The Line Between Pornography and Art

There's a very fine line between pornography and sex for the sake of art. Or so I've heard anyway.

I'm not sure I entirely agree with this. 

A new teaser clip for the Lars von Trier film, Nymphomaniac, has been released. And as expected, is causing a lot of controversy. 

The chapter five teaser clip, titled Little Organ School was quickly withdrawn from YouTube on Tuesday. 

The film, starring Shia LaBeouf and Stacy Martin depicts real sex scenes throughout the film.

LaBeouf spoke of his role in the film. 

"I have ethics. I'm not completely out  of my mind. But I don't think there's anything wrong with sex. Sex is beautiful if it's done right. And I wouldn't just do it for no reason... Sex is different than love, and there is a separation, and that middle gap is what the movie's about."

The clip has since returned onto YouTube with a warning. Watch it here. 

Do you think the use of such scenes is  necessary? Or is it simply a smokescreen for pornography? 

Bridget Jones... Widowed, Middle-Aged Single-Parent.

Bridget Jones.

I'd say a good 80% of the UK know who this fictional character is. 

Bridget Jones' Diary (both film and book), changed the way single women in their thirties were perceived. 

Not only that, but it changed single women in their thirties' outlook on life. 

Okay, it may not have changed every single woman in their thirties in Britain, but I'd say a fair few. 

It had a huge impact, not only in the UK but worldwide. 

So when fans heard of a third book being written; Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy, excitement was probably an understatement. 

Then came the negatives...

First the fans hear of Mr Darcy being killed off. A huge fan favourite and leaving Bridget a widow, on the hunt for love again. 

We don't want to see this. It's been done. 

Then the reviews... 

Christina Patterson from the Sunday Times said:

"It isn't just the style that jars, the random capital letters, the subjectless sentences, the mannerisms that now seem awfully tired.

It isn't just the rather hysterical tone. It isn't even the pile-up of clichés: the room that 'looked like a bomb had hit it' or the stare 'like a rabbit caught in the headlights'.

Or the fact that Fielding will never just give two or three examples — of funny self-help books, of children's names that sound like Latin declensions — when she can give 10. It's the fact that I hardly believed a word of it."

There's no denying that those words are hard for me to read. 

However, if there's one thing I've learned from reviewing films, is not to run with the crowd. 

Yes, these are established critics. But well-known critics have an infamous tendency to write similar reviews. 

It's almost like the popular clique at school. 

So you want my advice? 

Read it yourself. 

Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy is released in the UK on the 10th October 2013. 

You can pre-order on Amazon.co.uk now. 

Bates Motel: Continued Suspense and Impeccable Acting

After watching episode 1 of Bates Motel, it is safe to say I will be glued to the television screen every Thursday at 9:00pm.

I must admit I was slightly anxious about the adaptation. But it most definitely exceeded my expectations.

The character portrayals by Vera Farmiga (Norma) and Freddie Highmore (Norman) are phenomenal. Especially Farmiga.

I'm sure like myself, Psycho fans were intrigued to see the character of Norma, Norman's infamous mother.

She is everything I expected and more. Eerily manipulative and there's something about her in which you cannot pull your eyes away from her.

Highmore plays a brilliant young Norman Bates. Unusually likeable and easily empathised with. What I will say is, don't expect him to be the character from the film just yet. Remember, it's a prequel!

The first episode is there to entice the audience from the beginning. And that it does. An incredibly gripping plot line and graphic, horrifying scenes from the get-go have definitely set the bar for the rest of the series.

With such explicit content and continued suspense, we're almost fooled into thinking we're watching an ongoing film rather than television.

The next episode airs Thursday 19th September, 9:00pm on Universal.

in-between-ness

Think about the way mental illness is represented on film. You probably think of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

 

But, 30 years on from the genre-defining film, two NorthWalian artists are offering a fresh take on a taboo subject.

 

Karen Heald, experimental filmmaker and Honorary Research Fellow in Social Sciences at Bangor University, has collaborated with Susan Liggett, painter and Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Glyndŵr University, to create in-between-ness.

 

The exhibition, previewed as part of the currentInternational Conference on Internet Technologies & Applications (ITA13) hosted by Glyndŵr University, uses painting, film stills and moving image to capture a sense of self.

 

The state of in-between-ness, suggests Karen is one, “Whereby the audience is unsure as to whether one is asleep, awake, or even in a state of in-between-ness”.

 

“Working with people as an artist, I was interested in time and how different people perceive a sense of time,” said Karen. “Maybe within mental health you may get a different sense of time.”

 

Mental health has been subject to exploitation in the past and remains a much- misunderstood issue. But, Speaking at the launch of a research paper to accompany the exhibition as part of ITA13, Susan described how collaborating between film, art and science had benefitted the participants.

 

“We’ve involved the participants all along. The work is anonymous and we’ve used pseudonyms for reasons of medical ethics but we don’t see them as any different to anyone else,” said Karen. 

 

“We treat them as fellow artists really,” she added.

 

Dan Wilson, exhibition attendee, was impressed by the exhibition. He said: “The work was very interesting. I really enjoyed the variety of sounds, giving an ambient feel to the room.”

 

As for future collaborations? “We would like to see this as a pilot study we would like to take further,” 

 

“We’re looking to apply for funding for a larger scale research project and build upon the findings of this project,” said Susan. 

For more information visit in-between-ness.co.uk. 

Bates Motel.

Bates Motel. It's funny how two words can excite me so much.

As a massive Horror fan and a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan, those two words will always shout out to me. 

Not usually a fan of television adaptations of films, they do appear to be looking up. 

Hannibal based on the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris was developed into a television series by Bryan Fuller for NBC received fairly good reviews. 

Bates Motel originally aired March 18th 2013 in America. Similarly, receiving favourable reviews overall. 

The show will be based on Robert Bloch's novel Psycho's characters but will be an adaptation of Hitchcock's classic film Psycho. 

Ok yes, I'm very apprehensive. But I am excited to see the classic story be told in a modern world. 

Here's hoping they don't slaughter it like they did with the many, many sequels... 

Bates Motel airs on the Universal Channel on 12th September 2013 at 9:00pm.

The Effects of Religion

Yes, I know this blog predominantly revolves around media. 

However, I do state in my profile that it is also 'Just My Opinion'. 

Which leads to the reasoning behind this blogpost. 

Let me state first of all I am very anti-religion. People sometimes ask me why 'anti'? To which I respond that growing up in school, I, along with the rest of the class, were sometimes made to watch Christian films. 

The school was supposed to be non-religious. And yet, they brainwashed me into thinking if I pray and believe some fictional god is watching over me, this will prevent me from doing wrong. 

I can understand why some people would follow this lifestyle for that reason. Good morals, values etc. But it's what they think are good, according to their religion. 

This then has huge repercussions. One of which I have fallen victim to. 

In particular, the way some religions treat women in comparison to men. I have a massive issue with this. 

In some religions, women are not allowed to drive, receive education or work. 

Leading to the men of that religion feeling inferior when around independent and superior women that do not share the same beliefs. 

Thus resulting in them being highly disrespectful to women, purely because of something they believe is right for them. 

Recently this has happened to a dear friend of mine and so I'm hoping by sharing this blog, some woman out there, even just one, will be inspired. 

Religion is not law. Religion is not definitive of your life. 

Religion: 

the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. 

Oxford Dictionary. (2013). Definition of Religion in English. Available: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/religion?q=Religion. Last accessed 20th Aug 2013.

Lovelace: Empowering or Degrading?

Lovelace 

Excited and intrigued.

I'd say those words both describe how I feel about the release of this film. 

The film is a drama based on, possibly the most well known pornographic film star ever known to man, Linda Lovelace (real name Linda Boreman). 

And yes, I just used the word pornographic instead of 'adult film'. Because, well, lets not beat around the bush eh? (Is there a pun in there somewhere?)

Lovelace is portrayed by Amanda Seyfried. Will it work? We all recognise Seyfried by her long, blonde locks and her big puppy eyes. The image of innocence. Surprisingly, after watching the trailer, it's clear that's used to her advantage in this. 

Many of you that read this blog may well know that I have my feminist moments. What you may not know is through the subjects Sociology and Media, I have studied the role of the woman in media texts; including pornography. 

It has been said (with plenty of research) that the Pornography industry is the only industry worldwide in which the female sex is paid a higher fee than the male. 

There in lies that I am both excited and intrigued to see how they depict such a famous female lead role. 

Will it be empowering or degrading? I guess we'll see... 

Watch the trailer here. 

Release date UK: 23rd August 2013

Doctor Who? Male or Female? Male Again...

So, Peter Capaldi is the new Doctor Who. 

I'll be honest, I'm no Doctor Who geek, so this news isn't massively interesting for me. 

What is interesting is that they were considering a woman to fill the famous Doctors' shoes. 

Anything to do with a gender debate has me listening. 

Some argued that it was traditional to have a male lead as the the Doctor. Others argued the opposite. Including Helen Mirren;

"I do think it’s well over-time to have a female Doctor Who. I think a gay, black female Doctor Who would be the best of all."

You're probably expecting me to go balls to the wall now and start some feminist debate. But I actually do understand the meaning of tradition. 

I do understand why some fans would want their idolised character to be somewhat similar to the original. 

However. I am a feminist and I wouldn't want a certain gender to prevent something so trivial. I mean, it is 2013. We have female monarch. We should be embracing female empowerment not putting it on the back burner for another century. 

And, I don't actually think most of the fans want a male actor to take the role because of the importance of the sex of Doctor Who. I think it's because of their narrow minds and dated views. 

Quite frankly, it may be traditional, but it's bloody old fashioned! 

Appreciation For Quality

It's not about liking something for the particular style or genre, it's about appreciating the quality of how it was produced. 

Film Review: Now You See Me

I first saw this trailer in the cinema and was wowed by it. The effects looked spectacular and the short snippet of the storyline excited me. I’d heard that this film was in production, although I had thought it was more light hearted, only to find out later it was actually a thriller. I then watched the trailer on a computer screen and I must say the smaller screen did it no justice.

Four magicians come together to create The Four Horsemen and become world famous. An FBI agent sets to track them down after they pull off a bank heist in one of their tricks. 

The graphics were brilliant in this film. It feels like you are watching a magic show and not special effects in a film, it’s not overdone to a point where it’s not believable. It would definitely wow an audience, no 3D needed.

The soundtrack was parallel with what was happening onscreen. It was like a feeling more than a sound, which replicated the grand adventures throughout the narrative. It was like something colossal and bold and reminded me heavily of some of the James Bond soundtracks.

Jesse Eisenberg plays J. Daniel Atlas. Daniel is a street magician, but a brilliant one at that. He is smug, arrogant and knows how good he is. It reminded me of his character role in The Social Network. After seeing Eisenberg in interviews, I know that he can come off as quite arrogant and so I think he was the absolute perfect choice for the role. There’s something about him in this film that lures you in, even if you don’t want to go.

Isla Fisher is Henley Reeves; a gorgeous, former assistant to Daniel, who has mastered her own craft. She is sultry and buzzing throughout the film. At first glance at the character role, people may think other actresses could be better suited for the role but after watching her first scene you’ll see she fits it like a glove. There’s something you don’t trust about her but you can’t take your eyes off her.

Mark Ruffalo plays FBI agent Dylan Rhodes who is attempting to track down the famous magicians, The Four Horsemen. He is a drunk, non-believer in magic with a bad attitude. As the film progresses we see Rhodes becoming more and more infatuated with both catching the magicians and magic in general.

Woody Harrelson is Merritt McKinney, a mentalist and part of The Four Horsemen. He is first perceived to be a cheap hypnotist willing to do just about anything for someone’s money. As the four horsemen come together we see him sharpen up and gain respect from audiences worldwide. Jack Wilder, played by Dave Franco is someone who can pick anything; any lock, any pocket, you name it. He proves to be incredibly talented with his hands and is a worthy addition to the group. Thaddeus Bradley is a know-it-all former magician, now famous for revealing other magicians’ secrets. Played by Morgan Freeman, we see a smug and yet bitter man going against his craft to make money. Michael Caine plays Arthur Tressler, The Four Horsemen’s benefactor. So blinded by the glitz and glam and making money off this prestigious act, he misses the big picture. Hence the films tagline ‘Come in close, because the more you think you see, the easier it’ll be to fool you’.

Some of my favourite bits were:

The opening scene was a trick performed by Daniel. It was brilliant. The trick works on the audience, and yes it worked on me. It sets the film up for what you can expect and the standard it has set.

This is fairly general but all of their big tricks were my favourite bits. I can’t say too much about the tricks but they have their audience, even the audience watching in the cinema, in the palm of their hands. My only advice, don’t try and figure it out because you’ll miss the bigger picture. Just go with it.

My final favourite bit was the ending. Not just their final trick or the end scene but the way the narrative draws into a close. The way everything comes together and the reason behind what they have done is great. You won’t see whats coming.

It's hard to compare this film to films within the same genre because I find it quite unique. It is quite similar to other thrillers however it has a sleekness to it which isn't present in most thrillers. 

I would definitely recommend this film. It is a possibility that once all is revealed that the film can't be watched over and over, like some others, but it is a film that is worth a watch. Even so, watching it again, other elements of the film may reveal themselves which is always exciting when watching a film again. 

I would rate the film 4.5/5, personally. It's something that I would watch again and buy on DVD. 

Courtesy of Odeon Cinemas. 

Film Review: The Internship

After hearing the buzz about the famous Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson duo back onscreen together, I was excited to watch this film. I’d read that the film was a somewhat follow up to the 2005 film, Wedding Crashers.

Two sales men lose their jobs and apply for an intern program at Google. They begin to find themselves out of their league.

Like Google’s webpage, the graphics in the film were bright and very pristine. Everything was sharp and colourful, it was lovely on the eyes. Also, it matched the scenes onscreen, a fun and bright vibe.

The soundtrack was fairly modern. Much of the music was used to reinforce certain scenes, such as upbeat tracks when in a dance club. Not only that, in a few scenes, the editing matched the beat of the music.

Owen Wilson plays Nick Campbell; a light-hearted, easy-going salesman. The characters, as well as the overall narrative, feels like a sequel to Vaughn and Wilson’s previous film Wedding Crashers. Wilson does tend to play the same character in the majority of his films but it is a character that the audience loves or likes a lot anyway. It was great to see the duo together again. They are a duo that is meant to be onscreen and always perform, no matter what the plot line.

Vince Vaughn is Billy McMahon. Similar to his character in Wedding Crashers, he is big and boisterous. Vince Vaughn has gathered a huge fan base over the years and although certain elements of the narrative are dull, his performance will see it through. At times, I wanted more of his well-known comedy that we see in films such as The Break-Up or some of his more risqué gags, but the plot doesn’t have room for this humour.

Mr. Chetty is Google’s representative for the film; potrayed by Aasif Mandvi. Every so often the comedy felt forced by Mandvi,but overall he gave a good performance of the character. His character appears to be one thing and ends up evolving with the narrative, which was in fact a little predictable.

The love interest in the film is Dana, depicted by Rose Byrne. This sub-plot felt rushed towards the end. She gave an average, short-lived performance. Max Minghella is arrogant, rich kid Graham, willing to go to all kinds of low to beat out every other group for the internship. He is everything you would expect from a spoilt, Ivy League frat boy. He is almost too convincing!

Some of my favourite bits included:

There’s a scene where Billy and Nick are being interviewed for the Google internship via webcam. It’s set in a library and it is classic Vaughn and Wilson. Their obvious chemistry and finishing each other’s sentences off is a delight to watch.

During their time at Google, Vince Vaughn visits the cafeteria. These conglomerate technology companies are known for having the quirky facilities such as nap pods and sometimes even Michelin star chefs at their restaurants and café’s etc. Not only that but the facilities and food all tend to be free. If you’ve ever seen Vince Vaughn in a film, you’ll know how much he likes to eat in his roles. Free food plus Vince Vaughn means this scene doesn’t disappoint.

As with many films, the end scene rounds everything up leaving the audience feeling whole and in their new plenitude, so to speak. As you can probably predict, the film does a lot of Google promoting and so the ending is predictable and even cheesy. Nevertheless it is a funny scene and did have me laughing, although I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers.

I would definitely recommend this film to fans of Vince Vaughn and this particular comedy. It is what you would expect but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing. It’s doing what it says on the tin.

The film is similar to the films within the particular genre. The narrative structure of these films is practically identical to the others. The visual aesthetics are the same, bright and fairly sharp. The directing lacks personality, which is very similar to other films of the genre. I would say it’s less risqué than some films of the genre, this may be due to the promotion of Google.

I would rate the film 3/5. It’s one of those films you can watch at any time and like I said, it does what it says on the tin, it’s not pretending to be something it’s not.

You can book your cinema tickets here. 

Courtesy of Odeon Cinemas. 

Film Review: World War Z

I went into the film thinking it will be just another zombie flick, which is fairly pessimistic if I’m honest. Brad Pitt plays United Nations employee that travels the world to find a cure for a zombie pandemic.

World War Z relied more on special effects than the old-fashioned grey and white make-up. The effects used to multiply crowds of zombies were effective, leaving me almost overwhelmed. Although the majority of zombie films use special effects and carefully placed false wounds for the horror effect, this film had a more realistic element to look at it. 

The soundtrack coincided with the happenings onscreen. With the surround sound in the cinema, the sound was startling. The non-diegetic sound was very precise leaving me on pins. 

I enjoyed seeing Brad Pitt back onscreen. Pitt has not starred in many popular films in recent years. There was Killing Them Softly in 2012, which wasn’t exactly a blockbuster, although I quite enjoyed it. Pitt adapted to the character well, putting his stamp on it as he does most of his other characters such as Mickey O’Neil in Snatch. I do feel as though someone else could have portrayed a more realistic Gerry Lane though, maybe someone with a tad more grit. 

Most of the other cast faded into the background. If I had to discuss another actor in detail in relation to this films it would be Daniella Kertesz. 

Kertesz plays Segen, a female member of the Israeli armed forces. Segen becomes a somewhat sidekick to Lane. Although the character was under developed, Kertesz played what was written well. World War Z looks to be her first blockbuster and judging by her performance will probably set her up for a few years. 

Other than Pitt and Kertesz, the other characters were massively under-developed. The film was practically a one-man show. Brad Pitt can most definitely carry a film single handedly, he has a familiar star quality to the audience, but due to the huge holes in the narrative and unfinished subplots, the other characters were of no interest.

Towards the end of the film a plane crash occurs within the narrative. As I was watching in 3D the scene was horrifying, leaving me feeling a tad sick. That and the films score gave the scene an extremely immediate effect.

Another scene which stood out of the film to me was that of masses of zombies overrunning Jerusalem. A very fast paced scene, with fast paced editing and quickening non-diegetic sound. It was quite terrifying to watch.

The age rating was 15 which was most suitable. With extremely vivid horror, the film would be too frightening for 12 year old children.

I would buy the film on DVD. Although the film would definitely appear more epic in the cinema and in 3D, I would watch it at home too. 

My rating of World War Z would be 3/5. The film was good in parts yet empty in various parts of the narrative. It felt as if much of the plot was cut out to replace with horrifying scenes, leaving it confusing at times. The film was just another zombie film with a sense of reality to it. The film did come full circle eventually, which is a relief after being strung out. 

Courtesy of Odeon Cinemas 

Film Review: Man of Steel

The film is clearly used as a foundation for more films in the franchise. We get a back story to who Superman is and the planet he came from, Krypton. In my opinion, the film was used solely as a platform for other films to be developed within the franchise, which resulted in this film being an establishing film lacking many qualities of the well-known Superman character and story.

Henry Cavill plays Superman in the new reboot franchise; Man of Steel. Superman is forced to decide whether to fight for the planet he originated from; Krypton or to save the planet he has grown up on; planet Earth, along with every human being on it. 

The film was shot that of a comic-book strip, close-ups here and there, mid-shots of Superman in his costume. Many close-ups of his face, obviously. It reminded me heavily of Spielberg’s War of the Worlds. A large amount of futuristic, machines destroying, what appears to be, our weak and natural planet. However, Mother Nature was not too far away. There was an all too familiar tornado scene which was overshadowed by the stink of masculine courage. Much like the rest of the film. The visual aesthetics were similar to that of other DC Comics film adaptation, The Dark Knight Trilogy. Writers and producers, David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan were on hand for both films, which is evident in Man of Steel. The colour palette being a huge similarity; an almost dull metallic hangs over both films. 

The films score is composed by Hans Zimmer (one of my favourite composers of all time). Zimmer has worked on films of this genre, such as The Dark Knight and Inception. Similarly the score is very ‘epic’ like, which is hugely appropriate for the narrative. Also, Zimmer composes more emotive tracks, with gentle strokes on piano keys. These are suitable tracks for when the narrative flash backs to certain events in Clarke’s childhood.

Henry Cavill is every inch the Superman we want to see. Chiseled jaw, stupidly-defined muscles and the famous, not-one-inch-of-hair-out-of-place, hair style. Although, in every other aspect, he is dissimilar to the well-known Superman portrayed by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 Superman. He lacks charm and emotion. He is fairly stone-faced. We don’t see his natural charm with the ladies. The spark between him and love interest Lois Lane is non-existent. At times, he even appears fairly selfish. Cavill’s portrayal of the 21st century Superman/Man of Steel is a good performance, I’m just not sure I like the modern character.

Amy Adams plays Clarke Kent’s love interest; reporter Lois Lane. Similar to Cavill, Adams gave a good performance of the character that was written, however it wasn’t the Lois Lane fans recognise. I don’t think the character was written very well, Lane’s character is up and down like a yo-yo. One minute we see an independent woman of the 21st century, the next we see a woman seeking love and attention, willing to throw away her career, from a man that doesn’t appear very interested.

General Zod is portrayed by Michael Shannon. Although the character was most definitely the villain, his ulterior motives were understandable, even to Kal-El (Superman). Shannon can both make the audience disgusted by his actions and yet somewhere deep inside, feel a little bit sorry for him. After all, he is only trying to get the planet he originated from, Krypton, back, at the expense of every human being on Earth nonetheless.

Kal-El’s dad, Jor-El played by Ruseel Crowe was utter cringe-worthy. It was incredibly forced, ironically, it was almost alien, something I didn’t recognise from Crowe. I don’t think he was necessarily the right choice for the character. Martha Kent depicted by Diane Lane was a fairly good performance. All of the female characters were a little wooden at times, due to the script.

The end scene which sets up for the next film is exciting. It probably excited me more than the entire film. It brings a more human element to the film which is always good for the audience as it becomes relatable. It was disappointing that it came so late on.

The tornado scene was action packed, which is always good to watch. The effects were good and the scene had a very here and now feeling to it. Coincidentally, it coincides with the real life traumatic events of the tornado in Oklahoma City a few weeks ago.

Although I saw the advertisement of Sears about a million times which became tedious, the fight scene in the town was very vivid. Maybe a little drawn out, but it was a worthy fight scene for such a well-known super-hero film.

The age rating was 12a. Similar to most other films of that genre, although I’m not sure I would my child to see some of the content, such as various snapped necks.

I would probably buy this dvd in a trilogy pack. The film is definitely used as a foundation for more to come.

The film is both similar and dissimilar to films of the super-hero genre. On one hand we see a modern reboot of another super-hero franchise. The narrative and various elements of the plot become more relevant to society allowing the audience to relate. On the other hand we marvel at qualities and super-powers that children and even adults secretly dream of acquiring. Like the original Superman story, the film is more farfetched than other films of the genre, much to the fans’ delight. 

I would rate the film 3/5 based purely on the fact that the film was simply used to set up for more films in the Man of Steel franchise. 

Courtesy of Odeon Cinemas 

Film Review: This Is 40

This film is a sequel to the 2007 film; Knocked Up. We see how Deb and Pete are dealing with the ups and downs of marriage, family drama and turning 40. 

The film is shot in Los Angeles, California. Similar to Knocked Up, the films appears bright and shiny. As you would expect from the genre, the film is dominated with mid-shots and some establishing shots. In the middle of the narrative, we see a montage of slow motion, random shots mashed together which definitely breaks up the narrative sequences. Director Judd Apatow, has done similar sequences in previous films such as Bridesmaids and Knocked Up, which makes the film recognisable when it has the stylistics of a certain director or editor. 

The soundtrack has an unexpected mixture. Including songs from Graham Parker, Fiona Apple and Paul McCartney. 

Both leading actors have proved they work well together in the 2007 prequel. I find that Paul Rudd who plays Pete, is similar in many films  I'm not sure if audiences will be bored of this familiar character. There were times that I felt the character was becoming tedious but that may have been due to the prolonged runtime. Several parts of the film, Rudd popped from the boring  plot line but I felt that I wanted more from him. 

Leslie Mann who plays Deb, jumps right back into the role of Deb, as if Knocked Up was just yesterday. If you thought she was whiny in that film, think of the majority of a storyline following that character. It does begin to grate on you. Nonetheless, both characters prove to be extremely relatable to audiences, both individually and as a relationship. 

The child characters; Sadie and Charlotte, played by Maude Apatow and Iris Apatow are actually the children of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann. Not only that, they are the children who played the characters in the prequel which is always a bonus. This only helps their onscreen performance. They portray a very realistic  relationship as sisters. 

Some of favourite bits throughout the film included:

Parents, Deb and Pete go on a trip together. I mean that in every sense of the word. This leads to a variety of random, carefree acts on impulse. It's a nice break up between scenes. 

Another favourite part of the film was a skit in the head teachers office. Melissa McCarthy plays the crazy mother of Joseph, a child who is somewhat cyber bullying Sadie. I absolutely love it when Melissa McCarthy plays crazy, off-the-wall characters and this is no exception. The scene had me laughing out loud. 

My final favourite bit in the film is split between two different but very similar sections of the film. Deb reprimands Joseph for bullying her daughter. I say reprimand, I mean completely brings him to his knees. We don't often see adults really go at children in film and media and I found it hilarious. Equally funny, Pete argues with Melissa McCarthy's character, Catherine. They begin bickering about the clash between Deb and Joseph. Seeing Pete completely let loose on one of 'those' mothers is pleasurable to watch even as a non-parent. It's something every parent has wanted to do at some point in their children's childhood, but because of social norms, simply can't. 

What stood out to me was the runtime of the film (134 mins). Far too long for the storyline. 

The age rating is 15. As the film is a middle of the road film, not too risqué but not too family, it's definitely suited. 

It's one of those films I would probably rent over buying. It's a film that you won't be watching frequently. 

Overall an average film of the comedy genre. A little overrun. If you're a Knocked Up fan you might like this sequel. 

I'd give this film a 2.5/5 rating. Boring at times with pops of American humour added. 

The film is released on DVD 24th June 2013 in the UK. iTunes have an early release of the film which is available to buy now. 

'For Sainsbury's'

If there's one thing I hate, it's stereotypes. 

Ok maybe not one thing, but it's definitely up there with my most hated. 

Recently, I walked past a magazine aisle in Sainsbury's and saw a 'For Him' and a 'For Her' section. 

I understand the term target audience. And I understand various industries are dominated by a certain gender. 

However... 

I noticed the 'For Her' section was overshadowed with a pink film that appeared to cover each magazine. 

Titles and headings included; 'Sparkle' and 'Girlz Talk'. 

The section placed next to the 'Your Favourite TV Magazine'. Coincidence? I think not. 

What do they think women do all day? Sit and watch television followed by painting our nails and having two-hour long chats with our girl friends?

'For Him' included titles; 'Total Film' and 'Empire'. 

I can't say I was shocked. 

How do industries expect to gain equality between both genders? 

Oh wait, they don't. 

And I categorically disagree with Sainsbury's decision to distinctively divide these sections. 

Actually, I think it's disgraceful. 

It gives me even more motivation to become an independent woman and disprove the heavily dated theories and industries. 

JustMy Film Reviews Published On Mediapick

The time has come.

Finally I can announce that my reviews are now being published on mediapick.co.uk! 

Mediapick.co.uk is a review website for films, games etc. 

I will be representing myself; JustMyMedia and it will be courtesy of Odeon Cinemas, as it is now. 

My most recent review of The Big Wedding, is up now!

You can see it here. 

Fun Fact #4

"In the first scene of the movie Double Indemnity, when Walter first kisses Phyllis, there is a wedding ring on Walter’s hand. Fred MacMurray was married and the ring was not noticed until post-production."

Film Review: The Big Wedding

This is one of those films where you think you’ll know exactly what is coming next; some parts you will, some parts you won’t. A great mixture of tongue-in-cheek comedy and real struggles of the modern family. A predictable yet unexpected twist on a traditional romantic comedy.

A divorced couple pretend to be married for the sake of their adopted mother’s strict Catholic views. It doesn't quite go to plan. 

Visually, the film is everything you would expect from an American romcom; bright, light and easy on the eyes. It allows for a pleasurable watch. 

The Big Wedding’s soundtrack was somewhat parallel to the narrative. It worked well with the narrative and the scenes onscreen. 

When watching the trailer, I wasn’t too sure about the casting of Robert De Niro. After watching the film, I definitely think he suited the character. We see a different version of De Niro that I don’t think we’ve seen in a while. A foul-mouthed, borderline sex addict with a warm nature. He portrays the character wonderfully.

As per-usual, Diane Keaton plays a betrayed ex-wife that takes the role of the matriarch. You can probably predict the facial expressions she uses. Writer and Director Justin Zackham spices up this well-known character which makes it a little more bearable.

Susan Sarandon can play both sides of the female spectrum; the warm-hearted, kind mother and the cold, heartless femme fatale. In this film, she mixes them into a brilliant character that will have you hating to love her and loving to hate her. It reminded me in particular of her character in Stepmom.

Most of the cast worked well together. The older generation definitely came off better onscreen than the younger actors. De Niro, Sarandon and Keaton bounced off each other making their relationships more believable.

Some of my favourite bits included:

The awkward, racist conversation between Father Moinighan (Robin Williams),  Alejandro (Ben Barnes) and Missy (Amanda Seyfried). I felt that it highlighted a clear line between dated, religious societies mixed with the modern, extended family. 

The father-daughter heart-to-heart between Don (Robert De Niro) and Lyla (Katherine Heigl). This was particularly emotive because of their hard-faced, stubborn characters. I felt that it gave depth to the plot line and even their characters. 

Right before the wedding, the older generation are involved in a huge argument resulting in everyone revealing everyone else's past secrets. This was definitely an eye opener in the narrative. It changes the audiences views on certain characters, which was unexpected in the romcom format. 

What stood out to me was that the racism issue was a huge part of the storyline, whereas the actor who played Alejandro was British. This was quite odd.

The age rating is 15. I definitely agree with this. Romantic comedies are changing and attempting a more risqué style and so 15 is much more suited than a 12.

Definitely worth a watch. You'll probably be able to guess the beginning, middle and ending, but the bits in between are an unexpected treat.

It is a good modern romantic comedy that does what it says on the tin.

I would buy it on DVD because its a feel good comedy that will lighten any mood.

As I have previously said romcoms are becoming more and more risqué, although it was definitely more out there than I had expected from a Diane Keaton film.

I would rate this film a 3/5 overall but if I was to do a genre specific rating, for a romantic comedy it would be a 4/5.

You can book your cinema tickets here.

Courtesy of Odeon Cinemas. 

Film Review: The Hangover Part 3

Plot: After the death of his father, Alan’s family and friends hold an intervention for Alan, agreeing to send him to a rehab facility. Whilst en route, things take a turn for the worst, resulting in kidnapping, burglary and the return of Mr Chow.

Writer and director Todd Phillips takes a different route with this film instead of the now predictable alcohol-induced amnesia hangover. While that narrative was both fresh and impressive, the sequel it produced proved to be disappointing with its audience.

After the death of his father, Alan’s family and friends hold an intervention for Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Knowing that he will never agree to go to rehab alone, Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha) agree to go with him. After being forced off the road and kidnapped by masked criminals, we are met with what looks like an Elvis impersonator crossed with a 1970’s Mafia Don, Marshall (John Goodman).

Marshall informs them that Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) has stolen a considerable amount of money from him and gives them an ultimatum; find Mr Chow or Doug dies.  

The film predominately centres around Alan, much to the audiences’ delight. We see Alan meet what has said to be a ‘female version of Alan’ (Melissa McCarthy), fall in love and an extremely awkward and slightly stomach-churning scene of them both sharing a lollipop. Stu and Phil come across somewhat boring  compared to the other two films, this is clearly because of the new plotline.  

Although the film has a different narrative structure, you can still expect some of the same humour and beloved elements that made us laugh out loud at the first instalment. We’re still awkwardly laughing at Alan’s love for ‘best friend’ Phil, fairly surprised at Mr Chows exaggerated performance but we’re still left wanting something more.

I want to say the film is aiming at black humour, although it’s not quite there. Some laugh out loud moments but it is quite evident the time has come to put this franchise to rest. If you’ve seen the previous films, I would definitely recommend this film. You can book your Odeon cinema tickets here.

 

Courtesy of Odeon Cinemas.

 

 

Matchy Monochrome

Matching my dress with my blog.

Monochrome kinda gal. 

Discipline Is Needed

If you're in the wrong, you're in the wrong. Simple as that.

In this case anyway. 

Age, sex, religion - none of which were taken into consideration. 

Today I read that Sydney Swans football player Adam Goodes was racially abused by a 13-year-old girl. 

The Sydney Swans were playing against 

Collingwood, when the Collingwood supporter shouted 'ape' at Goodes. 

Goodes then asked for the teenage girl to be escorted from the football ground. 

He has since said he was left heartbroken. 

'That's what hurt me so bad...when I turned around, I just saw this young face and...it was just sad.

'That's why I had to leave the arena, it just broke my heart.'

He also said that he recognises it's not her fault. 

'It's not her fault, she's 13, she's still so innocent, I don't put any blame on her,' 

'Unfortunately it's what she hears, in the environment she's grown up in that has made her think that it's OK to call people names.

'I guarantee she has no idea right now how it makes people feel to call them an ape.'

I completely agree with Goodes' decision. Discipline was needed and a principle was set. 

Watch the video here.