Candid Article 66

Time Of My Life

This week I did a slightly different Candid article - a theatre review of my friend's production of Time Of My Life by Alan Ayckbourn. Read it here:

http://candidonline.com/troublehouse-theatre/

Candid Article 58

Sofar Sounds, Manchester

For my latest Candid article on the Sofar Sounds event I went to in Manchester with my sister last week, click below:

http://candidonline.com/live-review-sofar-sounds/

Summer Views...

How To Train Your Dragon 2 - 5 stars *****

I only recently watched the first of these films and loved it, so when the second came out, I jumped at the chance to take Aum to see it. The story begins five years after the initial instalment, and dragons now live peacefully in Berk amongst the villagers. 

Main man Hiccup is at the age where he has to make a decision about his future, and he is being pressurised into taking over from his father Stoick as chieftain of the village. He has his reservations, and instead enjoys flying around with his dragon, Toothless, and exploring unmapped areas. On one such trip, he encounters a dragon trapper named Eret, who is hostile towards him and attempts to capture Toothless in the name of his boss, a shady character building a dragon army named Drago Bludvist.

Upon returning to his father to warn of Drago, it turns out that Stoick has had a run in with him before, and he is a barbaric war lord who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Determined to believe that war isn't the answer, Hiccup runs away to try and reason with Drago, only to be captured by a dragon rider called Valka, who turns out to be Hiccup's long lost mother, believed dead. She takes him to a dragon paradise that she has founded from rescuing dragons, created by a humongous species called a Bewilderbeast, known as the Alpha, to whom all dragons answer.

Stoick follows Hiccup and is reunited with his wife, but Drago has also followed, backed with his own Bewilderbeast, who fights the Alpha and wins. Using its power of control over all the other dragons, it turns them against the humans, including Toothless, who ends up killing Stoick whilst hypnotised.

Distraught, Hiccup returns to Berk and sets a plan to ride baby dragons (who are not controllable by the Alpha) and defeat Drago. He manages to break the enchantment over Toothless, and when he battles against Drago's Bewilderbeast and wins, he becomes the new Alpha. Hiccup takes up the role of chieftain and despite losing a leg in battle, order is restored.

I actually preferred this film to the first, which doesn't happen very often with sequels! The visualisations are amazing, it actually feels like it could be possible for somewhere as beautiful and magical as Berk to exist. The relationships throughout are extremely believable, and I easily shed a tear at the demise of Stoick, who was a very likeable character. The twist of Hiccup's mother returning was a lovely plotline and helped to explain why he has such a talent with the dragons, and there were some create comedic moments which seemed to make everyone in the audience chuckle, regardless of age. A great one to watch with the kids -but I will also be watching it again with the boyfriend!

Spring Performances...

Horrible Histories at The Lowry

Last night I babysat Aum, and after seeing it advertised online a few weeks ago, suggested we went to see Horrible Histories, the theatre production based on the best selling Terry Deary books. It was on at The Lowry, and after a frantic journey there due to a late departure, we found our seats and settled down for act one. 

The cast was made up of four actors (two men, two women) and the story began with the two male characters pulling an old fashioned cart in a bid to tell the audience about 'Balmy Britain'. They were stopped by two 'parking ticket officers' who claimed that they couldn't park it where they had, and then made a wager that if the lads could convince them how crazy British history was, then their parking ticket would be pardoned.

The group then continued to see us from Medieval times, through several Kings and Queens, marriages, births, wars and deaths, up until (near enough) the present day. Along the way we heard Queen Victoria rap, heard about the fearsome body snatchers Burke and Hare, were entertained by a very short puppet of King Henry VIII, watched 3D footage of Queen Elizabeth's funeral, travelled the globe with Richard III, and watched as Boudicca reigned the Romans. It was really interactive, and great for kids of all ages - we had a great time joining in with all the songs, and I genuinely learnt quite a lot from it. 

The actors seemed to enjoy themselves performing, which I find always makes for a better production. They all had decent voices for singing, and the humour was aimed at an adult audience too, as there were influences from modern entertainment; I even heard a child ask their dad to explain one of the jokes at one point! We paid £34 for the two of us to attend, and had some of the best seats. It was a good two hours long (with an interval halfway) and was definitely worth it. I've already recommended it to all my family with children for next time it's in town!

Spring Reads...

Around The World In 80 Days by Jules Verne - 4 stars ****

This is one of those books that I have heard so much about, yet have never actually read it. Upon seeing it in Oxfam, I decided to buy it and actually make my own mind up about the well loved classic. 

Everyone knows the story - Phileas Fogg, a wealthy British man, makes a bet with a group of men at his local social club that he can travel around the world in 80 days. An easy task nowadays, but given that the novel is set in the 1870s, when rail travel was relatively new, and aside from that travel was done via ship and carriage, means it is quite a challenge.

Accompanied by his trusty servant Passepartout, and picking up an Indian princess along the way, the motley crew encounter various setbacks and trials upon their journey, not least that they are pursued by Police Inspector Fix, who is convinced that because of his swift departure, Fogg is behind a major bank robbery that occurred in London the night before he made his bet.

I really enjoyed this book - it is an easy read that is fulfilling, funny and interesting. It is very factual in style, often sections sound like they could be taken from a guide book or non-fiction writing, but this was refreshing for me, as the type of books I read can be very heavily descriptive and wordy. This was straightforward and uncomplicated, and I felt like I had learnt things after reading it!

Spring Performances...

Pygmalion at Leeds Grand Theatre - 5 stars *****

On Saturday I went to visit Jasmine in Leeds with Mum, and the three of us went to watch Pygmalion at the theatre as a belated Mother's Day present. When we arrived we were told that there were spare seats nearer to the front, so despite paying £24 for balcony seats, we got ones worth £36!

I studied the George Bernard Shaw play as part of my GCSEs, so am familiar with the storyline, but Jasmine and Mum weren't, so I was interested to see what they thought. Henry Higgins was expertly played by Alistair McGowan, who put his accent talents to great use, creating brilliant comedic value. In fact, the cast as a whole were very good, although a couple of actors had to have stand ins, one of whom awkwardly forgot some lines - but it wasn't that noticeable. I particularly liked the portrayal of Higgins' housekeeper, Mrs Pearce, a brash and blunt Irish redhead, determined to knock some sense into Henry. Rachel Barry did a sterling performance of Eliza Doolittle, though her animalistic calls did get on my nerves a little! 

The set was a hugely detailed one, that was fully moveable in order to create different scenes. It was very different from a lot of the lower budget performances I watched with school. A main 'box' was in the centre, which could be moved around in order to change from outdoor to indoor scenes, and create doorways for entrance and exits. Props were used to great advantage in my opinion, although McGowans facial expression and mannerisms alone were enough to bring the stage to life.

Overall the Grand's production was a great success, and I would have gone back to watch it again given the chance. The relationships between characters, particularly Higgins and his mother, played by Rula Lenska, were very believable, and a number of lines and deliveries had the audience in stitches! It also had its moments of sadness, and infuriation, which is always the a sign of a good play. Pygmalion was a chance and lucky find, which my mum and sister both thoroughly enjoyed.

Spring Views...

The Grand Budapest Hotel - 4 stars ****

This was a spontaneous cinema trip when a planned picnic was rained off! I swapped some Tesco vouchers for tickets, which means a full adult pays £4 - bargain! We went to watch an evening showing at Parrs Wood, and as it was my first night drinking in a month, I treated myself to a glass of wine whilst we watched it.

I saw an advert for The Grand Budapest Hotel a while ago, and thought it looked really good, as well as having an all-star cast. I didn't really know what to expect, so went into the showing with an open mind. It really was unlike anything I have seen before!

In a nutshell, it charters the life of a young lobby boy named Zero, who begins working at The Grand Budapest Hotel under the supervision of legendary concierge Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes). Famed for his spectacular reputation, well liked and very popular with the ladies, Gustave is an eccentric character who strikes up a friendship with Zero. When Madame D (Tilda Swinton), one of Gustave's many mistresses, dies and leaves him a priceless painting, 'Boy With Apple', her ungrateful family are furious, and refuse his claim. Gustave steals the painting and is imprisoned, and so begins a plot for Zero to help him to escape with the help of his girlfriend Agatha (Saiorse Ronan).

This film is difficult to explain in such a short paragraph, as it is intertwined with little subplots and character studies, that make it a masterpiece. Also included in the cast are Willem Dafoe as a shady hitman, Jude Law as the author of the book (the tale is told in his words as he writes it), Edward Norton as a police inspector, Adrian Brody as the son of Madame D, Owen Wilson as the succeeding concierge after Gustave H (the film occurs over a number of decades, and as such, certain characters have a number of actors playing them), Harvey Keitel as a fellow prison inmate... the list is endless. Each actor does a stellar job, to the point where each character is memorable - difficult in such a large cast.

Another great thing about this film is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. The comedy is magic, and at points reminds me of the same sort of slapstick as Monty Python, but then is also very dark at times, with a few gruesome scenes and bad language. I cannot express how much this film must be seen to be appreciated - even the cinematography is beautiful, with illustrations playing a role in some of the scenes. Definitely a movie that could be watched again and again as it is so entertaining.

Winter Views...

Frozen - 4 stars ****

On Thursday, I took Aum and his cousin Uma to see Frozen at the cinema. I have taken him to see quite a lot of films whilst being his nanny, and though a few have been really good (Brave, Happy Feet 2), there is also a lot of utter crap that kids watch (Planes)! I had heard good things about Frozen though, so went in with an open mind.

The first thing I noticed was how it was like the more old school Disney films - lots of songs, princesses in a castle, a bit of comedy - the one main difference is the ending, but I'll save that until later. The story is about two sisters, Elsa and Anna. Anna was born with the power to create snow and ice, and as the doting younger sister, Elsa is fascinated by her talent. However, she is not in complete control of her magic, and a mishap whilst they are playing results in an accident, leaving Elsa nearly dead when an ice spell goes through her head. She is saved by magic goblin creatures, but her parents vow that Anna's powers must be hidden to keep her safe, so have all Elsa's memory wiped, except those of her childhood memories of playing with her sister. Anna is then locked away and forbidden from seeing her, much to the confusion of Elsa, who has no idea what she has done to deserve such hostility from the sister she loves so much.

Years pass, and the girl's parents die tragically, leaving Elsa more lonely than ever. She counts down the days until her sister is of age and can be crowned queen, in the hope that they will be reunited. The day arrives, and finally the pair reconcile their differences; until Elsa meets Prince Hans that she 'falls in love' with, and rashly decides to marry. Her immaturity riles Anna, and causes her to reveal her power to the kingdom by accident in her anger, creating chaos when the townsfolk think she is an evil witch. Scared, she runs away to the mountains and creates an ice castle, where she hides, knowing that she cannot hurt anyone there (This part was my favourite, the visuals when she creates the castle are amazing, and accompanied by a brilliant power ballad!).

Elsa then goes on a quest to find Anna and return her to the throne, joined by Sven the reindeer, Kristoff, a trader of ice, and Olaf, a very amusing snowman that the girls made as children who has come to life. They are beset by various trials along the way, including Elsa being struck through the heart with an ice spell, which proves fatal if not met by an act of true love. Kristoff has since fallen in love with Elsa, but it is unrequited as she is still besotted with Hans. Worried, they race back to him, and Kristoff and Sven leave for home, only for the audience to find out that he has tricked them all and only wants the throne for himself. He chains up Anna, and eventually Elsa turns to a statue of ice. 

This is where the difference is. In normal Disney films, this would be where Kristoff rocks up, kisses her and they both live happily ever after. However, this time, it is the tears of Anna crying over the death of her sister that bring her back to life - an act of true love. As an older sister myself, I couldn't cope with this, and was bawling like a baby, which had to be swiftly covered up in front of the two kids I was with! 

I would really recommend this as an all round family film, it has a love story, comedy characters, good songs, amazing cinamatography, a fiesty heroine, and an absolute babe in the form of Anna, who is my favourite Disney princess EVER. Go see!

Autumn Reads...

Man and Boy by Tony Parsons - 2 stars **

This book has been sat on my shelf for a while, as I wasn't massively bothered about reading it based on the blurb. It sounded decent, but a little typical, and I like reading novels with a bit of depth. Not one to judge a book by its cover though, I eventually got around to reading it, and actually enjoyed it, finishing it in less than a week (the joys of short, simple books!).

It is about a man in his early thirties, who, bored by his mundane life, cheats on his wife, who subsequently packs off for a new job in Japan, leaving him to look after their four year old son, Paddy. It is a pretty stock story - he has to learn to be a father, deal with the guilt of having ruined his family life, and get back onto the dating scene, but it has some comedic moments, and the lead character Harry is believable and honest with the reader.

There are some issues I have with Man and Boy though. It contains lots of overt cliches - the ex wife gets with a new hot shot businessman, Harry loses his job as soon as he has been dumped, babysitters are gum-chewing chavs with piercings, gays are pink-wearing snakehipped dancers... you get the idea. Towards the end it also got quite preachy and OTT, throwing comments around about learning from mistakes, and saying that children are the most beautiful things on Earth, and that we have to learn to let go. Basically, it is a story to be taken with a pinch of salt, and though I won't be rushing out to buy the latest Tony Parsons instalment, it was a pleasant read that made me chuckle.

Autumn Reads...

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres - 4 stars ****

This is one of those books that I have wanted to read for ages, more out of curiosity than anything else. I have never watched the film, and had no idea what the plot was about, and the title certainly didn't enlighten me any more! 

It tells a story set in Cephallonia  over a period of nearly 80 years, mainly focusing on a woman called Pelagia (though the tale begins through the eyes of her father Iannis, the village doctor). Her mother died when she was young, and the two have a very special bond. The book takes place during the Italian/ German occupation in the Second World War, and initially Pelagia is in love and betrothed to a local man called Mandras, but he is changed after he is sent to war, and the pair never actually marry. Instead, Pelagia falls in love with one of the Italian Captains stationed on the island (and resident at their house), Antonio Corelli. This is not a quick occurence, and therefore acts as the main anchor for the plot. 

It is difficult to explain the story, as it revolves around daily life, and social politics etc, so if I were to say in detail what happens, it probably wouldn't urge you to read it. But it is very cleverly written, so that it makes you learn about history, philosophise about life and its meanings, engage with the characters, laugh out loud and mourn for fictional deaths. At times it is shocking, and other times it is romantic. As a reader, it takes you on a complete life journey with Pelagia, from her being a young girl fresh out of school, to an elderly grandmother filled with regret. This is seen when towards the end, she says:

'I sit here and I remember former times. I remember music in the night, and I know that all my joys have been pulled out of my mouth like teeth. I shall be hungry and thirsty and longing forever. If only I had a child, a child to suckle at the breast, if I had Antonio. I have been eaten up like bread. I lie down in thorns and my well is filled with stones. All my happiness was smoke.'

It really is a wonderful book, and I am glad I didn't judge it by the cover, as the copy I have makes it looks like a typical romance novel. It approaches love in a more realistic and attainable sense I feel, as opposed to an idealistic way such as in other novels. I particularly like the way Iannis describes the love between himself and his deceased wife to Pelagia, when he is urging her to think carefully about whether Corelli is The One.

'Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body... That is just being "in love", which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two. But sometimes the petals fall away and the roots have not entwined.' 

Summer Views...

Planes - 2 stars **

Today I took Aum and his friend Max to see Planes, the latest Disney Pixar offering. It tells the tale of Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook), a small plane built to dust crops in the countryside, and his dreams of winning the prestigious Wings Around The World race tournament. After originally failing to make it past the trials stage, a place becomes available when one contestant is found guilty of using an illegal fuel and is disqualified. The space in between Dusty's disappointment at not making the grade, to him gaining a place took all of ten minutes, so there wasn't much empathy there to be honest.

There are all the usual set backs; a few planes dislike the fact that he isn't a racing plane, and try to bully him out, he has a fear to overcome (a fear of heights) in order to succeed, and his hero (Skipper, a supposed naval hero) is found to have lied about his accomplishments, causing Dusty to doubt himself at the last hurdle. I think the overall story in Planes left a bit to be desired, it was quite predictable, and was basically the same as Cars but with a different mode of transport. This was particularly noticeable with the characters, as there is a clumsy and stupid sidekick (Brad Garrett), a self righteous leading female (Teri Hatcher) and a 'baddie' with a big ego, all of which are dominant in Cars.

However, the visuals in this film were really good. As the competition takes places all over the world, many countries and cultures were shown, which was really interesting and good for children seeing it to learn about international destinations. The two I took to see it complained that it wasn't long enough, which is unusual, so they obviously enjoyed it!

A sequel is planned for release in 2014, which I may be dragged to see, but my expectations won't exceed a carbon copy of Cars 2, with planes!

Weekly Update!

Sushi, Summer Drinks & Holiday Prep!

I'm doing my post a little early this week as I'm off to Majorca on holiday tomorrow! The week has been quite uneventful really, just filled with packing and preparation for going away. Tuesday I ate at the country club, and had lobster nigiri sushi with apple jelly which was amazing, and had a side of sunblushed tomatoes with olives, which were served in a cute little terracotta pot. I am not usually a fan of sweet things with savoury, but the apple jelly with the sushi really enhanced the flavour of the lobster, so it was a welcome addition.

On Wednesday I went shopping at the Trafford Centre for some things for Aum, glad I didn't give myself much time, as the sales were really good so I could have spent a lot of money if I'd had chance to look at things! In the evening I went to Mo's and we watched Warm Bodies, which was better than I expected, an easy viewing comedy horror type thing.

The weather was still great this week so once Aum finished school on Thursday at 12pm we went to the park for the afternoon, and then in the evening I had a few drinks with my friend Luke at the Oasthouse in Spinningfields, Manchester. It has a great outdoor area, so was really busy and people stayed until fairly late so it was a good way to break up the week.

Today I took Aum to the country club for the day to work on my pre-tan! We had lunch there (I had the crunch roll sushi, my favourite!) and played in the pool until it was time to leave for his grandparents house in Oldham. Once I had dropped him off I got to come home and finish for two weeks, hooray! I've spent the rest of this afternoon packing, and am off to get my nails done shortly before picking Mo up ready to leave at 4am tomorrow!

Weekly Update (Mon-Thurs)

Waitrose, Country Club & American Bar!

This week's post is a little out of the ordinary, as I am going to the airport to travel to Paris in fifteen minutes, so thought I'd do a weekly update post now, and then I can fill you in on my escapades in France when I return.

On Monday I went to a Body Pump class and then went out for lunch with Mum. We just went to the cafe in Waitrose as I had some shopping to do for Aum, but we had some lovely Moroccan chicken soup with crusty bread and then shared a maple and pecan YumYum (basically a twisted doughtnut). I babysat briefly in the evening, and counted out my tip jar when I got home (desperate times) - there was £41 in there!

On Tuesday I hammered the gym and then in the evening had a swim and ate tea at the Country Club. I had a prawn omelette off the specials menu that was delicious, it had sugarsnap peas and spring onions in it too. After work I went to the American Bar with Natasha and Abi and I had two huge waffles with toffee sauce and ice cream for my dessert and a glass of wine which was bliss. Emily and Smeed joined us afterwards for a quick drink, and then I got a lift home.

On Wednesday I did a really good cycle whilst watching Due Date which was pretty funny, and then I met Mo for lunch in Manchester at The Grill on New York Street (see previous post). I went for a quick mooch around Primark and then in the evening Mo came round for a few hours to see me before I went to Paris.

Today I finished packing and have just been to get my nails done ready for my trip. So excited to get back to Paris and to see Claire who I am staying with!

Spring Views...

American Reunion - 4 stars ****

I wanted to see this as soon as I saw the advert, as American Pie just takes me back to the whole of my teenage years! The premise of the film was pretty straight forward: the school that the loveable guys from the original lineup went to is holding its reunion, so the three of them that are still in touch (Jim, Kevin and Oz) arrange to meet up a couple of days before to have a catchup prior to the main event. They are gatecrashed by Finch, who they have not heard from for years, and of course Stifler, from which straight away, you know chaos will ensue.

What I found great about this film were two things. Firstly, its simplicity. The directors and writers haven't tried to make it anything it isn't, it is the same gross comedy, cringeworthy mishaps and believable relationships that have presided throughout the first 'three' films (I am not including the various offshoot films or extended editions in this number!). This was added to by the second good thing about this film: that it is one of the few sequels to include the complete original cast - even down to the MILF guys, and The Sherminator! So there wasn't that confused moment when the audience suddenly realises, 'Ohhh, so he's supposed to be X now'. I think all of the actors got their first shot at fame because of American Pie, and so probably felt some kind of affiliation towards it, which I think is a pleasure to see in today's Hollywood.

Because we are all so used to expecting the most crude jokes and awkward scenes from the original trilogy, I think the opportunity to address some actually fairly relevant topics for the characters' ages (early thirties) was handled well, as they were directly contrasted with humour. 

Jim and Michelle's (Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan) marriage is a bit rocky since the birth of their first child; Oz (Chris Klein) is a successful sports commentator with the perfect house, car and stunning girlfriend, but is concerned that he hasn't found the love of his life and settled down yet; Stifler (Sean William Scott) is still bumming around the town he came from, struggling to find a job that he can stick at, and having lost all his friends; Kevin is happily married, but feels emasculated, and confronted with old flame Vicky (Tara Reid) has a hard time dealing with it; and Finch is living a lie, telling everyone he has travelled the world and had crazy adventures, when really he works in a branch of Staples and feels he has accomplished nothing in life. 

All of these things, as well as generally growing up, having to deal with the death of a parent and facing past demons are something that everyone can relate to, no matter how old they are, and I think this is the overall beauty of this film. It is genuinely funny, heartfelt, and leaves you happy at the end, as everyone gets what they want. Who would have thought it from American Pie?   

Spring Views...

Dark Shadows- 4 stars ****

As soon as I saw the billboard for this film in America, I knew I wanted to see it. Directed by Tim Burton, with an all-star cast including Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter (who are two of my faves), and Colleen Atwood as the costume designer (her creations are amazing!), it was pretty much guaranteed to be good.

Sticking with the gothic theme that all of his films have, Burton's latest venture is about a young man called Barnabas Collins (Depp), who is cursed to be a vampire by a witch whose love for him is unrequited. Not content with murdering his parents and his one true love Josette in 1772, sorceress Angelique (Eva Green - who looks STUNNING in this film!) buries Barnabas in a coffin where he stays for two centuries, until he is found by workmen in 1972.

Returning to his parents estate, Barnabas finds it in ruin, and his remaining family have lost their successful fishing business to AngelBay Industries - owned by the much loved Angie (who turns out to be none other than Angelique). Determined to seek revenge on the woman who has ruined his life, he sets out restoring the family to their former glory in a bid to destroy the witch, and end the curse that has plagued his family for centuries.

It is a fairly simple story, but there are many twists that are added to it. Barnabas, it is revealed, is not the only Collins to have suffered at the hands of Angelique. His modern day ancestors have various afflictions that are the result of her spells. One of the children believes he can see the ghost of his mother, who died through drowning in the sea (which wasn't an accident). Another -sultry teenager Carolyn (played by Chloe Moretz) turns out to be a werewolf due to being bitten as a child. Michelle Pfieffer plays Carolyn's mother Elizabeth, and has an array of gorgeous costumes throughout the film, and Bonham Carter is a psychiatrist (perfect casting!) helping young David with his 'hallucinations'.

Because of the dramatically different surroundings and time period Barnabas finds himself in, there are lots of moments of humour, and Depp plays the character with such naivety that it is endearing. It is refreshing to see a film involving mythical creatures such as vampires and werewolves that doesn't take itself too seriously, and in this way it almost seemed like a deliberate parody, which added to its entertainment value. There were also some brilliant cameos from Christopher Lee and Alice Cooper, that I thought were well placed within the action.

Although there were lots of funny moments, there were also scenes that were very dark, and some that were also quite heartbreaking, making it a good all rounder film, that I think would be appreciated in different ways by different people. Just don't take any young children to see it despite the PG rating - there is a lot of blood, as well as some rather raunchy parts, that couldn't easily be explained to a five year old!

The only complaint I have is the love story behind the film. Though the chemistry between Depp and his lover was quite convincing, there was a rather lacklustre plotline that I don't think was very well explained. The actress playing the doomed Josette (newcomer Bella Heathcote) also played the children's nanny Victoria, and the audience later found out that she has had visions of an eerie woman since childhood, causing her to be sent to a mental institute by her parents. It was obvious that Burton meant for Victoria to be some kind of reincarnation of Josette, and at the end Depp and her are united as vampires to live for eternity, but I just felt that the detail was missed so it wasn't entirely clear. This wasn't enough to ruin my opinion of the film as a whole though. I would highly recommend it, especially if you are a fan of all things Burton-esque and gothicy like I am!

Spring Views...

Wanderlust- 3 stars ***
My friend and I decided we wanted to go to the cinema, and this was all that was on that took our fancy. I hadn't heard much about it, but the cast was pretty decent, and it is directed by David Wain who did Role Models, so I thought it would be at least average.

The story follows a high-flying couple, George and Linda, living in Manhattan, who after one of them loses their job decide to go on a soul searching trip for a while. Along the way, they stumble across a commune called Elysium, where people live freely. This means there is no electricity, media or standard rules in place that communities usually live by; so if you want to walk around naked screaming the national anthem, you can do. After getting high on the first night and letting themselves go they decide to stay for a while.

In the morning, whilst adjusting to their new surroundings, Linda finds herself settling in nicely. The same can't be said for George, who finds it weird that people happily share sexual partners, and misses using his mobile phone and GPS system. He agrees to give it a go for Linda's sake, and they agree to take up the lifestyle wholeheartedly, so much so that Linda sleeps with the communes 'leader', the slightly arrogant Seth. She urges George to sleep with the gorgeous Eva to make things even, but he fails to do so, and so it causes friction for the couple and they have to work through their troubles in order to stay together.

This was actually a good film. Though the plot wasn't massively complex, there were some really funny parts to it, and Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd who played the lead characters had great on-screen chemistry so they came across as a believable couple. Though it is not a situation that most people could relate to, the issues behind the couples' problems were relateable, and so you came out with a feel-good feeling when they resolved them and lived 'happily ever after'. Some of the characters were a little stereotyped, such as nudist Wayne and slightly crazy former porn star Karen (who you may recognise from various rom-coms) but these add to the comedy value of the movie. I wouldn't rush out to buy it, but for an easy watch on a Friday night in, this is perfect.

Winter Views...

New Year's Eve- 3 stars ***

I went to see this yesterday with my friends to get us in the Christmassy spirit. I didn't really know what it was going to be like, having not seen an advert, but within a few scenes I could tell it was going to be a New Year's Eve version of Love Actually, in that it involves lots of different characters, each with their own storylines, that are somehow all linked.

You couldn't complain at the cast; it had everyone from Halle Berry to Ashton Kutcher and Robert De Niro to Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as teen favourites Zac Efron (who I must admit, looked pretty hot!) and Lea Michele, and they all did their jobs well. Rather than write 4 paragraphs about the different stories, I'll condense it into bulletpoints:

• There are two couples competing to have the first midnight baby to win $25,000 played by Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Sarah Paulson and Til Schweiger.


• Ingrid (Michelle Pfeifer) is a quiet secretary who finally bites the bullet and quits her belittling job, and sets off with a courier (Zac Efron) to fulfil a list of resolutions before midnight.


• Efron's sister SJP is having issues wth her teenage daughter Abigail Breslin, as she seeks her first NYE kiss. SJP herself meets up with a mysterious man she met the year before (Josh Duchamel) at midnight, after thy made a pact to do so if they still thought of each other.


• Robert De Niro is a cancer patient who is bed bound and waiting to die. His daughter played by Hilary Swank (who is in charge of the New York ball drop) comes to visit him last minute so that they can see the New Year in on the roof, as is their tradition.


• His nurse Halle Berry is an army wife, who has a very emotional Skype conversation towards the end of the film with her husband.


• Caterer Laura (Katherine Heigl) is in charge of a massive party, but is being pestered by her ex Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) to get back together after he left her a year previously.


• Jensen's backup singer (Lea Michele) gets trapped in a lift with waster Ashton Kutcher (Efron's flatmate), and the pair realise they have a lot in common. She has to try to race to get to the gig on time, and after Kutcher follows her with her bracelet that she left behind, they get together.

There were some plotlines that were more interesting than others, as in any film, and a few cheesy singing moments from Bon Jovi and Lea Michele made it a bit cringeworthy, but overall a decent watch, and definitely got all my friends and I a bit tearful and feeling festive ready for Christmas
.

Autumn Views...

The Inbetweeners Movie- 3 stars ***

After three series screened on E4 that were hugely successful, a film based on the exploits of the four teenage boys dubbed 'The Inbetweeners' was bound to happen. This time, as opposed to following the foursome around their school and home lives as they desperately try to snare girlfriends, underage drink and make fools of themselves; the audience are transported to the glorious destination of Malia where, you guessed it, they try to snare girlfriends, drink (legally for once) and make fools of themselves.

Following a breakup with his first love, poor Simon is trying to get over his ex, while Jay is on a mission for 'clunge' and Will is desperately trying to lose his virginity. Neil, as ever, is content following the others around, making naively stupid comments and throwing some seriously funky shapes on the dancefloor.

I must admit, I was dubious. After seeing two different trailers, both fairly long, I thought it would be a case of paying £6 to watch extended versions of the jokes used to reel you in. Though this did occur in certain scenes, it was by no means the majority of the laughs available. It was original as ever and extremely relateable given that I was 18 myself not too many years ago!

There were more than a few hugely funny parts, and the opportunity for lots of memorable quotes to be stolen (I was guilty of this when on holiday recently). My particular favourite scene involved Neil dancing on an empty dancefloor in a seedy bar, and although the beginning was familiar from one of the trailers, I was not prepared for the events that followed- hilarious!

The only qualm I had was that it seemed in parts as though the writers were deliberately trying to get some kind of message across, which felt quite forced and unnecessary. Everyone I know has gone to see the film for a bit of a lighthearted laugh, so I really don't feel that a serious undertone was needed. Also, it did feel a bit drawn out to say that the storyline was fairly basic; the feature was 1 hour 45 minutes long.

Overall though I'd say it's a success. There have been much worse TV-to-film adaptations that have seriously flunked, and I'd be very surprised if this joins their ranks - it has already grossed 35 million pounds! See it for a laugh, not a life-changing experience.

Summer Views...

Horrible Bosses- 3 stars ***

Last night I went to the cinema, and managed to persuade the group to watch Horrible Bosses rather than Captain America, as I'd seen an advert at the start of summer and thought it looked pretty funny.

The premise is fairly simple, three best friends all hate their bosses, and so decide to join together and kill them. When Kurt Buckman's boss (Donald Sutherland) dies of a heart attack, the company is inherited by his son (played by Colin Farrell), a manipulative coke addict, who makes his life hell with his selfish business-sense and extravagant lifestyle. Nick Hendricks boss (Kevin Spacey) is determined to run him to the ground by overworking him for no reward, blackmailing and threatening to fire him whenever he tries to complain. Dale Arbus has a maneater for a boss (Jennifer Aniston), who uses sexual innuendo and inappropriate mind games in an attempt to sleep with him, despite him having a fiance. Unfortunately for him he has a previous conviction which means it is unlikely he will get another job.

It is an easy to follow storyline, with some good laughs and a strong cast. It is refreshing to see Aniston using her talent in a more meaty role for once, rather than the same 'pretty girlfriend of a main character' that she always seems to be lumbered with.

As well as the few familiar faces that crop up, there are some roles that are played by those actors who you know you have seen before but you just can't place, most notably two of the three lead characters. Kurt is played by Jason Sudeikis, who you may have seen in What Happens In Vegas alongside Cameron Diaz, or in Hall Pass from earlier this year. Jason Bateman plays Nick, who has previously starred in indie flick Juno and last year's comedy hit Paul. The final character in the trio, Dale, is played by Charlie Day, who appears to be more of a name on the small screen. All three do the parts huge justice, and an excellent cameo role from Jamie Foxx really is the icing on the cake. It may not scoop hundreds of Oscars, but it is slightly more clever than your typical comedy, and is a lighthearted enjoyable film for summer.

Summer Views...

Bridesmaids- 4 stars ****

Hailed as 'the female Hangover' I was really up for seeing this after watching a trailer, so on a whim one day my friend and I went to see it.

It tells the story of a middle-aged woman, who is called upon by her best friend to be her maid of honour when she becomes engaged. She agrees to the role straight away, only to be hit with constant hurdles due to the other 4 bridesmaids and their differing opinions. Though the characters are slightly stereotyped (there is a tomboy, a religious newlywed, a controlling rich wife and a wild child stuck with a soccer mum's life) the scenarios that come about as a result do all have a certain amount of believability to them, which make it all the more funny.

What I love most about this film is its honesty. It portrays women in a way that isn't mocking, yet is true to real life, a warts and all depiction if you will. The relationships between the characters are highly authentic, and at times I was laughing because what was shown reminded me of a similar situation with my friends, and I think a film that can emote like that is well worth a watch.

The vast majority of characters are played by actors that I am not familiar with, which I think is refreshing in a Hollywood film nowadays. I had seen Rose Byrne (who is superbitch Helen) in a few things (in fact, she is in the latest X-Men film) but the lead character Annie is portrayed brilliantly by Kristen Wiig, who seems to have broken onto the blockbuster scene after numerous appearances on Saturday Night Live, as she was also the leading lady in comedy Paul earlier this year. A particular mention must also go to Melissa McCarthy, who is absolutely hilarious as the groom's sister Megan. There are also some funny faces from the British comedy set, in particular Matt Lucas, and Chris O'Dowd, of The IT Crowd fame. The entire cast slot perfectly together, and there isn't a weak link amongst them.

The way this film differs from other generic female based comedies, is that it isn't afraid to be crude and to-the-point. Like The Hangover, it focuses on showing realistic relationships, rather than ideals. When Annie gets kicked out of her apartment, loses her job and can't get the man she is sleeping with to love her, she isn't sympathised with. A new job doesn't just fall into her lap, and a new house materialise for half the rent. She gets told to man up by her friends, and has to apologise for being such an idiot to the man who truly cares about her. That folks, is much more like real life than any Bridget Jones, and why this film is definitely worth taking the time to view.