Movie Review: Jem and the Holograms [Emz]

So I recently watched this film on Netflix. I was aware of the bad reviews and the Box Office flop, but I thought I would give it a go.

The film was released on 23rd October 2015.

This film is based around the animated TV Series Jem that aired between 1985 and 1988.

The film stars: Aubrey Peeples (Nashville) as Jerrica Benton/ Jem, Stephanie Scott (ANT Farm) as Kimber, Hayley Kiyoko (Lemondae Mouth) as Aja, Aurora Perrineau  as Shana and Juliette Lewis as Erica Raymond.

Here is the Synopsis:

As a small-town girl catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a one-in-a-million journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden. In Universal Pictures’ Jem and the Holograms, four aspiring musicians will take the world by storm when they see that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice.

Review:

I surprisingly enjoyed this film. The film is set in present day where Social Media is a big thing. This is different to the TV Series that was set in the 80's.

The songs in this film were very catchy. I liked Hit Me Up and Youngblood. 

The theme of Jem being a mystery in an age where Social Media is huge and there is no place to hide, was a great idea, but could have been worked on a bit more I think.. not quite sure how.

We learn that Jerrica (Jem) and Kmber are sisters who lost their father at a young age. They were raised by their Aunt along with her two foster daughters , Aja and Shana.

Jerrica records herself singing and thinks she has deleted the footage afterwards as she is too shy to even think about uploading it, she even refers to herself as Jem in the Video. 

Her sister Kimber finds that the video had not been deleted and uploads it to YouTube.

The video goes Viral overnight at Jerrica under the name of Jem becomes huge on Social Media.

Jerrica is contacted by Erica Raymond from Starlight Productions and offers Jerrica a record deal. After originally only wanted to sign Jerrica, with alot of pushing from Jerrica she agrees that all the girls can go.

Before Jerrica's debut performance as Jem, the Robot that Jerrica and Kimber's dad supposedly made but didn't finish, activates during their first night in LA since they were children. it leads them around LA finding the missing pieces to put in the Robot known as 51N3RG.Y (Synergy.)

During her time in L.A. Jerrica learns that her aunts house is going to be taken from her and determined to help she asks Erica for her first payment in advance so she can help her Aunt. The only trouble is that Erica persuades her to continue with her Sisters.

This is a scene that has been replicated thousands of times in movies, not exactly the same but a similar idea.

Eventually things do come together and they reunite for their last performance. Jerrica finds that the earrings she was given by her father  were the last piece to getting Syngery to work. inside was a hidden message from her father telling her that she was his best invention and tells her how much he loves her.

 The film ends with Erica being fired and her Son taking control of the company. Followed by their next performance where get named Jem and The Holograms.

The mid credits scene introduces a rival band that Erica dropped years ago called The Misfits. As, she is out to get revenge she teams up with them. The leader of the band is called Pizzazz and is portrayed by Kesha.

There were Cameo scene from a few Orignal Cast members but it would have been nice for that to have been expanded a little more.

I enjoyed the song and parts of the storyline but there was alot I wasn't so keen on. There was alot of 'fans' shown during songs and after songs and some bits made it very corny. I feel that things were solved too quickly and there was much more that could have been shown. That being said I would listen to the songs over and over again.

The 80's theme from the cartoon was very present in the girls choice of wardrobe but only at the beginning, I felt they were modernized when they were styled in LA, It would be been nice to see a little more 80's glam.

At the end of  the day This was teenage film and although fans of the original Jem cartoon were disappointed (from what I read), it still works even if you have never heard of it before.

Thats all for now, till next time

Emz x

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DVD Review: Disney's Descendants [Emz]

So I first watched this film last year. It originally aired in 2015 on Disney channel, but I don't have that station. 

The story is set 20 years after "Beauty & the Beast." All the villains are transported onto a non-magical island Known as the Isle Of The Lost and all the Kingdoms came together under Belle and The Beast to create the United states of Auradon.

We pick up with the children of both the "heroes" and "villians." 

Here is the Synopsis:

Ben, the teenaged son of King Beast and Queen Belle, invites the exiled children of defeated villains to attend a prep school with the heroes' children.

Review:

So this film keeps the theme of most Disney films.. it's musical!

So the film opens with Narration from one of the Villain kids and then we meet Prince Ben, Son of Belle and The Beast, he is soon to become King and has chosen his first proclamation. For Kids from the Isle of The Lost to be given a chance to live in Auradon. 

The kids he picked are Mal, daughter of Maleficent (Dove Cameron), Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen (Sofia Carson), Carlos, son of Cruella DeVil (Cameron Boyce) and Jay, son of Jafar (Booboo Stewart).

All these characters are trying to carry on their parents legacy. Where Maleficent (Kristen Chenoweth) is the leader on the Isle, Mal is the leader of the Villain kids (VK's)

So once in Auradon, the kids try to steal Fairy godmothers magic wand, as per Maleficent request. This doesn't go to plan and the kids escape luckily before being caught.

I liked the way the kids tried to fit in even though they were having to do Maleficent bidding. 

Mal puts a love spell on Ben and he falls for her immediately, he invites her on a date and goes swimming in the Enchanted lake. Mal is torn between trying to have a normal life in Auradon or going back to the Isle after stealing the wand.

After parents day goes horribly wrong for Mal after being introduced to Aurora's mother by her granddaughter (she didn't know who she was originally) a majority of the kids of Auradon gang up on Mal and the other VK's and make them unwelcome.

On the way to Ben's coronation Mal give Ben a chocolate which contains the anti love spell. Ben eats it but admits to Mal that her spell washed off in the Enchanted Lake.

At Ben's Coronation, Fairy Godmother's daughter Jane, feeling insecure and out of place (also after being manipulated by Mal) grabs her mothers wand and unknowingly makes a hole in the barrier around the Isle. Maleficent escapes the Isle, and before she arrives in Auradon the VK's have decided that they do not want to be evil and choose good. 

Maleficent arrives and the VK's (mainly Mal) fight against her and she ends up turning into a tiny Lizard according to Fairy godmother the size of the love in her heart.

The films ends with the party after the coronation.

I enjoyed this film alot. I had wondered for a long time what would the kids of the Disney Prices and Princess be like and also what would the kids of the Villains be like. This fulfilled my imagination. I may be alot older than the fan base for this film but I enjoyed it all the same. It wasn't too cheesy and was very enjoyable.

Til next time

Emz x

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DVD Review: Wonder Woman [Emz]

I recently purchased this DVD a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed this film when I sawe it at the Cinema and couldn't wait to see it again.

The film stars Chris Pine and Gal Gadot.

Here is the synopsis of the film:

Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.

Review:

This film was brilliant. I enjoyed the way Gal Gadot portrayed Diana (Wonder Woman) as a member of the amazons at the beginning, being naive to the world outside. The way she didn't understand the way people lived and dressed, her mind was only focused on one thing.

Of course when Chirs Pines character of Steve, an american Pilot comes crashing through the barrier between the amazons home and the outside world everything changes.

Diana's character seems to grow throughout the film, becoming aware of things around her but still set on one important mission.

Of course not everything goes to plan and just as she thinks she has succeeded in her mission, she suddenly realizes that her mission hasn't been completed and the battle is just about to begin.

The fact that the story is set during World War 1 makes the tale more interesting, looking back into the past and the way this story works around alongside the war and doesn't overlook it completely. 

We realize that the Diana that we meet in Batman V Superman as been around quite some time and has become accustomed to how people live.

I enjoyed this film immensely and feel that a female hero (origins story) is what is currently lacking in Marvel until 2019 (Captain Marvel) and that DC has pulled this film off very well.

There is supposed to be a sequel being released in 2019, where this film will fall in Diana's timeline i'm not sure but it will be interesting to see.

I look forward to seeing Justice League from the 17th November.

Till next time

Emz x

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Rodger and Hammerstein's The king and I (Zee Tay film review)

Film: The King and I
Year:1956
Director: Darryl F. Zanuck
Starring: Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner,  Rita Moreno, Martin Benson,  Terry Saunders, and Rex Thompson.

The King and I is set in the 19th century Siam which follows the story of a female English teacher Anna and her Son traveling to Siam to teach The King's children. It shows the relationship growing between them. But with a king who unwilling to change for the better, will Anna be able to convince him what right from wrong or will His unwillingness to change drive Anna back home to England.

This is one of the few classic I grew up watching, from a young age, and every time I watch it I always see something different in the movies.

This story now I am a 21 year old has a strong massive, that even though we are in the 21st century, there are still a few country very much like one of Siam in 1863.

Of a women in that time Anna was very brave to travel alone and entering one of which is Siam, but like the the opening song about whistling and you won't be afraid, has a great message about trying to not be afraid and face your fears.

It very educational Musical, that I totally recommend watching. The age group I would say would be 8+ as there is one scene which I feel any younger won't understand near the end.

Overall I give the movie a 5/5 stars.

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Movie Review: American Assasin [Emz]

So I recently saw this at the cinema. I didn't realize it was an 18 until the movie began, but that didn't matter. The film stars Dylan O'Brien, Michael Keaton & Taylor Kitch, to name but a few.

Dylan O'Brien is best known.. well to me anyway in The Maze Runner series. He has also been starring in Teen Wolf.

Here is the synopsis of the story:

When Cold War veteran Stan Hurley takes CIA black ops recruit Mitch Rapp under his wing, they receive an assignment to investigate a wave of random attacks on both military and civilian targets. After discovering a pattern of violence, Hurley and Rapp join forces with a lethal Turkish agent to stop a mysterious operative who wants to start a global war.

Review:

Even though the beginning was very brutal, I enjoyed this film. 

Just to make it clear I saw this film last Wednesday (27th September) before the attacks in Las Vegas and my heart goes out to everyone affected.

So in this film,  Dylan O'Brien's character of Mitch is trying to take down a Terrorist cell single-handedly after his fiance was murdered by them whilst they were on Holiday. 

He gets recruited by the CIA for Black Ops and i is trained by Michael Keaton's character Hurley, of course he is a loose cannon right from the beginning but he completes his training.

Turns out there is more to Hurley than meets the eye as the mastermind behind the mission they are training for is a previous recruit trained by Hurley (Taylor Kitch) 

The fact that Mitch kept doing his own thing instead of completely following orders made this movie much more interesting. Of course he was still trying to complete the mission, just finding a different way of doing so.

I enjoyed the film and the way it ended, but hopefully there wont be a sequel as some films should just stand on there own.

Till next time

Emz x

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Movie Review: Tomorrowland [Emz]

I really like this film. But it took me a while to see the very end, I had to leave the cinema before the end as I had made other plans and they overlapped each other.

This has that Disney vibe to it (which is just as well as its made by Disney) 

The film stars George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie.

Here is the Premise:

A former boy genius (George Clooney) and gifted teenager (Britt Robertson) set out on a dangerous mission to unearth the secrets of "Tomorrowland", an enigmatic location caught between time and space.

Review

I loved this film. Once i got to see the film to the very end it all tied together. The way they created another world and we get a glimpse of what it looks like before things get a lot worse.

It was strange seeing George Clooney in this film but I liked the character and the way we first meet him when he was younger. Also the way we meet Britt's character. Both characters are very creative and inventive.

I liked the concept of giving the kids a taster of Tomorrowland before they go. We see this with Casey (Britt Robertson) it's very  funny to watch though as she ends up in a huge lake.

This a film for many ages groups and is definitely one to watch.

That's all for now.

Till next time

Emz x

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Ella enchanted (Zee Tay Post)

Film: Ella enchanted
Year: 2004
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jim Carter, Hugh Dancy,  Minnie Driver, Aidan McArdle, Parminder Nagra,
Plot: Anne Hathaway From the princess Diaries, is Ella in the charming fairytale adventure of Ella enchanted. At birth Ella's fairy godmother gave her the gift of obedience. Which is a curse as Ella has to do what ever she been asked to do even if it bad. So she chose to set of to return then gift. This simple task turns into an amazing adventure filled with ogres, giant, wicked stepsister and the handsome princes evil uncle.

Review

Ella enchanted is a fill good movie that all the family can sit down and enjoy. There are places where you can tell that they CGI as they are not amazing, but in all fairness for a 2004 film where some CGI techniques was still new. So I guess for that year it was about average.

The overall story line was lovely about understanding how lucky we are to be able to choose in what wrong and right as there are some people in the world who not as free in doing what they want to do.

It about listening to your heart, as there are times where your heart might say something stupid but in reality you know in your mind that your heart is right.

Overall I give this film a 4/5 stars.

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DVD Review: Hidden Figures [Emz]

So I first saw this film at the cinema and I absolutely loved it. I now have it on DVD and thought I would review the film.

Here is the premise:

Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) -- serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.

Review:

I loved this film. With it being based of a true story and set in a time where you were segregated because of your skin colour. In other words Racism was the norm. These three women were brilliant in their own way and all of them has skills that could equal or outsmart the men at NASA. They fought hard to get what they deserved and it was moving to see all the struggles they went through to get there.

I would recommend this film to anyone. 

That's it for now

Till next time

Emz x

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Reviews to come #1 [Emz]

So this is not an actual review, but a post to tell you what reviews I will be posting in the next week or so.

1. Nashville Season 1 - DVD Review

So I have watched the first 2 seasons of this and am currently in the middle of watching Season 3, so I will be posting a review on Season 1 soon.

2. Strike: The Cuckoo's Calling - TV Review

I am currently watching this on BBC One. I am awaiting the final episode of Series 1 on Sunday night. I am really liking the storyline and the actors really bring the characters to life. 

I will post my review next week after the last episode.

3. Atomic Blonde - Movie Review

I am going to see this film on Saturday so I will be reviewing it after then.

The film looks really good, I was a clip last week before watching The Hitman's Bodyguard.

So these are the main ones I will be reviewing but I will post other bits in the meantime.

Till then 

Emz x

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Movie Review:The Hitman's Bodyguard [Emz]

I finally got to see this film on Saturday and really enjoyed it.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson.

Here is the premise:

The world's top protection agent is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world's most notorious hit men. The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their journey from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator who is out for blood.

Review:

To be honest I needed a good laugh along with the action and that is what I got. Reynold's character is a Protection Agent who after the death of a Client loses his top ranking status. 

Following this a Hitman (Jackson) is being taken to Brussles to the Hague to give evidence in a case against an evil European Dictator. 

Reynold's Character ends up protecting him after an Interpol Agent discovers a leak within the agency.

So they end up travelling from the UK to Brussels via The Netherlands and they are being pursued every step of the way.

The funny thing I found was, after just finishing watching Marvel's The Defenders, who should pop up in this film but the Actress who played Elektra, Élodie Yung.

The film also starred Gary Oldman as Vladislav Dukhovich, a merciless dictator of Belarus, Salma Hayek as Sonia Kincaid and Richard E. Grant as Seifert.

I would recommend this film as the cast are brilliant and all the funny bits link in to the action also. By the end of it I was no longer picturing Deadpool and Nick Fury.

Hope you enjoyed the review.

If you have seen this film, let me know what you thought.

Till next time

Emz x

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Walking on Sunshine (zee tay review)

     

Walking on Sunshine
Year: 2014
Cast: Giulio Berruti, Hannah Arterton, Annabel Scholey, Leona Lewis, Greg Wise.

Plot:

When Maddie brought her sister Taylor to Apulia in Italy after she advice her into go there 5 weeks earlier after one of her worse breaks up with Dough. She thought that she going to relax and great no man. To be surprised at the fact that her sister brought her over because she was getting married to Taylor old flame Raf. Will there still be a spark or will this be no "holiday"?

Review:

Walking on Sunshine is one of those feels good movies that is cheesy but a good cheesy. Out of all the jukebox musical there is on film. This is among my favorite as most the cast can sing.

However Giulio Berruti, he can just can carry a tone, I think the mainly got him, because of his Italian looks, he looks amazing, and his Italian, I assume it is but how can I tell. I'm not Italian or speak it.

Dispute this one slight let down, I really like the songs they choose as it helped to bring the story along and all the songs are well known, so all ages are able to sing along to " girls just want to have fun" to "wake me up before you go-go"

My favorite character is Tiziana, as she seems grumpy at first, but at the movie goes on, the more wild she gets, till one shot in "white wedding" where she was on the beach with two man laying down... Well you can fill in the rest.

Rating

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Movie Review: Suffragette [Emz]

I went to see this film at the cinema not long after it was released. I teared up many times throughout the film and it reminded me how lucky we are as women that we are in good strong job and we are able to vote.

Meryl Streep, Carey Muulligan and Helena Bonham-Carter are all brilliant in the film.

Here is the Premise:

In early 20th-century Britain, the growing suffragette movement forever changes the life of working wife and mother Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan). Galvanized by political activist Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep), Watts joins a diverse group of women who fight for equality and the right to vote. Faced with increasing police action, Maud and her dedicated suffragettes must play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, risking their jobs, homes, family and lives for a just cause.

Review:

This film was the most emotional film I had seen for a while. With it being based around the true story of the Suffragette movement and all they wanted was the right to Vote and men thought that was a ridiculous idea. they were in prison multiple times, they starved themselves in protest and one was killed after being trampled by a horse.

The main character lost her son through the process as he was adopted. 

I will never take for grated the right to vote as so many women worked so hard to make sure we had that write.

I can't even begin to rate this film as it is so powerful and emotional. If you haven't seen, but want to, I would say go for it.

Hoe you enjoyed this review.

If you have see this film, what was your opinion?

Till next time

Emz x

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Movie Review: Veronica Mars [Emz]

So Veronica Mars... I absolutely loved the series. I was really sad when the show ended after season 3. But when it was decided to plan a movie with money from fans through Kickstarter, I was over the moon.

The film was released on the 14th March 2014.

Here is the Plot summary:

With her graduation from law school imminent, Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) is interviewing with prestigious New York law firms when she gets a call from ex-boyfriend Logan (Jason Dohring), who has been accused of murder. Veronica returns to Neptune to help Logan find a good defense attorney, but when she becomes suspicious of the way Logan's case is being handled, she finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind: that of an amateur sleuth.

Review:

 So where I live the film wasn't released at the cinema but I watch through my Virgin TV (On Demand)

So the story doesn't pick up straight after the end of the series as the actors are all a lot older, so the story pick up 9 years later.

With Veronica about to enter an job interview with a Law firm, she find out that her ex-boyfriend Logan is being accused of murdering his girlfriend.

If any one knows Veronica she can't stay out of detective work for long.

I really enjoyed seeing what had happened to the characters since the show had ended and how Veronica had tried to change her career.

Obviously she han't changed that much as she is still her sarcastic and snarky self. It was also great to see how her friends had grown as well.

I love this film and would happily watch it over and over again.

I would very happily give this film 10/10

 Till next time

Emz x 

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What i'm excited for - Movie edition #1 [Emz]

I though as I has posted about what i'm currently looking forward to on TV i'd post about movies also.

Now this film looks so funny. As it says above it is called The Hitman's Bodyguard.

The film features Ryan Reynolds as the Bodyguard and Samuel L. Jackson as the Hitman. Although when I see this I just picture Deadpool and Nick Fury (Marvel Reference haha) 

The film also stars Gary Oldman, Salma Hayek and Richard E. Grant. 

In the trailer it clearly shows that Samuel L. Jackson's character is not keen at call on having a Bodyguard, probably as he is a Hitman and he usually works for other people not the other way around.

Here is the Synopsis:

A special protection agent (Ryan Reynolds) is tasked with guarding the life of his mortal enemy, who is one of the world's most notorious hitmen (Samuel L. Jackson), and taking him from the United Kingdom to the International Court of Justice. On their way, they are on high-speed car chases and boat escapes as deadly assassins are pursuing them and they are forced to work together in order to defeat a ruthless, powerful and bloodthirsty Eastern European dictator (Gary Oldman).

Ok... so that explains a lot.

Anyway I am super excited to see this next weekend (26th August) for my birthday.

Fingers crossed it's as funny as it looks.

It is released on the 18th August.

Let me know if you watch it and let me know what you think.

Till next time

Emz x

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