Thursday Movie Picks: Mother-Son Relationships (Biologically Related)

This week’s theme has been surprisingly difficult, and I had to break the rules a little too. If you’re not familiar with the Thursday Movie Picks, it’s an amazing thing hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Each week brings a new theme, and all you need to do is pick 3 movies that fit the bill to discuss. This week is one of many 'All in the Family Editions', this time featuring Mother-Son relationships.

Only God Forgives is probably the anti-choice for this week’s themes, as I can’t imagine the mother has a ‘Best Mum Ever’ mug at home for her actions. Ryan Gosling’s character’s brother is murdered and his crime lord mother compels him to hunt down his killer and cause trouble. Still, I’d like to think it shows how much he loves his mother to go and do this at her command, but maybe he’s equally afraid of her? This movie made little sense at the best of times!

How to Train your Dragon 2 introduced us to a character we thought was long gone, Hiccup’s mother! (Not a spoiler - much to my disappointment this was all over the trailers). Getting to see Hiccup reunite with his mother after all those years and to see the similarities in the two of them was heart warming and a real highlight of the whole film. If only it could have been kept as a surprise.

Here are my three:

Who doesn't love Shaun's mum in Shaun of the Dead and who wasn't completely heartbroken when he realised she had been bitten.  As well as the awkward everyone threatening to stab each other stand off while there is a gun pointed at his mum!   It was one of the really emotionally moments in this zom-com that made us all fall in love with the Cornetto trilogy.

At the beginning of this movie, Trevor's mom, Arlene (Helen Hunt) is a bit of a waster, she keeps letting her alcoholic, abusive ex (and Trevor's father) back into their lives while apparently skipping on much of her parental duties.  However, as the film moves forward you learn more about Arlene and what she has been through and she also realises what her son actually needs from her.  Its great to watch Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) be the parent in there relationship and to see the tables turn as the story progresses.

This is where I am technically cheating because the reason I chose this film was because of the relationship between Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Michael (Quinton Aaron), hence the cheating as they are not biologically related.  However, the more I thought about it the more I considered her relationship with her biological son SJ (Jae Head).  He has been raised with all the luxuries in life and has never wanted for anything and yet he is willing to share his whole life with Michael because of the way he has been raised.  My all time favourite scene in this movie is after the boys are in a car crash while Michael was driving, Leigh Anne is running down the street shouting 'My kids, they are my kids...' such a heart-warming moment.

The Top 5 Best Films of 2014

Okay, so after whinging about the worst films we've seen this year, it's probably about time that we spread some cheer and talk about our favourite films of the year. Like Jenna said in our last post, there's a scary amount of films I've missed this year and I'll be spending Christmas and the New Year catching up, and obviously we aren't quite done with 2014 yet, but here's our Top 5 Best Films of 2014 (that we've actually seen!)

Locke (2014)

I've harped on a lot about Locke this year I know, and it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it was so different to anything else I'd seen before that it absolutely has to make this list for me. I get fidgety in the cinema, and so to be able to sit completely still for a film essentially about a man driving from Birmingham to London is a wonder in itself!

Gone Girl (2014)

Now for more of a mainstream choice. I'm so glad I saw Gone Girl at the cinema, and the audience's reaction as the credits roll will remain as one of my favourite experiences, it was just fantastic! A mixed of gasps, confusion, and then shocked laughter, followed by everyone leaving in a bit of a daze. This one played on my mind for days, and the book is on my kindle now waiting for me to finish Brent Weeks' latest novel.

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

Many of you won't agree with this choice, but you have to understand that Horrible Bosses is my favourite comedy film. I was expecting to be let down by the sequel but I just loved it. Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day have so much chemistry that I'd find anything they did funny. Let's not forget the amazing supporting cast too! Since when did Jason Sudeikis get so cute too? Our review of this is coming soon.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

I really enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy when I saw it in the cinema this summer, but I wasn't blown away. It was only when I started telling people about the film that it seemed to grow on me more and more, and now I realise that it was actually a pretty awesome film. I'm looking forward to watching it again over Christmas, and I hope to get a Groot Pop! figure soon.

The Imitation Game (2014)

I haven't yet been able to put my thoughts on The Imitation Game into words, I'm still fairly speechless. I'm clueless when it comes to History, especially war. I know it's a serious topic but I actually walked into this film blind, because I didn't know how it would even end! I'm biased and blind of course when it comes to Benedict Cumberbatch, but I really enjoyed this film. It was engaging, it was interesting, and it was heartbreaking all at the same time.

There are so many other films that should be in this list, but I'm shocked at how many I've missed this year. I imagine Nightcrawler and The Hobbit would be in here too, but I haven't seen them yet.

Disclaimer: After looking through movies released in 2014 and am embarrassed at the shear number that I have missed.  Therefore, my list is based on what I have seen not what was released.

How to Train your Dragon 2 (2014)

What a film, the graphics, the story, the fact that the characters aged from the first one.  No sequel let down here, just as good as the first if not better!

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Unlike Allie, it didn't take time for me to realise I loved this film.  I grinned from ear to ear throughout the whole thing in the cinema, I didn't fidget or move through the whole thing I was that engrossed.  I am hoping my Dad has brought this for me for Christmas but I might be disappointed as my Dad doesn't respond well to hints, in fact he misses them entirely.

Fault in our Stars (2014)

I feel like I might be alone with the one but I loved the film and I think it stuck to the book really well and didn't just change it to suit.  The way they included the texts by popping up on screen was really clever.  I laughed, I cried, I can't wait to watch it again.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

This was brilliant, the effects used with the apes was incredible and story was well put together as well.  Sometimes, films with such large CGI presence tend to lose sight of the story (think the last 2 Matrix movies) but this had both.  I want to have a marathon and watch Rise and Dawn back to back next :-)

Life After Beth (2014)

There is a review coming soon for this which goes into more detail but I thought this was really great, it was comical, scary in places and the dialogue was sharp and witty.  The acting from Dane Dehaan was great, he has a real presence that I hadn't noticed in his previous supporting roles. 

As Allie said, there has to be a mention for The Hobbit, I am certain I will love it but haven't yet seen it.

What was your best movie of 2014?

Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2

Can sequels ever be better than the original??

How to Train your Dragon 2 has proved they can, what an experience...

I was lucky enough to see this on Fathers Day, when they put it on as a special before it came out properly and as my Dad is the world biggest HTTYD fan, how could I not take him.

 

I on the other hand missed the previews which felt like a year ago, and ended up watching it when Planet of the Apes sold out.

The sequel picks up five years after the events of the first film on the Island of Berk.  Every Viking now has their own dragon which are now used for dragon race competitions (Quidditch apparently?!).  Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) however, prefers to investigate new lands and find new worlds with his trusty sidekick, Toothless.  On their latest adventure, Hiccup and Toothless stumble across a gang of Dragon hunters led by Eret (Kit Harrington) who are gathering dragons for the mysterious Drago (Djimon Hounsou).  So now it's up to Hiccup and his barrage of hapless friends (and their dragons) to keep their friends and their home safe.

 

What a film! This just goes above and beyond the first one, for starters ageing the characters (which is a rarity in animation) which gives Hiccup a bit more confidence and bravery while still maintaining his geeky lovable charm.  The visuals are amazing, the dragon flying scenes in 3D had you holding onto your chair.  The detail is impeccable as with the original, I particularly like an early part in the film where Hiccup and Astrid are talking and in the background there is a whole other story happening with their dragons, plus the grass and their hair are all blowing in the wind and each leaf on the tree I moving in it's own way.  It's one of those film where you will spot something new every time you watch it.

 

Honestly, the first half of HTTYD2 really got on my nerves. How much dialogue does a film need? The reveal of Hiccup's mum was ruined for me because it was just there in the very first trailer. Why?! Honestly Dreamworks, you could have given us a trailer where nothing at all happens, just Toothless being a derp, and you would still have the same audience.

 

During the reunion scenes, there was so much repeated dialogue that I actually stopped listening all together and had much more fun watching Toothless in the background, playing chase with another dragon. Hiccup's mum had done a whole speech and I didn't listen to a word.

 

The story is great (usually a downfall of sequels) and there is a twist which keeps it interesting.  There are also some quite adult topics addressed which steps it up again from the original. 

The supporting characters that I loved in the first one are given more opportunity to develop in this outing. However, all credit has to go to Toothless, as the star of the show.  The expressions, reactions and all around lovableness has proved successful once again, he steals every scene that he is in (even when he isn't the main focus, see above) and the bond between him and Hiccup is still as epic as it was in the first one.

 

Enough ranting from me though, because the second half of the film was absolutely fantastic. It was like a switch went off and the film burst into life. The action was better, the 3D was actually utilised, and we lost the boring dialogue. I really want to point out though that this isn't suitable for young children. Two scenes in particular come to mind, one really quite scary, and another absolutely heartbreaking. One small child begged to leave because he was so distraught.

If you liked/loved the first film, make sure you see this, don't be put off by the fact that it is a sequel as I think for sure that it is better than the first!

 

Taken as a whole, I think the first was the best, but I would watch this again and again for the second half alone (and maybe Toothless because he's such a cutie)

Looking Forward to Seeing at the Cinema this Month...June 2014

I still haven't seen my 'Looking Forward to Seeing at the cinema' for May yet, although I am seeing it tonight so that's not too bad.  I am super excited for X-Men: Days of Future Past, review will be posted soon.  But enough about May and onto June... What am I looking forward to this month... How to Train your Dragon 2...

The original of this was amazing, not just the story which was completely original and well written but the visuals, everytime I watch this film I find something new, individual hair strands blowing in the wind, single blades of grass.  It is a truly epic visual as well as characters that you love and even the ones you hate you love.  So how can I not look forward to the second part, an older, stronger and cooler Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) with metal parts instead of a leg after the action in the first part.  Dragons are now a normal part of life on Berk, but they will stumble across a new batch of wild dragons and must work together to keep the peace.

I can't decide however if I will see this in 3D, I am not a fan, particularly not with live action movies (I never watch live action movies in 3D, I think it spoils it more than adds to it!) but rarely I will watch an animated film in 3D if I think it will be worth it.  If there are flying scenes are anything like the first movies then my guess is it will be worth it...

How to Train your Dragon 2 will be released on 27th June 2014.

Ohh you totally got in before me this month! This is probably one of my most anticipated films of the year, let alone month! But, in the spirit of chosing a film each, I'm also super excited for 22 Jump Street.

 

I don't think I saw the previous film, 21 Jump Street, at the cinema. In fact, I'm pretty sure I just picked up the DVD in a sale around Christmas last year. I love Channing Tatum more and more every time I see him, and although I'm a bit weary of Jonah Hill, I thought he was really funny in 21 Jump Street.

It's the perfect Orange Wednesday film and I have no doubt that the screens will be rammed when it comes out. Sequels, in many cases, aren't as good as their predecessors but I hope that won't be the case this time, as I laugh out loud every time I watch the trailer and it definitely hasn't got old yet. Look out for my review soon!

Here's the trailer if you're a hermit and haven't seen it yet:

22 Jump Street will be released on 6th June 2014.