#life2017

[dylanjacksonphotos]

Can't wait for the next festival

[homeplanetreviews]

Life (2017) Movie Review by: Tristan Bunn

Life is the new sci-fi/horror/thriller style film from Daniel Espinosa (Safe House) that stars some incredible talent including Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds. I was a little skeptical going into this picture because I didn’t see any reviews and the trailer didn’t impress me, but I was excited nonetheless. I am proud to say this movie really surprised me. This is a really exciting, taut, and well directed sci-fi film that I truly loved.

This movie is a beautiful and glaring example of films that know what they are and embrace a genre. However, this film actually has some themes under the surface regarding humanity and how we perceive things and life we aren’t used to. Espinosa directs this film masterfully, which truly impressed me because I wasn’t too crazy about Safe House. He opens the film with a near 10 minute long unbroken take that was crafted incredibly well. This sets the stage for a marvelous adventure.

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have proven they can write a film with their work on Deadpool and Zombieland, and I think they’ve crafted a nice script again. The film takes its time to build the characters so you actually care when the danger arrives. You don’t know a whole lot about each of them, but you know enough to have a rewarding experience, and I really enjoyed the pacing overall. The film makes a bold decision relatively early (accompanied by a gorgeous shot) where I genuinely thought “This is going to be great.” There are some slight cliches and tropes I suppose, but they never jumped out at me. I was always into the experience that was occurring.

The acting is phenomenal across the board. It wasn’t just suitable and fine as you might expect in a movie like this, it was genuinely fantastic acting. Gyllenhaal is amazing as always, as is Reynolds, but the big surprise to me was Rebecca Ferguson. I think she took the reigns of the film and gave the best performance. I loved what she did here. However, there isn’t a weak spot in the cast at all.

The film also feels very real. The characters feel like legitimate people and they never get heavy with the exposition or take you out of the experience. It’s rated R even though it’s not overly gory or violent and I think the rating serves this film tremendously. I know this isn’t really something that matters...a fucking rating, but the R rating allowed the characters to feel incredibly real and the film to have a super realistic atmosphere that I adored. The score suits the film great by blending into the background and slowly pulling the audience into the picture even more. This is also a testament to the wonderful sound mixing. Mix all of these aspects with beautiful visual effects and you have a good film on your hands.

Life is an incredibly well directed, well acted, and well written sci-fi/horror film that had me leaving the theater surprised and excited because of the experience I just had. Don’t go in expecting the genre to be redefined or anything, but have a good time with the original places this movie goes and the wonderful craftsmanship on display in the filmmaking.

Grade: A

[sciencetoastudent]

Finally got around to seeing Life. Appearing to be nothing more than a weak ripoff of Alien from the trailer, I went into this movie with very low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. While nothing compared to the aforementioned 1979 classic, this film presented an unoriginal concept in a new, fairly well repackaged delivery. Decent horror and suspense, and in my favorite aspect, a mostly realistic alien. They even used accurate scientific language; nothing above, say, a high school biology course, but just seeing that in a movie at all was nice. The ending was both unexpected and good; I want a sequel now! This movie created a scenario I often think of, and we all should, too. Maybe if we find alien life it won't be so friendly. (P.S. Seeing Hiroyuki Sanada was a wonderful treat; you may remember him as Ujio, the best character in The Last Samurai, the fearless one who beat up Tom Cruise.) #life #life2017 #lifemovie #scifi #sciencefiction #movie #film #alien #monster #science #biology #thelastsamurai

[dylanjacksonphotos]

Life 2017

[lm-just-little-error]

Поделитесь, а вам нравится этот инопланетянин?~

[avillageofamillionpeople]

2017 in review

Packing up my life in sunny Australia in February and swapping my ol’ faithful thongs (the shoes not the undergarments) for fluffy winter boots in Germany has been one big old rollercoaster. It’s safe to say it’s been a pretty huge year for me.  Along the way, I’ve learnt a little German, met new people, had visits from old friends and had trouble staying in touch with others. It’s difficult being in different time zones. Communication does break down but the important people in life understand and will continue to tag you in inappropriate memes.

Munich is a beautiful city and there is no wonder it’s referred to as a village of a million people. It feels super cosy yet somehow it caters to a population of more than a million. I don’t see myself packing up shop and heading home to the land down under just yet.

The locals affectionately call Munich, ‘Minga’. They are helplessly unaware that in English slang ‘minga’ means ‘a noxious looking hag’, to use a direct quote from trusted internet source Urban Dictionary. To rub salt further into the gaping wound, wait staff in trendy cafes and bars proudly wear shirts emblazoned with ‘MINGA’ and most of them aren’t even that bad looking.

Trading the ‘Rolla for the S Bahn when I moved here, Germany has well and truly taught me to slow down. Not only does public transport teach patience but working here also provided some new obstacles. For all the German efficiency in the world, I notice that tradition and process take first and second place every time. This isn’t so bad when you are sitting in a beer tent at Oktoberfest but sometimes when you need to get things done it can be a little frustrating.

While it’s taken a while to adjust to a new work culture on the travel front I’ve jumped right in. It always helps to have a travel-hungry boyfriend and overly excitable friends. From skiing my first week in Germany in the Austrian Alps to snorkelling in San Fruttuoso, Italy in Summer. From catching up with a primary school friend for dinner by chance in Rome to timing our road trip through France to coincide with our French friends spontaneous trip home. From tiny flight delays to flight cancellations and a 12-hour journey home ending at 3.30 am on a school night. Working, living and travelling overseas has really taught me to be grateful for my opportunities, to appreciate my relationship with my family and to heed the advice of my friends.

Now that I’ve done some serious reflection on the year that’s been it’s time to look to the future. Here is a sneaky hint at my plans for Christmas and my next destination: Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport…

…Love Actually is all around

[theninjahipster]

Tako je bilo na koncu projekcije Muškarci ne plaču na @liffefilmfestival v Komuni ta ponedeljek. Malo več napisanega na naši fb strani (Ninja Hipster). #life2017 #filmfestival #ljubljana #gremovkino #NHpodcast

[theninjahipster]

Letošnji obisk @liffefilmfestival je bil kratek, vredno zaradi izbire filmov (več ob kasnejši priliki)... Ampak že tuhtamo o skoku na @animateka_festival. #life2017 #festivalanimateka #planiranje #kultura #nhlife #nhkulturnika #NHpodcast (at Cankarjev Dom Ljubljana)