A New Obsession... The Man From UNCLE

Ever since watching this film with my friend on Thursday, I haven't stopped obsessing about it. I wanted to see it because of Henry Cavill who plays Napolean Solo (the American Spy). Ever since seeing him as the Man of Steel, I've been a fan! And in this movie he doesn't disappoint either. He shares the screen with two other great actors, Armie Hammer (Illya Kuryakin) and Alicia Vikander (Gaby Teller) and the chemistry between the three of them is amazing.

Solo and Illya (the spies) have a love/hate relationship which is fun to watch but as this story unfolds, I found myself loving the relationship between Illya (the Russian spy) and Gaby (the East German girl). I don't want to ruin this film with any spoilers, but they have to pretend to be engaged... and you all know how I love relationships that are pretending to be in a relationship. Yes, I've been on YouTube and yes there are fanvids of these two already :)

There are a few moments in this film where these two sizzle. You think they're about to kiss... you want them to kiss... desperately...

Guy Ritchie directed this film. It's of his usual calibre, but I would say it's better - if not his best yet! Brilliant. You will be entertained from start to finish, there is never a dull moment, the comedy is timed to perfection. But the comedy isn't spoofy, it's just dry and fun. The film is set in the 60's to keep it in line with the TV series it is inspired by.

One fantastic action movie! My friend and I came out of the cinema wishing we could go back in and watch it all over again.

Don't worry, I still have a love for Henry, who is my inspiration for book 3 (which I'm currently writing) but I think it's safe to say, Armie Hammer, my Russian Spy, with his blond hair, blue eyes and slim, muscular build at 6' 5" will be my next book inspiration - or he'll be fighting it out with Tom Hiddleston.

If you're wondering - like I was - where have you seen Armie Hammer before, he's The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp which is okay, and he's Prince Alcott in Mirror Mirror which is the tale of Snow White and is another fantastic movie.

Here's the official trailer of The Man from UNCLE. I promise this isn't showing you all the jokes and best bits. The whole movie is the best bit!

If they can make a million Mission Impossibles... then they can make a sequel to this movie!

*I've found the pictures/photos off the internet, I've lost track of who they belong to, but they don't belong to me. And I hope the owners don't mind me borrowing them for the cause of bigging up this awesome movie.

Cinderella - Every Girl's Dream

Today I watched Cinderella with one of my best friends. We like to go to the cinema when the kids have gone back to school and we get the whole theatre to ourselves. (Actually, we had to share it with a couple of others today - pfft!) The film left us with that feel good factor afterwards.

Since learning the release of this film I've wanted to see it. Cinderella is my favourite fairytale. What girl doesn't dream of meeting her Prince Charming? Or having a Fairy Godmother?

The film is enchanting, funny, emotional, and beautiful. Cate Blanchett plays the evil stepmother so well. And Helena Bona Carter is our quirky, magical Fairy Godmother, who we all wish we did have. I mean one wave of her wand and you get a fantastic dress and comfy to-die-for shoes. And our tears swept away.

What I loved most about this film, apart from Lily James playing Cinderella, is that they stuck to the storyline, they didn't mess with the fairytale. The animation had been produced to film, if that makes sense. We know the ending, we know all the details to Cinderella, and it was all in there. And it didn't matter there were no twists, because it was magical to watch.

There's a lovely moral to this story too. Cinderella doesn't know Kit is the prince, and the prince falls in love with Cinderella knowing she is not really a princess. He accepts her for he knows her heart is good. He sees her beauty from within. The materialistic things are unimportant. Isn't this what every girl wants? A man to love her for her?

If you haven't watched it yet... go! And take your daughters!

"Have courage and be kind." 

A little something I'm taking away with me from Cinderella. 

The Magnificent Maleficent

I know, I'm bad. I haven't blogged in ages. At the moment it feels like I am chasing my tail. Or I'm that bloody hamster who can't get off the wheel!

Even though I have the smallest, cosiest house ever, it still needs cleaning, the boys need feeding and I still have to go to work. Lord knows how I'd cope if I didn't have my own gardener... aka Dad :)

I always feel guilty when I'm not doing something constructive, i.e writing related activities, and today was one of those days, as I have a whole day off to do 'stuff' - and I didn't.

However, my day was thoroughly enjoyable and I love having a trip out with one of my best friends. Female bonding is constructive, right?

Once a month, we take time out to drive to Cabot Circus, Bristol, as soon as the kids are dropped off into school, to see a film and have lunch out. Today, we really wanted to see Maleficent, and we arrived as it was starting - luckily as there were twenty minutes of adverts and trailers first we dashed next door to grab a Costa Coffee to sneak in with us. We were out just before noon, leaving us plenty of time to have lunch at Frankie and Benny's plus shop for shoes :)

I have always been a huge fan of Angelina Jolie since Tomb Raider. If you watch the extras on the DVD, she worked hard to get her part as Lara Croft right. She's one Kick Ass Chick :) Plus, she's beautiful.

I wasn't sure what to expect about Maleficent, but all I can say is it is a popular fairy tale told from the other point of view - the wicked witch. I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil the twist, but I loved it. (And so did Fi).

Being a romance writer, I love fairy tales. Cinderella (I got all excited when I saw the trailer for that too!) being my favourite. However, I think Sleeping Beauty is up there too. I much prefer this adaptation, even though I have fond memories of the Sleeping Beauty cartoon version.

The film, Maleficent, is about a woman scorned... well, a fairy actually... Go see it! With or without the kids! It's fantastic. Angie is awesome, and was born to play this part.

One For The Memory Box

Firstly, there are no film spoilers! 

Today, for the first time as a family we went to the cinema.  This should be a memorable event.  Hopefully both boys will look back on this and remember being taken to see Toy Story 3.

I'd taken the boys to the 'Kids Club' at Weston's Odeon. The first film they'd ever seen in a cinema was Alvin and The Chipmunks - The Squeakqual (I laughed a lot!) and then, another time, we saw Nanny McFee and the Big Bang (another good film!).  Kids Club operates at weekends, and during the holidays.  It's usually a morning showing of a film (not usually a new release, possibly released 2-3 months prior), and you pay only £1 per child, adults getting in free.  I'd used this as a way to see if my kids were ready to sit still and behave in a cinema.  If they didn't, then I knew I'd only paid a £1, and so had everyone else, so you could anticipate and accept some disturbances.

But for some reason, these two trips to the cinema didn't quite feel like a proper cinema event - although they were - because we hadn't been as a family.  My husband hadn't yet got to come and join us in this fun.  And I suppose because they were a cheap morning out, and you're not really seeing the latest release it didn't seem as big as today.

Toy Story 3 has been the latest movie to hit the big screen in time for the summer holidays.  It's competing with some popular movies that are on; Eclipse (rated 12A), The Karate Kid (rated PG) and The A-Team (rated 12A - that's on my list to see next week!).  Okay, so Toy Story 3 is a U... but it has adult humour.  If you're a big kid, you won't be disappointed with Toy Story 3!

In the week I'd suggested it to Dave, and so he went about getting tickets for today.  Weston Odeon were only showing the 3D version, and after some thought on it, we really couldn't see Kieran sitting through a whole film with 3D glasses on.  Also, the price was extortionate!  So, we got a family ticket, dashed up to Vue at Cribbs Causeway after I'd finished work, and got some good seats in the 2D viewing, saving us over £10.

Kieran sat the whole way through as good as gold.  Occasionally he asked for a sweetie from his dad.  But otherwise he was mesmerised.  I admit, I was worried about his staying power.  He isn't quite 3 and half.  Ben got upset mid way through when he thought it was a bit scary.  I didn't really think about it as I tried to console him, (nervous the whole cinema could hear him sobbing) telling him it will have a happy ending.  I actually hadn't realised a couple of the characters were scary to him.  He's such a sensitive soul!  I found him crying the first time with Monster Inc (when Sully has to say goodbye to Boo) that I have on DVD .

So going to the cinema today was a big success and something we hope to do more as a family together - funds provided of course (it's no longer a cheap day/night out).  And Dave and I are thinking of all the films we can go and see, which we wouldn't normally, because of course, the kids want to see it!  Cats and Dogs - The Revenge Of Kitty Galore looks so funny!

Driving home, all uplifted by the greatness of the film, Dave and I were discussing how the boys will probably remember today, Toy Story 3 being one of the first films they saw at the cinema.  I remember my first cinema experiences, I remember seeing Dumbo, the days when you walked in even if it was half way through, and sat there to watch it again (we did).  I also remember seeing Mary Poppins, and the cinema was so full, my brother was sitting right in front of me, on the end aisle, giggling away in his seat as Dick Van Dyke lowered his trousers and danced/waddled with the penguins.  I still remember that image.  And I suppose the one I remember the most - being that bit older - my dad took me and my brother to Leicester Square, and we sat in the 'circle' rather than the stalls, watching Ghostbusters.  I won't ever forget the ghost in the library at the very beginning scaring the whole cinema witless as it came towards us filling the whole screen!

With all the excitement, I said, today should be put in our diaries as a memorable moment, and Ben said, in his most serious tone, "But I haven't even got a diary."  Dave and I laughed.  I reassured him that it would go on my blog.