#trysomethingnewfor30days

[ourcollectedideas]

Penguin classics celebrate their 80th anniversary by releasing 80 little black classics for 80p each. Plan: 1 per day in order of numbers. Can skip a maximum of 3. Eg. Poetry by a Victorian priest.

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 17 - Dead Man Down

I started watching this a few weeks ago with some friends of mine however I was absolutely shattered so I fell asleep 5 minutes in so I thought I should probably finish it off! 

I wasn't too sure about this as I've never been very convinced of Colin Farrell as an actor although I didn't want that to cloud any judgement on the rest of the film.

I think the film is pretty interesting, seeing the way Victor and Beatrice's relationship begins and seeing their characters develop throughout the film is good to see.

The only thing is I got pretty lost with the whole thing with what was going on. The storyline is a bit basic and it doesn't really have anything that makes it stand out against other action films. Also, the ending is SO predictable its painful. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say but it's pretty annoying if I'm honest. Not to mention the final fight scene is poor, its far too fast and isn't shot very well so you just have to zone out a bit as you can't tell what's going on.

It was an alright film. I probably wouldn't watch it again but it wasn't the worst film I've ever seen.

6/10

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 16 - eXistenZ

A film I've attempted to watch before but it confused me a bit too much at the beginning so it put me off of watching it for ages! After watching two films today that I was pretty let down by I was hoping that this would at least provide a better point to the day, not to mention from these reviews I must look like I'm on a right downer!

About going into virtual reality, into a game basically. eXistenZ (that's genuinely how it's spelled) is quite psychologically challenging and you do need to keep up with it and the different realities and the characters questioning whether or not they're in the game. If you think about the first time you watched The Matrix or Inception and you were like, "hang on, what's actually going on here". That's pretty much what is happening.

Although when you think the characters are going 'into a game' for some reason I was expecting flying cars and plasma guns in a typical future projection idea. The director, David Cronenberg, who I've heard can be a fairly dark and different director has done a really good job with this film. I'm going to have to check out some more of his work, turns out I've already seen a film of his called Crash. That was a pretty f****d up film though.

I did quite enjoy it, I think I like the fact that it doesn't fall along the stereotypical ideology of virtual reality. It was done to just to an extent so that you actually could question what's real and what's not. I think if I watched it again I'll understand more about it. But for now, its good!

7.5/10

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 15: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer

Based on a true story...naaat! I saw the trailer for this ages ago and thought it could be pretty interesting and I was reminded about it tonight to watch it as it was pretty good.

Unfortunately I'm not too sure I agree, I think there are certain things that can be meddled with in history and change stories slightly however I think the story of one of the most important and famous presidents of the United States isn't one of them.

I was filled with intrigue at the beginning of how it could be properly pulled off to make it convincing and I guess the story line pretty much works even though I would love to know how about three decades go by without anything happening at all. You're a vampire killer studying for a Law degree then BAM...you're the president of America with a child. 

Just doesn't convince me to be honest it just seems like a bit of a cop out really as a way to go from the concept of the story and jumping straight into the ending.

Yes it differs from your standard vampire film as such. But if you're interested in seeing a Vampire-turned-Vampire Killer fighting alongside a Mortal man...I'd suggest watching Blade instead. 

Besides, Blade has well cooler weapons and a snazzy hair cut.

5/10

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 14 - Cowboys & Aliens

As I try to catch up on the last few days that I've missed out from my films. I thought that I would give this a try as I've always wondered whether or not it would be any good.

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this film but this is purely my own opinion.

I've never really been one for cowboy films, with the exception of Django. And I'm not really sure what to make of this. Even with Jon Favreau as the director and Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford starring in it I just don't think it really works. Considering Daniel Craig has played James Bond I'm quite surprised that he has gone for this role. 

It's just really weird. You have this Wild West style town where people are still fighting over gold and there's probably about 50 people there in total. Then aliens come into it and start wreaking havoc out of nowhere it's just really random.

I'm not really a fan of this, fair enough they've gone for something risky and instead of putting aliens up against The Avengers or The Man of Steel they put them up against a bunch of gunslinging cowboys. Sadly it just doesn't really work and its just a horrible mashup.

6/10

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 12 - Fahrenheit 9/11

So this is pretty different compared to what I've been watching over the last 11 days as it is a documentary instead of a feature film. This is a Michael Moore documentary so as you can expect it is pretty contreversial. There are loads of claims and statements made which definitely raise a few eyebrows to say the least. The only thing which I worry about is whether or not some of the claims are true, if they are then it just goes to prove how nuts America really is. This is basically about George W. Bush and his influence in the war in Iraq, it taught me quite a lot about the whole situation although like I said; whether or not it is all reliable I don't know. What I do know is Bush is a clown, well I already knew that but this just reinforces it. How a country vote in someone like him I have no idea, thinking a few years later Obama is in his place, imagine putting those two up against each other! My main problem about this documentary is the people who get interviewed. Americans have this ridiculous need to over-dramatise absolutely everything they talk about, I understand that they are talking about sensitive issues however there is just no need sometimes. It was interesting and a nice change to watching feature films, I have another documentary lined up to watch at some point over the next 18 days so I'll look forward to that. Give it a watch if you don't know an awful lot about something which is a massive part of all of our lives, just don't take my word for the facts!

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 11 - Edward Scissorhands

I have always been a bit sceptical about Tim Burton films as I have never really been sure whether or not they're the film style for me. 

The fantastical style of film can be quite hit and miss in my opinion, as these sort of films are often really weird. The first half hour or so of the film still hadn't convinced me, the general style wasn't my type and I was seriously considering turning it off, but I didn't as that wouldn't be right for this challenge!

Anyway as the film went on I started to enjoy it more, watching Edward get taken in with a family of a very nosey neighbourhood and trying to fit in is quite charming. However, as expected it takes a twist and Edward goes from being seen as amazing, to dangerous and everyone realises he has sharp pointy objects for hands.

You see how Edward has to deal with all sorts of people terrorising him and the film starts to pull at your heart strings. The ending is done very well and you can really feel for Edward and the woman he has fallen in love with and its at this point where it convinced me that it was actually a good film! 

I did enjoy it, however I just don't think its the style of film I could keep going back to. I've watched it now but I can't see any reason to go back to it.

6/10

[mkgraphics-blog]

Day 10 - Roger Dodger

This is a film that I'd never heard of before if I'm completely honest, I suppose that is the good thing about this challenge. The way that I'm coming across films that people may not have heard of before that I might not normally come across. Fortunately thanks to my dad I have a pretty eclectic collection of films.

This is a film all about Roger, who is a man who see's himself as 'the man'. He is very smooth talking and will attempt to talk his way out of any situation, he has his teenage nephew Nick rock up at his workplace where he talks to Roger about the troubles of being a 16 year old at school who is still a virgin and has no idea what to do about it.

It is funny to watch Roger how he puts Nick into some pretty awkward situations involving women probably twice his age although at some points you cringe at some of the things he says but you have to remember he is only 16! 

God knows what I would do if I was 16 and sprung in front of some stunning women and put on the spot to come up with a chat up line which wasn't completely ridiculous! 

I enjoyed this film, Campbell Scott (Roger) and Jesse Eisenberg (Nick) work well together and its good to see how the story unfolds towards the end when Nick begs Roger for his 'fail safe' if you don't manage to pull a girl on the night out. You asked for it Nick...

7/10