Jet Li's Unleashed (2005)

Ahh, I remember the first time I sat down to watch Unleashed. It was with an ex-boyfriend (spoilt the mood a little but ah well), and I was 16 I think... anyway, I can't remember anything other than those facts... so I'll remember the next time I watched it... or just any other time I watched it.

Right in the first few seconds of the opening credits, we see the famous collar from the film that symbolises everything that binds Danny to his violent background and to his Owner/Uncle Bart; we also get close ups of Danny's eyes and ears as well as very focused sound. The first lines "Get 'em" are so simple yet effective, and so vital to the film, that the whole essence of that first minute immediately grips its audience, right onto the ping of the collar, another indicator of pure, amazing violence.

After the ping, we see a brilliant fight scene by Jet Li, started off with a straight kick into the chests of two men. We see the sheer power that Jet Li exerts, and raw instincts which is symbolic to the whole idea of Danny being treated as an attack dog instead of a human... (I found this idea so intriguing that I did a whole investigation on the language used in the film for my A Levl English Language Coursework... we'll see how well I did for it, but I really enjoyed watching the film, over and over, and over...)

From the word go, the film is put down as a psychological action-thriller, ingenious in structure and choreography, and it has everything that Jet Li fans desire (well it did for me, and I'm a huge fan), despite the focus on the psyche of Danny.

The character of Sam was an interesting one, as originally, he wasn't meant to be blind, but Morgan Freeman (who plays him), had the idea that making Sam blind would make it easier for him to 'see' the child in Jet Li's character of Danny, and not the brutal killer that he really is... and this is the main focus of the film, for we are meant to see how Danny, although trained to become a killer, has the mind of young, frightened child.

Throughout the film, no matter who I've watched it with, there have been times where the room's been full of laughter one minute, then gasping, then enthralled by a fight scene, or then deadly serious the next. The film, although it features some amazing martial arts scenes, focuses more on the storyline and the development of Danny, and the relationships he has with those around him. Also, how he is saved... by music.

The film has a struggle for power over Danny, through Sam and Bart, one being the father, the other being the master. The way the writers used language to show this struggle is brilliant and it keeps the audience gripped and it makes you care about who wins over Danny.

The sound effects during the fight scenes, where in some films sound utterly ridiculous and weird, in this film are so realistic, you really believe the characters are killing each other, and Yuen Wo-Ping's brilliant choreography tops it off.

For the first time, the lucky audience is witness to Jet Li's true acting. Jet Li seems to have taken the film to heart, as he is a true believer in one of the morals behind the film. Jet Li being a Tibetan Buddhist is strictly against violence, and this film portrays the fight between humanity and violence, as well as the struggle for power through friendship or through pure violence and manipulation.

Being a martial arts film fanatic, I purely advise those who are enthusiastic that though there are few fight scenes, they are purely some of the best, and most realistic, and the most enthralling, out of the many (and that is a lot) martial arts films I have ever seen. The cast was brilliantly picked, each actor plays their character to the maximum potential, and to this day, 'Unleashed' remains my all-time favourite movie.

Sam: You okay?
Danny: She kissed me!
Sam: Yeah, she does that. How was it?
Danny: [pauses] Wet.

Emily Russell

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The views in this article are in no way meant to offend or upset any of the intended audience, they are strictly the views of the author.

Ip Man (2008)

I have to admit, I bought this film on a whim. I'd heard one of my Chinese friend talking about this film for ages and ages, and I was in a Sainsbury's buying some sweets one Tuesday in January, after going to a Japanese class with my boyfriend, when I saw 'Ip Man' staring up at me from the DVD section. I was immediately in need of the film. For a start Donnie Yen was starring, and he was in Jet Li's 'Hero' and he is AMAZING. Therefore I spent money, and I was the proud owner of CineAsia's DVD.

Anyway, we went back to my boyfriend's house, made a pizza and some home-cooked chips, and sat down to watch 'Ip Man'. All I'd ever heard about Ip Man, and not the film, was that he was the first man in China to teach Wing Chun openly, and he taught many people, including the famous Bruce Lee. Now, I've had a try at Wing Chun, it's lots of fun (but expensive.. one day I will start again) and it takes a lot of mindset as well as training.

The film is a semi-biographical martial arts film about the life of Yip Man in the city of Foshan (funnily enough, where my friend is from!) during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The filming, though, was done in Shanghai and the crew architecturally recreated a 1930s Foshan quite well I would believe.

It begins with the background of many southern Chinese martial arts schools all fighting against each other and trying to gain as many disciples as possible. Although Ip Man is the most skillful of them all, he keeps a low profile, trains no disciples, as he already has enough money and a good family (this all changes); this sets the beginning tone of the film... I don't have to say that both my boyfriend and I love our Asian Histories, so we were hooked... (my boyfriend's a Japanophile, so the Japanese side to this film enticed him too, even though the film is very anti-Japanese).

Next, the Japanese invaded in 1937, and Ip's home is claimed and used as the Japanese headquarters (what a slap in the face); Ip and Co. are forced to move to a decrepit home and he's forced to support his family by working at a coal mine. It is here where we learn the Japanese colonel Miura is looking for skilled Chinese martial artists to fight against his troops to train them up, in return for a bag of rice for each opponent they defeat.

Ip Man's friend goes missing, so he investigates the situation, and learns many of the Chinese Martial Arts Masters are fighting there, also a police officer, Li Zhao is working as a translator. This is where Ip fights at least 10 Karatekas and totally kicks their asses, interesting Miura (epic fight scene ensues). The scene was amazingly choreographed, and I have been known to rewind it and watch it again, before moving on.

Anyway throughout the film, you grow to the love the character of 'Ip Man', due to his quiet, and humble way of dealing with things, the sheer anger and emotions he feels when he sees the fights between the Japanese and his people... especially during the fight between himself and General Miura, which is such an amazing fight.

I felt a tear in my eye when Master Liu dies, and I heard my boyfriend gasp too, the actors did such a good job of this scene, including the same one where Lin dies, as we grew to love the cheery character that is Lin... these tears were recalled to, when Ip Man finds Lin's younger brother and tells him that Lin has died. I cried along with him.

The audience really gets a feel of how powerless the Chinese must have felt during those eight years, especially when Ip Man goes to buy some rice. Then he was forced to find a job, despite his detached demeanour, we really see how much Ip Man cares about his family, his friends, and those around him, during fights, and how he always helps others.

Overall, it was a really moving film, despite the film's very "anti-Japanese" sentimentality, and Donnie Yen fights so well, and his martial arts style is so fluid in contrast to his usual razor sharp and quick style. A downside was the film told more about what Ip Man could do, and not about who he was as a person... but that's not really what most Martial Arts enthusiasts want to see.... but I really advise you to see this film, as its fight scenes are engaging and brilliant, the narrative keeps your attention and I give Donnie Yen and his co-stars a big two thumbs up for all the effort in the fights and acting.

Emily Russell

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The views in this article are in no way meant to offend or upset any of the intended audience.

The Karate Kid (2010)

Well, yesterday, my boyfriend and I went to see the 2010 'The Karate Kid' starring Jackie Chan and Jayden Smith. At first, when I heard Mr. Chan would be starring, I was excited, because as most people who know me know, that I am one Jackie Chan's biggest fans. I could sit and watch a whole-day marathon of his films and still watch more. Yet, there was something about 'The Karate Kid' that just didn't suit Jackie Chan's usual persona (he also looks a lot younger in this film... they did a good job). Think, if Disney did 'The Karate Kid'.....

I suppose, it wasn't that a bad a film, but it goes under the genre of 'Martial Arts'... I don't agree. There was no real montage of Dre Parker being taught kung fu by Mr. Han, which was so needed out of the 2 hours and 20 minutes of the film. I was disappointed with Mr. Han, who could have had so much more depth to his character. The fight scenes were rushed which was disheartening, seeing as it's credited as a Martial Arts film!!

There were too many storylines rolled into one, such as the mini love story, Mr. Han's secretive persona and Dre's need to prove himself. It was funny that there was even a love story, considering these kids are, what... 12? The bully has practically no reason to start his vendetta against Dre, yet the writers tried to create one, then never developed upon the idea. The 'Jacket On, Jacket Off' thing went on for waaay too long, and was a nod towards the original 'Karate Kid'.

Despite these critcisms, there is a strange chemistry between the two main characters played by Jayden Smith and Jackie Chan, that although the film has little in the background of things, Jayden Smith has clearly done the work, although it'd have been great to have seen Jackie Chan fight at least more than once. And did anybody else notice Michelle Yeoh as the cobra lady? Because I certainly did. Despite my fear of snakes, I noticed her, saw the snake and hid my face until it had gone.

Another thing I noticed in the film, was the disapperance of subtitles when some Chinese was spoken. As I speak Chinese to some degree, I overheard some of the omitted subtitled speeches. I overhead the chanting of the Cantonese phrase (in a mainly Mandarin Chinese film) "Guai Lou" which basically means 'Foreigner', I also heard the Mandarin Chant of "Jia You" alongside this, which means "Do your best/Fight on"; I also noticed that Mr. Han calls Dre "Xiao Dre" meaning Little Dre.... cute. I also found the other hidden Chinese funny, especially Meiying's incredibly short but informative phone call.. but hey, it's Hollywood right?

The scenery for the most part of the film was beautiful, and very typically Chinese, so the location finder of the film's crew did an impressive job. Although the airports were both wrong. The American one was JFK Airport, not Detroit, and the Chinese one was in fact Hong Kong International, not Beijing.

My rating of the film is still high, despite all my whining about it, the film was a family friendly, morally filled film that I did enjoy watching, even with the massive amounts of hole-picking my boyfriend did. I advise you to go and watch 'The Karate Kid', as it is a good film, and there are a few emotional moments tied to Dre Parker and Mr. Han, especially at the end when little Dre has his little triumph.

Mr. Han: What happened to eye?
Dre Parker: I ran into a pole.
Mr. Han: Interesting pole.

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The views in this article are in no way meant to offend or upset any of the intended audience

DH Addiction

Is it it just me, or is Desperate Housewives one of the most addictive TV shows ever created? Ever since I started watching the first season back in 2004, Desperate Housewives has had me hooked on the bitchy, clumsy and weird life that occurs on Wisteria Lane. Not only that, but since I bought the game for £5 in ASDA about 3 years ago, I've been continously playing the game, and when I finish it... I just start again... it's almost like my Sims obsession... except it's not as indepth and less controlled.

Despite the show's popularity, none of my friends have ever become as addicted as myself, and even my own boyfriend finds Bree Van De Kamp terrifying beyond words. True, she's an anal retentive OCD sufferer with severe problems.. but she's one of the best characters on the show. Not only that but the men chosen for the programme were well picked.... well possibly not Paul Young... but he's not that popular anyway...

And who hasn't fallen in love with the voice of Mary Alice Young, who narrates the entrie programme, and was the centre of mystery for the first few seasons, her past and suicide arousing the whole background story to the show. And of course, who doesn't love the clumsy, forgetful and naive Susan Mayer?... I know I do, because I'm definitely a lot like her... haha.

I just wondered if anybody else for some reason shared this addiction as me? Because frankly I can't seem to shake it, and we all know it's sad when you become to attached to characters who are purely fictional!!

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The opinions stated in this article are purely the author's own and no offence is intended towards the audience.

HIM: My Sweet 666

Alright yeah, I'm a sucker when it comes to rock bands... but HIM they are something else. Behind every HIM lyric that Ville Valo writes, I find such a beautiful relative meaning, and sentimentality. Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, HIM released their first album in the UK in 1997 'Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666'. But I didn't fully get into them until the release of their single 'Wings of a Butterfly' in 2005. Ville Valo sings about showing your love by hurting a butterfly... yeah it sounds violent, but Ville Valo's angelic voice smoothes over that, and embraces you with his baritone vocals. On hearing such beautiful poetry, for that's what I believe it is, 'Wings of a Butterfly' sparked an interest that continued all the way till the present, and I instantly listened to the previous albums, falling in love especially with 'Razorblade Romance'.

The song 'Razorblade Romance' sends shudders down my back upon hearing the chorus, Ville Valo's strong voice zapping down the spine, and serenading the very core of your soul and body. Although the song suggests that the relationship is a difficult one, with sharp edges, but filled with a deep love, that goes beyond all understanding.

The years went on by, and it came to February 2010, and 'Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice' was released... and it was a stepping point for me. Every song moved me, just as every other HIM song had. Upon hearing the opening lines of 'In Venere Veritas' right up until the last lines of 'The Foreboding Sense of Impending Happiness', 'Screamworks' managed to lull my ears and I had to listen to it all over again, and again, and again, and again, and again....

I could go on for hours about many of HIM's song, as Ville Valo has never written a bad song. But 'Your Sweet 666', 'Razorblade Romance', 'Funeral of Hearts', 'Wings of a Butterfly', 'Vampire Heart', 'In Venere Veritas', 'Heartkiller' and 'Love, The Hardest Way' have been pinpoints to many of my pick me ups... in total contrast of my in-your-face therapy of Green Day, HIM have the talent to lull the senses, the lyrics enough to make you cry with their beauty and sentiment.

If you want a beautiful but distorted sound... then HIM is the one for you. I'd write so much more... but in all honesty... 'nuff said.

Emily Russell

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These views are entirely the opinions of the author and mean no offence to the intended audience.

McFly: The Five Colours In My Head

If you're British then you must have heard of the four wonderful boys that make up the band McFly. When they first released their No. 1 single 'Five Colours in Her Hair' in 2004, when I was merely 12 years old, I was hooked on the four lovely lads who had barely just left school themselves. I found myself singing out loud the 14 songs on 'Room on the 3rd Floor' (which includes the hidden song 'Get Over You') continuously, and ended up driving my family mad! And it was thanks to McFly that I in truth, became best friends with Shannon, who to this day is like my sister, and who I've gone to seen McFly with twice in the Novembers of 2008 and 2009.

'Room on the 3rd Floor' was an ode to McFly's maturing as schoolboys, singing about girls they had crushes on, parties they were throwing and girlfriends' dads that disliked them. But amongst the bubblegum-rock ditties, are laced some heartfelt ballads, such as the song of the same name as the album, 'Room on the 3rd Floor' and 'Not Alone'... both of which depicting the inner beauty that were the souls of the songwriters, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.

Following their debut album, McFly released their second album 'Wonderland', which in itself suited the album's themes, based on more mature ideologies: mid-life crisis, past memories, a friend's suicide and invading other's privacy. Of course, like every album, there's always a song which stands out from the rest, and these happened to be the 'I've Got You' and 'I Wanna Hold You'. These interesting upbeat songs seperate themselves from their companions, and show the same McFly soul that sparked our love in the first place. Another gem of the album was 'All About You', a beautiful number penned by Tom Fletcher, completely mushy and definitely one that would be appearing on Valentine's Day mixtapes for years to come. But alongside Fletcher's mushy song, was written the saddening two part song of 'She Falls Asleep'; a haunting melody on the piano, depicting a lonely woman, who commited suicide. Despite my very biased and heart-shaped glasses that are focused on Tom Fletcher, a lot of credit should be given to his musical talents and genius, behind the power of these tracks.

Following 'Wonderland' came the even more bubbly 'Motion in the Ocean'. To come on this album were Radio 1's Friday Favourite (and my own) 'Star Girl', a brilliant pop-rock song, catchy enough to make you want to dance.. (let alone make your boyfriend laugh at the lyrics "When I fell in love with Uranus") and generally "oo-oo-oo-ooo" along during the chorus. Weirdly enough, the song was inspired by a dream Fletcher had about falling in love with an alien woman.... ahh, that's why I love him so much. Other popular ones were 'Please, Please', 'Sorry's Not Good Enough', 'Friday Night' and 'Transylvania'.

It was after 'Motion in the Ocean' that McFly finally released their Greatest Hits Album, and Shannon and myself were finally able to see them in concert.... I tell you, we've never danced and screamed so much... and we're convinced we were smiled and waved at... honest.

Then the long awaited 'Radio:ACTIVE' was released, and a whole new McFly was seen. They'd grown up musically, and their tunes were now laced with more distortion and emotional singing, as seen on 'Lies', 'Corruption' and many other wonders from the album. But the one that moved me the most, had to be 'Down Goes Another One'. Known as the follow on to 'She Falls Asleep', the song depicts the life of the boyfriend of the woman who died in the first song, and it brings to light a lot of emotion and pain that people can feel when heartbroken.

As the fans await McFly's new album 'Super City', the boys have become a different more unique versions of the young cuties they were 6 years ago, their new single 'Party Girl' a big hit in my books, and I've found myself already singing the lyrics to myself.... Let's just hope that these boys stay Britain's Golden Boys for now... because I know they'll be mine.

Emily Russell

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This article is the opinion of the author and no offence is intended towards the audience.

Twilight: What I Think Of It All

Yeah yeah, I could have used a picture of the whole cast... but why would I do that? We all know everyone prefers Mr. E Cullen most.... and I didn't have any decent pictures of Jacob...

Anywho, I'm going to review the Twilight Saga as a whole... starting with the books. I first read the book 'Twilight' back in 2006, possibly a year after it had been released, and I loved the way it was written, and how intensely Stephenie Meyer intergrated herself into the character that is Bella Swan. I forgot all about the series until.... yes, you got it... the big hype hit the big screens in November 2008. Well, to begin with, I avoided the Twilight hype like the plague. It had totally annoyed me, due to the fact, up until Twilight.... EVERYONE had hated vampire novels... myself? I'd adored them from the young age of about 7, which was about the time I read myself Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Since then, I've enjoyed The Vampire Diaries, Interview with the Vampire, The Undead Series, True Blood and many many more.

The only reason I gave in into watching the 'Twilight' movie, in truth was because my friend told me that Robert Pattinson (who'd had had an eye for in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) was to play Edward Cullen. I watched it with her and another friend, and after I watched it, I was once again hooked. But I'm not a fanatic to the scary realms like some fans I could mention. If I were to see Robert Pattinson in the street, I'd leave him be... for a start, he's got a desensitised view on Kristen Stewart and her "sunny" personality... and also... the poor guy needs a break!!

After enjoying the film, I went on a shopping trip to Liverpool, and I purchased myself the first two books of the saga, I re-read 'Twilight' and instantly remembered why the story was so familiar! So once I'd finished I instantly began 'New Moon'... by this time I'd been only 2 days... so I borrowed the following two books 'Eclipse' and 'Breaking Dawn' from a good friend at college... I was taken aback.

The books go into such detail, portray such a strong love between the characters, and show the sexual tension between teenagers. Hey, we've all been there... but what shocked me... despite her creative depth... Bella... is such an utterly boring character. Despite her wonderful vocabulary and her lust for Cullen... Bella has no depth other than her one-track mind. You can disagree with me... but Bella seems to be a rather boring, sullen person... and it rubs off on Edward's movie personality...

The movie portrayals of Bella and Edward are good... but for Bella... there could have been better. Kristen Stewart is the most stroppiest, boring, lacking in personality woman I have ever met. I have yet to see her smile or portray any sort of emotion aside from immense pain... she does this portrayal wonderfully, as shown in the scene where James attacks her in the ballet studio in 'Twilight'.

Then I come to the other actors... Alice was picked wonderfully, her high pitched voice, her slim dainty figure... Edward, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie and Jacob, Esme, Carlisle, Billy and Charlie... all picked well.

I could go into a big full review of everything, but I'm going to put it simply. I love the Twilight series. The difference of their vampires, the film portrayal, the focus on love, and not on vampires, all in all, a wonderful idea... if only the film directors would stick the books... it does anger the novel lovers.. I found myself pointing out countless mistakes the films made.... and it really riled me. If they were minor but correct I wouldn't mind... but these are even timed mistakes!!

If you like books about vampires, vampire and human love, love or strangely centurific boyfriends... then Twilight is the book for you... if you despise souless acting... ignore Kristen Stewart's performance... you will be disappointed... although they made her look attractive in Twilight.... she doesn't take advantage of it outside of the movies...

Emily Russell

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These are the views of the author and are not meant to offend or upset the intended audience.

What Green Day Are To Me

Oh yeah... you know who I'm talking about. I'm not kidding... no matter how many times I listen to the many albums that are the gems we know them for, Green Day definitely have sentimental value to me. They may be from a totally different tree to the Sex Pistols, but they have the same values and attitudes that their punk rock grandaddies did. They have the raw sound that kids who love rock music look for, even though they can sound slightly poppy, but who doesn't love a song that everyone knows the words to? Take Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' for example...

From their release of the EP 1,000 Hours in 1989, right up until 2009's 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day have been warming the hearts and entertaining thousands of music lovers, young and old, with their memorable numbers such as 'Basket Case' right down to '21 Guns'.

The lead singer and songwriter, Billie Joe Armstrong, with his many talents, has managed to write songs just about anything, ranging from masturbation on the album Dookie, to political statements against the ex-president George Bush on American Idiot. Each one, no matter how silly or how heartfelt, has a background of feeling, be it angst or boredom, and Armstrong showed his serious side when he penned that all-time classic 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)'. He not only showed his softer more openly sensitive side, but it showed he wasn't afraid to commit punk's biggest sin.... using an acoustic guitar!! It was so un-punk... it actually was punk!!

If you asked what Green Day as a band meant to me, you'd get my general answer of "They are the most amazing band I have had the honour to hear." But that's not all Green Day are. To me they're life savers. If it weren't for their whole discography, I'd have never gotten into many bands I've come to love today, as well as the fact I'd have probably given up trying to play the guitar years ago... but thankfully, Green Day's songs were so catchy, I just HAD to play them on guitar.

Seeing them live (albeit with my Dad, I have no shame for this, my Dad loves Green Day!!) for the first time at NEC, Birmingham, was probably the best concert I have seen to date, and I remember how ecstatic and energised I was to hear the songs I knew and loved, live and blasting in the air around me. It must fill the Green Day trio's hearts with joy to hear so many people singing back the songs they've put their souls into writing at them. Especially the ones that Armstrong wrote that hit home more than others.

To put it out there to you all, I'm not saying you have to like Green Day, but in order to understand why they mean so much to so many, maybe just take the time to listen to some of the songs that have touched so many different hearts. Sit back and listen to the hauntingly beautiful 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' from American Idiot, the chorus opening up Armstrong's soul out for everyone to look in and see the raw pain that can exist in every heart. Relax and listen to the beauty that is 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)', taking in the anger that Armstrong had over an ex-girlfriend upping and leaving him, despite him singing about decisions that needed to be made, and yet again letting his audience see the real Armstrong.

But of course, Green Day's not only about the hard times, Green Day's earlier triumphant songs bring about an energy that can turn even my darkest mood into a grin. The song that has always been able to achieve this was 'Basket Case' from Dookie, the sheer energy and meaning behind the lyrics have always struck home, talking about neuroticism and melodramatic fools, the 3:03 minutes that is 'Basket Case', beautifully distorted angry chords, machine-gun drumming and catchy basslines make the song into what was the biggest thing to happen to the music world... it's thought that if it weren't for the magic that was 'Basket Case', there might never have been a pop-punk movement! God forbid! Half my iTunes library consists of these bands!!

Two decades down the line, and Billie Joe... we still have the time, to listen to you whine.

Emily Russell
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The views in this article are in no way meant to offend or upset any of the intended audience