Saturday 19 October 2013

Hummingbird DVD (review and giveaway NOW CLOSED)

Are you a fan of deftly twisting action movies? I am more of a Downton Abbey girl, but sometimes enjoy gritty dramas and thrillers. Hummingbird which is avaiable on DVD and Blu-ray from 21 October 2013 starts rather slowly.
Joey Jones (Jason Statham), an ex-serviceman, is on the run from a court martial. He is what could be decsribed as damaged goods, a tramp sleeping in the box, drinking himself into the oblivion. When he and his girlfriend Isabel are attacked by the local thugs, he manages to escape and literally falls into an empty apartment whose owner is away in the States for several months. Rather conveniently (and that I found a bit implausible) there is a credit card and a pin number in the mail, the car keys and the whole lot of trendy suits. But once you decide to swallow this slightly unlikely scenario, it gets interesting.




This film marks the directorial debut of the screenwriter Steven Knight who is famous for Eastern Promises (in fact that alone sold the film to me, as Eastern Promises was a truly engrossing thriller).
Joey assumes the identity of the conveniently absent owner of the apartment and attempts to reinvent himself. He is empolyed by the Chinese mafia and excels in his job.
Along the way he is trying to find out what happened to his girlfriend Isabel. A Polish nun Christina helps him with the information. Joey is bent on revenge when he learns of the brutal death of Isabel.
The strong points of this film are the honest scenes of the London criminal underground (there are some very memorable and heartbreaking scenes of the human trafficking).
Angels have their dark secrets, and baddies are capable of doing good deeds. The films uses a variety of forays in the past, exploring the hidden memories, both of Joey and Christina.
While Statham is pretty convincing as a thug and vigilante, Agata Buzek's nun is less so. Her face hardly shows a change of emotions. And though Joey and Christina's relationship is touching, it is not a very cogent storyline. Joey's sexual identity is also under a big question mark, it's not very clear whether he is gay or only pretends to be in order to deceive the prying neighbours.
This film is not flawless, but the narrative is gripping, and only the stone-hearted won't sympathize with the main protagonist. Will the twilight criminal world destroy Joey completely or will he be able to escape?

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If you think you might enjoy this film, Lionsgate has kindly offered 3 copies of Hummingbird DVD for my blog readers.


If you would like to win this prize, please fill in the Rafflecopter form.
T&Cs:
Only the first step is mandatory: all you need is to answer the question by leaving a comment (there is no right or wrong answer)
(if you login as Anonymous, please leave your Twitter name or FB name, so that I could identify you, I do not suggest leaving the email address in the comment)

All the other steps are optional, you don't have to do them all. All it takes to win is just one entry.

Only one entry per person is allowed (however, you can tweet daily to increase your chances).
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflcopter picks the winner, I will check if the winner has done what was requested. I will contact the winner, if they do not reply within a week, the prize will be allocated to another person.

If you haven't used the Rafflecopter before, you might want to watch this simple video.
The giveaway will close on 17 November 2013 at midnight (the night from the 16th to the 17th)

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a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Many thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway! I enjoyed reading your DVD choices and recommendations!
The Rafflecopter picked the winners, big well done to Rob, Tracy and Lowri! I have just emailed you all, asking for your address details.

66 comments:

  1. I watched the latest Madagascar movie with my son and it was really good

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  2. Les Miserables,long but mesmerising,I'd recommend it.

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  3. I just watch I Spit On Your Grave 1 and 2 - great if your love hotrror and gore like me - bad if you don't!

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  4. Drag me to hell. and yes! its a brilliant movie and i watch it at least once a week....

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  5. gran torino ,clint eastwood directed , brilliant like all his films

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  6. hot fuzz brilliant film love it

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  7. We watched the inbetweeners holiday film recently it was ok but the tv series was better

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  8. I watched The Lorax film (Dr Seuss) and i would definitely recommend it! It's a funny and heartwarming film for all the family :)

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  9. The Monster Squad - a fun movie for Halloween.

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  10. Last night I watched the Adjustment Bureau and the night before Rock n Rolla. I loved both. I would recommend Adjustment Bureau to any girls watching a movie with their boyfriend. Its a love story with enough action (i think) to keep him happy to. :)
    Jade x

    http://jadewiggins09.blogspot.co.uk/

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  11. Insidious it was awesome and creepy

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  12. A fa,ily Favourite Finding Neno. It's brilliant

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  13. Ocean 11 the 1960s film Great

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  14. King of the Railway the new Thomas film with my sons, they loved it and yes I would recommend it to any Thomas the Tank Engine fans.

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  15. The Kings of Summer - funny coming of age drama.

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  16. silver linings playbook - beautiful film

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  17. Madagascar 3 :) yes it's very funny

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  18. The last DVD I watched was Miranda, Series 1 & 2 and I'd recommend it because it's hilarious and guaranteed to cheer you up! :)

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  19. the hunt a danish film - most awesome

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  20. Les Mis and I would definitely recommend it!

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  21. World War Z yes it was a enjoyable watch

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  22. World war Z it was pretty awesome id recommend

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  23. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and it was quite good!

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  24. Django Unchained shocking but amazing

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  25. Legion and have recommended it and still would its an amazing film
    @ZoeRoxby

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  26. It was' Hancock's Half Hour' Volume 4 (There's some vintage in the depths of my DVD collection) and yes I would recommend it; timeless comedy.

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  27. The Kings of Summer - very good

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  28. Fright Night (the original) & it's good for a bit of silly horror!

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  29. The new Star Trek and yes it was very good. x

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  30. The Boat That Rocked and yes

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  31. We watched the Croods - and yep, for kids it's a good one :)

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  32. It was Mama Mia .. and yep, it was fun, I'd recommend it :)

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  33. the last DVD I saw was Se7en and I'd definitely recommend it. it is in my top 10!

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  34. toy story 3 my little boy loves it

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  35. Lost boys 3 - and no, it was dreadful!

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  36. Oz the Great and Powerful - I want the 2 hours of my life back!

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  37. Les Miserable, loved it, cried my eyes out at the end

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  38. As Cool As I Am and it is an INCREDIBLE coming-of-age film. Highly recommend it. With love, Faye xx

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  39. watched Sightseers - recommended!

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  40. The Dyatlov Pass and yes, I would definitely recommend it :)

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  41. VHS 2 - erm, if you like a bit of weird gore then yes I'd recommend!

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  42. Beasts of the Southern Wild and yes I would definitely recommend.

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  43. The last DVD i watched was Disconnect and yes i would highly recommend it, great acting, interesting storylines, good characters one of those films that stays with you long after the film has finished

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  44. World War Z and yes

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  45. mamma mia, its great to cheer yourself up

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  46. Christina Palmer8 November 2013 at 20:28

    Mamma Mia A bit cheesy but something for the whole family

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  47. Planes, Trains and Automobiles and yes because it is a Christmas classic

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  48. silver linings playbook Superb acting and direction

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  49. Olympus has fallen was really good I like Denzel Washington

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  50. Shutter Island was the last film I watched and would highly recommend it!

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  51. I watched Before Midnight and I thought it was good so yes I would recommend it :)

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  52. the last film i watched was monsters university with my children, fab film would deffo recommend

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  53. We watched Despicable Me 2 and loved it x

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  54. The last DVD I watched was Les Miserable and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend it.

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  55. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, I saw previews and bought it, but personally I would not recommend it, the previews were the best bits.

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  56. the hobbit. and yes i would recommend

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  57. A place beyond the pines, it was good

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  58. collateral , brilliant film gripping.

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  59. My sons choice: Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs, surprisingly I enjoyed it.

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  60. Despicable Me 2

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