Film Review: Timer

One of the latest films I got through LoveFilm was one called Timer. I hadn't heard of it before seeing it on the database, and it was a straight to DVD film which made me a little wary. However, it sounded like a fun and unique concept for a plot so I decided to get it and give it a go. I watched it Friday afternoon with my mum and brother and it was pretty good.

The film is based around a device which allows you to see a countdown to the day you meet your soulmate or 'one'. The device is called a Timer and works much the same way as a TV package where you pay a one -off installation fee and then a monthly charge. The lead character is a woman nearing thirty who has a blank Timer, which means that her soulmate has yet to have their Timer installed yet. She has been desperately trying to find men without Timers to date and then persuade to have a Timer installed to see if they are her 'one'.

Without giving too much away, she ends up falling for someone but their different opinions about Timers causes problems between them. There is also a sub-story following her stepsister who has a Timer which has a huge countdown time, and her brother who has his Timer installed when he turns fourteen and finds his 'one' straight away.

I am in no way saying this film is Oscar worthy. I can see why it didn't make it into the cinemas even. It is not going to be for everyone. However, for someone like me who is interested in gadgets and what the future might bring, I found it really fun to watch. My brother is seventeen and definitely not one to watch rom coms, but this film has a slightly indie edge to it and I think he liked that. Having said this, it is probably one to watch with the girls and a bottle of wine rather than a boyfriend.

Have you seen this film? Would you watch it based on what I've told you? Have you seen any good films lately that you would recommend for me to put on my LoveFilm list?

Film Review: Sleeping Beauty AKA The Worst Film Ever!

Ok, it is not often that I completely out right slag off something. I usually give it a fair chance, and with this film I did give it a fair chance and I was really, really disappointed! I spotted the title of this film on LoveFilm and when I read the synopsis I thought it sounded quite interesting, a little kinky (I'm a fan of kinky films, think Secretary), and something different for me and the boyfriend to watch at the weekend.

I got the film through the post and we sat down over dinner last Friday night to watch it. I really wish we hadn't. The film is arguably the most boring and pointless film ever made. The lead actress is naked throughout 90% of the film, not a huge problem, she is good looking and has a reasonably nice body, but seriously, seeing a naked woman for that long got a bit boring (even for my boyfriend!).

The plot had so much potential, it could have been a really interesting and a great film but instead the director added in scenes that held no relevance to the storyline at all. There was one scene where an elderly man about to sleep with the unconcious female lead (see, I told you it was kinky) decides to ramble on about something, which I literally can't remember because it was so irrelevant and boring, for ten minutes! Seriously, by the end of the film I was willing myself to fall asleep, which I don't think was the intention, despite the title....

If you are wanting to bore someone to death then this film is the one for you, if not, I would say avoid Sleeping Beauty at all costs. Even the end title sequence was boring with white noise in place of an actual song. Oh, and if you really must see this film to judge for yourself, I would suggest renting it as cheaply as you can and then just watching the 30 second menu screen sequence will show you the entire film and allow you to prevent wasting an hour and a half of sheer horror (at how bad the film is, the film is not scary itself).

Film Review: Woman in Black

You may remember me mentioning that the other day I went to the cinema with my boyfriend to watch The Woman in Black and I absolutely loved it!

I was not sure whether I would as I studied the play for GCSE and have seen it twice at the theatre. The story is really good though, so I gave the film a chance and I actually enjoyed the film just as much as I did the play. The film has made a few changes but nothing major and I think, if anything, this simply added to the story and made it even scarier.

I always find it hard writing film reviews, especially when a film is relatively new, as I don't want to ruin the plot for those yet to watch it. The basic premise is that an old woman has died and Arthur Kips has been sent to a little Northern village to sort through her papers as part of his job. Upon arriving at the village it is clear that there is something not quite right with the occupants; several children have died and there is a sense of foreboding amongst the adults. Nobody will go near Eel Marsh house where the old woman used to live. As Arthur spends more time at the house, he starts to uncover some rather chilling information which puts a whole new light on the story.

There are some huge jumps in the film, my boyfriend swore quite loudly at one point because he was not expecting something to happen. I felt that the effects were used really well. I am very rarely scared by horror films, having watched so many of them, but this one really creeped me out. I was especially scared by the old fashioned toys so watch out for them if you go to see it!

I cannot recommend this film strongly enough. If you like a good horror then this is definitely one to watch. If you are easily scared I wouldn't advise it however as I felt like I was going to have a heart attack at one point. I would also say that whoever decided to make it a 12A was an idiot. Do not take a child to see this film, not only is it quite gruesome and disturbing in places, the language in the cinema audience was definitely not for young ears!

Happy New Year!

Last night I went to see New Years Eve with my mum and nan. I had wanted to see it ever since I saw the trailers as it is just like Valentine's Day which I really liked. The film boasts a cast full of high profile actors including Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank, Halle Berry and even has Jon Bon Jovi in a lead role!

The film follows several people on New Years Eve, giving you an insight into their lives and how they celebrate the new year. There's Ashton's character who hates New Years Eve after a heartbreak in his past; Michelle's character who is fed up of being a pushover and decides to fulfill all her resolutions in one night; Jessica Biel's character who finds herself in a battle to give birth to the first baby of 2012; Sarah Jessica Parker playing a harrassed single mum to a teen and Jon Bon Jovi as someone very similar to himself playing alongside Katherine Heigl.

Ashton embracing New Year...

The film had the whole audience laughing in places and had me crying a couple of times too. It feels fast paced throughout and therefore seems longer than it actually is (118 minutes). As the film nears its ending and the clock reaches midnight, the stories are tied up and everything begins to fall into place. Don't leave as soon as the credits start rolling though as there are a series of bloopers at the end which, although cheesey, are fun to watch and a bit of light relief after some of the more serious scenes.

Michelle and Zac Efron

Halle Berry and Robert De Niro in one of the sadder scenes

Battles of the bumps: Jessica Biel attempts to win a prize for the first baby of the New Year

If you loved Valentines Day, you will love this film. I would highly recommend it!!