Ever the cynic when it comes to the films of the '70s and '80s I eyed Alien (1979) with great distain. However having made the ultimate relationship faux pas of saying 'you decide', this is what we spent our Saturday afternoon watching.
I was told 'this is what horror should be like all the time, trust me you're going to love it!' Yes dear, that's what you told me about wasabe...
Still, in my quest to broaden my horizons I obliged and I have to say it wasn't half bad. I've never been one for a horror movie, notably due to my incredibly weak stomach when it comes to blood and gore but I could see what he meant by how a real horror should be - absolutely shit scary!
The difference between this and the likes of Saw (2004) and Hostel (2005) is that the horror isn't in the endless gorefest but rather the use of narrative, music and unbearable tension. We only see the alien a few times throughout the film and yet as an audience you are constantly aware of its presence, hovering over the spaceship's crew as their numbers continue to dwindle. The only time we actually saw the alien kill anyone was when it exploded out of John Hurt's stomach (I say 'we saw', more everybody else saw, I just listened from behind the cushion!) and that was enough to imply the fate of the rest of its victims.
What I suppose I will have to admit is that this film has made me question my attitude towards the older film. Although the SFX were questionable - the falling alien at the end looked suspiciously like a man in a Godzilla costume - this was a horror film which I enjoyed and would say was justified in the guts and gore that it showed.
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Monday 15 February 2010
Valentines Day
Yes, I have to admit it, this weekend I was that girl we all hate - the one with a boyfriend on Valentines day, what's worse? For the first time ever I threw myself into full on mushy gushy mode.
And anyone who's had their eye on the trailers lately will know this meant only one thing... Valentines day the movie! As hideous as it sounds, the latest offering from Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall takes a more subtle approach to romance, there are no grand gestures, no screaming or tears and yet by the end I was still an emotional wreck.
Taking its' format from the likes of Love Actually (2003) and He's just not that into you (2009), the film follows a number of people loosely linked through their jobs and relationships as they tackle the dreaded day. Although as expected everybody gets a happy ending of sorts - except for the horrible cheating man who inevitably ends up alone - it's not half as sickening as usual. Marshall spends a lot of time in the film looking at the personalities of his characters and so by the end you don't mind a bit of cheese, because quite frankly, they've earned it.
The most comical performance for me came from Anne Hathaway. She plays Liz, a receptionist moonlighting as an 'adult phone entertainer' attempting to have a relationship with Topher Grace's Jason. At first it's hard to believe that the girl from the Princess Diaries (2001) could utter such filth, but she is very convincing and does it to great comic effect. Also worth noting is Taylor Swift's performance as Felicia, a high school girl 'like, totally in love' with her boyfriend, Taylor Lautner's Willy. Swift throws herself into the airhead role, showing that she can take the piss out of herself and that her real-life sense of humour must be great.
For me, what really made this film stand out was the completely unexpected twist at the end. Although I don't want to give it away for those who haven't seen it yet, the final scenes tie together any loose ends beautifully and restored my faith in the romcom, proving that it's not all about the grand gestures, it's the little things that make it work.
And anyone who's had their eye on the trailers lately will know this meant only one thing... Valentines day the movie! As hideous as it sounds, the latest offering from Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall takes a more subtle approach to romance, there are no grand gestures, no screaming or tears and yet by the end I was still an emotional wreck.
Taking its' format from the likes of Love Actually (2003) and He's just not that into you (2009), the film follows a number of people loosely linked through their jobs and relationships as they tackle the dreaded day. Although as expected everybody gets a happy ending of sorts - except for the horrible cheating man who inevitably ends up alone - it's not half as sickening as usual. Marshall spends a lot of time in the film looking at the personalities of his characters and so by the end you don't mind a bit of cheese, because quite frankly, they've earned it.
The most comical performance for me came from Anne Hathaway. She plays Liz, a receptionist moonlighting as an 'adult phone entertainer' attempting to have a relationship with Topher Grace's Jason. At first it's hard to believe that the girl from the Princess Diaries (2001) could utter such filth, but she is very convincing and does it to great comic effect. Also worth noting is Taylor Swift's performance as Felicia, a high school girl 'like, totally in love' with her boyfriend, Taylor Lautner's Willy. Swift throws herself into the airhead role, showing that she can take the piss out of herself and that her real-life sense of humour must be great.
For me, what really made this film stand out was the completely unexpected twist at the end. Although I don't want to give it away for those who haven't seen it yet, the final scenes tie together any loose ends beautifully and restored my faith in the romcom, proving that it's not all about the grand gestures, it's the little things that make it work.
Friday 5 February 2010
Good God will somebody give Steve Martin a hug?
If I'm honest I didn't hold out much hope for It's Complicated, I knew I could count on Meryl Streep to put in a good performance but as for Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin - the jury was still out from Cheaper by the Dozen (2003).
But how wrong I was. This was a great film which gave me a new faith in the older generation of Hollywood stars, every now and again you need this kind of film to remind you that it's not just Seth Rogen who can make you laugh out loud. Streep was, as usual, hilariously tragic as the divorcee torn between her ex and her new love whilst Martin brought me close to tears as he fell for her.
Reminding me a lot of Something's Gotta Give (2003), it shows that the older girls can still give the likes of Katherine Heigl a run for their money - who can forget the two-second flash of a naked Diane Keaton? They throw themselves into their roles and the young actresses of today could definitely learn a thing or two from them!
But how wrong I was. This was a great film which gave me a new faith in the older generation of Hollywood stars, every now and again you need this kind of film to remind you that it's not just Seth Rogen who can make you laugh out loud. Streep was, as usual, hilariously tragic as the divorcee torn between her ex and her new love whilst Martin brought me close to tears as he fell for her.
Reminding me a lot of Something's Gotta Give (2003), it shows that the older girls can still give the likes of Katherine Heigl a run for their money - who can forget the two-second flash of a naked Diane Keaton? They throw themselves into their roles and the young actresses of today could definitely learn a thing or two from them!
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