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Reviews
She's the Man (2006)
Funny!!
Amanda Bynes carries this film on her shoulders and the result isn't too bad at all! We all knew she did great impersonations, admittedly I used to watch her show on Nickolodeon from time to time. Her talents have improved further since then and she is a comedic genius in this film. Going into this film I thought 'oh no, why have I agreed to watch this teen film, someone save me!'. By the time Viola dresses up and goes to her brother's school as Sebastian, I forgot what the alternative to watching this even was! Hilarious parts follow one another, the result being the whole theatre laughing out loud continuously for 5 minutes or more at a time, something which I haven't experienced in a while to be honest! It's an idea that has been used so many times, male dresses up as female, female dresses up as male yet there are some true comedic parts in there which are original, fresh! And Bynes' own talent just adds to the fun!! Great comedy, which I would definitely recommend if you're looking for a few laughs.
Failure to Launch (2006)
Not too bad
The trailer seemed good enough (don't they always though?) so I thought, why not? I could use some laughs! And I got more than 'some laughs'. There were some truly good, funny parts! Yet there were also some parts that were a bit over the edge for me, a prime example being all the animals biting Tripp :) funny at first; but by the third time you begin to feel like the writers have taken for granted that your IQ is below 100. A romantic comedy with quite a few true silly comedic parts. You are guaranteed to laugh and hey, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConayhey aren't the worst people around to watch flirting. There is some chemistry there despite the fact that at times they are not completely convincing. Overall, not too bad a film; you've got your comedy (although a rather bit more outstretched than I like it) and you've got your romance. OK, and a happy end! It's a well known recipe after all!
Friends: The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate (1994)
A great beginning of a great show!
This was the beginning of it all! Granted, this is not Friends at its best, but this was the show's pilot, let's not forget and not a bad one at that. We're introduced to the gang and Central Perk, where our story begins. Even from this first episode we get a sign of the Ross-Rachel relationship that will come over the next ten years, when Ross says: 'I just want to be married again' and Rachel storms in with a wedding dress on... probably not intentional as at the time the writers were going for a Monica-Joey relationship but fits nicely now when looking back. Something else.. in this episode Rachel is introduced to Chandler as if the two have never met before but in later episodes, the so-called 'flashbacks' this is contradicted as the two have met on three previous occasions. Nevertheless, the point is this a fine start to a great show. This episode may not be the usual Friends as we are accustomed to them, with the cast still a bit inexperienced but over the next few episodes we see why the show came to be what it was! Keep watching, first season is a blast!!
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Surprisingly uplifting
With such films you should not embark on watching expecting a great deal- and indeed I didn't. Being an Alias fan I wanted to see how Jenifer Garner delivers comedy. The answer is easily. She brings such a sweetness to the role of 13-year old Jenna stuck in the body of a 30 year old. Mark Ruffalo deserves a mention as well for his charming ways, playing Jenna's long lost school friend. The two complement each other very well. The story is not original but yet somehow it breathes an air refreshment and serves to uplift you. There were a rather sufficient amount of great comedic scenes that will serve to keep your interest at the very least. The chemistry and love story between Jenna and Matt add a bit of suspense to the story, while towards the end you will end up rooting for them! Admittedly, this one that the girls will enjoy more than the guys but do not take it to be a chick-flick no go for the guys. Overall great entertainment is derived, rather unexpectedly from such a film. A light, refreshing film that will uplift your spirits, what else could you ask?
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Catches your attention and keeps it throughout
Funny thing.. I ended up watching this film completely accidentally and I wasn't at all disappointed! However, perhaps it was because I knew nothing of the plot, or watched any previous versions or read the book that accounts for me finding this satisfactory. When discussing the film with an ex literature student you do realise that some facts are omitted or altered. Of course, most of us out there are not literature students and so should be pleased with this. If you want the best version, the read the book obviously! And now that this film has entered me into this world, I for one intend to.
The film takes us back to another era, a time were matters were conducted very differently than our day.. to say the least. My friend and I were rather shocked at some of the things revealed about how women were treated. One of my remarks was actually that : 'that these women lived to get married!' Certainly this film gives us a great insight into a time that some of us know very little about. And you really do get invested in these characters that become so realistic to you. Even if the circumstances at first seem unfamiliar to you, certain matters ,you realise, never change.
Empathy for Lizie and Mr Darcy grow as the plot goes on, so that at the end of every one of their encounters you just wish that the two fools just admit what they feel for each other; despite the hint at the back of your mind that they will do so in the end (that is if you have somehow not heard of the story before, which I really do not know how I have not come across before and probably am of a group of very few people).
Overall a great film, with Jane Austen's work setting the foundations for the many romantic comedies that we have before us today. Well, that is what I have been told from my literature-expert friend! Performances are amazing throughout.. from Kiera Knightley to the younger actresses who play her sisters.
Definitely a film that I would recommend.. especially if at heart you are a hopeless romantic!
Friends (1994)
Overall: Fantastic, Brilliant, Amazing!
Wow! I really do not know how I will sum up Friends. I only started watching at some point in Season 4, but I was instantly hooked. Today I am the proud owner of the DVD box set which includes all 10 seasons. There are only a few shows which can successfully compete against Friends or reach its level of comedic brilliance. And the amazing thing is, it lasted 10 whole seasons with such an amazing consistency; without saying that the show did not grow or evolve. It has been an amazing ride throughout.
These characters are so approachable and real. You can so easily feel for these characters that seem so genuine. The marvel of the idea; six friends, a gang in their early 20s supporting each other at the beginning of their lives; so simple, so truthful but yet so refreshing at the time. An idea that gave us 236 episodes! It's as the creators rightly put it, the period of your life when you leave your family, your friends become your family, before you return to family again, when you start your own family. And that is how the show ends.
The actors were amazing from the onset of the show and I really do not see how any one of them could be replaced with someone else. These six people were just right for each other! They mix so well and play off each other even better.. one feeds off the other! They all are great comedians but pull off the drama amazingly as well.
Of course a lot of the credit goes to the creators as well and the writers throughout the years. The comedy has been I-can't-stop-laughing-somebody-please-help-me terrific at points.
There is one storyline though that I did not appreciate. I did not go along with the whole Joey-Rachel relationship. Given the history between Ross and Rachel, and indeed the Ross-Joey relationship and the characters at hand, this story is just for me something that would never happen. OK, I can follow up to the point that somehow Joey has a thing for Rachel. But Rachel (which has become a little more dumb unfortunately in the late seasons of the show) could not have felt anything for Joey! I mean, after all it is Joey! And even if she did, she gave birth to Ross's baby!! That is why I gave the show a 9 and not a 10.
Season 1: Where everything began! Who can forget Rachel running into Central Perk during the Pilot? Great story lines throughout the season, with the Ross-Rachel story being put into motion, endless laughs derived from Ross's divorce from his lesbian wife, Ross's pet monkey. The foundations are laid for the characters we come to love. Favorite episode is the 'TOW All The Poker'.
Season 2: The show continues its ride to the top. We finally get to see Ross and Rachel together, the funniest story being when Eddie moves in with Chandler. We even get guest star appearances from the likes of Julia Roberts and George Clooney. We also see the first of numerous outrageously funny flashbacks.
Favourite episode: 'TOW The Prom Video'.
Season 3: So many great episodes!! Where do I start and where do I finish? Truly amazing (how many times have I said that??). And not only the comedy. The show reaches a new high with the drama of the heartbreaking break up of Ross and Rachel which was so cleverly mixed with great comedy.Should I force my self to pick a favorite episode? For comedy: 'The One With the Football'. For the drama: 'TOW the Morning After'.
Season 4: My favorite! So many laugh-out-loud episodes! The show reaches its all-time peak for me. Magnificent is to say the least! So much to say.. but not enough space! All time favorite episode of all seasons: 'TOW Phoebe's Uterus'.
Season 5: We see the characters growing up; that is not to say that the comedy is any way diminished! With Phoebe giving birth to her triplets and the beginning of the Monica-Chandler relationship and its secrecy and the gang ending up in Vegas for the season finale, what more could you ask? Favourite episode: 'TOW Everybody Finds Out'.
Season 6: The two-part episodes are the ones which stand out. Great story lines still at work with the fun still coming, in a rather renewed, fresh way in combination with the successful formula. Favourite episode: 'TOW the Proposal'.
Season 7: The run-up to Monicas and Chandler's wedding brings out an even more control-freak Monica while other successful stories still run alongside it from episode to episode to supplement it. Favourite episode: 'TOW the Cheap Wedding Dress'.
Season 8: This is where it goes a bit downhill.. it gets a bit more serious and the story lines followed move slightly towards those of a soap. Yet this season still has its moments, with Rachel being pregnant and the beginning of Monica's and Chandler's life as a married couple bring new adventures on the way. Favourite episode: 'TOW Rachel Tells Ross'.
Season 9: The Slightly Disappointing One.. ending as it does with Rachel and Joey but other than that it still has its moments. After all it is still a season of Friends! Favourite episode: 'TOW Ross's Inapropriate Song'.
Season 10: The end of an era! But it was time. I'm grateful that Season 9 was not the end and we are left with some truly fantastic episodes that take us back to those first season crazy episodes. Some of Season 9 is carried along but just at the beginning to end the craziness which was left mid-drift at the end of the season. Favourite episode: 'TOW The Stripper Cries'.
This isn't a show to be missed! I have yet to find a show to fill the shoes of Friends
National Treasure (2004)
Entertaining
This film is what you expect to see.. nothing great, amazing or exceptional but something that will keep you entertained. And that is what it is, and it isn't bad at it (at all). The story keeps moving at a quick pace and it keeps your interest throughout. There's an extra point if you like your history in this one. Even if you don't know your American history, it's a great way to pick up a few facts! Definitely not Cage's best film but it is a rather great adventure. Diane Kruger is kind of wasted as Abigail who is little more than the 'trophy-girlfriend' type.. the chick of the film. Overall this is a good one to munch away to your popcorn, watch it! You'll enjoy it if you like an adventure.
Bewitched (2005)
Disappointing
Being a fan of the hit TV series... honestly, truthfully, I never thought they would use the series and bring it to this horrible state. I am only giving it a 5 because you could actually watch the whole film. That is not to say however, that it reached my expectations; which honestly were not set that high anyway (having heard various remarks prior to watching the film). All this film got from me were a few forceful laughs (and I'm a person who laughs easily!) The talents of Nicole Kidman and Will Ferell are wasted in this badly written story which only leaves the question of WHYY? in your head. When you take from such a brilliant TV show which has left an era you have the duty to create something that will at least not diminish the work of the creators. Disappointing, really.
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
Watchable
This isn't your average teen movie, and I don't think it was intended to be. Yet it doesn't satisfactorily fit in any other category. The plot is still rather far-fetched- teenage girl who is obsessive over a band that will do anything to get to them. Who would let their daughters alone in New York City at night? Still, 90 minutes go by rather easily, although I could come up with a lot better films to watch in these 90 minutes. Lidsay Lohan still manages to show off her talent and proves that she can make the most of even a rather lacking storyline. There's not really much else to say, this is an OK film to pass your time but don't expect anything else from it.
Ladder 49 (2004)
Realistic
Personally, it's been a while since I've watched another film that measures up to this. A real heart-felt movie that is down to earth; not a far fetched Hollywood story. The fire stories are actually based on true ones which just goes to prove that this really is a realistic drama that isn't dolled up. It tells the story of a hero that you come to love, respect, admire and become attached to him and his fellow firemen and family. You want him to make it through this but yet if he did, wouldn't that kind of ruin it? I kept expecting him to be saved but that didn't happen and that is what earned this film extra points from me. Great performances by Travolta and Phoenix (this is actually the first film I really enjoyed him in). Overall, the least that can be said is that this film is a pain-free 2 hours which might ignite some feelings and compassion towards the main character.