Movie Review - Side Effects

Title: Side Effects

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum & Catherine Zeta-Jones

Released: 2013

Rating: ★★★ 1/2

I have been meaning to watch this movie for quite a while as I was intrigued from the first time I watched the trailers, and I am also quite a fan of Rooney Mara's work. I can say that I was quite surprised with how the story unfolded. So here I am to share my thoughts:

So 'Side Effects' is a psychological thriller which is based around a girl named Emily (Rooney Mara). It is shown that Emily is struggling with extreme depression and is constantly taking a variety of different prescription drugs in order to help cure it, none of which are taking effect. At the beginning of the film, we also see that Emily's husband Martin (Channing Tatum), has just returned after four years in prison.
After Emily is prescribed a certain drug which is new on the market, the side effects cause Emily to do something (which I won't spoil), which creates a dramatic turn of events (events which when I saw I was like @%&$!!!).
Jude Law also plays Emily's psychiatrist, the man who prescribed the drug to Emily, but I can't really say a lot more about his character without spoiling a lot of the movie.
The rest of the movie unfolds from the 'event', which I won't spoil, so I can't really say much more about the plot of the movie.


- - -

Whoa.. this movie is definitely a bit of a mind boggler. The story takes a shocking turn very early on, and from then on it takes you on a crazy roller-coaster ride. I didn't really know who to trust while watching the movie, and although I had a few suspicions, I definitely didn't realise what the 'big twist' was until it was revealed. The story keeps you on your toes till the very end, and the plot was quite well thought out.

One aspect I really liked about the movie was the lighting and colouring used. It almost gave the movie this eerie, kind of hospital or clinic type feel, which definitely suited the storyline. I also loved the way this movie was directed, I have never watched any of Steven Stoberbergh's films, and now I think I am going to have to check out his other work!

Can I also say that Jude Law was pretty smoking in this film (as always)? Rooney Mara also did an exceptional job, it was terrific acting as expected.
Channing Tatum wasn't really much, I mean he did an okay job, but nothing too stand out.

The only fault I found in the movie, was the way that the plot unravelled at the end, as I feel that there wasn't enough build up to the final twist, and when it was revealed, it was a little rushed, and I wasn't on the edge of my seat as I was when I watched other psychological thrillers such as 'Shutter Island' (Bloody amazing movie. Go watch it, you will be changed!).

Anyhow, I enjoyed watching Side Effects, and found that it was quite unique, had great acting and amazing directing. Three and a half stars.

I would be really curious to hear your opinions on the movie if you have seen it, or are thinking about watching.. or if you really don't care. So leave comments down below telling me what you think! :)

Thanks for reading
-Bee x

Book Review - Anne Series Part I: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island

So I have just recently finished reading the first three novels in the Anne of Green Gables series, and before you say "Oh Anne of Green Gables, booorrringgg", and click out of this post. Just hear me out first, you may be surprised. K?

Now the Anne series is something extremely close to my heart, which my seven year old self would have disagreed with, as I was the cartoons #1 hater, and a name like Anne of Green Gables didn't really seem to strike a cord with me. Something like 'My Secret Unicorn' did tickle my fancy though. *Hides Copy* Don't judge.


I started to love the series by actually watching the movies first, (which are awesome movies, and I definitely recommend checking them out) and I realised that I actually connected to series on so many levels, and apparently people of all different ages all over the world could too. The series is so loveable because it covers so many aspects of life, many of these things relatable to most people. Not to mention the series is extremely well written, and makes you feel as if you are on an adventure with every turn of the page. (Too cheesy?)

Anyway, I am going to be sharing my thoughts and reviewing the first three novels for you guys. So maybe you can get a better idea of what the series is actually like if you were thinking of reading them. So without further ado, I give you, my review:

Title: Anne of Green Gables

Author: L.M Montgomery

Published: 1908


Rating: ★★★★

"Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are in for a big surprise. they are waiting for an orphan boy to help with the work at Green Gables – but a skinny, red-haired girl turns up instead. Feisty and full of spirit, Anne Shirley charms her way into the Cuthberts' affection with her vivid imagination and constant chatter. It's not long before Anne finds herself in trouble, but soon it becomes impossible for the Cuthberts to imagine life without 'their' Anne – and for the people of Avonlea to recall what it was like before this wildly creative little girl whirled into town." - Puffin Books

The book that started it all. This book is seriously filled with mischief and laughter, and gives me the biggest sense of nostalgia. I love this book because it takes me back to my childhood memories, and always makes me wish I could just go back to when I was younger. This novel is so entertaining because you are taken on so many adventures throughout the story, which only makes the world of Anne seem so much more alive, as you get really well acquainted with the characters and the settings. This book is also pretty hilarious (seriously I get weird looks for laughing out loud in public places), and just puts a smile on my face any time I read it. Not to mention how CUTE the Anne/Gilbert stuff is in this book. Anne's innocence really touches my heart, I know that may sound soo cheesy, but seriously, it does. It just really makes me think of how life is when you are a child, and how you feel as if you can do anything and believe in all this crazy stuff that becoming an adult ruins for you. This book also really touches on friendship, grief, loss and maturing, and most girls who have gone through their teens can relate to a lot of the stuff that happens in this book, despite it being written and set in the early 1900's.
 Love it. Four stars.

                                                             

 Title: Anne of Avonlea

Author: L.M Montgomery

Published: 1909

Rating: ★★★ 1/2

"Now Anne is half past sixteen and she's ready to begin a new life teaching in her old school. She's as feisty as ever and is fiercely determined to inspire young hearts with her own ambitions. But some of her pupils are as boisterous and high-spirited as Anne, and so life in her Avonlea classroom becomes a lesson in discovery and adventure." - Puffin Books

The second in the Anne series. This is the book that runs through Anne's time going from a young adult into adulthood. I like this one, because it mostly touches base on the issues of growing up, as Anne struggles with this constantly throughout the novel. She still has her childish ways with her, which definitely brings the humour into the novel, as she is still finding herself in all sorts of trouble. I just loved being able to live once more as a character in the town, and go on more adventures with Anne. The only thing this book is lacking is more GILBERT! I would have loved to see more development on the Anne and Gilbert relationship in this novel, as I really thought that this book would have benefited from it. Aside from that, the book was quite entertaining and I enjoyed reading it. Three and a half stars.

Title: Anne of the Island

Author: L.M Montgomery

Published: 1915

Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

"As her childhood friends get married and move away, Anne too leaves Prince Edward Island for college in Kingsport. Although Priscilla Grant and Gilbert Blythe are there, too, she feels lonely and out of place. But Anne soon makes new friends, one of whom is rich, handsome Roy Gardner, whose attentions to Anne make Gilbert very jealous..."

This is by far my favourite book in the Anne Series so far. I love the whole college life, and how this book really starts to develop each and every character very well. This book I can probably connect to most, and I really believe a lot of other people with too. I can't even begin to describe this novel, it is amazing!
It's main themes are love, acceptance, loss and change. As Anne finally becomes an adult, she realises that it is not what you imagine when you are child, and wishes she was younger again. She really struggles with change, as everyone around her seems to have left their childhood behind them and started on a new path when she is lost in the world. This book is definitely the most emotional, but what I love about it, is that it still keeps that sense of humour that all the Anne books have.
OMG AND WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT GILBERT! The Anne books aren't based around romance, yet L.M Montgomery still wrote it perfectly into this book, and it's not predictable either. Montgomery always ends the books with the most beautiful lines, and this one was certainly one of my favourite book endings ever.
LOVED this novel! Four and a half stars.

                                                                         -  -  -

The Anne series really just makes me think about life, and be more aware of my surroundings.
L.M Montgomery must have had a pretty awesome life, as the setting of Anne of Green Gables is based off her hometown. If I could pick any era to go to right now, it would be early 1900's in Prince Edward Island countryside Canada, and it's all thanks to Anne.

Anyways, thanks for reading me ramble. I will be reviewing the other books in the Anne series in separate parts, so don't forget to check them out when they are released if you liked this one! :)

-Bee

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Movie Review - Silver Linings Playbook

Title: Silver Linings Playbook

Director: David O. Russell

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver.

Released: 2012

Rating: ★★★★1/2


Okay, I already know that I am a little late and everyone and their mumma has already seen and reviewed this movie, but hey, I just thought why the hell not?

Silver Linings Playbook was released in the US and a bunch of other countries way before Australia. It's actually still showing in cinemas over here. That it sometimes the downside of being so far away!

Anyway, the movie surrounds the life of Pat Jr. (Bradley Cooper). Pat has just been released from hospital after 8 months of receiving treatment for his bipolar.

Pat is determined to turn his life around and in order to do that, he needs his wife Nikki back. But there's only one tiny problem.. she has a restraining order against him, as Pat attacked the man who was having an affair with Nikki, nearly killing him, and resulting in Pat's treatment at the hospital.

In comes Tiffany; a young and beautiful woman who is suffering from a mental disorder similar to Pat's, after the death of her husband and the loss of her job.
Through Tiffany, Pat finds a way to communicate with Nikki, but only at a price. He must compete in a dance contest as Tiffany's partner, and in order to do that, must attend the many rehearsals held at Tiffany's house in the weeks leading up to the contest.

During this time period the two start to form a strange bond, and impact each other in ways they could never have imagined.


                                                                              - - -

This movie is seriously worth the hype. I was completely in love with the characters and the storyline from the word go. It was fantastically made and I can definitely see why it has won the awards it has. Bradley Cooper's performance was incredible. It was so believable, I am crushed he didn't win the Oscar he was nominated for, as he definitely deserved it.
Of course we can't forget Jennifer Lawrence, whose performance was extremely well deserving of the Best Female Performance Oscar. I loved the way she portrayed Tiffany, it was so raw and real.

A huge highlight for me was Robert De Niro's character Pat Sr. Pat Sr. was not only trying to help his son get through his mental illness, but was battling one of his own. Although the situation was very emotional, it was also extremely comical at times, which added a real light-heartedness to the movie, and created that perfect balance.
Australia's own Jacki Weaver also did a fantastic job of portraying the mother in the middle of a completely dysfunctional family!
The camera angels were also quite interesting, with many effective close ups which helped you to really understand what it was all like from Pat's point of view.

Overall this movie was extremely enjoyable and had a clever and unique script! I rate this four and a half stars, and would definitely recommend it to the small majority of people who haven't already seen it! :)

-Bee

Veronica Roth 'Divergent' Book 3 TITILE RELEASE!

After months of hair pulling, nail biting and extreme pacing, Veronica Roth has finally soothed my anxiety and given me a little taste of the third and final book in the 'Divergent' series.

THE TITLE.

And seriously guys, you probably don't have any idea how excited I was when I saw it. You can probably imagine me when the actual book comes out.

Veronica announced the title today in an awesome 50 second long video on 'USA Today'.


AND BOY, IS IT EPIC.

ALLEGIANT. What is an allegiant, you ask? Well according to dictionary.com, allegiant means loyal and faithful. (duh Bee)

Many people prior (Prior.. get it? Divergent fans only.. hehe) to the release of the title had many guesses of their own, such as Resurgent, Emergent and even Detergent; being the joke name given to the book by Roth herself before she had even thought of the title. Hence this pretty awesome pic:

My personal guess was convergent, which just to be a hipster for a second, I thought of before it was cool k?

What do you guys think of the name and what were your previous guesses? Also what do you think is going to happen in the third and final instalment to the series?


'Allegiant' is set to be released this October. I don't think I can handle it.

-Bee

Just another blog..

Just another bloody reading blog..

What is this page you have just stumbled on? You ask yourself, as you sit at your computer at 11:00 at night with your fourth coffee (or maybe fifth, you can't really remember at this point), or maybe that packet of chips that you promised yourself you would save for when you have guests over (like that ever happens). Well to start off, my name is Bee... not exactly. Bee is what smart people call pseudonyms, pretty much a 'fake name' if we were to speak the same language. Why do I use a fake name you ask? Well the truth is I have a few overdue library books, and if they were to ever catch up with me, lets just say shit would go down. Just kidding. I actually just picked to use another name because I just think that life is so much more fun when there is a little mystery thrown in. I am dedicating this page to books and movies, and anything in between. I love to read and am an avid reader, and sometimes, I do see sunlight and go to my local cinema to watch a movie.. which then takes away the sunlight. After I have read a book or seen a movie, the first thing I want to do is spew my thoughts all over the first person I see in my family, who generally give me vacant nods, or just tell me to flat out buzz off. So maybe I can find some people to share my thoughts with here. Or not, and I may end up talking to myself. But either way, I don't really mind.