Tag: Review

Dumplin’ Film Review – 12 Days of Blogmas

December 14, 2018

DUMP

As soon as I saw the trailer for this film I knew it was going to be a goodn’ so I picked up the book with the aim of finishing it before I watched the film, but I couldn’t wait and watched it the morning it came out! I’m so glad that I did though as I watched it a further two times and love every second it. Netflix is seriously killing it at some of its YA adaptations and Dumplin’ is up there with To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and is everything Sierra Burgess Is A Loser should have been.

Like the book, the film is a feel-good watch that had me laughing, crying and smiling throughout. Everything about it is just so damn lovely and I can’t stop raving about it. The thing I loved most about this film was its emotionally impactful message of self- acceptance and the loveable coming of age story that is wrapped in Dolly Parton music, an album that has been on repeat ever since. It is honestly one of those films that will warm your heart with its storyline and characters, all of which are so engaging to the point where I’d want to be best friends with Willowdean!

I’m a hopeful romantic, so I’m a bit gutted that they didn’t show more Willowdean and Bo’s relationship, I’m fully invested in both of them now and I just want more! But we did get a lot of time exploring different and new relationships, especially the growing relationship between Willowdean and her mother, played by the wonderful Jennifer Anniston who absolutely smashed her role!

I don’t want to spoil anything but some of my favorite scenes were preparation for the pagent with the Drag Queens, (I know fans of Ru Pauls Drag Race will certainly spot a few favorites) and also the entire pagent which had me grinning from ear to ear with just how wonderful it was!

If you haven’t seen this film yet then I highly recommend that you go out and get yourself a big bag of popcorn and scheduled a night in on the sofa. I loved it and I really hope you do too, and if you have already seen it then let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Film Review

August 19, 2018

TATBNS

This film was everything and more! I’m a huge fan of the books so I was very excited and apprehensive about the film as I have been let down before with film adaptations but after seeing the trailer I knew we were in for something special. Like the books, the film was heart-warming, funny and a wonderful representation of love and romance.

Casting recently for YA adaptations have been on point, but this has to be my favorite so far. The chemistry between Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Cons) was something straight off the page and it was lovely to see them both eventually fall for each other. Their scenes in the cafe were among some of my favourites as they both bounced off each other perfectly and had me smiling for ear to ear. Another thing I loved was their connection on an emotional level when they had deep and meaningful conversations about their parents and own struggles, it added another layer to their blossoming romance.

Although the film mainly focused on the romance between Lara Jean and Peter, we were still treated to some lovely scenes between the Song sisters, my particular favourites being those between Lara Jean and Kitty! I spent the entire film smiling, as everything was just wonderful. There’s just something special about seeing one of your favourite fictional characters finally come to life and being able to see their story on the screen in front of you.

Jenny Han’s cameo was a nice little extra as well as all the little bits from the books that I’m sure fans will really appreciate. I’m not even sour that they didn’t include the Halloween scene in the film as everything else was perfect, so thank you Netflix and Awesomeness TV for doing YA adaptation right!

I can’t praise this film enough as it was wonderful, it has already earned a place on my list of favourite romance films! After watching it, I jumped onto Twitter and it was lovely seeing so many other people loving this film as much as me, so fingers crossed that thanks to such a great response they’ll make a sequel. If you want more of Lara Jean and Peter then I highly recommend that you read the books, and I’ll leave my review to the first book here!

7 Reasons to Watch The Bold Type

August 7, 2018

TBT

A friend at University recommended this show to me and I am now in love! The Bold Type is easily one of my all-time favourite TV shows because its everything that I aspire to be and I’d give my left arm to be one of these characters! The show centers around three best friends working at the high-end magazine ‘Scarlet’ and is inspired by the life of “Cosmopolitan” editor in chief, Joanna Coles. The show provides us with a glimpse into the outrageous lives and loves of those responsible for a global women’s magazine and their struggles are about finding your identity, managing friendships and getting your heart broken, all while wearing the perfect jeans to flatter any body type. Anyway, if you’re looking for a new TV show to binge then I can’t recommend this one enough, its funny, heartwarming and full of badass women who aren’t afraid to speak their minds!

  1. Characters – These girls are everything and I’m utterly in love with their relationship with each other and their lives in general because they are living the dream. You’ve got Sutton, the fashion conscious assistant who is working her ass off to make it in the very competitive world of fashion. Then there’s Kat the social media head, who we accompany, on her journey of sexual discovery. And finally, we have my favourite Jane, an aspiring and hardworking journalist who we see grow throughout the show!
  2. Storylines – This show tackles so many prominent and different issues that society is facing today including racism and sexual harassment and they deal with them in an inspiring and confident way which I really enjoyed. The season 1 finale is particularly touching and emotional.
  3. Fashion – The perks of working at a women’s magazine are all the incredible fashion pieces and I am just in love with all the outfits in this show! They’re bold and beautiful and have even inspired me to spice up my wardrobe and add some pieces I would never have thought of trying!
  4. Romance – This show openly explores sex and different relationships which again is really refreshing and even relatable which you don’t usually find with TV Shows. There are heterosexual and homosexual relationships and both get equal screen time and are both equally as romantic and cute!
  5. Friendship – As I’ve already mentioned there are lots of relationships in this show but most importantly is the relationship and friendship between the three girls.  They are always there to support each other truly are the perfect group of girlfriends!
  6. Humour – These ladies provide the perfect comic relief and manage to get themselves in some unexpected and always hilarious situations that will easily put a smile on your face!
  7. Girl Power! – I’m going to use this point not to talk about the three main ladies but some of the equally powerful and inspiring side characters. Jacqueline the editor of Scarlet is one of my favourites in the show, she challenges the male-dominated board and strives to make her magazine an empowering and open feature. Then there’s Adena, a unique and powerful Muslim photographer whose work is so clever and beautiful! This show is full of powerful women who are making their mark on the world and it really is inspiring.

7 Reason to Watch Black Sails

April 2, 2018

blacksails

Recently I’ve really been into watching historical TV Shows and I stumbled across Black Sails again which I regret not finishing last time I watched it! It has everything you would want from a dramatic historical TV show and its basically Game of Thrones but with pirates! This show is full of action and adventure and it’s hard not to fall in love with all the characters in this show because they are so different and equally wonderful. Anyway, this show is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones and Vikings as like these shows Black Sails has a clever balance of action, politics, romance and of course badass male and female characters!

  1. Characters – I can’t stress enough how wonderful all these characters are, and it so nice to see powerful and dominant female characters taking more of the spotlight. Toby Stevens performance as Captain Flint and the rest of the cast’s performance is nothing short of perfect as they bring these literary characters to life. I will admit my favourite characters are definitely Flint, Charles Vane and Billy Bones as not only are their characters so dynamic but they’re also lovely to look at!
  2. Conflict – Like Game of Thrones there is a lot of violence but what do you expect from a TV show about pirates? All the conflict and fight scenes are cleverly thought out and will successfully keep your eyes glued to the screen.
  3. Romance – I love how this show doesn’t shy away from different sexualities and sexual relationships and I think that’s one of the main things that make this show stand out from other historical shows. All the relationships in the show are treated and presented in the same light and aren’t used to create more drama but instead to add an extended realness and dynamic to its characters which I really enjoyed! There are so many ships in this show, aside from the ones in the water!
  4. Costumes – Costumes are one of the forgotten elements that aid a shows creation and although the costumes in this show aren’t as elegant as the gowns in Game of Thrones, they do however create a sense of realness and authenticity. Plus I’m currently writing something based on pirates and I am just loving all the outfit inspirations!
  5. Cinematography and Setting – Everything is shot so beautifully and I love the fact that we get to explore different locations and the open ocean. The town of Nassau and the beautiful ships that take pride of place in the show’s setting is once again wonderful and really helps piece the show together.
  6. Storyline – There is seriously never a dull moment in this show because its storyline is always moving forward into different drama’s and scenarios but in a way that doesn’t make it too confusing! There’s a perfect balance of action, adventure, politics, and romance so there’s something here for everyone.
  7. Politics – I’m not a huge one for politics but this show cleverly interwinds it with the storyline of the show in a way which makes it interesting and not too complicated. Also, I love the fact that two of the main power figures in this show are women who successfully dominate in such a male-dominated society and environment.

Stranger Things: Season 2 – Review

November 2, 2017

ST2

Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead

Once again the Duffer brothers have created an incredible show that I had to restrain myself from watching all at once! Season two is, in the grand tradition of sequels, even more than season one, with more characters, storylines and of course monsters all paired with equally terrifying action-packed adventure. There so much I want to say and gush about, however, I’ve had to restrain myself and attempt to put all my feelings and emotions into words and fully functioning sentences.

Last season the focus was very much on Mike and Eleven, however, this season it was nice to see that some of our other much-loved characters got their own storylines and focus. Dustin was a favourite of mine in the first season and now I love him even more and would love to have him as a younger brother. His new found relationship with Steve made me fall in love with both of them even more and I need more of this brotherly dynamic. You’ve probably seen the whole internet fall in love with Steve Harrington with his huge character development, that has seen him change from an arrogant pretty boy to this caring and brave young man. God, I just love him, and if the Duffer brothers are looking for someone to play the role of his new love interest then sign me up!

You’ve probably seen the whole internet fall in love with Steve Harrington with his huge character development, that has seen him change from an arrogant pretty boy to this caring and brave young man. God, I just love him, and if the Duffer brothers are looking for someone to play the role of his new love interest in season 3 then sign me up! I thought I’d be more excited about Johnathan and Nancy finally getting together but I think my love and appreciation for Steve has grown so much that I want Nancy to be with him instead!

The addition of Max as a character to balance the group dynamic was fab and I love her relationship with Lucas! I can’t discuss character relationships without mentioning Mike and Eleven. I cried when they had their reunion but I was disappointed that I had to wait till nearly the finale episode for them to reunite. However, the ending of the entire season did make up for that and had my heart melting, I need more of these characters!

Someone just give Noah Shapp an Emmy already because his performance was absolutely incredible, for someone so young being able to perform to such a — level is mindblowing. In all honesty, the whole cast deserves endless praise because they all successfully bring these much-loved characters to life and all give a stunning performance that leaves me wanting more of their characters and performance.

It’s these new multiple storylines that help carry the show and make it more fun and engaging than the first season. We learn more about the characters and beginnings of new friendships as well as more of the backstory of Hawkins Lab with episode seven being entirely dedicated to Eleven and her journey into discovering more about her past. We still have all the action and mystery we had in the first season but now we’ve got more storylines to share it with, keeping us all on the edge of our seats and ending each episode with a serious cliffhanger, making it addicting and hard not to binge!

 

Once Upon A Time: Musical Episode – Review

May 9, 2017

Once

*Spoiler Alert*

Oh, the feels! My heart burst at this episode and I will admit that I cried a lot because it was just so beautiful! Once Upon A Time is one of my all-time favourite TV shows and Sunday they aired their musical episode which was everything I imagined it would be and more; it was wonderful! I was worried that the musical episode wouldn’t fit in with the whole story, but writers made it fit perfectly and the balance between worlds and musical sequences again worked really well! I’m so impressed with everyone’s singing abilities, and I couldn’t pick a favourite song even if you forced me too and I enjoyed being able to see a variety of characters burst into song but it would have been nice to see Rumple sing a few notes!

The episode kicked off with your typical Dinsey bluebird singing, followed by Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas breaking in song! Both of their voices were incredible and my heart fluttered a bit when Charming strode into the room with his voice soaring! Swoon! If I’m being honest I felt Lana Parrilla’s voice suffered by following up after Goodwin and Dallas but I loved the Evil Queen spin she put on the song and dance routine which redeemed her by vamping it up.  Rebecca Mader’s “Wicked Always Wins” was a total surprise and I loved it, it was something about the lyrics and the performance that got me all excited. Colin O’Donoghue also fared well with his singing voice, and revenge song but I thought his song was too cheerful where it should have been menacing. The final number ‘Happy Beginnings’ see’s Emma and Hook unexpectedly burst into song after their wedding ceremony which was really cheesy but I didn’t care because my emotions were all over the place.

Anyway, I loved this episode and I enjoyed seeing something a bit different that worked well with the plot! I can’t wait for next week’s 2-hour finale episode because we get to see the effect of the Black Fairy’s curse but I don’t think I’m ready emotionally because this might be the end of Once Upon A Time and even if it is renewed for a Season 7 Jennifer Morrison won’t be returning and it wouldn’t be the same without her.

If you haven’t watched Once Upon A Time yet, stop what you’re doing and go and watch the first episode, I can guarantee that it will get you hooked! And if that’s not enough we wrote a list of reasons why you should watch it here! Let me know in the comments what you thought of the episode and I would love to know if there are any other ‘Oncers’ out there!

7 Reasons to Watch 13 Reasons Why

April 6, 2017

13r

Just stop. Stop everything now and go and watch the first episode of 13 Reasons Why because it is incredible and has such an important message which is vital all teens learn. The show aired on Friday and I finished it on Sunday night and probably would have finished it sooner if it wasn’t for the vast amount of work I have and it’s impacting and powerful storyline.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a book to TV show adaptation and mainly follows Clay Jensen who returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On the tapes, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list. As someone who has been a victim of bullying at High School, this TV show struck me hard and I could totally relate to Hannah and the effects of bullying on her life and how crushing it is. After watching a few of the later episodes, I had to take a moment just to sit in silence and think about what I’d just watched. The show made me hurt, sometimes smile and think a lot and that’s what I think makes a show effective if it makes you truly think about your actions and the way you see the world. I haven’t yet read the book but after watching the show I know I definitely will and I highly recommend that you do too as it is a show/book that will change the way you look at life.

As someone who has been a victim of bullying at High School, this TV show struck me hard and I could totally relate to Hannah and the effects of bullying on her life and how crushing it is. After watching a few of the latter episodes, I had to take a moment just to sit in silence and think about what I’d just watched. The show made me hurt, sometimes smile and think a lot and that’s what I think makes a show effective if it makes you truly think about your actions and the way you see the world. I haven’t yet read the book but after watching the show I know I definitely will and I highly recommend that you do too as it is a show/book that will change the way you look at life.

  1. Important message – I know I’ve already talked about the importance of the show’s message but I feel that I need to stress it again. It is so important to be aware of how we treat others. Even though someone appears to shrug off a sideways comment or a rumor, it’s impossible to know everything else that’s going on in that person’s life and how we might be adding to his/her pain. But suicide isn’t the shows only focus as it also highlights rape and sexual violence.
  2. Diverse cast – The diversity helps sets it apart from just your typical high school show. But it’s not just the casting of these diverse actors that should be recognized. Their portrayal of fully realized characters in the series also marks a huge step forward for not falling prey to the tired stereotypes so often seen on TV.
  3. Incredible Acting – Every character’s acting was just wow, in particular, Mrs Baker played by Kate Walsh, Hannah played by Katherine Langford and finally, Clay played Dylan Minnette. Their performances left me speechless and I can’t fault anyone’s acting.
  4. The Characters – One of the most harrowing points of this series is just how innocuous it all seems at first. They all seem so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as if the whole world awaits them until it all comes crumbling down. We feel every emotion and being able to learn more about each character’s situation helped this.
  5. The Episode Structure – I enjoyed the fact that each episode focused on a particular character and we were able to learn more about their backstory and relationship with Hannah. Having this structure made the show addictive as not only did I want to hear Clay’s tape but everyone else’s.
  6. The Realness – I know this is very much like point 1 but its realness is what makes it relatable and highlights its powerful message. For me I didn’t feel like some teen TV show, I honestly felt like I was on this journey with all the characters and it partially because these characters feel familiar as they will have real-world representatives and it’s likely that you knew a Courtney or a Zach, or even a Skye.
  7. It’s a Book to TV Show Adaptation – This means that, like myself, if you loved the show you can read the book and see how they compare because I always like to see what they’ve added, missed or changed.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, I’ve included a link to the NHS website which has some really helpful links.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – Trailer Reaction

March 2, 2017

potc

You can watch the trailer here!

I am a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and when they announced the fifth and final film, I got super excited but also really sad! They recently released a teaser trailer but now they’ve finally released the first proper look at the film and from what we’re shown it’s definitely going to be an action-packed adventure. The special effects are just brilliant and they look just as good as the ones used in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End’ however I’m not sure how I feel about the CGI young Jack Sparrow! I love how we’re thrown back into the wonderful world of the Caribbean with a completely new storyline and set of characters like Carina (Kaya Scodelario) and Henry (Brenton Thwaites) who remind me of a young Will and Elizabeth! The chemistry and banter between all the characters (new and old) look brilliant and there were elements in the trailer and conversations that I found really funny so I’m glad that these movies haven’t lost their humour! Finally, that soundtrack never gets old and as soon as I heard it I got slightly emotional because this is the last film, but I’m sure they’re going to end it with a bang! Let me know what you thought of the trailer in the comments below!

7 Reasons To Watch Reign

November 20, 2016

This one’s for you Eleanor. If you haven’t already seen, Eleanor and I have started a series of posts trying to persuade our followers to watch some of our favourite TV shows including Once Upon a Time and Outlander, and I couldn’t miss Reign out!

1. The Cast – The cast is certainly not as good as the Once Upon A Time cast but they’re acting and relationships on and off screen are so enjoyable to watch. Plus the show gives us a lot of lovely eye candy! Who doesn’t love Toby Regbo, Torrance Coombs, Johnathan Keltz and more? The show also gives us some serious badass and powerful women as well from Adelaide Kane as Mary, Queen of Scots to Megan Follows as Catherine de’ Medici. #girlpower

2. The Costumes – Meredith Markworth-Pollack is a goddess and her costumes she creates are equally as enchanting. From Mary and her ladies gowns to the men’s suits, everything is stunning and I love how she’s put a twist on your typical French fashion in the 16th Century by making it sexy and feminine.

3. The Romance – So many couples and relationships that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside but will also break your heart. Pre-warning after watching the show you’ll probably develop a lot of ships, for me, it will always be Francis and Mary. Their relationship isn’t simple but that doesn’t stop it being beautiful, romantic yet heartwrenching.

4. The Locations – From the lush green outdoor scenery to the ornate hallways and rooms in the giant French castle, there isn’t an ugly shot in the entire show. I’ve always been a sucker for castles so this show was right up my street.

5. The Drama – Every episode there’s drama, it’s a bit like a historical Pretty Little Liars because nearly every episode someone tries to kill Mary, secrets are revealed and created. There’s never a lack of action and drama and we are given the added bonus of having historical references

6. The Music – One of the most forgotten aspects of the show but in my opinion it’s one of the best as it has enabled me to discover some amazing artists and songs like ‘Incomplete’ by James Bay, ‘I Still Love You’ by Josh Jenkins and ‘All The Kings Horses’ by Karmina! So even if you do or don’t decide to check out the show, I highly recommend you check out its soundtrack, because it’s perfect.

7. It’s a great show to watch after watching Outlander – Eleanor, you need to watch it, it’s got drama, historical aspects, and romance just like Outlander!