queen_of_naboo88

I went to see One Day last night, and though I had been looking forward to it for a while, I was surprised at how good it actually is.

The film has a very unique atmosphere, as it is much quirkier than your average romance. Also, without giving away the ending, I can say that it isn't as predictable as one might think. What I really liked about it was the complexity of the different human relationships that we are shown. The relationship between Emma and Dexter is by no means an easy one, nor is it one-sided. Given how different they are, there is a lot of conflict between them, although they do love each other. Similarly, what Dexter and his ex-wife feel for one another is never pure hatred, but there is a lot of understanding between them. As a consequence, the story seems like it could be taken from real life.

Plus, both Hathaway and Sturgess are as convincing as always, which makes this film absolutely worth seeing.

I love the banter between Spike and Angel, as I'm a huge fan of the 'later' Spike as he already appears in Buffy. As a silly little adventure this episode works really well, but it kind of destroys the stories between Buffy and Angel and between Buffy and Spike. Those story lines should have ended in a more dignified way. I know the episode would have been quite different, had SMG been in it. Personally I think it's a shame that she didn't take the time to appear in the last season.

On the other hand, I love the B-story and I think it works quite well, although it is very different in tone to the A-story. I give Amy Acker 10/10 for being so convincing both as Fred and as Ilyria! The way she changes with ease between the two characters is remarkable.

It's episodes like The Body that prove that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is about so much more than vampire slaying and demon fighting. Almost every season seems to have one or two episodes that absolutely blow your mind, because they are so different from what you normally see on TV. I'm talking about Hush (Season 4), Once More With Feeling (Season 6) and several others. The Body is quite possibly my favorite episode of the series, closely followed by Hush. Mostly because it takes the time to study the different characters' reactions to Joyce's death. Sarah Michelle Gellar's portrayal of Buffy, who, despite her supernatural strength, goes back to being a very vulnerable child in the scene where she loses her 'mummy', is breathtaking. Nowhere have I seen a more real depiction of the first few hours after discovering the death of a loved one. The fist time I watched the episode was quite shortly after someone dear died and I found myself crying and sobbing throughout the episode. I could relate to each character's reaction, as I kept fantasizing about a better outcome (like Buffy), desperately trying to find someone to blame (like Xander), obsessing over unimportant details (like Willow) and wondering why (like Anya). Everything was just dead on. (pun intended)

I was positive that this film was going to entertain me. From seeing the trailer I thought the story would be interesting and the characters would be well-developed. All that is the case. The characters are all deeply studied and well personified by the respective actors. It is a very good idea to simply show scenes from the one week leading up to a wedding and to show tensions that are actually felt very intensely by the audience. But there are an unusual amount of unnecessary and boring scenes in the film. Why are we shown 12 different speeches at the rehearsal dinner? Two speeches and then Amy's would have been plenty. This was just boring. Yes, you could argue that this is what weddings feel like, but there is a thin line that combines remaining documentary-like (which seems to be the film's ambition, and there's nothing fundamentally wrong with that)and entertaining the audience. That line was not found! The hand-held camera and the irregular zooming made me nauseous from about the first five minutes until the end. I find it a shame that good acting performances got lost behind the pretentious avant-garde feel that the film is trying to provide. Without the acting, the film would not even deserve the five stars that I gave it.

Having seen Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith at midnight I can only say: Wow! I might be a Star Wars Fan and therefore a bit too positive, but I can assure you, that Lucas perfectly manages to make Anakin's turn to the dark side credible. Hayden Christensen has grown to be a much better actor than we all thought after seeing Episode II and Natalie Portman is a lot better too. Actually Ewan McGregor, whom we all knew as the best actor from the previous movies, is now a little less convincing...But the best performance was shown by Ian McDiarmid, who is wonderfully evil and tricky. There is one big thing, that I really didn't like and that made me give the movie only 9 out of 10: General Grievous! How can anyone possibly like such a character? He is so much different from any other Star Wars character! Unelegant, stupid and getting on people's nerves. (from my point of view even much more than Jar Jar Binks or Boss Nass) But apart from that I can only say: Run into the next theater and see it! The connection between the new trilogy and the old one is now perfectly balanced and credible! George, you made it! And I believe I speak for all the fans: What you can do, can no one else! The film is really not to be seen by the very little ones, because it is very gloomy and sad. The atmosphere is a bit different from the other movies. I would say it is a better atmosphere, a bit similar to The Empire strikes back! Now, leave your house and get ready to queue, because Lucas strikes back! May the force be with you. Always