xoliana
Member Since: July 31, 2016Reviews
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is a 2012 comedy film starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. It's very loosely based on the '80s television series of the same name, and even features a small but memorable cameo by Johnny Depp. The story is about two rookie cops... +
21 Jump Street is a 2012 comedy film starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. It's very loosely based on the '80s television series of the same name, and even features a small but memorable cameo by Johnny Depp.
The story is about two rookie cops, Schmidt and Jenko, who join the Jump Street operation and go undercover as high school students after an illegal and lethal drug has begun sweeping a local campus.
I was born in '89 and never had the chance to see the original TV series, however I'm sure many liberties were taken in this adaptation. That being said, this is a surprisingly hilarious film. I don't find too many modern, R-rated American comedy films to be very funny because the humour is often too immature for my tastes. While this is definitely immature in some aspects, some of the jokes really are laugh-out-loud funny. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have such great on-screen chemistry. You can picture the two of them being good friends in real life.
I don't know if this will go down in the history books as some sort of comedy classic, but I would say it's definitely worth a watch. It's one of the more entertaining comedy films of the past decade.
The film is rated R and has a running time of 110 minutes.
-
LUSH King of Skin Body Butter
King of Skin is part of Lush's body butter line. It's essentially a moisturizer that you use while your skin is still wet from a shower or bath. I love that this is shaped like a little crown. Lush never fails to impress with the aesthetic of its... +
King of Skin is part of Lush's body butter line. It's essentially a moisturizer that you use while your skin is still wet from a shower or bath.
I love that this is shaped like a little crown. Lush never fails to impress with the aesthetic of its products, always using bright colours or clever shapes to reference the name of the item. This only comes in one size (90g) whereas Buffy the Backside Slayer comes in two. I wish this had a larger size as well, as this one feels quite small and it shrinks rapidly in comparison to the other body butters. It must be something to do with the ingredients, but this just gets smaller before your eyes, and loses its shape quickly.
The smell of this is fantastic. To me, it smells of a warm bowl of oatmeal with just a hint of sweetness. It's a very mild scent, and likewise the texture is also very mild. It's smooth and soft all the way through, no roughness or exfoliation. It glides on like butter and will leave your skin feeling like silk. It's just such a shame that the product melts so quickly.
-
LUSH Buffy the Backside Slayer Body Bar
The name may be hilarious, but this product is no joke! Buffy the Backside Slayer is a body bar that has become a cult classic in the Lush collection. They've even come out with a second, larger size for those who truly love it. The body bars are... +
The name may be hilarious, but this product is no joke! Buffy the Backside Slayer is a body bar that has become a cult classic in the Lush collection. They've even come out with a second, larger size for those who truly love it.
The body bars are something you take with you in the shower to buff and moisturize while your skin is still wet. Buffy the Backside Slayer is made more specifically for the backside, hence its name, but you can use it wherever you want! The bar is nice and square, with one side containing little grooves. The bar also contains things like ground rice and almonds to help aid in exfoliation, but it's not so gritty that it will irritate sensitive skin.
The smell is gorgeous. It smells a lot like shea butter, which is also a key ingredient, and is a great moisturizer. Although the bar has an exfoliating effect, it also melts against wet skin, hydrating it really well. After stepping out of the shower, I didn't feel the need to use body lotion as my skin already had a tangible veil of moisture on it. It felt very smooth and silky, and continued to feel this way for the rest of the day.
This is an excellent product, perfect for those looking to pack in a lot of moisture in one easy step. It's just too bad the price keeps going up and up.
-
NYX Single Eyeshadow
I own this in the shade Lime Green. I really enjoy the way that these eyeshadows look. Their square shape and bevelled texture give them a unique look and allow them to stand out in a sea of single eyeshadows. Having said that, I do find that the... +
I own this in the shade Lime Green.
I really enjoy the way that these eyeshadows look. Their square shape and bevelled texture give them a unique look and allow them to stand out in a sea of single eyeshadows. Having said that, I do find that the pigmentation is a little hit or miss with the shades. Upon swatching them in store, it became clear to me that they are not formulated equally, and that while some of them are very smooth with colours deeply saturated, others are simply dry and patchy.
When you do hit on a good one, I do have to say that they're excellent. The quality easily rivals that of a high-end brand. The blendability is smooth and seamless, and the powder is buttery soft. It's just a shame that they are not all like this. I have to knock a few points off in my rating to reflect the fact that they are inconsistent.
-
Fargo season one
Season one of the Fargo television series aired in 2014 and ran for 10 episodes, each approximately 45-50 minutes in length. It's very loosely tied to the 1996 film of the same name. It stars Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, and... +
Season one of the Fargo television series aired in 2014 and ran for 10 episodes, each approximately 45-50 minutes in length. It's very loosely tied to the 1996 film of the same name. It stars Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, and Colin Hanks.
The story is about Lester, a mild-mannered pushover of an insurance salesman. After having a run-in with an old high school bully and getting his nose bashed in, he meets a mysterious stranger in the emergency room. Later, as his day progresses to get worse and Lester commits a foul deed, he calls the stranger up to help him clean up his mistake. Unfortunately, his life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.
This show is absolutely amazing. I'll admit, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first saw the commercials and saw the title of the series. I had seen the film, and while I thought it was good, it certainly wasn't the best or most memorable film I'd ever seen. This series is much better! It's such a perfect mix of dark humour and drama, and Billy Bob Thornton turns in one heck of a performance as Lorne Malvo, the villain of the series. He's utterly charismatic and at times downright chilling. You will both love him and come to fear him.
The second season is also available on DVD and is also something I have seen and own. It's also very good, though I will post a separate review for that later.
-
Psycho-Pass season one
Psycho-Pass is a 2012 sci-fi anime. The first season ran for a total of 22 episodes, each approximately 22 minutes in length. The show takes place in the future, where the world is run by the Cibyl system, which is able to track people's... +
Psycho-Pass is a 2012 sci-fi anime. The first season ran for a total of 22 episodes, each approximately 22 minutes in length.
The show takes place in the future, where the world is run by the Cibyl system, which is able to track people's likelihood of committing a crime by gauging their Crime Coefficient. The story follows Akane, who is the newest inspector at the Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Divison. She is a paired with a latent criminal named Kogami. Together, it's their job to wield Dominators, special weapons designed to measure the Crime Coefficient of whoever you point it at, and to dish out suitable punishments to would-be criminals.
That sounds a heck of a lot more complicated than it actually is. Have you ever seen the film Minority Report? It's very similar to that, only this is INFINITELY better, as a villain is introduced who is able to beat the system. This very literally brings up very strong issues of morality, which makes for an utterly fascinating show. It's one of the smartest anime I've ever seen.
There is a second season as well as a feature film, but this has a fairly satisfying conclusion without having to see the others. This is really an anime masterpiece, and the only reason why I don't own it is because of how expensive it is. It's pretty up there.
-
Terror in Resonance
Terror in Resonance is a 2014 anime series directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. It ran for 11 episodes, which are approximately 22 minutes in length. The story focuses on two young men who simply go by the names Nine and Twelve. Wearing masks to hide... +
Terror in Resonance is a 2014 anime series directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. It ran for 11 episodes, which are approximately 22 minutes in length.
The story focuses on two young men who simply go by the names Nine and Twelve. Wearing masks to hide their identities, the two have committed several terrorist attacks against high-profile organizations, all while ensuring nobody is ever harmed. They then send videos to the police with riddles hinting at their next planned attack, in the hopes that somebody will be clever enough to figure out what it is they're actually after.
This is one of those series that I binge-watched in one day. I was immediately hooked from episode one, the story was just that intriguing. The animation is also exceptional and ranks right at the top in terms of quality. The soundtrack, by acclaimed musician Yoko Kanno, is absolutely stunning, and the song VON featuring vocalist Arnor Dan is particularly beautiful. I listen to it frequently.
If you're a fan of such shows as Death Note or Psycho-Pass, which also rely on intelligence and cat-and-mouse games, I think this would be the perfect choice. It's also a very accessible show for those of you who don't typically enjoy anime.
-
Sound of My Voice
Sound of My Voice is a 2011 sci-fi drama written by and starring Brit Marling. It's rated R and has a running time of 83 minutes. The story is about two documentary filmmakers who are researching cults as the subject of their next project. Using... +
Sound of My Voice is a 2011 sci-fi drama written by and starring Brit Marling. It's rated R and has a running time of 83 minutes.
The story is about two documentary filmmakers who are researching cults as the subject of their next project. Using hidden cameras and recording devices, they go undercover to investigate a cult run by a charismatic young woman named Maggie, who claims to be from the year 2054.
This film is NOT found footage, in case you were worried about any shaky camera movements! It is, however, a very excellent film. I'm not sure just how realistic it is in its portrayal of cults, not having had any sort of first-hand knowledge of them in real life, but it's definitely how I imagine it would be. It's the mystery of who Maggie really is that makes this a real gem of a film, though. Even at the end, I wasn't entirely sure what to think. I've had discussions with people online about what the ending means. It could go either way.
For me, it's the sign of a great film when it leaves you wanting to theorize with other people. Some people may want a definitive answer when they watch a film, but I appreciate the fact that Brit Marling trusts her audience enough to form their own opinions and conversations. She is such a thoughtful and intellectual screenwriter.
This is definitely worth checking out if you're into dark sci-fi drama.
-
The East
The East is a 2013 film written by and starring Brit Marling, and co-starring Alexander Skarsgard and Ellen Page. It's rated PG-13 and has a running time of 116 minutes. The story follows Jane, who works for an intelligence agency. She is sent to... +
The East is a 2013 film written by and starring Brit Marling, and co-starring Alexander Skarsgard and Ellen Page. It's rated PG-13 and has a running time of 116 minutes.
The story follows Jane, who works for an intelligence agency. She is sent to infiltrate an ecoterrorist organization known as The East, who have become notorious for their deeds against massive corporations. They are run by charismatic and handsome leader Benji, who Jane instantly becomes enamoured with. As Jane becomes further involved with The East, lines start to become blurred and her life will never be the same again.
The topic of ecoterrorism is not a common one in film, so I felt that the subject matter, while realistic and relevant, was something different. I was pleasantly surprised at how genuinely interesting and thrilling this film was. It's not fast-paced by any means, but it's gripping, and it kept my attention the whole way through.
The acting is very good. Brit Marling has become a favourite of mine, not just because of her on-screen presence but also due to the fact that she writes unique and intelligent films. I think she has a great career ahead of her.
-
Another Earth
Another Earth is a 2011 film co-written and directed by Mike Cahill, written by and starring Brit Marling. The story is about a young woman named Rhoda who, upon getting released from a stay in jail, hears reports that NASA has sighted an Earth 2... +
Another Earth is a 2011 film co-written and directed by Mike Cahill, written by and starring Brit Marling.
The story is about a young woman named Rhoda who, upon getting released from a stay in jail, hears reports that NASA has sighted an Earth 2, completely identical to Earth 1. She enters a contest being held which would allow her to fly to Earth 2 and start her life over.
This is a very good little film. It begs the question, if each Earth is identical, how do you know which one came first? Is it not a little presumptuous to assume that your planet is the first, or "real" one? Maybe there is another planet similar in every way to ours. Maybe ours is the copy. Maybe on that other planet, there's another version of you who is living a completely different life. These are all things considered in this film, and it really makes you think.
This is the first film I had seen of Brit Marling's. She has a very organic screen presence, not at all forced or unnatural. She's lovely to watch, and she certainly has a knack for writing unique and thought-provoking films. She asks the audience to engage and to think, rather than to just shut their minds off and let the film do the work for them.
The film is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 92 minutes. If you like smart sci-fi dramas, this should be right up your alley.
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
