My Week with Marilyn

I hadn't heard much about My Week With Marilyn prior to today. Somehow it had flown under my movie-watching radar, and if it wasn't for my on-the-ball mum, I probably would have missed it completely. However, as a big Marilyn Monroe fan (as well as being named after the Hollywood icon), my mum was quick to suggest we take a trip to the cinema.

When the opening credits began, I was ecstatic to see that the film was, in part, a BBC production. I always love proper British films. They have a unique quality that Hollywood movies could never replicate (The Kings Speech being another example of this).

The film begins as it ends, with Marilyn doing what she did best: being in the spotlight. The story, although I'm not sure if entirely true, is soft and insightful. The cinematography throughout the film is beautiful, and the performances are tremendous. Kenneth Branagh is brilliant as the revered Olivier. However, as in the story, he is surpassed by Michelle Williams, who captures the vulnerable and childlike Marilyn almost to perfection.

I would definitely recommend this film. Those interested in the old-school Hollywood glamour will enjoy it, as will those who love a British period piece. It is incredibly light-hearted at times, but like Marilyn herself, under the facade there is a sense of sadness that makes the film that much more poignant and real.

Breaking Dawn

The Twilight Saga. A global phenomenon on a scale only slightly less than Harry Potter. I was quite late on the teen-vampire romance bandwagon. Although my mum purchased the first book when it was originally published, I never got around to reading it. Fast-forward a year or two and the Twilight franchise was in full-swing with feature length films hitting our cinema screens and stealing the hearts of teens worldwide.

The first film was magical, with its slow-paced plot and breath-taking scenery. The second installment, New Moon, introduced us to the new boys on the block (werewolves) and was 1000 x more action-packed. I'm going to ignore the third film (what was it called?) as it was just so bad it doesn't even deserve a mention. Then we get the final part of the story, Breaking Dawn, conveniently broken into two parts for maximum revenue (sorry, I mean impact).

To be honest, I had very low expectations for Breaking Dawn: Part I. Having not read the book (I succumbed to boredom somewhere near the beginning of Eclipse), the entire storyline was a surprise. Luckily for me, it turned out to be a pleasant one. With its beautiful tropical location, gripping storyline, unexpectedly decent acting and cliff-hanger ending, there's something for everyone.

I for one, cannot wait for Part II. It's just a shame we have to wait an entire year for the conclusion to this supernatural saga.