Monsters Inc. (2003) 3D (2012) review

Running Time: 92 mins
Directed By: Pete Docter
Starring: Voice cast: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Frank Oz
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson
UK Release Date: 19th December 2012 - US/ 18th January 2013 -UK

Review: Every single Pixar film is known as a gem, even if you’re one of those where Wall•E and Ratatouille didn’t particularly move you. With the success of recent Pixar’s in 3D, it seems fitting that the original beauties should be converted and what better time for a Monsters Inc. in 3D than now, with Monsters University gracing our screens in the next few months.

  For those who don’t know, Monsters Inc. is set in the City of Monstropolis, which is inhabited by Monsters. To generate their power, some monsters work in the factory, Monsters Inc., to scare human children because their screams are collected as power. Human children are believed to be toxic in the monster world, so when one accidentally makes its way through a closet portal and into the hands of Sully, he and his best friend Mike have to find a way to get rid of her. In Pixar fashions, everything about Monstropolis is bright, colourful and beams off screen. The entire appearance of the film is glorious and it’s no wonder it cheers people up straight away.

  Monsters Inc. is certainly one of Pixar’s best films; there is no doubt about it. The laugh-out-loud physical gags for kids, mostly Mike, hit the adults, making it a bigger success than most kid’s films. Pixar, as everyone knows, don’t aim for the younger generation, but family. By seeing it in a room full of children and adults, laughing is more contagious and the majority of the hilarious events on screen end up making stomachs hurt from laughter. John Goodman, Billy Crystal and the rest of the brilliantly voiced cast aid the fun and likability of Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully are an iconic dynamic duo, and their chemistry from their voices is so evident at times, it feels as if Goodman and Crystal were destined for these roles in their career.

  On the most part, the 3D conversion works pretty well and most evidently during the opening sequence of them beautifully coloured doors. In the last 40 or so minutes, where the tension begins to build, after Mike and Sully realise Randall’s evil plan, the danger seems to be amplified by the 3D. The real scary monsters like Mr Waternoose and Randall appear far more frightening in 3D than before, as their spider legs or scales are in your face while the rushed chases through closet doors seem more like a narrow escape route. 3D puts audiences into a film and despite the fact it’s animation and about monsters, Pixar and the use of 3D do their job to make it feel real.

  There are moments when the 3D isn’t used as well as it could be, but it is only a conversion and the film didn’t plan on shooting things towards the screen and into people’s faces. The biggest benefit of 3D was the opening short of For The Birds, which seems like it was made for 3D with flying feathers.

  11 years on and Monsters Inc. hasn’t lost any of its spark and fun, while the 3D works nicely for kids who have yet to see it on the big screen. One of Pixar’s winners still remains on top.

5/5

Tweet Pin It Now!

Top 5 dance scenes

One of my favourite things in film is a good dance number. Either an all out musical or a film with a really awesome, random dance scene. I have quite a few favourite dance scenes, but I thought I would think of 5 great ones for a blog post.

The Artist - George and Peppy

I couldn't believe my smile could get any bigger while I was watching The Artist, but once I reached this scene I seemed to just explode. It's glorious. I have since tried to recreate the dance scene myself but have not been successful.

Singin' In The Rain - Mose Suposes

There are so many dance scenes from Singin' In The Rain that are worthy, but if I included all of my favourites, it would be a Singin' In The Rain top 5.

Funny Face

Audrey Hepburn loved ballet and dancing but sadly, not enough film roles allowed her to show her dance talents. This piece from Funny Face shows what she could do. I love the little solo from Hepburn at 2:36.

Top Hat - Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)

I adore Fred and Ginger, especially in Top Hat and Isn't This A Lovely Day just fills me with joy. I wish I could dance like this inside when it rains and look at pretty as Ginger Rogers does in horse riding gear.

A Knight's Tale - Golden Years

I don't know why this dance scene entertains me so much, but I remember being amazed by it and the film in general when I was younger. It might be Heath Ledger's complete charm throughout the whole film that makes it special.

Honourable mentions:

The Muppets - Life's A Happy Song

This is a bit of a bonus. The whole song is obviously wonderful, but I love the little 30 second dance scene in the street with Jason Segel. Annoyingly, I can't find it on youtube as it happens just after this clip below, but the one next to it shows dancers performing it on Dancing With The Stars and it's even better.

Top Hat - Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.
Fred Astaire's solo is absolutely magnificent, but the shooting scene from 3:22 - 4:00 always gets me giggling.

What are your favourite dance scenes or musical numbers in film?

Tweet Pin It Now!

September and October viewings

I do not know where the time has gone since August. A lot has happened since my last viewings round up, but for some reason I haven't been watching many new films. I think the college work has stepped up since I've been back in September, so if I'm watching film's it's usually film's I've seen before or Arrested Development on loop.

However, I did see a few new things, so I think it's still worth a blog post like my others of this year.

Gnomeo and Juliet (2011) 3/5
Young Adult (2011) 4/5
Blue Valentine (2010) 4/5
Top Gun (1986) 4/5
The Grey (2011) 3.5/5
Gone Baby Gone (2007) 5/5
Paper Moon (1973) 4.5/5
A Single Man (2009) 4/5
First Daughter (2004) 1/5
Headhunters (2011) 4/5
Ruby Sparks (2012) 4.5/5
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) 3/5
Taken 2 (2012) 3/5
Skyfall (2012) 4.5/5 

Tweet Pin It Now!

Jack Skellington Halloween nails

Image by anncaster.net

For a quick new post, I'd thought I'd update with a nail art design I had a go at. I'm not the best at painting my nails with designs, but since I stopped biting  my nails last year and they've been growing, I've been trying to do more prettier designs than just colour.

I watched this Jack Skellington Halloween Nail Tutorial by Cute Polish on Youtube and seeing as it's one of my favourite Halloween movies, I had a go myself. It's actually really simple; but as you can see, I don't have steady hands.

1. The black nails are going to be Jack's suit and the white is going to be Jack's face. After a base coat I used two coats of each colour for an opaque look.

2. Then with dotting tools and a small make-up brush (use a striper brushes if you have one, I only have one in a white polish so I didn't try it) I dotted two ovals for eyes (they don't have to be equal), two small dots for a nose and a curved line across the nail for the smile. Then I drew a few lines down the smile for stitches. It didn't turn out as neat as I'd hoped, but luckily it's not noticeable from afar.

3. Using a white striper (you could use a normal white nail polish brush for thicker lines) I drew a few white stripes across my black nails. At first I started with three but on some I could fit more on I did four.

4. Once all dry, I used a top coat to lock in everything.

I hope these don't chip before Halloween, because I'm pretty proud of the outcome.

Any of you got any cool nail art designs you're proud of, Halloween themed or not? Or better yet, costumes?

Tweet Pin It Now!

Attractive books

If there is one thing I have an eye for, it’s nice looking book/DVD collections. I could own 2 out of 3 films from a certain series, yet I would much rather buy them again in a box set of the trilogy edition for no other reason than the fact I think it looks neater, more appealing and the collection are in a cute little cardboard box.

Away from DVDs, I’m not the biggest book collector. Apart from a few exceptions, I’ll borrow books from libraries or friend’s to read first and if I really, really liked it, I’ll buy it.

My latest little fascination comes in the form of cute, small, hard cover editions of classic and modern literature. I received the beautiful Collector’s Library editions of Little Women and Jane Eyre for my birthday last year, and have found them to be both practical and, as far as books can go, completely gorgeous.

I know the Amazon Kindle is the latest book tool (to which I see both the pros and cons), but for those who still like to have a psychical book on hand to read and are looking to read a beloved classic, I recommend these fancy books.

Their handy size make it easy to take anywhere and despite being hardback, they are extremely light to pop into a bag. Each book has a ribbon bookmark to help keep your place and their gold edged pages are soft for comfortable reading. Not only that, they are all sold at affordable prices.

The sleeve's cover features a painting that fits with the story, and are designed to match in your collection (for example all of Dickens’ books are red, the Brontë Sisters are blue), as well as being able to buy box-set’s of certain authors, so they’re a nice thing to collect or buy as gifts.

To visit the site and browse their  click here or to see what books they have on amazon click here.

If you need anything, be sure to contact them from their email on the site. When I had a query, the people in charge were ever so friendly and helpful to me.

Tweet Pin It Now!

Ruby Sparks

Running Time: 104 mins
Directed By: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Starring: Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening, Steve Coogan, Elliott Gould
Screenplay: Zoe Kazan
UK Release Date: 12th October -UK

Husband and wife duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are well known as the creators of one of 2006’s best indie films, Little Miss Sunshine, as well as some very famous adverts and music videos. Now, they join forces with one of America’s growing female film writers and actresses Zoe Kazan (yes, the granddaughter of Elia Kazan-wow!), Ruby Sparks is another comedy drama, however with romance, making for a superb second feature.

Reuniting Dayton and Faris with Paul Dano has him as our protagonist, a very clever and successful author named Calvin, who is currently suffering the painful virus of writer’s block. After finding inspiration in a dream, Calvin begins to write about a girl named Ruby Sparks and, not long after, she becomes real.

The idea of the film is fairly original, as well as simple, and Ruby Sparks completely charms in a breathtaking, romantic, comedic way. Although it is completely imaginative and has its own specific feel, there are hints of a ‘500 Days of Summer’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind’ atmosphere in the way that it’s an offbeat rom-com with quirks and untypical paths. Nevertheless, Ruby Sparks is more refreshing, as this offbeat atmosphere is more inviting that overpowering.

Giving a very memorable performance in Little Miss Sunshine, Dano impresses further with Calvin Weir-Fields. Calvin is a very adoring, empathic character for audiences to relate to and Dano has that little bit of himself in Calvin to make him ever so real. Opposite him is the beautiful Zoe Kazan, who shines as Ruby Sparks. Whether she wrote the part knowing her sweet, bubbly character was to be cast or not, it literally is as if the part was wrote for her. Ruby is not only real for Calvin, but real for audiences because the love story of the pair is touching to watch and the whole way through we are captivated by her. 

Ruby is absolutely everything a regular guy would dream of her to be, which is when Calvin begins to take advantage of his unexplained gift. Although, not in any type of vulgar way, rather trying to get her to fit around his mood and his plans. These scenes could be seen as the most poignant, because of Calvin’s melancholy life and strive to have someone shadowing his every move. Keeping to a traditional romantic film, the heart-warming montages stick out as some of the most beloved scenes, mimicking classic rom-coms from a few decades.

Kazan’s script is so lovely; it’s entirely believable on some levels. For fiction, it’s somehow plausible because everything that occurs during Calvin’s life is how we’d all react if this type of magic hit us. It’s a magical love story, in the most regular, convincing way. There is a complete contrast of feelings throughout Ruby Sparks, where there are moments to feel sad and moments to laugh. Although Antonio Banderas and Annette Bening have very few scenes, they’re input creates a lot of comedy to help keep Ruby Sparks on the ground.

Despite the rushed ending, Ruby Sparks still captures the essence of both the good and bad sides of being in love even if the person you have fallen in love with, is someone you have created in your mind.

Zoe Kazan is an absolute delight and being opposite her real life boyfriend makes the love story within Ruby Sparks seem even more real, exciting and moving in another touching drama by Dayton and Faris.

4.5/5

Tweet Pin It Now!

Autumn ‘wish list’

I’ve started early.

There are 37 days until Halloween. 42 days until Bonfire night. 91 days until Christmas.

Usually, my countdown to my favourite season begins just after my birthday (early October), but for some reason, my excitement has hit early.

Sure I like summer- who doesn’t? Waking up feeling warm. Not having to carry an umbrella. Not wearing a coat to walk the dog. BBQs. Pool parties. Eating outside. The sun definitely makes me and others happy, there’s no doubt about it. But how does this sound?

Cosying up to the fire. Drinking hot chocolate with whipped cream. Crunching orange leaves under wellies. Wearing the trio (hats, scarf and gloves). Getting out of day-shoes to put on slippers. Seeing your breath when you walk out of the door. Christmas playlists. Holiday shaped biscuits. Lusssssh.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, because my excitement will end up dying. But because I’m in the autumn/winter mood, I decided I’ll post something very un-me in the form of a ‘Autumn wish list’.

Most wish list’s appear on beauty and fashion blogs and as I am not one, I don’t really have a professional mind in the products other than screaming (inside) ‘I WANT YOU’. Ideally, I’ll be buying some of these products in the next few months, but at the moment they are still ‘wishes’. I’m starting to go off the word wish as it seems spoilt, but until I think of a new one it will have to do.

Enough rambling.

1. I’ve always wanted a trench coat and obviously this iconic film scene has a little bit to do with it. The last few days I’ve been searching for one that is a) Affordable (for me) and B) Looks good. After searching the main fashion sites I know, I found that Matalan do one for £30. Win.

2. A few years ago I had a really cute, regular pair of black ear muffs, until my dog ate them. For the last two years I keep meaning to buy a new pair but forget, so this year I will. The pair from the picture are from Next.

3. Since I saw two beauty vloggers rave about the Rimmel Lip Butters, I wanted to try one out. I’m torn between the colour Tutti Frutti or Peach Parfait, but I think I need to see these in a store.
4. Last year, when my sister told me she was wearing a ‘snood’, I laughed. Snood. It’s a funny word. One of my scarf’s has pockets and a hat, and another is a football one I wear everywhere so I think it’s time I get a snood. They look more practical to wear with coats and just as comfy. The one from the picture is from New Look.

5. Ahhh, my latest dream. I love wearing my wellies. Splashing in mud, jumping in puddles, falling in snow. When it gets snowy, or chucks down with rain, wellies are perfect. Now that I’m grown up (kinda), I think Hunter Wellington’s are my calling. Still undecided on colour, but it’s definitely between pink, red, dark blue or simple black. These will be my big save up.

6. The best thing about a season change is the nail polish colours. There aren’t specific rules to follow when painting your nails a colour, but for people like me, there are more suited colours to seasons. (For example I wouldn’t wear mint green in December and neither would I wear dark blue in the summer.) I keep hearing about how great Models Own nail polishes are. They come in gorgeous colours and are, apparently, easy to apply, thick and glossy. The company is holding a 50% sale if they reach 100,000 likes by the end of September, so I’m hoping they reach it  for some new Autum/Winter colours. Ibiza Mix isn’t the type of polish I’d usually wear, but I love glitter in winter. Soda Pop Pink and Purple Grey look like very chic but elegant colours, something I always adore. I don’t have any navy or dark purple polishes, so In The Navy and Purple Rain are also on my list! (Please like the page so us fans can have a sale!)

Away from clothing and make-up, I was looking through the Internet and my mind to see other things I hope for this Autumn.

7. My excitement has reached its highest for the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. If you haven’t read the book, I seriously recommend that you do. It’s on my list of favourites and I could give you fifty reasons why it is, but I won’t waste your time. Watch the trailer and see if it takes your fancy. If you’re a fan of coming-of-age indie flicks, then this one is for you).

8. Although ‘Red’ hasn’t been released yet, I know it’s one of my favourite albums. Taylor Swift’s first single for the album is pulling up to the stage where I’m sick of it for playing it too much, which can only mean I’m in need for the new album! I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t the biggest fan of Taylor’s first album, the second one I liked and the third one I adored. If you haven’t heard the single, check out the (really cool) music video here. It’s a bit more pop-y than her country stuff, but hey I’m still a teenage girl- I’m meant to love it!

9. In hope of buying the gorgeous trench coat, snood and possible others from 1-5, my look can only be complete with an umbrella! A birdcage one with a hook handle is all I’m looking for. I’ll have to do some searching.

10. To top off my *wish list, I will be buying one of my new favourite Christmas films. I saw Arthur Christmas last year with my cousins and we all adored it. Very funny, very cute and everything a family Christmas flick should be. Once it hits December, this one is going on repeat.

*I’m tired of using the word ‘wish’ already. It sounds a little spoilt because these are materialistic wishes.

What are your favourite things about Autumn/Winter? Do you prefer this season to others or are you more gutted that Summer is over? Have you got a wish list? Let me know!

As for my countdown to the big dates of this end of the year, I haven’t got to the stage where I’m telling people every day. There are still a few days of September left and then the whole of October before my countdown officially begins. Until then, I’ll be sure to enjoy the start of my favourite season!

Tweet Pin It Now!