sophie_d Reviews

Surviving Paradise (2023– )

Entertaining

[8/10 · 22 December 2023]

I think this gets a bad rep but I found it really entertaining & gripping. What I like about it is it actually challenges the contestants compared to say something like too hot too handle which hardly seems a big challenge to the average person. I also like that the producers came up with innovative ideas and twists unlike a lot of these types of programmes, it was hard to predict how it was going to go.

The only downside was there was a horrid character on the show who I don't think should have got screen time but then again it did make it more entertaining even though I was getting frustrated at them Overall I liked that it showed the power of comfort and money and how it can affect people's morals etc.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Loved it!!

[10/10 · 19 December 2023]

For me this sequal lived up to my expectations, it was such an easy watch, it had funny little details such as one of the chickens using a hot water bottle to scuba dive & it felt so nostalgic. I loved the fact that it had references to the first movie and the plot having similarities was in keeping with the characters and what they would do. It also makes sense for Molly to want to explore outside of their safe haven so felt very natural to me.

The team are honestly so talented for making the movie so seamless and I appreciate how much work it took compared to normal animation it's definitely something to admire/appreciate when reviewing this movie I recommend also watching the making of chicken run 2 (or something similar to that title), so interesting!

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)

Beautiful

[10/10 · 19 May 2023]

I was obsessed with this whole series and it is my favourite even over Bridgerton which I also love. The fact that it deals with mental health was a big plus and the way that George suffered with it throughout his life but Charlotte was always there to support him & he wasn't just "cured", just pulled at my heart strings! It was also an 'ohhh' moment as to why he had been so up & down with her at the start as the thing I'm not crazy about in Bridgerton is how the love interests, particularly the men act cold/mean before the dynamic shifts, if it fully does at all.

Anyway.. I love it and recommend it!

Father Ted (1995–1998)

A true gem

[10/10 · 4 February 2019]

I'm reviewing a few of my favourites and Father Ted is definitely up there. I grew up with this programme as I have a lot of Irish family (which makes the whole thing even funnier). It's my favourite past-time to rewatch it all every now and then and it never gets old! If you haven't seen it yet, please just give it a try it is genius.

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Amazing!

[9/10 · 30 October 2018]

Let me start by saying, I love horror films I am also always intrigued by a horror series, especially since the modern version of Scream which I really enjoyed. I really admired this series because it took a different angle, an angle that I wasn't expecting. There were so many times when I was watching a scene and I thought "yep, now the door will close" or "something is going to jump out" and it surprised me by not happening at the moment I predicted (unlike your standard horror film) They didn't rely on jump scares to make it scary. Around the middle of the programme I couldn't quite pinpoint what had scared me about it, all I knew was there was no way I was sleeping that night without the light on. After one particular episode, I just cried my eyes out and was amazed. The episode in question, made me feel fear, happiness, sadness, heartbreak and understanding all at once. That is some talented writing/directing. I thought the writing in that moment was just so beautifully tragic and everything just clicked into place, it left me questioning things beyond the horror. Whilst I enjoyed watching the story from the mothers perspective and it was still brilliant, I thought the last episode/the ending wasn't the best. It was like they were trying to end it as a different genre and on reflection, I wish it had ended differently. I really hope they don't drag out a brilliant series by making an exaggerated second series but I believe that they will. The character development, it must be said, was great. At first you don't quite understand them and by the end you are captivated by the characters and I loved the skins-type episodes where they focused on a character per episode. Overall I thought 9 is the perfect rating, if the ending was different it would be a 10 without question. Amazing series altogether and very entertaining.

SPF-18 (2017)

SPF-18

[5/10 · 27 August 2018]

I've got to be honest, within the first maybe 20 minutes of the movie I was considering turning it off, especially given the reviews. I stuck with it though for a few reasons. Some reasons why I stuck with it was down to the beautiful camera work and cinematography which was right up my street, another reason was Noah Centineo (obviously) and also I think they had some quirky ideas for the movie such as artistic swimsuits and lucid dreaming (which was pretty much the one part of the movie where I thought the music worked well). I actually thought some of the characters were quite likeable as well and was interested to know what would happen to them. Unfortunately, however, the plot for this movie just didn't seem to fit and it seemed like the person who wrote it just wanted each and every character to have a love story or at least end up with someone. I don't think the writing would've been so bad if only it felt like it went somewhere. Oh okay and the worst part for me was the narrator, some movies have a narrator over the top of them and you don't really think too much of it. In this movie, however, as soon as it entered the movie it ruined the film for me, it did not fit one bit, I can't even explain why it just came across as cringey and a negative for the film. Overall it's watchable and has good moments.. but I wouldn't watch it again

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

I LOVED IT

[10/10 · 27 August 2018]

For me this was one of those films where you are watching it and thinking "I could stay in this moment forever" and wishing that it the movie wouldn't end.

It was so much more fun than I imagined it could be. The humour was brilliant and the acting was spot on and you never forgot that the adult faces you know so well are actually the teenagers that started the film, because they play them so well!

Also I loved the little details such as in-game characters repeating their lines as it makes you feel like you are a kid again playing a video game as well as watching a great movie.

The original was a classic and in my opinion this film took it to the next level with the use of new technology, imagination, a different angle, great writing and as I mentioned, brilliant acting.

Safe (2018)

Hooked!

[9/10 · 16 May 2018]

Deciding to check this out one day when I had other things to do.. what a mistake, I just could not turn it off! The time came for me to head out to a party and I couldn't wait to continue it the next day. Really enjoyable series and I love the twists & turns, very well done.

The Kissing Booth (2018)

Fab film

[9/10 · 13 May 2018]

Okay so apart from a couple of moments where bad behaviour was presented as acceptable (hence the 9) I thought this was a really fun light-hearted movie which, if you like a chick-flick, is the one for you. You fall in love with the main actors & for the friendships. It wasn't too cliche and a few surprises came up which is what you can hope for nowadays with so many chick flicks out there :D Really enjoyed it.

Gavin & Stacey (2007–2024)

My absolute favourite.

[10/10 · 6 June 2016]

Gavin and Stacey is a programme I'll always hold close to my heart. It is funny, romantic, witty, entertaining and has amazing characters. James Corden and Ruth Jones put their great minds together and wrote this genius series. They are both outrageous and subtle with their writing and the characters are definitely relatable. I could watch it all day every day and it always cheers me up. I remember watching it as a family when it came out in 2007.. That's 9 years ago and I still love it. Also I'm from Essex like Gavin and I like that they chose a different side of Essex (than some programmes) to make comedy with. Brilliant!