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: