I’m back at it guys! I’ve had a long break from making YouTube videos but I’m certainly glad to be back.
It worked out that Dwayne Johnson’s Skyscraper would be the movie to mark my return, especially since, as per my original non-video Skyscraper review, I enjoyed it far more than I expected to. I’ve actually heard that the plot is super similar to Bruce Willis’s Die Hard. I haven’t watched Die Hard for so long that I barely recall the plot. Are people right? Here is the short video.
Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, Nappily Ever After is the story of an African American woman named Violet, particularly her journey to self-love/acceptance through her relationship with the hair that naturally grows out of her head.
Starring Sanaa Lathan, Lynn Whitfield, Ricky Whittle and Lyriq Bent, I watched this one because I, too, have been on my own journey with my afro hair and wanted to see if Violet’s story reflected mine in any way. The similarities are regarding my experience of some people’s perception of afro hair. Another similarity is my own fantasies and long-term wish for my tightly curled hair to be easier to manage – but without first needing to chemically treat it or actually shave my head.
What I enjoyed most about Nappily Ever After is the self-love and acceptance message. A message worth internalising for every human being, regardless of the hair on their head. In fact, it reminded me of one of my favourite quotes of all time by writer/feminist Audre Lorde… ‘If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.’
I think overall, the most memorable moment in Nappily Ever After will always be the scene where Violet shaves her head, and all that it meant for her journey.
I only wish that Al-Mansour’s film hadn’t been quite so predictable in parts. Nevertheless, I say watch it if you’re curious enough about this particular self-love journey, and if you just don’t quite get what the big deal about afro hair may be. This movie doesn’t have all the answers, but it’s certainly a start.
The Land Of Steady Habits is the story of Anders (Ben Mendelsohn), a man who retires from his finance job and leaves his wife in order to renew his lust for life. However, things don’t quite go as smoothly as hoped for poor Anders.
Directed by Nicole Holofcener, this story feels very real and true. It features a fair number of lost and hurt/hurting people trying. It also features those who don’t appear to be trying especially hard.
Outside of Anders, whose journey intrigued me, I wanted to know more about why each person was behaving the way they were, but we never got to know about what made up the other lost and hurting people in Anders’s circle. Certainly not as much as my curious mind desired, anyway.
The unexpectedness of the humour in Holfcener’s film, the good performances and the unpredictability of the very human story is why I liked it. In addition to confirming that Mendelsohn’s American accent isn’t bad, The Land Of Steady Habits reminds me of how invaluable good family and friendships are, especially when things don’t quite work out.
Give it a chance if the protagonist’s situation intrigues you. It’s a little bit of a slow burn, just as life can be sometimes, but not slow enough that I wanted to stop before the end.
Besides reminding me to be grateful that humans no longer share planet earth with dinosaurs, Jurassic World has officially awakened me to Chris Pratt’s super charismatic magic. A gift, when combined with a good script, among other things, the result is a thoroughly entertaining movie.
I’ve never been into dinosaurs myself. But director Colin Trevorrow’s film is a fun ride, one that features several wow moments. Impressive scenes courtesy of the special effects and a beautiful visual style.
Also starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Nick Robinson, Jurassic World takes place on the original site of Jurassic Park (1993); where a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur now exists. It’s when said dinosaur escapes and goes on a very well-captured killing spree, that the film’s action properly begins.
My overall favourite thing about this movie is pretty much every scene featuring Pratt. You know, on account of his charisma, plus the dialogue. There are also all the scenes with talented and adorable young actor Ty Simpkins, who plays Gray.
As for the things that spoilt this movie just a little for me, there’s the scene where Gray and his brother Zack (Robinson) can light a match, even though I could have sworn that matches are impossible to light when wet. Did I perhaps miss a part where it was revealed that the matches had been stored in a waterproof case? I think not! The second thing I didn’t quite buy into is the romantic love connection between Pratt and Dallas Howard’s characters.
You’ve probably already seen this movie, but if not, make time, because it’s fun and the shooting style is memorable. Also, do it for that Pratt on-screen magic, and especially if you love/or once loved dinosaurs.
Ocean’s 8 (2018), Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter
My fears about the extent to which I’d enjoy Ocean’s Eight were kind of realised. Starring Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, to name just two, director Gary Ross’s movie isn’t quite as exciting for me on the whole as the other Ocean’s movies I’ve seen. It didn’t help that the eight members in Ocean’s group barely interacted long enough for me to gauge much about their group chemistry, but I feel as though ‘sizzling’ wouldn’t really be the right word.
Another key reason I didn’t have as much fun is that for a good portion of the first half of the film, even though I was happy to be introduced to the members of the final eight, I found myself a little bored. This is partly because the real reason for Ocean’s elaborate upcoming heist was yet to be revealed.
Ocean’s 8 (2018), Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett
Once the motivation for the heist was mentioned, I became that little bit more invested. Prior to that it felt as though I was being asked to ‘cheer’ for a major career criminal without really knowing enough about her – except that her brother Danny Ocean was in the same field of work.
I will admit that I was impressed by all of Ocean’s cons immediately, post-release from prison. Yet, deep down, I couldn’t help but judge her. And I’d likely have to re-watch the other Oceans movies to find out precisely why I don’t recall judging Danny quite as harshly, if at all. My guess is it’s because I don’t really identify with Danny. Whereas I have at least one thing in common with his sister. Furthermore, I don’t remember seeing Danny conning the sweet-looking old ladies at cosmetics counters, though I could be wrong.
Overall, Ocean’s Eight really became most engrossing once the actual steal got under way. Even though Ross’s film didn’t thrill me as much as it’s predecessors, I did identify three things in the movie that I may not forget any time soon. Firstly, Anne Hathaway’s performance. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her behaving terribly. Especially because it seems so far removed from her true character or any other roles I remember her playing. Second, I liked the little moments of comic relief courtesy of Mindy Kaling; an example being the scene where she, ‘speaks French’. There’s also James Cordon, whose Britishness among all the Americans proved quite fun.
Give it a chance if you’re so curious. Perhaps you’ll be wowed more than I.
