2023: Summer of Cinema: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

The stunts were really amazing and the motorcycle/parachute jump that has been shared already was a real spectacle. I must say that I thought the story was a little weaker than past films maybe not helped by this being a Part One. It was still an enjoyable film but I think I will need to see Part Two before I fully make up my mind.

Hello readers,

This review is hot off the press as at the time of writing, I saw the latest Mission Impossible film last night and I am here to give my thoughts. First of all I want to say that it was a great film and everyone that worked on it should be proud. It had everything you need for a classic Tom Cruise outing complete with death-defying stunts, some romantic tension and of course bad guys.

This film has had a lot of hype, particularly as it was meant to be released last year. Bringing it forward to clash with Oppenheimer (and Barbie) was probably a decision to boost its box office figures or maybe to tweak those epic fight scenes. This review will be spoiler free for those looking forward to seeing it.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

The film starts with a seemingly irrelevant scene on a submarine but soon we see that it is setting up the main plot. There is a key in two halves that unlocks some unknown item that is the link to stopping the Entity, a sentient AI taking over all of the digital space.

AI has always been a good villain: faceless, nameless and nationless but a distant possibility. With the recent introduction of AI to create images and scripts, that is not so far away. I think it was interesting to go for something threatening the collective secret services rather than a threat to civilian life as it is a more underground but personal mission.

We see Ethan Hunt reunite with his merry band of outcasts: Benji, Luther and Ilsa in a variety of locations but culminating in Rome in an epic car chase featuring a yellow Fiat 500. He also becomes entangled with a new associate, Grace (Hayley Atwell), master thief and someone living a step ahead of the law. They begin with a battle for the key but quickly team up to go against the Entity’s human representative, Gabriel and his henchwoman, Paris (Pom Klementieff).

I won’t say more about the plot but let’s say the train scene really kept my attention. I think the cast were great: Benji was his usual self, always worrying but being dragged along for the ride; Luther was calm and collected and started a side storyline that I hope we see more of in Part 2 and Ilsa was determined but becoming a team player. We see a return from The White Widow (Vanessa Kirby) trying to make a buck like usual by brokering a deal.

The stunts were really amazing and the motorcycle/parachute jump that has been shared already was a real spectacle. I must say that I thought the story was a little weaker than past films maybe not helped by this being a Part One. It was still an enjoyable film but I think I will need to see Part Two before I fully make up my mind.

Overall, I thought that this was a great film and a classic Mission: Impossible offering but the two parts may have weakened it a little. The stunts, car chases and end scene were stand outs. I give the film 3.5/5.

Happy Watching,
Robyn

Guest Writer: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Something my friend and I discussed after watching was how cool it was to see a film where a girl Margaret’s age is the protagonist, and she deals with all the relatable experiences that she goes through. Most rite of passage films exploring female characters show them in high school, university or in a first job. When it comes to Margaret’s age group films focused on them is still quite unusual and unique unless the genre is adventure, science-fiction or fantasy, which somewhat undercuts the more realistic moments – i.e. The Goonies, E.T. or Stranger Things, and even then there are more male characters than female. While Finding Ohana (2021) features a young girl as the protagonist, the film has more in common with The Goonies than it does with Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Hello readers,

Today’s post has been written by my very special guest writer, Terry! We went to see the film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret at a rooftop cinema and Terry had the following thoughts:

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (2023)

The film follows titular sixth-grader Margaret Simon, and her friends and family as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery while navigating all the trials and tribulations that follow. The film is based on eponymous novel by Judy Blume, which was published in 1970, the era in which the film is set as well – consequently many of its elements were definitely ahead of their time. Specifically, in exploring many important themes such as: friendship, religious pressure and tolerance, interfaith marriage, atheism, societal expectations (i.e. being a working mother versus staying at home), puberty, as well as the rush to grow up along with all the pressures young kids put on themselves and each other in reaching certain milestones before being ready or even truly understanding what it all means.

Book-to-film adaptations can be a tricky business and balancing act, changing too much of the source material risks alienating fans and losing many elements of what made the original special and beloved (i.e. the Percy Jackson films). Such is why many say, ‘the book is always better than the movie’. So, it’s fortunate then the author herself has claimed the adaptation is better than her book. While I’ve personally never read any of Blume’s novels I’ve always known who she is and some of the themes she likes exploring, so I can say I was genuinely excited to watch this film. The main reason being the author’s stamp of approval (it’s always a good sign when an adaptation has the author’s support), others including the cast and the subject matter.

The catalyst for the film’s plot and Margaret’s journey is the Simon family’s move from a flat in New York to a suburb in New Jersey after her father is granted a prosperous promotion. This advancement doesn’t only turn Margaret’s world upside-down but inspires her mother Barbara to abandon her hobby of painting and job as an art teacher. Margaret is confused as to why her mother would quit a job that she loves so much, but Barbara claims she is excited to finally have the free time to spend with her and to help out on the school PTA ‘like all the other moms’.

However, Margaret gradually becomes more independent with this life change, especially after being welcomed into an existing friend group at her new school. Her new friends, in their rush to become grown-up and ‘mature’, introduce Margaret to the world of: first crushes, preteen parties, rumours and gossip, while also awakening her urgency to fulfil certain milestones and rite of passages. Including but not limited to: finally getting her period, wearing a bra, and having her first kiss.

Additionally, Margaret’s teacher Mr. Benedict stimulates her curiosity in regard to religion and her own family when he suggests she do a report on her unique (for the time) perspective of coming from a multifaith household. In the sense that Barbara is Christian and was brought up by very devout parents, whilst Margaret’s father Herb and his family are Jewish.

Nowadays a ‘mixed marriage’ like this wouldn’t raise as many eyebrows as it did back then, but for Barbara marrying Herb meant her family saw fit to disown her and cut off all contact. This horrifying rejection is partly what steered Margaret’s parents in choosing to raise her without a religion, with the intention that she choose for herself when she is old enough. While their reasons were noble, and certainly understandable given the circumstances of the situation, an unintended consequence is a feeling of confusion and alienation Margaret struggles with since religion is almost a taboo subject in their family. But even then Margaret is not fully free from religious pressures. Her loving paternal grandmother Sylvia wants her to ultimately decide to become Jewish, whereas her parents seem to hope that in the end she won’t favour any religion. Barbara, perhaps due to the understandable trauma her parents left her with, goes as far to vehemently disapprove and actively discourage Margaret’s religious curiosity. While Herb doesn’t stand in her way he similarly hopes their daughter will gradually lose interest in religion if they don’t force ‘neutrality’ on her.

Despite the feeling of being pulled in numerous directions, and confusion about how and why religion is so powerful in dividing people, Margaret has her own private relationship with God, and reaches out often throughout the film (hence the title). God acts as somewhat of an impartial confidant for Margaret, who habitually prays for guidance and her family’s wellbeing; but also asks for help in reaching/achieving the milestones that her friends introduced her to. In a particularly vulnerable moment Margaret mentally asks God, “Why do I only feel you when I’m alone?”

Although I can’t compare the film’s characters to their novelistic counterparts, I feel like everyone was perfectly cast and subsequently the acting was very good. I was familiar with the young actress playing Margaret, Abby Ryder Fortson, from her portrayal of Cassie Lang in the first two Ant-Man films; and she has definitely come into her own with her well-deserved protagonist placement. Additionally, I’m familiar with Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates’ work and feel they were perfectly cast as, respectively, Margaret’s mother and grandmother.

Something my friend and I discussed after watching was how cool it was to see a film where a girl Margaret’s age is the protagonist, and she deals with all the relatable experiences that she goes through. Most rite of passage films exploring female characters show them in high school, university or in a first job. When it comes to Margaret’s age group films focused on them is still quite unusual and unique unless the genre is adventure, science-fiction or fantasy, which somewhat undercuts the more realistic moments – i.e. The Goonies, E.T. or Stranger Things, and even then there are more male characters than female. While Finding Ohana (2021) features a young girl as the protagonist, the film has more in common with The Goonies than it does with Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Furthermore, the film ever so effortlessly passes the Bechdel test more than once as Margaret has many conversations with her friends and the women in her family about varying topics. For anyone unfamiliar the Bechdel test is a 3-rule test. In order to pass it a work of fiction must 1) feature at least two named female characters, 2) who have a conversation, 3) about a topic not about a man. The fact that Are You there, God? It’s me, Margaret passes the Bechdel is refreshing as it continues being an important tool in gauging female representation in works of fiction, especially when so many media forms fail it (seemingly without even trying).

My only gripes with the film that stop it from being perfect is, even though it did accomplish many of the beats it set out to, it still felt as though there were some loose ends. For example, we don’t see how Margaret makes up with a friend she fought with or find out whether Barbara finally makes amends with her parents. Moreover, I also would have liked to see more interactions with Margaret and her crush Moose, who was a little side-lined throughout the feature (although apparently he was even less of a presence in the book). Despite this, all in all the film was a success. While being set in the 70s it had more diversity than you’d expect, additionally the comedic moments in the film help in lightening the overall tone in regard to all the dramatic scenes. To boot, the film would’ve been impossible to make when the book was first published since the topics such as interfaith marriage, puberty and periods were especially controversial back then, but fortunately with films such as Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret (where they are on full display) these topics are starting to become less and less stigmatised for the next generation.

Terry rates the film as 4/5

Look out for future reviews from special guest writers…

Happy Watching,
Robyn

2023: Summer of Cinema: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

I think what made this film really special was the acknowledgements of the past. It’s not acting as a spinoff or reboot but as a continuation of the archaeology professor’s story. He’s aged but is still the same old guy with a thirst for action and hunger for discovery. He can’t resist getting the hat and whip out for one last ride. As Harrison Ford is now an octogenarian, the action scenes were altered to be entertaining yet believable. We see him riding various vehicles and even a horse. The other characters pick up the action slack but he is by no means side-lined.

Hello readers,

Last week I went to see the new Indiana Jones film and I was not disappointed. It was everything you wanted from an adventure film with Harrison Ford featuring up to date casting and plot. It echoed back to the original films but still was its own thing. Phoebe Waller-Bridge made a great sidekick and female protagonist having a well-developed back story but still making way for Indie’s last hurrah.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

This summer blockbuster kicks off with a great action sequence set in the past where we get to see a digitally altered Harrison Ford fighting the Nazis. So far, pretty standard for this character. We’re introduced to a friend of his, Baz and a scientist that won’t quit despite the war coming to a close.

We jump back into present day, 1969 with knowledge of the Archimedes Dial. Indiana is not in a good place and the hubbub surrounding Moon Day in New York is not helping. Luckily, adventure comes knocking in the form of Helena (Waller-Bridge), his old friend Baz’ daughter and also his goddaughter. With the government and Nazis on their heels they flee to Morocco.

I think what made this film really special was the acknowledgements of the past. It’s not acting as a spinoff or reboot but as a continuation of the archaeology professor’s story. He’s aged but is still the same old guy with a thirst for action and hunger for discovery. He can’t resist getting the hat and whip out for one last ride. As Harrison Ford is now an octogenarian, the action scenes were altered to be entertaining yet believable. We see him riding various vehicles and even a horse. The other characters pick up the action slack but he is by no means side-lined.

The costumes and sets were not modernised too much and look as though they could have been cobbled together in the 1980s when the original films were produced. There were a lot of great actors: Toby Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas and a mention to Ethann Isidore starring as Teddy who really held his own against Harrison and Phoebe. They make a great trio and their personalities gel well together: the grumpy retiree, the money-making historian and the caring yet troublesome wannabe pilot.

The story does take some leaps into the unknown but in typical Indiana fashion, you find yourself rolling with it and taking it all in your stride. I think the plot flowed nicely with enough action to keep younger viewers satisfied and familiar faces for those who are fans of the first films. There was a lot of emotion tied to the film as it is Harrison’s last outing as the character. Paired with Han Solo’s death in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, his career is now coming to a close which feels sad. However, it’s not over yet as season 2 of Shrinking has been announced in which Harrison stars as fellow therapist and begrudging friend of Jason Segel and Jessica Williams.

I enjoyed this film immensely and while some may see if as dredging up the past for a cheque, I think this film perfectly fits in the pentalogy and is just as fun as the original ones with more up to date attitudes. Harrison gave a great performance and graciously shared the stage with Phoebe and Ethann. Everyone involved can be very proud in making a great ending to a much loved adventure and not just another sequel (or fourquel in this case). I give this film 5/5.

Happy Watching,
Robyn

2023: Summer of Cinema: Asteroid City

I think the colours, costumes, props and deadpan delivery are what make a Wes Anderson film so unique and distinctive and while it does not always pay off in my eyes, I think Asteroid City was a great addition to his filmography. The over saturation of characters does not always work but it did for this film, where a whole community is created.

Hello readers,

Today I will be talking through the new Wes Anderson film, Asteroid City. I saw this in a new cinema, closer to the edge than I normally sit but this did not take away from the experience.

Wes Anderson has been back in conversation because of this film but also because of AI. Many creators have been using AI software to create Wes Anderson style photos such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, Avengers and Batman. The director has said that he does not enjoy people using his unique filmmaking methods in this way but it has certainly created a hype for his colourful and symmetric settings.

Asteroid City (2023)

The film starts with a narrative device not revealed in the trailers, a play within a play. While the events at Asteroid City play out in a rich toned desert with picture perfect 50s amenities (gas station, motel, diner); the writer (Edward Norton) and cast are seen on sets while Bryan Cranston narrates their thoughts.

In the desert we are quickly introduced to a cast of characters: Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) with son, Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and three ‘witchy’ celestial-named daughters; Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson) famous actress and her daughter Dinah; Montana (Rupert Friend) and his band of cowboys along with school teacher June (Maya Hawke) and her class.

The characters have all gathered at Asteroid City to attend the Junior Stargazer’s event in which Woodrow, Dinah and others including Shelley (Sophia Lillis) are participants. In the town, there is a wide and deep crater made by an asteroid after which the town was named.

There are many interesting citizens of the town including the motel owner (Steve Carell); scientist Dr Hickenlooper (Tilda Swinton); General Gibson (Jeffrey Wright) and the mechanic (Matt Dillon). We also get a few cameos by the likes of Margot Robbie, Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe.

The story focuses mostly on Augie and his family along with Midge. They stay opposite each other in the motel and start up a scintillating friendship. Their children, Woodrow and Dinah also become close along with the other smart kids.

I won’t reveal the catalyst of the film but let’s say that they all end up getting to know each other well. I enjoyed the comedic tone of the film with some real heartbreak in there, tied in with the asides in black and white from the ‘real’ people. Wes Anderson has his favourites that have appeared in many of his films but he always makes room for new faces.

I think the colours, costumes, props and deadpan delivery are what make a Wes Anderson film so unique and distinctive and while it does not always pay off in my eyes, I think Asteroid City was a great addition to his filmography. The over saturation of characters does not always work but it did for this film, where a whole community is created.

The Royal Tenenbaums may still be my favourite but Asteroid City is certainly up there and one of the best films I have seen this year.

If you live in London there is also an exhibition on with the sets from Asteroid City running until 8th July. I will be going there tomorrow myself.

Overall, I think this film had a great structure, didn’t feel too long and kept me engaged from start to finish. I give it 5/5.

Happy Watching,
Robyn

2023: Summer of Cinema: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

I thought this film was a great summer flick; it was cheesy, had heart and some immense action sequences. There were a lot of funny one liners and despite being set in the 1990s, it was more PC and relevant than past ventures. Elena was a strong female character who was not a love interest and we saw some of the hardships of being a poor POC in America.

Hello readers,

The summer is officially underway as is my 2023: Summer of Cinema series. Next on my list is the Transformers film, another sequel/prequel taking place in between Bumblebee and the original films. This one introduces another main character and some new robots – the Maximals.

I was always a big fan of the original films with Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox and then the Mark Wahlberg reboots but in hindsight they were quite sexist and didn’t give the female characters enough of a voice. I think this new one has been served well by having a new director and writers and while it is not the best for female representation, there is a great female side kick and finally a female Transformer, if robots even have genders.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

The film begins by introducing us to the back story: The Maximals went to Earth 5000 years ago to escape Unicron and the Terrorcons using the Transwarp key. The Maximals are different from other Transformers we have seen as they look like animals. Their leader, Optimus Primal is a gorilla and there is also a rhino, a leopard and a hawk. I thought this was interesting especially as cars didn’t exist then so it would not have made sense for them to disguise as cars.

We flashforward to 1994 and meet Noah Diaz, he’s a Latino living in Brooklyn, trying to get a job and somehow pay for his younger brother’s medical bills. During a car-jacking, he accidentally breaks into Mirage, Transformer in disguise as a Porsche and hears the call from Optimus Prime that the Terrorcons have come to Earth.

He, along with Elena who works at a museum on Ellis Island that Noah ends up infiltrating, band together with the Transformers to save their planet as well as with Cybertron.

I thought this film was a great summer flick; it was cheesy, had heart and some immense action sequences. There were a lot of funny one liners and despite being set in the 1990s, it was more PC and relevant than past ventures. Elena was a strong female character who was not a love interest and we saw some of the hardships of being a poor POC in America.

I really liked the dynamic between Noah and Mirage, they had a bros type relationship with Mirage promising Noah’s brother to keep him safe. Mirage was a lesser character in other films so it was cool to see another Transformer other than Bumblebee and Optimus Prime take centre stage.

I know a few people who worked on the VFX for this film and I thought the effects were really good, all the transformations from car to robot looked very realistic and the battle at the end was the perfect high stakes ending to the film.

The friend I went to the cinema with had the following comments: “It’s a very fun watch if you don’t take it super seriously but even then the characters and funny moments make it enjoyable. The newer ‘Transformers’ do exceed my expectations, a worthy successor to Bumblebee.”

I agree with her comments, this film is not one to be taken at face value but if you roll with it, it’s a fun summer blockbuster with comedy and diversity that perhaps the originals were lacking.

Overall, I think this film is one to watch on the big screen with your friends and popcorn at the ready. Don’t go in expecting deep and meaningful plot but come out with a smile on your face. I give the film 4/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

2023: Summer of Cinema: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

What makes this film unique is the colourful and flashy animation. The shots achieved would simply not be possible in a live-action version and the animation gives such a different perspective to the film. Scenes such as Miles’ fight with Spot or the fight in Mumbattan were particularly impressive. There was so much to look at on screen and whilst there was a lot of classic comic moments with the subtitles and recaps, there were also many new elements that I have not seen in an animation or Marvel film previously.

Hello readers,

This post is the start of my other new series 2023: Summer of Cinema. With so many exciting new films coming out, I wanted to give my spin on this year’s blockbusters. Highlights of the summer will be Barbie; Oppenheimer; Mission Impossible 7; Indiana Jones 5 and the new Wes Anderson.

Today I will be reviewing the latest Sony/Marvel venture: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This is the sequel to the well-received Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse that released back in 2018. It explored the possibilities of multi-verses and the existence of different Spider-Men other than Peter Parker. The film broached this theory before the MCU but with the appearance of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in the last Tom Holland film; the Spider-Verse is now truly alive and well in the Marvel franchise too.

I was a little late to the party on this one but thankfully did not get any spoilers. This will be a spoiler-free post for anyone else who has not had the chance to get to the cinema for this one.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

For anyone like myself who was struggling to recall the finer points of the first film, it starts with a handy little recap. Miles found out that he is not the only Spider-Man out there and with the help of Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker, he saved the multi-verse.

This film picks up about a year later; Miles is living his best spider life, balancing that with homework and making sure his parents don’t find out. However, when Gwen comes back into his universe and a new villain emerges in town, Miles must join his fellow Spider-Men once again to save reality.

There were a lot of new Spider-Variants this film with the return of some familiar faces. Turns out just about anyone and anything can be a Spider-Man. Two of my favourite new characters were Hobie Brown aka Spider-Punk and Pavitr Prabhakar aka Spider-Man in Mumbattan (Mumbai and Manhattan hybrid). It was really interesting to see Spider-Men with different backgrounds, ethnicities and looks as it shows there is really no end to the variations.

What makes this film unique is the colourful and flashy animation. The shots achieved would simply not be possible in a live-action version and the animation gives such a different perspective to the film. Scenes such as Miles’ fight with Spot or the fight in Mumbattan were particularly impressive. There was so much to look at on screen and whilst there was a lot of classic comic moments with the subtitles and recaps, there were also many new elements that I have not seen in an animation or Marvel film previously.

I enjoyed all of the voice acting, each actor bringing their own spin to their characters. Some I recognised the voice right away but others I could only see the character that they were portraying. The script has a lot of humour, more so than the average Marvel film which also makes this something different.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film, maybe even more so than the first and I am definitely looking forward to the next installment being released in March 2024. I give this film 5/5.

Happy Watching,
Robyn

2023: New Perspectives: The Little Mermaid

I think the cast were well chosen and I really love the decision to cast a woman of colour as Ariel. The film is set somewhere that she could be a native but also mermaids aren’t real so logic didn’t need to play into the original ethnicity of the characters. This is further demonstrated with Ariel’s father and sisters. Halle Bailey captured Ariel’s innocence and wonderment at the human world as well as showing great chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric) and possessing an emotive singing voice.

Hello there,

It has been a long time since I wrote a post on here. The main reason for this being that I started working in the film and television industry and I didn’t have the time. I have recently started a new position and have a little more free time so have decided to resurrect this blog!

After working in VFX for almost 2 years, I think I now have a different perspective on film and TV, especially if I have been involved with the project. I am going to start by reviewing a couple of recently released items that I have worked on and I will see whether knowing the ins and outs of a production enhances or takes away from the viewing experience.

The Little Mermaid (2023)



I am starting with the Little Mermaid which I was fortunate enough to attend a cast/crew screening of at Leicester Square. I spent a couple of days assisting on cataloguing shots so I got to see a lot of them in the early stages. My former company also did the VFX so I got to see a few early versions at showcases.

We saw the film in an IMAX screen that is the biggest I have ever experienced a film in. The quality and sound were amazing, all of the VFX on the shots really popped and it was an interesting way to watch this film.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film from the songs with a touch up from legend Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Encanto) to the fleshed-out storyline including Eric and Ariel living somewhere in the Caribbean and interacting with villagers. I know that there was some discussion around Flounder’s new appearance but once you get into the film, this detail does not distract.

I think the cast were well chosen and I really love the decision to cast a woman of colour as Ariel. The film is set somewhere that she could be a native but also mermaids aren’t real so logic didn’t need to play into the original ethnicity of the characters. This is further demonstrated with Ariel’s father and sisters. Halle Bailey captured Ariel’s innocence and wonderment at the human world as well as showing great chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric) and possessing an emotive singing voice.

My favourite songs in terms of staging were Kiss the Girl and Part of Your World. The lyrics are catchy and both did some new things from the original Little Mermaid film.

I was not a big fan of the 1989 version as I thought Ariel didn’t have much of a personality and spent most of the film as demure and non-verbal. I did however enjoy the new version as I think they expanded the story and despite not speaking Halle Bailey had a very expressive face. I think casting Awkwafina as Scuttle gave the role a new spin and her voice is very recognisable for older viewers from films such as Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi and Ocean’s 8. She was also a voice in Raya and the Last Dragon so younger viewers may be already familiar with her.

Seeing some of the shots in advance did not spoil or ruin the film for me, mainly as it’s a well known story and also as I only saw a very small part of the final film. I think Disney are doing a good job with their adaptations and as long as they keep updating them and adding new additions from the originals, then they will remain popular.

I gave this film 4/5. I am taking a point off as it was still a little cheesy and the fact that she had to kiss Eric to win back her voice and tail did not set a great example for young women

Happy Watching,
Robyn

Queer as Folk: Review Part 5

Dear Readers,

Finally comes the time for the fifth and final post of my Queer as Folk Review collection. I have let this final part sit as I focused on other things but it is time to come back to it and finish this show. In the fifth part to my collection of posts, I will be talking about the events of Series 5; the journeys of the main characters as a whole throughout the five series; the effects of the bombing in Episode 10 on the characters and where each of them are at the end of the show. I have also included a list of some of my favourite quotes from across the series.

Please do not read this post if you are under 18 as the programme discussed is explicit in nature. If you do not want to read about a show featuring graphic adult content, stop now.

Analysis of Events in Series 5

At the beginning of the series, we find several of the characters at a crossroads. Those in relationships are suffering from miscommunication and those not are finding difficulties in being unattached. We see Brian convincing himself he doesn’t need Justin anymore. He thinks Justin has moved on to the greener pastures of La la land. Justin himself sees through Brian’s ruse but doesn’t feel he can tell Brian that he loves him. Mel and Lindsay are no longer living together but have not told anyone for the sake of JR. Debbie and Carl have difficulties with where to start their life together. Ben wants to move to a gentrified neighbourhood but Michael doesn’t want to move away. Emmett needs his own space but doesn’t want to be alone and Ted has been putting on weight with comfort eating.

There is a foreshadowing to later events such as Michael suggesting Brian buy a house in the country, Brian picks Babylon over married life. After a sex montage, Brian in an achingly romantic gesture (for him anyway) shows the empty drawer he has ready for Justin after Justin asks to move in again. This indicates a growth for Brian’s character and a turning point for Brian and Justin’s relationship after some time apart.

The main plot of the final series centres around a new law that Congress want to pass called Proposition 14. It would limit the rights of gay individuals by making it illegal for them to adopt children, buy a house together, have joint bank accounts and claim domestic partner insurance. Justin confronts his father again and protests outside his father’s shop. This leads to him getting arrested. The characters go campaigning door to door and hold a benefit which is where the bomb explodes.

The characters all begin to grow up and move to the suburbs or consider more healthy relationships. We see a new side of gay life away from the club scene and constant cruising. Many of the couples now want children, a house, steady jobs and quieter lives in other gay neighbourhoods. This follows the pattern of life for all people who start to want different things as they grow older and wiser. That is except for Brian who is afraid to grow old and commit to Justin lest he become undesirable or bored. Due to his traumatic and abusive childhood, he craves the attention of others, usually countless men, Michael or Lindsay. When both are pulling away he tries to rely more on Justin and Ted but he is unable to fully give himself to Justin due to his fear of no longer being wanted and of rejection. Despite being funny, caring, smart and successful, Brian bases his self-worth on his looks as that is what makes him popular in the gay community.

We see the bombing first as a reflection of light on the character’s faces – Michael, Ted, Ben then we move to Debbie walking down the street and move to Brian in the car and get the full news story. Approaching the scene, we understand events through Brian’s point of view. He was the most removed from the situation out of all the characters as he was not planning to attend the event like the others. This makes for maximum impact as he struggles to comprehend what has happened and if his friends are alright.

Finding Justin’s mother first shows his desperation to find Justin but he also genuinely cares for her. Running inside calling Justin’s name shows that Brian does care about him and in a wider context, the gay community. If he were truly heartless, he would have carried on to the airport but as demonstrated from Brian almost bankrupting himself to letting Justin live with him to organising Ben and Michael’s wedding and Melanie and Lindsay’s; he does actually care but due to his abusive childhood and emotionally neglectful family, he struggles to show it on a more personal level without a crisis.

The scene between Debbie and Brian in the hospital chapel highlights their own faiths as Brian was also raised Catholic. It shows how two people who disagree with their religion’s outlook towards their community and other aspects still turned to that room for support. Brian, of course may have followed Debbie or simply gone to a quiet place to process but I believe he chose the chapel for a reason. Both Debbie and Brian turn to God to help Michael even when they have never particularly prayed or asked for anything from him in the past.

Effects of the Bombing on the characters

Brian admits finally to Justin that he loves him. This has been the biggest obstacle of their relationship for five years as Justin always wanted more than Brian was able to give. Despite Michael and Brian’s falling out, Brian shows his love for Michael at the hospital and with Debbie. Brian’s fears are shown with a funeral that starts off as Michael’s but ends as his own. However when he reached Babylon, he was first most concerned about Justin, showing that someone else finally replaced Michael as the man he cares about most. Romantic love takes precedent over friendship love. Brian then decides to make changes in his life. He sells the loft and Babylon and buys Justin a country manor house that he mentions wanting earlier in the series. He tries to become monogamous and devoted to Justin which surprises all the other characters. He also vows to be a better father to Gus who is now almost five years old.

Ted struggles to face Michael at the hospital as he blames himself for Michael being at the bar in the bombing. He throws himself into work but eventually sees Michael. After a talk with a stranger at the baths, he realises that he was not the cause of Michael’s injury.

Ben tries to carry on and not let Debbie take over. He goes back to teaching but cannot ignore his student’s pleas to discuss the events. He also becomes angry at the vigil and it takes Brian to calm him down. When Hunter makes an appearance once again, having come back after watching the news, Ben is happy after feeling lost when Hunter left.

Debbie becomes overly motherly and is with Michael all the time at the hospital. The effects of losing Vic are still very raw for her and Michael is the only family apart from Carl that she has left.

Emmett can’t get off the couch and suffers from PTSD. Drew tries to help him get back to normal but it takes a harrowing story from Carl about his earl days in the police force and Drew’s agreeing to speak at the vigil that gets Emmett out of the house.

Justin appears alright having dealt with trauma before and paints in his apartment. He initially laughs off Brian’s proposal. After years of trying t get Brian to think of them as something more, he can’t believe that Brian would change. After some corralling, Justin accepts Brian’s offer but cannot stay when he sees Brian changing into a different person. He does not want either of them to compromise their personalities or lives to be happy together.

Lindsay and Melanie come back together and realise their love for each other. After the death of their close friend, Dusty at the bombing they realise how they have to cherish their family. Mel becomes scared for the future and what will happen if Proposition 14 passes. They decide to move to Toronto for better rights as lesbian women.

Brian is influenced by Justin to not give his blessing to take Gus to Toronto and Michael is influenced by Hunter to give his blessing. Brian is influenced by Lindsay and Melanie to make Justin go to New York.

Everyone just wants to be with the people they love i.e. Melanie and Lindsay, Brian and Justin, Carl and Debbie, Drew and Emmett, Jennifer and Tuc, Michael and Ben.

Characters’ Journeys over the whole 5 Series‘

Michael starts off as the practically virginal inexperienced one who struggles to attract partners. He has two serious long-term relationships and moves into a life that he wants: a job running his favourite comic book store; a husband and kids. He becomes mature and responsible and a great friend. His priorities shift from Brian to Ben as Michael realises that Ben can give him the life he wants and Brian is stuck as a playboy in the clubs. Michael gradually gains his own interests away from Brian and does not let Brian sway him from being a kind and gentle soul.

Brian forms long-lasting friendships and a relationship with Justin. His peak romantic side is in Series 1 but Justin’s attack made him distance himself from his emotions. He blamed himself for the attack after turning up for Justin’s prom. They come back together but after their break up at the end of Series 2, Brian realises that he cannot give his full self to Justin for fear of rejection. Brian gradually starts to see love not as a weapon or something to be afraid of. He becomes a better father to Gus or at least more present and a better partner to Justin. He starts his own advertising agency, Kinnetic when his values are challenged and is fired. He also buys Babylon in an attempt to keep his friends at his stage in life. He fights for gay rights by taking down Stockwell, riding in the Liberty Ride and donating Babylon as the venue for several fundraisers. He tries to change his playboy ways for Justin.

Justin eventually understands that Brian is not going to immediately love him. He finds friends who understand him and forms a good relationship with his mother. He harnesses his talents as an artist and gets into a prestigious art college. He overcomes being seriously injured at the end of Series 1 and the challenges that come along with this. He forms a closer bond with Brian and has the courage to leave their relationship for something new. He moves to LA at the beginning of the fifth series to work on a film version of Rage. In the final episode, Justin figures out that he cannot trap Brian into a life he doesn’t want and has the strength to pursue his career over Brian.

Ted fights his crystal meth addiction at rehab and with the help of his friends and Blake. He has several different jobs such as accountant, adult website manager, singing waiter and success but falls into a depression. He has a few relationships and reconnects with Blake several times. Due to his self-esteem issues, Ted has plastic surgery to help love himself. He gets a job working for Brian and finds passion as an accountant and supervisor at Kinnetic.

Emmett has a string of casual relationships until Ted. He also finds a meaningful connection with Drew. He entertains a few careers such as retail, domestic help, adult entertainer but settles on event planner. He lives with Michael then Ted and finally Debbie and Carl. In the first series after a HIV scare, he joins a conversion therapy group and connects with a woman but they decided to be true to themselves.

Debbie constantly fights for gay rights and always stands up for her beliefs including at Justin’s school, against Stockwell and Proposition 14. She finds love with Carl and they move in together. She nurtures the men into accepting themselves and finding their place in the world. She often acts as a surrogate mother to Brian and takes Justin under her wing when his own father forbids his lifestyle.

Ben finds love with Michael and slowly comes to terms with his HIV status. He fights to keep Hunter as a foster son and make sure he is alright. After Hunter leaves town, Ben becomes depressed. He has Michael and the gang but not any of his own family. A student makes a play for him and he writes a book that gets rejected everywhere.

Melanie works hard as a lawyer and despite having a baby with Lindsay has an affair in the first series. She becomes a mother to Gus and JR. During her pregnancy, she has to stay on bed rest and this causes a lot of friction and subsequent breakup between her and Lindsay. She is always passionate for her rights and speaks of her grandfather who knew to leave Germany as a Jewish man in the 1930s.

Lindsay becomes a mother in the first episode. She initially leaves her teaching job at the university to be a stay at home mother but goes back to work at a gallery in Series 3. She almost marries a gay Frenchman in Series 1 as he needs a visa but after some serious intervention from Brian, she comes to her senses. In Series 4, she has an affair with a man, an artist having a show in her gallery. She then moves out with Gus to a small apartment and then into her parents house until she realises that they want her to be straight. Despite her affair with Sam and mentions of being with Brian in college, Lindsay does not identify as anything other than lesbian.

The End of the Series

Brian goes back to the club and reopens Babylon; Michael has Ben and they adopt Hunter. He lets JR go with Melanie and Lindsay to Toronto. Michael begins the last episode with a voice over like the first episode. A full circle moment. He still hangs out with Brian at the club. Justin leaves Brian and Pittsburgh to pursue art in New York; Ted ends up with Blake and is happy in his job at Kinnetic; Emmett lets Drew go and is happy with himself; Debbie is happy with Carl and Lindsay and Melanie move with Gus and JR to Toronto.

List of Favourite Quotes

  • “I’ve just seen the face of God. His name is Brian Kinney.” – Justin – 1×01
  • “If you don’t earn respect when you’re alive, you don’t deserve it when you’re dead.” – Brian – 1×19
  • “You’re Brian Kinney, for fuck’s sake!” – Michael – 1×22
  • “I’d run away screaming but its been a long day.” – Brian – 2×03
  • “Yeah, like I give a shit what God thinks about me. He’d better be worried what I think about him.” – Brian; “How do you figure that?” – Michael; “Well, in all this cold dead universe, we’re the only ones who know he exists, without us he’s nothing.” – Brian – 2×09
  • “Have some balls.” – Brian – 3×08
  • “Don’t be nervous.” – Lindsay; “If my heart rate was any lower, I’d be dead.” – Brian – 2×13
  • “It’s the most historic reunification since Germany.” – Ben – 3×09
  • “He has a boyfriend!” – Michael; “You do?” – Hunter; “In a non-defined, non-conventional way, yeah.” – Brian – 3×13
  • “Mourn the losses because they’re many but celebrate the victories because they’re few.” – Debbie – 3×14
  • “I’m queer, and to anyone who takes pity or offence, I say: judge yourself… This is who I am.” – Brian – 5×01
  • “Stop looking at the shell and see the pearl.” – Emmett – 5×02

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Summer of Cinema: Old

Dear Readers,

I went into this film with not much prior knowledge apart from knowing the director, one actor and the fact that it was set on a tropical island. This was the best way to do it for me personally as watching the trailer afterwards gave away a lot of key details. The screen was pretty busy and I had a good aisle seat. This film eases you in with marriage problems and a family on holiday but after going to the beach, everything falls apart and the story begins to mess with your perception of reality. I have only seen one M. Night Shyamalan film before and it was a long time ago. I knew his films usually had a thriller/horror element and were known for being mind-bending. The screen was semi-packed which gave me confidence in the film, especially as it had already been out for three weeks.

The film title and poster do not give much away other than the ageing element. When I went in I wondered how this would play into things, I imagined the characters being shipwrecked on the island and steadily growing old as we do normally. What did happen was very unexpected. It is hard to talk much about this film without giving away the big idea so I will be talking about the concept of the film and certain plot details.

The film focuses around a family with two young children. They are on holiday from the US but both parents are European from their accents. The trip is one least hurrah before they tell the kids they are divorcing and that the mother has an illness. They check in and are greeted with specially designed cocktails and charming staff. The hotel looks very luxurious and everything seems picture perfect. We meet a few other characters: families on holiday, all Americans so we can assume the Caribbean or somewhere off the US Coast. Nothing big happens until a guest has a seizure and everyone rushes to help. Trent, the youngest of our main family makes friends with another boy his age, Idlib whose uncle runs the resort.

The next day, the manager tells the family of an exclusive beach that is only available to his favourite guests. They are guided to a minibus where the family from the dining hall before have also boarded. They are taken to the beach by a familiar face (M. Night Shyamalan) and told to call if they want to be picked up or the bus will come at 5pm. The group walk through the rocks, armed with deck chairs and heavy picnic baskets and appear on a picturesque, quiet beach. They settle in but notice another man sitting on the sand in the distance.

Things begin to get unnerving when Trent finds a dead body in a shallow rock pool. The man tells the group he was with her and they connected because they both have conditions. While trying to sort out the body, another couple arrive, the woman who had the seizure and her husband. Someone tries to go back through the rocks but ends up blacked-out on the beach. They are trapped.

With all this going on, the parents initially miss their kids ageing up 5 years. The two 6 years, one from each family and Trent’s sister, Maddox who is 11 are all now biologically older. Then the mother of the doctor dies then her dog. Things keep getting weirder and weirder until they work out that they are ageing roughly a year every half an hour. The conditions and illnesses become more prevalent and create problems for the holidaymakers.

I will not give away the ending but it was not one you would expect and had a more logical yet disturbing explanation. There is also a happy ending for some characters so it is not totally doom and gloom.

I liked this film as it had a good concept that was not completely obvious but once it hits, there is little time to find a solution. The characters all had complexities but were easy enough to follow as the concept was enough to hold it together. I also think the casting was great for Trent and Maddox at different ages, especially Trent. I truly believed they were the same person. I related to the characters because I could not see a way out of the situation and any time spent on the problem was wasted periods of their lives.

The diversity was good, it is rare to have two European characters in such prominent roles. There were a few moments that were amped up for shock factor particularly how Crystal and her husband met their ends. Overall, an enjoyable film that makes you cherish the time you have rather than spending that time worrying or not making that change before it’s too late.

I give this film 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Summer of Cinema: Escape Room: Tournament of Champions

Dear Readers,

Before watching the first Escape Room, I saw the trailer for the sequel and thought that sounds up my street. My recent foray into the horror thriller world with films such as A Quiet Place Part II, Freaky and now this franchise have given me a taste for something with high energy and twists yet still placing plot over gore level. The escape room element gave a clear structure to the film and while watching the film you can almost play along by spotting clues before the characters and trying to find how they will escape. The cinema was fairly busy for this screening and I had a good seat in the middle back so I was fully immersed and genuinely surprised when it ended. I am looking forward to the third installment after the cliffhanger at the end.

The film kicks off with a quick reminder of what happened in Escape Room, the first outing. We are reminded of the characters being picked off one by one and Zoey and Ben’s survival. They think the key to taking Minos down is in New York City so plan to fly there. Moving to the current film and we see Zoey’s reluctance to get on a plane. She has still not recovered from the trauma of being the sole survivor of a crash that killed her mother and made her a candidate for the first Escape Room.

The pair eventually drive to New York from Chicago with Ben suffering horrible nightmares related to his experience of a room in the game. Ben (Logan Miller) and Zoey (Taylor Russell) find Minos headquarters but it is deserted and almost give up hope until a man snatches Zoey’s beloved necklace and leads them to the subway.

This is when the fun begins. The subway car detaches and peals off to a separate tunnel and becomes the first room of the new Escape Room. There are six passengers in the car, all winners from previous Minos rooms. The game goes on with each room containing different puzzles and accidents. A twist to this time is that familiar motifs crop up in the game such as the name Sonya.

There are many twists to the game as in the first film but bigger and better. There were also a lot of character development and plot used from the first film which I liked as sometimes sequels can distance themselves too much from the development that happened in the first film. Just when you think Zoey and Ben are finally free, callbacks from the beginning of the film and the first one appear on screen and the film ends with a massive cliffhanger.

I was surprised when this happened as I got really into the film and the story and I did not predict that it would end at such a crucial moment. The first film ended with a much calmer scene. I really enjoyed this film and it turned the audience into players of the game as when the end scene happens, you realise that everything has a purpose and no scene was there as a filler but rather as a set-up for later.

I think the rooms were more creative this time, especially as they had a theme that is explained later on but also because the characters have all had experiences before with Minos so are aware that it will be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. We also find out each group had their own connection such as Nate’s being all priests and Brianna’s being influencers.

The film was a bit darker this time with the injuries more obvious and the consequences more fatal. The team felt more at one and they survived longer. I enjoyed the twist at the end and after leaving the screen, I could not help but feel as though everything was a clue and that the world was an escape room.

I would definitely recommend this film but only if you have seen the first one as there are big plot points that won’t make sense. There was a good mix of diversity as in the first one and they avoid usual horror stereotypes.

I rate this film 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn