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.

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