Monsters University

Rating 4/5

My nine-year-old self absolutely loved Monsters Inc and my twenty-year-old self absolutely loved Monsters University.

Pixar do it best, they always have and they always will. I can safely say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every, single film they’ve ever produced, from Wall-E to Up, and MU is no exception.

This delightful prequel follows the lovable pair Sullivan (voice by John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal) on their University journey studying scaring.

If the course had an online description it would be something along these lines:

“MU will teach you how to successfully scare every child. You will learn the most efficient ways to collect screams through a variety of different scaring techniques and realistic scream-collecting stimulators.”

Sullivan, son of a scream accumulating legend, is a natural scarer and breezed into University. Mike is not, small, green and almost cute he had to bury his head in books to get there. The couple do not see eye to eye.

Some events (spoilers) follow and the two must compete in The Scaring Games in order fight for their places at the Uni teamed up with four hilariously unfrightening monsters.

What happened so they had to compete in the games? Can Sullivan and Mike work together? Will they win?

This film is jam-packed with ‘Disney magic’. It’s sweet, charming, loveable and extremely funny.

Like all Pixar films it’s not just for children, not even slightly. With so many adult references all ages can enjoy this light-hearted movie. I guarantee you’ll be in fits of laughter at least once.

As the pair embark on adulthood you'll take a trip back to childhood and leave the cinema filled with nostalgia. 

Even if you can’t find a niece, nephew, cousin, daughter or son to use as an excuse to head to the cinema go and see it anyway, it’ll leave you smiling. 

The Purge

Rating: 3/5

The purge tells the story of, well, ‘The Purge’.

It is a new scheme introduced by the American government to legalise all crime for just one night a year.

According to the film, crime is at an all-time low as a result and most families have come to accept this day, that’s not to say they’re exactly looking forward to it!

The film follows one family in particular, the Sandin’s, consisting of father James (Ethan Hawke), mother Mary (Lena Headey, best known for her role as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones), daughter Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and son Charlie (Max Burkholder). 

Naïve and kindhearted Charlie let’s in a man that’s helplessly seeking refuge from the dangerous territory of outside.

Little does he know by allowing this man in to his family home he’s unleashing a night full of terror upon them. And this is where the movies catch phrase ‘Survive the night’ comes in to place.

It’s safe to say I did enjoy this film.

Director James DeMonaco is hardly a master of suspense however he did have me nail-biting and sitting on the end of my seat with a few scenes that can be compared to that of The Strangers (in my eyes, one of the creepiest horrors going). So he definitely did something right!

 Second to that there’s a scene in the middle where the dad James turns a bit Liam Neeson in Taken that is very entertaining to watch.

However the film doesn’t come without its faults.

The main fault isn’t really down to the making of the film, it’s the fact it is a film.

The idea of The Purge is a new and interesting concept, so much so that it is possible it would have worked better as a TV series. 


My suggestion would be a few episodes explaining the creation of The Purge, a few consisting of The Purge and a few including the aftermath. Maybe (hopefully) someone will take up the challenge? 



My only other criticism is the apparent inability of any family members to save themselves yet somehow having this incredible ability to save one another. It made for predictable viewing, AKA oh daughters down, here’s mum to save her (that’s not a spoiler by the way, just an example!) 



Having said all that it is worthy of a watch, just probably not when home alone.

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Rating: 3.5/5

I read The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, for the first time only a couple of months ago and I LOVED it.

Beautifully written with an array of exciting characters and brilliant visionaries it is one of the most romantic stories to be told. It’s no wonder I read it all in one sitting (although I must add it is only a short novel).

So the question here I guess is did I also enjoy the film? And that answer would be: yes (not only because Leonardo DiCaprio plays Gatsby).

Before I talk about why it’s lovable, and also why it’s received some criticism, I’ll briefly tell you what it’s all about!

Set in the 1920’s in New York and told through alcohol-hazed eyes of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) it is the story of one Mr Gatsby, Nick’s new next-door neighbour.

Nick soon learns that Gatsby’s move was all a plan to be closer to Daisy (Carey Mulligan), whom is married to the unfaithful Tom (Joel Edgerton).

The mystery of the great Mr Gatsby unfolds. Why does he want to be close to Daisy? Where did this mysterious man make his fortunes? Where did he come from?

It is a story of love, loss, tragedy and lies.

A great story with a great deal of cinema potential; potential that director Baz Luhrmann definitely made the most of. However Luhrmann has been criticised for doing so. Reviews have been flooded with phrases such as “over-directed” and “too-stylised”.

Admittedly the style does take a little getting used to, with some rather strenuous transitions, but when you do adjust you’ll certainly appreciate the beautiful cinematography.

The over-the-top visionaries are very similar to Moulin Rouge that not shockingly was directed by Luhrmann too.

I must admit I’m in two minds about just how similar this film is to the book.

On one hand screenplay writers Luhrmann and Craig Pearce were most certainly respectable and true to the original, careful to not takeaway from the essence of the story. And as fore-mentioned the book is brilliant, so nothing needs to be adjusted.

On the other hand I can’t help but feeling it was a little too safe and that something new and unique (if done correctly) could have made the 2013 version of Gatsby more memorable.

Without a shadow of a doubt the best aspect of this film for me were the characters. The casting was flawless. The acting was fabulous. The love interests were incredibly believable. They made the film. 

Another magnificent area of this film was the set and costume design. Just wow! Again these had a very Moulin Rouge feel.

Fun fact: 500 Brookes Brothers suits were custom made for this film (just an insight in to the scale of marvelousness that is the outfits in this film). 

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I want to own every, single dress Carey Mulligan wears!

If you love book, you’ll love the film. If you love great cinematography, you’ll love the film. If you love Moulin Rouge, you’ll love the film.  

If I were you I’d ignore the critics and go and see this film anyway.

P.s. Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio will finally win an Oscar? 

Evil Dead (2013)

Rating: 4/5

Horror fans, your needs have finally been catered for.

After a pretty dismal couple of years for horror films this remake of the 1980’s classic did not disappoint. This is no unoriginal, remotely scary, almost laughable film. Director Fede Alvarez has assured it’s just the opposite.

It is insanely disturbing, terrifying and gruesome. It was brilliant. Bursting with originality and arguably the most blood the cinema has ever seen.

Although the story has a similar theme to the previous Evil Dead’s, five kids, cabin in the woods, evil spirit, it adds a unique sub-story that’ll have you screaming at the screen.

Leading lady Mia, played by Jane Levy, is a drug addict trying to go cold turkey. The abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere is of course the perfect place for this (sarcasm). So Mia, two friends, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and her brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) head down there.

Like in any horror film, this was a mistake.

The group discover a book, The Book of Evil. Despite its name annoyingly curious Eric decides to open it and evil is unleashed.

What follows is more blood, guts and gore than your stomach can handle. More fear, terror, twists and disturbing imagery than your mind can handle. You’ll be shifting uncomfortably in your chair and covering your eyes.

But if you’re a horror fan you’ll love it and you definitely won’t be forgetting it for a while. Or, as a film-fan you’ll appreciate the interesting twists and turns the story takes.

Go see it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.