The Reel Life of Real Life

Rating: G Genre: Animation, Classics, Kids & Family Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske Written By: Ken Anderson, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Ted Sears, Harry Reeves, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Homer Brightman In Theatres: April 27, 1951 Runtime: 60 minutes Studio: RKO Radio Pictures Summary: With a wicked stepmother (Eleanor Audley) and two jealous stepsisters (Rhoda Williams, Lucille Bliss) who keep her enslaved and in rags, Cinderella (Ilene Woods) stands no chance of attending the royal ball. When her fairy godmother (Verna Felton) appears and magically transforms her reality into a dream come true, Cinderella enchants the handsome Prince Charming at the ball, but must face the wrath of her enraged stepmother and sisters when the spell wears off at midnight. Review: Who out here doesn’t know the story of Cinderella! Of all the Disney movies made, this has to be the most notorious. Cinderella is THE princess – the one tha...

Rating: PG   Genre: Drama, Romance Directed By: Adam Shankman Written By: Karen Janszen Released: January 25 th , 2002 Runtime: 100 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Summary: Set in North Carolina, "A Walk To Remember" follows the rite of passage of a jaded, aimless high school senior (Shane West) who falls in love with a guileless young woman (Mandy Moore) he and his friends once scorned. The two develop a powerful and inspirational relationship in which they discover truths that take most people a lifetime to learn. Review: Well this is a sappy movie if there ever was one… It’s a Nicholas Sparks creation, you get what is advertised – a soppy love story with a bittersweet ending. Don’t sit down without tissues handy. Unless you’re of cynical mindset in which case prepare for some eye rolling.  I wouldn’t consider this his best love story (that honour will forever go to The Notebook) but it’s pretty high up there. Both character...

Rating: PG Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Directed By: Nora Ephron Written By: Nora Ephron, David S. Ward, Jeff Arch, Larry Atlas In Theatres: June 25 th , 1993 Runtime: 105 minutes Studio: TriStar Pictures Summary: After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah (Ross Mallinger). When Jonah calls in to a talk-radio program to find a new wife for his father, Sam grudgingly gets on the line to discuss his feelings. Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), a reporter in Baltimore, hears Sam speak and falls for him, even though she is engaged. Unsure where it will lead, she writes Sam a letter asking him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. Review: I actually really like this film! I think it’s so sweet! One would have to suspend disbelief at the abundant coincidences in the story, but the characters are all so touching and likeable I think it’s very easy to do that. Jonah is a dote. The scenes betwee...

Rating: PG Genre: Comedy Directed By: James Lapine Written By: Marc Lawrence In Theatres: June 4 th , 1993 Runtime: 95 minutes Studio: Buena Vista Summary: The former child star (Michael J. Fox) of a TV show meets a cute little waif (Christina Vidal) who changes his talent agency and his life. Review: I feel like this movie gets a lot of unnecessary stink. It’s rated quite low across the internet, there doesn’t seem to be much time for it at all. I didn’t think it deserves quite that much bad press though. There are a lot worse out there that we hear far more about which seems a bit upside down to me. Oh well. Maybe I’m one of a small population, but I enjoyed this film. It’s light-hearted with a great leading man in Michael J Fox, and Christina Vidal’s character, Angie is smart, sassy and entertaining too. I actually found them amusing when they were on screen together. Plus the story as a whole is decent, predictable, yes, but so are a lot ...

Rating:  PG Genre: Drama, Romance Directed By: Sydney Pollack Written By: Aurthur Laurants, Released: October 16th, 1973 Runtime: 118 minutes Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Summary: Katie (Barbara Streisand) is a communist against the civil war in Spain and the rise of Hitler in Europe. Hubbell (Robert Redford) is a writer, more interested in sports and is sceptic about politics. They meet in college, and years later embark on a wonderful romance in spite of their differences. They get married and move to California by which time Hubbell is adapting one of his novels into a screenplay and Katie is pregnant. Katie is still very much outspoken about her political views which inevitably leads she and Hubbell to the agreement they must separate in order to be happy. But when they meet by chance years later, the spark is still there... Review:  I like this film. I love the simplicity of the plot and the relationship between the two characters. Barb...

Rating: R: 12 Genre: Comedy, Drama Directed By: Wes Anderson Written By: Hugo Guinness, Wes Anderson In Theatres: Mar 7 th , 2014 Runtime: 99 minutes Studio: Fox Searchlight Summary: In the 1930s, the Grand Budapest Hotel is a popular European ski resort, presided over by concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes). Zero, a junior lobby boy, becomes Gustave's friend and protege. Gustave prides himself on providing first-class service to the hotel's guests, including satisfying the sexual needs of the many elderly women who stay there. When one of Gustave's lovers dies mysteriously, Gustave finds himself the recipient of a priceless painting and the chief suspect in her murder. Review: This was one of the first movies I watched with my roommate in college when I was first getting to know her. It was her favourite film she had informed me and so we made plans to watch it. Popcorn, Pepsi, lights dimmed – the proper cinema experience in the comfort o...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Romance Directed By: Steve Rash Written By: Michael Swerdlick, Wayne Rice Released: August 14 th , 1987 Runtime: 94 minutes Studio: Buena Vista Pictures Summary: Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything. Review: I didn’t enjoy it at the beginning but as it went on, the more I got into it. I was skeptical because the plotline is very predictable. As is the case for all these movies though, right? It’s like a teen/school version of Romeo and Juliet actuall...

Rating: PG Genre: Action, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: George Lucas Written By: George Lucas Released: March 26 th , 1978 Runtime: 125 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Summary: Directed and written by George Lucas. The evil galactic empire rules over the galaxy but there is a repellion lead by Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), who has stolen the plans to the empire’s huge space station, the Death Star, which has enough power to destroy an entire planet. She places the plans in her droid, R2-D2, before being captured by Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl-Jones), an evil agent of the Empire, who is “more machine than man”. R2-D2 and his friend the droid C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) escape onto the desolate desert planet, named Tattoine, where they meet Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Obi-wan Kenobi (Alec McGuiness). Princess Leia’s meesage is dictated to Obi-wan, a former Jedi Knight who fought alongside Luke’s deceased father. They enlist star-...

Rating: R:15 Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama Directed By: Edgar Wright Written By: Edgar Wright Released: June 28 th , 2017 Runtime: 113 minutes Studio: Sony Pictures Summary: Talented getaway driver Baby (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. After meeting the woman (Lily James) of his dreams, he sees a chance to ditch his shady lifestyle and make a clean break. Coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), Baby must face the music as a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom. Review: I absolutely loved this film. I wish I had got to see it in the cinema. I must have been something to experience with all the car chases.  Ansel Elgort is brilliant. I love this character. With the sunglasses, the no speaking, and the earphones in his ears at first impression the character comes off as very badass. Then we slowly learn about his backstory and it’s a unique one. The parents bein...

Rating: 12 Genre: Classics, Comedy, Drama, Romance Directed By: Blake Edwards Written By: George Axelrod Released: October 5 th , 1961 Runtime: 115 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: Holly Golightly (played by Audrey Hepburn), is a pretty and amiable socialite with slightly fanciful ideas. She has such a flippant lifestyle that she won't even give her cat a name believing it would be too much of a commitment to a relationship. She soon becomes friends with a new neighbour in her apartment building, Paul Varjak (played by George Peppard), a struggling writer. He is in intrigued by her prettiness and quirky mannerisms: in public she is confident and sophisticated, attending many parties in designer clothes, but alone, she adopts a very childlike and vulnerable air. The film was directed by Blake Edwards, with the screenplay written by George Axelrod based on Truman Capote's book of the same name. Review: I've been meaning to see this ...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Romance Directed By: Donald Petrie Written By: Marlene King, Amy B Harris Released: May 12 th 2006 Runtime: 103 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Summary: As the luckiest woman in the world, Ashley (Lindsay Lohan) has a wonderful life, which all changes after she kisses a stranger (Chris Pine) at a costume party. She sees everything turn into a living hell, as she realizes that she has unwittingly exchanged her good fortune for the stranger's bad luck. Review: I loved this film so much as a child. I watched it recently again after not seeing it in years and it brought back memories. As rom-com/chick-flicks go, this, at least in my opinion (though this might be swayed by sentimental value), would be one of the better ones of the 2000 era. The plot is simple but unique enough to make it stand out. Sometimes simple works better. It’s cute. And there are some humorous moments. It’s predictable, yes, but isn’t that wha...