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 #47: Pride

Back again, but this is to make up for missing last week so aren't you lucky two Peppermint Friday Reviews in one day wow! We're gonna be talking about another monumental event to happen in Great Britain and that's Gay Pride well not the proper event in London its the accepting and the beginning of the LGBT community well I think anyway, they're still a few people who don't accept it. 

The story takes place 1984 during the Miners Strike, and a group of Gay and Lesbians who work in a book shop called Gay's The Word decide to raise money for the miners, a campaign called LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners). Mark Ashton played by Ben Schnetzer who has idea for raising money for the miners and initially everyone is against the idea, because everyone including miners hates them. They get help from a very small tight knit Welsh Village called Onllwyn, and some in the village were very opposed to the idea of Gay and Lesbians around them.

Everyone in the group has such strong personalities, it wonderful you've got Steph who is the only lesbian of the founding members of the group, she is just brilliant very hard skinned and can come across as cold, but I think its because she's northern. Ben Schnetzer who plays Mark Ashton was just brilliant, I didn't realise he was American until now and he just excels at this part and nails the accent, Mark was Northern Irish. There was a fictional character called Joe 'Bromley' played by George Mackay who was coming to terms with his sexuality and being apart of the LGBT world, I loved it because it was kinda like an audience perspective and we were on his journey aswell. 

In Onllwyn the people who welcome LGSM are brilliant like Sian James who was just outstanding towards to the group and made a real difference afterwards. Heffina Headon who was played by Imelda Staunton who was again as always she is just sensational and that alone is a good enough reason to watch a film. I loved how in the 80s people were still so prejuiced but also some were really really open minded and accepting about the whole thing. Like some of the elderly were so wonderful and brilliant towards them and just treated them and spoke to them like normal people which they are. The dialogue of the film and the way it was written, it was just perfect and the way a political biopic should be. 

It was just so fluid and tide everything together, the way Mark cared so much about his group and the fundraising, being gay and proud of it he just did it with such passion and fire. Its something so brilliant to watch and its funny because now in 2017 noone in the UK at least really cares if you're gay well there are some people who just don't get it, but from the 1980s and now its a different world but its also the same you've got people still fighting for rights and people are political back then and now even more so. The costumes of the film and the colour, the settings from London to the quaint Welsh Village is brilliant and I love that diversity and seeing the difference but not at the same time. 

This film is just brilliant its film whether you're into Politics or not, believe me its only since last year I got into Politics, so for me its still very new. Also whether you are part of the LGBT Community or not its still a fascinating film with great characters and story, with amazing elements to it. It's also around the same time of people finding out about Aids and the whole you're gonna die as soon as you touch a gay person and what have you. Its a wonderful film and everyone should watch this and enjoy it, its still on BBC IPlayer if you wanna watch it. 

Peppermint Friday Review #44: Foxcatcher

Its been a week and no posts not gonna explain why as you'll know I do try to have a life outside of the blogger-sphere. We're just gonna get straight into talking about Foxcatcher as I've never seen it before so its from someone's fresh eyes if that makes sense. 

The story is based off a true story of the Schultz brothers who were pretty big in the wrestling world Mark and Dave who were both played by Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo. Mark is spotted by a multi millionaire and owner of Foxcatchers John Du Pont who is played by Steve Carell who sends him to Foxcatchers a camp to train and compete. Its also about the events before the murder of Dave Schultz. You may have heard of this story in news or just from this film like me, but its a compltelye new film for me and you know what I'm like with my biopics. 

It mainly centres around Mark which I find quite funny as his character is in the middle between his brother Dave and John his coach. But he isn't neutral at all, he is actually quite sensitive as he takes things quite strongly and is affected by John and his brother which is understandable as he really looked up to both of them. I love Channing Tatum in this, its funny because like with Brad Pitt peopel only see him as this gorgeous man and yes he is but he's also an amazing actor and in this he is the best I've ever seen, as I've only seen him really in Step Up, Dear John, She's the man and they are very teenage films which I love its just nice to see him in a different light and I can't wait for the next roles he'll take as I'll definitely watch him. 

Steve Carell in this film is so different to how I normally see him, similar to Tatum I've only seen him in one light its my own fault really as I just haven't seen him in many things. He's like Robin Williams in a way where, he's amazing at being funny and crazy but also brilliant at being still and very in the moment. There were times of watching him I felt abit uncomfortable as he gave off this image of 'I can get what I want' and it doesn't matter about how hard someone's training and the real true work wrestlers have its the money. With saying that I'm not an expert in wrestling just its a sport and you train for it. 

Its directed by Bennett Miller a director who I'm not familiar with as he hasn't made that many films, but this film is amazing and I can't wait for more of his work. If you liked The Social Network and The Founder then you'll love this as its so still its got people/characters that are predominately human because humans are selfish and make massive mistakes and mess up massively. The colouring of the film is again very similar to The Social Network and The Founder as they all in the same vein of films I think anyway and I love those kinds of films, as they're so refreshing to watch. 

                                                               
I think its a wonderful film, so different and unique to watch if you wanna see Steve Carell, Mark Ruffelo and Channing Tatum in a film and all amazing then watch this film as its wonderful. I'll see you all later and have a wonderful day/week 

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. 

Review: The Hunt

So we're gonna talk about another foreign film but this time its not a happy film or a film that children should watch, but its so good and I'm very happy I watched it as I've been going through a bit of a funk in terms of films where I just don't know what to watch and this film kinda sparked that curiosity back again. 

The story is about a man called Lucas who is a teacher in a very close-knit Danish village, he very well liked by everyone including the kids. Until one day he is at Theo his best friend's house, his daughter Klara has a little crush on Lucas and puts a love note in his pocket and kisses him on the lips, Lucas rebuffs Klara's feelings leaving Klara feeling hurt. At school Klara makes comments believing that Lucas sexually abused her, and everyone believes her soon other classmates say the same thing and shones Lucas as a Pedophile and Sexual Predator, and completely ostractised his son Marcus, Lucas's relationship with his girlfriend Nadja is ruined. 

This film is not for children by any means, as it deals with very dark themes there is also a scene that is just so horrifically disgusting it made me cry and that's a rare thing for me in terms of films, as I don't usually cry at films, real life things yes but not films. The whole film is in Danish but don't ever let language put you off from watching a film as yes understanding a film is important but just because its in a different language doesn't mean you can't understand it its like when babies talk and you can't understand them but you know what they mean, I worded it horrifically but it makes sense, plus always make sure it has subtitles aswell because that can help out a lot. 

Its one of those films that really makes you think, as its quite a deep story and not one you can just watch on a casual Friday night while having a takeaway, and particularly if you're not an avid film watcher because its not lighthearted. You really put yourselves in Lucas's shoes as to what its like having everyone treat you like nothing for something you didn't even do. As I'm pretty sure we've all got the blame for something at one point and felt wrongly accused. Its also a frustration with the children aswell, because as soon as one girl said something all the kids were like dominoes and said yes which is frustrating because we all know the truth. 

I love Lucas who is played by Mads Mikkelsen he is such a unique actor I've seen him on IMDB and he's basically the Dutch equivalent to Harrison Ford or something like that, he has a Dutch version of an OBE I think, he received an awful lot of awards for this film which he totally deserved because he is brilliant. Everyone else is amazing in this film but Mads really stands out for me he's also branched out into some mainstream films like Doctor Strange and Casino Royale which I did reviews on. The girl who played Klara is something, I reckon she's gonna get better or I hope I don't want her to turn into Lindsay Lohan. 

The scenery of this film is just gorgeous I like films that are set outside the city, don't get me wrong I love the city but especially when its a foreign film like this its nice that its not set in Copenhagen. Also it gets rid of the stereotype of it being all there is in Denmark are Vikings and they all drink, although there is some drinking in this film but in England we drink aswell. Its such a unique story but let me tell you after this film you'll need a drink because its so hard hitting. I hope you enjoyed this review and I'll speak to you all later have a nice day/week! 

Peppermint Friday Review #39: Wonder Woman

This review has been a long time coming, as I have been looking forward to watching this film and talking about it because oh wow. 

First of all I was abit nervous not gonna lie as DC in terms of films haven't done aswell as there TV side, and the fact that its the first time a woman led a superhero film since Catwoman which went down like a cup of cold sick, and I think after that people just went 'well noone like female superheroes' which is not the case at all. Its just that Catwoman was done so badly and people just assumed superhero films can only be successful by men which is totally ludicrous. Also the fact that its not only a superhero film being led by a woman but also, an action film being directed by a woman, for me its amazing and I'm so happy it been made. 

I love this film so so so much, oh god I fangirled pretty hard while watching this. The costumes are amazingly done its so beautiful and with such detail I love the fact that the costumes aren't ridiculously revealing but also not looking like a nun. It got Themyscira down to a T it looks so beautiful, I loved all of Diana's family aswell. Watching the film I never got a sense of it being rushed, or overdone it was just wonderful. I think fans of the character of Diana/Wonder Woman will be very impressed at what they've done to the film and the character. Gal Gadot was just amazing as Wonder Woman she gave the character a boost into the modern age at the same time remaining true to the character and what she represents.

Other characters of the film who I loved were Ares who is played by David Thewlis, and Antiope who was played by Robin Wright and they were just brilliant. One amazing thing about this film is that its the first of a big budget mainstream Wonder Woman film, so in terms of characters they can kinda reinvent a whole new character and not have the pressure of a big actor/actress towering over them, apart from Wonder Woman of course. The way they did Doctor Poison/Isabel Maru who is played by Elena Anaya was just brilliant her mouth was just weird and scary I loved it because again never really heard of her as a Villain before.

Steve Trevor who is played by Chris Pine was just fantastic, I loved the bit when he's on the boat back to England with Diana and explains what life is like on Earth and in England and the war, the whole dialogue between them is just brilliant to watch its just so funny and adorable the fact that she's this woman who doesn't know anything about men because Themyscira doesn't have any men so she's abit of an alien. The soundtrack to this is amazing aswell, particularly the song that Sia did for it, its amazing and speaks volume as to what Wonder Woman represents and is about. 

Rumour has it that they are making a sequel to this which I am excited about but also scared because I don't want it to turn into a cash cow, and make them for the sake of it and it being not very good. As a female and someone who loves film and more in particular superheros its so important and wonderful that females are represented not only in film but the behind the scenes aswell. Its such an amazing film with amazing characters that everyone should watch, I hope you all have a wonderful day/weekend and I'll see you next Friday. 

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! 

Peppermint Friday Review: Gone Girl #37

This is the film I just don't like and I'm happy that I'm talking about this because on here I do talk about films I love and its refreshing to talk about something I didn't like and didn't get.

Firstly I read the book before the film, which is something you should normally do, I try to do that but not always. Its with exception of Harry Potter and LOTR because I watched them when I was around 8-9 and back then I had quite bad dyslexia and those books are huge so I just didn't read them, I have now though. I mean with book to film adaptations there is obviously gonna be a difference in the film, because a director's mind is completely different to an author's and there are some things in the story that are just inherently book oriented and some things that work amazingly for film. What the story is about is Amy and Nick played by Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck a couple who have been married for 5 years and on their 5th Anniversary Amy disappears, and its the story and mystery as to what happened to Amy. 

The film goes in flashbacks to when Nick first met Amy and Amy's past boyfriends and what happened the day she disappeared. Amy is also known as 'Amazing Amy' by the public because of the popular books her parents wrote in the inspiration of their daughter. The story is so flawed and it annoys me because there is noone I can relate to in this story at all not one person is sympathetic at all. The couple are questioning what went wrong in their marriage, they were both unemployed due to the recession which led Nick to have an affair with Andie played by Emily Ratajkowski, and there were problems of whether or not Amy's pregnant. Its a whole public search as to where is Amy and her relationship with Nick, and he becomes a prime suspect that he killed her. As Amy learned that Nick was having an affair so instead of confronting him about it and going from there in their relationship, no she frames him for murder, her murder. 

I just find the whole story ludicrous and I watched the film twice because I wanted to see if I hated the story or the film itself, because there is a difference I liked the actors in the film, but the story and characters were just terrible. Nick meets Tommy played by Scoot McNairy an ex of Amy's who she accused him of rape, he also meets Desi Collings played by Neil Patrick Harris another of Amy's exs who had a restraining order against him, Amy then decides to meet him and wants him to runaway together and that Nick was abusing her. I know its so so so dumb, Amy and Desi capture there old fire in a way and have some fun and as they're doing it, she gets a knife and kills him while they're doing it..... yes you read that. Oh but it gets weirder and much more ludicrous, Amy then gets in her car and still covered in blood, drives home to Nick, while still being covered in blood, not her blood but the guy she just murdered's blood.

I'd like to let you all know that noone questions her about it, and she gets sent to the hospital for check ups I assume and yet still covered in blood and noone questions why. But she names Desi who's dead as her captor and rapist clearing Nick of being a suspect. In the end Amy says to Nick she's pregnant, Nick doesn't believe this and is willing to take a paternity test and decides to stay with Amy. I just find the whole story so stupid its annoying because the concept is brilliant I mean it sounds so juicy and like some Creepypasta that will keep you up at night thinking 'what happened to her?' 'was she killed or did she just had enough?' a million questions go through your mind and it delivers itself like a wet lettuce.

Its not just the film its the book aswell, it took me about a week to read it and it was very slow paced. This has nothing to do with the Director of the film David Fincher who I love so much, but its the story that's at fault. I don't know what the author wanted me to think, was it suppose to be a test of whether or not I have empathy/sympathy because I think most humans do. I could not relate to anyone in this story, I thought Amy was just stupid I mean if you're not happy in your relationship you talk to each other and get it sorted out, whether that'd be splitting up or staying together and working through it. I mean you don't just frame your husband for your murder and leg it? One good thing from this is that she is the third woman in stories for me anyway to make my blood boil with anger. Overall I don't like this story and I'm happy I'm not the only one as I've seen many people take a dislike to this and the book. If you want to watch it go right ahead you're not gonna miss out much from the book, if you wanna read the book then go for it but you'll be wasting a week and about 2 and half hours of your life.  

Peppermint Friday Review #35: Licence To Kill

I get the feeling you guys can get the pattern we've got going, so we started from the 60s, then the 70s and now 80s, so who knows what decade we'll have next hmmmm its the 40s, obviously joking. This bond film is slightly different because the story has much more of a background and its not my favourite but I still love it. 

It stars Timothy Dalton as James Bond and I love his portrayal of Bond being this quite stern man, and not as jokey not to say all of the others loved having a laugh, its just they had abit of sense of humour that was much more louder, whereas his was I guess more British and drier, so I loved that. Its funny because the books are so British and yet this film was written by two Americans and I'm surprised that they got not only the bond feel of the film right, but also the dry, sarcastic humour because not being racist but sometimes when I watch Americans try to do British humour, where we're quite dry and sarcastic its just like 'oh don't do that'. It reminds me of a mum trying to be cool and down with the kids and you're the teenager like 'god mom you're so embarrassing'. It also stars Carey Lowell as Pam Bouvier who is a CIA informant and I don't know why but I just didn't warm to her as much as I did Barbara Bach. 

Loved Sanchez played by Robert Davi and he is fantastic my favourite Bond villain so far, if he and Jaws can team up because that would be the best combination ever. The whole film is set in Florida, and Mexico and it looks beautiful, and I love how 80s the film is. I know that sounds weird but the beginning of the Bond films are always amazing to watch because they represent the film, story and just the whole Bond genre really well. Plus it represents the time really well, the whole 80s feel to it, its just wonderful to watch. 

The costumes to this film are really good, because as well all know I love the 80s, and costumes. I think the reason that may be is because I feel a costume really represents a character, and show their emotions and makes them much more 3D and people who might be real. The one thing that let me down a little bit which is the most important thing was the story wasn't that good. I just didn't feel the story had much charisma to it, I mean it did the job it went from A to B and that's what stories are supposed to but I just didn't like it. For some reason it felt like it was written as a Soap Opera rather than a Bond film. 

It's funny I know because I mentioned I love the humour, and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was and how British it was made out. But getting from A to B on the other hand just felt abit stiff and annoying going from scene to scene. That was the one down side to the film well that and Pam but the story is the most important thing in a film its the bread and butter in a way. Other than that its pretty good, but like I've said before I wouldn't watch a film purely based of the costume or the actors and go away saying its great and I loved it. I feel the actors and costume are just an element to the film, and can make the film from good to amazing. If a story isn't very good then it isn't very good, theres no going back its just that. 

                                                                 
Over all I like this film, but I don't love it and I'm gonna be honest with you guys I hate it when films make me feel like this. With films I wanna either love it and its my new favourite film or I hate it and I can't stand it, and when theres an in between its like 'eh'. Especially when I have to write about it on here, because I hate writing reviews that are just lukewarm. Anyway I liked it but I didn't love it, and there are better Bond films out there I feel anyway. You never know you could be totally lukewarm about a film, and watch it a few years later and finally have an opinion that's not lukewarm.

I will speak to you all later and have a lovely weekend and I shall see you all next 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.