Most Anticipated Films of 2017

For the past two years I’ve done a post like this on one platform or another and I’ve really come to love doing them as a reminder of all the films that have come out that year as well as it aiding me to discover some of the lesser know films that are coming out. Saying that you’ll notice on this list that I’ve not included sequels or prequels, not because I’m not excited about them, but because otherwise they would massively dominate this list.  I’ve included a couple of the big blockbusters this year but again I’ve really tried to only include the ones that I’m genuinely looking forward to because I think they’ll be providing something different, or a relatively fresh take. I’d love to know whether you agree with my choices and what you’re looking forward to and I hope that there’s maybe a couple on this list that you hadn’t heard of before which you’ll now be adding to your own lists. Also I feel I have to have a disclaimer that the only reason La La Land isn’t on this list is because it was on last years list.

Okay so before we kick off properly honourable mentions go to; Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume:2, Kingsmen: The Golden Circle, Star Wars 8, Pitch Perfect 3, Thor Ragnarok, Alien Covenant, Blade Runner 49, John Wick 2, Logan.

Beauty and the Beast

After completely falling in love with Disney’s real life adaptation of Cinderella I was already on board for whatever was coming next, by when it was announced that it was going to be my all time favourite Beauty and the Beast I was ecstatic. But even putting my own bias aside, the cast looks about as close to perfect as they could get. and the initial glimpses that we’ve seen seem to be straight out of the original film. Plus it’ll be interesting to see how the additional modern twists play out such as such as Belle being the inventor in this version as well as her refusal to wear a corset. Either way, I can’t wait.

Spiderman:Homecoming

Considering this is the sixth Spiderman film in under 15 years and the third ‘re-imagining’ in that time you’d be forgiven for having given up hope by this point. But there’s enough elements in this new version to pique my interest such as the casting of Tom Holland who’s gynatistic ability is what is rumoured to have helped him land the part in the first place and is sure to add a sense of realism to the stunts. Not to mention the diverse casting choices including up and coming Tony Revolori as Flash Thompson and Zendaya as Michelle, an unknown character who is promised to play a major part in later films. Throw in Holland’s scene stealing introduction in Captain America: Civil War and the very promising first trailer, Marvel has managed to do it again and somehow get people excited for another Spiderman movie, lets just hope it lives up to the hype.

Baby Driver

Edgar Wright’s latest offering sounds like it could be his most interesting to date with Ansel Engort as a baby faced getaway driver (see what they did there?) who suffers from tinnitus, so constantly has headphones in which provide the soundtrack to his life, and as a result the movie. Regardless of whether or not this ends up making the best films of 2017 list there’s one thing for certain, it’ll definitely be one of the best soundtracks.

Wonder Woman

To say DC has been on a losing streak in regards to its recent movies is a bit of an understatement. Even Suicide Squad, which many heralded as being a return to form and the film to finally rival Marvel’s empire fell short due to terrible editing, the mess that was The Enchantress, and a plot that didn’t really exist. After the release of the Wonder Woman trailer last year DC managed to reignite fans hope with a glimpse of what looked like the adaptation that would finally do Wonder Woman justice. After initial criticism of her costume, fans were won over by seeing Wonder Woman kick ass regardless of the length of her skirt and many were excited by the possibility of seeing a well rounded, intelligent female hero taking the big screen (something that Marvel by the way has yet to do). Certainly after the initial excitement from the Suicide Squad trailer it’d potentially be a little bit foolish to place your bets just yet, but here’s hoping the 2017 is the year DC gives us the superhero film we’ve all been waiting for.

The Dark Tower

It’s been on my bucket list for so long to make a start on this series that I’ve finally made my piece with the fact that I’ll be watching it long before I read it. I have to say though it looks so promising that I’m really not that upset about it. Based on the Stephen King series it revolves around 11 year old Jake Chambers who stumbles across a dimension called Mid-World where he encounters the lone frontiersman knight Roland Deschain and joins him on his quest to reach the Dark Tower and save Mid-World before the magician known as The Dark Man, reaches the tower to fulfil his own nefarious purposes. The film has been planned for years so here’s hoping it’s worth the wait and falls into the collection of King adaptations such as Misery, Carrie and IT as opposed to the more recent adaptation of Carrie and Under The Dome.

The Beguiled

Sofia Coppola directs Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning as the teachers and student of a civil war era girls boarding school which is visited by Colin Farrell’s injured union soldier who slowly works his way into their hearts, much to everyone’s misfortune. Needless to say there’s more to this story than meets the eye and the combination of the director, actors and story means this rocketed to the top of my must see lists and I think has the potential to one of the most exciting films of the year.

Snatched

Now I recognise that this isn’t exactly an award show contender but I love Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer and the idea of them playing a mother, daughter duo who get kidnapped on a holiday sounds like music to my guilty pleasure loving ears. Trainwreck was one of my favourite films of 2015 for how intelligently funny it was and Goldie Hawn is comedy royalty thanks to classics like First Wives Club and Overboard so I have high hopes that this film will be one of those rare comedies that only come along once or twice a year that is genuinely funny.

Rock That Body

Speaking of comedies I’m hoping that this’ll be the second rarity this year as it’s packed with some of the best comedic actors of the moment Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Ty Burrell, Ilana Glazer and Jillian Bell. Five college friends reunite for a hen party weekend but their celebrations are put on hold when their plan to hire a male stripper doesn’t quite go as expected. There’s not much to go on yet aside from the odd obscured set picture but once again the cast and plot alone have me sold and it’s promising to see a studio continuing to produce female-centric comedies.

Song to Song (Previously know as Weightless)

Terrance Malik’s latest film has been in the works for years and with an incredible A-List cast of Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett it has been on almost every movie buff’s horizon for the past year. Set against the music scene in Austin, Texas it revolves around two intersecting love stories and their struggles and betrayals in their search for success. I can’t say I’ve really been a fan of Malick’s previous endeavours but I’m really looking forward to this one as it seems like a slight change of direction, and considering the mixed reviews of his previous films I’m intrigued to see how this one turns out.

Submergence

Alicia Vikander looks set to continue her domination of our screens this year with three films coming out but it’s this one with James McAvoy that I’m most looking forward to. As James More (McAvoy) find himself captured by Jihadists, Danielle Flinders (Vikander) is about to embark on a submersive dive down to the ocean floor. In their confines they reflect back on the previous Christmas and their chance encounter which led to an intense and enduring romance. Due to the quality of the actors I’m thinking this will be more that your average romance film and I’m really looking forward to it.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Based on the story by Neil Gaiman it’s about an alien who on a tour of the galaxy, breaks away from her group and meets two teenagers from the most dangerous place in the universe, Croydon. This is the second Elle Fanning/Nicole Kidman collaboration on this list and from the initial set pictures, as well as Neil Gaiman providing the story this looks to be one of the most inventive, not to mention weirdest entries on this list and probably of this year.

Free Fire

High Rise was one of the most interesting films I saw last year and left me eager to see Ben Wheatley’s next project, and with a cast as strong as this one it was almost certainly going to make it’s way onto this list. When a gang of criminals meet up to trade arms a disagreement turns it into a full-on shootout. It so far has an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes which is usually a sure fire sign of a good thing to come and with Cillian Murphy, Brie Larson, Armie Hammer and Sharlto Copley to name a few, this looks like one of the surest bets this year.

Terminal

There’s very little to go on for this except that it stars and is produced by Margot Robbie and tells the story of two hit-men who embark on a high stakes mission for a mysterious employer and encounter Anne (Robbie) along the way and realise there’s more to her than initially appears. That’s it for information aside from a very intriguing and ominous photo of Margot Robbie as featured. I know it’s ridiculous to be pumped for a film from a photo alone, but still, damn!

Mute

The penultimate film on this list is Duncan Jones’ latest offering which will hopefully makeup for the frankly pretty dire World of Warcraft. For his latest film he’s chosen to return to his science fiction routes of Source Code and Moon, with Mute. Set in a Blade Runner-esque Berlin in 2052 we follow mute bartender Leo (Alexander Skarsgård) who sets out to find his girlfriend Naadirah when she disappears. From the initial photos it’s obvious that Jones has created a neon, seedy underbelly of a city, and with the much anticipated Blade Runner sequel also out this year it’ll be very interesting to see how each fare, especially as Jones’ offering will be premiering on Netflix.

Ghost in the Shell/Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 

I know this is cheating but as I tried to restrict myself to 15 entries on this list I found I couldn’t whittle them down and seeing as they’re both a little similar I decided to hell with it, I’d cheat. Both of these films are set in a space-age future with Scarlett Johansson starring as a cyborg counter-cyberterrorist in a futuristic Japan in Ghost in the Shell, whilst Valerian and his partner Laureline are space and time agents responsible for maintaining order throughout the universe. Both are leaving people a little hesistant, what with Ghost in the Shell’s controversial casting and die hard fan base and with Cara Delevinge as Valerian’s leading lady and her less than stellar screen debuts so far people are questioning whether she’ll be able to dually carry such a big film. Either way there’s enough from both initial trailers to pique my interest I just hope that my doubts turn out to be unfounded.

September Favourites

Finally I’ve got round to doing another favourites post! I think this is one of the best times of the year for favourites posts as the transition from Summer to Autumn is perfect for trying new things, so I thought I’d do a round up of some of the things that have been changing my life for the past month.

Thisworks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Although I’m lucky that I’ve never suffered deeply from sleep problems, I’ve recently found it harder to wind down in the evenings since starting work full-time and this has been a life saver. A natural combination of Camomile, Lavender and Vetivert it smells incredibly comforting, and I’ve found that by spraying it on my pillow before I get ready for bed creates a really relaxing routine. Not to mention that by inhaling the scent as I go to sleep has left me having better quality of sleep and feeling a million times more refreshed in the morning.

Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream

Not the most glamorous entry on the list this month but with my move to full-time work I’ve been enjoying any little pamper time I have. In true Burt’s Bees form it’s amazingly moisturising and unlike other foot creams I’ve used. It’s not sticky like others plus the coconut scent smells amazing and makes application feel incredibly indulgent.

Cinnamon, Fig and Oak Candle

This is one I picked up in New York last year but it the flavours meant it just didn’t feel right burning it in Summer. It’s the perfect mix of Autumnal scents that combined provide a perfect warming, Wintery smell to any room, and it is one I’ve been burning regularly to get me into the seasonal mood.

Paris Street Style

I received this as a thank you gift from the lovely girls at The Blogger’s Market but up till now I haven’t been able to put it to the use it deserves. In my attempt to create something resembling a capsule wardrobe for Winter this has been invaluable for providing inspiration and advice for classic pieces to buy that will work all season long. Plus did I mention the pictures are really preeeetty.

Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Cherry

I’ve been really loving Burt’s Bees this month, can you tell? This lip shimmer is something that I was given as a gift, and considering I’ve never tried any of their coloured lip products before I was blown away! The pigment is amazing for a lip balm and its lasting power is really impressive, plus it does the Burt’s Bees name proud in providing a huge amount of moisture. It’s great Winter prep for those like me who need some moisture on their lips but also can’t live without a pop of colour. Now to collect the rest…

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation

I rediscovered this recently in my makeup stash and I’d forgotten just how much I loved it. Now Make Up For Ever is available in Debenhams I thought I’d make a repurchase as the range of colours available is brilliant, and it’s the perfect consistency for me in that it’s a medium to full coverage formula, which is buildable yet feels light on the skin. I’d definitely recommend a primer beforehand, but it’s got fantastic staying power so that I find myself needing minimal touch ups during the day. Basically it’s a win win!

Travelling

Recently with day trips to places like Brighton and Lincoln I’ve been realising how much of the UK I haven’t seen, so I’ve been making plans to change that! I’ve never really been a fan of day trips before but I’ve realised that with a little planning they’re perfect for a kind of ‘best bits’ style holiday, so I’ve made the resolution to travel more in the next few months starting with Manchester for Halloween! So wish me luck and I’ll be sure to keep you updated with how it goes.

I hope you liked this collection of my favourites this month and it gave you some ideas of a few new things to try, and please share with me what you’ve been loving this month too!.

A Day In Brighton

For years I have been seeing hundreds of posts and videos of bloggers raving about Brighton, not to mention the hundreds of beautiful instagrams taken of it. As a result it has long been number one on my list of must-go places in the UK, so of course when the chance came for a brief day trip I jumped at the chance! I thought it’d make a nice beginners guide to Brighton and give me a chance to share with you the best places I managed to stumble upon during my day.

 

Mange Tout

This was one that came highly recommended by pretty much every blogger who’s written about Brighton, and when we turned the corner from the car park to see it opposite I knew it was fate. With a varied yet simple, fresh menu it ticks every box and was the perfect brunch fix. Not to mention it has some of the best coffee I’ve ever had which was served with some delicious homemade meringues! This is the perfect option for the pickiest of friends not to mention those who like things a little on the healthier side, all in all putting our trip off to a great start.

 

Magazine

This for me was literally the stuff dreams are made of, a shop dedicated to magazines! This is the hardcore stuff though, no Grazia or Elle to be found here, only slightly obscure yet beautifully made magazines covering everything from fashion to film. Some of them are more like books than conventional magazines, and although I finally manage to whittle it down to one (trust me it took a while) I could have easily left with half the store. Whether or not you’re a magazine obsessive like me I cannot recommend it enough even if just to look and try something new!

 

The Flour Pot

By this point we’d done enough walking that we were ready for another snack so as soon as I saw The Flour Pot bakery I knew that it was the answer to our prayers. This was another one I’d seen highly recommended by multiple bloggers so I had to pop it and grab a few treats for later. There was an amazing of variety of both savoury and sweet treats and a great gluten-free selection as well (which in hindsight I can thoroughly recommend as some of the best coeliac bakery products I’ve had).

 

Bert’s Homestore

This is one for those who love all things home, Bert’s has everything from baking supplies to decorations, to toys. It’s one of those places that is impossible to leave without at least a little something, not to mention it’s just a lovely place to look around while you’re reminded of all the things you don’t need but really want. I am so distraught that these stores are only in Brighton, but it’s probably better for my bank account.

 

Edited

After Bert’s I was definitely in the homeware mood and Edited was perfect to give me that fix. It’s like a combination of all the coolest stuff you’d find on Etsy all in one place. With a brilliant mix of the quaint and quirky there’s something for every style, and left me really wishing that I could fit one of those giant ice cream cushions in the car with me.

 

Brighton Pier

One of the last places we managed to hit is probably one of the most famous places in Brighton, the beach! It is one of the most picturesque beaches so I couldn’t resist having a ride on the merry-go-round and a go on a couple of the arcade games while I was there. A must have for anyone visiting, it was the perfect way to reflect on the events of the day while enjoying the picturesque scenery. Plus it’s a great place to visit if you’re a big kid like me and can’t resist a ride or two.

 

The Brighton Pavilion

This is a bit of a cheaty one as we didn’t actually manage to go inside because they were renovating, but the gardens alone were worth the visit. The building itself is so stunning I can’t wait to come back and see the inside, but for the meantime I was perfectly content to wander around the grounds and take some pictures. It was definitely the perfect way to end my first trip to Brighton.

I hope you enjoyed this post and it hopefully gave you a few ideas of where to go if you’ve never been to Brighton before. I enjoyed it so much I’m thinking of doing some more “In a Day” guides, so let me know if you’d like to see some more of them and where I should go next. Also please let me know your favourite places in Brighton too as I’m already compiling a list of where to go for next time!

Bill’s, Bill’s, Bill’s (but the good kind)

If you’ve watched any UK youtuber’s vlogs recently you’ll see there’s a link between them all, and that is they all seem to regularly visit a place called Bill’s. Until I’d watched a Zoella vlog I had never even heard …

Time For Family

Last Sunday before I made the slog back to university and immersed myself back into the life of books, essays and lectures I had just enough time for one last family dinner before I left. And what a dinner it was.

I am exceptionally lucky that my home is in the lovely Hertfordshire and we are spoilt for choice when it comes to lovely places to eat, but this time we went for the firm favourite of Hermitage Road. The restaurant which is a converted music concert hall is hidden away up a tiny average looking entrance and winding staircase, But when you enter it leads into a massive light filled space which is the epitome of “shabby chic” providing the perfect background for a special occasion or casual breakfast.

They offer a special Sunday menu which offers the typical roast dinner options, but I chose instead to go for the surf and turf which came with some of the biggest prawns I’ve ever seen, not to mention a pretty great steak.

After thinking I couldn’t possibly eat anymore they brought the dessert menu out which is my ultimate weakness, so I couldn’t help but give in to a dark chocolate and salted caramel mousse with hazelnut brittle. I mean come on even the sound of it is making me drool.

The staff were so lovely and accomodating and as we finished the dinner with a celebratory bottle of champagne, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed at how full and content and loved I felt. Soppy I know. After walking out with the high that only comes after a great meal, it further deepened my love for the place and if you’re in the area I highly recommend it!