Monthly 4 - December 2014

The end of the year and a great month to end that year.

 

 

1. I saw "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" with my brother Frank and my good friend Chris. The last chapter of the epoc story and it was an amazing movie. It's my least favorite in the series, but it was still wonderful.

2. Off course I celebrated Christmas, as Always with my parents and my brother. I love Christmas. I got some awesome presents. Especially the chopping board with my name on it was great.

3. My mom and I went to Paris for a day. Paris is such a beautiful city and with Christmas it's also gorgeous. It was an exhausting day, but worthed.

 

4. The highlight of this month, probably even of the entire year, happened on december 30th. My best Irene, who I know since I was 6, had a daughter. Her name is Vayèn and she is beautiful. It was such a special moment to see them for the first time. Now I'm "aunt" Joyce, a new role that I'm going to fulfill with joy!

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 152: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Director: Peter Jackson

Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Action

Runtime: 144 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Manu Bennett, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Stephen Fry, Billy Connolly, Mikael Persbrandt, Dan O’Gorman, Bret McKenzie, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Ryan Gage, Sylvester McCoy, William Kircher, Peter Hambleton, Adam Brown, Jed Brophy, Stephen Hunter, Lawrence Makoare, John Bell, Mark Hadlow, John Callen

Description: Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and Company are forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the terrifying Smaug from acquiring a kingdom of treasure and obliterating all of Middle-Earth.

Review: Finally the last chapter of Peter Jackson’s take on the book “The Hobbit” has arrived. After the two previous movies, which were successes, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has turned into an adventure spectacle. It didn’t manage to involve the audience as much, because the story isn’t as good as the other two films.

It was frustrating to see “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” end so abruptly, but understandable for Jackson to leave the confrontation with the dragon for the final movie. The story picks up exactly where we were left. We see how dragon Smaug is destroying Laketown. With that, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has the best opening scene of the three films. The action is spectacular and sometimes filmed from Smaug’s perspective, as if you were on his back. I wouldn’t mind for this sequence to take a bit longer.

The big battle looks amazing and is again filled with new great looking creatures. The battle itself could feel meaningless for viewers, because it’s all for a big amount of gold. Only the people of Laketown have a relatable motive for fighting in the war, because they want to rebuild their lives. When the Orks join the battle, the stakes change.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” had an emotional component, because the dwarves wanted to recapture their home. Because Thorin has changed and he becomes greedy, it’s hard to sympathize him when he changes his mind. You actually understand the decisions Bilbo makes. I also liked that Bard’s role was bigger, who probably is my favorite character of the series.

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is a good conclusion to the trilogy, which emphasizes more on the action then on the emotional journey Biblo and his dwarf friends are on. Even though Peter Jackson has done this many times before, it’s amazing to see how creative he can still be. I think Jackson’s creative mind has no limits. And the ending, that is the beginning of “The Lord of The Rings” trilogy, brings back warm memories. It’s my least favorite of the trilogy, but again entertaining as hell.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (150)

Here are this weeks trailers, the 150th edition of the item. And there are some real great trailers!!!

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Description: The Company of Thorin has reached Smaug's lair; but can Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and the Dwarves reclaim Erebor and the treasure? And, if so, can they hold on to it?

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom

Trailer: Trailer "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" Trailer

Comment: Can't wait.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Description: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage.

Director: Frances Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Moore, Donald Sutherland, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Knepper, Jena Malone, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci

Trailer: Trailer "The Hunger Games: Mockinjay Part 1" Trailer

Comment: Can't wait for this either.

The Longest Week

Description: Conrad Valmont (Jason Bateman) is a man easing into adulthood at the age of 40. The over-educated, under-employed heir to the Valmont Hotel fortune, Conrad is cut off from his allowance following his parents' abrupt divorce and tossed out into the unforgiving streets of the Upper West Side. Luckily, he is taken in by his old friend Dylan (Billy Crudup) and returns the favor by immediately falling for Dylan's girlfriend, Beatrice (Olivia Wilde). As Conrad attempts to woo Beatrice while keeping both their relationship and his bank balance secret, Dylan tries to set him up with Jocelyn (Jenny Slate). Ever committed to the charade that he eventually finds difficult to maintain, Conrad quickly realizes his charm can only extend so far.

Director: Peter Glanz

Starring: Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde, Billy Crudup, Jenny Slate,

Trailer: Trailer "The Longest Week"

Comment: I'm not really sure about this, but I do like Jason Bateman.

Night at the Musuem: Secret of the Tomb

Description: Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

Director: Shawn Levy

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Ben Kingsley, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens

Trailer: Trailer "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb"

Comment: Not sure if we really need it, but I did like the previous two. They were funny.

Into the Woods

Description: A witch (Meryl Streep) conspires to teach important lessons to various characters of popular children's stories including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel.

Director: Rob Marschall

Starring: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski, MacKenzie Mauzy, Billy Magnussen, Tammy Blanchard, Lucy Punch, Richard Glover, Frances de la Tour, Simon Russell Beale, Joanna Riding, Annette Crosbie

Trailer:

Comment: Excited to see this, I love fairytale retellings!