Review: Spiderman: Homecoming

I know its been like a week or so since it came out but I need to talk about this film as I was just blown away. 

I have watched all the Spiderman films from Toby Maguire to Andrew Garfield, I love all of them in different ways and they were also Spidermen at different times of his life. Toby felt to me too be alittle be like a giant nerdy teenager who loved Mary Jane who was and is his one true love. Andrew Garfield was brilliant aswell and bought a different twist to the character, and became this moody teenager who skateboarded had Gwen, but the way they were directed felt abit too forced, looking back but at the time I just love it and still do not to mention that Andrew Garfield was about 26, 27 when he played Peter Parker/Spiderman. That's quite old, considering the fact that at the time, he's supposed to be a teenager, hence why he had such a short time being Spiderman. With Tom Holland who I love so much now, its amazing he is 20 and I think he could easily play Spiderman for atleast 10 years if he wants to (I think he should!). 

The way the film was written wasn't like the previous films either where it was shown as a typical Action Spiderman film. It was written and approached like a Teen film, which for me makes it really refreshing and gives it a new twist to the characters and the franchise. Everyone was worried that Iron Man would be in too much, but he wasn't it was still Spiderman's film. I also liked that they introduced Iron Man/Tony Stark into Spiderman/Peter Parker's life, as that had to be done and they way it was done, was a job well done for me. Loved Vulture he was just brilliant, the writing of him was fantastic loved that he had a real passionate hatred that was justified. The bit where Peter went to Homecoming with Liz and he met her dad who was the Vulture that was brilliant because again it took it back to being very Breakfast Club style. 

I'm gonna say it here, I'd love it if Micheal Keaton got an award for this role, like I'm talking a prestigious award because he really was brilliant and well done to the writers because from what I heard about the Vulture was that he was this old man, but Michael took this role and made it his own. I loved Ned and MJ at the beginning particularly with MJ I was abit sceptical as she wasn't in the comics and I just think 'did they give Zendaya that part, because she's Zendaya?'. I loved her, she played a part that so unique but I'm interested to see how her character develops, because I just assumed they casted her in this film because she's Zendaya, that's it but its not the case at all she really is good at acting. 

Jacob Batalon was just brilliant as Ned, he's such a good character especially for Peter Parker/Spiderman as in the past all his best friends have always seemed 'cool' like Harry, but Ned doesn't give off that 'I'm intelligent, cool and rich' vibe its just he's a funny, intelligent guy. One of my favourite scenes of the film was when Ned was helping Peter as Spiderman during Homecoming in the computer room and a teacher comes in and goes, 'What are you doing?' and I thought he was gonna say studying or something boring but he just comes out with 'looking at porn'. I tell you not the whole cinema was in tears of laughter, he's such a great character again I'm intrigued to see what's gonna happen with him in the future. 

I don't know about you guys, but I am so excited for the future of Spiderman because it looks brilliant. The difference I've seen with this Spiderman aswell is the fact that he has witt and is similar to the cartoons and again I love that. I needed to talk about this film on here because this blog wouldn't be Peppermint Friday if I didn't talk about Comic Book/Action films and this is one film I've been so so so excited for. I hope you all are well, and have a lovely day/week wherever you are! 

Review: Donnie Darko

Its a gonna be a Sc-Fi week this time, as well why not. I thought I'd start with the Cult Classic Donnie Darko, as thats a Sc-Fi but also its a teen film aswell so thats a nice sub-genre to have.

It takes place in the 1980s, Virginia where a teenager called Donnie Darko played by Jake Gyllenhal who is very troubled. Suddenly when he's in bed at night he is led by a figure who calls himself Frank who tells Donnie that the world with end in 28 days. In the morning he comes home to find a jet engine crashed into his room his sister Elizabeth played by Maggie Gyllenhaal who is his sister in real life tells him no one knows how it happen.

After the incident that occurred to Donnie he is then, stalked by Frank throughout the film. He begins to start a romance towards a new girl in his class called Gretchen who has changed her identity form her previous town. Donnie's teacher is Karen Pomeroy who is played by Drew Barrymore, and is very relaxed, her attitude is annoyed by some of the teachers. From what Donnie's experience at the beginning of the film his attitude is changed, and it affects everyone in the film. Patrick Swayze is in it as the motivational speaker who in some ways was the comic relief of the film

I love how complicated this film was, and I was impressed by Jake's performance as a troubled teenger with something else to be bothered by, as if being a teenager wasn't hard enough, throw in a thing called Frank who stalks him and talks to him and only him. If you thought that Inception was confusing and just a giant mind fuck then watch this, because oh god it goes from one end to the other. The cameo of a young Seth Rogan is seen aswell, and that's something I loved to watch.

The dialogue is brilliant and so clever, every line is said so brilliantly. I love all the extras in the background just as much as I liked Donnie, as its so naturalistic and effortless. I know that some people might think that extras don't do anything because they're not centre stage, but I love scenes where in a classroom and one person's talking and it could be something so boring, and the shot where everyone is just watching them. Its something that I love to notice in films and TV, its nice to see what they're doing or facial expressions they're doing. 

                                                         
However I thought Gretchen was a bit wet, but in some ways I can understand it as with two romantic people, and one is a strong character that's Donnie who is very strong with he as a character and we get him, with who he is. Whereas with Gretchen she is a bit lackluster if that makes sense, I just didn't really get her as a character. Overall I did enjoy this film, and I would watch it again, not my favorite but that's fine. I liked the Sc-Fi part of it being psychological, and the other part is very Coming Of Age based, and I like films that do that where all sorts of things happen in one go.

Frank was a character that I love alot, as he is a very rare character that I don't see often with films. I love the silent treatment he gave Donnie, as it wasn't as if Frank wanted him to die or was torturing him in a way. But it was the sudden voices of Frank in his head, similar to a mental illness in a way, and thats what I loved about that. It can get quite angsty in some places of the film, but that is expected from the teenager aspect of the film. 

I adore this film, and the unique elements of the film from the styling to the fascinating script. The mix of teenagers and sc-fi was the perfect amount for the film, and what it is meant to say. Definitely give this film a watch as you won't regret it, or find anything else quite like it again.

Favorite Teen Films

Teen films are a genre of itself entirely, like whether it'd be something thats hilarious or real-life teen drama, thats #relatable LOL OMFG😂😀✌either way its all brilliant.

Heathers

This film is actually one of my favourites, as its a dark comedy and makes something as dark as a sociopath who wants to kill everyone and pass it off as a suicide into a comedy of sorts. Its been made into a musical which I believe is brilliant, and I need it to be in the UK so I can watch it, and its a fantastic story and I loved it. Again like Clueless I love the costumes, I do have a thing as you all know with 80s films, and it has Wiona Rider and Christian Slater.

Mean Girls

I do feel that everyone has that 'film must see' list and Mean Girls is one of them. Its so so funny, and witty everyone is brilliant in this film and with its very quotable lines, its such a staple film. WIth most of these films the theme is teen as in the main character is a teenager, but also its a comedy feel and kinda dark. Everyone has a favorite character in, I love Janis, and Regina, Damian everyone in the films is brilliant, and the comic timing is fantastic. The film also has alot deep and sincere moments.

The Breakfast Club

Now I know that this will obviously be on everyone's list, but it is amazing and I love it. It does have the ending in a 'we all learned something way' if you like it not, its a memorable film. I love the whole different cliques and we aren't different in a way, again this film is very aesthetically pleasing to watch, as with the costumes and the school its just so perfectly satisfying to watch. Each of the characters are unique but also not the typical sterotypes, and over exaggerateded and flawed.

Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging

I think this film was the first film that I could talk to girls about at school, as there were books on the film and it was so funny, and relatable. It goes into the life of Georgia Nicholson her friends, and life in Eastbourne, surrounding boys, and taking magazines and books way to seriously and not focusing on her own instincts when it comes to dating. But I love the funny bits in the film, a golden moment for me is when Georgia has her first 'snogging session' with a guy from school, who does this like a service, kinda like a borderline prostitute not that thats a bad thing. 

The Inbetweeners Movie

Oh this film, also note how I put two British films in this list, one more so for girls and a slightly younger audience and another being more aimed at boys, and more for the older teenagers.I'm talking about the first because I do prefer it. I love this film the series was brilliant, and I loved watching this film and the series, because for me it was the first thing I watched that was rude, and I felt a tiny bit sneaky watching this when I was 12. Its so funny and everyone has a favourite character or a character that they think they are like the most. I love Neil and Simon because they both have such tragic and amusingly funny to watch lives. I'm also glad that they stopped the Inbetweeners at the last film when they on a Gap year in Australia, as it would've looked abit weird if they carried on at like 30 (even though the actors are 30), but it would still look weird if they carried on acting like teenagers.                                                                          

Rebel Without A Cause

Everyone knows how I feel about James Dean, and a post talking about Teen Films wouldn't be complete without talking about this amazingly handsome man. Its abit more serious than the last ones, as its about teenage crime and being this rebel obviously without a cause, and the whole angsty teenager. But this film is the reason why so many films now have allot of teenage main protagonists, with James Dean being this bad boy destroyed poet Jim Stark. Natalie Wood is amazing in this film aswell, she was about 16 or so when the film was made and James was in his 20s. But the chemistry they have is outstanding, they did do this very little stage play when James was very new to film acting and Natalie played her first 'adult role'. 

Peppermint Friday Review #12: Clueless

Bit of a leap from Superheroes but I felt like watching this and I wanted to talk about it. As its a Cult Classic and we all know how much I love Cult Classics.

I'm sure everyone knows this film, so I don't need to tell you about the plot too much. Its directed and written by Amy Heckerling who actually wrote Clueless because in High School she was completely opposite to Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and wanted to portray a privileged girl in a private school. The character of Cher is based off the title character in Jane Austen's Emma, and its about Cher and her way of talking through different situations of her life. She has one best friend at the start of the film, Dionne who is like Cher, but not a clone she unlike Cher has a boyfriend. Cher doesn't really like High School boys, and is still a virgin but doesn't feel the rush of wanting to lose it, like many Teen films the main character is a virgin and wants to lose it.                                                                          

Particularly with her grades, and when a new girl Tai comes to school Cher takes full advantage of giving her a makeover and essentially giving her a guide to school, and just being a human being, not that she wasn't a human before, anyway Cher lives with her father who is very rich and a litigator, and like Cher has a way of talking his way out of things, Josh who is her ex-stepbrother during a college break Josh is living with Cher. I love Cher as she goes on a journey with this film, as Josh keeps telling her that she doing does things for herself, and its accurate because like I've said before teenagers are selfish. But she isn't devious for she does things bad, she's just very clever and doesn't exactly make it obvious, she can talk for England (or in this case America😋). 

The costume in this film is amazing everyone is totally unique in how they present themselves of the characters. I want Cher's wardrobe as its so beautiful in every scene, the film is 90s all over and I love it. The film was made in the early-mid 90s and back then the fashion was very Kurt Cobain, it was all grunge and grey and baggy jeans, then this film came out with its colours and beiges, and pastels. So this film in the fashion world was very influential, and ground breaking.

 I also love the minor characters in the film, like the teachers Mr Hall played by Wallace Shawn, and Ms Geist played by Twink Caplan. They are just fantastic mainly because they're played by two brillaint actors, but also what the film did with them was not brush them aside like background characters or just there, but made them really interesting. Another favourite of mine is Travis at the beginning he is just the typical stoner, then as the film goes on he has a real talent for skateboarding, and is shown as a genuine guy and perfect for Tai.

Tai is another person I love as she very genuine at the beginning but again she is a teenager and is selfish, but she comes through and totally flawed. There's not one character in this film that I go 'urgh' or should I appropriately say 'urgh as if!😀' as I feel there all flawed in every way possible. One thing that I loved was when Cher was doing her driving test and she had alot of things on her mind, but she completley failed it, and there was no way of getting out of it, and for it kinda felt like 'oh I talk my way in school and around my father, but not in the real world' as driving is a real world thing, I might be looking into this as too deep. Anyway, the film for me is so amazing and its one of those films you watch if you wanna feel nostalgic but feel new and fresh all at the same time.

Review: Submarine

This week is gonna be abit different, as its Halloween Week I did think 'maybe I should do a Halloween Horror Week' but I'm not that into Horror Films but I like them, just not into them, so I'm gonna do is a post on my favourite horror films, because I do have favourites and I'd like to point out that most of them will be classic horror, as thats what I'm into more, anyway thats what's gonna happen at Peppermint Friday this week. 

Anyway, we're talk about Submarine, a film that I love very much. So much so, its one of my all time favourite films. 

This film is set in Swansea, and it's about this teenager called Oliver Tate, played by Craig Roberts. He is a very awkward person, and a wallflower, he starts dating a girl in his class called Jordana Bevan played by Yasmin Paige, she's a destructive girl, and the only way I can describe her is like a young version of Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, but Welsh. Its also about there families, and its a real-coming of age story. 

I love this film as its not your typical teen film, its so quirky and relatable obviously this film has elements of being very indie, and depressed and 'oh its so hard my life sucks' but in some ways it is very much that, as it can be hard to communicate with your feelings, and what to say and what not to say. I do feel its a big confusion, and you have that with this film, particularly with Oliver. As with he is the most inarticulate but really thoughtful and articulate, but I really like that I like that Oliver and Jordana are so flawed, so that I can relate to them. Personally thats what you want in teen coming of age film, totally flawed characters, and the fact that for me its set in really grim town in Swansea. I'm not from Wales thats the thing, Its just really british for me.

I love the soundtrack to this film, its stunning and fits perfectly with this film. The soundtrack is by Alex Turner, I listen to the soundtrack quite alot and its wonderful to listen to. Theres a link if you want to buy the soundtrack or film, I think you should as they are incredible pieces of work. The film is directed by Richard Ayoade who is known for Maurice in IT Crowd, its unbelievable that he created this beautiful, simple atmosphere of the film, and its such a geeky aesthetically pleasing film to watch.  

The film also centrefolds around the worry of Oliver over his parents whether or not they will split up or not as they have a new neighbour Graham who Jill has taken a shine to on top of that Oliver is also worried about his father's mental health, Jill and Lloyd Tate whos played by Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor who are both fantastic. What I love is that they are both very quirky people, they are both portrayed by incredible actors. Its a very likeable film, I also love the dynamic of distinguishing between a new character to a setting and how it effects everyone but not making it totally about that new character it just shook things up abit. 

I love that the story is in first person from Oliver's perspective. As I feel teenagers are selfish, and they see things from there eyes, and its all about them. Its also a very human trait that we are all selfish in a way, but I feel very much that if a film makes you really I mean really think about life, or the decisions you're going to make or have made, or anything I feel like its a film that's done its job. If its changed you or made you think in a certain way then I personally feel its done it's job as a film, and a story. 

The costume are brilliant they fit so well with the film, I love the coat that Jordana wears. Another thing that I love about this film is that the main two actors Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige are both actors who were in children's shows in CBBC, when I was a kid. Craig was in Story Of Tracy Beaker which I use to watch all the time. Yasmin Paige was in Sarah Jane Adventures and again I use to watch it all the time, partly because it was made by the same people who made Doctor Who, and I was a big fan well still am. For me its a real like, throwback and its amazing because they're in this film playing such different characters, Its lovely to watch.

I also love that its a love and a coming of age story but its not, and its an amazing film. I always find myself if I don't know what mood I'm in I'll just watch this, its so aesthetically pleasing I urge you to watch this more than anything.