Monday 24 March 2014

M+F Reviews Week 9 Update

After last weeks update, this week has been just as hectic for us.  Despite this we have managed to review five films.  On the networking side of things we have had some ongoing discussions with a few sites and we are hoping to have some excellent news for you in the coming week.  If you saw our update last week you will know that we  were running our first competition.  It ended last Thursday and we would like to thank everyone who took part and say congratulations to the winners, who have now been notified. Here, in alphabetical order are last weeks reviews:


Highest M+F Rating: Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 9/10
Featured Film: Fire in the Blood

Again, this week has seen a wide range of films watched and  reviewed.  "How to Survive a Plague" (2012) is an excellent documentary that is both powerful and inspirational.  You are likely to not have heard of it but it is definitely worth watching.  We were also lucky enough to attend a regional premiere of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) - a whole week before its general cinema release in the United Kingdom.  Our review is spoiler free! 

We are always making a few updates to the site. Contact pages are now fully updated to incorporate our Facebook pages and account.  You can also see a new tab, called "What's your favourite..." This is a new Feature we are running. You will be able to find movie related opinion polls to take part in which should be fun!

To be sure not to miss out on any of great reviews, news and competitions make sure you adds us via the social media links that can be found on the site. We have some great movies to review this week including Martin Scorsese's "Casino" (1995). 

http://movieandfilmreviews1.blogspot.co.uk/p/home-page.html

Friday 21 March 2014

The Double Preview: New Clip



"The Double" starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska will be in cinemas nationwide on the 4th April.  A new clip is now available for the film which can be seen below.

Simon (Eisenberg) is prtty much a nobody. He goes through life unnoticed whether it be at work or by the relationships he tries to  have with people including his mother. Feeling unable to change his life, things only get worse when a new co-worker, James (also Eisenberg, turns up. Identical in looks but opposites in personality, things start getting worse for Simon as James takes over his life.

New clips of "The Double": 




What do you think of the clip? Are you planning on going to watch "The Double"?

Monday 17 March 2014

M+F Reviews Week 8 Update


Good morning! So, we have started to have some great weather this week and this coincides with one of our most exciting weeks to date.  Firstly, as usual we run through the films we have reviewed this week at M+F Reviews and then will go on to tell you about some new exciting updates! In alphabetical order, here are the movies we have reviewed this last week: 


Highest M+F Rating: 50/50 - 8/10 / Fire in the Blood - 8/10
Featured Film: American Hustle

In terms of the movies we have watched and reviewed this week, it has been an interesting week. We have broadened our scope of movies we review outwards, to very serious documentaries like "Fire in the Blood" (2013) and also in another direction to recent British Sci-Fi drama "The Machine" (2013).  We hope you have enjoyed reading our reviews of these films and as always we encourage you to comment on the pages with your own thoughts. 

Normally, this is where our weekly update would finish, however as mentioned above we have some exciting news! Firstly, we have branched out to a new platform on Social Media, you might have heard of it...that's right, we have joined Facebook.  We have set up two pages, one for each website; M+F Talk and M+F Reviews.  We would appreciate it if you could like and share the pages so we can reach out to as many of you as possible. We will update the pages with all of our reviews, thoughts, comments and things that YOU will find interesting.  You can find our pages here:


If you thought that was all of the exciting news we have to tell you, then you were wrong! This week saw the launch of our very first COMPETITION.  You may have noticed two new pages on each site, rightly labelled 'Competitions'.  This is where we will add all of our competitions giving you the chance to win some excellent prizes. 

Our very first competition gives you the chance to Win 1 of 3 Diana DVD's (Click the link to enter).  It is free and easy to enter. The competition is for UK residents only, you must be of 18 years of age at the time of the competition and you have until just before midnight on Thursday 20th March to enter. Good luck!!

We hope you continue to enjoy and read our reviews.  We have another great week of films to review this week and some extra surprises! So keep checking back.

http://movieandfilmreviews1.blogspot.co.uk/p/home-page.html

Thursday 13 March 2014

Competition: WIN 1 OF 3 DIANA DVDs

M+F Talk and M+F Reviews bring to you our very first competition.  Simply by entering you can be in with a chance of winning 1 of 3 DVD's of Diana.  


Complete two easy steps to be in with a chance of winning Diana on DVD.
Double Academy Award Nominee, Naomi Watts, stars in and plays Diana which tells of the untold story of love that occurred in the final years of her life. Oliver Hirschbiegel directs the movie that is coming to DVD on 24th March 2014. The film also stars Naveen Andrews ("Lost") and Geraldine James ("Sherlock Holmes"). 

Adored and loved by millions, applauded for her generosity wherever she went, Diana was a national favourite and treasure. Once considered the most famous woman in the world, Diana inspired those around her and in her final years met the one person who helped inspire her.

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED - To be in with a chance of winning "Diana" on DVD simply follow these two easy steps:

  • Send us an email at movieandfilmreviews@gmail.com with 'Diana DVD' as the subject line 
  • Include what your favourite film is from those we have reviewed at M+F Reviews in the main body of the email along with your full name (You can see all our reviews here)

To enter you must be a resident within the UK and be  at least 18 years of age. Only entrants that follow the above two steps will qualify to be in with a chance of winning. The close date for the competition is 23:59 GMT 20th March 2014.

By entering this competition you accept the full terms and conditions which can be found on our competition pages at M+F Reviews or here at M+F Talk.

Monday 10 March 2014

Easy Money 2 Preview: DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Confirmed

Easy Money 2: Hard to Kill DVD and Blu-Ray Release date confirmed

Easy Money 2: Hard to Kill has its DVD and Blu-Ray release date confirmed for 7th April 2014. The film stars Robocop's Joel Kinnaman and Lisa Stenni who both starred in "Easy Money" (2012). The film is directed by Babakna Jafi and is based on the novels by Jens Lapidus. The film is rated as a '15' and its run time is 99 minutes.

Preview of Easy Money 2
 JW (Kinnaman) is serving time in prison and is finding it difficult to get back on the right track.  However, upon release, he meets up with his old gang and realizes how difficult it can be to lead a good honest life. 

Birds Eye View Film Festival Preview: 2014 Programme Announced


This morning the Birds Eye View Film Festival has announced details about its programme that runs for 6 days from the 8th to the 13th April 2014. It will feature plenty of film premieres, presentations and extra events. The Festival is going to celebrate the works of some of the most inspiring women directors and will present 19 features of which 10 will be UK premieres.

Films that will be shown at the Birds Eye View Film Festival 2014


  • Nothing Bad Can Happen - Katrin Gebbe
  • Watermark - Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky
  • Night Moves - Kelly Reichardt
  • Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me - Chiemi Karasawa
  • Lucky - Laura Checkoway
  • In Bloom - Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
  • Swim Little Fish Swim - Lola Bessis and Ruben Amar
  • Pine Ridge - Anna Eborn
  • Bloody BeansNarimane Mari
  • Belville Baby - Mia Engberg
  • Bhaji on the Beach - Gurinder Chadha
  • Girlfriends - Claudia Weill
  • Best FriendsLena Dunham
  • Mathair - Kathryn Ferguson
  • Miu Miu's Womens Tales - Multiple Directors
  • Frayed - Georgina Oakley
  • The Cut - Genevieve Dulude-Decelles
  • NeedleAnahita Ghazvinizadeh
  • Famous Fred Joanna Quinn

The screenings will take place at BFI Southbank, Barbican, Curzon Solo, ICA, Electric Cinema, Hackney Picturehouse and Clapham Picturehouse.  There is plenty to see by great female filmmakers who deserve the credit and audience to showcase their works to as much as their male counterparts.  For more information on the Birds Eye Film Festival check there website: http://www.birds-eye-view.co.uk


M+F Reviews Week 7 Update


This week has been super busy at M+F Reviews which means we have not been able to post as many reviews as we would have liked. That being said, we still managed to get 4 film reviews done which is not a disaster.  This week was important as it also saw us attend our first film screening which was a great opportunity and experience.  Here are our latest reviews in alphabetical order: 


Highest M+F Rating: American Hustle - 8/10 / Titanic 8/10
Featured Film: Rush

We do have another busy week ahead but are aiming to keep our reviews coming out on a daily basis.  We have some exciting films to review this week including "Fire in the Blood" (2013) which comes out on DVD on 24th March. Also look out for our review of "The Incredible Hulk" (2008) which we watched this weekend but have been unable to post our review of yet.  As always feel free to comment on our reviews and provide feedback and join in the discussions we have whether you comment on our sites or speak to us on Twitter/Google +. 

http://movieandfilmreviews1.blogspot.co.uk/p/home-page.html

Monday 3 March 2014

Fading Gigolo Preview: UK Release Date Confirmation

"Fading Gigolo" has finally had its UK release date confirmed for the 23rd May 2014. The film is directed by and stars John Turturro.  The cast is further bolstered by the likes of Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Vanessa Paradis and Liev Schreiber.

Book store owner, Murray (Allen) is able to convince his friend Fioravante (Turturro) that he could make a fortune from becoming a professional gigolo. Murray becomes his pimp and his services start rolling out but one client, Avigal (Paradis), is watched closely by the local policemen called Dovi (Screiber).  As Fioravante's relationships unravel, comedy and love are apparent in the setting of the majestical New York City.

"Finding Gigolo" looks like it is going to be a great comedy with a good cast and director.  Do not forget it hits UK Cinemas on the 23rd May 2014.

M+F Reviews Week 6 Update

What a great week it has been for film with the Oscars having been awarded last night. We would like to start off our latest update by congratulating those who were nominated and won awards.  There were a lot of great films this year which is what we movie lovers like to see. 

On to our own update from M+F Reviews this last week has seen 6 new reviews go live which includes one film that we have rated 1/10 - the worst film we have seen up to date.  Here are our latest reviews in alphabetical order:


Highest M+F Rating: Rush
Featured Film: WALL-E

A positive week for our reviews with once again comments on older posts.  We have also had some great discussion on our Google + page which you can find us on here. We hope you enjoy reading our reviews and as always look out for our latest ones which will be coming on a daily basis, starting with "Welcome to Sarajevo" (1997).

Movie and Film Reviews

Thursday 27 February 2014

A Million Ways to Die in the West Preview: Trailer, Latest Artwork and New UK Release Date

"A Million Ways to Die in the West" is Seth MacFarlane's new movie and is one that is highly anticipated. 


The Family Guy creator has assembled a cast that includes Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah SIlverman and Liam Neeson. He also stars in the film himself as Albert, who after losing a gun fight is left by his girlfriend who finds another suitor.  With help from a mysterious female who arrives out of nowhere Albert falls in love. With his new found courage Albert takes on the husband of his new female acquaintance but will he overcome the challenge or fail as he has done previously?

A MIllion Ways to Die in the West Preview

The film also has a new release date and is set to hit UK cinemas on 30th May 2014. With the success of "Ted" (2012) we cannot wait to see the next movie by MacFarlane and it certainly looks like it is going to be filled with action and laughs from the trailer below.


A Million Ways to Die in the West Trailer:


For more information check out the official website here: www.AMillionWays.com

Monday 24 February 2014

M+F Reviews Week 5 Update

Another week down and this time we have uploaded 6 new movie reviews.  We have watched some great films this week and hope as you have done so far you will continue to  read, rate and comment on our reviews. This weeks film reviews in alphabetical order:


Highest M+F Rating: WALL-E - 9/10
Featured Film: 2 Guns

Another great week in terms of movie reviews and we were lucky enough that the movies we chose to watch were very good.  We are hoping for just as good a week this week and have already watched "Rush" so look out for our review of that shortly. As always we welcome any comments on our reviews and look forward to talking and discussing movies with you. 

Reviews of all movies and films.

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy: Trailer Release

It is what we have been waiting for, for a while now - the first look at Marvel's new "Guardians of the Galaxy". The film is set to be released on the 1st August 2014 and stars Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper. Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana and a host of others.  You can view the trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy" below.

Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer: 


So what do you think of the trailer?  Other than a few stills, this is the first real proper look we have of the film.  Our first impression was not the same as when we first saw Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" or "X-Men: Days of Future Past".  Initially we thought it was strange as it seems quite silly but also quite grown up in some sections. Surely this is Marvel's attempts to target the largest audience possible.

That being said, it has caught our attention.  We are looking forward to the film and one reason for this is the high benchmark Marvel has set with its other films.  It will be interesting though, as generally the Guardians of the Galaxy characters are lesser known compared to the likes of Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and the Hulk.

The trailer certainly has increased the excitement levels before the films release and it is only a matter of time to see how "Guardians of the Galaxy" fairs compared to Marvel's other hits.

Monday 17 February 2014

*Cosplayers UK - The Movie* - DVD Release, Preview and Trailer


Today (17/02/2014) sees the UK DVD release of "Cosplayers UK - The Movie".  It is the the first feature documentary on the UK Cosplay scene. 'Costume play' is a performance art in which those who take part wear costumers and accessories to represent a certain character.  These representations usually take the form of characters from genres such as fantasy, anime, comic or science-fiction. 

A group of Cosplayers take part in the May 2011 MCM Expo.

This documentary film is directed by Ed Hartwell and Johnnie Oddball and is the second live action feature film that they have produced together; the first being "When London Sleeps It Came Alive" (2010). It follows a selection of Cosplayers as they attend and take part in the May 2011 MCM Expedition.  Lasting 3 days the event attracts an audience of over 60,000 people from across Europe.  

With a run time of 83 minutes "Cosplayers UK - The Movie" is out now on DVD and from the trailer below, it certainly looks like a lot of fun.

"Cosplayers UK - The Movie" Trailer


You can purchase "Cosplayers UK - The Movie" here.

M+F Reviews Week 4 Update


Yes, we are through another week and again we are very happy with this weeks updates.  This week has seen 6 new reviews for M+F Reviews.  We have reviewed a wide range of films including a documentary this week.  Here is the list of films we reviewed this week in alphabetical order.


Highest M+F Rating: 2 Guns - 7/10 / The Armstrong Lie - 7/10 / The Big Lebowski - 7/10
Featured Film: 12 Years a Slave


It has been another solid week for us in terms of posting new movie reviews.  We have another good week planned and as always will aim to post one new review each day.  Look out for our movie review for "A Midnight in Paris" (2011) and as always feel free to comment on our reviews.  We have had some great conversations on our "2 Guns" review on out Google + profile so please join in.

http://movieandfilmreviews1.blogspot.co.uk/p/home-page.html

Sunday 16 February 2014

2014 BAFTA Awards - The Winners and The Losers

First of all we want to say well done to everyone involved in the BAFTAs and also to all those nominated for the great films that have been produced for this years event.  Here we will discuss the winners and losers of this years BAFTAs.


Here are our winners and losers of the Awards but please note when we say 'loser' we mean those unlucky in not winning when we feel they deserved to. 

Winner - Gravity

Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Sandra Bullock in Gravity

Gravity came away with no fewer than 6 awards.  The film won Outstanding British Film, Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron, Best Cinematography,  Best Music, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. We are yet to see the film but it obviously touched a chord with the voters as it ended up as the most successful film of the night.  A true winner on awards night, Gravity goes into the Oscars full of confidence.

Loser - Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio caused a racket of screams on the red carpet before the awards but unfortunately the actor came away empty handed from the BAFTAs. Nominated for the Best Actor award for his role in "The Wolf of Wall Street" many thought this would be his year to win the BAFTA's before heading to the Oscars next month.  DiCaprio still looked good as always and is still a contender for the Oscars.

WinnerStephen Fry

One big winner from the BAFTAs did not even win an award and that was the host, Stephen Fry.  It was the comedians 9th time hosting the Awards and he really has perfected it.  Charming, funny and honest, Fry really delivered a great BAFTA Ceremony, one that was worth all of the talent that had come together to celebrate film.

Loser - Lupita Nyong'o  

Lupita Nyong'o was up for two awards individually; Best Supporting Actress and Best Rising Star.  Unfortunately she did not win either losing out to Jennifer Lawrence and Will Poulter respectively.  This was a shame for Nyong'o who we felt really deserved an award for her outstanding performance in "12 Years a Slave".


Winner - The Great Gatsby

Brilliant production and costumer design in The Great Gatsby

Baz Lurhman's "The Great Gatsby" for us was a surpise winner at this years BAFTAs, winning 2 awards.  The film won Best Production Design as well as Best Costume Design and for us this was a surprise.  However, it was not a surprise because we though it did not deserve it but because no one really predicted it.  We loved the film and are glad to see it win these awards.


Loser - Her & Dallas Buyers Club

Whether you can count "Her" and "Dallas Buyers Club" as losers is difficult as they were not nominated for an award between them.  However, we have chose to include them in our list.  These two films are definitely up there with the rest and in our opinion should have been nominated at least for something, however they were both snubbed and we felt they were harshly done by in this regard.

Winner - 12 Years a Slave


Ultimately, the film that won the 'BIG' awards, "12 Years a Slave" was the front runner for this years BAFTAS.  Based on the true story of Solomon Northup the film picked up the Best Film and Best Actor Award for Chiwetel Ejiofor. It is hard to argue with these as the film was incredible. As we have said before it truly was a powerful masterpiece that deserves the success it gets. You should not need any reasons to watch the film but in case you do we have compiled 12 reasons why you should go and watch "12 Years a Slave".

You can see a full list of winners for this years BAFTA Awards here.

We hope you have enjoyed reading our winners and losers of this years BAFTA Awards and if you agree or disagree feel free to comment below and join in the discussion before the Oscars next month.













Best Film Winner: 12 Years A Slave
Best Film Winner: 12 Years A Slave
Best Film Winner: 12 Years A Slave
Best Film Winner: 12 Years A Slave
Best Film Winner: 12 Years A Slave
Best Film Winner: 12 Years A Slave

Thursday 13 February 2014

Top 5: Love Films That Are Perfect To Watch On Valentines Day

Valentines Day. Valentines Day. The Proposal, Romeo + Juliet, Titanic, The Notebook.

It is that time of year again and Valentines Day is upon us.  There are hundreds and thousands of films based on love and relationships so we have decided to narrow that down for you.  Here is a list of 5 films that would be perfect to watch on Valentines Day. We admit, they are not all Valentines Day related but are all related to love. They will make you laugh and cry and are perfect for Valentines Day:

5. Valentines Day (2010)


Perfectly named, "Valentine's Day" is the perfect way to start Valentines Day.  The movie is great for the day itself as it follows a large cast as they all try to find love for Valentines Day.  It is a good film and features a huge ensemble cast so there is bound to be someone you like. Names include, Jessica Alba ("Honey"), Taylor Lautner (The Twilight Franchise and "Grown Ups 2"), Jamie Foxx ("Law Abiding Citizen" and "Django Unchained") and Anne Hathaway ("The Dark Knight Rises").  That's only four and the list continues, but we won't give them all away.

4. The Proposal (200)


Another rom-com and it's another fun loving film,this time it stars Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side") and Ryan Reynolds ("Green Lantern"). A very suggestive title for any relationship that is quite serious this film will certainly ease any tension and make the mood a lot lighter.  Bullock's character is being deported so persuades her assistant, Reynolds, to become her fiance. Lots of fun awkward scenes, it certainly is worth a watch.

3. Romeo + Juliet (1996)


Now what film is better than the greatest love story ever told for Valentine's Day and that's not all; this is the modernized version directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Wolf of Wall Street" and "The Great Gatsby") and Claire Danes ("Stardust"). This entertaining take on William Shakespeare's famous tragedy is perfect for Valentines Day with romance, desire, action and very competent acting. It also features some incredibly romantic scenes and an awesome soundtrack.

2. Titanic (1997)


Staying with Leonardo DiCaprio and adding Kate Winslet ("The Holiday") we aboard the Titanic. This film is great if you are wanting a more serious love story. An epic movie of all proportions that will guarantee to  have you on the edge of tears if not a blubbering wreck by the end of the film. The tragic story of the shipwreck is entwined with the love story of DiCaprio and Winslet's characters.

1. The Notebook (2004)

 

Now this is the ultimate film to watch on Valentines Day, but, be warned you will definitely end up in tears.  A true love story and adapted from the novel by Nicholas Sparks, "The Notebook" stars Ryan Gosling ("Gangster Squad") and Rachel McAdams ("Wedding Crashers"). An incredibly emotional and moving film this one is not for those looking for an easy watch.  This film is a depiction of what real love is and it certainly is emotional.  An excellent film for the couple who are truly in love.

This concludes our list of films to watch on Valentines Day. Let us know your thoughts and what you choose to watch by commenting below.

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Top 5 Films to Watch During the Winter Olympics


As you well know we are currently in the middle of the Winter Olympic Games of 2014 in Sochi, Russia.  We love the winter Olympics and throughouly enjoy watching events that at other times of the year we would rarely see.  What we also love to do is watch films that are related to the winter Olympics in some way.  So here is our list of Top 5 Films to Watch During the Winter Olympics for when the competitons are over and you are waiting for the next events to start.


5. Donwhill Racer (1969)

The oldest film to feature in our list, "Downhill Racer" stars Robert Redford and Gene Hackman. The story is based around a downhil skier who joins the US team but does not get on well with the coach.  This is going on as the character is aiming to achieve highly at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. A definite watch.




4. Blades of Glory (2007)

Love Will Ferrell? Then this is the film for you.  It is based around two Olympic ice skaters who are banned for life from the Winter Olympics.  However they manage to find a loophole in the rules which enables them to compete again but only as a pair.  Produced by Ben Stiller, this film is great fun to watch and perfect to get you in the mood for the Sochi Winter Olympics.




3. The Cutting Edge (1992)

Another ice skating film and this time it is a rom-com.  A washed up ice hockey player is paired with a figure skater as they aim for gold while also falling in love.  Starring D. B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly "The Cutting Edge" is a family fun film to watch and enjoy. It also features LOST star Terry O'Quinn (John Locke).




2.  Cool Runnings (1993)

Now, there won't be many of you who have not watched or let alone heard of this film.  Based on the real life true story of the very first Jamaican bobsled team who try to make it to the 1988 Winter Olympics.  An exciting, easy going film that is funny and even emotional it should definitely be one you watch while the Winter Olympics is on. Away from the film, Jamaica have a two man bobsled team ready to go on the 16th February 2014 having support and funding raised by people all over the world.



1. Miracle (2004)

Our top film to watch during the Winter Olympics is "Miracle". This is based on the real true life story of Herb Brooks.  An ex-ice-hockey player who changes his focus to coaching. He aims to take the US Olympic Team to victory over an invincible Russian team.  Brooks, is portrayed by Kurt Russell. The film is both inspiring and majestical and will really get you rallying behind the competitors at this years Sochi Winter Olympics. For all of the FRIENDS fans out there, Eddie Cahill (Tag Jones), stars in this film as well.



That concludes our top 5 list and we hope you enjoy watching these films and the remainder of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.  If you have any comments on our list we always welcome them as well as hearing your own top 5!

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Enemy Movie Preview

We have not heard much about "Enemy" starring Jake Gyllenhaal but luckily we stumbled across the trailer last night. Not only does it star Gyllenhaal but it is also directed by the same person who directed "Prisoners" (2013), Dennis Villeneuve

From what we can tell from the trailer it certainly looks very similar in style to "Prisoners" with a dark overlook on each shot.  It seems like it is quite an interesting story line and hopefully it can match "Prisoners" and the suspense that brought.  We are certainly looking forward to being able to watch "Enemy". 

Have you been lucky enough to see "Enemy" already? If so let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

You can view the trailer for Enemy here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVvgt3jIUsc&feature=share

Monday 10 February 2014

Do You Watch Movie Trailers?

Recently there has been a bit of a spotlight on movie and film trailers.  Why? Well firstly because of the Super Bowl Half Time show which featured many new and extended trailers for upcoming movies.  And secondly, because of a news story that broke recently where cinema owners have asked for shorter movie trailers.

This raises an important question that we like to ask all movie fans - Do you watch film trailers?  For us answers can fall into three categories:

100 % Yes - I make a point of watching movie trailers as soon as I hear they have been released.

50 % Sometimes - I am not fussed whether I see them or not. If one comes on I will watch it but make no real effort to.

0 % No - I make every effort to avoid catching a glimpse of a movie trailer.  It gives too much away and ruins the film for me.

We fall into the first category. We love films. We love trailers. We will look for the latest news to see when a trailer is released to make sure we see it as soon as possible. However, we do know some people who are totally the opposite of ourselves and they will sit at the cinema with there eyes shut and hands over their ears during the trailers to make sure a film is not spoiled.  

What are your views on film trailers? Do they give away too much or do you love them as they are? Does it matter whether it is a film that's not released yet? If the film has been out for a few years but you are yet to see it does it make a difference to you about watching the trailer.

Let us know your thoughts but commenting below. We will of course reply and look forward to the discussion.



M+F Reviews Week 3 Update

It is that time again for our weekly of update of our review site M+F Reviews. It has been a great week and we have stuck to our target of getting on average one review done each day.  So here is a list of the reviews we have compiled this week in alphabetical order:

 
 
Highest M+F Rating: 12 Years a Slave
Featured Film: Prisoners
 
It has been a great week for us as we have had our first comment on the site (It appears on our "12 Years a Slave" review. We have another great week of film reviews coming your way, starting with none other than "The Big Lebowski" (1998).
 
Logo for Movie and Film Reviews


Sunday 9 February 2014

Non-Stop Movie Preview and Trailer

So after the success of "Taken" (2008) and "Taken 2" (2012) Liam Neeson returns in "Non-Stop" this February.

 
Whether this is a gamble or not remains to be seen but from the trailer, the film looks like it could have some success.  What we can tell is that Neeson plays an air marshal who is set-up and is made to look like he is high-jacking a plane.  It is then up to Neeson to clear his name and save everyone on the flight.  The trailer is filled with action but is it going to offer us something new? We certainly hope so.
 

 
The film also stars Lupita Nyong'o who recently had success with "12 Years a Slave" (2013) and Julianne Moore.  The trailer looks good but does seem to give away a lot. We will have to wait and see whether the whole film is a success or whether it will fail to impress. "Non-Stop" is released in the United Kingdom on the 28th February 2014.
 

Are you looking forward to this film or are you not interested at all? Let us know by commenting below.

Saturday 8 February 2014

Should You Go To The Cinema?

 

As movie lovers we have watched films both at the cinema and at home on either DVD or Blu-Ray disc.  But which is better? We thought it would be fun and interesting to do a head-to-head of both to see what comes out on top.

 

Cost

Dollar Sign and pound Sign Logo
When it comes down to choosing something to do, cost is always one thing that is looked into especially in more recent times.  The average cost of a cinema ticket in 2013 was $8.13 in the US and £6.53 in the UK.  Obviously these prices are only estimates but it gives us something to work with. On average a new DVD in the UK costs around £10 and a Blu-Ray costs around £15-20.  These numbers will vary along with cinema ticket prices - as obviously it will cost more to watch  an IMAX or 3D film at the cinema.  On face value to actually watch a film it seems that going to the cinema will come out on top. There are however other costs involved, like travel and snack costs (we have a separate section on snacks). The costs for sweets, popcorn and drinks at the cinema is extortionate and is almost nearly 3 times as more expensive that if you purchase them in shop.  This added with travel costs we are going to give this head-to-head to DVD/Blue-Ray. On average it would be cheaper to buy a DVD or Blu-Ray disc compared to going to the cinema.
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 1 - 0 Cinema
 

Comfort

For us, nothing beats the comfort of your own home.  Your familiar surroundings - everything is how you like it.  At the cinema however it isn't.  You rarely get to choose where you sit. You have no control over the lighting and you are limited to your seat. It is very difficult to stretch out which can be a problem as films are generally lasting for longer and longer these days.  This has not stopped movie theatre chains like Odeon trying to make the cinema experience more homely and luxurious, however this comes at an added cost.  Home comforts really are the best and cannot be matched by going to the cinema.
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 2 - 0 Cinema
 

Atmosphere

There is a certain atmosphere at the cinema that is impossible to recreate at home.  It's cliché but it is magical.  The big screen, dimmed lights and loud speakers makes watching films at the cinema all that more special compared to being at home.  Although it may be less comfortable especially when the cinema is packed but when there is a funny scene and the whole cinema erupts in laughter that atmosphere is special and unique.
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 2 - 1 Cinema
 

Snacks

We have already looked at the cost of snacks but lets look at the snacks themselves.  In our eyes, cinema snacks cannot be matched. Yes, you can buy popcorn from the shops and eat it at home but it is not the same as cinema food.  The popcorn, nachos and drinks albeit overpriced taste much nicer at the cinema and are worth the extra money.  Of course at home you can cook your own dinner and can pretty much have anything you like but for us cinema snacks win.
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 2 - 2 Cinema
 

Quality

Now this is a difficult one. Unless you go to the IMAX a normal cinema screen can sometimes look a bit blurry. The majority of people at home will have a HD screen to watch a film on making the screen quality better but obviously smaller.  At the cinema though the sound is very good. Loud and clear - it really adds an extra element to the film you are watching. You can feel the sound vibrations which really improve action films etc. At home their is a limit as to how loud you can have the sound.  This is a shame and unless you have a home cinema surround system it will not be the same as at the cinema.  Overall we think the cinema just edges it because of the large screen size and the sound effects are much better.
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 2 - 3 Cinema
 

Time

Watching films takes time, obviously.  Films generally range from anywhere between 75 minutes to up to 3 hours.  This is a long time to be out and it generally is nicer to watch longer films at home. At the cinema you do not get a break where as at home you can pause it.  There is also the added bonus of saving time as you will not need to travel to the cinema. Time-wise watching a film at home is better, you will save time and can watch a movie when it suits you rather than having the hassle of getting to the cinema and having to watch a film at a set time.
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 3 - 3 Cinema
 

Release Dates


Release dat and movie poster for Transformers 4 - Age of Extinction
Transformers: Age of Extinction can be seen in the cinema
 long before it can on DVD
 
There is only one winner here in the last category -  Cinema. The films at the movie theatres come out a long time before they appear on DVD or Blu-Ray which means if you wait to see something at home, you can be waiting months.  There really is no arguing in that if you want to see a film as soon as it comes out you have to go to the cinema to do so. 
 
DVD/Blu-Ray 3 - 4 Cinema
 

And the winner is...

The winner is Cinema. That concludes our head-to-head and we believe that you should go to the cinema over watching a DVD/Blu-Ray at home. Of course other circumstances can change this but if you have the opportunity to go to the cinema - take it, it is a great experience and very enjoyable.
 

Let us know what you prefer and why by commenting below.