Anyone who knows me, knows that I have always wanted to be a movie critic, instead as words are not really my strong point I went into my other passion and became an Accountant, not the boring stuffy one!
However, I still watch movies and I watch a lot of them! Every weekend we have a family movie night and a non-family movie night, plus when I am not reading. blogging, parenting etc etc etc I watch movies and so I decided to step into the reviewing side of things. I love shouting about movies as much as I love shouting about books. I doubt I will ever make it my job but it is nice to blow off some steam with movies too. So here are some of the films I have watched so far this month.
So get comfortable and see if there is anything you fancy watching this weekend.
Plot
Ray Garrison, an elite soldier who was killed in battle, is brought back to life by an advanced technology that gives him the ability of superhuman strength and fast healing. With his new abilities, he goes after the man who killed his wife, or at least, who he believes killed his wife. He soon comes to learn that not everything he learns can be trusted. The true question is: Can he even trust himself?
It was my choice of movie and I wanted something on a Saturday night where I did not have to think about anything. Bring on Vin Diesel and you know you are on to a winner, bring Eliza fresh from Fast and Furious and you have the eye candy, think I even had a girl crush on her.
It was completely action-packed, a lot of fight scenes and I love the small role that Toby Kebbell played, he is gold in my eyes. The storyline itself was an interesting concept, but the bare bones is a revenge film but not necessarily the type you think it might be. People are pawns in a larger game, the end game greed. When events unfold, things did shock me, the betrayal and the time of betrayal were unreal, and at times a little bit unbelievable. The technology in this film was out of the world, it reminded me of the tech in The Sixth Day with my hero Arnie, but way more advanced. The idea of nanobots, helping to improve the human race is interesting and can be a bit worrying if anything like this EVER was to happen well if it was in the wrong hands anyway.
High octane action is the must for me and that was a winner, it is a second to horrors. I do love a good scare but I also love a good action-packed violent film. (I think there might be something wrong with me!!) Has it been left open for a second film? Well, what do you think?
Main cast (You may recognise one or two – maybe an Outlander)
Plot
While shopping at an outdoor market, young reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell), accompanied by his faithful dog, Snowy, buys a model of an old ship called the Unicorn. A shady character named Sakharine (Daniel Craig) and later an American named Barnaby (Joe Starr) try to buy the model from him, but Tintin refuses. The lad discovers that the ship contains a clue about a hidden treasure, but before he can locate it, Tintin is kidnapped and given over to the custody of drunken Capt. Haddock (Andy Serkis).
I thought this was fantastic, the animation was incredible. These characters were so life like it was amazing! I remember watching TinTin growing up and I did love the bumbling Thompson and Thomson so to have them played by Nick Frost and Simon Pegg was the icing on the cake.
Meeting Captain Haddock was hilarious as he is drunk and this is when he is the most on the ball. TinTin, well he is TinTin and he is fab! We watched this as a family movie, once a week with snacks, and it was a good choice. Mini-me really enjoyed it, not always getting the jokes but she will do.
There was a lot of laughing mainly because Haddock was played so well, he too is a bit bumbly at times. It really did bring back my childhood memories with this one, and the tale of the Unicorn well that is what managed to persuade us to get mini-me to watch it.
I really can’t get over the animation on this it was truly amazing, but then I expected nothing less from two of my favourite directors! What a duo. We are taken across land, sea, desert and even a bit of the sky! It was amusing and thrilling with a lot of action and I know I am looking forward to the next one!
Main Cast
Plot
Two parents do what it takes to keep their children safe in a world full of creatures hunting every sound they can hear. Not a sound can be heard from the family hiding in silence, but all it takes is one noise and everything can go wrong
OMG, I have just finished watching this and bloody hell this was intense! Shocking opening scenes which were the characters own naive stupidity! My jaw dropped and I really did not expect it and I bloody loved it! I loved to be shocked, I loved to be on edge when watching films and this film did it.
I know there is probably a lot of plots hole but I didn’t care. This film was intense, just the smallest sound and these creatures will get you. Moving at lightning speed too, you just have zero chance to survive in our world anymore, zero!
This film demands you listen to it with no background noise, nothing, to fully immerse yourself in Abbott’s world you need the silence. I sat there in the silence, watching the sign language, nervous to move in case it brought the beasties to their door, or more worrying my door!
We first meet them on Day 89 in a desolate shop in a desolate town, we have no idea to how they came to our world, why they are here and I love the mystery behind it because sometimes its the not knowing that is better. It is then ramped up to Day 489 and we see their current living situation.
What amplified the silence for me, was the fact that the daughter is deaf so to her this is normal, even her hearing aids don’t work, her dad trying his best to make them work. Trying to live a normal life, as much as they can, hole up in a house, trying to sow the lands, catch the fish, each time something goes wrong waiting on tenterhooks waiting for the beasts.
I must admit a lot of the time when you see the big bad it can be disappointing but I was not disappointed, they were damn creepy as hell, I wouldn’t want to meet them down a dark alley.
Husband and Wife team of Emily Blunt and John Krasinski worked so well, the chemistry they have anyway (being married in real life and all that) bu because of that the intensity and the fear they feel, you can tell was real, as if this was real and it made it so much more powerful.
And damn THAT scene that everyone mentions, well shoot me sideways, how the hell anyone can surivive that, the best thing a lot is down to imagination, crikey!
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, I thought the cast was spot on, I even shed a few tears which is normally unheard of in horror films, but this family, this cocoon was something I wanted to treasure, I wanted them to surivive and I wanted them to beat those ugly beasties!
Roll on the next one
Main Cast
Plot
Defeated by members of the Losers’ Club, the evil clown Pennywise returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry, Maine, once again. Now adults, the childhood friends have long since gone their separate ways. But when people start disappearing, Mike Hanlon calls the others home for one final stand. Damaged by scars from the past, the united Losers must conquer their deepest fears to destroy the shape-shifting Pennywise — now more powerful than ever.
Wow wow wow! I mean this is part 2 of the newer version of IT! I loved the Tim Curry one, it is a fav. I have the book by Stephen King, but I don’t actually remember ever reading it, so I do fall foul of watching the film before reading the book.
I really enjoyed this second outing with the Loser club, took me a few mins to remember who was who etc but it was quick to remember and I am over the moon that Jessica Chastain starred in this, in my head she was always Beverley!
Ok so yes they have changed some of the famous scenes we all know, and kinda love but some of them were awful. But I mean in awful as in yes they were over the top but my god they actaully creeped me out!
Take the scene when the Loser club meet up as adults and they are eating their Chinese reminiscing and wondering where Stanley is, we know where he is!, and when the get their hidden messages in the Fortune Cookies, I was proper squeamish. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t, it was so over the top but it was fasincating at the same time!
Same when Beverley goes to her old home, we have the creepy old woman running around in the background, the kinda glimspe and you miss it, doing the twitchy thing I hate in films, but when she bursts back through into the room…..well one part of me wanted to laugh at the thing coming out the other part of me was thinking WTHolyF is going on!! I was like that throughout and it was riverting stuff.
Watching all the Loser club, relive their childhood, trying to find their tokens to do the ritual brought back the memories they have lost and wanted to keep it lost. I know I would.
I loved the cast, mixture of the unknown with the known. I love the actor who played Eddie, and it was nice to see little Henry from Dead to Me.
This newer version actually worked for me, but I am open to discussion on different things. Yes again, things are different, and I can imagine that a lot has changed from the book (I will be re/reading it soon) but if you take it for what it is, a horror film then it works. A coming of age story, where the adults are still haunted, their life choices are dictated by the actions as children, still trying to make a path for themselves, yet held back by the actions from 27 years earlier, it works. Because of this, you feel their fear, you sense the apprehension of returning to Derry and facing Pennywise when all you want to do is hide under a cover and never speak of it again. It would have been nice to have the Club, together in more than a few scenes and really develop on what had started from the first film, but I still found myself rooting for them to defeat Pennywise, I mean they have to right! Not afraid to say I had a lump in my throat at the end.
It has made me want to pick the book up right away and re-watch Tim Curry Lorde it up as Pennywise. Where Curry is more comical and easier to watch, Skarsgård is bloody scary to boot!
Just make sure you have a spare 3 hours for this film as it’s a long one! However, you need every minute of it and if you don’t like a scare, maybe keep a light on.
Main Cast (there is a lot and I did not include them all! And a surprise cameo who I have not shown here)
Other films I watched…..
Rambo Last Blood -well I hope its the last one, a lot of action and gruesome killings but Stallone is no longer John Rambo, his face has is expressionless and he is just going through the motions.
Ad Astra – I actually stopped watching near the beginning and read my book instead. I didn’t know what to expect but the acting from Brad Pitt was wooden. For someone who is meant to be sending a sentimental message to their father – wow I wouldn’t want to be his father, lack of emotion. It’s 2 hours I won’t get back!
I mean who does not love the Mask! Watched this with the mini-one and she loved it! It brought back the memories of how good this film is, it’s a classic, it’s Schmokin’ and it’s Jim Carey! Enough said.
Well, first reviews are done, what do you think? Have you watched any of these movies? I will be back next weeks with some more reviews.
Until next time xxx
nsfordwriter says
Really fun post! You watched an interesting variety of films 🙂 I was thinking of watching A Quiet Place but I chickened out. I haven’t watched IT yet (I have the DVD but waiting until I feel like being scared), if I like it will watch Chapter 2. I remember the book was too long and not a favourite, I don’t think I’d re-read it.
Zoé says
Aw thank you! Always bit nervous doing something different. A quiet place is good, not as scary just a bit shocking in places. IT was dark and creepy in places. I don’t get scared that easy but it creeped me out. I need to read it! Lol
Frankie | Chicks Rogues and Scandals says
Great post, I’ve not watched any of these, except The Mask. Great film, brings back lots of great childhood memories,
Zoé says
Oh it was awesome watching it again. Thank you I was nervous at trying something new xx
nickimags @ The Secret Library Book Blog says
Fab post! I’ve only seen The Mask a loong time ago And remember really enjoying it. x
Zoé says
It was good to relive the memories and mini me really liked it. Thank you I was nervous about doing it, but if it’s liked I will keep doing it. I have another post coming this week. Xx
nickimags @ The Secret Library Book Blog says
Fantastic xx