00s Movie Review - Love Actually

Director: Richard Curtis
Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Drama
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Rowan Atkinson, Martine McCutheon, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page, Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel, Ejiofor, Thomas Sangster, Rodrigo Santoro

Description: Follows the lives of several different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

Review: With “Love Actually”, the directorial debut by Richard Curtis shows that life is full of small moments of love and affection. Me not being a romance girlie, this is one of the few exceptions in the genre that I’m absolutely in love with.

Richard Curtis is mostly know for his screenwriting, having been apart of “Blackadder”, “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill”, among others. “Love Actually” is as smoothly put together as the romcoms for which he alone wrote the screenplay.

The fact that Curtis managed to have the best of the best actors at his disposal also work in his favor. It’s not hard to take them to heart. We follow several storylines in this film, some of them intertwine at some. We meet David, as he arrives on his first day as the Prime Minister, falling in love with Nathalie who is in his staff. Karen is painfully confronted with her husband’s potential adultery. Daniel has just lost his wife and has to deal with his young stepson’s first time being in love. Jamie leaves for France after he finds out his girlfriend is cheating on him with his brother. Here he meets Aurelia, but there is a language barrier. Sarah has been in love Karl for over two years, but because of her sick brother she never lets herself act on it. Jack and Judy meet each other while being movie stand-ins for nude scenes. Old rocker Billy Mack is trying to reach the number one spot with his Christmas song. Mark’s best friend Peter marries Juliet. Juliet feels like Mark doesn’t really like her, finding out that that’s not the reason he never talks to her. And finally Colin, who is sick of British girls and travels to America to find a woman.

Even though not all storylines are equally successful or enjoyable, the complete package is so lovely. This film has high rewatchability and I simply can’t get enough of it. I want to watch it every Christmas. And the ending is very satisfactory as well. Sugar sweet and overly romantic, but for some reason I am totally fine with it here.  

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Lion King

Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Genre: Drama/ Animation/ Musical/ Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 89 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings

Description: Lion cub and future king Simba searches for his identity. His eagerness to please others and penchant for testing his boundaries sometimes gets him into trouble.

Review: “The Lion King” starts with the birth of Simba, the son of lion king Mufasa. Uncle Scar isn’t happy with his new nephew, because this makes Simba the next in line for the throne.
In the first place, “The Lion King” has a good story. This Disney film is one of the most successful animations for a reason. The movie is playful and fun, but also deals with some more serious themes. The execution of it all is sublime. Which makes “The Lion King” funny, exciting and touching and is filled with life lessons for all ages. Parenthood, friendship, loss, mourning, looking for yourself, responsibility, life and death.
The soundtrack is amazing. The songs are catchy, memorable and atmospheric. The characters too, not only the main characters, also the villain and the supporting characters.
“The Lion King” is one of the best animations ever made.

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Witches

Director: Nicolas Roeg
Genre: Horror/ Family/ Fantasy
Runtime: 91 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher, Jane Horrocks, Anne Lambton, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Paterson, Brenda Blethyn, Charlie Potter, Sukie Smith, Rose English, Jenny Runacre, Annabel Brooks, Emma Relph, Nora Connolly

Description: A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.

Review: There are certain children’s movies, that aren’t actually children’s movies. “The Witches” is one of those, based on a book by Roald Dahl. There is more to it, things that kids would probably not understand or will overlook. Director Nicolas Roeg had to adapt his style. We know him from movies like “Don’t Look Now”, they are full of symbolic, double meanings and aren’t chronologic. In “The Witches” it’s all very clear and the story is told chronologic. The mystery isn’t in the theme, but the dark characters, beautiful camera work and special effects. The grand high witch, wonderfully played by Angelica Huston, is truly scary. As a kid, it freaked me out. And the two talking mice look realistic, especially for that time.
Character Luke is the typical Roald Dahl hero, a brave kid with a big heart. And grandma is likeable. Rowan Atkinson catches your eye as the clumsy hotel manager, but it’s Angelica Huston that shines. She portrays pure evil, someone that will haunt many children’s nightmares.
The camera work is very well done. The scenes with Luke and Bruno as mice are shot wonderfully, it’s seen from a very low perspective.
The negative is the ending. Director Roeg changed the ending. As a big fan of Roald Dahl’s work, that’s not appreciated.
All in all, “The Witches” is an excellent adaptation of the classic children’s book. A bit too scary for the little ones, but the story was very well executed.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Moments: "The Lion King"

I remember the time when I saw it in theatres, it was for a kids party. I was speechless, it was a breathtaking experience. And still, after so many years, it’s one of the most amazing Disney animations I’ve ever seen. Here are my favorite moments.

Moment # 1: The Circle of Life
The sun rises in Africa and all the animals living there wake up. Lion king Mufasa is presenting his son Simba.

Moment # 2: Simba learns how to hunt
Mufasa is trying to teach Simba how to hunt and they use Zazou as prey. The talkative bird is giving the last news to Mufasa, without knowing that Simba is lurking him. All of a sudden Simba strikes, which leaves Zazou shocked and angry.

Moment # 3: I Just Can’t Wait to Be King
Simba and Nala are trying to go to the elephant graveyard, but they are stuck with Zazou. On theire way, Simba tells Nala how he’s going to be king someday. And he is very excited about that.

Moment # 4: Elephant graveyard
Simba and Nala have arrived at the elephant graveyard. Simba says he isn’t scared of anything, but then three hyena’s join them. They are after the two lion cubs. When Simba and Nala are both cornered, Mufasa is there to save them.

Moment # 5: Be Prepared
Scar is planning to take out the king, his brother Mufasa. He’s not doing it alone, he needs the help of all the hyenas.

Moment # 6: The stampede
Scar has lured Simba to a place where he’s supposed to get a surprise. What he doesn’t know is that a huge stampede is coming towards him.

Moment # 7: Mufasa dies
Mufasa is trying to save Simba, but dies. Scar makes Simba think it was his fault, but Scar killed his own brother so he can be king.

Moment # 8: Hakuna Matata
Simba meets Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog. They teach him the new life lesson “Hakuna Matata”, which means 'no worries'..

Moment # 9: Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Simba is attacked by a female lion. He realizes it’s Nala. She always thought Simba was dead.

Moment # 10: Simba meets Rafiki
Rafiki knows that Simba is still alive and tries to find him. When he does, Rafiki is trying to get Simba back to the Pride Lands, where Scar has ruined everything with his kingdom. Simba finds Rafiki very annoying.

Moment # 11: The final fight
Simba confronts Scar. He finds out that Scar killed his father and takes him down. Or actually his ‘friends’ the hyean’s do it for him.


Favorite Moment: Moment # 1 : The Circle of Life

Check This Out # 1

I thought of a new item. It just came to me. I love browsing the internet and sometimes I see amazing things I just want to share them. But you can not share everything on facebook or tumblr. So I decided to share it with you, on my blog. Photos, video's, websites, books, you name it.

I saw this great video a friend of mine posted and it's a musical flashmob in a subway. Just check out the link below.

Subway Flashmob

I saw this on http://somewhereontheiceplanet.tumblr.com/. From "The Fantastic Mr. Fox". A great film, but a fantastic book I'm planning on rereading next month.

Off course this video! Probably everyone saw it, but this is hilarious and the actual proof that the Britisch have humor. Rowan Atkinson at the 2012 opening of the Olympics.

Rowan Atkinson at 2012 Olympics

I saw a production still of the 2012 thriller "Passion" with one of my favorites Rachel McAdams and also rising star Noomi Rapace. It's about a young businesswoman who plots murderous revenge after her boss and mentor steals her idea.

So, if you saw anything awesome and you'd like the share it. Please do, send me anything you think I should check out. See you next time!