Pitch Perfect Hits the Right Note - A Review

OK so the title isn't very inventive (I can imagine 10 million reviews on this movie with the same title) and yes I should be re-enrolling for University...but, I did go see this movie and I need to update Thought Bubble.

Ages ago a friend and I made the easy decision to go see Pitch Perfect at our local cinema. 
Why? 
It's a comedy - one of my favourite genres, 
It's a chick flick - also known as 'hot guys WILL be in this movie',
It stars Anna Kendrick - she plays one of the few good characters in Twilight, Jess (a human),
I heard great reviews about it,
and there was a new meme about it - which I wouldn't have truly understood if I hadn't of seen the movie. 

But the #1 reason for seeing Pitch Perfect was this fine lady... 

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Rebel Wilson.
Being Aussie as I am, I have known Rebel before she graced the international stage. I remember her in the comedy series 'The Wedge'  - an Australian show. Loved it, super funny. 
I saw her in Bridesmaids - a smallish part, but containing her natural comedic flair (if sometimes a little weirded out by her and Matt Lucas at times). 
I also want to see Bachelorette - watch this space. 

So yesterday off me and my friend went. 
One thing I noticed was how busy the movie theatre actually was. It was late afternoon on a Thursday and I didn't expect so many people there (though I guess it is the holidays).
I was even more amazed when Pitch Perfect had a line - the movie has been out for a while after all.
So we sat - I was next to some 5 year old - well at least she looked 5, as the lights went down, popcorn was in the air and the air-conditioning was blasted up. 

The movie opens with the finals of an A Capella music comp. 
Dancing, singing, live entertainment. 
It starts off with a bang. Very effective as the audience is thrust into the world of A Capella. 
We then meet The Bellas - an all girl A Capella group.
The audience gets taken a year or so later (after a projectile vomit incident) and we meet Beca (Anna Kendrick). 
Bad-ass, punk rock, DJ wannabe, we see her join the Bellas, fall in love, has some laughs, tears - the usual chick flick thing. 

I don't want to dwell on the storyline, but more talk about the stand-outs of the movie. 

Aubrey - played by Anna Camp. 
I had no idea who Anna Camp was before I watched Pitch Perfect. Since then, I have IMDB-ed her and seen she's been in quite a few things.
And on the screen it shows. 
On the outside Aubrey doesn't seem like a 3D character. Head of The Bellas after the others have graduated and left to find new members after her and Chloe are the last members left, Aubrey has to run this band of misfits and get them A-ready for competition - which, by the way, she does horribly.
She's tough, cruel and and A-grade biatch. 
But is it any wonder considering how the old Bellas leader treated her?!
With an unfortunate habit of projectile vomiting when stressed, Aubrey is more than just a 2D bitch. 

Chloe - played by Brittany Snow. 
I remember seeing Miss Snow, when she played bitch Amber in Hairspray. So I was eager to see if she was type cast as the bitch again.
I spent half the movie trying to find the fair skinned, blonde haired women before I realised she now looks like this...

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My jaw actually dropped when I finally realised who she was. And I was glad to see, she wasn't the bitch character. 
The funniest thing happens with her voice (not telling - you have to see it for yourself) and I couldn't stop laughing at one point in the movie because of it - really original and a total classic!

The Bellas - 
These misfit of girls are great! Whether it's Hana Mae Lee as the barely hear-able Lilly, Alexis Knapp as the over sexually active Stacie and of course Rebel as Fat Amy. 

Things that let me down a little - 
*It felt a bit Glee at times, and I wondered if it was trying to jump on the Glee bandwagon. But then again, it's totally more kick-ass then Glee.
*Some character development was underdone - I thought Beca's room-mate would get more of a part (she had the potential) but her character more fizzed then shone for me. Same with other Bellas members.
* Kinda predictable in some parts - but that's a tiny quibble.
*The serious anti-climax of Bumper (the leader of The Bellas rival gang, The Trebles). 


My favourite scene was definitely the shower scene. I do realise this makes me sound like a lesbian, but trust me, if you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. 
Not only is it incredibly funny, but the reactions and actions of Beca (realistic) matched to those of Chloe's (totally out there) combines together to make a hilarious situation. 

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Do yourself a favour guys, and go see Pitch Perfect. 
It's literally something for everyone - well maybe not little kids, but definitely everybody else. 
It's funny, has memorable characters, a great storyline, catchy music, and a feel that makes you go "ah" at the end of it. 
Serious mood up-lifter, so check it out! 

The Brightest Review in This Blog

Hey guys, so basically this is a book review on...*drum roll please* 

I've been a fan of Marian Keyes now for a few number of years. 
I started reading her books at 13 and now at 19, I've read more than a few. 

One book Mum placed on the shelf years ago now, was Brightest Star in the Sky, but was one I hadn't read until a couple of days ago. 

And boy is it a doozey! 

I wont go on about the storyline, but it does take place in an apartment block, in which four different relationships live on a floor.
They fall in and out of love (a line from the back of the book) and it follows the stories of the people living on the four floors. 

With EVERY Keyes book I have read, I find that once I've started it, I find it tremendously hard to put down - and I'm not joking, or making a comment on how good it is - I literally struggle to stop reading it, because I HAVE to know what is going to happen next. 
As plots twist and turn, here and there, and you're starting to get towards the end, you wonder where it's going to end, what's going to happen to this/or those people, and you're hoping for a happy ending. And with four different stories...that's a lot of wondering. 

The chapters go in a formation of sorts. One chapter contains one couple, then the next another. You go through the different story line's and once you've had a taste for all of them you find yourself at the first one again. It varies here and there, but essentially follows the different stories all at the same time - which you know this because the chapters are marked by days - very ingenious. 
I found myself glued to one couple, and wanted to read the other chapters fast until I came back around to them again. 
But in saying that all the characters are funny, realistic and have a great storyline to follow - and naturally some of them overlap into each others lives, which is fun. 

What's great about Brightest Star in the Sky, is this "character" that we follow from the beginning - we're unsure about who or what it is, but it's definitely not a seeing person. 
They keep you on track, and you almost forget it's there - until we near the end, when there job is  made clear - which totally surprised me! 
When I finally figured it out, I think I actually screamed (literally out loud) in shock. 

The book was published in 2009 and I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner - I know it will definitely be one to read again. 

With a few more of Keyes' books on the shelf I (ashamedly) haven't read yet, I can't wait till I start reading another.
And if you want a great read - as long as you don't mind being sucked into this world she has created - I highly recommend Brightest Star in the Sky. 

Being Brave - Review

What are you doing this weekend?
Nothing...

Not anymore you aren't.

This weekend/tomorrow/next week/ next month, you are going to make a trip to the cinema.

Whenever you decide to go it doesn't matter - just make sure it's before the newest Disney movie stops showing. Trust me you'll want to see it.

The movie? Brave. To put it simply; it's amazing.

Whether you have children and need to entertain them, are young or old, everyone is going to love this movie. Truely.

The setting: Brave takes us to medieval Scottland, where the scenery is breathtaking, the beards are flowing and the kilts are...kilting?
Only Disney/Pixar can take an animated movie, and place the viewer in it's story. Making the animation obsolete to the point where you don't look at it as animation - but real.
I'm not going to go into the storyline because I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone (especially now that you're going to go see it) but in usual Disney fashion, it is heartfelt, beautiful, makes you laugh, makes you cry, and gives your heart that warm, fuzzy feeling at the end.

They have truely surpassed themselves.
The last Disney/Pixar movie I saw (from what I can remember) was Tangled. And that movie was good.
But there's something about Brave that makes you want to cheer like a crazed Celt.

The storyline has this "twist" that (I at least) didn't expect - and in true Disney style of course, it is resolved.
The resolution was a little obvious, but hey, it's a children's movie.

The voices of famous actors is something to keep an eye (or ear) out for.
I'll give one away and say *cough* Billy Connelly *cough*
- Well, you can always look it up on the internet anyway, so that's not that secretive.

For years, (and if I had time I'd look it up) Disney has been entertaining the world with their characters and the worlds they live in.
I remember myself watching Toy Story as a child and even remember seeing A Bug's Life in the cinema - I was afraid of the grasshoppers.

So maybe that's why me and my friend were so keen for the latest Disney masterpiece.
As an adult now, I probably should stop going to the cinema to see these children's films (and on the day it was released too) and watch something older.

But as long as Disney keep producing pieces of magic (which let's face it will be never) I will continue to stroll over to my nearest cinema.
And I'll love to go.

So if you want to be like me and be a child again, or maybe you have children to entertain. Go on...go see Brave.
I hope you love it as much as I did.

Review: How to be Awkward

Everyone has those moments. Those awkward moments.
And if any song was to capture how that moment went down, it would be San Cisco and their song Awkward.

I was first introduced to this song, when a music show interviewed two of them.

I hadn’t heard of the song before, or them but the thing that caught my attention was when the interviewer said their chorus had no lyrics. This puzzled me on how a songs chorus could have no lyrics. And indeed it doesn’t.

For a first time listener (of any song) I judge it almost instantly, if the song doesn’t grab my attention then I’m no longer interested.

So it’s a good thing when Awkward starts off with a strumming guitar with a fast rhythm.

It’s great.

This tune with the guitar lasts the entire song, with accompanying instruments – it’s the foundation of the song really.

Next are the lyrics where the title awkward now becomes apparent with the awkward situation of young, modern relationships. And how they are not so smooth sailing.

Look at these lyrics. 

   I wouldn't have gone to dinner
If I knew that you'd agree with everything I say

I left a message last night
You haven't called back I've been calling you for days

I have my keys at the gate
My mind is made up to make a quick escape

I left a message last night
You haven't called back I've been calling you for days

The lyrics are very quirky, funny and surprisingly very relatable.

For a song, that’s quite dreamlike and airy, a lot of the lyrics have relevance in one part of your life or another.

And being young I find going out, forming those relationships isn’t always so easy.

The other thing I love about San Cisco is their Alternative style – their quirkiness and style could land them in the Indie pop genre (which I suppose they are) but whether you like that style of music or not – Awkward is a song to listen to.

Remember how I said their chorus doesn’t have any lyrics? Well, their chorus goes like this… 

doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
(x2)

It’s easily the most addictive part of the song, which will get stuck in your head for days!

It’s light, catchy and fun – you’ll find yourself singing it everywhere you go. 

Now of course being an Australian, I’m also proud to announce that San Cisco are from Australia!

And if there are any overseas people reading this I encourage you to check them out.  

But wherever you are from, San Cisco are an up and coming band that will (hopefully) make it to the big time. 

Now obviously I’m not going to tantalize you with an amazing song and not put it up here for you to listen to.

So here it is.

And if any member from San Cisco read this…you guys are great!