The Hunger Games Review

Justin and I saw The Hunger Games on March 24, 2012. To say Justin and I loved this movie would be an understatement!!! Now, before I get into talking about the movie, in the fall I started hearing rumblings about this trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins with The Hunger Games being the first of the three. Many people know about my love for strong female characters. My cousin Kristen Madison's college roomate, Lindsay Walter recommended them to me. I am glad I listened to her. I found the book online, but will be ordering a hard copy of the book so I have it. I haven't begun to read the second book Catching Fire or the third book Mockingjay yet, but I will read them in conjunction with the film releases. I started reading it after John and Michelle Riley's wedding and it took me until January to read, because I am also juggling George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series as well (yet another series I absolutely love). When I was reading the book, I kept placing actors and actresses in the specific roles as I read them for Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Malark, Effie Trinkett, Haymitch, Ceasar Flickerman, Seneca, President Snow etc, and I have to say most of what I felt would work in the roles actually ended up being who I felt should be in the roles. Now, I was really excited to see this already, but when Justin was just excited without having read the book it was pretty awesome. I told Justin that Donald Sutherland is playing President Snow and Stanley Tucci is playing Ceasar Flickerman. I explained the characters to him and he says that seems right. We went to a 1:30 showing, and we left an hour ahead of time in order to make sure we got seats. Good thing we did. The theater was packed by 1:15. Now, if you know the book you know the plot, but if you don't I'll provide a little bit of information. North America has collapsed due to war, famine, drought etc and is replaced by Panem, which basically is the Capitol and 12 districts. In a ceremony known as The Reaping a boy and a girl between the ages of 12-18 are selected to participate in an annual event known as The Hunger Games. They are selected via lottery. Now, these 24 tributes are sent to The Capitol in which they will eliminate their competitors until there is only one person left standing. It's entertainment mixed with pure violence as its televised to the other districts. I say a mix of entertainment and pure violence as they create a show environement with the parade and the interview, however, this all ends when you're thrown into the game and must deal with betrayal, fear, weapons, and the realization that you're not going back to the district you came from. 16 year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in order to protect her sister Primrose from competing whilst Peeta Malark, a boy that works at a bakery, is selected for the males. It's an intense journey as you follow these two on their quest to make District 12 proud. I felt that this was a pretty faithful adaptation of the book. Justin and I both agreed that we liked the shaky camera effect with the fighting. I felt it gave it a more intense feel to it. Justin made an excellent point and said they're kids murdering each other. You can't really show that if you plan to have all ages see this movie. They still showed enough that you can see how violent it was. Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss, was excellent in the role. She is a good actress and really captured the emotion of Katniss and showed the strength of the character. I love the whole girl on fire gimmick they attach to her. The dress with the flames during the interview with Ceaser was awesome. I thought Josh Hutcherson held his own as well as Peeta. I've been watching his career since Bridge to Terebithia and he did a great job of interacting with Lawrence, who also has been great in the role of Mystique in X-Men: First Class, and has an Oscar nomination to her credit in Winter's Bone. Elizabeth Banks was incredible as Effie Trinkett and the make-up design was awesome. Glenn Hetrick, who is a judge on the only actual reality show I watch in Face/Off did most of the principal make-up for the movie and it came across great. Banks had so much fun in the role and you could just tell that by her portrayal of her lines in the scenes. When we are first introduced to Haymitch, I told Justin Woody Harrelson IS Haymitch. Harrelson was funny and serious at the same time which is what the role should call for. When you can see these visual images in your head as you read the book, and then it turns out to be the same as you imagined you like it even more. When I first read about The Capitol in the book, I pictured Oz (not from the movie adaptation, but from the book by L. Frank Baum). Justin made the connection as well and the design of The Capitol was just spectacular. Very impressive. The Hunger Games actually speaks to my love of professional wrestling in some ways as each district has a specific gimmick. The parade was well done with the outfits designed by Cinna, which Lenny Kravitz did perfectly fine in the role. I was very interested to see how Ceasar Flickerman turned out and Stanley Tucci was perfect. He really made the character a showman which is how he should be portrayed. The interview segments were well done. The interaction with President Snow and Seneca (portrayed by Wes Bentley-who some may know as Ricky Fitts in American Beauty-in this he's the game master) were great. I personally feel that Bentley has automatic villain eyes, and I like how this movie capitalized on that strength. The countdown to the games was awesome. As soon as that buzzer went off, the chaos ensued. I'd be one of the tributes who doesn't even make it off the platform as I'd fall off early haha. Now, as we follow the tributes, I can't help but noticing that Clove is played by Isabelle Fuhrman, which I absolutely loved. As I was reading the book, I kept saying: Esther from Orphan is perfect for this role. I loved that my casting choice is who actually portrayed Clove. I know many people hate her, but I feel that Clove is an awesome tribute. I love her mastery of knives. She's a young Beatrix Kiddo in the making (for all my Kill Bill fans out there). I hate Cato though. Alexander Ludwig did a great job here as well as he came across as somebody you just hate. District 2 is basically the antagonist district in my opinion, however, I still like Clove. I hate when she gets killed in the book. I hate when she gets killed in the movie. Obviously she isn't going to win though. The yellow jacket scene is amazing as it led to the hallucinations and the nest falling and stinging the tributes. This whole scenario gives us a closer insight into the character of little Rue as I call her. The emotional part of the movie lies with Rue. Now, I think its common knowledge that Rue is by far one of the favorite characters of the book as Katniss's shadow. Justin likes her silent approach and felt it was smart. I liked that Rue is filling the role of Prim in a way. Amandla Stenberg was really cute in the role. I have never heard so many people cry in a theater before. When Rue is laid to rest, everybody just loses it. Justin hadn't read the book, but I have to agree with him with a point he also made. He said: "Katniss had that medicine. She could have saved her." I see what he is saying. I felt that she should have too when I read it, but she obviously wants to win for her district, so I see why she wouldn't save her as well. Now the land mine scene was just as I imagined it. In the book it talks about Katniss watching the girl plan her steps, and she tries to count the steps as well. The movie captured the words on the pages for that scene fairly accurately which is really nice to see. More interesting scenarios exist with Seneca creating different obstacles for Katniss and Peeta, such as the wall of fire and the eventual genetically altered wolves. I remember reading in the book how they superimposed faces of fallen tributes into the wolves. One of my favorite scenes is the battle between Katniss and Clove and the shaky effect made it intense as two of my favorite characters go at it. I felt that the Cornucopia scene also came across pretty well. Some people didn't particularly like it, but Justin and I were very impressed. Justin actually told me when are we seeing this again? Justin and I are trying to plan another day this week to see it again. We'll try to see it in IMAX if we can. This movie made $25 million in midnight showings alone. The combined earnings for this weekend were $155 million which is awesome. It's well deserved. Justin bought two District 12 shirts, one for me and one for him. I have an illustration of what Katniss Everdeen would look like if they made illustrations in the book as my computer background. I give this movie a 5/5!!! I loved everything about it and felt it did the book justice overall in terms of capturing the story, delivering great character portrayals via great performances, and intense action. HAPPY HUNGER GAMES!!! MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!!!

21 Jump Street Review

Justin and I saw 21 Jump Street on March 17, 2012. This movie was awesome, entertaining, funny, and dramatic all at the same time!! It used to be a television show with Johnny Depp and Dustin Nguyen in the lead roles around the year 1987. It follows the lives of Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill), who are now on the police force. In high school, they were enemies, however, they are now friends teaching each other how to improve themselves in the area they are not as proficient in. It shows a flashback of when they were in high school with Jenko being the jock, but had no intelligence whatsoever. On the flipside, Schmidt was an academic, but was a nerd. MY TWO CENTS: I am more sympathetic to Schmidt as I tend to be more on the "nerd" side, however, I never really had a problem with the Jenkos of the world at all. Then again, I don't really look nerdy either. I am not the most suave or handsome guy, but I'm not the guy with the glasses with tape in the middle either. We get some great scenes showing how they get onto the police force with them helping each other through their weaknesses. I laughed when Jenko said YESSSSSSS!! I did it and they show his test and it says 71 C-. Justin loved that one too. They encounter a motorcycle gang that is heavy into dealing drugs and selling them. On the first attempt they try to take them down, one is released because Jenko doesn't know the Miranda rights, and Schmidt was knocked out by the force of the bigger guy charging into him. In order to deal with the drug problem, their superior tells them to report to a specific address (hence the name of the movie) and they are told they will go undercover to find out who suppliers are, what the drug is, and who is selling it. Ice Cube was absolutely hilarious in his role as Captain Dickson. I normally don't like him, but he was entertaining here. Jenko and Schmidt are given different identities in which they are brothers Doug and Brad. It's funny as they can't figure out which one is supposed to be which when the principal asks them. The principal looks alot like David Krumholtz (but it's not). What ensues is hilarity as they try to blend into the school population, but they both stick out especially Jenko. They get their schedules and its actually the opposite roles for each. Jenko goes in with the nerds and Schmidt is now one of the popular people. Classes such as AP Chemistry and Drama are included. I love how Peter Pan is the play that Schmidt is trying out for. There he encounters Molly (played by Brie Larson, who is actually involved to an extent with Eric played by Dave Franco-a major part of the plot/drug scene at the school). Now, for half the movie I was trying to figure out who Molly was. I had seen her before I knew, but it was bothering me where I saw her. Then it hit me. She was Envy Adams in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (possibly the most awesome movie ever made). Schmidt and Jenko are able to get a first hand look at the drugs as there is a number in the drama room that Molly points him towards. He and Jenko take it and then some of the funniest things happen as Jenko throws himself through a gong in the music room shouting TAKE THAT MILES DAVIS!!. Schmidt is high and nails his audition for Peter Pan. Schmidt and Jenko encounter Mr. Walters, the coach. He was played by Rob Riggle. He was great in the role and Justin and I feel he was one of the strongest parts of the movie. I had a feeling we'd be seeing him again as Riggle is a good character actor and I wanted to see what he would do here. Schmidt and Molly grow closer as Jenko forms a bond with the nerdy kids and he is able to create wiretaps with the phones to see what is going on with the sellers. I just have to say I love watching the relationship between Molly and Schmidt as there is genuine attraction there and it was a cute romantic story. The guy is not trying to get laid. Their bond is growing through conversation and discussion of things like comic books and things of that nature. The rest of the movie gets more serious as the motorcycle gang from the beginning is doing business with Eric. The operation is going strong. They just have to find the maker. After some great action sequences with car chases, Schmidt and Jenko get into an argument about how they're approaching the situation which briefly strains their friendship leading to a chaotic scene at the play. They are expelled, but they still find a way into the prom where the whole main operation is set to go down. I will not spoil the prom scene as it was my favorite one, but we find out how the drugs are getting moved around and the whole audience said OHHHH when they showed who it was. They also had an awesome cameo appearance that the whole audience including myself and Justin absolutely loved. It was great to see. The limo chase was amazing as the action was intense and personal issues factored in. Jenko and Schmidt had made up by this point after Jenko saved Schmidt from a bullet. A preceding piece of dialogue made this action have a stronger effect. Of course, they are able to stop the situation and it leads to a grisly ending for the maker and a scene that made everyone cringe and laugh at the same time. As I said, there was a great mix of everything in this movie. Each piece fit together and helped the movie to flow well. Genuinely funny dialogue, great plot, fun characters (I usually hate Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill-but it worked so well here), and good dramatic elements, with good twists thrown in. It's very rare that I will give a comedy a 5/5, but in this instance it more than deserves it. It definitely deserves the positive remarks it is getting.

John Carter Review

Justin and I saw John Carter on March 9, 2012. We liked it so much that we went to see it again in IMAX on March 11, 2012 with Vicious Vin aka Dad. This movie was fun and an incredible adventure to experience. John Carter was played by Taylor Kitsch, who you may know as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Following an introduction that tells us how the actual name for Mars is Barsoom and it is the scene of a struggle between two civilizations, one trying to preserve the planet, while the other tries to take it over, we are led to believe in the year 1881 that John Carter has passed away. He has sent information to Edgar "Ned" Rice Burroughs, his nephew that he must locate something for him. The presence of the Thurns led by Mark Strong (who has the ability to disguise himself-similar to Mystique in X-Men) gives a weapon known as the Ninth Ray to Sab Than who is the Jeddak (leader) of the city of Zadanga. This weapon is used to rule Barsoom with an iron fist, and leads attacks on the city of Helium. Also, this weapon seems to have the ability to allow you to transport to other planets as is evident from Matai Shang's (Mark Strong's) knowledge of Earth (Jasoom) later on the movie. Now, Kitsch did a great job in the role of Carter. He looked like an action star for the movie. He had many interactions with different groups of individuals. He had previously been a Confederate cavalry officer from Virginia. We go back to 1868 where he is asked by officers of the US Army to assist them in getting rid of the Apaches, so they can mine the gold deposits. He escapes from the 7th cavalry and the Apaches with a Colonel Powell (Bryan Cranston-who seems to have a small part in everything), who actually recruited him for the missions they wanted with the Apaches. He discovers gold and through the power of the Ninth Ray and a medallion around the neck of a Thurn that goes to attack him and Powell, he is transported to the planet. He doesn't realize where he is and doesn't know why he can't really plant his feet on the ground at first. He jumps at high altitudes and far distances due to his bone density and the planet's lower gravity. Eventually, he comes face to face with the Tharks who remind me of a mix between Goro from Mortal Kombat and the Na'vi-they are 12 feet tall, green, with four arms and tusks on their mouths. Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) is the leader of the Tharks at this point and they are getting hatchlings and will take them back to camp and shape them in the Thark fashion. Carter is taken as a hatchling and Tars is very interested in what he can do as he is unlike anybody he's ever seen. It's vice versa for John of course. Zodanga and Helium's battle has raged on due to the Thurn's influence. The Princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris (another alumnus of X-Men Origins: Wolverine) is told by her father that the only way to end this conflict is to have her marry Sab. She refuses and during an awesome battle sequence she escapes and is rescued by John. Explanations show how it is possible John Carter has arrived on Barsoom as Dejah explains the power of the Ninth Ray. However, the influence of the Thurns is involved at every point of the movie. They whisper into the ears of those they want to carry out their deeds. This leads to the overthrow of Tars by Tal Haljus (Thomas Haden Church). This happens because as Matai Shang puts it, Sola (Tars daughter-who seems to be defiant to most of the Thark rules) led John Carter to the secrets of the planet. They are forced to compete in a gladiatorial style fight with the White Apes. John Carter, Tars and Sola are victorious and John even takes out Tal by beheading him. As this is happening, Dejah and Sab's wedding procession is taking place. John explains that the Tharks will not have any influence on what happens on Barsoom if this wedding takes place as the Therns and Zodanga will turn their airships and weapons at the Tharks next so they are the only ones left standing. They ride to Helium where the wedding is taking place and another amazing battle scene occurs. You have to keep watching Matai the whole time as he keeps disguising himself. After the Thurns and Zodanga are defeated, John weds Dejah. However, that cunning Matai is always around (it was believed he was killed). John throws his medallion away as he feels that Barsoom is where he belongs. He is then transported back to Jarsoom (Earth) because that cunning Matai knows how to play the game. We then go back to present day and Edgar realizes something about the mausoleum that John is "buried" in. John has actually been searching for a medallion for ten years to transport himself back home and he used his nephew as bait for this. He tracks the Therns following Edgar and is able to transport himself home. This movie as I said is filled with a great story, amazing characters, phenomenal action sequences, and a genuinely interesting conept. Now, I was reading something the other day that really bothered me. People are saying that John Carter isn't original at all and copies from Star Wars and Avatar. Well, let me tell you something. It's actually the other way around. The John Carter of Mars series of novels (11 total) have been in existence since 1912. The material you see in this movie comes straight from those. Edgar Rice Burroughs created an interesting concept that had been in production for 79 years. Shooting didn't commence until 2010. Though I am a huge fan of both Avatar and Star Wars, they borrowed many of their ideas straight from this and it's pretty evident. For instance, Matai Shang is easily Emperor Palpatine and the Thurns are the Sith, the outfits and airships in Return of the Jedi are from this, and the Tharks are the inspiration for the Na'vi. It's all fine as many people borrow from each other. I just don't like the critics saying John Carter is the one stealing the ideas when in fact they are the ones that launched the influence for the other movies. This movie is an easy 5/5 for me. I loved everything about it. Justin really enjoyed it. Dad was very entertained by it too. He liked how it all connected. Definitely worth it. I've already seen it twice haha.