Improbable

Improbable didn't really interest me that much on its heyday. But when I saw it at an online second hand book store I decided to give it a try someday. It took me very long to finish it (I was ill) and I didn't like it as much as the rest of the population. And the cover design was not my taste at all. 

Focus

Photo credit: amonymousblog.com

Focus is entertaining but didn't really make much sense as a film in which clever people conned each other.  I like Will Smith and Margot Robie was very pretty. 

Delivery Man

photo credit: thisisinfamous.com

Delivery Man is not a good film and I don't like its lead actor. But the idea is not bad and I even shed some stupid tears during. 

Mission Impossible III

Photo credit: decentfilms.com

Mission Impossible III started out really good but for some reason I fell asleep towards the end during this second viewing. And I have forgotten most of the film anyway. Despite the close up shots, various locales filmed to advantage and a decent cast of actors there is one whose on screen presence is not tolerable to me, Michelle Monaghan. For some reason I can't stand the lady. She is not a bad actor, she is decent looking, she doesn't pick awful projects but watching her makes me wants to turn whatever she is on to off. It is my fault of course not hers. 

Wild

Photo credit: nightfilmreviews.com

Wild is one of those caucasian woman telling us how she sorted out her messed up life. It didn't work out for me in Eat, Pray, Love (neither the film nor the book) and this one I hesitated to pick up the book but was eager to watch the film. And I was not dissapointed. This caucasian lady has really bad troubles and she decided to give it a try to sorting them out by hiking a tough trail. I love hiking, walking etc. so right from the start I was interested and the film was good at telling the story. I may even pick the book up at some point since many tears were shed during the viewing.  

Pay The Ghost

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Pay The Ghost was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. For some reason I like Nicholas Cage (it is probably because of Wild At Heart) and this film had lots of close up shots of actors' faces and the story was not that bad. 

Knight and Day

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Knight and Day is very entertaining and I liked it even better after multiple viewings. But then again I love Cameron Diaz. 

American Sniper

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American Sniper is a Clint Eastwood film so it is not a surprise that I liked the filmatism of it. War is not a favorite genre of mine and I don't really like Bradley Cooper. The film depicted very nicely of the general American family and that type of Texan culture I suppose. And the lead character (who is actually real life inspired) has some definite notions of how to protect and serve. Other opinions were depicted too (his brother's or some of the other soldiers in his team for instance) but all in all I can understand why this film was a box office success in its home country. And to be fair I doubt that the citiziens of any other country will have different point of views if they were placed in similar situations. 

Oh and the fake baby? Why? I wondered Why?

Cinderella (2015)

Photo credit: glamourmagazine.co.uk

Cinderella (2015) turned out to be really entertaining. Even my mother was captivated and watched eagerly. It is a testament to good storytelling when the story you have told is known to everyone and there aren't any surprises. 

Knock Knock

Photo credit: glenonfilm.com

Knock Knock was chosen because of the genre. And I don't hate Eli Roth. And of course Keanu Reeves is one of my 80s crushes (and he aged really well). This is something of a cautionary tale for happily married family men. Do not have sex with young girls even if they stand soaped and naked in your bathroom and suck your penis. You must refuse and kick them out. Otherwise they will blackmail you first and then ruin your house, your credibility and your marriage. Hey at least they'll leave you alive. This was not really a good film but it was entertaining. 

High Crimes

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High Crimes is yet another film I have watched till the end but didn't really impress me. I like the actors but all in all this would have been better in book form I suppose. 

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

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Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters turned out to be a regular action film with lots of CGI and decent acting. I liked it but am not really impressed.

Power

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Power seemed interesting but ended up being boring. The plot was good (how media shapes up the perception of the public at the elections) and the cast was great but somehow the rythm of the film was slow and uneven (ironic really since we see Richard Gere keeping rythm throughout). I have watched it till the end but the most interesting thing in it was Denzel Washington as a villain.

The Keeper of Lost Causes

The Keeper of Lost Causes is the novel I chose to take me out from The First Law trilogy withdrawal. I should have heeded to the reviews. The novel was not bad but the audiobook version was a miss. They tried to put a Danish accent to the speaking sections and it didn't work at all. And the twist was visible and kind of far fetched but all in all I'll probably would not turn the next novel in the series if it comes my way. 

The Bride of the Century

The Bride of the Century was a 'not knowing anything about it but it was there' sort of purchase and I'm happy to say that it worked out very well. The main girl was the candy type and the main guy is a surly chaebol with a golden heart deeply hidden. I love this combo and it didn't dissapoint me this time either. The male lead was not to my taste but I understand that he has a lot of fans. The main girl played a double role, not really that well but not that bad either. All in all this is a win. 

Gone, Baby, Gone

Gone, Baby, Gone is not Mystic River but it surely is a great suspense novel. It took me sometime to get used to it (probably because I have read the following novel first) but in the end it ended up being a pleasure. 

The Last Argument of Kings

The Last Argument of Kings is the last novel in The First Law trilogy and I'm very very happy. This didn't have the sort of impact on me as the first two novels of The Stromlight Archives but a different one. First off I loved the reader Mr. Steven Pacey. He did a great job with the accents and altogether enhances the experience. The novel is one of villains. There is not a single good character but the wicked sense of humour works. I have found myself snorting more often than not and laughing out loud at places.

The ending was very satisfactory and I highly recommend this trilogy.

Pas Son Genre

Photo credit: www.ouest-france.fr

Pas Son Genre (Not My Type) was a terrible shock to this unsuspecting rom com lover.

SPOILERS!!

The plot is why I chose this one. A philosophy teacher and a writer who is a Paris intellectual has to work at a rural town as the teacher. Reluctantly he agrees. He is a type who doesn't like to be attached and we see him breaking up with his lover at the credits with no more thought to her as he departs her apartment to Les Deux Magots and orders breakfast. In the rural town he goes for a haircut and likes his hairdresser. Jennifer is one of those happy people who loves what they do, happy where they live and she is divorced with a mother to a son (probably 6-7 years old I guess). She has two good friends and loves to karaoke and does it well. She likes popular novels, popular films (actors like Jennifer Anniston, Cameron Diaz etc.). These two have a great chemistry and start an affair with our brooding intellectual Clement enjoying the company of Jennifer. However this relationship has a kind of disrupting influence on Jennifer. Firstly she is sort of "informed" or "taught" by Clement frequently. This doesn't seem to bother her since she actually likes to read (although usually popular novels with light subjects and prose) but Clement hides him being a writer with a published novel from her (he actually thought about coming clean at one point but decided against it) so deep into their relationship, she was shocked to see his novel by accident at a book store. This crisis was avoided by him admitting that he was scraded that she will label him as a Paris intellectual (a breed she doesn't really care for although she loves him) and the poor things totally buys it and forgives him. The problem of the huge difference he and she observe their relationship happens when they see an colleague of his on the street and he doesn't introduce her. Despite the fact that the colleague introduces her husband and children and looks at her obviously expecting an introduction. She introduces herself in the end by name but the omission is heavy on their day. She acts all normal later on when he actually dared to apologise (without an explanation). And she thinks a lot and a lot and becomes very unhappy her sunny disposition and happy ways obliterated. She has sex with him one night and tells him that she will go to a holiday place with her two friends and that she'll see him a week later when she comes back. He is unaware that something is wrong and a week later she drops to the hairdressers and finds out that she has actually quit and her friends thought that she went to a holiday with Clement.

Ok this is where Clement will look for her, pine for her and then later confess his undying love for her with a song at a karaoke (he refused to sing one earlier) and they live happily ever after, no?

NO

He looks for her but she has already moved out from the town altogether. The last shot we see is her empty apartment with the doorbell ringing (by Clement) in the background. Yeah and then the film ends. I actually forwarded the end credits to the very end hoping for a final scene that brings some sort of resolution. However there was none. I was really frustrated. I still am frustrated.

Inglorious Basterds

Photo credit: cevizfilm.blogspot.com.tr

Inglorious Basterds was even better this second time. I love Tarantino films and this one is no exception. 

Kiss Me Annabel

Kiss Me Annabel was not really to my taste. I didn't like either of the leads and couldn't understand the conflict (she is in love with him and he her but she thinks he is confusing lust with love) and all in all this ended up being boring.

Among The Living (AuxYeux Des Vivants)

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Among The Living (Aux Yeux Des Vivants) is the type of horror film that mixes up early teen angst and horrible side effects of chemicals used at war. It was alright I suppose but nothing special. 

Before They Are Hanged

Before They Are Hanged is the second novel in The First Law trilogy. And it was just as good as the first. In fact better. 

The Good Girl

Photo credit: thisdistractedglobe.com

The Good Girl is one of those American films where the characters are having first world problems. Well as they say in my county the fire burns where it falls (meaning one can't really feel the pain of others unless they are familiar with the situation).

This one was saved from being dull by my love for Jake Gyllenhaal's physique and by my being distracted with the fact that Jennifer Anniston is Rachel in all her films no matter who else the character is. 

North Country

Photo credit: www.spiritualityandpractice.com

North Country caused many tears yet again in this second viewing. I love Charlise Theron and she is excellent in this. It also points towards harrassment of women at a work place. I guess I'm lucky where I work since I never had to deal with that kind of thing depicted in the film. Apart from that the story of the lead character is tragic but thank God there was a happy ending. 

Lucy

Photo credit: www.cizgiroman.com

Lucy was a film that could have been more entertaining with a plot like that. The cast was great but I needed more action less philosophy (especially such unscientific information presented as scientific). Anyway, I watched it without falling asleep.