500 Days Of Summer

500 days of summer

This is a story of boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, girl doesn’t believe in love.

An interesting yet somewhat simple tagline for a film that manages to include so many different elements and meanings. To be honest, I put off seeing this film for a very long time always thinking of it as a cheesy rom-com that wouldn’t differ from any other type from its genre. Eventually, what drew to me to the film was the main character of Tom Hansen played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt whose performances I’ve recently come to enjoy.

An offbeat romantic comedy about Tom a young man who falls for Summer, a woman who doesn't believe true love exists.  

The story is told in a nonlinear narrative and takes place in the space of 500 days in which the main character Tom recalls how he met Summer and how their relationship developed through these days. This is an element of the film which I felt was the strongest as it doesn’t dwell on certain moments for too long for example, we are shown how Tom and Summer meet in the earlier days and instead of expanding on this instantly, the film jumps to about 20 days later when they establish their feelings for one another. This shows many different sides to their characters and also allows the writers to include random moments for comedy purposes. As these fast-forwards happen frequently throughout the film, they allow the writers the chance to also go back to the first few days for specific scenes that are vital at a later stage in the film.

Something I really appreciated about this film other than the script was the casting decisions.

Joseph Gordon- Levitt and Zooey Deschanel who play the lead roles have a fantastic chemistry on-screen which really carries the film and makes their relationship seem realistic and approvable. These actors provide quirky yet unique personas to their characters which I believe very few actors have the ability to provide and therefore this allows the audience to really engage in the storyline and root for the 2 to end up together. 

Pros:

- Strong casting choices

- Nonlinear narrative works out extremely well

- Great direction by Marc Webb and superb script

- Awesome soundtrack!

Cons:

- A liitle more character development might have been needed on Tom

- A better supporting cast (except chloe grace moretz who was awesome)

Overall, 500 Days Of Summer is undoubtedly one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. It is a unique and surprisingly funny film of its genre with random moments of comedy and hilarity but also expands upon the romantic element with the prime focus being a love story that even includes more than a few moments of sadness and heartbreak.

8.5/10

I do not own the rights to these videos or images

Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is known to be one of the world's greatest film directors simply because his films are different and havent been done before. With hits such as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds, he has changed the look of cinema. His previous film Inglorious Basterds starring Brad Pitt rewrote history he displayed his idea of the past. Django also takes a different look at history and the topic of slavery, however add in a story about revenge, pride, charisma and adventure and you've got a Tarantino masterpiece.

Set in the antebellum era of the Deep South and Old West, the film follows Django, a freed slave who treks across the United States with Dr King Schultz, a bounty hunter on a mission to rescue his wife from cruel and charismatic plantation owner Calvin Candie.

The film follows Django's transformation from slave to bounty hunter/hero as Tarantino depicts his story in a superb manner adding humour whenever possible. Despite this, the violence is extreme with many gory killings and a brilliant shootout towards the end.
Tarantino's ability to get the best out his actors is one of the reasons why this film was such a huge success as the cast did magnificently in the film. Leonardo DiCaprio in particular was simply phenomenal as the villianous Calvin Candie as he portrayed an enthusiastic but deadly plantation owner who has hold of Django's wife. Christoph Waltz is looking to become Tarantino's muse as this is their second film together and Waltz's second Academy award for best supporting actor both in Tarantino films in which he has been nothing short of amazing. Jamie Foxx played the lead role of Django and was the most surprising in my opinion as he did superbly in portraying a brooding but fearless Django. The involvement of Samuel L Jackson as Steven, Candie's butler was fantastic and added great moments of laughter.

Pros
- Intriguing storyline and a fast paced script
- Brilliant screenplay
- Awesome dialogue
- Takes advantage of opportunities for humour
- Amazing acting performances (from DiCaprio in particular)
- Tarantino's signature style over substance is superb
- Decent soundtrack goes well with scenes
- Realistic gore

Cons
- Leonardo DiCaprio's screen time (introduced after an hour and appears for just over an hour in approx 6 lengthy scenes
- Not enough action sequences
- Shootout could've been longer

Tarantino has struck again with this masterpiece which in my opinion is his best work just after Pulp Fiction. The story is not the only reason why this has impressed but the majority of credit must go to Tarantino for creating something no other director could and getting the best out of his actors. Also credit to Leonardo DiCaprio for displaying a memorable villain.
In short, My new favorite film
9/10

Die Hard 5 (A 'Good' Day To Die Hard?)

After seeing the movie you may begin to question the title or you may even just question it beforehand since it doesnt make much sense kinda like most of the movie.
Ok so i could be considered a die hard fan but i was heavily disappointed by this fifth installment.

 John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist,causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces.

Many would agree that the plot synopsis doesnt make you anticipate a worthy sequel of this franchise but like myself you might want to give it the benefit of the doubt. However dont brace yourself for the good old 'die hard' days as it doesnt nearly live up to its name and th expectations of a John McClane adventure. The involvement of John McClane jr could be seen as a negative decision as this movie seems to focus too much on the son and his spy profession instead of the solo hero that is Bruce Willis' character.

Pros
- Great action sequences (one in particular when McClane changes the balances of a helicopter from inside)
- Many references to the first Die Hard movie (cowboy)
- Unexpected twists along the way
- Appearance from Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Lucy McClane :)

Cons
- Too much focus on the son
- John McClane decides to destroy cars and a russian motorway upon arriving all because he "wants to talk to his son"
- Length - an hour and a half isnt acceptable in comparison to the 2 hour running length of its predecessors

Overall as action movie it was pretty good, as a die hard movie, it kinda sucked

5.5/10

The Last Stand

Arnie is back! Best way to put it - Welcome back Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This is the governator's first lead role since Terminator 3 in 2003. And i can assure you he is back with a bang!! Arnold made cameos in the expendables 1 and 2 however this movie allows us to recall just how good of an action star he is and to also realise that he can still kick ass. Now i'm a huge fan of Arnie and thats why i saw this movie and if im honest without him it wouldnt have the same excitement becuase his presence gives the movie a boost.
The story is of a criminal mastermind escaping custody and heading for the border of Mexico which happens to lead him to a sleepy bordertown named Somerton Junction. He expects this to be a straightforward escape with the difficult part over, however the sheriff of this town (None other than Schwarzenegger) is not going down without a fight and gathers together townfolk to take a stand.

So the plot sounded quite basic but unique as it is seen rarely but seems too ordinary to appeal. BUT do not let this put you off!! The movie starts out with an insight on the town and on the sheriff who is fighting his past and of the escaped convict and the FBI's struggle to capture him. This is the focus for the first hour of the movie and it leads up to the climax in which with around 45 mins left, the town prepares to fight back and bring the criminal's escape to a halt.

Pros:
- Action sequences are well choreographed
- Johnny Knoxville provides great comic relief
- Good supporting cast - Forrest Whittaker, Genesis Rodriguez, Knoxville, Jamie Alexander
- SCHWARZENEGGER IS BACK!!!!!!!!!
Cons:
- Cheesy one liners (I'm the sheriff)
- Climax could have been extended
- More evidence to show how dangerous the protagonist was

In fairness, this movie will probably be underated and seen as a typical 'cheesy schwarzenegger flick' but its so much more than that. It makes a decent storyline out of a basic plot and the small details help it stand out. The action sequences are realistic and fun to watch but the film lacked a little flair which more action and longer sequences could have provided. The actual 'stand' in the climax could have also been made longer but it was good enough.
I do not own this trailer

6.5/10 - A decent comeback for Arnie but can be deemed as worth watching just the once

Silver Linings Playbook - A true silver lining

This isnt the type of movie i would actually be excited to see and i hadn't even heard of it until i saw a tv spot and the reason i didnt change channels was the song used (Hey Ho by The Lumineers).
So i did a little research into the movie, read the plot and etc but then i left it and forgot about it. Then recently i heard how its been nominated for 11 oscars and i came to realise just how big of a deal this movie was and thats when i told myself "I gotta check this out".
And this led to me having a 2 hour extra lie in on sunday just to see this movie.
Plot - After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own.


Ok so the plot sounds good and kidna appealing but what really pulled me in was the 2nd trailer which i thought was amazing and really makes you wanna see it.
If that wasn't enough, the cast is superb with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence providing magnificent lead roles, the supporting cast is rounded off well with Robert De Niro and Chris Tucker.
Pros:
- Great storyline that develops well and goes to new extremes
- Awesome humour, Pat's condition was shown in a slightly humorous way as well as a sad and challenging aspect of his life but Bradley Cooper did great in bringing a funny side to his character.
- Quotes, this movie is full of brilliant dialogue and life quotes that make it even more motivating.
- Casting
Cons:
- Running time. Ok so im being kinda harsh but thats cos theres not too many cons! The movie is just over 2 hours but theres never a dull moment.
- Not enough screen time for Chris Tucker
- Pat's past is not explored as much as that of Tiffany's
In short, this movie is hands down one of the best i've ever seen (and thats saying something). It displays many different emotions and problems that people everywhere go through everyday. The cast were top notch, the 2 leads of Cooper and Lawrence were simply sensational and had amazing chemistry throughout. The message this movie delivers is truly beautiful as it proves that everyone has their shot at a silver lining if they work hard enough.
I do not this trailer

Quotes:
"Can we get through one fucking conversation without you reminding me that my goddamn husband's dead?"

"The only way to beat my crazy was by doing something even crazier"

"When life reaches out with a moment like this, it's a sin if you don't reach back."
"If you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining"

Texas Chainsaw 3D - Revival Or Demolisher

Texas Chainsaw 3D. So some of ya'll know just how psyched i was for this movie cos im a sucker for this genre especially movies with established characters such as jason from fridya the 13th or freddy from the nightmare on elm street franchise and of course our friend leatherface.

Now I liked this movie cos of its small area of originality but then i didnt like it cos it didnt feel like i was watching a texas chainsaw movie.

Plot: A direct sequel to the 1974 original which ended with a girl escaping leatherface. Now it is revealed that she told the cops (who wouldnt?) and this leads to an angry mob burning down the sawyer family house, however there are 2 survivors, a young girl who gets put up for adoption and the worst member of the family - Jed Sawyer A.K.A Leatherface.
Cut to, years later and the girl (Heather) is now a (hot) grown woman who is informed that her grandmother (someone she never knew existed) has passed away and Heather has subsequently inherited a mansion in Texas. This leads to Heather and her friends roadtripping to this mansion with no cue whatsoever that a 6'5' maniac who likes to stitch peoples face onto his own resides in the basement, oh and he wields a chainsaw!
Ok so plot sounds good and different which only makes you think this movie will not be cliche at all and will top all other remakes...It doesnt!! With so much potential this movie doesnt fulfill anything that could be unique and this is one of the reasons why critics hated it.
For example, there's a scene where Heather is being chased by Leatherface and she runs to a carnival (smart move) but instead of hiding or mixing with crowds she decided to hang onto one of the seats in a ferris wheel as it goes up but this makes her efforts pathetic as Leatehrface is waiting at the bottom with his favorite weapon - that chainsaw.

Pros:
- Storyline - girl goes to inherit mansion but finds herself in a struggle to survive
- Inclusion of Trey Songz - now him being cast in this meant thousands more people would be going to see this just because of him and also meant more ticket sales. However his casting had soooo much potential which they didnt even work on! The idea was to make sure he didnt die first but (SPOILER ALERT) that kinda goes to waste if he gets killed in the first 30 - 40 mins. Oh and he doesnt even come face to face with Leatherface, instead he dies in a car accident by going out the windshield which was a major disappointment especially since his character was made to be seen as a tough guy who could throw in a few jabs before facing the saw.
- Alexandra Daddario - She was simply amazing as the main character and displayed many emotions in a great way. Her character goes from happy sad happy curious happy angry scared confused majorly pissed off symapathetic.
- Good twists toward the end
- There is a scene where a cop is lookign around Leatherface's lair whilst facetiming the mayor and sheriff and this whole scene was well made and keeps you on edge.

Cons:
- Kills!! The death scenes were so poorly choreographed and displayed that it didnt even feel as if this movie was a horror film. Leatherface only kills 1 person with the chainsaw.
- Character development - simply because other than the mayor they didnt stick around long enough!
- 3D was completely pointless! If anything it was done to make you spend more money
- TIMELINE - this is oneof the most confusing aspects of this movie. The original was made in 1974 and this movie opens with the end of the original in which Heather is adopted and then it cuts to the present 2012 which would make Heather around 38 but she looks 20?! So i came to the conclusion that either they made it as if the original was made in the 1980's or then they completed screwed up the timeline!
- How did the sheriff get reception in a basement?

I would give this movie 5 or 6/10 simply because they didnt elaborate on the potentially awesomness this could have been. The 3d was pointless, some cast members were good (songz, daddario, eastwood, yeager). The ending had a great but odd twist and sets the way for 2 or 3 sequels which IF developed well can revive the texas chainsaw massacre as right now it seems to be dead and buried thanks to this remake despite it being slightly better than texas chainsaw: the begininng

Cast:
Alexandra Daddario
Dan Yeager
Tremaine 'Trey Songz' Neverson
Tania Raymonde
Scott Eastwood
Shaun Sipos

Rated R (18)

Skyfall - Best Bond Movie

 

What a way to mark 007's 50th anniversary with what is hands down the best bond movie ever made!

I know, I sound kinda biased but if you saw the movie you'd understand just how damn good it was.
Lets start with basics...
The plot:
Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past returns to haunt her in the shape of the mysterious Raoul Silva whose motives are yet to be revealed.

ok so the plot sounds pretty mediocre but i guess thats kinda the point so that when you see the movie all the twists and turns are far more enjoyable.

Cast:
Daniel craig returns to deliver his best performance as 007 as his characters undergoes numerous transitions throughout the film.
Judi Dench also returns to deliver her best performance as M (I'll say no more)
Javier Bardem...Wow! He delivers an outstanding performance as Silva, a camp but clever psychopath who has history with M. Bardem shone as the ruthless mastermind who kept Bond and the rest of MI6 on their toes. His performance has been said to be on par with that of the late Heath Ledger's in dark knight (i slightly disagree as the joker was just mesmerizing but bardem came very close to that standard).
The rest of the cast is completed with supporting roles from Ralph fiennes, berenice marlohe, Naomie harris and many more.

Pros:
Great storyline
Great casting
Superb action sequences
Adele's soundtrack

Cons:
Not enough screen time for javier bardem's character Silva

A fantastic take on Bond, going in a different direction with great support from the cast played their roles extremely well and the storyline was carried out equally as good.
I do not own this video

8/10