Film review: Anna Karenina

This beautiful movie is about love and its many forms. It’s a rich, elegant, visual feast where the actors dance around the sets, and each other. It’s viewed like a play in a theatre that breaks out and runs free in the real world; many of the scenes take place in an actual theatre they built specifically for this movie.

It’s about a rich, socialite woman named Anna who is married to a very successful politician and has a lovely little boy, but she falls desperately in love with a soldier named Vronsky. He says he can’t live without her and they decide to run away and be happy with each other. However, adultery has a price, and some love doesn’t last forever.

Keira really brings Anna to life, and Aaron Johnson (Vronsky) is much more attractive in this movie than he was in Kick-Ass. It’s a period piece, so the costumes were designed to mix 1950s couture with an 1870s silhouette and body shape, resulting in gorgeous dresses. The men’s uniforms were designed from looking at period style Russian uniforms. Also, I saw a few familiar faces like people from Downton Abbey, Moaning Myrtle perhaps, and Anna's brother in this movie is the man who plays Mr. Darcy opposite Keira in Pride and Prejudice!

I really loved this film, and I think I will have to go and buy it for myself.

 

 

 

Film review: Oz the great and powerful

Overall, not so great and powerful after all. The "3D" effects were annoying to watch in 2D at home, James Franco's performance was a little lacking (which was disappointing because I love him), there was just too much CGI, the china doll character was irritating, and the monkey's voice sounded unsuited to the character. I didn't bother to finish the movie, I just popped in my VHS of the original Wizard of Oz.

I was excited for this movie because I like the original so much, but the reboot just didn't deliver. It's supposed to be a prequel, and to their credit they do stick to the fact that Oz (the magician) was from Kansas and got sucked up in the tornado in his hot air balloon during the carnival and thrust into the enchanting world of Oz, yet the rest of the movie was mediocre.

It seems these days, movie producers are making films just to make money, and forget to actually make a good movie. Some films are works of art, or if not that, they are at least fun to watch over and over again (the original Wizard of Oz) but unfortunately, this movie just doesn't make the cut.

 

 

Peter Capaldi is the new Doctor!

Sooo...

They have finally revealed who will replace dear Matt Smith on BBC's Doctor Who. I didn't believe it when I first saw it, I thought it might be a joke or something. But it's authentic- Capaldi will start filming episodes in the fall.

He was on a previous episode of Doctor Who featuring David Tennant as the Doctor on "The Fires of Pompeii" playing Caecilius, the father of the Pompeian family that survives the explosion.



I'm a little weary about this new Doctor because first of all, I loved Matt Smith like no other. And second, Capaldi is old. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing...but the last two Doctors were quite attractive and I loved watching them on the show. He might bring something good and original to the legendary character, but honestly I'm disappointed.

I'm still looking forward to the new episodes (especially the Christmas special!) and I will try to keep an open mind about Capaldi... I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Film review: V for Vendetta

I know this is an older movie, but I watched it for the first time yesterday and really loved it. I didn't understand it at first, but the movie is about a terrorist/vigilante named "V" fighting for freedom from an oppressive government in Great Britain in the not-so-distant future. He also has to take revenge on a number of party members that wronged him in the past. Evey, a girl who was roped into all this on chance (or maybe not chance...) is being sought after by the police for being seen with the masked terrorist while he blew up a building. V finally rids Evey of fear and she becomes truly free, while he stirs things up and starts a revolution to overthrow parliament.

The movie is based on a graphic novel and has a real comic book feel to it that works in its favor. From the people who brought you The Matrix, this film is very entertaining and thought provoking; it really sticks with you after you watch it.


 

And for all you fellow Sherlock lovers out there, if you're still not convinced, Rupert Graves is a police inspector in this movie... sound familiar?

 

Film review: Hitchcock

If you've ever seen the timeless masterpieces of Alfred Hitchcock (for example, Psycho, The Birds, The Trouble with Harry, Rear Window, Lifeboat, etc.) then you know his unique style, and his talent for suspense. This movie is about the making of the seemingly doomed Psycho, as well as an in-depth look at the man who made it and the woman by his side. Anthony Hopkins is unrecognizable; he disappears and Hitchcock is the only man you can see. Helen Mirren is wonderful as his wife Alma, and their relationship is tested as Hitch is distracted by pressure from the people around him who have no faith in his ambitious picture.

I did not know much about Alfred Hitchcock, so this movie was a very interesting look into the life of the father of horror. It made me want to watch the original Psycho again. I definitely recommend this film for people who love the history of movies or just want to watch something interesting and splendid for a night.

Film review: A Good Day to Die Hard

I'm very sorry to say this, but the fifth installment of the Die Hard franchise was utterly terrible. I didn't even get through the first hour. I just left the room, disappointed. Right off the bat, the jokes were cheesy, the action was implausible, there was no chemistry between father and son, and I kept going "c'mon where did he get that gun?" and "they're trained Russian guys, why can't they hit a target?"

It was just so predictable, and honestly I expected more from a Die Hard movie. I kept expecting Bruce Willis to say, "I'm too old for this shit," but he never said it. I think they just cranked out another one to make money and forgot to actually make a good movie... not cool guys. I mean, I didn't even stay long enough to hear the famous line -- that's how bad it was. *sigh* Oh well. The first three were great, the fourth was pretty good, and they should have stopped after that. Don't waste your time on this movie. Just watch the original Die Hard, it's still the best.

 

 

Film review: Cloud Atlas

This is a beautiful movie, but it would be even more epic if I had any idea what was going on the entire time. I did grasp certain aspects of it, but (even with the subtitles on for the whole thing) it’s going to take another viewing to really get it. It involves many different stories taking place from 1940s England to Neo Seoul in 2144, and yet it’s the same story throughout, of love and bravery. While watching, you can also simultaneously play “guess which characters are Tom Hanks.” He plays like seventeen characters, but I lost count after a while. At one point in the movie, Halle Berry legitimately plays an old Asian man, which I didn’t find out about until the ending credits because (for some strange reason) I didn’t recognize her in that role. Ben Whishaw was very adorable in this movie, and the scene where the old people were trying to escape the rest home was just hilarious.

After watching the whole movie and staring at the screen for a while in confusion, I decided it was a decent, lovely film and I would like to watch it again. Perhaps I’ll even get my friends to come over and we can play “spot Hugo Weaving” (I have an advantage because I know he actually plays the stern and muscular female nurse in the rest home, ha-ha, they’ll never guess…)

 

Film review: Stoker

This stylized, psychological thriller directed by Park Chan-wook was made earlier this year and stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, and Mathew Goode. It’s very eerie and mysterious, but very interesting and thrilling to watch. Mia’s character, India Stoker, is a lonely 18 year old girl who lives with her estranged mother in an enormous house when her uncle (who she didn’t know existed) comes to stay with them after the death of India’s father. India is just beginning to figure things out, and by the end of the movie she finds out who she really is— even if she probably should not have. I love watching Mathew Goode in this film because he’s gorgeous and a very good actor. Mia was extraordinary, and carried the film perfectly. I very much look forward to any movies she does in the future. I was not expecting much from this film, but was pleasantly surprised at its originality and plot twists. I definitely recommend it.

 

 

 

 

I'm obsessed with this song

This chilling song, "Oh Death" by Jen Titus, was featured for an episode of the TV show Supernatural. I'm in love with it...it's so haunting and dark and mysterious. I found it by happy accident, and have had it on repeat for about an hour.

 

 

R.I.P Cory Monteith

Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the TV show Glee, died Saturday in his Vancouver hotel room. They're hinting that it was a drug overdose because he had been struggling with drugs since he was 13. He will be terribly missed, and my prayers are with his family and friends.

Grouplove

This is Grouplove's great new song "Ways to go" and the music video seems to feature North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, if he were still a child. I love this song, it's so catchy! After doing a project on North Korea, I admire their courage to portray the powerful leader and not worry about offending the (often sensitive) country. It's a funny caricature of Kim Jong-Un, and Grouplove is clearly all about love not war, which is perhaps why they chose to feature the hostile North Koreans dancing and picking flowers of peace. Plus, that skeleton suit is pretty awesome!

Paramore

I've found new Paramore!

I can't believe I haven't watched this earlier.This is amazing and my foot was subconsciously tapping the whole time. Her hair looks all kinds of two-toned fantastic and this song is so upbeat and happy I can listen to it over and over again. Can't wait to get that new self-titled album of theirs so I can hear more!

Film review: Beasts of the southern wild

This interesting indie film got four Academy Award nominations, and little 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis was up for best actress. It’s about a small community in the bayou of Louisiana called “The Bathtub.” When the storms come in, people start leaving, but a few stay put and refuse to run from their home. Hushpuppy (Wallis) lives in her own thrown-together house next to her daddy who lives in a shack made from a rusty old school bus, and throughout the movie we see a side of America I didn’t even know existed. It’s magical and enchanting, and really has that original, hand-made feel to it. Go rent this movie.

 

Get these songs: the 1975

Hi again!

So I have just discovered this amazing British band called The 1975 because they have a free single on iTunes this week called "Chocolate." It is amazing and it makes me want to buy their whole EP called IV. Their other song "The City" is just as good. To make my point a little clearer, I will show you a picture of the main singer:

 

And here is their music video for "Chocolate" :

While you're here, watch their (even better) video for "The City":

 

 

 

 Impressed? So was I. Better go find that EP somewhere, or I can just wait for their debut album coming out on September 9th of this year.

 

 

Hello Readers!

First post! Yippee!

My best friend got a blog a few days ago and inspired me to do the same. I have no idea what I will be writing about, but this will give me something to do this summer. In the meantime, here is a music video: