TV: Spartacus

Spartacus 
Action, Adventure, Biography

I have no idea why they class this biography, its not exactly correct is it?

I've loved this series since the beginning when Spartacus was played by Andy Whitfield who unfortunately passed away after battling cancer. The producers of the show even stalled for a season, airing the prequel Gods of the Arena in the hopes that he would recover and be able to continue the series. Unfortunately this didn't happen and the baton was passed to Liam McIntyre with Whitfield's blessing and he has done a fantastic job in continuing on this brilliant series!

I'm always a little shocked when this show starts up again. After a while of not watching it you tend to forget how much nudity, crassness and blood and guts are in this show and the first time you see a a string of naked slaves chained together casually walking through a marketplace, you actually have to take a second look. True Blood and Game of Thrones have nothing on this show as far as boob and wang go.

It's the story of a legendary Gladiator who leads a slave rebellion against the Roman Empire. The first season is the story of their slavery and escape while the second season revolves around their campaign and the Romans' response. The prequel is about the legendary Gladiator Gannicus (Dustin Clare) who is the only one to ever win his freedom from the arena. There is always lots of blood and gore and lots of sex; how can they go wrong?

Filmed in New Zealand with brilliant Australian and Kiwi cast members such as Manu Bennett (you might recognise him from Arrow right now), Lucy Lawless (uhh, Xena!), John Hannah, Peter Mensah and too many more to name.

Highly recommend this show even though I've heard that this season will be the last, it's worth it.

5 out of 5 Spartans...

Movie: Django Unchained (2012)

Django Unchained (2012)
Action, Drama, Western

I was so excited when I saw this movie coming, I was even more excited to find out it came out a month earlier in America than it does here at home in Australia. I'm a massive fan of Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill) and so this was just an automatic must see for me. I showed my husband a preview (I have to say they don't really show you much or give you a good idea of what the movie is actually like) and read him an article and suddenly he wanted to see it as much as I did. Hurrah!

So New Years Day when we were severely hungover in New York, we walked to one of the theatres in Times Square and lined up to see Tarantino's latest blood 'n' guts film... and wow! I can't remember the last time a film made me think so much, made me laugh out loud and cringe at the same time. I've also never been to the movies with such an expressive audience; there were gasps, cheers and uncomfortably tense moments from the crowd and a round of applause at the end.

As always in a Tarantino flick the cast is amazing! Jamie Foxx (Ray, Law Abiding Citizen) is the lead as Django, a black slave freed from his captives by the German bounty hunter / dentist Dr. King Shultz played by Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds, Water For Elephants) who was absolutely amazing and just won a Golden Globe for this performance. Django and Shultz make a deal, Django helps Shultz to find his latest bounty and in return they go together to rescue Django's wife Broomhilda - played by Kerry Washington (Ray, Fantastic Four) - who has been sold to the powerful plantation owner, Calvin Candie, amazingly portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception, Blood Diamond).

You would think all those names would be enough but no, there's more! Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, The Avengers) brilliantly plays Candie's head of house Stephen. Cameos by James Remar (Dexter), Walton Goggins (The Shield), Jonah Hill (Superbad) and of course, Tarantino himself always makes an appearance, this time as an Aussie...with a terrible accent...

Being a Tarantino of course it's rife with violent blood splatter, shocking scenes of murder and disfigurement and foul language. It focuses a lot on the issue of black slavery but it does it so... normally. It felt like of course that's the way they should be treated and according to this article written on SmithsonianMag.com by African American History and Culture Director, Lonnie Bunch, it's pretty damn close to reality. Shame on us!

Absolutely brilliant movie! Everything I have come to expect and love about Tarantino. Will have to go buy this on DVD when it's out, am recommending it to everyone I know with the warning that some parts may just turn your stomach. Out in Australia on the 24th of this month, go see it!

5 out of 5 'N' Words...

[Bonus] 

Samuel L Jackson insists the reporter say the N word before he will answer the question. 

*snickers*

Suggestion Sunday: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Comedy, Drama

I think this one was the winner of the day. Thanks Mum, you always know the good ones!

This is the story of a bunch of upper class English oldies who retire to a 'luxurious' hotel in India, only to find its not quite as they imagined. I thought the movie was quite enjoyable, the characters were likeable and it reminded me a lot of my own family with all the English sayings and mannerisms. I would love to watch this again with my mum and Grandma. I 'spose to some that sounds boring but it was just what I was after and it made me want to visit India and play street cricket with the local kids! That's the sign of a good movie, right?

I'd recommend this one, for sure! It's a lovely film and it made me wonder whether its based on a true story? I haven't found any evidence to support that but it was based on a novel called These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach - which I've now added to my to-read list on Goodreads.

The cast is fantastic. Round of applause! Love, love, love Maggie Smith's (Harry Potter) character Muriel; she's so bitter and sarcastic, it's great! Typical Maggie. The cast also contains the multi-award winning brilliance of Judi Dench (As Time Goes By), Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty) and Bill Nighy (Underworld), as well as Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire fame. How awesome is that cast!?

Entertaining and heart warming with just a touch of sadness;

5 out 5 Bollywood Ladies!

(After thought: I never knew how pretty Maggie Smith was when she was younger! Wow! Google her!)