Zoolander 2

I will begin by saying that I am one of the biggest fans of Zoolander you will ever meet. I can quote scenes at a time, own a “really really really ridiculously good looking” sweatshirt, and even have the huge movie-theater poster of Zoolander 2 hanging in my room. Also, shoutout to Zoolander (the original) because instead of studying the night before my AP exam, I watched the movie and ended up getting the best score you could get, which is hard to do. Knowing this about me, it is not hard to tell I was very excited about Zoolander 2; I had a countdown going immediately after the release date was known almost a year beforehand. I went to the theater for the very first showing, and naturally, there was no one else there. Was I amused? Yes. Did I laugh? You bet I did. Did I leave with a smile on my face? Of course. Was it a movie to obsess over as I do the first? No. Very rarely is a sequel as good or better than the original, and Zoolander 2 was no exception. There were a few good moments (I especially loved the many many cameos, my favorite being Neil Degrasse Tyson), but it was nothing special. I have read many reviews on IMDb, and they all complain about the “stupid” comedy and “bad” acting, but anyone who knows Zoolander knows that that’s the point of it. Their outrageous idiocy and obviously-fake accents is one of the reasons the movie is so funny. There were a lot of nods to the first movie and repeated jokes, and even very small details, such as Hansel barely looking up to Sting and then bringing him back as a main character, were mentioned. So I can understand why so many people complained about Zoolander 2; they don’t know the first well enough to appreciate the second. Zoolander itself is an iconic movie with a mediocre sequel that will likely be forgotten.

Suicide Squad

Anyone who had gone on the internet any time six months prior to the release knows that there was a lot of hype for Suicide Squad. That being said, although the reviews after the premier hadn’t been great, I had high expectations walking into the (practically empty) theater. I will start by saying, I am not a huge DC fan. I definitely prefer Marvel. Especially after the flop that was Batman Vs. Superman, I had sort of lost hope for DC. But, my thoughts were altered just for this movie, because not only of the attention it was receiving, but because it had an amazing soundtrack. I walked into the theater with high hopes and walked out without disappointment. The acting was pretty good, the plot was pretty good, the production was pretty good, and the film overall was pretty good. I liked how the characters and their backgrounds were introduced: not too lengthy but not too quick, and the text written out with their descriptions gave the comic book feel. Margot Robbie gave a wonderful performance of Harley Quinn; she was psychotic-cute and the comic relief, and I found myself sympathizing with her when mourning the Joker. Another mentionable performance was by Jay Hernandez. I walked in expecting much from Margot Robbie, Will Smith, and interested to see what Jared Leto did with the Joker, but I found myself focusing on Hernandez’s Diablo. The character was well written and well acted. Overall, I was pleased with Suicide Squad, and I’m hoping DC will keep up the good work when it comes to Wonder Woman.

The Shawshank Redemption

I was badgered for over a year to watch this movie. “Not until I read the story” was always my reply. Being a book snob and an avid Stephen King fan, I find it necessary to read the book before watching the movie, especially when it’s from the master of horror. Of course, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is neither horror nor a book, it being a short story from the collection Different Seasons. After finally getting the collection as a Christmas present, all I had to do was find the time to read the story. Luckily, this past winter was cold with heavy storms. So, one day when the snow was 30 inches and the heat was turned up high, I got under a blanket and read Shawshank in one sitting. This review isn’t about the book, so I’ll spare those details, but after collecting myself from crying, I had very high expectations for the movie, being told it was even better than the story. The next day, still snowed in, I grabbed the popcorn and popped in the DVD. 2 hours and 22 minutes later, I was a changed person. I felt better about myself and about the world around me. A story as touching as the one of Red and Andy Dufresne could not have been told more beautifully than by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. From the moment a confused man sat in his car with a gun to the moment two friends reunite by the Pacific Ocean, I was entranced. I thought that there was no way the movie could be just as good, even better, than the story that had blown me away, but I was wrong. Incredible acting brought together with incredible directing and incredible writing. Now, whenever someone tells me they feel down, I recommend they watch Shawshank. The ones that haven’t seen it roll their eyes, but always thank me afterwards. My favorite response is “wow, that just made my heart so happy.” No doubt, The Shawshank Redemption is my favorite movie of all time. 

About Me and My Blog

Hello, my name is Juliet Marvelli. I am in high school, and I want to be a movie critic when I get older, so I figured I would get a head start now.
Of course, I will be reviewing movies, along with tv shows and possibly music and books, but my main focus will be movies.
I've wanted to be a journalist for a long time, and I've had some experience with writing. I also write short stories, typically in the horror/thriller genre, since those are my favorite types of books to read. When it comes to movies, I will watch practically any genre, but my favorites are thrillers, comedies, and musicals. The same goes for tv shows, of which I'm always watching at least one comedy and one drama.
My blog will be organized so that you can find a review based on genre. I will try to post at least once a week. Also, of course there may be minor spoilers, so if you haven't seen a movie and don't want to accidentally see a spoiler, read with caution. Enjoy, and share with someone else who'd enjoy!