THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE | MOVIE REVIEW [SPOILER]

– ★★★★½

 ‘I died watching the book’s magnificence re-engineered masterfully on the silver screen.’

I’ve been a Hunger Games fan ever since before the movies came out. I’ve read the entire series with no halls barred from day one to day four neglecting my duties as an online teacher that day, and I’ve no regrets, just pure fascination on the entire series.

The Hunger Games movie came out with a blast, injecting a political and showbiz paradigm of a new America called Panem with an awesome movie that garnered 83% fresh in rottentomatoes.com and was followed up by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie this year.

Catching Fire is a follow up movie telling the aftermath series of events right after the first film and how Katniss Everdeen tries to outrun the trauma she’s gotten into and tries to be neutral on the recent spark of revolution she’s given to the citizens of Panem and the desperation of the government to kill off that uprising including Katniss herself.

Why was The Hunger Games book and movie a trend lately? Because of the unique story of a new dystopian tyrant world ruled by one central successful district called Capitol and the rest are slaves or workers for them. And it cannot linger away from most political transgressions in most countries nowadays; only less showbiz killing and showoffs on cam. Also the addition of the effervescent Jennifer Lawrence who’s stunning and down-to-earth celebrity who tries to concisely diminish the usual celebrity ladder to fame which is to look like a skinned doll and try to be delusion in front of the camera: no, JenLaw is not that type, and I can say she is a role model for us human beings who doesn’t need to look perfect in order to please everyone.

Months ago I’ve seen and been impressed by the trailers of the movie and how I was not afraid that it would fail me as a fan and how will it be true to the book. And then I’ve read fantastic reviews from critics all around the world telling how good the movie was… until today.

Here’s what I can say to the movie.

THE MIRAGE

What I love about reading books that’ll be turned into movies is for the reason that I want my imagination to be brought to life; when you read something, you promote yourself to an illusionary world where you are the director and the camera man. When I precisely have a vision on a revolutionary epic story and will be translated to the silver screen; it makes me excited.

But due to the fact that, let’s be honest, an adaptation of a film from a book doesn’t need to be exactly what the book says since the true meaning of adaptation is not a Xerox copy; instead, the entire plot is taken into precautionary re-telling of the tale with small modifications but intends not to destroy the said plot.

But this one, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie is a true manifestation that you could adapt and Xerox at the same time! The movie did not go far away from the book, and still has the essence and contents in it.

The mirage of the events of the story inside my mind happens to look SOMEWHAT exactly in the movie! I have to applaud the director, Francis Lawrence, for doing such an amazing job to stay true to the book. Not all scenes happen to look exactly what I imagined, but close to that of the movie, especially the arena.

THE ACTING

Jennifer Lawrence won a best actress, b*tch. JenLaw is pleasing to me seeing her acting in all the hurtful emotions displaying a traumatized girl was a bravo.

And the rest of the cast were amazing in delivering their characters. I applaud Phillip Seymour Hoffman who played the role of the illusionary antagonist, Plutarch, who, I thought was scary and if I hadn’t read the book, I wouldn’t know that he’s part of the rebellion especially when he speaks with Donald Sutherland who played President Snow creating a nonchalant tension in the way he looks and speaks that displayed arrogance and evil-ish look.

THE DIRECTION AND MUSICAL SCORE

Thankfully, they’ve also changed into a perfect director, Francis Lawrence, who gave out the essence of the book beautifully. It’s one of those action packed books that they didn’t ruin at all. Instead, they magnify every scene that still captures your attention with strong musical score.

OVERALL

In totality, I was beyond amazed by the film and how it was taken from book to the screen with amazement! Not all my favorite books that were brought to the silver screen were this epic. I die watching the book’s magnificence re-engineered masterfully on the silver screen.

CRITIQUE – 4 ½ /5

Carrie | Movie Review

(This is going to be a review that will not compare from the original movie)

MAJOR SPOILERS

“Bloody, interesting yet lacking.”

Carrie is an American supernatural horror film about a girl who discovers she has telekinesis; a power of the mind to control things, and her struggle through high school where she experienced a modern kind of bullying especially about her first bloody period. Carrie does not only struggle at school but also directly at home with her mother who’s got some ‘mental illness’ due to being too much enticed religiously, pathetically thinking that wearing a sleeveless is a mortal sin. The film was released on October 18, 2013, after postponing the March 15, 2013 release.

Carrie stars Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) as the notoriously famous Carrie White and the Oscar Nominee and Emmy Award best actress Julianne Moore (Game Change) as Margaret White, Carrie’s mother.

Carrie is classic redux of the 1976 film and an adaptation of Stephen King’s classic in the same name.

Yet, the popularity of the first adaptation (1976) in other countries did not reach to where I live, therefore, I haven’t seen, heard of read anything about Carrie. It’s a relatively good perspective so that no comparison will be made out from this review, which I appreciate in doing, and I appreciate in reading. Not to disrespect Stephen King or the creators of the first adaptation; but it would be fair for me to review a film as it is.

I noticed how deep the storyline of the story was. From Margaret White’s ignorance of pregnancy, which she thought was cancer; to Carrie’s dreadful first period which she thought was some kind of disease. It also imparts the new age of bullying in the United States that includes technological ways (Cyber Bullying), which demonstrates the range of the modern matter that causes new wave adversary in youngsters.

The build-up of the story was somehow a bore, but thankful for the length of the movie that was only an hour and a half which defer viewers from total boredom.

Then the intensity came where (as everyone expected) the prom began, and Carrie, herself, started to rebel from her mother’s irrational, impractical and nonsensical guard. The part where the pig’s blood splattered on Carrie’s head that had been repeated three times in the movie was interesting and useful that gives the awe moment. Then from there, the climax of the redux extricates from the deepening build-up.

The climax did appease me, somehow, and how Chloe Moretz portrayed a possessed-like girl that murdered numerous of people in one setting and that she lost to her senses due to the circumstances. The plenty of action engrossed me in my seat, making me bend forward to wait for that climatic ‘umpf’ moment. There were loads of bloody sparklers and I enjoyed every bit of vengeance Carrie made from her intimidators.

How grueling the mass murder happened in the movie, gives excitement. Up to the portion where she gets the revenge to the biggest bully of all in the film. But, oh, it was just a normal way to die and it was one of the part where I find lack; I wished there was more of a triumphant feel having the ultimate vengeance from you enemy. (I waited for a part where Carrie tells her enemy, “BITCH!” before she died.)

But no, it was just a simple death. I preferred a death in front of number of people or something else. And they have the choice to redirect the movie away from the past recreation/adaptation of the book. (Yet still Carrie fan boys and girls will be frustrated with my idea for sure).

And another lack I felt was the lack of depth from Carrie’s bullying story. Carrie being thrown tampons and napkins was too much, but that was just the start of it all. The online video leak (Cyber Bullying) did not even take part of a strong portrayal of modern bullying which causes even suicides to some (sorry). But it was just a useless instrument that did not give a strong voice which should be the most important fact of all, since, let’s face it, Cyber Bullying nowadays is the trend on how to crush someone’s dignity and entire persona. That should’ve been emphasized.

The acting was not believable either which roots the blame to the directing. Except for Julianne Moor who gave a chilling performance, applauded her in the movie.

The movie ended with me still hanging on my seat still waiting for that climatic ‘umpf’ moment. But it did not come.

The entire movie was interesting, (from a perspective of non-comparison review) yet not satisfying and gives you a feel of ‘okay, that was it’. I am much disappointed with how the movie went since it stars one of my new favourite actresses, Chloe Moretz. And also the fact of the in-time issue which is Bullying and how awful it is and lastly, I fancy revenge stories. All of those enticed me to watch the movie. But it failed me somehow.

I wonder how fans of the original movie react to the remake.

CRITIQUE:

Story     –              6

Cinematography              –              7

Musical Score    –              8

Acting   –              7

Direction              –              7

Visual Effects (YES)          –              8

OVERALL              –              7.2