Review: Eddie the Eagle (2016)

I am unashamedly obsessed with Taron Egerton, he has not made enough films to keep my obsession at bay and I've watched all the interviews I could on YouTube so Eddie the Eagle came out just in time!

Eddie the Eagle is based on the true story of Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton), the British downhill skier who became the much loved underdog in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Accompanied by his trainer Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), Eddie fights to compete as the first ever British ski jumper at the Olympics.

I can safely say I have never smiled so much watching a movie, my face was aching from grinning.  It is the ultimate feel good movie, if you ever need a pick me up, this is the way to go.  I went in fully expecting the laughs to be at Eddie's expense, but brilliantly they showcase him as a hero that you desperately want to succeed because of his determination to achieve his childhood dreams.  Comedic relief is provided through his relationship with Bronson, training montages and his supportive Mom (Jo Hartley) and not so supportive Dad (Keith Allen).

Egerton was absolutely brilliant as determined Eddie, he just makes him so lovable and even though you know he's not going to get he gold you are willing him to succeed.  I was jumping up and down in my seat, I gripped the seat for dear life whenever he did a jump and more than once I very nearly jumped up and fist pumped.  Jackman, although fictional, is great as the near opposite of Eddie, having his pessimistic nature slowly chipped away by kind hearted and ever-optimist Edwards.

Love, love, love this movie, I cannot wait until its out on DVD so I can watch it again and again.

Review: Testament of Youth (2014)

It's taken me a really long time to write this post, it turns out I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this movie on my own on a Sunday night.  I had no idea this was a true story until is started watching it and it really struck a cord with me, so I've had to wait a while to write the review so i didn't sob all over my computer!!

Based on the book of the same name by Vera Brittain, Alicia Vikander plays a young Vera during some of the brightest and darkest parts of her life through World War 1.  Vera a strong willed woman determined to do everything people tell her she can't from going to Oxford, to becoming a Nurse and a writer.

This film was truly heartbreaking and the thought that its a true story just chokes me up even more.  Vera was an unbelievably strong woman for what she went through at such a young and just continues to push forward.  It almost made me feel ashamed for worrying over petty issues and not trying to do more than what people expect of you.

I loved Vikander in Ex-Machina and she didn't disappoint, she was amazing at Brittain and made every emotion so raw I was a sobbing snotty mess in the first half an hour.  Another star in the making is Taron Egerton playing Vera's much loved brother Edward, who for me steals every scene he was in (we all knew it was possible after still standing out next to Colin Firth in Kingsman).  I was a little disappointed with Kit Harrington as love interest Roland but I haven't seen him shine in anything outside of Game of Thrones so its not a surprise.

I am fully aware that I haven't really reviewed the film but if I think too much about the plot I'm going to be a blubbering wreck again!

Jenna I want you to know that I really, really tried to watch and enjoy this for you. There are only 2 types of movies I struggle with, War and Period Dramas, and this was just too much for me! I appreciated the performances by the cast, but I just couldn't deal with the story...I think I started to tidy and clean the living room for something more interesting to do...

Looking Forward to Seeing in the Cinema this Month: April 2016

I cannot possibly be writing the post for April already, surely!  When this post goes live, Allie will be getting married and I will be turning 31 NEXT MONTH...WTF!!!!!

I've known for ages what my movie would be for this month due to my slightly inappropriate obsession with Taron Egerton.  

Eddie the Eagle is the true story of Brit Eddie Edwards AKA Eddie the Eagle and his determination to get to the Olympics in the 80's.  He went on to compete in the Ski Jumping category at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 with the help of fictional coach, Bronson (Hugh Jackman) and won the hearts of fans everywhere.

I don't know many details of the history of Eddie the Eagle and I dying to google all about him but I'm fighting the urge so hopefully I won't know the entire story before I see it!!

Eddie the Eagle is released in UK Cinemas on 1st April 2016.

I'm suspicious of anything that happens on 1st April! I guess that comes from having prankster parents, but how funny would it be if you turned up for Eddie the Eagle on April Fool's Day and the cinema was just like, 'LOL. Here, watch some turd movie instead'. But I digress. You know what...... that wouldn't be in the slightest bit funny, in fact Cineworld if you're reading this, I would be mighty pee'd off and would consider boycotting your establishment!  Ok I wouldn't boycott as such, but I would certainly start bringing my own snacks.....

 

Can we rename April 'weird obsession' month here? As much as I know I'll be seeing Captain America: Civil war soon, there's something else I'm looking forward to more.

Midnight Special, baby! You heard me. I didn't even know this movie existed until last week when my family went out to see 10 Cloverfield Lane. The trailer for Midnight Special started playing and I darn near threw popcorn everywhere before squealing at the sight of Adam Driver on the big screen again!

It's a Sci-Fi flick about a child with special powers. I'm assuming the authorities want to perform all kinds of research on him, and that's why his father goes on the run with him, but I'm trying not to read too much into it. The review scores look good so far though, and the rest of the casting sounds promising. Fingers crossed!

Midnight Special is released in UK cinemas on 8th April 2016.

Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Around Christmas time in 2014, the cinemas were shoving trailers for Kingsman: The Secret Service down our throats, and although it looked pretty funny, I had no intentions to see it in the cinema, because it was a film for High School kids. Then, in the new year, some of my friends saw it and wouldn’t stop raving about it, and once I read into some reviews I realised. This is possibly the most mis-marketed film in history.  Whereas I saw the trailer an knew immediately that I had to see it (this probably says a lot about my mental age!!)

Kingsman is a secret spy organisation ran by true gentlemen. When disaster strikes and the service loses a key member, a group of new recruits are chosen to be put to the test. One of these new recruits is foul mouthed, street-smart Eggsy (Taron Egerton), who despite his upbringing, is a good lad and simply wants to do what’s best. Harry Hart (Colin Firth) mentors Eggsy in the hope he makes the cut, while the world in under threat by the film’s villain, Valentine (Samuel L Jackson).

I didn’t realise how crazy the plot actually was until I sat down and finally watched the film last night. Think Hot Fuzz meets James Bond, that’s the best kind of comparison I feel I can make. This is absolutely not a kid’s film. It’s age 15 restriction, bad language and violence puts it firmly in the adult category, but fun-loving adults only. Don’t expect a serious, realistic plot from this, because it’s just not that kind of film.

Despite my hatred of ‘chav’ characters, I really warmed to Eggsy right from the outset and found him highly likeable. It was the posh jerks training with him that really wound me up. The whole cast did a really good job though, I thought, especially Samuel L Jackson as the bad guy, with his eccentric clothing and lisp.

The action was awesome and the CGI elements would have been brilliant on the big screen. The scene with Harry fighting in the church was a great example of this. This will probably give the wrong impression now but my fiance and I laughed out loud during that scene. It was just so intense, and so crazy, but done so very well. That was a scene without many fancy Kingsman gadgets too.  Me and Lou were laughing in the cinema too so you're not completely bonkers ;-)

This was a great 'impression' of a classic spy movie that almost takes the piss out of itself.  I fully agree with Allie that Eggsy is a truly likable character (although the nickname sounds more like the actors nickname that the characters, just me?!) and you are willing him to succeed.  Colin Firth is brilliant as Harry and the months of training that he went through for the role is apparent, I can't imagine anyone doing a better job.

My only niggle (and that is all it is) is that I found Samuel L Jackson's character really irritating, I am aware that he was meant to be completely over the top as with everything in the movie but he just grated on me somewhat - I'm sure many will disagree with me!!

The story is completely far fetched, the gadgets ridiculous and the one-liners hilarious, everything required for a highly entertaining two hours. 

Kingsman: The Secret Service is just an all-round brilliant film, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s so easy to watch, and would be just as perfect with a group of friends on a Friday night just as much as watching it in bed on a lazy Sunday morning.

This is definitely a re-watcher for me, in fact I've already seen it 3 times since the cinema ;-)