The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 - Review

The last entry in a franchise always has two parts. Always two parts. Harry Potter – two parts. Twilight – two parts. And now, the Hunger Games – two parts. TWO PARTS! TWO PARTS! TWO PARTS! And the problem with these entries – apart from spending double the money on seeing them – is that the first one always kind of... sucks.

So, the latest entry into this sadistic-violence-for-teens franchise is the catchily titled The Hunger Games colon Mockingjay dash Part 1. And, well, It feels a little dragged out. I mean, this movie is 123 minutes long already and there’s going to be another one of these. That’s 246 minutes of a movie that’s book is as long as its previous instalments. I understand that in the previous films they missed out some key plot points (i.e. in the first one, they all seem to look very well fed. Where’s the hunger?), but that doesn’t mean they stretch out this book so long it’s no fun to watch the films anymore. And there not doing it for the story, it’s for the money! Francis Lawrence, you’re doing a Hobbit on us!

However, the one thing that really drives this movie is the performances. Josh Hutcherson’s lack of material as Peeta really allows Jennifer Lawrence to outperform herself as Katniss. Emotionally, it’s difficult to watch as she tries to cope with the trauma that’s surrounding her. And the love triangle between Gale (played by Thor’s brother Liam Hemsworth, who finally gets something to do), Peeta and Katniss only seems forced a little bit (unlike Twilight). Sam Claflin is also excellent in the film, as Finnick. Plus, whoever put acting heavyweights Julianne Moore and the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the movie is a genius – they really stand out.

However, the woeful lack of action really shows. I mean, there are only four proper scenes of it, and they feel like a relief from the political overtones. I do not have a problem with these serious sections but you do need some action.

It’s a little stretched out; whilst watching it, I couldn’t help but think about have much better it would have been in just one part. However, it is a fun movie and you should enjoy it - even with the severe lack of action!

3/5

Paddington - Review

I love Paddington. There. I might as well not even write anything else. Paddington is just excellent. There are so many good things about this movie, so this review may be rather large:

For starters, the cast is absolutely excellent and really capture the magic of the movie. When I found out the movie was being made, I actually thought Colin Firth would make a brilliant Paddington. When he signed on I thought I should think about having a career in casting, but then he left the production. I was distraught. But now, after seeing the film, I couldn’t imagine anyone other than Ben Whishaw playing our protagonist. He seems so right for the part. Just the right softness and pitch in his voice. He captures the magic of the character and really performs Paul King and Hamish McColl’s brilliant screenplay.

Furthermore on that, the script is very funny. Hilarious is an understatement. The hard stare and the travel piano really did it for me. It paces perfectly and has a very heart-warming (and breaking, for that matter) nature.

Back to the cast, Nicole Kidman is devilishly, delightfully – and perhaps worryingly – sadistic as the film’s taxidermist antagonist Millicent. She seems born to play the role, which makes me slightly scared of her! Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins are great as Mr and Mrs Brown, as are Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin as their kids. Peter Capaldi is also fantastic as their racist neighbour Mr Curry. Julie Walters is also excellent, and Jim Broadbent, and Matt Lucas. Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon do some good voice work. And I couldn’t help but notice a load of CBBC actors cameoing. I counted James Bachman, Simon Farnaby and Alice Lowe.

They also manage to get an important political message across, in that it doesn’t matter where you’re from – you are just a person like everybody else. Nigel Farage must love this movie!

Another fab thing about Paddington is that the whole family can enjoy this film. I went with all my family and everyone came out with a huge grin on their face.

It’s touching, without being overly sentimental; gets an important political statement across; and the whole cast give excellent performances. Paddington is family movie perfection.

4.5/5

Interstellar - Review

Christopher Nolan’s direction has never really faulted. And his latest film, Interstellar, isn’t his finest but fits perfectly into his near perfect filmography. With breathtaking scenes and visuals and excellent cinematography from Hoyte van Hoytema, this space epic is extremely enjoyable.

The plot follows Cooper, played by Matthew Mcconaughey, an astronaut turned farmer in near future America. He stumbles upon NASA by seeing irregularity in the gravitational pull. He must go into space to save the human race from the dust destroying all the crops. However, by doing this he may never see his kids again...

OK, OK, OK. The plot is ridiculous; but you can’t help but enjoy it. The script - although occasionally cheesy (“Is love the 5^th dimension?”) - is very well-acted; especially Mcconaughey’s performance, as well as Jessica Chastain’s as Cooper’s daughter Murph. Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway and Mackenzie Foy are also very good.

Also, the effects are incredible, which is exactly what you’d expect from Nolan. Especially those on the ice planet they visit, which they actually filmed in Iceland.

However, the 169 minute run time perhaps drags occasionally, and it sometimes seems that there are so many characters and they don’t all get to properly develop; like Casey Affleck and Topher Grace’s character’s.

However, there are some really fantastic moments in the movie. For instance, the sound is incredible. Hans Zimmer’s booming score is sometimes so loud it’s too much to bear, but then it just goes absolutely silent – like it is in space. Also, the space suits they wear are exceptionally cool. There should be more films like Interstellar: big-budget blockbusters that are actually very ambitious and have big ideas; not just a shoot-em-up.

With influences reigning from 2001: A Space Odyssey, to Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Intersteller is a very thought-provoking piece of art thatNolan should be very proud of indeed.

4/5

Guardians of the Galaxy - Review

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Chuck Berry song: a rocking ‘n’ rolling thrill ride filled with riffs and hooks. A film that fires off like a rocket into absolute madness! Roll over Beethoven; Guardians of the Galaxy are here!

So, Guardians is Marvel’s latest franchise – and let’s face it, it’s not their most well-known motley-crue.  However - beating Marvel heavyweight Captain America: The Winter Soldier at the box office - it looks like nobody cares.

James Gunn, the writer of the live action Scooby Doo movie, proves himself that he is actually super-clever director.  The film is very funny, and though the screenplay is full of space gobble-de-gook - the plot is really well-written. However, the most energetic and fun part of the film, are the characters:

First, Peter Quill, AKA Starlord; played by Chris Pratt; a scavenger who was abducted by aliens as a child; second, Gamora - Zoe Saldana’s green, leather-clad assassin; third, Drax the Destroyer; a Dave Bautista shaped purple and red muscle man; fourth, Rocket; Bradley Cooper’s alcoholic raccoon; and fifth, Groot; an, erm, tree; voiced by Vin Diesel who only says three words: “I am Groot”, but always very meaningfully.

OK, this isn’t the most normal movie around, but it’s still amazing! The plot holes are forgotten through the enjoyment and craziness; the soundtrack is incredible; Chris Pratt performs a dance that can never be recreated; Rocket and Groot have become one of the most memorable double acts of recent times. It’s just a great time! And remember that big, fat, ugly, purple alien from the end of the Avengers? Well, he’s called Thanos and he’s back for a bit more. Plus, there are loads of easter eggs; James Gunn has really gone all out with the fan service. Plus there’s an excellent supporting cast including Lee Pace as Ronan; Josh Brolin as Thanos; Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan as Nebula; and John C. Reilly; Michael Rooker; Glenn Close; Benicio del Toro and Shaun of the Dead’s Peter Serafinowicz and many, many more.

It’s difficult to fault Guardians, because it’s just a really great movie. Star Wars meets the Avengers, Marvel’s best movie yet.

4.5/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Review

So – Michael ‘Transformers’ Bay, king of ridiculous film franchises has got his hands on another one in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. “Oh Jesus,” I thought, “this is going to suck”. However, perhaps from Bay taking a producing credit and Jonathan Liebesman directing, it defeated my expectations – if not by a lot.

I’m not going to lie - I’m not a TMNT superfan. I haven’t read the comics or watched the cartoon. However, I have enough sense to work out that the turtle’s sensei, a mutant rat named Splinter - did not teach the title characters ninjutsu from a book.

The new origins story, written for the movie, is lazy; as is the rest of the script. And Shredder, the turtle’s prestigious arch enemy, just looks like a downsized, less-extravagant transformer. With Shredder, it’s not the armour that’s scary; it’s what’s behind it. I understood, that William Fichtner – a very capable actor – was playing Shredder, and that would have been great! But he actually played an underdeveloped, dull, not-very-scary sub-villain.

It’s not just Fichtner who plays a dull character, the rest of the humans are dreary as well. I mean, who’s interested in whether Will Arnett can bang Megan Fox? Really, guys, really?

However, with a sequel already green-lit, they can fix all of this pretty easily by the time TMNT 2 comes out in 2016.

Maybe I’m being too harsh – I mean, they did get some things right. The turtles themselves are fantastic. From the trailer they just looked like big, ugly, wrinkly, fat, green blobs but they actually, in the film, they come across really funny and are the best part of the movie. Let’s forget the monstrosity of the Vanilla Ice turtle rap from 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. The best part of this movie is the musical sequence - It’s very enjoyable!

TMNT has got everything you’d expect from a movie involving Michael Bay: a terrible script, shameless product placement (Skype, Pizza Hut etc.) and, of course, EXPLOSIONS!!! I mean, let’s face it, this film is stupid – but maybe that’s what you want from a movie about big, green turtles; who are martial arts experts; and adore pizza. But, this could have been so much better, and overall this is a major disappointment.

2/5

Introduction to the Blog

Hello,

First off, I would like anyone who reads this blog to know that I am not a posh twat who has tonnes of money and goes to the cinema every other day; or gets the latest album, book or DVD I desire whenever I like; and doesn't even notice the money that's left the bank.

No - I am an average child (apart from the Asperger's), with two annoying younger sisters (one of which loves McBusted (Ugh) and the other adores 1D (arghhhhhhhhhh)); a Hugh Grant loving mum; a not Hugh Grant loving dad; one fat, grumpy 11 year old boy cat; one thin, happy 12 week old girl cat; a delightfully stupid, worryingly mad half-collie, half-springer-spaniel mongrel of a dog and plenty of other normal, usual, standard, regular, ordinary, typical, customary, common, natural, routine, conventional things you'd expect a 12 year old boy to have (but not football or video games - I'm not a fan).

Most importantly, when I go to the cinema, or get a new album, or get a new book, DVD, whatever - it's seen as a treat so I do hope you do not see me as an annoying, little, spoilt brat. 

I'd imagine that anyone reading my reviews will want to know my evaluation style:

Well, I mark films out of 5, books out of 5, and albums out of 10. I do not know the reason for this, I just think that's the easiest marking system for each type of media. The movie will be marked out of enjoyment.

Don't expect to see many films reviewed that are over the rating of 12 for I am not allowed into the cinema to see anything above that! Also, the analysis of the film/album/book may well be positive as the little amount of money for going to the cinema/getting on DVD/getting the album/getting the book probably won't be spent on the ones that i'm not really interested in going to sitting through.

Enjoy the blog!!!

Auden Chamberlain (the surname and the fact i'm named after a poet doesn't really help my case, does it?)