The Hunger Games: NR #23

Well It's time for this year's first HUGE movie (sorry John Carter, you just didn't cut the mustard), it's one of the most anticipated book adaptations, so big that no other movie was released this week. The movie that will hopefully launch Jennifer Lawrence's career. This movie was so big I even did a separate post about it (here's the link http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/speculations-hunger-games-1.html) It's no surprise, but I'm talking about...

Let's Begin...

PLOT

In the future, North America has been all but destroyed and replaced by an all powerful Capital and 12 districts. After a failed uprising by the districts, the Capital has decided that the best punishment is to hold the Hunger Games. A reality gladiator show held every year where one girl and one boy from each district between the ages of 12 and 18 are randomly chosen to fight to the death. Cut to years later where we follow  16 year old Katniss Everdeen. Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place. The other boy is Peeta. The Games have begun, who will win when all the world is watching.

PROS

I can not overstate the amazing acting abilities of Jennifer Lawrence. She pulls off the character of Katniss flawlessly, she's a cold loner but attractive and desirable. One scene that really hit home for me is when the games are just 30 sec. from starting, and her cheeks are shaking. I know that she'll become one of the biggest stars out there.

The movie decides to go for a more slow feel. It's a smart choice and and proves you can keep teenagers' interest if you're good enough. 

The movie is certainly more violent than any PG-13 movie I've seen. It really is a mystery how this got that rating, and that's a good thing.

This movie follows the book very well, changing things around for the better, at least most of the time it's for the better.

They find some very good ways to explain what was used as inner dialogue in the book. One way that was very fun were the commentators. I just wish they used a lot more.  

CONS

Slowness is a double-edged sword in this movie. While yes it gives it more time, they don't use that time effectively. Little things are over explained, while large factors and character motives are overlooked. One big emotional scene, that if you've read the book you know what I'm talking about, has no emotional residence if you've never read the book. I only felt bad when Jennifer Lawrence came in with her amazing performance.

The action scenes are filmed WAY too close and shake worse than Cloverfield. It makes death scenes less effective and impossible to tell what's going on during some of the more important action scenes. I can see the reasoning behind it (the big one probably being getting that PG-13 rating), but this is just unacceptable  

CONCLUSION

This movie was very underwhelming. While it's not terrible, which it really is not, it doesn't have the same impact as the book. While I know they had to tone down the violence and it's easier to do first-person perspective through a book, I just feel they could have done better. Now if you've read the book and have not seen this yet, go see it, you'll like it. And if you've never read the book, you'll probably love this even more. Let's just hope they learn from their mistakes in the sequel! 

RATING

WALK TO

 

  

Speculations: The Hunger Games #1

I've decided to put up my thoughts on what the success of this week's big release will be. The film that needs no introduction, or course...

  Now I'm sure it'll be no surprise on Monday when this movie is #1 at the box office, the bigger question is just how big it will be. Now this film has advertised to the right crowd, the people who read the book, since it is a huge series and all. I know for a fact that this has been a read a whole lot more since the trailers came out (Just look at my high school), but some might feel it's leaving out the rest of the world. Well I feel they don't, since most people probably know someone who is either a big fan or at least knows what's going on. They'll see the trailer that barely talks about the plot, they'll ask the fan, the fan will explain, the person is now hooked. 

   Another demographic they're trying to get are the "Twilight" "Harry Potter" fans, or at least the same success this audience has brought. It's no secret these movies have made a TON of money, and everyone wants in on it. Most have failed like "The Golden Compass", "Eragon", and the most recent one, "Percy Jackson". But this is looking like a much bigger success than those failures. It's defiantly more will known, it has a huge marketing campaign behind it, including a Taylor Swift song, t-shirts, and even make-up! So it's trying to get the female crowd, but this will have what "Twilight" doesn't have, male fans. Now I'm pretty sure there is a male fanbase for "Twilight", but it's not as vocal as the females. But guy fans of this series (including me) or very vocal about our love for this movie. Honestly this movie's only competitor at this point is "Harry Potter".  But what exactly draws in the fans? Well the girls get a dramatic teen love triangle, a female main character who is not a boring bi!ch with no personality, and the guys are attractive. The guys are there for the action, and Jenifer Lawrence. And don't act like you've never seen a movie just because a hot actress/actor was in it, that's how "The Vow" became a huge success. Now it's only competitor is "Harry Potter".

   Well that about wraps it up. I hope this didn't totally bore you and I hope you're able to see the movie and give me your opinion. I also hope you come back on Sunday to read my review. If you like this and think I should continue it please tell me, since this was fun to just give my opinion. See Ya!

  

  

John Carter NR #22

This week's movie is a big one, at least it is for Disney. This film is trying to be Disney's next "Pirates of the Caribbean.", a movie based off a somewhat known property that has influenced fiction since it was published in the 20's. While it has a huge budget, the movie has not been received well by audiences, and it is a huge gamble to make a movie based off a just somewhat known property. Does it hold up? Let's find out in this week's review of...

Let's Begin

PLOT

John Carter is a Civil War era commander, a man without of cause if you will, who is transported to Mars. He soon discovers that he has super-human strength and jumping ability. While on Mars, he finds out that he has come at just the right time. There are two sides (Red flags and Blue flags) who have been fighting over control of Mars, while the indian-like aliens have been sitting back, waiting for both civilizations to fall so they can take over. Carter doesn't care, until a hot princess from the Blue flag city of Helium asks him for help in exchange for a way to get back to Earth. John Carter must now fight to save all of Mars!

 PROS

The movie is very special effects heavy, and luckily they are very good. The cities and vehicles look cool, and the aliens are very well done too.

That hot princess I mentioned earlier, well she's one of the most interesting characters in the whole movie. She's brave, smart, can hold her own in a fight, and isn't just the old damsel in distress.

The world portrayed in this movie is interesting, if a bit cliched. While they do spend a little bit too much time on it for my taste, it's still cool to see the little differences and similarities between our world and theres.

The best part of the while movie is the first 10 minutes, before he gets to Mars. There's this whole story involving Bryan Cranston as a general trying to get John to join the army and he keeps trying to escape. While the movie isn't terrible, it never did fully match the opening.

There is a weird alien-dog like... thing who steals most of the scenes his in with incredible adorableness.

There are two fun action scenes. They're exciting and cool.

CONS

The least interesting character in this movie is John Carter himself. He's just the typical tough guy loner who has a cliched back story that is used once, more on that later. I just wish there was more to him.

 The is way too cliched. You've seen everyone of these characters and plot lines before. While, yes, the source material is where almost all of those cliches were created, it doesn't excuse the fact that it is cliched. They really had a chance to do something original, but didn't take it.

The villains are boring. They feel unneeded, which is weird since you need some sort of conflict. But I honestly can not remember a single thing about them. Actually there is one thing, they were British... and one was bald...that's about it.

Carter's powers are very strange. One minute he can kill a guy with one punch, the next he can't break a simple chain to escape captivity. The powers were at the will of the script, with no consistency what so ever.

I saw this in 3D and it really wasn't worth it. While there was depth, nothing really popped to or did anything. don't waste your money with 3D.

John's tragic back story is that his wife and child died. Right after we find this out, they never use it again and he falls in love with the princess. I seriously doubt he would fall in love with someone he barely knew and forget about his wife in a matter of a day.

CONCLUSION

While a very flawed movie, John Carter is still a good movie, if a painfully average one. If it looks good to you go see it, if not, wait 'till dvd. There's nothing you need to pay 10 bucks for and that can't wait for the smaller screen.

RATING

RENTABLE

The Secret World of Arrietty: NR #21

This week I had a choice between two kids movies, one was a 3D animated one with bright colors and corny jokes dragging out a 10 page Dr. Seuss book for an hour and a half. My other choice was a more quiet 2D animated film made for all ages that was based off a novel. I'm pretty sure you can guess which one I chose. This week's review is of...

Let's Begin...

PLOT

Arrietty is what's known as a borrower. A borrower is a tiny human-like creature who "borrows" extremely small amounts of necessities, so small that no person will ever know they're gone. Arrietty and her family think that they may be the last of their kind and are determined to survive. In order to do this, Arrietty must learn how to "borrow". On her first night she's spotted by the new boy whose moved in. His name is Shawn and the reason he's moved in is because he has a rare heart condition where if he gets too excited, his heart will basically explode. So in order to keep him calm before his operation his family move him to this cottage. From then on both of their lives, Arrietty and Shawn's, are changed forever.

PROS

This being a Studio Ghibli, the animation is absolutely gorgeous. There is so much detail in just the backgrounds alone that it's fun just to stare. It's also very cool to see a 2D animated film on the big screen after all these years.

The English voice actors do a great job, never over acting or doing anything too crazy, like in other anime.

The story is very simple. While that may not seem like a good thing, it gives the film time to give the characters personalities and make us care about them. This is a slow movie, but you'll never know since it's so interesting.

The movie takes it's audience seriously. I know I've never mentioned this in any of my other Studio Ghibli reviews, but I've never seen this with a child audience. The movie never throws some pop-culture reference or has near constant loud noises to keep your kids attention. This film keeps your kids attention with its great story, great characters , beautiful animation, and never once talks down to kids, like they're a bunch of idiots.

This is more of a personal pro, but the kids in the audience barely talked. Now I'm more forgiving of kids when it comes to talking during movies, but this time I didn't have to. While they did talk a little bit, they were quick to be quiet, or their parents were. They were just so entranced by this movie, and that's a huge feat to me.

While I have been mentioning the kids a lot, don't worry, this movie was made with all ages in mind, like with   the "not talking down to kids' example I used.

CONS

I got nothin...

CONCLUSION

This is the perfect movie to take your kids to, it's smart, simple, and mature without pulling cheap tricks. It's even more fun for the adults. So if this is still playing at your theater, or if it's already at the video store, don't hesitate to watch it. And hey, this might get your kid interested in other Studio Ghibli films.

RATING

RUN TO