The Hunger Games

This weekend I jumped on the big movie band wagon and headed out to see The Hunger Games. The gist is that in the future the wealthy government picks 2 teenagers from each of the apparently much less fortunate 12 districts that make up the country. These 24 young people are put in an arena to fight to the death on national television. And one girl makes a difference. And for the most part I enjoyed it.

The acting was good. Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is our main character from district 12. She is our kind hearted warrior who's heart and good nature help her to her ends. Ms. Lawrence does this very well. She is Strong and vulnerable. Likable yet distant. I think she shows the angles of this character well.
Josh Hutcherson is Peeta Mellark. Peeta is our strong male counterpart from district 12. He is OK. He seems a bit awkward at times. Which may have been the intent, but not knowing more about the character/story makes it seem out of place. But he does have his moments of clarity where his character has more substance.
The supporting cast also does add a good bit to the film. Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, and Donald Sutherland as the president.They all do a rather good job a bringing a special individuality to their character. Makes you feel like they need to be there. regardless of how small of a part they play.

There are a few minor technical things that I didn't like. For instance, there are a few times where they do the shaky action camera. And it can have its purpose, but I am here to watch a movie. I cannot do that when you shake the camera so much. This is not a big  special effects movie. So when you have it, it should be perfect. However, There are these giant dog things. I am pretty sure that the same people who did Twilight's werewolves did these dogs. cause they were not as good as they should have been. The just looked to fake. Served their purpose, but took my attention in a bad way.

The story is what this movie originated from, and as for its translation from book to film I cannot say. I have not read the book. But I liked it, and more importantly where it is going. The early portions felt a little dry for me. I would have liked to have a little more history on my characters and their situation. Now I still liked them, and was invested in their situation. So it wasn't a deal breaker, but again I would have like a little more back ground. I think that subsequent viewings and even the sequel will make me like this even more because I will know more about my characters and their situation, and thus be able to invest more emotionally with them.

Compliment sandwich folks! The people I know that have read the books have loved this, and the people that have not have liked it. So it must not be terrible. I am off to watch a movie on a book I have read. HARRY POTTER LIKE A MAN! And may the odds be ever in my favor...

The Artist

There was a reason that movies went from being silent to talkies. And after watching The Artist, I am not sure why they didn't continue to make silent films for longer than they did.
What this movies does with only "mugging" (as they call it) is tell a very good and engaging story. A story of a huge silent star to struggles with the inevitable change to talkies. You sympathize with our male lead George (Jean Dujardin) who spends his fortune and sanity trying to fight the future. While the female star of our show, Peppy (Berenice Bejo), embraces the talkies and becomes the next big thing. And with a supporting cast that includes John Goodman, James Cromwell, and Malcolm McDowell it just rounds out it cast that quiteltly acts out a winner. And I can't forget the adorable little dog is soo cute!
The music of this fine film plays wonderfully in sync with the tone of the scenes. It fills the void that the voices of the actors would usually fill, that completes the mood of the scene. Having said that the absence of music resonates as loud as any spoken line could when times of seriousness arise.There is one scene with sound that sourrounded by the rest of the movie makes for a truey surreal and trippy experience that i thought added a nice edge a feel to the movie.
There are so many good things to say about this movie. Good story telling, good acting, and good music. It is a fantastic tribute to the foundation of which the movie we love were built on. As much as Hugo was a love letter to the movies. I think this movie was equally such a letter. I highly recomend to anyone who truely loves and entertainging movie.