Suicide Squad - Initial Impressions

God I really want this to be a good movie...

DC Comics might finally have one up on anything Marvel has in the works. The Avengers this is definitely not. This is going to be so twisted. I can't wait. Bring on 2016!

The Imitation Game – The Benedict Cumberbatch Show

Being a big history geek I thought for my second post, I would review a movie that I’d been looking forward to seeing since I first saw the trailer many months ago, The Imitation Game.

For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the movie, the plot is based on the life and work of cryptologist Alan Turning who cracked the enigma code at Bletchley Park during WWII, thus helping the Allies to defeat the Germans. So kind of a big deal. 

Now let’s be honest,  any movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch is going to be worth watching and the Imitation Game definitely did not disappoint, but at the same time it just didn’t dazzle me either. 

Make no make mistake, Benedict Cumberbatch is marvellous in as the intelligent, aggressive yet socially awkward Alan Turning, who is so unjustly treated for his sexuality. The vulnerability he brings to this role will no doubt earn him a flurry of awards and an Oscar nomination. Keira Knightly, who I dread watching in any movie where she is not in a period costume of some sort, does a decent job of playing Joan Clarke, Turning’s trust friend and confidante. It’s a role which might see her bag a few nominations as well. There are also good performances from the rest of the supporting cast, including Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Mark Strong and Allen Leech.

While historically and scientifically fascinating, my major complaint about this movie has to be the nonlinear narrative in which plot unfolded. The story could have been conducted in a chronological fashion and still had the same impact; instead it unnecessarily flashed forward and backwards between three different type periods and lacked cohesion at times.

Despite this, The Imitation Game is a great movie. It’s a story about an unsung hero whose genius and perseverance saved the lives of thousands during WWII.  It’s a story about a man who was persecuted for his sexuality. It’s a story that deserves to be told.

Rating: 8/10

You've Got Mail...The Ultimate 90's Romantic Comedy

It's only fitting that I start off my first blog entry discussing the movie that inspired the title of this site. Hopefully you've figured out that it's the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan classic, if you didn't then I'm sure you've realised now and are either really impressed with my wit or shaking your head in disappointment.

That being said, You’ve Got Mail, is one of my absolute favourite movies. It's not spectacular or ground-breaking in anyway, it's just a good solid movie. The storyline of the movie is pretty straightforward - guy and girl have been corresponding online over e-mail, but are unaware that they are real-life business rivals and as a result cannot stand each other. Trust me when I say they don't make romantic comedies like this anymore, not only does this movie have an actual plot, it has a pretty good plot.

Hanks and Ryan, so often referred to as the quintessential 90's movie power couple (and rightly so) prove that third time's the charm. In their trilogy of 90’s romantic comedies, Sleepless in Seattle is generally viewed as the biggest and best, with the scene atop of the Empire State Building still constantly referenced in popular culture today. While I am a huge fan of the movie and hold it in high regard, for me, it doesn't exude the same charm and heart as You've Got Mail does. I mean, who doesn't love getting mail?!

Nostalgia plays a huge part in why I'm such a fan of this movie. No matter how many times I've watched it, the AOL web browser and icon never fail to make me smile. I remember the thrill of getting an email at a time when it was exciting and new, and the two leads do so well to bring that excitement to life. Then there's the tiny little bookstore, reminding us that world wasn't always so corporate and that it's important to look out for the little guys in life.

Everything in this move is effortless, Hanks and Ryan are movie gold, the pace of the movie is perfect, the script is excellent and the Christmas setting, the icing on the cake.

I always judge a great movie not by how good it is the first time I view it, but whether I can watch it again and again without getting bored. This definitely fits the bill.

No doubt, You've Got Mail, will be playing on TV in December at some point, and if it is I highly recommend you don't change the channel. Instead sit back, relax and remember what it feels like to actually watch a good romantic comedy that doesn't make you want to gauge your eyes out.


Rating: 8/10