F-Rated – Page 5 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Easy A (2010)

May 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged 1980s, adaptation, Amanda Bynes, Comedy, Dan Byrd, Emma Stone, John Hughes, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Patricia Clarkson, Penn Badgley, Romance, Scarlett Letter, Stanley TucciLeave a comment

More than your average teen Rom Com.

Olive (Emma Stone) is a clean-cut student who, in an attempt to save her gay friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) from endless bullying, fakes losing her virginity at a party. But no-one can manipulate the High School rumour mill for ever and get away with it.

There are some seriously sized head-nods to classic John Hughes movies and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlett Letter (Easy “A”, get it?) plays its part. If Emma Stone wasn’t enough, the supporting cast’s fantastic; Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell.

Funny, romantic and empowering.

100 Word Review – Penelope (2006)

April 28, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Fantasy, RomanceTagged American, British, Catherine O'Hara, Christina Ricci, fairytale, Fantasy, James McAvoy, Nick Frost, Penelope, Peter Dinklage, Reese Witherspoon, Richard E. Grant, RomanceLeave a comment

Born with a pig snout and pig ears because of an ancient curse on her family, Penelope (Christina Ricci) must hide from the world until she can finally be accepted by one “of her own kind”.

The cast is baffling; James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Richard E. Grant, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage and Nick Frost to name a few. The accents are beyond confusing. Some are British, some American, no logic applies.

This is a fairytale, but not in the traditional sense. It’s about mothers and daughters. It’s about appearances and curses and self-confidence. It is weird and it is wonderful.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

April 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

You’ve seen the first one and the second one.

You are ready to follow Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) into District 13, the heart of the resistance. What will Snow (Donald Sutherland) do to punish her betrayal? Does she really have the moral high ground? Is she fit to be Mockingjay?

Heavily built on the sturdy foundations of the previous films, don’t start with this one. However, it takes a good hard look at the intricacies of rebellion and the power of propaganda which is covered so well in the book (Read. The. Books.).

It’s the things we love most that destroy us.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

April 25, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jena Malone, Jennifer Lawrence, Panem, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

Sequel to The Hunger Games (2012), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) has survived her first Hunger Games, but will she survive the scrutinising gaze of The Capitol and Panem’s terrifying leader, President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

With all the drama and almost as much of the politics as the books (read the books!), this opens up Panem in a way the first film couldn’t.

The cast is fantastic (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Jenna Malone) and the visuals are just as breath-taking. Prepare yourself for media spin, duplicity and rebellion.

Nobody ever wins the games. Period. There are survivors. There’s no winners.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games (2012)

April 22, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Battle Royale, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Jennifer Lawrence, Sci Fi, The Hunger Games, Woody Harrelson4 Comments

Read the books.

But, also, watch the film. It’s not as good, but still brilliant.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers her life in place of her sister’s when she is chosen to participate in The Hunger Games, a barbaric event designed to keep the masses in line in this dystopian future.

Yes, there are similarities, but it is more than an Americanised Battle Royale. Children are killing children to survive, but for the sport of the Capital. Battle Royale may be gruesome, but this is emotionally brutal.

Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson are both stunning in their supporting roles. It’s magnificent.

100 Word Review – Insurgent (2015)

April 21, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, divergent, dystopian, future, insurgent, Kate Winslet, Sci Fi, Shailene Woodley, teen, Theo James1 Comment

So, I probably should have seen Divergent (2014) first, but this film definitely holds up as a stand alone film as well as part of a trilogy (albeit in four parts).

In a dystopian future, a community is split in to groups based on personality types. But Tris (Shailene Woodley) is different. Together with Four (Theo James) and co., they must fight against the tyranny of Jeanine’s (Kate Winslet) regime.

Although this does sound like every other teen Sci Fi, it stands out for its 3D characters, emotional gravitas (they have sex and it’s not a big deal!) and genuine suspense.

100 Word Review – Bang Bang Baby (2014)

April 14, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Fantasy, Sci FiTagged 1950s, Fantasy, Hammer Horror, Jane Levy, Justin Chatwin, Musical, Sci Fi1 Comment

Definitely more Rocky Horror than Mamma Mia, with ample helpings of Bye Bye Birdie, and something of the Hammer Horror about it, this film defies accurate description.

Stepphy (Jane Levy) is a small-town girl with hopes of becoming a singer. But when her dad burns her acceptance letter to a national singing competition her dreams of meeting heart-throb Bobby Shore (Justin Chatwin) are dashed. Or are they? And what’s this about a leak at the local chemical plant?

There is nothing more I can say about this film except that it will be nothing like anything you’ve ever seen before.

100 Word Review – Song of the Sea (2014)

April 5, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, FantasyTagged adventure, celtic, children, family, Fantasy, Irish, myth2 Comments

I was lucky enough to see this at Bath Film Festival in November, and have been shouting about it ever since.

This stunning Irish animation follows Saoirsa and her older brother, Ben, and their faithful dog, Cu, on an adventure through a magical world of Selkies (people who become seals) and other figures of Celtic mythology. There is heart-break, there is magic and the most important element of all, family.

Visually mesmerising and with a wonderful cast on vocals, this is a truly lovely film. from the makers of The Secret of Kells, suitable for anyone aged 8 to 80 and beyond!

100 Word Review – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

April 2, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, Fantasy, Romance, Sci FiTagged adventure, animation, Anime, Billy Crystal, Christian Bale, Comedy, Fantasy, Hayao Miyazaki, Lauren Bacall, Romance, Sci Fi, steampunk, Studio Ghibli4 Comments

This is my favourite Studio Ghibli feature.

Set in a steampunk world in the midst of war, we follow Sofi as she’s cursed by the Witch of the Waste and finds herself caught up with the mighty sorcerer, Howl.

There is a dubbed version, with the vocal styling of Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall and Billy Crystal. They do a fantastic job, but the best way to watch it is in the original Japanese.

As with all Hayao Miyazaki’s animation, it is beautiful and perfectly compliments this fantastical story.

Don’t dismiss this as a children’s film; it is so much more.

100 Word Review – In Your Eyes (2014)

March 28, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Romance, Sci FiTagged Avengers, Buffy, Firefly, Joss Whedon, Netflix, Romance, Sci Fi3 Comments

Currently available on Netflix, this charming indie Sci Fi Romance comes from the pen of Joss Whedon (Firefly, Buffy, Avengers). Directed by Brian Hill and starring two relative unknowns, Zoe Kazan and Michael Stahl-David, you can expect the nuanced, heartfelt, witty and engrossing story that Whedon is so well known for.

Two strangers from separate corners of the states are connected by a telepathic link that allows them to see life through the other’s eyes and experience their strongest emotions. The result is a mind-bending insight into the disparity between the way we view ourselves and how we are perceived.