Reviews

I am a meat-eater, but making concsious steps to reduce my meat consumption - mainly to reduce my environmental impact and after watching animal cruelty documentaries.

This 'documentary' was absolutely terrible - the main narrator had an annoying tone, which wasn't great to start with. It was badly paced and the points were all over the place. There was no flow or narrative that made sense. The 'experts' brought in were hardly leaders in the fields. There was also a distinct lack of balance and there was such a biased approach towards the brands that make faux-meat, that it came across as pro-meat show that condemns eating fruit/vegetables.

I finished this show just to write this review and am just aghast that it was ever commissioned. The fact they compare vegetarianism/veganism to Scientology cult-like behavior should be enough to deter you. As a meat-eater, I am embarrassed that this is the best attempt to put people off a lifestyle to reduce meat intake.

Great follow up to the premiere and it was good to see Dexter back on form. Well, I saw 'on form', but I had a couple of gripes with his apparent sloppiness with the kill in the prior episode. No spoilers, but you would have thought he would not have been so careless, right up to the final reveal of the episode. I was also a bit miffed we don't get a proper intro song to the episode. Yes, the original would not be appropriate, but something to mirror that tongue-in-cheek intro would have been better than a two second 'DEXTER:NEW BLOOD' in ice and the episode title hidden in the screen.

I have been impressed so far, but just hope things get a bit more tidy for Dexter. And please bring an intro song!

The idea of this show is great - for big-time chefs to try and mimic the foods we see everyday in fast food outlets and the supermarkets. However, it is let down by a combination of the incorrect casting of a presenter and the general format. The presenter is likable but it seems like he is forced to saw/do a lot of the things and it just does not feel natural.

On the topic of the format, the first 10 minutes of the show is the 'big reveal' of the week's item to replicate. 10 minutes. That is 20% of the show's entire runtime. This should have been 4-5 mins of content, but it feels dragged out. The next 25mins are where we see the chefs try to replicate the item in their kitchen. I enjoyed this part, but it is ruined again by the presenter making visits that again do not feel natural. It just felt so artificial. Interweaved in this, we see how the items are actualy made in the factories/kitchens and I loved this insight. This was the better parts of the show. The presenter here felt more in-place and she was very relatable. Good job here. I just wish it had more showtime, which could have been resolved by shaving the first 10mins of the episode.

The final part of the episode is where we see the chefs replicate the item and present it to the judges, who are industry experts that we have seen throughout the episode. This is the best part, but rather than it being an 'all-round' winner, I think something along the lines of points (e.g. Look, texture, taste etc.) would have given us a better understanding as to why the winning chef wins. A couple of episodes gave a real surprise as to the winner, since the judges gave a real leaning towards a chef who subsenquently lost.

All in all, a great concept. However, a combination of poor casting and organisation means that the execution was less than ideal.

This was a fairly standard Kenan and Kel episode so I am a bit perplexed as to why it is rated the lowest of all the episodes by almost 1 full star. Nothing controversial in it and the comedy was as fun and silly as ever. Worth a watch!

I love watching business-related movies and when I heard that the 'Game Of Thrones' version of business would reach our small screens I was obviously going to watch it.

I am going to keep this short - this show is good. It centres on a family of power-hungry individuals in a firm with many many issues. Without spoiling even the first episode, the general plot of the show is interesting and it gives us a great insight as to the inner workings of this family of wolves. The characters themselves are well laid out and they each have a role to play in the overall plot without making it seem forced. Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong are obviously the key characters and I think their opposing natures make this brilliant to watch. A couple of the characters are a bit over the top, even for a TV show (Shiv being the key one I take issue with).

The issue is that some sub-plots tend to be a bit formulaic. For example, needing to hide some evidence as to the illegal workings of a company, or the company being in debt and needing to figure out how to repay the creditors. The other issue is that the end-points for these sub-plots are somewhat predictable and their resolution isn't exactly a surprise.

Overall, I am enjoying this TV show so far and look forward to the twists and turns that are in store for us. If you enjoy watching business-related movies, or just something that makes you feel better as a person, watch this...now (i promise i am not the boy who cried wolf!).

I've been subscribed to GMM for nearly 4 years now and still enjoy watching the show. Each episode is 10-15 minutes long and are great fun. Rhett and Link are the hosts of the show and are lifelong friends. It is great to see the friendly dynamic between the two and they bounce off each other like a (happily) married couple!

Generally, episodes fall into the following categories:

• Lists: these episodes can focus on any subject, whether it be internet memes, halloween costumes, celebrity instagrams or even serial killers. Most are entertaining, but the ones that centre on subjects I have no interest in tend to drag on.
• Rhett vs. Link: this can take the form of quizzes, figuring out the origin of foods and then using a dart to hit the respective country on a world map etc. Regardless of the type, be sure to expect a unique twist on the general trivia concept, along with funny prizes/forfeits.
• Celebrity episodes: in the past, YouTube 'celebrities' tended to come on the show, but since GMM has gotten so popular, actual celebrities come on.
• Food episodes: these are by far the most entertaining. The 'Will it...?' episodes ask if certain foods 'Will' or not. For example, in 'Will it pizza', they tried sand on a pizza, which obviously...did not pizza!

GMM is a brilliant show and since it has exploded in popularity, the production quality has gone up dramatically. One gripe I have about this show now is that they are focused more on what makes an episodes look good, than what makes an episode actually good to watch. This has resulted in several episodes that have been quite stale and I have not watched fully.

The recent change in the episode releases has also meant that 4-5 episodes are released daily. In the past I almost religiously watched GMM everyday, but am now watching 1 out of 5 each day (unless any of the others catch my interest). I think they are trying to get as much ad revenue as possible and has resulted in a quantity over quality issue for me.

All in all, if you want something to start the morning on, GMM is a good shout. The hosts are great fun, relatable and likeable. The content of the episodes are good, but do not always hit the mark. But, when it comes down to it, YouTube is free so I can't complain too much!

I know I am going to get a lot of hate for this review, but here goes...

I never watched Samurai Jack as a kid, but I often saw it was on Cartoon Network. I just preferred watching things like Ed, Edd and Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Cow and Chicken and a whole host of mindnumbing cartoons. Samurai Jack always came across as too serious for my childish mind. However, at the ripe old age of 25 I decided to embark on the quest to watch this, since it was notably commissioned for an extra season in 2017.

I am going to divide this review in two parts: seasons 1-4, then season 5 on its own (as will be made clear). The story follows a samurai trapped in the future by an evil 'Aku', and the series follows his quests the defeat said evil. Seasons 1-4 attempt to show this, with each episode focusing on a minion sent by Aku, an entirely different villain, or Aku himself. Whilst I appreciated the journey Jack was going through, it felt somewhat lacklustre. As the series progressed, it felt less and less like Jack would ever truly face Aku and complete his objective. I won't spoil things for you, but I must say I felt deflated as each episode went by without ever feeling Jack would get back to the past.

The positives of seasons 1-4 are numerous. The animation style is excellent and original. Like in Dexter's Lab, the creator of Samurai Jack gives the protagonist and villain simple and sharp features which distinguishes them from everyone else. The backdrops are well thought out and you can see the effort that has been put into it. The voice acting is great, when it is there. One of the things people love about this cartoon is that it is the lack of a need for speech that makes this cartoon so excellent. I (controversially) disagree. A lack of speech makes it quite boring because not a lot actually happens in each episode. Having a few episodes being like this would have been great. But every episode? I remain to be convinced.

The other gripe I have about seasons 1-4 is that it doesn't really have a target audience. It is too dark and 'adulty' for children, yet it is too slow-paced and soft for adults. If it had a bit more action or adult themes I think it would have been more entertaining for people of my age.

Now onto season 5, an entirely different beast. Unlike seasons 1-4 where each episode is standalone and doesn't feel like it is going anywhere, season 5 is the complete opposite. You get a core plot to the series and it is a good one. The animation remains crisp and even improved from seasons 1-4. You even get more dialogue between the characters, including Jack. What I loved most is that it finally decided to become an adult cartoon. The plot is dark, yet interesting and the action is finally what I was hoping for. Overall, season 5 is what I had wanted from seasons 1-4 and then some.

All in all, Samurai Jack is not a bad cartoon, but it just isn't truly standout. Seasons 1-4 have a storyline that doesn't really satisfy the audience's need for a core plot or a sense of finality. However, season 5 makes up for this, making it the best season of the series. I would recommend you watch this film if you enjoy watching manga or other cartoons aimed at adults.

I have always been a major fan of anything Dragon Ball, having watched every episode of each series (yes, including DB GT) at least twice. I am not going to lie, I had been wanting to see a live-action version of the show for some time after watching the anime for so many years. I was hoping for something close to the show but with, well you know, real people. DB Evolution was the single greatest disappointment of my movie experiences and its memory still hurts my brain. DB Light of Hope episode 1 literally came out of nowhere one day when I was searching through YouTube and it blew me away. It was amazing what a group of people who had actual passion (rather than monetary greed) for the show on a budget a fraction of the Hollywood calamity.

Since episode 1 came out I had donated to their campaign and was eagerly awaiting episodes 2+3. I waited and waited, then waited some more. Then I forgot about it since DB Super came out. To my delight, I got a notification that episode 2 had come out this month and i watched it almost instantly.

DB Light of Hope episode 2 follows on nicely from episode 1 and continues along the storyline that parallels "The History of Trunks". As such, DB fans knew what to expect, but hoped for some new element that makes this standout from the anime. Aside from a couple of minor plot points though, it stays true to the origin movie which was somewhat disappointing. However, what I loved about this movie was that the action sequences were very well done, especially considering their budget. Of course, the CGI was of low quality, but you could appreciate what they were getting at.

This project has a number of positives that can be gleaned, however it is not perfect. The strengths of something like this depends on a solid cast and this is where DB Light of Hope falls flat. The actors who played Gohan and Trunks were just not very good. They just did not seem properly in character and it felt as though they was a barrier between their performance and what could have been. Turning to the androids 17/18, we all know that they are meant to be robot-like and devoid of emotion. In the anime this was done very well, but the actors here again felt like they were not all there. Things like CGI can be forgiven since this reflects their budget, but poor casting cannot I'm afraid.

Taken together, DB Light of Hope is an excellent fan film. It mirrors DB very well, unlike its Hollywood counterpart which tried to appeal to the masses. It is action- packed with great CGI and action sequences considering their budget. One could only imagine what the possibilities could be if Hollywood approached them so that fans like us can get the live-action version we deserve.

I used to love watching this show as a kid and since I found it again on DVD at the ripe old age of 25 I decided to give it another whirl! Jackie Chan Adventures follows Jackie Chan, his Uncle (Uncle), and his niece (Jade) as they try to protect the world against the forces of evil. What really sets this show apart from others is its villains usually have some sort of middle eastern background without falling into the trap of the typical white wrongdoer. It is probably the main reason why I still have so many distinct memories from episodes of this show, which gave me a major sense of nostalgia as I watched it.

I used to - and still - love Jackie Chan. He is such a brilliant actor, but also comes across as a guy who is down to earth, genuine and fun. This is something that really comes through in the TV show. The shows are well written and their plots are well-conceived. If any actor could be portrayed as a (super)hero in their own right, Jackie Chan is that guy! At the end of every episode we also have the added treat of the real-life Jackie being asked questions by kids. From 'what is your favourite food?' to 'how many types of martial arts do you know?', there are plenty of questions! What I also loved about it was that Jackie tended to go off on a tangent for most questions and never really answered them...

Of course, much of the humour is directed for a younger audience, but there were still many jokes that made me giggle! Indeed, there was even some adult humour littered across episodes that are probably for the benefit of many parents who end up watching it with their children.

Aside from their humour, many of the episodes have a few strong key messages, such as the importance of family, friendship, being truthful and so on. Again, many cartoons lack this element altogether, or fall on the opposite end of the spectrum and are no longer fun to watch. Jackie Chan Adventures somehow gets into this middle ground and this is another thing that really sets it apart from other cartoons.

Of course, this show is not perfect. Some of the jokes got repetitive and the goofy nature of Jackie sometimes put the episode a bit off-balance. I also felt that season 2 (demon doors) was a bit of a slump for the show as it really did not give each of the demons enough facetime. Since some of them were quite interesting, having them on-screen for 5 minutes before they were dragged back to their prison felt a bit lacklustre.

Taken together, Jackie Chan Adventures is a great show. It is not only fun to watch as a child, as I still enjoyed watching it as an adult! If you are looking for a cartoon for your child to watch this would be a great one. It is diverse, well-conceived and solves the dilemma of making cartoons educational without making them boring. As Uncle would say, 'Haaaachaaaaaaaa!'

I hadn't seen a Ben Stiller movie in a while and this one kind of came out of nowhere. Very little marketing and promotion meant that when I saw it was released I was surprised, but it is reflected in its low budget. The movie follows Brad (Ben Stiller) who is disappointed with his life, since all of his friends became very rich and successful in life. The plot revolves around him going to Harvard with his son, who is trying to get into the university.

The rest of the plot if filled in with learning more about Brad and his successful friends, whilst his son is really only there to move the main plot forward. It all felt a bit slow, which was not helped by the sweeping camera shots with no speaking and Brad's narration that is a bit too frequent.

However, when things eventually happen in the plot it is good. It made me feel sad for Brad at times, yet happy when he realised what was truly important in life. The key message, of course, is that money does not equate to success and this movie certainly delivers that well. What I also enjoyed was that although this message has been littered in numerous movies, Brad's Status delivers it in a refreshing format.

Although Brad's Status will not wow you, it is certainly a good movie. The plot is nothing new and it may feel slow at times, but it will bring a smile to your face in the end. Regardless of whether you like Ben Stiller's previous performances or not, this will be a worthy addition to your watchlist, especially at this time of year when it can be chilly!

I am going through a pre-midlife crisis and am watching numerous cartoons from my youth. Hanna-Barbera played a big role in my childhood TV so I could not pass up the opportunity to watch Johnny Bravo when I discovered a cheap DVD on Amazon!

Johnny Bravo, among many many other cartoons, comes from a time when creators had almost completely free reign on what the put out, provided it didn't have nudity or swear words...aside from that, anything was fair game. The Flintstones highlighted the sexism of the time, whilst Hong Kong Phooey was somewhat racist. But as I said, it was a sign of the time, and Johnny Bravo was no exception.

The cartoon focuses on Mr. Bravo and his antics to try and get the girl. His methods, although persistent, were somewhat flawed since he relied on being buff and acting like your typical airhead jock. Although the way he treated women would be considered downright sexist and degrading to women, the show promotes the opposite view. This is because every attempt he makes using this approach fails and it simply highlights that women should not be objectified or treated like women were in the 60's. It was a bit of a mind game, but I honestly think that the cartoon's silliness did have an essence of a message!

The plots of the episodes themselves were great fun. From Johnny Bravo being thrown out of a plane to him shrinking to the size of a pea, this series really did cover all its bases. I struck of a point here because I felt some of the episodes were repetitive making them unmemorable, or just a bit too silly making them annoying. However, the majority were great and that is what is important.

Like many cartoons, Johnny Bravo enjoy referencing other cartoons to. From their rendition of the Scooby Doo to Batman, I loved that this cartoon really did make you feel like you were experiencing more than just the small world of Johnny Bravo himself. It also gave me a few more cartoons I need to add to my watch list!

Johnny Bravo is not only a great cartoon of its time, but it is a great cartoon period. Although some of his antics are questionable from a gender equality point of view, the cartoon itself emphasises the opposite message! If you enjoy watching something to relax to at the end of a hard day, or you just want a laugh, give this a go. It's peachy :)

I have fond memories of watching numerous cartoons on Cartoon Network when I came back home from school and had finished my homework. Of these, only a few stick out in my mind and given my apparent pre-midlife crisis I have attempted to re- live these memories. Of those on my list, Dexter's Lab ranked pretty high up, mainly due to the fact that I could remember various snippets that I desperately wanted to watch!

Dexter's Lab is truly representative of a time when cartoons were not just good, they were great. Creators could truly create and were under less restrictions by regulatory authorities, various social pressures and so on. Sure, cartoons of the time were considerably more senseless, violent and lacked learning points. But, why should all cartoons have to be harmless fun filled with learning when schools, parents and real- life scenarios should be doing this already? A cartoon should give the watcher a chance to be entertained and that is what Dexter's Lab does.

The series follows the antics of Dexter, his annoying sister Dee-Dee, his competitor Mandark and their respective parents. Dexter is a boy genius who ends up in the craziest of situations, whether it be travelling back in time or shrinking down to battle a virus inside a dog. Seriously, this cartoon covers all the bases without becoming repetitive. The episodes themselves were entertaining in the sense that they did not rely on the same jokes, since the creators did have more freedom. This did result in quite a few adult jokes slipping through that I could not appreciate as a child. Boy oh boy was I laughing!

The animation style is quite iconic of the time. It is simple on the surface, but the true talent is shown in Dexters bespoke inventions, battle scenes etc. Whether it be giant robots or ray guns, you could see that each component was really well thought out. It certainly beats the cartoons currently being pumped out, where the animation is so needlessly complex, ugly (in my opinion) and distracting from the cartoon itself. The success of Dexter's Lab can be seen by the career trajectories of its animators, of which Seth Macfarlane is the standout example.

In a nutshell, nostalgia did not disappoint here. Dexter's Lab is even better watching it as an adult, as the jokes that used to make me giggle still make me giggle, with the added naughty adult jokes! If you are a parent wondering whether this cartoon is 'safe' for your child, believe me it is. It is great fun and certainly blows current cartoons out of the water!

Top Cat is a cartoon I have fond memories from in my youth. I think I must be going through a pre-midlife crisis because I find myself re-watching all the cartoons I used to enjoy as a kid. I have gone through so many Hanna-Barbera classics this year and it would not be complete without an excursion to the antics of a certain cat in a top hat!

Just like other Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the time, Top Cat comes from a period when cartoons had much more free reign on what they could get away with. As such, much of the comedy would not pass the ever-restrictive TV censors. Clear examples of this are referring to native Americans as red Indians, the lack of racial diversity and obvious racial stereotypes whenever such diversity was included. However, as I said, this is a reflection of the time. I often found myself laughing at these jokes, but not in the way they were originally intended, but in an "Oh my gosh, this is so controversial!" kind of way.

The episodes themselves revolve around Top Cat and his gang of alleycats and their antics that are almost always illegal. Their illicit activities results in Officer Dibble getting involved at some point and Top Cat always manages to pull one over on him. It was always funny to see how he would do it. Other cartoons lack this distinction and seem to blend into one another, but Top Cat does not suffer from this since the plots of each episode were always very different to keep things fresh.

Each character in the gang adds their own comedic element. Top Cat is the brains behind the operation and always seems one step ahead of the police, whilst the others fulfil the roles of the trusty sidekick, the idiot and so on. The voices are also brilliant and so different to the typical American accent you hear in cartoons today. The backing music is also so well done and just so iconic when you hear it.

Top Cat is not just a great cartoon, it is an excellent piece of television. What I also like about this cartoon is that it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. If you want to find a cartoon to watch with your children that won't drive you off the bend, Top Cat (among many other Hanna-Barbera classics) would be a great shout!

My nostalgia trip is going full-force. This year alone I have gone through the Flintstones, Top Cat, Scooby-Doo and numerous other Cartoon Network classics. Hong Kong Phooey was another one off my list, but I have to say I do not have many memories of it as a child. With so few episodes it is easy to understand why, but I was willing to pay the small amount to try and re-live my childhood.

Let's get this straight; Hong Kong Phooey comes from a simpler time when cartoonists had much more slack from censorship. The title alone is enough to stir controversy today. Add to that a stereotypical goofy robe and faux karate moves (with plenty "Hiyaaahhh's") and you have a cartoon that wouldn't even get past pre-pre- pre-production today! However, as I said, it is a reflection of the time it was created in.

Penry, a lowly janitor of a police station, forms the basis of Hong Kong Phooey's alter ego. He is clumsy and incompetent and yet somehow clings onto his job. His superhero counterpart is equally as useful, but his trusty sidekick gets the job done whilst Hong Kong Phooey gets the praise. It is a simple formula that forms the basis of every episode. For the first few episodes it was entertaining, however it grew somewhat repetitive and many episodes seemed to merge into one. Perhaps this is why I had so few memories of this as a child.

Although I have mentioned many negatives, I did enjoy watching this short series, although I do rank other Hanna-Barbera classics much higher. The villains in some episodes were hilarious in their own right. I mean, a guy with a contraption that makes it rain uses it to sell umbrellas...genius, right? Also, the racial stereotypes themselves made me laugh but not in the way they were originally intended. It was more like a "I can't believe they got away with this" kind of way!

If you have some spare time and cash, you might want to give this show a watch. It is short, will fulfil your nostalgia trip and is probably about as close as we are going to get to time travel. Despite its obvious flaws, Hong Kong Phooey remains a Hanna- Barbera classic for a reason.

The Flintstones is a show that I grew up with. Before re-watching this at the age of 25, I had vague memories of certain episodes that I wanted to see again. When I found a DVD box set, I decided to take the plunge and re-live my childhood. Boy oh boy was I in for a Yabba Dabba treat!

Set in the stone age, The Flintstones is a show that centres around the antics of Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, with their respective wives having to deal with the ensuing fallout. From dealing with a penny pushing boss to trying to win a gaming show on TV, this series truly captures what a "modern stone age family" goes through! Aside from the plot of each episode being relatable, the small details within episode also add a comedic element. Making everyday tools, such as TV remotes, garbage disposals and even showers have a stone age twist to explain how they work in such a time period is brilliant!

Aside from their plots, the episodes were greatly enhanced by what was going on in the background. The background music in between scenes has a great orchestra and are very iconic. Even the cheesy laughs in the background add an element of hilarity. You could really see the effort that was made into hand-drawing the scenes for these episodes, which is something that has been lost since computers have taken away this skill from modern cartoonists.

The series does however show its age in the respect of women in society. The wives are expected to stay at home to do chores and ensure dinner is on the table when their husband comes home. If not, you can see Fred get angry and proclaim that a woman's place is in the kitchen. I understand this is a reflection of the time it was made, but it may not be to everyone's taste. In my opinion, these jokes are still funny but not for their punchline, but for how outrageous they are!

All in all, The Flintstones is a true Hanna-Barbera classic. The episodes are all great and did not taint the sense of nostalgia I had before embarking on watching them.

I recently finished watching the Office (US and UK versions) and was told that I would love Parks and Recreation (P&R) seeing as I found the Office truly brilliant. I wasn't aware that it followed a similar format of a documentary-style comedy until I started episode 1. It soon became apparent that a new show would dethrone the current top- sitter of TV shows that make me laugh much as intravenous comedy could...

P&R is set in the small town of Pawnee and follows the local P&R department (go figure), with Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) as the main focus. Leslie, a work-a-holic, is surrounded by a team about as competent as tap-dancing monkeys. Ron Swanson is a man I feel embodies the true outdoor American, with an added sense of paranoia and hatred towards the government. His jokes and one-liners were so laugh out loud that I ended up watching a 45 minute compilation on Youtube from start to end. The other members of the team have their own unique features that provide another dimension to the show. In some cases, however, I felt that some of these quirks got annoying as they felt so over the top that they were detached from 'real-life' (even though I appreciate this is a TV show).

Each season had their own separate plot, with a few underlying core themes running throughout. Despite its negative press, I loved season 1. Of course, the show was still finding its feet and it felt slightly confused. However, since P&R grew to become such an incredibly different, refreshing and diverse comedy show, it is understandable that its beginnings aren't 10/10. I believe it set a great foundation for later seasons as the concept of Leslie fighting a storm of opposers became engrained in our minds and the character development was great.

Seasons 2-6 were genuinely comedy gold. I cannot think of 1 bad episode. I have seen people rank the seasons and I just do not see how one can rank seasons 2-6. They are just that good. Leslie's relentless nature, Tom's stupidity, Andy's idiocy, Ron's hatred of all things...the list goes on! Each element made every episode a true gem in their own right. Even thinking about some of the jokes makes me burst out laughing.

Following this, season 7 fell a bit flat for me. I felt as though an already over-the-top show became even more detached from reality. It made it hard to relate to much of what season 7 had to offer as they were just that wacky. I also did not understand why other relationship changes were included altogether as it just confused me. For example, the falling out of 2 key characters (I won't spoil anything for you). What I did feel this season did well was the finale. It tied up all loose ends in a satisfying manner, which is something I felt many shows fall flat on.

In summation, P&R is a brilliant piece of television. The characters were brilliantly conceived, the main plot of each season was great and each episode was a true pleasure to watch. Leslie Knope wore me down and I must concede. P&R is now my favourite TV show. Full stop!

With such a vague synopsis I had no idea what this film was even about before I went to see it. The name "Big Bear" was about as informative as a tap dancing monkey too. I was drawn to it because I saw that Tyler Labine was in the bill and I love a lot of his work (stemming from his brilliant performance in the "Reaper" series from way back in the day!). So, did this film live up to my expectations? Well, yes in the respect to the fact that I had no expectations going into watching I film I had no idea as to its plot. No in respect to everything else.

Big Bear felt like a re-hash of the Hangover but it was darker and a lot less funny. The movie centres around Joe, who was due to marry his fiancé but she broke up with him prior to the bachelor party. We come in on the night of what was supposed to be the bachelor party. Despite his reluctance, Joe's friends (Labine and Co.) force him to have a fun night and we flash forward to the next morning when the are somewhat hungover. Unlike the original "Hangover" movie where the premise is to find a lost friend, "Big Bear" takes a darker route when Joe finds someone tied up in the basement thanks to one of his friends. I won't elude to any other plot points since I don't want to spoil anything, but I think I would have wanted to know these bare bones going in to watch it myself.

From this brief synopsis you can tell that this movie is going to have traditional and dark humour, which it does. There are some jokes that made me chuckle, but the vast majority fell quite flat. I tried to like this movie, because I do think Tyler Labine is one of the most under-rated actors today, but this movie was a bit disappointing. The characters were under-developed so we never got attached to any of them. Additionally, the plot was very one-dimensional and presented us with nothing original.

It's a shame, because even though I am not a film-maker, I could even come up with better plot and sub-plot points to make this movie more interesting. But, in its current state, I would personally give this movie a miss even though it has a short running time.

I used to love watching mind-numbing cartoons when I was a kid. Now, at the ripe old age of 25 I thought I had grown up a bit...apparently not. Studying medicine is draining and I needed something in the evening to relax to, so I decided to re-watch a number of cartoons from my youth. I found all the episodes for Ozzy and Drix and was so full of nostalgia that I could not resist myself.

Ozzy and Drix takes place in the city of Hector, a teenage human being who literally sets the stage for this show. Ozzy (aka Osmosis Jones) is a white blood cell with an attitude like Will Smith in Bad Boys, whilst Drix (aka Drixenol) is a multi-faceted pill who is also somewhat nerdy. This pair are part of a policing unit in the city of Hector, who are committed to fight invading pathogens. Both have their individual charm and comedic value, which makes their pairing a great one.

Despite wanting to watch this show for its ability to let me go on autopilot at the end of a long day, quite the opposite occurred. The episodes themselves are are incredibly clever as they use medical language (in a very basic sense) to form the basis of each storyline. For example, representing the spleen as a literal vacuum destroyer of pathogens was a stroke of genius to enable children to understand its function. Other clever aspects would have flew over my head as a kid, but they do make me chuckle now that I am studying medicine. Having a dog allergen being called 'dander' being one such case.

In a world full of cartoons that rely on stupidity to be 'funny', Ozzy and Drix do not and I really respect that. Aside from comedy, some episodes have a truly strong message. "Where's the smoke" is a prime example of this, whereby the basic concept of smoking and its consequences is explained brilliantly. It is these qualities that sets this show apart from most cartoons. However, by the same token, it may have been its downfall. It was too clever for its own good and kids quite simply did not get it. In a sea of cartoons where comedy that relies on stupidity, current trends and violence reign supreme, Ozzy and Drix could not complete.

All in all, Ozzy and Drix was a great show (let alone a cartoon). It's a shame it did not continue , because I truly believe this cartoon would have entertained children as well as benefited their minds.

When I heard about this movie I was sceptical. I am a male who has suffered from Anorexia since I was 14 (I am 25 now) and have been in 2 inpatient units during this time. I have gone from a weight that literally caused my heart to stop to one that is normal according to society and have recently graduated to become a doctor.

To The Bone starts off with an all too familiar look into the life of someone with an eating disorder in an inpatient unit. Once she is 'let loose' into the world she is clearly no where close to recovery. We get some degree of insight into her life struggling with her condition. Lily Collins is perfectly suited to this role given her eating disorder history. I am slightly concerned that this role may have set something off in her mind to trigger a relapse (if not now, then in the future), but as long as she has been able to cope I am more at ease. The attention to detail into her character's daily life is incredible. From being able to recite calories in foods to the countless hours spent doing sit-ups in her room, I was amazed as to how accurate they wanted this movie to be. In my eyes, it was in no way an exaggeration and could be considered an under- representation as to the daily life of someone with an eating disorder.

As the story progresses the tone becomes a lot more serious. It makes it quite hard to watch at times, because you do feel concerned for the well being of the main character and her family. It certainly made me emotional at times because it re- surfaced memories of things I put me and my family through. Again, this just highlights how eerily accurate the film portrays the condition. I could literally put names of people I met during recovery to the faces of the characters (patients, doctors, nurses and family members included).

Aside from being concerned as to the well being of Lily Collins in this role, the other problem I had going into watching this movie was that it may glamorise eating disorders. However, after the first 10 minutes of watching it I knew this was not the case. It felt a lot more like seeing the world through a real anorexic's eyes.

The other obvious problem I had was that this may be potentially 'triggering' for people with eating disorders. I still have this reservation, however I cannot conceive any way a film like this could not have been triggering. Every person experiences an eating disorder differently and have their own personal triggers. Anything in this film could have been triggering for different reasons. What I know is that those without the condition will receive an invaluable insight into the life of someone with an eating disorder. In a world where awareness for such disorders is certainly on the up, many people still think eating disorders are a 'life choice' and that sufferers should just eat. i hope this film makes people realise the daily struggles of sufferers and that it offers sufferers ambition to recover.

I have loved watching the Transformers films in the past, despite their reputation for being about as clever as a lemon. They were visual spectacles and seeing the battles and explosions in 3D in the cinema has always made these films good fun to watch. There has been a downward trend in the quality of these films since the second instalment and I was hoping that the Last Knight could reverse this trend. Unfortunately not.

Transformers: The Last Knight is a prime example of studios pressuring film makers to churn out material to satisfy the masses. Michael Bay was probably the worst person in Hollywood to undertake such a franchise as he has the notorious reputation of style over substance. The plot for the film is quite interesting if you look at it from a bare bones perspective. The main autobots and decepticons make an appearance, which gives us a sense of familiarity in an ever-changing cast that barely resembles the original lineup. Seeing Optimus Prime head towards the dark side was probably one of the more exciting elements and I was looking forward to see the ensuing battles.

However, despite a promising story line, this film fails to deliver on almost all counts. Michael Bay's reliance on CGI and explosions really overshadows any sense of a story. Also, despite the general plot being incredibly simple, the manner by which it was delivered was overly complicated. I found myself getting lost at numerous points and had to ask my neighbour what on earth was going on. First there was a staff, then a talisman, then a ship and Anthony Hopkins breaking into Number 10 Downing Street...I mean seriously?

Another thing that really bugged me was the need for such vulgar language throughout the film. The odd use of a curse word is fine, but they were being thrown left, right and centre in this film. It certainly is not suitable for children to watch! One of the only film's redeeming qualities was that Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Hopkins delivered their performance well. But that is to be expected, since they are great actors. However, for them to even be associated with a film like this is a dark mark on their resumé. This film did not deserve them.

For the first time in a long time I felt cheated out of my money in the cinema. This film was atrocious and was only redeemed by a few great actors and some visually impressive battle sequences. Other than that, there is very little to be desired by this film. If you enjoyed previous instalments of Transformers be prepared to be disappointed if you have already bought a ticket. If you haven't, I would consider spending you money elsewhere.

I had only started watching Prison Break after my exams finished at university 2 weeks ago. Somehow I managed to watch seasons 1-5 in the space of that time (a fact I am proud and ashamed of at the same time!). Seasons 1-2 were my favourite because they were clever and stuck to the original premise. Seasons 3-4 were good, but got a bit too complex and Michael was given Godly powers to see 20 steps ahead of everyone else. He is clever, but that degree of ability to outsmart others got a bit annoying at times.

Season 5 takes us back to what the show is all about, breaking out of a prison. Michael is alive and he wants to help someone break out of a new prison. Oh, and he has new tattoos! What I liked was that not only was the reason for doing so very different, but the setting was completely novel too. Being set in the middle east brought with it an exciting new story and kept things interesting for fans of the series.

All the other characters are back too and Franklin has made a radical change too. I liked that the original cast were still around, bringing with it a sense of familiarity. The introduction of new characters, both in the prison and out, was great. The writers of the series have been good so far at introducing new characters that develop well as the series progresses.

This season was truncated to only 9 episodes, so I felt that their character development was quite rushed and we did not develop the same bond as we did with characters in previous seasons. Being such a short season, I also felt that the story itself was quite rushed. They wanted to achieve so much in 9 episodes that you often felt lost and having to rewind to understand where you went astray. I did not have to do this with previous seasons.

When the seasons comes to a conclusion you do get the same satisfaction as you did in previous seasons. Michael is a clever egg and you do see his genius come to fruition as it did in season 1. As I said, I found his ability to outsmart others a bit too powerful in the latter seasons and was glad he was not given the same Godly status in this season.

All in all, this season of Prison Break does the series justice. It is difficult to bring a series back from the dead like this and I believe the writers have done a great job. A brand new story set in a new place have done great things in other TV shows and it has done so here. I do recommend you watch this if you enjoyed previous seasons and want to experience the rush of Prison Break again!

Prison Break had been on my bucket list for years and now I finally finished my degree I have some free time to watch it while I hunt for a job...The premise of Prison Break is initially quite simple, and that is to live up to the expectation of its title. The reason for doing so and the manner by which that is to be achieved is a lot more complex and intriguing.

Michael Scofield is the main protagonist of the series who intends on breaking his brother, Lincoln Scofield, out of prison for a crime that he did not commit. In the first series the creators elude to a government conspiracy that explains Lincoln's wrongful imprisonment and the reason why Michael decides to imprison himself...only to try and escape with his brother. It is a very interesting thought process and as the story progresses we learn more about Michaels intellectual genius. The other main characters are brought along for the ride. We learn about their backgrounds too and they kept the story interesting since they were each so unique.

Season 1 was by far my favourite of the bunch. This is because it was clever, but not too clever, and it didn't get too confusing. Season 2 was great and dealt with what happened after the break. The reason why I preferred season 1 was because I enjoyed the dynamics of prison life more than the story of season 2. Others may disagree, but that is just my opinion. Season 3 focuses on a new prison and introduces new characters. It is probably my least favourite. It seemed too rushed in its truncated season of only 13 episodes due to the writers strike.

Season 4 again brought a brand new story and premise. It no longer resembled "Prison Break", but it focused on the conspiracy element that we were eluded to in season 1. I would place it third in my rankings, after seasons 1 and 2. I enjoyed the novel story line, but felt that things got a bit too clever. Whatever happened, Michael had something in his back pocket. It was all too convenient for him and I just felt that no one could be that clever. Season 5, like season 4, did not feel like Prison Break as it once was, but I still loved it. I would not place it in my rankings of seasons 1-4, because it was essentially a reboot but with the same characters. The season was also only 9 episodes long. I enjoyed it though and do hope they revive this series with a full-length season next time.

In regards to the characters themselves, I think the writers did an excellent job. The character development was great and you do learn a lot about each of the main characters history and background. It allowed you to connect with them a lot more, which made some of their deaths quite sad (or happy if you hated them!).

I highly recommend you watch Prison Break if you enjoy TV that has an intellectual element, but is not too demanding. The series also had some comedic elements, which kept things fresh. If you enjoy watching shows like 24, Lost, Homeland etc. you will love this. Binge watching this show was the most enjoyable prison I have been in a long time!