Sandra Says Blog

  Insidious: The Last Key Antony wrote his opinion on the film last Friday, and I thought I would put across my thoughts as well, of what I liked about the film. Th is films gives me chills and with the right amount of, ‘Jump Scares’, to keep you sitting on the edge of your seat and keep you focused, on, not on ly what is going on in the fore ground, but also what is happening in the background as well, along with the sounds of the background soundtrack , it adds to the horror of the film. The film’s storyline, where the main character Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) , literally faces her demons from the past. A few twists, showing that a supernatural horror film doesn’t always have to be predominately about spirits. This is a true horror film, but realistically done. However, it is good to see a few light-hearted scenes, just to break up the darkness, and this is done in such a way that it adds to the film and doesn’t take anything away from it. As part of this, it i...

WARNING SPOILERS The Lovely Bones When I first watched this film, I didn’t quite get what they were aiming for, but after reading the book, of the same name by Alice Sebold , it all made sense to me. This is a film about a young 14-year-old girl, Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) on a quest to help her father , Jack (Mark Wahlberg) find a mass murderer , George Harvey (Stanley Tucci ) . The difference is, is that Susie is also one of his murder victims. Some of the film seems a bit strange and part of it reminds me of the ‘British Gas’ advert, but once you read the book it all becomes clear. This film, not only explores what happens to a family in the event of a murder, but also what happens to the victim, in this case , what Susie is going through after her death in the in-between world. It is clever how the two worlds collide, like when the George , her murderer, breaks her charm bracelet and when her Jack, her dad, smashes the bottles with the ships in. the special effects a...

  WARNING SPOILERS Winchester (2018) Based on real events and what is now a tourist attraction in North America, the mansion, that Sarah Winchester (Played by Helen Mirren) built. She wanted to give all the spirits of the people who were killed by the rifle a home, which she achieved in a spectacular way. This film is about the widow Sarah of the son of Oliver Winchester, who invented the repeating rifle/ firearm, named after the family surname, Winchester. Who appears to be a charlatan doctor, Eric Price (Jason Clarke), turns out to connected to the house, which is all brilliantly worked out in the film. During Doctor Eric Price’s assessment of Sarah, he kept saying one thing and I thought ‘How many times can one person say the words ‘It’s all in the mind’ ? turns out numerous times before he finds out the truth. At one point, watching this film, it is looking like, what th e tag line to the film says, ‘The house that ghosts built’ especially during the night ti...

  The Haunted by Niki Valentine This book starts off quickly, no sooner have Martin and Susie have had breakfast they are off hiking to the bothy/hut. It is sad that you could say there are marital problems between the couple but it seems Susie is oblivious to how she should be treated, because it isn’t right how Martin is treating her, but she is in love and they say “ Love is blind ” . This book is an easy read s o far, the descriptions of Scotland and the weather are good, and it is a fast paced read. It seems as I read on Susie knows things are not quite right between her and Martin after all, but she is still with him none the less. I must question “ Are things between Susie and Martin just in Susie’s head, are things really the way it looks? ” Answer, “ Time will tell ” . Susie and Martin have arrived at the bothy and strange things are already starting to happen straight away. Let the adventure they hoped for begin, although it may not be the experience they wante...

  WARNING SPOILERS Father of the Bride – part 2 This film, starts off, pretty much, like the first fi lm, George Banks (Steve Martin), talking to the camera about his family’s life over last past year. The film again is a flashback, but this time, instead of a wedding, it is an insight into his, what can only be described as a ‘mid-life crisis’, with 2 added additions to the family and a possible move to Boston . It is fun to watch George’s reaction to the ‘big news’, it is over the top, but in keeping with what George aka Grandpa, does best. Yet again Nina (Diane Keaton) has to keep the peace. An amusing part to watch, is when Annie’s brother, Matty (Kieran Culkin) explains that he is going to be a 12-year-old uncle. He made some good and fun points, but it only served to push George’s point home more. It is nice to see Nina, thrilled, someone has to stay rational. If ever there was a film, that shows, acting in haste, and repenting at leisure, this is it. As we soon fi...

WARNING SPOILERS Father of the Bride The film starts off, with the wedding over and done with, so it is good to know, that it all worked out well in the end, despite the chaos during this film, which is revealed as a flashback/lead up to the wedding. The film follows the life of the Banks family George the father (Steve Martin), Nina, the mum (Diane Keaton) Annie, the daughter getting married (Kimberly Williams) and Matty, the younger son and brother, (Kieran Culkin). George is coming to term s , or sometimes not, with his little girl growing up and getting married. The film shows, also a daughter, falling in love, and having to break the news to her parents, that she is getting married, to Bryan MacKenzie (George Newbern). It is good to see Annie and George make up, by playing one on one basketball in the front yard. Nina shows to make the effort and tries to keep the peace. George, however, sees everything, while Nina just hears what’s being said, the romance, George has ...

  Dam Busters (1955) The film starts off with it being Spring 1942 and it is a light-hearted beginning, with Doctor B. N. Wallis C.B.E., F.R.S. (Played in the film by Michael Redgrave) and his children carrying out an experiment with marbles. It is good to see him interacting with his children, however, obsessed he is with his idea. The film soon turns darker, but there is a war on, it is nice to see Wallis being given the chance to carry out more experiments, as we all know from history, it shows his idea worked. Hence the Dam Busters and this film being actually made. We know the outcome, but to see the brains behind it, is interesting, proving that things don’t work without a lot of attempts and practice. There is a good line ‘ Everything he uses, has been invented’. It is a true statement and helps get Wallis’s point across. However, it is sad to see the idea, nearly didn’t get off the ground, but one man’s passion saw it through. Now we see the 617 Squadron with La...

The Guns of Navarone So the guns of Navarone is causing havoc. I get the impression this film is a long drawn out mission on destroying the said guns. Not the most solid idea for a film. There is a bit of action, you cannot be too careful who is listening at doors. The is also a bit of suspense, when the boat disguise is searched by the German army. The search doesn’t last long; neither does their war vessel when a grenade is thrown into it. True to what was previously said, the storm has arrived. It doesn’t seem to be portrayed as realistic. The boat should be thrown about more on the storm force waves and in the wind, with no time for an in-depth conversation. Overall the storm is badly done, there are scenes where the water is calm and it just seems like water is just being thrown over the set. I can see the dilemma with Major Franklin (Anthony Quayle) , taking him with them, I like as the best option. Now the group have met Maria (Irene Papas) and Anna ( Gia Scala) it i...

  WARNING SPOILERS Morse Colin Dexter wrote 13 Inspector Morse books, from ‘ Last Bus to Woodstock ’ to Morse’s final case, ‘ The Remorseful Day ’ . These were later turned into a television series where Morse was played by John Thaw. In the books Morse (Played on TV by John Thaw) seems more human, whereas on the TV he is just there to solv e the crimes which he does well with the help of hi s side kick , S ergeant Lewis , played on TV by Kevin Whately. However, with Morse only thinking straight after some pints of beer and hardly eating and Lewis only ever eating egg and chips I wonder how they ever manage to solve the crimes at all, but together they do. There are some controversial parts where Morse has been drinking and then he drives. Nowadays drink driving is frowned upon. However, in some of the later books Lewis, who only drinks orange juice , does most of the driving. Morse is a workaholic and not very organised in his private life, this becomes apparent w...