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Movie Advent Calendar #20 – Never Let Me Go

“The problem is you’ve been told and not told. That’s what I’ve seen while I’ve been here. You’ve been told but none of you really understand. So I’ve decided I’ll talk to you in a way that you will understand.”

Never Let Me Go

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

One of the reasons I wanted to watch Never Let Me Go was that it was filmed locally in and around North Somerset. I bought it on ITunes and was impressed with the movie.

Never Let Me Go is a 2010 science fiction drama film that is based on the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley as three friends who are raised in a mysterious boarding school called Hailsham. s they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. As they grow older, they come to realise the shocking truth about their lives and the world around them.

The film is also beautifully shot, with a visual style that perfectly captures the eerie, surreal atmosphere of the story. The film is set in an alternate 1980s England with flashbacks to the 1970s.

One cafe scene was shot at The Regent Restaurant and Coffee Lounge in Weston-super-Mare.

The Regent Restaurant and Coffee Lounge in Weston-super-Mare
The Regent Restaurant and Coffee Lounge in Weston-super-Mare by James Clay

They didn’t need to even redress or change the signage for the movie, as the lounge had a 1970s vibe to it. Alas it has now closed which is a pity.  Another scene was filmed on Clevedon Pier.

Clevedon Pier
Clevedon Pier by James Clay

The film has a really strong cast. Mulligan, Garfield, and Knightley deliver powerful performances that are both moving and nuanced. They are ably supported by a talented supporting cast, including Charlotte Rampling and Sally Hawkins. The score, composed by Rachel Portman, is also haunting and evocative.

Never Let Me Go is a thought-provoking and emotionally powerful film, one which makes you think about the ethics of a society.

Get Never Let Me Go at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #19 – Ghostbusters

“Who you gonna call?”

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

Ghostbusters is a classic 1980s comedy film that follows a group of scientists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. The movie stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis as the Ghostbusters, and also features Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis in supporting roles.

It is clever blend of comedy and horror, as well as its catchy theme song and iconic ghost-busting equipment. Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis have great chemistry on screen and their performances are a big part of what makes the movie so entertaining.

In addition to its humor, Ghostbusters also has an engaging story and well-developed characters. The special effects, while dated by today’s standards, still hold up surprisingly well and add to the film’s charm.

Overall, Ghostbusters is a timeless comedy classic, it’s funny, clever, and full of memorable moments that will have you laughing out loud.

Get Ghostbusters at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #18 – Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow, also known simply as Edge of Tomorrow, is a thrilling and thought-provoking science fiction film that explores the concept of time travel and the consequences of reliving the same day over and over again.

Tom Cruise stars as Major William Cage, a military public relations officer who is thrust into battle against an alien invasion and quickly finds himself trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. With the help of a warrior named Rita Vrataski (played by Emily Blunt), Cage must use his newfound knowledge and skills to try and end the loop and defeat the aliens once and for all.

The film is full of intense action scenes and special effects that make it a visual feast, but it’s the thought-provoking exploration of time travel and the moral dilemmas that it creates that truly sets it apart. Cruise and Blunt have great chemistry on screen, and their performances are top-notch.

Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow is smart, exciting, and will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Get Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow from Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #17 – The Martian

“In the face of overwhelming odds, I’m left with only one option. I’m gonna have to science the shit out of this.”

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

This was a film that I watched on a streaming service. Initially I wasn’t too enamoured with the premise of watching a single astronaut surviving on a barren planet (I felt I had seen this before, many times). However once I started watching I was engaged and hooked into the story.

The Martian is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon as astronaut Mark Watney. The film follows Watney as he is stranded on Mars after being separated from his crew during a violent storm.

I really liked the stunning visual effects, which bring the harsh and barren landscape of Mars to life in a way that is both beautiful and convincing. The film also does an excellent job of depicting the scientific challenges faced by Watney as he tries to survive on the planet, and it manages to make these challenges feel both realistic and exciting.

The performances in The Martian are also strong, with Matt Damon delivering an excellent performance as the resourceful and determined Watney. The supporting cast, which includes the likes of Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, is equally impressive and helps to round out the film’s ensemble.

The Martian is a thrilling and visually stunning film that successfully blends science fiction with elements of survival and adventure. 

Get The Martian at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #16 – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

When I was putting this list together, I did consider putting Jumanji in there, I really enjoyed that film and thought Robin Williams did an excellent job. I think it is a great film. I also quite liked the spin-off Zathura as well.

However for this list I am putting in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It was a film we as a family saw at the cinema and really enjoyed. So much so that we bought it when it came out on DVD later that year.

It is a fun and entertaining adventure film that serves as a sequel to the 1995 classic Jumanji. The movie follows a group of high school students who are transported into the video game world of Jumanji and must navigate their way through its dangerous jungle environment in order to escape. The plot is also well-paced and keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

One of the strengths of the film is its cast, which includes Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. The actors all do a great job of bringing their respective characters to life and have great chemistry together on screen. Johnson and Hart in particular are a dynamic duo and provide many of the film’s funniest moments.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

The special effects and action scenes are well done and add to the excitement of the movie. When you watch the 1995 Jumanji film the special effects are great, but though the physical effects work well, the puppetry and animatronics, the digital effects from ILM, though state of the art at the time, have not aged well. 

Overall, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a worthy successor to the original film and is a fun and exciting adventure.

We also enjoyed the sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level which follows the same characters.

Get Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #15 – Deja Vu

“What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they’d never believe you?”

Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who is investigating a horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans.

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

Deja Vu is a 2006 science fiction thriller film that stars Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who is investigating a horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans. 

I didn’t see Deja Vu when it came out at the cinema. I eventually bought the film on iTunes in 2010 on a bit of whim without really knowing much about the film. 

Watching I was curious, and then I was totally engaged with the storyline. If you know nothing about the film, then stop reading now, go and get it and watch it, and then come back.

Spoiler alert

Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who is investigating a horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans.

As Doug Carlin, an ATF agent delves deeper into the case, he discovers that a new technology allows him to look back in time at what happened. Can they solve the case? Could they actually stop the attack?

One of the standout elements of the film is Denzel Washington’s performance. He is excellent in the role, bringing a sense of intensity and gravitas to the character of Doug Carlin. I think that is one of the reasons I like this film. I remember seeing Denzel Washington in Devil in a Blue Dress back in the 1990s and really enjoying that film. It was Washington’s performance in that film, that added to the reasons for buying Deja Vu. The supporting cast is also strong, with Val Kilmer and Paula Patton delivering solid performances.

The film is also well-made from a technical standpoint. The special effects are impressive, particularly the way that the time-traveling aspect of the story is depicted. They could have gone with a simple approach, but though I found some aspects of the process frustrating, it was different and clever. The film also does a good job of exploring the potential consequences of using such a technology.

The script, by Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio, is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience guessing.

I think this is a film I probably would have enjoyed even more watching it at the cinema, it is a very cinematic film.

Overall, Deja Vu is an entertaining and well-made science fiction thriller that is worth watching for Washington’s performance alone.

Get Deja Vu at Amazon.