Nolan’s INCEPTION

Trailer- This trailer is chosen specifically because it is not a spoiler, yet is a good teaser for the film

9.7/10

I saw this film last week and thought it was fantastic.  I could quite happily watch it again.  Its one of these mind messy films, which leaves you questioning reality and all that is around you.  What makes this film particularly good, is the attention Nolan has given to each scene crafting the story with the upmost care it needs.  In the film, Cobb’s is the central character and we are exposed to the complexities behind the life of a full time. experienced dream thief.  Cobb works with other dream thiefs and specialists, where each individual personality brings something different to the table, and therefore compleimenting each other.  I have noticed that a lot of people are saying that the film isn’t as good as its hype.  I don’t think the film is for everyone, but I guess it is inevitable that when a film is hyped up this much there will be disappointment.  As for me, I knew nothing about the film when I went to see it, and loved it.

You will like this film if:

• You liked: Dark Knight, Prestige, Blood Diamond, Matrix, Memento, The Game, Primal Fear
• Films where there is a race against time- you will be on edge throughout
• You are mentally stable,and enjoy mind messy movies

You will not like this film if:

• You are feeling sad and confused about this world, space, how time works- this will only make it worse…please see it when you feel more content
• You are sitting at the front of the cinema- there is a lot of buildings falling etc-  I was right at the front due to a limited choice of seats and I felt a little bit seasick.  If I had thrown up at the end I would not have been surprised
• Watching it at IMAX….people have said the screen is too wide and the pictures are distorted

Adam and Jane, BT fairytale or just another statistic?….You Decide

Recent ad: Daughter Lucy lets it slips her mum is marrying Adam, Dad is surprised

2005 brought a new relationship to our screens.  Through 30 seconds slots between our TV programmes we were exposed to the harsh reality and impact of communications on the modern-day family relationship.  We witnessed the beginning of a love affair between Adam (Kris Marshall) and Jane (Esther Hall), and saw how BT Communication helped them to revive their relationship, leed to misunderstandings, and won the affection of children.  The long running BT campaign created by ad agency AMV BBDO, have devised their advertisements on a relationship, shaped like a story for the last 5 years in 35 different ads.  They are now taking their campaign to the king of social media, Facebook, as the storyline comes to an end.  The Facebook page will show a possibility of endings where viewers can discuss their thoughts and views on what they want to happen.  On Saturday BT will announce the website (most likely the Facebook page) where viewers will pick which ending they want for the couple.  Declan Lowney, director of Cold Feat will then produce the final chapter which will be aired sometime in August.      

Featuring in these ads,on one corner you have Adam, a bit of af a dorky, every day bachelor.  On the other side you have mother Jane with her two kid from a previous relationship.   In the middle there are the two kids.  It it is a bit unclear as to where their loyalties lie, or what ending they would prefer. 

London Marketing-Underground

People from all over the world are familiar with Harry Becks famous London Underground map.  B2B Contact Marketing has created their own marketing map based on the London tube map.   The Map cleverly shows the benefits of integrated marketing and the options available for different campaigns.   I love mindmaps and this is ideal for someone like myself who has a passion for advertising, PR and marketing campaigns to get your head round the different functions within these fields and where they might overlap. 

This map is not finished, as you will note some of the lines are missing!  But B2B Contact Marketing have said they will continue to add to this, as the industry of marketing is constantly growing.

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 Click on the link below to view the complete version of the B2B map.  If you look at the top of the site you can even order your free copy of the map!!!

http://www.marketing-map.co.uk/cms/request-a-marketing-map

Karate Kid 2010

Trailer

Title: Karate Kid 2010

Directed by: Harald Zwart

Produced by James Lassiter, Will Smith, Jerry Weintraub

Written by Steve Conrad

Stars: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Ttaraji. P. Henson, Zhenwei Wang, Wenwen Han

8.5/10

Having seen Karate Kid 1, 2 and 3 more times than I can recall, practiced karate for a decade, watched almost every Jackie Chan film, and a long-standing admirer of  Will Smith, it is with no surprise that I went to watch this film with excitement and fear that my high expectations of this film might not be met.

Karate Kid 2010 takes place in the back drop of picturesque Beijing, China.  Young Daniel Lurusso from the first film, is now a young boy called Dre, who has moved away with his single mother, from America to China, but doesn’t speak a word of Chinese.  Dre runs into trouble with a gang of chinese tough kids, and that is where the practice of Kung Fu is needed.  In the original version the young boy was learning Karate, here it is stated it is Kung Fu, yet the title is Karate Kid.  A little odd, but all in  the great name of marketing.

As I watched Jaden Smith (actor who plays Dre) progress in his martial arts, I couldn’t help thinking how lucky he is to be trained by the best, and under Jackie Chan.  No doubt this boy has now been given skills for life.  Overall, this film is faithful to the original plot line.  One of the most noticable differences is that Dre is much younger than Daniel, but the plot follows it through  with care, being a good film in its own right in the process.  What is interesting is Chan’s  approach to the role of the martial arts teacher.  It  is a little different to the infamous Mr Miyagi ”Wax on Wax off” personality, and as an audience there isn’t as much love for his character Mr Han as there was for ‘the Mr Miyagi’. Despite this Chan’s portrayal of Han still works well in the film and an emotional connection begins to develop between Mr Han, Dre, and the audience.   Jayden, surprisingly does better than expected and what works particularly well is how like the original young boy, Daniel- he’s a bit goofy but full of energy.  It is this spark, which makes me wonder whether he is like this in person, as his acting is superb.

It is obvious in the film where there’s been a bit of Jackie Chan magic, in scenes, editing, directing.  The  film is a family film, and underlines values of respect, peace, and variations in culture.  I was happy with the movie, glad I went to see it, and I liked that it was somewhat faithful to the original version.   The cast members match their predecessors efforts, just as they should do, and the story is nicely paced.  I thought it was excellent, and done well!!!! There were a few parts which I didn’t like, but they were trivial and are not negatives to the film.  Zwart, director of Cody Banks, Pink Panther 2, made a point in his interviews that he was retelling the story and not remaking it.  This I believe is the core to the fun and enjoyment from this film, and in my view possibly his best work yet.

You will like this if you like

• Karate Kid 1
• Malcom in The Middle
• Those film where the underdog works hard to do well in life
• Home Alone
• Jackie Chan films
• KungFu Panda
• Mama Mia

Warning

• You may shed a tear….

Enjoy!!!

Heartbreaker/ L’arnacoeur

8.5/10

Click for Trailer

Dirrected by: Pascal Chaumeil

Produced by: Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Laurent Zeitoun, Yann Zenou

Written by: Laurent Zeitoun, Jeremy Doner, Yoann Gromb

Stars:  Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis, Julie Ferrier, François Damiens, Amandine Dewasmes

There are very few recent films I would consider to be a good chickflick.  After Legally Blonde, Bridget Jones, chickflicks haven’t made the mark as much as they should be doing.  This film is different.  This is a chick flick with sharp, well thought out characters, and a great storyline.

The film is in French, and for those like myself who are put off by foreign films due to the laziness factor of having to read and watch the film at the same time- you find yourself doing this with great ease throughout.  To put it in a nutshell, the film is  about a man who breaks up couples for a living with his 2 sidekicks, his sister and her husband.  This choice of career has 2 rules, firstly never break up a happy couple, and secondly never sleep with or fall in love with the subject.   Alex played by Duraid is the front man for the operations, and although he is excellent at his job he is faced with a towering debt of which he is desperate to get out of.  With this, the circumstances begin to change, rules begin to get altered and time is money.

This film is great for light-hearted, comic, cheesy relief.  It definitely is catered more to the female species although it could easily satisfy both parties.  I’m not  a girly girl,and not a fan of cheese, but I appreciated the movie.  The plot is well delivered, as you find yourself engrossed in each scene within the film.  Director Chaumeil cleverly allows the audience to settle into different moods throughout the film with full force.  When you are laughing you’re in hysterics, when the plot reaches tension you start to become on edge.  It is this technique which manages to lift the film into a new chickflick category. Character Alex works hard in winning the affections of his ladies by addressing their interests/fantasies, for Juliette he tries to bring  Dirty Dancing type scenarios to life in order to win her affections, earning many laughs from the audience. In contrast, Alex’s sister and brother-in-law present are a reminder of the beauty behind love and a working relationship for the audience and for Alex.

The plot is well thought out and the film moves at a good pace.  It is enjoyable and worthy of a watch- almost guaranteed to leave you smiling at the end.

You will like this film if you enjoyed…..

• Amelie
• Hitch
• About A Boy
• There’s Something About Mary
• Oceans 11

You will not like this film if……

• You hate Dirty Dancing with a passion

This film is family friendly, first date friendly, not boring and timed well.

She’s Out of My League

Click Here For Trailer

Dirrected by: Jim Field Smith

Produced by: Jimmy Miller, David Householter

Written by: Sean Morris, John Anders

Stars:  Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller, Mike Vogel, Lindsay Sloane, Nate Torrence, Mike Vogel, Kyle Bornheimer, Krysten Ritter

6/10

Although I’ve rated it a 6 out of 10, it’s a good 6 out of 10!

 Baruchel plays Kirk, who has been calculated by his best friend Stainner to be a 5/10.  This rating takes into account  Kirk’s physical appearance, career prospects, the car he drives, level of education and attitude.  On an ordinary working day for Kirk, he meets blonde bombshell with a heart, Molly.  Molly is refered to as being a ”hard 10″.  Both characters are from different worlds, and as one of Kirk’s friends puts it, Kirk is like Aladdin (poor with no future prospects), whilst Molly is Jasmine (beautiful and rich).  The films focal point is how someone who is a 10 can be with someone who is a 5, an issue that concerns them both, their friends and family to the end.  With references from Sarkozy to Aladin, the film manages to bring the whole “how could a woman like her be with a man like him” question we see so often by celebrity loving magazines, to life.  Kirk’s friend Devon, played by Torrence,  is hugely refreshing, and gratefully received, providing a different view-point on to the 10 vs 5 dilemma.  Ritter, known for her quirky roles in Wedding Crashers and V Mars, plays a similar role here, with a sharp tongue and no interest in Kirk’s friends, she clearly vocalises her feelings to all.  Stainner, the creator behind the ratings system provides comedy and requests sympathy from the audience, his character is keyto the film simply glues the movie together.  Next up we have Kirk’s ex Marnie (played by Sloane from Sabrina The Teenage Witch), who enjoys very much being the center of attention and men fighting over her.  As the film begins we learn that Marnie and Kirk have recently broken up, to shake things up even more, she’s dating some other guy and regularly goes on outings with her new boyfriend and Kirk’s parents! Kirk- Mr Nice Guy just seems to be pushed out of it all. 

 This film is full of  funny moments, and yet it has been criticised by some as trying too hard to copy The 40 Year Old Virgin film formula.  There are similarities with the 40 Year Old Virgin and American Pie 3, but the film has a certain aww factor which distinguishes it from others. The film is a 6 out of 10 and not a 8 because it does lack somewhat in origionality, and is a little predicatable. Unfortunately, Eves doesnt really bring anything special to this role and Burachell is a little flat sometimes, but it is comical and unlike many others I can see myself watching this again, and laughing in all the right places. 

Below I’ve added a few extra details to guide you on whether to see it, and who with (beware of ambiguous spoilers). 

You will like this if you enjoyed…….

• 25 Dresses
• Sex Drive
• American Pie 3
• 10 Things I Hate About You (of a more raunchier level)

You will not like this if…..

• You hate chick flicks and find the majority of them pointless
• Expecting Action
• Offended by new age romantic comedy attempts to push the boundaries in sex

Cringeyest parts in the movie (to help you decide who to see it with)

•  Male hair removal (lasts for a good 5 minutes)
• Premature Ejaculation,and a bit more
• Bits of raunchyness

 

Viral Video Nokia

This is without a doubt a brilliant viral video.  It begins like a normal YouTube video your friend shows  you of an embarrassing moment or a real life funny clip caught on camera.  Those in the video act as if they are not even aware they are being filmed.  The setting is some form of a ping pong tournament.  It starts off boring, even in black and white and slow-paced.  Bruce Lee’s enters and  it just all goes Bruce Lee style, flying kicks, crazy coordination and the sound of power in the air.  The angles of this video manage to capture the skill behind Bruce Lee’s game as well as how with such ease he manages to beat his opponent. 

Despite the creativity and genuisness behind the video, I feel in this in some ways it is a poor advertisement on its own.  It may generate interest but I don’t feel like buying that particular Nokia phone, I cannot even remember the name of it.  In fact I sort of view it as the Bruce Lee Ping Pong video.  If its aim is to draw attention to the video, this is achieved.  If the aim is to increase sales or help to build up NOKIA’s brand, Im not so sure.  However it is an excellent viral video!!!!!

This is of course a “living in London” perspective, in China where the advertisement has been created for, the ad campaign is fronted by Bruce Lee and therefore there is a stronger association between the phone and Bruce Lee, as the Chinease population are bombarded with Bruce Lee posters most likely with the phone.  There is also a special limited edition known as the Bruce Lee edition, where Bruce Lee’s face appears on the phone- a must have for Bruce Lee fans.

In conclusion, Bruce Lee +PingPong = Genius  idea