Category Archives: Family

Christmas Movie, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

ELF (2003): Will Ferrell Makes It Good…

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Elf (2003), Will Ferrell

Silly, with several funny and moving moments, plus all the right messages for the christmas season is just one way to describe Elf.

Starring Will Ferrell in the title role, and directed by Jon Favreau; I’ve heard many people refer to Elf as their favourite Christmas movie. Having now seen it, I can’t say it’s mine, however Ferrell does a positively memorable job with his character.

If you weren’t already a fan of Ferrell, it’s quite likely that after the movie, you’ll recognise and applaud his comic capabilities. Just make sure you’re in the mood for some silly beforehand.

Zooey Dechanel’s beautiful singing voice and the characters played by Faison Love and Peter Dinklage are two more of my favourite things about Elf.

Watch it for a reminder of why so many people can’t help but look forward to Will Ferrell in comedy roles. Daddy’s Home (2015) is his latest comedy, which will arrive  just in time for Christmas 2015 and I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Adventure, Family, Fantasy

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (2016): New Trailer For The Alice In Wonderland Sequel…

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Alice Through The looking Glass (2016), Mia Wasikowska
Alice Through The looking Glass (2016), Mia Wasikowska

I had no idea that what was missing from my life was another Alice in Wonderland movie. That was until I saw the rather beautiful new trailer for Alice Through The looking Glass.

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

I remember loving 2010’s  Alice In Wonderland (2010). As such, I hope that at the very least , this will be close to as good as its predecessor.  Especially considering Tim Burton’s highly imaginative brain isn’t the one in the director’s chair this time.

Bring on the colours, the rhymes and the brilliant costumes!

Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter make up some of the colourful cast.

Release Date (s): May 27th, 2016 (UK & US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

 

Adventure, Family, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

TOMORROWLAND (2015): There Is Something I Liked…

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Tomorrowland (2015), Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy
Tomorrowland (2015), Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy

When I saw the trailer for Academy Award winning director, Brad Bird’s latest sci-fi, Tomorrowland, I wasn’t particularly wowed be it or hugely interested. That’s probably because it looked like a kids sci-fi, which it kind of is. Still, I was a little curious, especially with George Clooney as one of the stars.

The future of humanity, optimism and time travel are key themes in Tomorrowland. Its main character is an optimistic teenage science enthusiast played by Britt Robertson. Unfortunately, for reasons I’m not quite certain of, I found myself not really able to connect with Robertson’s protagonist. Not to say that the character’s positive outlook and general optimism didn’t sit well with me, or that it isn’t correct. It’s likely that the general story just didn’t provide the necessary elements required. Nor did it  provide them in the right way (if at all) in order for a connection to happen. It could also be that I’m simply not the target market.

Surprisingly, perhaps,I do have a favourite thing about Tomorrowland and that is the meaning behind the story about ‘feeding the wolf’. Beyond that, Bird’s film just feels like a long-winded and not particularly well structured way of saying one thing about the importance of optimism and creativity, especially as it pertains to the future of our planet and everything in it.

Watch Tomorrowland if you absolutely must. However, if you’re just not that curious, the following is a SPOILER/quote of  the feeding the wolf story that I mentioned:

‘There are two wolves and they’re always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. Which wolf wins…? Whichever one you feed’

Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy, Keegan-Michael Key and Kathryn Hahn also star.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Family

THE YOUNG MESSIAH (2015): New Trailer For The Story Of A Young Jesus Christ

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The Young Messiah (2016), Adam Greaves-Neale
The Young Messiah (2016), Adam Greaves-Neale

Starring Sean Bean and Adam Greaves-Neale, The Young Messiah is the tale of Jesus Christ as a boy.

I’ve certainly never watched a movie that centres on the story of Jesus as a 7 year-old boy. And s intriguing as the  director, Cyrus Nowrasteh’s trailer looks, let’s hope the finished product will be good. 

Release Date (s): March 11th 2016 (US)

Happy The Young Messiah 🙂

G

Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

CINDERELLA (2015): Watch It For The Spectacular Win Against The Bullies & Cate Blanchett, Of Course…

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Cinderella (2016), Lily James
Cinderella (2016), Lily James

My reason for watching the new version of Cinderella had very little to do with the romance. I watched the movie because of the cast, particularly one of my favourites; super Australian actor, Cate Blanchett.

The well-edited trailer with the perfect musical score also helped, but ultimately, I was most excited to see how director Kenneth Branagh handled Cinderella’s battle with her evil stepmother and horrid stepsisters.

The film is beautiful, thanks to Branagh and his well chosen cast that includes Lily James in the title role, Helena Bonham as the Fairy Godmother and Richard Madden portraying Prince Charming.

Besides having good dialogue and being quite the visual spectacle, the movie had me reflecting on my own experience of courage and the gift of kindness, especially when it comes from the most unexpected place.

Cinderella (2016), Cate Blanchett, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger
Cinderella (2016), Cate Blanchett, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger

Watch it to see a rightful win, and of course, there is the fairytale romance, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Happy Film Loving,

G