Adventures in Film

The start of the year is awards season. Starting with the Golden Globes in January and culminating with the Academy Awards in mid February. The best films, directors, actors and actresses of the year are recognised and rewarded. So far this year the biggest winners are Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 1917 and Parasite.

I saw Joker in November and I absolutely adored it. I thought it was moving, powerful and it made me empathise with one of the most notorious villains in film. Another highly nominated film is Jojo Rabbit. I recently saw this and I thought it was wonderful. It was playful and fun and desperately sad in places. It made me laugh and cry and it could quite possibly be one of my favourite films of the year. I also recently watched Marriage Story and The Irishman. Both very different films available to stream on Netflix. I enjoyed The Irishman. It long and I did have to take a few breaks. I’m pretty glad I could stream at home as i might have missed some of it will bathroom breaks, and drinks. I also really liked Marriage Story. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson were really believable as a divorcing couple and the legal wrangle that ensued.

My next cinema trips will hopefully be to see Bombshell, Parasite and 1917.

I’m very nosy and one of my favourite questions to ask a new friend is what their favourite films are. I think it’s a great icebreaker and can spark a lot of conversation, especially if you’re passionate about film.

With that in mind I asked a few of my friends and family what their favourite films are, and also what was the first and last film they saw at the cinema. Video is below!

Let me know in the comments what your faves are!

I love a trip to the cinema. I find it exciting to go see the latest releases on the big screen but its no denying that cinema trips are expensive and sometimes its cheaper and easier to stay home and watch Netflix.

In post war Britain cinema audiences reached record numbers. In 1946 cinema audiences reached an annual figure of 1.64 billion (stats from cinemauk.org.uk). After this peak cinema audiences gradually began to decline annually year on year to low of 54 million in 1984. 2018 saw a new high for cinema admissions. 177 million cinema admissions were reported in 2018, and admissions have been growing steadily each year since the 1980s. (Stats from cinemauk.org.uk)

I did a quick poll amongst my Facebook friends to see if this trend was reflected. Of the people who replied 73% visited the cinema on a regular basis. So in this era were we can watch films at home on gigantic cinema like tv’s on the plethora of steaming services what motivates people to still go to the cinema.

The BFI (British Film Institute) reported that a combination of Hollywood blockbusters from the likes of Marvel Studio’s as well as UK independent films such as “Darkest Hour” made 2018 such a great year for cinema. I spoke to a fellow film lover Kate Smith on why she loves to visit the cinema. She said “I like going to the cinema because it’s not only an activity that me and my brother both have in common (we both have unlimited cards) so we make sure to go at least once a week together and it’s a way that we get to spend time together, but it also the complete immersion of being in a cinema that you just don’t get watching the film on a DVD or Netflix. The whole aspect of buying the tickets, getting the snacks and taking your seat still feels so special even at 19, with an unlimited card, the novelty of the cinema hasn’t worn off on me yet!” When I asked Kate why she spends her disposable income on her unlimited card, which enables her to see as many films as she wants for a one off monthly cost, Kate remarked “I try to go to the cinema at least 2/3 times a week, so the unlimited card is not only a money saver (last year I saved £75) but the added bonuses of the money off the snacks, and money off restaurants near by is also amazing! As a film lover, and someone who regularly attends the cinema I think they’re a great investment!”

So it seems that going to the pictures is still a pastime that is relevant and with the amazing films that are due to be released in 2019 the trend will hopefully continue.

Sunday night saw the most anticipated ceremony of awards season. The Oscars are given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (oscars.org) to recognise cinematic excellence. It’s always a flurry of best dressed vs worst dressed, tearful speeches and glittering after parties.

The 2019 ceremony was no different. One major difference from previous years was the lack of host. Originally Kevin Hart was down to present the awards but after some homophobic controversy, Hart withdrew and the Academy decided to hold the ceremony without a host and just have the award presenters take a segment each.

The main awards are those for best picture, director, actor and actress, and supporting actor and actress. There are a whole host of other awards though for cinematography, costume, makeup and more. Olivia Colman made a very emotional speech for winning the best actress Oscar from her portrayal of Queen Anne in the Favourite. Remi Malek scooped the best actor award for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. I loved this film when I saw it at the cinema earlier this year. Best Director went to Alfonso Cuarón for his direction of Roma, which also won best foreign language film. There was some surprise over the best picture award going to Green Book. Legendary director Spike Lee was outspoken about his displeasure, likening the film to Driving Miss Daisy with a change of seating arrangements.

Green Book tells the story of an African American pianist being driven around the American south in the 60’s, by a white Italian American chauffeur. The best picture award caused some backlash when the predominantly white production team took to the stage to accept the away.

Whether you agree or disagree with the decisions made the Oscars always guarantee tears, drama and amazing dresses.

Based on Yukitso Kishiro’s manga series, Gunnm, Alita: BattleAngel is the long awaited release written and produced by James Cameron. First announced in 2003, the film was repeatedly delayed due to James Cameron’s schedule. https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/alita-battle-angel

Set in a future, where the earth has been left ravaged by war,an abandoned female cyborg wakes with no memory of who she is or where she came from. She is discovered by Dr Ido, a cyber-doctor who restores her and names her Alita after his late daughter. Alita has to adapt to her new life while trying to discover who she was.

This film looks incredible. James Cameron has built an incredible world again, after doing so in Avatar. The post war scrapyard of Iron City is a bustling metropolis, where Alita is first found by Dr. Ido. Iron City is in sharp contrast to the mysterious sky city Zalem. The characters look incredible too. Humans and cyborgs live together and many humans have upgraded bodies and robotic limbs. Then there are the bounty hunters. They are ultra modified humans who chase after the bad guys for rewards, as there are no police in the lowly Iron City. Their abilities can far outshine the normal, frail human body. Alita is introduced to the ultra dangerous sport of Motorball, where the ultimate champion can win the ultimate prize. That is a one way ticket to live in wealthy Zalem.

I did think that the actual story was a little weak. I don’t want to give too much away but a lot of the film is a build up for an obvious sequel. The ending is set up perfectly for the next film, and the continuation of Alita’s story. There were some great parts of the film though. Christoph Waltz plays an amazing part as Dr. Ido, cyber-doctor by day, repairing cyborgs and augmented humans. He has a secret and is out doing some serious shady business by night. I also thought Rose Salazar’s Alita was a good character. She is so innocent and childlike in the beginning until she finds her feet and remembers who she really is.

Overall this film was good, not great but I’m looking forward to the inevitable sequel.

Picture courtesy of https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/marvel-studios-reveals-avengers-endgame-poster

2019 is shaping up to be an amazing year for cinema. As mentioned before I am a huge Marvel fan so for me, the most anticipated release of the year has got to be Avengers: Endgame. We were left with a huge cliff-hanger at the end of infinity war and Marvel fans have been waiting a year to find out what happens to our heroes that vanished into dust https://www.marvel.com/movies/avengers-endgame. Endgame is out in April.

Before Endgame, Carol Danvers will be gracing the silver screen as Captain Marvel. Potentially integral to defeating Thanos, as teased at the end of Infinity War. Before Nick Fury (spoilers) disappears into thin air he contacts Captain Marvel. https://www.marvel.com/movies/captain-marvel. Captain Marvel is out in March.

Later this year Tom Holland is back with another Spider-Man outing – Spider-Man: Far From Home. I’m trying not to look too far ahead as I don’t want to spoil Endgame for myself but I’m looking forward to this one too! Spider-Man: Far From Home is out in July. https://www.marvel.com/movies/spider-man-far-from-home

Moving away from Marvel, Disney have a few irons in the fire for 2019 but the one I’m most excited about is Toy Story 4. The teaser trailers so far, albeit brief look hilarious but as always with Woody and the gang there will be tears amongst the laughter. Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear has said some of the last scenes were “hard to get through.” https://www.pixar.com/feature-films-toy-story-4/. Toy Story 4 is out in June.

Following on from the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, a film based on the life of Elton John is coming this year. Taron Egerton plays the rocketman, and his rise to fame. The trailers for this look great and the music is always guarantees and sing-along, feel good film. https://www.paramount.com/movies/rocketman. Rocketman is out in May.

It: Chapter 2 is coming later in 2019. I’m a big Stephen King fan and I really enjoyed Part 1 of the remake of this terrifying tale of a clown stalking children in a small town. The conclusion will see The Losers Club face off against It to try and put an end to this killer clown one and for all. A good one for Halloween, It: Chapter 2 is out in September. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7349950/

Hello. I love watching a film. I love going to the cinema. I love losing myself in stories, in different worlds. I’ve been to space with Han Solo, to Middle Earth with Bilbo Baggins and to the future with Marty McFly. There’s nothing I enjoy more than ticking off a film from my must watch list, or discovering a hidden gem on Netflix.

My blog is going to be a mixture of film reviews, upcoming releases I’m looking out for and interviews about favourite films and why people love going to the cinema. Nosy by nature, I like to know what favourite films people have, what their first film they can remember is and what the last film the saw was. So, for the record my favourite film is Vertigo (but it changes a lot). The first film I remember seeing was Walt Disney’s Cinderella and the last film I saw was “The Shape of Water” which I thought was amazing and well deserving of its Best Director and Best Picture Oscar’s in 2017.

I’m also a huge Marvel fan. I really enjoy films that connect and reference one another so the MCU is a dream come true for me. Nothing pleases me more than having a tiny nerdgasm when I spy an easter egg for another film. One of my most anticipated film releases for 2019 is Avengers Endgame and I’m really looking forward to Captain Marvel too which should help to fill in some gaps and set up Endgame.

Please get in touch and let me know what your favourite films are, and what you are looking forward to seeing this year.