Theatre Review: West Side Story.

(Photo source)

So I went to see West Side Story in the Empire Theatre on its first opening night on Tuesday and it was pretty good I have to say, I just have a few criticisms.. some that can be brushed off easily perhaps but overall it was a very good play.

If you don't know about West Side Story, it is essentially about a modern day Romeo & Juliet back in the 1950s. We see Puerto Rican immigrants (The Sharks) facing a daily bombardment of racist abuse from everyone, including authorities such as the police while American/Polish Jets defend their 'territory' from them. Written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, the story rings true as you watch it because let's face it, nothing seems to have changed in the past 60 years as immigrant issues are still relevant and gang warfare seems to still be prominent in Liverpool, Birmingham and many other places. The rivalry seems similar to that of the Shakespearean play Romeo & Juliet as the division is split between the Montagues and the Capulets. And like Romeo & Juliet, in West Side Story Romeo is Tony (played by Dominic Hodson), a Jet, who helplessly falls in love with Latina Maria (played by Katie Hall), a Shark at a dance. Tragedy is inevitable as the two can't help falling in love despite the forbidden line between them.

The show was snappy, the dancing was sharp and perfectly choreographed and the ensemble numbers had you singing and toe-tapping along. Although I did find some people lacked in their singing as some notes were not always on point but I suppose this could be put down to nerves as it was their first night performing in Liverpool. Dominic Hodson who played Tony was very confident in his role both physically and vocally but I felt he was often overpowered by Katie Hall's (Maria) stunning voice.

Here's my first criticsm:

(Photo source)

After being accustomed to seeing the film version of West Side Story, I expected Tony and Maria to be a lot darker than they were. Here you can clearly see from the picture above, Tony is pretty much a dirty-blonde haired man which surprised us all and Maria is a mousey haired girl when her Latina elements in the film portray her to be very dark haired and more robust. However, if you ignore these stark differences, they both play their characters very well. I certainly believed in their love and passion and I was touched by the emotion that poured out of Maria when her lover was sadly murdered which most definitely left the whole room teary-eyed.

I also felt that the music from the incredible orchestra at the beginning was very low, perhaps forcing the audience to listen attentively to Tony's earlier solos like Something's Coming and Maria. Even The Jets' opening number seemed rather restrained and passive. However the levels of the sound seemed to rise and grow stronger as the play went on, bringing strength to the reprise of Tonight in the closing minutes of the first half and bringing fantastic comic timing from the men in Gee Officer Krupke. Probably one of my favourites was the swishing of the sequinned skirts in the brilliant song America led by the feisty Anita. Katie Hall definitely shined in the song I Feel Pretty and her moments with Tony in their passionate scenes.

I have to criticise a specific scene heavily though that came in the second half where, for those who are familiar with West Side Story, Anita goes to the Jets' territory to deliver a message to Tony from Maria. She is prevented by Tony's friends and in the film all they do is tease and push her around. True to the film, they did push her about and call her names but.. they then did an actual 3 second rape scene. Now I do not know why the hell they put this unnecessary moment in the play and it was hard to see what was going on as all the lads crowded around Anita's body and the boy who was doing the evil deed but you could see enough to tell what was going on! I am a little disgusted actually they added this scene in when there was no need for it as this was never in the film version of West Side Story. I know children don't often go to the theatre but I did see a fair few young faces in the audience and I just found it very shocking and very uncalled for. I heard a few subdued gasps and mutters around me so I know I'm not the only one who was stunned and questioning why they did this.

But all in all, it was great to see West Side Story on the stage at last and it does leave you finger snapping and dancing out of the theatre. I didn't realise how much I actually wanted to see it outside of the film and on a stage until I saw it. You should definitely go and see it. It's not the show stopping play of the summer but it's definitely worth seeing.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

VMAS 2014: Red Carpet Review.

 

I'm not normally one to review fashion on the red carpet or anywhere else for that matter but I saw so many beautiful dresses and outfits from this year's VMAS that I just had to review my favourites. This time around there seemed to be a simple theme of red and silver going on and A LOT of skin showing. You go, girls!

To start off with:

 

Can we just talk about how good Jennifer Lopez looks at 45, please? She totally rocks this stunning Charbel Zoe, cut-out gown which comes with a bold high slit with shows off her toned figure.  She finishes off the look with Jimmy Choo shoes, a matching Thalé Blanc silver clutch and Normal Silverman rings and earrings proving that no matter what age you are, if you've got it.. flaunt it.

Cutest couple award definitely has to go to Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo. Jordin is so beautiful in a plunging white dress while Jason wears a matching white suit with Gentleman Collection by David Thomas and Jason of Beverly Hills jewellery. Jason was also nominated twice for Best Pop Video and Best Choreography for his hit song Talk Dirty. 

 

LGBT icon and Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox wore a show stopping dress from her friend Marc Bouwer which gave the actress the perfect opportunity to show off her figure.

 

 

Katy Perry always comes up with new, mad ways to throw everyone off their game. The singer showed up with rapper, Riff Raff, both in matching patchwork denim custom-made Versace outfits in homage to that unforgettable moment when Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake wore a denim-on-denim ensemble back in 2001. Hilarious but she pulled it off so well. 

 

The rapper Iggy Azalea down the cut-out route by wearing a silver Versace dress with her hair slicked back perfectly. She also performed her new single Black Widow with Rita Ora.

 

Speaking of Rita Ora, the singer pulled an Angelina Jolie in a sexy thigh high slitted Donna Karan Atelier negligee-inspired dress as she flaunted her curves. Channelling a Jessica Rabbit-esque (sans the red hair) look, she catwalked the red carpet in this silk charmeuse outfit topped off with a diamond encrusted Lorraine Schwartz choker and strapless heels.

 

Sporting an adorable baby bump, Kelly Rowland looked amazing and kept it simple in this elegant Kaufman Franco gown paired with Jimmy Choo shoes. Her Lorraine Schwartz jewellery shone in the sun, setting off her whole look.

 

Solange Knowles looked badass in an sparkly, oversized jacket and tuxedo pants from the H&M Studio Collection. Bare underneath, Solange's jacket scooped low enough to expose a little of her cleavage. With big, Diana Ross style hair and black heeled sandals, Solange looked just fabulous in a glamorous, rocker chic way.

 

All eyes were on Queen B as she walked the red carpet in a black, lacy, Nicolas Jebran dress with dazzling, statement earrings by Lorraine Schwartz. She strategically hid parts of her body but the risqué cut outs and gemometric lines bared enough to show off her body and the fact she clearly had no underwear on. But this isn't the only look she had for the night..

 

It literally became the Beyoncé show as she performed her 15 minute medley of songs from her self-titled album in a bejewelled, mosasic Tom Ford bodysuit. It clung to her body and showed off all her assets.. quite literally. She had the whole room in her hands as she danced and sung her heart out, hitting every note perfectly despite the heavily choreographed dances.

 

Queen B just doesn't stop slaying! After her epic show and receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from her husband Jay Z and daughter Blue Ivy, she appeared backstage in a silky, maroon, Zuhair Murad dress which had a daring side panel which reveal the singer went commando again! The dress hugged her curves and made her look unbelievable as she stood in front the photographers in the pressroom, smiling with her trophies. Alongside the Video Vanguard Award, she also received awards from the Best Cinematography, Best Video With a Social Message and Best Collaboration categories.

To quote Lady Gaga: boys, boys, boys, we love them!
Here are my favourite looks from the men this year:

Sam Smith

 

Ed Sheeran


Darren Criss

And Youtuber, Tyler Oakley who also live tweeted his interviews with various icons.

 Those were my favourite looks from the 2014 VMAS.

Who were your favourites of the night? Did you enjoy the show?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Makeup Review: Maybelline New York SuperStay 10Hr Tint Gloss.

 

This is a product I have been using for a fairly long time and it is called Maybelline New York SuperStay 10 Hour Tint Gloss. It is described to have a lasting colour for, well, 10 hours and it has a gorgeous, vibrant sheen to it. They say their new applicator allows the colour to glide on smoothly and covers all areas that it's applied to.

Now normally I never really believe products that are advertised saying they last for a certain period of time as a lot of brands seem to say the same, that isn't what usually makes me buy a product. With this item, Maybelline claim that it lasts up to 10 hours straight and still looks good on you at the end of a night out etc. Technically, for a lip product, that is not something I 100% believe and from my time using it, it is definitely not 10 hours.

Maybelline's SuperStay 10 Hour Tint Gloss comes in ten shades in the USA but here, in the UK, there are only five shades. I don't know why this is but nonetheless there is a lovely range despite them all being quite alike. There is a shade for every occasion and for every person.

Although it says it's a lip tint, it applies just like lip gloss and the applicator (pictured above) is quite a unique one. I've never used one quite like it and its shape is that of an oval kind and it is fairly fluffy. The shape of it is quite useful as you can apply the lip tint while outlining your lips expertly so you don't go outside any of the lines.

The only two I have (top picture) at the moment are Endless Ruby in 540 (right) and in 640 (left). I picked these ones especially because I felt they complimented my skin tone perfectly. I usually pick quite bold colours especially in red as I don't feel, with my pale skin, nude/light colours work for me very well. As you can see from the bottom picture how, despite being the same name, how different and diverse the shades can be. 

The left one - 640, when applied, is a very daring red and with a few layers on, it totally works with any look you're going for. It looks quite light in the photo but that is only because that is one layer, apply more and you'll get a more darker red. The right one 540, is a more of a purple shade rather a 'ruby' shade. I only use this with certain outfits as it can clash easily if I'm not careful. Again, a few layers applied and it is bold and a strong colour; perfect for a night out on the town. They don't smudge when dry on your lips but when wet they can stain other things easily, such as clothes and your fingers etc. But this is a lot better than normal lip gloss and regular lipstick and leaves you with an almost matte finish.

The only criticisms I have are that it is definitely not a 10 hour lasting tint. I find it comes off easily when you're eating and sometimes when you're drinking (but if you use a straw with your drink, it stays on!). You do have to do a few top ups throughout the day or night but these moments are stretched out longer, more than a regular lip gloss which would need to be re-applied every hour which we girls know can get very, very frustrating. I would reckon it would perhaps be about every 3-4 hours that you'd need to re-do it which is great by a girl's standards on a night out!

Another criticism for this would be the packaging. It is quite boring and not at all eye-catching. I literally only found this product when I was looking for something else and just decided to give it a chance as I was desperate for something new. It is just white plastic which gets dirty easily and the stickers on the lid come off easily as both of mine have. You can see by my picture that the logo and name of the product are quite faded and this is because I have had these products for quite a long time now so they do get damaged easily. But I suppose that doesn't matter as long as you're happy with the product like I am.

     Overall this is a great lip product which really pays off after applying a few layers of it and gives you that bold look you're going for. They're not really glossy at all and don't leave your lips feeling sticky like some can do. Also, a bonus, your hair doesn't get stuck in it on a windy day! When it dries, it is actually bone dry and has a lovely matte finish as aforementioned.

You can buy it cheap from Amazon for £3.49!

Or from Boots for £6.99!

So I hope you like the product too and my review of it.

Have you tried it before? What did you think of it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

It's 2014, not 1914.

(Photo Source)

Mike Brown is just one of four unarmed black men that has been killed by policemen in the last four weeks. Eric Garner in New York, John Crawford in Dayton, OH, Ezell Ford in L.A. and Mike Brown in St. Louis. Yes, this will probably be a long post because I am furious and disgusted with what's happening around the world right now and so should you be.

Mike Brown was heading to his grandmother's house when he was shot and killed by police. Police said he was shot after a struggle over a firearm in a police car but it wasn't really clear why he was in the car in the first place. One shot was fired in the struggle then more were fired before the officer left the car. They claimed that Mike struck the officer and tried to steal his gun but his friend claimed to reporters that the officer told them to move onto the footpath before then threatening the teenager with a gun.

Mike Brown's mother, Leslie McSpadden, only found out about her son's demise from identifying him on a photo taken on a mobile phone. He was only 18 years old. Devastated, she described him as a "good child getting ready to go to college". A video has been uploaded to YouTube where she is being interviewed by a local news reporter after the tragic shooting and when asked about what the police are telling her about the shooting, all she could say was: "They aren't telling me anything ... they wouldn't even let me identify my son. The only way I knew it was my son was from people out here showing me his picture on their phones and their tablets. I learned about it from a guy calling me on the phone. I was able to look at that picture and say yes that's my son. Laying in the street for hours. Hours." 

His death on Saturday was the catalyst that sparked off the demonstrations which were followed by riots and looting in Ferguson, Missouri, USA which is a largely black St. Louis suburb. About 150 officers in riot gear were spread out through St. Louis County. Stores were set on fire, robbed and smashed up completely. There have been a number of videos and pictures posted all over the internet of men and women, some masked, breaking into shops and taking what they can.

Four days and nights of protesting on the streets of Ferguson has left the police resorting to using tear gas and rubber bullets many of which have struck innocent protesters.

(Photo source)

 

I am sorry for the graphic nature of this photo but this lady was helping calm the crowd down before being struck with a rubber bullet herself.  Absolutely disgusting.

How is this injustice any different to 50 years ago? Did the Civil Rights Movement mean absolutely nothing then?

Police brutality against people of colour is not a new problem obviously, it's decades old. But thankfully with technology becoming more advanced and social media being pretty much used by everyone right now, everyone is able to gather more information and cases like these are no longer going unnoticed. A page called Justice for Mike Brown has been set up on Facebook to protest the shooting and supporters have also taken to Twitter using the hashtag #justicefor mike to share their views. This protest movement is certainly taking shape but there needs to be more media outcry, not just in the USA but everywhere else too because I haven't heard much about it over here in the UK.

Mike's mother and father can't even mourn him in peace right now, they're having to defend their son against the media and police. This is sickening. Instead of allowing a family to grieve, they're having to listen to these repulsive remarks of how their much-loved son is being turned into the enemy and not the police. The boy can't even defend himself because he's dead. And his killer will remain presumably innocent.

This teenager is just the latest in a long list of black American youths to be shot and killed. How many more people do we need to lose before something is done? There has been too much blood shed and there has been a long history of violence by police that could have been avoided. Too many innocent people have been killed by the misconduct of police causing mistrust, anger to communities and grief to so many families.

So please sign this petition so President Obama can bring in new Federal Laws that protects citizens from Police violence and misconduct.

"The Civil Rights Act is 50 years old. These two pictures were taken 50 years apart. Behold our progress. #Ferguson." - @jackfrombkln

How many more people have to die before something changes? It needs to stop and stop now. The work for the Civil Rights Act is going to waste. Maybe people need reminding of that at times like this.

Also if any of my fellow bloggers from the USA are reading this and planning to protest, please keep yourselves safe and don't give up.

(Photo source)

R.I.P Mike Brown and to all of those innocent souls whose lives were taken without reason.

Thankyou for reading
Laura.

R.I.P Robin Williams.

 

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."

I woke up this morning and wished I had never checked my Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. I could not believe my eyes as I saw my timeline being filled with emotional tributes and collective shock as the world woke up to the upsetting news that Robin Williams has died.

This horrendous news has shocked and devastated all of Hollywood. In an apparent suicide attempt, police in California suspect he died from asphyxia but an investigation is still being carried out to confirm this. He was 63. Known for his animated, eccentric comedy and acting and lively personality, he brought laughter and happiness in over 100 acting roles to millions around the world. He's famous from films like Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting for which he won an Oscar for. Mrs Doubtfire, Aladdin, Jumanji, Flubber are the ones I loved seeing Robin in as well as his comedy stand up. He brought fire and passion in his acting and lit up any scene every single time.

It is known that he has battled severe depression over the years and has struggled with alcohol and drugs forcing him to go into rehab. Although he has joked about his troubles in the past, it turns out the laughter was the greatest mask of all as no one knew how really disturbed he was inside.. until now.

His wife, Susan Schneider, released a heartbreaking statement about her husband's death:

"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken.

On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions." 

Tributes from all over the world have flooded in all day and many celebrities have taken to Twitter to show their respect.

@rickygervais  -  I am deeply saddened. He was a lovely man who would keep everyone laughing even if he wasn't feeling good himself. RIP Robin Williams.

@SethMacFarlane -The world just got a lot less funny. Robin Williams is a tragic loss.

@realrossnoble - Shocked and saddened by the news of Robin Williams passing. A true master of the art of stand up.

@StephenKing - Williams's first appearance as Mork was a stunner -- you knew at once that there had never been a comedian like him.

And The Academy simply tweeted this picture from Aladdin with the words:

Genie, you're free.

Yes you are, Robin, yes you are. I'm distraught you thought this was the only way to stop your hurting but I hope you finally find the peace you've clearly longed for after all these years.

2014 is quickly becoming the year of losing great, inspiring people and today the world is a little quieter after this.

Robin, your inspiration and profoundness will live on forever and you'll never be forgotten, not for one second.

Depression is not a laughing matter and it's something that needs to talked about more rather being ignored and thought of as something that'll just 'pass by'. If you feel you need to talk to somebody, then please, please, please don't hesitate to contact the following organisations:

Samaritans  

Website - www.samaritans.org

Email - jo@samaritans.org

Telephone -  08457 90 90 90 (open 24/7)

Write - Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, Chris, PO Box 90 90, Stirling, FK8 2SA

Trevor Project

Website - www.thetrevorproject.org

Telephone - 1-866-488-7386 (open 24/7)

Text - "Trevor" to 1-202-304-1200

Twitter - @TrevorProject

R.I.P Robin Williams and I wish anyone who is currently suffering with depression all the best in the future and I hope you get the help you definitely deserve.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Book Review: You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher.

 

So this is probably one of the best books I've read all summer and it is written by the lovely Giovanna Fletcher. Giovanna is an actress and freelance journalist, originally from Essex where she lived with her dad Mario, mum Kim, big sister Giorgina and her little brother Mario. She is married to the very wonderful Tom Fletcher who is in the band McFly (one of my most loved bands from my teen years!).

Her debut novel Billy and Me is another one of her books I would love to read but You're The One That I Want was the first one I got my hands on after getting a great recommendation from Carrie Hope Fletcher (Tom's younger sister) on goodreads. It is about a strong, unbreakable bond between three people; Maddy, Rob and Ben who were affectionately known as 'The Tripod'. Having been best friends since childhood, they thought nothing could come between them but their love for each other is tested to the limits and it turns out it is exactly that.. love. Love that changes everything. We follow them as they go through their childhood, adolescence and their twenties. Maddy has never felt anything for either of the boys but as soon as they begin to grow up, all sorts of emotions come out which leads to a very complex situation between them all. Maddy is torn between the two of them, Ben and Rob, and has the heartbreaking decision to make; to decide which one she loves more. Standing at the altar with Rob, there is a possibility Maddy will end it all with him to be with Ben, the best man, if he speaks up..

Right I'll be honest, I didn't think I would like this because I'm not a fan of the whole love triangle cliché or girls and boys being unable to be friends with each other without any other feelings being there but I decided to give this novel a go and I'm really glad I did. It was a full of emotion and I really liked the character Maddy as she wasn't a weedy, fragile type of girl. She was really 'one of the boys' and slotted in perfectly with Robert and Ben and bravely got up to all sorts of adventures with them. I connected with her quite well as I too seem to get on with lads better than I do with girls.

The story is told from all three characters' points of view and I felt this really worked well as we were able to collect the emotions from every person in each situation they were in from school to Paris to university. I really liked how Giovanna described each place they were in, making us feel like we were actually there alongside the characters from their homes in Peaswood to London and Paris. The transition between places was perfect and well written by her. It was also paced really well, no scene or moment was rushed and every ending of a chapter made you want to read more. I couldn't put the book down! 

Giovanna writes this novel expertly and leads the way to show us how each character develops over the years. Out of the two lads, I really liked reading Ben's viewpoint because he is such a loyal, sweet and sensitive boy who is clearly madly in love with Maddy and always has been from the day he met her. He's kind of every girl's dream boy. I felt more sympathetic with his feelings too and I just fell in love with him. He was so easy to connect with and understand more because I have been in a similar circumstances too where I was in love (or I thought I was) with someone for quite a few years without ever telling them which messed up a few opportunities for me. But thankfully, I'm past all of that even though, like Ben, I still have a soft spot for them but I'm able to move on carefree and happy now.

The only problem I have with this book is the amount of spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm such a picky person when it comes to things like this and most could be brushed off as genuine, honest mistakes. Rookie mistakes, yes, but if Giovanna is going to have a career in writing, I'd hate to think her future books will suffer the same problem and I hope she gets them edited and looked over again before being published.

But other than that, it was a great read and had me on the edge of my seat considering I don't normally like these types of books. It's great for your first chic-flick kinda book because there's no graphic love scenes or anything and it addresses the issues of unrequited love and love triangles realistically with a perfect finesse. It left me all nostalgic for my younger days especially when they go to Paris and made me think of many happy memories I've spent there with family and school, mainly in Disneyland!

I was hooked from the first page to the very end. It was beautifully told and really captures your heart and your emotions either through the characters or through experiences of your own.

 I am really looking forward to seeing what Giovanna has in store for us next. I really do think she has a great future in writing and I'll definitely be on the look out for more of her books. 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Any comments will be really appreciated.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Film Review: Guardians Of The Galaxy.

 

So I've just seen Guardians of the Galaxy and I actually really, really liked it! I wasn't too keen at first to see it when the first teaser trailer came out because it was a completely new Marvel film altogether and didn't include any of my favourites like Iron Man, Captain America or Thor. But as it's a Marvel movie, I just had to see it to see what they had in store for us.

If you don't already know, Guardians of the Galaxy is about a superhero team made up of Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) who finds himself in the middle of the conflict unknowingly, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who is a powerful assassin out for revenge against her master, Drax the Destroyer (Dave Batista) who is avenging the death of wife and daughter, Groot (Vin Diesel) who is an alien tree of royal descent and of course, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) a genetically engineered, foul mouthed raccoon. They fight against extraterrestrial enemies after reluctantly making an alliance together and defend a desired orb.

Directed by James Gunn, the plot of the movie is far from original as it's the same old thing of an unlikely team of misfits all struggling with their own troubles, fighting against enemies who are determined to obliterate them. Enemies that include Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and at times Thanos (Josh Brolin). It was actually quite terrifying to finally see Thanos in all his glory after we only caught a 5 second glimpse of him at the end of The Avengers.

I'll be honest, Chris Pratt really surprised me in this film. I have always liked him after seeing him in What's Your Number? and the TV show Parks and Recreation, being the supporting player and never taking the lead role.. his scenes always allowed him to steal the spotlight for a couple of moments, making him an unforgettable character. Here, he turns it around and becomes the leading man and definitely shines in all his magnificence. It was like he was born to play Star-Lord as he made the character his own by playing both emotional and comedic parts which displayed his versatile acting skills. His introduction to the film is pretty cool as he makes his way through an ancient temple by putting on earphones that blast Redbone's 'Come and Get Your Love' as he moves across the path in style, fighting off creatures. His effortless shift from a struggling loser to hero is brilliant to watch.

Another person that surprised me was Zoe Saldana. Covered entirely in green makeup and long flowing locks of dark hair with a hint of pink, she remained a complete and utter badass throughout the film. Of course, she was still in a skin tight suit that showed off her curves but I didn't actually mind this time because she proved she can handle herself and take care of anything that stands in her way regardless of what she was wearing. This is probably thanks to the fact the film's screenplay was actually co-written by a woman, Nicole Perlman, for the first time ever in Marvel history. She writes Gamora and her sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) as tough, strong, and unforgiving characters that kick ass which is something refreshing and great to see!

The film did well to incorporate all five of the Guardians actually and fit in their individual stories to allow the audience to see them for who they really are. To be honest, they did it so well that none of the villains ever stood out for me. Sometimes, I forgot who was the real enemy and who was double crossing who. Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser did well to play the baddie but I felt they didn't use his power to its full potential.

The comedy was actually on point for most of the film, I thought. The script (written by James Gunn himself and Nicole Perlman) was brilliant in dividing moments of catastrophe and moments of amusement. The dialogue was quick witted and a bit tongue-in-cheek at times ("pelvic sorcery" "he's an a-hole but not 100% a dick" hahaha!!). I was surprised, however, at the amount of swearing in the film. Yes, I know this may seem a little bit conservative of me but considering it's a 12A I was a little shocked at some of the language they used and especially when Chris' character gives the finger at one point!

But this film just shows that there are definitely no limits to Marvel's ideas for films as there are clearly other worlds to explore and other extraterrestrial enemies that we are still in the dark about, especially Thanos who still remains a mysterious, sinister villain. Not only that, at the end of the film there is a sureness that the five misfits will return as James Gunn boldly announces that "The Guardians of the Galaxy will return" which is a daring move considering there was an uncertainty of how the film was going to be received by the public. Apparently the second one has already been announced to be coming to cinemas in 2017!

Thankfully for Gunn, the film opened to a very big $94m going ahead of X-Men: Days of Future Past ($90m) while being just a bit behind Transformers: Age of Extinction ($100m) considering it's one of the lesser known franchises from Marvel. I've also reviewed both of those films as well by the way if you fancy checking them out!

So did you see the film? What did you think of it?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Skin Product Review: Simple - Cleanser, Toner & Moisturiser.

 

As titled, I will be reviewing Simple's products which are; the cleansing lotion, their facial toner and the light moisturiser. I will tell you how well they work for me and how I use them in my daily routine. Hopefully you will be encouraged to use them yourself.

Simple is based in the United Kingdom and their claim to fame is that they are the "pre-eminent brand of skincare and toiletries products developed especially for sensitive skin." They are the No.1 skin-care brand in the UK. Their prices are fairly low and well within a budget, they are one of the least expensive cosmetic brands you'll find in the United Kingdom.

Now my skin is oily and I can suffer from spots daily and everything else I used to remove makeup with or moisturised with didn't help at all with my skin and sometimes even worsened its condition. So I came across Simple's products a fair few years ago and I haven't used anything else since! 

 

This is cleansing lotion from the Kind-To-Skin range. When I use this, I put about a grape-sized amount of lotion on a cotton pad and apply to both of my cheeks, my nose, my chin and my forehead. I wipe in circular motions all over my face and down my neck until all of the product has soaked in. I do this when taking off my makeup and I do this twice to ensure that all of my makeup is off my face. The only problem with this is that it does not remove eye makeup very well at all, I'm often left with panda eyes from my remaining mascara which I just usually take off with a makeup wipe. Simple does have eye makeup remover but I am yet to buy this and try it out but I will one day! 

This lotion is just fantastic really. It removes about 99.9% of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and very clean. When soaked in, it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and it is in fact quite moisturising. Over a period of days, I could see the results and I could tell my face was not only feeling much cleaner but it was feeling more softer and less oily.

You can buy it here for £2.99!

 After removing my makeup with the cleansing lotion, I then move onto the facial toner. This product is really light and fragrance free. It is very watery which some people don't like but I actually don't mind this as all I do is put a few drops onto my cotton pad and apply it in the same circular motions I used previously. This has honestly made my skin feel that much tighter and more fresher than it did before. It really wakes my skin up and makes it ready for the day ahead.

You can buy it here for £1.99! 

 

To finish my routine, I apply this - the light moisturiser - with my hands.  As my skin can be oily, I tend to use this light one rather than the other moisturiser which is rich and more thicker. I don't think I'll ever stop using this, it's so great. Its consistency is a bit watery but it's perfect and just right for my skin. It absorbs and dries very quickly, leaving my face feeling soft and clean. It is not at all irritating or greasy, just the ideal combination for my skin.

You can buy it here for £1.50! 

Also if you want to know what type of cotton pads I use, they're just Superdrug's own cotton pads.

 

The only criticism I have is that the designs of the bottles are pretty bland but they are cheap so this isn't a big flaw for me as I am more interested in what's inside. Other than that, I am so glad I started and will continue to use these products as so far they are the best things for my skin. They have changed it dramatically and although I still break out often, they leave me feeling like my skin is clean and healthy.

If you want to check out more of Simple's range of skincare; facial washes, scrubs, wipes etc., you can do so here.

What do you think of these? Have you used them too?

Please leave any of your thoughts in the comments below. 

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.