The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Year of release: 2013

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Sam Clafin

  

I have been looking forward to the release of this film all year! I read the books over summer last year and fell completely in love with the story. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure whether I would like them as the story is a bit of an odd one isn’t it?! Each year the in the city of Panem 12 boys and 12 girls are selected by an annual lottery draw and then dumped in an arena where they are forced to fight to the death on live television? It doesn’t sound like the most cheerful story in the world does it?! But with so many people raving about how great The Hunger Games was, I figured I would give it a chance and I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it! Now usually when you love a book and they make a film of it, it can be somewhat of a disappointment (Twilight being a perfect example here. Total. Let down.). I will admit to being that annoying person that sits there moaning that they’ve changed bits and start spouting “well, that didn’t happen in the book!” So when I watched the first Hunger Games movie I didn’t set my hopes too high, but it actually turned out to be brilliant. A few characters were a little different than I imagined (Haymitch and Peeta, for example), but all of the actors did such a fantastic job that I can’t help but picture those characters in any other way now. So with one great film already in the bag, could they do it again with the second? Simply put: yes.

       
      Catching Fire is even more thrilling and exciting than the first. The story is a lot more action-packed and there is a greater sense of threat and danger throughout this movie. President Snow is brought into the forefront in this one and the brutality towards the people living in the outer districts is severely increased (as poor Gale finds out). The film really hits the ground running from the off and it doesn’t lose pace from start to finish – there really is no time to be bored and there is certainly no lapse in the excitement. In this second instalment, we see Katniss and Peeta thrust back into the arena to battle it out once again. As punishment for the rebellion breaking out in some of the outer districts, President Snow (in a desperate attempt to restore order) decides to prove once and for all who is boss by sending 24 victors from previous years back into the arena for the 75^th annual Hunger, known as the “Quarter Quell.” New alliances are formed and we are introduced to new characters, Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason being two of the more prominent characters, and this time around the games are tougher, more brutal and the most challenging yet – but the tributes are ready to fight back.  I won’t spoil what the ending by revealing what happens in the games in case you haven’t read it, but I will say that it did the book justice. 

          Jennifer Lawrence is (again) fantastic as the brave and feisty Katniss, whilst Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson are equally superb in their roles as Peeta (Hutcherson) and Haymitch (Harrelson). The relationship between Katniss and Peeta starts to really blossom in this one, but of course, their partnership is never without its complications. I do also have to commend Jena Malone for her brilliant performance as Johanna Mason, a victor from District 7. The story can seem a bit doom and gloom but it does have its comical moments, brought particularly by Jena Malone – her scenes certainly brought in the most laughs! The only criticism I can think to offer about this film (and this is really nit-picking) is that occasionally the scenes in the jungle were a little too dark at times and it was often hard to distinguish what was going on and who was taking a swipe at who! But other than that, I can’t really fault it. It was as good, if not better than I hoped it would be.  

May the odds be ever in your favour...

Favourite bit: There are so many but the elevator scene with Johanna was very amusing!

Rating: 9.5/10

Sunshine On Leith

Year of release: 2013

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: George MacKay, Antonia Thomas, Freya Mavor, Kevin Guthrie, Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks

I went to see this film a few weeks ago after my dad pointed it out to me. It’s a musical film which is based on the popular stage production (of the same name) and it features the music of the Scottish band The Proclaimers. From what I had heard about it, the film seemed to be quite a hit and it was being heralded as this year’s Mamma Mia. I must admit, I do love musical films (not all of them – (some are intolerable) and I really enjoyed Mamma Mia so this film seemed very much up my alley.

     The story follows the lives of Davy (George MacKay) and Ally (Kevin Guthrie), two young British Army soldiers, as they return home to Edinburgh after completing their service in Afghanistan. On return to Edinburgh, Ally is reunited with his girlfriend (and sister of Davy), Liz (Freya Mavor), whilst Davy is introduced to his sister’s English friend Yvonne (Antonia Thomas) during a celebratory night in the pub (where else?!) where they all get spectacularly drunk and sing riotously with their friends. The film certainly kicks off in high spirits and as friends reunite and romances blossom, the boys begin to look out onto a brighter future, one that is a world apart from their lives in Afghanistan. 

     Whilst the film does centre primarily around Davy and Ally, there is a second plotline which follows the relationship of Davy and Liz’s parents, Rab (Peter Mullan) and Jean (Jane Horrocks). In somewhat soap opera style, Rab receives a letter from his long lost daughter (that he didn’t know he had) just days before he is due to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss with his wife. Bad timing that, really. Yes, the relationships amongst the characters are not without drama and each couple faces some sort of dispute or upheaval that they must work to deal with at some point during the film. Whilst the drama does seem a little frivolous at times (like I said, it is something you would expect to see on a soap opera), it does add a bit of spice to the story. It isn’t all lovey-dovey, soppy, over-the-top romance like in a lot of musicals, so the drama does serve to add a little bit more realism and grit to the story – no couple is perfect which made the characters more relatable. I thought Ally and Liz made the best on screen couple – they were certainly the most believable pairing and they worked very well together. But the pairing of Davy and Yvonne didn’t really work for me. I felt they lacked chemistry in places and I found their romance a little hard to buy at times. It was also quite hard to understand what some of the actors were saying at times – the Scots talk very fast and they had pretty strong accents, so it was hard to catch what they said in places. But this was only on occasion, so don’t be put off watching because of the Scottish accent!

     Whilst the characters are likeable and the relationships are entertaining to watch unfold, it is the music that really sells this film and is what ultimately wins you over. There really isn’t a bad song on the soundtrack. Every single one is a hit and for the most part, the songs are lively, upbeat and extremely catchy. The Proclaimers certainly know how to deliver toe-tapping hits! ‘I’m On My Way’, ‘Over and Done With’, ‘Let’s Get Married’ and ‘Oh Jean’ were amongst my favourites, but of course you end up sitting there through the whole film waiting for that one song, that one big hit that everybody knows – which is typically left right until the end. Yes, ‘Gonna Be (500 miles)’ is the song that most people know and it is the one that we were all sat waiting for (right? Just me?). When it finally arrived, it provided the most jubilant and joyous ending (that we all expected really) and prompted a huge sing and dance along in the middle of Edinburgh. 

The song did feel very staged, as did a few other numbers, but they were all great fun to watch, and to be honest, it was everything you expected from a musical. So even if you aren’t that familiar with their music (I only knew a few songs), the film is still enjoyable to watch and it isn’t restricted to Proclaimers fans alone, so don’t be put off if you don’t know the music. The cast did an excellent job with the singing and the musical scenes were performed with real energy and gusto that really helped to bring the story to life.

It would have made the perfect summer hit, but this feel-good hit is sure to brighten up even the dreariest of winter days. 

Favourite bit: The bit in the pub when all the men sing’ Let’s Get Married’. It’s cheeky, boisterous and comical rendition of a fab song.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Ready for the Sofa and Popcorn

These last few weeks have been a little bit hectic so I haven’t had as much time to sit down and watch as many films as I normally would (boo!). But I do have a few that I’ve bought recently (there’s always time for shopping, right?!) and that I am eagerly awaiting to see, so I thought I would do a post about them instead.

1. The Brass Teapot (2013)

I bought this film after seeing it in the iTunes film chart. Honestly it was the name of the film that drew me to it – it’s a bit of an odd title isn’t it?! After watching the trailer and reading what it was about – a magical teapot that spews money whenever you hurt yourself – I decided it might be worth a watch (plus it was relatively cheap!). The plot does sound rather odd and unusual, which was the reason I was drawn to it as I love films which try and do something a bit different. It’s certainly original, although I suppose you could say it’s a peculiar take on the story of Aladdin. But I must admit I am a bit worried that the plot might turn out to be overly stupid, to the point where it becomes irritating rather than funny…hopefully that won’t be the case.

Watch the trailer.

2. Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

I bought this because I love all things Disney so this film is very much up my street. It is based on the Wizard of Oz, but instead of the story of Dorothy it follows the tale of the infamous Wizard and how he came to be. I love watching new adaptations and re-imaginations of classic tales so, for me, this film has a lot of appeal. The cast also looks great and I particularly like the casting of James Franco as Oz. Not so sure about Mila Kunis as the wicked witch though…it’s quite hard to picture.

Watch the trailer.

 3. Up (2009)

I’ve heard so many good things about this film that I am really intrigued to see what all the fuss is about. Everyone I know that has seen it didn’t have a bad word to say about it so I am expecting great things! The film is all about exploring, adventure and fulfilling dreams – it seems to have all of the qualities you would expect from a Disney film really. I have heard it is quite sad in places, but judging by the title, I expect this film will have more highs than lows.

Watch the trailer.

4. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

I absolutely love the Marvel films – Iron Man and Spiderman being my particular favourites. After recently watching The Avengers, it made me want to know more about the other characters so I’m starting with the great big green hulking man! The film has an interesting story and it looks action-packed. I’m just intrigued to see how Edward Norton does as Dr. Bruce Banner, as I thought Mark Ruffalo was excellent as the Hulk in The Avengers.

Watch the trailer.

Suit Up - Iron Man 3

Year of release: 2013

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyenth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

Like most other huge movie franchises, I’ve been a bit late with getting into the Iron Man craze. I seem to have quite a habit of completely missing the boat and then stumbling across them way after everyone else.  I didn’t really know much about the Iron Man movies until the third one was released earlier this year and after hearing so many people raving about it I decided to get watching. After seeing the first movie, my love of Iron Man was well and truly established. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, as unlike most superhero movies Tony Stark doesn’t actually have any crazy superhuman powers, he just happens to be a techy genius – his ‘super power’ is his brain which I thought was pretty cool. It also helped make the story more believable in my opinion. So after the first, I quickly went on to watch the second, followed by The Avengers and then finally the third.

         The film begins with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recalling a New Years Eve party back in 1999 which he spent with scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), the inventor of a regenerative treatment known as Extremis which is used to help people recover from crippling injuries. Whilst they are leaving the party, they are approached by disabled scientists Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who offers them a chance to work in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM), an offer which Stark rather rudely rejects. The film then jumps back to the present to find an anxious and over-worked Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) struggling to cope with panic attacks following the events of the alien attack in New York (in The Avengers), whilst he attempts to discover the identity of a terrorist organisation, fronted by a chap known as the Mandarin. After his head of security, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is hospitalized after a suspected terrorist attack outside the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, Stark makes it his mission to find the man responsible before anyone else gets hurt.

      This third instalment is certainly much darker and more sinister than the previous films and Stark is faced with a greater sense of threat and danger from his enemies than ever before. The villains in the film, led by disabled scientist Aldrich Killian, are able to regrow body parts and can withstand almost any form of attack following their treatment with Extremis, leaving them seemingly impossible to defeat – Stark certainly has his work cut out with this lot. You really do doubt whether the almighty Iron Man will be able to pull it all off this time or if he has finally met his match. And with his on-going battle to deal with his anxiety, Stark is presented with his greatest challenge yet.

Quiet Please. Genius at work.

     Whilst the plot is fast-paced, exciting and action-packed, it can be a little vague at times. The villain’s attacks often seemed a bit without reason and it was difficult to really grasp what their motivation was. But despite this minor ambiguity, the film is hard not to like – it has everything you would hope for in a superhero action movie. The special effects were spectacular. Everything from the explosions, to the creation of the villains, to the Iron Man suits was exceptionally well done. I particularly liked Tony’s new method of getting suited up, which was very comical as well as being incredibly cool! This third instalment definitely upped the ante with the superhero armour and techy gadgets, although there is less of a dependence on the suit in this film and more of a focus on the man who created it. Stark really has to prove his worth and is often forced to rely on his own genius and ingenuity rather than on the suits alone. But, of course, when the suits are used they are undeniably spectacular – a positive outcome of Stark’s obsessive workaholic behaviour at the start of the film.

     Stark, as always, retains his likeability as the charming and witty genius. Although this instalment shows Stark at his most vulnerable, allowing viewers to see a more caring side to his character, particularly through his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). I liked the development of the romantic storyline between Tony and Pepper and it served as a refreshing inclusion amongst all of the chaos and violence and people blowing up all over the place. I also loved the introduction of 10 year old Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins) who helps Tony get back on his feet and inspires him to put his genius to good use when his suit is temporarily out of use. The duo made a very unusual but very lovable and comical pair.

     Packed with plenty of charm, humour and rip-roaring action, this third instalment is a thrilling superhero delight that you will want to watch again and again. So if you haven’t done so already, do yourself a favour and get watching!

Favourite bit: This was a hard one to pick but I did really enjoy the scene where Stark makes numerous attempts to “call” his suit when he’s held hostage. The threats he splutters while waiting for his armour did make me laugh.

Rating: 9/10 

Attend The Tale of Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

When I found out that this show was coming to Leeds, I jumped at the chance to go and see it. After watching the film, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter (2007), the story has stuck with me ever since...it’s kind of a hard one to forget isn’t it?! Yes, Sweeney Todd still proudly holds the crown for “the weirdest film I have ever seen in my life”, but I love it. To this day I still can’t eat a pie without thinking that someone might be in it and then promptly turning to the person next to me and bursting into a strikingly off-key rendition of ‘would you like a pie sir?!’ But don’t be put off by its rather gruesome and grisly plot as it is a really thrilling, albeit peculiar, story. 

     This musical theatre classic, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, tells the tale of Benjamin Barker (later known as Sweeney Todd), a barber who returns to London after 15 years transportation. Upon his return, he discovers his wife has poisoned herself and his daughter is living in the clutches of Judge Turpin, the man responsible for his transportation. Sweeney then vows to exact his revenge on the judge (and basically anyone else he can get his hands on) and with a bit of help from revolutionary pie maker, Mrs Lovett, he becomes the most infamous barber London has ever known.

The closest shave you'll ever have!

     The show begins the moment you set foot in the theatre as you enter to find the cast already on stage and in character as patients in a mental hospital (this wasn’t hard to figure out as they were acting very odd). Walking in to find the show already in motion did seem a little odd and unusual at first (I felt almost as if I was intruding), but it effectively set the scene and the tone of the show making you feel as though you were instantly a part of the story – almost like stepping into a page of a book. The cast, needless to say, were absolutely brilliant. Despite my disappointment that Johnny Depp wasn’t reprising his role as Sweeney (wishful thinking, I know), David Birrell was excellent as the menacing, demon barber capturing his inner torment perfectly. Equally impressive were Barbara Drennan as Lucy Barker and Gillian Bevan as Mrs Lovett, the stand out character of this production for me. Although, I have to say I found Mrs Lovett’s outfits a little odd – they were a bit too pristine and modern, I thought. I was expecting her to be dressed in something darker and ragged and a little more gothic, rather than in an outfit that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a barmaid in Corrie. But still, the kooky nature of Mrs Lovett was captured perfectly. I will also commend Don Gallagher’s fantastic performance of Judge Turpin for making me dislike him so much!  I disliked Turpin even more in this production than I did when I watched the film, so much so that I found myself looking forward to seeing him get his comeuppance, the smug, arrogant, I’ve-got-so-much-power-its-gone-to-my-head nasty little man! 

     The sets were also commendable and Sweeney’s parlour in particular was exceptionally well staged – it had steps, a sink, a nice little door bell and a blood red mechanical barber’s chair that I would not recommend sitting in, ever.  I must admit I did feel a sense of delight when I realised Sweeney’s victims were actually going to be tipped through the floor! It really was very well done. The fire in the bake oven, although very simply created, was also very effective. But it’s the songs in Sweeney Todd that really make this show dazzle and the cast performed them brilliantly. Johanna, Worst Pies in London, Epiphany and Little Priest were among my favourites, but there isn’t really a bad song amongst them. I must confess, I did quiver in my seat a bit during Epiphany, especially when Birrell started yelling ‘HOW ABOUT A SHAVE?!’ into the audience. I felt myself bowing my head and hoping it wasn’t going to turn into one of those shows where they start asking for volunteers. It is such an engrossing and exceptionally gripping story that will have you invariably sat on the edge of your seat.

     This is a fantastic production and is sure to delight any Sweeney fan. Even if you’re not particularly partial to horror and blood and chopping people up to put in pies, this show is hard not to like and despite its dark and sinister plot, it is actually quite comical (I still can’t keep a straight face when presented with pie). It is certainly one of a kind and I can guarantee that after seeing this show, you will never look at a pie the same way again. 

This brilliant musical thriller is showing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse until 26^th October, so don’t hang about, get your tickets here.

Favourite bit: There are so many I could pick, but the scene in which Sweeney and Mrs Lovett sing Little Priest and rejoice in their plan to put people in pies is brilliant.

Rating: 9/10

Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes - Footloose

Year of release: 1984                                                       Year of release: 2011

Director: Herbert Ross                                                       Director: Craig Brewer

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow,                 Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough,

Dianne West                                                                        Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell

I’ve recently booked to go and see Footloose at the theatre, so I’ve been recapturing my love of this story by re-watching the movies – yes, movies. As with any good film, there is usually a follow up or remake somewhere down the line and this one is no exception. This much loved story was brought back to the screens in a modern version released in 2011. I’m often wary of remakes as I always worry they will completely ruin the story, but since I loved the first one I figured I’d give it a chance. Thankfully, the plot stayed very much in line with the original so I didn’t have to shout at the screen while watching it – it drives me crazy when they start adding or changing bits! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it as they say.

     The film follows the story of city teenager, Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon, 1984/Kenny Wormald, 2011), who moves to the small town of Bomont. Life in the town comes as quite a culture shock for young Ren upon discovering that the local minister (John Lithgow, 1984/Dennis Quaid, 2011) has enforced a strict ban on dancing and rock music following the tragic death of a group of youths returning home from a dance. The ban is pitched as an effective way of “protecting” the youth of the town (dancing and music are considered a sin), but really it’s just a convenient way of keeping them in line. But rules are there to be broken, bans lifted and laws changed, and in the ban on dancing, rebellious and free spirited Ren finds a worthy cause to fight for – his chance to do something that can make a difference.

Ren and Ariel, 1984 (left) and 2011 (right)

Lori Singer (1984) and Julianne Hough (2011) both did a great job in their performance of the wild and unruly ministers daughter Ariel, capturing both her defiant spirit and vulnerability perfectly – although Hough’s version was by far the more promiscuous. I found the character of Ren a little more likeable in the 1984 version, as I thought that Kevin Bacon brought a lot more charm to the role. The performance by Kenny Wormald, whilst likeable, didn’t quite have as much appeal – Ren came across as a bit too cocky and arrogant, whilst Bacon’s effort made Ren hard not to like.

     The dancing – an integral part of this movie – was done well in both versions, but I do think the original is slightly better purely because of Bacon. Ren’s big solo dance scene in the warehouse is probably the most iconic and well-known scene from the film, but I don’t think Wormald pulled it off nearly as well. The guy can dance, sure, but he just didn’t seem to have as much slickness or natural rhythm that Bacon has. To me, his performance came off as a bit stiff and stilted – a little too wooden – unlike Bacon who delivered the dance with coolness and with ease. Whilst Ren was easily the standout character of the original, I thought Willard (Miles Teller) was the star of the remake – and was by far the better dancer, outshining his co-star by a mile in the final dance scene.

Kenny Wormald (left) and Miles Teller (left) cut loose

Kevin Bacon shows 'em how it's done

Also, I just have to comment on the first big dance scene in the remake – this scene never fails to irritate me every time I see it. Why why why do modern day dance movies insist on putting in street dancing scenes?! This is a film that is supposed to be set in the 80’s, the height of the disco craze, yet for some reason they had everyone dancing to hip hop. This scene completely ruined the feel of the movie. It just felt so out of context and out of synch with the time in which the film was meant to be based. The inclusion of this song was just bizarre and I can only guess that it was included in an attempt to modernise the film and appeal to a wider audience, but for me, it just didn’t fit.

    To give the remake some credit though, the dance numbers are a lot more energetic and are very well choreographed – the dance scene in the country and western bar scene in particular was fantastic. The line dance, performed to ‘Fake I.D’ by Big & Rich, was just brilliant and after watching it repeatedly I will unashamedly admit that I am desperate to learn it! I do also have to commend the remake for sticking very closely to the original story. The film is kept very much as a drama filled with dancing, as opposed to rehashing it as a full blown musical with singing, dancing, the lot.

The ultimate line dance scene

Both version of the film are enjoyable, with an interesting plot and likeable characters, but for me the original is the better of the two. Ren is much more appealing and charming in the original, –Wormald’s more cocky portrayal made the character a bit unlikable at times – the dance numbers are fun and are delivered with style and ease and they didn’t spoil it by throwing in a hip hop number! But the newer version isn’t bad at all and with the exception of a few performance misses, it is still a very well done remake of a classic movie. Whichever version you might decide to watch, I’m sure you will enjoy.

Favourite bit: In both I absolutely love the scene where Ren teaches his friend Willard to dance. It’s brilliant. The line dance scene in the remake is also a favourite of mine – the dance is fab. 

Overall rating for both: 8/10 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Year of Release: 2013

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson

Well, I finally got myself down to the cinema to see this after months of waiting. I’d previously ignored the Percy Jackson films as friends of mine had put me off with their claims that it was like a poorer version of Harry Potter, but I was intrigued by it and having watched the trailer I figured, well, how bad can it be? I’m glad that I decided to give it a chance because I actually really enjoyed it. So, having loved the first film I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

     Whilst the first movie was certainly full of adventure, I found this next instalment to be a little more action-packed, dangerous and exciting. After the magical border protecting their camp is broken, leaving them vulnerable and unprotected, Percy (Logan Lerman), along with his loyal friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), head out on a quest to the Sea of Monsters (aka The Bermuda Triangle) in search of The Golden Fleece in a desperate attempt to save their home.  

Needless to say, their quest is a dangerous and unpredictable one, with new and old faces joining them along the way. Percy acquires a long lost half-brother, Tyson (who turns out to be a Cyclops –mythical giant creature with one eye. Probably not quite the brother he was expecting), who is a lovable, charming character, but has a habit of landing them in hot water due to his clumsiness and inability to tread quietly. Luke returns and is still hell bent on revenge and seems more likely to succeed than ever. And then there is Clarisse, an egotistical and arrogant fellow resident at Camp Half-blood who loves nothing more than to win and beat Percy in everything he does.

     While the new characters do bring more depth to the story, it is still the trio of Percy, Annabeth and Grover that really make the film for me – these three actors are fabulous together and Lerman in particular never fails to impress me. So I was a bit disappointed that Brandon T. Jackson’s character didn’t feature in this one quite as much. There is a huge chunk of the film where his character is missing – granted this is a result of the script and can’t really be helped (I suppose I can’t really argue with the plot, can I?), but I do think it suffered a bit in his absence as I feel he brings the most comedic value to the film. His responses to sticky situations always manage to amuse me. The character of Tyson, who was featured more heavily, wasn’t quite as engaging to watch and he didn’t bring the same wit and charm as Grover.

Still, there were plenty of laughs and from start to finish and the plot remained interesting and entertaining. It wasn’t one of those films that take a good hour to really get going. To really enjoy the Percy Jackson movies though, I do think you need to have a good imagination. The film really does contain a lot of weird – strange, mythical creatures, peculiar legends and prophecies, magical powers and returns from the dead (to name just a few). If you didn’t have a good imagination you would just end up sat there chiming ‘yeah right’ or ‘as if’ the whole way through. But the special effects are brilliantly done so it’s easy to allow yourself to believe what you’re watching.

     It’s a rip-roaring adventure from start to finish, with engaging characters both new and old, and an ending that promises an epic follow up somewhere down the line. With its all-round great entertainment and enjoyment value that had me interested and engrossed the whole way through, I have to say that this follow up didn’t do bad. It didn’t do bad at all.

Favourite bit: It’s a toss-up between the scene where they take a ride in the taxi and Percy (Logan Lerman) almost comes a cropper when it splits in half, or the one where Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) is dressed as a female Cyclops. Both equally amusing.

Rating: 9/10

Let's Go On An Adventure

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida

This summer I was lucky enough to spend a few glorious weeks in Florida. A particular highlight was the week I spent in Orlando running around some of the amazing parks like an over-excited twelve year old. I must say the parks in Florida make ours over here in the UK look absolutely pathetic by comparison – the US certainly doesn’t do anything by halves! Out of all of the parks I visited, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure was by far my favourite. I had been dying to visit here for a while, particularly because of the Harry Potter attractions, so I was a tad giddy when I finally got there. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed as the park surpassed all of my expectations. 

The park is divided into six different ‘islands’, namely The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent and Seuss Landing. Before visiting, we were told that the wait for attractions could be up to 2 hours or more, so with that in mind I headed straight for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (obviously). Needless to say it was amazing. If you are a fan of the books or the films then I think you will appreciate what an exceptional job has been done to create the Hogsmede Village and Hogwarts Castle – I was so impressed! 

Welcome to Hogwarts

Hogsmede Village

Everything from the shops, the Hogwarts train and station and the dining areas, including The Three Broomsticks and The Hog’s Head, were so well decorated that I did actually feel as if I was in a part of the movie. The rides in this section were equally impressive. If, like me, you are a big thrill seeker, then the Dragon Challenge coasters are for you. Take a ride on either the Chinese Fireball (the red track) or the Hungarian Horntail (the blue track), two very different but equally thrilling, dizzying, high speed coasters. 

Side by side: Dragon Challenge coasters

For those who prefer to remain a little closer to solid ground, there is the family friendly Flight of the Hippogriff coaster and the revolutionary flight simulator ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The Forbidden Journey did have quite a long queue time, but it really is a worth waiting for. Besides, half of the fun is in fact the wait on this ride, as you are taken inside the Hogwarts castle where you get to wander through various well-known and much loved sets, including Dumbledore’s Office, The Gryffindor Common Room and the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. Obviously this section of the park is going to appeal more to fans of the books and films, but even if you’re not an avid potter fan it is still worth a visit, even if for nothing but the rides.

Along with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon were also pretty exceptional. Personally, I didn’t feel there was that much to see in The Lost Continent, whilst Seuss Landing appealed more to younger children. Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon are the places to head if you love a good water ride. The Jurassic Park River Adventure is certainly the grandest of all the water rides in the park, but my favourite was definitely Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw falls, a wild log flume ride. The queue to get on this was by far the longest in the whole park, but it is a ride worth waiting for. 

Wet 'n Wild! Dudley Do-Rights Rip Saw Falls

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, a river raft ride down the wild water rapids, is also a great ride providing you don’t mind getting really wet – and I do mean absolutely soaking. Back in the UK, you can go on river raft rides just like this one without getting wet at all – absolutely no fun whatsoever! 

If you’re looking for thrills then Marvel Superhero Island is the best place to head. Personally, I love nothing more than a giant rollercoaster – the bigger the ride, the better – so this area of the park was a lot of fun. This section featured my favourite ride in the park, The Incredible Hulk coaster, a high speed, twisting and looping rollercoaster that is sure to please any thrill seeker. 

It's a blast! The Incredible Hulk Rollercoaster

The Dragon Challenge coasters in The Wizarding World of Harry potter were pretty exceptional thrill rides, but for the sheer speed, The Hulk coaster clinches the top spot for me. But be warned, if you have never been on this ride before, you may get a bit of surprise when you’re in the tunnel waiting for the ride to begin! Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall was also a great ride that I think deserves a mention. The 150ft drop tower is certainly not the most extravagant ride in the park, but the suspense it builds whilst you are sat at the bottom of the tower waiting to be blasted into the air makes it more nerve-wracking than the biggest coasters in the park! 

Doctor Doom's Fear Fall. Mind the drop!

So whether you are looking for big thrills, a chance to meet and greet your favourite film characters and superheroes, or a chance to experience the magic of Harry Potter, Universal Islands of Adventure ensures a great day out for everyone. 

Elton John - Official Opening of First Direct Arena, Leeds

Last week I went to see Elton John on the opening night of the brand new First Direct Arena in Leeds. The wait for this arena has been a long time coming but the wait was certainly worth it. As a Leeds resident I’ve always had to travel down to either Sheffield or Manchester arena to see my favourite bands play which has always been a bit of a hassle and caused more expense. So I’m very excited that the new arena is now up and running! 

The arena itself is a very modern, state-of-the-art building, with a 13, 500 seating capacity. I must admit, at first glance the building is very peculiar – it looks almost futuristic, like a strange looking space ship. The front of the building features multi-coloured lights which are lit up at night and change colour – the colours that night were very vibrant and bright, possibly to reflect the flamboyant style of Elton John. Inside the arena, the seats are set out very much like an amphitheatre. They are arranged in a semicircle, as opposed to a circle like in most arenas, allowing everybody to face the stage directly. This arrangement is supposed to make everyone feel closer to the stage and provide good views from wherever you are sat. So the further away your seat, the steeper it got! 

     The show kicked off with a performance from support act 2Cellos, who played a few of their own numbers before being joined by members of Elton’s band followed by the man himself. Opening number ‘The Bitch Is Back’ got the night off to a swinging start, followed by the crowd pleasing ‘Benny and the Jets’ which managed to get a fair amount of people up on their feet. I must say, Elton and his band sounded brilliant and the sound system in the arena was fantastic – my ears were still buzzing a day later. For his first concert back after having his appendix removed, he put on an amazing show as ever. His recent illness certainly hadn’t hindered any of his showmanship and he most definitely proved he was a worthy choice for the official opening, powering through a massive 26 song set and playing for almost 3 hours. 

     He played a string of hits from his back catalogue, including 'Tiny Dancer', 'Candle in the Wind' and 'Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me', as well as two new songs from his upcoming album ‘The Diving Board.’ Needless to say, whatever he played went down a storm. He also played my personal favourite 'I’m Still Standing, during which fans were invited to stand right up next to the stage, followed by the equally lively 'Crocodile Rock' and 'Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.' Before closing the show with Your Song, Elton returned to the stage to sign some autographs for fans standing at the front of the stage. I have never seen any musician do this at a concert before, but I thought it was exceptionally cool of him to take the time to stop and do that. The chance to get anything signed by someone as legendary as Elton John is pretty slim, so I commend him for giving people that opportunity. He is clearly an artist who appreciates his fans and that was so nice to see. If you ever get the chance to go and see him in concert I would urge you to go; you are guaranteed a great performance and a fantastic show.

Below is a short video from the show. Enjoy!

It's A Kind of Magic: Warner Brothers Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter

Last weekend I was lucky enough to visit the Harry Potter studios in London. I have been absolutely dying to go here since it opened so it was all very exciting to actually be there! The tour itself is very much self-guided. You can just walk through the sets at your own pace and the tour guides are simply there on hand if you want to ask any questions. I really enjoyed the fact that you could wander around and enjoy the sets by yourself so you didn’t have to rush and that way you could wait until people moved along so it was a bit quieter! The start of the tour was a little crowded but once left to your own devices it soon quietened down. 

     The very first set you see is the iconic cupboard under the stairs which you get to see whilst waiting in the queue to actually get into the studios. It was a very cool set to see but I was surprised by how small it was! 

The flying car and Ron and Harry’s Hogwarts luggage are also located in the lobby area before you enter, as well as giant pictures of the cast which are hung up around the room. It all gets you very much in the mood to see the rest of the studios. Once you get through the queue, you are taken into a room where you watch a short video about the phenomenon that is Harry Potter, followed by a video featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson who tell you all about the studios they called home for 10 years. Then the tour finally begins as you are taken into the Great Hall. I have to say this was one of my favourite parts of the tour and it is certainly the grandest of all the sets you get to see. I think just seeing the doors into the Hall and walking through it was just the coolest thing (being a mad Harry Potter fan) and it was quite surreal to be stood inside it!

Following the great hall you wander through to the next room which has loads of bits and bobs from the movie to squeal over including Hagrid’s Hut, The Ministry of Magic and the door to the Chamber of Secrets. My personal favourites in this bit were the Gryffindor Common Room, The Burrow, The Potions Classroom and Dumbledore’s Office. Much like the Cupboard under the Stairs, some of these sets were a lot smaller than I expected but the detail that has gone into them is amazing.

When I visited it was the weekend of their Summer Spells event so you could have a go at casting spells, as well as dressing up in the Hogwarts robes and pretending to fly around on a broomstick if you fancied! There was also a very cool section which showcased some of the specially designed props including The Daily Prophet, The Marauder’s Map and Harry’s Hogwarts Letter. Seeing these things up close makes you realise how much detail and effort went into these movies – they were exceptionally cool to see!    Once you’ve navigated your way through the J stage, you proceed into a backlot which is home to some well-known sets including Privet Drive and The Potter’s Cottage. These two sets were also amongst my favourites and I did get a tad over excited when I saw Privet Drive! 

This area also features The Knight Bus, the chess board, Hagrid’s motorbike, the flying car and the Riddles’ grave and you can buy food and drinks here including Butterbeer. I had to try some since I was there and to my surprise I did actually like it! It’s a little bit like an ice cream float so it’s very sweet and not to everyone’s taste…my friend hated it! Once you’ve finished in this area, you move onto the K stage (the stages are appropriately named J and K). This section features a lot of the models that were made including the Goblin’s faces, Dobby and Kreacher, Aragog, Buckbeak and the Dementors. 

The amount of detail that has gone into creating all of these things is amazing. I don’t think you really appreciate how much work went into these films until you see everything that was done to try  and make them as magical as the books.

     Following this, you enter Diagon Alley which I think this was probably my favourite part of the tour. Walking down that cobbled street with all of the shops, including Olivanders, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and Flourish & Blotts, was amazing and it does make you feel like you’re in the film! The shops windows are decorated with props so they do look very real when you walk by them. Seeing editions of ‘Magical Me’ by Gilderoy Lockhart in the window of Flourish & Blotts and boxes of wands in Olivanders was pretty cool I have to say.

      The final part of the tour is a look at some of the scale models of iconic sets, including The Burrow and Hagrid’s Hut, followed by a look at the actual model of Hogwarts’s Castle that they used in the films. The model of the castle is huge and it is so impressive when you see it. Apparently it took 8 weeks just to move it to its pride of place in the studios so goodness knows how long it took to build. The castle really is amazing and it’s certainly a memorable set to end the tour with. Obviously not all of the sets are there for you to see. You are told by Daniel Radcliffe before you enter the studios - in a video clip, of course. He’s not there to greet people all the time unfortunately! - that a lot of the sets were destroyed straight after filming. But if they did still exist, I would love to have seen Moaning Murtle’s bathroom, The Ministry of Magic courtroom, The Hogwarts Express and the Slytherin Common Room. Following your tour you can then explore the mammoth gift shop. The shop has all kinds of cool gifts but they are extremely overpriced – a chocolate frog was £8.95 – so if you’re wanting something as a token of your studio experience, maybe stick to the cheaper priced items like the postcards, fridge magnets and key rings.      If you love Harry Potter then I guarantee you will absolutely love the tour. Walking through some of the most iconic sets and seeing all of the props is fantastic and it certainly rekindled my love of the movies. It is most definitely worth seeing and I would recommend it to any Potter fan. You’ll have a magical time!

Tour Highlights: Diagon Alley, Privet Drive, The Great Hall and Hogwarts Castle