Review: The Other Woman (2014)

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

"After discovering her boyfriend is married, Carly soon meets the wife he's been cheating on. And when yet another affair is discovered, all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on the three-timing SOB." - IMDB 

 The other woman, you think, is your stereotypical chick flick. I didn't think it was at all! It definitely has that 'girl power' feel to it, after all it is about three woman being the heroes, but it's more of a comedy than a chick flick. I went to see it with the boyfriend and he was laughing it too - more so why it isn't just for women!

It was so funny! I the combination of the three women together is the maddest idea but it works so well! The story was pretty good too, it didn't drag too much or go too quick.The ending was a bit odd though, I won't spoilt it but it didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the film. It was a bit too 'Hollywood'.

I liked how the three women all had different characters. You had Kate King (Leslie Mann), a quirky, and a little bit crazy, enthusiast who is a little bit clueless at times. Carly Whitten (Cameron Diaz), the woman who lives the 'flash' lifestyle in a swanky apartment who has never had a serious relationship. And Amber (Kate Upton), the ditsy blonde with a perfect figure and big boobs.

The only character which was a bit odd was Amber. It was almost as if the filmmakers had just put her in there for the sake of it. She could have done with more back story and more character development, rather than 'the looks'.

I don't really have much negativity about the film, I did really enjoy it! It was something a bit different to the usual and it's a film for men and women.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

"Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government." - IMDB

So the boyfriend and I decided to sit down and watch The Wolf of Wall Street. Little did we know that 3 hours later we would be still sat there watching it. Wow it was a long film! It's like an actual commitment to watch it. I feel like I should have signed something before! Don't get me wrong, I've seen 3 hour films before, like King Kong and Les Mis, but wow. Just wow.

It wouldn't have been as bad but the story was really slow. In fact, there wasn't a great deal of a story there. It was literally from one thing to another, not really any other story lines other than the main one. There were a few scenes in the film where I sat and thought "this should have ended by now", which slowed the film down a lot.

I get why it was done though; it helped to show how Jordan Belfort's (Leonardo DiCaprio) life was slowly deteriorating and you felt like you were living it along with him.

It's not like I was wishing the film to end, but I did get a little fidgety and fed up towards the end. Kind of spoils your enjoyment too.

The best thing about the film was definitely the acting. Dicaprio and Jonah Hill (Donnie Azoff) definitely deserve their Oscar nominations! I didn't even know it was Jonah Hill at first! I've seen DiCaprio in a few things and he never fails to disappoint, but he really was amazing. He played a different character to what we usually see him play (I'm referring to things like Inception and Shutter Island) which is what made his role stand out so much I think, and keep you watching the film. You kind of fall for Jordan Belfort a little bit, even if he is a man with more money than sense.

 

It is definitely a film worth watching though, if you're prepared to sit there for 3 hours!

I did enjoy it, I just found it very long!

Catching Fire (2013)

Directed by Francis Lawrence

"Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem." - IMDB

PLEASE BE WARNED, CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS

After waiting like a year and a half for the second installment of The Hunger Games (2012) I could not wait for Catching Fire! I had my tickets book and was counting down the days.

I have to say that I was not disappointed! I loved it! I loved it more than the first film and I just want to go and watch it over and over again!

I know that when novels are adapted into films, the book it always better. And in The Hunger Games, this was definitely true. I was really annoyed that they left so much out of the film as it was all important little bits that you needed for the tension to follow. I heard people who hadn't read the books say it was confusing, and I can understand why.

With Catching Fire, I didn't feel like this was the case at all. I don't know whether or not it was because I read the books ages ago, or because there wasn't as much needed in this as the first, but it really didn't disappoint me at all!

I thought that the casting for the other tributes was fab! I thought that Sam Claflin (Finnick), Jeffrey Wright (Beetee) and Jena Melone (Johanna) (to name a few) played the existing victors amazingly!

The only character I wasn't too impressed with was Mags (Lynn Cohen). They made her character not speak and I'm sure in the book she does, correct me if I'm wrong! I was actually looking forward to meeting Mags, and I think that the casting was done well, but the way they portrayed her character was not.

The arena of the games was done really well too. Not what I imagined it, but it worked. I don't think I had a clear image of what the arena was like from the book anyway, but they adapted it well and it worked as a film.

I was really happy with the games as a whole. It was really thrilling and interesting, which I found in the book anyway. I love the idea of the arena being a clock with different threats every hour and it was interesting to watch on screen.

The film isn't particularly slow either. I remember the book taking forever to get into the games and then the actual 75th Hunger Games didn't last very long at all. They paced it really well in the film. They showed what they needed to, although I would like to have seen more from the victory tour, and Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peter's (Josh Hutcherson) visits to the other districts.

So now I can't wait to see Mockingjay Part 1 which is going to be released in November 2014, so that's another year to wait! (Tooooo long!) Will just have to watch The Hunger Games and Catching Fire over and over until then!

Smurfs 2 (2013)

Director - Raja Gosnell

 

"The Smurfs team up with their human friends to rescue Smurfette, who has been kidnapped by Gargamel since she knows a secret spell that can turn the evil sorcerer's newest creation - creatures called the Naughties - into real Smurfs." - IMDB

 

I realise my recent blog posts have made me look like a big kid... and I'm not even going to defend myself!

I was really looking forward to seeing the second instalment of The Smurfs, I loved the first one! Oh, and if you haven't seen the first one just because you never liked Smurfs, I promise you, you will still love it! I was never a Smurfs fan but the combination of the Smurfs and the real world is what makes it so good!

 

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first film, but when are sequels ever better? (Apart from Shrek 2)

I wasn't disappointed though and my brother (who is 8) said it was really good. There was always something happening so you don't get bored and it made me laugh quite a bit. As unrealistic as the film is, you still really get into the story, and believe it. All we need now is a news report saying some little blue people have been spotted roaming the streets. (How awesome would that be?!)

 

I love the casting in the film too. I was glad to see they kept it the same as the first film as you just get that connection between the 'real people' and the Smurfs. Yes I know they're mythical creatures and all that but still. They seem real! I want one!

 

I reckon it keep adults entertained (I guess I'm considered an adult now...) because there are a few jokes and references that children wouldn't get. At a few points I found myself laughing when my brother wasn't. I guess I like kind of fantasy/adventure films too which is why I enjoyed it.

 

I don't really know what else to say! If you like The Smurfs then go see The Smurfs 2. If you haven't seen The Smurfs then watch it, and then go and see The Smurfs too. I really do recommend the Smurfs films, they're nothing like the cartoon, or what you imagine the films to be like. I keep trying to get my boyfriend to watch it but he won't. One day... One day! ;)

Monsters University (2013)

Directed by Dan Scanlon

 

"A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends." - IMDB

 

So after waiting for over half my life for this to be released, I had to go and see it! And no I didn't use the "I'm taking my little brother" excuse, I went with my boyfriend (who is older than me, for the record) so yeah! No shame... I've also bought the mugs from Disney store... Yeah.

 

Anyway I was pleasantly surprised! I expected the film to kill the first one (Monsters Inc. 2001), I was a bit worried actually, but it really didn't! Obviously nothing is going to beat the classic and this prequel is nothing like it but it is still an awesome film. It's funny and cute and there's bits in there that link to Monsters Inc. which make your inner child pop out (yes I got a little bit giddy).

 

They didn't kill the characters either, especially Mike and Sully, who we all love in some way. I think because they merged in to the characters that we know from the first film towards the end, we weren't let down by the difference at the start. It was actually done really well; it was good to see what the characters were like before we got to know them so well and how they changed into what we do know.

 

The plot itself was quite interesting; it wasn't like Monsters Inc. but then it wasn't like your average teen, college movie. It was a perfect balance between the two - what it says on the tin 'Monsters University'.

 

We went to see it in 3D and I'm not a fan of 3D anyway but it was purely at the convenience of showing times. I wouldn't say it was a waste of money going to see it in 3D but it wouldn't have changed anything about my viewing experience if we hadn't gone to see it in 3D. It wasn't amazing and like I said, I'm not really a fan of 3D movies anyway, especially animated.

 

The only negative thing I would say is that the bad guys weren't bad enough. Randall actually scared me in Monsters Inc., but the baddies in this weren't very scary at all, and they weren't really played enough. I don't think it's because I'm older, because I'm still a wuss! There was the head of the scare school, Dean Hardscrabble, and a bunch of popular guys, Roar Omega Roar, and neither had a particular scary part in the film which made you shudder a little.

 

So if, like me, you've been waiting 12 years for this to come out then you won't be disappointed. And if you haven't and you didn't like Monsters Inc. then you should still go and see Monsters University because it's still a really good film on it's own. You might even like Monsters Inc. a little more!