Ever wondered what's on my ipod?

Well, now you can know. I've finally found somewhere to put all my favourite soundtracks to share with other people who find them just as fascinating as I do. I love them all; classic, fast, sentimental, aggressive, funny, threatening, they are what makes the atmosphere of every film. So here are my favourites, I hope you like them.

Summer movie madness...Your guide to what's big in 2011

Summer 2011 is looking to be a fantastic and an intensely awaited time for movie lovers. This quick look at some of the films that I'm really looking forward to will hopefully get you clued up on what's going to be some of the biggest blockbusters even when the sun is shining. Release dates can be found on the right hand side >>>

I have never been this excited for...The Hangover Part 2

With what seems to be another kick ass soundtrack, this one is set in Bangkok with the same boys (Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianikis and Ed Helms) returning to our screen for another wedding catastrophe. This time it's Stu's turn, and the narrative is played out in the same way as the first film, so you're just going to have to wait and see what's uncovered. Trailers have just started showing in cinemas, so take a peek and see what you think of the hilarious trailer:



Another big one, and one which fans may be worrying about as it doesn't star Orlando Bloom or Keira Knightley any more is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. With the beautiful Johnny Depp back as Jack Sparrow, his wit is what will make this movie I'm sure, as it's all about him trying to find the Fountain of Youth. But with Geoffrey Rush back as Barbossa, and the new faces of Penelope Cruz as his old flame Angelica with her father Blackbeard (Ian McShane) this is bound to be worth a watch.



Next up which I can't wait to review is the final film of the lot, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. At first I was pretty irritated that they cut the film in two, but I now appreciate that it's given fans something to anticipate, and I for one am on the edge of my seat having read the books a million times. This is the last chapter, and the battle in Hogwarts begins. Be prepared to shed some tears if you haven't read the books, that's all I'm saying guys! This looks like it is bursting with action and impressive special effects.



I haven't seen her on the screen lately, but Cameron Diaz is going to be back with her film Bad Teacher. The title pretty much explains itself, but it's a comedy starring Justin Timberlake as well, and it doesn't actually look too bad. Diaz is fiesty, sarcastic and sexy. What's not to love?



I am starting to think there are far too many of these films coming out, first there was the trilogy, then X Men Origins, and now X Men: First Class. An interesting take on the series, this film takes us back before Charles Xavier (James McAvoy, I won't complain at that...) became a professor and before Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) became Magneto. Set in the 60's this film is more about the discovery of the mutants, which in a way I think is much more exciting! I can feel the tension between the two main characters too, just by watching the trailer. Let me know your opinions.



I am an animation lover, and recently watched Kung Fu Panda for the first time as I heard Kung Fu Panda 2 is soon due for release. Living his life as the Dragon Warrior, Po (Jack black) is still kicking butt, but his new enemy threatens Kung Fu altogether so Po must work with the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, David Cross, and Lucy Liu) to defeat him, and of course with the help of Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). Hopefully this will be one that children and adults alike can enjoy.



Lastly, Marvel are bringing out some fabulous films, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor which is in cinemas now. Both of these films look amazing, and if you love you comics then you need to see these. There are loads more films coming out, but these are the ones that interest me the most, so if you want up to date news and trailers I suggest going to http://www.imdb.com/ for all your film needs.

Sucker Punch

Until now Snyder’s directorial reputation has preceded him, as a man who can successfully adapt graphic novels with a particular cinematic style not unlike that of Tim Burton, and with the intention of making his own mark in the film industry. With the chilling opening of Sucker Punch, Emily Browning’s cover of Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics effectively dramatizes the first few scenes in which she (Babydoll) is framed for the murder of her sister. This is the first among many energetic covers from the soundtrack; soon to follow is a Queen mash-up of “I Want It All” and “We Will Rock You”, which is not only an amusing accompaniment to the Mayor’s entrance to the asylum Babydoll is sent to, but is pure evidence that this film has attitude written all over it.

The film works on two levels of fantasy; as Babydoll enters the asylum named the Lennox House for the Mentally Insane in the 1960’s, she first imagines it as a burlesque brothel, where the girls must learn a unique routine to perform to the men who come to visit, in hope of survival. The second level appears as Babydoll begins her dance, an action packed fantasy world with zombie German soldiers and dragons, a fantastic choice of antagonists, which parallels the narrative of reality, where she must find five key objects to escape the asylum before she is lobotomised in just a few days. The visuals are impressive, but some audiences may feel that Snyder’s influence of mixing live action with CGI is too powerful. The aesthetics of the film have been made priority, and the narrative definitely suffers because of this.

The underlying motifs and themes of female empowerment and male domination keep the first level of fantasy fairly gripping, but it is in their efforts to complete the quests that enjoyment can begin to diminish. The slow motion that viewers may be familiar with from films such as The Matrix can literally slow the film and pace of the action down, not necessarily in a positive way. Despite Snyder being well known for this technique, it seemed unnecessary in many action sequences which lacked tension, but on the other hand did add to the feel of the film as being similar to another graphic novel, particularly the scene involving the dragon, a ‘boss’ that very much reminded me of the fighting sequences in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

The costumes are far from innocent, no doubt the generous amount of thigh shown by all five girls; Babydoll, Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and Amber (Jamie Chung) will be more than enough for male audiences. However, viewers will have to look past the school girl outfit and leotards, if possible, to witness that Sucker Punch can be a work of genius. Japanese influences of anime and manga are certain, particularly with the girls’ hair, costumes and use of expression, specifically Babydoll’s eyes which are a focus piece throughout the film - we are either zooming into her pupil or she is staring innocently at us. The darkness of reality in the asylum is stressed by the low lighting and dull colours which cinematographer Larry Fong, who also worked on 300 and Watchmen with Snyder, has contrasted well with Babydoll’s use of imagination to create a vivid and vibrant environment compared to that of her prison. The dialogue however, is full of meaningless one liners that confirms that these women may be physically involved throughout, but the emotion seems a little forced.

Abbie Cornish gives a strong performance and shows a growing development in her career, as well as Emily Browning, who had a much more delicate and maternal role in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) and Vanessa Hudgens who is best known for her role as Gabriella in all three High School Musical films. They are all a joy to watch with guns in hand, despite some female viewers thinking that they look too unrealistic for looking too ‘perfect’ in many close up shots. Thus, all these elements can make the film on a whole feel rather artificial, as well as some of the vocabulary used for the historical context of the time, and Snyder’s style is so overwhelming that it’s near on impossible to connect with any of the characters. This suggests that perhaps the male viewers would be better off playing a video game instead, because despite being psychologically thrilling, the action feels like it ends within seconds and poses the question, has anything really been left to the imagination? That goes for Snyder, too.

Love and Other Drugs

The biggest element that seems to be apparently absent in modern day romantic comedies is the chemistry between the two main leads, who are more often than not the wrong couple to combine. However, Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal create remarkable passion and a soothing overdose of pleasure as we watch two beautiful actors working together well, particularly since their tense and unsuccessful relationship in their previous film together, Brokeback Mountain (2005). Gyllenhaal’s role in this film appears to be taken more seriously; regardless of his egotistical personality as Jamie Randall, a pharmaceutical salesman for “Pfizer” whose charm woos the ladies, the adult content being dealt with here makes this romantic comedy more of a drama. Nevertheless, Love and Other Drugs still accommodates the real issues that strike home, such as a relationship that has no serious potential for the couple involved, yet the film’s deeper themes surround Maggie (Anne Hathaway), who is desperately battling the first stage of Parkinson’s disease, whilst in contrast of her declining health the film emphasises the deterioration of the American medical world.

I have had my moments where I’ve thought about death, particularly dying young and what effect that would have on loved ones, but I have never had to consider what it would be like to remain with a loved one who you would consequently watch disappear. This notion is what makes the film so heart-breaking, particularly in the scene where Maggie attends a convention for other people with her disease, who talk individually to the audience about the difficulties of “trying to tie my tie” and simple activities that their tremors complicate, laughing about it and easing the pain of their fate, a warming scene which is not unlike the beginning of Up In The Air (2009). It is the simple movement of Hathaway’s smile which makes this film so stunning; the appreciation of the finer expressions in life, even laughing. The film doesn’t highlight too much detail of the disease, though perhaps it should have for those of us less educated in the symptoms of Parkinson’s, but instead captures the true features of relationships; trust, loyalty, paranoia and accepting that you are good enough for someone. Many obstacles overcome this, as expected, such as the man who has a wife with the disease claiming he “would not do it this way again” and the search for a cure that will never come. Despite this, the audience witness the introduction of the drug Viagra, which consequently, and ironically, seemed to decrease the amount of passion between the couple as Maggie struggles to receive the medication she needs.

Hathaway’s yearn for independence in Maggie is admirable; the confidence she displays in actions such as pouring a glass of vodka, or cutting a photo, as well as her grasp on the film as a whole, which she takes into her own hands and dominates triumphantly. On the other hand, Gyllenhaal has come a long way from The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and both characters shed their insecurities and commitment issues throughout the film, making them more relatable to the audience. The very graphic and surprisingly frequent scenes of passionate sex looks and feels genuine; they aren’t a couple getting it wrong the first time, Zwick proves this through a variety of angled shots, which may be an intense experience for some to watch as they are so blunt, but there is also a relief felt as this couple aren’t afraid to flaunt what they’ve got. Thus, the comical moments were not found in an embarrassing fondle, but from Jamie’s arrogant brother Josh (Josh Gad), who drifts from the narrative occasionally and makes a rather appropriate older Jonah Hill. He learns from the best, and ruins all the conventional clichés usually found in romantic comedies. Maggie also has some funny dialogue, including some very amusing erectile dysfunction puns.

Maggie’s love of art; photos, drawings and the black and white home footage illustrate who they were as a couple, and reflects with who they will become as we accept Maggie will gradually worsen; not unlike the expectations that some people may have of future films of the romance genre. Perhaps it’s about time audiences were prescribed something a little bit stronger?

Reprinted with kind permission, please check out the original post at http://theoohtray.com/2011/01/film-review-love-and-other-drugs/