The Girl on the Train

Image from Pinterest

So, I really need to start packing, I've got a couple of items left in the fridge that need to be eaten and a few more things on the planner that needs watching.

Oh the woes of going home for Christmas.

Just kidding. Can't wait to be honest.

I watched this ages ago. Clearly, as it was out in October. Whoops.

I know I watched it literally a week or two after I'd listened to the audiobook.

Honestly, I was a little let down by the book. I felt everyone had hyped it up too much and it didn't live up to said hype.

But the film, the film did a cracking job of following the plot line of the book (bar one or two things).

The characters were on point. 

I almost loathed Rachel in the book but Emily Blunt played her so well. She was even gorgeous when she was meant to be a stinking hungover mess.

I hated Rebecca Ferguson's Anna and Justin Theroux's Tom as well, which is exactly how I felt about them in the book. Anna was so stuck up and paranoid, Tom an evil prick.

Funnily enough, again, I felt like I could empathise more with Megan. Haley Bennet did a great job of portraying her. She certainly doesn't have a nice or easy backstory, or, indeed, a nice story altogether.

To be honest, the only character I wasn't completely sold on was Luke Evans's Scott. I don't know what it was but I just couldn't connect with the character. In the book he has quite a mean side but could make you feel sorry for him too. I didn't feel any of that whilst watching Luke Evans portrayal. A shame really because I think he's great as an actor.

The setting - obvious no no as it was changed from London - was actually alright set in New York. I still got the same feeling as before - the long commute, rural villages on the outskirts of a big city, blah blah blah.

There were also a few minor changes in Rachel and Scott's interactions but I didn't think anything of these really.

The cinematography was beautiful, the sudden cuts to close-ups magnifying and lovely.

Overall, I think the directors and producers and cast did a fantastic job.

Even though I knew the ending it still had me sat on the edge of my seat waiting for it.

Worth a watch if you're up for a murder mystery riddled with twists and turns, but not one I feel I would need to watch again.

---

Rating:
★★★★☆

Bridget Jones's Baby

Image from Pinterest

I was so so so nervous about seeing this, being super worried it would let the other two down, but my God was it good.

I was obviously disappointed from the first reports of this being made to a film that Hugh Grant would not be reprising his role as Daniel Cleaver. But then again, the screenwriters/producer found a way of including him anyway which was a fairly amusing way to start and finish the film!

It also took me a surprisingly short time to warm up to Patrick Dempsey's character. Although, is it just me or was his voice a tad off putting? It's like David Beckham all over again, attractive man, weird voice.

I loved the subtle modern updates that were added, especially the new choice of music at the beginning to replace Celine Dion's All By Myself. 

Renee Zelleweger obviously needs a mention as, yet again, her Bridget is flawless and hilarious and so relatable it's unreal. I know people were dubious about the way she'd look considering the amount of surgery she'd had, but honestly I barely noticed it at all. It's also still so surprising that that's not her actual accent!

Colin Firth's character was a little depressing this time. Given that poor Mark Darcy had been through a lot but still. I was rooting for him throughout as a loyal Bridget Jones fan, but the plot definitely had you wondering who she would end up with, if either.

The plot was great. It was funny and sweet and sad and grown up but also childish. Bridget's trusty three companions made their amusing if brief appearances, as did her nutty parents.

I couldn't recommend this film more to be honest. I can't wait to watch all three in a row over Christmas.

Loved it!

---

Rating: ★★★★★

The Girl on the Train

By Paula Hawkins.

Narrated by Clare Corbett, India Fisher and Louise Brealey.

I've timed this perfectly as the film was released just a few days ago, muhahaha.

All coincidence of course.

Image From Goodreads

[The debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

EVERY DAY THE SAME Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She's even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life - as she sees it - is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAY And then she sees something shocking. It's only a minute until the train moves on, but it's enough. Now everything's changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?]

I'm kind of a little bit disappointed with this.

Like, I don't even know if I really enjoyed it or not. I feel like I should like it more because it was so well-received by everyone else.

I started off enjoying it. I was gripped and curious for the most part.

I love the way Hawkins created really detailed characters, realistic ones at that. 

The details - or lack there of - for Rachel's alcoholic tendencies and her blackouts helped add to the whole mystery.

Although, I loathed both her and Anna pretty much throughout the entire thing - even their voices got on my nerves, so a well placed voice cast I'll have to admit. 

They were both such horrible types of people.

But I can't pinpoint exactly what made me lose my enjoyment out of it in the end. 

I just know that once I'd twigged who the killer was, I didn't care for the rest of the novel.

I liked Megan's character and her backstory, it was heartbreaking and horrible. 

Plus, there was the twist with who the killer actually was, but, yeah, I felt we found out too early somehow.

Meh, I don't know, mediocre at best.

I am looking forward to the film version though, it looks brilliant and from what I've seen of the trailer Emily Blunt looks like she'll nail the character of Rachel.

✌︎