The Reel Life of Real Life

Rating: G Genre: Animation, Kids & Family Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton S. Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske Written By: Bill Peet In Theatres: Jan 25 th , 1961 Runtime: 79 minutes Studio: Buena Vista Summary: In a Disney animation classic, Dalmatian Pongo is tired of his bachelor-dog life. He spies lovely Perdita and maneuvers his master, Roger, into meeting Perdita's owner, Anita. The owners fall in love and marry, keeping Pongo and Perdita together too. After Perdita gives birth to a litter of 15 puppies, Anita's old school friend Cruella De Vil wants to buy them all. Roger declines her offer, so Cruella hires the criminal Badun brothers to steal them -- so she can have a fur coat. Review: This is a great family film. It’s played a lot around Christmas time (from my experience at least) even though it’s not a Christmas film per say. But I’ve learned to associate it with Christmas. Maybe it’s the colours of the animation....

Rating: PG-13   Genre: Drama Directed By: Stephen Chbosky Written By: Stephen Chbosky In Theatres: Sep 21 st , 2012  Runtime: 103 minutes Studio: Lionsgate Films Summary: Here we have a fantastic coming of age story revolved around the friendships between a wonderful bunch of characters. You will laugh with them, cry with them, but most of all, have fun with them. Socially awkward teen Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a wallflower, always watching life from the side lines, until two charismatic students become his mentors. Free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller) help Charlie discover the joys of friendship, first love, music and more, while a teacher sparks Charlie's dreams of becoming a writer. However, as his new friends prepare to leave for college, Charlie's inner sadness threatens to shatter his newfound confidence. Review: This film and the book mean a lot to me. Mostly because reading the book I remember thin...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Drama Directed By: John Crowley Written By: Nick Hornby In Theatres: Nov 6 th , 2015 Runtime: 111 minutes Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures Summary: Young Irish immigrant Eilis Lace (Saoirse Ronan) navigates her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother's home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her past disrupts her new vivacity, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within. Review: I really enjoyed this movie! The story is relatively simple which is always a pro. The performances all around were superb. And it was shot beautifully. Having been impressing audiences on the big screen since her Oscar winning performance at the age of just 13, in “Atonement”, she continues to do so with her lead role...

Rating:  R (adult situations/language, nudity) Genre:  Drama, Romance Directed By:  Adrian Lyne Written By:  Sarah Kernochan, Zalman King, Patricia Louisianna Knop, Elizabeth McNeill Runtime:  113 minutes Studio:  MGM Home Entertainment Summary:  A woman (Kim Bassinger) gets involved in an impersonal affair with a man (Mickey Rourke). She barely knows about his life, only about the sex games they play, so the relationship begins to get complicated. Review:  I’d heard of this film a while back and most reviews I’ve found about it are mainly positive so out of boredom and curiosity I said I’d just give it a go. This film is basically the 50 Shades of Grey of the 80s. There was not much point in making 50 Shades when they already had this one because it’s streets ahead. Although, it doesn’t really have much in the way of a plot as such…or at the least, a very weak one. It is literally Kim Bassinger and Mickey Rourke meeting and...

Rating: R (for language and some sexual content) Genre: Comedy, Romance Directed By: Christian Ditter Written By: Juliette Towhidi In Theatres: Oct 22, 2014 Runtime: 102 minutes Studio: Film Arcade Summary: Based on Cecelia Ahern’s 2004 bestselling book, “Where Rainbows End”, ‘Love, Rosie’ follows the ups and downs in the friendship between Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Clafin). Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another...or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies. Review: This film is…so-so. It’s not a bad film, it’s quite a pleasant one if romantic comedies are your thing but…it’s not exactly going to blow you away. It’s very, very predictable. Because of this, as the film wares on, the sequence of events that take place soon start to get a bit tedious and feel drawn out. It seems in some cases the bad c...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy Directed By: Jay Roach Written By: Jim Herzfeld, John Hamburg In Theatres: Jan 28, 2005 Runtime: 118 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: Now that Greg Focker is "in" with his soon-to-be in-laws, Jack and Dina Byrnes, it looks like smooth sailing for him and his fiancée, Pam. But that's before Pam's parents meet Greg's parents, the Fockers. The hyper-relaxed Fockers and the tightly-wound Byrneses are woefully mismatched from the start, and no matter how hard Greg and Pam try, there is just no bringing their families together. This all adds up to a disastrously funny time of getting to know you. Review: This is actually a very funny film. It was on the TV recently and I realised I’d never sat down properly to watch any of these films before. So, when my dad was enjoying it so much, I got into it as well and we laughed out loud on many occasions.  The title of the film says it all, doesn’...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Romance Directed By: Howie Deutch, John Hughes Written By: John Hughes In Theatres: Jan 1 st , 1986 Runtime: 96 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: Andie (Molly Ringwald) is an outcast at her Chicago high school, hanging out either with her older boss (Annie Potts), who owns the record store where she works, or her quirky best friend Duckie (Jon Cryer), who has a crush on her. When one of the rich and popular kids at school, Blane (Andrew McCarthy), asks Andie out, it seems too good to be true. As Andie starts falling for Blane, she begins to realizes that dating someone from a different social sphere is not easy. Review: Another of John Hughes’ masterpieces, this is an 80s teen classic. Andie is a great lead character. She’s very creative, showing off an array of memorable and fashionable outfits she made herself. She’s very caring and responsible, looking after her unemployed father, taking the role of her...