On Friday the 22nd, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay burned up the box office, scoring $55 million in it's opening day alone. However, with that number being a lower than average number for the series, what happened with this entry? Find out below.
With Mockingjay, the newest entry in the Hunger Games series being part one of a two part split of the final book entry in the series, there wasn't much to go off for this first half. With the actual book only being 404 pages, it means that this movie only had about 200 pages of content to go off of, with the last half of the book retaining the lion's share of the edge of your seat tense action sequences that really jerk the tears. Thus, this movie really, was just building up to the explosive ending the fourth film will entail. Thus, with only short bits (yet intense) of action sequences found sparsely through out the movie, there was less hype surrounding the third entry in the beloved young adult series.
However, that's not to say this movie isn't worth seeing. As per usual with this series, the film counterpart of the book remains shockingly accurate in many ways, and is wonderfully written. The film's dialogue is also stunning, and there are still moments that (even though I read the books) had me on the edge of my seat. Even with a lack of the action we've become accustomed to in this series, this is anything, anything but a bad film. Even just build up in this series is something that manages to never disappoint.
Overall, while it may not be exactly what everyone was expecting, this movie has (some) action, great dialogue, intense moments, and even some comedy embedded into its winning formula, and is already a huge box office success. However, expect to see twice the amount of hype, excitement, and film gold come next year when we see the already anticipated release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2 to theaters around the world.
On September 2nd, 2014, Heavenly Sword, a 2007 Playstation 3 launch title received a follow up, in the form of a movie. How does the new movie compare to the beautiful, heart wrenching PS3 video game? Find out below.
It's easiest to review this movie in the form of pros and cons, but first, a plot synopsis of the video game. The action-adventure game focuses around heroine Nariko, who was born with a destiny to protects the Heavenly Sword, a weapon containing a huge amount of power that can kill its wielder in less than three days. While Nariko is ultimately born with the task of protecting this sword, much of her clan thinks of her as lie, and is in fact not the chosen one. Nariko has to deal with disbelief and hatred directed towards her from her clan, and is also forced to use the sword to protect herself, her father, and the weapon itself. Now, let's start with a pro.
The movie is ultimately centered around the same end goal, but just has a different path of getting to it. This is definitely a pro, as it allows for fans of the game to receive a fresh, new plot, in lieu of a new game. While the two versions do have the same (gut-wrenching) ending (that had me openly sobbing for minutes), a whole new plot provides another level of depth to the Heavenly Sword universe.
However, this also tends to be a con. Some of the major plot point changes start to take out the meaning of the game. One prime example is Bohan, the evil king chasing down the sword. In the game, he wanted the sword for power and domination over the world, however, the movie counterpart Bohan just wants the sword to destroy it, so no one can have it. Which would be fine! The sword will be gone and can never be used for evil, sounds great right? Not for Nariko. Our obviously dyed hair protagonist refuses to give him the sword, and puts many lives in danger in doing so. While in the video game is was necessary for Nariko to protect the sword at all costs, not so much in the movie.
Another con of the movie is animation. Overall, the video game had smooth battles, beautiful graphics, stunning cinematics, and was overall visually great. This is an even greater feat considering it was an early launch title for the system. However, the movie features clunky (for the most part, some are exempt) battle scenes and animations that aren't near the caliber of the game.
The above picture is from the movie, while the below is from the game. While it may not be evident from these two pictures, the game reins superior in all aspects visually.
Now, the final pro of the movie. Putting all my cons aside, this was a solid stand alone film that provided something for fans of the game that were left empty handed for seven years. Getting to see Nariko in action again, one of my favorite video characters of all time, was in itself a wonder thing. While it may not be perfect, it is overall well, good. It was just good, and coming from a studio that is also working on a much more highly anticipated Ratchet and Clank film. I guess, that's all we can ask for.
What did you think of the film? Post in the comments below, and I'll see you in my next review!
Over this last week, the new horror thriller Deliver Us from Evil was released to theaters nationwide. Does this film have what it takes to scare up some box office numbers? Find out below!
This film is a primarily story driven thriller, with most scares aimed at coming from realizations and plot twists. However, through out a large portion of film, mainly the first half of the 2 hour picture, the film is really only able to deliver cheap tactics created by horror films before its time, including: The tough cop who doesn't believe that anything paranormal could be happening even with overwhelming evidence of said paranormal occurrences... and the main character seeing things others can't that makes him start to believe. This, coupled with a troubled marriage due to our lead cop having strenuous work hours keeping him away from his family, all deliver few scares as we work our way through the film. However, as we progress through the movie we slowly start to gain momentum scare wise, with more interesting and shocking plot twists, coupled with carefully executed gore moments ramping up the excitement. However, all of these come just a bit too late as we lead into a less than satisfying ending.
Overall, this movie was really just... underwhelming. The plot only manages to scrape through with campy premises delivered previously from horror movies of the past. The film manages to scare up a few shockers, but nothing that'll make you jump out of your seat or throw your popcorn. Basically, if you're looking for a horror movie that won't give you nightmares, with bits of comedy that at some points are better than the scares the movie was designed to bring on, this is a film for you.
I always love interactions with all of you, so make sure to post in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!
"If you're looking for a movie that will emotionally destroy you in every way possible within 5 minutes...... yeah, go see this."
On Friday the 11th, the new horror film Oculus was released to theaters nationwide. Does the film have what it takes to join the ranks of acclaimed horror films before it have reached? Find out below.
Small Plot Synopsis (No Spoilers):
The film centers around an antique mirror that appears to wreak havoc upon all of its owners shortly after it is obtained. A brother and sister duo whose entire family was haunted by it in years past attempt to prove the mirror was responsible for deaths in their family blamed on others through a number of tests they conduct in the house the mirror had previously resided in with them during their childhood.
Review:
The film is able to drift in between present time and past time throughout the movie, using the siblings' childhood house as a static setting through out both time periods shown in the film (the two living in the house as children, and them returning to the house years later to conduct the tests). The transitions are produced flawlessly, with the past and present versions of the two often passing each other through out the house to switch into a different time. The seamless transitions are an interesting element found often through out the movie, and add a level of originality to the film sometimes lost in the production of many modern horror movies.
The film, as do most horror movies, starts out slow, and continues to build upon itself through out its duration. However, this film starts out strong from the beginning, and caused me to jump a few time only 30 minutes into the story. Speaking of, the plot is very well executed, and while the ending of the movie left me with questions, there were no obvious plot holes or cop outs present through out its hour and forty-five minute run-time. The solid, quickly developed plot allows for the film to put the scares first throughout the later half of the movie, and the scares well... they flat out terrify.
The film features a wide array of horror movie scare tactics, including suspense build-up, pop ups, hard cuts, and straight up terrifying chase scenes. Through out the film I found myself in various situations that included: rolled up in feedle position sobbing, so close to my friend I was practically sitting on their lap, and just grabbing on to my friend's shirt out of pure terror. I may have ripped it in one or forty places. Anywho, all the different scare tactics were used in very diverse and different ways, spread through out the film very evenly, and were all delivered solidly, with none feeling phoned in or fake.
^ Same.
As with most horror films, the movie ended off with a huge bang of a climax, and the shocking ending still has my head reeling. I mean, with a face like that one up there, you can't exactly expect a fun ending.... but I mean... you can hope right? Anywho, the film ended off with a flawlessly executed bang that couldn't have been any more well produced.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this movie. The film featured solid production, incredibly well executed acting (one of the biggest highlights of the movie), a great story, and an incredible scare factor, and overall, was my favorite film of 2014 yet. Basically, if you're looking for a movie that will emotionally destroy you in every way possible within 5 minutes...... yeah, go see this.
Have you seen Oculus? What did you think of the film? Post your thoughts in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!
On the 17th, the buddy-(kind of) cop comedy Ride Along, was released to theaters nationwide. Can the chemistry between Ice Cube and Kevin Hart win over audiences' hearts? Find out after the jump.
The film starts out strong, with an action sequence, slowly unraveling the plot. After the first scene ends, we immediately jump into the incredibly executed comedy, setting the bar high right from the beginning, all supplied by Kevin Hart. Kevin Hart uses this film to once again display his incredible versatility, proving himself in stand up, TV, and the big screen. Ice Cube outdoes himself once again (as he does with every role), with his decades of film experience behind him allowing him to act as an a great straight man to Hart, which he somehow executes without cracking up. It takes a lot of power to do that, and his veteran acting skills make him one of the few able to manage it..
The movie manages to consistently deliver with the same level of comedy it delivered in the beginning, with only a few patches of the film being laugh free. However, those spots become smaller and fewer as we progress through the movie, leaving us with almost no laugh free moments as we start to near the half way mark.
The film also features a... well an ok plot. While the plot is solid and believable, it's nothing we haven't seen before, and is honestly, pretty bland. However, the movie obviously isn't focused on its plot, and really only uses it as a platform for it's comedic incidents.
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, and would recommend it to fans of both of these actors, or fans of comedies overall! I look forward to catching the sequel that's already been announced by the studio.as well. A bit early perhaps?
Have any of you already seen the film? What's your review? Tell me in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!
On the third of 2014, the newest installment in the Paranormal Activity series, The Marked Ones, was released to theaters worldwide. After the critical panning of 2012's PA4, how does the newest movie stack up? Find out below.
PA: The Marked Ones is not Paranormal Activity 5, however, for reasons we'll get into later, it easily could've been. The movie takes place in Oxford, California, centered in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. As the earlier installments do, The Marked Ones started out very light, with the entire audience laughing for a good portion of the first 20 minutes, all while the movie was slowly setting up our plot-lines for later into the movie. Right after those 20 minutes of fun, everything goes downhill incredibly quickly.
From there, the scares come quickly and condensed, keeping you on guard, wondering when the next scare is coming. While there were a few moments through out where you could easily tell what was about to happen, those moments were very few, and for the most part, I was always always on guard, not being too sure if there were more frightening moments to come.
While this movie was not PA5, it sure did seem like it at some points. The movie featured appearances from series regular Katie, Ali from PA2, and a few other familiar faces I can't mention without giving away details. While this movie wasn't exactly a necessity to the plot-lines of PA1-4, it definitely thickens the plot in a lot of places, bringing a lot of revelations I didn't expect.
Overall, as a long time fan of the series, I enjoyed The Marked Ones. While PA4 was a lot more story-oriented and held back on the scares, Paranormal Activity: Marked Ones was able to deliver a solid story and plenty of scares, making it way better than 4, and just a little under 3's quality, I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of horror movies.
