Showing posts with label what to watch. Show all posts

It makes sense that Josh Schwartz, creator of our beloved teen drama The O.C., would be instigator and creator of Gossip Girl (the TV Show). Originally a young adult book written by Cecily von Ziegesar (and a series I was an avid fan of) Josh and Stephanie Savage transformed these written words onto the small screen. Running for 6 seasons on the CW network, the show was a big success. 

The series follows the return of Serena van der Woodsen (played by Blake Lively) after returning back to the Upper East Side from a year away at boarding school and her best friend/ sometimes rival Blair Waldorf (has taken up Queen status at Constance Billard) and their group of friends, Chuck Bass (played by Ed Westwick), Nate Archibald (played by Chace Crawford), Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley), Vanessa Abrams (played by Jessica Szohr) and little Jenny Humphrey (played by Taylor Momsen). Kirsten Bell voices the anonymous gossip blogger 'Gossip Girl' who the shows name is all about, she helps documents the lives of the scandalous students of Constance Billard and St Jude's, focusing primarily on our main group. 

In typical Schwartz fashion we see the school lives of the rich and privileged (Blair, Chuck, Nate & Serena) vs the not so rich and privileged (Dan, Jenny & Vanessa). I also can't help but compare Dan to a New York version of Seth Cohen.. (although Seth Cohen will always be Number 1 Teen Drama Bae).

What's nice as well is that the tv show isn't just a carbon copy from the book, with changes including the character of Chuck, yes while he is an arrogant prick and self assured in the book, his tv self has a bit more heart and a chance for redemption. The show also only follows their high school lives for two seasons, before we see how the group tackle university/college life.

The storylines as well are what you would expect of a teen drama and something that must only happen when you have power and influence, because really, who has time for all that plotting and scheming in the real world. But I think that's why it was so popular, it gave simple viewers like myself a means to escape and see how the other half can live.. plus the wardrobe (for both boys and girls) were to die for! (Serena's and Blair's closet please!)

If you like The O.C. or Pretty Little Liars then you're more than likely going to love Gossip Girl...

I'm already on Season 4 having started a week ago!

S.
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How to Get Away with Murder is the latest show brought to us by the ever talented Shonda Rhimes, centering around criminal law professor Annalise Keating (played by Viola Davis) and a select few of her best students from her class to work at her law firm. These students include Conor (played by Jack Falahee), Michaela (Aja Naomi King), Asher (played by Matt McGorry), Laurel (played by Karla Souza) and Wes (played by Alfred Enoch- remember him as Dean Thomas from Harry Potter). Annalise's personal life collides with her professional life as her husband Sam Keating is under suspicion over a campus death involving a young girl, along with that her top students become embroiled in a murder.

Season 1 has finished in the US but is still in the middle of being shown over here in the UK on Sky Atlantic and in NZ.

This gripping show has you hooked from start to finish and the unique story line of working it's way backwards to show you how each character got to that point is refreshing, and keeps you guessing what exactly will happen next.

Without giving away any spoilers all I'll say is that I can't wait for Season 2 to answer a lot of burning questions!

S.
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Christmas movies are one of the many things I enjoy about this season! 

Over the next two days Krizia and I will share with you some of our fav Christmas Films!

1. Eight Crazy Nights

Eight Crazy Nights is the animated, musical, holiday film centring on Hanukkah and created and starring Adam Sandler. It seems to be a yearly tradition that me and my sister watch this regardless of where we are in the world. It follows the adult life of Davey Stone whom after his parent's death has lead a troubled life, after causing havoc and knocking over Menorah he gets saved from going to jail but Whitey Duvall, a 70 year old man that has one foot bigger then the other. Through the film we get to see Davey grow and tackle his demons. 

2. Elf

Elf centres around Buddy played by Will Ferrell who as a baby snuck into Santa's sack and was then raised in the North Pole. Without the corruption of the real world, Buddy has an essence of innocence about him and his naivety leads to many a humorous moments as he travels to NYC to find his real father. 

3. Muppets Christmas Carol

This timeless Christmas story has been retold in this Disney film with the help of the loveable Muppets. Kermit and Miss Piggy play Mr and Mrs Cratchit, Michael Caine plays Mr Scrooge and Gonzo plays the narrator Charles Dickens.

4. Love Actually

Love Actually centres around a handful of strangers and their individual stories around Christmas time. With a stellar cast boasting the creme de la creme of British talent in the likes of Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant this movie was always going to be a fan favourite. With lovable characters like Colin the "Sex God" and his plans to move to America for all the American girls, young boy Sam who learns to play the drums so he can impress the girl he's in love with and Hugh Grant playing the Prime Minister and dancing around 10 Downing Street.

Honourable Mentions

The Santa Clause (Check back tomorrow for Krizia's post)

Home Alone 1 & 2 (Check back tomorrow for Krizia's post)

The Holiday

This Christmas

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

What are some of your fav Christmas films?
S.
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This week saw the X Factor contestants sing songs from Elton and Whitney...See how well they fared and who tanked it big time!

We also had a double elimination this week who will stay and who will go?

This week X-Factor transported us back to when flapper dresses where the norm and jazz was all around us. Find out below how well the contestants did with a 30-piece big band backing them up!

This week we saw Queen songs go up against Michael Jackson songs and even though some of our favourite songs weren't performed, we were not disappointed. Find out how the contestants did in our eyes...

If you're not into gore and horror then these movies should satisfy you over Halloween!
We've picked our top 6 G-PG rated Halloween movies.
Ghostbusters 2 (lets face it, the sequel is much better than the first!)
Halloweentown (a made for TV Disney movie)
Hocus Pocus (just the best family friendly Halloween movie)
Casper (the friendly ghost)
The Witches (based on the classic novel by Roald Dahl)
and obviously The Nightmare Before Christmas which will get you pumped for the next big holiday, Christmas! (Unless you celebrate thanksgiving, which we in NZ and the UK do not).

 

What are your must see Halloween movies?
K. & S.
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The Grudge

Krizia somehow managed to watch this in the cinema when it first came out and it's the first scary movie to really terrify her. The Grudge is actually a remake of the Japanese horror called 'Ju-On: The Grudge' (which is also a video game...no thanks). The Grudge stars Sarah Michelle Gellar who is a nurse living in Tokyo. While she's caring for an elderly woman she is exposed to a supernatural curse, a curse that is born when someone dies in the grip of a powerful rage or extreme sorrow. Those who encounter it die and the curse is reborn repeatedly, spreading from victim to victim. The reason why it's so creepy goes to the mother ghost Kayako who is seen crawling up and down the stairs (up there with that stairs scene from 'The Exorcist'), and the scene which haunted Krizia the most involving a death rattle type sound and someone lurking underneath the bed sheets. 
Dead Silence
After umming and ahhing over what this week's second LGC horror film pick would be Sophie suggested the ever so creepy Dead Silence. Krizia was the one that introduced this to Sophie and from there a love/hate relationship blossomed (even writing this is creeping Sophie out). The movie is about Mary Shaw who loved her dolls and was a skilled ventriloquist but after a boy went missing the villagers thought it was her fault and killed her. Her spirit terrorises the town and every victim she encounters she rips out their tongue. Starring Ryan Kwanten as Jamie this movie gets you at every turn and the twist at the end is truly jaw dropping. Just remember to not make a sound because as the saying goes:
"Beware the stare of Mary Shaw. She had no children, only dolls. If you see her in your dreams, make sure you never ever scream, or she'll cut your tongue out at the seam"

Honourable Mentions
Thirteen Ghosts
Halloween Series (remake included)
Silent Hill
Friday the 13th
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Wrong Turn Series


What movies make you hide under the blankets? We wanna know!

K. & S.
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
Another classic Wes Craven film and one you may have seen in 2010 when the (average) remake came out in cinemas. A Nightmare on Elm Street is about Freddy Krueger, a man who seeks revenge on the parents who burned him alive by killing their children in their dreams/nightmares. The Elm Street franchise now consists of 9 films 5 of which are sequels to the original plus a crossover with Jason Voorhees, novels and comic books. Each of the films feature creative and grotesque deaths, one in particular that has stuck with Krizia involves Freddy using one of the kids as a human puppet by slicing him down his arms and legs and we'll leave you to think about what he does to the poor kid next.

The Conjuring
Directed by James Wan this 2013 horror film centres on the Perron family whose house seems to be haunted. Enter Ed and Lorraine Warren who are paranormal investigators who come to help expel the evil inside the house. This is currently one of Sophie's fav horrors which is not like her as anything to do with the paranormal super freaks her out. Regardless The Conjuring is one of the best horrors to come out recently. Excellent storyline, including a mini teaser of a storyline for the creepy possessed doll Annabelle, the casting is great with Vera Farmiga playing Lorraine the sensitive clairvoyant, Lili Taylor who plays Carolyn the matriarch of the family and is the target of the haunting. Every time we see it we still get creeped out when Nancy claims she can see someone standing by the door (Sophie can never see it), and we can't forget to mention the delightful game of hide and clap that is featured in the movie (even one of the ghosts wanted to get involved).
The spin-off movie Annabelle is out in cinemas across NZ & UK

What are some of your favourite horror films?

S. & K.
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Beyond Belief Fact Or Fiction 

I remember staying up way past my bed time to watch every episode i could. The episode would usually have about 4 or 5 strange stories and before the show ended the host would tell you which stories were based on fact and which were fiction. Although i don't remember most of the stories i saw i clearly remember this one below which turned out to be fact!

The Twilight Zone 

This particular story is the reason why i dislike dummies, Another good one in the series is 'The Masks' which still creeps me out today. If you're a Goosebumps fan you may notice similarities between these two stories and 'Night of the Living Dummy' and 'The Haunted Mask'.

Goosebumps 

Some of the Goosebumps episodes weren't that scary at all, it was a children's show after all,  but one episode that i've never forgotten (and that i still own on VHS) is 'Welcome To Dead House'. I guess this terrified me even more because it reminded me of the Thriller music video with the zombies.

Honorable Mentions

Courage The Cowardly Dog

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Tales From The Crypt

The X-Files

Looking back now some of these shows are super lame and cheesy but even after all these years they're still mega creepy!

K.
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Paranormal Activity
The trailer definitely makes the movie out to be scarier than what it actually is, but for a low budget film it did make both of us jump! Katie and Micah are a young couple who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home which has taken an interest in Katie. They decide to set up a camera in their room while they sleep in the hopes that they can capture any of the strange activities on film. We were not fans of the dragging from the bed and the loud heavy footsteps running up the stairs. Krizia in particular doesn't like the movie because after watching it she had her first experience with sleep paralysis which if you haven't experienced before is terrifying. There are three different endings to the film and there are now five follow ups to the movie (and plans to make more!) all of which didn't have to be made, but they each have their creepy moments and characters, special mention has to go to 'Toby' from Paranormal Activity 3.


The Hills Have Eyes
This is one of Sophie's favourite horror films, and was the first horror film she ever went and watched in the cinema (normally she would wait till she could watch it in the comforts of her home). It's a remake of Wes Craven's 1977 film. It focuses on the Carter family who are travelling to San Diego to celebrate Ethel and Bob's silver anniversary. It's smooth sailing till a gas attendant tells them of a quicker route (note to self never take an off beaten road in America) in which they then become targets of a mutant community living in the hills. We should note there is one scene in particular that people may find disturbing so watch with caution if you are easily offended. We have to give a special shout out to Ruby (ruby ruby ruby ahhhhhhhhhhhh) she's that mutant child you can't help but want to survive! There is a sequel which we feel isn't worth mentioning for the amount of flaws it has but it is still an enjoyable watch.

Let us know what your favourite scary movie is!

S. & K.
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One of LGC's favourite TV shows is back for its fourth season with 'Freak Show'. Who would have thought the creators of Nip/Tuck and Glee would have anything to do with a series like this? If you're not a follower of American Horror Story it's not too late to check the series out! We've made an easy guide to AHS as well as taking a look at the first episode of the brand new season!

The UK should expect it end of Oct hopefully on ITV2

The new and possibly last series of Bad Education returned to our screens on tuesday night. If you haven't watched the show yet you should probably get on to that asap, there are only 14 episodes so far and every one of them is guaranteed to have you laughing!