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HLD (99 KP) rated Portal 2 in Video Games

Sep 7, 2017  
Portal 2
Portal 2
Shooter
The humour is on point. (2 more)
The puzzles aren't that hard so you won't feel like a failure.
Stephen Merchant is a great addition to the story.
I wish there was more of it. (1 more)
It has a lot of potential for further instalments, yet here we are
Worth whatever it's worth on steam
  
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Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Click and Collect (2018) in Movies

Dec 12, 2021 (Updated Dec 13, 2021)  
Click and Collect (2018)
Click and Collect (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Jingled all the way
An alternate take on the classic Christmas movie "Jingle all the way" throws two neighbours who are on opposite sides of the same coin, one who wants to be friends and the other a little scrooge-esque who doesn't.

It's almost Christmas, a little girl wants the the most sought after pink pony toy around and dad refused to pay the Instore price and his neighbour knows where to get one.
This revelation leads the unlikely duo on an going on an oddball journey - thieves, low speed car chase and a hobo santa are all part of a day's work...

Starring Stephen Merchant & Asim Chaudhry
  
Fighting with My Family (2019)
Fighting with My Family (2019)
2019 | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Florence Pugh (2 more)
The Rock
Vince Vaughn
Fight For Your Dream
Fighting For My Family- tells the story about WWE superstar Paige and her up rising to the WWE. Its a entertaining, dramatic, comedy film. You will have laughs, the push to push your self to the ultimate limit without losing it, without giving up your dreams.

The plot: Born into a tight-knit wrestling family, Paige and her brother Zak are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for the WWE. But when only Paige earns a spot in the competitive training program, she must leave her loved ones behind and face this new cutthroat world alone. Paige's journey pushes her to dig deep and ultimately prove to the world that what makes her different is the very thing that can make her a star.

Stephen Merchant does a excellent job with his second film that he directed.

Its a excellent film and a must watch if you like the WWE.
  
Table 19 (2017)
Table 19 (2017)
2017 | Comedy
Mean spirited and atrocious.
I really hated this film. There. BOOM. Got it off my chest.

It all starts so promisingly, with a scene of Anna Kendrick (“The Accountant“, who can be a very good actress) rejecting a wedding invitation; then accepting it; then burning it; then blowing it out; then posting it. I laughed. This was a rarity. There are about five more smile-worthy moments in the movie, most of which are delivered by Stephen Merchant.

Anna plays Eloise who was SUPPOSED to be maid-of-honour at her best friend’s wedding, but then broke up – messily – with her brother (the best man). She stubbornly attends the wedding in a posh hotel and finds herself on “Table 19” – a socially unfavourable location, full of a bunch of misfits that everyone expected to say “no” but didn’t; a molly-coddled and awkward teen (Tony Revolori, “Spider-man: Homecoming“) with the single goal of getting laid; “The Kepps” – a bickering married couple (Lisa Kudrow (“The Girl on the Train“, “Friends”) and Craig Robinson (“Hot Tub Time Machine”)); a convicted fraudster serving his sentence in an open prison ( Stephen Merchant, “Logan“) and a druggie former nanny of the bride (June Squibb, “In and Out”).

The fundamental problem with the movie is that Jeffrey Blitz’s script (he also directs) is not only not very funny, but it is so fundamentally focused on the greedy and needy nature of the table’s American reprobates that at every turn it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Their motives are all utterly selfish and there’s an “if we get away with it, then that’s fine” attitude that pervades the plot.
The nadir for me happens when – after trashing (albeit accidently) a key part of the wedding they are attending, they cover their selfish backsides by (deliberately) trashing the same key part of another wedding going on in the same hotel.

This is kind of positioned as a “revenge” sort of thing, but (in analysis) no wrong seems to have actually been done: its just another misunderstanding of the self-obsessed Eloise.
The Kepp’s story is also sad and selfish rather than comedic, and the resolution of this (and in fact all of the other sub-stories) for a nicely gift-wrapped ending is just saccharine and vomit-inducing.

This is a wedding present that should have come with a label in big red writing: “DO NOT OPEN“.
  
Fighting with My Family (2019)
Fighting with My Family (2019)
2019 | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Story, casting (0 more)
Feel good film
Contains spoilers, click to show
Good film, telling the story of a family's obsession with wrestling.
The Brother Zak and sister Saraya compete in small venues managed by their father and mother who were also professional wrestlers many years earlier.
It is zaks dream to reach the pinnacle of professional wrestling the wwe.
It somehow feels as a youngster that Saraya is pressured onto wrestling and has no real interest.
Herself and Zak try out for wwe in London and Saraya is chosen to go to the second round of auditions in Florida USA.
This does not sit well with Zak as this is his dream.
Cue family drama, this However is well done and not forced, it feels very real of what happens inside many families.
Paige of course reaches the top and takes on the Diva Champion AJ Lee for the title on smack down the night after Wrestlemania xxx.
The true story of the youngest WWE Diva champion at 21 is thoughtfully and well played out by all in the cast.
Major Credit to the writer and producer Stephen Merchant and also to Dwayne Johnson as producer as I'm sure having him on board lent a lot of authenticity to this movie.
Some fun cameos too from Big Show and Seamus.
A1 guys
  
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JT (287 KP) rated Good Boys (2019) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020  
Good Boys (2019)
Good Boys (2019)
2019 | Comedy
Kids, they say the funniest things – or in the case of Good Boys, some of the dirtiest and rudest you’ll hear leave a tweens mouth. Baby faced Jacob Tremblay plays Max, a young boy approaching the outer reaches of puberty. His childhood friends Lucas (Keith L. Williams) and Thor (Brady Noon) equally have problems of their own. One is losing his parents to divorce and the other is fighting a tough exterior to pursue an ambition to sing.

In a basic plot, the trio, who call themselves the ‘beanbag boys’, need to replace Max’s Dad’s drone after using it to do some aerial reconnaissance. The boys are desperate to learn the right way to kiss a girl after being invited to a party by the cool kids at school.

The group find themselves in all sorts of trouble on a four mile adventure to the mall, from infiltrating a drug deal in a frat house to the sale of a sex doll – not to mention the most effective way to put back a dislocated shoulder.

Good Boys is littered with harmless gags but the script does feel a little bland and awkward at times. Its foul-mouthed humour can become stale and it’s by no means on the same level as Superbad or even American Pie for that matter.

What you do get is a film with the occasional laugh and the odd heartwarming moment. A solid cameo by Stephen Merchant is one of the few highlights.
  
Fighting with My Family (2019)
Fighting with My Family (2019)
2019 | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A biopic that’s not just for wrestling fans
Let me make something clear before I dive into my review: I don’t like wrestling. Actually, I hate wrestling. I could barely name another wrestler aside from The Rock and John Cena, so at a glance this film really isn’t marketed towards me. But when we go a little deeper, it becomes clear that this is an incredibly accessible film with a powerful message.

Fighting With My Family tells the story of Norwich-born Saraya “Paige” Bevis. Brought up in a family of wrestlers, Bevis spent her life wrestling alongside her parents, brother and the local community, drawing in small crowds on a regular basis. The family has dreams of making WWE and becoming professional wrestlers, even going as far as sending audition tapes to the company. When Saraya and her brother Zak “Zodiac” are called for an official audition, the family’s lives change for better and for worse.

With an all-star cast including The Rock (obviously), Vince Vaughn, Nick Frost, Lena Headey and Florence Pugh, it’s an incredibly appealing film. Everyone involved takes to their roles effortlessly, bringing all the charm and quirks of the characters to life. It’s so easy to like the Knight family, as they come across as a strange yet passionate family who’d do everything in their power to support the community around them. It’s refreshing to see a depiction of working-class life that doesn’t make the audience sneer or judge. I found myself rooting for the Knights all the way, and wishing them all the best. Pugh embodies Paige so well, to the point where it was easy to believe you were watching the woman herself. She’s so awkward, British and hugely likeable throughout.

I was also surprised to learn that Stephen Merchant (yes, that Stephen Merchant) was at the helm of this film. I adored his direction style and hilarious cameo, making this an unlikely project that worked like a charm. Based off the documentary of the same name, Merchant brings his own unique vision to the project, with the legendary Dwayne Johnson helping out as an an executive producer. It feels like an unlikely duo, but it seriously works.

Fighting With My Family has classic British humour and a familiar grittiness to it, reminding me why I adore British cinema so much. There are clear tonal shifts between the UK and US, emphasising the cultural differences and how out of her depth Bevis felt at first. This is where a lot of the humour comes into play too, as a pale, pierced Norwich girl sticks out like a sore thumb amongst blonde, bronzed models. As Saraya steps into the world of WWE with the ring name “Paige”, she has to face numerous obstacles that are both mentally and physically challenging. As it happens, her identity is one of them, and she soon becomes an outcast.

Yes, this film is about one girl’s rise to the top of the WWE ranks, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s about family, class divide, jealousy, among others. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Saraya and Zak, as there’s a clear case of sibling rivalry here. Whilst Saraya succeeds, Zak is dealing with a whole host of personal issues whilst wallowing in his own sadness. This is jealousy on a massive scale, causing a rift between the siblings, and in turn, the rest of the family.

I loved the overall message that the film delivers: that it’s important to always be true to yourself, and do what makes you great. Whether that’s big or small, you can make an impact. This is something that Zak eventually learns whilst he’s feeling jealous of his sister’s success. The familial bond is so strong in this film, and it’s a truly beautiful thing to witness. They might be slightly bonkers, dysfunctional and off the wall, but they’d do anything to support each other. Isn’t that wonderful?

https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2019/03/21/a-biopic-thats-not-just-for-wrestling-fans-my-thoughts-on-fighting-with-my-family/
  
The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018)
The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018)
2018 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
It would be a major change for any actress. But for Claire Foy, to go from the beauty and elegance of Elizabeth II in The Crown, to punked out gothic hacker in The Girl in the Spider’s Web takes some doing – and she adapts to it extremely well.

The film is based on the novel written by David Lagercrantz after original writer Stig Larsson’s death. It attempted to restart the series which had become very popular, especially with the original films starring Noomi Rapace. These were held in high regard and the decision to remake The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was met with cautious scepticism.

But where David Fincher’s remake was dark and unnerving Fede Alvarez‘s Spider’s Web is stylish and explosive. Filled with gadgets and a variety of hacking abilities that wouldn’t look out of place within the world of James Bond or Mission Impossible, the film doesn’t provide enough sinister thrills. Instead, it pumps out several action set pieces, that while thoroughly entertaining, leave behind the trauma and shock value of Dragon Tattoo and subsequent originals.

Filled with gadgets and a variety of hacking abilities that wouldn’t look out of place within the world of James Bond or Mission Impossible

After an opening that provides plenty of back story surrounding Lisbeth’s childhood, we’re fast-forwarded into the high-tech world. Here a computer programme that can access virtually any nuclear codes in the world has been created by a now remorseful tech whiz (Stephen Merchant) who wants to help destroy it. With a number of people interested in the program, Lisbeth must go on the run and at the same time dig up her past in order to save the world.

This incarnation of Lisbeth Salander feels like a softer version compared with the portrayal by Rapace and 2011’s Rooney Mara. Yet the character is played with gusto by Foy who delivers her lines with a determined grittiness. The film’s plot while somewhat far fetched, is still an enjoyable ride.
  
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Drama, War
I was not expecting to love Jojo Rabbit as much as I did. I would argue that it's one of the best films of 2019!
The subject of Nazis and Hitler is a touchy one to say the least, but it's also a subject that is ripe for satire, and one of the many aspects that stands out here, is how Taika Waititi has managed to craft a film that is absolutely hilarious, but never undermines how horrible this part of history was.
I laughed (a lot) before being slapped with a reminder of how bleak war is.
The main plot revolves around Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), a 10 year old boy who looks up to Hitler, and is part of the Nazi Youth. He finds out that his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in the attic of their house. Initially hostile, they begin to form a friendship as the Nazi regime begins to crumble.
Underneath all the goofiness, this main narrative is radiating in both warmth and sadness. I legit had a bit of a cry at one point.

The cast are brilliant. Roman Griffin Davis is one of the most likable protagonists in recent memory. His innocence and blind devotion to the war is humorous, and weirdly sweet. Thomasin McKenzie is great alongside him as well.
As well as directing, Taika Waititi also plays a version of Hitler, sort of like Jojo's imaginary friend, and he's honestly just the best, and provides the majority of the films comedy.
Elsewhere, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Alfie Allen, and Stephen Merchant all make up a pretty rock solid cast.
Screw it, I even liked Rebel Wilson (she usually makes me want to play in traffic.)

Jojo Rabbit is a truly wonderful experience. It evokes a whole range of emotions effortlessly, looks incredible throughout, and deserves all the praise thrown it's way.
  
Fighting with My Family (2019)
Fighting with My Family (2019)
2019 | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Based on a true story, great group of supporting actors and actresses, good dialogue (0 more)
The Weight of Dreams And Expectations - 8/10
Fighting With My Family is a 2019 biographical sports comedy/drama based on a documentary, The Wrestlers: Fighting With My Family. The documentary was directed by Max Fisher and is about WWE wrestler Paige's career. Written and directed by Stephen Merchant, including executive producer Dwayne Johnson, the film also stars Florence Pugh, Nick Frost, Lena Heady and Vince Vaughn.


In 2000 Norwich, England inseparable siblings Zak (Jack Lowden) and Saraya Knight (Florence Pugh) are encouraged by their parents, Rick (Nick Frost) and Julia (Lena Heady) to wrestle in their family run wrestling promotion. Nervous about her first match, they change the opponent to her brother and the experience she has winning, cements her love of wrestling. Years later, their parents continue to manage and run the family wrestling promotion with both siblings helping to wrestle and train prospective wrestlers. Struggling financially their last hope rides on both children getting signed when they are invited to a WWE tryout. The outcome is bittersweet however when only Saraya is chosen. She is now given a "Once In A Lifetime" opportunity but must leave everyone she knows behind as she goes on this journey alone.


 This movie was fantastic! Not just a great wrestling movie but a great movie, period. An emotional roller coaster. The cast was awesome and their camaraderie and chemistry really showed on screen. The writers did a great job keeping dialogue realistic and a plot like life; with its ups and downs. I really didn't think this movie would be that emotional, but it touches on so many themes. It's really a movie for everyone not just wrestling fans. It makes you really feel for the characters and has a way of pulling on your heartstrings in a way few movies do. I almost scored it a point higher but I give this movie an 8/10.