Friday 21 September 2012

Hello, Letterboxd

I've been struggling over whether or not to write this post for a little while now. Part of me wants the world to hear about my latest discovery so it can become a truly spectacular film community. The other part is fearful of the inevitable effects an influx of the dreaded Internet youth will bring out. I'm directly referring to the fateful day when Twilights average rating of two stars shoots up to and average rating of five stars. Chilling, isn't it?

Nonetheless, here I go. Letterboxd.

Letterboxd is possibly one of the most exciting and enjoyable websites I've stumbled upon in recent times. At its core, the website is a film database which allows users keep track of ever film they have ever seen. What makes Letterboxd even more enjoyable though is the numerous functions it has on offer. You can not only log a film that you have seen, you can rate it, like it, review it and input the date that you watched it in order to build up a film diary.

As much as I love the concept of having a single spot where I can keep track of ever film I've watched, the community aspects of the site truly elevate it. Being able to view every film a friend has watched means that you are instantly able to get a verdict on a film you've wanted to see from someone you trust, as well as the competitive aspect of seeing who among your friend group has watched the most films.


The site offers of plenty of other features, such as the ability to build a Watchlist (long gone are the days of forgetting what the film you wanted to see was called, now you can add it to your Watchlist instantly). Users can also compile lists of favourite films, least favourites or of any other topic they can come up with. The homepage is also constantly updating with currently popular films, friends recent veiwings and an assortment of recent reviews, so you will be exposed to an array of new titles almost every time you check the site.

I genuinely love this website, and cannot be happier to have stumbled upon it through dumb-luck on Twitter. As a film student this site obviously carries immediate pros for myself, but I know it is a website any film lover can gain something from. The site is currently in its beta stage and by the looks of their Twitter account the team are thankfully working on a phone app.

I would recommend this website to absolutely anyone with a passion for film, there is just so much to gain from it, especially the incredible moment when you remember an obscure film you watched five years ago that you can add to your films.

You can check out my Letterboxd profile here.

Thursday 13 September 2012

Autumn Wishlist

Burgundy Cropped Belted Mac
£70 - topman.com 
So I saw this Mac while in Liverpool recently and fell in love with it. I already have two, in grey and navy, but genuinely cant find a reason not to get one in burgundy. It's now completely out of stock online and apparently is not stocked at the store that I saw it in. Hopefully it will be there when I next get a chance to go.


Zara Flame Sweatshirt
£25.99 - zara.com
Although I still cannot decide between the black or dark grey on this one, I will eventually be purchasing this 'sweatshirt'. I love the way it hangs and that it's thin and lightweight.  


Zara Leather Gloves With Studs
£25.99 - zara.com
I saw these studded gloves from Zara while in New York and desperately wanted them. I checked the UK site and they had them so decided to put them on hold until I got back. A recent re-watch of Drive has only increased my need for them. Who doesn't love a pair of driving gloves?


River Island Boat Plimsolls
£25 - asos.com
I love these shoes. They're extremely similar to a pair of loafers I've also been eyeing up on asos, but these would definitely get a lot more use. They're out of stock on asos and there is no sign of them on River Islands website so I'm just desperately hoping they resurface soon.


Red Quilted Patch T-shirt
£18 - topman.com
Topshop have turned out a high volume of really nice tees after quite a lull in quality over the past few months. It's been a very long time since I've seen anything I've wanted in their stores but this instantly got my attention. The quilted detailing on the bib looks great in person.


Cream Fairisle Jumper
£38 - topman.com
One of the reasons Autumn/Winter is my favourite time of year is the clothes. I generally layer up my outfits anyways but its obviously necessary during this time of year. This jumper from Topshop is a great print and will definitely be in my wardrobe in time for winter.

I have a vicious tendency to overspend during the autumn/winter period, especially after the initial arrival of a new student card within my wallet, so there's a high chance that I'll be posting about loads more purchases throughout the next few months.


Saturday 1 September 2012

The House Of The Devil


Films about Cults. I have a shaky history with films about Cults. I saw the remake of The Wicker Man a few years back and hated it. I saw the original Wicker Man this year and didn't feel much more. I've seen enough horror films that have started promising and then played the 'twist' cult card for the final act to last me a lifetime. Outside of Rosemary's Baby and Martha Marcy May Marlene I have never enjoyed the depiction of cults in cinema. Outside of Rosemary's Baby and Martha Marcy May Marlene a filmic cult has never managed to scare me even slightly. For these reasons it was at least partially refreshing to see a film open with a title card proclaiming that it would eventually enter cult territory, a warning if you will, allowing me to brace for the inevitable moment where someone gets tied up and bled on.