Phoenix From The Flames: Review of THe Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Director: Francis Lawrence

By Alex Watson

 

The adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games proved to be a major success last year as we saw the daring Katniss Everdeen battling fellow teens to stay alive in what was considered by many to be a children’s version of Battle Royale. Now we turn to their follow up story The Hunger Games: Catching Fire which under the new directorial reigns of Francis Lawrence promises to give our heroine a much harder time than before because this time- she will be watched far more closely than before!

After the events of the 74^th Hunger Games Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutchison) have become national icons for the rebellion are forced to do a countrywide publicity tour to boost public morale and stop any potential riots occurring, but when a series of violent events derail it- President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in an act of revenge determines the 75^th Hunger Games will include a ‘Quarter Quell’ where previous winners are forced once again to compete and fight for survival! Katniss is now faced with a difficult choice; does she stand with the rebels? Or does fight to save her own skin?

As sequels go, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a darker and edgier effort than the predecessor by Gary Ross and under the director of Lawrence, we have a second outing that is slightly slow to move along but provide us with a worthy payoff. We start watching Katniss and Peeta struggling to live in luxury in District 12 while all around them struggle. This is partly where Lawrence’s direction shines as we view as straved and grey skied district which beings to chafe under the oppressive capitol system which glides in an established a brutal rule!

But its the scenes on the road that spark the early interest as we see people beaten for giving the three finger gesture seen in the last movie and Katniss is reluctanty forced to play the political puppet while in the Capitol, the bigwig president scowls repeatedly upon each problem that arises whilst plotting his evil deed. Katniss love and fear of becoming a symbol of hope for the rebellion is one of the driving factors of the movie as she continually pressured to please both sides- her faked romance with Peeta is the main element to this as the public demands them together yet the pair have conflicting feels about each other.

Many may just see this as a like for like redoing of the original and as we yet again see the pair drafted for duty among the killing fields, followed by the training scenes of Katniss and Peeta skulking out potential allies whilst the lady dazzles us with her bow skills, it does smack of familiarity somewhat! Also we are left with somewhat unthreatening villains as we knew previously of Snow’s underhandedness and it doesn’t help that new games controller Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) lacks any kind of real threat and knowing Hoffmans skills, this is a wicked sin to waste!

The scenes in the arena as expected are where The Hunger Games: Catching Fire really lights the flames because unlike the typical dog eat got mentality of the first one, here we have a band of warriors who must instead work together to survive and possibly undo the system. The introduction of the disturbed Joanna (Jena Malone) and quiet yet tech savvy Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) aid the tension and unpredictability stakes as we continually wonder just how this group will end up and Katniss be forced to impale one of them on an arrow. The logic is much higher in this sequence and it rises this film considerably and gives it a far more grittier edge! But it’s surprise ending that really gets us pumped up and as we view the horrified look on Katniss face turn to one of pure desire for revenge- it gets us counting down the minutes until outing three Mockingjay hits theatres!

Jennifer Lawrence confirms her teen idol status as she gives another strong willed and gutsy turn as Katniss, Closer to the Edge’s Top Female Star of 2012- Lawrence once again demonstrates just people are referring to her as the most exciting young actress on the planet right now! Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutchison again impress male acting stakes and together they give this film the spark of warmth and romance that it so very needs.

But it’s other contenders who hold our attention more with Jeffrey Wright giving a great turn as Beetee as through his soft spoken and world weary ways, his give the battle field a more human field- just don’t let him near electricity though because it will prove fatal! Donald Sutherland makes a compelling villain as President Snow but it doesn’t feel like a role that particularly stretches his ability- but there will still be more to come from the great leader though!

One of this years better sequel and now with a potentially exhilarating threequel on our hands, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire may be long on running time but it once again provides us with a heartfelt and pulsating couple of hours but even more a heroine who could transpire into a teen film icon- see you real soon Katniss!

Let’s Go To War: Review of Full Metal Jacket

Classic from the Vault

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

By Alex Watson

 

The 12 films of Stanley Kubrick’s career were all works of art in their own way because never did the man make the same film twice and rarely did he work with the same actors. But perhaps the most profound thing about each of his movies was that each one had images that stuck in our mind whether it was Dave Bowman going into the unknown in 2001: A Space Odyssey or watching Jack Nicholson descending into madness in The Shining.  But perhaps his most accomplished effort was his 1987 Vietnam War flick Full Metal Jacket which not only stands as one of the most quotable movies ever made but one of the most powerful war movies ever made!

Drafted for services, soldiers Private Joker (Matthew Modine), Cowboy (Arliss Howard) and the simple minded Private Pyle (Vincent D’Onofrio) are assigned to Ellis Island training core in preparation for Vietnam. Here they are placed under the guidance of bullying superior Gunnery Sgt Hartman (R Lee Emery) whose one goal is to turn them into dangerous killing machines. But after intense training ends in tragedy, Joker finds himself working as a war correspondent at the height of the Tet Offensive and here he will witness the true horrors of war.

Full Metal Jacket is an effort that might seem a harsh and brutal affair upon your first viewing, but this is exactly Kubrick intention and at no point is he interested in glamorising war in any way and he wants us to see its full effect, no matter how gory it may seem! This film is a movie of two halves, the first taking place in boot camp whereas the second takes place on the front lines of ‘The Nam’. The beginning sequence is by the far most memorable of the movie as the young recruits learn through rigorous and brutal drilling to gradually shed their humanity and become the bloody thirsty animals that their army wants them to be. The opening scene sees them having their head shaved and their identities as civilians being wiped away!

From the very moment Hartman is introduced, he makes our hair stand up as we see this man is no ordinary trainer and his hard noses attitude could make any man cry like a child! Through a expletive and shouting introduction he asserts his authority upon his recruits by using such lines as “I bet you could suck a golf ball through a garden hose!” and soon he firmly implants the ideology they will need to survive which is kill or be killed. But while Joker and the other recruits excel, Private Pyle as the weaker of the recruits is pushed to breaking point by the cruel Hartman and his unforgiving teams. One scene sees him tied to a bed and hit repeatedly with bars of soap in pillowcases!

But the more abuse he receives, the more Pyle’s mind beings to loosen and soon he will become exactly what Hartman requires, Joker privately fears what will come of this and events will come a heartbreaking climax as Joker finds his fellow recruit loading his rifle in the toilet! What follows next, be assured will not be him and Hartman skipping down the lane together!

Full Metal Jacket’s latter half set in Vietnam has a whole different tone all together as Joker finally sees the war he has been dying to get involved with, only to go away with a very conflicting set of values as he observes both the harsh and funny side of war. His experiences in the field are real mixture of laugh out loud and pure shock as he meets individuals like a crazy gunner who quips “Any Gook who moves is a VC, any Gook who doesn’t move… is a well disciplined VC!” Although not quite as remarkable as the opening sequences, it does pose some interesting questions about the war and the reasons for fighting it. The finale (amazingly filmed in an old British gasworks) makes for a heart racing ending, as Joker and friends hunt out a sniper- but as the shooters identity is revealed mouths will open in surprise!

The largely unknown cast members aid this movie and their performances give the film a realistic feel. Matthew Modine leads the way with a charismatic performance as Joker, a man desperate to see combat, but recoils the moment he sees it true colours. Vincent D’Onofrio makes a big impression as child like soldier Pyle and he still remains the sole character who holds our sympathies as he is routinely harassed into submission by all around him.

But the movie belongs to R Lee Emery as the tough as nails Sergeant Hartman. A real life drill instructor, Emery uses every bit of his knowledge to ring in a commanding and hell raising performance and after this viewing this film, it will be his face you remember most and his lines that will be spoken for a long time to spoken to come!

Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket will stand as one of those movies that is never forgotten once viewed- it may not have the scare factor of The Shining or the dazzling effects of 2001, but it is a dominant example of innocence loss during war time!

Love Like a Bomb: Review of Blue is the Warmest Color

Blue is the Warmest Color

Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

By Alex Watson

 

Since winning the Palme D’or at this years Cannes film Abdellatif Kechiche’s movie, Blue is the Warmest Color has been the centre subject of both major hype and intense controversy due its graphic scenes of lesbian sex. But aside from all this, there have been unanimous positive reviews and it appears as if we could have this years best love story! I was recently lucky to a viewing of this at the wonderful Bell Lightbox cinema in Toronto before it is released in the UK.

Lille school student Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) is a girl trying to find her true self, but when she meets blue haired bohemian artist Emma (Lea Seydoux) her world is turned upside down and the pair fall deeply in love quickly. But just things seem perfect, certain events will send them tumbling down just as quickly!

Blue is the Warmest Color makes for an extremely worthy Palme D’or winner and at its centre is a love story that will tear your heart to shreds. Kechiche’s film is a very slow burner but it is this factor that makes it stand out and is overplaying of scenes gives his characters room to grow. We start slowly with Adele going her of English classes and early sexual experiences with boys. But the moment she glances Emma, we can tell this is no ordinary girl and that she will have a big part to play as Adele watches whilst standing in the midst of traffic!

The early scenes of the pairs romance blossoming are just lovely and we are given a charming recollection of the buzz that you feel when you first fall for someone. Emma’s world wise and frequently frank attitude to life, sends Adele spinning right away. This also makes way for the now notorious and extended sexual scenes- which yes graphic they may be, but this style of bold film making adds more layers to the characters as it is unashamed and in some ways it brings an ambiance that let’s these scenes shine!

But while this early charm is great, Blue is the Warmest Color’s later acts will reduce even the most stone hearted person into a depressed spiral as through lies, affairs and career changes, the pairs solid romance beginnings to crack! Their eventually break up scene will go down as one of the most powerful and painful of the year and the tears shed and voices rise! Watching Adele trying to exist in an Emma-less world in the films latter part is one that draws us in and from there although we marvel at her heroism, we cannot help but have a sliver of contempt for her actions!

Kechiche’s movie however belongs to the powerhouse performance of Adele Exarchopoulous who rings in an effortless performance that is truly heart breaking. Her plain jane persona makes this all the more refreshingly real and I am happy to announce we have a beautiful new talent on our hands.

Lea Seydoux is equally strong as the out there and fee spirited Emma and from the word go she turns the movie on its head and her performance is ferociously committed and after supporting roles in MI4 as and Robin Hood, we finally get to see her true potential!

Blue is the Warmest Color is by far this year’s greatest romantic drama and piece of world cinema. I suspect many lads will go to see for the ‘blue’ content, but those who have the pleasure of viewing this will be rewarded with a passionate live story that pulls at every heart available. Be sure to stock up on Kleenex, you will need it!

Time Is Running Out: Review of Gravity

Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

By Alex Watson

 

As numerous space exploration movies have taught us, nothing in space ever goes according to plan and any character on display will be fighting for their very lives. This week we are given what could just be one of the best films of the year as we review Alfonso Cuaron’s film Gravity. Since receiving a lengthy standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, they hype about this movie has been through the roof. But as we have so often seen, sometimes like space, things don’t quite go to plan!

On a routine mission, spacewalking astronauts Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are hit in mid orbit by debris from a destroyed Russian satellite separating the two in midst of space! With Oxygen levels running low, the pair have limited time in which to find a way to safety.

The first thing I have to say about this movie is…. believe the hype! Because Gravity is a truly thrilling and gripping story of survival and through Cuaron’s skilful direction we are given an eye of the human race’s very instinct to stay alive. From the very outset there is a slow boiling sense of tension and when the big moment comes this picture comes into pulsating overdrive and it rarely pauses for breath! In 3D this will be one of the events of the year, but the most refreshing element of Cuaron’s movie is there is no logic or scientific thinking needed- just sit back and enjoy this stunning ride!

Forgoing any kind of back-story or explanation as why the pair are in space, this movie starts with a stunning 10 minute opening shot where at first we only hear our heroes through radio transmissions and Kowalski saying “I have a bad feeling about this mission”. As they gradually come into view things seems calm and docile as they hover overlooking earth. We then hear of a debris from a Russian satellite approaching, the pair pay this no attention, but soon it becomes apparent that this will get problematic. When the hit occurs- carnage ensues! While Kowalski strives to control the scenario- Stone is sent whirling around on a disconnected shuttle arm and is forced to release from her cord, sending her spinning into the great unknown!

Throughout Gravity there is a sense of time counting down and as we view an extreme close up Stone’s face frozen in panic, we don’t need to be told that things have gotten out of hand. But as Cuaron goes behind her space visor- we see that her Oxygen level is less than 5%- on that level literally every breath is going to count! As the movie progresses, we yearn for Stone to find a way to survive but as she frantically calls out to dead radio- our fists clench in fear. Rather than recount the events and spoil any surprises, I will simply say that it is best to go out there and discover this tale for yourself- because every one of the 90 minutes is worth the ticket price.

Alfonso Cuaron also succeeds in gaining two powerful performances from his actors, with Sandra Bullock the standout performer, many people (including myself) have been dismissive of Bullock over the years, despite an Oscar win. But there she shows just what she is capable of with a mesmerising and affective performance and right through this movie she holds the centre! George Clooney is equally impressive as the calm and charismatic Kowalski and he is the element that gives this movie its moments of human emotion and it is his encouragement and thinking that gives the pair a shot at survival!

Expect to see this movie on every major award list this winter and Gravity deserves every accolade it gains because it is one of the most breathtaking experiences of the year and show us just how impossible life in space can be (just read the opening title cards!). Enjoy this ride, be sure to bring along a defibrillator, because your heart might just stop!

Thunder Rolls Again: Review of Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor

By Alex Watson

Ever since the Avengers Assembled, Marvel has been enjoying a great run of form at the cinema and now with the gang getting back together in 2015 we have a reason to enjoy big blockbusters again! This week we see the return of the God of Thunder in Thor: The Dark World and last time proved a fun affair as Chris Hemsworth’s Norse prince battled brother Tom Hiddleston and charmed Natalie Portman. Now under the reigns of veteran TV director Alan Taylor, a darker front has been promised- but can this sequel be more than just an overlong Avengers 2 trailer?

Since helping save the world, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has returned home to Asgard where he has helped restore peace to the nine realms and has rebuilt the all important bifrost to gain the respect of Dad Odin (Anthony Hopkins) while brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is confined to a jail cell! But their hard earn peace is threatened by the re-emergence of the Dark Elves- an ancient race lead by Malekith (Christopher Ecclestone) who are hell bent of getting their hands on a substances called Aether- a substance which could gain them world dominance! But more importantly, Thor will become re-united with former flame Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).

Thor: The Dark World makes for a very entertaining and hilarious 112 minutes and continues Marvel’s good showing and with its customary end credit surprise, it ensures all fans will go home happy. The strong feature of this film is the complete change of content, the first movie was a slightly quirky affair which set up our hero as the lovable rogue- but under the reigns of Alan Taylor we have a more compact and darker film which delivers on a much large scale and compared with the lower key efforts in the first movie- this piece is more of a visual masterpiece which also keeps the comedic spirit alive and together this makes a more effective viewing experience!

We begin heroically with Thor beating a huge stone monster without breaking a sweat before remarking “Anyone else?” but with the early introduction of the Dark Elves, we see just how dangerous they are and  compared to the frost giants, they guys are far more organised! Plus when when we see the full effects of what the Aether can do- Thor will definitely have his hands full! There is also the immortal question of which side will Loki fall on? Throughout this movie this plays on our minds and once more he makes for a compelling nemesis/ally and his venomous spouting makes for some of the films best moments , like he when mocks Dad with “It’s not that I don’t enjoy our chats it’s just… I don’t”

As the twists and turns in Thor: The Dark World come thick and fast, it makes way for a London based end showdown between Malekith and Thor which is well worth the pay offbut smartly director Taylor goes against temptation deliver a fight that spreads into city wide carnage and instead he skilfully gives us a finale that is both funny and gloriously entertaining (including a great advert for London Transport). But its not this ending that will stick in the memory and its one shocking twist that occurs just before the end credits- prepare to go home surprised and very pumped up for Thor 3!

The cast in this movie are their usual top notch selves with Chris Hemsworth leading the way as the aforementioned Thunder God Thor and through his swaggering charisma and ye olde English tone, he again makes for a tremendous hero and through Hemsworth’s excellent work he has made this role his own! Same can be said for Tom Hiddleston as the devious Loki who once more makes for the best villains of the year! But also time there is almost more of a human feeling and through his pain filled eyes, another layer is created to this already great character!

In the villain department, Christopher Ecclestone looks the part of Malekith but sadly he isn’t given enough material to really work with and sadly his character lacks an immediate threat and resorts to him looking suspicious while speaks in his Elvin language!

After the success of Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World once again gets us excited for another dosage of Avengers glory in 2015, but rather than just being an over long advert it rises above itself and delivers a film which combines a skilful mixture of enjoyment and thrills all in one package! But the god hasn’t forgotten his friends and look for a cameo from one of his… closest Marvel friends! Good to have you back boys, we’ll see you real soon!

Looking To Get Out: Review of 127 Hours

New Cult Classic

127 Hours (2010)

Director: Danny Boyle

By Alex Watson

Danny Boyle has never been one to make us look away from moments which are ever so slightly gruesome, if you sat through the needle scene in Trainspotting then you will probably know where I am coming. But the one scene that will set the benchmark for squeamishness will be the arm cutting scene from his 2010 movie 127 Hours. But that moment aside, we were also given an uplifting story of survival based on the real life exploits of Aaron Ralston- a man who literally found himself caught between a rock and a hard place!

On impulse, adrenaline junkie Aaron Ralston (James Franco) goes hiking in the Utah mountains aiming to cut 45 minutes off the estimate trek time mentioned by a guide book. But whilst travelling, he falls into a crevice and there his arm becomes trapped by a boulder and quickly he realizes that because he did leave a note to say where he was going- help is not coming! Faced with death rapidly approaching, Ralston is forced to make a tough decision all the while reflecting on what exactly brought him to this cave?

127 Hours is one of Danny Boyle’s finest pieces of work and his story of Ralston’s plight is one that triggers many different emotions and what could have been horrific viewing is in fact a piece of work that is immensely funny and incredibly uplifting. People will long debate about Ralston’s hero status in life- but Boyle new once sets out to make him one and that is one of this movie’s principle strengths and we see a man faced with a life altering situation where there is no chance of an ending that will play to his advantage!

From the very beginning there is a vivacious tone as Ralston cheerfully drives into the great unknown and doing his wild and reckless exploring there he meets female hikers Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn) where he shows them a hidden underground cave. Boyle here succeeds in luring us into a false sense of security and when Ralston takes the inevitable falls- the tone takes a complete 360 degree shift and very soon we become very concerned! From there Ralston is all alone and as he cries out for help the camera pans up to show the vast space around him! In this moment his cries are really falling on deaf ears!

After this dramatic change, the scenes set in the cave are a real mixture, his gleeful smile is ever presents as if trying to mask his fear and there is a humorous moment where he pretends to be on a talk show hosted by himself which he mocks the silly way that he has gotten to this situation. But also it forces him to assess his relationship with his family, his painful break up with his ex girlfriend (Clemence Poesy) and how his near neglect and borderline selfishness basically alienated them! These scenes are some of the most poignant of 127 Hours and as the hard truth hits home that he is really to blame for his wayward life- we hope for him to escape and achieve redemption!

The moments leading up to the arm cutting scene growing more unpleasant by the moment as we witness Aaron forced to drink his own urine to stay alive. When the moment occurs, it is a hard moment to watch and squirms are guaranteed but at the same point it’s equally fascinating and stirring because it leads to a finale that is the definition of feel-good and sound tracked to Festival by Sigur Ros it brings us another great Danny Boyle moment which is very gratifying!

Alone for most of the movie, James Franco does a sterling job of holding the movie together as Aaron Ralston and thanks to his goofy charm he succeeds in giving us an everyday guy who is being forced into a difficult place, but will always try to keep us entertained! For his efforts Franco was rewarded with an Oscar nomination!

127 Hours is a movie that will probably prove to be one of the most heartening that Danny Boyle will make in his career and combined with the efforts of Franco he brought us another career high as his star continues to rise after his Oscar win for Slumdog Millionaire, it will not be the most comfortable viewing you will ever observe but if you stick with it, the reward is one that is worth waiting for! Though it will teach you to leave a note whenever you decide to go on a random road trip- you never what might happen!