XO, Movies: Maleficent

Hello little beasties! 

     Last night I finally went to go see Maleficent, a film that I had been closely following through pre and post production. Not to fear! If you have not yet seen the movie I will first do a condensed review, free from spoilers, and then I will let you know when to stop reading so I can get more into the depth of the film.

     With Sleeping Beauty being one of my favorite Disney movies from childhood, I was ecstatic to hear there was going to be a movie based on another perspective of the the story. From start to finish, every scene was aesthetically pleasing, though... the acting was something else entirely. In many scenes it was almost as if the actors weren't even trying, with the exception of Angelina Jolie who occasionally over acted and Sam Riley who will be one to watch in the coming years. In Super 8, Elle Fanning was convincing in pulling off a young girl dealing with the perils of an alien invasion, but showed some struggle in trying to bring the narcoleptic princess Aurora to life. With that in mind, there were some interesting changes to the original story that I really enjoyed. There was a needed depth added for some characters, while it was taken away from others. I believe the script should have been edited one or two more times before it was set. There were a few moments of unnatural conversations and lack of flow. Yet again, this could have been an acting issue. Overall I did enjoy the movie, but I wish I would have waited until it was available at the Redbox or even Netflix.

     Now is the time to stop reading. If you're worried about spoilers go watch the movie and then come back to finish this, but be sure to check out my Maleficent inspired style that I'll be posting tomorrow!

(que a low quality preview)

     On to the spoilers (and basically my fan girl moments)! I loved that Maleficent was a warrior for her land and that she was a strong individual, but I like my villains to be inherently evil. I would have loved for her to have started off being a little darker with a twisted way of looking at things long before Stefan was ever in the picture. The fact that she is only turned into a "villain" because of the loss of her wings and betrayal of Stefan unnerves me. I felt like the whole film basically said that villains cannot show love or be loved. Her character would have had greater complexity if she was less misunderstood. I also didn't like the fact that Stefan went crazy and even if he did, it should have been with guilt instead of revenge. The fairies were all idiots. They reminded me of Cinderella's step-sisters. I understand that the point was for Maleficent to basically raise Aurora, but they were other ways of setting that up. None of the characters were really likable except for Maleficent and Diaval.  Diaval was my favorite! I thought he was funny and charming. I really wanted to see more of him having a relationship with Maleficent, but I really loved the whole concept of him. 

     There's so much more I could go on about with this movie that I wasn't a fan of, so here's a list to save time:

1. "True love's first kiss" copied from Frozen (ehhhh)

2.  Prince Phillip looked like a toddler 

3. Maleficent's wardrobe change into a superhero costume during the final fight

4. overuse of lame slow motion

5. The end was pretty much the beginning

Plus, so much more.

    So what did you guys think? Did you like it? Who was your favorite/ least favorite character? Comment below or send me a message on my Tumblr. I'll also be checking #xomoxo on twitter, instagram, and tumblr. 

Have a magical day!

Monday Must Haves: Fly Art T-Shirts

While scrolling through my Facebook feed this afternoon, I stumbled upon a shared link displaying these great shirts. Before clicking I figured that these were just photoshopped, but then I was happily surprised to see that these are actually available to buy!

(Just a few of my favorites)

     A perfect fusion of art and hip-hop, Gisella Velasco and Toni Potenciano created this project out of "..boredom, frustration, and the internet". The shirts are available as tank-tops, T-shirts, and sweatshirts and unisex sizes small through extra-large. 

    

      I cannot wait to get mine in the mail! (I'm ordering the "Venus is Flawless" shirt!) Also, I hope to see more from this duo. This is only their first collection, so imagine what else they could create given proper funding and time!

The Fly Art tumblr is http://flyartproductions.tumblr.com/ and to buy just go to Rad sign up, and search Fly Art.

I'll be sure to post a picture of when I get mine, and I hope to see all of yours!

Do you like the shirts? Which one is your favorite? Comment below or send me a message on my Tumblr. I'll also be checking #xomoxo on tumblr, twitter, and instagram!

All Good Things: Movie Review

     

Wow... talk about a twist! This film, starring the lovely Ryan Gosling and Kristen Dunst,  is a romantic/ crime drama with multiple twists and turns. Set in the 70s-80s, this story follows David Marks and his wife Katie. The young couple goes through ups and downs until one day Katie goes missing. Although suspected, David is never put to trial until the case is reopened in 2000. Based on one of New Yorks' most infamous murder/missing persons case in history, we see the events in a hazy, dream like state, which reflects the possible insanity of David, or maybe even Katie. The film is full of suspense, mystery, and romance. 

     I must say, this did not make my top 100 list, but I did enjoy it and would watch again. The director, Andrew Jarecki seemed to have a very clear concept of what he wanted to achieve. The story floats around through tone, events, time periods, and multiple other factors so I was happily surprised with how easy it was to follow.

Over all I'd give this movie 5 1/2 out of 10.

What did you think? Do you agree or disagree with my review? Comment below or ask me on my Tumblr!

Happy Watching!

The Weekend Netflix Picks

Are you tired of the Netflix MAX failing to help you find something to watch? Do you need an entertaining movie for your Saturday movie night? Look no further! I'm counting down four of my favorite movies from Netflix, and then one that I haven't seen yet, but will be watching for the first time tonight and reviewing on Sunday.

5. The Indie Classic:

The Big Lebowski

At a glance: 

idiosyncratic characters, dream sequences, unconventional dialogue, and eclectic soundtrack

     The odds are, you have already seen this fantastic film. The late nineties cult classic comes from the minds of Joel and Ethan Coen. It's a crime/dark comedy about a LA slacker named Jeff Lebowski with a knack for bowling who is mistaken for a millionaire who shares the same name. The odd movie is filled with amazing actors, including, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Although it did not do well when it first hit the US box office, followers of "The Dude" proved that this film was not one to be forgotten. In an interview about Lebowski, Joel Coen stated, "We wanted to do a Chandler kind of story – how it moves episodically, and deals with the characters trying to unravel a mystery, as well as having a hopelessly complex plot that's ultimately unimportant." If you're looking for a fun, indie flick that makes you think a bit outside of the box, look no further,The Big Lebowski is the pick for you!

4.The Romantic Comedy:

Wild Target

At a glance: 

quirky characters, british humor, unconventional romance, and modern pop soundtrack

     Have you ever even heard of this one? The romantic comedy was released in 2010 in the UK. It wasn't really promoted though in the US. A talented hitman, Victor Maynard falls for an unusual thief, Rose, who just so happens to be his intended victim. While trying to avoid his client, they accidentally acquire a tag along, Tony, who is set on being Victors' apprentice. This off-the-wall film stars Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Emily Blunt, and Rupert Grint. It has just the right amount of inappropriate humor and sweet moments with a fun and exciting pace.

3. The Dramatic, Tear Jerker:

The Fall

At a glance: 

well developed characters, complex storyline, abstract imagery, and instrumental soundtrack

     

     This beautiful film comes from director Tarsem Singh, who has only directed four other movies along with one in the works now, but has already proven himself to be one to watch. Set in a 1920s L.A. hospital, a little girl with a broken arm befriends an injured stuntman. He begins telling her a tale of five amazing heros. As her imagination grows and his mental stability lessens, it becomes harder to tell what is reality and what is just a fairy tale. The cinematography alone is worth the watch, and the whole cast captivates every minute of the screen. This is absolutely on my top five all time favorites list.    

2. The Nail-Biter:

Zodiac

At a glance: 

character diversity, based on true events, subtle horror, suspenseful soundtrack

     Zodiac is set in 1970s California and based on actual horrifying events. A cartoonist gets involved with detectives and police to solve a string of murders taking place in the San Francisco Bay area. The serial killer leaves drawings and puzzling messages to taunt police and terrorize citizens. The David Fincher directed film utilizes tone and color to set strong emotions in the viewer. If the director doesn't entice you enough, just think about this, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, and Jake Gyllenhaal as partners. I mean come on, how can you not want to watch that?

1. The Wild Card: 

All Good Things

     I haven't seen this one yet. I will be posting a review about this movie Sunday night. Watch it with me this weekend so we can discuss more about it later!

Let me know if you watched any of these over the weekend, or if you have already before. Do you agree or disagree with my reviews? Be sure to comment below or send me a me a message on my Tumblr.

Happy Viewing!

Superman vs. Batman: My Growing Concerns

(Photo : Twitter/@The_Race_Draft) Concept Poster of "Superman vs Batman" Movie)

     Ever since I was a little girl, the idea of superheroes and mastermind villains has excited me. My dad would read comic books to me as bedtime stories, and I would go to sleep dreaming I had super powers and super friends. Though Marvel's Spiderman was the first thing I ever read on my own, I found the DC universe so much more entertaining and thrilling as I grew older. When it came to film and TV adaptions I was first in line in the theatre, or was sure to record them on my VHS. I have seen every DC live action movie, and I mean EVERY single one, the good, the bad, and the terribly ugly. I've noticed that though there have been great projects, the number of failed films on DCs part has been higher than that of Marvels.
   With the latest Superman vs. Batman and Justice League movies in the works, I can't help but be worried for the images of my childhood dreams. The casting department seems to be going wild, casting actors in roles that just don't seem to match well. Also, there have already been reports of cast and crew members quitting already before anything has really begun. I will not dismiss the projects, for they may turn out being the greatest comic books movies ever made, but at the moment the future for DC seems very cloudy.
   The internet was astonished when the news of Batfleck was announced, but that is the least of my worries for the film. I'm more concerned with Gal Gadot being Wonder Woman.

 
Her acting is not the greatest, and she looks like she could be related to Natalie Portman or Keira Knightley. If she was cast as Catwoman or Zatanna it would have made more sense. On the other hand, though only rumored, I would be happy with Jason Momoa being Aquaman.

He is an alright actor, and if you colored his hair, he'd look like the character.

    I'll leave my final judgments for when I see a full trailer for the films set to come out in 2016/2017. A lot can change between now and then, so I will remain hopeful. Also, I'll post more if any new rumors or reports come out for the films.

What do you think? Are you upset or happy with the casting? How well do think the movies will do? Comment below or message me on my Tumblr. 

The Lazy Stylist: Everyday Wear

     While waiting in line at Target the other day, I noticed multiple famous faces starring at me. On a whim I grabbed a copy of InStyle and then proceeded to check out. When I got home I looked at the outfits with envy. Although I could probably put a twin style together easily, it would take some time and thinking. I constantly feel like I'm in a hurry or just way too busy to think about anything else but my next task. When I'm not doing something, I'm too lazy to put anything together and just end up in wearing the same thing over and over again. Sometimes though, a go to outfit is key and small steps can make all the difference. 

     On any given day, you'll see me in a graphic tee or tank, some type of cardigan or oxford, and jeans or pants. This combination is comfortable and gives me more confidence than I would have in anything else. To dress it up just a little bit I'll add a simple necklace (pearls being my personal favorite), and a cute flat or short heel. Add some sunglasses, grab my clutch and I'm ready to head to work, the store, or a shoot. 

     What's your go to style? Comment below or message me on Tumblr (modayne.tumblr.com)  

Game of Thrones: Season Four Finale (*Warning: Spoilers*)

Well its now been over 24 hours since the season four finale of Game of Thrones premiered. There was a large amount of hype and anticipation for the 66 minute long finale, which took a large sum of the graphics and FX budget for the season. The episode also swiped 3 HBO Emmy submissions for writing, direction, and make-up.  Although writers and cast alike praised the episode saying that it was sure to not disappoint, I can't say that I was very blown away by it. Yes, the special effects were stunning, and the acting was perfect (as expected), but I feel like the episode was oddly paced and lacked explanation. There are so many loose ends that I was really hoping to be tied off this season. Where has Gendry, Osha, and Rickon been? Also the story lines of Jon Snow and Daenerys have become extremely stagnant. They have been my personal favorites since the beginning but they seem to be repeating the same type of problems and actions over and over again.
Granted there were some really great scenes. The Brienne/Hound fight scene, was really cool, though completely different from the books. With Arya refusing to trust Brienne and Podrick, and then just leaving the Hound shows that she truly did learn alot. Sandor took on the role as Arya's teacher of the world, much like Petyr is to Sansa, and both Stark girls have seemed to surpass their instructors. I was also intrigued by the Children of the Forrest scene, though I really have no idea what exactly is going on with that just yet. I really feel like they want Bran to take over in place of the Blood Raven. The only question for that is..... what does he do? It can't just be a guy sitting in a tree watching over the world right?
Overall I'd give season four an 8/10. There were some great character developments and the story as a whole has changed entirely. I would given it a perfect 10 if something was actually concluded besides the deaths of Joffery and Ygritte. The whole season was a domino set up, which will hopefully collapse in season five.
Theres alot more about this episode that I could talk about, but that's all for now. I'll do another post on my predictions and hopes for season five a little closer to the premiere, but since I'm reading the books I'l probably still post about GoT here there while it's on hiatus. Also, if any filming news comes out, I post about that as well.

Do you agree or disagree with me? Tell me what you thought about the season and what you hope happens by commenting or sending me a message on my Tumblr (modayne.tumblr.com).

The Queen of Procrastination

So here I sit at 2:00 am doing nothing but scrolling through my tumblr dashboard and taking pointless selfies. Of course I could be editing pictures, or working on my script, but for some reason I keep putting things off. I tell myself that I’ll do it in a minute which turns into a day, turning into a week. At least I decided to open up my blog and finally add something to it, since I’ve had it for about six months now but have not touched it. Has anyone else had that problem? I’m certain I’m not the only person, but I feel like I may have an extreme case of saving important or productive tasks for another day. I have dubbed myself the “Queen of Procrastination”. When it comes to my blog, I didn’t really know how to start it off. I contemplated a generic, “Welcome!” but that didn’t seem quite right, so I just kept waiting to add anything to it. Now that we’ve gotten over the awkward part of most conversations, hello and welcome.

My name is Morgan and this is basically my brain. I love film, and all other types of art and media. I drink too much coffee and often am too awkward/nerdy to function. Just an oddball with big dreams.

If you stumbled upon this then I would love for you to stick around.