xoliana
Member Since: July 31, 2016Reviews
Mysterious Skin
Mysterious Skin is a 2004 film written, produced and directed by Gregg Araki, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet. It's based on the 1995 novel by Scott Heim. The film centres on two parallel storylines, one involving a boy named Neil... +
Mysterious Skin is a 2004 film written, produced and directed by Gregg Araki, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet. It's based on the 1995 novel by Scott Heim.
The film centres on two parallel storylines, one involving a boy named Neil, and the other focusing on Brian. Each boy suffered sexual abuse at the hands of the same man when they were little. The film shows how this affected each of them in vastly different ways, as we see Neil grow into a streetwise hustler and Brian become increasingly obsessed with UFOs.
This has to be one of the most gut-wrenching films that I have ever seen. Make no mistake, there is graphic content in this film, and it's going to be difficult even for some adults to sit through. That being said, if you can tolerate the type of delicate subject matter that the story deals with, there is a very good film here. Some of the scenes are incredibly well shot, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves whole-heartedly that he is an immensely talented performer. It's a shame he doesn't do small indie films like this anymore, because this is where he really shines as an actor.
One of my favourite things about this film is actually its soundtrack. It's very subtle and understated, and incredibly well-executed. It fits each scene perfectly so that when you go back and listen to it again, you can easily picture what was happening on screen when a particular piece was playing.
The film is rated R and has a running time of 105 minutes. Well worth the watch, if you can handle it.
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Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection
I've been a fan of the Harry Potter series since I was nine, after reading the very first book. The first film came out in 2001, when I myself was twelve years old, and I can still remember the magic of being in the theatre on a December evening... +
I've been a fan of the Harry Potter series since I was nine, after reading the very first book. The first film came out in 2001, when I myself was twelve years old, and I can still remember the magic of being in the theatre on a December evening, watching my favourite book come to life on screen.
This collects every film in the Harry Potter series, as follows:
-Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
It's hard for me to pick favourites, but if I had to, I'd say Prisoner of Azkaban, Order of the Phoenix, and the Deathly Hallows films are the best ones. My favourite book is definitely The Half-Blood Prince, but my favourite parts of the book didn't translate to film in quite the same way. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the film, because I did -- I love all of them -- but that one in particular is a much different experience than the novel.
The special effects in all of these are simply fantastic. They really aid in bringing the world of Harry Potter to life, from the spells to the magical creatures, Quidditch and beyond. Everything seems so real that you can simply absorb yourself in the fantasy of it all, and wish that you could be part of it (except, for perhaps, the very dangerous parts!).
No matter what your age, I think this is a series that's worth looking into. It will go down as a classic when it comes to fantasy series. They are, simply put, magical.
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Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine
I received a sample of this product in my order from Soko Glam. Neogen is a Korean skincare brand. The Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine is a facial exfoliator that comes in the form of little gauze pads. Each gauze pad is soaked through in fruit oils... +
I received a sample of this product in my order from Soko Glam.
Neogen is a Korean skincare brand. The Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine is a facial exfoliator that comes in the form of little gauze pads. Each gauze pad is soaked through in fruit oils and resveratrol, which is an ingredient found in red wine. You put your fingers into the little pocket and first rub the criss-cross side on your face, turn it around, and follow up by rubbing the smooth side on your face, afterwards rinsing your face with water.
This product helps to very gently smooth your skin by clearing away dead skin cells, leaving you with brighter and softer skin. It's definitely suitable for sensitive skin and those who don't like the rough feel of most exfoliators. This is nice and gentle, but effective. My skin looked and felt incredibly soft after I had used the peel.
This smells pretty much exactly like red wine. If you don't want your face to smell like you've been diving through a few bottles of vino, you may want to avoid this! It definitely has that sort of alcoholic smell to it, due to the resveratrol. My face smelled like red wine for the rest of the evening.
This is a great alternative to liquid exfoliating cleansers, but the price is a little high. If you can afford it and don't mind the alcholic smell, I would recommend it.
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Avanti Mini Hair Straightener
The Avanti Mini Hair Straightener is perfect for people with short hair or who travel a lot. The size is very compact and light, making it easy to carry with you in a bag, or to grab hold of those short pieces of hair. The plates are made of... +
The Avanti Mini Hair Straightener is perfect for people with short hair or who travel a lot. The size is very compact and light, making it easy to carry with you in a bag, or to grab hold of those short pieces of hair.
The plates are made of ceramic, which I've always found to be more effective. There's only one heat setting, which takes effect when you switch it into the "on" position. The straightener heats up quickly, and at maximum strength, it does get VERY hot. I typically only need it to warm up for about 30-50 seconds before I can start using it. Once it's heated up, it straightens hair in a single pass. It's a high quality straightener for a very good price.
The size makes it ideal for my hair. I have very short hair, and my other straightener -- which is standard size -- is simply too large and bulky to grab on to such small, fine strands. Additionally, I have very small hands, and this makes it very easy for me to hold.
I would highly recommend this product if you're looking for something smaller that packs the same amount of punch as a regular-sized hair straightener.
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Bronson
Bronson is a 2008 film written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Tom Hardy. The story is based upon real life British criminal Michael Peterson, who went by the fighting name Charles Bronson (a reference to the Death Wish actor). He... +
Bronson is a 2008 film written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Tom Hardy.
The story is based upon real life British criminal Michael Peterson, who went by the fighting name Charles Bronson (a reference to the Death Wish actor). He was notorious for being Britain's most violent criminal, and though he never actually committed any murder, he has spent the majority of the past four decades in solitary confinement.
This film does a great job with balancing both comedy and drama. There are some scenes that portray Bronson's early criminal life as well as many scenes of imprisonment. What makes this film stand out, though, are the performance pieces strewn throughout, as Bronson -- played by Hardy -- stands on a stage and plays to an audience, sometimes singing, sometimes performing a sort of mime. It's interesting stuff, and all of this combined shows how incredibly versatile Hardy is as an actor. He is out-of-this-world talented.
Nicolas Winding Refn is known for his highly stylized directing, which is on full display here. I really enjoy the way his films look, as they all have a very slick aesthetic, though sometimes they fall a bit flat in terms of actual depth and content. This is definitely one of his better films, and the soundtrack is a delightful mix of techno beats.
The film is rated R and has a running time of 92 minutes. This is a niche film which may not appeal to all, but if you like arthouse features, or if you just want to watch an amazing performance, this is a good one.
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Looper
Looper is a 2012 sci-fi film written and directed by Rian Johnson, starring Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt. The story takes place in the not-so-distant future and revolves around a man named Joe, who works as a Looper. After... +
Looper is a 2012 sci-fi film written and directed by Rian Johnson, starring Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt.
The story takes place in the not-so-distant future and revolves around a man named Joe, who works as a Looper. After time travel is invented thirty years later, people from the future will send people to the past, where Loopers dispose of them for a profit. When Joe is charged with disposing of his future self, it doesn't go well, and he ends up going on a chase to prevent a terrible series of crimes from happening in the future -- that's if his other self doesn't get in the way.
Time travel films can be quite complicated. This is incredibly well-written, with the rules explained thoroughly and satisfyingly enough that the audience can understand. This is one of the most unique sci-fi films I've seen in a long time, dealing with how the smallest actions can have huge, catastrophic effects in the future. It's a very moving film with a lot of emotion at its core, and the acting is strong from those involved.
The film is rated R and has a running time of 119 minutes.
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Frances Ha
Frances Ha is a 2012 film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, co-written and starring his real-life partner Greta Gerwig. The film is shot entirely in black and white, which is rare to see these days. The film centres on Frances, a... +
Frances Ha is a 2012 film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, co-written and starring his real-life partner Greta Gerwig. The film is shot entirely in black and white, which is rare to see these days.
The film centres on Frances, a twenty-something living in New York who has no real goal in life. She goes from job to job and apartment to apartment, and while the majority of her friends have begun to settle down, she's wandering aimlessly.
There isn't a ton of structure to the story, which may bother some people, but I found it quite refreshing. The tone very much matched its tititular character who likewise doesn't have a lot of structure in her life and often flies by the seat of her pants. I found this film to be very relatable, given that I'm also in my twenties and have friends who have settled down, but I'm not quite set on what I'm going to do in life. It was nice to see that reflected on screen, because there are many people my age who don't have a set career path. This is definitely a more realistic look at being in your twenties, because it's true -- you often don't have everything figured out yet, and that's absolutely okay.
Greta Gerwig is absolutely charming, as always. She has such a likeability and natural screen presence. This role feels like it was made for her.
The film is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 86 minutes -- short but sweet, and worth watching every moment.
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The Hunt
The Hunt is a 2012 Danish film directed by Thomas Vinterberg, starring Mads Mikkelsen. It's available with English subtitles. The story is about a man named Lucas, who works at a kindergarten. He's very well-liked in his community, as well as by... +
The Hunt is a 2012 Danish film directed by Thomas Vinterberg, starring Mads Mikkelsen. It's available with English subtitles.
The story is about a man named Lucas, who works at a kindergarten. He's very well-liked in his community, as well as by his young students, including one little girl in particular who has a crush on him. Lucas' whole life is then torn apart when he's accused of pedophilia, and he can no longer live his daily life without being tormented by those who used to be his friends.
This is such a difficult film to watch because the audience knows from very early on that Lucas is innocent of any wrongdoing. It's a simple case of a young child becoming upset and coming up with a story, one which she doesn't even realize would implicate someone of something so terrible. She's too young to understand what she's doing, that she's ruining someone's life. The thing is, even if Lucas becomes vindicated, he's still going to have this stain upon him forever. No one is ever going to look at him the same way ever again. That's what makes this film so heartbreaking.
Mads Mikkelsen is an amazing actor, and this is without a doubt the best performance I've ever seen from him. He has won the Danish equivalent of an Oscar a few times in his career, and you can see why. The film itself was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, but sadly it did not win, even though, in my opinion, it absolutely deserved to.
The film is rated R and has a running time of 118 minutes. This is absolutely worth seeing, even if it is hard to watch. It will stick with you long after it's finished.
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Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 film directed by Ang Lee, starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway. It is based on the short story by Annie Proulx, which was originally published in The New Yorker in 1997. The film... +
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 film directed by Ang Lee, starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway. It is based on the short story by Annie Proulx, which was originally published in The New Yorker in 1997.
The film is about two men, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, who meet when they take the same herding job up on Brokeback Mountain. Great tension forms between the two until it eventually boils over one drunken night, when Jack makes a pass at Ennis. The two end up having a romantic tryst, even though they know it cannot last, particularly when they each go back home and marry different women. Still, they are tied to one another for years to come, in a way that nobody -- not even they themselves -- could understand.
This is first and foremost a love story. It's probably one of the most mainstream LGBTQ films of all time, having earned several Oscar nominations at the 2006 Academy Awards. It carried around a lot of stigma, being labelled the "gay cowboy film", but it's so much more than that. It's about two people who love each other deeply, but due to circumstances beyond their control, they're unable to be together. This destroys them inside, as is evident through the fantastic performances of both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
This has gone on to become one of my favourite films. It may be a tad Hollywoodized, sure, but it's still heartwrenching and beautiful. If nothing else, it's worth watching for the stellar acting and wonderful soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla.
The film is rated R and has a running time of 134 minutes.
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Angels and Demons
Angels and Demons is a 2009 film directed by Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor. It's based on the novel by Dan Brown, which was released in 2000. It is the first book in the series, but it's the second film, gollowing The Da Vinci... +
Angels and Demons is a 2009 film directed by Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor. It's based on the novel by Dan Brown, which was released in 2000. It is the first book in the series, but it's the second film, gollowing The Da Vinci code.
The story is about Harvard professor Robert Langdon, who is called upon to aid a Catholic priest in Italy after a series of terrorist attacks seems to be targeting the Vatican. There he must use his skills in symbology to unlock an ancient mystery as the terrorist leads him on a wild race against time.
I had seen The Da Vinci Code and enjoyed it very much. I think I may enjoy this film a little bit more, as it's even more action-packed, with even better villains. It was the film that introduced me to Danish actor Nikolaj Lie Kaas, who is excellent in every scene he is in, and holds his own easily against veteran Oscar winner Hanks. That's no easy feat!
Although the film is a bit long, with a running time of 138 minutes, the pacing is on point, and it never really drags. I definitely recommend it for fans of the books, or for those who generally enjoy a good action-filled mystery.
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