RANDOM THOUGHTS
  • Blog
  • About
  • Find Me
Picture

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Day #15 - Letters To Juliet

15/2/2021

0 Comments

 
(This was supposed to be The Bonfire of Destiny according to the Netflix chart, however that is a miniseries not a movie, so I switched it out for something I haven't watched yet!)
On a trip to Verona, Sophie finds an unanswered letter from 1957 from a woman called Claire in Juliet's courtyard. She tracks down Claire and strikes up an unusual friendship with her, and realises her feelings for Claire's grandson, Charlie.

Letters to Juliet has been on my watchlist for a ridiculous amount of time. It was always the second choice film in case I hated the one I chose over it, and it was always one that I wanted to give time to so that I could really watch it. I finally found my excuse.

I am often influenced by the movies I watch: what to say, what to do, what to wear, what to try, where to go. This is no exception - I now desperately want to travel to Verona, find Juliet's courtyard and write her a letter (I also just watched a version of Romeo and Juliet so that probably didn't help matters). I also want to read the book, because if the movie is this good then the book must be amazing.

This is a perfect feel-good romance film, combining two classic storylines; long lost lovers, and enemies to lovers. It also has the wonderful, perfectly tied-up ending that every great romance needs.

Filled with beautiful shots of Italian scenery, it truly creates a fairytale in the countryside. It's a relaxing and peaceful movie which makes you fall in love with every character (except the deadbeat fiancé). And there's the added bonus of Taylor Swift's greatest song, Love Story, being featured on the soundtrack!

If you are looking for an easy watch with a fairytale ending that will make you fall back in love with love then watch this on your next movie night.
Picture
0 Comments

Day #14 - Pride & Prejudice

14/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Mrs Bennet is desperate to marry her daughters off to good and respectable men, and when bachelor Mr Bingley moves to their town this hope starts to become reality. Elizabeth, the most headstrong of the daughters, struggles to live up to her mother's expectations and her feelings towards the mysterious Mr Darcy.

I am ashamed to say that I have never watched this before. I haven't read the book either. The only time I have come into contact with this classic is the horror-comedy Pride & Prejudice with Zombies, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was excited to see the original storyline for once.

As an avid fan of historical dramas, and with its stellar reputation, I had high hopes for this film. Kiera Knightley was wonderful, as expected (she is the queen of period dramas after all!) and the rest of the cast supported her fantastically.

Pride & Prejudice is a beautifully delicate story - it is heart-wrenching and hopeful in the smallest of ways. If you haven't seen it, think a more conservative Bridgerton (which isn't hard to do in many ways). The colour palette and the cinematography used to tell this classic work so well to give the atmosphere of a Victorian love story in the countryside.

Whilst it may not have fully lived up to my high expectations, I did enjoy this retelling of the Jane Austen classic. It is the perfect Valentines Day watch. Who doesn't love a bit of Mr Darcy?
Picture
0 Comments

Day #13 - Always Be My Maybe

13/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Marcus and Sasha grew up together. Unfortunately their lives went in different directions after an awkward fling as teenagers. Sasha is now a celebrity chef engaged to a man that keeps delaying their wedding and Marcus still lives in San Francisco with his widowed father installing air conditioners. They reconnect and try being in a relationship, finding it difficult to blend their two worlds.

Ali Wong and Randall Park did a great job with this film. It's funny and charming and an all-around great romcom. Watching these two battle with their feelings, their families, and their clashing realities is very amusing, and they have some wonderful actors featured who help to make the film a perfect chilled movie night watch.

Yes, some parts of the storyline are frustrating. They both reveal long-term crushes on each other at times when they are each in serious relationships, but I guess that is the point of the film. It's a great storyline of two people whose lives never quite line up perfectly to be together leaving the possibility of their relationship constantly lingering. And it is done in a fantastic way.

Honestly I would recommend this film purely for the scene with Keanu Reeves in it, I was crying with laughter. Reeves and Wong had a hilarious chemistry to their relationship in this movie. The rest of the film is also fantastic, but if anything influences you, it would be the comedic stylings of that scene.

I will definitely be watching this again for a good laugh!
Picture
0 Comments

Day #12 - TATBILB: Always and Forever

12/2/2021

0 Comments

 
After the turmoil from the last movie, Lara Jean and Peter are finally solid. And then along comes college decisions, putting some new stress on their relationship. Is this just a high school romance or can it last?

This just dropped on Netflix today. I have been looking forward to this film for months now - I finally get my ending for my TATBILB marathons!

Now, out of the three, this film stressed me out the most. I am so in love with Lara Jean and Peter that not knowing how they will turn out in this film gave me so much anxiety I could barely handle it. Knowing how hard it was for these two to get to a point where they are secure and happy, only to see it potentially crash and fall around them is not how I wanted this series to end.

Do not fret, there are still plenty of cute scenes showing off their fairytale romance, filled with bright colours and great music. I laughed, I cried (as always) and I loved.

However stressful this film is, it is the perfect end to this trilogy. I never wanted it to end - that's why I never finished the last book - because I knew it would be sad when it was over. I am very much going to miss watching a new Lara Jean adventure each year. But, wow, was this film wonderful.

It's not just Lara Jean, it's all three Covey sisters - Kitty is becoming a young woman, Margo is fully settled and independent, beginning her own life in the real world, and Lara Jean finally understands what it means to be in love. And we get a nice ending for their dad too.

With all the loose ends tied up in a neat little bow, I know that I have some great movie nights ahead of me with some of my favourite characters ever. I'm so ready to be able to live this story over and over again.
Picture
0 Comments

Day #11 - TATBILB: P.S. I Still Love You

11/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Lara Jean has it made: she has the boy of her dreams, Peter Kavinsky, the perfect volunteer job for her transcript, old folks home Bellevue, and she finally has the respect of her stuck up cousin. Then in walks John Ambrose McClain and everything changed. Who will she pick?

This is the second instalment of the To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy, and Lara Jean Song Covey is back and better than ever. This film has more drama and much higher stakes than the last film (for a teen romcom that is!). You still get the same loveable characters, the cuteness, and the laughs from the first film, we just get to know Lara Jean and her family even better.

One thing I love about this movie is that we delve a little more into Lara Jean's Korean heritage. In the first film it's mentioned at the beginning when they have a family dinner and later on Peter mentions going to the Korean grocery store to pick up Lara Jean's favourite snacks. In P.S. I Still Love You, they kick off with Korean New Year celebrations and the Covey sisters are learning how to tie the bows on their hanboks before heading over to the celebrations. It's nice to get a wider look into the traditions important to this family that the books went really deep into.

It's also nice to look at how innocent Lara Jean handles having feelings for two boys - one is her complimentary opposite, the other shares her personality exactly. She always believed love was a fairytale and she is suddenly realising that real relationships don't happen the same way they do in her favourite romance novels. She really starts to grow up in this film and realise what it is that she expects and needs from the people in her life.

There's still a perfect happy ending though.

I can't wait for tomorrow when my TATBILB marathon will be complete!
Picture
0 Comments

Day #10 - To All The Boys I've Loved Before

10/2/2021

0 Comments

 
This is another film I reviewed briefly a couple of years ago - read it here.
When Lara Jean has a crush, she writes a love letter. One of those letters happens to be to her older sister's boyfriend, Josh. When the letters are mysteriously mailed out, she enters into a fake relationship with one of them - popular boy Peter Kavinsky - to throw Josh off the scent. With her sister now at university in Scotland, how will Lara Jean navigate the complicated web of lies that she has created for herself?

​I have been looking forward to this one! This is the first instalment of a trilogy, based on the books of the same name, and the next three days will be covering them.

I LOVE this movie. I've watched it hundreds of times since it came out in 2018. It has everything I want from a teen romance film - it's funny, it's relatable, it's sad and it has a wonderfully uplifting ending. And they are very accurate to the books, which I also loved.

There are two very important themes to this story - the difficulties and awkwardness of teen romance and the bond between sisters, two topics that I can relate to. Like Lara Jean, I never had much luck with love in my teen years, but I always had an unbreakable bond with my sister. Also, Lara Jean is one of the most likeable characters in the history of books and film.

TATBILB also has my favourite storyline - fake relationship leading to real feelings. I don't know why I like it so much, it's probably the most predictable movie trope out there, but any movie that has this trope has me hooked from beginning to end.

If you are looking for something cute, fluffy and happy, I would highly recommend giving this film a go! I can't wait for you to fall in love with Lara Jean.
Picture
0 Comments

Day #9 - Alex Strangelove

9/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Alex Truelove wants to lose his virginity to his girlfriend Claire before graduation, but starts to question his sexual identity when he meets Elliot.

The first time I watched this film, I did tune out and I didn't finish it. I don't know why though, because I did enjoy it this time around. Maybe it's because it followed Love, Simon, which is very hard to live up to. But this is a good movie.

Now, this movie has run into some controversy with many accusing the film of bi-erasure. In one scene Alex's best friend, Dell, insinuates that Alex has to choose - is he straight or gay? Dell is very dismissive and states that Alex can't be bisexual, he's just scared of sleeping with his girlfriend. The film also shows Alex making out with Elliot whilst still dating Claire, further pushing the stereotype that bi people are cheaters. And, whether Netflix intended this or not, it does very much say that bisexuality is a stepping stone to being gay.

This may be partly due to the fact that every character is wonderfully flawed. It portrays the thoughts that teenagers have towards sex and sexuality. I like to think that Netflix was just trying to portray the misunderstanding that a lot of teenagers have (or at least used to have) about sexuality which is why it comes off prejudiced in some parts. Or maybe I'm just giving it the benefit of the doubt.

As I said, every character is unapologetically flawed. Every single one of them does something wrong, no one is entirely likeable. This adds a sweet level of charm to the movie.

I did like Alex Strangelove, but I also don't think it will be one that I'm desperate to watch again. Definitely a nice film for a rainy day though.
Picture
0 Comments

Day #8 - He's Just Not That Into You

8/2/2021

0 Comments

 
This film follows nine individuals as they navigate the complicated world of love and relationships - unrequited love, difficulties in marriage, non-committal boyfriends, and many more. At its core is Gigi who misreads the actions of all of her dates, so Alex swoops in to help her out.

I love an ensemble cast film - Love Actually, Valentines Day, New Year's Eve are all favourites of mine - and He's Just Not That Into You is my number one favourite in this category. I love seeing all these individual storylines slowly intertwine into a very neatly tied up ending that gives all the characters what they needed.

Aside from just being a great movie, it also has a great message about self-worth and not letting those who don't deserve you take advantage of you. It starts out with the bold observation that every little girl is told that if a boy is mean to you that means they like you, and they take this into adulthood - when a guy isn't calling, he's just playing hard to get, and you should give him the benefit of the doubt. It also gives the reality check of just because a friend of a friend was the dating exception, doesn't mean you will be. This may sound depressing, but then it flips and shows you that you will always find that one person who will make you the exception to the rule. ​This is a movie that I always put on without fail when I am having my own dating difficulty and it gives me the reality check I need and then lifts me up so that I can confidently try again.

He's Just Not That Into You is funny, it's frustrating, it's heartwarming, and it's so relatable (especially in your 20s). And the exceptional cast makes it the perfect cozy night watch.


Picture
0 Comments

Day #7 - 13 Going On 30

7/2/2021

0 Comments

 
When Jenna Rink's 13th birthday party is ruined by her school's mean girls, she wishes to be "Thirty, flirty and thriving". The next morning she wakes up as just that! She tracks down her childhood best friend Matt to help her get back to being 13 again.

In my opinion, 13 Going On 30 is a film which can only be watched with a bottle of wine and a bowl of ice cream. When I watched this for the first time when I was 13 (without the wine, of course), I remember being so jealous of Jenna and how she got to fast forward through her life - that is, until I finished the movie and realised maybe being 13 isn't so bad after all.

This is a wonderfully nostalgic film for many people, and for good reason. Ask any girl their top 10 early-00s films and I guarantee this is somewhere on the list!

Watching as an adult, you feel even more connected with Jenna and you are drawn to her childlike outlook on life. It makes you rethink, and, even just for a second, gives you a more positive attitude - maybe if we all kept looking at the world the same way we did as kids we would be way better off.

This movie will make you laugh a lot and it will also make you cry. It also has a wildly happy ending. It is a perfect feel-good film which will leave you with a warm and happy feeling after watching.

If you need a brief escape from reality, watch this film and relive your childhood just for a little bit. There's a reason we all wished we were grown ups when we were thirteen.
Picture
0 Comments

Day #6 - One Day

6/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Dexter and Emma spend their graduation night together on 15th July 1988 and agree to be 'just friends'. Over the next 18 years, we see them every 15th July and watch their lives progress.

One thing to know about me is that I love everything Anne Hathaway does, so I'm probably not the most reliable person to write this review! And, once again, she did not disappoint.

I'm embarrassed that this film has never come on my radar until now. It's a beautiful story about the complexities that Dexter (Jim Sturgess) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) experience about adult life, whether it's jobs, relationships or family. I found myself being sucked into the lives of these characters, wanting to learn every intimate detail.

It's also entirely heartbreaking. I wept. This film has the highest highs and the lowest lows. When everything is going wrong, suddenly the best thing in the world happens to these characters, and before you have a chance to fully enjoy and appreciate the moment, it is swept away in a single second.

One Day is the slow-burn will-they-won't-they that I love about this genre. The connection that Emma and Dexter have is so desirable, a relationship that we are told the story of so much that it's nostalgic at this point. I will never get tired of these stories, especially when told in this way.

I highly recommend this film, but, be warned, you must emotionally prepare yourself for the journey that lies ahead. Please go ahead with it, I promise you won't regret it.
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    About Me

    Hi! I'm Niamh, and welcome to my blog!
    I am a freelance journalist writing her musings on politics, social change and pop culture - maybe you'll like what you read!

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Movie Reviews
    Music Reviews
    Netflix February 2021 Movie Challenge
    Podcast
    Politics
    Society
    Thoughts
    Video

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Tweets by niamhblogs

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Find Me