Top Film Picks of 2013

Well I have been rubbish at keeping up to date with posting lately haven’t I?! The festive period proved to be a lot busier than I had anticipated! I was planning to do a post on my favourite Christmassy films but alas I didn’t have time…there’s always this year though right?! Anyway, here is a post on my favourite films from the year. I saw so many good movies in 2013 that it was quite tough to pick a top few, but here is a run-down of the ones that really stood out.

10. Les Miserables

I was surprised by how much I loved this film as I wasn’t sure whether I would be into it – there is a hell of a lot of singing in it and the plot is a bit, well, depressing. Once it got going though, it completely won me over. The only reason I’ve put it at number 10 is that it’s not the sort of film you’d find yourself watching over and over again in a hurry – I think you have to be in the right mood to watch it!

9. Frozen

Since this film was made by the creators of ‘Tangled’ I had a feeling it would be good (‘Tangled’ is brilliant). It has all the Disney charm you could wish for – lovable characters, romance, magic, an evil, arrogant arse who’s out to have it all (there’s always one!) and a talking snowman (because why not?). Olaf the snowman really stole the movie for me. He’s fab. Wish he was mine.

8. Stuck in Love

Not your typical romance film. It’s a lot more realistic and relatable than most romantic films are. It has a great original plot and an all-star cast that are fantastic. I really enjoyed this one.

7. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

This second instalment is even better than the first. It really hits the ground running from the start and doesn’t lose pace the whole way through. I think you probably have to be a fantasy fan to really enjoy this though as it is a little odd at times. Being a big fan of fantasy films, it was obviously right up my alley.

6. Mud

This film is a real gem – it makes a refreshing change from the bog-standard comedies and such that are always about. It has action, drama, suspense romance…a bit of everything really. It’s a unique story that really pulls you in – it makes you really root for these characters. Matthew McCounaughey really comes into his own in this and it was nice to see him step away from the cheesy rom-coms. He was superb. It was just a shame the southern accents of the characters was a little hard to understand in places!

5. Iron Man 3

This film had everything that I hoped it would. Sometimes with big movie franchises the films seem to get worse with each instalment (Iron Man 2 was a bit hit and miss at times), but this one completely won me over. Obviously I think you have to be a fan of superhero type films to really get into it but it does have potential for wider appeal.

4. The Lone Ranger

I realise this might be an unpopular choice as it didn’t go down so well with the critics, but personally I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting – the way the story was told as a memory from an aged Tonto chatting to a little kid in a museum was a little odd at first, but as the film got going I actually quite enjoyed hearing the tale that way. It was quite unique. Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer made a great team and both portrayed their characters beautifully and their comradery throughout really brought a sense of fun to the story. If you love a good adventure movie then I would certainly recommend it!

3. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

I went to see the first of The Hobbit movies at the start of the year and I really enjoyed it. At the time I had never read the book or seen any of The Lord of the Rings movies either (I’m always behind with getting into huge franchises!) so I wasn’t sure what to expect. After seeing the first film I have since read The Hobbit and have recently begun to delve into The Lord of the Rings. Obviously having read the book first, this second instalment of The Hobbit was a lot easier to follow! I thought the ‘Desolation of Smaug’ was even better than the first – it’s a lot more action packed, exciting and thrilling. Bilbo really comes into his own in this one and the scenes with Smaug were superbly done (even though they strayed quite a lot from what happens in the book!).

2. The Great Gatsby

I absolutely adore this film. Like The Hobbit, I didn’t know much about the story of Gatsby before I went to see it. I enjoyed it so much that I went out and read the book straight after and I have to say I was surprised by how close the film had stayed to the original text. DiCaprio really did make the perfect Gatsby, capturing his charm, his mystery and his desperation perfectly and the rest of the cast were equally superb. I thought they all did justice to their characters. The settings in this movie are also incredible – the extravagance and glamour of it all (Gatsby’s parties in particular) makes it an irresistible watch. I have recently watched it again and it was still as thrilling as the first time I saw it. 

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

There’s nothing better than when a book you adore is made into a movie and it is actually done well – I’m always a little worried that it’ll be ruined (like Twilight). I had been looking forward to the release of ‘Catching Fire’ for ages and when the time finally came to see it thankfully it didn’t disappoint.  In fact, it was even better than I thought it would be. The second instalment of this franchise is a lot more exciting and action packed than the first and even more dangerous (if that’s even possible in a film where they all have to fight to the death). After being thrown back into the arena for a second time around, the odds are definitely not in Katniss and Peeta’s favour. It does leave you thinking there is no way they can survive it all this time. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish and with a film as gripping, amusing and as exciting as this one, I don’t see how they’re going to top it.

Stuck In Love

Year of Release: 2013
Director: Josh Boone
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Logan Lerman, Nat Wolff, Kristen Bell, Liana Liberato

I mentioned in my last post that this film was one I have been dying to go and see. When I went to watch it I was still a bit unsure what to expect. As I said before, it seemed like it could be one of those films that is either really great or really bad. Happily, I am pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised – I loved it.

     As the title suggests, the film is about different experiences and expressions of love. There is William Borgens (Greg Kinnear), a successful writer struggling to let go of his wife who left him for another much younger man. Undeterred he resorts to spending his nights spying on his ex-wife from the bushes in her back garden and still insists on setting a place for her at thanksgiving, insisting that she will return. His son, Rusty (Nat Wolff), is a hopeless romantic who spends much of his time writing and fantasising about a girl named Kate (Liana Liberato) from his school. After being urged by his father to leave the safety of his bedroom to gain life experiences, Rusty manages to land the girl. Sadly, Kate is not quite as sweet as she seems – she turns out to be a drug-addict with a lot of personal issues that Rusty isn’t very well equipped to handle. 

And then there is William’s daughter, Samantha (Lily Collins), who makes every attempt to avoid love altogether. After witnessing the pain her Father went through after being left by his wife, she shuns any possibility of romance opting for promiscuity instead. That is until Lou stumbles into her life (Logan Lerman), a sweet and lovable guy who determinedly wills her into giving him a chance.

     I know the turbulent and often rocky love lives described above make this film sound rather depressing but it really is an uplifting and enjoyable story. It has charm, humour and wit, and for every down there is an up – a silver lining if you will. Relationships blossom over shared interests, be it songs, books and writing, and it is shown that sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect. This is a truly engaging and entertaining film with relatable storylines and a fantastic cast who do a fantastic job of bringing lovable and memorable characters to life. It will make you both laugh and cry and will most certainly leave you with a ridiculous smile on your face.

My rating: 8/10

Get Me To The Movies

I've had quite a busy week so I haven't been watching as many films as I usually would. So, I thought I'd do a little list of brand new releases that I am dying to see! Here are my Top 5 film picks:

1.  The Lone Ranger

I have been excited to see this film since I first heard of its production some 6 months ago. I’m not that familiar with the original series so I’m not really sure what to expect but I have very high expectations. The film is going to be brought to light by Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer - the same team that produced Pirates of the Caribbean. I absolutely adore the Pirates film series so I hope they can work their magic again for this movie. And on the subject of Pirates, the film stars Johnny Depp as Tonto, an American Indian Spirit warrior. I think I mentioned this in a previous post but I am a huge fan of Depp so I did squeal a bit when I found out he was going to be starring in this. The film also stars Armie Hammer (as The Lone Ranger) and Helena Bonham Carter, another one of my absolute faves. It looks set to be an action packed, comedic and exhilarating adventure. I can’t wait. 

Watch the trailer here.

2.  Now You See Me

This is another film that I have been looking forward to seeing for quite a while. I remember watching the trailer and being very impressed and intrigued by the short clip that I saw. It seems to be a film that doesn’t have a typical or predictable plot. The idea of robbing banks live during a magic show and then handing the cash over to a bemused audience doesn’t really strike me as another generic film plot! From the short clip that I have seen, it looks visually stunning with a huge array of special effects. It also has a strong cast, including Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Woody Harrelson. I hope this one doesn’t disappoint.  

Watch the trailer here.

3. Stuck In Love

I think this could potentially be one of those films that is either really great or really terrible. I’m hoping it won’t be the latter. I came across this film because it stars Logan Lerman. I’ve seen him in quite a few movies, most notably The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and he has always impressed me. Like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this film looks set to be filled with drama and heartache, but yet it looks to be a genuinely heart-warming story. I love those sorts of films that leave you with a massive smile on your face after watching. I’m hoping this will be one of them.

Watch the trailer here.

4. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

This film isn’t due out for a while yet but I am already excited to see it! I really loved the first movie so I’m hoping this one will be more of the same. Starring Logan Lerman as Percy, this film sees him heading off to the Bermuda triangle with his friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) in search of the Golden Fleece in a desperate bid to protect his camp and his people. Packed full of adventure and weird and mysterious creatures, this film is perfect for anyone who loves to delve into the world of the magical and let their imagination run wild. If you’re not the imaginative sort, then this one’s probably not for you.

Watch the trailer here.

5. Man of Steel

I was debating whether or not to include this film in this list as I’m not really a fan of the Superman movies. In fact, I’m not sure if I have seen them all but the ones I have watched left me suitably unimpressed. It did surprise me that I failed to enjoy Superman as I am a fan of superhero films. The Spiderman movies, both new and old, are absolute favourites of mine. I adore them. And Batman isn’t half bad either. So I’m hoping Man of Steel will be the one to ignite my love of Superman. I’ve heard amazing things about this film following its premiere two days ago so I figure it’s worth a watch. Hopefully it will surprise me.

Watch the trailer here.