Friday 26 November 2010

Because who doesn't want to watch all the Disney films every week of the year?

After watching this video, I don't think I've ever been so excited for a promotional event.



To go with the release of "Tangled" (Disney's modern feminist spin on the Rapunzel tale) BFI Southbank are showing every release from this world famous animation studio Disney, starting off with a special preview screening of Tangled on 16th January, 2011 (which is released on 28th of that month) and then every week after that, in chronological order we will be able to see all the films produced from this company.

This doesn't include Pixar because they're a seperate company from the Disney animation, so we're only watching true delights such as Sleeping Beauty (1959), Fantasia (1940), Aladdin (1992) and  all your other childhood favourites.

Excited? Me? Always. I love a chance to promote my favourite animated characters of all time - The 3 Good Fairies.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows [Review]

Director: David Yates


Writers: Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling


Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bill Nighy, Helena Bonham Carter


British wizardry just upped it's game again; the first saga of the final instalment of this prestigious story is finally with us with a great impact. The actors have found themselves in their roles, the action and special effects are darker and increasingly more exciting; Plus, we've even got some old friends back. Although long, the time passes quickly catching you off guard with quick moments of intensity through the narrative. 


David Yates (Director of Half-Blood Prince and Order of the Phoenix) has really pulled everything out that he could. There's some interesting detail to his cinematography that really makes your eyes bulge. Particularly with the editing, the attention of effects for the magic makes the film seem more mysterious. Something I thought was lacking in the previous two was the wizard theme running throughout. But here we see these mature young adults use their powers in a much more knowing way, giving them more of an appeal to an older audience. Added with this, the way he has choreographed the film to flow and pause in certain parts and speed up in others brings with it a real sense of a movie-going experience. It flows brilliantly and stops leaving you wanting more - Which is handy because the story hasn't finished being told as it cuts half way through.


The books were something that skipped my life somehow, but as a film goes, this is probably the best (besides the first, because I'm one of those ones who always has a soft spot for the first) one yet to come. You know the characters and the story leaving you to sit back and enjoy the ride. 


Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) is actually believable as his character. Before I found his performances a bit stiff, but now he's the man and accepting his responsibility as a world known wizard. Emma Watson (Hermione) is just as beautiful as ever, and Rupert Grint (Ron) still remains the cheeky one, but a little more masculine now. It's just wonderfully British. Their accents, the location and their attitudes will all live up to what audiences around the globe want to see, and what England loves to witness - A film close to their hearts that they can be proud of. 


Helena Bonham Carter stands out in her role this time. We haven't got as much appearance from the dark side as you'd expect, but a funny feeling in my guts tells me that their team of nut jobs will be haunting our dreams in the next one - Probably from the film ending on Voldemore and not the three main characters. It wasn't a satisfying end, but one of anxiousness.


[Spoiler Start] What kind of sick, messed up fairytale would ever kill an Elf, especially Dobby?! That did make me genuinely sad. I then told myself that this character was made from imagination and a computer so I soon pulled myself together. [Spoiler End] But that's what Harry Potter is great for - creating characters that would never even be in your dreams, and giving them this sense of life where you can connect with them in an enchanting  setting. 


I went into the cinema with a low expectation and came out pleasantly surprised. A perfect winter film (If you've managed to stick with it for the past 10 years). 


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Here's a fun little parody you can enjoy, based on the song "Like a G6" we have "Likes it's Quidditch:


Friday 19 November 2010

The Film Obsession [Update]

Hey guys,


Just thought I'd let you know what's going on with me and The Film Obsession in case you were as curious as that cat...


I'm almost done with the first term of the 2nd year at Sussex University doing Film Studies. Over the Christmas Period I have two essays to write - One to do with a completely separate subject, and another to do with an analysis on theories in a certain film. Maybe Silence of the Lambs with Psychoanalysis and Feminism? I think this may be quite interesting. I've already done a presentation on Freudian Theory in Goldfinger, which was probably one of the most fun presentations to complete (Including a slide on innuendos and multiple uses of the word 'phallic'). One sentence which I had to stop myself from laughing was "James Bond says Pussy Galore in a lustrous way," - Who says Film Studies isn't a real subject?


I'll also be working at HMV over Christmas. Last year I had Swine Flu so escaped that. This year is going to be mental. Already the queue is going down the aisles - Don't be put off or get angry with us, we do our best! I also have my discount card now so all these films coming out in December (Eclipse, Scott Pilgrim, Toy Story 3, Inception) will be even more anticipated! 


The blog is doing incredibly well.. Scarily almost. Over 30,000 views now which is amazing. Thank you so much. A lot of my friends have started blogs now, so they've caught the bug. It's brilliant. Take a look at these:

360 Degress Visual Arts Project
The White Noise Music Blog 
Simply Celluloid's Film Reviews
Vicki Thurley's Film Reviews Appearing on The Ooh Tray 


Over the next month or so, I'm going to do a list of the top films I've seen, as well as a general overlook at the year. It's been huge for the blog and for me, so it will be nice to tell you guys how really special it is for me. Anyway, enough of that sentimental crap.


Keep a look out for more film reviews coming in the next month and thank you so much for all your support so far! Let me know what you like to read and I'll keep it coming.


- Join the Facebook Group
- Follow me on Twitter
- Add me on Facebook (Just send a little message with it saying who you are, so I don't think you're a complete stranger!)


Bye lovelies!
x x 

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Unstoppable [Review]


Director: Tony Scott

Writer: Mark Bomback

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson




"With an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, 
a veteran engineer and a young conductor race against 
the clock to prevent a catastrophe." 
(www.imdb.com)

When you read that synopsis, all you can think of is 'Speed' on a train but that would too easy to compare this film to. It's got much less sexual tension and a lot more bromance throughout. You probably actually also think it's going to be the worse film to come out this year, but really it's a cheesy action film that, if you don't go in with a serious head, you'll come out with a guilty conscious because it's shame ridden entertainment.  

Tony Scott (Bear in mind, he also directed the brilliant True Romance) has created a film that's perfect to pass a couple of hours. The tension builds and builds with shaky camera movements blurring your vision, intense music to set the tone and saturated colours to make it seem real classy. But I don't want to give this film too much credit. It's everything you expect it to be - Dramatically stupid with cliché after cliché of one liners from manly men who work in a very dangerous field. It includes the typically setting of children in danger, an uncontrollable leader causing a fuss and the stupid idiot who lets the train run away. Everything you need to forced in your face, making it feel as if you're 12 being spoon fed the information you need to understand this very complicated tale of 'if this train doesn't stop, it will cause lots of death.'

It is a love hate story though. Although obviously a bad film, it's fun. You laugh at the typicality of what you're watching. You enjoy the predictable action. You're finding the bad comical, which I'm pretty sure isn't exactly what the film was aiming for, but because it is so dramatic and we are watching a train manned by no one, you have to take a step back, pinch yourself and think 'yeah, I'm gonna just let this film play out.' 

Rosario Dawson is brilliant as the lead female in this film. She's in charge and brings the emotion needed to break away from the machoness of Pine and Washington, who also are enjoyable to watch. Pine seems a little understated compared to how easy it is to watch Denzel. He's the person every man has a crush on, and every woman wants to marry. Having him play in this half stupid, half tense thriller works perfectly for his cheeky manly style. 

In terms of the cinematography, it makes a half a mile train look very exciting - Which as you can imagine must be quite a task. And to make a curve in a railway track seem like the scariest thing you'll ever experience means, even though it's over the top, the camera work obviously works wonder as you would expect from this classic film director (whether you like him or not). The way the film builds and builds with each scene as threatening as the last also keeps the pace up. 

To be honest, I don't think the film should be serious... It's about a train! It's light hearted fun which creates drama when you need it, companionship and gives a general look at the worker's lives. It's apparently based on true events. When you watch the ending giving you detail of what happened to the real people, you'll be in tears. It's so cathartic, it warms your soul which then makes you want to be sick, because this film has lived up to every Hollywood convention you could possibly think of. 

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Good job this wasn't the train that was out of control:

Monday 8 November 2010

Due Date [Review]

- Release Date: 5th November, 2010
- Director: Todd Phillips (The Hangover, Old School)
- Writers: Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland
- Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Zack Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx


A French Bulldog, Iron Man and the odd one from The Hangover... This is what the film is made of, so you know instantly it's a mixture of pure Hollywood delight. With the genre as comedy, the film certainly lives up to expectation. And being based around a road trip, you can just imagine the sort of trauma they get themselves into. This, everyone, is Due Date. 

Sunday 7 November 2010

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Trailer Analysis

The child sensation that is Justin Bieber is coming to our screens, this time in 3D! I've done an analysis especially for White Noise showing whether this film is just fan made, or whether it may actually have credibility.



Friday 5 November 2010

The Social Network ***


Directed by: David Fincher


Written by: Aaron Sorkin


Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake.


This film has the potential to be brilliant. It's got a renowned director who also brought us Fight Club and Seven. It focuses on a topic that everybody knows. And it has some of the up and coming stars soon to be gracing our screens a lot more. Unfortunately, due to these reasons, the hype for this film was overdone, creating quite a disappointing cinematic experience, even though you can't put your finger on why. 

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Black Swan Trailer Analysis

Darren Aronofsky, the man that brought us Requiem for a Dream, has made yet another feature just as haunting and beautifully directed as his previous work - Here's the trailer and analysis of Black Swan.