WHAT TO WATCH THIS GALENTINES DAY

Today is ‘Galentines Day’; you can keep your valentines. In the wise words of Leslie Knope, the 13^th of February is for celebrating gal pals. I have thought of a handful of my favourite films that are particularly great when viewed with pink wine and guilt free junk food. Enjoy!

The Mighty Rom-Coms

Image Source: imdb.com

Notting Hill (1999)

Richard Curtis is the king of the Romantic Comedy. Notting Hill is an undoubted classic with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, do I need to say more?

Image Source: imdb.com

He’s Just Not That Into You (2009)

He’s Just Not That Into You is like the Love Actually of dating. It’s a host of interlinked stories, so you’re sure to have someone to root for. 

The Literary Classic

Image Source: imdb.com

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Joe Wright’s adaptation of the Jane Austen novel is not only my favourite adaptation but is one of my favourite films. Seriously, I have no idea how many times I have seen it and I’d happily watch it again this Galentines. 

The Iconic

Image Source: imdb.com

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Based on the novel of by Truman Capote; Audrey Hepburn is Holly Golightly, a New York socialite seeking a rich husband and enjoying bagels outside of Tiffany’s until she becomes interested in the young man who has moved in to her building.

 The Cautionary Tale

Image Source: imdb.com

Gone Girl (2014)

Take two seriously messed up people, who may or may not be compatible, add a media frenzy and tie it up with a murder mystery bow and you have the incredible tension of Gone Girl. If you’re looking for something that will distract you from everything heart shaped and social media displays of affection this weekend, anything from David Fincher should do the trick. 

RECENT WATCH: DEADPOOL

Photo Credit: imdb.com

After being diagnosed with cancer, a former Special Forces operative takes part in a rogue experiment to unlock mutant powers. The experiments leave him with accelerated healing powers but physically deformed, he adopts the alter ego of ‘Deadpool’ to seek revenge on the leaders of the extreme experiment programme.

From the opening credits to the very end Deadpool knows what it is, the first splash before a tidal wave of super-hero releases this year. Ryan Reynolds really shines in this film, you can feel that he’s enjoying every moment of playing the character. After all, Deadpool’s underwhelming first outing in X Men Origins: Wolverine clearly didn’t do that character justice. The character strikes a balance between arrogant, crude and smart. He jokes about Ryan Reynolds, Green Lantern and 20^th Century Fox all with erupting laughter from the audience. I loved the humour in this film. When used well, breaking the forth wall is something I love to see and in this instance it works brilliantly to embellish Deadpool’s character and give a real personality to a masked man. It may be an ‘Action Adventure’ but Deadpool is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a while. It was a brave move for the studio to make a Rated R Deadpool, and it was not an insurance move. Everything from the violence, language and love story carries on the mature tone. This tone ensures that Deadpool stands out from the excess of comic book movies that we have coming in 2016. 

Photo Credit: imdb.com

 

I also really enjoyed the villain in Deadpool, and Villains are often where Marvel trips itself up. Ajax has personally wronged Deadpool, and it is Deadpool who wants him to pay for that. Ajax isn’t trying to conquer the world or blow it up and that’s okay. He’s a bad guy and we rejoice in seeing our titular protagonist take him down. 

I really liked Deadpool but it is not without its flaws. Morena Baccarin’s Vanessa needed some serious development, her character felt like a bit of throwback to superhero love interests of yester year when they had no other role in the plot other than to be captured then saved. If you wanted to make a spoof of X Men or the comic book genre – and do it well – you’re likely to end up with something like Deadpool. It’s this that I sometimes struggled with, attempting to critique a genre that you play right in to does not excuse you from the conventions of a super hero origin story. The film as a whole is still hugely entertaining but self-awareness does not immediately mean self-bettering.

Photo Credit: imdb.com

 

As an action adventure comedy, Deadpool is a lot of fun. It pokes fun at the comic book movie world and you’ll be laughing out loud in cinemas but it doesn’t forget to expertly craft action sequences. There may not be any contenders to the throne just yet but Deadpool could easily maintain a position as one of the best comic book movies of the year. 

MY ANTICIPATED FILM RELEASES: FEBRUARY 2016

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Deadpool
UK Release Date: 10/02/16

The first superhero release of the year looks to be one that will stand out from the crowd. With so many Marvel character offerings every year it’s easy to have expectations amidst a new release. R- rated Deadpool promises a mix of comedy and action that is more mature than the barrage of sarcastic quips that have come before, it is also exciting that this film is a product of passionate fans and a lead actor so determined to bring the character to the big screen. 

Watch the trailer here

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 

UK Release Date: 11/02/16

So, Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books and I love the film adaptation. I am also a fan of zombie themed movies and TV (I say as I’m two seasons behind on The Walking Dead…). Being excited about the Bennett sisters fighting zombies is a bit of a no-brainer. I’m not even sure if that was a terrible pun or not. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies stars the upcoming queen of the costume drama Lily James and Sam Riley as the lead sword wielding star-crossed lovers.  The work of Jane Austen and the living dead isn’t the most natural of combinations but promotional material promises dark gory action with the iconic love story at its core. 

Watch the trailer here

 

Photo Credit: imdb.com

How to be Single 

UK Release Date: 19/02/16

February usually brings with it a chick flick and while we all say thanks that this valentines doesn’t include the words ‘fifty shades’ let’s all go see a movie that celebrates being single. How to be Single stars Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson and Leslie Mann among others as a host of lonely hearts looking for some kind of match in world with multiple definitions of what love is.

Watch the trailer here  

What are you heading to the cinema for this month?

RECENT WATCH: THE HATEFUL EIGHT

The Hateful Eight is the eighth film by Quentin Tarentino. Kurt Russell’s John Ruth is a bounty hunter who takes shelter with his prisoner from a blizzard in a secluded cabin. In this cabin he meets a collection of enigmatic characters. The plot of The Hateful Eight has been shrouded in mystery since its announcement and I do think it is good to walk in to cinema not knowing too much about what you’re about to see. It plays out like a ‘whodunnit’, no-one can be trusted and someone isn’t who he or she seems.  Think Agatha Christie with more violence and humour with a western backdrop.

What I really liked about The Hateful Eight is that all of the characters are interesting, part and parcel from the fantastic writing and the high class performances of the cast, Samuel L Jackson making a triumphant return to a leading role of a Tarentino film. The depth of each character means that you are suspicious of everyone, an element that is too often missing from some mysteries. The action of The Hateful Eight is in the careful constructed dialogue and at times felt like a recording of a play.

You cannot deny that this film will stand apart from every other film out at the moment, with the division in to clearly marked chapters, intermission and occasional narration by Tarentino himself. The fantastic score by Ennio Morricone also transports you back to cinema classics of times past.

 

Ultimately, the real test of a film lasting over 3 hours is if it feels as long as it is. The film did feel long. I will admit that there were moments where I was a bit bored and wasn’t really sure where the story was going. With eight principle characters there needs to be lengthy set up and in the end there is some pay off with a Tarentino style showdown. However a quick shoot-em-up and trademark blood spill just weren't enough for the long development that had come before. When I was presented with the ‘final chapter’ I couldn’t help feeling relieved, more than ready for the conclusion of this western tale. Unfortunately not my favourite film from the iconic director.