Seen sometime mid-February. Hoyts Victoria Gardens
Supernatural drama
Overview:
A new girl arrives in town. Some strange things happen. A local boy tries to make friends with her and finds out she is a caster (like a witch). They fall in love. Turns out they are cursed and that she will turn bad on her 16th birthday.
Can't reveal any more without revealing the ending.
Thoughts:
I have read the book so can't comment on how closely it follows the book, however the movie was entertaining, and the story was easy to follow.
Good special effects.
Left me wanting more and hopefully the next movie will be out next year hopefully.
Overall Rating:
7/10
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters (2D)
Seen at Village Fountain Gate, 7th March.
Overview:
Follows the story of Hansel and Gretel after they beat the first witch as children. Why are they immune to the witches magic? Why were they left in the forest in the first place?
20 something years later, they have no answers, but are still roaming the countryside as witch bounty hunters. They end up in a town where a lot of children have been taken, and find out more about their past and the witches' plans than they had ever before.
Thoughts:
This is a fun film. It isn't a great film. The storyline is straightforward and predictable.
There is nothing deep and meaningful about this movie.
If you go see it, don't expect much. Suspend reality. Enjoy with a large serving of popcorn.
Overall Rating:
6/10
Overview:
Follows the story of Hansel and Gretel after they beat the first witch as children. Why are they immune to the witches magic? Why were they left in the forest in the first place?
20 something years later, they have no answers, but are still roaming the countryside as witch bounty hunters. They end up in a town where a lot of children have been taken, and find out more about their past and the witches' plans than they had ever before.
Thoughts:
This is a fun film. It isn't a great film. The storyline is straightforward and predictable.
There is nothing deep and meaningful about this movie.
If you go see it, don't expect much. Suspend reality. Enjoy with a large serving of popcorn.
Overall Rating:
6/10
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Book: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
Book 1 of the Arcana Chronicles
Teenage Book
Supernatural Themes
Apocalyptic/ Disaster Setting
Overview:
Imagine you had a perfect life, except your mother thought you were going insane and sent you to be treated over your summer holidays. And when you come back to normal high school life, the nightmares that were haunting you return? This is the start of Poison Princess, the story of Evie.
Other than her supposed mental illness, her main concerns are fashion, her boyfriend and cars. But that all changes when her nightmares become real, and the earth is hit by the "Flash" - a bright light that vaporises the landscape.
Evie, her mother and several others, including school bad boy Jack, survive by taking refuge underground, however this is just the beginning.
The story explores what Evie is to become and why she had the nightmares she had. Over the book it is revealed that the Tarot Arcana are real, and take human form, and the final battle will be between Evie and the other Arcana. Not all of the Arcana are her enemy, not all are her allies. And the only way to gain power is to kill other Arcana.
The only person who may have some answers is her Grandmother, who is in a home several hundred miles away. With allies and enemies they try to cross the country while avoiding post- Flash militia that have formed, and the potential danger of creatures called "Bag-men"- zombie like humans that are chronically thirsty, and human blood will do in a pinch.
Thoughts:
It is a different take on the supernatural by far. The Arcana are fascinating, and the characters are likeable. Evie, for all she seemed to be trying to maintain a superficial persona, could not keep it up, and does love her friends and family dearly.
This book shows how people may not be what they seem, and that they can change and evolve.
I read this book in about 3 days once I started. It is an easy read and an interesting story. I am keen to read the next installment just to see where it will take me.
Rating:
B+ - easy read, nice characters, interesting world.
Teenage Book
Supernatural Themes
Apocalyptic/ Disaster Setting
Overview:
Imagine you had a perfect life, except your mother thought you were going insane and sent you to be treated over your summer holidays. And when you come back to normal high school life, the nightmares that were haunting you return? This is the start of Poison Princess, the story of Evie.
Other than her supposed mental illness, her main concerns are fashion, her boyfriend and cars. But that all changes when her nightmares become real, and the earth is hit by the "Flash" - a bright light that vaporises the landscape.
Evie, her mother and several others, including school bad boy Jack, survive by taking refuge underground, however this is just the beginning.
The story explores what Evie is to become and why she had the nightmares she had. Over the book it is revealed that the Tarot Arcana are real, and take human form, and the final battle will be between Evie and the other Arcana. Not all of the Arcana are her enemy, not all are her allies. And the only way to gain power is to kill other Arcana.
The only person who may have some answers is her Grandmother, who is in a home several hundred miles away. With allies and enemies they try to cross the country while avoiding post- Flash militia that have formed, and the potential danger of creatures called "Bag-men"- zombie like humans that are chronically thirsty, and human blood will do in a pinch.
Thoughts:
It is a different take on the supernatural by far. The Arcana are fascinating, and the characters are likeable. Evie, for all she seemed to be trying to maintain a superficial persona, could not keep it up, and does love her friends and family dearly.
This book shows how people may not be what they seem, and that they can change and evolve.
I read this book in about 3 days once I started. It is an easy read and an interesting story. I am keen to read the next installment just to see where it will take me.
Rating:
B+ - easy read, nice characters, interesting world.
Side Effects
Seen at Knox Village Cinemas, 2 March 2013
Psychological Thriller
Overview:
Much more straight forward than Cloud Atlas, but don't hold your breath for a good synopsis!!!
A woman, Emily, appears to be suicidal and ends up under the care of a psychiatrist, Dr Jonathon Banks. He prescribes medication that leads to her sleepwalking and killing her husband in her sleep.
Because of his apparent negligence, he loses his practice, his family, and everything. He becomes obsessed with how it could have happened.
And starts to question whether everything is really as it seems.
Thoughts:
Really, really good psychological thriller. If you like shows like Leverage, where nothing is quite what it seems until the end then this is a great movie for you.
It builds the tension slowly and brilliantly. It is twisted and mysterious.
The main characters are likeable, which is important to me.
They have managed to take what could have been a made for TV storyline and turned it into something really intense and interesting.
Overall Rating:
7/10
Psychological Thriller
Overview:
Much more straight forward than Cloud Atlas, but don't hold your breath for a good synopsis!!!
A woman, Emily, appears to be suicidal and ends up under the care of a psychiatrist, Dr Jonathon Banks. He prescribes medication that leads to her sleepwalking and killing her husband in her sleep.
Because of his apparent negligence, he loses his practice, his family, and everything. He becomes obsessed with how it could have happened.
And starts to question whether everything is really as it seems.
Thoughts:
Really, really good psychological thriller. If you like shows like Leverage, where nothing is quite what it seems until the end then this is a great movie for you.
It builds the tension slowly and brilliantly. It is twisted and mysterious.
The main characters are likeable, which is important to me.
They have managed to take what could have been a made for TV storyline and turned it into something really intense and interesting.
Overall Rating:
7/10
Cloud Atlas
Seen 6 March, 2013 at Chadstone Hoyts
Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others. Past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.
Overview:
The movie tells the interwoven stories of six timelines - from the 1800s into the future after some apocalyptic event.
In each time there are the oppressed and the oppressors - from the slave trade in the 1800s, to the oppression of the oil companies in the 1970s, to the oppression of the elderly in 2012.
This theme continues into the future, where humanity has divided into the purebloods - people that are born, and people that are created - the fabricants. Those that are created rule over those that are fabricated.
Finally, in the distant future, after some apocalyptic event brought about the fall of that civilisation there are two tribes living on an island, one tribe is peaceful, the other is violent. There is also another group of technically advanced people that live elsewhere. The violent oppress the peaceful and the technologically advanced do not interfere.
Some of the characters change each incarnation - they may be greedy and horrible in one, and nice in another, and other characters remain the same - either good or bad.
It becomes apparent that everyone in each story and each timeline is interconnected, and what has happened in the past impacts on the distant future. Each timeline has hope even amongst tragedy.
Thoughts:
Cloud Atlas should be nominated for best costume design next year at a minimum. It is a beautiful film, but the storyline leaves you going "What was that actually about?". IS it about reincarnation? The apparently futile hope that humanity might actually change for the better one day?
I think it wil be one of those films that everyone interprets differently and that you take something different out of it each time you watch it.
There are many recurring themes and much symbolism throughout.
It is neither a positive or negative film, but one that leaves you questioning where humanity as a whole is heading.
Without revealing more of the storyline, or what happens in the movie, I will say this, it is a movie I would recommend seeing.
It is beautiful, the visual effects and costuming is brilliant. The acting is good.
There is humour, love and laughter, amongst sorrow, violence and death.
Cloud Atlas is a long movie, so be warned.
Overall Rating:
7.5/10
Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others. Past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.
Overview:
The movie tells the interwoven stories of six timelines - from the 1800s into the future after some apocalyptic event.
In each time there are the oppressed and the oppressors - from the slave trade in the 1800s, to the oppression of the oil companies in the 1970s, to the oppression of the elderly in 2012.
This theme continues into the future, where humanity has divided into the purebloods - people that are born, and people that are created - the fabricants. Those that are created rule over those that are fabricated.
Finally, in the distant future, after some apocalyptic event brought about the fall of that civilisation there are two tribes living on an island, one tribe is peaceful, the other is violent. There is also another group of technically advanced people that live elsewhere. The violent oppress the peaceful and the technologically advanced do not interfere.
Some of the characters change each incarnation - they may be greedy and horrible in one, and nice in another, and other characters remain the same - either good or bad.
It becomes apparent that everyone in each story and each timeline is interconnected, and what has happened in the past impacts on the distant future. Each timeline has hope even amongst tragedy.
Thoughts:
Cloud Atlas should be nominated for best costume design next year at a minimum. It is a beautiful film, but the storyline leaves you going "What was that actually about?". IS it about reincarnation? The apparently futile hope that humanity might actually change for the better one day?
I think it wil be one of those films that everyone interprets differently and that you take something different out of it each time you watch it.
There are many recurring themes and much symbolism throughout.
It is neither a positive or negative film, but one that leaves you questioning where humanity as a whole is heading.
Without revealing more of the storyline, or what happens in the movie, I will say this, it is a movie I would recommend seeing.
It is beautiful, the visual effects and costuming is brilliant. The acting is good.
There is humour, love and laughter, amongst sorrow, violence and death.
Cloud Atlas is a long movie, so be warned.
Overall Rating:
7.5/10
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