Film Review: The Inbetweeners Movie 2 (2014)

This review is a bit late but I've FINALLY watched The Inbetweeners 2 and I'm actually fairly surprised by my own opinion. I don't know if it's just me but it was only okay? Alot of people found it to be the funniest film of the year but I don't think I can say the same considering I'm a huge fan of The Inbetweeners.

First of all, a bit of background as always. Will, Neil and Jay's girlfriends have broken up with them while Simon is begrudgingly still with Lucy despite her clingyness and controlling ways. Simon and Will are unhappy at university and desperately trying to make friends while Neil works in a bank and Jay is taking a gap down under in Australia. Jay emails Neil with exaggerated claims of living in a lavish mansion while being a top DJ and owning a night club prompting the boys to come and visit him for their Easter holidays.

Obviously there was the usual penis, poo and wee jokes from the lads and some of the classic one liners from the TV series. The first film was an obviously success and I really loved it but for some reason this sequel fell a little flat for me. I didn't laugh nearly as much as I did with the TV series and the first film. I don't know what it is but I just feel like The Inbetweeners franchise has run its course and thankfully it supposedly has with the directors and writers claiming there is definitely going to be no more films .. even though they said this last time!

Some scenes were great and really funny like where Will has an unfortunate incident with Neil's faeces in a public pool. However I don't know if it's because I'm so used to the foursome being so crude and the in-your-face jokes being very controversial that it has just lost its flavour for me now. I felt that the writers Damon Beesley and Iain Morris were too wrapped up in a competition to make the rudest jokes ever that the film lost momentum when it came to emotional scenes. I'm normally the one to cry as soon someone sheds a tear in a film but I didn't react this time which is very unusual for me! 

I also think that it's time we kind of move past creating the image that all women are dumb or sluts or just plain bitchy. I think the depiction of women was more harsher in this film more so than the TV series and the first film. It just became misogynistic and sexist in the end to me rather than funny and entertaining. Especially with the fact they turned Lucy, who was pretty cool and laid back in the last film, into a controlling, abusive, vile cow. Not only that, they don't even take the time to explain why Neil and Will's girlfriends left them, there's hardly a mention when in the last film it looked like it was a happy ending for the first time for the boys.

I don't know. I'm torn in two about whether they shouldn't of made a sequel and just left things as they were in the last film or have I grown up now and therefore those jokes just don't work for me anymore? Don't get me wrong, I still love the boys and the TV series and the first film will always be one of my favourite things to watch but I don't think I'll be in a hurry to watch the second film again any time soon.

Have you seen the film? What did you think of it?
Let me know in the comments below!

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Makeup Review: Charlotte Tilbury's New Matte Revolution Lipstick In Glastonberry.

 

Recently I've fallen in love with Charlotte Tilbury's after she came so highly recommended from Zoella and her post which you can see here. Charlotte literally makes me want to buy every single product on her website just because of her passion and enthusiasm for her business. She writes the descriptions of the items herself and her eagerness and excitement really sells you the product.

As titled, I'm reviewing one of her lipsticks which is called Matte Revolution in Glastonberry. She explains that it creates the look of fuller, plumper lips and they are 'lit from within' thanks to the 3D glowing pigments that are mixed in. Available in 10 modern-matte shades, they are suitable for all skin tones and each one creates a different look depending on what you're going for.

 

The packaging is simple yet so cute, cased in a ridged gold container. The tip is so unusual as it is square and angled in such a way that you can apply it like you were using a lip brush, allowing you to apply it with precision. 'Triglycerides mixed with a perfect blend of oils and waxes' makes it easy to glide on that long-lasting colour, it feels like no work at all. Not only that, 'Lipstick Tree' and 'Orchid extract' helps soften, hydrate and care for your lips while creating the illusion of younger-looking, healthier lips.

I know the title says 'matte' but it doesn't leave your lips really dry and/or flat. Charlotte has really done well here as she has in some way made it so it's still creamy and simple while being shimmery due to the amazing 3D glowing pigments. When applying it, it doesn't drag on your lips and feels like a normal buttery lipstick until it dries.

 This swatch probably isn't one of the best you've seen but this is just an idea of what my chosen shade looks like. This is Glastonberry and it really is perfect for me! The shade creates a rock chick kinda look for me and I love it because I really do favour bold, dark shades over nudes when it comes to lipsticks and lip-glosses. Charlotte describes the shade as 'a sheer blackcurrent hue for sex kittens and rock 'n' rollers like Rihanna, Grace Jones and Rita Ora.' I'm not a sex kitten obviously but I do like the style of the rock chick that comes with it. I think it's just the ideal thing for autumn/winter or those special nights out when you want to go for a bold, gothic look. I'll be using it for a long time, that's for certain.

I do think Charlotte Tilbury is really onto something with this formula for her lipsticks. It's so flattering on the lips and so wearable for any occasion really. You can find her lipsticks and other incredible make-up products on her website. This lipstick can be pricey to some but if you're feeling daring at any point this autumn or winter, Charlotte Tilbury's stuff is definitely worth a look.

Have you tried this lipstick or any other of her products? What do you think?
Please let me know in the comments below!

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

One Rule For Women, Another For Men.

This post is not going to be my usual make up, film or book review as I am opting for a more serious topic this time.

 

Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Hudgens and Jennifer Lawrence are just three women out of many who have had photos stolen from them, all of which show the stars being naked or being caught in intimate moments. Long story short on August 31st nearly 200 photos of nude celebrities (mainly women, mind you) were posted online and started circulating around social media websites like Twitter and Tumblr. Rihanna, Cara Delevingne and Ariana Grande were also victims amongst this scandal. They were taken from Apple's cloud services suite iCloud and text messages, address books and various other data was also most likely to be stolen as well.

I think this is absolutely disgusting, it is completely humiliating for them. People think it is hilarious to look and share them with their friends, objectifying the very person in the photos. Thankfully many celebrities and public figures have spoken out about this outrage like actress Lena Dunham who told people over Twitter not to view the pictures as it "violates these women over and over again" and The Amazing Spiderman star Andrew Garfield also had plenty to say about it "It's this violent, abusive violation of womanhood -- of divine woman hood.. it's violent, and it's misogynistic, and it's revolting.."

He's completely right. And not only that, I am absolutely outraged at how two faced people can be. 

Last year, former Disney star Dylan Sprouse had his nudes leaked all over Twitter and many complimented and went gooey eyed over him yet during this 2014 scandal, I've seen hundreds of tweets slut shaming the women in the photos, calling them whores, sluts, slags and disgusting for taking such photos. Yet everybody was either laughing with Dylan or worshipping him in his photos. How is that fair? You don't even know these women and what they do in their private lives.

Take away all the glitz, glamour and fame these women are just human beings at the end of the day. Their pride and dignity have been damaged because some idiot decided to hack them. People are victim blaming, saying 'it's their fault' and/or 'they're in the media spotlight, they should be used to it' no, no, no. It is NOT their fault and it doesn't matter what their job is, their privacy has been violated and these photos are clearly things they've shared with a husband, a lover or even just for themselves.  

The fact men and women can get two completely different reactions over the same thing just angers me. We say that we're are overcoming patriarchy and women are respected more and more these days. We're not. Women are still being degraded, objectified and viewed different completely to men. We're still a hugely patriarchal society and it doesn't help that the media are ready to leap onto anything that could tarnish a celebrity's image. 

If you look at the photos and/or share them, you are further degrading the very people you idolize. Don't be a part of this mess and have some respect for the women. Don't look, don't share and definitely don't slut shame.

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

Book Review: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

 

I cannot emphasise how beautiful this book is. It is going straight onto my 'best books I've ever read' list. I hope you enjoy this review and have a read yourself.

It is about a 17 year old high school student Lennon Walker, nicknamed Lennie or Len, who's struggling through the loss of her sister Bailey who died by arrhythmia. Lennie, Gram and Uncle Big are taking it day by day in this deep depression and Lennie's comforts are nature and the band at school as well as leaving notes and poems throughout the town. Written down on these notes are conversations she once had with her sister and poems about her heartache. During all of this, she begins a secret relationship with Bailey's fiancé, Toby and they grieve and lament over the loved one they've lost. Not only that, a new boy appears in school called Joe Fontaine, a half French/musically talented/sweet boy who takes on Lennie's sorrow and helps her resulting in a relationship between the two of them at the same time as the relationship between Lennie and Toby.

The Sky is Everywhere is narrated by Lennie herself and this allows the reader to be taken on a journey that explores her grief and anguish at first hand. This does have its disadvantages because I found myself not liking Lennie at first just because of the silly mistakes and actions she does that left me frustrated and wanting to shake her. Although she is lost in grief, her actions can often be seen as selfish and she can lie pretty well which didn't make me trust her at all. Eventually however I found myself really feeling for her character and seeing that she is just confused, alone and heartbroken. Her notes and poems are on the beginning page of each chapter and they're really heart wrenching to read.

The other characters really play their parts well within this book. Gram, who is essentially a hippy, wafts around with her famous flowers and her paintings.. you find yourself really falling love with her and her weird antics. She really is vital person in Lennie's life and tries to help keep the every day routine going despite her internal suffering. Uncle Big, the five times married pothead is a rather funny and sometimes philosophical man, you just can't resist him. They helped make this book a magical, special one as it showed you how grief affects everyone in different ways and how they deal with it. It shows you and Lennie how not alone you really are when it comes to losing a loved one.

The controversial storyline of Lennie kissing Toby while also forming a relationship with Joe really bugged me at first. I don't know if that was Jandy's idea from the start but I really found myself disliking Lennie for allowing herself to try and elope with her dead sister's boyfriend. I mean, we've all grieved at some point in our  lives but we haven't found ourselves wanting to suddenly start making moves on your loved one's partner. But in a way, as you go further into the book, you find yourself understanding her confusion and desperation. For her, Joe takes her out of her sorrow and makes her forget just for a minute how unbearable life is without her sister while Toby comforts her in the moments when it all gets too much.

This book also really gets the tears going at some parts. Obviously when the inevitable happens when Joe sees Lennie kissing Toby, while she desperately tries to resolve things with him and decide what she really wants with Toby she sort of suffers a breakdown. The writing becomes so fast paced that you feel the speed of Lennie's thoughts and emotions as she breaks down. I certainly got teary eyed at that part, it really moved me.

The only criticisms I have of this book is the sophistication of the characters for their ages. I certainly didn't declare my undying love for anyone at the age of 17 like Lennie and Joe did! The romance did become a little too intense for my liking after Joe planned to "deflower" Lennie after like 3 days into the relationship. And at times, I didn't see how lust and grief could concide that extremely for Lennie to do the things she did.

Either way, this book is really beautiful and takes you back to the times you have grieved over someone. Lennie's moments of mourning alone in her room really hit home with you. Jandy Nelson's style of writing is great and I look forward to reading some more of her books in the future.

Have you read this? What did you think?
Please leave any of your thoughts in the comments below.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Album Review: The Script - No Sound Without Silence.

You have no idea how long I've waited for new music from The Script and once again they did not disappoint.

After a long list of sold out concerts, hit singles and multi-platinum albums, The Script have released their much-anticipated fourth album No Sound Without Silence at last and it is magical. Their other albums The Script (2008), Science and Faith (2014) and #3 (2012) were all top selling and I don't doubt this album will be the same. I love everything about this from its gorgeous artwork right down to the rich melodies from the three lads themselves.

Their beautiful song-writing and stunning melodies shine through yet again. Danny O'Donoghue's voice croons and powers through brilliantly as he plays the lead vocalist while Mark Sheehan plays guitar and Glen Power beats the drums, both providing wonderful harmonies. Every song is a masterpiece from the fist pumping anthems of It's Not Right For You, the hit single Superheroes and Paint The Town Green which maintains their unique rock sound before changing into the haunting, melancholy sounds of the piano in Flares and the poignant messages in Without Those Songs which leaves you swaying and singing from the heart.

I couldn't tell you which songs are my favourites because I love each song for a different reason but here's a few for you to listen to so you can enjoy it as much as me!

No Good In Goodbye


Paint The Town Green


Flares

  

Have you listened to the album yet? What do you think?

Please leave any of your thoughts in the comments below.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Makeup Review: Kiko Make Up Milano Skin Evolution Foundation In 101 Ivory.

 

So on this post I'll be reviewing Kiko's Skin Evolution Foundation and how often I wear it. These are 100% my own honest opinions and criticisms about this product. I don't often see Kiko being reviewed so I think it's quite nice to review something different. I have to say I wasn't impressed at first with this product but as I've begun to use it more and more in my routine, I've grown to like it.

It is is great for all skin types, available in 18 shades, making it suitable for all complexion types and skin colours. 

My chosen shade is Ivory 101 as I am pretty pale and I have to say it does the job pretty well despite there being some yellow undertones. It's a nice liquid foundation that has a medium-full coverage with an almost matte finish. It is pretty creamy and thick which can make it tricky to blend but it does sink into the skin well enough to my standards. I use about two layers of it and I have to say, the coverage is pretty good and feels fairly light. I have some dry patches on my face and this foundation doesn't cling to those places like other foundations do. It creates quite a nice natural look for me and has none of the 'caked-on' business.

The advertisement says it lasts up to 10 hours and I have to disagree. I use this foundation for daytime and use my L'Oréal's True Match for nights out (which I also reviewed if you want to check that out as well!) and I have to say Kiko's foundation does wear off after a few hours, definitely not a 10 hour long wear. But nevertheless, it does do the job fairly well if you're not planning to be out for long. There is some sort of scent to it but that fades after a little while so I can't fault it for that too much.

I like the overall look of the bottle, it looks very professional yet simple in black. Problem is, and I don't know if it's because mine is faulty from ordering online, but the pump doesn't.. well pump properly as it doesn't push the product out properly leaving me to pump it at least 4 to 5 times! Thankfully it has a hypoallergenic formula to prevent allergic reactions (I don't need anymore spots, thankyou!), no parabens and has sun protection factor 10 to protect you

 

Overall, after quite a few tries, I have finally come to like the product even though I'm not a huge fan of the thick, creaminess of the product. However, it is acceptable and nice to wear during the day.

 

You can buy it from Kiko's online store for £12.90

 

Have you used this before? Did you like it?
Please leave any of your thoughts in the comments below. 

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Film Review: The Lego Movie (2014)

So I have a huge list of films I still need to see.. some that have been out for literally years but I just haven't gotten round to watching. I'm planning on watching them for the remainder of this summer and review them hence why this review is on The Lego Movie which isn't out right now but actually came out earlier this year. I'm hoping my reviews will persuade you to watch any films that you've been putting off watching too so let's get on with it!

 

So I have a little obsession going on over Chris Pratt at the moment after seeing Guardians of the Galaxy. I've always liked him after watching Parks and Recreation for a little while and also seeing him in What's Your Number so I decided to watch some of his other stuff. And I have to tell you The Lego Movie was definitely not what I was expecting considering it's primarily for children.

It's a computer animated/stop-motion comedy, adventure film. Directed and co-written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, it has an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman. Based on the Lego line of construction toys, it is about an average, normal Lego mini figure construction worker called Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt) who becomes an accidental hero. It is up to him to save the universe from the cruel Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell) who plans to obliterate the nonconformist creative communities with glue and an instruction manual. Emmet teams up with Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett), Princess UniKitty (Alison Brie), Metal Beard (Nick Offerman), Benny (Charlie Day) and of course Virtuvius (voiced by the amazing Morgan Freeman).  You follow Emmet and his friends on a hilarious, adventurous, heart warming journey; all of which makes a great film.

I can honestly say I enjoyed the hell out of this film! For a film that's for kids.. it was really, really funny. I genuinely didn't think it'd be that funny and I might even go as far as to say it's probably one of the best kids films I've ever seen. Chris Pratt as Emmet was adorable because you really felt for him and connected to his storyline (even if he was just made out of Lego!). You really cheer for him when he does something awesome and also feel like hugging him when the baddies constantly remind him he's a nobody.

Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks, was totally badass. She didn't need no man to help her create stuff out of the Lego pieces and kick bad guys' ass! Her storyline is obviously predictable at the very end but it's actually nice to see a female heroine who doesn't need a man to save her every time she gets into a spot of trouble. You go, girl!

The in-jokes and gags just kept on rolling all the time. I was in tears laughing and had to rewind to watch some scenes again just because they were that comical. Some funny characters that really stood out were Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, who had some fantastic one-liners like "I only work in black.. and sometimes very, very dark grey!". Benny, voiced by Charlie Day, was hilarious with his obsession of wanting to build a spaceship every two seconds. Morgan Freeman as Vitruvius was probably the best thing I've seen. He was so hilarious and very quick witted despite his character being blind and old. He was also totally badass in a fight scene which goes to show just because you're old doesn't mean you can't still kick ass.

There were also some voices I recognised like Channing Tatum (Superman), Jonah Hill (Green Lantern) and Cobie Smulders (Wonder Woman). The banter between Superman and Green Lantern between scenes that didn't include the main characters were absolutely spot on and entertaining.

The Lego Movie was just really, really great to watch. It was very smart with its message about conformity hidden by satire and jokes while celebrating creativity and the power of imagination. It's highly enjoyable and amusing with jokes that come at lightning speed. Not only that, you will literally be left sat there singing the theme tune 'EVERYTHING IS AWESOMEEE.' Literally. That is what it's called. And it IS awesome.

Due to its massive success, a sequel is already scheduled to be released on May 26th in 2017!

If you're looking for a funny film that is light and heart warming with lots of action and jokes (that sometimes only adults will get), then this film is definitely for you.

Leave your opinions in the comments below if you've seen it!

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Top Ten Tips For University.

So summer is ending and it's almost time to go back to university, college etc. (boo!)
I currently study Sociology and Criminology in Liverpool and I've obviously already completed my first year of it and I've really enjoyed the subject so far. However, I didn't enjoy the beginning of university as much I could have due to outside problems beyond my control and the fact none of my friends were at the same university. 

Everyone knows it's scary when you're going to a university but your friends are going to different ones.. you're a fish from a small pond thrown into an ocean. I also didn't go into halls, I was an at-home-fresher simply because it wouldn't cost me as much and I live 15-20 minutes from the town centre anyway. But as things got better and I got into the swing of the university routine, I found myself feeling a bit comfortable with the student life.

So I'm doing this post to help those who are feeling those pre-uni jitters already.
I won't be able to give you any insight on what halls are like just because I haven't experienced that yet. But I can, however, give you an idea of everything else so I hope you get some help from reading this! 

1) Take a tour around your University Campus. They are so much bigger than your schools and you will need to familiarise yourself with it especially when you're rushing from one end to another to get to lectures on time!

 

2) Freshers isn't all that. It is fun, don't get me wrong but don't feel like you have to spend every single night out and get drunk when you don't feel like it. I only ever went to a couple of events and it was mediocre really. They just felt like another night out for me.. and I've kinda done that nightclub scene many times since I was 16. I still made friends throughout my first year, it ain't all that don't worry.

3) Get a hobby. It is great if you can join as many societies as possible. It is very doubtful that you'll stay to committed to them all year because of your studies but they will help you to get to know new people. But also, outside of the university, get stuck in doing things. For example, I do volunteering at a hospital, I write stories/poems and run a blog. You wouldn't believe that you can put down running a blog down on your CV!

4) Buy second hand books. I don't even want to add up how much I've spent on textbooks for university, it hurts too much! Please turn to the great sites like Amazon and find 'used' books for your subject. There's nothing more frustrating than spending more or less all of your student loan by buying completely new books to only use them for one semester!

5)  Attend lectures. You might think I'm boring on this one but seriously, do not miss them. I can't even tell you how many times people said to me "first year doesn't count" when I first started. Trust me, it does. Not towards your degree but you have to still pass the year to progress further so yes first year still matters. Sometimes lectures are super early and you're hungover.. trust me, you'll thank yourself in the future.

6) Accept differences. There is going to be so many different people that you've never come across before in your life. There'll people from different countries, people of difference races, religions, ideologies, sexualities, disabilities, ages etc. No matter what or who they are, accept them.

7) Go outside your comfort zone. Experience is the key thing at university. Don't be afraid to try new things, you may end up liking it. Anything can be a change; trying different food, trying a new sport, learning a new language, even asking questions in class. No one wants to speak up in a crowded lecture theatre but I can guarantee you that you won't be the only one confused about what the hell the lecturer is going on about.

8) Organise your time. Sometimes lectures and seminars are super early, sometimes they're quite late in the day.. don't waste that time going the pub. Create some sort of study timetable and there you can order your classes, lone study time and revision for when there are upcoming exams. Try and stick to this timetable.. well, as much as you can in between drinking and meeting new people.

9) Research your degree. It's helpful to get some background to what you'll be learning during your time at university. I don't mean go read a whole library's worth of one subject, that'll take a lifetime! Just get yourself informed of what you can be expected to be learning. Also, do this with timetables, room/building locations, deadlines and general guidelines for assignments.

 

10) Have fun. Seriously. It doesn't have to be you reading and writing away at some desk for hours on end. You need to enjoy the experience as well. Meet new people, even fall in love a few times, get drunk, make regrettable memories, laugh a lot, be happy. And if you don't feel like university is working out for you, then speak to someone you trust on your campus to see if you can be persuaded otherwise. If not, don't feel like you have to stay at university. If it's not for you, it's not for you and that's all there is to it. Plenty of people have careers without going to university.

I hope these tips help you out in some way and make you feel that bit better about starting university.

Congratulations on getting this far and good luck for the rest of your journey.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Film Review: Lucy.

 

So I finally went to see Lucy sometime last week and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it alot. This review is fairly late because I've been super busy and unable to blog, so I'm sorry for that!

Direction, written and edited by Luc Besson Lucy is a French, sci-fi, action film about a young American woman (Scarlett Johansson) who is living and studying in Taipei, Taiwan. Her boyfriend tricks her into delivering a briefcase to his employer who is a Korean mob boss and drug mule called Mr Jang. The briefcase contains a very valuable bag of an artificial drug called CPH4. The bag is forcibly sewn into Lucy's abdomen and three other drug mules. She is taken into captivity and after a beating from one of her captors, the bag breaks causing the substance to flow into her system resulting in her new abilities like telepathy, telekinesis, mental time travel and the power not to feel human emotions. Morgan Freeman also stars as Professor Norman who helps her.

I have to say Scarlett Johnasson is not a favourite actress of mine, infact she often annoys me in films for reasons I don't even know why. But I can still root for her and enjoy the characters she plays, like The Black Widow in Captain America or The Avengers. In this film however she blew me away with her acting and was totally badass as the hero. To ground Lucy in the beginning, she plays the scared, hysterical woman perfectly to the point where you believe in the character so much. As she begins unlocking the potential in her brain and the new abilities, she begins disassociating with humanity and their emotions. This transition is so smooth from Johansson that you are actually a bit fearful of her because of her fading facial expressions and monotone voice.

Lucy's special effects were both stunning and absurd. As she keeps gaining every ten percent of her new abilities, the effects of the films grow bigger and more spectacular as she restructures the world around her and takes out her enemies like they are nothing.

The only two criticisms I have of this film are that I don't think the directors gave much thought or effort to the supporting cast. I love Morgan Freeman but his scenes often left me bored and wanting more of Lucy. He is charming as Professor Norman but he is only used to explain the film's scientific theories along with clarifying what Lucy is actually doing in that moment. He doesn't really bring any weight to the film and you wouldn't really miss him if he wasn't in the film.

My second criticism is that I felt the ending was very anti-climatic. I won't spoil anything for anyone who wants to see it but the scene and music really build up the idea of an explosive ending but then just leaves you hanging completely. After the fast pacing of the film, it just abruptly stops and doesn't really give a clear explanation of what's just happened.

But other than that, I did enjoy the film and will probably most likely watch it again. As I say, I don't really like Scarlett Johansson as an actress but she did surprise me in this film.

Have you seen it? Did you like it?
Please leave any thoughts you have in the comments below.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.