Alan Ball...seriously?

Is it just me or has season 4 of Alan Ball's True Blood become epically cringe worthy? Since Eric lost his memory he has become the epitome of lame and his relationship with Sookie is just not believable. Fans who previously hoped the two of them would get together I assume wanted this as there was a level of sexual tension between them in previous seasons which has been lost now that Eric has become a 'sensitive soul'...ie. pretty much the opposite of everything he was before. The sex scenes between him and Sookie, particularly those with a curtain of snow and the like falling on them are embarrassing!
Change can be good but in this season there has been too much...and too many ridiculous sub-plots. Other examples are Jessica and Jason's obsessing over one another, and the whole possessed Lafayette/mother and baby thing. That was just weird..and not in a good way!
I will still watch avidly every week but Ball, I think you need to up your game!

Review: Super 8

Written and directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Spielberg; Super 8 feels like an instant classic similar to a mix of E.T and Stand By Me. To be fair, the plot of a lost alien trying to make its way back home and helped along the way by a group of kids owes more than a lot to E.T, but the movie is far too well made to consider it a mere copycat.

The group of children, themselves making a film within the film are excellent, the scenes showing them doing this are very sweet and their friendships with one another are very touching. This is mainly what makes Super 8 such a success..it focuses on sub-plots of growing up, strained relationships with parents and lost loved ones are what gives the film its heart.
The alien itself is only actually seen at the end of the film, having been only been hinted at beforehand. This can make the plot seem slightly confusing..as compared to E.T it is not known throughout what is happening in this small town.

A special mention should also be given to the lighting. Mainly containing scenes at night, or else shot with a dim light; there is also a slight graininess, which juxtaposes with many bright, flashing objects..such as torches, street lights, car lights etc. This adds to the sense of mystery and quite clearly science fiction.

Overall Super 8 is a film soaked in nostalgia. Set in 1979, it is adorned with seventies memorabilia..a homage to possibly a happier and less complicated time. Great viewing!

Rating: ****

THE BOY WHO LIVED: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 *spoilers*

It took me a second visit to the cinema to get round to posting my thoughts on the conclusion of the Harry Potter series. As a huge fan of the books when I was younger, I only displayed a mild interest in the movies as they were made...considering them to be too 'childish' (I know this is essentially a story for children). However as each new film was released, the maturity level of the filmmaking also increased, almost as if as the characters grew up, the filming grew up with them.

I admit I haven't watched Azkaban in years, the film which most will say finally defined the series as good British film making (albeit without a British director), but it was not until The Goblet of Fire that I began to really enjoy them...especially the spectacular scenes of the Quiddich World Cup.

With The Order of the Phoenix we again saw a new level of maturity, with some criticising it for its more sombre tone. Perhaps this was the reasoning behind director David Yates' decision to include so much humour in 2009's Half-Blood Prince. In my opinion this was the weakest in the series since the Chamber of Secrets..at times seeming slightly embarrassing and at other times dull.

Again with part one of the Deathly Hallows there was a juxtaposition between the casual tone of the previous film and the seriousness of this one. Although the final book was split into two films, the first covered well over half of the book. I feel the lengthy scenes of Harry, Ron and Hermione were a necessary interlude to the action packed final movie.

It showed the audience how mature these three actors and characters had become since the Philosopher's Stone, and what a strain the forces of darkness could put on their relationships with each other. Which leads us to part two.

The final film is without a doubt the best in the series. Including epic scenes inside Gringotts bank, the destruction of Hogwarts and Harry's realisation that Snape was the hero Dumbledore claimed him to be all along...part two manages to sustain a level of action throughout as well as packing an emotional punch. Each character we have come to know and love were given one last chance to display their true colours. I especially loved the stand-off between Snape and McGonagall!

Some scenes reminded me of Return of the King, mainly Harry's talk with Dumbledore in King's Cross near the end was reminiscent of Gandalf's speech to Pippin of the afterlife. However although there are many comparisons to be made, the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a film which should be given the praise it deserves. The fact that the sheer host of British acting (and non acting) talent has appeared in the franchise, from John Cleese to Gary Oldman, and Julie Walters to Helena Bonham Carter is a testament to its greatness. A fitting farewell to a series which I along with millions of others have grown up cherishing.

Meh, Red Riding Hood

There's not really much I can say about this rehash of the Little Red Riding Hood tale starring Amanda Seyfreid apart from that it's rubbish. I would give a plot summary if there was one! Absolutely no character development, various weak threads of storylines that tail off into nothing along with backdrops that look so utterly false add up to one of the dullest films I've seen this year. Watch it just to see for yourself!