Movie of the Week: Notting Hill

Title: Notting Hill

Director: Roger Michell

Release year: 1999

Notable cast: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant

Genre: Romance, Drama

Recommended for: girls

Rating: 5/5

Description: I just love this film, it’s one I have watched over and over. For me, it has the perfect mix of romance, drama and comedy and is simply a beautiful and charming rollercoaster of love.

Plot Summary: The life of a simple bookshop owner in Notting Hill changes when he meets and falls for the most famous film star in the world.

Favourite quote: ‘I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her’ – Anna Scott

 

What’s a film you watch over and over again?

Movie of the Week: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

Title: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

Director: Jake Syzmanski

Release year: 2016

Notable cast: Zac Efron, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick

Genre: Rom Com

Recommended for: anyone that wants a good laugh

Rating: 4.5/5

Description: Staying true to form, I still love anything with Aubrey Plaza in it, after watching her for years on the small screen (in Parks and Recreation – it’s an amazing TV show) it was great to finally see her on the big screen. No, this film does not have a super enticing plot and you’ve probably seen a ton of similar American films before, but this film was super fun and super funny and I loved it – I was still laughing as I was leaving the cinema and just wanted to watch it again!

Plot Summary: Two hard-partying brothers place an online ad to find the perfect dates for their sister’s Hawaiian wedding. Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves out-hustled by an uncontrollable duo.

Movie of the Week: Divergent (Cliché right?)

Title: Divergent

Director: Neil Burger

Release year: 2014

Notable cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Kate Winslet

Genre: action, adventure, sci-fi, romance, fantasy

Recommended for: teenagers

Rating: 4/5

Description: I made this movie of the week because I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, not necessarily because it was fantastic film. There was good chemistry between the leads, however I feel it lacked in the romance department a little, in other words a little more romance and a little less action/violence would have been nice to balance it out a little. Furthermore, both leads impressed me with their acting, I was initially very unsure about them but they did a good job. Overall a good start to the franchise.

Plot Summary: In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she’s Divergent and won’t fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it’s too late.

Favourite quote: “Fear doesn’t shut you down, it wakes you up” -Four

Movie of the Week: Edward Scissorhands

Title: Edward Scissorhands

Director: Tim Burton

Release year: 1990

Notable cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Anthony Michael Hall (Remember Rusty from Vacation?)

Genre: drama, fantasy, romance

Recommended for: everyone

Rating: 4.5/5

Description: An original and curious film, dark yet heartfelt and slightly humourous film of romance with what appears to be like a modern day frankenstein creature, having scissors for hands. Brilliant and incredibly charming and enchanting film, although it makes me have a little cry every time!

Plot Summary: An uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, falls in love with a beautiful adolescent girl.

Favourite quote: ” I am not complete.” -Edward

Movie of the week: Easy A

Title: Easy A

Director:  Will Gluck

Release year: 2010

Notable cast: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgely, Stanley Tucci, Lisa Kudrow, Cam Gigandet

Genre: comedy, romance

Recommended for: teens

Rating: 4/5

Description: Fabulously funny cast, especially Emma Stone! Genuinely entertaining and clever spin on a classic tale!

Plot Summary: A clean-cut high school student relies on the school’s rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

One of my favourite quotes: “I started piling on lie after lie. It was like setting up Jenga.” -Olive

The Seven Year Itch

Title: The Seven Year Itch

Director: Billy Wilder

Release year: 1955

Notable cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell

Genre: comedy, romance

Recommended for: classics fans

Rating: 3.5/5

Description: Very dated and not very funny for today’s audience, with a weak plot, but Marilyn still manages to charmingly engage you.

Plot Summary: When his family goes away for the summer, a so far faithful husband is tempted by a beautiful neighbor (Marilyn Monroe).

Favourite quote:

Richard Sherman: I can explain everything! The coffee, the toast, the blonde in the kitchen.

Tom MacKenzie: What blonde in the kitchen?

Richard Sherman: Wouldn’t you like to know! Maybe it’s Marilyn Monroe!

Safe Haven

Title: Safe Haven

Director:  Lass Hallstom

Release year: 2013

Notable cast: Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough

Genre: drama, mystery, romance

Recommended for: miserable girls

Rating: 2.5/5

Description: pretty typical Nicholas Sparks plot, but I liked the mystery element to the film, added in with the romance. Though, still not a very good film

Plot Summary: A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.

Favourite quote: ???

Pretty Woman

Title: Pretty Woman

Director: Gary Marshall

Release year: 1990

Notable cast: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts

Genre: comedy, romance

Recommended for: a girls night in

Rating: 3/5

Description: pretty typical poor girls meets the rich guy story-more of a modern fairy tale that honestly struggled to hold my attention.

Plot Summary: A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets… only to fall in love.

Favourite quote: “I want the fairy tale.” -Vivian

Movie of the week: Sliding Doors

Title: Sliding Doors

Director: Peter Howitt

Release year: 1998

Notable cast: Gwenyth Paltrow

Genre: drama, romance, comedy, fantasy

Recommended for: people who like to think

Rating: 4.5/5

Description: a very clever idea, a refreshing type of romantic comedy that’s more thought-provoking than tear-provoking as many rom-coms endings are these days. I really like how the film looks at the idea of chance, but also holds onto the idea of fate + destiny.

Plot Summary: A London woman’s love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel.

Favourite quote: “Not only does he own a personalized matching set of crocodile-skin luggage, but his favorite TV program is Baywatch. So you see there’s always someone sadder than you.”

Greta

Title: Greta

Director: Nancy Bardawil

Release year: 2009

Notable cast: Hilary Duff, Melissa Leo

Genre: drama, romance

Recommended for: people who want to feel depressed

Rating: 2/5

Description: pretty weak plot, acting….etc, could have been done really well but unfortunately crashed and burned! Hilary Duff and Evan Ross were definitely not cast well! The main character (Greta) is very hard to like, but has some funny sarcastic quotes!

Plot Summary: A young suicidal and rebellious teen gets sent to her Grandparents for the summer where life takes an unexpected turn.

Favourite quote: ???