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! 

Peppermint Friday Review #40: Amelie

This is a weird one as its a film thats pretty much on every list of 'Films You Should See Before You Die' most of the time I don't listen to these lists as they are written by white old men, and the same with Books aswell. Not to say that Classic older films are bad not at all, because we all know how I feel about old films! but if you haven't watch a film thats on that list its like 'you can't truly call yourself a film buff!' and I don't agree with that, but we're gonna talk about this film and is it worth it being on those list? 

This is a weird film directed and story by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, as the storyline for me anyway didn't make much sense, from what I got its about a girl called Amelie (played by Audrey Tautou) and her life story I guess from when she was a girl who was very lonely and still is in her adult years, developed a very active imagination.  Its the first live action French film I've ever watched, its also I think anyway one of the first French films to make it into the Mainstream Film Industry I guess, so thats really good and I can see why. The film is entirely in French and I don't speak French or understand it but I enjoyed the film very much its not my favourite film or the best film I've seen but its a good film.

Its funny because the way people talk about this film is as if there is no other film quite like it at the time of its release which was in 2001 but not anymore I don't think because there are films and tv shows I've seen that are in the same vein as this. For example Submarine that film is very similar to this not in the story line but the genre its about quirky people, its about love and the stylising and colours of different scenes are very similar, but baring in mind that Submarine came out in 2010 and this in 2001. But I love the colours and the style of this film, the costumes are wonderful too as they really represent each character and how they feel. 

One thing I do love about Amelie is the fact that she is a Waitress and I used to be a Waitress, so I feel abit of connection with her she is also very isolated kinda like me, but she uses her loneliness to help other people in her life. The film also has alot of sentinmental quotes as I've seen this film being quoted quite a lot, mainly by teenagers who think their so #weird. I love the quotes and the sentimentality of the film as it shows us we should help people if we can't help ourselves. Another thing with the antagonist and it made me laugh was her opinion I guess well she starts her job single, but not a virgin and her take on sex I think is funny. 

This film is very peculiar because its set in France and its the stereotypical venison of what we imagine of what France, it shines all the good bits. The peculiar thing is with the setting of the film we know its set from the 1970s when Amelie was born to late 90s-early 2000s. The costumes of what the characters are wearing is very in keeping with the times, but Amelie is very unique and shows to be the odd one out because she is wearing clothes that either don't fit in or that are abit quirky and different. I like the style and costumes of what she and the rest of the characters are wearing, all the colours its wonderful, but like with the Cafe Society Review if I only like the colours and scenery is it a film that's really worth watching? 

                                                                
I liked this film, mainly down to Amelie but would I watch it again if it was on Film4 then yeah. If you wanna watch a different film or you wanna get into French films or films that have no English in then give it ago 100%. I can definitely see all the inspirations that directors have taken from this film and what inspirations gave to this film. If I'm honest I'm abit lukewarm to this film as I liked it but I don't really see the hype in it, because there are films that are just as good and are in the same vein, but I can understand why people like it so much. Thank you for reading let me know what you think of this film and I'll see you all very soon have a great Peppermint Friday and I shall see you all next week! 

Review: Carrie

I'm aware on this blog each week, its sort of related to the last Film I did a review on, but you all know how varied I am with my Film taste and that I like to shake it up, and I haven't done a review on a Stephen King film on this blog I don't think, so why not. I'm gonna be talking about the 2013 version of the film, as its totally new to me and I've championed alot of the originals of films, so I thought why not.

 I have watched the 1976 version of the story, but have not yet read the book, its about a teenager called Carrie (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) who is very shy, reclusive and has telekinesis powers her mother (played by Julianne Moore) is very religious and really disturbed. Carrie has her period for the for first time, she doesn't what it is, and is bullied and made fun for it. Then the bullies at her school are banned from attending the prom.

I've heard some pretty bad stuff about this version of the film, that it was crap and it wasn't as good as the original film, or that it didn't go by the book word for word or whatever. But I liked it, and I maybe it didn't go by the book, but I don't think I've seen a film that has actually done that, used the book as a script rather drawing inspiration from it and using it as an obvious for the story and characters. Chloe Grace Moretz was just amazing, I already love her but she completely reinvented Carrie but still keeping the original character of who she was alive.

Julianne Moore was again just fantastic, she was so psychotic and in a Stephen King antagonist thats a very important and notable quality to have. Characters of the high school bullies and students are all brilliant, Tommy played by Ansel Elgort was charming and a really sweet guy. His girlfriend Sue Snell played Gabriella Wilde is again brilliant, but the character was a little too nice, as it was prom she could've been a little more selfish about it. She gave up her boyfriend so he can take Carrie to prom instead which is nice, as she felt guilty about it also she was banned as she did pick on Carrie but I don't know any teenager who was willing to do that.

The character of Chris was allow me to put it bluntly was a bitch. Then again she was the ringleader of bullying Carrie which you need in a teen film. So she did the part fantastically, and as Carrie is a nice girl just with a crazy mum and telekinetic powers, which noone knows about in the school, pouring pigs blood on her because she didn't know it was her period was a horrific way to go about it, again she missed her prom which is the most important time for a teenager but thats good character as it made me feel something.

One thing that I loved about this film and it sets it apart from the original is the technology development, with its time. Like the video the bullies made of Carrie crying over her period that was posted over the internet, as something like that would happen in the modern world. It also made the bullies even meaner and gave more of a reason for the teachers to punish them. The effects of the film were unbelievable, the killings in the film all happen in a matter of 5 minutes or so. For me I love that as it even the balance out instead of some horrors where its just 'blood, killing, and death' everywhere. 

I mean I loved this film, did I like it more than the original? For the reasons of the actors, the effects and the modern age of technology I'd say yes, and I had much more stronger feelings for the characters. Whereas in the original film I related to them and liked them, but I guess I just hated the bullies in this one for some reason. Definitely give this film a go as, I loved it and its not as scary as some people think the real villain is the teenage girls, as Carrie's mother is so broken she snap. Even if you didn't watch the original or read the book like I did you will still like it. 

Peppermint Friday Review #13: Gummo

This is a weird one, as I had to watch this again because and I know this is gonna sound abit stupid to say but I didn't get it the first time, as if I didn't watch it properly but it was so weird I didn't know what it was about. The film is about....I'm not sure the outline plot on IMDB is 'Lonely residents of a tornado stricken Ohio town wander the deserted landscape trying to fulfill their boring, nihilistic lives.' But this story has a hundred different plots and it doesn't necessarily consist if that makes sense. 

Its like short films, improv scenes and home movies collided into one, there were bits of the film I thought 'thats interesting' not that I liked them but found interesting, but also there were bits that I hated and they were the constant images and scenes of dead cats or cats being shot and chase. That kinda stuff makes me abit uncomfortable because I love cats and animals, and I cannot stand to see animals particularly. I can kinda understand and see how the Director/Writer wanted it to be portrayed as the boys were just bored and wanted something wild to do, or because they were very poor and had bad families, could be anything for the reason, I don't know but that creeped me out. 

The Director/Writer of the film is Harmony Korine who made the recent film Spring Breakers, but other than that I'm not that familiar with his work. But that doesn't mean anything, one thing that I found fascinating was the bunny boy throughout the film, he provided an air of mystery throughout the film, particularly when the boys are shooting him with pretend guns, bunny boy doesn't say anything and thats one of the reasons why he's a mystery of course and the character sets out to be a mystery.

One thing that made me cringed so badly, and just makes me cringe in general was the girl in the end who shaved off her eyebrows and that makes me cringe, and I don't know what it does but I hate it. Anyway I thought she was quite nice, because it felt that she didn't realise herself if that makes sense. She was just really genuine, throughout the film I mean the majority of the characters for me anyway didn't really feel real, they might for you and thats great. I loved the soundtrack of the film, as it was added like lighting is makes the scene.

Put it this way I will never forget this film, as it dented itself into my memory. Not for good reasons not for bad, I mean it did feel like an Indie film, and in some ways it was and it did feel like allot of improv was in the film, and apparently it was. Its very organic this film, and its different and incredibly unique and that is always a good thing, but I didn't like the amount of dead cats there were in the film, but also they were lacking in the wardrobe department for guys, as most of the men in this film were shirtless. Not that thats, bad or good, merely an observation. The cast in the film didn't go on to other things, and it felt that they were real people not actors, apart from Chloe Sevigny, and she was married to Harmony Korine. Anyway this film is weird one, but I included it as the main character is a teenager. But I can reassure you all that next week, will be lighter.

  

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.

Brando Vs Dean

So we're gonna carry on the theme of coolness, and 50s teen. With Marlon Brando and James Dean, two huge stars of the time, but very different but at the same time the same.

Lets start from the beginning shall we, well first of all James Dean was a huge fan of Marlon Brando as I think he was the only actor that he related to in a way, as they were both the tough guy teen, and had the same views on acting and the industry as a whole, as they both were interested in realistic acting. Also both were involved with allot of big films that we still talk about them today, like Streetcar Named Desire and Rebel Without a Cause.

 

As similarities in films and acting styles go they were both in a way, as James died young at the age of 23 in a car crash and Marlon stayed alive and died fat, old at the age of 80. So in a way, James was more of a hardcore 'teen' who loved motorbikes, and whom died still in the eyes of a teenager. Wheras with Marlon he died old and fat, and wasn't as frozen in time than James.  I mean at the beginning of there lives, its quite similar as James's mother passed away when he was a boy and was extremely close with his mother, and his father was the opposite of his mother, and Marlon had a similar thing but his mother was an alcoholic but was fun, and his father was again a polar opposite. 

Without Marlon Brando, we wouldn't have James Dean as he was heavily inspired by him as there wasn't anyone else quite like them back then, there was alot of slick, hair, and a booming clear golden voice, charming men, sharp suit. Suddenly there was this guy with tousled hair, mumbly, wearing leather jackets, and its iconic. Gotta admit both are amazing actors and totally gorgeous, has to be said. They changed acting and made a brand of what they did with films, and roles.

They really made the 'Teen' Brand also the bad boy brand where you just want to cuddle them and tell them its okay, just me okay... But also they brought a new genre of film and gave a voice to teens, which changed everything. Its lovely aswell that James Dean was a huge fan of Marlon Brando and who was already a big star at the time, and Brando was like 'oh hi' and Dean was like 'oh my god!!' then when Dean died Brando was like 'oh wow he was a really good guy' because after he died Rebel Without A Cause came out and instantly made him an icon of all teens. With Brando he carried on and wasn't cool anymore, and then became this old, fat man that once was a sexy man with a tight white t-shirt.

Again like with Keaton and Chaplin post both are incredible, but I'd say James Dean wins for me, looks, talent, story just him. He is outstanding and as both are I've just liked James Dean abit longer than Marlon Brando, but they are both huge talents, and if I didn't like Marlon Brando I wouldn't be doing a post on him would I. But they are both amazingly talented men, and have impacted lots of people for generations.

Review: East Of Eden

I am a huge fan of James Dean, and I thought I'd do a post about his first film, East Of Eden. 
This is a story about a family in Salinas, and Cal (who is played by James Dean)is a ruthless individual, and his brother Aron who is a sensible guy, and its just about family, relationships. I don't wanna say too much as I don't wanna ruin a story as I do feel its a film that needs to be watch/read organically rather than being explained. 

 

Those of you who don't know, this film is a book by John Steinbeck that I haven't read yet. But the film is just amazing, and it is James Dean's first proper film, one thing that I do love about this is that I watched a screen test that James Dean was in with Lois Smith and its just so beautifully intense, theres just something about it that just makes you fall in love with it.

But this film is amazing, I love the colours and everyone does there bit so wonderfully. It just works like a successful jigsaw, I love Elia Kazan direction of the whole film it just seemed like he was so cool about it all, I mean he didn't forced anything from what I saw I mean, although he did directed A Streetcar Named Desire, which is one of the coolest films ever. I totally urge you to watch this film so I'll leave a link for an amazon buy as I do believe its a film anyone would like.

It also hits quite close to home for James Dean as this film is about a son yearning for his father's attention and acceptance. James Dean had that similar relationship with his father where he wasn't really that close to his father, and wanted to do things that he loved and his mother loved, but his father didn't show that much enthusiasm for his career as he did, and wanted for him too.

Like most people I am totally in love with James Dean he is such an amazing actor and plus he is pretty gorgeous. Anyway its funny as we always see really cool actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando as these 'cool, slick, and unpolished polished' actors and people, but in actual fact he is literally just a big baby moaning constantly, but its nice, and I feel its more James Dean as he died very young.

This whole film is just beautifully done, I love the script and everything just gels together so perfectly. Honestly this is all about James Dean as he stands out in this film, and everyone should watch this film, maybe not even just this film but just a James Dean film as he is just fantastic, and the real thing you should watch is the screentests he did for this film. With Lois Smith, and Paul Newman as its just so nice to see that he's a huge star now, but also he was just so comfortable, but also awkward at the same time.

I feel this week is a very cool 50s week, so look forward to the next couple of days of cool teen 50s films this week.