Sunday 31 March 2019

What I Watched in March | 2019



Hello there my lovelies! If you follow me on twitter then you'll already know I constantly watch the MTV Teen Mom shows and, of course, how much I love Eastenders - it's the only soap that I watch but other than these shows, here is what else I have been watching this month and my thoughts on what I loved and disliked.

| Call The Midwife | Based on the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer Worth, this drama series is a moving, funny, colourful look at midwifery and family in 1950s East End London. It follows newly qualified midwife Jenny, who joins an eccentric, lovable community of nuns who are nurses at Nonnatus House. Jenny is surprised to find herself at a convent -- she thought she was being sent to a small private hospital -- and is initially daunted by her surroundings, most notably the formidable Sister Evangelina and the unconventional Sister Monica Joan. But Jenny gradually begins to find her way and develops incredible friendships among the nurses, as they are drawn into the lives and homes of the women and families they treat. Every Sunday evening, my beautiful amazing Nan and I would settle down and watch this show but since my Nan passed away last July I thought it hard to watch without her but actually really comforting to do so as well. This season was one of the best they have done and I loved the ending, it really made me tear up. I cannot wait for their Christmas special later this year.

| In The Dark | As DI Helen Weeks grapples with pregnancy, she undertakes a very personal abduction case. The man arrested is married to Helen's childhood best friend, but is he guilty? I'd never heard of this drama until it came up on my recommended on Netflix so thought I would give it a go. It was surprisingly better than I thought it was going to be and I really enjoyed it. The first two episodes tackle a paedophile case and the second two are all about the death of a police officer and a gang. For anyone who loves a good police crime drama, I really recommend checking this one out.

| Abused By My Girlfriend * | This documentary is all about the physical, emotional and mentally abusive relationship of Alex Skeel and his then-girlfriend Jordan - with a lot of the actual disturbing pictures and videos. Alex bravely speaks out in this documentary about how his then-girlfriend abused him and how he was torn down during his time in the relationship, how Jordan was so coercive and controlling in his life, and how he finally put an end to the abuse by speaking to a police officer. Thankfully, Alex is now doing well and is being a wonderful father to his two children. I feel so proud of this amazing man for speaking out about such an important taboo subject. This is something that I feel everyone should watch. - Alisha Valerie.
This program was a horrifying but honest look to a problem often overshadowed. Spousal abuse is a shameful warp of emotions and power that leaves mental scars that can be worse than many physical ones. Abused by my girlfriend was the shocking truth of a woman who degraded the person she loved to that of a pet who she knew would not retaliate and used emotional blackmail and cutting off any support from friends and family to corner the man into submission. It is a story that needs to be told to put a spotlight on abuse of men and to encourage anyone who is suffering to come forward and report any mistreatment of themselves or anyone close they feel is being affected. - Morphilms.

| Three Girls * | Another show that was recommended to me on Netflix, which I found surprisingly good. I'd only ever heard bits about their story in the press and online so watching in full detail what happened shocked me so much. I like that it does give a warning at the beginning about containing sexual abuse and drug use, but I have to admit I couldn't believe what I watched in some parts and how bad it actually was for the girls. I feel so proud of the three girls who spoke out and changed things for the hundreds of girls who were too scared to do so and as for my view on the police, well I am sickened to find out how they covered things up and swept it all under the rug. This is such a great drama and I did really enjoy watching it.

| Unfriended: Dark Web | After finding a laptop, a young man goes online to play a game with five of his good friends where he shows them a mysterious folder that plays disturbing videos of people who appear to be in danger. They then receive an anonymous message that tells them they will all die if they disconnect or call the police. The planned night of fun quickly turns deadly as each user becomes the target of something sinister while the others watch helplessly in terror. I feel like this movie had so much potential and it could have been so good, however, I felt really let down. I wasn't excited when watching it and for it to be classed as a horror movie? Well, there wasn't even any jumps or scares in it. To be honest, it was boring and I felt like I'd wasted over an hour of my life.

| Escape Room | Six adventurous strangers travel to a mysterious building to experience the escape room, where they think they are going to be involved in a game where players compete to solve a series of puzzles to win $10,000. What starts out as seemingly innocent fun soon turns into a living nightmare as the four men and two women discover each room is an elaborate trap that's part of a sadistic game of life or death. I really didn't enjoy this movie at all and I do feel that this movie needs a trigger warning advert at the beginning of it for people who suffer from mental health and anxiety-like myself. I really would not recommend this movie at all.

| Baptiste | The brilliantly talented Tchéky Karyo reprises his role from `The Missing' as never-quite-retired detective Julien Baptiste. Julien is now in Amsterdam, staying with his wife, daughter and son-in-law after the birth of his daughter's first child. Whilst in Amsterdam old flame and who also happens to be Amsterdam's chief of police, asks for his help to help track down a missing woman. Delving into the depths of Amsterdam's dark underworld, Julien finds himself and his family drawn into a mystery that is deeper and more dangerous than he could have realised. I am a massive fan of The Missing series so when this was announced I was so excited to watch it, and it really hasn't disappointed me. I have loved it!

| Malcolm X | This movie is a tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation who hit bottom during his imprisonment in the 1950s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride. Until my husband bought this on DVD via Amazon to watch I'd never even heard of Malcom.X before and I am appalled at myself for saying so. The movie is really well done with great acting, it's very informative and it really shows the life of Malcolm X. If you do watch it then please stick with it as it was good.

| Beauty and the Beast (2018) | I was so disappointed with this movie, it had so much potential and I was really happy when Emma Watson was cast as Belle. However, I think the remake has taken something away from the original and although I'm not sure what I was really disappointed sadly.

| Skyscraper | A former FBI agent and U.S. war veteran (played by Dwayne Johnson aka WWE's The Rock) is now assessing security for skyscrapers. While he's on assignment in China, the world's tallest and safest building catches on fire -- and Will gets framed for it. Now a wanted man and on the run, he must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family members when they become trapped inside the inferno. I rented this to watch via Amazon Prime, it was okay but it was a really far-fetched story and as long as you don't take this movie seriously or compare it to the Die Hard movies then you will like it. I must state that if you were affected by the Grenfell Tower fire then do not watch this movie as there are a few similarities in it when it comes to the fire.

| Leaving Neverland * | I've never been a massive fan of Michael Jackon, yes I completely agree he was an amazingly talented man and knew how to work an audience completely but I was never a fan of his music or anything like that growing up as it just wasn't my thing, so I wasn't too sure on what I was going to think of this documentary when I was asked to watch it and give my opinion on it. This documentary is all about when at the height of his stardom Michael Jackson began long-running relationships with two boys, aged seven and ten, and their families. Now the men are in their thirties, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, are bravely telling their stories of how they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson. This programme comes with a massive trigger warning to anyone who has ever been abused or is a victim of child abuse. I totally understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but after watching the documentary, all I can say about it is that I believe the men and I feel so sorry and disgusted for everything that they have been through. I'm sending them both all of my love and wishing them all of the best.
Unfortunately, the mistrust of a celebrity figure has once again shown the effects of those who suffered at their hands, that were too scared to speak up, through fear of reprisals from the media and a warped sense of love the young victims have been told. The emotional and mental loyalties these children had to the pop icon was abused and because of that, their stories are often misconstrued. After watching the documentary I believe the men were speaking the truth and hope this helps raise awareness of child abuse. - Morphilms.

| Ghost Adventures S18 | Paranormal investigator Zak Bagans leads his team of co-investigators Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley to haunted locations based in the UK, America and around the world, interviewing locals about alleged hauntings before going face to face with supernatural entities. Even after eighteen seasons of this show, it is still amazingly surprising and without me giving out any information at all, I highly recommend to any horror fan or paranormal lover.

| Halloween (2018) | Firstly I am going to mention that I'm so picky when it comes to horror movies unless it's done by James Wan I usually have lots to say and complain about. I really wasn't sure what I was going to think of this movie as it wasn't done by James Wan and I love the classic one so much, but I was surprised. You don't need to watch the first movie to watch this new one, and it does take some parts from the other movies with a couple of nods to classic Halloween movie. I liked that it surprised me and the ending actually good.

| Cheat * | After watching all of the advertisers on this show, it looked so amazing and although the story was so original and well-written, the actors and actresses played the parts really well and the whole set of it all was filmed in beautiful Cambridge University - I was so disappointed at the ending. I would recommend watching it if you do like a good thrilling drama with a lot of twists but I don't think I would watch it again or exactly be excited for season two if they make one.

| The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann | I am going to be totally honest as I know this is a bit of a taboo subject to talk about and the topic of Maddie McCann sometimes causes a lot of rows between people. I actually stopped watching after the second episode, I did so because I didn't feel like the programme was actually going anywhere. I didn't understand why they brought different murders into it, why couldn't they simply focus on Maddie? I didn't like how the documentary was filmed personally so I'm not going to give an opinion on my thoughts about what I think happened to little Maddie McCann.

| Detainment * | Being from Liverpool and obviously always know about little James Bulgers cruel vile murder, I was shocked to know that it was going to be made into a documentary. However, when I was approached and asked to watch it to give my opinion I wanted to do so as I was hoping that the thirty-minute recreation was going to be focused on James' life and how his family have had to cope with James' tragic death. It was not. I was disgusted when I watched it to see that this is based on Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, and I do not like how they have made this to feel sorry for them almost because they were so young. I personally think that Jon Venables and Robert Thompson are two vile human beings and should be locked away for life. I do not agree with them being released from prison and given new identities and think that they should rot in hell for what they did to little James.

| The Bay * | This has just recently started on ITV on Wednesday nights and if you love a good police drama then I highly suggest that you check this one out, it's been so brilliant so far! Detective Sergeant Lisa Armstrong investigates two missing fifteen-year-old twins in Morecambe Bay, with twists and turns every moment this is really something you should give a watch - I cannot wait to see how it all plays out.


Have you been watching any of these shows? What are your thoughts on them? Is there anything on this list that you are wanting to watch but haven't gotten around to it yet? Tweet me and let me know?

With love, Alisha Valerie. x