10s Movie Review - Detective Pikachu

Director: Rob Letterman
Genre: Adventure/ Comedy/ Science Fiction/ Action
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy, Ken Watanabe, Chris Geere, Suki Waterhouse, Rita Ora
Description: In a world where people collet Pokémon to do battle, Tim (Justice Smith) comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) who seeks to be a detective.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 27: A FILM WITH RYAN REYNOLDS
 
Review: Many generations have grown up with Pokémon. Millions of people around the world watched the popular anime series, played the games, collected the cards and enjoyed the movies. The brand grew into one of the biggest entertainment products in the world. I was never a Pokémon girlie. So, when “Detective Pikachu” was released, I was not really interested. I decided to watch it anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised. Because it’s such a fun film.

In this film, Ryan Reynolds voices the Pokémon Pikachu, who teams up with Tim Goodman (played by Justice Smith), to investigate the disappearance of Tim’s father. Tim can actually communicate with Pikachu, much to the surprise of the both of them. The unlikely duo embarks on an adventure in a colorful world where Pokémon live alongside humans, leading to the most absurd situations.

Reynolds is entertaining as the voice of Pikachu. Where the idea of Pikachu having the voice of Reynolds sounds silly, it works really well. And the world director Rob Letterman builds looks really good too. Everywhere you look, you see details from the Pokémon universe. For the target audience, the Pokémon fans, that must be enough for them to enjoy this film.

Me, not a Pokémon enthusiast, really loved this film. It was funny, action-packed, adventurous and I really liked seeing all these Pokémon coming to live in this live-action movie. So for the fans, this would probably have an ever better effect.

Rating: 4 / 5

Movie Review - The Wild Robot

Director: Chris Sanders
Genre: Animation/ Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Lupita Nyongo’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Mark Hamill, Ving Rhames, Catherine O’Hara
 
Description: After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz (Lupita Nyongo’o) is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 52: A FILM THAT’S A 2024 FAVORITE FOR MANY PEOPLE
 
Review: At the center of “The Wild Robot” there is Roz, a robot that seems far too complicated to serve as a household helper. But would probably be given that function in most cases. Were it not for the fact that this particular one is stranded on a desert island. As far as people go, that is. This island is inhabited by animals and most of them see her as an enemy. Until she finds a goose egg.

When the egg hatches, the little goose latches on to Roz. She needs to teach him how to swim and fly and eventually get ready for migration. Roz makes it her task, with the help of Fink, an seemingly unreliable fox that feels just as an outsider as Roz does.  

Robots are supposed to be emotionless, trying to solve problems with logic, using algorithm. But when Roz’ algorithmic thought processes fail, she must learn to rely on her intuition and feelings. On the contrary, the animals of the island do nothing but act from gut instinct. They must learn to turn off their instincts in order to survive together. And it turns out that programming and instinct are not so different after all.

The sympathy you feel for Roz, from the start, is partly due to Lupita Nyongo’o’s excellent vocal performance. With only her voice, she manages to convey so much feeling and nuance. As Roz develops, we see her create her own consciousness. Her character growth is accompanied by universal themes of parenthood, friendship, belonging and (self-) acceptance, with the story emphasizing that the relationships we form are enough to lead fulfilling lives.

The breathtaking animation, vulnerable emotions and moving story are perfectly brought together. This results in countless enchanting scenes that really make something happen to you. I felt every emotion while watching “The Wild Robot”. Director Chris Sanders has outdone himself once again with this wonderful Dreamworks animation and it is indeed my favorite film of 2024.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - The Beautiful Game

Director: Thea Sharrock
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Bill Nighy, Michael Ward, Kit Young, Sheyi Cole, Tom Vaughnan-Lawlor, Robin Nazari, Valeria Golino
 
Description: Advocates to end homelessness, organize an annual tournament for Homeless people to compete in a series of football matches known as The Homeless World Cup.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 17: A FILM BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Review: Mal is a football scout. He now leads a British football team. But not the team we know. He is the head coach for the English national team for the homeless. Every year, there is a football competition: The Homeless World Cup.

“The Beautiful Game” is a sympathetic feel-good film about the World Cup of soccer for the homeless: an annual event where homeless people are, for a very brief moment, the hero, and not condemned by society. The focus is on the British team, led by Mal, delightfully portrayed by Bill Nighy. In Rome, he must lead his tem to victory, including the help of former talent Vinny.

The film takes a few side paths and leans heavily on sports movie cliches, but is ultimately extremely satisfying, as a tale of infectious underdogs.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

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

00s Movie Review - I Capture the Castle

Director: Tim Fywell
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne, Marc Blucas, Henry Thomas, Henry Cavill, Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald

Description: A love story set in 1930s England that follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai), and the fortunes of her eccentric family, struggling to survive in a decaying English castle.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 46: A COSTUME DRAMA

Review: “Better all that hurt than to have known no pain”. That’s the lesson we earn from the film “I Capture the Castle”. The film is based on the 1948 book of the same name by Dodie Smith, who would later become known mainly for her book “The Hundred and One Dalmatians”.
The story of the film is told with the help of a voice-over by Cassandra Mortmain who records all the events surrounding her family in her journal. The film is set in 1930s England. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra lives with her eccentric family in a remote dilapidated castle. Depressed father James once wrote a successful book, but hasn’t had a word on paper for twelve years. Stepmother Topaz is an artist and nudist. Sister Rose is a beautiful girl with a penchant of luxury; her life goal is to marry a rich man. And then there is little brother Thomas, a very smart kid. In addition, the handsome handyman Stephan often visits the Mortmains; he is secretly in love with Cassandra, but she is not in love with him. One day the family meets two wealthy young American men: Simon and Neil Cotton. Rose sees her chance and does everything he can to make Simon fall in love with her. She succeeds and soon the two get engaged. Ut then Cassandra falls in love with Simon herself. And is Rose actually happy with Simon.
Although “I Capture the Castle” is a beautiful film, the story doesn’t seem to work all the time. I think it’s mostly the motivations of some characters that bother me. I simply never understand what Cassandra sees in Simon. Simon is clearly in love with Rose and at first Cassandra even helps Rose to get Simon. But still she falls in love with him. When there is Stephen, a caring, sweet, kind and handsome man (come on, it’s Henry Cavill) who would do everything for Cassandra. But she doesn’t love him back and treats him rather unfairly. He is the winning lottery ticket girl!
I really did love Romolo Garai in her role, even though I didn’t always understand her choices. And despite some negatives, I really did enjoy “I Capture the Castle”.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - Emma.

Director: Autumn de Wilde
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Amber Anderson, Tanya Reynolds, Miranda Hart, Gemma Whelan, Rupert Graves, Myra McFadyen, Esther Coles, Suzy Bloom, Suzanne Toase, Nicholas Burns, Lucy Briers, Anna Francolini, Connor Swindells, Isis Hainsworth

Description: In 1800s England, the well-meaning but selfish young Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) meddles in the love lives of her friends.

Review: The popular rich daughter Emma Woodhouse tries in her wat to boost the love life of the people around her. Jane Austen’s stories have appeared on the big screen so often in so many different forms that filmmakers have to look for new interpretations of her work. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve succeeded that with “Emma.” (the point is deliberate).
Emma is a slightly arrogant and stubborn woman who wants to interfere in the personal relationships of her surroundings, because she seems to know it all. The people around her all love and adore her and don’t really see her real intentions. Apart from nobleman George Knightly, the only opponent who gets in Emma’s way.
For a film that actually takes too long, “Emma.” is a funny film that stands out and keeps you entertained. Nice to see are the very subtle jokes that are in contrast with the light-hearted comedy, especially brought by Bill Nighy.
“Emma.” has a great cast, with Anya Taylor-Joy shining as the titular character. Not one of the best Jane Austen book-to-movie adaptations, but a pleasant watch and certainly worth your time. If you like Austen novels that is (and I do).

Rating: 3,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - Shaun of the Dead

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Horror/ Action/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Nicola Cummingham, Peter Serafinowicz, Penelope Wilton

Description: Shaun (Simon Pegg) decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend (Kate Ashfield), reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.

Review: Leading man and co-writer Simon Pegg didn’t give himself the most heroic role. Shaun is maybe one of the biggest losers on the big screen. But that is what makes him so common and recognizable.
It takes some time for Shaun and his friend Ed to realize that London is filling up with zombies. When they finally find out, their responds is just as ‘realistic’: throwing everything as long as it didn’t cost anything. The two think of a plan of rescuing Shaun’s mom and girlfriend and then taking shelter in their pub the Winchester.
“Shaun of the Dead” is first and foremost a romantic comedy, with a splash of horror elements. You wouldn’t expect that of a zombie movie, but that’s exactly the power of the film. The humor is typical British en when you’re a fan, like I am, this is just your movie. It’s subtle and very clever.
For fans of black comedies, “Shaun of the Dead” is the perfect movie. And this is the start of a great series of films, that made me fall in love with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. What a threesome!

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Hot Fuzz

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Rafe Spall, Paddy Considine, Olivia Colman, Bill Nighy, Steve Coogan, Martin Freeman

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.

Review: Supercop Nicholas Angel is transferred from the hard crimes in London, to a sleepy town called Sanford, because Nicholas makes all the other cops ‘look bad’. He is just simply too good. Sanford is in the running for the title ‘Village of the Year’, which they have won multiple times before. When Nicholas arrives, he soon discovers that the citizens and local cops don’t really take crime very seriously. Even when several people are murdered, they all think it’s just all an accident.
You can say a lot about “Hot Fuzz”, but not that it’s boring. There is a lot of action, violence and a load of great jokes. And there isn’t one joke that doesn’t make you laugh or is predictable or cliché. That makes this film fresh and original.
Of course the on screen duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost work like a charm. Pegg is an adrenaline rushed cop and Frost is the very naïve and looking-for-action partner. Like a tradition of buddy cop movies, who are complete opposites of each other, but yet again it’s never cliché.
“Hot Fuzz” is fast paced, action packed and fresh. An original film with lots of laughs, even after rewatching it many times, with a dark undertone. “Hot Fuzz” is a winner!

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Pride

Director: Matthew Warchus
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine, George McKay, Andrew Scott, Russell Tovey

Description: U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Review: Most British citizens are familiar with the miner’s strike in 1984, as a protest to the announced closing of the mines. People who went through this period remember it very well and it’s a story that has been told to children and grandchildren. It’s a very sensitive topic, still for many people. But one special occurrence during these strikes never got a lot of publicity, which is the focus of the film “Pride”.
During the strike, the miners and their families were struggling, because they had no income. That’s why fundraising campaigns were held. The in London based ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’ (LGSM) decide to also campaign for them and raise money to support them. But when they want to hand the union the money, that’s a problem. Because taking money from gays, that’s unheard of. They eventually find a union in Wales, that does say yes. The LGSM travel to a little town in Wales, but most citizens aren’t happy about them. They have prejudices and don’t really welcome them with open arms. But the two very different groups connect.
That “Pride” is based on real-life events makes this film extra strong. With that, many ingredients of a feel-good movie are present. The combination of emotional elements, humor and personal development of the characters make you think about films like “Billy Elliot” and “The Full Monty”. And since both those films are amazing, “Pride” can certainly be added to this line-up.
The screenplay is very strong but the fantastic cast also lifts this film to a higher level. Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy can’t do wrong off course, but also the young George MacKay, who has the biggest part of the ensemble, manages to show of his talent. The journey of his character Joe, from being a shy guy growing to be confident man comfortable with who he is, is really strong. But the actor that steals the show is Dominic West, as the flamboyant Jonathan, who you can simple not dislike. His dance scene is one of the highlights of the film.
“Pride” is one of the rare films that has substance, entertainment and soul.

Rating: 5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Evanna Lynch, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, Timothy Spall, Clémence Poésy, Warwick Davis, Helen McCrory, Julie Walters, Toby Jones, Imelda Staunton, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Matthew Lewis, Chris Rankin, Mark Williams

Description: As Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
Review: The last book in the Harry Potter series was split into two films. Although the film is very long, there is more room for development. This is in fact only half a film. It’s foremost a buildup to the second part and the climax.
The length is something that you feel here. Although it’s only half the book, it takes two and a half hour. And many scenes are repetitive, where Harry, Hermione and Ron are searching for the Horcuxes.
The three main actors have become better over the years, but only Emma Watson can easily keep up with the once that have more experience, like Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith. It’s visible that Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint still have a lot to learn.
I don’t think it was the best decision to split the final book in two films, because this is probably my least favorite of all the films. However, together with the second half of this film, it is better.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 146: Total Recall

Director: Len Wiseman

Genre: Actie/ Science Fiction/ Thriller

Runtime: 118 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bill Nighy, John Cho

Description: A factory worker, Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.

Review: Remakes of big movies are really popular these days. You take a big film from the last twenty to twenty five years, modernize it a bit, throw in some famous actors and a success is guaranteed. Right? There are movies that where ready for a remake, like “Cape Fear” by Martin Scorsese or “Ocean’s 11” by Steven Soderbergh. And the Hitchcock classic “Psycho” was a film that didn’t really need that at all. Len Wiseman’s “Total Recall” falls right in the middle.

It’s 2084 and due to a chemical war the biggest part of the world is uninhabitable. Two big areas fight for the power on earth. Factory worker Douglas Quaid lives in The Colony with his wife Lori. He has a recurring dream where he and a woman are being chased. Quaid wants more from his life and he decides to visit the company Rekall. They implant memories. Quaid chooses a memory as a secret agent, but before they can implant it something goes wrong and he turns out to be a wanted man. When Quaid is chased by the police he finds out that nothing is what it seems.

With a remake it’s hard not to compare. “Total Recall” from 1990 was Paul Verhoeven’s break. The biggest difference between the two movies is that in the original the planet Mars is a big part of the film. In the new one, the movie is set on planet earth. Verhoeven’s version had some self-mockery, but Wiseman is going for a more serious approach and gives it a political touch. And the look of the film reminds you a bit of “Blade Runner” as well. Originality is hard to find here. It does look very good, the visuals and action sequences are amazing. But it’s hard to take in the environment because it all goes in warp speed.

Colin Farrell is off course a better actor then Arnold Schwarzengger and he’s a believable action hero. My biggest problem with the film is that you never really know if the events really happened or were all in Quaid’s head.

“Total Recall” is an entertaining action/ sci-fi film that takes itself a bit too seriously. Visually it’s stunning and Colin Farrell is doing a solid job as Quaid. But the movie never convinces you the way the original did.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Favorites: Shaun of the Dead

Synopsis: Shaun (Simon Pegg) doesn't have a very good day, so he decides to turn his life around by getting his ex to take him back, but he times it for right in the middle of what may be a zombie apocalypse. But for him, it's an opportunity to show everyone he knows how useful he is by saving them all. All he has to do is survive. And get his ex back.

Unique Selling Point: This is the kind of comedy I like, a zom-com in fact. And with this movie we’re also introduced to an amazing trio: Wright, Pegg and Frost.

Most Valuable Player: Nick Frost as the numb nuts sidekick Ed, who doesn’t really do anything useful.

Best Moment: Whacking zombies while “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen is playing on the jukebox. “It’s on random”.

Movie Battle: The Time Traveler's Wife Vs. About Time

Again I have chosen two movies with a similar theme. Both movies are about time travel. I love both movies, so it would be hard to pick a winner. Just let them go head to head and I will decided who’s the match winner in “The Time Traveler’s Wife” Vs. “About Time”.

 

CAST

The Time Traveler’s Wife: Eric Bana is Henry, the guy who can travel through time but doesn’t have any control over it. The titular wife Clare is portrayed by Rachel McAdams. They both do a great job, but I think McAdams is the big star in the film. She really shines.

About Time: Tim is played by Domhnall Gleeson. He can time travel and he can control it. He has to get into a small, dark place, clutch his fists and think of a moment he wants to travel back to. He can relive his own past, but he cannot make any major changes, because it will have effect on the present. His wife is played by, again, Rachel McAdams. And again she shines. Bill Nighy is the guy stealing all the scenes, as Tim’s dad.

STORY

The Time Traveler’s Wife: I just love the book, so the story is one of my favourites of all time. I was very excited when they turned it into a movie and I think they did a fantastic job. It was criticized, but I really liked the film.

About Time: I thought it was going to be another standard story about a guy who time travelled. I was really surprised with this film and it is actually on my favourites list now. It just feels so honest and real.

EFFECTS

The Time Traveler’s Wife: The moments that Henry disappears were made very well, it’s like pieces of a puzzle falling apart.

About Time: I just love the way this movie was filmed and I liked the colors and tones of the film.

WINNER

Like I said, “About Time” has become one of my favourites. It’s amazing, I love it. It’s is actually Rachel McAdams best film so far.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 53: About Time

Director: Richard Curtis
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy

Description: At the age of 21, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.

Review: Time travelling isn’t that hard. Lock yourself in a closet, clench your fists and think of a moment in your past. Et voilá, when you leave the closet you enter your own past and you can make right what you did wrong. That’s how it works in “About Time”. In this romantic comedy we follow a few years of the life of young lawyer Tim and his American sweetheart Mary. The couple is surrounded by some eccentric friends and family members.
With “About Time” director and writer Richard Curtis added another great film to his consistent oeuvre. Like other movies in the genre, this movie doesn’t lean on a storyline that brings two lovebirds together in the end. This film is a chain of everyday situations. That this keeps your focus is because of the pace and the likeable characters.
The time travelling itself gives us some hilarious scenes, like where Tim is trying to help an actor who keeps forgetting his lines, or his first night with Mary. Every joke hits the mark, the characters manage to touch you and the actors are doing a fantastic job. Domhnall Gleeson is endearing as Tim, Rachel McAdams is charming as ever and Bill Nighy shines in every scene he is in. This man has a certain charisma you just can’t get around.
With the sweet and optimistic tone is “About Time” an absolute favorite for me. This is definitely a movie I will watch again… and again. And I don’t have to clench my fists and get into a dark closet for it.

Rating: 5/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

A movie filled with experienced Brittish actors and actresses, a perfect mix of drama and comedy. And also full of great characters worth talking about. Here are the characters from “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”.

Evelyn Greenslade
Played by: Judi Dench
Evelyn is a housewife who just lost her husband. She has to sell her house to pay off her husband’s debt. Evelyn’s son wants her to stay with him so he can take care of her, but instead she starts writing a blog and travels to India.

Douglas Ainslee
Played by Bill Nighy
Douglas is an optimist. He wants to see more of the world and likes to explore. Douglas is very loyal and that’s how he kept his wife for 39 years. He invested all of his lifesavings in his daughter’s internet business, so they can only afford a small beige bungalow.

Jean Ainslee
Played by: Penelope Wilton
Married to Douglas, Jean is the opposite. She is a pessimist. Jean hates everything about India, the poverty, smell, food, noise. Instead of exploring like Douglas, she stays inside the intire stay and just wants to return to England.

Muriel Donnelly
Played by: Maggie Smith
Muriel is an ex-housekeeper. She needs a new hip and although she is a bitter racist she decides to travel to India for a quick treatment. There Muriel discovers a different life and also learns to respect the culture.

Graham Dashwood
Played by: Tom Wilkinson
Graham is a retired High court judge. He’s been to India before and he finally returns. And he returns for a reason, because he had found love there the first time around. He is determined to find the man he loved for so many years.

Norman Cousins
Played by: Ronald Pickup
Norman is a womanizer, he likes his girls young. He can’t accept his own age, so he decides to make a new start in India.

Madge Hardcastle
Played by: Celia Imrie
Madge has been married several times and isn’t going to stop. She thinks she won’t find a man in England so she decides to travel to India to find fun, adventure and a new husband.

Sonny Kapoor
Played by: Dev Patel
Sonny is the owner of the Marigold hotel. Although it doesn’t look like a succeful business, Sonny is very ambitious and he sees his future in the hotel. His determination makes him unwilling to ask for help.

Favorite Character: Douglas Ainslee

Movie Battle: Shaun of the Dead Vs. Zombieland

Another new item. In Movie Battle I will compare two movies which have certain similarities, like a theme, director or actors. I will judge both movies on their cast, story and effects. Eventually I will announce one winner.

First it's zombies. My two favorite zombie movies go head to head, who will win this battle? Lets find out.

CAST

Shaun of the Dead: At the time this movie came out, the actors weren’t all that well known. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are now one of the funniest comedy duo on the planet, but the only person that we knew well in this film was Bill Nighy. This movie put Pegg and Frost on the map for me and would soon be unforgettable.

Zombieland: With this movie my light obsessions for Emma Stone. She is great. Jesse Eisenberg is a bit typecast as this nerdy, losery guy. He does that well. Abigail Breslin is no longer a kid and Woody Harrelson play my favourite part in “Zombieland”. He kicks some zombie ass! So all four actors in this movie did a good job.

STORY

Shaun of the Dead: England has already been taken over by zombies, but Shaun doesn’t realize it yet until there is a strange girl standing in his yard. When she is speared and still gets up, Shaun and Ed know something’s wrong. It’s hilarious how they try to fight them.

Zombieland: In this movie the world only has a few living people. Besides the four I mentioned earlier, Bill Murray is also one of them. Columbus has made a list of rules for survival, which he mentions throughout the movie.

EFFECTS

Shaun of the Dead: Not a lot of effects needed, but the zombies look very real. And so does the blood (you got red on you).The movie is well filmed, with these earthy tones.

Zombieland: There were more effect needed here, as for the zombies are a bit faster in this movie. Especially the scene where we get to see the zombie kill of the week, needed some extra touches. Everything looks a bit more flashy.

WINNER

I love both movies a lot. I always like zombie movies, funny or just scary (ok, I prefer funny). But I have to go with “Shaun of the Dead” because British humor is just a little bit better.

In the Picture: The Characters from "Love Actually"

"Love Actually" is the perfect film for the holidays. Christmas is coming near so it's time to take a look at this film again. There are so many characters, that I had to cut a little bit. Here are the characters from "Love Actually".

Harry
Played by: Alan Rickman
Harry is a manager at a designer agency. He recently got a new, young assistant. Harry feels attracted to her, but he’s also very happily married and the father of two. He buys his assistant an expensive necklace for Christmas. He later admits his foolishness.

Karen
Played by: Emma Thompson
Karen is Harry’s wife and she’s busy dealing with her children Daisy and Bernard. She finds the necklace in Harry’s pocket, assuming that it’s for her. When she’s opening presents, she realizes that the necklace wasn’t for her, but she doesn’t want anyone to know that she has been crying over it. Karen does confront him.

David
Played by: Hugh Grant
David is Karen’s sister and is the recently elected Prime Minister. He’s a young and single man. He meets his household staff and has an instant click with Natalie. Because of his position, he thinks it’s inappropriate to have feelings for her.

Jamie
Played by: Colin Firth
Jamie walks in on his brother, while he’s sleeping with his girlfriend. Crushed by this, Jamie retires to his French cottage where he meets Portugese housekeeper Aurélia who speaks only her native tongue. There’s an instant attraction between them and when he returns to England he realizes how much he loves her. For her, Jamie learns Portugese and visits her to ask her to marry him.

Juliet
Played by: Keira Knightley
Juliet is a happy newlywed woman and got married in a lovely ceremony to Peter. Juliet doesn’t get along with Mark, but she has no idea why he doesn’t like her. She tries to bond with him, but he never talks to her. When Juliet visits him, she find out that Mark has actually been madly in love with her all that time.

Daniel
Played by: Liam Neeson
Daniel is Karen’s best friend. He just lost his wife and is left behind with his stepson Sam. Daniel wants to help Sam with his mission to win over the girl he’s in love with. With that he also tries to deal with losing his love and tries to move on.

Sam
Played by: Thomas Sangster
Sam has fallen in love with his classmate Joanna. He found out that there’s only one way to win her over: become a musician. He starts to play drums to impress her at the school Christmas party. When she’s leaving for America, Sam follows her at the airport to tell her about his feelings.

Billy Mack
Played by: Bill Nighy
Billy Mack is a worn off rockstar with only one more goal: He wants to score the number one Christmas single. His longtime manager Joe is the only one who always stood by him and he realizes that he’s been ‘the love of his life’.

Natalie
Played by: Martine McCutcheon
Natalie is one of the members in David’s household staff. She appears to be very nervous while meeting him for the first time, because she starts rambling and swears a couple of times. David finds it endeering. Natalie is pushed into a corner by the American president, who’s tried to seduce her.

Mark
Played by: Andrew Lincoln
Mark is Peter’s best friend and is secretly in love with Juliet. He never talks to her because of self-preservation and out of respect to his friend Peter. Mark does take a moment to truly confess his feelings for Juliet, which she acknowledges with a kiss.

Sarah
Played by: Laura Linney
Sarah works for Harry and she has been in love with her co-worker Karl for years. At a Christmas party, the two dance and eventually Karl drives her home. Sarah invites him in, where they start kissing. They are interrupted by Sarah’s mentally ill brother, which effectivly ends things between Sarah and Karl.

Rufus
Played by: Rowan Atkinson
Rufus is a minor but significant character. He is a jewelry salesman and is obsessed with gift wrapping things. With that obsession, Harry almost gets caught while buying the necklace. Rufus is also the distraction at the airport, so that Sam can run to Joanna.

Favorite Character: Mark

Movie Tip #3 - Love Actually

Director: Richard Curtis

Starring: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Rowan Atkinson, Martine McCutcheon, Andrew Lincoln, Martin Freeman

Description: We follow the lives of eight different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London.

Review: This movie stands for the perfect Christmas feeling and each story gives you different emotions. I especially like the story about the Prime minister (Hugh Grant) and the one with widower Daniel (Liam Neeson) and his stepson. This movie will probably be on TV during Christmas, so go watch it, because it's funny, sad, heartwarming and very romantic.