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Spirited Review | An Instant Christmas Classic

A festive must watch packed with a star studded cast, gut busting humor and catchy musical numbers.

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It’s not very often a brand new Christmas movie becomes an instant classic, but here comes Spirited offering all the festive magic you could wish for and more.

Spirited comes with a wholly fresh and original story despite the infamous material it’s based upon. Stacked with a stellar cast, gut busting jokes and catchy tunes, Spirited is a Christmas movie that deserves a watch every Christmas season.

A musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved A Christmas Carol, Spirited follows the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrel) who attempts to redeem an unredeemable (Ryan Reynolds).

Courtesy of Apple

It’s safe to say that there is no shortage of A Christmas Carol adaptations, from the classic 1951 A Christmas Carol, to Bill Murray’s Scrooged and even one involving the Muppets (my favorite). Spirited decides to take the familiar Charles Dickens tale and turn it on its head, making the film feel completely fresh and original despite the material it’s based upon, and results in an adaptation that is easily among the best.

Delivering a story that is so refreshing, Spirited excels in its own original plot, making each twist and turn feel earned and truly unpredictable. These twists are brilliantly executed, and are undeniably impactful. Forcing audiences jaws to drop to the floor as well as hitting them right in the feels in some very emotional moments that are sure to make audiences tear up.

The comedy is pitch perfect, each joke is hilarious and are expertly executed by the film’s cast. The musical numbers are just as funny as they are lavish, excelling the films comedy. Spirited all in all comes together to deliver one of the funniest Christmas ever.

Courtesy of Apple

Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrel are unsurprisingly dynamite on screen. Hilariously bouncing back and forth from each other whilst also hitting on all the emotional moments that will be sure to make you shed a tear or two. When you put two brilliant comedic actors, possibly two of the best in the genre on screen together what else could you expect. Similarly, the rest of the supporting cast is brilliant with Octavia Spencer once again showing the world why she is one of the best in the business.

Spirited offers many catchy songs, of which you will find yourself singing or humming along too long after the film has finished. The musical numbers are big, exciting and infectious, that are excelled by the cast, who all deliver surprisingly brilliant singing voices. I know I will be adding each song to my playlist.

All in all, Spirited is a must see Christmas film that is sure to become an instant classic. Offering a new and genius take on Dickens beloved tale, packed with gut busting humor, catchy musical numbers and a stellar cast.

https://youtu.be/tnAJntI3NNs

Spirited release on Apple TV+ this Friday, 18th November.

FILM RATING

Olly Dyche is a British film critic and self proclaimed professional nerd. As a member of the International Film Society Critics, Olly has had much experience as a film critic and journalist. His passion for film has inspired him to do what he does best. That being, staying anti-social, watching any and every movie and TV show he can, as well as giving his "professional" opinions whether you ask for it or not. With his Cineworld Unlimited card (input cheeky plug here) you will most likely find Olly at his local Cineworld cinema, chomping down on some sweet (yeah, that's right sweet over salted baby) popcorn whilst soaking in the glorious visuals of the latest big screen release, most likely, a horror, comic book or Disney movie.

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Apple TV+

The Changeling | Official Trailer – Apple TV +

When Apollo Kagwa’s father disappeared, he left his son a box of books and strange recurring dreams. Now Apollo is a father himself–and as he and his wife, Emma, settle into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Apollo’s old dreams return and Emma begins acting odd. At first Emma seems to be exhibiting signs of postpartum depression. But before Apollo can do anything to help, Emma commits a horrific act and vanishes. Thus begins Apollo’s quest to find a wife and child who are nothing like he’d imagined. His odyssey takes him to a forgotten island, a graveyard full of secrets, a forest where immigrant legends still live, and finally back to a place he thought he had lost forever.

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Genre:

Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Release Date:

September 8, 2023

Streaming:

Apple TV+

Cast:

LaKeith Stanfield, Amirah Vann,

Plot Summary:

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Apple TV+

The Crowded Room…Is It Worth A Watch?

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The Crowded Room, Apple TV series has notoriously been trending on socials for multiple reasons whether it is divided opinions between the critics and the fandom, Tom Holland’s resilience promoting the show and finally, the most recent viral scene that was trending.

Did you know that James Cameron, the mastermind behind Avatar, was originally set to write and direct The Crowded Room? However, it turns out that the screenplay was actually written by Todd Graff (The Abyss). You can easily find the script online, as it’s been plastered all over the internet. Cameron actually acquired the rights to adapt The Minds of Billy Milligan written by Daniel Keyes. The initial story revolves around a serial rapist who has an extreme case of multiple personality disorder, set in the 1970s. Cameron even met with Billy Milligan himself and the two became friends. The talented John Cusack (Say Anything) was set to play the lead role, but unfortunately, the project fell through when Milligan filed a lawsuit and tried to change the storyline. Since then, many people have tried to revive the project, including David Fincher with Leonardo DiCaprio as the main lead.

The Crowded Room [credit: Apple TV+]

In April 2021, Akiva Goldsman, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for A Beautiful Mind, announced that he will adapt The Crowded Room as a TV series instead of a film. The show will focus on the complex issue of mental health and how it affects young men who have experienced trauma. Goldsman was drawn to this theme and hopes to explore the impact of trauma on the brain of an adolescent. This was reported in an article by the Hollywood Reporter.

The Apple TV series revolves around Danny Sullivan (Tom Holland) who gets arrested due to his participation in a shooting incident that took place in New York City in 1979. In the series, curious psychologist Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfriend) conducts a series of interviews with Danny, which reveal his mysterious past that influenced him and led him to a life-changing realisation.

The Crowded Room’s opening credits are a work of art, with mesmerising colours and drawings that become a part of the story. The cinematography of the first episode is also outstanding. The lighting and set locations are spectacular and leave you in awe. One set location, a barn filled with broken scaffolding, is particularly impressive. The camera work allows the audience to see from a subjective point of view.

Critics and audiences have questioned the pacing of the show, wondering if it should have had fewer episodes or if it dragged on for too long. Some have also discussed whether the storyline should have grabbed the audience’s attention sooner. However, the slow pacing at the start allows viewers to take the time to understand each character presented on screen, which is similar to a great TV series. Although it may seem slow at first, it may ultimately enhance the viewing experience.

Previously, Goldman wrote for the film, which has a different structure compared to TV series. This particular show requires patience from the audience, as they need to pay attention to the timeline of Rya and Danny’s interview. That’s why weekly episodes give the audience time to process and enjoy each episode. Otherwise, watching the entire series in one sitting could be mentally taxing.

The Crowded Room [credit: Apple TV+]

The talented Tom Holland not only played the lead role in the show but also served as an executive producer. He displayed his impressive acting skills by utilising his dialect, body language, and delivery to convey every emotion experienced by his character, Danny. The final episode, which includes the challenging courtroom scene, has now been released. According to Holland, this was the most difficult scene he has ever filmed in his career. In a previous interview, he mentioned that he listened to his friend Stormzy’s song “Mel Made Me Do It” to help him get into character and stay focused mentally.

It is important to recognise not only Holland’s acting skills but also Amanda Seyfried’s notable performance. During that time, women in psychology were often dismissed, but Seyfried’s portrayal of a caring and compassionate psychologist truly embodies the essence of the profession – to genuinely care for others.

The series displays a deep understanding of the complexity of each mental health illness, and this is not solely due to the excellent acting performances, but also the editing work of the crew. The transitions of the stunt work and the emotional aspects of the plot provide a layer of empathy that Goldman aimed to achieve.

For those who have not started the series, there may be confusion about whether to bother. The final episodes of The Crowded Room have left the audience, including myself, emotionally enthralled, staring into the abyss each time. With the series coming to an end, Holland’s best performance to date stands out, given the toughest script that physically and mentally drained the actor.

The entire cast and crew deserve appreciation for coming together to bring forth this storytelling with compassion and empathy. The show does an excellent job of focusing not only on one character’s mental health but also on multiple characters and how they handle their mental health.

Have you checked out The Crowded Room? If so leave a comment below on what you thought about the series!

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Apple TV+

Tetris | Official Trailer | Starring: Taron Egerton

An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union.

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Genre:

Biography, Thriller

Release Date:

March 31, 2023

Director:

Jon S. Baird

Cast:

Taron Egerton, Toby Jones, Sofya Lebedeva

Plot Summary:

An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union.

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