'Pitch Perfect 2' Review (with GIF's!)

Greetings once more readers! To welcome you all back, I thought that today I would once again take on the role of a movie connoisseur and review the new, highly anticipated 'Pitch Perfect' sequel which has been 3 years in the making. Was it worth waiting for? Did it in any way live up to the first one? You'll have to continue reading on to get all the answers you're dying to know.

Okay, okay, I'll put you all out of your misery. Have no fear 'Pitch Perfect' fans, the second film in no way, shape or form comes close to letting the franchise down! I have to say, I was of course a tad dubious considering sequels have a terrible reputation, but I honestly had nothing to worry about. In fact, I still haven't made my mind up as to which film I prefer, so that only goes to show how neck and neck the quality of the films is. It managed to be original while still capturing the awesomeness of the first movie, and was super entertaining and funny. I don't know about you, but to me, that sounds like the perfect recipe for any sequel.

The movie begins as we find that Beca (Anna Kendrick) and the original Barden Bellas are now seniors, and only have one more year together before they graduate. Following on from their success in the competitive world of a capella, the girls get the opportunity to perform for the president and his wife at the John F Kennedy performing arts centre. However, things go significantly awry when Australian Bella Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) has a wardrobe malfunction and accidentally gives the president a better view of down under than he was bargaining for.

As a result, the Bellas are then suspended by politically incorrect, terribly inappropriate hosts Gail (Elizabeth Banks) and John (John Michael Higgins), and prohibited from continuing their national tour. Controversially, a new German rival a cappella group 'Das Sound Machine' led by highly competitive captains Kommissar (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) and Pieter (Flula Borg) take their place.

In order to compete again and be reinstated, three time senior Chloe (Brittany Snow) makes it her mission to ensure that the Bellas win the World A capalla Championships, which will indeed be a difficult feat, considering that no American team has ever won before.

Complications begin to emerge as Beca gets an internship at recording studio 'Residual Heat', a fact that she has only confided in her boyfriend Jesse (Skylar Astin), while the team introduce new Freshman Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) into the group. Morale begins to drop, as Chloe, Fat Amy, Cynthia-Rose (Ester Dean), Stacie (Alexis Knapp), Lilly (Hana Mae Lee), Jessica (Kelley Jakle), Ashley (Shelley Regner) and Guatemalan exchange student Flo (Chrissie Fit) are all faced with the prospect of where to go after college.

Several other big plot developments occur, including a blossoming relationship between Emily and amateur magician Benji (Ben Platt), a reunion with former Bellas captain Aubrey (Anna Camp), as well as an epic romance between Fat Amy and Bumper (Adam DeVine).

There's plenty more where this came from, however no more spoilers will be revealed as of yet, so you'll have to check it out in cinemas for yourself to find out more.

As I hinted before, this movie was actually so good. Considering that it was made 3 whole years after the first one, I feel like that break stopped the sequel from feeling too forced, and it was able to just be awesome in its own right. It was super funny, and all the music was fun and catchy, which I guess is really all you can ask for from these films.

I'm not gonna lie, when I went to see the first one in theatres, I didn't actually like it. I was convinced that they were ripping off 'Glee', and therefore refused to enjoy it. However, over time, I've come to realise that they are indeed two separate entities, and that liking 'Pitch Perfect' wouldn't mean I was betraying my Gleekdom. So luckily, coming to see the second one, I was totally open and had no negative preconceptions, which is how I suggest you guys approach it also in order to maximise your enjoyment of the film.

A stand out for me, no doubt about it, would have to be Rebel Wilson (Australia represent!). It was seriously her movie, and she got to say and do pretty much whatever she wanted. All of her lines were comedy gold, and for me, she was totally the best part of the movie. Yes, it's a big call, but I'm sticking by it. Of course Anna Kendrick is amazing and everything, but there's no going past Fat Amy in this flick. I'm not going to spoiler alert anything for you, but my favourite scene was totally when she got her own mega musical ballad, and just a warning, it was epic.

Luckily, everyone else in the cast was awesome also. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who I feared was going to be annoying, was actually a really nice addition to the Bellas. Her character was quirky and awkward which is always fun, and it ensured that the whole fresh ingenue dynamic we got from Beca in the last film was back in full force. You could tell that everyone was really glad to be back on set, which really helped to enhance the aca-awesome experience, and had all the audience leaving the cinemas like:

Overall, if you haven't already got the picture, I highly suggest you see this film. If you're a fan of the first one, you won't be disappointed, and even if you're not, just go and see it anyway. I assure you, if you put any preconceptions you may have aside, you are totally guaranteed to love this movie. Honestly, the only negative I can find is that the spectacularly talented Spring Awakening alum Skylar Astin who plays Jesse wasn't in 'Pitch Perfect 2' nearly as much as the first one, which really is disappointing. But have no fear, because aside from that, there really isn't anything to fault. And who knows, maybe to make up for this imbalance, the next film will totally revolve around the Treblemakers? One can only hope.

Well that's pretty much all I have for you. Please, if you walk away from this with anything, I urge you to get yourself some tickets and go check out the film in cinemas for yourself. Prepare to get pitch slapped my friends! Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Met Gala 2015 Best and Worst Dressed

Blogosphere, greetings to you all! Today, I thought that I'd once again unleash my inner judgemental fashion critic and list for everyone the celebrities that I feel either dressed to impress or failed to deliver at fashion's night of nights. The Met Gala is a big deal, so despite the fact that I'm super delayed, I thought that I may as well get in there and grace you all with my judgement. So without further ado, here is my harsh critique . . .

Best Dressed

Reese Witherspoon

I am actually so happy right now. I mean, the girl's 39 (not that you would've guessed it), and her red carpet moments just seem to be getting better and better. Reese has seriously been crushing it this award's season, and her effortless elegance here is no different. Her dress is gorgeous, and she just looks fabulous and sophisticated. Honestly, the whole look is just simply perfect. 

Rosie Huntington

Fashion risks were certainly taken, however they payed off big time. The Met Gala is always a fun event for celebrities to play with fashion and see where it takes them, and Rosie Huntington's dress is just awesome. The structured bodice is super flattering, and the untraditional style is to die for. Normally totally slicked back hair would look a bit severe, however it totally works with the ensemble and adds to the whole slightly futuristic vibe the dress has going on. So all in all, Rosie looks absolutely amazing!

Amanda Seyfried

Once again, another major red carpet success! At first glance it looks simple and elegant, however upon a closer look, it is clear that the intricacy of this dress is just stunning. The lacy look is super pretty, and the halter neck stops the dress from looking too bridal. Luckily, the ruffles at the bottom are not too overpowering, yet there are also just enough to keep things interesting. Basically, Amanda killed it!

Kate Hudson

    

Kate, I commend you, because you look spectacular! Lots of people wore gold on the carpet at the Met Gala, however there's no doubting that Miss Hudson wore it best. It's sparkly, it's fun, yet it still manages not to be tacky, which is a truly impressive feat. All in all, a definite triumph for Kate!

Dianna Agron

Yes, so much yes! Finally making her way onto the list we have Miss Agron, who managed to look pretty and elegant, all the while totally adopting the theme, which this year happened to be 'China: Through the Looking Glass'. Of course, not many celebrities decided to follow it, but Dianna did an excellent job of playing by the rules while still managing to look awesome and graceful. Pretty much, a total win!

Worst Dressed

Sarah Jessica Parker

I'd like to say that this is obviously just a one time thing, however unfortunately I can't, because this is the second time Sarah Jessica Parker has made it onto my Met Gala worst dressed list (which is saying something considering I've only done two). I'm sorry, but no. Sure, I get that there was a theme and that she was trying to abide by it, however dressing up in a massive dragon head piece is not only super ugly, but is also borderline racist. Seriously, she couldn't think of anything better, or at least more subtle than a dragon? She genuinely looks as if she's designed her whole outfit around the logo of a Yum Cha restaurant. Sorry Sarah, your hideous, slightly racially stereotypical outfit is certainly not a win for me!

Anne Hathaway

Remember earlier how I was saying that lots of people's frocks this year were gold, yet no one could pull it off as well as Kate Hudson? I wasn't lying. Honestly, this is just atrocious. It's got this weird futuristic, intergalactic vibe to it, which yeah, can sometimes be cool, however not done like this. The dress itself is literally a shiny, unflattering, shapeless body bag, making it a truly horrible combination of disco meets morgue, not to mention the utterly stupid hood plonked on top. Star Wars is cool and all, but perhaps she should leave her Jedi apparel off the red carpet. Shame to say, you really missed the mark here Anne!

Dakota Johnson

I honestly do not have the words to tell you how bad this is. Sure, the dress itself isn't an eyesore or anything compared to some of the other frocks that make it onto this list, but seriously, this is the Met Gala, fashion's night of nights, so why would anyone wear this on any red carpet, let alone at this prestigious event?! I don't even know what to say. The actual dress is skanky and tacky anyway, however its inappropriateness for the event is just ridiculous. I can forgive people who take fashion risks that don't end up paying off, but this, this is unforgivable. Dakota, I have no doubt that this kind of attire might have been ideal when shooting 'Fifty Shades of Grey', but please, for the love of fashion, keep it off the carpet!

Chloë Sevigny

Ugh, please make it stop! Chloë, I commend you for taking a risk and attempting to tackle the theme in way that is not overly stereotypical, but this I hate to say is just awful. The cut of the top is super unflattering, the colours are gross together, and frankly, the entire look just screams unwashed hippie. Once again, the theme is totally on point, however everything else is so far off base that it ruins any valiant attempt to do justice to the night's fashion parameters. Sorry, but no.

Solange Knowles

Honestly, I don't even know. I'm all for quirky clothes and shaking things up every once in a while, but this is perhaps taking it a step too far. I seriously don't know where to look, let alone where to start criticising. Like, what even is this? Is it a dress, or is it an intricate sun visor? I just don't understand! The pattern itself is strange which doesn't help, but when combined with the super odd shape, it's all just too much. Sorry Solange, but, why?

This officially brings us to the end of the list. Hopefully you agree with my criticism as well as my praise, and that this was either somewhat entertaining, or at the very least, got you up to date with some recent red carpet happenings. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Random Ways to Get Extra ATAR Points

Hello blogosphere, I welcome you back! Believe it or not, today's post is centring around a conversation that happened in the real world, with actual, living people (and no, it doesn't happen very often). Seeing as I'm in my second last year of my high school life (how scary is that?), the HSC is something that tends to be on my mind as of late. For those of you who do not live down under, or specifically, don't live in Sydney, the HSC is the massive test that people do at the end of Year 12 in order to get into the university and course they want. Every country or state pretty much has their own version of it so the concept shouldn't be that unfamiliar to you, however it seems that there are a few random loopholes which allow you to cheat the system and obtain some extra ATAR points. So folks, if you wish to scam your way into a mark of 99.9, take a look at the list below . . .

Be School Captain

You may think, why would becoming school captain increase one's ATAR score? Honestly, I do not know. But apparently, the reasoning behind it is that to the points are added to make up for the time you'll be taking out of class. The number of marks added is generally 2, however this can increase depending on what university you apply to. So moral of the story, start campaigning!

Join the Army

This would definitely be a commitment, however if it's ATAR points you're after, singing up for the army is certainly one way to go about it. I can't even begin to imagine what being in the army would entail, seeing as I've never been apart of it myself, but I do know that if I were a cadet and had to go out and roll around in the dirt for hours, I would definitely want some sort of academic compensation.

Get Pregnant

Yep, you're reading this correctly! If you really want to boost your ATAR, popping out a kid is always an option, so if you're in year 12 this year, you better start moving fast. Seriously, I feel like the fact that the Board of Studies has made this a known rule is kind of encouraging teenage pregnancy, but whatever, don't let that stop you. Being a mother's a big commitment, sure, but for 5 extra ATAR points, it's obviously worth it. In fact, you yourself don't even have to be pregnant, you just need someone in your year to get a bun in the oven and then your entire cohort will be benefited. Why? I do not know, but be sure to take advantage of it. 

Start Killing Off Your Family Members

It may sound brutal, but some things just have to be done. If there's a death in the family, your ATAR goes up instantly, so despite the fact that it may seem heartless, I'd suggest you start killing off some family members. But remember, try and make it look as if it is the result of natural causes, as the last thing you want is to be convicted of murder in the year you do your HSC, because I feel like your ATAR definitely wouldn't fare well. 

Represent Australia in a Sport

Admittedly this one is less gruesome than the last, so for the squeamish among us, this may be the option to go for. I mean, how hard can representing the nation in athletics really be? The Olympics is next year, so that gives us all a solid 17 months to prepare, that should surely be enough. If I had to do an olympic sport, personally, I'd pick shooting, because a) how hard can it be?, and b) in some rounds, you actually get to lie down. It's a win, win!

Join Scouts

Have no fear, it's not too late, you can become a scout and totally be at one with the wilderness. You can learn how to pioneer and kill your own food, and all sorts of other handy outdoors activities. Except for one thing, it all sounds truly dreadful. I'm sorry, but I just don't think this one's worth it. I'm all for getting pregnant and becoming a homicidal maniac, but spending countless amounts of time outdoors? I choose no. 

Well that's pretty much all I have to offer. Hopefully, you've managed to get an array of handy tips for cheating your way into a higher ATAR, or alternatively, we could all just hit the books until the dreaded HSC, your choice. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

'The Room' Review (with GIF's!)

Greetings readers, welcome back! As you must already know by now, movies are pretty much what I live for. Seriously, I've seen a massive range and have super wide taste, like so much so that I can't even pinpoint what genre of movie I like best. So, to keep up both my viewing and judgement of film, today I thought that I'd review for you guys the 2003 cult classic film 'The Room'. Was it any good? Is it worth checking out for yourselves? All will be revealed very shortly.

Okay, I'll put you out of your misery, I think you all need to know that this film is actually terrible. Like seriously, the worst thing anyone will ever see in their life. However, does that mean you shouldn't watch it? No, absolutely not! You must watch this film, because it will be one of the best experiences you will ever have. I know I probably sound a bit contradictory right now and I don't blame you for being confused, however trust me when I say all will make sense soon.

The film begins as we are introduced to Johnny (Tommy Wiseau) and Lisa (Juliette Danielle), a couple who have been dating for five years and are now engaged to be married. However, things start to take a turn for the worst when Lisa begins to have a sporadic affair with Johnny's best friend Mark (Greg Sestero).

But wait, the drama doesn't stop there. Johnny and Lisa's clingy neighbour Denny (Philip Haldiman) is being hunted down for money by drug dealer Chris-R (Dan Janjigian), while Lisa's mum Claudette (Carolyn Minnott) silently soldiers through her breast cancer.

The tensions just continue to rise, as we are introduced to Lisa and Johnny's trespassing friends Mike (Scott Holmes) and Michelle (Robyn Paris), and copious amounts of friendly, San Franciscan football.

Will Lisa's infidelity be revealed? Will Johnny and Lisa get married? You'll have to watch and see for yourself.

As I said before, this may actually be the worst movie ever made. Like seriously, it's been voted on and everything. But, saying that, it may also be my favourite film of all time (which believe me, is definitely not an exaggeration). This flick is seriously the epitome of the 'it's-so-bad-it's-good' genre, and I urge you all to watch it. Yes, I know it's supposed to be a romantic drama film with it's overly melodramatic love triangle and incorporation of issues such as adultery, cancer and suicide, but it's really, really not. All of the lines of dialogue in the film are comedy gold. Not even kidding, I felt like an idiot the first time I watched it when I was just hysterically laughing in my room alone. But trust me, you will love this movie so much, because it is truly a comedic masterpiece.

 Ordinarily, when watching movies, acting is what I critique the most, so when it's bad, I seriously cannot stand it. However, this film is definitely my exception. Yes, the acting is horrible, but that is what makes it so, so good. Let's start with writer, director, producer, executive producer and star Tommy Wiseau shall we? Oh my god, he is the best. Can he act? No, not at all, but trust me, he may actually be one of the funniest people alive. I don't know whether it's his remarkably unusual appearance, unidentifiable foreign accent, super overwrought acting (if you can even call it that) or even the combination of all three, but whatever it is, he is sensational. Because seriously, what's funnier than a guy with an odd mix of foreign accents reciting lines he wrote as if he's never seen them before in his life? Nothing, that's what.

To be fair to Tommy, it wasn't just his acting that let the team down. Seriously, every single cast member was horrible. Albeit, horribly awesome. From Juliette who played Lisa to Carolyn who played her mother, the acting from everyone was shocking. Although no one can quite live up to the hilarity of the majestic Tommy Wiseau, the cast as a whole was genuinely, hilariously abysmal.

Yes, as I think I've probably got across to you by now, the acting was indeed terrible, however this was only highlighted by the truly abominable dialogue, that yes, you guessed it, was written by Mr Wiseau. I'm not even kidding, the majority of the words don't even make sense together in a sentence. And okay, before you accuse me of being a racist, as his accent would indicate that English is definitely not his first language, whenever Tommy is asked about his nationality in interviews, his answer is always 'I'm an American born and raised'. Well, if that's the case, he should at least have some grasp of sentence structure, or know how to string words together in an order which don't totally boggle the mind. Although, saying this, if the script made any sense, than I most definitely wouldn't have found it so entertaining.

There are honestly so many things I can say about this film myself, however I don't have to, because actor Greg Sestero who played Mark has already done it for me. You know a movie's bad when one of the leading men writes a memoir in which he totally trashes the making of it. Yes, it sounds far fetched, but I can assure you this is 100% true. Greg seriously wrote a book called 'The Disaster Artist', in which he basically tore strips off Wiseau and spoke about how bad the film is. Yeah, I guess I have to agree with him, but wouldn't you think that might be going a bit far? Especially considering Greg certainly wasn't a diamond in the rough, he was just more rough. Despite this, I have to say that I'm pretty pumped for the movie adaptation starring James Franco as Johnny and Dave Franco as Mark. In what world does that not sound amazing?

Overall, 'The Room' is horribly acted, horrendously written and terribly directed, yet is a total must see. If you're searching for a good laugh, this is most definitely the film for you. I honestly do not recall a scene which was not hilarious, and it is sure to be a massive source of entertainment for anyone ever. I've been spreading it everywhere lately; to my friends, my family, even my religion class, so there's no doubting that this will be a hit with you too. Do yourself a favour and download a copy, like right now, because I can assure you that you won't regret it in the slightest. Because do you know what you are if you don't watch it?:

Thank you for reading y'all! Hopefully you found this to be enlightening and have added another movie to your collection. And if you didn't find this entertaining at all, I have to ask you, Wiseau serious (get it?)? Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Different Types of Dancers at Parties

Hello blogosphere, welcome back! Today, to keep things interesting, I thought I'd do something a little different. At the party scene, I think we've all noticed that there are a variety of dancers who decide to live it up on the dance floor, so I thought, why not post about the different kinds of groovers you may come across? Believe it or not, this post was actually inspired by my own life. I know, I've been to a party, shocker right? I find that everyone slots into their own category at these sorts of events, so identifying them will surely help you find where you fit in. Intro over, here they are . . .

The Awkward Dancer

Yeah, you know the type. Awkward dancers are generally those people who are afraid to get super into their dancing for fear of judgement, so end up just standing there half the time with no clue of how to alleviate their social awkwardness. Then, as a result, they'll either end up ditching the dance floor early, or feel pressured into doing a half-hearted bop. I feel for the awkward dancer, I really do, however I unfortunately cannot empathise, as I am certainly not one of them. Maybe, one day, if you are one of these people, you'll learn to let loose and realise that the people around you are probably just as weird as you secretly are. But hey, I won't hold my breath. 

The Clueless Dancer

I'm not gonna lie, these are perhaps my favourite party dancers. Do they have any coordination? No, not even close. But are they entertaining? So much yes. The clueless dancer is someone who tries hard to get in there and give it a go, and you have to commend them for that, however they seriously have no idea how to go about it, and their lack of basic coordination means that they end up just moving random limbs around and hoping for the best. In a way, it's actually quite beautiful to watch. You've definitely got to give them credit for their enthusiasm.

The Super Energetic, Over Enthusiastic Dancer 

This, this is definitely me. 100% me. No doubt about it, I live in this category. Super energetic and overly enthusiastic dancers at parties are those people who don't really care about anything, and just live it up on the dance floor all night. Like seriously, they don't even think about what they're doing or how they look, they're just full of energy and spazzing around for hours. Not even kidding, partying takes everything I have. It's a full blown singing and dancing extravaganza. Safe to say, these dancers definitely aren't boring.

The Sensual Dancer

These, I kid you not, are the most terrible and embarrassing dancers you will ever come across at parties. Sensual dancers are those people who try super hard to seem all alluring and attractive by dancing provocatively, and it really is just one of the most embarrassing things to have to watch. Because seriously, it never works, and it just makes you look like an idiot (and not in a fun, spazzy dancing kind of way). So to all you sensual dancers out there, please, just stop. 

The Serious Dancer

Coming in at a close second to the sensual dancer, these types of dancers are one of the worst. I'm all for being energetic and aiming to be the life of the party, but seriously, no one wants to see you whip out a hardcore, professionally choreographed solo dance routine. If you do dancing, that's great for you, but maybe leave it somewhere else. If you're whipping out double pirouettes and high kicks, I think you know you've gone too far. Because honestly, no one will be focussing on how talented you are, they'll only be judging you for trying so hard to brag. 

So that's the end of my post. Hopefully you'll be able to relate to this variety of dancers, and are able to find yourself in this list. I guess I should apologise if I insulted your party dancing styles, but guys, seriously, just start being better at life. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx