"Joy" Movie Review & Giveaway! | Movie Monday

Joy (2015)

DVD Release Date: May 3, 2016
Run Time: 2h 4min.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: History/Biography
Links: Best Buy | Amazon | iTunes | Google Play

"Joy is one of those people who rejoiced in making things."

Joy is the true story of a young woman with an entrepreneurial spirit. She was creative from a young age and loved making things, particularly those that solved a problem. When she comes up with an idea for a new mop, she's thrown into the cut-throat world of business and quickly realizes she faces more obstacles than she thought possible.

Joy's story is told to us in a voice-over by her grandmother, which is rather appropriate since she was the one who instilled in Joy that she could do whatever she dreamed of.

Joy's family plays a big, albeit complicated, role in her business journey. We see how her friends and family can make all the difference when they're trying to help each other out. She cares for and houses her whole immediate family and they are ever-present. Her home is chaotic and she's constantly running around trying to keep everyone in line while also fixing everything herself. As a viewer, it's kind of funny to see how hectic everything is in her household because you'd think she wouldn't be able to get anything done with all the things that go wrong. And yet, Joy manages to think up a game-changing invention.

What started as a great idea being manufactured out of her father's garage, turned into a business empire. In order to get there though, Joy had to endure a whole lot of hardships. She faced the trials of starting a business, the frustration and heartbreak that come with the unsuccessful days and the failures, and the disappointment that comes when people give up on you.

Through it all, she comes up with creative ways of getting the word out about her business and she perseveres because she believes in her product. She grows a lot in the business world - she learns the ins and outs and never lets anyone walk all over her, taking matters into her own hands when things go wrong. No matter how many setbacks she faces, she keeps going. She finds a way.

Jennifer Lawrence, as always, gives a great performance as Joy, and she has an Oscar nomination to show for it.

My one complaint about this movie is that it was very long, and did drag on at times. Overall though, I really enjoyed it.

Joy is a film with a lot of heart. It's an inspirational, endearing, and often funny tale about creativity, hard work, brains, and a whole lot of perseverance.

Joy is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. Check out the trailer below:

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And now for the giveaway! ThinkJam and Fox Home Entertainment very kindly provided me with a Blu-Ray & Digital HD copy of Joy to give away.

Rules for this giveaway:

1. You must be following my blog - this giveaway is for my readers!

2. It is open to residents of Canada (Sorry to readers everywhere else, shipping from Canada is extortionate!)

3. If selected as the winner, you must be willing to provide me with your address so I can send you your prize.

4. I will email you if you are selected as the winner, and you must respond within 48 hours, otherwise another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*A review copy was sent to me by ThinkJam and Fox Home Entertainment in exchange for an honest review.

"The Choice" Review | Movie Monday

The Choice (2015)

DVD Release Date: May 3, 2016
Run Time: 111 mins.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Drama
Links: Best Buy | Amazon |  iTunes | Google Play

Travis (Benjamin Walker, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and Gabby (Teresa Palmer, Warm Bodies) start off as neighbours and quickly fall in love. But will they be able to weather the hardships life throws at them?

This film is based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, and I have a feeling that if you've ever read or seen anything that Nicholas Sparks has had a hand in, you pretty much know what to expect: the couple gets off to a rocky start but realize they're in love, and then tragedy strikes.

Travis is a fun-loving, cocky guy, while Gabby is studious, and struck by Travis' quips. They meet when Gabby (wrongly) accuses Travis' dog of getting her own dog pregnant. Their personalities often clash and they seem like they might not work, but for some reason, they just fit together.

Some of the writing and acting were a little awkward at times, but I like to kind of suspend my disbelief for this kind of movie and accept that I'm in a soppy romantic drama.

Being the sap that I am, I cried tears happy and sad. It's a typical Nicholas Sparks story that gets you invested in the couple and then makes something bad happen to them, with you hoping all the while that things work out happily. This one will make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings, especially if you're a hopeless romantic.

The Choice is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. Check out the trailer below:

*A review copy was sent to me by Lionsgate in exchange for an honest review.

"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" Movie Review & Giveaway! | Movie Monday

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials picks up right where the first film left off. The Gladers, led by Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), are in a facility when they discover yet another sinister plot from WCKD. They're able to escape into the Scorch, but they run into trouble at every turn, fighting the zombie-like Cranks and running from WCKD. Will they be able to find the Right Hand, a group of resistance fighters who can help in the fight against WCKD?

The movie starts as it means to go on: with lots of action. Right from the get-go, there's a ton of intrigue with the group being questioned by Janson (Aidan Gillen, Game of Thrones' Littlefinger), while they have no idea who he is and what the facility they're in is for. We quickly get into intense action when they discover they need to escape into the Scorch. They have no idea what awaits them.

I really enjoyed all the action and thought it was really well done. There are narrow escapes, chases, explosions, the tension builds pretty well...that's what I look for in an action/sci-fi movie. Plus, the Cranks they encounter throughout are so creepy - the way they move and the creaky sound they make really freaks me out.

We get some surprising (or not-so, it depends on your view of the characters) character development, some of which can be hard to empathize with. I can't say much more about this without spoiling certain things, so suffice it to say that there are some frustrating things that happen in this movie...if you try to understand though, you might be able to get why some things happen the way they do in this installment.

There are some really beautiful shots, like the one where we see the silhouettes of the group standing on a sand dune during a sad moment (I've mentioned this shot on Twitter and in my last post on here, and it's because I really love that shot). The music is so moving - I encourage you to really pay attention to the soundtrack when you listen to it because the music is wonderful.

In terms of specific scenes, there's one that really stands out to me: the mall scene. If you've seen the movie, you know exactly what I'm talking about - it was so good! I love the abandoned (it was shot in an actual abandoned mall!), almost archaic look of the place, and I think it made for the perfect setting in that action-packed, intense scene.

And while we're on the topic of action again, I wanted to share one of my favourite moments from the movie, which is when Thomas slides under the door while they're in the facility. That was such a tense, badass moment:

If you liked the first Maze Runner movie, you'll love this one.

Check out my recap of the #SurviveTheScorch event I was asked to participate in here!

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Time for the giveaway! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has very kindly provided me with a copy of the Blu-ray Ultimate Fan Edition, which includes two hours of extras and a 24-page collectible printed prequel comic book. 

Rules for this giveaway:

1. You must be following my blog - this giveaway is for my readers!

2. It is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. (Sorry to my international readers, shipping from Canada is extortionate!)

3. If selected as the winner, you must be willing to provide me with your address so I can send you your prize.

4. I will email you if you are selected as the winner, and you must respond to me with your address within 48 hours, otherwise another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" #SurviveTheScorch Screening | Event Recap

Hi everyone! Today I come to you with a special, double-edition of Movie Monday. Read 'til the end for an exciting announcement!

Recently someone over at New Wave Entertainment reached out to me asking to use my tweet about Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials in a commercial! Imagine my excitement when that happened to me, a huge movie buff (have you seen my Movie Log?). The commercial aired on TV in the U.S., and you can watch it here (pause at 0:04 to read the two quotes from my tweet!):

Not long after the commercial aired, I received another email asking me to participate in a really cool campaign they were doing to celebrate the upcoming DVD release of Scorch Trials - a home screening and Twitter chat with the author, James Dashner, complete with a #SurviveTheScorch kit full of tasty zombie-themed treats!

The #SurviveTheScorch kit I received

It was great to be able to spend time with my family and friends watching a movie I love and live-tweeting the whole thing. I was able to learn about James Dashner's favourite scenes, shots (the shot of the group standing on the sand dune, anyone? That was gorgeous.), and quotes from the movie, as well as what he thought about the differences in the adaptation.

It's been a great experience and I'm so grateful to the people over at New Wave Entertainment for wanting to use my tweet, and to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Think Jam for asking me to participate in the campaign!

You can read my review and enter to win a Blu-ray of the film here!

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials will be available on Blu-ray and DVD December 15.

"John Wick" Review | Movie Monday

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) receives a package one morning - a puppy from his deceased wife, which she sent him posthumously as a way for him to connect with and love something and move past her death. He grows to love little Daisy, but while they're stopped at a gas station one day, he runs into some Russian gang members who are very interested in his '69 Mustang. When he refuses to sell it to Iosef (Alfie Allen), they follow John home and retaliate by killing Daisy and stealing the car. What ensues is an intense quest for revenge.

John Wick is a fast-paced, action-packed film. So many factors work together to make this film as awesome as it is: the performances, choreography, cinematography...and so much more.

Keanu Reeves gives an excellent performance as the title character. He's really scary and impassioned - the word "intense" is the best word to describe him in this film. Do NOT mess with John Wick. He'll shoot you.

The stunt choreography was fantastic - and there was a lot of it. A lot of the movie involved fight scenes and most of them were so much fun to watch because of the choreography - it's so creative and complicated. A few times, I found myself marveling at how much practice it must have taken for the actors to get the scenes right.

I also love the look of the film - it's very dark and gritty and very much reminds me of a graphic novel. The lighting is really well done - the night scenes (majority of the film) have blue undertones that enhance the grit in the best way possible.

If you're looking for a film with lots of action and intensity, then look no further. John Wick is just what you need.

Photo via Wikipedia

"The Dyatlov Pass Incident" Review | Movie Monday

On February 2, 1959, nine hikers died under mysterious circumstances, in what has come to be known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. The group, led by Igor Dyatlov, died on the east shoulder of the so-called "Dead Mountain".

Russian officials determined the hikers' tent had been cut open from the inside, and they left their camp barefoot; their bodies were found at varying distances from the tent. No one knows what really happened that night because there were no survivors, but there has been much speculation.

The events of that night have even sparked a recent horror film, The Dyatlov Pass Incident, also known as Devil's Pass. In the movie, five American college students venture to the Dyatlov Pass to film a documentary and see if they can uncover the mystery behind the incident.

This is a found footage film, a medium I've become quite fond of over the past few months, though I know some people can't stand it. I think it really suits the telling of this story.

I liked most of the characters - Holly King (Holly Goss) and Jensen Day (Matt Stokoe from Misfits, yay!) were particularly interesting to me, and I found that I could empathize with them. Holly is an ambitious filmmaker leading her own documentary crew to the Dyatlov Pass to retrace the steps of the hikers from over fifty years earlier. It's pretty obvious that it's a bad idea to make the exact same journey that killed nine people, but you've got to admire her bravery and determination. Jensen is one of her camera men, and he provides a lot of the sensible commentary about their discoveries, as well as some much-needed comic relief.

This film is so suspenseful - as the story unfolds, there are more and more mysteries revealed and it was so interesting to see this take on the unknown events of that night. I enjoyed the whole film, but the last half hour in particular kept me on the edge of my seat, quite literally.

The Dyatlov Pass Incident was a very sad event that has resulted in fascinating theories. This film is an interesting, suspenseful, and terrifying interpretation of what happened that ill-fated night.

Had you heard of the Dyatlov Pass Incident before reading this review?

Photo by Simon via Pixabay in accordance with the Creative Commons Deed CC0.

"A Long Way Down" Review | Movie Monday

*Trigger warning for suicide*

Martin (Pierce Brosnan), Maureen (Toni Collette), Jess (Imogen Poots), and JJ (Aaron Paul) meet on a rooftop on New Year's Eve. Each of them has come to commit suicide. Rather than jump, the unlikely foursome makes a pact to not kill themselves until Valentine's Day - six weeks from now.

This film deals heavily with suicide and depression, and shows four people - all from very different walks of life - and how their life experiences have affected them and led them all to the same rooftop.

I love this movie. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love movies that make me cry. I think it's the mark of a good story if it can touch me emotionally, find a place deep down where I can relate to the characters' feelings and not only sympathize with them, but truly understand why they feel the way they do.

I found all four characters lovable in their own way. Martin is the bitter grump whose quips you can't help but enjoy; Maureen is reserved and has such a warm heart; Jess is loud-mouthed and a bit neurotic, just wanting someone to love and pay attention to her; and JJ is a very sweet, but utterly lost man. Each is portrayed brilliantly by the actors - I think the casting is perfect in this movie.

I think it's important to keep in mind that this is a work of fiction. A chance meeting of suicidal people on a rooftop wouldn't likely end well in real life. But this story is very hopeful and leaves the audience thinking that perhaps things do get better. Their friendship has by no means cured anyone of their depression, seeing as it's a chemical imbalance in the brain. But it made something twig in each of them, made them realize there might be a reason to keep going.

Another great thing about A Long Way Down is that it's based on a book, so you know I'll be reading that soon!

Our four protagonists have almost nothing in common aside from their suicidal thoughts. And yet, when they find each other on that roof, something changes. This is a very sweet, moving film about four people who find hope and love in the most unlikely place - each other.

"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" Review | Movie Monday

See image credit below

If you're anything like me, the three-year wait for this sequel was a long one even though we saw Cap in 2012's The Avengers and briefly in 2013's Thor: The Dark World. Three years is a long time.

But boy, was it worth the wait! The Winter Soldier is packed with even more action and intrigue than its predecessor.

In this installment, Captain America, aka Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), becomes involved in an elaborate scheme when an important S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague is attacked. He and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) fight side by side, enlisting the help of Falcon (Anthony Mackie) as they dig deeper and face a new nemesis: the Winter Soldier.

One of the things I love most about Captain America are Steve's one-liners, and they're abundant in this film. Black Widow (aka Natasha Romanoff) is another great character in the film; the writers and Scarlett Johansson took her sass up a notch, which I enjoyed - it was really well done and often hilarious! I also really love the interactions between Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, and Steve - they're so sweet and funny together, I want them to be best friends.

This movie will make you feel. It's really emotional - I won't give spoilers in case you don't know the big identity reveal (you'll know what I mean once you watch the film, I promise), but this movie will make your heart hurt and you'll feel very empathetic toward Steve and the tough situation he faces.

If you've been enjoying the Marvel Universe movies, you'll love this one. If you haven't been watching them diligently or are indifferent, I still recommend this because it's a fantastic action movie and it's pretty interesting.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is available on DVD September 9.

I. Love. Marvel.

Image Credit: "Captain America The Winter Soldier Wallpaper" by THEGALATF via deviantart in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

"Vampire" Review | Movie Monday

"Vampire" (2011)

*Trigger Warnings for suicide and rape*

Simon (Kevin Zegers) is a young biology teacher with a dark secret: he has a compulsion to drink human blood. In order to satisfy this thirst, he finds suicidal women on an online forum and assists them with their suicide under the guise that he'll kill himself once they've passed.

It's really debatable whether what Simon's doing is okay. Everything he does is with consent; he's constantly asking if the women are sure they want to die and if they're ready. On the other hand, he's lying to them by telling them he plans to die with them, when in fact, he has no intention of dying. In some cases, this raises the question of whether they would go through with their suicides if they knew they were in fact the only ones dying - but in many other cases, it's clear that the characters planned to kill themselves whether or not he was there. At one point he questions himself and his actions as well, telling himself "you should be helping her".

There's a scene where his friend from a strange party rapes and murders a woman as Simon waits and watches from nearby. For obvious reasons, this scene is difficult to watch, but I think it's in the film to provide a comparison to what Simon is doing. His friend brutalizes a woman and tortures her for his own pleasure; indeed, while Simon is taking his "victims'" blood for his own personal use, he makes sure the women are comfortable and sure of what they're about to do, and provides them with a peaceful death.

Everything about this film, including the soundtrack, is very tranquil and peaceful; it's meant to evoke thoughtfulness and calm. The film can feel very slow at times, which wasn't an issue for me at all because I think the whole concept is intriguing in the sense that it raises so many questions; others may require more patience to get through this, but I think it's worth it.

The marketing is very weird for this film - everywhere I look, it's classified as horror, but I disagree with that, I would definitely classify it as a drama. The tagline, "they're dying to keep him alive", makes it sound like he needs them to survive, like he's some kind of creature; it's really more of a compulsion, he's not going to die if he doesn't drink blood.

This film really made me think (actually, it continues to) and it's raised a lot of moral questions in me. While it can be unsettling, I like it when a film can move me in that way and really affects me for a long while after I've watched it.

Do you like it when a movie makes you question yourself? What movies have done this to you?

"Maleficent" Review | Movie Monday

"Maleficent" Theatrical Release Poster

Maleficent is a re-telling of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, with a twist: it's told from the point of view of the villain, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie). Bent on vengeance after she is betrayed by her childhood friend, Stefan (Sharlto Copley), Maleficent curses his newborn daughter, Aurora (Elle Fanning). As the girl grows up and spends more time in the Moors, Maleficent begins to wonder if she made the right decision by cursing her.

I really like this movie. I've been looking forward to it ever since I found out it was being made, and I'm glad I finally got to see it. I like that we get to see Maleficent's side of the story, because she's always interested me.

I enjoyed seeing Maleficent grow up in the Moors, the forest land she resides in. In the beginning, there are definitely some "classic Disney" moments, by which I mean there were times when the film borders on cheesy fairy tale story. The scenery was beautiful and filled with fascinating, fantastical creatures.

The event that leads to her thirst for revenge is heartbreaking, particularly hearing her cries of anguish. I'm really glad they didn't make Maleficent into a purely evil villain - she has legitimate reasons for what she's doing, even if her curse is misplaced. She also has doubts. She's a highly intelligent woman who is constantly considering and observing what she's done, and admits when she realizes she's done wrong.

The film is visually stunning, including Maleficent herself. I'm really impresses by the makeup and costumes she has; everything about her is so elegant, from her horns to her cheekbones to her clothes. I think this version of Maleficent is absolutely beautiful.

I love the way they did some of the lighting - in the scenes where Maleficent is in the dark, there's a soft glow of light on her, just enough so that there's a twinkle in her eyes.

If you love the Disney princess movies, you'll love this re-telling of the classic Sleeping Beauty, from a whole new perspective.

Which Disney villain do you want to have their own movie?

"The Apparition" Review | Movie Monday

"The Apparition" DVD cover

Four college students attempt to recreate the 1973 "Charles Experiment", where a group of people concentrated on a drawing of a man named Charles Reamer in an attempt to summon his spirit. Using modern technology to magnify the parapsychological study's effects, Patrick (Tom Felton) and his team delve into the dangerous world of the paranormal and they summon more than they bargained for. Now Ben (Sebastian Stan), one of the participants in the study, and his girlfriend Kelly (Ashley Greene) are being haunted by the very thing that was summoned that night.

The beginning of this movie is incredibly awkward - but if you get through the first 15 minutes, you'll probably get through the whole movie. The set-up for the couple's story is so cheesy and unnatural; I think it's a combination of bad writing and directing, which is a shame because I like both Sebastian Stan and Ashley Greene and I know they're better than they seem at the beginning of this film.

The good news is, no part of this film is worse than the first 15 minutes. Once creepy things start happening around the house, the film improves. There was a good build-up of suspense with the mysteriously open doors and nerve-wracking "break-ins" at night.

This movie is pretty creepy if you watch it at night like I did, so if you enjoy being scared, I recommend viewing it in the dark. This is by no means a fantastic horror/thriller movie, but it's entertaining and good for a one-time watch, especially if you're with friends who are easily frightened.

"Bad Words" Review | Movie Monday

"Bad Words" Theatrical Release Poster

Bad Words tells the story of Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman, who also directed the film), a 40-year-old man who finds a loophole in the Spelling Bee rules and decides to enter, much to the chagrin of the child contestants, their parents, and the event organizers. Guy has a reporter named Jenny (Kathryn Hahn) report on his progress in the competition, and along the way he reluctantly befriends one of the contestants, Chai (Rohan Chand).

This film is full of dark humour - the kind that makes you chuckle and simultaneously wonder, "Oh my god, did (s)he really just say that?" Jason Bateman's Guy is a miserable person and when he reveals his reason for entering the Spelling Bee, it just makes you, as an observer, feel bad for him because he was so affected that he went and ruined an otherwise entertaining competition for a bunch of kids.

Guy's relationship with Chai is really funny and endearing as we see it develop; Guy begins by not wanting anything to do with the child, but Chai is just so sweet and persistent, despite Guy being an absolute jerk to him.

I really enjoyed this movie; it's definitely not a happy, feel-good film, but the dark humour did make me laugh often, and I think the story-line is an interesting concept.

What's your favourite word?

"Neighbors" Review | Movie Monday

"Neighbors" Theatrical Release Poster

Neighbors follows Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) as they face parenthood and the reality of a fraternity moving in next door. Everything goes well at first with the fraternity's President, Teddy (Zac Efron), seeming compliant with the couple's requests to keep the noise down; but when things go wrong and the Radners call the cops, all hell breaks loose.

This movie is pretty funny from the get-go, but it really hits its stride once the pranking and sabotage begin. There are many laugh-out-loud moments, including a few scenes involving airbags. In terms of humour, this film is pretty much what you expect when you see a film starring Seth Rogen - frequently stupid humour, and always gut-busting.

Among all the comedy, there's also a heartwarming aspect to Neighbors. Mac and Kelly have a rough time dealing with Teddy and his fraternity, but ultimately the experience makes them a stronger family unit. There was also a sense of brotherly love among the fraternity brothers, particularly between Teddy and Pete (Dave Franco), whose relationship is also tried among all the sabotage.

Zac Efron usually plays the "nice guy", so it was nice to see him in a different role, although Teddy is frequently a douchebag.

I really enjoyed this film - it had me laughing a lot. If you usually like Seth Rogen movies, you'll definitely enjoy this!

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro" Review | Movie Monday

Today I'm starting a new segment on my blog, entitled "Movie Monday". Getting straight to the point, I watch a lot of movies. I figure that because I watch so many, there are bound to be some I've seen that others haven't heard of. In the hopes of exposing you to films you might not have heard of otherwise, I'll be posting movie reviews on Mondays. It may not be every Monday, but movie reviews will be posted on this day. Without further ado, here is my very first Movie Monday review.

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Theatrical Release Poster

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 sees Andrew Garfield return as Peter Parker; Peter is dealing with high school graduation and possibly having to say goodbye to Gwen (the amazing Emma Stone...yes, I did that on purpose) as they go on different life paths. Aside from his real-life problems, he also has to battle not one, but two villains in this film.

Jamie Foxx stars as the film's main villain, Electro. I'm a big fan of Jamie Foxx and I think he did a great job as Electro's needy, lonely counterpart, Max Dillon. However, I found Electro's lines really awkwardly delivered; this could have been an issue with the writing, as opposed to the performance, but either way it felt cheesy and strained to me.

I was also not a fan of the makeup for this incarnation of the Green Goblin. He was in the in-between stages of human and full-on Goblin, I get it, but it just looked really muddled and hastily put together.

On the plus side, sassy Spider-Man is back in full force for this sequel. Some of my favourite parts of the film involve his snarky remarks! Here are a few of my favourite scenes:

• Peter trying to get out of the Spidey Suit before Aunt May comes into his room, then explaining away his filthy face by saying he was cleaning the chimney. "Peter, we don't have a chimney." "Whaaaa-?"
• Peter and Aunt May arguing over who'll do the laundry - both are hiding their uniforms/costumes from each other.
• Peter cleverly distracting bad guys so Gwen can get onto the elevator.

*potential spoilers ahead*

And of course, how could I review this film without mentioning it: the scene every Spider-Man comic book reader has been waiting for and dreading. I won't specify what it is in case anyone doesn't know what's coming, but if you've read the comics, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It happened, and it was heartbreaking.

There were definitely some things lacking in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but if you love the building-swinging visuals and witty Spider-Man, you'll probably enjoy this!

Have you seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2? What are your thoughts on it?