This week on Mc's Film Critique I watched The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.
I want to start off by saying that I never read this book series. I was told about it by a camper in summer camp years ago. My interest was peaked enough to see the first film. I thoroughly like dystopian/ utopian fiction. I was required to read a book called WE by Yevgeny Zamyatin for one of my history classes and LOVED IT! That being said, I will go watch this type of film any day of the week, good or bad just to see what's what.
Lets dive into this film. It is the third installment of the Hunger Games series adapted from the books of the same name. I don't like watching a film half way through and not getting to the end, so I will watch this series to the end. I have a need to find out what happened. This film is a part 1 of a final chapter to this story and unlike the Hobbit which I had problems with (click here for that blog), the ending in this film feels satisfactory. The entire series has not been concluded yet, but the film has a logical ending. As a viewer, you get a sense of closure but the film leaves you eager to see Part 2 of this series.
 |
| Buttercup The Cat |
The film is slow paced in comparison to The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,
but it's setting the stage for the second part. When the DVD comes out, watching part one and two in succession will be awesome!
The effects in the film looked really good. When they were in a forest, destroyed buildings, city or aircraft it all looked real.
The story didn't have any unnecessary plot points. Even the choice to take a cat had purpose in the film (yes, there was a cat and it's fluffy). The characters acted in what felt like real life, driven by emotion and a sense of duty. Jennifer Lawrence gave us a great performance, as did the rest of the cast. Natalie Dormer is in this film. You may recognize her from the popular show Game of Thrones, making this film a must see if you haven't yet.
 |
| Natalie Dormer |
Like I said earlier the film is slow paced, something people may not like in comparison to the two films before it.
I recommend this film. It makes up for the the previous blunders of the other two films in this series.
Badge: None
Rating: 8/10
 |
| Movie Poster |
This week on MC's Film Critique I look at Into The Woods. I have been sitting on this one for a few weeks and it's still in theatres!
Lets start off with, the fact that film is based off a musical play, based off of a book. I can not stress that enough. The film is a musical. When I was deciding whether or not to see the film, I looked it up on Tribute. I read the comments and many seemed mad that the film was a musical... These people were too focused on an aspect that I was pleasantly surprised to learn (prior to watching the film). It's like they have no possible way of finding out any information prior to watching a film. *cough read my reviews next time cough*
 |
|
Lets talk about the film, I'm done my little rant.
The film starts off singing, while it seamlessly weaves many fairy tales together. The main characters are taken from Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, as well as several others. They each play a role in one another's story until the main plot brings them together in a new fairy tale involving all of the characters.
I have never seen the play but I bet it was damn good. This film had me wondering how and who would fit where! I didn't feel that the film was predictable. There was a plot point with the bakers wife that didn't seem to fit with the whole story but, you can't please everyone.
The special effects were great, they didn't look cheesy unlike the baby in American Sniper, which I just happen to review over here.
One thing I could not stop thinking during the film was that Doctor Who, played by Matt Smith was going to show up to save Stormageddon and Craig who, was played by the same actor as the baker.
The acting was great, the effects are pretty damn good, the story is excellent minus my dispute with the one plot point.
This film is a must see, as long as you like singing and fun.
Badge: Cinematography Badge
Rating: 9.5/10
Hello! This is my first blog post ever on MC's Film Critique and I look at The Hobbit: The
Battle of the Five Armies.
In this review I am working under the assumption that you have seen The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and all spoilers for that film are fair game.
This was the final film in the Hobbit trilogy. Starting from where we left off in the last film, (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) our hero's have an angry dragon to deal with.
I personally was a big fan of everything in this film that was true to the original book by J. R. R. Tolkien. To be honest, I preferred the original story over this connecting story that was adapted for the film. However, that will not sway me too much in how I will look at the film.
The movie throws you into the action from the get go, which is great. Although, I feel that the start of the film should have been the logical ending for the previous film.
I wasn't a fan of the love story between Kili (Aidan Turner) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly)
and had expected more than what we got out of this film in terms of that sub-plot line.
The five armies in the film really deliver. The battle surpassed my exceptions to the point where I was exhausted from the onslaught that ensued for the greater portion of the film. There were some points in the battle where I thought "really?" but, overall the battle is one for the books!
Despite what I said I disliked about the film, I Give This Film My first Cinematography Badge.
Badge: Cinematography Badge
Rating: 8.5/10
