'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' review

Our memories makes us who we are. You can't change the past.

In one of Jim Carrey’s greatest films, he portrays a heartbroken, shy guy who has just learned that his girlfriend had her memory erased of him in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In the 2004 film directed by Michel Gondry, the nonlinear story of a couple’s relationship and its downfall depicts loss, memory, desire and heartache. One of the quotes from the film that I think represents Eternal is, “I already forget how I used to feel about you.” This line could be from Joel (Jim Carrey) as he decides to get his memory erased of his girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet), on an impulse. During the process, he relives his memories of Clementine and realizes that he does not want to let go off her yet because even through the bad, there was a lot of good.

Memory is very important in the film as it is used as a device. Memory is used as a device because many characters in the film use it for manipulation, self-pain, and something to hold on to/regress on. In Joel and Clementine’s relationship, memory is used as something to hurt each other and to also love each other with. By hurting, Joel uses his old memories of Clementine to hurt her, like her being a cheater or really promiscuous. As payback, Clementine has Joel erased from her memory. When Joel tries to have the same procedure done, during it, he regrets her after remembering all of the love there was.

The director manipulates the viewer's’ sight by making Joel and Clementine’s interactions appear to be fading away every time they are together, like memories. Also, because the memories are from Joel’s point-of-view, they could also be what he thinks his relationship was like, and that the real Clementine might not actually be how he remembered her as. During one scene, where Joel whispers, “this is the last time I saw you” as Clementine is walking around the apartment, gathering her things to leave. She is in one spot and a different one at another time, which shows that the memory is gone very quickly. It leaves Joel with a sense of panic and desperateness and he tries to stop her from leaving.

Overall, as one of my favorite films, it is a great example of a love story that is unconventional. Clementine is a vibrant, seductive, outgoing woman, while Joel is more introverted and soft-spoken. The two of them together makes the audience think that perhaps Clementine and Joel did a good thing with having their memory erased of each other. However, after seeing Joel’s memories of their relationship, changes the viewer’s mind because you can see that Joel truly loved Clementine and their relationship just had some bumps in it like every other one.

'Mulholland Drive' review

If you don’t know who David Lynch is, stop reading now and google him.

David Lynch directed and wrote the 2001 film Mulholland Drive (or Mulholland Dr.) after already having success with his previous films, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and the Twin Peaks television series. For the film Mulholland Drive, it was originally set to be a spin-off based on one of his characters from Twin Peaks. However, executives decided against it. Lynch’s style is very artistically different from most creators. The film’s meaning has been left up for various interpretations, even the cast has no clue what the film truly meant.

Mulholland Drive is about a woman, who after being in a car accident, is left with no memory. In order to figure out what happened to her, she joins forces with an inspiring actress. It’s really difficult to explain the plot of the film because there is so much going on all at once. There is a subplot, a cowboy, a mysterious blue box and doppelgangers? What? In order to explain the film, I have to discuss the dream aspect of the film. The film, in my opinion, is a dream. The aspiring actress, Betty, falls into a deep sleep (not completely sure if it is drug-induced or not) and she embarks on a journey in her dream, in which everything is sort of perfect for her. She has an amazing audition and begins a relationship with the amnesiac, Rita. However, when “Betty” wakes up from her slumber, reality is kicked in and she is actually “Diane” and her lover in her dream is actually her ex-girlfriend, Camilla. Diane is an actress, but not as successful as her ex, Camilla, who has a relationship with her but then later dumps her for her bigshot director, Adam. Diane, who put out a hit on Camilla, because she is angry with her, has to deal with the consequences of her action. Camilla, who is now dead, makes Diane feel completely distraught and because she cannot deal with her actions and the guilt overwhelms her, it leads to her suicide.

The film does an excellent job at exploring identity through the form of doubles. Betty is the ideal version that Diane wants to be and everyone else in her dream state is who she prefers them to be. She manipulates this in her dream and becomes so involved in it, that she nearly loses herself. This is very similar to Lynch’s other film, Inland Empire. The overall message that I believe that Lynch is trying to offer is that as much as you try to change the past or make yourself the perfect version that you want, perfection is not real. He exposes the sad part of relationships and Hollywood. Hollywood can change someone and make them better or worse. It requires good morals and strength in order to stay true to yourself. Diane was unable to face her fears and guilt, which led to her breakdown.

'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Trailer Review

If you're not quite sure who or what the X-Men are, leave this post now, and rent the movie.

Following the events in 2013's 'The Wolverine' and 'X-Men: First Class', characters from the original 'X-Men' film trilogy are reunited with their younger selves to fight a war for the survival of the mutant species across two time periods. A battle that must change the past, to save their future.

Reasons to consider seeing it:

1. New X-Men are recruited! (You just might see some familiar faces)
   • Evan Peters, as some might recognize him in 'American Horror Story', joined the cast as Quicksilver. He's plays a mutant that can (you guessed it) run, talk and does everything with supersonic speed.

   

   In the center is newcomer, Evan Peters as Quicksilver. On the left, Michael Fassbender as Magneto (past), on the right, James McAvoy as Charles Xavier (past)

   • Fan Bingbing appears as Blink, a mutant that can teleport. Keep an eye out for this Chinese actress. She's definitely going to be kicking some major telepathic butt in this film.

     

     Bingbing as Blink

   
   
2. Your old favorites are back!
   • Kitty Pryde, Kitty Pryde, all hail Kitty Pryde! This mutant can go through solid objects and her power allows time travel to happen. She is definitely a key aspect in the film.

     

     Ellen Page returns as Kitty Pryde (left), and on the (right) is new X-Men recruit Bishop

   • Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake aka Iceman returns. Let's hope to see some rekindled romance with Rogue... or Kitty Pryde. 

     

     Iceman returns with a new look?
     
     
     
     

     Although Halle Berry was pregnant during filming, she still manages to pull off a good Storm. She brings back her silver hair and she's ready to go! 

     

     3. Plenty of Man Candy! 

Let's not forget the very hunky Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy (who sports a longer 'do in the film), Nicholas Hoult, Shawn Ashmore and many more are BACK! I'm expecting at least one shirtless Michael Fassbender in this movie.

     4. The new villain is not "new"

• Mutant hunting robots, the Sentinels! These deadly robots are out to destroy the mutant race. Fun Fact: these things were the villain in the 'X-Men' trilogy but they were never shown clearly.
• Bolivar Trask, head of Trask Industries is portrayed by Peter Dinklage. The creator of the Sentinels has appeared in 'X-Men: The Last Stand' and was mentioned in 'The Wolverine'.

  

  Peter Dinklage as the villain Bolivar Trask

Excited to see 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' now?

COMES OUT MAY 23, 2014