Sick is the new sane

Scream 4  (contains spoilers) 4/5

Being a massive horror film buff myself, I was so excited when the news broke that Scream 4 was being made. I consistently followed the forum religiously on IMDB to find out all the information, gossip and hype surrounding the release of a new film. Of course I had to wait a year until I would find out whom would be terrorising Sydney and how the young new cast would fit into this twisted story. I made a point in booking my tickets in advance for this film and on opening night took my seat, ready to be indulged in a world full of gore and young people being killed by a ghostface killer.

Scream 4 follows Sidney Prescott, survivor of the previous Woodsboro killings who returns to her home town on the anniversary of the killings that terrorised the small town a mere fifteen years before. On first viewing I have to admit that I was not impressed by the opening, being completely skeptical of the idea of a movie within a movie. When it came to the real deal and two girls from Woodsboro discussing the events of the film that they watched I have to admit that I did become excited. I was really interested to know how the killer was going to do it, but also if there would be any nods to the original. We do not see one of the girls being killed; however the audience knows that when it goes deadly silent and then her body gets thrown through a window that it does not bode well for the remaining victim. The remaining girl ends up being chased and has her back broken by a garage door (this is a nod to the original, as Tatum was originally supposed to die with the garage door coming down on her neck.)

As for the introduction to the new characters, I felt you were drawn to them and could identify characteristics within yourself or any friends. I found them to be easily likeable…especially Kirby and Robbie for myself. It was great seeing Woodsboro High again, even with a blink and miss it moment of a bust of Principal Himbry. The moment when they all found out about the two murders was through their mobile phones, another new rule and shows how much technology has changed since 1996. In the new group are: Kirby, Jill, Olivia, Trevor, Robbie and Charlie. Kirby is known as the female Randy and Charlie is also very knowledgeable and runs the movie club with Robbie, who also runs an online blog and updates to the internet through a headgear with a camera attached. 

Concerning the original characters, I liked how Dewey and Gale were introduced, the audience immediately senses that Gale is bored and Dewey is proud of his role as Sheriff. A little humour is also added throughout the film with the Deputy Judy character, obviously in love with Dewey. It was really interesting to note how the Sidney/Billy relationship is mirrored through her cousin Jill and her boyfriend Trevor as the audience are made to think that Trevor is a suspect right from the beginning. One scene in particular is when he sneaks through Jill’s bedroom window. 

The second killing for me was really rather brutal, not that I didn’t enjoy it! Olivia is in her house alone as her parents are away on holiday, while Kirby and Jill are in the house next door watching Shaun of the Dead on DVD.The killer phones and antagonizes the girls, saying that he is in the closet. Kirby then looks and the reply they get is simply “I said I was in a closet, not your closet!” and then we cut to the scene with Olivia being repeatedly stabbed through the bedroom window with Kirby and Jill and Sidney watching who cannot do a thing to stop it. This death is by far the goriest throughout the entire film and for me, the most memorable as when Sidney runs through to catch the killer she glimpses Olivia who is laying on her bed, completely gutted. Again, the audience reaction was groaning throughout this. Jill was also slashed on the arm as Sidney ran in to confront the killer. With the odd shout of “What are you doing!?!”  

Gale helps the new characters and is excited by the prospect that the killings are happening all over again, meaning that she has something else to focus on and this is the beginning of a new book for her? Dewey also does state that he and Gale are having marital problems and that Gale isn’t particularly happy with married life. 

I thought the ending was really good – I had an idea who one of the killers was throughout, however it was not much of a surprise as to who the other was. I joked about the second killer saying “If I find out that she done this because she’s sick of all the attention being on Sidney, I am going to go mental!” Of course this was right and even so that my boyfriend could not even look at me when this particular motive was being described. One of the particular reasons was that people get famous in the present day for doing near enough nothing. I liked the way that both the new and original characters tied into each other and thought that it worked really well. Self mutilation scene was hilarious at one point that the whole cinema audience were laughing so loud. The hospital scene was really good, with my favourite line being “You’re forgetting one thing about remakes – you don’t fuck with the original”  

Still to me nothing will ever beat the original; however I do prefer this film to the other two sequels. It will definitely be a DVD purchase for me. 

Good points: The relationship between new and old characters, the barn and hospital car park scene, writing and of course the ending.

Bad points: One of Jill’s motives – I was not impressed with the attention part. The “fuck Bruce Willis” line – I felt that it was just not needed and rather cheesy.

That 70's Show

 

Apologies guys as I haven’t had time to update recently! That will change though, going to devote more time to my blog. I’ve also just started writing movie reviews for a local magazine, so fingers crossed that goes well!

So thought I would discuss another one of my favourite TV shows. This week I have chosen to focus on That 70’s Show. 

When That 70’s Show first premiered it hit audiences with a bang as it is something so different and contemporary. It was actually my boyfriend who introduced me to it. I remember coming home from college and watching it on Trouble channel. I love every single character in this show as they are all really likeable. This is a programme that never fails to put a smile on my face. 

The premise behind That 70’s Show is the Forman family from Point Place, Wisconsin. Eric Forman (Topher Grace) is the main character of this show and examines his relationships with his family, friends and his relationship with his next door neighbour and oldest friend, Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon). A lot of big name celebrities established themselves on this show and made their way into the Hollywood elite including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Wilmer Valderamma. This show was a huge success, premiering back in 1999.

My favourite character is Steven Hyde. He is one rebellious teenager who loves to bend the rules but also have a good time. I think that Danny Masterson is the ideal actor to play Hyde. He has some of the best lines and plays a huge part in this show, being the best friend of the main character, Eric. There are so many iconic moments and lines from this character however one which sticks out is the Halloween episode of season 2:

I also love Red and Kitty (Eric’s parents) Kitty has an eccentric laugh and I think my reasoning why I like them so much is because they remind me so much of my own mum and dad. In fact come to think of it, Donna and Eric is a lot like my boyfriend and I. The 'circle' part is also classic, I love how the writers thought to include this in most episodes where the characters sit in a circle and discuss things under the influence. This is comedy genius and where most of the best lines take place.

However I will admit that I have never seen past season six as at the later stages I think it went downhill. Topher Grace did keep the show alive and I did see the last episode where he returned to Point Place after an absence of a season. 

My favourite seasons are one and two, so buy the DVDs and give this great comedy a chance! You'll thank me for it.

I felt it. Perfect. I was perfect.

Black Swan   3/5

 

When the advertisement for Black Swan was first advertised on television I was immediately drawn to it. Part of this may have been because it looked quite scary (being a HUGE horror fan myself) and because Mila Kunis had a main role, an actress who has a place in my heart ever since That 70’s Show.

At the time of its release in the cinema I could not convince anyone to accompany me to the cinema to see it so instead I have obtained a copy from my sister’s fiancé. I had heard a lot of mixed reports about it, however I am a firm believer that you should make up your own mind about something. Here goes:

From the opening scenes of this film I was on the edge of my seat. We are first introduced to Nina, a ballerina who is part of a top New York City ballet company, vying for the role of the Swan Queen in its new production. When the artistic director Thomas Leroy replaces Beth McIntyre with Nina in the role of Swan Queen for their new production, Nina is torn as she can dance the white swan perfectly but has trouble playing the black swan. All the while competing dancer Lily embodies everything about the black swan’s character. The two dancers become friends who end up in a twisted rivalry together, before Nina’s dark side threatens to consume her.

I thought that Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Nina was definitely Oscar worthy and she was well suited for this complex role. Mila Kunis also played Lily perfectly, however I would have liked to have seen a little more of her during this film and it is a real shame that she is hardly recognised for this role as supporting actress. At times this story is scary and unpredictable. Do not take this lightly, as Black Swan is categorised under the horror genre and some moments throughout the film are rather disturbing. I think that this is needed though to convey how Nina’s dark side was destroying her.

Black Swan is a dark, twisted fantasy of a film which may not cater to my personal taste but one which I did enjoy.

Good points: The acting from both Portman and Kunis, her performance as the white swan at the beginning, the relationship between Lily and Nina and Winona Ryder’s small role as Beth McIntyre.

Bad points: I would have liked to have seen more of Kunis in this film and the scene where she picks the skin from her fingers.

The Office: An American Workplace

Instead of updating about a film today I have decided to mix it up a little and update about my new found love of The Office (US version). 

I remember seeing the adverts for the third season of The Office on Comedy Central but at the time registered no interest in the programme. This was probably due to the fact that I cannot stand Ricky Gervais and thought that if I did not like the UK version of The Office then I would in no way like the American version. Oh how wrong I was! On Virgin TV on demand I seen the first, second and third season and decided to give it a bash. I've been hooked ever since! I started working my way through season one (which only has six episodes) and have since worked through season 2, which is my favourite so far. 

Steve Carrel plays Michael Scott, the regional manager of a paper company 'Dunder Mifflin' in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Desperately trying to be his right hand man is Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), an eccentric character who is constantly pranked by Jim Halpert (John Kransinksi). There are of course, other characters that make up the wonderful cast and provide constant entertainment. It is a programme that reminds me of a can of Pringles 'once you pop you can't stop' and this applies to every season that I have seen so far. (I am half way through season 3) I am trying to pace myself while watching this as I like to savour every moment of this fantastic comedy. 

A lot of viewers will not even give the US Office a chance as they become too attached to the British version. It is something that I feel everyone should give a chance - brilliantly written, acted and constructed. It has made its way firmly into one of my favourite shows of all time within the space of a couple of months. 

My favourite character has to be Dwight Schrute as I think Rainn Wilson was born to play this role. Dwight has some excellent lines and I also love the relationship between him and Angela Martin. He is so desperate for Michael’s approval that he jumps on Michael’s ill-advised schemes and humiliates his fellow colleagues in order to receive praise. He views Michael as a complete success and idolises him.

One of my favourite lines is “That’s what she said” and I love the parody that runs along with that. A moment that I cannot stop laughing at is during the sexual harassment episode in season 2 where Michael addresses the office that he is no longer aloud to make jokes and that they can no longer remain friends. In fact, the clip explains it all:

So get watching The Office, you won't regret it!

I checked the list of people I trust and your name ain't on it

The Lincoln Lawyer   4/5

After hearing numerous radio advertisements for The Lincoln Lawyer I actually wasn’t enticed into going to see it. It appeared to be a typical run of the mill thriller film that you can find every other week in the cinema. It was after a family member went to see it and highly recommended it to me that I considered viewing it. I also had a discount voucher for the cinema, which I decided to put to good use and see The Lincoln Lawyer.

The audience are first introduced to Mick Haller, a defence lawyer who operates his work through the backseat of his treasured Lincoln car. A wealthy Beverly Hills estate agent is accused of raping a prostitute, which becomes Haller’s next case but as the trial commences secrets begin unravelling and Haller soon discovers that his client may not be as innocent as he portrays.

As I have previously stated, I was not particularly looking forward to viewing this film so I did enter the cinema with a rather negative view of what was about to happen. However, I was very pleasantly surprised within the first fifteen minutes. I felt that Mick Haller was an instantly likeable character and the audience were immediately on his side. Matthew McConaughey is not an actor that I am familiar with (aside from the hilarious cameo where he plays himself in Sex and the City) and it was great to see him in action taking on a role that he was made for.

Ryan Phillippe starred as Louis Roulet, the real estate agent who was accused of raping a prostitute and was being represented by Haller. I immediately liked this character, a statement which I know a lot of people will disagree with. I thought that Phillippe brought a likeness about him and I felt real empathy for him when he was stating his case for innocence from the outset. This role was also played very well; a classic example of this was when at the beginning of the film I remember feeling empathy for the character and as the film was progressing, feeling absolute resentment towards him.

On exiting the cinema I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this film and have since recommended it to a lot of people. This film was very well constructed and the acting was fantastic. I enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought the book, which was a little different from the film.

Good points: The acting, especially from McConaughey and Phillippe, the final courtroom scene and of course the ending.

Bad points: None, even after reading the book I did not feel that there was anything important missing.