Album Review: Lucy Hale 'Road Between'

Hello once more blogosphere! It has come to my attention that awesome actress Lucy Hale (Aria from the epic 'Pretty Little Liars') has finally taken to the charts and released her first album entitled 'Road Between'. To say I'm excited would be an understatement. If you're an avid PLL fan like I am, then you may remember Aria singing a little excerpt from a song way back in season 1 episode 9. Of course, being the music enthusiast that I am, I instantly latched onto this tiny clip and started incessantly googling miss Hale. Turns out, back in the day, Lucy was in a show which was basically a cross between a kids version of 'American Idol' and 'Young Talent Time', entitled 'American Juniors' (which I may or may not have youtubed in my spare time). So of course, when I found out she was releasing an album, I started geeking out all over the place. Now, the time has come and my album review is in. Did Lucy's country album live up to my expectations? You'll just have to continue reading.

Before we get things started, here's the entire track list:

1. You Sound Good to Me
2. From the Backseat
3. Nervous Girls
4. Red Dress
5. Goodbye Gone
6. Kiss Me
7. Road Between
8. Lie a Little Better
9. That's What I Call Crazy
10. Love Tonight
11. Just Another Song

Stay tuned for my track by track run down of each of the songs.

1. You Sound Good To Me

Luckily, we all got a chance to get familiar with this one before the official release of the album, seeing as it's been available on iTunes as a single since January. As far as country goes, I wouldn't necessarily call myself the biggest fan, however there's no denying that this is an awesome song. It's just super catchy, and Lucy manages to capture the essence of the country genre without feeling the need to adopt an artificial twang (which I personally find most of the time to be extremely annoying). It's fun, it suits her voice well, and most importantly, it sounds good to me (see what I did there?). Overall, I would label this track a massive success.

2. From the Backseat

For the second track, Lucy decided to slow it down a bit with this county ballad. I have to say, I'm most definitely a fan of this one. Not only is the song itself awesome, but it manages to tell a story throughout (and not in a cheesy Taylor Swift way). The tone is nostalgic almost, and I find that this register sits with Lucy's voice really well. And luckily, as with the first song, I found that there weren't any overwhelmingly cliché country flourishes, which is always a positive.

3. Nervous Girls

This is probably one of my favourite songs on the album, purely due to the awesomeness of the melody. By now, some of you probably know that one of my pet peeves is annoying, monotone music, which we unfortunately seem to be forced to listen to in abundance circa 2014, however this song is nothing of the sort. It's such a pretty ballad, and demonstrates that despite Lucy's PLL induced fame, she hasn't become estranged from her normality. As I say, it really is a super great song, so I suggest you all get to downloading it immediately. In the words of Raven . . .

4. Red Dress feat. Joe Nichols

Who doesn't love a good country duet that doesn't involve T-Swizzle? I know I do, that is of course if they all sound like this. Despite this being Lucy's album, Joe pretty much takes the lead with this track, and although I've never heard of him, he really does a marvellous job. Apparently, after some extensive googling, it seems that this guy's actually a famous country singer, and I can see why. He has a bit of twang going on, however it doesn't feel forced or unnatural. And although it had some romantic elements in terms of lyricism, it wasn't awkwardly lovey-dovey at any point (so theres no need to whip out your turtles). Their voices also luckily went together really nicely, which is always a necessity when it comes to duets. As a whole, this is one good quality song. 

5. Goodbye Gone

In my opinion, this song is just pure awesomeness. It had a darker tone than the rest of the song, and took on a vengeful theme. What could be better than an angsty song that sounds as if it's mash-up between the works of Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson? Seriously though, I really enjoyed this track. I have to say, I think we've got another contender for my favourite song on the album. If any of you are close personal friends of Taylor Swift, please call her up right now and let her know that this is how you right a song about an ex. I never thought I'd use a One Direction gif to describe anything ever, but I really have no choice with this one. 

6. Kiss Me

You can't have a proper country album without a track totally revolving around relationship perils, and for 'Road Between', this is it. This song takes on a bit more of a pop feel, which was nice in order to shake things up a bit. It's just your quintessential, lovelorn ballad done well. It may not be my favourite song on the album, however that doesn't mean it isn't good. For those of you who are into music like that, this will just be your dream come true. 

7. Road Between

The title track of the album, I can tell you now, doesn't disappoint. It's quite similar to 'Nervous Girls' in some ways, as its really pretty melody is the predominant reason for my fondness of it. Out of all the songs on the album, I feel that this is one of the tracks that best showcases Lucy's voice. If you're a fan of the power ballad (which let's face it, who isn't?), then this is a great pick for you. It also happens to have a strong message of empowerment, which can only be uplifting. Overall, a really strong track. 

8. Lie a Little Better

This song is most definitely my jam. From the title, you'd think that it would sound super down and depressing, however this is not the case by any stretch of the imagination. It's fun, it's upbeat, and could even be described as boppy. Just listening to this song induces excitement, and it is certainly one of the most enjoyable tracks to listen to on the album. Despite its optimistic demeanour, the song is actually telling the tale of failed attempts at love, who would've thought? And given the title, perhaps it's a little nod to Pretty Little Liars? One can dream.

9. That's What I Call Crazy

Possibly the most playful track on the album, this song delves into matters of drinking and cursing - although of course, this is all totally done in a harmless manner. Co-written by Kacey Musgraves, this is probably the most mainstream country song on the album. Is that a bad thing? Luckily it isn't, because as always, Lucy puts her own spin on it. It's catchy, it's easy to sing along to, doesn't that sound like the recipe for a perfect, radio-worthy single? I think yes. 

10. Love Tonight

The first thing I noticed about this song was its awesome beat. Seriously, I may be focussing too much on the irrelevant details, but the beat driving the song at the beginning just got me so excited, that I couldn't help but love the rest. While quite a few tracks on the album tend to revolve around romance, this one appropriates that notion, choosing to focus in on some il-advised decisions when it comes to love. The track seems to poke fun at traditional romanticised country ballads, acting as an amusing single to wind down the album. Plus, it just so happens to be super catchy and great to listen to.

11.  Just Another Song 

Officially the last track on the album, this track is one of the best songs 'Road Between' has to offer. Co-written by Miss Hale herself, what begins as a rather traditional, guitar driven folk song reaches a whole other level once some extreme orchestration gets going. It's got a super pretty melody, and is a perfect example of a strong, awesome ballad. The track is definitely a worthy album-closer and holds its own in this awesome line-up of songs, proving that it's not just another song (get it?). 

So that's officially the end of my little album review. Do I recommend you purchase this song on iTunes ASAP? Absolutely. How else could I sum up this album you ask? I think this gif pretty much says it all. 

I'm aware that I've Taylor Swift bashed a lot in this post, but she's just so awful I couldn't resist. But just forget about untalented, annoying, whiney, faux-country artists like her and focus on the awesomeness of this album (which I highly suggest you get right away). Now go get downloading! Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Guest Post: Summer Playlist

Hello again blogosphere! Things are about to get super exciting, you know why? Because today, we're mixing things up. The lovely Robin from the new blog 'Robin's Edge' and I have decided to try out doing a little guest posting. Sound interesting? Well just stick around, because the awesomeness doesn't stop there. We decided upon the theme of a summer playlist, because let's face it, who doesn't love music? Intro down and dusted, may I introduce to you the blogging styles of fellow human Robin . . .

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Hello readers of Annabel's blog! I'm Robin from Robin's Edge. I contacted Annabel because I love her blog and wanted to do a little collab with her. Since it's Summer, we decided to do posts where we talk about our Summer playlist. Everybody has those couple of songs that are a few years old that remind them of a couple of Summers back. For example, Empire State of Mind by Jay Z was my Summer song of 2009. Whenever I hear it, I think about when I would listen to it in my room on repeat while I sat on my bean bag, soaking up the words. Without further ado, these are my favorite songs of the summer:

1.) Sing- Ed Sheeran
2.) Not A Bad Thing- Justin Timberlake
3.) Summer- Calvin Harris
4.) Rather Be- Clean Bandit
5.) Problem- Ariana Grande
6.) All Of Me- John Legend
7.) She Looks So Perfect- 5 Seconds Of Summer
8.) Fancy- Iggy Azalea

Those are the songs I have been listening to on repeat all Summer so far. If you would like to see what Annabel's favorite songs are, head on over to my blog! Thank you so much Annabel for letting me guest post!

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So there you have it, that's what came of my little guest blogging adventure. It was a brief dalliance, but an awesome one nonetheless. I also happen to have written my own take on some summer playlist essentials, so why not mosey on over to Robin's blog and check it out? I'm serious, do it. Come on, what else could you possibly be wanting to do right now?. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Summer Blog Challenge 5: Packing for Summer

Hello again blogosphere! Get ready for another instalment of the summer blog challenge coming your way. This time, the theme is all about the idea of packing for summer, which is essential for anyone wishing to travel lightly throughout the summer break (unless you're experiencing winter like Australia, in which case you can just read and dream of warmer weather). Hopefully this little list of multi-functional clothes will be all you need to pop in your suitcase. Intro complete, let's get things started . . .

Convertible T-Shirt

Most people don't want to be caught wearing the same outfit two days in a row, however with this little number, you can totally get away with it and everyone will be none the wiser. Personally, I think this top's just magical. Not only is it two tops for the price of one, but two tops for the suitcase space of one, which is always a must have when it comes to packing. Plus, to make this experience even more awesome for you, I haven't just told you about it, oh no, I've also shown you where it's available. Get your own top of sorcery here.

Infinity Dress

The awesomeness doesn't end there folks. It seems that this dress also has another persona that it can transform into at the tug of a strap. Need to go out to a fancy dinner a few times whilst on your holiday? No worries, just bring this fabulous dress and shape shift from night to night. Isn't one bag travelling looking more and more realistic? 

Every Piece of Clothing Ever

This is seriously the most convertible piece of clothing I've ever laid eyes on in my entire life. Is your brain hurting from trying to study all of the pictures super closely? Because mine certainly is. You can have a scarf, a skirt, a dress, a top, a poncho and even a bag! And no, you don't just get one of each, because in total, this little piece of fabric can give you 15 different forms of clothing! That's just insane. Need I say more?

Tent Poncho

This is actually, no joke, one of the best things ever. Planning a summer camping trip? You're sorted. Not only do you get a tent out of it, but you can also get a snazzy looking poncho. It seems that this Japanese creation is taking the world by storm. Why don't you become the next trend setter and give it a go?

Reversible Dress

Once again, it seems that we've got a multi-purpose dress, however this time, it comes in two colours. Ever walked into a store and seen something you like, yet can't decide upon which colour to buy? In the words of the wise, young Mexican girl on the Old El Paso ads, per che no los dos? With this little number, you can mix it up and have both colours, changing it up simply by turning the dress inside out. You've got to love the versatility! 

So that officially marks the end of my post. From the 5 items I've listed, you have 22 forms of clothing (and 1 tent)! How cool is that? You're now all set to start packing for a fun summer getaway without bringing along every suitcase you own. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Must-See Movies from Last Century

Salutations readers! Throughout these few short weeks of holidays (which are unfortunately coming to an end in just over a week, what is life?), I've officially been getting into extreme movie mode. What exactly does that consist of? Me, my computer, some strong wi-fi connection and a good quality torrent search engine. So of course, after browsing through filmography upon filmography, I've stumbled across many a movie from back in the day, and have decided to list some of my favourite ones here (simply because I can). Who doesn't love a good throwback (and low and behold, it just happens to be Thursday!)? So without further ado, may I introduce to you some of the best flicks from last century that are essential viewing this upcoming holidays!

Grease (1978)

Sure, it's ridiculously cliché and one of the cheesiest movies of all time, but it is absolutely a viewing must! It is seriously one of my favourite movies ever. Who doesn't love films set in the 50's? Not to mention, the songs are amazingly brilliant and super catchy, which is really all you need in a musical. Come on, no matter how much you deny it (or in my case, proclaim it), everyone has a soft spot for 'Grease'. I don't think anyone watches it for the exciting, original plot, but none of that matters, because most of the time you'll be singing so loudly you won't even hear any of the dialogue! Everyone loves a good high school, teenage centric musical, and 'Grease' just happens to be the quintessential one. 

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Funnily enough, just about everyone my age has seen this movie. Shockingly, it seems teenagers have decided to make an exception with this John Hughes classic and willingly watch and enjoy something made over a decade ago, who would've thought? Of course, this is just your ultimate teenage movie. Unlikely friendships forming in a Saturday detention, how could that not be a popular concept? Plus, as it features characters on vastly different levels of the high school hierarchy, there is bound to be someone you can relate to at least a little. I mean, come on, it's just so damn quotable! If you haven't seen this, you just absolutely must, even just for the sake of cultural referencing. 

Dead Poets Society (1989)

This is seriously, no joke, one of the best movies ever. Not everyone my age has watched it, but I'm telling you now, you absolutely must. What's so great about it? Just, everything. It's just one of those films that you need to see to truly appreciate the awesomeness of it. I have to admit, I wasn't totally willing to watch it way back in 2010 for the first time (mainly because my mother kept raving about it, and you can never trust the taste of a parent), however I'm so glad I did. I mean come on, even Apple can understand the awesome power of the film, and are using quotes from the movie as their new tagline. I'm serious, just go watch it right now. 

Back to the Future I, II and III (1985, 1989 and 1990)

Who doesn't love a good movie trilogy about time travel? I know I'm a fan. If that's the case for you, there's no beating the adventures of Marty McFly in the DeLorean as he travels back to the 50's, travels forward to 2015, and goes back to the wild west. You can not simply watch one of the 'Back to the Future' movies, I'm sorry. All 3 or no deal. Luckily, each movie just happens to be as epic as the last, so there's no disappointment factor whatsoever. And come on, who doesn't love a good Michael J. Fox movie?

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

For anyone who loves a good sick day from school, this is the ultimate movie for you. Seriously, to this day, this film's officially the best how-to guide in skiving off from school. I mean, all the planning is so top-notch, you've got to admire this kid's zeal. Plus, apart from all of that, it also just happens to be an awesome, classic movie. If you're still not persuaded, it does contain a dancing Matthew Broderick which is always a draw card, but it also is referenced to in popular culture a ridiculous amount. Trust me, it's just one of your quintessential, must-watch teen movies (hence it's place on this list), and you certainly won't regret watching it (and if you do, go get therapy, because you have a problem). 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

I seem to have blogged about this many a time, however those posts were not in vain. This schlockily brilliant cult classic is an absolute must-see for everyone! I'm going to tell you now, you're either going to love it or hate it. There are two kinds of people - those who hate Rocky Horror because they don't understand it, or those who love Rocky Horror because they don't understand it, it's that simple. It's weird, it's wacky, it's out there, and it most definitely doesn't make any sense whatsoever, yet that is what makes it so amazingly awesome. I mean come on, a cross dressing Tim Curry, who doesn't want to see that (besides everyone ever)?

Dirty Dancing (1987)

This movie is actually essential viewing for everyone, I'm serious. You have no idea how many references are made to it in just about everything, and to fully appreciate them, you have no choice but to watch the film. However, I don't exactly think that'll be a burden, seeing as it's one big colossal bunch of awesomeness. I mean, it's got Patrick Swayze, a summer camp, and a whole lot of dancing and controversy, doesn't that just sound like the best, most typical 80's movie ever? Plus, Baby tends to be put in a corner a lot which is always entertaining to watch (trust me, that'll make perfect sense once you actually watch it). 

There are probably a billion more I could add to this list, but in my opinion, these are the staples in any retro movie marathon. Yes, the majority of the movies happen to be from the 80's, but it's not my fault that films rocked back then (not to mention the clothing and music). Now go and get downloading, you have a lot of films to get through! Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Adios June: Welcome Back July!

Hello blogosphere! Once again, it seems that we're all venturing into another month of the glorious year that is 2014, oh how time flies. You probably won't be terribly surprised to discover that I'm not going to deviate from tradition today, and just stick with my usual monthly wrap up of some major celebrity related events that occurred in June. Are you ready for some awesome recapping? Well let's get started . . .

3. TFIOS was Released in Cinemas

Early last month, the teen world was abuzz when the movie adaption of acclaimed young adult novel 'The Fault in Our Stars' was officially released. Of course, I was totally on top of it and have already released my own review, but I felt the need to once again feature it in this post, given how much of a big deal it really was. Seriously, I'm pretty sure tumblr's exploded. John Green must be feeling pretty proud of himself right about now. 

2. A Sneak Peek from 'Mocking Jay' was Released

It's no secret that the third instalment of the 4 part Hunger Games series is coming out later this year, and no doubt it's going to be a box office success, so of course this clip being released was a major deal. In it, we see a message from capitol president Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) encouraging Panem to stick together as one. Although that was admittedly disturbing (in the way it was supposed to be of course), the creepiest part of the trailer was a zoned out Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) sitting on the right hand of the president. I guess the answers to all of our questions will come in November when Mocking Jay makes its way to cinemas. 

1. Ann B. Davis Dies

Don't you just love Alice? Everybody knows that the Brady household wouldn't have run with such precision without the efficient housekeeper. So it was a sad time when at the very beginning of the month, Ann B. Davis tragically passed away. Sure, she was 88, but it's still sad nonetheless. There's nothing worse than a beloved sitcom character dying. I mean seriously, I felt like I grew up with her (even though the show came out in the late 60's - thank god for re-runs)! It was just a super sad occurrence. 

So that's the end of my ridiculously short post (seriously, I don't think I've ever written this little). Now, let's all delve into July feeling confident that we've remembered every important thing there is to know that happened in June. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

Reasons Why Shailene and J-Law Aren't the Same Person

Greetings once again readers! I seriously seem to have been on a blogging roll lately, to say I'm proud of myself would be a massive understatement. However, I am not here today to talk about me, oh no, it's time to get serious. It seems that everyone fluttering around the world wide web has recently been comparing actresses Shailene Woodley and Jennifer Lawrence to one another. But why? Well, that is what I am here to flesh out in detail. First off, let's take a closer look at these two Hollywood starlets . . .

Meet Jennifer

I think we're all pretty familiar with the awesomeness of J-Law. If you haven't heard of her, I actually don't know where you've been for the past few years. Seriously, what movies do you even watch? Despite her widespread popularity, I've listed some fun facts below:

- She's 23 and was born on August 15th 1990 (Leos represent!)
- She's received a Best Actress Academy Award
- She's never taken an acting class in her life
- She was voted most talkative in the 7th grade
- She's originally from Louisville, Kentucky

And what movies is she best known for? Once again, I've listed them.

- Winter's Bone (2010)
- X-Men: First Class/X-Men: Days of Future Past (2011/2014)
- The Hunger Games Series (2012-2015)
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
- American Hustle (2013)


Meet Shailene

Recently, it seems that Shailene's been gracing our movie screens quite a bit. This time last year, I had literally never laid eyes on her name, yet now, it seems I can't escape it (in a good way of course). I guess I could forgive you if you don't know her by name just yet, but if you haven't ever seen her, I seriously worry about your disconnection from popular culture. To help you guys out, low and behold some fun facts:

- She's 22 and was born on the 15th of November 1991
- She's starred alongside George Clooney 
- She's originally from Simi Valley, California
- She began her career through commercial modelling
- She had scoliosis at age 15 and wore a back brace for 2 years

Time for another film and TV round-up . . .

- The Secret Life of an American Teenager (2008-2013)
- The Descendants (2011)
- The Spectacular Now (2013)
- Divergent (2014)
- The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Congratulations, you're now officially up to speed with the rest of the world (you know what they say, slow and steady wins the race - however what race this is, I have no idea)! So now we've got the basics over and done with, we can officially get down to business.

Similarities

Obviously the comparisons between these two actresses aren't coming out of nowhere, because even I can admit that there are quite a few parallels. What are these exactly? Well for one, they both happen to be female which I guess is an important factor, as well as the fact that they're both in their early 20's. Is that enough to spur these constant comparisons? Not so much. Admittedly, there are a bunch of other factors as well, which I've decided to list below so you can make an informed decision.

1. They Both Happen to Star in Ridiculously Popular Movie adaptions of Young Adult, Dystopian Novels

Do I even need to expand on this? It's no secret that J-Law plays the strong female heroine of 'The Hunger Games' Katniss Everdeen, while Shailene plays vanity rejecting protagonist Beatrice Prior in 'Divergent'. 

2. They Both Tend to Speak Without a Filter

This I find is quite an admirable quality, one that is often hard to find in Hollywood. So of course, this rarity automatically makes people associate the two actresses with one another. 

3. They're Both Awesome Actresses Who Have Worked with Experienced Awesome Actors

Having seen quite a few of their movies, there's no doubting that these starlets certainly back up all the hype that surrounds them with some substantial on-screen talent. The fact that J-Law got to work with Robert De Niro in 'Silver Linings Playbook' and Shailene got to work alongside George Clooney in 'The Descendants' also happens to be pretty cool. 

And that, I kid you not, is the extent of their similarities. 

Differences

Considering the similarities pretty much mainly consist of their gender, their age and their roles as leading ladies on the big screen, it's time to put this myth to rest. I don't know about them, but I always get super annoyed when everyone compares me to other people, so I can't imagine how these two feel when they're trying to forge their own paths in the messy land of Hollywood. However of course, as well as the minor similarities, there are a bunch of differences that people seem to be conveniently overlooking, which of course I've decided to list as well.

1. They Have Completely Different Diets (and Beliefs)

This may seem trivial to you at first, but when you find out more, you'll definitely be on the same page. I mean, you're probably thinking 'how can what a person eats shape who they are?', yet you could not be more wrong.

Jennifer has expressed many a time her love for all that is eating (because let's face it, who doesn't?).

But what exactly does she chow down on?

Answer, the awesomest kinds of food in the world. However, hippy-esque Shailene would most definitely not be on board with this diet. I mean, processed junk foods, I think she'd absolutely die. What does she opt for instead? Clay! No, I'm not making this up. Miss Woodley has expressed many a time the health benefits of consuming mouldy layers of soil, eating it as a part of her detoxification diet. According to her, the clay 'binds to other materials in your body and helps your body excrete those materials that aren't necessarily the best for you'. Am I interested in this? Kind of. Would I be game to try it? Hell no. Not only does she enjoy munching on some clay, but she also frequently goes foraging for stinging nettles and gathering fresh water from mountain streams which she carries around in her very own personal Mason jar (because of course, she's against the use of plastic bottles). I guess you have to admire her strength of character. I mean, she even whipped out the root of a horseradish on Jimmy Fallon!

This isn't just about slightly differing diets, oh no, this also has to do with clashing ideologies. The sassily laid-back vs. the hippie environmentalist. One put in an order for pizza at the 2013 Oscars, while the other spends their free time making their own tooth paste. They're like chalk and cheese (because let's face it, chalk will probably be making it's way onto Shailene's menu soon enough). 

2. They Have Different Levels of Experience

There's no doubting that both these actresses have been in their fair share of films throughout their career, and in that respect, I'd say their level of experience is proportional, but in terms of being in the spotlight? It's not comparable in the slightest. Jennifer has been the recipient of international idolisation for a while now, not to mention she's one of the most quotable people ever (the tumblr appreciation is ridiculous!). Don't believe me? Feats your eyes upon the gif below.

She knows how to handle all the attention, and has proved that her unique personality is unwavering in the face of fame and the pressures of show businesses. Not to mention, she just so happens to have won an Oscar. But Shailene? She's only a newbie when it comes to the Hollywood hall of fame. She got a couple of big gigs, and has now captured everyone's attention. Sure, she's true to herself now, but will that continue? We just don't know yet. I mean, I have no doubt that she'll stand firm in her beliefs, but there's no way to be entirely sure just yet while she's only starting out. I expect that she has a long career ahead of her, but as of now, she's only been in the spotlight for a few months. However, so far, she's proven her awesomeness. 

3. They Don't Share the Same DNA

When it comes down to it, they are different people with different DNA, and no one can tell them or anyone else otherwise. They lead separate lives and have different interests, so how could they possibly be described as identical? It's just ridiculous, and anger inducing (if you're weirdly touchy like I am). I personally think we should just appreciate the different things that make them individually awesome and quit these stupid comparisons. Even Shailene agrees!

I've now reached the end of my little, slightly ranty post. This has just been bothering me a lot lately, and what better way to vent than on the internet? I really like both Jennifer and Shailene individually, so the fact that they're constantly being compared and described as the same person is just stupid and annoying. So just be cool and accept that they're totally different, okay? Okay. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

'22 Jump Street' Review

Hello blogosphere! Another day, another review. Today, I'm going to be relaying to you my opinion of the new '21 Jump Street' sequel, radically named '22 Jump Street'. Considering the first one blew up cinemas way back in 2012, people have been pretty pumped to see what this next one has to offer. Did it live up to expectation? Did it fall short of the first movie? You'll just have to continue reading.

Did I end up enjoying it? Yes, I actually did. I have to admit, I was a bit dubious at first, considering the majority of sequels are a major suckfest, however this didn't seem to be the case. Was it exactly the same as the first movie? Pretty much, although that didn't really seem to bother me or the rest of the audience throughout the movie. Now, it's time for the age old question - was it as good as the first one? To be honest probably not, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a perfectly entertaining film on its own. 

What exactly is it about? The film began as we reacquainted ourselves with undercover cops Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill). As hinted at the end of the previous movie, their former high school aliases Brad and Doug McQuaid are back, but this time, they're going to college. After a briefing with Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) at 22 Jump Street (the church located across the road from last year's headquarters), it seems that there's a new unknown drug doing the rounds called 'WHYPHY', which has recently killed a student on campus. And what exactly do they have to do? You guessed it, infiltrate the dealer, find the supplier. 

Of course, this once again proves to be a challenge for the crime fighting duo, as the appeal of university life seems to get in the way. Again, it seems that the two have opted for different places on the social hierarchy, Jenko choosing to hang with and 'investigate' the jocks, while Schmidt socialises with the artsy crew, trying his hand at some slam poetry while getting closer to love interest Maya (Amber Stevens). When Jenko befriends fellow jock Zook (Wyatt Russell), it causes a rift in the relation between him and Schmidt. 

So much so that they even need to get some impromptu counselling. 

There's that, on top of the fact that they can't exactly pull off being the young, just-out-of-high-school type anymore, as relayed to them many times by sarcastic college student Mercedes (Jillian Bell). 

And that ladies and gentlemen is where I choose to leave my plot retelling. Want to know more? I suggest you go see the movie. 

As I said, I enjoyed this movie a lot. You can probably already see the overwhelming similarities to the first film, however it's not as if they don't poke fun at that fact throughout the entire thing. It also helps that the comedic bromance between Jonah and Channing is really strong, and brought back in full force for the sequel. The dialogue was entertaining and at some points even clever (shocker), and at no point throughout the film were you angered by their unoriginal plot ideas, as they were delivered so comically. 

However, before you go and check out this sequel, I highly recommend you give the original a once over beforehand. Seriously, the abundance of self-referrencial jokes should not go un-understood (and yes, that's definitely a word), because they are seriously awesome. I mean don't get me wrong, the movie stands strong on its own, but the more jokes you understand the better your viewing experience will be. Plus, you'll appreciate it more when you see cameos from some familiar faces. 

I have to warn you now, you must absolutely stay for the credits. I'm not kidding, I'm dead serious. No, it's not one of those 30 second tidbits chucked on to the end of a film to try and get you to stay for the entire ending, this is an entire montage of awesome. No, I will not tell you what it is (no matter how much I want to), I just urge you stay and watch the entire thing. The only clue I'm giving you is that there may or may not be a special guest appearance from Seth Rogen. 

So that's officially the end of my review! I urge you to go and see this sequel as soon as possible, because it really is super awesome. I'm serious, go buy a ticket now! Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx