SpiritedAngel Reviews

Now Is Good (2012)

Mixed feelings

[8/10 · 8 July 2013]

When I first watched this film, I had no idea what to expect. I hadn't seen the trailer or anything for it, I just knew what my friend had told me about the film; its about a girl who is dying, who has a bucket list of sorts to complete before she dies.

I was a little - very little mind you - bit disappointed with this film. The overall idea is good,the story-line is decent enough but I think it just lacked....something. Im not sure what, but for me something was missing. I wanted to have an emotional connection with the characters, but it just wasn't there. It seems like it should be a film that makes you think about life and how we live it, but honestly, it didn't make me feel a lot of anything.

I think the only moments that stick out for me, are when she first kisses Adam and it makes her feel alive, and one line from her brother right at the end. Their Dad tells him to say goodbye, and he doesn't want to, because it might make her die. That is the moment that stood out to me the most. How many other young children in this situation - who have siblings, or any other family member, who are dying - do you think have possibly thought this at some point? That if they say goodbye, it will make them die?

I think the acting in the film is quite good, although Dakota's accent really bugged me for most of it; there were some times that I either couldn't hear what she was saying, or couldn't understand. I liked her character, but not her accent.

I did like the film, don't get me wrong. I just didn't like it as much as I wanted to.

Derren Brown: Apocalypse (2012– )

Faked?

[15 December 2012]

I've heard a lot of stuff about Derren Brown: Apocalypse (mostly people saying Steven had to be an actor because it all seemed too forced or 'acted') and wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so decided to give it a watch. Im halfway through the second half now and I would have to agree that I think it is probably all completely fake, and by that I mean that I think it is all scripted, including Steven. There are points where I think it could be his actual reactions and then points - I say points, but this is actually most of the show - where I cringe at how badly it is made to look real rather than it being real, or at least thats how I feel - I might just be thinking this because of what others have told me. The bit that started to make me think this more is *Spoiler alert:Look away now!* is in the second half when Ian leaves the compound to go with Sarah and Derren says through the earpieces to Danny and Leona to stand back and see if Steven will take charge, and as soon as he says this, literally a second after, Steven completely changes and fires ahead. This could be real, I don't know, but from what we see of Steven at the beginning I don't think he would have this reaction so quickly after someone he has come to trust and rely on effectively kills himself. I know they have a time scale to work to but I still think that in that situation, he wouldn't have jumped straight into things - but maybe something will happen further on in the episode that changes my opinion of this. So far Im not that interested in it to be honest, Im purely watching it because there had been times in the past when I have commented on a show based on others opinions of it or based on the trailers for it, and I want to be able to say 'actually I watched it and this is what I thought.' So yeah. Let me know what you thought; is Steven an actor? or was he actually 'living' this for real?

A Little Bit of Heaven (2011)

Truly Amazing!

[10/10 · 20 August 2012]

I watch a lot of different films, some great and some not so great. Out of all the films I have watched so far, this one made me feel most for the characters, which doesn't usually happen with me. It had me laughing me ass off, so much so that I actually woke up my sister in the next room :/ and towards the end, right when Marley gives her Mum the photo of them both, I could not have stopped crying if I tried. By the end, I was a blubbering mess. I'm kinda glad I didn't see this in cinema, walking round with a tomato-red face is not a good look.

My favourite laugh out loud moment of this film - although there are many to choose from - would have to be the entire scene with Vinnie. Peter Dinklage has the ability to make me laugh in any film he is in, I think he is wonderful, but the whole scene with Vinnie and Marley faking sex to ... well I don't know what the aim of that was, to gross Peter out for 'hiring' Vinnie in the first place, or to simply make him laugh, but that whole scene had me laughing so much I almost peed. Probably a little bit too much information there, but it's the truth.

Kate Hudson is brilliant, but I think this may be her best role yet. She is one of my favourite comedic actresses and she is so believable in every role she takes on, I want to meet her and give her a great big hug and tell her how amazing she is and that she should keep doing what she is doing because it definitely works.

I have been kinda putting off watching this film to be honest. My friend kept telling me I should watch it because she thinks Gael García Bernal is hot, and I have to agree now that I have seen this, but it felt too real for me. At the time, my Mum had just been sent for tests for colon cancer. And I didn't want to watch this and be thinking 'is this how it's going to happen to her? Will Mum go through this too?' On a positive note, she doesn't have colon cancer, so that's one less thing to worry about, but I still can't help thinking that this is happening to someone else's Mum or Dad, or their brother or sister, or auntie, best friend - you get the point I'm trying to make. I think we definitely take things for granted in life - mostly the fact that we're still alive. People complain about stupid things that go wrong, things that don't really matter - it's not often you find films that offer a wakeup call, or films that make you feel something real for the characters.

One of my favourite, or maybe even my actual favourite film of 2011, and I hope to see more films like this in the future.

The Lovely Bones (2009)

Simply breathtaking

[10/10 · 12 July 2012]

Honestly, at first I wasn't that interested in this film. One of my friends had seen it and she didn't like it at all and she kept going on and on about why she didn't like it, and it put me off seeing it. Which, is a tragedy. But I can happily report that I have now seen it (obviously, or I wouldn't be writing a review for it :P) and I'm only sad I didn't watch it sooner, and that I let my friends judgement of it cloud my own thoughts about it. First off I want to say, that the cast is amazing! Saoirse Ronan is the perfect Susie, exactly the sort of girl I pictured when I read the book. I was a little dubious about Stanley Tucci being the killer - I've only ever seen him play 'good' characters before so I wasn't sure If I would be able to see him as anything but that, but boy was I wrong! He plays the character of George so well, that by the end I was cheering when he died! I was furious when he managed to get away with dumping Susie's body in the sink hole, and I thought that when Susie 'possessed' Ruth or whatever she did, she was going to stop him or get Ray to call the police. I kept thinking 'Girl, you need to sort out your priorities!' Although to be honest, Reece Ritchie is cute, and what girl wants to die without even being kissed once? The part with all the murdered girls reuniting made me cry. Its like, even though this terrible thing happened to them, they still have people around them who understand what they are feeling. I had a feeling that Holly knew more than she was letting on. All those times that Susie looked back, Holly knew how she was feeling because she probably went through exactly that when she was killed. looking back now, there are times that she looks like she wants to tell Susie, but she holds back - like her last scene with Susie in the gazebo. All in all, this is one amazing film, from the cast and the acting to the directing and the special effects, which were truly special. I would recommend this film to anyone who loves a good mystery, but also anyone who likes tear-jerkers.

The Fall (I) (2006)

Surprising

[18 April 2012]

I was actually quite surprised by this film. It turned out to be completely different from what I expected it to be. My friend recommended it to me and after watching the trailer I wasn't sure I would like it; I'm not a big fan of action type films and the trailer I watched had a lot of fighting in it. But I watched it anyway, and I have to say that I liked it. I love how feisty Alexandria is, and the fact that she is very independent for such a young child. I think the bond between her and Roy was really well done, and even thought he was only using her at first to get pills I felt that he grew to care for her. At the end, after she falls and Roy is telling her the rest of the story, I honestly wanted to cry. All she wanted was a happy story and he was killing everyone in it, because 'Everything dies'. All I wanted to do was reach into the screen and slap him until he gave her the happy story she wanted, and then he did. The ending was the only thing that disappointed me about this film. They get to the end of the story, and I want something else to happen, but nothing does. She just goes home. And nothing happens. Couldn't they have started another story? It felt like it ended too soon, even though it was a 2 hour film, but that's not what I mean. It would be interesting to see if they do something to carry on with this, I would like to see another story and see how their friendships grows.

Abduction (I) (2011)

Surprising

[8/10 · 14 February 2012]

I didn't go to see this movie when it was out in cinemas, I was told by a few friends who had seen it that I shouldn't bother. I now wish I hadn't listened.

Although it starts off a little slow there were so many good things about this movie that no one seems to want to point out. Contrary to what most of the opinions I have seen in many reviews, I think the acting was pretty good; not amazing I have to admit, but its not the worst thing I've ever seen. The acting in my opinion didn't distract me from what was happening, I didn't stop to think about how Launter could have had 'better expressions' in certain scenes; but I don't think many people would be in the situation that Nathan was in and be particularly expressive. Honestly, I wouldn't be thinking about my expressions, I'd much rather stay alive a little bit longer than pause to express myself. Personally I see nothing wrong with Launter or the way he acts, I think many of the people who think he is terrible at acting just don't like him for some reason, probably something to do with not liking Twilight or not liking his character in that, but I digress.

The plot is decent, there were a few things that I felt could have changed but it still worked the way it was. I actually liked all the different twists that other people think were there simply to keep the audience interested. I also liked the fact that the title made me have certain thoughts about what would happen, or what would be found out, and yet it was completely different.

All in all I would say this is a pretty decent film, and people should learn to lighten up and not judge everything so harshly if there is one little thing that they don't like.

Once Upon a Time (2011–2018)

Brilliant!

[10/10 · 23 January 2012]

I actually found this on my IMDb list of recommended things to watch. Id never heard of it before, and thought it sounded interesting so I watched the pilot and was hooked as soon as I saw Robert Carlyle' performance as Rumpelstiltskin.

The story line is well thought out, and the cast is amazing. Id never heard of half of them but Ill definitely be watching some more of their work, they are all brilliant.

I was so upset in episode 7, when Graham died. When he started getting his memories back, I really wanted him to help Henry and Emma break the curse; and secretly maybe I wanted Graham and Emma to get together as well, they would have been so good together. I've watched this episode so many times now, and every time it gets to that part I wish I could change things. Where is Rumpelstiltskin when we need him?

All in all, this is a brilliant show, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new twist to all our favourite fairy tales.