The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Anyone going into this thinking, "Once is a blessing, twice is a curse" will be knocked back as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is excellent. Things may be getting a bit shittier in Katniss' world but nothing has gone to Hell in the quality of this entry.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), the winners of the previous Hunger Games, are in for far from a welcome home after their victory. In fact, due to Katniss' rebeliousness towards the government, defiance towards the rules, and her and Peeta's combined effort to commit suicide to end the last games, things are much more chaotic on the home land as the hope spread from these players' actions is being spread to the towns who feel they no longer have to live this way. Long story short, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Hunger Games' creator; Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) want her dead, they plan to achieve this by sending the two victors', and two victors from every other district to a semi-finals battle of the winners Hunger Games. But Katniss is far from going down without a fight, even when she comes to realize that the scariest things out there are everything outside of the Hunger Games.

Jennifer Lawrence once again is on fire as Katniss. She's brave, heroic, humorous, rootable, and she feels like a very authentic character, you'll go with her through anything. Donald Sutherland and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (a great new addition) shine as the villians, their menace and devious plans are far more chilling then the actual games. Also noteworthy new additions are Finnick (played by Sam Clafin with a devious, mysterious charm) and Johanna (played with agression, fun, and grit by Jena Melone) as fellow competitors who team up with Katniss and Peeta. I can't say I was terribly impressed with Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. I can't tell if it's the performance or the actual character but I find his part a terribly bland piece in a stock romance. I would say the romantic element of The Hunger Games is probably my least favorite part and probably the only reason why I would say the first in the series was a tad stronger considering it featured less of it.

Catching Fire has a similar set-up to the first. The first half is dedicated to getting things ready for the battle and the tension is amped up in this one due to the events in the first. The political, moral, and social evil in the first half is actually quite chilling as everyone seems to act without a mind of their own; almost groupspeak.

The set-up leads towards most viewers' favorite half of the movie; the actual games. And they definitely don't disappoint. These scenes are amazing, thrilling as the tension feels amped up this time. The scenes with the violent monkeys, tear gas, and spinning platform are every movie junkie's amped up fantasy.

And though I'm usually not a fan of cliffhanger endings, Catching Fire ends with a bang. Though you don't know where this bang will lead, you don't care as Catching Fire effectively takes the viewer from one journey to the next heart racing and pulse pounding.

Grade: 3/4

The Way Way Back

I feel like the "lost teenager that finds their way over a Summer" types of movies are becoming more and more common but damn it The Way Way Back is so charming and funny I couldn't help but to love it.

Duncan (Liam James) is a severely lonely and unhappy teenager whose growing resentment towards his mother's boyfriend Trent (Steve Carrell), his mother Pam's (Toni Collette) either total indifference or blindness towards the unfair treatment are sending him further down a hole into depression. That is until he meets Owen (Sam Rockwell), a carefree and light-hearted water park owner who just wants to break Owen out of his shell. This is the Summer that will change everything for him.

All of the performances are spot on. Liam James is very likeable, rootable, and downright vulnerable as Duncan. Steve Carrell proves he can be quite the effective asshole, relentlessly bringing down Duncan like all of the typical douchebag stepdads do. Allison Janney was also quite hillarious as the oversexed and overdrinking neighbor who gets some of the best scenes thanks to her no bullshit attitude and insensitivity towards her son's lazy eye. Sam Rockwell is easily the best part of this movie, he's the heart and soul delivered perfectly.


There's such a sincerity to this movie and I loved it. It isn't the most original movie by far but the characters are great, the situations ring true and though things get serious there isn't a lack of humor due to the clever writing and pitch-perfect performances. The Way Way Back proves that even if you're taking a journey that has a predicted path, if it's solid, you'll have fun and love the ride no matter what.

3/4

The To Do List

It probably shouldn't have worked as well as it did, but damn it I loved The To Do List. It goes for the sexual gusto and more often then not it hits the sweet spot. Aubrey Plaza is perfect as Brandy, the academic nerd who knows about everything but anything physical, her sheer cluelessness is terribly endearing and often hillarious. Rachel Bilson also hits gold as her nasty, blunt, and unfiltered sister Amber, one of her many guides along her sexual journey. The movie actually reminds me of American Pie one those gone wild sex comedies with a hidden, sincere message about love and the opposite sex hidden a bit deeper. And though things start to get sappy when the moral realization occurs due to love triangle between the good natured nerd and the empty-headed stud, The To Do List has enough humor and fun to get you through the limp dicked moral epiphany.

3/4

12 Years a Slave

When I think of 12 Years a Slave, I think of fire. Everything from the screenplay, to the direction, to the tone, to the scorching performances reminds me of a flame being ignited.

12 Years a Slave is based on the depressing and horrifying true story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a musician who is tricked into thinking he being offered a large job opportunity when really he is being sold into slavery. His journey takes him along with Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) a slave in a similar situation of being yanked from her family as both are sold from conniving and heartless slave master to slave master until they end up falling into the hands of Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Sarah Paulson) who would make any terrorist seem generous by comparison.

Every performance in this movie is Oscar worthy. Chiwetel Ejiofor will break your heart as Northup, the amount of expression and sheer bewilderment will drag the viewer down into his journey of Hell. Ejiofor's performance is so moving and powerful a few scenes alone of the actor's facial expressions say more then many can say with a whole script. If he doesn't win the Oscar I call sheer bullshit.

Everything I said about Chiwetel can be applied to Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey as well. I can't say I've seen her in any movies before but she demonstrates a mastery of strength, heartbreak and conviction as Patsey.

Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson are persuasively nasty and repulsive as the least caring masters the slaves belong to. Fassbender more notably dominates his scenes with his foul resentment. Though his character Edwin Epps can easily be labeled as a monster, other scenes also are effective with showing the more caring and hidden side as well such as the scenes involving his consequences of giving attention to Patsey and his wife's sheer hatred for her due to those reasons.

I hate to label this movie as entertaining due to the cruelness, death, and despair that occur throughout but through Steve McQueen's direction this is easily one you will be holding your breath for from beginning to end. I couldn't wait to see what happened next even though at times I wish I wasn't watching this as several scenes involving whippings, rape, and hangings make me wish I wasn't watching. McQueen wasn't going for just a plain History lesson this movie, he was aspiring to hit the nail in your brain, your heart, and your eyes. It's a clear level of mastery.

And just when you're worried that 12 Years a Slave will end sappy, the movie steers clear from sap. The last scene of Solomon reuniting with his loved ones is one of the most touching and heartbreaking scenes from a movie I've seen in a while. I was almost crying like a bitch as the credits were rolling. Kudos to everyone involved. 12 Years a Slave is a masterpiece and is easily the best film of 2013 I've seen.

4/4

Fright Night 2: New Blood

I was hoping for trashy fun and all I got was a pain in the neck. Will Payne stars as Charley Brewster, an unlikable, obnoxious and bland lead that suspects his teacher Gerri Dandridge (Jaime Murray) is a vampire. Yes, this is one of those movies where no one believes the main character despite the obvious signs. This is one of those movies where the performances feel as if the actors were casted off the street, along with the writers, editors, and most certainly anyone involved in the makeup or visual effects. Bloodless indeed.

0/4

Gravity

The best movies aren't the ones that you merely watch. The best movies are the ones considered experiences due to the amount of involvement the viewer gets when watching them. This defines Gravity in a nutshell. If it were any more involving you would be spinning as you were watching it.

The first 10 minutes of Gravity are worthy of a trip to the theater alone. It's breathtaking art and what's the most intriguing is that this is before shit hits the fan. The visuals in Gravity are so stunning that an Academy award should have automatically been distributed right after the first showing.

Gravity is eye candy from beginning to end but luckily your eyes aren't the only body part that will be taken for a ride. After things immediately go wrong with medical engineer; Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) being immediately knocked off course your breath will stop. Things get even more horrifying as the scene continues with the realization that, in space, "No one can hear you scream". The claustrophobic situations and sheer silence (clever move to not include music) will increase your heart rate.

Your heart will melt for Bullock's character. Whether she's panicking, waiting for death, feeling completely hopeless, or ready to fight her way home you really get involved with her emotional, physical, and mental journey home. The most frightening situations are the ones where you feel helpless and Gravity's journey will lock her up and throw away the key.

This toll that Gravity's dark and frightening tone would have never been as effective if Bullock didn't hold her own. Not only does she hold her own, but her performance is so strong and unforgettable it's almost impossible to picture her typical fare in slapstick comedy. She could clearly do the physical humor but Gravity proves she can handle the dramatic material as well.

And though he isn't given as much to do as Bullock in her role, George Clooney also strives as Matt, the astronaut who is Stone's only aide as things get worse. He brings a charm to his character and a guiding force to get themselves out of this situation.

Gravity is a moving, beautiful and terrifying piece of art that will never be forgotten.

4/4

Rush

An action themed movie that manages to keep its' gusto on and off the track? Who would have ever imagined that? But Rush manages to prove you don't need explosions and crashes to keep the viewer entertained; you just need to be dynamic. And Rush far exceeds that. The visuals are stunning and considering how many movies over-do the CGI this year it's actually quite a feat for Rush to feel and look quite authentic. Never do you feel like you're watching someone's computer work. There's intensity between the two characters as well due to the strength in the performances of Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt and Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauder. Hemsworth brings a charm to the typical cocky athlete with his head in the clouds until life comes crashing on his door. And Bruhl is also stellar as his rival bringing strength and determination to a character that couldn't be more different then Hunt. What's fascinating about Rush is that even though it's about the rivalry of two men, Howard's direction doesn't play favorites. There isn't a villain or a hero here, just two different types of men with strengths and weaknesses that we all have. Rush is an inspiring feature about how far we strive for our goals and just how much we will do to get them. Though a bit of trimming/tighter editing might have made Rush feel a tad less fluffy, the heart and soul will drive the movie through the end in success.


4/4