Simply amazing.

Kazed

Kazed

Let’s see how the Nominees(and myself) did.

Let’s get straight into this. So it’ll go like this:

Award: Winner

My Pick: *Film*

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker (Katheryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro)

My pick: Avatar

Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

My pick: George Clooney (Up in the Air)

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)

My pick: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)

Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

My pick: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo-Nique (Precious)

My pick: Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)

Animated Feature Film: Up (Pete Docter)

My pick: Up

Art Direction: Avatar (James Cameron)

My pick: Avatar

Cinematography: Avatar (James Cameron)

My pick: Avatar

Directing: The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)

My pick: Up in the Air

Film Editing: The Hurt Locker (Bob Murawski and Chris Innis)

My pick: Inglorious Basterds

Foreign Language film: The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) – Argentina, Directed by Juan Jose Campanella

My pick: Un Prophète (A Prophet)

Makeup: Star Trek (Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow)

My pick: Star Trek

Music (Original Score): Up (Michael Giacchino)

My pick: Avatar

Music (Original Song): Crazy Heart – “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

My pick: Down in New Orleans

Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker (Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett)

My pick: Up

Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker (Paul N.J. Ottosson)

My pick: Star Trek

Visual Effects: Avatar (Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones)

My pick: Avatar

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’, by Sapphire (Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher)

My pick: Up in the Air

Writing (Original Screenplay): The Hurt Locker (Mark Boal)

My pick: Up

So there we have it. Movieville.org’s first Academy Award picks. So it wasn’t THAT bad, I got 6 correct of the 19 listed. Ahem. never mind, to be completely honest though, some of them I felt I should change after I wrote the post, but it wouldn’t have seemed fair. Not so bad. To see the rest of the winners I haven’t listed here, clicky.

The Hurt Locker deservedly took away the Best Picture award, although Avatar had its ‘prime rib’ moments, there were too many elements that were stacked against Cameron & Avatar. Like his past with Bigelow. Zing. Seriously though, whether any of the films won or not, each film has the power to capture an individual’s attention, and these awards are merely an ego booster. I kid.

Until next time,

Kazed

Disney movies are just perfect. Pixar movies are spectacular. Add the two together and what do you have? Ok you have Finding Nemo, Monsters inc, The Incredibles and a whole host of other incredible movies; But surely after a while those at Disney Pixar have got to run out of the magic potion they must use to create such masterpieces?

Evidently not.

Up is just glorious. In every aspect. The story line is slightly deeper this time round, touching the topic of miscarriage even, and the charming beginning scenes which show the life of Ellie and Carl Fredericksen are tearjerking even to the coldest of hearts. If you haven’t found your soul mate when you watch this film, i guarantee you’ll start the search after seeing the cute montage of their life together.

The film centres around Mr Fredericksen after the death of Ellie, who by this time is an elderly man, and a young over eager wilderness explorer, Russell. The juxtaposition of the two characters make for an entertaining storyline when Mr Fredericksen decides to float his house to Paradise Falls, which was a lifelong dream for his former wife, unaware of the visitor he has on his porch as he takes flight.

This film will please both children and adults whether in 3D or 2D. The setting is beautiful, the music is charming, and by the end of it you are left with a wonderful fuzzy feeling in your heart. This has fast become my favourite Disney Pixar movie yet (although it was a tough call between this and Monsters Inc…)

A delightfully charming 8/10 from me.
Bravo Disney Pixar, Bravo.

Lola x

After the disheartening movie adaptation of the Lovely Bones, I was slightly apprehensive about giving the Time Travellers Wife a watch. However, curiosity got the better of me, and this evening I found myself curled up on the sofa in front of the TV ready to have a good old weep.

I was not disappointed. The movie made the exceptionally unbelievable storyline slightly believable. The actual disappearance of Eric Bana’s character was not too rubbish (although admittedly it could have been better) and Rachel McAdams’ portrayal as the wife constantly awaiting her time travelling husbands return was just perfect.

Like the Lovely Bones, I was a massive fan of the book, and I am now a massive fan of the film. This will please every single fan of the novel, every single fan of the Notebook, and every single fan of Eric Bana (as you see him naked more times than I could count….hoorah!)

a very pleasant 6/10 from me.

Lola x

First things first, WOW.
Ok so this film is predictable, but if you’re after a good old fashioned horror movie then this will do nicely. It’s fantastically jumpy, gory (but not too gory it makes you want to vom), and keeps you on the edge of the seat the whole way through. At one point, i jumped so far i had my legs in the air.

The story is about a virus which causes the residents of a sleepy town in Ohio to go crazy, and i’m not just talking a little bonkers, i mean full on stab-you-in-your-sleep mental. Which will also keep zombie fans happy, as they do posses zombie like qualities.

The main story line follows the extremely handsome town sheriff and his equally as attractive wife (which just so happens to be the town doctor) as they try to flee the town full of crazies, which isn’t so easy when what appears to be the army (but i’m not entirely sure) are trying to stop them, i wont spoil it, but this film definitely makes you lose faith (once more) in the Government. Even if it is a fictional tale.

This makes a wonderful change from the usual ‘horror’ films we get these days, which is usually a bunch of gruesome scenes designed to make the audience pass out. (Im talking about you saw 87 or whatever number you’re on now…)

A bloody good 7/10 from me.

Lola x

SPOILER ALERT – the final score is 7/10 but the last part of the review contains a (slight) spoiler!!

To be honest I wasn’t expecting much until I heard that Rick Baker was involved. Being familiar with Rick Baker’s passion for Horror classics (the original 1941 Wolfman was one of his influences) I was expecting a horror classic from this special effects master – especially considering the cast involved.

We join the story near the hamlet of Blackmoor in the mid 1800’s. Blackmoor is a very dark black and gloomy Victorian-Gothic style place where the roads are black, the horses are black and everyone wears black – from the villagers to the gypsies. The usual events take place – a man dies, his death is investigated and another man is bitten by a werewolf and the villagers bemoan the death and tell tales of a beast in the full moon etc etc… nothing given away there.

Really there’s not many surprises and twists in terms of story from there on. An alternative structure, yes, but the sucker punch this film delivers is actually in content and style rather than story. Some scenes float by almost like Victorian poetry while others explode from the screen like a well crafted horror trailer. Not sure what Art Malik was aiming for with his ‘Kensington Singh’ but apart from that that minor accent hiccup the performances all round were to die for. A Directors dream. Intense and pure but not hammy or overacted in the slightest (the non-werewolf scenes). Weaving owns his screen time as only he can. Hopkins is satisfyingly dark and mysterious. Del Toro balances the confused hero with the victim well enough and Blunt’s portrayal is a classic tough-damsel, despite the weak writing for her character.

Overall this film mild for horror fans, ideal for Rick Baker fans, a little OTT for regular fantasy fans (it’s Rick Baker gore, no holds barred) – a reasonable mix, blended together with cool, dark cinematography and just the right amount of CG.

I reckon this would have been a satisfying 8/10 but I’m taking off another mark for one big reason (Spoiler time): Show ▼

Besides that (hopefully) unintentional comedy, Wolfman is great popcorn munching stuff.

7/10

Youth in Revolt was definitely different compared to the usual, monotonous romantic comedies which have been released in recent times(With the exception of Valentine’s Day), but this film was definitely a ‘different breed’ of this genre. It was definitely an interesting film, although it wasn’t a constant flurry of entertainment, it still maintained some remnant of comedic value throughout.

Michael Cera(playing Nick Twisp) definitely stood out in Youth in Revolt compared to his past efforts; playing a different type of character from what he usually plays, a dull, wooden version of himself. That isn’t to say that he isn’t funny, after a while, the same type of character begins to run dry and repetitive. Francois, Nick Twisp’s alter ego in the film was a character which to me, added more differentiation to the characters Cera usually plays.

There were moment within Youth in Revolt which I found relatively humorous, and it was these moments which were most memorable. Primarily the scenes with Francois were the ones which stood out, as they were different to what I’m usually used to seeing Michael Cera in.

Portia Doubleday(Playing Sheeni, Nick’s love interest) had an interesting character, but what gravitated me more toward her was her dialogue. Or, the way she was performing her lines. She had such an eloquent style when she spoke, which was complimentary to the lifestyle of her parents in the film.

Not the most exciting film of the year so far, but still an interesting look at Cera doing something different.

Lovely dialogue, great cast choice, moderately funny romantic comedy.

7/10

I have been told that all reviews must contain an equal balance of positive comments, and negative, so that the reader can make up their own mind as to whether to watch the film or not, after watching this film I am not sure that I can stick to this rule, however I will try.

Now, The Lovely Bones was an absolutely wonderful book. I have read it numerous times throughout my life, and was ecstatic when I heard it was being turned into a movie. I have loved most of the movie adaptations of my favourite books lately (mainly the Twilight saga…) and after seeing the trailer, I had high expectations for this adaptation.

I went to the cinema with two others, my friend Hayley who is also a massive fan of the book, and my boyfriend James who has not read it.

By around ten minutes in to the film, me and Hayley were thoroughly disappointed. Many main points of the book were completely omitted from the movie, which I understand, but this was beyond the expected amount of book-to-film omissions. The plot had giant holes which slightly confusing even to someone who knew the story well. James had to ask what was happening several times throughout the film as he was as (if not more) confused as me and Hayley!

The positives – although it was slightly confusing if you haven’t read the book, there were many beautiful scenes of Susie Salmons version of heaven, and the soundtrack is absolutely stunning. There is a very ‘arty’ feel to the film, and in some scenes it is very surreal which is very aesthetically pleasing.

I would suggest you see this film if you have not read the book, or if you are able to completely get the book out of your head prior to watching the film.

Not the most positive review, but in all honesty, I was hugely disappointed.

A meagre 4/10 from me.

Lola

The film is an adaption of the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat which dives in at the deep end and expresses a story based very much on the authors own experiences of an issue at the core of Indian Society. The 3 idiots in question are students at the prestigious ICT (a fictional college that I’m sure has nothing to do with IIT – the college where the real Chetan Bhagat studied). Students at IIT – sorry ICT – are put under an enormous amount of pressure by the social and educational system, which has lead to many suicides at the real IIT – I’m not going into it here – go look it up on Google.

The core issue here is the life-threatening value that is place on the qualifications and not on the pleasure and excitement of genuine learning – expressed beautifully by the many antics of lead Idiot Rancho (Aamir Khan). While the structure of the film is fairly cookie-cut and predictable – and interjected with the usual irritating musical numbers – the core issues are so powerful (and the dialogue so ridiculously funny) that just the script alone would score an 8/10.

Added to this is a near perfect production, fantastic sets, gripping dialogues and moving performances from all.

Wait.. there’s more..

Not only do the A-list lead and his girl perform a 5-10 second long lip-smack (rare on Indian cinema screens) but there are CG images of sperm(!), animations of babies being born, electrical shocks to peoples groins and comedic scenes and exchanges that are a little more evolved than usual pantomime nonsense that Indian film goers would be used to. Although the target audience is Indian, I’m quite sure that non-indian audiences will love the film – especially anyone from a culture where education is academic achievement is paramount.

The nature of the jokes and dialogue, and scenes of suicide and have pushed the certification to a 12A (not that it stopped most of the audience bringing their seven-year-olds) and it’s a sensible decision. This is a fun, but teen to adult film that will wrench your heart out of your chest, kick it around the cinema for 3 hours, then put it, aching but inspired, back into your chest.

I’m taking off 1 mark for certain panto-esque scenes towards the end, and a major plot point that seemed to be more of a dramatic after thought, but these are minor quibbles. Go see this if it’s still showing! If not, find the DVD! Now!

9/10