My Top 15 Films of All Time – Update for 2012

As time goes, new vices, trends and habits come along that make us reinvent what we used to assume as never ending. In other words, new films have come along that have made such an impact on my psyche that I just had to re-evaluate my top list. Here is my last official post for you eager film lovers out there. What I’ve done here is a list with another film linked to each, totalling up to 30 films, just in case you want my recommended substitution. I will update annually, so keep an eye out as time goes on. Without further ado, here is my current hit list:

15) The Craft – It is just one of those films that will take you back to a fairly experimental early teen-hood; or at least mine. I had my very early beginnings in wanting to find out about paganism and witchcraft because of this film, and I also saw it as a film that helped spell out teenage angst from the 90s.

Coupled with: Practical Magic

 

14) Battle Royale – Still one my favourite Japanese film. Since this film I have watched others from various genres, but this film still comes out on top.

Coupled with: Audition

 

13) Girl, Interrupted – I saw this film at a sleepover and that was when I developed a serious girl crush on Angelina Jolie and her amazing acting style. The book was amazing too, very personal, in depth and totally fucked up – excuse the swearing! In a huge way, being someone who isn’t regarded as 100% normal myself, I was able to connect to this film in a relatable way. It has stuck with me ever since.

 

12) The Devil Wears Prada – I love fashion, writing and ambition. This film had an easy and fun story and I pick it up every time I need a boost and a break from The Expendables and the Hangover franchise.

Coupled with: Sex and the City Movie & Sex and the City 2

 

11) Le fabuleux destin d’amélie Poulain – Still one of my all time favourites!! My previous quick review is found on the link in the introduction.

Coupled with: Beautiful Lies

 

10) In the Loop – Dark satirical film based on the British politics programme The Thick of It from the BBC.

Coupled with: Pretty Persuasion

 

9) Watchmen – Based on the epic comic book series from an award winning writer with a fetish for very grounded and highly charged individuals. Masterpiece.

Coupled with: Sin City

 

8) Clash of the Titans – the remake. I love it! It is my guilty pleasure, and the one of the last times I see Peter Postlethwaite – RIP.

Coupled with: Immortals

 

7) Perfume: Story of a Murderer – Ben Whishaw at his finest. This story is unpredictable, eloquent and just divine. It keeps you hooked from the start, unfolding as each scene rolls on. Utterly mesmerising!

Coupled with: Angels & Demons

 

6) The Expendables – For me, this is my ideal porn. Hot guys, action heroes I grew up obsessing over in a big fight to the finish. I have been a lover of Stallone since I was small, so anything with him in, I know will be a hit. (Including the sequel out 17 August 2012).

Coupled with: Taken

 

5) The Hangover – One of my favourite films for sure, and not just because of the amazing story line, the cool cast or the funny quips through-out, but it is just an amazing must-see-before-you-die kind of film!

Coupled with: The Hangover 2

 

4) Shame – no words can explain here, so read this review.

Coupled with: Scenes of a Sexual Nature

 

3)  Inglorious Basterds – I just love it okay?

Coupled with: Reservoir Dogs

 

2) The Dark Knight – Well… all of the Batman franchise but this film by far is the best! I’m just sitting here waiting for the 20^th July to come so I can see the last instalment. I also love the fact that they filmed some of the factory scenes up the road from me!

Coupled with: Batman Begins

 

1) Dracula – My most valuable and favourite film ever. If anyone dare tries to do a remake of the Cappola I will cry. I love the book, but most of all Dracula is a true vampire, not the tween glitter remakes in recent years. Sorry folks, but I am keeping it real.

Coupled with: Inglorious Basterds

Scenes of a Sexual Nature (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

– Sy x

Glued| Shame Review – [Short + Trailer]

from NY Times

Shame (2011) is poignant and mesmerising. The story is to the point in subtle and gentle ways, and it has managed to burrow into the mind of a true film story seeker. This film is most definitely one my new favourites, and it is down to the story, the detail of the shots and the amazing acting by Michael Fassbender. If you look into most films these days, there is a lack of brilliant acting; acting that would draw you into a deeper awareness of the characters on screen rather than who is playing them. For that, I highly recommend this film to true film lovers – of all genres!

The score and the music selections heard throughout the film go hand in hand in such a manner that you would instantly recognise the film, and feel the emotion of each scene. Each track is a way to narrow in on the mindset of each character, like the constant teasing of words from each song played when Brandon’s sister Sissy pops up. I loved how the shots open up the stirrings of Brandon’s character, one major example would be the scenes when he is mostly on his own, he is centred perfectly, but in other scenes when he is quite erratic the shots are unstable mimicking his emotional instability – the lack of control you miss when spending time with an unsuspected addict.

I have heard too many times that people will only see films with their favourite actors or directors, I do it too but every once in a while you come across an actor who really shakes you with his performance. For me, and for the sake of their acting and their ability to bring a character into your living room, Ben Whishaw (The Hollow Crown: Richard II, Perfume: Story of a Murderer) and Michael Fassbender shock the living daylights out of me. Shame is amazing. Fassbender is amazing. More importantly Brandon is unnerving. His addiction and the sexual scenes are pure art from where I stand. I felt profound sadness when watching Brandon unfold as the film rolled on, as he is not what most people would assume a sex addict would be. The story dealt with the pressures, stresses and possible reason behind his addiction, but from his point of view, the view that is often overlooked and I found this tremendous. Steve McQueen did an excellent job here, detailing the suffering that this lone man feels. I guess, as a young woman and a social animal, I never thought having a sex addiction was so lonely and so sad – I just want to give Brandon a hug.

I don’t want to give too much away, and I’m sure there are lots I would happily tell you all, but this is a film you need to see at least three times before you judge it. Seriously go buy it, enjoy it and have an open mind. Hopefully, you will be blown away like I was. For now, enjoy the trailer so it can wet your lips, and later wait with me on Steve McQueen’s next film 12 Years a Slave.

Other Links

NY Times Film Review – Shame

Rotten Tomatoes – Shame

Empire – Shame

Sy x

Dredd Exclusive Trailer! About Time!

I am so excited for the latest comic book hero films coming out this year. The Dark Knight Rises and the film below. I just hope I can find the right person to go see them with =P

I wrote a post a long time ago detailing my love for Dredd… hell know’s where it is now =P

Sy x

PS. Sorry for not keeping up to date! I will soon! I have been filming like crazy, but as I don’t have the internet, the videos end up going nowhere. Fashion and Comic book haul coming soon! Along with a tattoo video!

Film Lover Reviews

So I’m starting a new mini project to jump start my film reviews and entertainment insider gossip. Hopefully I’ll review enough films for you folks to go out and get some new films or see up and coming films. I’ve posted a few film trailers of films i want to see or buy in previous posts, but I haven’t written a review of what I thought of them when I had watched them! I have a huge back log of films i have reviewed on my desktop which need to be published too, but I’m super behind and the films I’ve done are a year old or so. They shall be up and online soon!

Film reviews will have the titles, Glued, Film Review or Sy’s Movie Corner. I haven’t yet worked anything out, and any ideas will be greatly appreciated! I’ll also post links to various review content that i personally love or find so interesting, that I just had to share, beyond the means of Twitter or clogging up Facebook. Lots of support and idea’s my way please!!

My love of film goes very deep, but I will go into a another post a while about my history with film and my experiences studying for TV and Film, the funny comparison with Hitchcock and my birthday and the love of a brilliant actor over time. My reviews are old and shit, excuse my French, but check them out and comment anyway. I shall go now, enjoy previous posts below and watch the trailers of films I’m dying to see. I’ll also post up personal reviews from folks who are willing to have their thoughts shared, and links to other blog posts.

Films I Need to See!

And tomorrow’s showing of This is England ’88 (series 2) on Channel 4

Previous Posts

Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain!

Karl Urban is Judge Dredd: Oh Yeah!

 

 

Related articles

• Film Review: The Artist (filmophilia.com)
• Film Review: My Week With Marilyn (filmophilia.com)
• Film Review: The Help (filmophilia.com)
• The Three Musketeers – Film Review (firstchoice.co.uk)

Love Letters To Myself

Last night, and this morning I watched the film Beautiful Lie’s starring Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye and Sami Bouajila. I wasn’t sure what I expected to see, as romantic films are a new venture for me. I hoped that the story wouldn’t be yet another girl meets boy and she messes everything up in the middle, with a bittersweet ending with boy telling girl he loves her after she has apologised. Funny thing is though, this film is quite similar except with a slight character twist and the unpredictable events. It’s a beautiful film, and all fans of Amelie and Coco Before Chanel will love it (especially as the director of the latter film has directed this one). I love it, and highly recommend it.

In fact, after watching it I became inspired to sit and write a few love letters to myself, and I thought about how I could introduce this film to a friend who is an avid film lover like myself – that is the tricky situation I will try to work out… he hates romantic films!

Beautiful Lies (2011)

The idea of writing love letters to myself is something I’ve thought about doing, but I never really sat down and ever planned one or wrote one. I didn’t see the point of writing letters about love since I had no positive understanding of it, and now that I’ve experienced it briefly with a Belgian man it seems I still have a lot more to learn. Besides, I’m 23 – I feel I’ve missed out of valuable years of learning already and I’m not getting any more chances to try again.

What goes in a love letter? How do I start one? How do you make the other person quiver at the sight and sense of your words? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself and to be honest I’m stumped. I can’t say ‘I love you,’ or ‘You are my sunshine…’ as I’ll be writing to myself. I want to feel the words leave my mind and see them on the page. I want my heart to flutter every time I refer to it in the future… I want it to be so fleeting that if I forget, it will brighten up my day when I’m feeling lost, low or bored.

Daily affirmations have come into my head; maybe I can write an extended affirmation and post it to myself? Writing about myself, writing about my body, my mind and the things that make me happy, however I’ll have to limit myself as I don’t want it to be too revealing. The love letter in Beautiful Lies is, well, beautiful. Watching the reaction of the characters’ once they had read the letter themselves was enough for me to wonder what it would be like to receive one. I’ve never had one and I highly doubt I ever would as classic romanticism is hard to find unless you are rich, if you are then you can pay for it.

For the following 7 days, I’m going to test something. I’m going to write several letters of love to myself, and possibly add that little bit extra with letters of self-love back. Who knows what I could find out? This could be a very positive project.

Have any of you written love letters to yourselves? Or sent one anonymously?

Sex and the City to Return to TV?

*Claps*

*Squeal*

OMG!

L - R: Charlotte, Carrie, Miranda & Samantha

I’m a huge fan of Sex and the City. I have both movies, and all the episodes on DVD sitting with the films and shows I ‘need’ under my widescreen TV. All in easy reach of course. When I saw the first film, like a real fan I cried when Mr. Big and Carrie Bradshaw were supposed to get married and he flaked at the last minute leaving the upset Carrie to drop her beautiful lilies in the middle of a one way New York street. I cried like so much when I bought the DVD and lay on the bed watching it. To this day, it is some serious hard hitting and emotional stuff. Oh how many women like myself, have fallen in love with the life Carrie leads. With her column, love, fashion and her fabulous friends, no wonder the show was a huge success.

WATCH THIS:

Links

Yahoo UK http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/gossip/the-juice/sex-city-return-tv-085544190.html

Marie Claire UK http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/530251/sex-and-the-city-to-return-to-tv.html

Will Film Destroy These Comics?

As much as we all love a good film, and more importantly a great coercion of comic book whacking, and jaw dropping cliff-hangers with a colourful film reel with tights, spandex and PVC, there comes a point when I get, or you, don’t get what we expect. If like me you are a comic book enthusiast, then you know what I’m talking about. At the same time, it’s not just the comic book movies’, its adaptations taken from the written word that has a 50/50 chance of landing a good review or a bad one… maybe that quota is off somehow? 25% chance of a good review? I’m just being harsh… or am I?

I can’t tell you how romantic it is to lay in bed with AC/DC blaring through the stereo flicking through a new magazine, comic book or novel, just letting my mind escape into another dimension. A world where it’s possible to fly around and watch how love grows in Superman, or teaching lessons to young big-headed, drugged up superheroes in Bad Boys. Oh the possibilities are endless when bad mouthing ancient demons in Constantine or just trying to ‘live’ the best way you can in iZombie (Vertigo Comics).

I love movies, and I love comics, but there are some stories I never expected to come to the silver screen, and there are others I’ve read that I personally worry about coming to a cinema near you, due to past events of ‘good-but-grim’ adaptations. I won’t list any as I’m sure there will be films that I like that most people will not, and vice versa. Comic book fandom and debate is a huge arena and I can’t be bothered right now =P

Very classy Superman, very classy.

Ok, so here’s the thing, I’d love to find out what comics and graphic novels you’ve read and enjoyed so much, that you think the silver screen would ruin them… unless you have a writer and director in mind you think would do them justice. I wrote a script as part of a script writing module at film school a while back, and we had to base the scripts on books from the crime genre. It was straight forward; get a book, read it and develop a synopsis and a script for a new TV drama. What my lecturer didn’t say was the ‘kind of book’ I should adapt. I chose Brian Azzarello’s 100 Bullets issues #1-7 for episode 1. From the day I finished the script I started thinking about how awesome it would be to have it as a one time drama, shown on FX or the BBC. That got me thinking about other comic book movies/TV shows that have been, or have yet to be adapted:

House of Mystery (Vertigo), Sturges & Willingham

House of Mystery

I would love to see this as weekly TV series. The mini stories within a handful of comics is enough to entertain people, and keep drawing them in. The idea behind the story is a fantastic one too; paying for your drinks by telling stories to a pub full of strangers. Imagine that, not having any money for drinks! The story pattern is similar to that if many TV shows, as there is one main story that has the protagonist ‘growing’ over time, with mini stories that have a life expectancy of 2 or 3 weeks at a time. I wouldn’t know which actors would be great, but I’d love to see Ryan Murphy’s name as producer! Oh my… that would be amazing.

Cinderalla - Spin off from Fables (Vertigo), Willingham

Fables

I love Fables, and I love Willingham, but I don’t think a silver screen or TV adaption would help at all; whether it’s shown as a cartoon, animation, manga or a show with real life actors. It’s too good a series to be adapted, you have to read it, enjoy the artwork and immerse yourself into another world view of our childhood characters. There have been a few spin-offs within this series, like Jack of Fables and the amazing novel Peter & Max written by Willingham. This series is deep, fascinating and waiting a week for new comics is too much for me, so waiting for one TV series to end and the next series to start will have me boiling like a kettle on a hob. I’m just being selfish I guess… the wait for each new Wednesday kills me! Hehe!

 

Constantine

I can’t express enough how much I adore Hellblazer, but the movie has its major ups and significant minor lows. Okay, firstly John Constantine (the blond fella) is a Liverpool native, his age is questionable as he seems unable to age, blond and he is famous for wearing a brown trench coat. Was that reflected in the film? No…. there was a mini outcry at 2 comic book shops i love when we all discussed the poster of the film before it came out, and we were all apprehensive and worried Hollywood fucked up yet another British ideology. However, we weren’t too upset once the film had come out. Keanu Reeves was a brilliant John Constantine, and Djimon Honsou played an excellent Papa Midnite, but part of me still thinks they should have waited until an English guy could play Constantine. I see their reasons for casting Mr. Reeves (special features on DVD or Blu-ray), and I can’t blame them, but I don’t expect a second movie coming any time soon. These days there are more actors who could play Constantine, but who knows? Constantine (2005) is still one of my top films!

Those are my quick examples. Tell me of yours and give me links! Comment below =]

[CROATOA]

100 Bullets (Vertigo) Azzarello