Favourite Comedies:
Role Models. (2008) - David Wain
Reason: I like Sean William Scott as an actor and the young characters Ronnie and Augie are hilarious! The jokes and things that happen make me laugh more and more each time,i often find myself quoting lines from the film in conversation as i have a bad habit of doing. Ken Jeongs character King Argotron makes me laugh, so much.
Step Brothers. (2008) - Adam McKay
Reason: This film never gets old. I have seen it so many times and so much of it is funny. It isn't one of those movies where all of the jokes are in the trailer. Its comedy genius!
The Love Guru. (2008) - Marco Schnabel
Reason: The cheesy jokes are classic. "Any bears in the cave?" "Bear cub, left cave!" - There are so many naff jokes which you can't help but laugh. I'm not a huge fan of Mike Myers, i despise Austin Powers, however he pulls this character off very well!
The Hangover: Part 2. (2011) - Todd Phillips.
Reason: I prefered this to the first one. The first Hangover took so long to get going and there wasn't all that much in it that i found funny. The toilet humour etc. is my kind of humour and again, Ken Jeongs character is absolutely brilliant.
Scary Movies 1 & 2. (2000 & 2001) - Keenan Ivory Wayans.
Reason: They aren't the best acted of films but again, deffinitely my kind of humour. There are so many brilliant moments. I prefered Scary Movie 1 however, out of the entire series, these are the best ones. They are the kinds of films you can watch again and again!
Favourite Horrors/Thrillers:
Insidious. (2011) - James Wan.
Reason: I didn't expect much from this film as it is from the 'creators of Paranormal Activity' I was however suitably impressed. Although i wasn't 'scared' by this movie, i was on the edge of my seat as there were so many 'make you jump' moments! The film kept me interested and i didn't want it to end as rarely am i actually scared/made to jump by movies.
Saw 3. (2006) - Darren Lynn Bousman
Reason: The Saw films were good, until after the third. Then, it just got too repetitive and gore for the sake of it. But out of the first three, i prefered this one the most. Im a fan of gorey and psychological films, when they're made right they can really work.
Wrong Turn 2: Dead End. (2007) - Joe Lynch
Reason: I really liked the storyline of this. It is really difficult to make horror movies where the storyline isn't plain ridiculous! The gore in this was really realistic and the make up of the 'hillbilly cannibals' with their deformities was great. The first Wrong Turn was a bit of a let down and the third one should not of even been made it was that bad, but this one, i did actually like. Quite alot.
A Serbian Film. (2010) - Srdjan Spasojevic
Reason: In many ways this film was just awful. But it was awful in a sick kind of way, not a badly made kind of way. Sometimes its good to actually be shocked at just how disgusting some films can be! Nothing really seems to bother me, not even the Human Centipede which so many people went on about how horrible and sickening it is. (I ate it whilst eating a Burger King!) But 'A Serbian Film' however is absolutely fowl. This is why i think it deserves to be in my list. For its pure shock factor.
The Village (2004) - M Night Shyamalan
Reason: Although this film isn't 'scary' i really enjoyed the storyline. I thought the idea of it was really clever and inventive. I went and saw this back in 2004 with my mum at the cinema and since then i've watched it so many times on DVD. I also think M Night Shyamalan is a good director ('The Sixth Sense' also).
Other Favourite Films:
My Sisters Keeper. (2009) - Nick Cassavetes
Reason: I found this film very moving. When i saw it at the cinema i constantly had tears! Everytime i composed myself something else would happen and i'd end up crying again. Its a beautiful movie and really touches your heart. I was very impressed.
Avatar. (2009) - James Cameron
Reason: Although many people seem to think it was quite bad, i was impressed. I thought the idea of it was simply amazing. Every little detail that had gone into it made it a feast for your eyes! From the Na'vi themselves to the nature surrounding them, to the Ikran which the Na'vi bond with and fly on! I really enjoyed this movie and have watched it many times since its release.
Pirates of the Caribbean movies: (2003-2011) - Gore Verbinski (1–3) and Rob Marshall (4)
Reason: Johnny Depp as an actor is fantastic. Nobody else could have played Captain Jack Sparrow like he can! The things he comes out with to the way he carries himself is just brilliant. He really makes me chuckle when watching these films. I'm not really into pirate films but these are modernised and different. It isn't just pirates hunting for treasure and jumping on others ships, its got elements of comedy, adventure, romance and action. They aren't the best of films but i really enjoy watching Johnny Depp in these movies.
Harry Potter Movies. (2001-2011) - Columbus and various other directors.
Reason: Harry Potter movies are just classic. They are so different to anything else. Also being that i and millions of others have grown up with Harry Potter it became a part of our lives. Everyone waiting to see the next installment. Although they aren't 'as good as the books' they are excellent films with amazing CGI and each film has a different storyline. (Unlike Saw where each movie is basically the same!) Harry Potter movies will never get old.
Blood Diamond. (2006) - Edward Zwick
Reason: I love Leonardo Di Caprio as an actor. This movie isn't usually to my taste however i enjoyed this and have watched it many times. It has a moving ending and the plot is interesting and also quite touching. E.g the child soldiers, the mistreatment of people, the cost of diamonds (blood, sweat and tears, not money!) Di Caprio pulls off the 'South African' character convincingly. This is my favourite war/political thriller movie.
Inception. (2010) - Christopher Nolan
Reason: This movie is exceptionally good. Again, Leonardo Di Caprio's acting is brilliant. The plot of this movie is so confusing and you really do need to concerntrate the first or even second time you watch it to work out what is actually going on and why. Its a long movie but not the type where you realise just how long it is and get bored. its the kind of movie that you don't want to end because its just so innovative and well written. The use of editing keeps this film flowing and on the edge of your seat.
These are just a few of my favourite movies. It is so difficult to think of movies on the spot and this took so long to come up with! I love all of these films and they are what inspire me to become a tv/film director.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
September 15, 2011.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 American science fiction film directed by Rupert Wyatt. The film stars James Franco and Andy Serkis who plays Ceasar. It is intended to act as a foundation with its own origin story for a new film series.
Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist at pharmaceutical company Gen-Sys who has been trying to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease by testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees. The virus mutates the chimpanzees, giving them a human level of intelligence. The most successful subject, a female chimpanzee named Bright Eyes (Terry Notary), goes on a rampage because she believes her baby, to whom she secretly gave birth, is threatened; she is killed disrupting a board meeting where Will is presenting the cure. Will's boss Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo) orders chimp handler Robert Franklin (Tyler Labine) to put all the test chimpanzees down; Franklin cannot bring himself to kill the baby chimp and instead gives him to Will. Will names him Ceasar and brings him up in his house. Ceasar is given his own room up in the loft and becomes one of the family. Ceasar inherited his mothers high level of intelligence and therefore begins to develop and learn very quickly. Three years later, Ceasar outgrows his surroundings and takes a trip outside the house to the neighbours garden. He then proceeds to accidently scare one of the children and earns a cut on the leg in doing so. Will takes Ceasar to to the local zoo and the primatologist Caroline Aranha treats his injuries. She is impressed that Will has taught Ceasar to sign and suggests that he needs to have more open space. Will then takes Ceasar to Redwood frequently where he swings up the trees and looks out accross the horizon. However, after an encounter with another familys dog, Ceasar becomes disheartened and believes that he is just a 'pet'.
Five years down the line, Will is determined to try out a sample of his cure on his father, Charles. At first everything seems to be working but after a short period of time the effects start to wear off. A confused Charles then gets into their neighbours car damages it, causing the neighbour to lose his temper. As the neighbour threatens Charles and pushes him to the ground, Ceasar steps in and defends him by attacking the neighbour.
Ceasar is then removed from Wills house by force and sent to a primate sanctuary where he is cruely treated. Whilst there Ceasar befriends a circus orangutang who also knows sign. Ceasar then manages to escape from his cage after stealing a pocket knife from a visitor who got too close and releases the Gorilla, Buck, from solitary confinement. After releasing him, Ceasar is respected and then becomes the dominant ape. When Will returns, to his shock and dismay, Ceasar refuses to leave the sanctuary. Later that night he escapes and returns to his 'family home' to steal canisters of the virus to release into the cages of the other apes, enhancing their intelligence.
The next morning, chaos starts.
I personally really enjoyed this film. My only issues were that it took quite a while to get going, and the actual 'rise' of the apes didn't take up much of the film at all. But apart from that, i was highly impressed. The use of special effects were fantastic and really kept me interested. The storyline was touching and on a few occasions i did infact end up watery eyed. The acting was clean, there were no awkward or badly acted moments. The ending was very touching when Ceasar told Will he was 'home' at Redwood. It was so well constructed that you really felt for Ceasar and it made you glad that him and the rest of the apes had gained freedom, rather than worrying about what havock they might cause. When the film finished i just knew there was going to be a sequel. I know i shall be going to see the next installment. I have high expecations after this one!
See this film if you liked...
- The original Planet of the Apes series.
- King Kong
- Jurassic Park movies.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 American science fiction film directed by Rupert Wyatt. The film stars James Franco and Andy Serkis who plays Ceasar. It is intended to act as a foundation with its own origin story for a new film series.
Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist at pharmaceutical company Gen-Sys who has been trying to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease by testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees. The virus mutates the chimpanzees, giving them a human level of intelligence. The most successful subject, a female chimpanzee named Bright Eyes (Terry Notary), goes on a rampage because she believes her baby, to whom she secretly gave birth, is threatened; she is killed disrupting a board meeting where Will is presenting the cure. Will's boss Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo) orders chimp handler Robert Franklin (Tyler Labine) to put all the test chimpanzees down; Franklin cannot bring himself to kill the baby chimp and instead gives him to Will. Will names him Ceasar and brings him up in his house. Ceasar is given his own room up in the loft and becomes one of the family. Ceasar inherited his mothers high level of intelligence and therefore begins to develop and learn very quickly. Three years later, Ceasar outgrows his surroundings and takes a trip outside the house to the neighbours garden. He then proceeds to accidently scare one of the children and earns a cut on the leg in doing so. Will takes Ceasar to to the local zoo and the primatologist Caroline Aranha treats his injuries. She is impressed that Will has taught Ceasar to sign and suggests that he needs to have more open space. Will then takes Ceasar to Redwood frequently where he swings up the trees and looks out accross the horizon. However, after an encounter with another familys dog, Ceasar becomes disheartened and believes that he is just a 'pet'.
Five years down the line, Will is determined to try out a sample of his cure on his father, Charles. At first everything seems to be working but after a short period of time the effects start to wear off. A confused Charles then gets into their neighbours car damages it, causing the neighbour to lose his temper. As the neighbour threatens Charles and pushes him to the ground, Ceasar steps in and defends him by attacking the neighbour.
Ceasar is then removed from Wills house by force and sent to a primate sanctuary where he is cruely treated. Whilst there Ceasar befriends a circus orangutang who also knows sign. Ceasar then manages to escape from his cage after stealing a pocket knife from a visitor who got too close and releases the Gorilla, Buck, from solitary confinement. After releasing him, Ceasar is respected and then becomes the dominant ape. When Will returns, to his shock and dismay, Ceasar refuses to leave the sanctuary. Later that night he escapes and returns to his 'family home' to steal canisters of the virus to release into the cages of the other apes, enhancing their intelligence.
The next morning, chaos starts.
I personally really enjoyed this film. My only issues were that it took quite a while to get going, and the actual 'rise' of the apes didn't take up much of the film at all. But apart from that, i was highly impressed. The use of special effects were fantastic and really kept me interested. The storyline was touching and on a few occasions i did infact end up watery eyed. The acting was clean, there were no awkward or badly acted moments. The ending was very touching when Ceasar told Will he was 'home' at Redwood. It was so well constructed that you really felt for Ceasar and it made you glad that him and the rest of the apes had gained freedom, rather than worrying about what havock they might cause. When the film finished i just knew there was going to be a sequel. I know i shall be going to see the next installment. I have high expecations after this one!
See this film if you liked...
- The original Planet of the Apes series.
- King Kong
- Jurassic Park movies.
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