My Apologies

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My Apologies

I must apologise to all my fellow bloggers out there for my infrequency over the last few days. My Internet signal has been playing up a lot but looks like it could be back in good condition again. So in case you thought I’d forgotten you, that was most definitely not the case. I hate it when the Internet does this, but unfortunately it’s just one of those things that happens on occasion. Don’t worry I’m back in rude health now that it looks like the net has started to play ball.

My Tenth Liebster Award

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Liebster Award

I want to thank the excellent R.L. Terry for nominating me for my tenth Liebster Award. His site is so thorough and descriptive so if you haven’t read it, get your ass over there. I love getting these awards as they are from so many talented people and their feedback on my blog is stellar. Now to begin my award acceptance by answering the questions set for me.

R.L. Terry’s Questions:

1. What are your top five favorite movies?At number five: Goldfinger, at number 4: Stand by Me, at number three :The Lord of the Rings trilogy, at number 2: The Lion King and at number one: The Godfather
2. Select your top two favorite movies; why are they so special to you? Well as I mentioned in the last question, The Lion King and The Godfather. The Lion King because it was one of the first movies I ever saw and The Godfather because it is for me a perfect film in every way.
3. Why did you start blogging? It was originally part of a college project that I decided to stick at and I’m so happy I did.
4. What is your favorite theme park and/or attraction, and why? Universal Studios in Florida because it was the most mind-blowing experience for me as a seven-year old.
5. What are your top five favorite television (or the equivalent) shows? Charmed, Buffy, White Collar, Desperate Housewives and Lost.
6. If money were no object, where would you like to go on your next vacation? A world cruise.
7. What is your spirit animal, and why do you identify with that one? I’d say the panther because it symbolizes how protective and loyal I am.
8. Which Golden Girl are you, and why? Dorothy because I try to be as talented as I can with things.
9. Who is your favorite vocal artist and why? If I had to choose, it would be Frank Sinatra. He just embodied the cool demeanor of a class act.
10. What is your favorite Broadway musical? Chicago, it has everything that’s good about a musical
11. What is your dream car? An Aston Martin.

I’ve changed the rules slightly and decided to nominate five bloggers, because it was too hard to select eleven out of all the amazing blogs that I read on a regular basis.

Here are my five nominees:

1. Sister Geeks
2. The Happy Kitty
3. Son of a Beach 96
4. Jenny
5. Drew

And now for my questions for my nominees:

1. What do you find most beneficial about being a blogger?
2. What are your views on nudism?
3. Have you ever gone to see a movie that you were too young to watch at the time?
4. If you could date a Hollywood star, who would it be?
5. If you were the supreme ruler of a country, what would be the first law you would pass?
6. What do you consider to be the best thing about your blog?
7. Do you believe in the supernatural or paranormal?
8. Where is your dream destination for a holiday?
9. What is the first horror movie you recall viewing?
10. If you had a magic power, what would it be?
11. And finally, what do you believe the future holds for you?

My Tribute to Strong Women

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Strong Women

Anyone who has read my blog for a long time will notice that I like movies and television shows with strong female characters. This post I will talk about why. The main reason I seem to respond to strong women in movies and television is due to my upbringing. My mother is a particularly strong woman who has always had an influence on me. Just watching her and the way she would do anything for me, my brother and my father was inspiring. My mum is a strong woman who I greatly admire for her courage, ability to imbue me with a sense of chivalry and emotional strength. And then there is my Grandmother, who is still alive and kicking. She instilled me with a respect and honesty that continues through today. So whenever I see a strong female character who won’t take no bull, I am reminded of my mother and grandma. So this post is a real tribute to these wonderful women in my life, who have shaped my existence. Hail all the inspiring women out there, you all rule.

I’m Stepping Up My Fitness

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Exercise, Joe Manganiello

After recovering from that son of a bitch virus that plagued me the other week, I decided that with it being after Christmas I should do more working out. Now don’t worry people I’m not doing anything extreme, I just want to do something to exercise. I’ll admit that I can be a lazy person but as I’ve gotten more into my exercising, I’ve noticed how it can have a positive influence on me and puts me in a good mood. And a good mood equals more reviews and posts in my case. So I thought I’d put it out there that I’m feeling better and ready to get a bit more fit. I may not end up looking like the guy below, but I can live with that.

Ex Machina

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2010's, Alex Garland, Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Ex Machina, Oscar Isaac, Science Fiction, Thriller

Film Title

Ex Machina

Director

Alex Garland

Starring

• Domhnall Gleeson as Caleb Smith
• Oscar Isaac as Nathan
• Alicia Vikander as Ava

An intriguing science fiction thriller marking the directorial debut of Alex Garland, Ex Machina is unusual, disturbing and full of interesting themes that will haunt you for days. Boasting a strong cast and a big impact, it is one of the best science fiction movies of recent years.

Computer programmer Caleb Smith works at a computer software company. We first meet him when he wins a competition to visit the reclusive CEO of his company billionaire Nathan in his beautiful but very isolated home for one week. Excited and very curious about the prospect of it all, Caleb meets Nathan, who turns out to be a very unusual guy indeed. By turns very intelligent and then selfish, egotistical and prone to heavy drinking, Nathan is unnerving to a certain degree to Caleb, who at first shrugs it off because he’s so interested in why he’s been selected. The real purpose of Caleb’s visit is later revealed to him. Nathan has created a beautiful female AI that is called Ava. Caleb is to take part in a Turing test to distinguish whether or not Ava could pass as a human. These tests consist of questioning from Caleb to Ava, which Nathan observes via high-tech cameras. At first Caleb is completely bowled over by the creation of Ava and struck beyond belief. But events soon take a dark turn, when during one if their sessions, Ava manages to cause the power to fail for a few minutes. During one of these system shut downs,  Ava tells Caleb that he shouldn’t trust anything Nathan tells him. This in turn leads to uneasy tension between the three of them as a sense of paranoia sets in and we are left consider who is really pulling the strings and ask many questions. Is the gifted but disturbed creator Nathan behind everything and what are his intentions, both for Caleb and for Ava? Is the impressionable Caleb so entranced by Ava that he can’t see something dark is brewing? And most importantly, how like a human is Ava and what is she really capable of doing?

As writer and director, Alex Garland creates a sense of eeriness to the movie that is slowly revealed in often disturbing and surprising ways. He has a sure hand in both capacities and taps into an array of themes, which include what it means to be human and the accountability of man playing God. To say Ex Machina is a thought-provoking film is an understatement, as it delves into unusual angles and pulls the rug from under us in provocative fashion. With the troika of characters, we are never sure who to relate to as the seesaw of sympathy swings between them all as the dark story evolves and other motives are hinted at. A keen visual design highlights the technological aspects of the story seen in Nathan’s high-tech dwelling, the mirrors of the room in which Caleb conducts the tests and the appearance of bewitching Ava. It must be said that the appearance of Ava is indeed a sight to behold. Her face, hands and feet look human but the rest of her body, constructed with a sophisticated mesh like structure allows us to glimpse the robot inside. It’s the design of Ava that really blurs the line between human and machine. Sonically, Ex Machina is highly effective to with the whirring sound of Ava’s movements suggesting the inner working of her robotic(or is it more closer to human?) mind and a humming ambient score that adds considerable tension to the film by letting us know straight away that something is not quite right.

The three main players in the story are all very good and ideally cast for this movie. Domhnall Gleeson plays the part of Caleb with a winning curiosity and naivety that is later tested as darkness encroaches upon his participation in the test. Oscar Isaac is equally effective as the eccentric Nathan, who is above all a capricious character. Isaac handsomely reveals these unpredictable changes within Nathan with alarming intensity. We never know which side of Nathan we are going to get next and most of that is down to the committed work of Oscar Isaac. Plus, the guy has some serious dance moves that he showcases in a completely unexpected but entirely memorable scene. The standout performer for me in Ex Machina from the central trio is Alicia Vikander in her portrayal of the android Ava. The performance has a certain unnatural poise to it, from the tilt of her head, unusual tone of her voice and her smooth, graceful movements, it’s hard to take your eyes off her work. Yet her performance goes deeper than just the physical side; Vikander successfully cloaks Ava in ambiguity with a mix of guile, sensuality and intelligence that really makes us consider what her true nature is. Is Ava more sophisticated than Nathan ever imagined? And has she somehow taken on a complete life of her own? Thanks to the marvellous performance from Alicia Vikander, we are never truly sure and that’s where the effectiveness lies.

A masterfully thought out film, that benefits from smart writing, effective direction and excellent work from the cast, Ex Machina is a film that is bound to make a mark on the viewer with its ideas and execution.

Testament of Youth

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2010's, Alicia Vikander, Based on a true story, Colin Morgan, Dominic West, Drama, Emily Watson, Hayley Atwell, James Kent, Kit Harington, Miranda Richardson, Taron Egerton, Testament of Youth, War

Film Title

Testament of Youth

Director

James Kent

Starring

• Alicia Vikander as Vera Brittain
• Kit Harington as Roland Leighton
• Taron Egerton as Edward Brittain
• Colin Morgan as Victor Richardson
• Emily Watson as Mrs Brittain
• Dominic West as Mr Brittain
• Hayley Atwell as Hope
• Miranda Richardson as Miss Lorimer

A beautifully moving and stirring movie, Testament of Youth recounts the true events in the life of Vera Brittain during the First World War, filled with determination, horror, heartache and self-sacrifice. Powerfully acted and poignant to the core, it’s a well-rendered triumph of emotion and bravery from her memoir.

We begin on Armistice Day and while everyone is celebrating the end of the First World War, Vera Brittain begins to reflect on her own personal experiences. We flashback to 1914, Vera is an independent, passionate and free thinking girl whose attitudes were at odds with her parents ideas of her becoming a respectable lady. Along with her good-hearted brother Edward, friend and secret admirer Victor Richardson and sensitive Roland Leighton, Vera enjoys rebelling against the norms of the time and we first glimpse her swimming in a lake without a care in the world. She has ambitions of becoming a writer, but her shocked parents are not exactly thrilled to hear of these plans. She is encouraged by Roland( who also would like to write but doesn’t quite have the confidence), who she holds a torch for to apply to Oxford because of her dreams and while nervous she does so. When she gets a place at Oxford, she couldn’t be more overjoyed and she makes her intentions clear to Roland, who reciprocates her love. Yet this happiness for Vera proves to be short-lived as the War begins and Roland signs up, along with Edward and Victor. With the world at war and it continuing on longer than expected, Vera tries to go about her studies at Oxford which she fought so long and hard for. But her irrepressible spirit tells her that she must act and sacrificing her place at university, she begins to work as a nurse, which eventually takes her to The Front. Yet the war is a cruel time and one by one, Vera’s life is turned upside down by personal tragedy and turmoil. But the young Vera isn’t broken yet and continues to do her part for the war, while bravely experiencing the utter horrors it can bring.

James Kent contributes an emotionally involving direction to the film. He thankfully doesn’t fall prey to the usual problems of making a true story have an impact on the screen without overdoing it. Testament of Youth isn’t strictly a biopic, it is based on a true story but doesn’t feel episodic like other biopics. It does have elements of a biopic that are thankfully realised with heart and soul. The way that Kent intercuts scenes from a happier time in Vera’s life with the devastating effects of war is assured and heart-wrenching to watch. Aside from this, the use of camerawork puts the audience deep in the heart of the emotional story by often focusing on faces, in particular the changes on Vera’s as the war deals its tragic blow on her. It is a sensitively done movie that doesn’t go for histrionics, instead it opts for subtle emotions that make the story all the more powerful. The closeness of the story makes us feel like we are there and when Vera experiences something, we too feel the exact same way as her. For a movie that centers around war, the battle scenes in Testament of Youth are few and far between. I believe that Kent is more interested in showing the aftermath of the war and the horrific wounds both physical and emotional it can inflict on us. Though it must be said it doesn’t scrimp when showing the horror of war either when Vera is a nurse, which adds a very haunting angle to the movie. Although it is a heartbreaking film and moving in every sense of the word, Testament of Youth does however retain a sense of glimmering hope in the form of Vera. Through her struggles, we witness her transform and eventually see her ultimately become a passionate pacifist, who refuses to forget the fallen. Vera Brittain was such a brave woman and it is shown here how she suffered immense pain, but managed to survive being engulfed by it to write her personal story down for the world to know. There may be romance within the story between Vera and Roland, but it is not a full-blown passionate union. It is a fleeting and tentative romance that only heightens the ultimate tragedy that it later ends in. A beautifully evocative score adds considerable impact to events and seems to act as Vera’s resilient voice as the war rages on and personal suffering surrounds her.

Anchoring the film with a powerful performance is Alicia Vikander as Vera Brittain. Essaying the part with depth, emotional subtlety and strength, we get a real picture of what Vera endured during the war and how it shaped her as a person. Vikander brings passion to the part and never reverts to over the top displays of emotion; the effectiveness of her performance lies in the nuance she gives it and how she doesn’t require a single line of dialogue to get across the intense emotions within her. Kit Harington is very good at portraying Roland, the man who Vera falls in love with and who makes a deep impression on her. His scenes with Vikander are wonderfully acted to say the least and contribute to their doomed romance. Then there is Taron Egerton, who imbues Vera’s brother Edward with a loyalty and sympathy that is sensitively observed. There is a deep honesty to Egerton’s performance that really shows his talent here. Colin Morgan is subtly wonderful as the pining Victor, and there is excellently classy support provided by Emily Watson and Dominic West as Vera’s disapproving parents.  Seen in a small role as a nurse working with Vera on The Front, Hayley Atwell makes the most of the part and Miranda Richardson contributes her usual reliable presence as an Oxford teacher who comes to respect Vera.

Testament of Youth is an emotional recounting of Brittain’s memoir and it does the deeply personal subject matter of suffering, sacrifice and perseverance justice with clarity and a strong lead performance from Alicia Vikander.

Needful Things

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1990's, Amanda Plummer, Bonnie Bedelia, Ed Harris, Fraser C. Heston, Horror, J. T. Walsh, Max Von Sydow, Needful Things, Shane Meier, Stephen King

Film Title

Needful Things

Director

Fraser C. Heston

Starring

• Max Von Sydow as Leland Gaunt
• Ed Harris as Sheriff Alan Pangborn
• Bonnie Bedelia as Polly Chalmers
• J. T. Walsh as Danforth Keeton
• Amanda Plummer as Nettie Cobb
• Shane Meier as Brian Rusk

The dark forces of the Devil comes to a small town with malice in mind in this sadly sub par adaptation of the Stephen King book. It has a lot of promise and at least the actors keep you watching, but falters deeply because of how uneven it is , a long time and how it can’t decide on what kind of movie it wants to be.

The quiet and sleepy town of Castle Rock is changed when one day a mysterious man arrives. The man in question is Leland Gaunt; a sardonic and seemingly benevolent older man who sets about opening a shop. This shop, given the name Needful Things, is a cornucopia of objects that hold deeper  promise with the residents than they realise. As people flock to the shop, the objects seem to be just unusually perfect for each and every person as if expertly picked out for their personal longings. But Gaunt is not interested in making a profit of his stock as he charges ridiculously low prices for his produce. Instead, the crafty man has his customers play tricks on others as a way to pay him back. At first, the playful pranks are somewhat amusing but as time goes on they morph into much darker deeds. This arouses the suspicions of the decent Sheriff Alan Pangborn, who seems to be the only person able to resist the allure of the shop that promises wonders to every resident of Castle Rock. Bewildered by the events surrounding him, he digs into the past of Gaunt and discovers that he may not be human at all. As the town is torn apart by violence, murder and unrest, it is up to Alan to bring down Gaunt, who is enjoying manipulating the ordinary people of the town into shocking acts of horror and carnage, all for the desired trinkets he entices them with.

Needful Things is one of those movies that has some good ideas but can’t quite put them across successfully on the screen. The main fault lies with the direction from Fraser C. Heston. He can’t quite make his mind up on whether he wants Needful Things to be a grisly supernatural horror or a fantasy stuffed with black comedy. There are only a few moments that really work in the film, but the rest is not thrilling, scary or darkly amusing in the slightest. The story itself could have been extremely intriguing with the subject of what people are willing to do when tempted by their heart’s desire, but a weakly written script stops any chance of that. Which brings me on to the next flaw which is the pace and running time. Now I don’t mind long movies as long as they keep me entertained, sadly Needful Things drags like a snail and becomes something of a chore to view. Everything about this movie just seems to take way too long to get going and when it does, it is too late to make up for the flaws in pacing. The score which does bring something of a fiendish quality to the dark events provides at least some sense of tone, yet it feels overly bombastic and doesn’t gel with the story.

The one thing that shines in Needful Things and stops you from switching the movie off is the cast assembled. As the devil in disguise whose benevolent demeanor and welcoming air entices curious customers to their doom, Max Von Sydow is obviously having a good time. And it must be said he contributes a charming but very sinister presence to the film that brings at least some effectiveness to proceedings. Ed Harris is very good( then again, when isn’t Ed Harris good?) as the honest but firm Sheriff who is the first to see the wicked game being played by Gaunt. It is then up to him to prevent further destruction as he goes up against the devil incarnate. Bonnie Bedelia does just fine in an underwritten role as the love interest, bringing just the right amount of sweetness to the part to cover up how undeveloped the character is. Then there is J. T. Walsh, quite effective as the slime ball boat salesman who gets his comeuppance by becoming the loyal servant of Gaunt. Standing out in the cast is Amanda Plummer, all nervous tics and wide eyes as the kooky but vulnerable baker Nettie, whose good nature is turned to murderous rage. She isn’t in the film for long, but she makes an impact on it and lends some creepiness to this film that is devoid of it. As the 11-year-old kid who is the first to encounter the evil of Gaunt, Shane Meier does a credible job at showing how his innocence is ultimately manipulated into something darker.

Neither particularly scary or engaging, it’s only a commendable cast that keeps Needful Things afloat. And even with the talented cast, it isn’t enough to make a great movie and sadly it becomes one of the not so good King adaptations.

Posts You Should Check Out Part 3

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Posts You Should Check Out

It’s been a while since I did one of these posts, so I thought it was about time I did one. This time I’m highlighting the brilliance of two bloggers I refer to as The Sassy Sisters. Without further ado, here we go.

The delightful and very witty Emma did this marvellous post about her love for The Guest. And after viewing this kick ass post, I swore that I’d see the movie as soon as possible as it looks amazing.

Lovely Kim contributed this stellar five-star review of The Feathered Bone to the blogging world and it sure as hell captured my attention. This is a blogger who knows how to sell a book to people.

Please check these posts out as they are by two wonderfully talented individuals whose work is filled with dedication and craftsmanship.

 

The Whales of August

Tags

1980's, Ann Sothern, Bette Davis, Drama, Lillian Gish, Lindsay Anderson, The Whales of August, Vincent Price

Film Title

The Whales of August

Director

Lindsay Anderson

Starring

• Lillian Gish as Sarah Webber
• Bette Davis as Libby Strong
• Vincent Price as Mr. Maranov
• Ann Sothern as Tisha Doughty

A splendid cast of cinematic icons stars in The Whales of August; a warm, subtly moving and charming story of growing old and reflecting on life in the twilight years, that takes place over the course of a day and a half.

On a Maine island in an old-fashioned cottage, aging Sarah Webber lives with her older sister Libby Strong. Sarah is the genial, warm yet firm sister, whereas Libby, who has gone blind, is bitter and cantankerous towards everyone around her. The cottage they live in is one they have been linked to for decades. As young ladies, they would stay and watch as the whales passed by. Now all those years later, the two sisters are living together in the autumn of their lives. Yet while there is love between them, Libby’s mean streak and bleak outlook put her at odds with sincere Sarah, who wants to still do things while she’s able to. As the two attempt to make a sort of compromise, they begin to recall their past adventures and events in their lives. Both women are widowed and craving a sense of companionship, but the waspish Libby pushes people away while Sarah is gregarious. Their childhood friend, well-meaning but nosy Tisha Doughty stops by to check on them and reminisces on their friendships over the long years. Also passing by is Mr. Maranov, a member of Russian nobility who is now penniless and depends on the kindness of others. Maranov takes a shine to the sprightly Sarah and this causes her to think of the husband she lost and what she should do about Libby. Should she ask for help with her difficult sister? Or should she stick with her and attempt to reach her buried good side in the hopes of mending their often fractious relationship?

With a natural sense of direction, Lindsay Anderson creates a film of moving warmth and tenderness. He doesn’t overplay anything and makes do with the small but very beautiful setting of Maine. There is no visual trickery to speak of, just good old-fashioned directing that is simple to follow. He allows the actors to really show their ability and never lets them resort to histrionics. In fact, one of my worries before watching The Whales of August was that it would be very dull. I was pleased when I found that the film was anything but. There are those who will say that nothing much happens during the course of the movie. In fact, quite a lot of things takes place over the day and the half the movie covers. It just doesn’t do it in an overly dramatic way, everything is subtle and very authentic. And to be honest, this movie wouldn’t have worked if it was melodramatic and over the top. The tone just feels so right in this movie and while some of it is a bit slow, it is a minor niggle in a beautiful film examining how we react to growing older and the passage of time. There is also a welcome lack of sentimentality to The Whales of August, which benefits the movie hugely. Sure the film is warm and sweet, but it never becomes cloying in the slightest due to the precise direction, subtly drawn drama and work of the actors. A fleeting and very wistful score goes to the heart of the themes on show and creates the nostalgic longing for the past that is expressed by many of the characters.

Lillian Gish, who was 93 at the time of making this movie, is a complete marvel. Sprightly and filled with guile and warmth, she makes Sarah such a beautifully sympathetic character. I liked how Gish didn’t resort to making Sarah just a saint, she showed that she could be firm and decisive, while still recalling the days of her youth with a fondness and bittersweet taste. This was the last film role for Lillian Gish after a career spanning multiple decades, and it was a stunning send off to a gifted actress. Bette Davis, who was old at the time and suffering with her health, also delivers a splendid performance. She is extremely adept at showcasing Libby’s bitterness brought on by age and blindness, but through subtle gestures we see that underneath everything she just wants someone to care for. Davis was not exactly known for her subtlety in her performances, but her work here shows a moving natural progression from waspish to ultimately longing and caring. Vincent Price, in a non-horror role, is suitably amiable and full of grace as Mr Maranov who becomes fond of Sarah. Ann Sothern is utterly delightful as the slightly nosy but always loyal best friend to the sisters.

An evocative study of age, the memories we collect and the autumn years of one’s life, The Whales of August is a beautifully rendered movie, given depth by wonderful direction and especially the work of silver screen legends Lillian Gish and Bette Davis.

What is the Sexiest Song?

Tags

Chris Isaak, Helena Christensen, Sexiest Song, Wicked Game

Here we are with another music post of mine. I’ve been thinking recently about what makes a song sexy. Is is the voice or instrumentation? Seductive lyrics or sultry hook? Whatever it is that is what I wanted to ask everyone. Which song do you consider the sexiest? Is it an oldie that is still as passionate as ever? Or a modern track of saucy content. Please give your opinions as I really want to know.

My personal top pick for sexiest song is Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. With his crooning voice and moody bass, it is the definition of lovelorn and seductive passion. And if that wasn’t enough, there is also the famous music video that accompanied it, featuring Isaak frolicking on a beach with the lovely Helena Christensen.