8 Films I'll Always Rewatch



Hey guys!

 

 

How are you all? Today I am going to share with you some of my favourite films that I'll will always be able to rewatch.

 

 

I love watching films. There is something so comforting about snuggling under my duvet with my laptop and a tub of Ben and Jerry's (cookie dough, of course). While I do love finding new films - especially ones that not many people have heard of - it is sometimes nice to watch a film I'm familiar with. I'll often find that there are way too many films to choose from on Netflix so I'll end up watching something I've already seen before. Although this does mean that I know what happens, there are some films that I can watch over and over again and not get bored of them. These tend to be musicals, childhood classics, teen movies and Christmas films. There are eight films that really stand out.

 

 

1. Matilda  



Film Forum

 

This is one of the first films I ever saw, and I'm pretty sure I've watched it at least 10 times since. I know, crazy! It's such a heart-warming film, and Matilda and Miss Honey are my favourite my favourite characters. I always wanted a teacher like Miss Honey. I love the fact that Matilda can move objects just by looking at them - and she's so brave. I'd definitely say that Matilda is one of the best films of my childhood.

 

 

2. The Sound of Music 

The Sound of Music

 

The Sound of Music is another film I have watched numerous times. I love the songs (especially My Favourite Things and Sixteen Going On Seventeen), and the setting is beautiful. The interior of the house is stunning too. Julie Andrews is perfect for the role of Maria. She is so energetic and has an amazing voice. The Sound of Music is a timeless classic and I'm sure people (including me) will still be watching it in years to come.

Daily Mail

 

 

3. School of Rock  

Viral Thread

 

School of Rock is one of my most favourite films of my lifetime. Jack Black is hilarious, and the kids are great. I love Miranda Cosgrove's character. I also like the soundtrack, even though I'm not really a fan of rock music.

 

 

4. Home Alone 



Mental Floss

 

Home Alone is the ultimate Christmas film. It features a cute kid (played by Macaulay Culkin), hilarious villains and memorable lines (e.g. 'Keep the change, ya filthy animal'). I also love the setting of the second film - New York looks so magical at Christmas. I pretty much watch either Home Alone or Home Alone 2: Lost in New York every Christmas. It has me in fits of laughter every time.

 

 

5. Clueless 

The Daily Beast

 

Clueless is undeniably one of the best teen films. The fashion is great (I've always lusted after Cher's wardrobe) and there are so many quotable lines. While Cher is shallow, she is still a likeable character. For those of you who may not be familiar with Clueless, it's based on Jane Austen's Emma. Alicia Silverstone portrays Cher, an attractive and wealthy teen who lives with her father in Beverly Hills. When Tai Fraser moves to her school, Cher teams up with her best friend Dionne and they decide to give Tai a makeover in order to make her more popular. After failing to set up Tai with Elton, Cher begins to focus on her own love life, soon realising that the guy she likes was right in front of her the whole time.

 

 

6. 10 Things I Hate About You 



College Candy

 

I only discovered this film five or six years ago, but it quickly became one of my favourite films. I've watched it at least three times since. 10 Things I Hate About You is such a quotable films - and it stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. What more could you want?!

 

 

7. A Cinderella Story 

i Movie Quotes

A Cinderella Story was released in 2004, twelve years ago! Hilary Duff plays Sam, the 'Cinderella' character, while Chad Michael Murray is her love interest. In this updated version of Cinderella, the protagonist lives with her 'evil' stepmother, who is obsessed with Botox, and her 'ugly' stepsisters Brianna and Gabriella. Sam uses a school chatroom to escape her unfortunate life and meets Nomad609, who turns out to be Austin, the most popular guy at her school. Once Brianna and Gabriella find out, they are determined to humiliate Sam in order to ruin her chances of being with Austin. Fortunately, their plan backfires and Sam ends up with the happy ending she deserves.

 

 

8. Mean Girls 



Trouble With Film

 

How could I not include this?! Okay, it is full of clichés, but it is an absolute must-see for any teenage girl. Even though Mean Girls was released over ten years ago, it is still so relatable - two of the major themes in the film are relationships and bullying. The cast is brilliant too - it includes Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried (as the ditzy Karen), Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.



Now Here This

Mean Girls

 

So those are the eight films I'll always rewatch. I feel like having a movie marathon now! What would be on your list?

 

 

 

 Hasta luego!


Serena

 

 

 

 



August Netflix Recommendations



Hey guys!

It is no secret that I love Netflix. As a student (or rather, ex-student) I spend a lot of time on Netflix. In my last year of uni I used Netflix more often than usual since I was doing my dissertation on the portrayal of women in films and it took a while to decide the final films I would analyse.

Anyway, this post will feature five of the best films and TV shows I have watched on Netflix recently. If you're ever in the need of a Netflix binge session, I'm sure these suggestions will come in handy!

 

1. Innocence

Splash Magazines

Innocence is a film about a girl (Beckett) who realises that there is something strange going on at her new school. Beckett has just lost her mother in a surfing accident and moves to Manhattan with her father. When she starts school, Beckett experiences hallucinations and begins to grow suspicious of her teachers. I initially put off watching this film because I thought it would be scary - and I don't really like horror films. However, Innocence turned out to be creepy rather than scary. It's also quite weird. I'm hoping there is a sequel to Innocence as it ended on a rather annoying cliffhanger!

2. A Girl Like Her

A Girl Like Her Movie

A Girl Like Her focuses on Jessica, who has been bullied by Avery for a long time. She is given a wearable spy device by her best friend Brian to record everything that goes on between her and Avery. Jessica refuses to show the footage to anyone, but after she lands in hospital Brian gives the device to filmmaker Amy, and the truth about Avery is finally revealed.

 

 

A Girl Like Her deals with bullying and the effect it can have on both the victim and bully themselves. However, the film is unusual in that it focuses more on the bully and her motives behind tormenting another person. A Girl Like Her is a powerful mockumentary that will have you in tears by the end.

 

 

3. The Fundamentals of Caring
 

Indiewire

The Fundamentals of Caring is a great film to watch this summer. It follows Ben (Paul Rudd) who has just gone through a tough time and decides to get a job looking after Trevor (Craig Roberts), who has Muscle Dystrophy and is stuck in a wheelchair. Ben and Trevor embark on a roadtrip to tick off some of the things on Trevor's bucket list, including 'The World's Deepest Pit'. During their journey, Ben and Trevor are joined by Dot (Selena Gomez) and Peaches (Megan Ferguson), who is heavily pregnant. Although Trevor is very sarcastic, he soon becomes close friends with Ben and falls for Dot. The Fundamentals of Caring isn't the best film on Netflix, but Craig Roberts and Paul Rudd are excellent in their roles.

 

 

4. Jane the Virgin

EW

I love this show! I was hooked right from the start. I'll admit that when I first heard about Jane the Virgin I was a bit put off by the premise - it does seem unrealistic to get accidently artificially inseminated. Nevertheless, when I saw that it was on Netflix I thought I might as well watch it. I'm glad I did. Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is a highly likeable character, and her father (played by Jaime Camil) is hilarious. The storylines are so compelling - specially the romances and drug subplot. I was really surprised when I found out the true identity of Sin Rostro - it was not who I was expecting at all!

 

 

5. Gilmore Girls

Cinema Blend

Gilmore Girls has FINALLY been put on UK Netflix - and it's about time too! With only a couple of months to go before the revival season airs, Netflix really hasn't left much time to watch all seven previous seasons. Luckily, I have already managed to watch all of Season 1 and am currently half way through Season 2. I don't know how I'm going to get to Season 7 - or even Season 5 - before November, especially when I have an internship starting on Friday. Anyway, Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel have quickly become two of my favourite actresses. Melissa McCarthy is great too. If you haven't watched Gilmore Girls, I'd recommend you do. Now. I promise you won't regret it.

 

Honorable mentions: Full House, Fuller House, Gossip Girl, Once Upon a Time, Skins, Pretty Little Liars , Clueless, The Addams Family, Home Alone, Maleficent, Dreamgirls and The Fault in Our Stars.

 

 

So those are my Netflix recommendations! Have you got Netflix? What films and TV shows would you recommend? Have you watched any of the ones mentioned in this post?

 

 

Hasta luego! 

Serena

What I've Been Watching In September

Hey guys!


I know it's a bit late, but here are my mini reviews of the films I watched in September. I didn't get to watch much TV because I've cancelled my Netflix subscription for a while. I have, however, resumed watching Awkward, and started Scream Queens. I'll admit that they're not the most intellectual shows on TV at the moment, but they are quite funny, and Scream Queens does have a great cast. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a legal way of watching Scream Queens and Awkward here in the UK, so I was only able to see a few episodes. They should really be on Netflix - I mean, Awkward has been on for a few years now, and there has been a lot of buzz about Scream Queens. This is why I shouldn't watch American TV shows!


1. How to Deal

Source: Google

I can't believe that I only just recently realised that a film has been made of Sarah Dessen's books. Talk about being behind the times! It just shows how much of a flop it was. I mean, How to Deal does have a rating of only 5.7 (out of 10) on IMDB. Part of the reason I watched How to Deal (rather than waiting to read the books first) was to see if the film was really as bad as the reviews suggest. I wanted to enjoy this film, but it turned out to be rather mediocre. Disappointing, since Sarah Dessen is a brilliant author. Hopefully, the books (Someone Like You and That Summer) are better.



2. Tangled



Source: Animation Begins
 

I have seen bits of Tangled before, but I finally sat down to watch the film in its entirety at the beginning of September. I'm so glad I did. Tangled is a funny film, and I love the songs. It's such a cute movie and perfect for both kids and adults.



3. The Falling

Source: The Dull Wood Experiment

This was a very strange, and I agree with Nigel that it isn't really clear what the message of the film is. The Falling was quite different to how I expected. However, Maisie Williams was great.


4. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Source: Fanpop
 

I am so useless at watching films when they are in cinemas! It's taken me two years to watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones! To be fair, I did only read the book last year (again, useless!). The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones has a load of negative reviews, but I really enjoyed it. I love Lily Collins and Robert Sheehan (he was hilarious in Misfits). Jamie Campbell Bower is great too (I recently saw him performing on stage in Bend It Like Beckham the Musical). I like all the action and effects in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, though I do think that some things weren't explained well enough (e.g. 'the Clave'). However, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is an enjoyable film, not just for fans of Twilight.


5. Safe Haven

Source: Rogerebert

Safe Haven is one of the few films that stay very close to the book it's based on (Nicholas Sparks's novel of the same name). It's about a woman who flees to a small seaside town and soon falls in love. The reason why she has to escape from her previous home is quickly revealed. They may not be the best actors, but I do love the chemistry between Julianne Hough (Katie) and Josh Duhamel (Alex). Lexie is soo cute too! Tierney (a.k.a. Kevin, in the book) is very creepy! Safe Haven is undoubtedly a lot different to other works of Nicholas Sparks, but it's still fantastic.


6. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Source: The Atlantic

This is such a moving film, and cute too. However, I didn't find myself crying, which is what I thought would happen before watching the film. Nevertheless, Greg and Rachel are lovely characters.


7. Chasing Liberty

Source: Tumblr
 

Keeping up with the Mandy Moore theme (How to Deal and Tangled), I also watched Chasing Liberty in September. It had been on my list for a while. Chasing Liberty is very much like First Daughter - they pretty much revolve around the same idea: the overprotected daughter of the president longs for freedom, and falls in love in the process, not realising the guy's true identity. However, Chasing Liberty is my favourite of the two movies. I enjoyed watching Anna's adventures in Europe with Ben (Matthew Goode, who is so good looking!). It made me want to visit some of those places!


8. Bend It Like Beckham

Source: Planet Bollywood

Having seen the musical recently, I thought September would be a good opportunity to re-watch the film. I love Bend It Like Beckham - it's hilarious! I'm not the biggest fan of football, but that really doesn't matter with this film! I'd definitely recommend watching Bend It Like Beckham!



Let me know if you've seen any of these films!


Hasta luego!


Serena

10 TV Shows and Films to Look Forward to this Autumn

Hey guys!


Today's post will focus on some of the upcoming TV shows and films that are being released this Autumn.


TV Shows

1. Scream Queens

This isn't the type of programme I'd usually watch but I'll give it a chance because Emma Roberts, Lea Michele, Diego Boneta, Lucien Laviscount and Jamie Lee Curtis. Also, Keke Palmer, Nick Jonas and Ariana Grande. You'd be crazy not to think that that's a perfect cast. (By the way, isn't this out now? Where can I watch it?!)


2. Wicked City

It stars Ed Westwick. Need I say more?


3. Blood & Oil

This photo reminds me of Gossip Girl!

This series looks quite intriguing, and it stars Chace Crawford. Definitely going on my watchlist for this Autumn.


4. Heroes Reborn

I never did watch the original series of Heroes, but this looks like it could be good.


5. Supergirl

This show focuses on Superman's cousin. It's different to other superhero stories as the main character is female.



Films

1. The Scorch Trials

This is actually already out in cinemas at the moment and I haven't even read the book yet. No, just no. I want to read the book first so unfortunately I won't be watching The Scorch Trials for a while.


2. Mockingjay Part 2

I can't wait for this film! I love The Hunger Games!


3. Jem and the Holograms

Jem and the Holograms is another film I'm really looking forward to. Trailer looks great.


4. Pan

Amanda Seyfried and Rooney Mara! Yes! Plus, it's based on Peter Pan! Yes, yes!



What films and TV shows are you planning to watch this season?


Hasta luego!


Serena

What I've Been Watching In August

Hey guys!

Today I'm going to share with you the films I've been watching in August.


1. From Prada to Nada

When I first heard about From Prada to Nada, it sounded like the kind of film I'd enjoy. However, after watching the trailer and reading the reviews, I thought it would be some silly teen flick and decided not to watch it for a while. Eventually, I decided to give From Prada to Nada a chance, and I'm glad I did. From Prada to Nada is a decent film, and both Camilla Belle and Alexa Vega are brilliant. I loved the Latin twist on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.


2. Love, Rosie

Although this film is full of clichés, and somewhat ridiculous in parts, I really enjoyed it. Lily Collins is great, as is Sam Claflin.


3. The Art of Getting By

Such a lovely, sweet film. Emma Roberts and Freddie Highmore are two of my favourite actors, and the chemistry between them in this film is good.


4. Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Yep, it's another retelling of Cinderella. If you read my What I've Been Reading in August post, you will see that there's a bit of a theme to some of the things I've been watching and reading this month. Anyway, Ever After: A Cinderella Story is a beautiful retelling of Cinderella. I loved that one of the Ugly Stepsisters was actually quite pleasant. Anjelica Huston is great as the evil stepmother. The ending of the film was satisfying too. I'm uncertain as to whether I preferred this retelling of Cinderella, or the new one starring Lily James, but they're both amazing films.

One of the best parts!


5. Melancholia

This film is so overrated. After reading several reviews, I thought Melancholia would be amazing, but it turned out to be rather boring. Justine, played by Kirsten Dunst, is infuriating and annoying. Nothing really happens for a lot of the film. I wanted to enjoy Melancholia, as it seemed like it had a lot of potential to be a great film, but it turned out to be very strange and tedious.

My reaction to the film went something like this:

6. Never Been Kissed

Before watching Never Been Kissed, I did NOT expect to see so many familiar faces in the film! Drew Barrymore (of course), Jessica Alba, James Franco, Octavia Spencer and Sean Whalen (Unfabulous) all make appearances. I have absolutely no idea why I didn't watch Never Been Kissed years ago - it's better than you'd expect, and Drew Barrymore is great!

So I've ticked off another three films from my 15 Chick Flicks I Want to See posts. Yay! 15 down, 15 more to go! Have you watched any of these films? Let me know in the comments!


Hasta luego!


Serena

What I've Been Watching In July

 

Hey guys!

I've finally finished my post on what I watched in July! It's a bit later than anticipated, but here it is!


1. Insurgent

Just over a week ago I finally sat down and watched Insurgent. I had been planning to watch it at the student cinema months ago, but unfortunately it was showing the night before my final exam. I did want to watch Insurgent when it first came out but seeing it on campus would save over £5. Why are cinema tickets so expensive?!

Anyway, for those of you who don't already know, Insurgent is the second instalment in the Divergent series. It stars Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager and The Fault in Our Stars) as Tris Prior, a teenager who lives in futuristic Chicago. Insurgent picks up from where Divergent lift off, and follows Tris as she searches for allies and answers, with the help of her boyfriend Four (Theo James). They are on the run from Jeanine (Kate Winslet), the leader of the faction Erudite. Together, Tris and Four try to figure out why Jeanine is so interested in them.

Insurgent is a fantastic film. It's action-packed, with some amazing effects. While you would need to watch the first film in order to understand what's going on, Insurgent is nevertheless an enjoyable film. The casting is great - Shailene portrays her character's inner struggle really well, while Theo James, Mils Teller, Ansel Elgort and Kate Winslet are good too. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Insurgent is worth watching, if just for the cast.


2. Paper Towns

You can read my review for this film here. I went to a preview screening last weekend, but it will be out in cinemas in the UK on 17th August.


3. Belle

This was a lovely film. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is fantastic as the protagonist, Dido. The costumes are beautiful too.


4. 500 Days of Summer

I've wanted to see 500 Days of Summer for ages. I don't know why I didn't watch it sooner. However, I finally got round to seeing it a few weeks ago. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are truly amazing - they're two of my favourite actors. I would have to say that 500 Days of Summer wasn't as brilliant as I expected - the story is good, and the acting is great, but I did think that the plot was a bit confusing at times.


5. Pretty Little Liars

PLL is my favourite TV show at the moment. I absolutely love it! The outfits are lovely and the cast is perfect! I can't wait to see the finale of Season 6! Hurry up and show who is under the mask!!! (yep, I'm one of the unfortunate people in Europe who has to wait hours before watching each episode on Netflix)


What shows and films have you watched lately? Do you watch PLL? Who do you think Charles is (probably already revealed by now - ha, as if!)?


Hasta luego!


Serena

Paper Towns Film Review

 

Hey guys!


On Saturday I went to see an advanced screening of Paper Towns. It was a film I'd been wanting to see for a while, and I was so happy when I found out that I could watch it over TWO weeks before general release!


For anyone who doesn't know, Paper Towns is based on John Green's bestselling novel of the same name. It follows Quentin (also known as 'Q'), a senior who goes on a road trip to find the whereabouts of Margo, the girl who lives next door. Quentin is joined by his best mates Ben and Radar, as well as Lacey (Margo's friend) and Angela (Radar's girlfriend). The five high-schoolers travel from Orlando to a town near New York, with the aid of clues left by Margo. The town is fictional, hence the title of the film.


 

While I was quite sceptical about the casting of Cara Delivingne as Margo, she actually did a good job at portraying Quentin's mysterious neighbour. I also thought that Nat Wolff was a great choice for shy Quentin. Austin Abrams (Ben) and Justin Smith (Radar) were good as supporting characters. Ben added an element of humour to the film.

 

Overall, Paper Towns was an enjoyable coming-of-age film. There were, of course, some changes from the book, but that didn't seem to matter too much. It's undeniable that Paper Towns will be compared to The Fault in Our Stars, the first novel by John Green that was adapted into a film. However, they are two completely different films (and books). The Fault in Our Stars is more of a tear-jerker, while Paper Towns is a journey of self-exploration. Despite seeming like a typical high school film at times, and deviating from the book in parts, Paper Towns is worth watching. It's funny, different and entertaining.

Have you watched Paper Towns yet? Did you enjoy it?


Hasta luego!


Serena

What I've Been Watching In June

Hey guys!

For my second post today I will be sharing my thoughts on some of the films I have been watching this month.

1. God Help the Girl
 

I had heard good reviews about God Help the Girl so I searched it on Netflix. I'm so glad I found it as it turned out to be a really great film. God Help the Girl is very different to the films I am used to watching. Emily Browning was fantastic and I liked the songs.

2. Daydream Nation

Kat Dennings is a good actress but this film was quite disappointing. It could have been so much better, but there was too much going on in such a small space of time.

 

3. Finding Neverland

This is undoubtedly one of the best films I have watched so far this year. Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet are brilliant, while Freddie Highmore is adorable! Finding Neverland is a moving film about the family that inspired Peter Pan. I can't believe I've only just watched it!

 

4. Soul Surfer

Soul Surfer is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a champion surfer who was attacked ny a shark, changing her life forever. Bethany, who is portrayed by AnnaSophia Robb, is so brave after the accident - she's determined to get back on the surfboard no matter how difficult it is for her. Soul Surfer is a truly inspirational film and I would recommend it.

5. The Craft

I kept putting this off, since I thought it would be very scary, and I'm rarely in the mood for horrors. However, The Craft seemed to only have a handful of moments that made me jump.. I'd say that the film was more weird than scary.

6. Breathe In
 

Both Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones were brilliant in Breathe In. However, I found the film a bit slow at times, and I wasn't so keen on the ending. Nevertheless, the story itself was good.

7. Blue Lagoon

As I enjoyed the 2012 remake of Blue Lagoon, I decided to watch the original. Luckily, it was on Netflix. I'm glad I watched the original - it's such a lovely film. Some bits were fairly unrealistic but overall Blue Lagoon is a heartwarming film.
 

8. Charlie Bartlett
 

Another film starring Kat Dennings. I also watched this on Netflix. Charlie Bartlett is a funny, but silly, film. Robert Downey Jr plays the headmaster, which seems quite odd.

What films have you been watching recently?

 

Hasta luego!

Serena