5 to 7 (2015) Movie review: A Modern Day Classic 10/10

It’s been a few weeks since I saw this film but I can recall the dialogue & style of the film like it was yesterday.

The film is about a struggling writer who makes an excuse to talk to a beautiful women,what follows is a slow dance in the dark to discover if these two strangers have more in common than just sexual attraction.

I am in love with this film,it’s so unusual now day’s that a romantic film can make you feel anything for the plot or the lead characters,this movie does both with ease.

(Spoiler alert)

The title will probably give the plot away for people who have spent much time in France but for me I have never heard about the idea of having an open 5 to 7 relationship outside of marriage,the idea sounds morally wrong but as the film goes on I found myself swaying on both sides of the debate,added to this the romance blossoming around the story is enough to make you reflect on your own love life & smile within at the very prospect of asking your partner if he/she would entertain both of you having a fling between the hours of 5 to 7.

The concept is interesting but in no way does this become the shining reason to see the film,the writing & the acting are the reason,each character has depth and sincerity that will make you laugh,cry & breathe a sense satisfaction.

I am sure if this film was to become a reality for my life, my wife would have a fantastic new lover & I would end up in a coffee shop reading the sports section between the hours of 5 to 7.

10/10

KO

Has Ebay lost it’s shine?, thousands of sellers looking for alternative…

Let me start by saying that I fell in love with Ebay several years ago, I accidentally started a side business for myself after coming across a few items that I knew I could get a decent profit for if I was to sell them online, as a result I sold thousands of items, and made a healthy profit margin of around 30% when you take out all of their fee’s, in money terms I was making an extra £800 a month for doing very little, I would buy from one online outlet and get them to send it to the buyer on Ebay.

I had a 100% feedback, then in one week I had a customer claim that the item I sent was broke on arrival, even though I offered him a full refund and a replacement I was given a negative report, these things can happen but then Ebay told me that they would be keeping any future money I received for up to 21 days, this obviously ends my business as I needed the initial payment to pay for the goods to be sent, added to this I was clearing £2/300  a week, if you multiply this by the millions of people using Ebay and they have a nice little interest building up in their account that previously wasn’t there, this angered me greatly, they have the power to collect any money paid out to you, or as Paypal call it reverse the payment at a later date so why would Ebay now insist on keeping hold of hundreds of thousands of people’s money if it wasn’t for making money out of the very people who create all the revenue in the first place, if there is nothing to sell there is nothing to buy!

I had several robotic email conversations with Ebay, who always responded with a scripted response that made very little sense to anyone living on this planet which I am sure was it’s purpose.

I very rarely use Ebay now, I haven’t sold anything on there for years after my experience with them, I did buy a pair of jeans from a company on Ebay for my two-year old child, after a month my son came running into the room with blood all over his face, we were clueless about how this had happened until we found the jeans purchased from Ebay and noticed one of the buttons had fallen off and underneath there was a harsh sharp piece of metal that looked a lot like a mini knife, I am guessing these jeans were made in China and had limited safety checks for things like this, I contacted Ebay, they were not concerned for my sons nice new scar but did say they could probably refund my money that I had paid for the brand new jeans, I told them they were missing the point with regards to the danger that lay ahead for future customers of this company that were selling these cheap knock offs, I said I wish to contact the company direct, they refused to give a postal address, they told me that I would have to contact their head office in Luxemburg via post if I wanted to complain about the transaction or this company, they said sending an email was not possible and that it had to be done via post and sent to another country altogether, this for me is Ebay just trying to fob the buyer off , we live in 2014 and you can pretty much send anything on email nowadays apart from a serious complaint to Ebay.

So I have been screwed not only as a buyer but also as a seller, here are several other accounts of people’s experiences on Ebay….

 

discount-petmart-usa

(2337 ) View Listings

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Posts: 1

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Registered: ‎07-08-2008

Here’s one for you… I had a PREMIUM store, which is $59.95 on a yearly subscription. Because I have a below standard rating in GLOBAL (not U.S.) I have a listing limitation on my account. SO, I can’t use the Premium store anymore, it’s pointless. After 2 hours on the phone explaining why the guy who sent a BROKEN, CHEWED up system back to me should NOT count against me (and that would take me out of lower status)… I was told NO, and that I would be charged $82 to cancel my Premium store since my year wasn’t up. So, let me get this straight… I was not backed up by eBay on a defective return. Had I been, I would NOT be in lower standing. I am FORCED to closed my Premium store due to the limitations, but will be CHARGED an early termination fee. Wow… no really. After 14+ years as a seller on eBay, I am just floored. Millions of dollars of transactions and I get a big FYOU from eBay. So, yeah. I’m out as soon as I can get free.

 

stellarbowler

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Posts: 8

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Registered: ‎10-27-2007

in reply to mca19

‎09-24-2014 11:28 PM

One “defective” transaction in more than 1200 last week (USPS failed to deliver a single baseball card, a $25 item). Seller never contacted me. Tracking showed it stalled in delivery at his post office. I should have acted sooner than I did, but nonetheless I feel I was unfairly blamed by eBay for circumstances beyond my control. I refunded the seller his money; he had opened a claim without contacting me. He still never responded to my query as to why. Goodbye, eBay. I sincerely hope your company fails because you have just punished one great seller.

 

audioguise

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Posts: 8

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Registered: ‎11-11-2005

in reply to kansas_gal06

‎09-19-2014 07:02 AM

I have sold on ebay for over a decade and have seen ebay from the “glory days” through it’s current situation. I also have invested thousands in inventory that I’m just sitting on now becasue I don’t want to give it away to some buyer on ebay that has figured out PayPal’s “FREE ITEMS—buyer protection program.” I have had a good run on ebay and ebay put my daughter through college, but that’s all changed now. Ebay is a very bizzare experience for the seller compared to what it once was.

 

cometshredder

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Registered: ‎09-11-2014

in reply to mca19

‎09-11-2014 08:48 PM – last edited on ‎09-12-2014 06:45 PM by hawk_s

eBay lost its ways. I hope the founder is seeing this and fire all the execs that is ruining brand. Also, paypal’s days are numbered with apple pay!

 

broadny

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Posts: 3

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Registered: ‎01-14-2009

in reply to mca19

‎08-22-2014 04:46 PM

The issue is that eBay is not run by principled men. It’s run by people who have no concern or desire beyond making money for themselves.  The fact is, there are tons of places to buy things.  There are very few places to sell.  Therefore, it makes sense (from a purely financial standpoint) for eBay to tilt the scales in favor of the buyers. Why wouldn’t they? Buyers can go elsewhere. Sellers can’t.

 

Sex Tape (2014) Movie Review – A patronizing film with no chemistry!

This movie patronizes the majority of its audience and alienates the rest, I remember before I got married and had kids, I would always see films that represented young parents and feel quite nauseous, there seemed something quite depressing about their plight that I could not relate to, now I have kids and have slept what feels like a million sleepless nights, I feel patronized by these type of films, but more so in this film.

It’s a film about how a couples sex drive disappears when they have a couple of kids, you never really see any relationship between the parents and the kids so from the off you don’t really believe that Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel are parents, added to this they don’t seem like a convincing couple, I don’t buy that they like each other, never mind love each other, there is no on screen chemistry, which leaves you with a lot of over the top reactions.

Plot, they make a porn film that gets shared with all their friends and family. #YAWN!!!!!!!!

3/10

KO

22 Jump Street (2014) Movie Review – Zero Jump in this Street!

When 21 Jump street was released I thought I would hate it, but there was something about Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s relationship that had great comedy chemistry.

So onto the sequel in the form of 22 Jump Street, I pre warned my cheeks for laughing but no real warning was necessary, there were moments throughout that were mildly amusing but in general this version did not have the same bite that the original delivered.

In the first film there was an innocence to both characters, Jonah was a bit of a loser while Tatum was a dick, both characters were likeable in their own way, it was very easy to enjoy the journey of the film, added to this it was flowing in satire.

This is not on show in 22 Jump Street, both guys have no journey to go on, Tatum flirts with being a pro footballer while Jonah falls for another girl, there is a nice montage of mick tacking follow-up films when the credits arrive when the film has finished, I wish the film was leaning more to these jokes rather than just a poor imitation of the first film.

6/10

KO

Facts about the film

Kurt Russell mentioned that his son Wyatt turned down a role for The Hunger Games sequels to star in 22 Jump Street.

During the parents weekend luncheon, Mrs. Dickson (Queen Latifah) mentions that she’s “straight outta Compton,” paying homage to the 1988 album that put Ice Cube (Captain Dickson) and his hip hop group N.W.A on the map.

 

Frank (2014) Movie Review; This Movie made me smile throughout!

 

As the title reads, this movie made me smile for several reasons, the story is bizarre without being erratic, added to this it’s just good fun throughout.

Frank is the lead singer of a very strange band, there is nothing conventional about any member of the band, but it has to be said that Frank stands out more than the rest, he has a huge plastic head, he refuses to ever remove this mask which creates a great deal of mystery and inner giggles.

When a wannabe star gets the chance to join the band he soon finds out things are stranger than first feared.

I don’t really want to say anymore as I think it will spoil what was a joy of a movie for me, it is strange, but in a good way in my opinion.

As a major plus the bands music actually starts to become likable near the end which is hard to believe when you first hear it.

8/10

KO

 

Gods Pocket (2014) Movie Review; Philip Seymour Hoffman!!!

I was looking forward to this film based purely on the fact that Philip Seymour Hoffman was in it, and knowing that it is one of the last times I would enjoy his superb acting. ( For those not in the know, he died this year)

The fact that film was good was an added bonus, it’s based in a working class neighbourhood, all the main characters interchange well without leaving you with that contrived feeling, the story is quite shocking but I got my thrills from the layered characters more than I did from the story.

It’s a smart film, the acting is first class and I can’t think of anyone on-screen who brought the quality down, with that said, it’s not the type of film that you are going to be in a rush to see again, it’s very life-like which is a testament to the cast, but in turn it feels depressing, nothing wrong with this but this should give you an insight into what you are letting yourself in for.

 

7/10

KO

Life of Crime (2014) Movie Review; A smart crime movie with foreplay!

I enjoyed this movie, it’s about two friends who plan a kidnapping, now you may say this has been done before and I wouldn’t argue with you but they bring a bit of foreplay into this storyline, each avenue is explored with regards to what if this, this and this happens, it’s very enjoyable to witness the plan coming together.

In the mean time the unsuspecting victim Jennifer Aniston delivers nicely, I have slated her in the past for playing the same character since friends but I have to tip my cap to her in this film, she is believable and likeable without being anything like her Friends character.

Tim Robbins also makes an appearance, I think everybody see’s him as their favourite third actor based on Shawshank, it is possibly the most over watched film out there but there is no denying its class, nice to see him in something new and clever.

Mos Def and John Hawke’s play the two leads who fail to show any hint of ego between them which results in instant likeability and a willingness to support and root for them throughout.

8/10

KO

Need help, looking for a french silent film ???????

I saw this film on TV several years ago, I am guessing it was made no sooner than the 90’s and no later than the early 2000’s.

It was a silent film in colour, it was also set in a train station and had  interesting and quirky music playing in the background, there was a man who walks in the station and sits in the only space available in the waiting area, he starts to look at the people opposite him who are sitting on a bench waiting for their train to come in, he spots an attractive lady in a beautiful dress and tries his best to catch her gaze, when he does he then attempts to seduce her by eye contact to the dismay of all the other passengers sitting beside him.

Black comedy.

I know it’s not a lot to go on but I was so impressed with this film, I am just shocked that it has never appeared on TV or been spoken about since, if any french film fans could think back and help out I would be grateful, the man I am referring to was probably in his 40’s / 50’s and was wearing a business suit and was well-groomed.

KO

Are You Here (2014) Movie Review; Generic pay check for Zak & Owen!

I am fond of Zak Galifianakis and Owen Wilson but this film is as generic as an old ladies wallpaper.

Zak plays the wild and eccentric character AGAIN !!! and Owen plays the cheeky charmer with the wonky nose, now I know he can’t help the nose placement but please guys, make an effort to create or be part of something original and smart, to some degree.

Zak’s Dad dies and he is called back to his small town to sort the families affairs out, only issue here is the story and the characters seem very unbelievable, sometimes when characters are off the wall this can create an eccentric, funny parody of life, not so with this movie, it kind of feels like the director was torn between a quirky independent movie and a commercial successful movie that aims to please everyone.

Wait til you have nothing to do before you put yourself out for this film.

4/10

KO

Blended (2014) Movie Review; A predictable generic film!

I am a fan of Adam Sandler, mainly his early work but I held out high hopes for this film, with his old friend Draw Barrymore included in the cast to bring back some of that chemistry witnessed in ”The Wedding Singer” the vibe of the film was looking good.

The start of the film begins well, the concept seems original, but it’s not long before the movie follows the usual predictable path, Adam will never be as successful as Eddie Murphy but they both seem to be churning out the same crap safe films, the danger in their performance seems lost.

Would be nice if Sandler found or created some original scripts, every chance his gets to embarrass his lead characters he takes it, reference the car parachute scene…..

On a positive note I did enjoy the fleeting appearances of Terry Crews, he is larger than life on several levels.

5/10

KO