Moonrise Kingdom

This is the newest instalment from director Wes Anderson and Anderson fans will not be disappointed. Moonrise Kingdom is my new favourite Anderson film, only just beating Fantastic Mr Fox and Rushmore.

Moonrise Kingdom is about a twelve year old orphan Sam Shakusky who abandons his scout troop to run away with Suzy Bishop, a thirteen year old troubled girl who is unhappy at home with her two layer parents (Bill Murray and Francis McDormand). There is a large rescue/search for the two by the scout troops, scout troop leader Edward Norton and police officer Bruce Willis.

I just loved everything about this film although I am a huge Wes Anderson film. A friend of mine saw this and hated is, she isn't a Anderson film her words were "If you're not a fan of his it was like a giant pretentious slap in the face." However another person who hadn't seen any of his films thought it was weird but enjoyable. I can see where they're both coming from, so my advice is if you know you don't enjoy Anderson films you probably won't like this.

The script was very similar to Fantastic Mr Fox, in a way that it is an children's film for adults. It reminds me of the book "Go the fuck to sleep" on the surface a children's book but actually its for adults.
The way Sam and Suzy run away from home just makes me think, this movie could be for a couple in their 20's. The language and the way they interact its a grand love story however they're only pre teen, with they're elaborate escape together.

It was very funny the entire cast is just perfection Bill Murray can do no wrong. Bruce Willis and Edward Norton were standouts for me. I was surprised how much I enjoyed Bruce Willis in this, I usually cringe when I see his name on a movie, he was funny and dopey as the small town police officer.
Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman have small roles but they are fantastic, especially Tilda Swinton after seeing her in 'We need to talk about Kevin' to now be social services she is just a fantastic understated actress.

I also have to note the costume and locations just made this film. This is a film that I couldn't wait to buy on DVD. I have now seen it multiple times.

I am giving this 7.5 out of 10

Savages

Oliver Stone presents us with Savages this was by far one of the worst films of 2012, perhaps one of the worst films I have ever seen.

So the story is Ophelia ‘O’ Blake Lively who is a free spirit with butterfly tattoos on her back but she isn’t a hippie or a free spirit her mother is a millionaire. Ophelia she is in an open relationship with two best friends who have a legalized marijuana drug trade in California. Ben played by Aaron Johnston (he has been doing amazing things why he would do this?) is the brains and makes a perfect scientific grade weed and his best friend Chon an ex solider who is the muscle behind the operation.

They’re rich millionaires having sex with each other and life is easy for the three of them.

Anyway a Mexican drug cartel want to join forces and the politely decline, Benicio Del Toro plays an upper member in the Mexican drug cartel kidnaps O the boys try to save her. John Travolta is an FBI agent getting paid off by everyone. Selma Hayek is the boss of the Mexican Cartel who then feels sorry for Blake Lively that she is held captive, she reminds Hayek of her own daughter and she invites then Blake Lively to stay with her in her mansion in California.

Oh and while being held captive O asks her guards when given pizza for food, ‘Can I have a salad?” I laughed out loud!

So as you can imagine the movie is unusual and badly written. It almost had the potential to be interesting but you just don’t care about any of the characters. I don’t empathize with any of them. Not O, not the boys, not the Mexican drug cartel and not Travolta.

It is just an unusual movie. I don’t know why I hold Oliver Stone up in such high regard? Since Natural Born Killers his movies haven’t been that good eg Alexander, W. Wall Street Money Never Sleeps.

Everything was just off, one thing that really annoyed me Selma Hayek you are the head of the Mexican Drug Trade… what are you wearing? Throughout the whole film I was thinking “really?” 

She just looked off, her hair was great then her clothes were a tad 'Big Rich Texas', rich soccer mum. She should be wearing sexy tight Herve Leger and YSL Pumps. I don’t get it, who styled this?

It did move quickly and it ending up just being laughable. I hated it, it is on my worst film list. It also had a fake ending... both were terrible.

I am going to give this 2 out of 10. 

Les Miserables

This was a tough one for me to review. I have seen it twice and I enjoyed it better the second time. The first time I saw it I was a bit agitated and tired I left the cinema got home slept on it and I was dying to see it again the next day.

Every song was stuck in my head. My boyfriend and I would take it in turns either having ‘Master of the house’ or ‘do you hear the people sing’ in our heads.

It is not only a long film; it is an extremely long musical film. There is little to no dialogue only a small part at the start (which gave my boyfriend a false sense of security).

The film is adapted from Victor Hugo's epic novel Les Miserables, and this musical is equally as epic. Every member gave it their all and you can tell.


The story follows Prisoner 24601 Jean Valjean who is freed from prison after 19years, he is on parole and must check in and get his papers stamped. Eventually Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) decides to change his ways. He changes his name and becomes a better man making a promise to god. Throughout the entire film Police Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe) is constantly hunting Jean Valjean for breaking his parole.

That is the main and constant storyline that runs through the entire film. The supporting cast (which I hate to say as they are more of an ensemble) all have there own story lines. Fantine (Anne Hathaway) deals with trying to support her child Cossette who is living away from her and currently being taken care of two cruel Inn Keepers (Sacha Baron Cohen & Helena Bonham Carter). Older Cossette (Amanda Seyfried) falls in love with Marius (Eddie Redmayne) who is torn between his love for Cossette and his commitment with Enjolras (Aaron Tveit) and Friends of Café ABC on the barricade fighting for the French Revoloution.

As you can see there is a lot going on, I am scared to say anymore, as I don’t want to spoil this for anyone.

I loved this film. It is on the long side, not necessarily long time wise but it is all singing. The songs are long and every one of them is emotional. You do leave this film a tad overwhelmed. Hence why it took me a day to process it.

Hugh Jackman was just spectacular especially during “Valjean’s Soliloquy”. He is singing throughout the entire film and knowing they are singing live. It is just breathtaking how good he is. I always forget he is Wolveriene.

Anne Hathway gave the performance of her life, she was just incredible when she sings, “I Dream a Dream” all I could hear were sniffles around me.

Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks give stand out performances with ‘On My Own’ and ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’ I found my eyes getting glassy. To remember Samantha Barks when she was in the show ‘I’d do anything’ going through the auditioning process for Andrew Lloyd Webber to perform in Oliver, she came third.

A surprise performance for me was Aaron Tveit as Enjolars. Knowing him only as Nate Archibald’s cousin Tripp from Gossip Girl, he was amazing he had the strength that Enjolars needs. When he and Marius (Eddie Redmayne) sing ‘Red and Black’ and ‘Do you hear the people sing’ they capture the essence that was the French Revolution.  

I believe Les Miserables will be getting some nominations, if they will win - I see them winning BAFTAS or SAG awards. Being up against Daniel Day Louis in an American film playing one of the greatest American Presidents in Lincoln I think The OSCARS are a tad biased. Hugh Jackman deserves an OSCAR but that’s America for you.

It is a fantastic film I would encourage everyone to go and see it, but I will give a word of warning it is a musical, not like Mama Mia, not like Hairspray and it's not like Moulin Rouge.

It a proper musical, there is no dialogue it is ALL singing!

I am going to give this film 9 out of 10.

**Side Note** 

I am so annoyed they left out Do You Hear The People Sing on the Soundtrack. They have a snippet of it within the epilogue. 

Wreck-it Ralph

I went into this film not expecting much, and I was surprised as to how much I found myself laughing out loud while watching this. 

Yes it is a Disney film clearly intended for children but this is one adults will enjoy too. In my theatre it was a predominately adult audience with perhaps four children under 10 years of age in the cinema.

If you haven't seen the trailer the basic storyline is Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) is a bad guy in a video game and he is sick of being seen as just a "Bad Guy" when at heart he is a good guy. So he abandons his game (threatening the towns people in his game possible shut down) to prove to them he can be a good game. 

While trying to prove himself a good guy he ends up in another game 'Sugar Rush' encountering Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) a young and cheeky little girl who is the outcast of her game. She is the one getting all the laughs from the kids. One girl could hardly contain her giggles with all the "bum" and "stinky" style jokes. They will be quoting her for days.

The film deals with labels and judgement and like all disney films sorting out their morals and everyone learns a heartfelt lesson. I personally felt the townspeople from the Wreck-It game were a tad on the overly mean side. In my mind I was telling them where to put it, jerks!

It's very cute animation, I didn't see it in 3D purely due to session times (cartoons are the only films I can bare in 3D). I don't know what it is, it's not Pixar or Dreamworks but the animation quality is really good and adorable. 

It was a fun film, a tad on the long side but there were enough references to keep me giggling... I did appreciate the cartoon Skrillex though! 

At 24years of age I can still remember the last of the Arcade Rooms at the RSL and Video Shops  (Daytona, PacMan and Street Fighter). I do wish they had more arcade references then newer playstation/nintendo gamer character references but I understand it has to be relevant to a younger market!

I was delighted with this film! I didn't go in expecting much I did put off seeing it expecting a cringe factor but it was funny and I was interested the entire time!

I am giving this film 6.5 out of 10

10 stars

You cannot properly rate a film out of 5 stars! 

I love films, and I will see anything however I hate reading different reviews both positive and negative yet they are only one star apart. 

Can you successfully rate a movie in 5 stars? I personally don't think you can (and bringing half stars into it doesn't help either). Here is an example I encountered - Two reviews one very positive review they gave the film 3 stars. One extremely negative review of the film and then recieved 2 stars? Now imagine if that was 10 star system and the reviews were 4 stars and 6 stars it makes it easier to understand if it is a above or below average film.

You don't have to agree with me, but I love films so much so I figured why not review them myself and maybe there is someone else who hates a 5 star system!