Films to watch:

You'd have thought that doing a Film and English degree at university meant that I shouldn't have a list of 'great' films to watch anymore. I did watch a lot of good things at university, most of which were for the first time but sadly I couldn't have spent the whole time watching the IMDB/Empire/Metatcritic best film lists. Now I have finished, I can watch films for me and I love nothing more than Watch Lists. By keeping it as a blog, I can update and strike things off easily, while it also acts as an incentive to get watching it because I imagine a lot of people (my uncle especially) will be shocked at the majority of these.

I pride myself in my film knowledge and the amount of films I've seen. I've seen all of Wes Anderson's films for example, watch the Before trilogy monthly and I have seen a lot of Hitchcock, but I still like to watch anything and everything, regardless of critical or box office success. However there are always more films to watch, so I best get cracking.

If you have any recommendations, please do comment with them!

• Interstellar
• Whiplash
• Selma
• LA Confidental
• Taxi Driver
• The Pianist
• Being John Malkovich
• Boogie Nights
• The Double
• Apocalypse Now
• The Godfather
• Creed
• Grave of the Fireflies
• This Is Spinal Tap
• Cool Hand Luke
• Liberal Arts
• Midnight Special
• Mud
• Brooklyn

TV

• Twin Peaks
• Buffy The Vampire Slayer
• Veep
• True Detective
• Finish Community

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How Hamilton helped me through the last stage of uni and my favourite things about it.

If you have me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, I think you'll know that I love Hamilton. I wanted to write and they say to write about what you love, so here is a kinda long (but picture-filled), kinda rambling, but very excited post about my love for Hamilton. It's also a great place to start if you have heard about it (or seen me go on about it) and want to find out more.

http://linmanuel.co.vu/post/145838874558/the-cast-of-hamilton-performs-onstage-during-the

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The Nice Guys (2016) Review

Running Time: 116 mins.
Directed by: Shane Black.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Beau Knapp, Yaya DaCosta, Ty Simpkins.
UK release date: 3rd June 2016.

After tackling the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man 3 in 2013, Shane Black is back directing a neo-noir mystery set amidst the late 70s. Enforcer Jackson Healey (Crowe) and private detective Holland March (Gosling) team up to solve a case that involves deceased porn star Misty Mountains and missing girl Amelia. Along with the help of March’s young daughter, Holly, the pair find that there is more to this missing person’s case than they first believed.

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Sing Street (2016) review

Running Time: 106 mins
Directed by: John Carney
Starring: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy.
UK release date: 20th May 2016

John Carney (Once, Begin Again) has a knack for making touching dramas where you feel physically within the space of the characters. Though not as intimate as the beautiful Once, Sing Street similarly captures your heart through the sweet protagonist Conor Lalor and its original songs that sound like they are straight from the 1980s.

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Zootopia: the film I wish I had when I was a child

With my dissertation looming, I do no have the time to pour my heart out and write a review for Zootopia (Zootropolis here in Europe). But I do want to write down a quick ramble of a few things I really loved about it.

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Pride + Prejudice + Zombies (2016) mini review

I haven't blogged in almost a year, and even then the last film review I posted was a few years ago. But, having just been to an early screening of Pride + Prejudice + Zombies, I felt the urge to write again. So for the first time in a while, here is my review (note how university has improved my writing slightly):

Running Time: 108 mins

Directed by: Burr Steers
Starring: Lily James, Sam Riley, Bella Heathcote, Douglas Booth, Matt Smith, Lena Heady, Sally Phillips, Charles Dance
UK release date: 11th February 2016. 

Watching Eliza Bennent completely own Mr Darcy at a duel with swords and knives is something I never knew I wanted but, as it turns out, I needed it.

Pride + Prejudice + Zombies will mostly entertain those who are familiar with Pride and Prejudice, with not enough eating-of-brains it might not quench the thirst of zombie movie fans. There are plenty of intense zombie-revealing scenes and the odd scare to gently infuse the genres together, but it feels rushed and forced at the same time. 

The one thing the film does achieve is great casting; Smith in particular as the socially awkward but innocent Mr/Parson Collins, who is not as skilled with defeating zombies as the women, is the highlight. Mr Darcy on the other hand feels too much like a parody it sticks out, but thankfully Lily James is a likeable Elizabeth Bennet which keeps at least a little interest to what feels like a two hour long film.

Elizabeth and her sisters have been encouraged and trained as warriors, a needed role as the population of zombies continues to grow in England. It's refreshing to see female characters fight as good, or better in Elizabeth's case, than the men. The most entertaining parts of the film are the Bennet sisters fighting zombies, but sadly we only get to see this a couple of times. Even the renowned, zombie killer Lady Catherine de Bourgh's (Heady) is a disappointment as her infamous defeats are only alluded to and we never see her in action.

Colonel Darcy is a zombie killer with the belief that people should be killed after being bitten, even before they turn, similar to the regular, arrogant Darcy. The greatest scene of the film is the new interpretation of Darcy's proposal, where Elizabeth rightfully and finally gives Darcy a little of what he deserves in a duel. The film is funny and intense, but not as enticing as it wants to be.

Even with the girl-power and often amusing, intertextual depictions of Austen's classic, Pride + Prejudice + Zombies is not as exciting or original as the concept entailed.

2/5

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February and March happy things.

I never posted a February Happy Things post, so I'm combining both months. So for the last two month's, I have been loving....

1. Brooklyn Nine Nine. I am heartbroken that I have caught up with seasons 1 and 2 in only a month. I love the cast, the whole premise and the format of cutaway flashbacks. It's really great and I want EVERYONE to watch it. (Also, Gina is my fave)

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2. The fact Easter is approaching.

3. Revisiting Craig David. His 2007 album 'Trust Me' really was great. Especially 'Officially Yours' which has been on repeat for the last couple of weeks.

4. This quote from The Lord of the Rings

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5. The fact I'm ploughing through Parks and Recreation. Finally onto season 6. I'm getting closer to the end.

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6. Bringing together ideas for my dissertation. Slowly getting there...

7. Game of Thrones is approaching...

8. This picture of Ariana Grande (this girl always makes my lists)

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9a. Angel and Big Sean being cute. ADORABLE.

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10. Mamrie Hart accidentally cutting Hannah Hart's hair. HILARIOUS.

11. Nice, spring weather.

12. Counting down the days until the summer arrives so I can watch Twin Peaks in it's entirety. I've been exposed and I need to see it!

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13. This quote:

“If flowers can teach themselves how to bloom after winter passes, so can you.” - Noor Shirazie.

14. Reading Jean Rhys in English class and LOVING the woman. I will one day read Wide Sargasso Sea (obviously after university reading).

15. Chris Pratt and Chris Evans being adorable bestest buds in the world! Also being real human beings and a real hero

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A bit longer than usual, but this is what two months of loving has created!

What have you been loving recently?

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