the host with the most

Time for a confession: I was a huge Twihard. I was thirteen when Twilight exploded and thus extremely susceptible to Edward Cullen's golden eyes and Bella Swan's clumsy awkwardness. I've seen the light now, but back then my every happiness laid solely in the hands of Stephanie Meyer and what she chose to make Edward and Bella do next. So, when she released The Host, I was an immediate fan, going even as far to say it was better than the Twilight series. In hindsight, both are probably awful, but for a while they made up a big part of my life and so The Host movie is simply drenched in nostalgia not just for me, but likely a large chunk of the females of Gen Y and Z.

Blake's rating: ★★★
In truth, this was a pretty terrible movie, but oh! how I enjoyed myself. Because really, when you get two attractive fellas fighting over one girl in the midst of a war between humans and aliens, what's not to love? The girl is Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan, said like Ser-sha, god knows why), whose body has been snatched by a parasitic, but strangely well-meaning, 'Soul' called Wanda. Adventure (and many unfortunately bad internal monologues) ensue when Melanie refuses to leave her body, and Wanda must deal with Melanie's voice in her head, telling her she must return to her still-human family and her one true love, Jared. Enter the fellas: first there's Jared (Max Irons), who is still in love with Melanie. Then there's Ian (Jake Abel), who falls for Wanda. All the while, Wanda is being chased by The Seeker, a Soul who wants to bring down the human resistance and make everyone into peaceful alien-hosts. What's a girl to do?

There is really not a lot to say about The Host as a film. I mean, there are some nice locations, cool CGI and hectic cars made of reflective metal, but this is no feat of cinema. The screenplay is pretty shocking, the acting is average, and dear god, when will the voice overs stop?! And yet, sometimes bad films are the ones that make you most happy. And this one made me very happy indeed.

Madolyn's rating: ★★★1/2
Obviously this film isn't Oscar-worthy or anything, but I really really loved it. Like Blake, I was a huge Twilight fan back in the day, but I couldn't get into The Host when I tried to read it, so I went into this movie with no expectations or delusions of grandeur. The voice over of Melanie was pretty annoying at first, but once we got into it I just became used to it and you have to realise that this story couldn't really have made it to the big screen without some awkward leaps. The three leads did the best they could - Saoirse is Irish, and putting on two different American accents is no mean feat - and there was a lot of beauty in the settings and the gadgets (all that sleek shiny silver!) And lets just talk about the boys here for a second - Jared is a bit crazy and I didn't really like him much, but Ian is just gorgeous and every time he breathed I cried, because, like, Jake Abel's face. Saoirse is one lucky girl, with all that kissing!

My immediate response these days when someone asks "is it good?" is to say, "well, I liked it." Who gets to decide what's good? Why??? All I know is, this movie isn't critically acclaimed or anything, and it kind of went for longer than necessary, and the tacked-on "months later" seemed like a superfluous afterthought, but by my standards it was good, enjoyable, adventurous, fun and romance-y (and that's all my boxes ticked) and I've seen it twice and would happily watch it again. So yeah.

game of who?

If you, like me, know what it's like to face the agonising wait before your favourite show comes back to screens, you, like me, know how exciting it is when it does return. Months of sadness, emptiness, anticipation and excitement all lead up to that moment when you hear that beloved theme tune once again and fall back into that familiar world.  Finally, this Easter weekend saw the long-awaited return of two of my favourite shows: Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, and so here is my little review of the episodes.

Doctor Who
7x06 The Bells of Saint John

Returning for part B of series 7, this episode focused mostly around Clara Oswald (Jenna Louise Coleman), the Doctor's new companion with a lot of mystery behind her. (I love her a lot, by the way. She's in the running to become my second favourite companion.) We've met her twice before, and both times she's died - what is up with that? This was the beginning of Clara the Companion, where she's curious and learning and becoming stronger as she goes, and we'll definitely be finding out more about her throughout the rest of her time in the TARDIS. The idea that the villains were using the world's wi-fi to trap souls made the crazy idea all the more realistic, because there's a real possibility that wi-fi has the potential to be used as a weapon in this day and age. A lot of tidbits of continuity thrown in made me and other Who fans quite excited, such as the detail of the book being written by Amelia Williams, the Doctor's last companion who had been sent back in time by the Weeping Angels, and of course the phrase that the Doctor and we the audience have come to recognise as Clara's in all her forms  - run, you clever boy, and remember. I'm excited to see where we'll go on this adventure from here.

Game of Thrones

3x01 Valar Dohaeris

Returning for its third season with record ratings, Game of Thrones has once again started strong, and looks to only get stronger. I felt like this episode was more of a recap/where are they now of most of the characters after the epic events of the end of season 2, and sort of set up how events will run for the rest of the season. 'Otp: You know nothing, Jon Snow' was at it again, while Sansa in Kings Landing was standing strong, with hope for the future and for her family. Margaery Tyrell was gorgeous, as ever, and even Joffrey seemed a little won over by her - although I could be wrong, I can't tell if he was actually being kind of nice or just a sarcastic ass - but Cersei was having none of that, possibly feeling she was losing some control over her son. Meanwhile, two other Lannisters were having words, and the scene where Tywin disowns Tyrion and you could see the hurt on his face was very emotional, for Tyrion and for me - that was way harsh, Ty. We saw Daenerys across the sea in search of an army, men getting their nipples cut off and NOT EVEN FLINCHING (srs wtf) and scary scorpion-like creatures, White Walkers, and everything in between. I've not read the books, so the big uncloaking at the end didn't really mean much to me, but all will be revealed in the episodes to come. Looks set to be an epic, exciting and emotional season. Let the games begin!

top ten: musical films

Have you ever found yourself in a real life situation, thinking that all of your emotions could be perfectly summed up in song? Maybe a soulful rendition of The Winner Takes it All, or an upbeat dance number to You Can't Stop the Beat, even proudly belting out Sweet Transvestite (I don't know, you might be into that kind of thing). Too many times I've wished I could just stand up and sing out a flawlessly on-pitch tune while everyone around my starts to dance in unison to a routine they've never rehearsed, but it just never works out the same as it does in the movies.

So, we've put together a top ten list of our favourite musical movies that satisfy those toe-tapping urges. There's a mix of the old and the new, and the happy and the sad, so there's a song for every occasion. Best watched alone, so you can sing along as loudly (and badly) as you like and maybe bust out a dance move or two without fear of total humiliation.

sher-crazy

Sherlock Holmes. It's a name that keeps popping up these days, and every new adaptation offers a different way of enjoying the crime-solving antics of the famed detective and his sidekick Dr. Watson. That's why I've put together a little guide of today's Sherlocks, so you can choose the right one for you depending on what you're into.

sherlock (2010)

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are the new detective-and-doctor duo residing at 221B Baker St, in this modern revamping of Sherlock Holmes. Although it is set in current-day London, many elements of the classic story are maintained, including most of the supporting characters and that wonderful line "Come if convenient... If inconvenient, come anyway". Every Sherlock is different, and Benedict Cumberbatch has to be one of the most intelligent and observant, yet the most arrogant and self-assured Holmes that has ever been. And yet, though he might appear cold and unaffected, mess with Dr. Watson or his landlady Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock will TAKE YOU DOWN. 

top ten: animated films

I may be 18, but that doesn't mean I am an adult. It especially doesn't mean that I can't love animated movies any more, and thank god for that, because they are just so fun and enjoyable to watch. If you think you're above animated films because "they're for children", let me stop you right there. You're missing out on fun, adventure, love, hope, joy, excitement, wonder - basically you are living a sad and unfulfilled life. These movies are not just for kids - in fact, watching them as an adult you pick up so many jokes and references you may have missed as a child.

So, for you out there who want something lovely to watch, or just want to know, I've compiled a list of my top ten recent animated movies, and by recent I mean the last few years, and/or the 3D animation type, rather than the classic flat Disney animations, because let's face it, who hasn't seen those? (My favourites are Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan, by the way.) I tried my best to put them in order, so let's count down from ten to one.

this week's releases

This week saw two major movie releases, including the Wizard of Oz prequel, Oz: The Great and Powerful, and the newest adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. If you're thinking of heading to the cinema this week, here's what we have to say about these two new flicks.

oz: the great and powerful

Madolyn's rating: ★★
More like Oz the Not So Great Or Powerful But Actually A Giant Douchebag, to be honest. I don't know if you were supposed to hate the protagonist, dislike him and watch him change over the course of the film or like him despite his glaring flaws the whole time, but I certainly was the first one. He was a womanising jerk, a cheat and a liar, not to mention impossibly weak. He hid behind his tricks to avoid taking any responsibility for his life or anybody around him, and he didn't have any sense of morality or  sense. The script was pretty terrible and the storylines quite feeble, especially as a prequel to the well known and loved Wizard of Oz. Like, am I supposed to believe that it was one man's betrayal that turned the wicked witch wicked? And green? And the character development, especially of Oz, was very off- after having presented him in such an awful way, his "change" at the end of the film was pathetic, and the inspirational gift-giving at the end of The Wizard of Oz was trivialised and made to seem like the actions of a dirty cheat rather than a noble man with good intentions.

The only thing that saved this film was the recreation of the fabulous world of Oz. The sets and scenery and computer generated effects were magical and the costumes, oh my god, the costumes. The details, especially on Glinda (Michelle Williams') dresses, were absolutely stunning and the animation of the china doll was gorgeous, she even clinked as she walked. Michelle Williams was lovely, as always, and Rachel Weisz tried her best as the Wicked Witch of the East. Mila Kunis was off to a great start, however after she turned green I just couldn't take her seriously, because the face prosthetics were just...not great, and her eyebrows were just really ridiculous. So, boys, if you're going to see this film just for Mila, think again.

Overall, as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz and as a film in itself, it didn't really do its job. I would have much rather seen an adaptation of Wicked, and now that's probably going to take a backseat because of this one's release. Sigh. I'm very disappointed.


great expectations

Blake's rating: ★★★1/2

There's been a hell of a lot of Great Expectations remakes and like most, this is an enjoyable retelling of the classic story with plenty of elaborate 19th century dress and olden-day sexual tension to go around. Jeremy Irvine fits very nicely in the role of Pip (and he's easy on the eyes too), while Helena Bonham Carter seems born to play the role of the eccentric and disturbed Miss Havisham. This is another very pretty movie, with amazing costumes and attention to detail in the sets of 1800s London and Miss Havishim's mansion. You can see why the love story between Pip and Miss Havishim's adopted daughter, Estella, is one that has transcended centuries, because even without the more sexualised courting rituals of modern day, the emotion is still strong as ever.      

The problem with remaking a movie that has already had fifteen adaptations in film and television is that you can't help but compare. Personally, I've seen the two of the more recent remakes; my favourite being the 2011 BBC miniseries staring Douglas Booth, followed by the modern adaptation with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke in 1998. In all honesty, this is nothing new. The plot is the same, the characters unchanged; it doesn't really bring any new angle to the beloved story, which makes the film a little forgettable. There is also the issue of fitting a fairly large novel into a two hour block, which gives the miniseries an edge as it had more time to explore the whole book over three, hour-length episodes. However, if you've yet to have the pleasure of experiencing the epic Great Expectations story, then this film would be a wonderful introduction into Dickens' world. Still, in my eyes, nothing can beat Douglas Booth in a dress suit.         

we like you

If you're an Australian, part of gen Y and have ever watched free to air TV, you'll probably either a) know of or b) be in love with the baby faced 25 year old comedian and voice of our people, (well, on Talkin' Bout Your Generation, anyway) Josh Thomas.

Having a successful stand-up career, appearances on Good News Week, making a podcast whenever he feels like it and fearlessly team captaining Gen Y to defeat almost every week on Your Gen wasn't enough for him though. His newest venture, scripted comedy slash drama slash biopic Please Like Me started on ABC2 last week, and although only 3 out of six episodes have aired so far, it's fresh, funny, and just a little bit awkward. A perfect mix. A lot of the show is fictional, but there are many elements that are taken from Josh's actual life and experiences, like his well known love for cardigans.

The show opened with Josh's girlfriend, Claire (Caitlin Stasey, who you might remember from Tomorrow When The War Began) breaking up with him over a $19 sundae, reasoning that, "Josh, you're probably gay." This does turn out to be true, and the storyline sees a developing relationship with Geoffrey (Wade Briggs), a very pretty boy who works with Josh's best friend Tom (played by Josh's actual best friend Tom). There are glimpses into the lives of Josh's parents, his friends' relationships (although they all seem to be at Josh's house like, all the time) and features a few cameo appearances of John, Josh's actual dog and $haniqua, Tom's actual rabbit.

Beyond the humour in the show, however, there is the underlying theme of discovering one's identity, in Josh's case coming to terms with the fact that he is gay. I can't imagine how he would feel, but he's not fussed discussing it with his family, until his Aunt Peg finds out by accident and Geoffrey outs him to his father. Surprise! Although he feared "putting something in his bum", his biggest challenge yet has been sitting through a church sermon on how homosexuality is a sin. In an act of true inspiration, though, his religious Aunt Peg stood up and defended him in front of everyone, her speech coming word for word from when Josh's grandma Mona did the same thing in real life.

Nothing like this show has every really been done on Australian TV before, and it's a big step forward for Josh himself and also young LGBT people of Australia especially (even if it has been speculated the show was shunted to ABC2 because it was "too gay" for the regular ABC) and their portrayal in media.

Now, if you're a Josh fan, I don't know why I'm about to tell you this because you're probably already watching, but you might recognise a few of the jokes from previous stand-up shows and TV appearances, but really, they're still good every time.

Please Like Me is still a youngling, but it's been great so far and I think it will only get better, and who doesn't want to watch a show about people more awkward than you that features a rabbit called $haniqua?