Thursday Movie Picks: Movies with Memorable Declarations/Confessions of Love

It's Thursday! Time for Movie Picks. If you're new to this, Thursday Movie Picks is a fantastic series hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves, where each week she picks a theme and we all choose 3 movies that we feel fit.

This week’s theme is Movies with Memorable Declarations/Confessions of Love, and it’s also the first theme this month where I haven’t needed to Google what it meant (doh!). I’m going to try to make it through this whole post without mentioning that two-worded movie beginning with L and A...I think I’ve used it twice so far for this series...stay strong Allie, stay strong…

Anyway, I’m going with 2 classics and a personal favourite this week. Here goes!

I shamefully watched When Harry Met Sally (1989) for the first time last year, and it quickly became one of my favourite rom coms. Not only does it have that classic scene we all seem to know whether we’ve seen the movie or not (“I’ll have what she’s having”) but it also has one of the sweetest declarations of love ever, as Harry (Billy Crystal) runs through the streets of New York to finally tell Sally (Meg Ryan) how he really feels.

“I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour-and-a-half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that when I spend a day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes; and I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.”

This week is proof that I will take any excuse I can to talk about Star Wars. In my defence though, one of the biggest highlights of watching the original movies was watching the romance between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) grow. Never did I think I could really fall for Harrison Ford, until that cocky smuggler Han Solo stole every scene he was in. Let’s not forget that moment in Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) when Princess Leia finally gave in and told Han how she felt.

“I love you.”

“I know.”

Moving swiftly on to guilty pleasure territory! I’ve lost count of how many times my fiance and I have watched The Proposal (2009), it’ll just never get boring. Plus, 3 years ago when we were in New York on holiday flicking through channels in our hotel room, this was on! Funnily, the very next day we went to the top of the Rockefeller Center and he proposed to me! There you go, off topic rambles from me there. Anyway. Andrew’s (Ryan Reynolds) confession of love to Margaret (Sandra Bullock) at the end of the movie was equal parts sweet and hilarious.

“Three days ago, I loathed you. I used to dream about you getting hit by a cab. Then we had our little adventure up in Alaska and things started to changed. Things changed when we kissed. And when you told me about your tattoo. Even when you checked me out when we were naked. But I didn't realize any of this, until I was standing alone... in a barn... wifeless. Now, you could imagine my disappointment when it suddenly dawned on me that the woman I love is about to be kicked out of the country. So Margaret, marry me, because I'd like to date you.”

Review: Minions (2015)

Back in 2010, Universal Pictures gave us an animated film that many never expected to love as much as they did. Three years later we were given a sequel, which failed to wow but certainly reminded us just how much we love Despicable Me. Fast forward to the present day and Gru’s minions are everywhere. They’re on pajamas, sweets, bedspreads, and now they even have their own film. I got the pleasure of watching Minions the way I think it should, with a kid by my side. Who said babysitting your brother had to be boring?

Minions is a prequel of sorts to Despicable Me, and tells us the story of how the minions came to be, and what they did before they found Gru. The story itself focuses on three main Minions, Kevin, Stuart and Bob, as they leave the rest of their pack (group? What’s the collective term for minions anyway? swarm? gaggle?) and try to find a new boss. Their journey leads them to Villain Con in Orlando, where they meet Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock) and do everything they can to impress her.

The start of the film was painfully slow, and although the narration was needed, it felt like I was being read a children’s story and I felt quite bored.  I loved the beginning, although I had seen a lot of it in the trailer but I still loved the story telling and the narration. Once the minions arrived in Orlando though, the pace picked back up and the rest of the film was enjoyable.  I  did however get a bit bored in the middle but luckily my 2 year old niece didn't "Aunty Jenna, loooooooooooook" *points frantically at the screen* It did suffer I thought from the age-old issue of all the funniest moments being in the trailer.

There were two main things I loved about Minions. One was of course the little yellow cuties themselves, but with them being the main characters this time, we got to hear a lot more of their own language, which derives from languages from all over the world (and Bananas), which now makes sense after the introduction to the film. There are moments where I was begging for subtitles, but for the most part you can tell what the little guys are trying to say. I think its more about the body language and the actions to understand what they are saying, I still love the scene with Stuart and the yellow fire hydrant...."Ello papagena...."

What got the most laughs from me was the British stereotyping. I feel like I should be mildly offended? Like I want to assure people that our policemen do not drink and drive (tea from china cups that is) and we don’t all cry ‘blimey!’ when we’re distressed! We do drink a lot of tea though...I type this whilst drinking tea so it must be true, ha!  I too am drinking tea but not driving at the same time but it does explain why the UK area of Epcot in Florida looks the way it does!

I loved this film (excusing the brief boredom around the middle), but I only ever remotely enjoyed Despicable Me 2 because of these little guys, the rest was a waste of time.  I thought it was as good as Despicable Me and really made me laugh out loud and made my niece squeal with delight (which always makes my day!).

Minions wasn’t as good as good as the original Despicable Me, although the ending made me squeal with glee (I won’t spoil it) and I’d rank it on par with Despicable Me 2. It’s a good film, don’t get me wrong, but I think Minions appeals to a much younger audience.  Maybe I have a lower mental age than you?! 

Thursday Movie Picks - Unrequited Love

It’s been ages since I took part in Wanderer’s weekly Thursday Movie Picks, I really need to kick myself up the backside and get involved more often because I’m loving the look of this year’s themes! If you want to take part check out the master post here.

This week the theme is Unrequited Love, and I er, had to look it up to find out what it meant. You learn something new every day, right? Well now I know! This theme is more challenging than I originally thought, but I had great fun scouring my brain for movies I’d seen that fit the subject. Here’s my list!

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Possibly my favourite movie of his, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays broken-hearted Tom, who reflects on the time that he spent with Summer (Zooey Deschanel) - all 500 days, funnily enough. The tale is told in a non-chronological way, which really sets it apart from similar movies.

Tom falls for Summer almost instantly, but the feeling sadly isn’t mutual and Summer admits that she doesn’t believe that love is real. That doesn’t stop Tom, and for a time, the two of them seem to have a relationship, but it sadly doesn’t last. It’s a brilliant movie, and it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Worth a watch!

Love Actually (2003)

Hold up, don’t worry! I do understand what unrequited love is. Google told me, remember? Love Actually is one of my all-time favourite movies, and one of the tales sums up unrequited love perfectly. Juliet (Kiera Knightly) is convinced her husband’s best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln) hates her, but when she finally convinces him to show her the wedding video that he shot, she realises that the camera was focussed on her for every moment.

It all concludes with a beautiful scene of Mark stood on her doorstep to silently explain with the use of signs that he loves her.

All About Steve (2009)

This one came to me as I was scouring my Letterboxd account for inspiration. How could I forget All About Steve? Easily, clearly, as it wasn’t the best movie around. But it’s Sandra Bullock! Of course I can forgive it, and it’s a more lighthearted take on the unrequited love theme. Mary (Sandra Bullock) is a crossword puzzle creator and a bit of an oddball. She gets set up on a blind date with Steve (Bradley Cooper), a news cameraman, and she’s besotted with him. Unfortunately, the feeling isn't mutual, but Mary doesn’t see this.

It’s a nice twist on the usual romantic comedy tale of the guy trying to get the girl to be honest!

Review: Gravity (2013)

I was told I should watch this film at the IMAX, but I didn't get round to it.  Then I was told I should at least see it at the cinema but my Dad went without me while I was away.  So it was suggested I should buy the 3D Blu-ray and watch it that way (to get the full effect) but I didn't get around to buying it (and had I brought it I wouldn't have found the time or opportunity to watch it) and then finally, I should watch it on my laptop from LoveFilm/Sky Go.  Yet none of these things happened and I ended up watching this film on a 6in screen on an plane flying to the US (although the turbulence did provide a terrifying 4D element).  All my dreams of watching this visually stunning film in all it's glory were gone.

I was meaning to see this at the Giant Screen in Birmingham, then I ran out of time. Then I was meant to see it at my local cinema, and ran out of time again. There was even a special event put on where I work to see it, and guess what? I missed that too. Doh. I ended up watching it at home...

Gravity follows Medical Engineer Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) as their shuttle is destroyed on a routine space walk leaving them stranded in space. (I am aware this is quite a short blurb but what more can I say?! That is literally the story!)

I didn't expect to enjoy this film necessarily, everyone was ranting and raving about it and I thought the trailer looked a little boring, although I was looking forward to seeing the visual effects.  They were definitely worth watching it for (even on a 6in plane screen) it was stunning and so well shot.  Also, I have to admit the story kept me entertained as well (which I didn't expect), I had a good laugh in some places and a sob in others and I shouted at the screen at some points when Ryan was doing something ridiculously stupid!

The thought of being alone in space with no way of getting home is terrifying for me, so I spent 90 minutes on the edge of my seat, while the 7 year old child sat next to me watched Insidious 2 without even twitching.  Furthermore, at one point he kindly tapped me on the shoulder 'Hey, are you ok?  Do you want a bubblegum?' which would have been fine, had the tap not made me jump out of my skin and shove my face into my flight pillow in shear panic!

I'm really glad that I didn't see this at the cinema now because some of the camera shots made me quite giddy, even sat at home! Gravity was visually mesmerising though, I could have quite happily sat and just watched the background for an hour.

I read somewhere that the movie is shot to be indicative of Ryan rebirth since losing her child and the foetal position that she rotates in the and the tunnels represent fallopian tubes.  I didn't see this if I'm honest,  maybe I was too busy panicking to notice any clever metaphors. What? That's crazy, if it's true then fair enough but some people read into things way too much...

Overall, I loved this.  Even on the smallest of small screens it's visually stunning and the screenplay is cleverly written.  Sandra Bullock (one of my top favourite actresses) is amazing, with barely any lines she manages to show exactly how Ryan would be feeling and reacting to everything that's happening and that has already happened to her.

I really did enjoy Gravity and I think it's a film that everyone should watch once. However, I don't know if it really has much replay value. For me it's more of a must see once, then leave it.

If you are like me and your not sure about this, do it anyway, you will be surprised.  Maybe, I liked it more because I had no expectations.

Review: The Heat (2013)

This review has been sat in our draft list for ages, waiting for me to start it.  I don't know why I haven't finished it before now because it's such an easy film to write about. 

The Heat focuses on Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) a hard ass cop from Boston who chases down bad guys with watermelons and spends 10 minutes looking for her 'bosses teeny tiny girl balls' in his office and Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) a uptight FBI agent who no one likes and is solely focused on gaining a promotion.  They are paired together to find the elusive Mr Larkin, a major drug-lord.

Honestly I didn't even need to see a trailer for this, once I knew it was Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, I knew it would be comedy gold. I wondered if it might be a little too close to Miss Congeniality, but it wasn't at all.

I can't rate this film highly enough, I found it and still find it hilarious.  I howl with laughter throughout the entire bar scene (about half way through for those who haven't seen it) but my favourite bit by far is the DVD extras.  There is a full 20 minute scene of Mullins and Ashburn with the tape on their faces, taking shots and making jokes, I think I preferred this to the whole film! 

Oh, I could just watch those extras over and over again! I love that this isn't just a comedy for chicks either, every guy I've spoken to who has seen this loved it.

Plus there are extra scenes where they have tried different ways to do a scenes, particularly funny is the one where Ashburn smashed the beer glass in her hand.

I think I need a dedicated Sandra Bullock post soon, because I honestly haven't seen anything of hers that I haven't loved. She's just pure comedy gold, but does serious roles so well too.  I guess you haven't seen All about Stevie yet then?!

This is pretty predictable but I don't care, I know exactly what will happen and I will still watch it repeatedly.  I was less impressed with Sandra Bullock in this film, she has done much better comedy performances (Two weeks notice being my favourite) but Melissa McCarthy shines, as she always does and she steals every scene she's in.

I can't fault this film and I am bound to get some sort of abuse for this rating but I don't care.....

To anyone who hates on this film: