SilentLuminary Reviews

  Genre: Family/ Comedy Time: 2h Director: Garry Marshall Quick Summary:  Now settled in Genovia, Princess Mia faces a new revelation: she is being primed for an arranged marriage to an English suitor. While I was so happy that the previous film didn't force in a silly romance plotline, I'm admittedly really happy we have a romance in this one.  It has all the usual tween girly features most Disney-esc films do. Anne Hathaway as our independent, wise and silly heroine, Julie Andrews returning as the glamourous icon she is, and not one but two love interests. One is a slightly "Bad boy" and the sweet nice guy. Again it may have been predictable and a big ball of fluff, but what do you expect. I still love it regardless because deep down, I'm still a young girl at heart who loves all the sappy tween stuff. I am also a sucker for enemies to lovers, but I wish they were more mean to each other to begin with, not just trying to dislike each other straight away. Still...

  Genre: Family/ Comedy Time: 2h  Director:  Garry Marshall Quick Summary:  A clumsy, shy teen discovers that she's the princess of a small European state. She is then coached and must prove that she is worthy of her title while trying to make it through her school year. I was a tomboy as a kid but this was secretly my favorite film I don't care this isn't the most original or spectacular film I've seen, but it's certainly one of the most fun and sweet I've seen in a long while. It's such a safe and warm film, I genuinely loved watching this a kid. There are absolutely no hidden dirty jokes, just harmless girly stuff. Nothing too heavy either, it was such an easy watch. There's a strong cast. Hathaway put on a very good performance in the lead role of Mia, moving from shy and awkward teenager to sudden celebrity causing her to have to deal with being popular not for who she is but for what she is, to - finally - elegant princess. I always related to her ...

  Genre: Horror/ Found Footage Time: 1h 30mins Directors:  Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes Quick Summary:  In 1977 a live television broadcast goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms. Gus' fear of worms is completely justified. This is one of the most interesting watches I've had this year, but I wish it did more with what it had. It just didn't feel like we got enough information for it to be satisfying. So many things were left unanswered and open. Everything that is placed in front of you throughout the runtime is so stylistic and interesting, but they're barely talked about, let alone acknowledged any of the plotholes.  It's slow in places when it's trying to build up events or set up for the ending. The beginning had an incredible setup and overall I found this really engaging, but it lost me during the ending. It definitely was way too quick. For how slow it mostly, the ending was over in a blink and when it ended I remember...

  Genre: Horror/ Crime Time: 2h Director:  Damien Leone Quick Summary:  Art the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve. I'm pretty sure I had nightmares after watching this Straight away I'm going to say that if you don't like gore, even the slightest bit, do not watch this. It's torture porn but put up to the most extreme factor I've ever seen. Even for me, it was getting a little much. The guy who directed this really needs to be investigated because some of these kills were insane, and honestly a little fucked up. I had to leave these a day or two before I actually reviewed it too because, aside from the kills I was trying to work out the actual story. It doesn't give us much for the lore of Art the Clown, and it is a bit messy at times.  I do remember somewhere near the end, it suddenly jumps into a whole new area without explaining how certain people got there, or ...

  Genre: Romance/ Comedy Time: 2hours Director:  Leo McCarey Quick Summary:  Nicky and Terry meet on a cruise on their way from Europe to New York and fall in love with each other. Despite being engaged to other people, the couple decides to meet again. I've always loved old Hollywood for how they portray romance and people. They just knew the right formula. A nice mix of infatuation, hope, Sadness and trauma. The right way to do it. I wasn't too sure about the pair-up at first because they just seemed the joke about each other, which is fine but I didn't get much chemistry from that, just that they were instantly friendly. I then realized it was a bit of a slow burn between the two as they both deny they like each other that way and dodge gossiping eyes. But ironically to their dismay, they keep ending up at the same place at the same time which makes for some pretty funny moments like when they're sat next to each other in the dining hall unaware of the fact that one ...

  Genre: Crime Time: 2 hours Director : Ted Demme Quick Summary:  The story of how George Jung, along with the Medellín Cartel headed by Pablo Escobar, established the American cocaine market in the 1970s in the United States. I'm not going to lie, I got jumpscared by the picture at the end. As a fan of Goodfellas , I am honestly pretty pleased by this, probably due to how similar they are in terms of editing. The narration was mostly what I liked as I'm usually a sucker for those types of films. Voice-over narration is used to express George's feelings and thoughts throughout various events of his life, talking us through what's going on and what he plans to do, usually with some form of hectic montage. I've always enjoyed films like this because they keep it interesting and you feel some sort of personal bond towards the narrator the more you learn about their feelings and life. It's easier to connect to them.  That said, this doesn't do it the best way. ...

  Genre: Family/ Musical  Time: 2h 20mins Director:  Robert Stevenson Quick Summary:  An apprentice witch, three kids, and a cynical magician conman search for the missing component to a magic spell to be used in the defense of Britain in World War II. I've seen this film so many times growing up, and I know all of the songs. It never fails to put a smile on my face. Honestly, I'm so glad it still holds up that whimsical energy that fills you up with glee. I can understand some of the clever dialogue and the character backgrounds much better now that I'm an adult. The adults chuck witty remarks at each other (in a harmless fun way), and even the kids join in sometimes. Angela Lansbury has her own old-school charm, like the many times she tries to cast a spell and it either doesn't work or doesn't quite work, she brushes it off while still obviously irritated. Her interactions with the kids were also pretty funny, as they have jokes between them that are u...

  Genre: Family/ Sci-fi Time: 1h 40mins Director:  Simon Wincer Quick Summary:  A seemingly normal young boy is found abandoned on a mountain road and adopted by a family who are increasingly amazed by his abilities before discovering the secret behind his real identity. You know what, I liked this. It's such a safe kids film and that's a good thing! Genuine heart and morals are put into this with a cute little adventure. The '80s did produce some really good mature films for kids, and this one I guess went under the radar. This isn't anything as good as E.T. or The Neverending Story, but it's okay and watchable. All the kids were pretty adorable to watch, none of them annoyed me or got on my nerves which is a first.  As an adult who has seen many films, I did admittedly find this a little boring in places, but to my surprise, there were also epic car chase scenes with helicopters crashing into the ground which brought my attention right back. The film literall...

  Genre: Musical/ Thriller Time: 2h 18mins Director: Todd Phillips Quick Summary:  Arthur Fleck is institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that's always been inside him. Apparently, in Arkham, nobody can go two minutes without a cigarette  I went into this knowing that people hated it, and came out understanding why. For something that is labelled as a musical, it is so afraid to be a musical. I was expecting more of a dramatic change when it came to the delusions which were usually the musical numbers aside from one or two moments. More of a contrast was needed during the more serious side of the film which would be Gritty and dark, like Gotham usually is. Compared to the delusions which I assumed were going to be more colourful, extra and extravagant. What we actually get are really long and painful segments of Arthur and/or Harley si...

  Genre: Thriller/ Romance Time: 1h 35mins Director:  Victor Sjöström Quick Summary:  Paul Beaumont, a genius scientist, is cheated by his wife, Marie, and fellow scientist, Baron. Soon, fed up with his life, he decides to take up a job at a circus in Paris as a clown. I went into this assuming it was going to be funny since the guy is a clown, but I was met with one of the saddest stories I've seen in a while. I mean the guy takes such a traumatic and terrible experience and turns it into a way that he knows how to process it. Laughter. It's such a twisted masochistic recreation of the event, but it's in his control and he can actually laugh with the crowd, so they're not just laughing at him. He remains a prisoner to himself and his internal struggle and it is all masked over by makeup and pain inflicting gags. Honestly, it's quite sad because you realise that it broke the poor guy and the only way he knows how to do anything is to be a clown to people. Repe...