Other Films Watched in November 2016

Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (Anthony C. Ferrante, 2015) - Okay

Final Girl - (Tyler Shields, 2015) - Good

XXX - (Rob Cohen, 2002) - Good

Cockneys VS Zombies (Matthias Hoene, 2012) - Hilarious

Code Name: Geronimo (John Stockwell, 2012) - Good

Blood Rage (John Grissmer, 1987) - WHAT!?

Suburban Gothic (Richard Bates Jr., 2015) - Um what?

Dead Rising: Watch Tower (Zach Lipovsky, 2015) - Okay

eXistenZ (David Cronenberg, 1999) - Huh?

Paintball (Daniel Benmayor, 2009) - Okay

Need For Speed (Scott Waugh, 2014) - Okay

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Daniel Alfredson, 2009)

Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Peter Andersson, Per Oscarsson, Georgi Staykov

Summary: As computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name.

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Drama

Watched: October 15th, 2016

I read the first book in the Millennium Series (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) back in May last year when I was doing my Goodreads Reading Challenge.

When I finally got round to reading it, after the first few pages I was told that it would take me around 11 hours to finish (I was reading it on my kindle), and after reading a few chapters I was just about ready to give up and start reading something else.

I had nothing to read on one of my long bus journey's so I decided to give it another go and I ended up absolutely loving it. I then said to myself that I would read the next two books (The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) before watching the films.

I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sometime last year and I thought it was absolutely brilliant, so when I finally sat down to watch The Girl Who Played with Fire (I watched the Swedish versions) I was definitely expecting big things and I wasn't disappointed.

To be honest it's kind of hard to review this film separately from the others as all three films link in with each other. Although technically a sequel this film is a bridge between the first and last film and the final film continues on from the end of the second film.

Unlike the first film which focuses more on the case they're investigating, The Girl Who Played with Fire tells us much more about Lisbeth and some of her childhood.
If you've never read any of the books the films are very easy to follow; however I would definitely recommend reading them, as the books goes in to a lot more detail then the films.

Although I think Dragon Tattoo is better, I still think this one packs a punch.

Rating: 8/10
One Final Word: Very Good


Oh and Merry Christmas!

Blogger Picks | November #2

Krystal | This Time Tomorrow - 10 Things I'm Thankful For
Angelica | Angelica Blick - Watching the Sunset

Kat | From Love With From Kat - Suede Trench
Helena | Brooklyn Blonde - Whirlwind

Amy | The Little Magpie - It's Red, It's Bodycon, It's Great
Wendy | Wendy's Lookbook - Autumn Ballerina: Tulle Skirt & Red Pumps

Emily | The Sweetest Thing - We've Got A Secret
Kenza | Kenzas - Golden Roses

Kayla | Not Your Standard - How To Wear: The Sweatshirt Dress
Rebecca | A Clothes Horse - Outfit: Mists of Avalon

Angelica | Angelica Blick - Asking For Nudes
Jules | Jules Sebastian - My Career Story

Mindhunters (Renny Harlin, 2004)

Cast: Val Kilmer, LL Cool J, Christian Slater, Will Kemp, Jonny Lee Miller, Kathyrn Morris, Clifton Collins Jr and Eion Bailey

Summary: Trainees in the FBI's psychological profiling program must put their training into practice when they discover a killer in their midst.

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Horror

Watched: May 30th, 2016

I wasn't expecting much when I started watching this film, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A group of young FBI students are sent to a small island that is also used by the Navy and "populated" by incredibly creepy target dummies, to complete their final training exercise.
The killings begin the morning after the group arrives on the island, and I think it's safe to say that I was pretty shocked. I absolutely wasn't expecting it to happen as soon as it does and I wasn't expecting to be as gruesome as it was.

I really enjoyed this film. I really liked the characters within the group and the individual roles they played, but I don't want to give too much away.
So go watch it!

Rating: 8/10
Watched: Very Good

All I want for Christmas...

I sent a copy of my Christmas list to my parents and my sister mid November. Yes, that's right we still do Christmas lists, that way our parents have an idea of what we would like.

So here's some of the things I added to my Christmas wishlist!

A Pentatonix Christmas | Friends For Christmas | Tarzan Original Soundtrack (1999)
I've been obsessed with Pentatonix ever since discovering them on youtube during season 3 of The Sing-Off, which they went on to win. Since then I've downloaded almost all of their singles, bought every EP and their first album and I've watched almost all of their youtube videos.

The Tarzan album doesn't really need much explanation. Not only was the film amazing but the soundtrack is written and composed by the genius that is Phil Collins!

Independence Day: Resurgence | Criminal Minds Season 6 | Legend
American Ultra | Room | NCIS Season 11
After reading Room last year during my Reading Challenge I've been looking forward to watching the film, so I really hope it's one of the presents I get.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III (PS3) | Spyro: Shadow Legacy (Nintendo DS) | Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3)
I absolutely love Call of Duty! I started playing it a few years ago on my sister's X-Box before she bought me a Playstation 3 which I've been playing ever since. I only used to play COD when I first got it before adding Driver San Francisco and then Battlefield to my collection.

Lego City Racing | Fintie Kindle Case | Lego City Volcano Exploration Truck
Faux Leather Jacket | Converse Hoody and Pants | Long Boots
I've always loved Lego but I've been getting more into it recently. I bought my very own Lego advent calendar as well as a fire truck that came with a book of building ideas!

I put a pair of Converse tracksuit pants on one of my lists a couple of years ago, but stupidly I didn't do any research and it turns out that they didn't have pockets. So this year I've made sure to add ones that have pockets.


What have you asked for this Christmas?

Film | In the Cinema - December #2

December 15th

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.


December 19th

Ballerina - Set in 1879 Paris. An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera house.


December 21st

Passengers - A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early.


December 26th

Collateral Beauty - When a successful New York advertising executive suffers a great tragedy, he retreats from life and seeks answers from the universe by writing letters.

Monster Trucks - Looking for any way to get away from the life and town he was born into, Tripp, a high school senior, builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars.

Operation Chromite - A squad of soldiers fight in the Korean War's crucial Battle of Incheon.

Why Him? - A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter's young rich boyfriend.

Blogger Picks | November

Emily | The Sweetest Thing - Rainy Day Edge at Palais Royale
Helena | Brooklyn Blonde - Clarkson

Kat | With Love From Kat - Fall Tones in Chelsea
Sarah | That Pommie Girl - Pretending It's Still Summer

Anna | Anna Saccone Joly - Emilia's Frozen Themed Birthday
Steph | Chalk Kids - Our Iceland Family Travel Diary

Christine | Hello Fashion - 3 Combos To Transition Your Holiday Dresses Throughout the Season
Caitlin | Southern Curls and Pearls - The Best Autumn LBD

Helena | Brooklyn Blonde - The Perfect Leather
Jules | Jules Sebastian - It's Black. It's White

Coury | Fancy Treehouse - Goldie is 4
Wendy | Wendy's Lookbook - NYC Autumn Colours: Plaid Scarf and Burgundy Boots

The Gift (Joel Edgerton, 2015)

Cast: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton

Summary: A young married couple's lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband's past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years.

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Watched: September 2016

The Gift is Joel Edgerton's directorial debut and I have to say he does a pretty impressive job, not only as director but also as an actor.

I don't think I've seen him in anything before this but I think he does an absolutely fantastic job here. He does creepy incredibly well but somehow still manages to make you like him.

Then there was Jason Bateman. I've seen Hancock and I really enjoyed his performance, I think it was the perfect blend of comedy and drama for him but I didn't think he would be any good in something so serious.
I was definitely wrong about that. Bateman absolutely proves himself for me and does an excellent job as Simon.

Although the film is about Gordon (Joel Edgerton) and Simon (Jason Bateman), it is definitely Robyn (Rebecca Hall) who comes across as the main character and is fantastic in this role.
I love the interaction between all three characters, but thing I loved the most was that I spent the majority of the film trying to figure out who the bad guy actually is.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I even loved the ambiguous ending. I was 100% rooting for Gordon and I really wanted him to get some sort of revenge, but deep down I think he's actually quite a nice guy and that he wouldn't really go that far. Or would he?

Rating: 9/10
One Final Word: EXCELLENT!

Film | In the Cinema - December

December 2nd

Bleed For This - The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks

Mr. Right - A girl falls for the "perfect" guy, who happens to have a very fatal flaw: he's a hitman on the run from the crime cartels who employ him.

Sully: Miracle on the Hudson - The story of Chesley Sullenberger, an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew.

Moana - A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui.

The Unknown Girl - A doctor attempts to uncover the identity of a patient who died after she refused her treatment.

Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hyptnotism - An orphan who practices hypnosis faces off against a bank robber who wants her book on the art form.


December 7th

Office Christmas Party - When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand...


December 9th

The Birth of a Nation - Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher in the antebellum South, orchestrates an uprising.

Snowden - The NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press.

I Am Not A Serial Killer - In a small Midwestern town, a troubled teen with homicidal tendencies must hunt down and destroy a supernatural killer whilst keeping his own inner demons at bay.

Life, Animated - A coming of age story about a boy and his family who overcame great challenges by turning Disney animated movies into a language to express love, loss, kinship and brotherhood.

Chi-Raq - A modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago.

The Pass - Nineteen-year-old Jason and Ade have been in the Academy of a famous London football club since they were eight years old. It's the night before their first-ever game for the first team - a Champions League match - and one of them kisses the other.