Media Studies Blog

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Review Edgar Wrights adaptation of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World is arguably one of the best comic adaptations of all time, managing to stay true to the comic format and Pilgrim story while also managing to adapt the story to the big screen. Use of pacing and camera work is also spot on in the film, creating a unique tone not matched in any other movie. The film can seem absurdist to many viewers however its best to go with the flow and enjoy the film, Edgar Wrights clever direction keeps the movie entertaining throughout, as well as the great use of comedy. An annoyingly underappreciated element of the movie is also the original music, adding to the story of the movie, while also being genuinely good. The story is also great, well thought through and again entertaining, what takes place is trippy and absurdist, yet so well executed an audience doesn't question it.As our main character meets the mysterious Ramona Flowers, a while after he meets her the

                                                                                                                                                         Aliens (1986) Review:   James Cameron's Aliens follows up from the original sci-fi instalment, as Ripley wakes up from hyper-sleep having discovered that over 50 years has passed, after waking up on a colony spaceship. Soon she realises that there are many more of the aliens she originally thought,so  attempts to find and destroy them with the help of the marines, however when reaching the planet the aliens are based on they discover that they are already too late, as their enemy has already killed everyone in the settlement they came to protect.           At this point the movies intensity greatly increases, as the marines soon lose the advantage against the aliens, as the majority of the characters are killed off within an hour and a half of the run-time. As well as this one team member chooses to turn on the others, believ

Saving Private Ryan Review Saving Private Ryan is a harsh document of reality, presenting the emotional turmoil and extreme violence of WW2. The very second scene of the film takes place on a beach in France, as American soldiers are forced to push back German soldiers from the beach while being shot at from all angles.  What shines through in the film is the great script and sound design, as such important elements help to immerse an audience in a tense and action-packed environment. The three-hour-long film follows a captain and his team as they have to roam the French countryside in search of a Private Ryan, after receiving orders to bring him back home. Yet a seemingly simple premise snowballs into a battle for harsh survival as the soldiers are attacked by hundreds of German soliders, leaving them to hold them off for as long as they can. The film is particularly unforgiving in its killing off of characters, a sad reality of such a harsh war, the film ends with both a sad yet

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Review       George Lucas' vision of Star Wars is arguably one of the most influential elements of pop culture, as the original Star Wars trilogy released to instant acclaim while holding up strongly today. The 3rd installment of this franchise is clearly the best, as the budget, script, effects, and stakes all substantially heighten. Essentially it is bigger and better. Taking place on multiple different planets the original trilogy releases its climax as the clash between the Empire and The Rebel Alliance reaches full swing. The story is tense, as Emperor Palpatine attempts to manipulate Luke into becoming his new apprentice, and all the while the rebels begin to launch their plan to destroy the death star, thus ending the Empire's oppressive reign of terror. Lucas clearly parallels the story of the sith with that of the Nazi's, as their power rose to extreme heights yet only to be destroyed by the more morally motivated allied forc

Seven Review: David Fincher's crime thriller classic has aged incredibly well, as its gritty portrayal of a criminal New York stays fresh to this day. It could be argued that Fincher's film borders on horror as he refuses to hold back on the violence and gore. The film takes place with a partnership between a cynical detective (Morgan Freeman) and a fresher detective with a considerably brighter outlook (Brad Pitt), as they find themselves on the tail of a disturbed serial killer. The interesting element of the film is the nature of the killer, as his moves are extremely methodical, to the point where he tortures a man for a year keeping him bedridden just to make a point. The killer makes his purpose clear, as he orchestrates clever murders on seven victims in order to make an even larger point on the sickness of humanity, fuelled by his obsession with religious literature. The film manages to stay steadily tense throughout as the murders become increasingly

Bram Stokers Dracula Review The film version of Bram Stokers Dracula is strange yet iconic. Such a horror masterpiece is hard to translate onto screen, often with books, key details and interesting characters are too often overlooked in the film adaptation. However one of these films main strengths has to be the triumph of an accurate translation, while some details and scenes are missed out, the important essence is still there. The film adds more to the book, giving characters an iconic face and an interesting look into Dracula's twisted love story, the purest thing about him. The special effects are also another great triumph, considering it was the 90's the use of VFX is wonderful the makeup of Dracula in his different forms and even just the use of blood was refreshing making it no surprise that it won an oscar of its visual effects ( ignoring the terrible blue flame at the start). The tone is often spot on, coupled with tense music and shots the theme of horror is gre