Change Your Image
3Shirts
Reviews
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Having studied the book, I was absolutely blown away
I studied the book in English Literature A-Level in 1999 and was absolutely enraptured by it. It is still one of my all time favourite books with a story that is just so heartbreaking I feel it even while writing this review! Since the film had been around a few years at that point, our teacher proposed we watch it and see how it compared to our own vision of the book and our own emotional response. I have never seen a movie adaptation of a book that wasn't, at least a little, disappointing but this blew me away. It is clear that everyone involved from the director and actors to the lighting and costume knew the book inside out and felt it as much as I did. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson portray more in facial expressions than most actors can do with a whole career of dialogue. The scene where Mr Stevens sees Miss Kenton's silhouette at the window, in my opinion the point at which he knows he is in love with her, is handled subtly but pointedly. Although it is hard to objectively consider the film alone since I had the prior knowledge of the book, I think it does everything right to bring Ishiguro's words to life.
This is, undoubtedly, one of the saddest films (and books) ever produced but you absolutely have to see it. In a way, these characters exist to show you the consequences of ignoring love, the most powerful force in the universe.
LOL (2012)
Don't dismiss all these reviews as 'just old people moaning'
A lot of these reviews do sound a bit like old people who don't understand youth culture. There is a lot of moaning about 'these kids with cell phones constantly in their face'. The problem is that this film fails to challenge that image at all. I understand that the way teenagers communicate has changed. They use internet slang in person, they are on social media a lot and always using a smart-phone. It makes sense for films to reflect that.
The problem is that this film is total tripe, regardless.
The acting is horrendous on all sides, particularly Cyrus who clearly already passed the limits of her acting talent in Hannah Montana and needs to just jack it in. How Demi Moore got involved in this I do not know. Sure, she's done some bad movies in the past but I thought she was older and wiser now. Apparently not.
I not only failed to empathise with any of these people, I actively started to dislike all of them for being so woefully one dimensional. If you have a teenage daughter, or even just know a teenage girl, ask her about her life at school or the boys she likes. I guarantee it will be more interesting and engaging than the plot of this film.
I actually consider this film does more harm than good to the very people it portrays. It could have been an insight into the, sometimes impenetrable, world of teenage life. It could have shown parents or other adults how things have changed since their youth and why social media is so important to teenagers these days. Instead it just reinforces the image that they are shallow, whiny, and entitled 'kids' with no perspective on the real world.
I would say this is just for hardcore Miley Cyrus fans but actually it's more likely to upset you if you liked her before. It's not for anyone, simple as that.
The Mask (1994)
A movie for everyone
I disagree with the other reviewer, when I first saw this movie I was 16 and I thought it was brilliant. I am 22 now and I still like it. The only reason you should avoid this movie is if you dislike Jim Carrey's style of overacting and being silly (I know some do). Otherwise he is great in this and without him I don't think the concept would work at all. There is a balance of story with all the comedy and while it isn't a life changing movie it is fun and well made, the effects are great for a film of it's age and stand up OK even 10 years later. The characters are ideal, the two detectives are the perfect double act and Cameron Diaz is both incredibly beautiful and talented in her first big role. In summary, I think adults can enjoy the silliness and the comedy as much the kids and the plot, acting and effects knit the whole lot together really well.