Men in Black 3?!

Okay yeah so sorry I haven't blogged in aaaaaggggeesss.
A Levels are taking up all my time...!

Anyway, I just watched a trailer for Men in Black 3... coming to us in May 2012!

Trailer:

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409024/

So yeah, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back!
It seems 'Agent J' (Will Smith) has found a device which takes him to the past and the future, this surely sets a crazy, adventurous storyline for the whole film as he tries to find his way back to his own time.
Typical that this movie would be made again, America tends to release sequels from previously successful films.
Looks fab and totally different to what they usually do.
I love the idea of a young 'Agent K' - shall be awesome.
Hope it's not rubbish when it comes out...!!

3D IS BAD.

Read this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/nov/11/cinema-3d-video-on-demand?CMP=twt_fd

I picked this link up from someone on twitter, so i can't claim credit for finding it myself, but reading through it, it is all TRUE.
I personally HATE 3D films and i feel it is the real killer of the cinema.
That and the ticket prices and the fact people chew their popcorn really loudly :/

anyways, interesting read!

Pans Labyrinth

A truly beautifully dark and magical film.

Ofelia is a young girl with a large imagination, who loves to read her fantasy books. She escapes to an eerie but fascinating fantasty world, where the creatures in this world believe her to be the lost soul of the King's daughter, Princess Moanna.
She is set three tasks and must complete them before the full moon.
These tasks test her courage and strength and takes her to a completely different world, which she adjusts to perfectly.

I won't spoil the ending, but it is so tragic and dark, but so so beautiful. A perfect ending.

What i love most about this film is the fact that there are two completely different, opposite worlds, but each world has its own problems within them.
I also love the imagination used to create the strange creatures.
You can see a tv series such as doctor who would get ALOT of inspirtation from a film like this.

5 star rating.
loved it!

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/

Deep Stuff...

A while ago i posted a link on here that was an interview with Corey Feldman about Pedophilia being a huge problem for Child Stars.

I was discussing this horrific information with two friends in my AS Media Studies class.

I was talking about how i think that a special charity should be set up in order to protect children going into the show business from pedophilia.
It would be a worthwhile thing that could help kids everywhere who are trying to make it in the world as famous actors.

Heres the link again: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/corey-feldman-pedophilia-problem-child-actors-contributed-demise/story?id=14256781

Perhaps things are different in this day and age, but how can we be sure of that?

Planet of the Apes (Tim Burton 2001)

One of Tim Burton's best i think.
Particularly want to focus on the amazing make up for this film.
The make up artisits must have spent hours and hours adapting the look of an ape to bring subtle human aspects to it.
Brilliant work.
Love Helena Bonham Carter in it. She is good in every Burton film though.
The setting of the sort of community the apes live in is very Tim Burton. Not as quirky and as good as his previous work though. This might be just because this is a proper sci-fi film which can be a little different to Burton's main style of fantasy and the unusual.

Brilliant Protagonist in this film; Capt. Leo Davidson, played by Mark Wahlberg (a fine action/adventure actor to have in this film) I don't think anyone else could've played this character better than Wahlberg (controversial...)

I also just love the whole storyline. Especially the ending where it dawns on Capt. Davidson that he was on earth and it was completely taken over by apes.

This is of course a remake of the 1968 Plant of the Apes.
I am yet to see the original actually! I cannot wait to see it though. But this is an excellent Tim Burton film!

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133152/

Leon and No Country for Old Men

Will be watching LEON and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN this weekend!
Review shall follow possibly the monday/tuesday. keep a look out!

IMDb (Leon) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110413/
IMDb (No Country for Old Men) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477348/

I'm particularly looking forward to No Country for Old Men. Particularly because it is a film made because of the novel by Cormac McCarthy.

Dude where's my car?! (quick response)

THIS FILM IS EPIC.
again, my boyfriend was shocked that i had not seen this film (i actually feel quite disgusted with myself that i had not seen it before)

It's a film full of silly, funny hilarity.
You come away with from this film with the famous catch phrase 'dude where's my car?' in your head forever.

Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scoot play two loveable, but very dense party animals, Jesse and Chester.
They find themselves in horrific and hilarious situations whilst on a quest to find their car.

Such random stuff just happens that is totally out of this world (literally)
a film for people who generally like comedy and don't tend to take life too seriously...

IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0242423/

Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy

This is a brilliant film, but you REALLY have to concentrate on it!
The beginning is quite slow, but if you stick with it, i promise you won't regret it!!
There are a few time jumps which could throw people off, but personally i found it quite easy to follow as did my friend, who i saw this film with!

The British Cast is AWESOME. It is the best possible British Cast you could get what with Colin Firth, John Hurt and Gary Oldman.

Oldman really plays his character 'Smiley' well. it is like an oxymoron as the character Smiley is the least smiley person you could get.

The way the mole was revealed was brilliant and cleverly devised.
I also love the code names for them (hence where the 'Tinker, Tailer, Soldier' bit of the name of the film comes from)

If you love the narrative of films and a good British Cast, WATCH THIS.

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/

Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy

Shall be watching this tomorrow night.
Will review afterwards.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/

Pulp Fiction (quick response)

Watched this with my friend last night.
AMAZING film.
You can really tell that Quentin Tarantino has been influenced by European directors as the film is in a random order and doesn't stick to one time line, it jumps back and forth from the past to the future.

Pulp Fiction has to be one of the best films Tarantino has made, even before Kill Bill.
Amazing actors in this film; John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis and Tim Roth. They all played their gangster/druggie characters really well.

I love how Tarantino splits his films into chapters and he does this again in this film.

This film will also have you laughing. alot.

Narrative = WIN.

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/

Kind Hearts and Coronets

PLEASE! Do not be put off by the fact this is a black and white film!
Kind Hearts and Coronets was released from Ealing Studios in 1949.
This is a comical story following a man called Louis Mazzini, who murders people in his family tree in order to inherit the fortune he deserves.
Alex Guinness (starwars) played all 8 victims of Mazzini and portrayed each character brilliantly, especially the character, Lady Agatha ;) Each murder was so silly and some unexpected! Some deaths include; poison, a fall down the waterfall and an arrow bursting a hotair balloon...

A huge twist at the end of the film will leave the audience coming up with their own resolution to the film. (i won't spoil the twist. It's hard to explain, it's something you have to see for yourself)

For the time period it was made in, it is really well done!
I deffo recommend this film! Thank you to my friend for introducing it to me! It really cracked me up :')

If you are in for a laugh and really into the narrative of films, you should deffo watch this. Remember, don't be put off by the film being in black and white!

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041546/

(also in the crowd scene at the end, apparently my friend knows someone who was in the crowd scene while it was being filmed... hmmm...)

Interesting Read/Watch. So wrong though :(

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/corey-feldman-pedophilia-problem-child-actors-contributed-demise/story?id=14256781

Submarine

This is a typical British Film, where it moves at quite a slow pace, there are no big special effects, but the narrative is brilliant.
Most people don't like this film either because they don't find it funny enough (clearly they do not share the same sense of humour as me) and because it moves at a slow pace.
I don't mind the film moving at a slow pace, in fact i think it makes the film better. It's not like those big hollywood films where it's all action packed and exciting. This film is simple and flows quite easily, as long as you're completely into the plot of the film.

The film is following the life of Oliver Tate, a teenage boy who is trying to fix his parents' marriage and trying to get a girl to sleep with him.

It's a feel good, funny film and i love it.

For Craig Roberts (Oliver Tate) this is a huge step up for him from previous acting jobs he's had such as 'Young Dracula' and 'Tracey Beaker'
This film has made him now a legend and no doubt we'll probably see more of him!
His interpretation of awkward character, Oliver Tate is brilliant and for someone as young as he is, his acting skills was brilliant.

This film is also of course the first film Richard Ayoade (Moss from IT crowd) has directed.
Ayoade is quite an awkward character, like Oliver Tate and his take on this film is truly brilliant, fresh and unique.

Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) made all the music for this film, which really suited the atmosphere of the film.
It made sense for Alex Turner to do the music for this film as Richard Ayoade had previously directed music videos for the Arctic Monkeys.

Deffo watch this film if you're really into the music and narrative of films. it is a hit!

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440292/

Support your Cinema!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15092801

Sadly, this is quite true.
The Dark Knight and Sherlock Holmes i think will be huge successes, despite the fact they will be released during the Olympics and various other exciting events during 2012

Never Let Me Go

Why is that the name of the film? BECAUSE IT IS THE LYRICS OF THE SONG THAT IS PLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE FILM.

^ wasn't meant to sound so angry there, sorry.

anyway!
LOVE this film. I remember when i first saw this film as it was a sort of last minute, impulsive decision to go and see this film with my friend.
We saw it quite late at night, which i think is the best time of day to see it.

It is so sad.
Again, failed to make me cry.
But i felt really depressed after watching it...
This is based on the novel, never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
The books is truly amazing, i recommend it! Although it seems to be in a weird order at first. But if you think of it this way; she is looking BACK at her life, which is why things may be in a strange order.
There is always that horrible worry that films will ruin the book. Luckily, this film didn't ruin the book at all!

The film is narrated by 28 year old, Kathy H.
She looks back at her life, growing up in a school called Hailsham and a place called the Cottages, with her two friends, Ruth and Tommy.
Kathy, Ruth, Tommy and all the other kids they know, all only have one purpose in life. And that is to donate their vital organs to their 'possibles' when they are in their early 20s.
This will enable their 'possibles' to live beyong 100 years, but for them it means an early death.
Kathy, Ruth, Tommy and others like them are feared as they are not considered human and they are considered not to have souls.
This is an epic love story and a story which questions humanity as the audience watch these 3 friends grow up together, not quite understanding their role in the world.
To see if they have souls at all, they must give in artwork or poetry to 'the gallery' where their teachers study them.
Kathy and Tommy seem to be in love from a young age, however Ruth and Tommy start a relationship, leaving Kathy as the third wheel.
For years, Ruth keeps Tommy and Kathy apart, until Kathy can take no more of it and applies to be a carer for organ donors at 18 years old.
She leaves the cottages and Ruth and Tommy to persue this intention to become a carer.
She ends up caring for 9 years, when she comes across Ruth again by chance, who has had two donations. Ruth attempts to correct her actions and brings Kathy and Tommy back together.
Ruth then completes (dies) on her third donation.
Kathy and Tommy then decide to apply for a 'deferal' to see if they can get a couple of years to be together, before donating. They visit their old teacher in order to apply, but learn that there was no such thing as a deferal and it was all a rumour.
The scene that comes after this is so heartbreaking and beautiful. Tommy has a melt down and in the dark, in the middle of nowhere he screams with agony at how he can't be with the girl he loves for a longer period of time. It's like a piece of him was snapped in half when he was told deferrals weren't real. In this scene, Kathy clings to him and they both break down together in each others arms.
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SCENE AND IT DIDN'T MAKE ME CRY?!?!?!?!?!!
(again, i'm emotionally dead)
Anyway, the film goes back to 28 year old Kathy in the present day, when she's lost Tommy and she's received her notice to begin her first donation. It is such a sad scene at the end. The words she says at the end is so beautiful and tragically true.

This film truly makes you question humanity.
If this medical breakthrough was real, would we give it up to keep these people alive?
Would we want to go back to horrible illnesses and die at a younger age than 100?

Actors:
 Kathy - Carey Mulligan > Was phenominal as Kathy. Really made the character her own and portrayed her in a brilliant way. Particularly brilliant in the emotional scenes.
 Tommy - Andrew Garfield > Can REALLY scream! But again, in the emotional scenes he was so moving and his performance was powerful!
 Ruth - Kiera Knightley > Kiera Knightley is a brilliant British Actress and very well known. She also was brilliant in this film and she played her charater very well as her character is key in making the audience question humanity.

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/

127 Hours... it's like Marmite, you love it or you hate it.

Personally, i love it.
I love Danny Boyle! He's directed successful films such as Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Days Later.
In 2010, Boyle directed 127 Hours; a film based on a true story of Aron Ralston, a mountain climber, who got his arm crushed by a boulder. He was stuck in the canyon for 6 days (or 5 and a half precisely) as his arm was trapped by the boulder.
To get out of this situation, Ralston actually cut his own arm off in order to have some sort of a chance at surviving.

This is truly an inspirational story and so of course, it was made into a film!
My favourite part of the film (don't take this the wrong way) was when he actually cuts off his arm. I like the way Boyle expressed how painful it was to cut through the nerves, using a clashing of flat notes from instruments. It makes you cringe when you hear it, just like you would with the pain of cutting through your nerves... (duh!)

What i also love about it is the hallucinations he has throughout the film due to the lack of water and food.
I also like the fact he looks back at his life and how he wishes he did things differently. I don't think many of us would like to admit it, but if any of us were in that position, i think we'd all look back at significant moments in our lives and wish to either relive them or change them.

I also like the fact there is an inflatable Scooby... (hi i'm mentally 5)

At the end of the film there is quite dark humour.
To explain this humour, i'll have to take you back to the beginning of the film.
Aron Ralston didn't tell ANYONE where he was going, hence why there were no people looking for him.
So of course he really kicks himself in the film for not telling anyone where he was going and basically signing his own death certificate.
But of course once he is free he goes on living life and at the end of the film, there is this one single line that brings a smile to your face;
Aron now makes it a point to leave a note whenever he goes anywhere alone.

(i think that's what it says... can't really remember, but it's brilliant!)

Many people don't think much of the film because it is very graphic. Also some people just don't like blood and gore! There was also issues of people who actually fainted while watching 127 hours because of the horrific scences of him cutting his arm off.
For me, it's what makes the film real, brutal and honest.

I think it is worth a watch, if you are into films with a strong, moving and inspirational narrative (or if you like blood)

More info on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/

Kind Hearts and Coronets

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi93389081/

My friend is lending me this film.
Can't wait to see it!

Might review... not sure.

RANT: X Men

I'm about to rant. I'm sorry.

I'm going to look at this at how the x men saga flows CHRONOLOGICALLY and not specifically when each movie came out.
So, to start with, baaaaccckkk in timmeee, when charles xavier first became aware of his mutant powers...

X MEN: FIRST CLASS - This film is very historically inaccurate concerning the cuban missile crisis. but that's not what i'm going to talk about. This film shows HOW charles xavier becomes paralysed; his so called friend shot him in the back. HOWEVER MANY YEARS LATER...

X MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE - Charles Xavier is shown briefly towards the end of the film AND HE IS WALKING?!?! when he SHOULD be in a wheelchair cos thats what happened in X Men First Class!!!!
This then goes onto the THIRD FILM...

X Men: Last Stand - where you look back at the past to when Charles Xavier meets Jean Grey AND AGAIN HE IS WALKING, WHEN HE SHOULDN'T BE!!!!!!!!

The continuity problems concerning the timeline of the plot to x men is completely wrong.

Xavier couldn't walk, then suddenly years later as an older man, he could?!
What is this?!?!?!?!!

It annoyed me when i saw X Men First Class.
But it was a bloody good film.

Social Drama Films

I really want to get into more social drama films. They're gritty and honest and entirely focused on the narrative. no special effects and none of it comes out in bloody 3D (should mention i'm not a fan of 3D)

Found this website. Really interesting! Would love to get involved in one of their projects one day!

http://socialfilmdrama.com/home/

Reviews

Shall be reviewing 127 Hours and Never Let Me Go soon.

The Road

I watched The Road earlier on blueray.
It was so beautifully done and the actors were phenomenal.
The mise en scene was spectacular; the use of location and the props and settings really conveyed how disastrous the world had become.
This film is an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, "The Road" and the novel questions humanity and makes the audience think about what they would do if they were in the same situation.
The film really brought the novel to life.
Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee really played their characters of The Man and Boy amazingly and i honestly believe no one else could have done a better job.
Lots of long shots were used in order to take in the scenery, so the audience could take in how much the world had changed due to apocalyptic events.
Close ups of the actors' face were used to their emotions through facial expressions.
The costumes for the characters fitted with the whole mise en scene as they were wearing old, raggedy clothes that were over sized and dirty.
The make up too was realistic and well done; the over grown, dirty hair and dirty hands and faces, to show the man and the boy living in extreme conditions.

This is truly a beautiful film and worth a watch.
Just have ice cream and chocolate with you as it WILL depress you...
sadly, it failed to make me cry.
Maybe i am emotionally dead/heartless.
one day i shall see a film and it WILL make me cry!!

Here is more info from IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/

that's a lie

I'm gonna post it now...
ENJOY.
(probs won't mean much to anyone as people who see this may not know Alex...)

So..

So honestly i'm quite drunk at the moment. Just got back from a party i organised for my friend cos she finished swimming 143 miles for charity!

So i shall upload the video i did for her on here soon =]

I AM A TECHNICAL GENIUS

So yesterday after three attempts, I managed to burn a film of mine onto a disc! RESULT.
Had to download a special type of software, but it didn't take too long!

Will post the video on here soon when i've bothered to upload it to youtube!

What's this?! Ursula has made another video?!

So yeah made a film for my psychology class. Not very good cos we decided to make it more comical than informative...
I'm the one with the blue and white stripey jumper by the way!

This is on the Meevs and Raaij study of obedience.
If you don't understand the video, google them!

IMBd (The Internet Movie Database)

Seriously, where would we all be without this site?!?!

Breaking Dawn





okay, i REALLY don't want to admit this, but this trailer actually makes the movie look pretty good.
I think everyone can agree the first 3 Twilight films were an abomination.
Personally, i didn't like the book, Breaking Dawn, because it took WAY too long for something to actually happen!!
However the Breaking Dawn film has been split into 2 parts, so hopefully the film doesn't make the book seem dull.

I think they've managed to capture how weak and fragile Bella is when she is pregnant really well and everything looks very well done. Even the acting didn't make me cringe!!
And the most exciting thing about this trailer is that KRISTEN STEWART ACTUALLY SMILES!!
I've never seen her smile before. She always looks moody or gormless.

This is out the day before my birthday so hopefully i'll be seeing it with a few friends of mine and i'll post about my thoughts on it, afterwards!

Check out the other videos for Breaking Dawn on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1324999/

Oops...

Okay i lied. Didn't take any location shots today.
Been extremely busy today. Was in town for the better part of the day and then i came home to a HUGE amount of work to do.

I'm working on another video at the moment. It won't be finished till Friday latest i think so won't be able to post it till then.

Location Shots

Will hopefully be doing some location shots today/tomorrow for my film and post them on here.

I have a meeting on Thursday with all the people who are in my film, whether that be as an actor or 'crew' member.
I shall post a detailed record of what happened during that meeting on Thursday and i'm going to post pictures of the actors involved!!

New Software I Might be Using for my Film!

http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html

The Inbetweeners. Quick Review!

This movie really was a success. When it first came out i was quite worried it would be like one of those annoying tv shows that try to make it in the cinema, but just fails completely and ruins the tv show FOREVER.

So i wasn't particularly bothered about seeing The Inbetweeners when it first came out because i figured it would be crap. But the response it got from the media and from my friends was amazing. So finally i went to see it.

Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison really went all out to bring their characters fully to life.

It was a classic British comedy - where you just cringe at EVERYTHING they do, whereas in America it's more deliberate and predictable comedy.

It was excellently directed by Ben Palmer and of course cleverly written by the original two writers of the Inbetweeners; Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. What i love about the writers is that they draw from personal life experiences and place these events in the lives of these 4 characters, Jay, Neil, Simon and Will. Everything goes wrong for these characters, but it's BELIEVABLE stuff and it's things that DO actually happen in real life, whereas in other films the storyline can be completely ridiculous and it's stuff that is funny to watch, but it just wouldn't happen in real life, therefore isn't believable.

Truly a brilliant film, i recommend to people to watch it, especially teenagers to people in their late 20s.

One piece of advise... I went to see it with my father and it was the most awkward thing ever. DO NOT SEE IT WITH YOUR PARENTS.

Richard Ayoade directed this music video for Kasabian.

I love Noel Fielding in this. Also just love the whole film concept.

I hope to film a music video for a great band like Kasabian one day!!



This is going to be an amazing film i think!!!
I think it's being shown at the Cambridge Film Festival this evening. SO wish i was there!!

Location Photos

Will add photos of locations i'm using for my film soon!

Inbetweeners still at the top!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14897494

The inbetweeners has not only over taken Harry Potter at the top of the box office, it has even taken over the new film; friends with benefits, starring Justin Timberlake.

The amount of marketing and interviews for Friends with Benefits has increased, in order for the film to get more heard so that it can top the inbetweeners.

Personally, i think they can try all they life, but inbetweeners will be up there for a little while longer!

Who knew a British film with little funding could be such a huge success?!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517489/

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!
WHY MAKE A FOURTH ONE!
Should have stopped after the second one, but a FOURTH?! REALLY?!

Videos...

My friend, Alex is swimming 143 miles for charity. She's raised over 1400 pounds for The Arthrogryposis Group.

This is her blog: http://justkeepswimming-alexmccourt.blogspot.com/ please do have a look and sponsor her!!!

Alex entered a competition called 'Just giving text competition' where, just giving and vodaphone teamed up and now you can sponsor people via text message! For the competition, you basically have to make a video to advertise your code...
Alex asked me to make the video and this is it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eia8lg5rTp0&feature=channel_video_title

It won 200 pounds for Alex's charity so i am technically an award winning director!!!! (judges were very please with the video!!)

Since then i have made a full length version of that video, to show off the Bury Bombers Wheelchair Basketball club, who starred in the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5fvT_agM1w&feature=channel_video_title

Then i actually filmed an Interview with Alex about her big charity swim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz4g89pHrhY&feature=relmfu

I plan to do a lot more videos in the future!

Oh yes, and i made a music video as part of my GCSE coursework!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQoLVgTQ36I&feature=channel_video_title

My Youtube Account

http://www.youtube.com/user/Ursulace1?feature=mhee

Do have a look. Random clips... but some usefull stuff i've edited!!

My New Blog!

Let's start from the beginning...

I'm Ursula, I'm currently doing A Levels. I'm studying English lit, Media Studies, Modern History and Psychology.
Not long ago, i realised that I want to go to film school. In order to help me get in, I am making a film!

This blog is going to show the progress of my film and the problems I have had to overcome while making it.

It shall also be used for random rambles about films i've seen and my thoughts about the media etc.
Will also be reviewing films on here.

I will be opening another blog soon, but that is for my school's coursework. I shall link in the forseeable future!