The Journey by Jenny Falcon | Poetry Corner

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Frostie

Jenny Falcon took a bi-lingual French/English secretarial course with the avowed intention of becoming the first U.K. ambassador to France: sadly, this did not transpire. She loves travelling to places off the tourist wish list, and has long been a member of Ladies Circle, which has expanded her horizons even further. Jenny considers family and friends crucial to her life. Happily married for decades with one married daughter, her single best achievement, Jenny is a poet and writer.

The Journey by Jenny Falcon

The dirty mainline station was functioning with its usual, organised frenzy
People criss-crossing the forecourt, focused on their own trajectories
Announcements – almost incomprehensible – feebly fought against the sound
Of multiple movement, competing noises of man and machine

My feet took me hastily through the barrier and along the platform
I stepped with wearisome tread onto the waiting train which crouched
Like an uncomplaining mammal, gently hissing and clicking
I found a seat, tucked at one end of a carriage, and sank into the corner

At the appointed departure time, the train moved off with a gentle tug
It had a heavy load, it was that time of the evening, so many assorted souls
Making their respective homeward journeys, some pale and exhausted
Others frenetically tapping at their electronic devices, mesmerised, unaware

But the movement of the lumbering train was beguiling, almost soothing
The enforced closeness of fellow travellers did not feel intrusive
But strangely comforting, locked together in a homeward goal
Leaving behind the tangled thoughts and worries of the day

Dusk was approaching, the occasional light drew attention
The suburban gardens pulled over their shrouds of grey
The fields and parks became secretive, waiting for the moon
The grubbiness of the trackside buildings disappeared in the gloom

No longer could one’s gaze rest on the world passing by
Just a jumble of shapes, confused with the reflections from within;
Eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the train as it sped on
Wishing to arrive, to be transported away to a familiar shelter

Finally, the sounds changed, the regular beat slowed, people shuffled,
Roused themselves to face again the world outside the large cocoon
The train gently stopped and at once, the relative calm was broken
As those within, hurried away without a backward glance.

The end of the line, so I paused – waited until all had gone
Viewed the empty cartons, crumpled papers, dirty tissues
Detritus of a daily, uneventful, homeward journey, one of so many
And then, stepped off the train myself and followed the crowd

Sensationail Home Kit Review

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

Hello everyone, its been ages since I last posted an article but I hope this one will keep the ladies happy! Ok so I never thought I’d see the day I rave about an at home gel nail kit. But that day has come and if you follow me on Instagram you would have seen me mention this a few times. This Sensationail kit is incredible on so many levels.

I was sent this kit to review and used the product over a few weeks. I have removed it and reapplied the system to really put it through its paces. If you haven’t come across my site before then welcome. I used to be a Celebrity nail artist and an Educator for some of the biggest professional nail brands in the world. I can honestly say that Sensationail is in fact….Sensational!!

I’m going to go out on a limb here and state that I think this kit is possibly better an any professional product I have ever used tested or worn myself. Now I know everything there is to know about gel polish, the way the chemicals react and how different products work together. I also put my nail enhancements through utter hell. I can, as I know someone that will fix them in a blink of an eye if they chip, drop off or lift and that’s me.

Most professional gel applications become a little spongy, soft and lift after about a week on my nails. Not sensationail it’s incredible. I got 2 full weeks out of the first application. Only taking them off to redo as the regrowth was looking a little unsightly. I removed them and reapplied them with ease and I can report that this brand is seriously rocking my world.

You won’t need to worry about applying extra layers as it’s so strong it’s just perfect. It has the best combination of strength and possibly the biggest factor that makes nail enhancements perfect and that’s it’s also flexible. So it will bend a little like real nails should. Too brittle and they can crack. This leads to lifting and all sorts of problems. Not with Sensationail you don’t! Not to mention the shine of the topcoat. It holds as good as new for all 14 days. No scratches, no dulling and certainly the shiniest of top coats I have ever come across. With the added bonus of being a 2 in 1 product. A combined base and top coat. Amazing don’t you think!

Sensationail Home Kit Review Tips

When lightly buffing the surface shine make sure you don’t damage the nails natural thickness, as over buffing will thin your nails drastically.
Cleanse with the product supplied. Don’t use nail polish remover as this is a solvent and could possibly cause lifting.
Don’t touch any of the nails after cleaning as this will transfer natural oils from your fingertips and will result in the product not settling properly.
When applying the primer only add it to 4 nails (leave the thumbs to last) Its a sticky product and fluff will drive you mad!
When applying the base coat to the 4 natural nails make sure not to touch the skin (this will lead to lifting) By laving a tiny margin around the sides and bottom it will increase the length of time that the product will stay looking perfect.
If you get any product on the surrounding skin just remove it with the orange wood stick provided in the Sensationail kit.
Do not wipe off the shiny, tacky residue from any of the layers as this is a very important part. *Sticky sticks to sticky or a rough surface. If you remember this you wont ever go wrong. If you remove it by mistake its OK but you will find the product might not adhere to the next layer. So all you ned to do is lightly buff the surface and recleanse.
Swirl the lid and brush in clockwise, or an anti clockwise motion around the neck of the bottle (whatever one feels easiest) as you take the applicator out. This will prevent dripping of the product and only the amount you need will be on the brush.
Next professional tip is to apply the polish as thin as you can. I found this product self levels and it’s amazing even if you are a little heavy on application. But its a good habit to get into as you could get a few more applications out of one bottle.
This is possibly the best tip I am going to give you now….Start to apply the polish in the middle of the nail. The push the brush towards your Proximal nail fold (cuticle) “I am going to drop in a diagram at the bottom and an explanation all about the cuticle at the end of this article. Make sure you read it as it will be very beneficial for you” As you push the brush back it will do all the work for you and you will see the polish edges are as neat as a pro! Try it a few times and let the product just glide on. *You are in no rush as it wont set until you are happy and place it into the lamp.
Top tip….Don’t leave any products near a lamp that it on. The bright blue light will most certainly cure whats in the bottles or the brush you leave on your desk!!!! Be warned!
Take your time when you first do a set. read the Sensationail instructions, my cuticle advice and the professional routine bellow before you start and Practice makes perfect!
Once you have mastered a few tips all you have to remember is that the Base & Topcoat take 30 seconds to cure and the polish takes 1 minute. Simple as that. If you need 3 coats, then apply 3.
If you have exceptionally weak nails I suggest a double layer of base and a double layer of topcoat cured for 30 seconds at each application.
When you are finished cleanse, wash hands and Oil those stunning nails twice a day with almond oil. There you have it some professional advice.

Sensational has all the right ingredients to create perfect nails at home time and time again. I can’t fault this in any way. Well if I was really going to be picky I’d say that with some of the colours it shrinks back just a little with the first coat of polish….But on applying the second you would have forgiven it in a heartbeat. The coverage is unsurpassed.

Professionals would normally do 3 thin coats, very thin ones when applying any products for a client as they can ripple and not cure right the way through. This leads to lifting and unhappy customers. Now this is where I feel this products comes into it’s own. The ease of application is tremendous, it’s near on impossible to get it wrong. The applicator brush of the combined base and topcoat is brill and the colours glide on almost seamlessly.

I give this a huge 10/10. For anyone that wouldn’t set foot in a salon this is perfect and for those of you needing to save a few pennies this will blow you away. Excuse the pun…This is Hands down the best gel manicure kit I have used in years.

Below is a professional explanation about the real Cuticle and manicures.

To explain what the true cuticle is… in fact it covers the entire nail bed. Yes thats right girls. The cuticle is basically the residue from the proximal nail fold when the nails are growing. Its there to keep infection out. And should NEVER BE CUT, EVER. As the nail plate grows it just travels with it. It can be carefully cleaned away by yourself but you just need a little know how…So I have done a little routine for you to help you apply Sensationail like a professional.

1. Grab a towel and some kitchen paper and place it on a table with a good light above the area. Preferably set up during the day. Sundays are best! Set aside about 1 1/2 hours to do a great job.
2. Gather all you need and plug in the lamp and arrange your desk with everything you need.
3. To remove the true cuticle gently glide the Sensationail remover tool (this is perfect) up and down the ENTIRE nail bed very gently. You can do this on dry nails with the remover and you will see lots of dry powdery debris coming off. Don’t over work it just do tiny moments with a little pressure and you will be amazed at what comes off!
5. Wash those hands and nails, getting rid of the excess debris. Then dry them off with a clean piece of kitchen roll.
6. Using a gentle file, shape nails. Lightly zig zag the file on the ends. This will add a little bit of key so the base coat will be able to nestle into the ends and seal them.
7. Arrange the lamp, bottles and products so they are easily accessed and loosen the lids a little.
8. Grab a cleanser pad provided in the kit and cleanse (not too much as this will saturate the nail and will lead to lifting!) one drop will do all 4 nails. Really cleanse those nails and scrub away at them so they are nice and clean. Try not to get any fluff left behind.
9. Look at the nails and see if you have any fluff or dust. Do not touch the nail plate if you have. Try to remove it by reusing the pad.
10. Apply a very small amount of base coat to 4 nails (do the thumbs last). Remember to add some around the free edge (tip of the nail). Keep it simple and try not to touch the skin. Keeping it just on the nail bed.
11. Place in lamp for 30 seconds.
12. Apply the colour thinly around the free edge. Then over the nail. Gel polish is amazing as it won’t set until it gets near the lamp! If you find its shrinking back a little just flash cure each nail for 5-10 seconds then move on to the next. This normally happens with darker colours and reds. Word of warning….don’t place any gels near the lamp as they will set, as I have mentioned before. Its always good to remind you!
13. Pop your beautifully and carefully painted nails into the lamp for 1 minute.
14. Apply a second coat to just the nail bed, paying attention to making sure it’s as neat as possible.
15. Pop in the lamp for 1 minute.
16. If you need a 3rd coat go ahead and do another.
17. Place in lamp for 1 minute. If you have applied this thickly you will feel it get a little warm. This is very normal it’s just the molecules connecting and being activated to link together until it sets. It sets so fast it’s a little friction and nothing to worry about.
18. Apply a thin coat of top coat and make sure you run a little along the tip to seal the edges. Then place your hand in the lamp for one last 30 second session!
19. Now do this to all 4 fingers on the other hand, followed by the thumbs. All done! I do hope this has helped you along with my professional gel nails tips.

It all sounds like there are loads of stages but trust me once you have done it a couple of times this will save you so much money and you will be able to have stunning nails all year round that look like a professional job.

*Please remember if you are thinking of doing other peoples nails you need proper training a licence/insurance and tell the council you are running a salon, either from home or mobile. It’s not worth running the risk of getting in trouble.

The key to anything is learning to do things properly and this article is intended for the use of Sensationail home gel nail kits.

For more beauty, fashion or styling advice just Tweet me @sarahbacchus and check out my site SLBstyle.com

For any photography and Personal Styling bookings please email me at sarah@slbstyle.com

Cocktail Recipes For Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Frostie

RED BERRY CLUB

(Available at Grosvenor House Hotel)

A deliciously sweet and tangy cocktail that is the perfect entree to a Valentine’s Day dinner

Ingredients:

50ml CÎROC Red Berry

25 Freshly squeezed lemon juice

15ml Raspberry syrup

1 Egg white

Method:

Shake all ingredients hard with cubed ice for 15 seconds/ Strain into a chilled coupe glass and add lemon zest to the top. Garnish with a fresh raspberry

CÎROC VELVET

This champagne topped cocktail is perfect for a sophisticated affair

Ingredients:

35ml CÎROC Vodka

20ml Peach nectar

5ml Vanilla syrup

15ml Apple juice

Top up with Champagne

Method:

Shake all ingredients together and fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with Champagne

Q’S MARTINI

(Created by Lorenzo Manzo at Quaglino’s)

A classic serve that never gets old. Short and strong, this serve is a classic hit

Ingredients:

50ml CÎROC Vodka

10ml manzanilla sherry

5ml Olive brine

Top with Soda water

Method:

Shake all ingredients with cubed ice and strain into a martini class. Top with Soda water and garnish with 3 olives

CÎROC WHITEHALL LADY

(Available at Corinthia)

A delectable cocktail that’s full of flavour and fizz perfect to sip whilst swooning over your date

Ingredients:

50ml CÎROC Vodka

15ml Elderflower cordial

10ml Fresh lemon juice

Top up with Champagne

Method:

Shake all ingredients with cubed ice and strain into a tall glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with a twist of orange or grapefruit

Will it Take the K.ing of Jewels to Capture the Queen of Your Heart?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Junior Smart

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us; the time where it’s customary to celebrate the love of our lives in ways that truly matter. If there was ever something invented to capture a woman’s heart, then its jewellery and its things that sparkle. In the 21^st Century, flowers and chocolate can only ever be the ‘bubble wrap’ to something with bigger, deeper meaning. For the 21^st Century woman size doesn’t necessarily matter but quality does. Some of the sharp readers amongst you may have seen the title and thought the spelling of King was some kind of typo, but it is in fact the name of a new and upcoming artist K.ing with her latest jewellery Collection “Diamond K.ing”. A brand with an outspoken mandate in that it promises to treat each and every wearer as a Queen.

Model: Frances Lane Jewellery: K.ing Photography: Active 8 Images

Diamond K.ing is the gemstone of Inga Klabyte, who chose to employ everything that life threw at her to polish and reveal her inner diamond. Now under the artistic name of K.ing she makes a living by helping others to do the same. I find it astonishing to think that out of all the different types of companies one could create, the one she chose was jewellery making. However upon meeting her it is easy to see why; just like a diamond, the brand K.ing embodies and accentuates all her key strengths. For example, the number of hours that Inga puts into each design, the immaculate attention to detail which goes into each and every piece and the importance that she places on having each piece unique to the wearer.

The value of not taking things for granted is reflected in the “Diamond K.ing” logo. What appears to be a playing card of the ‘King of Diamonds’. Possession of this card can mean the difference between winning and losing and is essential in a hand of ‘Royal Flush’. In the same way K.ing jewellery is designed to be truly exclusive to the wearer and that absolute possession of the wearer is essential.

Model: Meriely Araujo
Jewellery: K.ing
Photography: Active 8 Images

I find myself pondering on why since time began jewellery has held such an elevated position with the sole purpose of making someone feel special. Why, Inga sparkles even talking about it, she truly believes that every woman is a Queen of someone’s heart and should be treated as such. Listening to her I find myself drawn off into a different world that as a man I had never truly appreciated: “Jewellery is the Queen of every woman’s wardrobe, it’s the jewel of Queen’s crown. There is no Queen with no jewels, simple as that. The truth is women love a good fairy tale crowned with dream come true relationships promising a sparkling future. If you manage to wake up the Sleeping Beauty inside her, you are and will always be her Prince Charming. So is she “Her Grace of Lace” like Queen Victoria or irresistible Scheherazade of “One Thousand and One Arabian Nights”? Is she romantic “Queen by Nature” or your personal Muse of “Eternal Inspiration”? Is she “The Conqueror of Your Heart” like Cleopatra or simply “The Fairest of Them All”?

“When I was a child, I saw people treating my mum as someone ordinary, when to me she was Special, a one off, someone who could never be replaced. From that moment K.ing was almost born to say: “You are the Queen of my Heart”.

Hence K.ing started out by making her mum feel special by creating unique pieces hand-made especially for her. Her mum must have been deeply touched as she took K.ing straight to Arts college entrance exams. This was followed by a Degree in Visual Arts and a Masters in Arts and Cultural studies as well as work placements all over the world. While specialists may have thought she was ‘Ace’ Inga knew she was actually a ‘K.ing’ by proving that everyone can be special and should be treated as such. There’s something in that message for everyone out there who questions their own uniqueness.

Today, Diamond K.ing is limited edition, unique wear. It is bespoke in that it is created directly for the wearer with your choice of metals, certified diamond cut Swarovski Element Crystals in all colours. There is also a ready-hand-made collection ready for you to take home or order to be posted to you straight away. The whole Collection is also there for you to rent for specific events so that you too can be feel like a celebrity on night out or even in your own home.

I have to admit I am smitten by the collection, seeing Swarovski Crystals Elements which have a unique sparkle and brilliance magnified by a choice of gold and silver. Looking at the various sets there is almost an endless variation of colours, shapes and sizes that range from earrings, to bracelets and necklaces to headpieces that can only be found at Diamond K.ing.

At a moment like this being a typical man, one’s thoughts turn to cost. I ask the question; expecting to hear rhetoric along the lines of ‘if you have to ask then you can’t afford it’. Instead, her response is much less faint inducing. For individual unique wear her prices are incredible, the smallest pieces start at just £20 and can go up to ten or hundred times more depending on the project in mind.

Why diamond-cut and not diamonds? “Genuine Crystal Jewellery has got more advantages to me as an artist and a woman than the offcuts of diamonds found on the high street. If a man brought me a diamond big enough to being able truly appreciate it though I would feel obliged to call the authorities, the price people paid for diamonds, and not only monetary, is far too high, I am a Queen with a heart and I chose not to work with diamonds who are associated with pain not love. That’s why I love what authentic diamond cut Swarovski Crystal Elements stands for.”

So what was the reaction to Diamond K.ing’s wares? Well, Jewellery was invented to conquer woman’s heart and that is exactly what K.ing does. The reaction of her other customers was evident; each woman’s eyes lighting up, instinctively reacting to the sparkle and wanting to touch and try on the items.

Inga smiles at her customers with real genuine sincerity “I’ve never seen a woman who is not a “jewellery person”, even if some said so at first. She breaths in, her chest and chin rises and her eyes start sparkling more than any man-made jewel; especially when time is taken to match the jewels to her inner character, her dreams and her aspirations for the future.”

When you put it like that I have to agree, even if just for one day where all the other distractions and mandatories of life are put aside, Valentine’s should be like the fairy tale your loved ones deserve. If there is a dream worth chasing then it should be the one where we all live ‘Happy Ever After’ the closer we can get to making that fantasy a reality the brighter the future can only be for us all.

So, have you got a Queen of your Heart?

Are you looking for the ways to keep the sparkle in her eyes?

Contact:

www.K-ing-Of-Order.com

Get-piece@K-ing-Of-Order.com

Tel: 07730006364

Facebook: Diamond K.ing

Kanye West Attacks Beck At Grammy’s Internet Responds By Attacking Beyonce

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Catherine Balavage

Kanye West Attacks Beck At Grammy’s And The Internet Responds By Attacking… Beyonce

When Kanye West almost interrupted Beck onstage while he was accepting his Album of the Year Grammy award, and then later said that he should respect ‘true artists’ he showed one thing: how much of a twat he is. In fact, who can forget he did a similar thing to Taylor Swift a few years ago? (Weirdly Kanye has said that he will be collaborating with Swift soon).

Beck gave a very dignified response. Saying, ‘Come back, I need some help.’ and then later telling reporters: “[Kanye] deserves to be on stage as much as anybody.” Some reactions to Kanye’s pompousness have been bang on: David Spade calling him ‘virtually impossible’ to like, Shirley Manson calling him a ‘complete twat’ but what has really annoyed me is the large amount of people on the internet attacking Beyonce. Who didn’t even do anything apart from be in the audience, embarrassed at the events unfolding.

Post by Shirley Manson.

Instead of attacking Kanye as an artist, my Facebook feed is full of meme’s attacking Beyonce’s ‘artistry’. Some of it reeks of sexism and it is bullshit. Why not attack Kanye?

Beyonce is an artist. The meme’s say she plays no instruments. I don’t actually know if Beyonce plays any instruments apart from one: her voice. Her STUNNING voice. She is talented, she is visionary and anyone who has seen her documentary Life is But a Dream cannot be anything other than wowed by her work ethic, her talent and her vision. She is not just an artist: she is a superstar. Beck is also an artist. He writes songs and plays 16 instruments. I am a fan. There is room for them both in the music industry. They are like chalk and cheese and each has their place. To compare them is silly and stupid. They also claim that Beyonce does not write any of her songs. She doesn’t write them all, but she has written a fair amount.

So, people, enough with attacking the innocent party. There is only one person who deserves our scorn and his name is Kanye West.

Naomi Watts: I Was Ready To Quit Acting

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Frostie

Some actors find success easy and others struggle for years. Naomi Watts definitely falls into the latter category. The Oscar nominated actress used to drive for hours to pick up bad scripts people refused to send her. She regularly doubted that she would ever have a career after moving to Los Angeles as things were so tough.

“[I went from playing leads] to being someone who had to drive for two hours to get two pages of really bad dialogue in some TV movie, just because they couldn’t be bothered faxing me the pages. And I did that for pretty much ten years. When it was like, you know what, I can’t handle it, I’m giving up. But every time my bags were packed, I’d get a call saying, ‘You’ve got this part.'” she told InStyle magazine.

The 46-year-old actress took anything she was offered when she moved to LA.

“Oh, listen, I did not have any snobbery about anything. I just wanted to work. I always had the attitude that work begets work and one thing would roll to the next, I think I knew I had something. But I certainly had plenty of doubt.”

The star did not get her big break until David Lynch cast her in Mulholland Drive solely from her photograph.

If you are an actor then check out How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.

Is Natural Beauty Skin Deep? UK Breast enlargements falling demand

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Frostie

The Era of Natural Beauty? Falling Demand for Breast Enlargements.

Are attitudes to cosmetic surgery changing among UK women and men?

The UK’s leading cosmetic surgery law firm, Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, who have a decade’s experience in this field have brought the latest and startling figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (BAAPS) to our attention. If these figures are anything to go by, then attitudes are certainly changing. With overall figures for plastic surgery in the UK decreasing in 2014 by 10 per cent, it would seem that cosmetic surgery has lost its lustre among British women.

Is this part of a new Cosmetic Surgery trend?

Certainly, the influence of the fuller-figured celebrity seems to have waned considerably as British women last year opted for more limited beauty surgeries with subtle cosmetic enhancements replacing the more obvious charms of glamour model style boob jobs and dermal fillers.

The figures from BAAPS, an organisation representing most private cosmetic surgeons in the UK, shows clearly that for the first time in the last five years, cosmetic surgery is on the decline and in a large way.

Much of this slump can be explained by women avoiding breast augmentations. While breast enlargements are still by far the most popular cosmetic operation in the UK, their popularity among women has deflated by a huge 25 per cent. Cosmetic surgeons attribute this partly to the PIP breast implant scandal where some breast implants were filled with silicone unfit for human usage. This has meant women are now erring on the side of caution when deciding on cosmetic surgery.

But the overall decrease in cosmetic operations has also been driven by a desire for a more natural look that is currently more popular among celebrities. It would account for breast reductions increasing in popularity and bucking the overall trend. That attitude has been called ‘tweaked, not tucked’ and appears to have become a new beauty ideal with the demand for understated anti-aging surgery such as eyelid surgery and dermal fillers remaining mostly unchanged and popular while large cosmetic changes like tummy tucks and nose jobs falling sharply by 20 per cent.

And it’s not just women; there’s been an overall drop of 15 per cent for men. Nose jobs, the most popular procedure for men in 2013, dropped out of the top position with a massive fall of 30 per cent while the more subtle eyelid surgery is now the most popular reason for men to brave the surgeon’s knife.

Thanks to Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors for their input to this article. If you want to find out more about cosmetic surgery negligence then check out their website at www.cosmeticsurgerysolicitors.co.uk or call them on 0808 256 9318.

Best/Worst Movies of 2014

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Owun Birkett

Wahey! It’s that time of the year where movie critics get to round up their list what made 2014 great and. . . . well, not so much! As always, I will be listing the movies in alphabetical order rather than rank them because they’re all different from each other, and feel unfair when it is like comparing apples and oranges. Lastly, I like to apologise for being late on submitting this list. So with that being said, let’s get right to it!

BEST

This critically acclaimed Australian horror movie is nothing short but brilliant! Not a single jump scare was used, it’s all about tension building and atmosphere and that’s something you don’t find in a lot of horror films nowadays. Never has a horror movie made my skin crawl from start to finish and all credit goes to writer and director Jennifer Kent (making her directorial debut). You know you’ve done something extraordinary when the director of The Exorcist declares your horror movie to be the most terrifying movie he has ever seen. Seriously, it puts The Conjuring to shame!

This is an extraordinary piece of filmmaking! Immensely innovative with its direction and execution and could be Iñárritu’s most ambitious film to date. It deals with themes about the media, society and celebrity culture in such dark but satirical perspective that it’s both hilarious and tragic. Michael Keaton delivers an outstanding performance that more or less mirrors his own career and supporting cast do equally amazing jobs. Though the star was Emmanuel Lubezki, the cinematography is mesmerising and keeps you hooked to the very end.

This is quite possibly Richard Linklater’s masterpiece. How on earth can he top this inspiring movie that deals with time and told a coming of age story like none other before? It could’ve been easily done by hiring different actors to play different ages of the same character. Though Linklater decides to go with the ambitious route; capturing 12 years of one boy’s life to adulthood. It’s mind boggling the movie is 2 hours 45 minutes long and yet feels we only scratched the surface. This is my bet to win big during awards season because all the hard work deserves to be rewarded.

Probably one of the most talked about movies of 2014. That and also quite possibly the worst date movie of 2014. David Fincher yet again takes an average novel and turns it into one of the most entertaining yet bleak thrillers. Ben Affleck is actually good as a guy being constantly scorned by the media, yet it’s Rosamund Pike who steals the show as the most bat-shit insane wife from hell. I think the amazing feat is having Tyler Perry actually being amazing and not another one of his cringe-worthy Madea performances. The movie raises questions more than answers and it is more fascinating with that in mind.

Who’d knew that a Marvel Comics property that non-comic fans never even heard of would become a smash hit AND receive critical acclaim? This film was an absolute blast and wasn’t just from the kick-ass soundtrack. The entire Guardians team from Christ Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot all managed to make the whole thing work. Though writer/director James Gunn is the one to applaud to, as he managed to turn this sci-fi space opera something worth investing. Joss Whedon, it’s your turn to shine!

One of the most gorgeous looking movies of 2014. This hilariously stunning movie couldn’t be in better hands than Wes Anderson and he makes his best film to date. Ralph Fiennes delivers a genuinely funny performance that surprised me, and many others as we were accustomed to his serious roles from his previous work. The whole look of the movie played out as it was a pop-up book but with as much love and care you’d expect from Anderson. All the Wes Anderson regulars (from Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe etc) continue to make great performances but newcomers as Saoirse Ronan, F. Murray Abraham, Jude Law and Harvey Keitel all make a strong presence.

This may not be one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies, though I can’t deny the movie’s ambitions and scope. This is reminiscent to science fiction novels of 50s-70s, dealing about humanity and its venture to the unknown. Matthew McConaughey gives us a protagonist full of determination, even when put against all odds. Though both Mackenzie Foy and Jessica Chastain steal the show as the young and adult Murph. The visual effects are mind-blowing and Hans Zimmer’s score is refreshing with its church-organ score. This is definitely a sci-fi movie worth exploring.

Hey, another movie with Chris Pratt being on my list! If there was one movie I would pick as my favourite, this is the movie. Phil Lord and Chris Miller (same duo behind 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street) have made a genuinely hilarious and charming animated movie. Everyone thought this would be a quick cash grab for LEGO but they delivered something special. Immensely creative and not only my favourite animated movie of 2014 but one of my top favourite animated movies of all time!

I must admit, I wasn’t really a fan of The Raid: Redemption. So I walked into this one with not a lot of expectations. My god, this movie blew me away! Not only is this one of the best action movies of 2014 but one of the best action movies I’ve seen in the past 5 years. Gareth Evans is a competent director and doesn’t hold back from the brutality this movie has in store. Sure, the story is something we’ve seen from a dozen other crime movies such as Infernal Affairs (and even the remake, The Departed) but it’s all done in a refreshing way. Just be warned, this movie will make you wince from its pain-inducing action.

The first movie I watched in New Zealand and it was the biggest surprise of 2014. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi creates a mockumentary that makes a unique and hilarious take on vampire lore. You fall for these characters as they are somewhat likeable and still come across being human than monsters. Definitely one of the funniest movies of the year and North American readers should definitely check this out when released in cinemas.

Ever imagined dealing with a school teacher from hell? Okay, a bit of an exaggerated question to ask but this movie shows us a teacher you pray you don’t come across. This film has such flair and energy that’s impossible not to get involved. Miles Teller is becoming an incredible talent and he truly shines as the emotionally tortured student on becoming the best drummer. Though not mentioning J.K. Simmons’ outstanding performance would be a crime, it is utterly electrifying that you’re preparing the unexpected.

WORST

This new Spider-Man series is anything but amazing. If the first movie didn’t make it clear that Sony Pictures had no idea what to do with Spider-Man franchise, this movie shows it clear as day (didn’t even need a hacker to prove that). This movie is not interested on telling a story with compelling characters, it’s more interested for the studio to keep the licence so it can make more sequels and spin-offs to make an easy cash grab. It’s heart-breaking that everyone’s top favourite Marvel superhero is treated this way. Edward Garfield is wasted with this directionless series and the villains were just cringe-worthy. This movie even makes Spider-Man 3 look good. . . . think about that!

This movie left me feeling uncomfortable. The movie comes across wanting to view this tragic but honourable soldier. However, it feels it is very one-sided and not having a clear direction on what story to tell. Is it an anti-war movie? Pro-war? It doesn’t really give any insight about the man, other than he wants to protect his country from the “savages” and those “savages” are purely evil (something I feel Paul Greengrass would’ve been a better director to handle this material). The movie doesn’t tell anything new and has been done better before in terms about the conflict and biopic about a military soldier (such as The Hurt Locker and Born on the Fourth of July).

Remember how The Conjuring terrified audiences and almost side-tracked with the doll that kinda went nowhere? Well they decided to make this movie and got the director of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. What we got was a horror movie with boring characters that have zero chemistry and investment whatsoever. If you find jump scares scary, this will absolutely terrify you. However, they grew tiresome and extremely irritating with each one that popped up. Anyone can make a jump scare, though that does not mean your movie is scary!

Imagine two of your favourite film series based on popular books (in this case, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games) and turn it into the most bland, generic movie you could imagine. It also reminded me of Equilibrium, though they left all the boring parts in this movie. Shailene Woodley has been in my radar since her performance in The Descendants and was also fantastic in The Spectacular Now. This breaks my heart to see her involved in this series that feels so contrived, it left very few surprises and ended up bored out of my mind.

Just to make one thing perfectly clear; Sleeping Beauty is one of my all-time favourite Disney animated movies. This movie, however, takes everything you loved about it and went with the completely wrong direction. The reason we loved Maleficent was she was purely evil, it even scared me when I was a child and didn’t hold back on killing the princess. Here, they decided turn her story into a tragic one and something I, quite frankly, thought we didn’t need. Though what shocked me was the adult subtext and kinda turns into a rape revenge story. None of the characters were developed enough to be invested and the whole movie was a complete mess.

A remake that didn’t need to be remade in the first place. The original 1987 movie by Paul Verhoeven still holds up today as being one of the best sci-fi movies of the 80s and wrote the book about action movie satire (something like Gamer failed to deliver). This was a dull, directionless remake that got neutered down to an audience friendly PG-13 rating and was worse for it. This movie also wastes talents like Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson. This movie should get a life sentence!

You know when somebody says “it’s just a kids movie”? Let me ask you this; would you let your kids watch a movie that’s based on a kids property that has one of our heroes saying this line when he first lays eyes on Megan Fox as April O’Neil “she’s so hot, I can feel my shell tightening”? The answer should be “no”! This movie is everything on what you should not do when making a blockbuster, especially based on a franchise everyone knows and loves. Director Jonathan Liebesman continues to deliver uninspired movies that have been done better. There’s absolutely no reason we should not even put enough effort to tell a basic story with characters we should care about.

This is probably the top contender of the most boring science fiction movie in recent memory. Wally Pfister’s directorial debut thinks it is making a thought-provoking sci-fi tale about technology, though when the movie’s extremist group can’t even make a logical reason why we should hate Will Caster and the technology he’s creating but instead pretty much say “technology is evil”. . . . okay, care to expand on that? None of the characters speak naturally and the third act’s action scene feels almost out of place. Sorry Wally, you aimed just a little too high with this one.

Both Boyhood and this movie are 2 hours and 45 minutes long. The former was engrossing, this one was a drag! Not the worst of the series (that still belongs to Revenge of the Fallen) but it is still lifeless and tedious. Even replacing Shia LaBeouf with Mark Wahlberg wasn’t enough to improve the things that are still wrong with this movie. This is probably the first movie that made me want John Goodman to stop talking! Also, they spent an awful amount of time explaining the ‘Romeo & Juliet’ act between the two teenage lovers and it pretty much encourages under-age love (even to the point of sex. . . . thank you Mr. Bay, that’s exactly what we wanted in a Transformers movie). When we do finally get to the Dinobots (after 2 hours and 20 minutes in), we’re beyond caring on what’s going on! This series does need to die out soon but it’s not soon enough!

Kevin Smith is one of those filmmakers I admire; he’s a symbol of everything about geek and no shame to it whatsoever. Unfortunately, the days of Clerks and Chasing Amy are long lost with this dreadful horror film. Based on a fake Gumtree ad and Smith let fans vote whether to make this film, it is a complete pretentious mess. Justin Long’s character is unlikable, so it’s hard for us to feel sorry when horrible things start happening to him. Also a certain cameo from an A-list star goes for far too long than needed. Definitely not worth the hype.

DISAPPOINTING MOVIE OF THE YEAR

Remember when Guillermo del Toro was, at one point, going to direct a two movie adaptation of The Hobbit? That’s what has been on my mind since watching the first movie and stayed with me till the end of this final entry of Peter Jackson’s trilogy. Stretching it to three movies was unneeded, the second movie had huge pacing issues. Though those issues for being too long were reversed, the 2hr 24min duration went by and actually made me say “oh, that’s it?” Those emotional moments in The Return of the King is completely missing in this movie. When characters get axed off, there’s little investment to care and it’s a real shame. The Hobbit could’ve been spectacular, instead it feels average in comparison to The Lord of the Rings (which I do admit is unfair to compare). Not terrible by any means but could’ve been so much more than it is.

MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIE OF 2015

It would be really easy to say Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and it is definitely up there. Though choosing from the line-up was incredibly difficult. You have from Avengers: Age of Ultron, Terrence Malick’s latest Knight of Cups, and return of James Bond in Spectre. I finally narrowed it down to this sequel to one of the most influential post-apocalyptic action movies of all-time. George Miller finally returns after having his run on making those penguin movies (have to admit, I wasn’t a fan) and Tom Hardy takes over from Mel Gibson as the titular role. Co-starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult and Hugh Keays-Byrne (returning to series since Mad Max). The movie looks edgy, raw and unbelievably fun! Looking forward to going back on the road.

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BEST

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DISAPPOINTING MOVIE OF THE YEAR

MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIE OF 2015