Ratched: A Tense Trip Into the Past of Mildred Ratched.

*Slight spoliers*

Earlier in the year, it was announced that American Horror Story creator, Ryan Murphy would be creating a brand new show, alongside Sarah Paulson as the main character. Due to AHS being such as success for the past 9 years, it was a show that everyone was looking forward to.

The TV series stands as a prequel of the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and one of the most iconic characters in Film history, Mildred Ratched. Now, in the film, Ratched is portrayed as a cold, heartless nurse which represents the power that institutions hold over society, however, not much is known about her or her past. Therefore, this was the perfect opportunity to create a TV show about how she came to be her brutal self.

Set in 1947, Ratched, played by Paulson, is a young war nurse seeking employment at the mental institute, Lucia State Hospital. Whilst portraying as the perfect, friendly nurse, Mildred hides a very big secret, and starts manipulating staff and patients from the inside. We later find out that Mildred’s brother, Edmund has been arrested for the murder of 4 priests, and is admitted to the institute, to see whether or not he is sane to go to trial. Therefore, it is Mildred’s job to make sure that he doesn’t get sentenced to death, and she will do everything in her power to stop it. Despite her manipulative ways, the series does give her some sort of humanity, and shows that she does have caring aspects.

As this is set inside a mental institute in the 1940’s, you are bound to see horrific means of torture in order to cure patients. One of these methods you see in great detail is hydrotherapy, used to cure lesbianism. Where patients would be locked into a bathtub and be forced to sit in extreme temperatures for a specific amount of time. Despite certain types of methods being the norm to cure mental illnesses, many of the staff fight back to deem them cruel and inhumane.

One thing I do have to give an honourable mention to, is the colour pallet of the series. It wouldn’t be a Ryan Murphy creation without a an extreme colour scheme. The vibrant teal blues of Mildred’s car and her uniform stand out from the rest and represent the vintage-ness of that time. Also, the beautiful scenery adds contrast which makes the colours stand out even more. The idea of making the setting, interiors, buildings, and outfits so aesthetically pleasing sort of glorifies the actual story that is taking place.

The characters each have a distinctive personality with their own tragic backstories. The director of the institution, Dr. Hanover is struggling with a patient where treatment went wrong and gets quite easily undermined by Ratched. Huck, the assistant nurse is a lovable soul, who encountered serious facial scarring during WW2, finds it hard to get by in the world. Nurse Bucket, who is the head nurse at the hospital, clashes with Ratched and seems very stern. However, deep down, she is in love with Dr. Hanover, and does anything to please him, even if it means trialling the Doctor’s controversial curing methods.

Each character’s story-line somewhat ties together with Mildred, as she has a part in every aspect of their lives. Which makes it such an easy watch, the themes of the show keep you in suspense of what’s to happen next, but it is easy enough to understand, as there is no mysterious confusing plot.

One theme that is consistent throughout is Ratched coming to terms with her sexuality. Whilst seeing the curing methods for lesbianism, something clicks within Ratched’s mind to show her that it isn’t right at all. This pushes her to persue a relationship with the governor’s assistant, and leads to Huck and herself to even help a lesbian couple escape the institution.

The show itself is dark and thrilling, yet Ratched’s sarcasm and bluntness whilst taking control, leads for an entertaining watch. The chemistry between each of the characters show they are well thought out. You’ll even end up rooting for some characters that didn’t really seem to hit it off from the start. Each episode is developed from the last and new twists will leave you in shock as new secrets are revealed. However, as the series reaches the end, all characters end up fighting for the greater good, whilst Ratched still fights for her brother’s life. It is definitely a worthy watch.

Ratched is out now on Netflix.

The Devil All the Time: A Southern Gothic Tale of Despair

As it is September, it means one thing and one thing only, a hell of a lot of TV/Film content being released. One of these films is the Southern Gothic tale, The Devil All the Time, directed by Antonio Campos. The film features an epic ensemble cast with the likes of Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Sebastian Stan. However, with the dreary and depressing narrative, it was definitely something I needed to watch.

The film surrounds two generations of the same family from 1945, to 1965 in Ohio/West Virginia, whose lives are engrossed by Religion. Arvin Russell (Holland) is an Orphan living with his Grandmother, step-sister and Great-Uncle, after he faced a tragic childhood of his mother dying of Cancer, which ultimately led to his father’s suicide.

Fast-forwarding to 1965, at the age of 15, his life is turned upside-down yet again, when a new pastor, Preston Teagardin (Pattinson), has arrived into the small town, causing havoc and disruption especially with his step-sister Lenora. Alongside this narrative, there is also serial killer couple Sandy and Carl, who target young hitchhikers, and Sandy’s brother, corrupted Sheriff, Lee. Whilst there is a strong religious theme throughout the film, murder, violence and manipulation ensue, leading to quite a gruesome film.

When it comes to reviewing The Devil All the Time, there is a lot to say about it, and some of those things, aren’t that great. One thing that I had trouble with was the narrative itself. Whilst Arvin’s story-line linked with that of his father’s religious faith and it coming full circle (rather disturbingly), the added story of Sandy and Carl felt random and rather displaced. As film heavily relies on its religious themes, Sandy and Carl’s story have no elements of religion at all, as their role in the film is to feed Carl’s fetish of photographing their victims. Maybe that is the point, to give the film a break from its intense themes, however, to me, it just seemed that little bit fragmented.

Another aspect that didn’t sit right, was the actual duration of the film, as it stands at a whopping 2 and a half hours. At certain times, the film seemed to drag, as the content didn’t fit the time frame, therefore, there were added extras that weren’t really necessary.

However with that being said, the ensemble cast really did save the film from being mediocre. It was certainly refreshing to see another side of Tom Holland from his Spider-man role as he managed to portray a character that has held such grief, and to see him spiral downwards into revenge and desperation. Along with Robert Pattinson, he gives an amazing performance of the seedy, malicious pastor, which could send chills to any sort of audience.

The settings and location for the film definitely set the scene of that typical Southern Gothic tale. Arvin’s childhood home at Knockemstiff represents the isolation of religion, and how alone and desperate someone can feel when it feels like God is not there. The small town of Coal Creek where Arvin spends his adolescent life, indicates how close the residents are, and how the church community can be manipulated into believing.

Overall, the film is disturbing, eerie, and tense, with disillusioned characters that seek reassurance from a God that is not present. Whilst it is not a film for everyone, (granted it’s not my type of film), it is definitely something to experience, to gain perspective of a conservative community under the threat of broken, unstable characters.

The Devil All the Time is out on Netflix.

Netflix’s Dark Tourist: A Controversial Travel Series

If you’re that person that spends more time trying to find something to watch on Netflix, than actually watching a show, and love Louis Theroux documentaries, have no fear, I have the perfect recommendation.

Dark Tourist is a documentary that follows journalist David Farrier as he travels the world, seeking out dark tourism. For those of you who don’t know what dark tourism is, it is where countries/areas are known for their historical tragedy, and promote tourism of these areas. Travellers mainly go out of curiosity and for the thrill of being in such dangerous places. Each of the 8 episodes consist of a new country, and Farrier experiences all the taboo cultures and more.

You maybe thinking: “whoa he looks like Louis Theroux!!!”, and yes, this is a joke that is made within the show. However, Farrier goes far and beyond to the point where he risks his own life.

The format of the show introduces the country that Farrier is travelling to, and then focuses on more or less 3 different taboo subjects that the country is known for. For example, whilst visiting Japan, Farrier goes on a tour around Tomioka, Fukushima. Following the 2011 tsunami and earthquake disaster, the nuclear power plant located in the region exploded, causing it to be one of the worst explosions since Chernobyl. The area was evacuated due to high radiation levels and no one has since returned.

However, it was later announced that the government gave residents the okay to safely move back in and even spruced up the area to make it more appealing. Curious to know more about this, Farrier went on a guided tour with other tourists. However, armed with a radiation detector, he later found out that the area still contained the same amount of radiation as before and later realised he and other tourists had been exposed to it this entire time.

Now, anyone may think that this totally insane and why would anyone want to do that, but that’s the point. For the show’s sake and his personal interest, it is Farrier’s job to ask why and to show the audience that these strange rituals, clubs, and even governments do exist. His “man-caught-in-the-middle” appearance, and his “what-on-earth-is-going-on-here” attitude provides entertainment, that he seems to be the only logical person in the situations he is placed in.

Whilst some events may seem weird and funny, Farrier also tackles the dangerous issues that the country is surrounded by, such as drug trading, illegal boarder-crossing, and dictatorship. Things that people face in their daily lives, and in some cases, Farrier has to push in order to get answers, due to governments etc. being restrictive on the information the let out. Thus leading to a tense and suspenseful situation as Farrier does his best to move around these restrictions, and not get caught in the act.

Farrier meeting with famous drug lord, Pablo Escobar’s hit-man, Popeye.

The show itself is an entertaining watch, whilst being informative of the many cultures that exist around the world. It brings light to local events that are celebrated, but also makes the viewer aware that there are issues that need to be addressed, and sometimes, exposing certain elements is the only way to spread this awareness. If you’re interested in learning about different cultures and the impact it’s had on its society, it’s definitely a show to binge-watch.

Dark Tourist is out on Netflix.

DC FanDome: Do Virtual Conventions Really Work? Part 2

If you recognise this title before, you may or may not know that the second half of the DC FanDome premiered on 12th September, 21 days after the first half. Whilst the first half consisted of an 8 hour live stream which featured Film, TV and gaming announcements, panels with cast and crew, and discussions, the second half was advertised as a fully interactive map, with different sections. To read my first post on the first half of DC FanDome, click here.

The idea of having 6 sections is that there is something for everyone, but, ultimately, all fans can come together within the same space. Here is a brief description of each area:

Watchverse is an area full of DC videos, such as TV show panels, and the history of DC. You could literally spend all day here.

Insiderverse includes all behind the scenes content of comics, TV shows, director Q+A’s, and even panels surrounding the industry and jobs.

Youverse is specifically aimed at the fans itself, and ultimately is a celebration of these fans by showing cosplay outfits, fan art, DC pets, and even DC related tattoos. This area also includes all of the fan Q+A’s that were taken place over the convention.

Funverse is exactly what it sounds like. It is the area which includes all of the exclusive games, specifically built for DC FanDome, downloadable content, trivia, and the virtual roller coaster, and yes, I finally did get to go on it.

The Hall of Heroes is an area where you can catch up on everything that happened on 22nd August. All announcements and panels that were included on the live-stream are available to watch here, in case you missed anything, or wanted to relive that moment once again. Which is relatable if you just want to watch The Batman and Snyder’s Justice League trailer over and over.

Finally, the Kidverse which is where kids are too able to enjoy the DC FanDome. Everything from drawing/craft lessons, Teen Titans GO! Q+A, DC Super Hero Girls trailer, to Karaoke in included in this section, which will lead to hours of fun.

Each of the pages resemble this structure:

However, despite the amount of content that could have lasted you hours, it simply did not live up to the hype it received. The structure of both the interactive map and the live-stream is where the issue lies. For me personally, there was no in-between. On one hand, you had to sit at your computer/laptop for 8 hours straight and watch panel after panel (which if you are only there to watch specific panels, it’s a long wait). Whilst on the other hand, you had different pages that were absolutely bombarded with videos as far as the eye could see. There was no direction, you just watched whatever you wanted.

The first half proved successful. The idea of watching the live-stream with potentially millions of other fans around the world at the same time, was rather heartwarming, and it was a a place where everyone joined in on the conversation on platforms such as Twitter.

Yet, the second half felt somewhat of an afterthought. Whilst you knew there were other people accessing the website, there was no real indication that people were watching the same thing as you. Fans on Twitter were posting about different sections and it didn’t feel as united as the first half. More of them tweeted that the website had crashed and we ended up waiting for 30 mins before they fixed it.

For a majority of people, it was expected that the interactive map would go live on 22nd August, along with the live stream. Therefore to wait 21 days after the announcement part of the convention, it meant that the hype would slowly dwindle. Sort of like when you’re at a real convention and you’d walk aimlessly around, not knowing what to do.

However, despite the actual structure of the website, the content that was included on the day, made up for it. There were many new panels to choose from such as the I’m Latinex, What’s Your Superpower? panel, the Lucifer panel, and extended Q+A’s from directors such as James Wan and Patty Jenkins. If you wanted to look at the more interactive side of the website, there were plenty of activities to do such as games from Lego, and create your own custom Chevrolet. Here’s mine, which I super (get it?), proud of.

Another activity which I loved, was The Joker’s Escape Room. The game consisted of a 360 degree image of the Joker’s fun-house, and you have to escape by completing a series of mini-games. Now it’s safe to say that the amount of hard work and effort it took to create this game, for this one event, is amazing, and probably one of the highlights for the event. However, due to so many people being on the website at the same time, my PC had a hard time keeping up.

To conclude the whole event, it was a great way to get fans to interact with one another, especially during the pandemic, where they are limited to see and do certain things. The convention itself proved that it is possible to make it virtual, and even more so with the second half, with the added interactive activities and exclusive videos. The quality of the content showed the diversity surrounding DC Comics and promoted equality. Cast and crew showed their gratitude towards the event as it was a chance to interact with their fans and other cast mates. The panels, which used the Zoom platform in order to connect, added humour as it was such a weird situation to be in.

However, there are minor tweaks to be made if DC or any company want to do virtual conventions again. In my opinion, it would’ve been better to put both halves of the convention in the same weekend. The live-stream on Saturday, and then the interactive map on Sunday, therefore, you are not dragging out the hype too much, as opposed to leaving it for 21 days, and risking people become disappointed.

Overall, the event was extremely enjoyable. The idea of being able to be apart of a convention whilst in the comfort of your own home, with access to free content, is always appealing. However, the ability to produce a diverse range of content for all is a great achievement, as everyone had the freedom to choose what they wanted to see. Following the events of the pandemic, it proves that anything is possible, even successfully creating a virtual convention.

Trainspotting: The Gritty Reality of Drug Addiction

It’s about time that I did a blog post on British Cinema, and what better way to start one than on Trainspotting, directed by the one and only Danny Boyle. Boyle’s artistic styles surround hyper-realism, and dysfunctional lifestyles, which are very much apparent in this film.

Trainspotting, set in Edinburgh, follows Renton, a young man with a serious heroin addiction along with his friends, Spud, Sick Boy, and Mother Superior. One day, Renton and friends decide to come off heroine, in order to start a better life, and reintegrate back into a working class society. Which turns out, is very difficult to do when you don’t have the right support.

The plan to sober up fails as certain factors in their lives affect them negatively. Spud fails job interviews, Sick Boy’s baby dies, and Renton, unbeknown to him, ends up having sexual relations with an underage girl who threatens to tell the police if Renton doesn’t carry on with their relationship. To further fund their habit, they result to robbery as well. The reality of the situations bring them back to doing something that makes them feel better, and to distract themselves from the dire world around them.

Relapsing back into his heroin use, Renton’s parents take action and lock him in his room and force him to go cold turkey, thus becoming clean. Themes of HIV/AIDS are included within the story line, to show awareness that with sharing needles, you are more likely to contract the disease. This is more prominent with the character Tommy. Tommy who has been clean for a while, tries to persuade Renton to stop his drug use. However, after a breakup with his girlfriend, he becomes addicted, contracts the disease and then later dies.

Renton starts a new life down in London, with a stable job. Whilst trying to get back on track (Good train pun there), he is visited by his old friends. Following one last drug deal, Renton slips away with the money, and goes onto live his life to the fullest, away from his friends and drugs.

Whilst the high is short-lived, the whole concept of the film is to make the audience aware of the negative affects of drug use. The idea of Sick Boy’s baby being in such a hostile environment and exposed to drugs, is absolutely horrific, however, to some people, it is reality. The friends Renton kept, ending up being bad influences which egged on his drug use, and the environment itself, is something that he needed to get away from, as the film distinctly focuses on poverty.

Alongside the realism, Boyle imitates the effects of being high with hallucinations. An example of this, is when Renton is high, to indicate he has overdosed, he sinks into the floor, wrapped in carpet, which represents the feeling of being high. Whilst Renton is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, he hallucinates and sees all of his friends down-spiralling more into their addictions, which ultimately scares him into sobriety. The extremity of these scenes contrast against the rest of the film to further indicate the extensive drug use.

Overall, whilst the film is quite controversial with extreme themes, it is still a must-see, to understand the effects of poverty and how people cope in those situations. It also shows that sobriety is a difficult journey to make, especially when those around you are not supportive. Therefore, by spreading awareness through film, it aims to be impact for any type of audience.

i’m thinking of ending things: A Mind-boggling Experience

*Spoilers*

As you may or may not have heard, i’m thinking of ending things directed by Charlie Kaufman, was released on Netflix. (4th September). With Kaufman’s main themes situating around the idea of mortality and surrealism, I knew this would be an interesting experience to say the least.

The psychological thriller lies around an unnamed woman (Jessie Buckley), who is planning to end her relationship of 6 weeks with Jake (Jesse Plemons). However, she has been roped into meeting Jake’s family at their remote farm for dinner. She uses the on-going snow storm as an excuse to leave early as she has work the next morning.

The first mind-boggle moment of this film is the woman. Throughout the film, she is given different names, such as Lucy, and Louisa, and her occupation also changes. During the drive down to Jake’s parent’s, one minute, she is a biology student, who hates poetry, and the next, she is a poet who recites her newest creation. Whilst her job changes, Jake still seems rather knowledgeable on every topic, as Jake is the one that mentions the woman’s new job title. One thing that springs up in the conversation is Jake’s love for musicals, especially as he recalls Oklahoma! which played regularly at his old high school, which is a reoccuring theme throughout the film.

When the couple finally arrive at the farm, we are introduced to Jake’s parents. Through the night, stories are constantly changing as the woman becomes more certain of ending things with Jake. The more certain she is, the more time changes, and we even see Jake’s parent age to the point they cannot care for themselves, back to when they were a young couple.

Jessie Buckley gives a fantastic portrayal of the woman as she is able to characterise the many sides of the thoughts and feelings the woman is experiencing. Jesse Plemons’ portrayal of Jake shows someone who is struggling with relationships, as there is significant connections with a janitor. The two are somewhat similar as Jake recalls things happening at the high school, that only the janitor would know of, which could indicate that Jake is the janitor.

Overall, it’s safe to say that it took a while for me to grasp any sort of concept for this film. A lot of frustration came out of it, however, that is to be expected when watching any film made by Kaufman. Whilst there was no certain ending to the film, it is what you make of it, and how you perceive it.

The woman’s certainty about breaking up with Jake, and the time fluidity surrounding her thoughts and feelings, represents the trials and tribulations of relationships. The process of Jake’s parents ageing, and then regressing in age, could signify the possible longevity the woman could face if she stayed with Jake. When the woman feels like they should go back home, Jake is persistent, that they will, just not yet. This then portrays regret, as the woman is constantly in her head about what to do with Jake.

It may not be a film for everyone, but it’s definitely something to try and watch. Whether you want to experience a Charlie Kaufman film, or to try and get your own perspective of it.

i’m thinking of ending things is available to stream on Netflix now.

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: A Nostalgic Trip to Space

On 28th August, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe was released on Disney+. Considering I was such a big fan of the show when it aired on the Disney Channel back in 2007, I decided to make use of the streaming service that I barely use anymore. (shade?)

If you don’t know the premises of Phineas and Ferb, two step-brothers who are bored during the Summer holidays, create these wild and crazy inventions that no ordinary kid can do. Their sister Candace has one goal in life, and that is to rat out her brothers to their mother, however, this never works because by the time Candace get’s her mother home, the invention magically disappears. Then, there is a side plot involving the family’s pet platypus, Perry. Perry is in fact a secret agent (Agent P), and has an ongoing feud with evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Everything coincides with each other, and it’s a really great watch.

So, eight years after the show, we get a film. The film follows Candace as she tries to rat out the boys one more time, yet fails. This is the final straw, as Candace feels that the universe is against her and she feels so lonely as family members feel like she is making the stories up.

However, the next day, as she’s hanging out with Vanessa (who is Dr. Doofenschmirtz’s daughter), they are both abducted by aliens. Phineas and Ferb see this happening, and they start a plan to get Candace back, with the help of their friends. Meanwhile, Dr. Doofenschmirtz also knows that Vanessa has been abducted to, which leads to him joining the gang. Agent P has been given the task to go save Candace, however, he must remain unknown to the rest of the group or else he will be found out.

What’s great about the development about the film is that it hasn’t changed one bit. The songs that are a staple within the Phineas and Ferb universe, are catchy, as the lyrics are basically describing what’s happening at that point in time. For instance, one of my favourite songs is Unsung Hero, which is a mellow ballad which contradicts from the scene as Agent P is destroying meteors in space. The line “He’s out there on his own just wingin’ it. Did I mention he’s a platypus?” is so self-aware, you can’t help but laugh.

One thing that is commonly used throughout the film is the use of verbs. Whilst younger kids may still be in the stages of learning the concept of words, it shows that the film is wholeheartedly adapted for adults too. What’s great about this film is that the things I didn’t necessarily understand when I was younger, I totally get now, and it’s great to think that the creators had a focus on the kids that have grown up to give them this sense of nostalgia.

Overall, whilst the plot may seem a tad predictable, it’s still a kids film at the end of the day. However, with the use of subtle self-aware jokes, it really makes it a film for all ages. For a film to be released that is exactly the same as the TV show eight years ago, with the same cast, such as Ashley Tisdale, Vincent Martella, and Alyson Stoner, brought back so many memories.

Yet, having new cast members created fun as even Tiffany Haddish claimed the role of The Sound Someone Makes When They Explode From The Waist Up, which was confusingly weird, but hilarious at the same time.

If you haven’t seen the film yet or have never even seen Phineas and Ferb, I would highly suggest so. Both the TV show and Film, can be streamed on Disney+.

The co-creator of Phineas and Ferb and the voice of Dr. Doofenschmirtz, Dan Povenmire is active on Tik Tok, where he shares all the behind the scenes knowledge, and even makes videos as Doof. He also answers fan questions, to which you end up learning a lot about the different ideas and the process of making the film. His username is danpovenmire on the app.

Film Classics: Schindler’s List

Another day, another Film review! This time, Schindler’s List by Steven Spielberg… again.

Schindler’s List made in 1993, is a historical drama based on the real life events of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist in the Second World War. During this time, Jewish people are stripped of their human rights, and are sent to the ghettos. Schindler sets up a money-making scheme in which he acquires an enamelware factory, and hires Jewish workers. His accountant, Itzhak Stern begrudgingly helps Schindler and seeks out these workers by forging essential worker documents for those who are at risk to be sent to the camps, thus saving the community in secret.

A first impression of Schindler would be that he is egotistical, in the sense that he wants to make money, and will do whatever it takes to do it. Even if it’s befriending Nazi soldiers so he could bribe them. His selfish attitude is poignant more so in his scenes with Stern. The contrast of Stern financing the factory by risking his life, and then Schindler going out to fancy parties, ultimately represents the real life struggle that the Jewish community faced against the Nazi’s during the holocaust.

The film itself is set in black and white, and due to the historic nature of the film gives it a documentary style to it. In many scenes, you are given a point of view shot, which puts you in that moment all those years ago, as if you are experiencing the horrific events of the Holocaust yourself.

During the film, we are introduced to SS Officer, Amon Göth as he is sent to overlook the Płaszów concentration camp. Whilst working, he brutally mistreats the Jewish community, by killing them at random for his own pleasure. He is then given the job to empty the ghetto, and move a number of the residents into the Płaszów camp, however, this leads to the SS shooting and killing the remaining Jewish people in the ghetto. In the distance, Schindler witnesses the mass killings whilst horse riding, and something inside of him breaks. His original mission of making money instantly changes and his new goal is to save as many lives as possible, behind the SS’ back.

From this moment on, Schindler works with Stern as he is imprisoned inside Płaszów. As the conditions worsen in the camp, Schindler then bribes Göth to let him build a separate camp for his workers, to protect them. This works for so long until Göth is given orders to send the remaining prisoners to Auschwitz. In a twist of events, Schindler uses his bribing techniques to move his workers to a new factory away from the camps, thus saving them. To do this, Schindler must create a list of names of the 850 workers. Much to Stern’s surprise, Schindler willingly gave Göth all of his money in order to move his workers. Thus showing Stern that Schindler has changed for the better.

As the War ends, the Jewish people are liberated, however the Nazi’s are arrested. With Schindler being part of the Nazi party, he must flee, leaving Stern and the rest of the workforce behind for them to start a new beginning.

However, as the film ends, we are back in the present day and back in colour, showing the remaining survivors of who Schindler helped. They gather together, along with the actors of the film, and they pay respects at Schindler’s grave, who died in 1974.

The idea of reverting back into the present day reminds the audience that these horrific scenes actually happened, and to make them aware of the history, so it is not forgotten. Whilst there have been scenes that were dramatised, it doesn’t retract from the film’s purpose, to show people a different side to the war, but still showing them the brutality that the Jewish community faced. The explicitness of the violence and the killings are there to shock you, to let you know what really happened.

The film and narrative handled the subject quite fairly. Whilst a film may never be accurate especially during such a pivotal moment in history. Portraying a real life story into mainstream Hollywood Cinema created the awareness, and showed not only Schindler as the hero, but also Stern, and how he assisted Schindler from the inside of the camps.

Again, dramatisations are bound to happen, but the meaning behind the story prevailed, and it showed that there were good people during a time where everything was seemingly destined for failure. Thus giving inspiration to help those in need, even when it seems impossible to do so.

Film Classics: Jaws

As a Film graduate, I thought it would be a good idea to review some classic films, and put that degree to use. What better way to kick off this series, than to review the 1975 horror, Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg.

I’ll add a spoiler warning just in case, but it’s a 45 year old film.

Jaws centres around Martin Brody, a chief officer of Amity Island, New York, who investigates numerous killings that have been made on the beaches. Whilst postmortems reveal injuries to the body to have been caused by a great white shark attack, Brody insists on shutting the beaches for the safety of the residents, but shocker, the mayor chooses to keep it open for the business’ sake during the Summer months.

If you think about it, it kind of relates to the current lockdown situation. You want everywhere to be safe and secure, for people to social distance, but then the government wants to open businesses for the sake of the economy, which is ultimately leading to a second wave. Funny huh?

Throughout the film, we see the mayor continue to dismiss that there is a shark on the loose, and even catches a different type of shark to disguise that as the killer. However, oceanographer, Matt Hooper sides with Brody, that the captured shark is not the original shark they were after. Then, during a Fourth of July celebration, there is another shark attack, indicating to the people on the beaches, that the shark is still at large. To put an end to it, Brody, Hooper, and shark hunter Quint, set sail to find the shark and kill it.

The boat scene, is probably one of the most iconic scenes in film. The three men try to bait out the shark with barrels, and armed with harpoons and guns. Whilst being in the middle of the ocean, such a vast space, you really do feel isolated on the small boat, especially with a large predator in the area.

It’s no secret that the shark used was not real and was in fact a mechanical creation (duh). However, the theatrics of the boat ripping apart, water splashing everywhere, really made the scenes so realistic. It would’ve been awesome in 4D.

Another reason as to why Jaws is such a great film is due to the original score, composed by John Williams. The theme tune is something everyone can remember from the film. Whenever there was a bad moment, the score would start with a slow tempo, alerting the audience that something bad was going to happen, leaving them in suspense until there was an attack. Even listening to the score without the context of the film makes you look around, as if something is going to attack you.

Nearing the end, the boat starts to sink as the shark continues to destroy everything that surrounds it, even killing Quint. This leaving Brody balancing on the crow’s nest nearing ever so closer to the shark. Whilst it seems that all hope is lost, and that’s it for our favourite, logical officer, Brody wedges a Oxygen canister into the sharks mouth and shoots it, letting the shark explode.

Overall, the film is suspenseful, yet frustrating. The frustration coming from the mayor himself, and not doing the obvious thing to close the beaches. The pacing of the film is well structured, as it keeps the viewer in suspense at all times, and there is such an intense build up to the final boat scene, where everything comes to its conclusion. It also keeps a realistic eye to how the situation would probably be dealt with in real life.

However, one thing to point out is that when the film was released, audiences were weary of sharks and it even frightened them to even go into the sea, thus, depicting sharks as one of the most dangerous predators on the planet, and made them a villain on film. However, this is not the case. Great white sharks are non-threatening to humans, and they only attack when severely provoked. Therefore, I feel that this is important to point out as it damages the reputation of sharks, as they just chill, minding their own business in the ocean.

So, in conclusion, the film is a must see for anyone that has never watched it before, especially as it’s one of the first films about sharks. Yet it’s important to be aware of the facts surrounding sharks, and it’s cool that Hooper is there to give information about the ocean.

My Top Games to Play During Lockdown

Since finishing university and lockdown being a thing, I have had a lot of spare time on my hands. One of my ways to pass time is to catch up on all the video games that I had initially put off due to work etc. If you’re looking for new games to play, here are my top games that have kept me entertained over the past couple of months.

Spoiler warning ahead for Assassin’s Creed: Origins.

1. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

The game that’s been taking over the internet. Fall Guys is a battle royale game in which 60 players fight for the crown throughout 5 rounds of gameplay. Each round consists of a random mini-game, where you have the chance of being eliminated.

Now, I’ve only been playing this for a couple of days but it is so addictive. Trying to not only fight 59 other players as a little, vibrant jelly-bean like character, but also trying to figure out how to play each random mini-game, can be somewhat infuriating. Especially when you get eliminated in the first round, if you’re on a team game, or you just missed the cut for the next one. Oh yes, whilst being such a colourful, fun game that seems harmless, it really brings out the rage quitter out in all of us.

Mini-games include obstacle courses, memory games, and even football. With it being randomised, it gives everyone a fair chance of playing, as you’re not stuck with the same mini-game, thus becoming a pro at it.

The game is great for those who don’t want to be stuck in a game for countless minutes, as each round lasts for around 2-3 minutes. So if you get eliminated, you can just hop back into it with another game. Also you earn XP throughout the game, which you can use to customise your character and equip emotes which lessens the pain of not winning the game.

As the game has only just been released, there are still some bugs that need to be fixed but these are all sorted through updates of the game.

Also the bass line and soundtrack absolutely SLAP.

2. Assassin’s Creed: Origins

If you’re looking for a story based game, Assassin’s Creed is where it’s at. Origins, set in the Ptolemaic period of Egypt in 49 BC, follows Bayek, a Medjay, as he tries to protect the people of the Ptolemaic kingdom. This is all during the introduction to the Roman Republic, and Cleopatra who is trying to undermine her brother, Ptolemy XIII. So you can guess that there is a lot of conflict going on around that time.

A continuation of the Assassin’s Creed story, Bayek loses his son after he is killed by a group of unknown men, looking for a secret vault. As the story progresses, Bayek and his wife Aya become the Hidden Ones, which are the origin of the Assassin’s Creed. Get it? Origins? I’ll see myself out.

Gameplay is set in an open world around Egypt which allows the player to roam free, visiting all the wonders that Egypt offered, such as the pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx. The levelling up system requires you to play side quests, upgrade gear, helping the local citizens, and finding viewpoints. Once you’re at the right level, you can go onto the main missions, helping the likes of Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar, whilst eliminating those who helped murder Bayek’s son.

If you have a lot of time on your hands, this is the game for you. On average, you could complete this game within 80 hours, with doing the added side quests. I’ve put in 25 hours in so far, and I’m nowhere near done.

3. Star Wars Battlefront 2

One thing that I have been completely obsessed with is Star Wars Battlefront 2. As a fan of the original Battlefront games on PS2, I was a tad disappointed with Battlefront when it was released in 2015. Whilst it was a multiplayer game, it lacked content. However, in 2017, Battlefront 2 was released with more content than ever before. The ability to play within the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, and the Resistance vs. the First Order, have a wider variety of playable heroes, and a single player story mode, was more than I could ever ask for.

With each game mode, you are given classes: Heavy, Assault, Officer and Sniper. Which makes the game play so much more better as you are allowed to choose what suits you best. Also, the game has a levelling up system, so no matter how many times you miss that headshot, you still get some points for trying. Which is how I used to play at the start. I’ve gotten better since, I swear.

One thing this game has going for it, are the locations and the graphics. It is easily one of the most beautiful games I have played in a long time. Iconic locations such as Yavin 4, Geonosis, and Kashyyk are all playable maps, as well as locations from the new films such as Ajan Kloss, Crait, and Scarif.

Battlefront 2 is for those who want a challenging yet chill play through. You could easily kill a couple of hours playing this.

4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

I’m pretty sure by now you know what Animal Crossing New Horizons is. The most anticipated game of 2020, Animal Crossing shows you, a villager, buying a deserted island from the one and only, Tom Nook. Throughout the game, you rebuild and customise the island, craft furniture, and asking different characters to move to your island to live. Whilst doing the hard work of essentially rebuilding life as we know it, you can also go fishing, collect fossils and catch bugs. To which you can sell at the local shop, or donate to the museum.

I hate to admit it, but the amount of time I’ve spent of Animal Crossing is sad. 400+ hours. The majority of this time, has been spend on re-designing my island, moving villager houses, creating the perfect scenery with flowers, and finding my favourite characters.

The game allows for all creative styles. Themed crafting items gives players a chance to co-ordinate their island, so there is never one island that is the same. There is even the option to add your own custom designs! You can create these using the game itself, or by someone online such as Twitter, sharing their creative code so you can have that person’s design on your island.

However, the game is set in real time. Therefore, you feel like you’re waiting forever for the next step, whether it be a villager moving, or waiting for that amazing turnip price. There is the option to cheat and time travel, but then you end up confusing the whole timeline and a bunch of weeds growing all over your island. Also, updates for the game are sparse, so there will be times where there will be nothing new to do for a while.

The game is perfect for someone who just wants to spend their day fishing or gardening. It’s honestly the most relaxing game on the planet.