I Capture the Castle

I Capture the Castle is based on Dodie Smith's book of the same name. It follows the life of the eccentric Mortmain family, with teenager Cassandra being the main character. The Mortmain family are very poor, and live in a crumbling old castle. Cassandra's elder sister, Rose, desperately wants to marry for money, so when two American heirs to their castle arrive, it seems like all their problems will be over.

I loved the book, and was curious to see what the film would be like, and I thought it was adapted very well to screen. The character of Cassandra was very likeable, as were most of the characters but, like with the book, I tried hard to like Rose, but just couldn't. She came across as very irritating and self-obsessed.

The scenery was lovely, acting was good, but I wouldn't say it's the most exciting and riveting film ever. I'd describe it as fluffy, romantic fun.

7/10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 is the 7th film in the Potter franchise, with the very last one due to be released in July. It follows Harry, Ron and Hermione as they try and track down and destroy Lord Voldemort's horcruxes. If you don't know what any of that means, then shame on you. I can't possibly explain it all here.

It's a wonderfully dark film, and is very different to the previous films in the series. No Hogwarts for instance and there is a large chunk of the movie which just follows the trio as they move from one secluded place to another and not much else happens. I think this really helps the viewer to understand the isolation, uneasiness and loneliness that the characters feel.

There are some great comedic moments too, my favourite being in the Ministry of Magic when the trio have to pretend to be ministry staff. Look out for a brilliant animated sequence too.

The soundtrack is wonderful, the acting is great and it's just a wonderful film that everyone can enjoy. Yes, even you people that haven't read the books. Just make sure you've watched the previous Potter movies though, as you won't have a bloody clue what's going on.

10/10

The Dark Knight

I originally planned to see The Dark Knight when it was released at the cinema last year, but for some reason I just never got round to it.

So when I finally saw it on Blu Ray, I was quite looking forward to it. I tried to forget about all the hype when I was watching it, and I wasn't disappointed.

I've never really been a huge fan of "superhero" movies, so I wasn't really sure what to expect from The Dark Knight. The cast is very impressive, and I was really interested to see how the late Heath Ledger was as the Joker.

Let's just say that this was definitely one of the best films I've seen in years. It didn't really feel like I was watching a Batman movie. The story was great, acting was good and the action sequences were brilliant. Heath Ledger was both funny and terrifying as the Joker. I was very impressed with him and was very pleased when he won the Oscar for the role :)

Super super film, with a terrific soundtrack. Even if you're not a big fan of action and superhero movies (like me generally), I'd definitely say that you should still give this film a go.

Extremely enjoyable.

10/10

Cloverfield

Seen as a cross between Godzilla and The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield is a film about an unknown monster that stampedes through New York City. The story is told as though it is actual camera footage and follows a small group of New Yorkers as they try and escape the city.

I like the idea that the whole film is uncovered film footage, as it makes it seem a bit more realistic. The actors are all virtually unknowns, which I think was a good idea. It just wouldn't have had the same effect if all the stars were A list actors.

It's a very exciting film, and you genuinely do get caught up in the chaos and thrills as the camera sweeps around, following the people as they run for their lives. It's not really a film for people who get motion sickness easily. The handheld camera view does move around very quickly and it's quite easy to see why some people were throwing up in the cinema aisles! :P

It's a very exciting, gripping, tense, genuinely scary film that is definitely worth a watch.

10/10

The Others

This was probably one of the very first DVDs I ever got. If I remember correctly, I got it for my birthday along with a brand spanking new DVD player and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone... but I may be wrong.. anyway, it was definitely one of my first DVDs. And a great film.

It follows Grace, played by Nicole Kidman and her two children, who are convinced that their large old house is haunted.

It's a very spooky film. As Grace's two children are light sensitive, all the curtains in the house have to be closed at all times, making the film very dark and eerie. The only lights are from lamps and candles.

I'm not generally a big fan of Nicole Kidman, but I do think she is great in The Others. It's a great role for her to play.

It's a very quiet film, with simple scenes, almost all of which take place in the mansion. The plot is simple and I just loved the ending. Definitely worth a watch.

8/10

Oops...

I haven't made a post since last November.

I do have a list of films that I plan on reviewing... I've just been such a procrastinator.

I blame Christmas... and being ill :(

The Last King Of Scotland

Based on true events surrounding the regime of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, "The Last King of Scotland" is a gripping thriller, which has you hooked from the very start.

The main character is actually the physician, Nicholas Garrigan, played by James McAvoy. He travels to Uganda to get away from the UK, but ends up trapped as personal doctor to the Ugandan dictator.

I really enjoyed this film. I thought the acting was superb all round. James McAvoy is just a brilliant actor and it's good to see him in a role that actually has him using his own accent.

But it's Forrest Whitaker who really stands out in this film. He is totally believable as Amin, filled with a passion for his country, and is also terrifyingly brutal. Absolutely deserved his Oscar for Best Actor for this role. He even manages to bring a touch of humour to the role, which I wasn't expecting at all.

Was quite surprising to see Gillian Anderson in a minor role. I had no idea she was in it, and it took me a wee while to realise it was her. :P

I'd recommend this film if you enjoy compelling drama thrillers. It's probably worth watching for the excellent acting alone.

8/10