Catching Fire

Katniss is back and she does not disappoint!  Jennifer Lawrence has given us a female heroine we can get behind. She is, to borrow a line from Catching Fire, our mockingjay. 

After devouring the Suzanne Collins novels, I was excited to learn the books were being adapted for the big screen. After The Hunger Games, I was pleased with what I felt was a faithful and entertaining adaptation.  Though The Hunger Games was a solid movie, Lionsgate, the film's production company, brought in a new director and two new screenwriters for the sequel.  And it paid off in spades!! Francis Lawrence, who has done some suspect work in the past (Constantine anyone?), did a fantastic job with Catching Fire!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is better than its predecessor. Filmed in IMAX, it is truly an immersive experience that pulls you into the gritty action with fierce intimacy and keeps you engaged with a beautifully shot and brilliantly produced juggernaut. This film is far more emotionally compelling and less clunky than the first, and delivers as one of the best I've seen this year.

At almost 2 1/2 hours, Catching Fire still feels like it was shortened in order to accommodate theater audiences.  Massively entertaining, this film could have easily been 3 hours in length and probably would have been better for it.  Though done well, there is simply too much going on in the original story to efficiently put it on the screen.  Kudos to Lawrence (Francis, not Jennifer) who does an amazing job in telling the story in a way that feels complete.

As you all know, however, the story is far from complete.  With two films yet to go, we are only half way through Katniss's epic story. Fans of the story will be pleased with the ending of Catching Fire. Those of you who are coming to the party late may need a little help understanding what's going on, so let me encourage you to go back and read the books.

Bottom Line: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is great.  I really enjoyed it!! If you can, pay the extra cash to see it IMAX.   Parents beware, however. The movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. Though the film does not contain large amounts of language or gore, the subject matter is simply too disturbing for young children who will not understand the social and political themes that serve as the story's foundation.  

Thor 2: The Dark World

This pains me to write because I had relatively high expectations for another installment in the epic Marvel catalog. Maybe I was not in the mood or something, but this film simply fell flat for me. Perhaps it was just me, but I've read numerous reviews by folks who make statements like, "The best movie of the year!" and "Way better than the first!". My first thought is that those people were stoned. The best part of the film was a 15 second clip featuring Captain America. Yes, the Dark Elves were way cool and quite menacing. but the story was uninspired and left me unfulfilled.

I'm not going to completely blame this on director Alan Taylor, but this is his first attempt at a major action film. And you can tell. Though the film gets decidedly better in the second half, it can't seem to overcome its murky beginning.  Here's a piece of advice: Superhero films DO NOT have to rely SO HEAVILY on CGI.  There's a lot to be said for real character development, dramatic acting, and storytelling.  Too bad Taylor didn't follow my advice.

Other than the perfect Tom Hiddleston as Loki, the rest of the cast ranges between good and lackluster. Hemsworth is obviously great as Thor but he has absolutely no chemistry with Natalie Portman. Stellan Skarsgard provides some hilarious moments and Jaimie Alexander looks good in Asgard attire.

Overall, Thor has never been my favorite Marvel character so it's no surprise that I don't love this franchise. However, I really enjoyed the first film as well as Thor's contribution to The Avengers. The Dark World just didn't quite capture my full attention.

If you're looking for something to take your teenage son to see, this is a good choice. It was entertaining, don't get me wrong. Just don't expect to be awed.   Oh...and I almost forgot!  Make sure to stay for BOTH of the extra scenes!!

Looking for Something to Rent?

Ever find yourself standing at the RedBox with a confused look on your face? Do you spend an hour staring blankly at the Netflix list with no idea what to put in your queue? Well, have no fear! Chris is here!! Able to shorten your DVD decision time with a single ordinary opinion!  I've done all the hard work for you. No more wasting your valuable time or money with a poor rental decision.

Now, what you're about to read is not my typical film review. In fact, for more in depth analysis, you'll have to message me or give me a call. Instead, I'm about to drop some knowledge on you with a few down and dirty opinions of some current releases. So, get ready! Grab and pencil and take some notes.

 

The East
Really interesting story about corporate espionage and environmental terrorism. I enjoyed this film on the flight from Atlanta to Quito, Ecuador. It features a great cast, highlighted by Alexander Skarsgard and Ellen Page. Definitely worth your time.





Hangover 3
Much like Hangover 2, if you were able to make a montage of all of the Zach Galifianakis lines and just watch those, it would be a hilarious 15 minutes of your day. Otherwise, don't bother.

The Internship
If you liked Wedding Crashers, you'll be disappointed with this. It features the magical tandem of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson so The Intersnhip looks promising. But it's like setting up a hot date with a beautiful girl on Match.com only to find out when you meet her at the restaurant that she is actually a tranny with a fetish for unicorns.
 
 
The Purge
Great premise with awesome potential to explore some difficult questions about the human condition, society, civic responsibility and the political and economic factors that influence them. This movie addresses none of those. Absolutely terrible. Seldom has a movie had such an intriguing and compelling concept and fallen so far short of its possibilities.




This is the End
With the exception of a few funny moments from various members of this epic ensemble cast, this movie is terrible. In fact, the only thing that kept running through my mind during this crap fest was, "WHEN is the end?!?"
                                 

 
Tyrannosaur
Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but if you can hang in there through the language and THICK British accents, you'll find a powerful film about the weight and consequences of our human weakness. This film is brilliantly acted and expertly directed. Desperation, fear, jealously, rage, hope and redemption are woven together to result in an overlooked but must-see film.



White House Down
This is the most realistic film about a terrorist attack on the White House that you will ever see.  Just kidding. This version makes the Gerard Butler version of the SAME MOVIE look like a documentary.  It's funny and entertaining, with Channing Tatum making another solid stride toward becoming the Schwarzenegger of the modern age. (And that's a good thing!) But it's a little too long and because of it's too often reliance on comic relief, falls short of it's more dramatic cousin.

Disconnect





Somewhere between the production of this film and its reception by massive numbers of people, there was a disconnect. And that is huge shame! Screened at both Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, Disconnect is one of the best films of the year! And no one has seen it!

Directed by Henry Alex Rubin, this timely film intertwines three stories where the characters collide in a web of choices and consquences. Disconnect is unashamedly provocative and emotionally powerful as it immerses you in a world driven and controlled by technology and the potential dangers that accompany it. In a world chracterized by greater access, flimsy relationships, and little accountability, Disconnect strikes a chord that cannot be ignored.

The cast is superb, the soundtrack is perfectly complimentary, the script is solid, the characters are believable...the list goes on and on.

Disconnect is an absolute MUST-SEE, especially if you have children. If you feel they are mature enough to handle the subject matter, watch it with them. Disconnect will promote meaningful and needed converation for families looking to protect themselves from such dangers. NOTE: This film is rated R and features adult language, nudity, drug use, and disturbing scenes. Just because I encouraged you to watch it with your kids, I didn't want you to confuse it with a family film.

Scenic Route

For a film that many critics slammed, Scenic Route was well worth the trip to the Redbox. (See what I did there?) Josh Duhamel and Dan Fogler team up to bring us the story of two long-time, but recently distant friends stranded in the desert with a brewing schism of their relationship looming over the horizon. With fledging directors Kevin and Michael Goetz at the helm, Scenic Route offers solid lead performances and a thoughtful script that poses weighty questions about life and the choices that shape our journey. For a film that most people will overlook, I was pleasantly surprised.

Josh Duhamel, whose career has been all over the map, delivers an emotional haymaker in what could be his best performance yet. Dan Fogler, who has made a decent living as a voice actor, comes through with a compelling reason for us to forget the horrible Balls of Fury.

Unsettling and relentless in nature, Scenic Route forcefully pushes you along a road of brutal self-discovery and examines the thin line between humanity and the instinct to survive. Where does this road lead? Salvation? Damnation? You’ll have to see it to find out!

Prisoners

I've often said that if anyone ever harmed one of my children I could easily end up in prison. The only thing keeping me from savage revenge would be the fact that my remaining family would still need me to be a father. This film forces you to consider what you would do. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners  is a forcefully paced thriller that grabs around the throat and drags you to its stunning conclusion.

The stakes of this film could not be higher. When two young girls go missing, Keller Dover (Jackman) takes matters into his own hands when he feels the police are not doing enough to bring them home.  As time passes and the police continue to be puzzled by the girls' disappearance, the desperation mounts. Challenging the audience to consider its own response to such a traumatic reality, Dover pushes the limits as he searches for answers.

At times, this film is difficult to watch, but you will be compelled to hang in there until its riveting final moments.  Well-written, chilling, and ruthless in its emotional content, Prisoners  brings together a wonderful cast, with Hugh Jackman clubbing you over the head with a stunningly powerful performance.

Prisoners  is an absolute must-see. It is quite possibly Hugh Jackman's best performance to date. It certainly puts Villeneuve on the map as a director to watch.  Take a Xanax and go see this! Then go home and hug your children!

The Iceman

 

Based on real life events spanning 20 years, The Iceman details the story of Richard Kuklinski who leaves his job as a film lab technician to become a notorious contract killer for the mafia. For years, Kuklinski builds a reputation for his brutal cold blooded professionalism, all the while raising an adoring family who are kept in the dark about his true career and identity. Though Kuklinski desperately tries to keep his two lives separate, circumstances propel those disparate lives toward a terrible but inevitable collision as the consequences of his life's choices finally catch up to him.

Screened at the Venice, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals, The Iceman was received in limited release in US theaters. And though it made a horrible showing in terms of box office receipts, don’t let its lack of commercial success keep you from a magnificently acted film.

Michael Shannon, whom you will recognize from the recent Man of Steel, is simply great. His unnerving, chilling depiction of Kuklinski is riveting. Shannon’s cold dedication to his heinous craft is matched only by his intense commitment to and love for his family. Chris Evans, Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, James Franco, and Stephen Dorff all serve admirably in supporting roles.

Directed by Ariel Vromen, The Iceman poses a difficult question that an examination of many of history’s monsters force us to consider: Are some men beyond redemption? Or is there a redemptive quality alive in everyone?