THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY PT 1 REVIEW

"The Hunger Games, Mockingjay part 1," stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hensworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Sam Clafflin, Natalie Dormer, Juliane Moore, and Philip Seymore Hoffman. Its the 3rd movie out of the 4 Hunger movies. And while the franchise is incredibly successful, with the first two movies grossing hundred of millions, I am annoyed they felt the need to break this third story into two parts. The book does not warrant that kind of effort, and so it smacks of hollywood greed. And "Mockingjay," I would tell you is the most boring of the three books as it is the only one without a games, so there fore, the stakes are not nor do not seem as high. But lets get to the story.

"Mockingjay" starts where, "Catching Fire," left off. A PTSD ridden Katniss having nightmares about the games and leaving Peta behind. With the careful manipulation of the people around her, she agrees to be the face of the revolution. It means shes required to shoot commercials that will be broadcast  in the other districts in the hopes of rallying the people.  I do like this film, but its my least favorite out of the franchise. It has cutting room floor issues... there were at least four scenes that should have been shorter. The script chose some sections of the book that I don't think served the story. And where the ended, while obvious, left a somewhat scary feel to the film. And not in that "Luke I am your father!" kind of way. They should've just made this into one film! However.... The acting is really good. Lawrence, Hutcherson and Hemsworth are all terrific, with Donald Sutherland giving a particularly creepy performance, and Philip Seymore Hoffmann giving one of his last performances. You watch knowing he's gone, and it lends a little saddness to the film.

THE VERDICT
"The Hunger Games, Mockingjay PT. 1," Has some issues with editing, and some of the writing, but for the most part, is a worthy addition to the story franchise. I just wish they hadn't split it, and we didn't have to wait a whole year for part 2. I give it a B.

INTERSTELLAR REVIEW

Like it or not, films seem to be getting longer, and longer from the big directors. And clocking in at 2 hours and 50 minutes is Christopher Nolan's new film, "Interstellar." I know its length might make some people cringe but this is the man responsible for the "Dark Knight," trilogy, "Inception," and "Memento," so I had to give it a try.  Here's the story

Its the future, Earth is running out of food. We need to find more food. Cooper,(McConaughey) who was a pilot for NASA has become a farmer and is living quietly with his family.  One day, when a drone goes down on his farm, he finds it, and cracks its code, leading him to an under ground bunker where NASA is secretly still fully up and operational. Their big task? Figuring out other planets to inhabit when Earth is done.  There Cooper runs into Professor Brand, and old mentor played by Michael Caine. Brand reveals that with Coopers help, he could save generations to come, by Cooper and a team flying to other planets and checking on their sustainability for the earths population. As hard as it is to leave his children, he agrees to go because he knows it really is the only hope they all have of continuing to live.
Now I do like this movie alot, but it is my least favorite Nolan movie.  Dont get me wrong,  as I said earlier, this man made some incredible films so saying its my least is kinda like asking me what kind of steak do I like better. Its all steak, so its all good. But, sound choices get in the way of dialogue and you miss conversation that can make what your watching a little less confusing.  The acting is good with McConaughey and Hathaway, (Playing Professor Brands daughter and fellow astronaut) are terrific and Caine is great as always. Even little MacKenzie Foy, who was so creepy in the "Twilight, Breaking Dawn" films, is terrific as Coopers daughter Murphy, a girl who believes her father leaving is a curse she carries by being named after Murphy's law. Jonathan Nolan, who wrote the script, is a talented writer, but I think he forgets that his audience does not understand quantum physics.   BUT.... It was still a great ride. It did make me think, and I really enjoyed the special effects.  I would say next that it is defnately in the top ten of Space movies to come out in the last ten years at least.

THE VERDICT
Interstellar may not have the sound right at key moments and a slightly confusing screenplay,   but its a gorgeous movie with a intersting story and great acting. I give Interstellar an A-.

Schedule

The best films of 2014 so far

1. Whiplash
2. Birdman
3. Guardians of the galaxy
4. Gone girl
5. X-men days of future past
6. Dawn of the planet of the apes
7. Fury
8. Edge of tommrow
9. Captian america the winter soldier
10. 22 jump street/ how to train your dragon 2

Schedule

Next week
Foxcatcher and mockingjay

December 19th
Hobbit 3

December 25th
Unbroken
Into the woods
The interview

JOHN WICK REVIEW

 THIS IS THE RETURN OF KEANU REEVES LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!!! John Wick stars Keanu Reeves, Willem Dafoe, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, and more! I went in thinking that this was going to be so bad its good, but it actually was so much more. Now this is the story.

John Wick is about a former hit-man, whose wife has just passed away. To prevent him from being lonley she bought him a puppy to be delivered the day of her funeral. And while Wick is sad, he gets some joy from the puppy, and feels a bit like his wife is still with him.  One day, while getting gas, he encounters a Russian mobsters son,(Alfie Allen) who in his eagerness to be a bad ass, threatens John in russian when John refuses to sell him his car. The fact that John can respond in Russian to his threat spurs Allen to steal the car, beating up Wick, and killing the puppy. When he awakes from his beating to find the dog dead next to him, he has a sense of purpose to hunt this punk down. Along the way he encounters various hit men and women sent by the mobster, and has some terrific action scenes. All the while, focusing his rage on the idiot son, and his father, who in a bid to defy logic, tries to protect his son from Wick.
I LOVED THIS. It was pulpish and crazy and if you like a 90's star kicking butt and taking names you will love this. The action is well choreographed, and edited well. The supporting players which include Willem Dafor and Ian McShane, deliver first class performances as men who might be villans but have a code.  You care about John and want him to succeed. The only complaint I have is that at an hour and forty minutes, at about the fifty minute mark the movie turns into a strict revenge tale. I didn't mind too much though. Because the second half was full of pretty good stuff.

THE VERDICT
John Wick may just have a simple story done before but its action is well done and the characters are awesome.  I give John Wick a high B+

WHIPLASH REVIEW

How would you like to be Director Damian Chazelle? Your first movie becomes not only a critically aclaimed movie, but a movie with oscar buss and a movie thats one of the best films of the year. Thats right because Whiplash is so far the best movie of the year. It has nothing wrong with it. Its the very definition of a "Film." Whats the story, well lets see down below.

Whiplash stars Miles Tellar, Jk Simmons, and Paul Reiser. Its about how a young man named andrew wants to be the best drummer around and follows under the tutoring of the explosive Terrence Fletcher. The meanest and most successful conductor at the conservatory Andrew attends. His methods are insane, hes a nasty and awful and unsportive person. Andrews Journey is one that has you consantly afraid. Now this is a film that will leave with you at the end of the movie. Its a equally incredible/disturbing film. Its got an excellent screenplay and fantastic performances. Miles Teller is so good as Andrew. You can tell that he was trying to make his character a real person. And holy crap is JK Simmons scary in this. Everytime he shows up , you get scared and have no idea what hes going to do. Paul Reiser is probably the most happy person in this film. Every time hes on screen the movie becomes safe, But this film is so incredible that you wish it was wide release. Its amazing!

THE VERDICT
Director Damien Chazelle's directional debut has a fantastic screenplay and lands the best out of both teller and simmons. I give Whiplash an A.

FURY REVIEW

"FURY" stars Brad Pitt, Logan lerman, Shia Louboeuf, John berthanal, Michael Pena, and Jason Isaccs. Its a World War II movie directed and written by  David Ayer. (Writer and Director of "End Of The Watch", and writer of "Training Day"). Its a film that has a unique plot and has a great cast. It's also a World War II movie, we don't get to many of those. Director David Ayer is a guy who has made both good and bad movies. Now I do have some good news. "Fury" is great! Story here.

"Fury" is about how a soldier named Sergeant Wardaddy (Pitt) and his three men crew plus new recruit Norman (Leoubuf, Pena, Berthanal, and Lerman).  They go on a mission proposed by their Captain (Issacs) and travel across from town to town. On one mission when they become outnumbered, (300 to 5) They decide to take a last stand and fight to the end. Now this is one of the best war movies of all time and one of the best of the year. Its "Saving Private Ryan" mixed with "Full Metal Jacket." The performances are all great, the screenplay is fantastic, and the directing is superb. The story is good and so is the score.  The best part of the movie is the action and the sound of the action. Its edited so well that I can tell whats going on in the action. I love this freaking movie, if you wanna see a movie that leave with you at the end go see it. FULL PRICE!

THE VERDICT

"FURY" is the most intense and most awesome war movie of the year. I give Fury an A.

BIRDMAN REVIEW

Birdman stars Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Amy Ryan and Zach Galifinakis. What is Birdman? Well I don't know, trailer really doesn't really explain the plot. All you know is Michael Keaton used to be superhero and he's doing a play with Edward Norton, that he wrote and directed. Here's the story.

Washed up actor Regan Thompson ( Keaton) was once a  iconic superhero, but now he must overcome an ego he has and any family trouble so that his broadway play reclaims his past and glory. Now here is the thing...Birdman is the weirdest movie I've seen this year, but in a good way. It has excellent performances, and a fantastic written screenplay. But really the best part of the film is the directing. Director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu gives us, really his masterpiece. People will come out saying the film is weird, but I loved it. Okay... so it's weird.. What I mean by this is the voices, the flying, the ending.. I scratched my head admittedly.  I really don't have complaints, the story's good and the editing and score are amazing. Birdman is really one of the best films of the year.

Despite some of the weird stuff... Birdman is Spectacular, I give Birdman an A.

ST VINCENT REVIEW

"St. Vincent," stars Bill Murray, Jaeden Lieberher, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O' Dowd, and Terrance Howard.It is the first time Bill Murray has been the lead in a movie in awhile, and I would classify this as a "Dramedy."   Now How is St.Vincent? Well heres the story.

"St.Vincent," is about how a young boy named Oliver (Lieberher,) who because of his parents divorce, finds himself an unlikely friend and mentor in the bawdy, rude, angry war veteran  who lives next door named Vincent, played by Bill Murray. I really enjoyed this.  Murray is hysterical in his roll as a man who after having a fairly great life, has let in dwindle to almost nothing. Within his portrayal, you see many layers to Vincent he does not show to everyone. Oliver seems to be the exception. Whether he knows it or not, Murray allows Voncent to be vulnerable around Oliver. And the relationship after is wondeful to watch. McCarthy is great too and playing sort of a typical nice but over wrought mother. I get the feeling though, when you ar eplaying off Bill Murray... you sit back and enjoy the ride. And while some of the plot is slightly predictable, I was never bored by it.

THE VERDICT
St. Vincent is a heart warming film you will really enjoy. It's funny and serious and worth a watch. St. Vincent gets a B+