Tag Archives: hunger games

‘Hunger Games’ Ends on a Whimper

Mockingjay_Part_2_PosterThey say all good things must end. In the case of the “Hunger Games” franchise, the mediocre must finish, as well.

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (gosh, that is a pain to type) is the fourth and final film in the “Hunger Games” franchise (until they decide to give it a prequel/sequel/reboot, because, money). It again stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant face of a revolution. She must lead the remaining rebels on one final assault against the corrupt Capital, led by President Snow (Donald Sutherland). The film also stars Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Philip Seymour Hoffman (in his final role) and Francis Lawrence directs.

Unlike a lot of people, I actually enjoyed “Mockingjay – Part 1.” I thought all the behind-the-scenes political and propaganda of a revolution was very interesting, and thought it was building up to something great. I was wrong, though…

The biggest problem with “Mockingjay – Part 2” is that it really feels like an unnecessary movie. Hollywood has this notion that the final book of a series needs to be broken up into two movies, but in reality it does nothing but add a few extra hundred million dollars into their pockets. Harry Potter was able to get away with it because everyone loved that series, but Part 1 was arguably the worst film of the franchise. I only saw Part 2 of Twilight’s finales, but I really doubt those are books with enough content to break into multiple films. And of course The Hobbit was a 300 page book broken into three overlong films that really no one wanted, but each made over $900 million, so Hollywood is just laughing at us. But I’m getting off track.

Much of “Mockingjay – Part 2” feels like forced dialogue or action for the sake of action, both to try and justify a second film (it clocks in at an inexcusable 137 minutes). Some of the fight sequences are appreciated and well-done; there are tiny nuggets throughout the film that are what have made the “Hunger Games” series fun, or what we have been promised. But all too often the film is just walking around and repeating plot points, like how they don’t know if they can trust Peeta because he is still brainwashed by the Capital. That is a topic of conversation about seven times.

Lawrence is again the star of the show, but Katniss is again a borderline unlikable heroine that you really don’t care about her besides the fact she’s Jennifer Lawrence. Woody Harrelson and Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP) give two short but nuanced performances, and some of the revolution storylines are interesting.

It really is hard (and in a way, pointless) to review a film like this because you likely won’t see it if you haven’t seen the other ones in the series, and if you have seen those films then you already know if you’re going to see it or not. So if you were planning on seeing “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” then you should know there is a lot of sitting around, then a lot of running, and almost none of it is interesting. By the time (I thought) the film was wrapping up it really drags on, and well outwears any welcome the previous films had bought it.

It is a disappointing ending to a decent franchise, and I seeing as its Thanksgiving week, let’s just say I’m thankful I won’t have to endure any more of this overstretched series next November.

Critics Rating: 4/10

Variety

Variety

Most Anticipated Films of 2015

Pretty cut-and-dry based on the title, but here are the films that I am most looking forward to in the upcoming year!

10.) Entourage

Following a weak final season of the show, it will be nice to see Ari Gold, Johnny Drama and the rest of the crew back together in Hollywood. Plus it features Tom Brady, Liam Neeson and dozens of other celebrities playing themselves. That’s always fun, right?

Variety

Variety

9.) Get Hard

Kevin Hart teaches Will Ferrell how to survive in prison. If that last sentence didn’t get you excited for Ferrell’s latest film then I don’t know what will.

USA Today

USA Today

8.) Ted 2

I personally enjoyed “A Million Ways to Die in the West”, but some saw it was a disappointing follow-up to Seth MacFarlane’s “Ted”. So that lovable swearing CGI bear is back in 2015, and even though Mila Kunis isn’t there I’m sure I’ll still find enough to enjoy with this one.

Variety

Variety

7.) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

This year’s “Mockingjay Part 1” was arguably the best of the series and set up a fantastic confrontation between Katniss’ rebels and President Snow’s government. I wasn’t sold on the first two Hunger Games being able to deliver an enthralling conclusion, but now I really want to see how Katniss’ story ends. Plus, you know, Jennifer Lawrence…

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Variety

6.) Spectre

The latest 007 film features Daniel Craig returning as Bond and Christoph Waltz as the film’s villain. Much like “Get Hard” if that sentence did not get you excited for this film, then you best check your pulse.

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Linkiesta

5.) Furious 7

The seventh entry (duh) into the car-turned-heist franchise, this one is extra enticing because it features horror film director James Wan behind the camera and also is the final film for the late Paul Walker, so seeing how the filmmakers handle that will be interesting. Plus Jason Statham is a vengeful bad guy, so that’s should be a good time.

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Variety

4.) Avengers: Age of Ultron

Aside from “Thor 2”, Marvel can do no wrong. Even if most of my excitement is aimed at 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War”, this Avengers sequel should be fun and looks like it will feature a much darker tone.

Avengers-Age-of-Ultron-Trailer-1-Ultron-Intro-Helmet-Crush-620x370

ScreenRant

3.) The Hateful Eight

The movie that almost never was, Quentin Tarantino was all set to not make this film after the script leaked online. But following some begging from fans and Samuel L. Jackson alike, he caved and thank God for it. Another spaghetti Western, this should be a fine possible send-off for Tarantino, and a solid spiritual follow-up to “Django Unchained”.

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MoviePilot

2.) Ant-Man

All the drama with Edgar Wright’s exit from the project aside, this looks like it could be a lot of fun. It features “Yes-Man” director Peyton Reed replacing Wright, Will Ferrell partner Adam McKay rewriting the script and the impossible-to-hate Paul Rudd playing a superhero. Plus it is part of the aforementioned Marvel Universe. This one could be the next “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

Variety

Variety

1) Star Wars: The Force Awakens

This is in first place on 2015’s most anticipated films by a mile, and for a few reasons. First, it’s Star Wars. The cultural significance of this film is huge, and in 20 years it will be something you will be telling your kids that you saw. Second, it is following the prequel trilogy so it truly can’t be worse, right? And finally the cast is impressive and exciting. Geek God J.J. Abrams writes and directs as motion-capture master Andy Serkis, the charming Adam Driver, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o all join the cast while Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill all reprise their iconic roles. I got jacked just writing this.

Variety

Variety

What movies are you looking forward to in 2015? Comment below!

‘Mockingjay – Part 1’ Best Hunger Games Yet

MockingjayPart1Poster3They say the third time’s the charm. While that is usually not the case with movie franchises (give me one third film that eclipsed the first two which is not named “Return of the King”), the saying does ring true with “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”, which is the best film in the series.

Picking up right where “Catching Fire” left off, Katniss (fan-favorite Jennifer Lawrence) is now in District 13 and has become the symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol, led by the love-to-hate-him President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Liam Hemsworth and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman return as Julianne Moore joins the cast. Francis Lawrence returns in the director’s chair.

The first two Hunger Games films both served their purpose, but I never felt any real connection to the characters, even Katniss. I’ve honestly always found her extremely unlikable and hard to root for, a claim she herself has pointed out on numerous occasions so it isn’t exactly like I’m grasping at straws. However “Mockingjay – Part 1” replaces the PG-13 shakycam action with well-acted scenes involving propaganda and the sparks of a revolution and that is why it is the best entry in the Hunger Games series to date.

The direction in the film is what makes it so good; without director Francis Lawrence, the film would not work. He utilizes fantastic production value and impressive CGI to immerse us in a world that is dark, both in tone and visuals. Whether it is the remains of a bombed district or a secret underground bunker, he knows exactly how and where to place the camera to get the most from every shot. There is also one incredibly impressively executed raid scene inside the Capitol that is as entertaining as it is nerve-wrecking.

Hoffman yet again shows why he was truly a rare talent, and we lost one of the all-time greats. Playing a master of political propaganda, Hoffman has some moments of humor and makes a few fantastic points about society, and he plays well off of the stubborn Katniss. Woody Harrelson once again is the comic relief, and at times stands as the voice of reason for the audience. Southerland is the best he’s been so far as the sinister Snow, and one monologue gave me chills just by the pure evil in his eyes.

Now “Mockingjay – Part 1” isn’t for everyone. There are no kids-killing-kids this time around, and Katniss only shoots her trademark bow and arrow once. It is certainly the slowly burning wick at the start of the exploding powder keg, so there is lots of talking and almost no action. But what that does is make the action scenes that do take place hold even more purpose and weight, and make you even more excited for the epic finale that awaits.

If you open a history book, the American and French Revolutions are some of the most interesting and exciting time periods you can read about. This holds true for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”, as it is tense, emotional and leading to something grand. Does it warrant the final book being broken up into two separate movies? Probably not, but time will tell. Who woulda thunk that the best film in the Hunger Games franchise would be the one that doesn’t even feature the Hunger Games at all?

Critics Rating: 7/10

Hoffman Great, ‘Most Wanted Man’ Not

A_Most_Wanted_Man_Poster            Sometimes a performance in a film is so good that it actually takes away from the film itself, and makes you realize how average the movie surrounding the performance is. It happened with Denzel Washington in “Flight” and it happens with Philip Seymour Hoffman in “A Most Wanted Man”.

Directed by Anton Corbijn and starring Hoffman in his last non-Hunger Games role, “A Most Wanted Man” is a thriller based off a John le Carré novel. When German intelligence receives word of a possible terrorist hiding in the city of Hamburg, Günter Bachmann (Hoffman) and his team must act quickly in order to stop a possible threat, as well as bring down a terrorist funding operation. Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe and Robin Wright all co-star.

In my 20 years on this earth, I have found there are two kinds of espionage thrillers:  ones that are non-stop, pulse pounders, and others that are slow-burning and dry. There really is no in between. Unfortunately, “A Most Wanted Man” falls into the latter category, despite yet another immensely dedicated performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Hoffman plays a German in the film, accent and all, but he is never campy. Despite having seen him in over a dozen films, and having personally graduated from the same American high school he once attended, I never doubted Hoffman as a German. He smokes, drinks and growls his way through the film, portraying a man who sticks to his guns, even when every other person around him is doubting the flimsy evidence. When Hoffman is on screen you cannot take your eyes off of him, and when he is not there you instantly notice his lack of presence.

Unfortunately, the rest of the movie is not as engaging. The film wants to have you constantly guessing whether Hoffman’s target is actually a terrorist or simply just a misunderstood refugee, yet it only really feeds one side of the argument. You never really feel conflicted or question whether or not Hoffman’s team is making a mistake. You know exactly how to feel about the suspect and that takes away from some of the suspense.

The film also takes a while to get going to where it wants to get going to. Early on it makes it out to seem like the whole film will be a manhunt for a character, but then they quickly absolve that situation and then linger for about thirty minutes before finally realizing the big fish they really want to go after has been there the whole time.

There are worse espionage thrillers out there (just look at “Paranoia”, for example), but “A Most Wanted Man” is nothing special or memorable in its own right, either. The real enjoyment from the film comes from watching Hoffman on screen for one of the last times, and with every scene that passes we are reminded that we truly lost a legend. It is just a shame that everything surrounding Hoffman is nowhere near as interesting as his character. The narrative is just too bogged down and most characters outside Hoffman’s are just too underdeveloped.

There is a part in the film where Robin Wright’s CIA agent asks Hoffman, “What is it you want to achieve here?” I wanted to ask the film the same question.

Critics Rating: 5/10