Link to Blog Video

Here is a link to a short video we created promoting this blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prUNIIFRsOQ

Anvi's Animations - The Incredibles

The Incredibles

The Incredibles is an amazingly fun and enjoyable family movie depicting the lives of a family of superheroes. After the banishment of Superheroes from the streets, Bob and  Helen Parr, as well  as every other super hero are forced to live "normal" lives, disguising themselves as regular people. It is only when a new "super" is found 15 years later,  Syndrome, that its time to come out of retirement and  save the world, but now with  their children...

Through the  combination of elasticity, super strength, super speed, shape shifting and force field production with invisibility, this "not so normal" family will have to save the world from its imminent danger. As an audience we are able to connect with each of the members of the Parr family and  their incredible actions whilst also able to thoroughly enjoy the movie for what it is...amazing.

The animation itself, is amazing, showing awesome action scenes unobtainable by traditional film. Despite it being an action superhero movie, it is very funny and light hearted enabling a wide audience to come and  enjoy the film to its full extent. IMDb rates this animation 8.0/10 and Rotten Tomatoes rates this animation 9.7/10.

I would highly recommend the Incredibles to anyone  as it is such a funny and enjoyable movie. Although it's animated, it has very quickly became one of my top movies.

Last Samurai - Chris

Last  Samurai

The Last Samurai, SO FRIKIN AMAZING!!!!! The Last Samurai is a kick ass movie depicting the actions of civil war hero, Captain Nathan Algren as he tries to lead an american army to destroy the traditional but rebellious Samurai in Japan, under the Emperor's order. But a surprise attack leaves Algren captured by Katsumoto, the Samurai head and is taken back to the village as a prisoner.  During his time as a prisoner Algren comes to adopt the way  of life of the Japanese people falling in love with the culture and the  people, especially Taka, a women who helped him as  a prisoner. How has this changed Algren's perspective? well I guess you will just have to watch it and find out yourself...

With  IMDB giving it  a  rating of 7.7/10 and rotten tomatoes giving it a 6.5/10, I am shocked at how poorly this film was rated. This is an awesome film, definitely in my top 10 films of  all time and for that I'm giving it a  8.7/10.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325710/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_samurai/

Here is the link I found to a  review of this movie by one of our own, Lochie in his HSC Days...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bAJD6_1v9E

Overall this film  is EPIC!!! I highly recommend it to those who love kick ass action movies and an awesome storyline. It is a movie you will not regret watching, i can guarantee you that.

-Chris

Hot Rod - Lochie

Hot Rod

Hot Rod, one of the stupidest and funniest movies I have ever seen. Created by the guys from the Lonely Island,  you will not be disappointed with this masterpiece. Rod Kimble is a self made stuntman following in his deceased father's footsteps with dreams of  becoming the best stuntman there ever was. When his step father needs a sudden heart transplant,  it is up to Rod and his crew to come up with the money by whatever means. Packed with Andy Samberg, Danny McBride, Bill Hader and Isla Fisher, it is one of the most  enjoyable movies you will ever see. Many would say it is stupid and a waste of time, but there in lies its  beauty. Through its deliberate break away from traditional movie cliche's, Hot Rod isolates itself as an amazing movie.

With IMDB giving it a rating of only 6.5/10  and rotten tomatoes giving it a 3.9/10, it doesn't look to  be a fantastic movie,  but if you ever just want to have a laugh at 88 minutes of hilarity, Hot Rod is the movie for  you.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787475/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hot_rod/

Overall I would have  to give it a 8/10, simply because of how many memorable and funny moments that were packed into 90 minutes. Highly recommend it to anyone but I can see how  it would be aimed at typically a generation X and Y audience. Please go and watch it!!!!!!

-Lochie

Bones Tv- Show Review- Dan

Welcome to the behind the scenes of the criminal justice system. Temperance Brennan is a phenomenally brilliant anthropologist who is played by Emily Deschanel. She works aside a army veteran, FBI agent Seeley Booth, who is played by David Boreanaz. Together with their team at the Jeffersonian work together to one of the weirdest, strangest, most complicated cases ever faced. With their extraordinary knowledge in bones they get closer and closer to the killer. To make the show more intriguing a few special cases arise that will blow your socks off. With every back- stabbing and turn it will keep you on the couch for hours. A very addictive show, love it. IMDb rates it a 7.9 from 70 000 votes. Tv Fanatic rates it a staggering 5/5.  

Spirited Away - Lochie

Spirited Away

As a young family moves  to  a new house in a new area, a wrong turn can mean a whole new adventure for them all,  particularly young Chihiro, the  family’s daughter. As they enter an abandoned train station, they are transported to a magical dimension and consequently split up. It is now Chihiro’s responsibility to find and save her parents from the magic of the evil Yubaba while meeting some important friends along the way.

Spirited Away is a really great movie, and although it is quite different and foreign I really enjoyed it and it is one of my favourite movies. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it to everyone to see the amazing design and ideas behind this amazing Japanese film.  Made by Studio Ghibli, famous for other famous Japanese movies including Ponyo and Howls Moving Castle, Spirited away is nothing short of a Masterpiece.

With IMDB giving it a rating of 8.6/10 and Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 9.7/10, you know this movie is totally worth seeing and you will not be disappointed.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spirited_away/

I would give it a 9.5/10 as it was such a new and refreshing experience for movies that I’ve seen, whilst also being extremely entertaining.

Lochie

Dexter Review - Dan

Dexter Morgan is played by Michael C Hall, as a fostered forensics scientist at the Miami metro police. Dexter believes that his killer instincts are what drives his need for blood. Debra Morgan played by Jennifer Carpenter stars as a police officer trying to make her father proud. The story is brilliantly developed and every new story brings something new. Through every unique turn and twist that this show brings is another killer to be found. But Debra totally blind to that fact that the most notorious murderer of all time is closer than she thinks. This show brings suspense and teeth clattering scenes that will get you addicted. IMDb rates it a 9/10 from over 300 000 votes, TV Fanatic rates it a 4/5 and Meta critic rates it at a 63/100.  

Chris - White Collar

White Collar revolves around the partnership between a FBI agent and a con man. With only months left from serving his sentence, Neal Caffrey, a skilled forger, thief and criminal mastermind escapes from a maximum security prison to look for his girlfriend Kate Moreau. However Peter Burke the agent who caught Caffrey the first time catches him again. Caffrey rather than returning to jail suggests an alternative; He'll become an FBI consultant to catch other elusive criminals in exchange for early release. Wary at first, Peter realises that Neal provides insight and intuition that can only be found on the other side of the law.

Meta Critic 8.9/10

IMDB 8.1/10

Warrior- Lochie

Warrior

To whoever has not seen Warrior, STOP, get off the computer, and go and watch it now!!! 

Warrior is such an awesome movie and is definitely one of the best “guy” movies I have ever seen.

The whole premise behind the movie is about Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. There is a competition of who is the best MMA fighter in the world, attracting a dozen of the best, to fight it out and win the grand prize. But what happens when two brothers are both in the competition, fighting it out for the things they love and cherish…

If you go to the gym, you’re going to want to never leave, if you are thinking about going to the gym, then you will and if your lazy and just want to stay at home…I can guarantee by the end of this movie, you will want to do something about it.

With  IMDB giving it a rating of  8.2/10 and  Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 8.3/10, you know this will be a seriously kick ass movie. I  would personally give it a 8.5/10 purely because of how awesome it was to watch and the motivation I got as soon as it finished.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291584/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1212910-warrior/

It’s one of my  favourite movies, it’s an awesome pump up, and I highly recommend it to all those guys and girls that want to sit down and watch  pure awesome and  epic rolled into 2 hours and 20 minutes.

The Prestige - Lochie

Directed by Christopher Nolan, (Batman Trilogy), The Prestige is one of my all-time favourite films.  Set in 19th Century London, The Prestige is a film about the rivalry of 2 fellow magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Bordon who are constantly trying to best one another with the newest and most revolutionary "tricks". As a film, it has a very interesting and original premise; jam packed with mind blowing ideas and magic tricks that will leave you wanting to re-watch it straight away to try and  understand what just happened.  It contains a very star filled cast including Hugh Jackman, Batman (AKA Christian Bale), Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine.

With  IMDB giving it a rating of  8.4/10 and  Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 7.6/10, you know this will be a great movie to  watch. I  would personally give it a 8.7/10 as it was one of  the few movies to leave me quiet at the end, simply in awe of the  last 130 minutes.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prestige/

If any of this sounds at all intriguing, it’s because it is and I am totally underselling how much of a kick ass movie this really is. I highly recommend it to all however it is not a movie you just watch casually,  you have to focus the whole time to really see the trick ;p

-     

                 - Lochie

Anvi's Animations - Tangled

Tangled

Another family-oriented film, revolving around the fairy tale classic of Rapunzel, who is trapped in a tower away from civilisation by her step mother. Although the audience may be familiar with the fairy tale classic, the Disney recreation puts a unique spin on how the story is perceived and explores a story, where we question the stereotypical gender roles of the male hero and princess victim. Not only are audiences taken into a movie adaptation of the familiar story, but audiences are also taken beyond that to explore how it came to be and how it all ends, rather than just the story of a girl who is "rescued" by a knight in shining armour.

As a Disney film, it rises to the expectations of animation quality and plot. As an extension of the Disney Princesses, Rapunzel is an amazing addition to show independence as a young woman, as well as courage for viewers. Visually speaking, Disney has outdone itself with great detail in scenes where audiences are captivated by glowing lanterns and moonlit scenery. IMDb rates this film a 7.8/10 and Rotten Tomatoes rates this film a 7.5/10.

Through a modern twist of a fairy tale classic, this animation is a definite recommendation, although it may be targeted more towards the younger female audience, younger males will be pleased to see action and the diversity of characters within the film.

Chris' Review - Person of Interest

"You are being watched. The government has a secret system: a machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know, because I built it. I designed the machine to detect acts of terror, but it sees everything. Violent crimes involving ordinary people; people like you. Crimes the government considered 'irrelevant'. They wouldn't act, so I decided I would. But I needed a partner, someone with the skills to intervene. Hunted by the authorities, we work in secret. You'll never find us, but victim or perpetrator, if your number's up... we'll find you"

- Opening Voiceover by Harold Finch -

Person of Interest revolves around a presumed dead, former Green Beret and CIA agent, John Reese recruited by a mysterious billionaire Harold Finch to prevent crimes using their own brand of justice. Reese's training from the military & CIA appeals to Finch, who invented a computer system that uses pattern recognition to identify people who were going to be involved in an imminent crime. Using Reese's skills and Finch's unlimited wealth, the two find that with the right information, the right person at the right time can change everything.

IMDB 8.2/10

Metacritic User score 8.4/10

Dan's TV Show review: Newsroom

 Newsroom is a behind the scenes experience of a News Network company named Atlantis Cable News. With Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) is the face of the company as anchor. His life turns upside down when he is forced to work with MacKenzie McHale played by Emily Mortimer. As they had a interesting relationship together which took a turn for the worst.

Now with all the memories and feelings coming back to him he is stuck between two worlds. This show is a very popular show in the media in the last couple of years. It has just released its 3rd Season and will attract many more people. It's complications and twists keep you wanting more, as well as the romance brings a whole other atmosphere.

 IMDb rate the newsroom an 8.5/10 where over 40 000 people voted. Meta-critic gives it a 4/5. The audience loves the show and are interested in where the next season takes them. Enjoy.

Anvi's Animarions - Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo

A family-orientated movie which begins with the tragic fate of a father who loses all, but one son in a vicious shark attack that kills his wife and yet to be born children. Following this, the father, Marlin, treasures his only child dearly, Nemo, but is yet unprepared for what's to come, as his son is kidnapped by divers and taken to Sydney to live in a fish tank inside a dentistry. As an audience, we then follow the adventures of Marlin to find his son, meeting a forgetful accomplice along the way, and the adventures of Nemo, with his new friends with a mission to escape through a dual narrative.

The animation itself, is picturesque, depicting images of the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Harbour to name a few, creating a visually stunning experience for audiences young and old. The light humour used throughout the film entertains the young ones, whilst the diversity of characters adds variety to the storyline, unlike most films. IMDb rates this animation 8.1/10 and Rotten Tomatoes rates this animation 8.6/10.

Finding Nemo is a definite recommendation for the whole family filled with comedy and heart-felt emotion.

Dan- TV Show Review- Suits

Suits:

It all begins in New York City with orphaned, genius Mike Ross as a college dropout who turns to drugs for answers and money. In a drug trade gone wrong he falls into the hands of the best lawyer in New York Harvey Specter.

Let the twists and turns unfold as he skips his required Harvey Degree and goes straight into the work force putting himself and all those around him in jeopardy. Suits is a well known TV show watched by millions around the world. On IMDb it is rated an 8.8/10. On TV fanatic it is rated as a 4.7/5.

It is a very engaging tv show that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It is thrilling and full of romance and fights that you won't see coming.

Who are we?

Purpose

This blog was created as part of an assignment for ISYS100, at Macquarie University. Our group composed of the names below are reviewing different TV shows and movies that are loved by many University students across the world. When bored of studying, tired, or sick this is our haven. Watch until there are no episodes left. Then after that we choose another and then another then another. This is the way of the uni student. So when we have to find an idea that will connect with other uni students what else but one of the only thing that ALL uni student love..... TV Shows and Movies. One of the only things that keep us sane. So enjoy our movie reviews and our comments on our movies and Tv shows that we all love to watch.

Team

Dan B- 43286518

Chris L. 42097231

Anvi N. 42854539

Lochie W. 43254543