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I had serious doubts about this film from the second I sat down to watch it. From the outset it’s clear that this film is going to follow the same line that the first film did with very little variation, but stick with it because directors Lord and Miller will show you how good sequels can be.

Following their ‘success’ in the 21 Jump Street program, Schmidt and Jenko are back with a new assignment – they’re going to college. Their job is to find the supplier of a new drug, WHYPHY (pronounced ‘wifi’), which is spreading quickly across campus and has caused the death of a student already. The plot line is pretty much exactly the same as its precursor, 21 Jump Street, except the explosions are bigger and the jokes are funnier.

Neither Jenko nor Schmidt have matured in the slightest since their first assignment, which allows Channing Tatum and Noah Hill to be as silly as they like. Tatum shows off his character’s fearless and foolish attitude, scaling walls, jumping off buildings, getting shot (yes, again), whilst Hill reminds us what it’s like to be desperately unfit and uncoordinated. All things considered, Schmidt and Jenko shouldn’t really be friends and yet they have what is possibly the most beautiful bromance that Hollywood has ever offered us. This pair works so well together with their characters’ personalities each bringing something different to the table, but it’s when the two are combined that the real magic happens. The slight twist in this film is that Jenko and Schmidt’s relationship starts to wane under the pressure of the social hierarchy at college, which just makes it all the more obvious that this pair should never be apart.

It’s not just Tatum and Hill providing comedy gold, but the impressive supporting cast as well. We see much more of Ice Cube than in the previous film and there’s one particularly memorable scene involving green beans and a very, very angry Ice Cube. I can’t say more without revealing this film’s best moment so you’ll have to see it yourself to find out more. If that doesn’t tempt you then Jillian Bell’s rendition of a vicious Barbie doll sure as hell should.

There are numerous ‘in-jokes’ throughout the film which gives the impression that script writer Michael Bachall is having his fun with us. These references are subtly blended into this film in such a way that you’re not sure whether it really is Bachall talking directly to us, but it is. This film doesn’t take itself very seriously, but it sticks to know what it’s best at and repeats. The jokes are not forced in the slightest and this film simply oozes effortless comedy value. The jokes are somewhat repetitive, but miraculously, this doesn’t grate on you, they just get funnier every time. There were a few occasions where I couldn’t help but massively cringe at the script but these moments were rare and infrequent.

For those of you who are fans of the first film but are afraid of 22 Jump Street ruining your fond memories of Schmidt and Jenko, give this film a shot – you wont regret it. Remodelling the exact same story is difficult, but rest assured that Lord and Miller have outdone themselves once again - this isn’t anything like the disappointment that was The Hangover Part II (and Part III for that matter).

Make sure you stay until the very end of the film where there’s a series of mock scenarios for future films, up until around 41 Jump Street – the perfect end to this smashing action-comedy.

Title: The Apple Tart of Hope

Author: Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Orion Children's Books

Publication Date: 5th June 2014

Goodreads Summary: Oscar Dunleavy, who used to make the world's most perfect apple tarts, is missing, presumed dead. No-one seems too surprised, except for Meg, his best friend, and his little brother Stevie. Surrounded by grief and confusion, Meg and Stevie are determined to find out what happened to Oscar, and together they learn about loyalty and friendship and the power of never giving up hope. The second sensational novel from Irish author, Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, following her debut, BACK TO BLACKBRICK, perfect for fans of Annabel Pitcher and Siobhan Dowd.

{ Review }

The Apple Tart of Hope is a beautifully sweet read that leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It's a story of friendship, love and hope. Following the disappearance of Oscar Dunleavy, one of the most loved boys at school, Meg, his best friend, flys back to Ireland from New Zealand. Having been away from several months, Meg doesn't understand what could've driven Oscar to ride his bike off the cliff. Sensing that something isn't quite right, Meg and Oscar's younger brother Stevie set off to find out what really happened to Oscar and what led to his disappearance.

Told from the alternating perspective of both Oscar and Meg, the pair reminisce about the six months after Meg's parents dragged her off to New Zealand. It's curious how much of a connection you can feel between the two characters even though the reader doesn't see the pair together in the present-time and can only read each individual's memories of the other. Reading the thoughts and feelings of both Oscar and Meg gives the reader an immediate connection to both of them. They're the sort of people that you wish you knew and were friends with in real life. Both of them seem like real people and the author seems to have captured the thoughts of both the teenage boy and girl perfectly in her characters. I don't think the ages of either characters is explicitly mentioned which means that the characters could be teenagers of any age really but that makes this story even better - it is both ageless and timeless.

This story and the writing is so simple and yet so beautiful. There are a few twists and turns in the story but for the most part I just meandered my way through this story. Whilst this film was a lovely read, it does also highlight the social pressure that teenagers are under at high school and how it can all go very wrong, very quickly. This story isn't really what you'd call 'predictable', but it's not particularly hard to guess what the outcome will be either. However, this story isn't about the ending, it's about the journey. You learn the true meaning of friendship and how you should never give up hope because, as the book cover says, "there's always a crumb left".

I wish I could find out more about Oscar, Meg and their world, but one of the best things about this book is that it is so short and sweet. Nothing about this book is superfluous; each and every word is on point and hits you right in the middle of the chest. If you're a fan of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park then I think you'd enjoy this tale as well. This book is an unexpected gem and I would absolutely recommend it to everyone, old or young, for it is a thoroughly heart-warming tale with a few life lessons thrown in too.

*Many thanks to Orion Children's Books for providing me with a review copy. All opinions are my own.

First published on The Oxford Student, see original here.

Maleficent is Disney’s latest attempt at a live action reboot, retelling the tale of the 1969 classic, Sleeping Beauty. This adaption focuses on the story’s antagonist, Maleficent, portraying her as the misunderstood villain. We are first introduced to her as a beautiful and sweet little faerie, but Maleficent grows up to be betrayed by Stefan, the man she loves, who, blinded by his greed, cuts off her wings in order to be named as the King’s successor. Heartbroken and consumed by hate, Maleficent turns to a life of revenge, placing an irrevocable curse upon Stefan’s new born daughter to prick her finger on a spindle the night before her sixteenth birthday, sending her into a deep death-like slumber that only true love’s kiss can awaken her from.

Maleficent seems unsure of what it is trying to be. Is it a tale for children or older audiences? Is it a dark tale or a comedy? Is it the story of revenge or redemption? This film didn’t even have itself figured out so what hope did I, as the viewer, have? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the mixing of genres but there’s little integration here, just the slightly painful clashing of genres. Thus, whilst there are some very good parts to the film, there are also many not-so-good parts, which means that overall this film leaves you with the bitter taste of unfulfilled potential. There was even what seemed to be a revival of Angelina Jolie as Catwoman in her iconic black spandex one piece towards the end. Very confusing.

This lack of direction becomes especially apparent at the end of the film when the plot nosedives to altogether predictable and unimaginative finale. The film had established itself as what seemed to be a unique take on an old classic, but then it suddenly veered back towards the typical trite scenes that you’d expect from the modern Disney film. The minute that the attention is diverted away from Jolie’s Maleficent and towards Fanning’s Aurora, the film starts its slow and painful descent to a clichéd ending. This is not a reflection of Elle Fanning’s acting, but rather an unoriginal and bland script throughout the entire middle section of the film in which we basically just watch Maleficent follow Aurora around through the woods.

The film’s visual effects are rather impressive with some stunning scenery, beautiful, magical creatures and fiery action sequences. However, it is Angelina Jolie’s performance as Maleficent that is undoubtedly this film’s saving grace. She holds this film together and it is a shame that the way in which the plot develops means that she cannot continue to showcase her abilities. Maleficent is a complex character and the viewer feels an inexplicable sense of attachment to her, rather than the film itself, which is all down to Jolie.

All in all, I must admit that this film is considerably better than critics would have you believe, but that’s not to say that there aren’t some serious flaws in it too. This film wavers between really good and really bad and if it weren’t for the numerous juxtapositions in tone and genre, then this film would have been great. I suspect that kids will love this film whilst the unfortunate adults accompanying them will most likely forget that Disney ever tried to remake Sleeping Beauty.

I've recently become more and more interested in watching documentaries (and by that I mean, finding more and more ways to procrastinate) so I've turned to Netflix and am slowly making my way through everything they've got on here.

Food, Inc. is about how your food is made and how it makes it onto the supermarket shelves and then into your meals. The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than it has in the last 10,000. This is due to the rise of genetically modified crops and numerous other scientific discoveries that have led to the easy mass-production of food. In America, only a handful of companies control the food system and Food, Inc. reveals just how much power these corporations have and how they exert their power over the American consumer.

I've heard of and watched a few videos on what really happens in the food industry in terms of animal cruelty etc. but Food, Inc shows you how the food industry in America is closely tied to the government which seems to care little about the what its citizens are putting in their bodies. With problems such as obesity and diabetes on the rise in numerous countries, not just the US, it is time to make a change and watching Food, Inc. is a step in the right direction. That said, there are also some pretty shocking clips about how the animals are treated that are likely to be found distressing by many. At numerous times during this documentary, I found myself with my mouth agape in horror as I watched the treatment of some animals.

Food, Inc is brilliantly narrated and gives the viewer a detailed insight into the food industry without overloading you with boring facts and statistics. Of course, there are lots of statistics included, most of which are utterly shocking; however, this documentary seems to be an appeal to human nature rather than a report. This documentary subtly urges you to think about what it is that you're eating everyday whilst also promoting healthy eating. They use a wide variety of case studies to demonstrate what's going on and numerous products are discussed, though quite a lot of this documentary is focussed on the meat industry in particular. There are interviews with real life farmers and consumers who have had to deal with the rise of the massive corporations that currently dominate the American food industry.

All in all, Food Inc. is a shocking look at the reality of the American food industry and if you're currently living in America then you need to see this to understand what is really going on around you. Humans eat, on average, three meals a day, so that's three times a day you're filling your body with food, and yet I'm willing to bet that the majority of you don't know where your food really comes from. Food, Inc. will help you to understand the disastrous effects that this corrupt industry could have on both the environment and the health of those that consume it. The poor ethics of the transnational companies governing the US food industry are revealed and this documentary has definitely made a big impact on me and the way I will view food in the future. This is a rare gem that has probably changed my life for the better. It is informative and moving and I would urge everyone, particularly US citizens, to watch this as soon as possible.

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FILM REVIEW: 22 Jump Street

BOOK REVIEW: The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

FILM REVIEW: Maleficent

FILM REVIEW: Food, Inc.

APP REVIEW: Tunnelbear - A unique VPN service