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Reviews
Mr Bates vs. The Post Office (2024)
Stunning and life changing
This has to be the best and most moving documentary I've seen in the last decade. The storyline is truly devastating, and all actors portray their victims/criminals well while also not going overboard with emotion to the point it is unauthentic - Toby Jones especially does this well. The pace is excellent while representing the constant barriers faced by the subpostmasters. I'm sure the press response shows just how excellent this series is - and the widespread change it has brought on. There was literally nothing I could suggest to improve, hence the rating of 10. The music was also beautiful and complimented the atmosphere on stage very well. I'm really impressed in ITV for perusing a heartbreaking scandal like this with truth and integrity, much better than the BBC would. It has worked so well that I will avoid using the Post Office again unless I absolutely have to. Outstanding job and a must watch for all!
Barbie (2023)
Mediocre at best
I had high expectations as a result of the media press, however these we're crushed from the start.
First of all, I did expect it to feel a little generic and cheesy although all I could feel throughout the movie is that it was rushed and cheap. The storyline was dry and over-political.
I'd have liked to see more LGBTQ+ representation and breaking stereotypes, as it felt like just a generic film. Even the Barbies were considered stereotypes!
Comedy throughout was limited and wasn't engaging at all - sometimes trying too hard to emphasise feminism and going too far in the opposite direction to the world is heading in (I'm not encouraging patriarchy).
However, I did find the music quite good (especially the Billie Eilish song) and did redeem the movie a little bit.
In summary, the movie was mediocre at best and there's not much to discuss. It felt like a cheap version of movies like Spirited and The Greatest Showman with no real emotion.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Very enjoyable movie
After watching this movie in a cinema format, I was impressed. What it does do, it does well. Graphics are of a really good quality and the character development is outstanding. The storyline flows well and has some very enjoyable moments which spark emotion and excitement. The movie was also an appealing length for families and seemed to keep other younger people happy and engaged. I would agree it's much better than Disney's recent adaptations and the investments are clear. However, I would like to see some songs more significant (like those from Frozen or The Greatest Showman), as the songs did feel a little flat and weren't remembered. Furthermore, the movie only had 3 main areas which meant that the sense of adventure was quite limited throughout the movie. Still recommend to anyone looking for a good movie for the whole family to see.
Missing (2023)
Unique and Modern
Go back 10 years, and this movie probably wouldn't be even possible. The movie is greatly centred around technology, in fact the whole movie is presented through a Macbook and iPhone. I'm honestly so surprised it isn't an Apple TV+ original, as it gives massive Apple vibes from all the Apple devices, the font and music.
I was put off at first by the technology, although after around 10 minutes you get used to it and the movie is really engrossing. It's a detective style fiction which takes you through a mini life story of June (the main actor) and her relationship with her mother/daughter. The storyline is pretty expected and similar to other movies, but still enjoyable.
Although, I personally found some of the secondary characters to be very brief and towards the end of the movie, the increased speed meant the quality of the movie reduced and it felt more like every other drama movie.
Still, rather enjoyable and when complimentary from Club Lloyds, makes it even better!
Spirited (2022)
Heartwarming, outstanding film
I tend to find Apple TV+ content of a higher quality compared to other streaming services, and Spirited definitely did not disappoint. In fact, I'd even say it beats the original Christmas Carol and even Home Alone.
The storyline is strong, with a great balance of excitement and calmness to suit everyone. It flows well, and you can see what is happening at each step. There's a definite structure and it allows the show to engage into each scene well.
The characters are all well developed and have a great background. I love that the 'flashbacks' give you an insight into each character's past, and that you learn about each other's stories throughout the film. There's the innocent, serious, kind and excitable.
The technique and lighting in the film is truly spectacular, each scene is very appealing to the eye and is full of emotion and passion. I especially loved the ballroom scene, plaza scene and the unredeemable scene and I found the torch effect marvellous. It actually made me tear up.
However, the highlight of the show for me was the music selection. The music, custom made for Spirited, is simply outstanding and far better than even some chart Christmas songs. They all have great lyrics with meaning, background music and are all positioned very well throughout the film. It feels like a musical, but at the same time it doesn't. The dancing is great and everyone just fits in.
Even though small, I love the diversity in the film and the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ couples and flags in the background. It's really encouraging to see even just a small amount of representation included in a Christmas movie and this is a step forward to normalising LGBTQ+ relationships in society.
Perfectly crafted, heartwarming and festive Christmas film which is set to become a legacy in our household!
Young Royals (2021)
Good acting, just too false and chaotic
After watching Love, Victor and Heartstopper, I had high expectations for Young Royals and I have to say I found it the most disappointing out of the bunch.
I personally was immediately put off with the 'royal' viewpoint of the show and found that throughout, there was little which a member of the public could relate to in terms of LGBTQ+ representation or the life experience. For more, from this point onward, it was flawed.
However, the acting slightly redeems the story as all actors are powerful and definitely know their characters well. It feels as if the characters were actually developed and matured by themselves, and they act them probably the most naturally out of any of the series.
The characters themselves, are lacklustre. There's little passion behind most characters and I don't think any of them are 'innocent', I do agree Andrew etc. Has done a lot more wrong than other characters, although you don't really get to know much about the characters and the storyline is so fast paced that key steps, such as learning more about Andrew's history, is missed out.
There is an excess of arguments and violence in the show, which makes it in some way, unrealistic. This many parties? Sex? It's just a typical show expected for teenagers. Yes, Love, Victor does this although in a much more embedded and thought out way. There's preparations, and reasons behind it. Why did Andrew need to take a picture of the sex? Instant moment? Share it? There's no reason why and it seems to be unrealistic.
Overall, not a bad series to watch but would definitely not prioritise it over Love, Victor or Heartstopper and slight of a letdown.
Love, Victor (2020)
Perfect Show and Acting
After Heartstopper has become extremely popular, Love, Victor has been partly forgotten about as it slowly lost popularity. I believe some people forget that this was the original popular LGBTQ+ film, and I do believe that it's a case of the first is best.
I would first praise the series for its massive range of topics covered, and everyone can find an issue which relates to them in the series. There's so many topics I can't even remember all of them by heart, some examples include: difficulty with Victor coming out, heterosexual individuals (Mia) dealing with their boyfriend/girlfriend coming out as homosexual (Victor), addiction (Benji and alcohol), parents struggling to accept due to traditional values (Victor's parents and grandparents), work/life balance (Mia's family) and shows the in-depth development of the students and families throughout high school. Other shows tend to only show a small portion.
Secondly, the extreme thought and emotion put into the series. The music works perfectly, and the varied emotions produced is accurate of what a real high school experience would be like. There's ups and downs which are regular in real life, something other shows also fail to highlight.
The acting is outstanding from nearly all characters involved and although there are a few issues regarding diversity throughout the cast, it is nearly perfect. Yes, I do agree that there should be more racial diversity throughout the show I personally do not have an issue with heterosexual individuals acting homosexual individuals as a homosexual myself, as I understand how difficult it must be for them and shows they are an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
The show is perfectly paced, and I prefer the slightly slower pace compared to other shows. You really get to know the characters very well and viewers find their own 'identity' often similar to at least one of the characters, and can relate.
There's also many 'branches' off the main 'tree', such as Victor's New York visit, which just adds perfectly to the storyline.
However, I do think the series was let down a little on the last series which did feel a little chaotic and lacked a little of LGBTQ+ representation, although still was far better than other's I have seen attempt and I love that the show done a full circle to show how the experience of high school really is complicated for many.
I personally believe that other shows (i.e Heartstopper) are an example of right place right time popularity, and even though Heartstopper is by far not a bad show, the quality just isn't there as much as there was in Love, Victor.
Honestly the best show I've seen in a long time, and has a lasting impact on the lives of those who watch it. Well done Disney/Hulu.
Heartstopper (2022)
Heartwarming LGBTQ+ Series
Don't get me wrong, Heartstopper is a beautiful LGBTQ+ representation series and Alice Oseman has done an extremely good job as a young adult in developing such a great series in a sensitive topic (which it shouldn't be).
The performance of the actors within the series is exceptional, and it's very well structured and flows very well. Episodes are of a manageable length and the storyline is easy for people of all ages to keep track of. It's engaging, exciting and most importantly, has LGBTQ+ representation at every step.
I love the work the show does to fight bullying and find it exceptional in this aspect. It's really encouraging to see a show this inspiring fight a huge problem throughout society and hopefully, this will have an impact on the lives of many.
I'm really excited to see what happens in 2023 with the crew taking a trip to Paris - it will be amazing to see them in my favourite city in the world and I'm interested to see if that the trip is the centre of series 2.
Although, I know this will be controversial to many, I believe Love, Victor does a better job at representing a wider range of issues. For example, Love, Victor covers issues regarding religion, the aspect of people raised with traditional values accepting LGBTQ+ issues, a difficult coming out experience, mental health and stress issues, addiction, work/life balances and has a more greater outlook on life and the wider issues faced.
Heartstopper has the issue of being quite short in the first season, so little issues are covered and although sweet, the emotion isn't just there as much as in Love, Victor and I believe that the music is the problem of this. Although the music is beautiful, I'd love to see a little more emotion and different genres to fit.
Overall, I love the work that Heartstopper has done and they should be extremely proud, and I think with a little improvement for the next series and a wider range of topics covered.
I do although believe that Heartstopper is suitable for a younger audience, which I do think Love, Victor isn't really created for.
Frozen II (2019)
Olaf is soo cute!
This movie tells the story of Elsa, Anna, Sven, Kristof and Olaf trying to save Arendelle, while travelling though a kind of enchanted forest. The second Frozen movie doesn't disappoint, and Olaf is sooo cute! This movie also gives a reference to "Trolls" with the alive stones. Good movie.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
Very good family movie
Very funny. Good for any age, and also a bit of fun for parents. Movie doesn't last too long, and the moral of the story is simple and the storyline is easy to understand. Really recommend.