Review: Maze Runner (2014)

I had heard bad things about this film so I didn't rush out to see it but I think maybe I need to learn to not listen to reviews and watch films for myself.  Since then I've stopped reading full reviews until after I have watched the film myself.  

Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up after being dumped in the centre of a maze with a community of boys, who over the years have been dropped their themselves.  They haven't been able to escape the maze before now but Thomas seems to think differently.  He joins up with the 'runners' in an attempt to find an escape before it's too late.

Considering the not so great reviews for this, I actually loved it.  The CGI mechanical monsters and the concrete 'living' maze add excitement to the proceedings and the fairly unknown cast remind me of Lord of the Flies.  The lack of knowledge about what is going on keep you engrossed throughout, you have to keep watching to find out how the boys (and girl) got there and why.

I'm not sure it's up to the standard of The Hunger Games series (story wise) but it was nice to watch this type of film having not read the book therefore not having a clue what was going on.  Not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if i had read the book as it doesn't seem to have as much content and character development as the HG stories do.

I generally love this 'young adult' genre of films anyway but this was a pleasant surprise. Onto the books next.

Review: Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

The other night I really felt like a Tom Hiddleston film, and I’d heard a lot of good things about Only Lovers Left Alive. I think what intrigued me the most was that it was a romantic vampire film which couldn’t be further away from Twilight. I was forced to watch this one alone, my other half wanted to nothing to do with this!

Only Lovers Left Alive tells the story of Adam (Tom Hiddleston) and Eve (Tilda Swinton), two married vampires. They currently live apart, and Adam is suffering terribly from depression. Eve comes to visit him, and life gets better again for Adam, until Eve’s sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska) comes to visit un-invited. In fact, this is the whole plot line, when you actually sit and try to explain it, not an awful lot actually happens in this film!

Adam is a famous musician who lives in a flat, trying to keep himself to himself. He has just one friend, Chekov Ian (sorry) who is nothing but loyal and runs all sorts of errands for Adam, who he admires. Adam is extremely talented, but only leaves home to visit a dirty doctor to get a blood supply from him. It’s incredibly sad watching Tom Hiddleston play this character, I really felt the depression that Adam was suffering. His wife Eve couldn't be more different, she seems to find joy in everything around her. The contrast is clear enough on it’s own but it’s also reflected through their clothing. Adam is always in very dark outfits whereas Eve is normally wearing white.

Although I enjoyed Adam & Eve’s reunion, the story started to slow until Eve’s sister, Ava was introduced. She brought in a lot of noise to an otherwise quiet film, but she definitely needed a slap! As much as her character was unlikeable, I loved watching her and I’m really impressed with Mia Wasikowska as an actress. One thing I really loved about the film was the soundtrack, which fit perfectly. I had Adam’s song stuck in my head for hours after watching it, and I’m humming it to myself now as I type this.

I wasn’t certain how the film would end, I had a gut feeling that there wouldn’t be a conclusive finish but I wasn’t expecting the actual ending. It was quite simple in itself, but haunting when you really think about it. It was perfect, actually.

Only Lovers Left Alive is a film like nothing else I've seen before. It met my expectations and more, although I just wish there was a more detailed plot.

Currently Watching: Orange is the New Black

Anyone who isn't watching Orange is the New Black, should be.  It's unique, original and utterly addictive.  I binge watched the whole first season and then waiting until the entire second season was on Netflix so I would never have to wait for the next episode.  I managed the whole lot in one weekend! I think it's a Netflix only show? What happens when Season 3 comes out - do they whack the whole season on in one go? I've never followed a Netflix show until now!

I love that although this is the main story of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) I love that you find out the history of the other characters as well, they are so entertaining (if not a bit gross in some places). 

Also, has anyone else noticed how unpredictable it is, I am certain one thing is going to happen and then the complete opposite does.  So then when I think I've got to grips with the unpredictability and assume something crazy is going to happen, they go and do what I would have thought they had in the first place.  It fuddles with my brain - but in a good way.  The best episode I think I have seen so far, or at least one of the most memorable was the one with the mock job fair, it was probably the first time watching this that I laughed out loud. That one is definitely my favourite episode too!

I would struggle to name a weak character, actor or storyline in this, having such a broad range of stories happening and characters connecting throughout staves off any boredom.  The little details of what life is like in prison are really interesting to watch, as I have never actually been in prison, I'm not sure how true to life the series is but its interesting nonetheless and I am well and truly addicted oooh and I love Crazy Eyes, she absolutely steals the show when she is on screen.

Crazy Eyes was my favourite character by far in Season 1 but I ended up hating her in Season 2! Red is/was my favourite now, I just love her take no crap attitude.

Seeing these two not playing High School girls took a while to get used to but it just showcases their talents.

I am gutted I finished the second season so quickly, I'm itching for another season but I think I may have a while to wait, my own fault for binge watching an entire season in a weekend. pfft! I just looked and it's coming out in June! Yay!

Thursday Movie Picks: Teen Comedies

This week’s theme is right up my street! 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 Teen Comedies, which is a really difficult week for me. Difficult because teen comedies are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me! It’s okay to still enjoy them when you’re well into your twenties, right?

I could have happily put together a list of 20 movies this week, but I’ll behave, and pick my favourite 3.

I’m not ranking these three or anything, but if I could, Van Wilder would be my number 1, for so many reasons! This is Ryan Reynolds at his best, playing the most popular kid in college who doesn’t ever want to graduate. It’s your typical cheesy story, but man, I just love it so much. I haven’t seen the other Van Wilder films though, strangely enough.

It shames me to admit that I only saw Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for the first time recently, but if you read my review, you’ll know that already. Oh, how I wish I could go back in time to watch this again and again. Ferris pulls a sicky to get a day off school, and much fun ensues when his Principal and Sister try to catch him out. I wonder sometimes if this film influenced the cartoon Phineas & Ferb in any way?

Hoping that it’s acceptable to still love teen comedies in your twenties...have I ever mentioned how much I love Easy A? I can’t even pretend I saw this in my teens, as I was...21 when it came out. Oops. Emma Stone is in top form here, using the school’s rumour mill to her advantage when she spreads a lie about her virginity. 

Looking Forward to Seeing at the Cinema: April 2015

Wow, another month flew by and at the time of writing this, I still haven’t been able to watch my choice from last month! In fact, I think I might have cheated and picked 2 (The Voices & SpongeBob) and I haven’t seen either. Rats. Although, here in the UK my beloved Orange Wednesdays are re-starting in a few days under a new guise, so I’ll be able to afford the cinema again. Huzzah! - Waaaaaaahh I was gonna pick this, serves me right for disappearing for 2 weeks!! doh! You snooze you lose!

Do I even need to explain my choice this month? It can be nothing other than Avengers: Age of Ultron. I’m so excited for this, I’m going to have to book my tickets soon because I really want to see this at an IMAX screen. It’s the only way to watch it! I’ve been really good as well at keeping as much as I can a surprise, I saw the teaser trailer when it came out but I’ve watched nothing else since. Thor, it’s been too long since I last saw you…

Avengers: Age of Ultron is released in UK cinemas on April 23rd 2015.

Well seen as Allie STOLE me choice (ok didn't steal at all, I just didn't make the effort to create this post before she did ha!) I have had to have a re-think - even though all I'm really looking forward to is Age of Ultron!

So I had a look through the listings for April and this popped up:

I shouldn't be looking forward to it but I am, I have loved all the Fast and Furious films (except Tokyo Drift) and I don't care.  I find them entertaining, funny and gripping and that's all I ask for in a movie most of the time.

Plus I have to say I am intrigued to identify if you can tell where they have used Paul Walker's brother instead of him.  I think it might end up being a bit emotional to watch as I nearly burst out crying the first time I saw the trailer, speaking of which, here it is...

I figured you'd pick this anyway seeing as you know, it's 'so superior' to Need for Speed! ;)

  

Fast and the Furious 7 is released in UK cinemas on April 3rd 2015.