Dumb and Dumber To

Hello again, thought I would treat you all to one more review before the New Year as I finally got around to watching the long overdue sequel to 'Dumb and Dumber' and let's just say, I wish they hadn't bothered.


Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Synopsis:

The film meets back with Harry and Lloyd 20 years after their first cross-country adventure. Harry discovers he has a serious medical condition and needs a kidney transplant which makes him incredibly relieved to discover he has a 22 year old daughter somewhere in America. The two decide to track her down in the hopes that she will be the one to save Harry's life and embark on yet another adventure together filled with laughs.

Review:

I didn't want to have to admit this but I was incredibly disappointed with this sequel, it's full of crude humour that's way past it's sell-by date and frankly, Harry and Lloyd have become creepy perverts. I found myself cringing with embarrassment from time to time at some of the vulgar terms used; they were funny 20 years ago but it just felt a little too forced and it's obvious the Farrelly brothers have tried so hard to make it funny that they have forgotten about any form of characterisation or even an interesting storyline. 

Dumb and Dumber To did manage to get one or two laughs from me but I was expecting so much more. If you're a die-hard fan of the original Dumb and Dumber then give it a watch for yourself and let me know what you think but it's not something I plan on watching again.

2/5

Ouija

Happy New Years Eve my beloved readers. This is my last post of 2014 and I'm going to be reviewing 'Ouija', a 2014 supernatural-horror. Don't expect anything spectacular from this post as this film was a huge disappointment, so here we go.


Ouija (2014)

Synopsis:

After the mysterious circumstances surrounding their friend's death a group of teenagers try to contact her through a Ouija board, only to discover a sinister spirit had been haunting her and now it wants them too.


Review:

After hearing mixed reviews about this film I decided to give it a try myself. As you all know I am a huge fan of the horror genre and I'm on a continuous search to find truly terrifying films but 'Ouija' certainly isn't one of them. It's a glossy, predictable Hollywood blockbuster that provides cheap thrills and it even lacks in the usual predictable jump scares. The acting, however, wasn't as bad as I had expected and Olivia Cooke (Laine) does give out a convincing, grieving friend performance which makes the film a little bit more bearable.
There are a couple of twists included that make the storyline slightly more interesting and it does cut to the chase pretty quickly, providing us with all the information needed to invest in the narrative but other than that it's very similar to the hundreds of other 'horror' films that America release every so often. If you're not as fussy as I am you may enjoy this film for what it actually is, a PG 12, almost laughable attempt at a horror. The special effects which are supposed to be 'horrifying' and 'gruesome' merely look like they have been created in someone's kitchen with very little time and effort.
'Ouija' is definitely not a film I would recommend to anyone.

2/5

The Theory of Everything

"It gives us a powerful and emotional look into the mind and life of Stephen Hawking and proves that if there is life, then there is most definitely hope".



The Theory of Everything (2014)

Synopsis:

The Theory of Everything follows the incredible story of Professor Stephen Hawking, who at the young age of 21 was diagnosed with Motor Neurones Disease. The story follows Stephen's journey as he falls in love with fellow student Jane and she vows to take care of him but as his disease gets progressively worse Jane struggles to cope under the enormous pressure of caring for Stephen and raising their 3 children. Stephen does not allow his disease to control him and he breaks incredible new grounds in medicine and science and with Jane by his side, he achieves more than he could have ever imagined.

Review:

The Theory of Everything is a remarkable and intimate tale of Stephen Hawking's life, it allows us to gain an insight in to his marriage, his illness and his work through an incredible portrayal by Eddie Redmayne. Felicity Jones (Jane Hawking) and Eddie Redmayne (Stephen Hawking) are an absolute marvel to watch; their portrayal of these character's are sensitive, realistic and show unimaginable talent. Redmayne is able to show each stage of Hawking's disease with grace and respect and I have nothing but praise for him.

The story doesn't focus on Hawking's theories in particular but more on the man behind the mask, who he was and who he is now. The Theory of Everything allows the public to break down the barrier and take a real look at who Stephen Hawking actually is.

The only fault with the film is that it seems slightly sugar-coated; the love story between Stephen and Jane is magical to watch but it doesn't quite seem believable. There are no arguments, no jealousy on either side and the split seems a little too friendly but this may be to avoid the film from focusing too much on the relationship and the difficulties they faced as a couple. 

Overall I found myself incredible moved by The Theory of Everything, it gives us a powerful and emotional look into the mind and life of Stephen Hawking and proves that if there is life, then there is most definitely hope.

4/5

Stonehearst Asylum

Hello guys! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Sorry, I haven't been very active lately but don't worry, I have been keeping up with plenty of films and plan on posting the reviews as soon as possible. One film I managed to check out over the festive season was 'Stonehearst Asylum' and it was much better than I had anticipated so check out my review.


Stonehearst Asylum (2014) 

Synopsis:

Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) is a young doctor with a keen interest in the studies of medicine for those with mental health issues. He takes a trip to Stonehearst Asylum to develop his studies even further and finds himself besotted with a beautiful patient named Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale). As Edward struggles to come to terms with Dr Lamb's (Ben Kingsley) insane treatment methods makes a shocking discovery and realises not all is as it seems at Stonehearst Asylum.





Review:

Stonehearst Asylum is based on a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and is a gothic, periodic, thriller that challenges the audience and keeps you on your toes throughout. With more twists and turns than a maze it is a film that requires your full attention but the complex and diverse array of characters portrayed by wonderfully talented actors keep the viewer submerged in the story. Stonehearst Asylum takes a look at the brutal and barbaric treatment of those suffering from mental health conditions and does so without the use of blood and gore. The film has certain aspects of a horror with it's grand, mysterious looking castle set out in the woods and the twisted, dark characters of Dr Lamb and Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) but pays more attention to the psychological threats by using edgy camera angles, chiarascuro lighting and an eerie setting that hosts dark corridors and frightening 'treatment' rooms.
Stonehearst Asylum is very similar to Shutter Island and also has an unpredictable ending, which I always find is a great bonus when watching a film. Although this film is a bit of a slow burner, each part is relevant in building up the layers of the story and creating the perfect atmosphere for this thoroughly enjoyable thriller.

4/5

Gone Girl

Hello guys, I'm sorry it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. I've had exams at university and been busy at work so I haven't had much time to watch any films lately. I did, however finally get the chance to watch 'Gone Girl' the other night and it is by far one of the best films I have seen in a long time so here is my review.


Gone Girl (2014)

Synopsis:

When Nick wakes up on the day of their 5th wedding anniversary he discovers that his beautiful wife, Amy has gone missing. The media quickly becomes obsessed with the case and Nick finds himself under immense pressure to prove his innocence as the police investigation turns on him and he becomes the prime suspect.

Review:

'Gone Girl' is a modern and dark tale of matrimonial companionship gone wrong. Fincher has created a beautiful masterpiece filled with twists and turns and sensational craftsmanship. The character's are complex and almost unreadable, creating a tense atmosphere throughout the whole film. Fincher has done a remarkable job on Flynn's novel and managed to bring the words to life by ensuring the character's and the plot are just as twisted and complex as the book itself. 'Gone Girl' runs for 145 minutes and each one of them is vital to the plot; the whole film is full of clues and deceit and the audience will find themselves completely unsure who to trust. With incredible acting from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike it's fascinating to watch these character's come to life on screen, I couldn't have picked out a better cast for these roles.

As I mentioned previously, 'Gone Girl' is quite possibly one of the best films I have seen in a long time and you would be missing out on an entertaining and brutal narrative that makes you wonder what is right and wrong and how far is too far? I couldn't fault the movie in any way; it managed to keep me absorbed throughout the whole 145 minutes and had me guessing all the time. A perfect tribute to a fantastic, best-selling novel. Please go and check it out.

5/5

Jurassic World

Now, I don't know about you but I just so happen to be RIDICULOUSLY excited for the new 'Jurassic World' movie and the trailer made things even better.

If you haven't seen it yet then check it out below;

In honour of the new 'Jurassic World' trailer I am going to give you my top 3 scenes from the previous Jurassic Park movies.
Here we go.


3. The Toilet Scene (Jurassic Park, 1993)

If the special effects and watching a T-Rex eating a guy who's taken refuge on a toilet aren't enough to blow your mind then I don't know what else to say.
I'm still in shock that I used to watch this film when I was a child because this stuff is terrifyingly real.


2. T-rex vs. Spinosaurus (Jurassic Park 3, 2001)

Of course this was one of my favourite scenes! Two of the most ferocious and dangerous dinosaurs in a battle to the death. I was never sure who I wanted to win but it was just about enjoying the cinematic effects that were created in this scene and witnessing two magnificent giants go head to head.
Jurassic Park 3 will always be my favourite out of the franchise and this is one of the reasons why.#

1. The Raptor's set a trap (Jurassic Park 3, 2001)

The Raptor was my favourite dinosaur as a child and this scene always fascinates me. Obviously we have no idea how intelligent these creatures were but I always liked to imagine they had the ability to communicate and work together to survive...

As Above So Below

Hello my amazing readers.
I apologise for my lack of posts but I have been mad busy lately.
I finally got around to watching another new horror release; 'As Above So Below' and here is my review.

Synopsis:

A team of explorers make their way down into the catacombs underneath the City of Paris in the hopes of finding the Philosopher's Stone. As they climb further and further into the twisted maze of the undead, they realise that they have entered their own personal hell and the only way out is to keep going further into the ground and away from civilisation.


Review:

I am a self-confessed 'found footage' fan but this film came as a huge disappointment. The catacombs make for a claustrophobic setting and yet it doesn't add any suspense or fear. The shaky cameras make it incredibly difficult to focus on what's going on and although I understand that it is one of the main characteristics of this sub-genre, 'As Above So Below' manages to make this into more of an annoying hindrance to the action.
The characters in the film are merely there to add another layer but they barely do that. They all lack any kind of personality and depth, especially Scarlett (Perdita Weeks) who insists on giving us a mythological history lesson even though all of her friends are dying around her.
I really wanted this film to be great and it had the opportunity to be, but all of that seems to get lost in an overly complex storyline which in the end, is downright ridiculous. The ending leaves us with more questions than answers and if you were to ask me what actually happened throughout the film, I'm not sure I could tell you.

Definitely wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.

1.5/5