REVIEW: Me Before You (12A)

Daenerys Targaryen and Meville Longbottom are dating, maybe. After 7 years together and stuck in a small town; Louisa Clark (Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke) gets her last paycheck as a waitress and then finds herself unemployed. Her struggling family which also includes sister Katherine (Dr Who's Jenna Coleman) and dad, granddad and mum all are encouraging her to get a job. When a rich, handsome, castle owning 30-something William Traynor (Sam Claflin) is injured in a traffic accident leaving him a as quadriplegic, his mum and dad (Charles Dance) seek to employ a carer-cum-friend for their lonely, heartbroken and disillusioned son. His and Louisa's fates cross thanks to the job centre and she becomes carer for him. Initially very reticent about the whole arrangement, both parties reluctantly work together but find out they can both teach each other a thing or two about life.

This movie is an emotionally charged rom-com - one part com, two parts rom and is really well made. Emilia Clarke looks so different to her Game of Thrones character which is a testament to her acting talents and Jenna Coleman makes for a perfect sister to her in the movie. Sometimes she overdoes the smiling and grinning and loves her eyebrow acting (like Chris Pratt ;-)) but overall is a great movie. The chemistry between the leads is fantastic and you really feel for them. The film's soundtrack is great too - with uplifting instrumentals and careful use of no less than two Ed Sheeran songs, it just adds to the experience. With a smattering of stars from both silver and small screens and an absolutely fabulous cameo from a great English actress, Me Before You is one film that tugs at the heart strings and won't let go. 

Really, really good.

Me Before You is out 3rd June at all good cinemas.

POPSCORE: 8/10

What am I talking about? Me Before You movie
Where can I find out more? http://mebeforeyoumovie.com/
If you liked this try: Love Actually, Fifty Shades of Grey (maybe), Beauty and the Beast (Disney), The Fault In Our Stars

Anything else?

This movie is based on Jojo Moyes book, Me Before You.
Both Emilia Clarke and Charles Dance star in Game of Thrones

EVENT: Ninja Warrior UK

Ninja Warrior UK comes to our screens on 11th April - are you tuning in?

To those who know me, I am known for getting up to all sorts and seeing exactly what there is to do in this thing called life. I've taken opportunities and adventures as often as my limits would allow and one of those is getting involved in television and movies. I've always liked the idea of being an actor - but it's something I have never pursued, and instead plumped for creative writing and music.

I have though recently been taking advantage of opportunities that have arisen. Over the last few years I've been an audience member on Celebrity Juice - which was an awesome experience and I was also at the finals of X Factor which was broadcast on TV back in 2012. I also got through to the final auditions of CatchPhrase in 2013 but never made the recordings of the show and have been invited to be in the audience of Deal or No Deal too. I still have to take them up on the offer.

 

However, last Monday, 30th March 2015 I attended Manchester for the recording of a brand new show coming on ITV called Ninja Warrior UK. A massive hit in Japan and the USA, contestants try to defeat a diabolical obstacle course in the quickest time possible. Very much a cross between 90's classic Gladiators (without the Gladiators), Total Wipeout and the ever popular Takeshi's Castle, NWUK pits elite athletes, strong men, fit people and those who ust want to have a crack at the worlds most difficult obstacle course. If they beat the wall after their gruelling task of completing the course then they can go through to the next round to become Ninja Warrior UK.

 

The show is presented by popular presenter Ben Shepherd, Chris Kamara and The Saturday's Rochelle Humes.  Our night started with the first of fifty contestants who succeeded and failed in varying degrees. I'm not allowed to say what went on, but here's an official picture from the Ninja Warrior UK Facebook page to give you an idea of what it's like:

 

 

And here's that wall I mentioned earlier:

Beat the wall, beat the wall...

Ninja Warrior UK comes to ITV on 11th April - tune in to see who will become the first Ninja Warrior in the UK.

 

What am I talking about? Ninja Warrior UK - new game show/series

Where can I find out more? It's on ITV from 11th April or check out the website: http://www.itv.com/ninjawarrior/

If you like this try: Gladiators (90's), Krypton Factor, Total Wipe Out, Takeshi's Castle

 

Anything else?

This show is based on the wildly successful Japanese and American versions also called Ninja Warrior (but obviously without the UK at the end)

 

*please note - the photos on this page have been taken from the official Facebook page of Ninja Warrior UK and are meant to supplement the text I have written as we were not authorised to take photos at the event. They are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant in any way to breach copyright. If the owners of the pictures are not happy for this usage, please message me and I will remove them.