The Silver Screen

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Hamilton (London Theatre)

Hamilton:

Transcendent, thrilling, inspiring.

At the Glorious newly renovated Victoria Palace Theatre we saw Hamilton. Just overlooking the balcony with a full, perfect view of the stage. The whole place has a Great Gatsby grandness to it.

The show brought to life in a London theatre gives it a strange edge. The jokes that are laughed at in the US are different to here in the UK. But what isn’t changed is the power, emotion and exhilaration the show was always written to have.

There are moments when you’re giggling at King George and then brought to your knees at Burn and Quiet Uptown. I myself was floored by the show, as was my brother, who is not known for his love of musicals. Hamilton is truly a show that blends history and amazing music that has the ability to move anyone. I waited a year to see it and I was not let down.

Hamilton’s story resonated with me when I first heard it thanks to Lin Manuel Miranda’s work. Hamilton was so dedicated, passionate and driven. A writer and someone desperate to prove themselves. But the show doesn’t shy away from showing his selfishness and his stubbornness and the pain he experienced. I am most moved by the emphasis on the powerful women around him, Eliza, going on to live long after him and changing the world in his stead.

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Ready Player One (book review)

Truthful, funny, compelling.

Not at all what I expected. This book looked far deeper into life in a modern world than many books of it's like. It's a truthful and real look at a possibilities we all face about technology, sociology and the environment. But at the same time it shows this future for what it is and what it can be, all the good and bad with it. Plus some nostalgia, some laughs, some of the nerdiest references and facts I've ever read with a flowing and easy writing style. I know it's impossible for the film to ever cover all of this due to time and copyright, I imagine. But the deeper meanings and feelings around these very real feeling characters, they can't forget. I hope they keep the important and meaningful parts of this amongst all the badass effects and music, I know is coming.

[omarthegrouch-deactivated201609]

When I see folks didn’t like Deadpool, I’m like whatever. People like different things. I don’t even like Deadpool as a character but the movie was dope. Anyway, if you didn’t like it because it was short or it felt cheap and underdeveloped, that’s because it was. It was kinda set up to fail. They were given the greenlight the way an impatient parent says ‘fine you can have a dog but if it pisses on the rug, I’m gonna shoot it.’ They had less than a year to complete the movie and were given a budget of 58 million when the average superhero movie budget is between $150-250 million. AND Fox had the nerve to take money out of the budget so they had to write around the money. So Deadpool only having a few bullets? Budget. Forgetting his guns in the car so he can’t use them in the final fight? Budget. Only 2 low profile X-men around, one of which had never been seen before? Budget. And they still managed to make crazy amounts of money and break all kinds of records. I just feel like it’s worth knowing whether you like it or not because I ended up liking the movie a lot more after knowing what they were working against. Deadpool is like the indie movie of this superhero shit

[kumasenpai]

Hey guys look at this damn film nerd

[deadcatwithaflamethrower]

Look at this film nerd pointing out this massive SUCCESS STORY.

[willow-wanderings]

Bonus points for Deadpool making massive amounts of money despite being released in a fucking DEADZONE and being rated R. An R rating automatically limits the audience, so it was basically kneecapped from the get-go because fewer people would even be able to see it. Releasing the movie in fucking February was a damn near deliberate attempt on its life. February is where movies go to die, ok, even the cheesy date movies don’t always make it out alive. They didn’t want this movie made in the first place, greenlit it to stop the nagging, gave it a ridiculously tiny budget and then CUT IT DOWN EVEN MORE later on forcing several very hurried bits of rewriting (this is where a few extra digs at the studio were added, because they fucking deserved it), tried to argue against an R rating and when that failed, they tried to kill it by dumping it in the fucking release date graveyard. And it still made ridiculous amounts of money. That’s like winning the Kentucky Derby on a 3-legged donkey; “Massive success” is a bit of an understatement.

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Your Lie In April

Moving, poetic, beautiful. 

From the visuals to the soundtrack this anime takes you on a dreamy journey through aching piano and fiery violin. The story of loss of a parent, passions of music and a grateful and inspirational love which is as fleeting as spring itself. 

This series captured my heart at once. Always a lover of classical music and the way it has the power to move people and lift a narrative, I fell hard. I cried at some part of every episode out of sadness and happiness on equal measure. Anime has a certain melodrama about it when it is done in this way, I could feel a sadness to it all along but also a hope. 

It made me write poetry for the first time in 8 years. I totally emercced myself in it and I think that is the way this story should be experienced. Just like the characters lose themselves in the music the watcher has to lose themselves too, and you will come out of it different. 

As if in a dream, this story floats you across a sea of bitter sweetness and washes you, changed, onto a beach of hope. A truly moving story that taught me that no matter what; you are not alone. No matter what, do not give up. And no matter how unfair and sad life may feel, is is there for a reason. You will grow and pass the clouds to see a brighter sun. But I'm sentimental.

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La La Land

La La Land

Colourful, classic, charming.

If you were to step into my mind you would find something similar to this movie rolling constantly. It took the classic musicals like singing in the rain and added our collective imagining of Hollywood. Full of colour, song and jazz it takes you on a journey through what it is to follow your dreams. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have the sweetest chemistry and encompass the perfect romantic imagining of the Hollywood couple. 50s dress meets 20s Hollywood aesthetic and creates a stunningly colourful visual that is seamlessly carried throughout the film.

The soundtrack is expertly written and composed to stick in your mind and lift your heart. The dances are gracefully choreographed and performed with the cameras dancing with them so you may feel like you too are gliding through each scene.

I can see how this film can have you falling completely in love. It has me hook line and sinker and I smiled constantly.

[ezache]

Personally, I’ve never really been a fan of musicals - but La La Land had me hook, line and god damn sinker.

The amount of shots in the film that had to have been one take wonders is out of this world, most of those are the dancing shots but the sort of stagy (like it’s been filmed from a staged performance) feel adds to the whole vibe of the film.

The special effects of the film were definitely one of the highlights and how they were executed through out the film was one of the things that helped you get invested in the characters of Gosling and Stone.

Every shot has been painstakingly set just perfectly to add to that wonderful pain that yo have in your chest when you get to the end (no spoilers), the choreography and effort and time showed through in the final edit.

9.5/10 cause I have had my cheese intake for the year and I’ve recommended it to my mam

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La La Land

La La Land Colourful, classic, charming. If you were to step into my mind you would find something similar to this movie rolling constantly. It took the classic musicals like singing in the rain and added our collective imagining of Hollywood. Full of colour, song and jazz it takes you on a journey through what it is to follow your dreams. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have the sweetest chemistry and encompass the perfect romantic imagining of the Hollywood couple. 50s dress meets 20s Hollywood aesthetic and creates a stunningly colourful visual that is seamlessly carried throughout the film. The soundtrack is expertly written and composed to stick in your mind and lift your heart. The dances are gracefully choreographed and performed with the cameras dancing with them so you may feel like you too are gliding through each scene. I can see how this film can have you falling completely in love. It has me hook line and sinker and I smiled constantly.

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Much Ado About About Nothing

Funny, inventive and cleverly executed.

This had me in stitches, it even had a friend of mine totally invested. She normally finds the language used in Shakespeare’s works daunting and confusing and often struggles to get through his plays. This one though had perfectly used modern things like, boom boxes and alcohol served with crazy straws to make it far more visually gripping. Using a cast of fantastic actors, in particular David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the hilarious and show stealing Beatrice and Benedic, they made a perfect incarnation of this comedy. It had myself and my friend in fits of laughter at their visual comedy and their words.

I was particularly impressed with how they reincarnated the songs from the play into dance, pop and rock songs to fit their scenes. This really made it feel like a more modern play and something that was far easier to relate to. And the physical humour used to punctuate the more complex language and actors very physical expression of the lines made it really jump from the screen and far easier to grasp the plot.

I was pleased to see my friend enjoy this play as I have always held a candle for Shakespeare’s works and his clever jokes in even the most serious plays. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience seeing this play, and if anything it only confirmed my belief that Shakespeare’s should be seen and not read.

I implore you, watch this, even those who wouldn’t normally be interested in Shakespeare’s. This is far from the dusty and cliché plays that were forced upon everyone in their school days.

[ezache]

As the friend that was spoken about, I’m adding my 10c.

For me, I’ve never been one to understand Shakespeare, the language is difficult and wordy. However, with expressive, talented actors like the wonderful David Tennant and Catherine Tate I was able to use their voices (and the audiences) laugher to sort of figure out what was meant.

It’s been fantastically filmed in a multi-cam set up, the people who filmed it are to be commended on their skill, not once did I think that a shot was out of place or that something could have been set differently.

The revolving stage added a huge element to the actual workings of the play and was inventively used through out to add tension or create more funny moments.

I was legitimately on the edge of my seat at times and speaking with joy at anytime Benedic and Beatrice were on screen because their interactions had me in fits of laughter to the point that I couldn’t breathe for a good couple of minutes.

10/10 would watch again!

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Much Ado About About Nothing

Funny, inventive and cleverly executed. This had me in stitches, it even had a friend of mine totally invested. She normally finds the language used in Shakespeare’s works daunting and confusing and often struggles to get through his plays. This one though had perfectly used modern things like, boom boxes and alcohol served with crazy straws to make it far more visually gripping. Using a cast of fantastic actors, in particular David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the hilarious and show stealing Beatrice and Benedic. They made a perfect incarnation of this comedy. It had myself and my friend in fits of laughter at their visual comedy and their words. I was particularly impressed with how they reincarnated the songs from the play into dance, pop and rock songs to fit their scenes. This really made it feel like a more modern play and something that was far easier to relate to. And the physical humour used to punctuate the more complex language and actors very physical expression of the lines made it really jump from the screen and far easier to grasp the plot. I was pleased to see my friend enjoy this play as I have always held a candle for Shakespeare’s works and his clever jokes in even the most serious plays. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience seeing this play, and if anything it only confirmed my belief that Shakespeare’s should be seen and not read. I implore you, watch this, even those who wouldn’t normally be interested in Shakespeare’s. This is far from the dusty and cliché plays that were forced upon everyone in their school days.

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Classic film review: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Fascinating, iconic and so silent. 

This film has influenced a part of many of the creative projects that followed it. Watching it brings back memories of songs, shows and films made in more modern times that paid homage to this film. It's hard to review personally as it is so open to interpretation. Each interpretation can depend on the person, the time they watch it and their own experience. But it seems this is the sole purpose of it. 

This film brings in to question how far humans are willing to go to discover the secrets of space, and if it is even possible to discover it all. It also questions life itself, its origins and it's purpose. The film stands the test of time phenomenally well. Despite it being released in 1968 it's concepts hold up, as do its effects. The total silence of space is a big feature, it really highlights the loneliness of space travel in its steady pacing and minimal dialogue. HAL, the famous computer, brings in to question AI consciousness and does so with a unsettlingly smooth, calm voice even when under threat. Do computers feel fear? Responsibility? Guilt? The thing that sets this film apart is it's way of leaving the story to the audience. On the surface, the film seems total madness, and it very well might be. But there are things inside this madness that make you think long after the credits have rolled. 

It is a visual masterpiece and leads the audience to tackle huge existential concepts about life, where we come from and where we can go from there. I find myself thanking Stanley Kubrick for bringing this film to the world and setting off the hundreds of stories which try to make sense of it and expand on the small snippets of story in this huge film. If there is anything I'm a sucker for it's a crazy AI and the expanses of space.

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Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo and the two strings Stunning, emotional and beautiful. The story holds a certain magic in its simplicity. This simple story made way for beautiful animation right into the credits, which I recommend staying for as they are beautifully animated and to the tune of a beautiful song covered especially for this movie, 'while my guitar gently weeps' by Regina Spector. I will admit I shed a few tears, both happy and sad throughout. A beautiful tale exploring magic, humanity, and the power of keeping those lost in your memory. I was excited for this movie and it did not disappoint. Though I still am confused as to why it is called the two strings...

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Secret Life Of Pets

Funny, relatable, adorable

If you’re a pet owner, young or old, this is the most relatable thing you will see all year. Dash all the negative nannies who said this plot wasn’t great. It is simple, yes, and you know there is that nice happy ending you always get with Pixar. However, the characters are charming, funny and adorable, they each have their own quirks relating to their species and breed with one or two curve balls (BALL?!?). 

It had me doubling over in giggles and nudging my cinema buddy every time something relatable and cute came along. As an owner of many different pets I found myself reminiscing to times with my own best furry, feathered or scaled roommates. 

Just like Dug in Pixar’s ‘Up’ they nailed just what we know our pets to be and why we love them. My summer favourite, and one I think I had been craving since that fluffy talking golden retriever.

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Legend

Intimidating, raw, dark

The legendary Cray twins but not as you know them

Spectacularly played by Tom Hardy, I was blown away by how well he shows the brothers differences. It’s amazing how he separates their voice, body language and facial expression perfectly showing their similarities in face but vast differences in personality. The calm, lonely Reggie and the volatile, broken Ronnie.

It’ll surprise you how much you grow to like them despite their violent reputation. The love in this film is in its detail, close ups and clever angles to catch the other side of everything.

Darkly funny and deals with some heavy themes, but tastefully. Not for the faint hearted but definitely an experience be to be missed.

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The Duff

Ok so this is a quick one: I had seen some pre release anger towards this film. I figured it was well founded as, upon looking at the trailer back then, it did look to be the stereotype affirming, teen drama car crash most films are. However, I watched it, feeling it was probably good background noise for a casual hang out. I have to say, it is not what the trailer implies. Though it is far from a feminist statement, no one wants that from a teen rom com, it did show the cruelty of high school kids, the arch of a girl who was briefly broken by this cruelty and learnt to know herself and love what she was. It also addressed the idea that, no one is perfect, you are always someone's DUFF, be yourself and love what you are. People accepted this girl and she found she had no need to hate that label, for she could rise above it. It also has to be said, this film was a lot of fun, had a good new giggles in it and surprised me. So give it a go when you're at a casual hang out and try your best to ignore the fact those teenagers suspiciously look like their in their late 20s

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Jungle Book (2016)

A clever, fresh new look at the old Disney Classic. 

The effects were stunning, it amazes me how we have managed to make the effects so flawless, if it wasn’t for the fact that the animals talk, you would never know it wasn't real. The detail in each frame is immaculate down to the individual markings and fur textures. This, I imagine, is connected to the new tech, the same as what was used Zootopia/tropolis. There wasn’t one odd movement, or blotchy texture in the whole film. 

Need Sethi as Mowgli did so well working with green screen and what is essentially thin air or a ball on a stick. 

Though I know the big names in here are star power for the film, I do believe they chose wisely and I they did fit really well. Ben Kingsley as Bagheera the calm and cool guardian, Scarlett Johansen’s sultry tones as Kaa, Idris elba as the suave and dangerous Shere Khan and Bill Murrey as the laid back Baloo. Not to forget the newer (or rather more book related) characters of Mowghli’s adoptive mother Raksha voiced by the lovely Lupita Wyong’o.

The songs a nice homage to the old classic, using smaller clips of the favourites. I was unpriced at how well they were pulled off, not musical as the animation was but more casual. However I will say, it was a little weird hearing Christopher Walkin getting used to Christopher Walken as King Louis singing/speaking ‘I wanna be like you’. Also I must say, stay for the credits! DO not miss Scarlet’s song as Kaa it’s fantastic and it’s a real shame it wasn’t in the film’s main or at least on the first half of the credits. 

Sad to lose the happy story I used to know to a newer and grittier remake, and part of me hoped that the parents who struggled to keep their small children from jumping and screaming at parts would still consider showing them the animation, to show them how optimistic that was. I say this as well, as I do recommend seeing it as a separate entity from the animation, as it clearly goes in a different direction in places and you wouldn’t want to be looking for characters, as the animation familiar ones are not all there (those silly vultures). 

Despite some lightheartedness and nostalgia lost for me, I did love this remake. I loved that I could feel like Jungle Book had grown up and given me a chance to feel like I was IN the story, surrounded by real talking animals I felt I could touch. 

My old friends looked so soft. 

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It's just my opinion.

PLEASE check out my clever friends review blog. He provides snappy, witty and totally spoiler free reviews of the recent hits and you can see his passion for film on the page.. screen?

If you have a taste for review reading check out @thesilverscreendream and maybe stick around and follow 

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The Huntsman Winters War

The half prequel, half sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman, a second round of captivating effects and exciting story. Charlize Theron as Ravenna still holds my heart.

This film impressed me again, the way they animated that mirror still blows me away and the costumes have me breathless in love and jealousy. My only issue is, as much as I loved to see where the characters I loved from the first film started, the plot is a little oddly shaped. So to speak. To start as if in a prequel then jump, with little explanation, to a sequel was a little odd and slightly confusing. It almost felt like the writers couldn’t choose.

However, this said, personally I liked is. I appreciated knowing the characters origins and I like that the switch to sequel meant a fuller plot. As my favourite characters are the huntsman and Ravenna, knowing them mattered to me, more than Snow. So to also follow Freya, the ice queen and Ravenna’s sister was exciting.

This film have us not one but THREE powerful ladies, a hunky witty huntsman and 4 fantastic dwarves.

I enjoyed every minute, even if I did take a little getting used to.

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The Good Lie

An amazing film, showing the strength of people. The story of the lost boys of Sudan.

A truly moving true story showing the struggles of those dealing with the violence in Sudan. It shows their transition to life in America and struggle to unite their families.

I watched this at such a good time, with the arguments over who we should let in to the country. It shows the other side, their reasons and difficulties.

It’s a slower film but definitely a thinker and one that changes your perspective. You get so attached to the characters, these real people.

A must see