"It's like I said all that time ago, if the world doesn't end I wanna be here at home, with you. And that's how I live now."

Daisy is sent from the US to stay with relatives in English countryside. Suddenly the country is in war, and Daisy has to try to survive through it all with her cousin, while looking for the rest of the family.

To be honest I didn't read the whole summary of the movie when I started watching it. I just kinda thought it would be some kind of teenage drama movie about adaptation and life in general. Basically I didn't know what I was expecting. So when there suddenly is people wearing uniforms with guns at the airport and explosions and everything, I started to wonder what exactly am I watching. And even though I sort of realised what was going on, I still think there were so many things I didn't understand. And I really feel like I have to read the book to understand. It's a completely different matter if I can or can't find the book here in Finland.

I loved how the story was happening in the middle of the war and everything, but it still was a development story. The character development with the main character Daisy was actually very good. Though I'm kinda disappointed that all that development sort of happened because of a guy. I mean also sort of because of the war and the situation, but um... Daisy's love for Eddie was kind of playing a major part in the story. Sure, it was a romantic movie, but I still think that Daisy was thinking too much of Eddie and not enough of herself. I mean she and Piper left their shelter mostly because Daisy wanted to find Eddie. I mean I would've understand if it had been Piper wanting to find Eddie and Isaac - I mean they were her brothers. And of course another kind of disturbing side with Daisy and Eddie's relationship, but I don't want to go there. I mean for one thing I started thinking why is it disturbing. I drew to my own conclusions but I'm not going to analyse them here. After all this is a movie blog and not... a blog where I examine things society considers weird and taboo. 

I truly love Saoirse Ronan. She's a wonderful actress, and it's weird to think that she's only two years older than me... 

I really liked the music. Partly it reminded me of the music in Hanna, especially on the parts where the score was sort of like electronic soundtrack music. And I also want to give points for using the amazing music of Amanda Palmer and Daughter. It's always nice to hear your favourite bands or artists in a movie.

 But even though I was totally unprepared for this movie, I really liked it. It was dark and agonising and heart-breaking, but at the same time is was so beautiful and lovely. If a movie is all of those things, there's no way it's horrible. I recommend this movie very much, and if you end up watching this movie, I hope you are more prepared than I was.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

9 / 10

I also would like to give a little heads up on November. During November I will be participating on National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which means I have to write 50,000 words in a month. So yeah, that could mean I won't do that much reviews, because I'm busy writing my novel loosely based on a skit by Comedy Bang Bang. If you are also participating, see my profile here.

"My name is Vassily Orlov. Today, a Russian agent will travel to New York city to kill the President. This agent is KA-12."

Evelyn Salt is working for the CIA, and suddenly is accused of being a Russian spy, who's going to kill the Russian president visiting America. 

And that's seriously how much I can tell about the plot. I mean I read that on IMDb or somewhere and I wasn't exactly boiling with excitement to watch this. I just thought Salt would be an action movie that wouldn't actually stand out. But it did stand out with its complex plot and plot twists which just came after another. And what was best about those plot twists is that they never left me thinking "well that was cheap" or anything negative. I was mostly confused but usually the things got clearer towards the end - like it's supposed to go. I like the story and the complex plot, because you can't just watch this movie, you have to concentrate. True, Salt maybe isn't like Slipstream or Inception, which you have to watch at least two times before you figure them truly out. (Actually I've seen Slipstream twice and I still haven't figured it out. I have my theory on it, but it's... sort of lacking still.) But I don't think action movies need to be too complex - Salt just was a bit more complex than action movies usually are, and I loved that.

Actually I wanted to watch this movie because I'm starting to fall for Angelina Jolie. I first saw her in Wanted, and after that in Mr and Mrs Smith. She's a truly amazing actress and she looks how I would like to look. She looks like if she would beat me up and leave me die, I would probably feel happy about it. There are several women who look like that - another one is Natalie Dormer. Anyway, Jolie was a perfect choice for Evelyn Salt, and I couldn't imagine anyone else as Salt even if I wanted to try. But I've mostly seen Jolie in action movies. I wonder if I should try seeing her in other kind of movies...

The ending was also kind of lacking - which gives us hope for a possible sequel. I'd watch the hell out of that, if they're ever going to do it. However I doubt they can still do the complex plot they did now - and the plot twists are already kind of used. Like we don't know everything about Salt, but there's nothing truly horrible to be revealed any more, I think. 

I recommend this movie to anyone who adores Angelina Jolie and loves action movies - especially more complex one. And of course I recommend this movie to anyone who is aching for a female led action movie - you have one here, and this one is good.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

9 / 10

"If you only look where you can't go, you will miss the riches below."

Engineer Michael Jennings works for about two months for a company in secret, and afterwards gets his memories erased and a big paycheck. This is how the life goes - until a bigger job is proposed to him. Three years working on a job and about 90 million dollars afterwards. Jennings then wakes up three years later, and soon realises the job wasn't that simple: FBI and old boss are on his tail, and he only has 20 items that he sent to himself - though he doesn't remember why.

I actually don't even remember why I had this movie. Because I just started to watch it and then... I didn't even know what it was about. But it was very interesting, and very exciting. And when I started watching, I first thought that "Why am I watching this? I don't even know what this is about, maybe I should just stop." But then I didn't stop, and I continued watching and damn I was hooked soon. I mean the plot, the story is so damn thrilling I just had to sit on the edge of my seat so I could see what happens / has happened. It was really cool.

I was kinda happy about Jennings and Rachel, who were romantically involved. I mean when Rachel joined Jennings, to help him, there wasn't clear leader in their team of two. And there was nothing like "Go!" "No I won't go without you!" bullshit - or  at least at first there was nothing like that. Just in the end. But I hate that fucking clichéd sacrificing yourself and blah blah. Most people in the situation like that would probably rather go with the ones they love than try to sacrifice themselves for the greater good and for their loved ones.

Also I started to think about one thing. I mean basically Jennings had to go with the stuff he had sent himself. He just had to trust, well, himself and just keep his eyes open so he knew what to do and so on. But what if he had done something differently? Would he have dared to try do something different? Would you dare do something different? In a situation like that I think I would be thinking all the time if I'm even going to the right direction. Like what if I had done something a little different and ended up in some other place? I seriously couldn't stop thinking that. Well I don't think I'll get into a situation like that.

Anyway, Paycheck was good. It's not the best science fiction action movie out there, but it is seriously good. I warmly recommend it to any friends of science fiction and / or action. It's very nice, even though it wouldn't make it to be your favourite.

☆☆☆☆

4 / 10

(Note: The rating was edited on 21st of February 2015 after thinking about the movie more)

"Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention."

Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, are trying to catch a murderer. This murder chooses victims, who have committed one of the seven deadly sins.

I'm pretty sure most people have heard of Se7en. It might be stupid to assume that, but on the other hand Se7en is kind of a cult classic. I mean the plot - at least the small summary of the plot - is familiar to a lot of people. And I bet most of you have at least heard that one line being quoted, you know. "What's in the box?!"

I personally am grown tired of the deadly seven sins. Like whenever they are used they feel like such a cliché - which they totally have become by now. I mean I don't care how the seven sins are used; if there are "characters" based on these sins, if they are reason to kill someone, or whatever writers can possibly come up with. Most of those references to deadly seven sins are very tiring. Well, then again most references to Christianity are tiring, because people like to use the same things over and over. But for some reason I despise the deadly seven sins - and the seven virtues. Maybe it's that they are so old-fashioned, out-dated. the "new seven sins" feel so much more accurate at this time. ¨

I actually didn't think I'd watch this movie, because I didn't feel interested enough. (You can probably see why from my rant above) However Goodreads recommended the book for me, and I read it. I really liked the book, though. At first it felt like some really cheap literature you can buy at a kiosk, you know. But when it went on, it became really thrilling and I just had to keep on reading it, because when something very interested happened, there still was too many pages left, so you just know it's not over yet. And I read the whole book, even though at first it felt really, yeah, "cheap". But it was very, very good. If we compare, the movie isn't much different to the book - or actually the other way 'round. The book is in this case based on the movie. 

HOWEVER there's one thing that makes the book better. The book is almost humble. It doesn't try to be any better than it was. It was like someone just wrote it to get money so they can stay alive for weeks. The movie on the other hand, compared to the book, feels like it's trying too hard. Too hard to be all deep and thrilling and mysterious. It's weird how the book was better, I was almost certain movie would be based on it, because the book felt so much clearer - it had much more in it, but mostly just characters' inner thoughts and all that, nothing really relevant. I have a feeling I can't even but it in words, but the book had something the movie didn't. 

I think I'm starting to dislike Fincher. I mean Panic Room was good, Se7en was disappointing and, well, when I saw Fight Club I thought it was really good. I had read the book like three or four years earlier. I read the book again and I had a feeling Fincher didn't get it right at all. It's a good movie but it's... it's not Fight Club. I should watch the movie again and do another, angrier review, I think.  I think this is why I'm not interested in going to see the new movie by Fincher...

☆☆☆☆☆

5 / 10

"I knew there was something fishy. We never got the cause of death. She's been murdered, and you think I did it."

An author is staing at the Grand Budapest, and then notices an older man. He finds out that the man is Zero Moustafa, the current owner of the hotel. Moustafa then begins to tell a story about a concierge of Grand Budapest, Gustave H, and how he was accused of murdering a woman, and other adventures they shared between the first and second world wars.

I think I wanted to see The Grand Budapest hotel ever since I first learned about it. I don't even know what made me so interested. I just had the feeling I might like it. And I was right - I truly did. For many reasons.

There's one thing about this movie that is needless to say, but I'll say it all the same: the cast is amazing. Many famous actors and actresses, but most of them in very small roles. Ralph Fiennes was amazing, of course his role wasn't exactly small. Fiennes was amazing and so was his character, who was awfully polite and friendly in a weird way. I mean it totally was professional politeness that was there even though he wasn't working, but it felt weirdly genuine, even though it was completely over the top. Then of course there was the lovely Saoirse Ronan who I've liked even before I saw her in a movie. She's a wonderful actress, and extremely... well, lovely is the best word. Then there was Edward Norton, who I've loved since The Incredible Hulk. His character Henckels was hilarious in a weird way - the character was totally serious, but somehow all the situations seemed weirdly funny. Or maybe it was just me, I don't know. And of course there was Tony Revolori, who I need to see in other movies as well, he was marvellous.  There are many wonderful actors and actresses, and I really can't talk about all of them this much, or the whole post will be just adoring actors and actresses, even though I really want to talk about more things. But there are several actors I'd like to mention, that I was glad they were there, even if they didn't do much: Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law and Jason Schwartzman.

Now to the other thing I'd been dying to write about. The filmography in this film was amazing - and I've heard Wes Anderson does this kinda filmography often: it's how the shot is centred. There's always that one part you can see is at the centre of the shot, and usually the background is very symmetric. Then of course the characters are somehow there, not usually in the middle, but your attention goes where it needs to go. Like at one point were Dmitri was chasing (well, walking) after Agatha, it took me a while to notice that Henckels was at the corner of the shot. I almost bursted out laughing when I noticed him. But I absolutely loved the filmography. I think I might watch another movie by Wes Anderson just for the sake of looking at some beautiful filmography.

And this movie made me realise something about the genre "comedy". I mean when I think about the genre "comedy", first movies that come to my mind are actually the crappiest examples of that genre. And then there's The Grand Budapest hotel, which is probably one of the very finest examples of comedy. It's not forced comedy, and it's not the kind of comedy that makes you laugh at every joke. No, it's the kind of comedy where the situation just makes everything a tiny bit funnier. True, it's not as funny as some not-so-subtle comedy, but even though you may not laugh at everything, subtle comedy makes you happy, and you might smile after the movie without noticing.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a great movie, and I hope people who haven't seen it will watch it. 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 

10/10

"You are here on account of one person; do you know who that one person is?" "Yeah, my no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather."

Stanley Yelnats is sent to a camp Greenlake for stealing shoes from homeless shelter - though Stanley never did anything of the sort. At the camp the boys are forced to dig holes in the desert for no apparent reason except that digging would build their character and make them better people. But something does seem off with the digging. The movie also explores the history of the lake years before, and the life of Stanley's great-great-grandfather, who all the Yelnats' blame for the curse of the family and their bad luck.

I remember reading the book in middle school. We had about three weeks to read the book and I read in one day - and not even day before it was due, but right when the assignment was given. It was easy to read the whole thing quickly; it was smoothly written and the story was interesting. After reading the book we watched the movie in class. And Holes is probably one of the very few movies that are a right spot on if compared to the book. Like sure, many lines are missing, but that isn't important when the whole theme otherwise is very well explored. 

I really like the characters in the movie - though most of them aren't really that important characters. Most of the kids just are at the camp and trying to live with the whole thing. Most of the characters however are really interesting, and I'd really like to know more about them. Well, Louis Sachar has written Small steps which is about one of the other boys at the camp - Theodore, better known as Armpit. I think I should read that book once, just for the sake of getting some more of this. I've actually borrowed it several times but I just didn't even start reading it, don't know why. A lot of other characters seem marvellous too, though they are explored better than the kids at the camp. One very good example is Kissin' Kate Barlow. She's really interesting, and I'd actually like to read more about her, but I don't think there is anything else to know about her. Then again there's the Warden... She was interesting character, though I don't feel like I'd like to know anything else about her. It's like I'm done with her. 

Music in the movie is wonderfully used. Most of the songs aren't probably something I'd actually like to listen to on my spare time, but they work really well for the movie. And to be honest, I guess that's more important than using "good songs". Music has to go with the movie otherwise it's just useless.

But even though the movie is good and I appreciate how well it was adapted, for some reason I don't like it that much. I mean that I know it's good, but I don't think I'll watch it in another let's say three years. I mean it's very simple plot. And most of the beauty of the plot is there when you first watch it / read the book. You get the "OH" -feeling when you realise why something is happening and all that. Though now that I watched it like after three or four years, I didn't remember every detail in it. Though I think next time it probably wouldn't be at all surprising, because seeing something two times makes you remember most of the plot. At least that's how it works for me.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 

7/10