Finding Dory

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So, this past week I've had off work which has been nice (hence the missed post on Wednesday, my bad).

I intended to go to Ireland for the week but decided to postpone it until the Spring due to a whole host of reasons.

Instead, I went home for a few days and saw a friend and my grandparents.

Walking my dog each morning amongst the blanket of golden leaves and the crisp blue skies was also well and truly needed.

But more on that in a later post, I have a handful of beautiful autumnal photos I would love to share.

This post, though, is about Finding Dory.

The first few minutes literally had me in tears. Adeel turned to me in the dark cinema and broke his heart-shaped hands in two. I couldn't help but laugh. How can five minutes into a Pixar film bring up so much emotion?

Like with Bridget Jones's Baby, I was worried this would let the first instalment down.

It did anything but that.

It was a fun, fast-paced tearjerker of an adventure pulling on every heartstring possible.

I loved how it managed to touch on some really sensitive subjects without getting to complicated to confuse children.

The new characters - a grumpy octopus named Hank, a whale shark named Destiny and a beluga whale named Bailey - were a lovely addition, adding humour and friendship into the mix.

Nemo and Marlin were great again reprising their former roles.

But a special mention to Ellen DeGeneres needs to be given because she really is amazing. She gives so much character to her regal blue tang, you can't help but be swept into Dory's search for her long lost parents.

The plot was a simple one, but definitely didn't fail to entertain.

It was a sweet and easy watch, one great for adults and children alike.

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Rating:
★★★★★

Central Intelligence

I didn't expect to like this nearly half as much as I actually did. 

Some films surprise you I guess.

After seeing Kevin Hart live a few months back - and with A being such a huge fan of his and The Rock - I thought this film had a fair chance of being reasonably funny.

I was wrong.

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It was hilarious. And the action was good too!

I thought it would be over the top and ridiculous, with jokes that were forced. But, although the plot obviously wasn't a believable one, it was a rather amusing one and not too out there.

It starts off with a scene in high school where Kevin Hart's character is the popular kid getting an award for something or other at a football game when some of the others decide to play a prank on The Rock's character. Quite a mean prank at that.

I have to say, the CGI in this initial scene was pretty good. They both looked considerably younger in a realistic way.

The film then continues on some years later revolving around the idea of an upcoming high school reunion where the two unexpectedly meet up once again beforehand.

A series of action scenes and funny events then proceed to happen and I found myself highly entertained all of the way through.

Not only was it funny, exciting and obscure, but it also had a great message underneath.

Don't let people put you down, be proud of who you are.

Kevin Hart was great in his role - although a serious character - the sarcasm and downright panicky jumpiness of him was great.

The Rock, though, was the standout for me. I'm so used to seeing him in a purely action role, flexing his muscles and just, well, being menacing. But, you know, he actually shocked me. I thought at the beginning his character was just putting on a flamboyant, camp front but he wasn't! It was such an unusual, strange role for him to play and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him.

The film also proceeded to surprise me with a few twists and turns. You didn't know who actually was the bad guy until right at the end which was good. I definitely couldn't seem to guess as they kept flicking it between a bunch of different characters.

I still can't believe how much I enjoyed this film.

If you're up for watching an easy, fast-paced, action-filled, funny film with two great actors in it then you should give this a watch.

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Rating:

★★★★★



✌

Deadpool

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I've been so indecisive about this film - one minute I'm not interested at all, the next I am because I found out it was Ryan Reynolds playing the lead, and then I wasn't again because I didn't think it would be funny, and so on.

But, then I saw the trailer and I knew I wanted to see it for definite.

Again, though, sat in the cinema, snacks at the ready, right at the beginning of the film, I wasn't sure if it would actually be any good. I'm never sure about films where the character talks into the camera - it just doesn't work for me. But Ryan Reynolds nails it. I love the type of role he always seems to play - the sarcastic, good looking but hard done by guy.

And I also think it was great that the love interest wasn't some perfect, quirky girl that needed saving constantly. Okay so she needed saving at the end, but still. Oddly enough she reminded me of Jean in X-Men because she looks a lot like her (to me anyway) - before all the red hair and evilness.

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As the storyline developed I definitely enjoyed it more. I even enjoyed the way he constantly took the piss out of X-Men, the basic superhero film cast line-up (you'll know what I mean if you pay attention to the opening credits) and, even, himself. The music was great throughout and there was a great balance between comedy and drama/action.

It was brilliant.

The only thing I'm unsure about is that I'm slightly confused as to where this storyline falls in the X-Men franchise. Evidently, as he featured in Wolverine it has to be either before it or alongside it. Plus, if he dies at the end of Wolverine how will there be sequels to Deadpool - which they hinted at? Or did he not die at all?

I love the whole X-Men series so maybe I just need to watch them all again to figure out how it all fits together!

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Rating:

★★★★★

✌

What Now?

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I went to see Kevin Hart at the O2 (I got him the tickets for Christmas because he goes on about how good he is a lot!)

I was still yet to have seen any of his comedy or films, so I thought this would be a good way to ease me in, via a format I hadn't witnessed before

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I honestly didn't know what to expect, but it was a lot better and funnier than I thought it would be. We even got introduced to a handful of other comedians.

The show itself was about an hour and a half with maybe another half an hour to an hour on top for the support acts, but it definitely flew by.

The seats weren't bad and it was certainly nice and toasty in the arena compared to the icy chill outside! The security were very strict on mobile phone usage as it was all new content that he didn't want broadcast - which is understandable but, by the last count, as many as fifty people were kicked out for just having their phones visibly on show!

Although he did allow photos right at the end so he could take the selfie above with the crowd!

I turned to Adeel at some point during the evening and said to him in awe: "Can you imagine what it feels like to perform and make a room full of thousands of people laugh?" It's insane.

If you haven't seen any comedy shows, I would highly recommend Kevin Hart - although he didn't do many nights in London, he did do a few other shows around the country - because he really does has something for everyone.

Pure brilliance, spot on entertainment and a great evening out

✌

Scream Queens

Scream Queens - an array of celebrity faces, an intriguing plot line and a whole lot of screaming. What a disappointment.

I don't know quite what I expected - although I knew it wouldn't be amazing - but I had hoped it would have been at least reasonably good. Where do I start? The plot was ridiculous, the acting terrible and it all just made me wonder whether American schools really can be like that - except for the gruesome murders. Although, maybe even in some cases that too.

I wanted to like it, I really did but it seems to me that Emma Roberts just plays the exact same role, time and time again. It's kind of irritating. Abigail Breslin was also a disappointment after having enjoyed a number of her previous films and Ariana Grande, don't even get me started.

The only good thing about the whole fiasco was Jamie Lee Curtis' performance, as amusing as ever playing the only convincing role in the episode. Lea Michelle also has potential. Even though she didn't say much in this first episode, I can see an undercurrent of her former Glee character, Rachel Berry.

I would say though that it's not a good idea to get too attached to anyone in particular as a fair few have already been killed off. Why shows like this are being given a chance to shine when numerous good shows have been dropped, I don't know. 

I may give it a second chance this week. Who knows, maybe it'll even grow on me.

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