Sunday, 29 October 2017

What Are You Watching (October, 2017)

Another month, another massive watchlist because it is autumn now and I don't want to go outside if it's raining and or windy. So, I have watched a lot of stuff. Let's go!

TV
  • My Hero Academia - It's over, which makes me insanely sad. I started watching this series just before the second series started to air during the spring simulcast releases anime-wise. I'm kind of with all the people that are saying this will be replacing one of the Shonen Jump anime series' that have finished in the past year. It gained popularity almost instantly and is already guaranteed to have a third season so hopefully it won't be too long till Deku is back on my screen. 
  • Steven Universe - I have watched all the episodes I can for now so I figured I would put it in this post because I'll be watching them as soon as I can from now on. I fell for the series pretty fast, the idea is so original and fun. The animation is superb, I especially love the background design of the show. I love the relationships that the Gems have with Steven, especially Garnet. So cute. I can't wait for episodes to come out, I'm so excited!
Film
  • The Place Promised in Our Early Days - I'm just going to put it out there, Makoto Shinkai is a master of anime and storytelling. He is an amazing writer and his animation is just outstanding. I haven't watched everything, but everything I have seen is just out of this world. In terms of Japanese animation easily playing with the big boy that is Studio Ghibli and in terms of world wide can definitely compete with the Disney Giant and Pixar if he wanted to. A review for this one is here if you want to take a gander: 
  • American Assassin - It's ok. I can see why it is failing past the fact that it was released in between It and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. It's just your average action film, it doesn't really try to do anything that the genre hasn't been doing for years ahead of this film. The acting is good but nothing special. If you want a super easy watch then go for it otherwise I'd maybe skip it. 
  • Blade Runner 2049 - Do I think it's better than the original. I've been thinking about this particular question since I've seen it and after a lot of deliberation I think that I do. It's just visually stunning and the sound design is so intense and well done. It doesn't reiterate things enough to annoy people that have seen the original but they do mention it and explain it enough that new viewers won't become confused. For more of my opinions click here:http://galaxysearcher.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/blade-runner-2049-villeneuve-2017.html
  • The Lego Ninjago Movie - This is a super fun film, even if I do feel as though they're putting less effort in in terms of animation. The script is seriously shining in this one and made me giggle quite a few times. I also loved Dave Franco as a voice actor playing an angsty teen.  
  • Kingsman: The Golden Circle - This movie was truly awful. It appeals to the masses, there were a lot of people laughing like a backing track to a sitcom but me and boyfriend regularly just stared at each other with looks of 'What on earth are we watching?'. We almost left before the film even ended it was so bad. I really don't recommend this, maybe unless you didn't like the humour in the first one because that smart, snarky, British humour is all gone. 
  • The Death of Stalin - It's pretty good, more people should have gone to see it than what did. It is very much a flashback to A-Level history for me but very fun nonetheless. I recommend watching this when it comes out on DVD or pops up on the movie channels, you'll be in for a laugh and a bit of a history lesson (in the best way). 

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Sunday, 15 October 2017

Blade Runner 2049 (Villeneuve, 2017)

  For starters I want to say that I have seen the original in a few of its many forms, and I have really loved it for a while. But oh my gosh this film, the sequel set 30 years after the event of the original film is amazing. Ok, brief synopsis time. As I said previously Blade Runner 2049 is set 30 years after the events of the original film and centres around Blade Runner officer K (Ryan Gosling). It's very much still the world of the original film as K retires replicants from the original batches that were being sent out into the world in the first film. However, the first replicant K 'retires' sets the narrative in motion as it reveals the secrets of the original film.
  This film is an absolute beauty for starters. You should all go see it if you haven't already just to look at the stunning visuals that this film has to offer. For the most part, Star Wars perhaps being the only reboot I'm ok with, I dislike the very idea of reboots and when I heard this was a thing I was somewhat intrigued but also disappointed that they couldn't leave Blade Runner alone. However, I was wrong to have set this way. Blade Runner 2049 is an amazing continuation of the original narrative and does justice to its predecessor but in addition to this it easily stand on its own two feet as a magnificent sci-fi film in its own right. I am conflicted to say the least as to whether I think this is better than the original, I've been thinking about it for over a week and the more I think about it the more I think that I do prefer this one to the original (and I cannot believe I just admitted it). Visually it is just stunning, and I think that is an understatement but I can't think of another word. The music and sound design creates the perfect atmosphere throughout the film and makes the film have an even bigger impact on the viewer. The performances of everyone in the cast are superb especially Ana de Armas, who's character evolves so much and you really get attached to her because of this. I don't think that I can actually explain everything that I love and appreciate about this film through words because I have none.
  Overall, you should go and watch this film because it is an amazing sequel but not only that as it is also an amazing sci-fi film in its own right. It doesn't matter if you have seen the first one or not because they do explain it enough that you won't be confused, but to anyone reading that has seen the original film you do not need to worry either as it isn't explained over and over and make annoyingly clear to those who already know the past narrative. This film is honestly a piece of art and the best reboot to have come out of Hollywood in the last few years!

Rating: 5 out of 5 (duh....)

Thank you very much for reading and I hope you return next week for another blog post talking about all things film and TV related.

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Sunday, 8 October 2017

The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004, Shinkai)

  Review Time! I know I said that this week would be a review but I literally just watched this film and it is perfection in an earthly form so I have decided to push my Disney Favourites instalment back a week so that I can convince you twitch this film because you should!
  In a world where Japan has been separated into two halves by Russia and the US three teenagers want to find out what is going on a tower on the Russian side of the country. As the film progresses time jumps occur (as with every Shinkai film), as the teens plans progress. After a three year jump it is revealed that they haven't seen each other in that time and one of them has seemingly just vanished into thin air.
  The Place Promised in Our Early Days is a sci-fi film with a very strong romance theme running all the way through it (as with every Shinkai film). It isn't your run of the mill science fiction with a hint
of romance. At its core the film is about relationships and how time and distance has an impact on those relationships that mean the world to you one minute and haunt you the next. Shinkai explores this theme in all of his films, he seems to have a deep interest in how relationships dwindle through time and how distance can put a strain on relationships that were previously so strong.
  The animation in this film is much like Shinkai's short film Voices of a Distant Star. It has the same character design which is very much his style unlike the recently released Your Name which is the only one to seemingly have lost this look. The background and settings that Shinkai animates are truly where he shines in an animation perspective, they are simply stunning. They are brightly coloured but not out there or strange. He animates lens flares into these scenes which gives the animation this essence of realness in a world that is so different from our own yet so strangely familiar.
  From style to story this film is breathtaking. The animation will have you wishing that everything was still 2D animated (which to be honest I already do) and the story will pull on your heartstrings just enough to get a few tears out of you. Even if you don't like anime films, or reading subtitles, find a dubbed version because even though this film is set in Japan I think it has the capability to connect with everyone no matter where they are from. The theme of relationships is one that everyone can relate to, and the theme of war and nations fighting for things that aren't truly theres is something so relevant in this day and age that it can't help but resonate with an audience today.

Rating: 5 out 5 (obviously, no?)

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Sunday, 1 October 2017

What Are You Watching? (September, 2017)

Sorry for missing last month, fully blame DisneyLife for that one but this month I am back and have been watching a lot of stuff.

TV
  • Red Oaks (season 2) - A fun second season to accompany the first season. It's a series set in the mid 80's summertime in New Jersey. It follows the character of David Myers, played by Craig Roberts, as he (in this season) figures out what he wants to do with his future after dropping out of NYU. A good, easy watch with relatable characters that are fun and lovable. Obviously watch the first season before you watch this one, it is available on Amazon Prime video (it's an amazon original).
  • Game of thrones (season 7) - Along with most of the world I watch Game of Thrones and of course watched the most recent season. Although I am not without my complaints for this most recent season I still enjoyed watching it and will definitely be tuning in to the final season of the show. 
  • Clean Freak! Aoyama-kun - A very funny anime with lots of chibi scenes about a 'clean freak' who is very talented at soccer. It's quite simple but very enjoyable and just super fun to watch. It's kind of like a jokey version of sports animes, it has the seriousness about Soccer being life but cleanliness tops that in every episode and even in the matches. I would highly recommend this anime if you want an anime that is super easy to watch and you want a good laugh. 
  • Love and Lies - An adorable little anime about true love and forbidden love in a world where your marriage is chosen for you. Honestly, it's just so cute!

 FILM
Thank you so much for reading my post this week, I hope you enjoyed and want to return next week for another instalment in my Disney series. 

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