Me & 3 Cornetto Movies

Now that I finally saw “The World’s End” I can finally put these three amazing films in this item. I love all the movies that Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost made together. They are just genius.

Shaun of the Dead
Genre: Comedy/ Horror
Year: 2004
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Dylan Moran, Lucy Davies, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Martin Freeman
Description: Shaun (Simon Pegg) decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
Opinion: This is what started it all. I laughed so hard when I first saw it, and maybe even harder the second time.
Favorite character: Ed (Nick Frost)
Most memorable quote: “Who died and made you fucking king of the zombies?” - Ed -
Best scene: While the jukebox (which is on random) plays “Don’t stop me now” by Queen, Shaun, Ed and Liz are beating up zombies.

Hot Fuzz
Genre: Comedy/ Action
Year: 2007
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Steve Coogan, Paddy Considine, Rafe Spall
Description: Exceptional London cop Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is involuntarily transferred to a quaint English village and paired with a witless new partner. While on the beat, Nicholas suspects a sinister conspiracy is afoot with the residents.
Opinion: I remember that my brother and I leaned this movie from someone, saying it wasn’t all that funny. Well, they obviously don’t have a great sense of humour, because British humour doesn’t get any better than this. The story is fun and they way it’s executed is just simply brilliant.
Favorite character: Danny Butterman (Nick Frost)
Most memorable quote: “[shouting] Have you ever wondered why, why the crime rate in Sandford is so low, yet the accident rate is so high?” – Nicholas Angel -
Best scene: Danny tries to jump over a fence, like Nicholas did. Only Danny isn’t as good at it.

The World’s End
Genre: Comedy/ Action/ Science-Fiction
Year: 2013
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan
Description: Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.
Opinion: It was worth the wait. Very subtle British humour and a great way to end a trilogy.
Favorite character: Gary King (Simon Pegg)
Most memorable quote: “What the fuck does WTF mean?” – Gary King -
Best scene: The fight scene in the bathroom.

Favorite of the 3: Hot Fuzz

Movie Trailer Sunday (132)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Night Moves

Description: A drama centered on three environmentalists who plot to blow up a dam.

Director: Kelly Reichardt

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, Peter Sarsgaard

Trailer: Trailer "Night Moves"

Comment: Looks gripping and suspenseful

Into the Storm

Description: In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

Director: Steven Quale

Starring: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Max Deacon, Nathan Kress, Jeremy Sumpter, Kyle Davis, Jon Reep and Scott Lawrence

Trailer: Trailer "Into the Storm"

Comment: For some reason I Always like disaster movies, maybe it's one of my guilty pleasures.

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Description: From their home in the storm sewers of Manhattan, four Ninjitsu-trained turtles, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello and their sensei, Master Splinter, battle evil.

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Starring: Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Will Arnett, Danny Woodburn and William Fichtner

Trailer: Trailer "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

Comment: I grew up with the cartoons and I loved the films already made. Kinda looking forward to this!

 

Words and Pictures

Description: Prep school English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) laments his students' obsession with social media and good grades rather than engaging with the power of the written word. A one-time literary star, Jack has not published in years filling his spare time with drink versus the art of language. He meets his match in Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche), an abstract painter and new teacher on campus, who was once celebrated for her art. From the start, the two flirt and provoke each other with equal relish.

Director: Fred Schepisi

Starring: Clive Owen Juliette Binoche

Trailer: Trailer "Words and Pictures"

Comment: Yeahhh, want to see this.

Begin Again

Description: Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.

Director: John Carney

Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener and James Corden

Trailer: Trailer "Begin Again"

Comment: Keira and Mark are two of my favorites!!

In My Mailbox (141)

Seven postcards this week! These flowers Always make me happy! The card came from Hangzhou, China.

Sent: march 5th 2014
Received: march 23rd 2014
Distance: 8,913 km (5,538 miles)
Travel Time: 18 days

A gorgeous vintage cameo from Krasnogorsk, Russia.

Sent: march 5th 2014
Received: march 26th 2014
Distance: 2,115 km (1,314 miles)
Travel Time: 21 days

From Wamel, Netherlands I received this happy mailbox. The sender is also a creative soul like me!

Sent: march 26th 2014
Received: march 28th 2014
Distance: 87 km (54 miles)
Travel Time: 2 days

The little mole!!! It's from Bruntál, Czech Republic. I love this card.

Sent: march 18th 2014
Received: march 28th 2014
Distance: 819 km (509 miles)
Travel Time: 10 days

This beautiful postcard came from Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Sent: october 13th 2014
Received: march 28th 2014
Distance: 848 km (527 miles)
Travel Time: 166 days

This is also an amazing postcard! It's from Pinsk, Belarus.

Sent: march 23rd 2014
Received: march 28th 2014
Distance: 1,386 km (861 miles)
Travel Time: 5 days

From Kanasawa, Japan I got this colourful animal card. The sender apologized for not sending me a favourite. Well, I love this postcard!!!

Sent: march 21st 2014
Received: march 28th 2014
Distance: 9,129 km (5,672 miles)
Travel Time: 7 days

Thanks Vera, Olya, Rosemary, Romana, Jakub, Renat and Masayo for your wonderful postcards this week!!

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 47: Now You See Me

Director: Louis Leterrier
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo, Mélanie Laurent

Description: An FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective (Mélanie Laurent) track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

Review: “Now You See Me” introduces the four illusionists in the opening sequence. All of them with their own specialty. The magicians are brought together by a mysterious figure and they get a Las Vegas show. In that show it seems that ‘the four horsemen’ are robbing a bank in Paris. FBI agent Dylan Rhodes and Interpol agent Alma Vargas have the task to find out how they pulled it off.
Because you’re constantly shifting between the four illusionists and the two law enforcers, it’s really hard to see the ethnic difference between good and bad. It’s never clear who the real protagonist is in the movie. The story is missing an edge. With that the characters aren’t all as important. Of the four magicians, there are only two that really have a purpose. The other two stay in the background. Eventually we get a pretty predictable twist in the end.
The visuals are amazing, it’s a very good looking movie. And it’s certainly a very good concept. But it’s not as sensational as the tricks in the film.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 46: Captain Phillips

Director: Paul Greengrass
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener

Description: The true story of Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

Review: In this anguished thriller by Paul Greengrass we see how a cargo ship gets hijacked by Somali pirates. It’s based on true events.
Captain Richard Phillips watches over a calm ocean when he suddenly sees two little dots on the radar coming closer at warp speed. Phillips doesn’t trust it and takes action. This doesn’t help, because Somali pirates board the ship. From that moment on you’re on the edge of your seat.
Director Paul Greengrass uses a ‘shaky cam’, which is very popular at the moment. It works, because it feels like you’re really there and it sucks you in.
They choose the right actor for the role. Tom Hanks, whom I absolutely love, creates a complete new character and doesn’t remind you of any of his previous roles. Especially in the climax of the film his performance is phenomenal. I simply can’t fault Hanks. Barkhad Abdi, who plays Somali leader Muse, is also impressive. He really put a lot of energy in the character and portrays the villain role very convincingly.
“Captain Phillips” is a fantastic film, it met my expectations. Every minute is worth watching and Tom Hanks can put another great film on his résumé.

Rating: 5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 1997

No, “Titanic” won’t be on this list, because it’s an overrated film and I hate it. All these movies on the list are better! Here are my favourite movies from 1997.

5. Good Will Hunting
This film put Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on the map. Especially Damon is fantastic in this film.

4. Kiss the Girls
This movie is thrilling every time I watch it, even though I have seen it many times. It’s so creepy.

3. Donnie Darko
Not a great success when it came out, but a big cult hit now. I did like it from the beginning, it’s such a good and interesting film.

2. The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Off course I have to put this one on the list. The first “Jurassic Park” is obviously better, but this also entertains me every single time. Kinda missing Sam Neill, but still.

1. The Full Monty
“Magic Mike” sucks compared to this. “The Full Monty” is hilarious and endearing at the same time. All those guys win over your heart and British humour wins again!

They Almost Made the Top 5: Face/ Off, Grosse Point Blank, L.A. Confidential, Lost Highway, The Fifth Element

DVD Collection Update (13)

I got some great films recently. Four new movies and one classic that everyone just has to have. I could've bought more DVD's, but I restrained myself, haha! But you can expect more newer films soon, because I have a big wishlist!

First I got "Jagten", which I saw earlier this year. I was so surprised and this film took my breath away. It left my speechless. I had to have it and I bumped in to it by accident. And it was really cheap. The people selling it didn't realize how amazing this film was I think.

I was so excited when this DVD finally came out. "The World's End" never played in our theatre, only in the big cities like Amsterdam. So me and my brother just had to be patient for it to come out in March. And it was worth the wait. Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost didn't disappoint! It was fantastic!

"The Butler" didn't turn out to be as good as I expected. I always buy movies that I know I will like (if I haven't seen them before), but this movie didn't quite make that brief. I didn't dislike "The Butler" but I expected more. Forest Whitaker is great though!

This is a classic every movie buff just needs in his collection. "Jaws" still scares the shit out of me after watching it over 20 times. Still one of the best movies Spielberg ever directed.

This movie I haven't watched yet, but I just know I'm going to love this. I read so many great thing about "Captain Phillips" and Tom Hanks hardly ever disappoints me. I love that guy!

Movie Trailer Sunday (131)

Here are this weeks trailers.

The Maze Runner
Description: When Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape.
Director: Wes Ball
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Aml Ameen
Trailer: Trailer "The Maze Runner"
Comment: I didn't really like the book, but the movie trailer looks more exciting.

The Giver
Description:The story centers on Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift
Trailer: Trailer "The Giver"
Comment: I didn't even know about this movie, that it was in the making. It actually looks pretty good.

The Fault in Our Stars
Description: Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them, and us, on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. "The Fault in Our Stars," based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.
Director: Josh Boone
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Willem Dafoe, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Mike Birbiglia, Emily Peachey
Trailer: Trailer "The Fault in Our Stars"
Comment: I never read the book, but now I want to!

A Birder's Guide to Everything
Description: David Portnoy (Kodi Smith-McPhee), a 15-year-old birding fanatic, thinks that he's made the discovery of a lifetime. So, on the eve of his father's remarriage, he escapes on an epic road trip with his best friends to solidify their place in birding history.
Director: Rob Meyer
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, James Le Gros, Alex Wolff, Katie Chang, Ben Kingsley
Trailer: Trailer "A Birder's Guide to Everything"
Comment: Looks fun.

Brick Mansions
Description: An undercover cop (Paul Walker) tries to take down a ruthless crime lord with access to a neutron bomb by infiltrating his gang.
Director: Camille Delamarre
Starring: Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA
Trailer: Trailer "Brick Mansions"
Comment: I posted this trailer out of respect for Paul Walker, but I probably won't see this film.

In My Mailbox (140)

I received 11 postcards and one private swap. The first card came from Colorado Springs, Colorado, US. A nice lighthouse.

Sent: march 7th 2014
Received: march 16th 2014
Distance 7,958 km (4,945 miles)
Travel Time: 9 days

From Brest, Belarus I got this very homy postcard. I made me feel right at home.

Sent: march 1st 2014
Received: march 16th 2014
Distance: 1,221 km (759 miles)
Travel Time: 15 days

And a bicycle from Shenzhen, China.

Sent: february 14th 2014
Received: march 16th 2014
Distance: 9,251 km (5,748 miles)
Travel Time: 30 days

This adorable dog/ cat card came from Berlin, Germany.

Sent: march 6th 2014
Received: march 16th 2014
Distance: 528 km (328 miles)
Travel Time: 10 days

From Knurów, Poland I got this whale card.

Sent: march 10th 2014
Received: march 16th 2014
Distance: 898 km (558 miles)
Travel Time: 6 days

I got this gorgeous autumn postcard from Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The sender also has autumn as her favorite season. I thought I was the only one!

Sent: march 16th 2014
Received: march 21st 2014
Distance: 174 km (108 miles)
Travel Time: 5 days

I love this card from Hong Kong. Such a sweet kitten.

Sent: march 5th 2014
Received: march 21st 2014
Distance: 9,279 km (5,766 miles)
Travel Time: 16 days

My favorite card of the week came from Angarsk, Russia. I've been getting a lot of fox cards lately, happy me!

Sent: february 25th 2014
Received: march 21st 2014
Distance: 6,171 km (3,834 miles)
Travel Time: 24 days

This is Lotje, a children's book character. I got the card from Oudenaarde, Belgium.

Sent: march 1st 2014
Received: march 21st 2014
Distance: 171 km (106 miles)
Travel Time: 20 days

From Seattle, Washington, US I got this postcard. It looks like it has been in the sun a long time.

Sent: march 13th 2014
Received: march 22nd 2014
Distance: 7,974 km (4,955 miles)
Travel Time: 9 days

I thought this was an Alice in Wonderland card, but it isn't. I do like it though, It's from Minsk, Belarus.

Sent: march 14th 2014
Received: march 22nd 2014
Distance: 1,482 km (921 miles)
Travel Time: 8 days

And a lovely mailbox from Taichung City, Taiwan.

Sent: march 11th 2014
Received: march 22nd 2014
Distance: 9,497 km (5,901 miles)
Travel Time: 11 days

And one private swal from Kiev, Urkaine.

Thanks Erin, Kristina, Alison, Stephanie, Karolina, Rianne, Karen, Irina&Dasha, Vicky, Monica, Anastasiya, Lydia and Olga for your postcards. I'm very happy with them!!

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 45: The Butler

Director: Lee Daniels
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Robin Williams, Alan Rickman, James Marsden, Vanessa Redgrave, Terrence Howard, Cuba Goodingg Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Jane Fonda

Description: As Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.

Review: The story of “The Butler” is inspired by real-life butler Eugene Allen, who worked at the White House for 34 years. Here the main character is called Cecil Gaines. We see how he goes from working the cotton fields with his parents to being a butler in the White House.
Director Lee Daniels wanted to make a film about the position of Afro Americans in their battle for equality. It looks promising, but Daniels bit off more than he could chew. He is known for his heavy themes, like the film “Precious”. There it works a bit better, because he focused on the life of one girl. “The Butler” is set in a timespan of almost 90 years. He simply doesn’t have enough time for that, so his story is a bit lost.
Forest Whitaker does his task. His performance is solid and convincing and it’s better than the movie itself. Oprah Winfrey probably gave her all, but she doesn’t bring it. David Oyelowo, who played Cecil’s son, did a fantastic job. The rest of the cast is hard to judge, because they simply don’t get the room to exploit.
I understand where Lee Daniels was going with this film and the result is definitely not bad, because I enjoyed watching “The Butler”, but I think this project was too ambitious.

Rating: 3/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Ron Howard Movies

Ron Howard is one of my favourite movie directors. Who knew that the Richie from “Happy Days” would be such a magnificent filmmaker? Here are my five favourite Ron Howard directed movies.

5. The Da Vinci Code
I know it was discussed when it came out, I was one of the few people that really loved this film. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m actually very sad that Ron Howard isn’t going to direct “The Lost Symbol” which is the next film in the Robert Langdon series.

4. Cinderella Man
One of the best boxing movies and such an amazing story. It’s a movie that people don’t really talk about anymore, but it should never be forgotten.

3. Apollo 13
I’m somehow always intrigued by space and “Apollo 13” is one of the best movies in this genre. Tom Hanks is fantastic as Jim Lovell.

2. Rush
Ron Howard managed to amaze me with this film, even though I don’t like Formula 1 racing. I was drawn into the world and it kept my attention at all times.

1. A Beautiful Mind
This is actually one of my all-time favourite movies. I was so amazed by Russel Crowe’s performance. I just love this movie, it’s so well made.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Frost/ Nixon, The Paper, Ransom, How the Grinch Stole Christmas