10s Movie Review - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Director: Francis Lawrence
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Drama/ Dystopian
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Sam Claflin,, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Description: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

Review: The first film in “The Hunger Games” franchise was a huge success and was really good. The second movie gets a new director, Gary Ross steps down and makes room for Francis Lawrence. 
Instead of getting in to the action right away, Lawrence takes time to look back on the happenings from the first film. The surprising climax of the 74th Hunger Games has changed a lot and it’s not over for Katniss and Peeta just yet. Together they have to visit all the districts for a victory tour, something they both don’t like doing. The people love Katniss and president Snow is anything but happy about it. 

Plutarch Heavensbee is the new game maker and decides to make the 75th Hunger Games into something unforgettable. Together with president Snow they decide to let former winners from each district fight it out in the arena. Because Katniss is the only female winner from district 12, she has to enter. And Peeta joins her again, when he volunteers after Haymitch was chosen. 

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is a case of bigger and better. But also visually it brings us more. No shaky cam here, which make the actions scenes even better. And the new arena brings a lot more variation and new dangers. The story is very true to its source material. 

It takes some time before the actual battle starts, but the movie never bores. This is also a big thank you to Jennifer Lawrence, who shines once again as Katniss. A tough heroine, who can also be vulnerable and it’s easy to identify with her. This franchise separates itself from other young adult films that were based on books. The film also adds some great new characters, like Finnick, Beetee, Plutarch and Johanna. 

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” was already my favorite book in the series, it’s a fantastic film as well.

Rating: 5 / 5

00s Movie Review - The Ruins

Director: Carter Smith
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Adventure
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson

Description: A leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when a group of friends and a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 6: A FILM BASED ON A BOOK
 
Review: “The Ruins” is based on the book by author Scott B Smith. Two girlfriends, Amy and Stacy, are vacationing in Mexico with their boyfriends Jeff and Eric. Relaxing by the pool, sunbathing and drinking cocktail; heaven on earth. To end the last say still somewhat active, they decide to tag along with a German tourist, whose brother is working at an archaeologic ruin. This tendril-covered pyramid from the Mayan civilization is not on any tourist maps. But they are in for one last adventure before flying back home.

Because four young friends vacationing before ending up in the slaughterhouse is not terribly original, a solution has been found. The intro is pretty quick and very early on in the movie, the end up at the ruins. And that is where the movie really begins.

While there, the sense of adventure is silently replaced by claustrophobia. Fear of leaving the ruin, fear of staying there as well. Things gets creepy and bloody and the film is a lot more surprising and original as you might expect.

The characters aren’t that fleshed out though. This is not because of the actors, because they are convincing enough. But the dialogues are a but wooden and the characters lack background information. Jeff is the only one we get to know a bit better, but it’s still more on the surface.

Besides this, “The Ruins” is a pretty good horror movie, scary enough and it has just the right length. I enjoyed it.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - Pride & Prejudice

Director: Joe Wright
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Keira Knightley Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Judi Dench, Rupert Friend, Carey Mulligan, Kelly Reilly, Talulah Riley, Penelope Wilton

Description: Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?

Review: After the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson and the successful mini-series from 1995 with Colin Firth, this is the newest incarnation of Jane Austen’s literary classic “Pride & Prejudice”.

Keira Knightley, as Elizabeth Bennet, plays her biggest role to date. She is the point of your attention and Knightley shows us she can handle the pressure. Especially in the more dramatic scenes she stands strong, even if she shares the screen with the experienced Judi Dench.

The chemistry between Keira Knightley and her on-screen Mr. Darcy, portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen, is great. Every time the two get closer, you feel butterflies in your stomach. Just a look or response is enough to know what they feel.

Both Knightley and Macfadyen are perfectly cast in their roles, but Rosamund Pike also did a wonderful job. She shines and this is the movie I discovered her in. Judi Dench plays her role as arrogant and respectable Lady Catherine very well, like we expect from her. Tom Hollander as the typical Mr. Collins, is responsible for a more humoristic touch. His character is incapable of saying anything spontaneous, which is especially funny when he has to share some more emotional matters. Then there is Brenda Blethyn as the neurotic Bennet mother, who wants only one thing: her daughters to be married with a preferable wealthy and good looking man.

The camerawork is impeccable and the music fits the style and time period of the film perfectly.
As a fan of the novel, I’m very pleased with this movie version of “Pride & Prejudice”. You might call me a hopeless romantic, but it’s one of my favorite films of all-time.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Howl's Moving Castle

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Romance/ Fantasy

Runtime: 119 minutes

Year: 2004

Starring: Christian Bale, Jeanne Simmons, Emily Mortimer, Billy Crystal, Blythe Danner, Lauren Bacall, Josh Hutcherson, Jena Malone

Description: When an unconfident young woman (Emily Mortimer) is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch (Lauren Bacall), her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard (Christian Bale) and his companions in his legged, walking castle.  

Review: Within the field of Japanese animated film or anime there is an enormous variety of genres, and a dazzling difference in quality. While Foxkids daily bombards youthful viewers with yet another uninspired Pokémon clone, films from the renowned Studio Ghibli are screened at prestigious film festivals. Hayao Miyazaki is considered the master within the anime world, and rightly so. “Howl’s Moving Castle”, an adaptation of the book by British fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones, will not achieve a classis status, but is again a wonderful animation.

“Howl’s Moving Castle” is set in an imaginary Central European kingdom at the beginning of the 20^th century, a fairy tale variant of Austria or Hungary. The worlds of magic and industry are still intertwined: while people are already moving by steam train and flying machine, the enigmatic wizard Howl hides his walking castle amidst the misty mountains. That castle is a true piece of Miyazaki’s art: a giant, pulsating huddle of metal and wood, held together and propelled by a demonic force.

The timid young seamstress Sophie accidentally comes into contact with Howl himself, and is therefore transformed by his enemy, the Witch of the Waste, into an ancient female. To break the spell, she sets off in her new form on her way to the mountains: to find Howl, or another magician who can break her spell.

As an old Sophie finds out that although her body no longer cooperates, she has suddenly become a lot more balanced and is no longer surprised by a lot of things. She finds Howl’s castle and in no time at all makes herself a housekeeper. Together with the little boy Markl and the fire demon Calcifer, she forms the entourage of the charming but freaky Howl, who sets off at night to face the advancing war in the region. Little by little, Sophie finds out what magical powers are at work in the kingdom and what the alliance between Howl and Calcifer means. And as always with Miyazaki, hardly anyone is who he seems at first sight.

Another ingredient in every Miyazaki movie are the wonderful and often funny characters, and in “Howl’s Moving Castle” too. An absolute favorite is Calcifer, the mighty demon that sees itself reduced to a cozy fire. He is hilarious and endearing at the same time. But the contrast withing the main characters is great. Especially Howl remains a sketchy figure who does not really come to life, even though he is provided with a complex background story. Why he cares so much about the war and what all this has to do with his monstrous side, remains in the dark. There are many elements and characters in the film that are not really well-executed. This makes the story more obscure. The film loses a bit of logic towards the end.  

All this does not alter the fact that “Howl’s Moving Castle” is still worth watching. It’s not a masterpiece, like many of Miyazaki’s films are, but it can still easily enchant an audience with its beautiful animation and images.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - !37: The Neon Demon

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Christine Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Alessandro Nivola, Desmond Harrington

Description: When aspiring model Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.

Review: Director Nicolas Winding Refn was really successful with “Drive” in 2011, with which he won at the Cannes Filmfestival. Two years later “Only God Forgives” was critized more, because of the excessive violence and the lack of narrative. “The Neon Demon”, his newest film, got both applaus and boohs at the festival.
The very young and somewhat naïve Jesse moved to Los Angeles by herself, to become a model. Photographers and designers are lining up for her extraordinary beauty and her collegues aren’t happy about it.
“The Neon Demon” is a dark and twisted story about temptation and power. A film about obsession and madness. I once read that it’s “Black Swan” meets “American Psycho”. I can see that.
“The Neon Demon” looks stunning and intrigues the viewer with hypnotizing images and music. The movie has a disturbing twist and it’s a film that will get under your skin.
Elle Fanning does a great job as the leading character. Many scenes in the movie have an artificial feel, but it fits the theme perfectly. “The Neon Demon” never tops “Drive” or even equalizes it, but it’s an original thriller with horror elements.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Characters from "The Hunger Games" Series

I love “The Hunger Games” books and the movies. I wanted to take a look at the characters and rank them. Here are my five favorite characters from “The Hunger Games” franchise.

5. Johanna Mason

Johanna Mason won the Hunger Games for District 7, when she pretended to be a weakling. When only a few tributes were left, she showed her true skills. Johanna was send to the Quarter Quell to protect Katniss.

 

 

4. Haymitch Abernathy

Haymitch is Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the preparation of the Hunger Games. He won the games himself ones, he was the first winner for District 12. Haymitch is a drunk cynic and he doesn’t have faith in Katniss at first.

 

 

3. Beetee Latier

Beetee doesn’t look like the biggest threat, but his intelligence is something to watch out for. He is very skilled with a wire, which eventually saves him and his allys in the Quarter Quell.

 

 

2. Finnick Odair

Finnick was the winner of the 65th Hunger Games and the youngest ever to win. Katniss was hesitant to make Finnick her ally in the Quarter Quell, but he proved to be valuable. Finnick is a key person in the rebellion.

 

 

1. Katniss Everdeen

Off course Katniss, she is every girls heroine. Katniss doesn’t want to be a hero though, she just wants to survive these awful games. She is very loyal to her family and friends and often fights for them instead of herself.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Cinna, Rue, Effie Trinkett, Gale Hawthorne, Plutarch Heavensbee, Mags

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 22: Inherent Vice

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 148 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Eric Roberts, Benicio Del Toro, Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short

Description: In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles detective Larry "Doc" Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Review: When you see the name of director Paul Thomas Anderson on a movie poster, you have certain expectations. He has movies like “Magnolia”, “Boogie Nights” and “There Will Be Blood” on his resume.

With “Inherent Vice” Anderson chose a book to movie adaptation. Books by author Thomas Pynchon are known for its complexity, so it’s not that strange this is the first adaptation.

The seventies have just begun and we join private detective Larry Sportello, better known as Doc. His ex-girlfriend Shasta walks in and starts telling him about a collusion to get her wealthy, married lover into a psychiatric facility. Doc decides to investigate. Before he knows it, he is surrounded by strippers, neo-Nazis, hostile cops and eccentric cults.

“Inherent Vice” makes you feel like that one sober person at a party. The more you try to hold on to a logic story development, the more frustrated you’ll get. And the long duration will also add to that confusion. You really need a ‘go with the flow’ mentality.

When it comes to style and setting, “Inherent Vice” doesn’t disappoint. Like he did in “Boogie Nights”, again he shows us how masterful he can take the audience to a certain time period. And the soundtrack is also worth mentioning.

“Inherent Vice” is not a movie for just everyone, it’s for a selective audience. It’s not one of my favorite Anderson movies, but definitely not bad.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Moments: "Pride & Prejudice"

This film is based on my favorite novel, written by Jane Austen. Sometimes I wished I could step into this time and experience Elizabeth Bennet's life. Here are my favorite moments from "Pride & Prejudice".

Moment # 1: The ball
The whole Bennet family is going to a ball where they meet Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Jane gets the attention of Mr. Bingley pretty soon, when Elizabeth tries to talk to his friend Mr. Darcy. When she asks him if he dances, he answers: “Not if I can help it”. Later Elizabeth overhears a conversation between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, where Bingley is stating his affection for Jane. When he tells Mr. Darcy that Elizabeth is also a beautiful woman, Mr. Darcy says she’s barely tolerable.

Moment # 2: Discussing Mr. Bingley
After the ball, Jane and Elizabeth are in bed under the covers talking about Mr. Bingley. If he really liked Jane or not. Elizabeth is glad that she never has to see Mr. Darcy again.

Moment # 3: Mr. Darcy gives Elizabeth a hand
When Jane is visiting Mr. Bingley’s sister, she has to stay in bed al day because she’s ill. Elizabeth, and later Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth’s three younger sisters, visit Jane. When they leave Netherfield, Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth in the carriage, which surprises her. When Mr. Darcy walks away he stretches the hand he offered her.

Moment # 4: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dance
At Mr. Bingley’s ball, Mr. Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance. She can’t believe she agreed to it. While dancing they start talking and when they stop talking, they dance as if they are the only two people in the room.

Moment # 5: Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth
The Bennet family is having breakfast when Mr. Collins is trying to get their attention. He wants to speak with Elizabeth alone. He asks her to marry him, but Elizabeth declines. Mrs. Bennet is mad at Elizabeth and wants Mr. Bennet to convince her to marry Mr. Collins. Mr. Bennet doesn’t want Elizabeth to marry him and Mrs. Bennet thinks she’s ungrateful.

Moment # 6: Mr. Darcy visits Elizabeth
Elizabeth is staying with her friend Charlotte and her new husband Mr. Collins. When they are out of town, Elizabeth is visited by Mr. Darcy. Not with a purpose, because he seems pretty uneasy and nervous. When he leaves very soon after arriving, Charlotte asks Elizabeth what she did to poor Mr. Darcy,

Moment #7: I love you
Elizabeth hears stories about Mr. Darcy and she runs away. In the pouring rain Mr. Darcy follows her. He tells Elizabeth that she’s the only reason he came, that he loves her and wants to marry her. Elizabeth says no because Mr. Darcy was the reason for Mr. Bingley not proposing to Jane yet.

Moment # 8: Elizabeth visits Mr. Darcy’s house
While traveling with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth visit Mr. Darcy’s house. When they see a bust of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth can’t help but stare at it and admitting he’s a very handsome man. Not much later she sees Mr. Darcy and his sister Georgiana.

Moment # 9: Mr. Bingley proposes to Jane
Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy visit the Bennet family. Jane is hoping for a reunion, but both men leave very quickly. Not soon after they leave, Mr. Bingley returns requesting to speak with Jane privately. He asks her to marry her and Jane says a thousand times yes.

Moment # 10: You’ve bewitched me
After a tumultuous night, Elizabeth goes outside. In the breaking dawn she sees Mr. Darcy walking towards her. He tell Elizabeth that everything he did, he did for her. And then quote: “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on”. He kisses Mr. Darcy’s hand and the lean into each other.

Moment # 11: Elizabeth loves Mr. Darcy
Elizabeth is waiting for Mr. Darcy outside of Mr. Bennet’s office. When he leaves the room, Elizabeth enters and while closing the door he smiles at her and she looks at him. Mr. Bennet doesn’t understand why she wants to marry Mr. Darcy, because he thought she didn’t like him. Elizabeth says that she loves him and that they are very much alike. Mr. Bennet gives his blessing and is very happy to see Elizabeth like this.

Moment # 12: Mrs. Darcy (U.S. version only)
A dialogue between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy: How are you this evening, my dear?
Elizabeth Bennet: Very well... although I wish you would not call me "my dear."
Mr. Darcy: [chuckles] Why?
Elizabeth Bennet: Because it's what my father always calls my mother when he's cross about something.
Mr. Darcy: What endearments am I allowed?
Elizabeth Bennet: Well let me think..."Lizzie" for every day, "My Pearl" for Sundays, and..."Goddess Divine"... but only on very special occasions.
Mr. Darcy: And... what should I call you when I am cross? Mrs. Darcy...?
Elizabeth Bennet: No! No. You may only call me "Mrs. Darcy"... when you are completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy.
Mr. Darcy: [he snickers] Then how are you this evening... Mrs. Darcy?
[kisses her on the forehead]
Mr. Darcy: Mrs. Darcy...
[kisses her on the right cheek]
Mr. Darcy: Mrs. Darcy...
[kisses her on the nose]
Mr. Darcy: Mrs. Darcy...
[kisses her on the left cheek]
Mr. Darcy: Mrs. Darcy...
[finally kisses her on the mouth]

Favorite Moment: Moment # 10: You've bewitched me

In the Picture: The Characters from "Pride & Prejudice"

"Pride & Prejudice", written by Jane Austen, is my favorite books and the 2005 version is also one of my favorite movies. There are so many great characters in this film, that I had to bring them up in this item.

Elizabeth Bennet
Played by: Keira Knightley
Elizabeth is the heroine of the story. She is very intelligent and witty and she thinks she's meant for something more then just marry a man and become like her mother. Elizabeth is convinced that she should never marry unless she feels compelled to do so by true love.

Mr. Darcy
Played by: Matthew Macfadyen
Mr. Darcy is a wealthy, reserved and intelligent man. He is a very proud man and slights Elizabeth before falling in love with her. To strangers he can look a bit arrogant.

Jane Bennet
Played by: Rosamund Pike
Jane is the eldest of the Bennet sisters and the one considered the most beautiful. She is very reserved, gentle and doesn't like to show her emotions. Jane likes to only see the good in people.

Mary Bennet
Played by: Talulah Riley
Mary is the third sister, loves reading and is a very shy girl. She hates being compared to her sisters and doesn't care for anything they care for. She hates balls and is very unsure about her appearance. Mary likes to impress others with her schoolwork and limited musical skills

Catherine "Kitty" Bennet
Played by: Carey Mulligan
Kitty is the fourth in the line of Bennet sisters. She generally follows the leads of her younger sister Lydia and is also much like her.

Lydia Bennet
Played by: Jena Malone
Lydia is the youngest sister and extremely naive. She is flirtatious, obstinate and reckless. She actually does want to marry a rich man someday and is the first Bennet sister that does.

Mr. Bennet
Played: Donald Sutherland
Mr. Bennet is a true gentleman, the father of five daughters and husband to a hysterical wife. He does want his daughters to be happy with a man someday, but believes what Elizabeth believes: there needs to be love involved. Mr. Bennet is especially very close with his two eldest daughters.

Mrs. Bennet
Played by: Brenda Blethyn
Mrs. Bennet has only one wish for her daughters: that they marry a preferably wealthy man, as soon as possible. She has high hopes for Jane and doesn't understand Elizabeth when she declined a proposal from Mr. Collins, a man Elizabeth simply didn't care for.

Charlotte Lucas
Played by: Claudie Blakly
Charlotte is Elizabeth's closest friend. She ends up marrying Mr. Collins instead, something that Elizabeth doesn't understand. Charlotte doesn't have the beauty of the Bennet sisters and just has to settle for anything less that comes by. She prefers having a home and security.

Charles Bingley
Played by: Simon Woods
Charles is a young, wealthy man and a very close friend of Mr. Darcy. Charles doesn't hide his feelings and shows his affection to Jane Bennet. He is a kind and good hearted man and truly loves Jane.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Played by: Judy Dench
Lady Catherine is Mr. Darcy's aunt and patroness of Mr. Collins. She is dominant and very proud. She had planned for her daughter and Mr. Darcy to marry, ever since they were children and isn't happy that Darcy shows interest in Elizabeth.

Favorite Character: Elizabeth Bennet

Movie Tip #11 - Pride & Prejudice

Director: Joe Wright

Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Rosamund Pike, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Carey Mulligan, Jena Malone, Judi Dench, Talulah Riley

Description: The story is based on Jane Austen's novel about five sisters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet - in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when a wealthy young man, Mr. Bingley, and his best friend Mr. Darcy arrive in their neighborhood.

Review: I secretly adore every Jane Austen story, with "Pride & Prejudice" being my favourite. This is the remake from 2006, with Keira Knigthley as Elizabeth Bennet. She's a very loveable actress and she portrays Lizzy the way Austen discribed her in the book. Mr. Darcy is perfect, a man you love to hate and hate to love. Matthew MacFadyen (I didn't know him), is a wonderfull Mr. Darcy. It's a great lovestory, a great movie.