tell him how they started the business and back then it was different when it came to eating on the go. It was waitresses giving food on plates to the cars and it taking ages to arrive and when it does its usually wrong. Ray thinks its crazy that they haven't franchised this concept of the places quicker and given a McDonalds in every city or town ever. 

Mac and Dick already tried to get it global, but it didn't work and Mac's diabetes flared up quite badly during that time, Ray wants to franchise it and take it global Dick is abit hesitant but Mac thinks why not, so they go for it and as time goes on and Ray's greedy true colours come to head and has more and more power it became more of Ray's business and dream than Mac and Dicks when it was their baby. Its funny because usually I'm not interested at all with McDonalds as I'm just not crazy on it when I was a kid I never used to crave it and be like ' I wanna go to mcdonalds!!!' because I never ate it that much when I was a kid, but I like it and I could live without it. But I mean we all know how I feel about a Biopic, guys this film for me anyway shows that doesn't matter if you don't like or aren't crazy on what the film is about its about the story and characters.

Its similar in a way that The Social Network was its about McDonalds but its not about McDonalds, its got an extremely business aspect thing about it being very money hungry and the line between personal and business. Because Dick and Mac were very family oriented, they care about the customer and each other they really looked out for each other. With Ray his mind from the beginning was 'how can I make more money?' which is fine but if you're marketing a family brand and you're selling that but don't have that its abit crazy. One of my favorite scenes of the film is when Ray's book keeper says that Mac wants to talk to him on the phone but Ray just goes no and that carries on throughout the film. 

It becomes more of Ray's business and his thing rather than Mac and Dick's and Ray always looked out for himself and for him he felt like Mac and Dick weren't helping him with his vision at all, just a distraction and he was breaking his contract with Mac and Dick constantly and not caring about them its all for him. I love that with Biopics and well with just films in general I love how they can find the simple human qualities in the most famous people and digging out that actually they are just human like us. Even when Ray divorces his wife, when he's told she'll receive money from McDonalds because he's married to her, he just says out right no. Part of me can't help but agree with him because in a business you have to be ruthless and abit selfish, because if you care too much your proprieties get changed and you're not focusing on whats important in a business and that's making money. 

                                                              
Another part of me feels sorry for Mac and Dick as they didn't receive not even half the money they should have gotten and plus all the systems they introduced the idea of fast food and eating on the go was all invented by those brothers, and its a system that's still in use today, its just that Ray made it all blow up. I love this film so much its got a business element to it which I love so much and if you loved The Social Network then you'll love this as its in the same vein as it. I'll see you all later and have a wonderful day/evening/morning/night wherever you are! 

Film Tag

Never done one of these before, but why not? and plus you guys can to know me better and I thought it would be fun. So lets go!

1) How often do you watch a film? Considering I'm abit of a film buff and I have a film blog I try to watch atleast 3 or 4 a week.

2) What film genre are you particularly fond of? I love all genres, and I do try to find something good in each genre abit positive I know, not a bad thing at all though. If I had to choose then it would possibly be a Thriller/Drama but it depends on my mood really. 

3) What was the last film that you’ve watched and liked? I watched Bandidas recently and I loved it, I also watched Finding Nemo and Finding Dory because I was talking about it with a bunch of people, in a really deep way and I love those conversations and as soon as I got home I needed to watch it. 

4) What was the last film that you’ve watched and hated? I'm gonna leave you all in suspense and tell you all about it on Friday, because I don't think theres enough negativity on this blog which isn't a bad thing but I do think a film buff there should be some stuff we hate and with good reason. But heres a hint its based of a book and its quite popular, there you are have to wait until Friday!

5) What is your most favorite film of all time? ooh that is a tough one, I have a top 10 list so far, but the one I usually say to people when I can't think of my top ten is probably either A Matter Of Life and Death, or Young Frankenstein because people are always surprised when I say them and I always love that.

6) Your most favorite guilty pleasure film? I don't think I have one, because I love all the films I watch and noone should judge me, but I do have a bit of a thing for true crime stories so things like Moorside the BBC Drama based off true story of Shannon Matthews, and varies others things like that and also documentaries like that aswell. I'm obsessed with documentaries anyway, but its serial killers and all that evil stuff that actually really gets me, I don't want to be like that its just the fascination to me and the psychology behind it all. 

7) What film/films you have watched a million times already? All the Toy Stories, Big, Forrest Gump any Tom Hanks film. The Harry Potter series, Back to the Future series, and The Social Network. 

8) Are you the type who watch film on its first day of showing? Not really, depends how big of a fan I am when I watched Beauty and the Beast I saw that on the weekend it came out so that's how hardcore I am. 

9) Do you use fandango or do you pre-booked film tickets? I don't think we have Fandango in the UK, but no I don't usually pre book tickets for film sometimes for theatre but not really for film. 

10) Cinema, blu-ray, or download? I watch films in the Cinema when they're recent but if theres a DVD version or download either from Amazon, Itunes, or GooglePlay then I'll go for that. 

11) How often do you go to a Cinema to watch a film? Not that often, its really expensive now and where I live doesn't have a cinema so I have to go to the nearby city which is a bus ride 

12) What are the movies that made you cry? I'd say the end of Toy Story, Mary Poppins, Saving Mr Banks and the end of Marley and Me.

13) Do you watch foreign films? I've watched a few, but not a enough as I'd like but that is gonna change.

14) What’s your favorite foreign films? I haven't watched that many, but I'd say Persepolis, and Pinocchio 

15) Who are favorite directors? Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Sofia Coppola, Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Danny Boyle the list is endless.

16) Are you particular with film scores, soundtracks, and musics? Its important yes, but its not the B all and end all, but they can make a film even better.

17) What film soundtrack can be found in your IPod? Do musicals count? because yes I have all the classic musicals, Singin in the Rain, Moulin Rouge, I even have La La Land aswell, along with all the Disney soundtracks and Pixar soundtracks. I also love Guardians of the Galaxy, Shrek, Perks of being a Wallflower, Hard Days Night (of course) all sorts. 

18) Have you ever watch a film alone in a cinema? Oh yeah, I usually do but when someone wants to come with me they are more than welcome. 

19) What is the best chick-flick for you? I love classic chick flicks, like anything with Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn because they are girly films, but they're also brilliant and not at all cringy, like the modern ones I find. 

20) Your favorite comic book film? ooh I love Spiderman, the Andrew Garfield films and Guardians of the Galaxy, Dark Knight, X Men, Fantastic Four.

21) Is there any film that has changed your perspective in life? A Matter of Life and Death definitely, The Cat Returns and Persepolis they're all wonderful for different reasons and changed my outlook on life, I've done in-depth reviews on them aswell.  

22) DC or Marvel films? That is so tough, I love both for different reasons, I love what they're doing on TV aswell. I just love both of them I can't decide, love 'em!

23) What are the films in the top 10 in IMDB that you have watched? I've watched 6 which is really bad for someone who's meant to be a film buff, but I promise you that will change.

24) Do you read film critic reviews before watching a film? its funny because I have a film blog and I write reviews and that I actually don't read reviews before I watch any film or take what people say into consideration as its opinion and that can vary someone likes one thing and you won't so I take it with a pinch of salt. 

25) What is the best film adapted from a book? Misery hands down

26) Watch the film before reading the book or vice versa? I do try to, because its better understanding of the story.

27) What is your most favorite comedy film? I love comedy, ahhh I love His Girl Friday, Hard Day's Night, Inbetweeners Movies, Charlie Chaplin films, Marx Brothers I love to laugh hahahaha 1000 points if you get that referance!

28) Drama film? ooh Angels with Dirty faces, Forrest Gump, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? theres like billions I could mention. 

29) Western film?  I haven't watched that many westerns, but I'd say Bandidas because its also funny and The Magnificent Seven. 

30) Romantic comedy film? Sabrina, Seven Year Itch, Some Like it Hot, 

31) Horror film? House on Haunted Hill, and The Invisible Man all the classics

32) Sports film? Haven't watched that many sports films, Chariots of Fire, Bend it Like Beckham

33) Sci-fi films? Brazil, Star Wars

34) Action films? The Spy Who Loved Me, Pulp Fiction, Kick Ass

35) War films? The Pianist, Diary Of Anne Frank, Saving Private Ryan

36) Who is your most favorite film couple? When I was a kid I was obessed with Elizabeth and Will from Pirates of the Caribbean and Troy and Gabriella from High School Musical, loved Jimmy Cagney and Jean Harlow in The Public Enemy and Peter and June from A Matter of Life and Death. 

37) Any film character you can relate to? urm, I can relate to Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffiany's, Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

38)  If you are to only watch five films for the rest of your life, what would the films be? Ah that's tough, I'd say Angels With Dirty Faces, A Matter Of Life and Death, Young Frankenstein, Breakfast at Tiffianys, Singin' In The Rain a bit of a mix of genres.  

39) Your least favorite film all time? Probably the reboot of Ghostbusters, nobody asked for it. 

40) Have you ever watched a film based on the lead actor/actress only? Oh yeah, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and anyone who I've seen in a film and I really liked them I'll watch them in another film. 

41) What film you expected and wanted to be good but failed you? I thought Suicide Squad would be better, I liked it but I wanted it to be amazing like Guardians of the Galaxy, and the next review I'm doing on Friday ooh the mystery. 

42) Favorite film character of all time? erm I don't think I have one, but I adore Peter from A Matter of Life and Death

43) Favorite film villain? I love the Joker, Voldemort, and Hannibal Lecter

44) Any film sequel you are still waiting? I don't think so, I'm not desperate for them to be honest.

45) Ever made a film review? Oh god no, hate 'em particularly Peppermint Friday haha jokes

46) Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars

47) Right now, think of any film, what comes first? Wonder Woman, and My Friend Dahmer because I wanna watch them next when they come out.

48) Favorite film lines? 'Happiness can only be found in the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light'- Harry Potter 

49) TV series, books, computer games, or films in order of interest? Films, TV Series, Books and Computer Games

50) Lastly, if your life story is to be made into a film, who would you like to portray you? Who should be directing it and what would be the title? I'd love Audrey Hepburn or Catherine Zeta Jones to play me, and I'd love it Sofia Coppola or Stanley Kubrick, or Martin Scorsese and I don't know what the film would be called. 

I shall see you all on Friday have a wonderful week!

Review: Dr No

I've decided the next 2 weeks will be James Bond themed and I know what you're thinking 'But Zara you can just do a post talking about your favourite James Bond films!' Yeah you're right I probably could but I'm not going to, as well I haven't seen that many James Bond films, which is ridiculous because I'm British you'd think we'd all be bought up on James Bond, I wasn't but also I wanna talk about James Bond properly, I mean if you're gonna get into James Bond you my as well go right in there. 

So we're gonna start at the beginning because that's a good place to start, with the first James Bond film and official actor Sean Connery. It starts with Agent 007 on a mission in Jamaica during an investigation going into stealing documents known as 'Crabkey' and 'Dr No', and when he's in Jamaica he's faced with people trying to kill him, and take him down obviously, along with the women he sleeps with. I've only seen 2 James Bond films before this and they were Skyfall and Spectre. The difference I saw was that 60s version experimented with colour but I guess that's a given for 60s films. But the films now its all very grey, white and neutral, and black colours, which isn't a surprise because the Bond films I've seen were both mainly set in England. 

Bond films are weird in a sense, its a feel to them like there isn't really a sub-genre added to it, like I know its an action film with a gorgeous man with an English accent holding a gun, added with him sleeping with a beautiful girl. But I mean there isn't a comedy element to it, and its all abit predictable in a way I am on the first day of my James Bond Journey so things could change, but from the first Bond film to the current Bond film its basically James Bond is on a mission to kill a bad guy and along the way people try to kill him and he ends up sleeping with an impossibly beautiful woman who he's either in love with or not and he ends either defeats the bad guy or we don't know.  Again its the beginning of my journey of the Bond so I'll admit I'm wrong definitely, I love Jamaica and that's another reason it looks so colourful its a beautiful tropical island.

I love Sean Connery he is just fantastic, I was charmed by him which surprises me as I always imagined David Niven being James Bond because he's charming and wonderful plus Ian Fleming actually thought and wanted David Niven to be James Bond. But Sean Connery is still good, one moment of the film I wanted to cringe and scream at him though was the bit where he is in bed and a giant tarantula comes down and sits on his arm crawling up to him and the whole time he knows this spider on his arm and isn't going crazy and about to kill it and he just sits there looking at this spider for atleast 5 seconds and I know that doesn't sound bad but it felt like 5 minutes I wanted to scream at him like 'THERE'S A FUCKING SPIDER ON YOU! GET RID OF IT!'. He just let it chill on him and I'm like you're in your bedroom you can be a wuss and scream like a girl, you don't have to Agent 007 all the time. 

I like Ursula Andress, but I'm annoyed that they didn't give her much character development, but that's the writers fault but her as an actress I wasn't that crazy about her, but films have improved in terms of castings and writings particular on female characters since. This film has been named as one of the best James Bond films ever and completely understand why its so iconic and with the music its got the theme song that we all know, love and have heard a thousand times but back then it was new and exciting, so that makes me happy. 

                                                              
Overall its a fantastic film you should watch it if you're a fan or not of James Bond because it really is good would of preferred it to have some other genre to it, like it being an action and abit of a comedy but I understand that its James Bond and has its own genre entirely and I guess that's why I never really watched them. But what I want from this week is going through James Bond decades review by review, so today is 60s and Wednesday will be 70s and Friday 80s and so on till now. Who knows in the future I'll do a post talking all about my favourite Bond films. I'll speak to you all soon and have a wonderful day/evening!

Peppermint Friday Review #34: Precious

I'm aware the posts have been abit wishy washy on this blog recently, but I kinda like it and hate it, I love the spontaneity of it all where I've just been watching films that people have told me to watch and I just didn't but now I am. Also I like the theme weeks and I kinda miss that to tell you the truth I'm kinda having 'blogger's block' but its okay, because it will pass. 

The film Precious is about a Claireece Precious Jones played by Gabourey Sidbe, and she is an illiterate overweight, very unhappy 16 year old girl living in 1987 Harlem. She lives with her son, and her mother Mary (played by Mo'Nique) who is unemployed and treats Precious horribly, and blames her for her boyfriend leaving, her boyfriend Precious's dad isn't around, and when he was around Precious was treated even worse by him, he raped her and treated her horrifically again. The film starts with Precious being kicked out of school for being pregnant again, and the dad being Precious's is dad, the school can't cope with her and kick her out and sent her to an alternative school. She finally learns to read and write by her new teacher Blu Rain (played by Paula Patton) she also meets a social worker called Ms Weiss (played by Mariah Carey) and learns about the goings on in Precious's life. 

I remember when this film came out and I dismissed it, and I'm glad I did and I'm annoyed I did at the same time, because the reason I dismissed this film was because I watched the trailer and it looked way too serious and well in my 12-13 year old words was 'boring'. I watch it now and its not the case at all, because trailers can be misleading and just give away the whole film so that's annoying. I'm glad because its such a serious film and has some issues that are so hard core like incest, its not a happy topic for a film. So I'm glad I'm a little bit older to understand the film and really properly like it, because its such a wonderfully written film. I already loved Gabourey Sidbe because she was in American Horror Story and I love that show, and she is such a good actress I love her. Fun fact she had no acting experience prior to this film, and was chosen over 300 people who auditioned for the role so go her. 

The film goes in flashbacks and fantasies of Precious's life and mindset, she imagines that she's this big Hollywood star having photoshoots and red carpet events, just loving life far from what her reality is. I love that because it shows that Precious does have some ambition and doesn't want to be like her mother. It's crazy to me that Mariah Carey is in this film, and doesn't look like herself when I read on IMDB that she was in it I thought 'Okay they've given her a part because the film needed abit of publicity and Mariah can say she's an actress, because she was in a film once' but its not the case at all, she look almost unrecognisable, I thought she'd play a very diva-ish character the persona Mariah puts up because she is an incredible singer, and surprisingly an amazing actress. 

The colours of the film is brilliant, I love how causal they made the 80s look, because usually its massive shoulder pads, bright colours just everywhere, and everyone listening to Cyndi Lauper or Prince. Its very causal and lets the story and character explain for themselves. Mo'Nique is fantastic she played a woman who had such a strong hatred for her daughter so wonderfully. The connection and chemistry between Gabourey and Mo'Nique is just brilliant they acted off each other really well they played a mother a daughter who had such a complicated relationship that they're meant to love each other but it turned into hate and something completely bitter. I love Precious as a character because she starts off being this very insecure girl who's confidence is completely torn by her mother and father. At the end and throughout yeah she doesn't get her dream but she learnt how to read and write and gathered confidence to stand up to her mother. 

Nothing is happy in the end, like theres no fairytale ending but Rome wasn't built in a day. We also learnt something about people, that we are complicated and do crazy stuff and no matter what age you are, you can do anything. Give this film a watch because it is so good and deserved all its awards and nominations it was given, because its such a wonderful story and it's not an easy story and film to watch you should bare that in mind before you watch it, and my only criticism of the film, its not really a criticism but its something you know. With that watch the film for Mariah Carey's brilliant acting performance and obviously Gabourey and Mo'Nique performances and also not to forget the amazing story of a young girl's journey of self confidence and self discovery.