nicola_ball2108 Reviews

Alias (2001–2006)

A damn good TV Show.

[10/10 · 30 June 2008]

I'm at a loss why there are so many poor reviews for Alias, it was *so* good. I personally own all 5 seasons on DVD and I love watching them all back to back over a few weeks.

There was something for everyone. Good looking characters for those unable to immerse themselves in the main plots, action, plot twists, romance, family, life, death... it had it all.

The thing I liked most about Alias was the character development. How relationships started, were repaired... how some ended. By the final episode you knew exactly where each character was in regard to their friendships and relationships, it was communicated very well via the dialogue and of course, the acting.

By the end of the finale I really was rather upset at this TV show, in regard to who dies at the end, what happens to the main character etc. The ending was so good, because it wrapped up all the main story lines in a neat little bow. Abrams is so good with planting the seeds for future plot developments early on, so everything just flowed consistently.

I really would recommend Alias for everyone, not just intellectuals who can keep up with the science and language used within each episode. It's funny, it's action packed (with upbeat music in every scene), it's sweet (Sydney and Vaughn = the cutest TV couple *ever*) and addresses important issues.

Just because it lacks profanity, gang violence, racism and sex, doesn't mean it's not a good show ;)

Cloverfield (2008)

Does live up to it's hype

[8/10 · 7 February 2008]

I was a little apprehensive about seeing this movie because of the warnings of motion sickness and the stories I'd heard on the radio during the past week about movie goers being sick in the aisles. I'm personally a little bad when it comes to motion sickness, but I truly didn't find the camera movements that nauseating.

I have seen many comments and reviews about how there is no 'character development' that the camera is 'far too shaky', but those comments and reviews are not taking into account that the movie is meant to be 85 minutes worth of a 7/8 hour period during one evening in New York. It's the perspective of several, scared and confused New Yorkers trying to find their friend and survive.

While the cam-corder style filming has been done in Blair Witch, I found this movie did it in a better manner, causing viewers to feel that they were there with them more than Blair Witch was able to. I found myself thinking during parts of the movie "Grr I need to look right... oh wait, I'm watching a movie". The way it has been filmed in my view, is very effective and just adds to the sinister atmosphere.

Parts of the film are fairly confusing, in the sense that you're not really meant to understand it in some ways. It leaves a lot for your imagination to mull over, and the confusion is that of the characters in the film.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie, and I have to say that I found it more entertaining and thought-provoking than 'I Am Legend', which I also saw recently. I would recommend it to anyone who wants something more than the generic 'monster movie'. Cloverfield has a large scope for it's back story, since it's not explained during the movie what the monster is, where it came from and why?