Review: Maleficent

I've been meaning to do a review of this for a while as its such an interesting story and concept of a Villain who has a complicated past, and a reason as to why she's is who she is in the Original classic. I've also never spoken about Angelina Jolie before, so that needs to change. 

I'm sure many of you will know the story if not, here's a brief synopsis. Its set from the point of view of Maleficent, and her story as to what happen to her leading up to Princess Aurora and what we see in Sleeping Beauty.  Maleficent actually was in love with King Stefan growing up, but as they got older and were from different backgrounds, they couldn't be together as it was inevitable. As Stefan wanted to be king, and Maleficent was ruler of the Moors, Stefan wanted to rule and injured Maleficent leaving her wingless. So she gets revenge at Stefan partly from a broken heart but also completely destroying her.

I love Angelina Jolie already but she played this part with such gusto and gave the character so much more depth. I love Diavial her friend who was a Raven but in human form, he is brilliant as he gives her a humanity side to her. She is this very alienistic and has feelings like all humans, but sometimes she can be too proud. Little fact about this film, when they were casting toddler Aurora, they could only choose Angelina Jolie's daughter as most toddlers were too scared of her in her costume! 

The costumes in this film are the best, I love Maleficent's costume I thought they gave it a modern makeover but still remaining true to the Original Animation. Aurora, Prince Phillip and the fairies all have amazing costumes all so fitting with the period but remaining true to character. The three fairies, Knotgrass, Thistlewit and Fittle (played by Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville) were all so brilliant and funny, loved the dynamic between them all. The chemistry between Prince Phillip and Aurora (played by Elle Fanning and Brenton Thwaites) is just adorable, as Aurora is a teenager and very sweet. 

Elle Fanning was just brilliant, as she is so young it was perfect that she played a teenager princess. If she was played by a 30 year old actress who does and could pull of being a 16 year old perfectly yeah it would've worked, but not as well. Sam Riley and Sharito Copley who played Diaval and King Stefan, were just brilliant I liked that you got to know the characters much more than in the Original one. I'm not even a big fan of Sleeping Beauty but this has made me love it loads, I think the Original is still amazing as it has the music in, and I think if Disney changed the music for this film, you'd have a riot on your hands. Although I think everyone liked Lana Del Rey's version of 'Once Upon A Dream'.

This film is just beautiful, whether you're a fan of Sleeping Beauty or not, its a beautiful story with an amazing character development. The costumes are beautiful, as well as the script and characters, regardless of the amount of remakes/reboots/prequels are happening this is one that is worth watching. 

Favourite Comic Book Characters

So we're gonna talk about my favourite characters from Comicbooks, some are from DC Comics, and some are from Marvel. They're all either Villians, Superheros, Heroines and Sidekicks, but I like them for different reasons so lets begin.

Spider-man

I love Spider-man, as his origin story is brilliant, and relatable. He is one of the first Superheroes who is a teenager and we see that, he is the outcast as Peter Parker, who is a bit of a nerd, school photographer. Then he gets bit by a spider and turns into Spider-man! Although I do like that he started off with his powers being selfish, by just going 'oh I could make abit of money with this' but then he realises and I'm going to use to quote 'with great power comes great responsibility'. 

I love Andrew Garfield as Spider-man, as he just seems abit more cool and he is portrayed as the normal teenager, who skateboards and abit awkward. My first Spider-man I watched was Tobey Maguire, and at the time of a 6 or 7 year old I loved him, but now as someone who I'd like to say have watched a fair bit of films, I look back and I didn't like the actor of Tobey Maguire but I liked Spider-man, because he was just really cool and I loved his story, and the fact that it was portrayed by a not very good actor, didn't occur to me, but now I do care about who plays Spider-man.

Wonder Woman

I used to watch Wonder Woman as a kid when it was Justice League with Batman, Superman and various of DC Characters. She is a legend, I love her powers a particular favourite of mine because she can talk to animals, like that is so me. I love that she was everything I aspire to be, and still is I can't wait to see the new film next year! As I have the nostalgic image of Wonder Woman as a cartoon, I know thats bad. But I can't wait to see Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, I did watch Batman Vs Superman, and she had a brief appearance at the end, but this character needs a film. She's now an Ambassador for UN, and rightly so as she cares for everyone who isn't a Villian obviously. I even have her as my background on my phone!

She's knows what she wants, and goes for it I love her. I mean who doesn't? She's intelligent, sassy, but not all in your face about it. Her alter ego is amazing aswell, I think I like Diana Prince just as much as Wonder Woman herself. One thing that I adore with Wonder Woman is that she is a woman who is powerful but doesn't shove it in people's faces that she's a woman, she cares about the humanity of others, and animals.☺ Writing this post has actually made me wanna watch the Wonder Woman series with Lynda Carter, and watch the Justice League again.  

Batman

This is a weird one as I do love Batman but I don't, the reason I love him is that I love him as a Character, but I hate the fact that he doesn't really have superpowers, I feel like he's just a rich guy who wants to save the world, which I like because its a normal guy, well normal as such his alter-ego is Bruce Wayne who is a very intelligent man (as is Batman). But I mean Bruce Wayne has connections he's a top man. The one thing that's very nostaglic for me in Batman is obviously the Justice League when I was a young warthog. But also I used to watch on UKTVGOLD every morning before school with my dad was the 1960's Batman and Robin. 

Now the TV Show in the 60's was adorable to say the least, I mean it fitted so well in the 60s and I loved watching it before school. The dialogue was brilliant, despite it could have been seen as old-fashioned or whatever but I loved it, the show made me laugh, and enjoy it. Part of me misses Batman when he was like that, and didn't take himself seriously but another part of me loves that he's saving people and the whole of Gotham in a none cringey way if that makes sense. He doesn't dance anymore as far as I'm concerned, but it was amusing when he did.

The Joker

I know this post is majority of DC Characters, but this is the way its gone, I'm gonna be honest with you guys I wouldn't describe myself as a 'Comic Book kinda girl' if that makes sense, like I'm not a crazy fangirl but I love Heroes and Villians and all that, but I feel like its gonna be a new obsession of mine. Anyway, the Joker is one of if not the most iconic character in all of history, by each decade the Joker transforms and becomes more relevent to the film or the society we're in if that makes sense, even with the transformations he eludes he still remains the psychotic Villian of Batman. 

We all have favourite portrayals of the Joker, I love the 60s Joker played by Cesar Romero, I love Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, and Jared Leto. I don't think I have a favourite as it depends on what mood I'm in as again they're all completely different from each other but I love watching them. The Joker is a very complex character with a brilliant sense of humour, I do love the fact that he has a girlfriend, Harley Quinn who is just as psychotic as the Joker, as it makes him human because he feels love, but also he is so manipulative which is why he is so appealing. The amount of quotes this character has is amazing, and also he doesn't really have any powers which is terrifying as he is just an evil manipulative man who knows exactly how to push buttons and make devious plans.

I will no doubt do a number 2 of these as I have many more favourites as I waffle on and on and on. Bit of an update tomorrow I will be doing a film review as normal, but it won't be a new film not that thats a problem but it just costs money each week to go to the cinema. As I will be saving up for Christmas, and yes I will be doing a festive Christmas week this month just look forward to that!

Peppermint Friday Review #11: Doctor Strange

I felt that a superhero film was a long time coming, so we all know what this week will be about.

Doctor Strange was created by Marvel and Stan Lee, and this film is the origin story of the character, staring Benedict Cumberbatch. Its about a man called Doctor Stephen Strange who is a Doctor of medicine who ends up being in a car crash and losing the use of his hands. But he is determined he can heal his hands, he then goes into experimental surgeries, to put it short he became this supernatural human.

Doctor Strange then begins to learn his craft from his tutor called the Ancient One who is played by Tilda Swinton. Who is amazing, as originally the character of the Ancient One played by a man, but she does it so well, I can honestly say only she could of done it. I love Tilda Swinton anyway but she is amazing, I was scared of her as the white witch and loved her wise willowyness she bought to the character. Rachel McAdams plays Doctor Strange's ex girlfriend which was interesting for me, as it felt like Doctor Strange lived and just found the answers for him, which is also why I like him.

                               

I loved the beginning of the character, as this is a character that I knew nothing of before. I never read any of the comics, or watch TV Shows that this character was in. So for me this film and Doctor Strange was totally fresh to me, which is good as theres no pre-judgement I guess. What I really loved about this character was that he seemed abit of an Anti-Hero, because he is obliviously very clever and intelligent and he reminds me of a really clever guy who has all the questions but frustrated because he doesn't know the answer and that annoys him. That sounds horrible, but this is the beginning of Doctor Strange so he can be flawed which makes me like him as it makes him more of a human, because I guess when something happens to you and you don't know whats going on, you would get abit frustrated.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a fantastic man already, I think we all know that. He is brilliant in this films, and I think I love him even more after this film, and I know that there going to do a sequel and Benedict will be in it. I watch Benedict and I'm assuming we all know him as Sherlock, and Alan Turing, and just intelligent British people. So its nice to see him as an American, but still playing a clever man and looking completely different, like his little beardy thing still looks good, not many men can pull it off. 

This film is amazing, I just find so different and good. I have also found a new favorite hero, maybe its the magic but I love him he is amazing, I can't wait to see the sequels which I'm assuming this isn't the last we'll see of this character. So this week will be about Comicbook Heros! I will be talking about my favorite Comic Book heros/heroines, just everything I like about the Comic Book world. 

 

Favourite Fantasy Films

Everyone loves Fantasy I mean who doesn't? Its amazing we all love the worlds of Fantasy, as we all go into that Fantasy world much more deep than we do with a Drama or a Romance. 

The Princess Bride

I had to put in an 80s film, as they are my one of my favourites. Love it so much, its a comedy as well as a fantasy and a kids film, it also has abit of romance in aswell. I don't need to say what the story is as everyone knows, but I love Cary Elwes in this. I mean lets face it I feel like we all had a bit of a crush on him. Loved it, the grandson hating every kissing scene, I mean I hated that when I was that age. Wallace Shawn and his posse in this film was just hilarious, and everyone wants and loves Robin Wright Wright? 

Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit

Obviously going to include this, yes the LOTR trilogy is very long but its wonderful if you indulge yourself in the world, and just embrace it. Whether you read the books or not, but the Hobbit is something I'm a abit more into, its got abit more humour to it I reckon, LOTR is much more serious. Love the world, and the people who like it in the fandom, its a wonderful world. The Hobbit is amazing and I prefer the book because for me its the world I imagine thats different from the film version. I recommend you read the books because you create your own version of the world, even though they're very long and wordy. Fun fact I've read the Hobbit every year since I first read it when I was 13. 

The Neverending Story

Another 80s film, gotta love 'em! I honestly feel like the 80s started the whole 'quest world' with relatable character with something they need to find. This film was the first to make me cry over an animal, I watched alot of these films when I was about 10. I was heartbroken with the 'Swamp of Sadness' and Artax. Just harrowing, but its an amazing story and does end, full of unfunny jokes me. 

Harry Potter

Love, love it love it. The books are better than the film gonna be honest, and like 80% of the world would agree. The characters are amazing the story, back stories of everyone, I was obessed (still am) with Harry Potter and I have watched every documentary, and TV thing or Film, interview about JK Rowling or Harry Potter you can imagine. I even went to the Studio Tour in London, which is amazing and worth every penny, and if theres money invovled for a theme park in America and the Studio tour where they made it and you can visit, that must be sign of success. 

Edward Scissorhands

A Tim Burton film total must in a film person's life. With fantasies that usually are a relatable character on a journey to a mystical world, but this story as I'm sure everyone knows its a man with scissorhands from a different world trying to make sense of it all. Its just so sweet to watch and I love that Vincent Price was in it, which we all know how I feel about Vincent Price. I love,

The Chronicles of Narnia

Yes I know another series of films and books, but this again is a world that I love so so much! the books are much more interesting they are for me at the beginning amazing then they just go down hill, as they are abit more religious. I mean I know they do have a religious undertone to them, which is fine just not my cup of tea. Another fun fact is that in the book of The Lion The Witch and Wardrobe the old man that the Pevensive children stay with during WWII is basically J.R.R Tolkien because C.S Lewis and him were best friends in College I think. Wheather it'd be the cringe 80s version on the BBC or the 2005 version its a great story.

I know that half of this was series of book adaptations to films, and the other half was 80s films. But I mean this is what Fantasy films I like, and to be honest to enjoy a world thoroughly and getting deep in the film of fantasy its easier for me to like it as a series or saga. All these films are films that I watched when I was young, fantasy was a thing back when I was a kid, like most people I assume. 

Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Just got back from watching this film, and wow all I have to say. If you like the Harry Potter world or not it will blow your mind. 

The story takes place in New York in the 1920s, it's about a wizard called Newt Scamander who arrives to New York with a case filled with magical creatures, and he wants to write a book about them. Newt meets this Muggle, (in New York they call them No-Maj ) called Jacob Kowalski, then he meets this former Auror called Porpentina Goldstein which I'd like to point out amazing name, she also has a sister called Queenie Goldstein who is gifted in Legilimency, they go in this journey to find the creatures in Newt's case that have escaped. 

I love this film as I do love the whole Harry Potter Magical world, and I loved seeing a different side to it, because we all know about Harry Potter but we got to experience a completely new world, but at the same time the same world. I loved that its set in the 20s in New York, and you get to see different creatures, and a whole new outlook. I mean Queenie's character is skilled in Legilimency and as we all know from before, well what I know Legilimency is kinda the Proffessor Trelawney subject, but Queenie is nothing like Proffessor Trelawney she's a total opposite, she's very friendly and kindhearted towards Jacob the No-Maj I love that they use a different word for Muggles, because that would happen, different words for everything. Jacob's character is not dimwitted, but open and loveable. 

Newt is so amazing, he is a Hufflepuff, but he has proved that being a Hufflepuff isn't a bad thing not that it ever was but, the whole Harry Potter fandom/community does put a bad name on it, I don't have a problem with Hufflepuffs, no one should really. Eddie Redmayne at the moment has been flying, he is probably my favorite actor at the moment in the modern acting world, the things his done, he is amazing as Newt. Newt is so awkward and much more interested in creatures but not ignoring other people, he just wants the creatures/beasts to be happy, and he wants people to understand them. I love that the film doesn't necessarily revolve around Newt the other characters are brilliant. 

There will be a sequel to this film, and I am looking forward to it as there are characters in this film I'd like to get to know more. Like everyone in the MACUSA which stands for Magical Congress of the United States, which is the Ministry of Magic but in America and they are hunting down Newt to get the creatures and beasts he has. I'm interested in what happens and the background to Credence Barebone who is very troubled, and has a funny haircut. I like Percival Graves who is the director of Magical Security, they're both very intriguing characters, and I look for to what happens to them. Ezra Miller and Colin Farrel are so amazing, particularly Ezra.

 

I've heard very much 50/50 of Johnny Depp being cast as Grindelwald some love it, some don't I mean we've only seen like 5 minutes of him as Grindelwald, so again I'm looking forward to seeing Johnny Depp as Grindelwald. The creatures and beasts were beautiful, I loved the white beast thingy, worded that brilliantly this beast. Loved it I wanna take home as a pet such a gorgeous interesting thing. 

I loved watching this, I felt invested in the story, with the beasts, and creatures and magic just the whole world. I was sucked right back into the magical Harry Potter-esque world. Its worth a cinema ticket absolutely you won't waste your money.  

Peppermint Friday Film Review #10: The Dark Crystal

This coming week shall be all about Fantasy, I'm gonna start off with the beginning of Fantasy films, and thats back in the 80s where it became something for people to be obsessed with, now its normal to dress up as a fantasy character to a convention. Back then you were a nerd, well its still nerdy I guess, but its okay now.                                                                                                                                                       
If you like or heard of Labyrinth then you'll like this film, as its very similar in terms of the world its set in, and the characters. Its also directed by the same director of the Labyrinth, and he also made the Muppets. I decided to watch and review this film rather than Labyrinth is that its the much more unknown film than Labyrinth as that film has David Bowie, its much more popular, as this is different, but similar.

The film centres around two races of species called Skeksis which are based of the Seven deadly sins, and the Wizards called Mystics. The story mainly goes round an Gelfling called Jen who was taken by the Mystics when his race was destroyed he is told that he must heal the Crystal with the shard, which is with Aughra. But the Skeksis race wants the Crystal so they can become god like beings. Jen meets another Gelfling called Kira who can talk to animals, and they go on this wonderful adventure together. 

This film is so magical, I adore it so much. Jim Henson's puppets are brilliant, its very Thunderbirdsy the way the puppets are, and I love it so much, its so charming and adorable. I love Jen and Kira, and even Aughra the characters are so animated and bursting with life. I love Kira who can talk to animals, I automatically warm to her. The relationship between Jen and Kira is so lovely and heartwarming, its uplifting and just brilliant. Aughra is also amazing, she is just crazy, the only way I can describe her is like a mixture of Merlin and Proffessor Trelawney. 

It is the typical Fantasy quest film, a boy is on a journey to find something he meets a girl, a crazy but clever Wizard or Soothsayer or whatever, the bad guys want to become gods or destroy the world. I mean it can be predicable, but its done brilliantly. The message at the end is so amazing, it just leaves a lump in your throat. If you like 80s Fantasy Films, like Princess Bride or Labyrinth then this film is right up your street.

I'll leave you all with one of my favourite quotes, from the film and all time❤🎥