Hunger Games: Catching Fire

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

    

by Frederick William Springer III

 

Hunger Games:  Catching Fire

Release Date:  22 November 2013                                                      Runtime:  146 Minutes              

Review Date:  6 December 2013                                                         Rating:  5 (of 6)

      When I reviewed the original less than a year ago, I mentioned that I was compelled to now read the books.  I'm happy to say that I did, in fact, do so, finishing the trilogy before seeing the newest installment. Both as an adaptation and as a standalone film, Catching Fire holds up.

     There have been some changes, for sure, but they were mostly minor and to help the movie flow more easily on screen.  At nearly a whopping 2 ½ hours, I was surprised when the credits starting to roll as I didn't feel I was in the theater for even 90 minutes, which is to speak highly of the pacing and editing.

     There were a few things omitted from the movie that would have helped set up the ending and the next installment (regarding one of the Districts and the Head Game-Maker), but I don't think the movie suffers without them.  Though, perhaps I feel that way because I went in with the knowledge of what was going on from the books, if I hadn't I may have been confused.  Who's to say?

     I'm looking forward to the next film, though anxious about waiting another full year for it.  And annoyed that they're pulling the typical Hollywood bullshit of taking the last book and splitting it in two (a la Harry Potter and Twilight, not to mention The Hobbit with 3 parts) to milk every last dollar they can out of the franchise and skeptical of the results--I don't know how they're going to stretch it out into 2 movies when 1 would have sufficed.

     But, for this one, we have an eclectic mix--Austrian Director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend and Constantine) and writers Simon Beaufoy from Britain (Slumdog Millionaire and The Full Monty) and Michael Arndt from the US (Oblivion and Toy Story 3) --that made it work, so I'm optimistic about the future, even though the team is switched up again for Mockingjay.

 

Escape Plan

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

    

by Frederick William Springer III

 

Escape Plan

Release Date:  18 October 2013                                                           Runtime:  115 Minutes              

Review Date:  3 December 2013                                                          Rating:  4 (of 6)

 

     I went to Escape Plan with very low expectations.  I'm happy to report that my expectations were exceeded.  While this certainly isn't a masterpiece, the Stallone/Schwarzenegger mash-up actually kept me entertained.  And isn't that what you go to the movies for?

     (Though, I guess I wasn't the only one that was skeptical--over a month after its release, it still hasn't made half as much as it cost.  Yikes!)

 

Elysium

TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion

…because film is largely subjective

    

by Frederick William Springer III

 

Elysium

Release Date:  9 August 2013                                                              Runtime:  109 Minutes              

Review Date:  1 December 2013                                                          Rating:  3 (of 6)

     I thought the story of a destitute Earth with hero Matt Damon among the tired, poor and huddled masses trying to escape to Elysium, the orbiting paradise haven of the rich and healthy, would be something to see.

     It turned out to be something to skip, Elysium failing to get me involved or to care about anyone's plight.  Jodie Foster delivered a good performance, though.