The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Year of release: 2013

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Sam Clafin

  

I have been looking forward to the release of this film all year! I read the books over summer last year and fell completely in love with the story. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure whether I would like them as the story is a bit of an odd one isn’t it?! Each year the in the city of Panem 12 boys and 12 girls are selected by an annual lottery draw and then dumped in an arena where they are forced to fight to the death on live television? It doesn’t sound like the most cheerful story in the world does it?! But with so many people raving about how great The Hunger Games was, I figured I would give it a chance and I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it! Now usually when you love a book and they make a film of it, it can be somewhat of a disappointment (Twilight being a perfect example here. Total. Let down.). I will admit to being that annoying person that sits there moaning that they’ve changed bits and start spouting “well, that didn’t happen in the book!” So when I watched the first Hunger Games movie I didn’t set my hopes too high, but it actually turned out to be brilliant. A few characters were a little different than I imagined (Haymitch and Peeta, for example), but all of the actors did such a fantastic job that I can’t help but picture those characters in any other way now. So with one great film already in the bag, could they do it again with the second? Simply put: yes.

       
      Catching Fire is even more thrilling and exciting than the first. The story is a lot more action-packed and there is a greater sense of threat and danger throughout this movie. President Snow is brought into the forefront in this one and the brutality towards the people living in the outer districts is severely increased (as poor Gale finds out). The film really hits the ground running from the off and it doesn’t lose pace from start to finish – there really is no time to be bored and there is certainly no lapse in the excitement. In this second instalment, we see Katniss and Peeta thrust back into the arena to battle it out once again. As punishment for the rebellion breaking out in some of the outer districts, President Snow (in a desperate attempt to restore order) decides to prove once and for all who is boss by sending 24 victors from previous years back into the arena for the 75^th annual Hunger, known as the “Quarter Quell.” New alliances are formed and we are introduced to new characters, Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason being two of the more prominent characters, and this time around the games are tougher, more brutal and the most challenging yet – but the tributes are ready to fight back.  I won’t spoil what the ending by revealing what happens in the games in case you haven’t read it, but I will say that it did the book justice. 

          Jennifer Lawrence is (again) fantastic as the brave and feisty Katniss, whilst Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson are equally superb in their roles as Peeta (Hutcherson) and Haymitch (Harrelson). The relationship between Katniss and Peeta starts to really blossom in this one, but of course, their partnership is never without its complications. I do also have to commend Jena Malone for her brilliant performance as Johanna Mason, a victor from District 7. The story can seem a bit doom and gloom but it does have its comical moments, brought particularly by Jena Malone – her scenes certainly brought in the most laughs! The only criticism I can think to offer about this film (and this is really nit-picking) is that occasionally the scenes in the jungle were a little too dark at times and it was often hard to distinguish what was going on and who was taking a swipe at who! But other than that, I can’t really fault it. It was as good, if not better than I hoped it would be.  

May the odds be ever in your favour...

Favourite bit: There are so many but the elevator scene with Johanna was very amusing!

Rating: 9.5/10

Sunshine On Leith

Year of release: 2013

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: George MacKay, Antonia Thomas, Freya Mavor, Kevin Guthrie, Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks

I went to see this film a few weeks ago after my dad pointed it out to me. It’s a musical film which is based on the popular stage production (of the same name) and it features the music of the Scottish band The Proclaimers. From what I had heard about it, the film seemed to be quite a hit and it was being heralded as this year’s Mamma Mia. I must admit, I do love musical films (not all of them – (some are intolerable) and I really enjoyed Mamma Mia so this film seemed very much up my alley.

     The story follows the lives of Davy (George MacKay) and Ally (Kevin Guthrie), two young British Army soldiers, as they return home to Edinburgh after completing their service in Afghanistan. On return to Edinburgh, Ally is reunited with his girlfriend (and sister of Davy), Liz (Freya Mavor), whilst Davy is introduced to his sister’s English friend Yvonne (Antonia Thomas) during a celebratory night in the pub (where else?!) where they all get spectacularly drunk and sing riotously with their friends. The film certainly kicks off in high spirits and as friends reunite and romances blossom, the boys begin to look out onto a brighter future, one that is a world apart from their lives in Afghanistan. 

     Whilst the film does centre primarily around Davy and Ally, there is a second plotline which follows the relationship of Davy and Liz’s parents, Rab (Peter Mullan) and Jean (Jane Horrocks). In somewhat soap opera style, Rab receives a letter from his long lost daughter (that he didn’t know he had) just days before he is due to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss with his wife. Bad timing that, really. Yes, the relationships amongst the characters are not without drama and each couple faces some sort of dispute or upheaval that they must work to deal with at some point during the film. Whilst the drama does seem a little frivolous at times (like I said, it is something you would expect to see on a soap opera), it does add a bit of spice to the story. It isn’t all lovey-dovey, soppy, over-the-top romance like in a lot of musicals, so the drama does serve to add a little bit more realism and grit to the story – no couple is perfect which made the characters more relatable. I thought Ally and Liz made the best on screen couple – they were certainly the most believable pairing and they worked very well together. But the pairing of Davy and Yvonne didn’t really work for me. I felt they lacked chemistry in places and I found their romance a little hard to buy at times. It was also quite hard to understand what some of the actors were saying at times – the Scots talk very fast and they had pretty strong accents, so it was hard to catch what they said in places. But this was only on occasion, so don’t be put off watching because of the Scottish accent!

     Whilst the characters are likeable and the relationships are entertaining to watch unfold, it is the music that really sells this film and is what ultimately wins you over. There really isn’t a bad song on the soundtrack. Every single one is a hit and for the most part, the songs are lively, upbeat and extremely catchy. The Proclaimers certainly know how to deliver toe-tapping hits! ‘I’m On My Way’, ‘Over and Done With’, ‘Let’s Get Married’ and ‘Oh Jean’ were amongst my favourites, but of course you end up sitting there through the whole film waiting for that one song, that one big hit that everybody knows – which is typically left right until the end. Yes, ‘Gonna Be (500 miles)’ is the song that most people know and it is the one that we were all sat waiting for (right? Just me?). When it finally arrived, it provided the most jubilant and joyous ending (that we all expected really) and prompted a huge sing and dance along in the middle of Edinburgh. 

The song did feel very staged, as did a few other numbers, but they were all great fun to watch, and to be honest, it was everything you expected from a musical. So even if you aren’t that familiar with their music (I only knew a few songs), the film is still enjoyable to watch and it isn’t restricted to Proclaimers fans alone, so don’t be put off if you don’t know the music. The cast did an excellent job with the singing and the musical scenes were performed with real energy and gusto that really helped to bring the story to life.

It would have made the perfect summer hit, but this feel-good hit is sure to brighten up even the dreariest of winter days. 

Favourite bit: The bit in the pub when all the men sing’ Let’s Get Married’. It’s cheeky, boisterous and comical rendition of a fab song.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Suit Up - Iron Man 3

Year of release: 2013

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyenth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

Like most other huge movie franchises, I’ve been a bit late with getting into the Iron Man craze. I seem to have quite a habit of completely missing the boat and then stumbling across them way after everyone else.  I didn’t really know much about the Iron Man movies until the third one was released earlier this year and after hearing so many people raving about it I decided to get watching. After seeing the first movie, my love of Iron Man was well and truly established. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, as unlike most superhero movies Tony Stark doesn’t actually have any crazy superhuman powers, he just happens to be a techy genius – his ‘super power’ is his brain which I thought was pretty cool. It also helped make the story more believable in my opinion. So after the first, I quickly went on to watch the second, followed by The Avengers and then finally the third.

         The film begins with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recalling a New Years Eve party back in 1999 which he spent with scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), the inventor of a regenerative treatment known as Extremis which is used to help people recover from crippling injuries. Whilst they are leaving the party, they are approached by disabled scientists Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who offers them a chance to work in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM), an offer which Stark rather rudely rejects. The film then jumps back to the present to find an anxious and over-worked Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) struggling to cope with panic attacks following the events of the alien attack in New York (in The Avengers), whilst he attempts to discover the identity of a terrorist organisation, fronted by a chap known as the Mandarin. After his head of security, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is hospitalized after a suspected terrorist attack outside the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, Stark makes it his mission to find the man responsible before anyone else gets hurt.

      This third instalment is certainly much darker and more sinister than the previous films and Stark is faced with a greater sense of threat and danger from his enemies than ever before. The villains in the film, led by disabled scientist Aldrich Killian, are able to regrow body parts and can withstand almost any form of attack following their treatment with Extremis, leaving them seemingly impossible to defeat – Stark certainly has his work cut out with this lot. You really do doubt whether the almighty Iron Man will be able to pull it all off this time or if he has finally met his match. And with his on-going battle to deal with his anxiety, Stark is presented with his greatest challenge yet.

Quiet Please. Genius at work.

     Whilst the plot is fast-paced, exciting and action-packed, it can be a little vague at times. The villain’s attacks often seemed a bit without reason and it was difficult to really grasp what their motivation was. But despite this minor ambiguity, the film is hard not to like – it has everything you would hope for in a superhero action movie. The special effects were spectacular. Everything from the explosions, to the creation of the villains, to the Iron Man suits was exceptionally well done. I particularly liked Tony’s new method of getting suited up, which was very comical as well as being incredibly cool! This third instalment definitely upped the ante with the superhero armour and techy gadgets, although there is less of a dependence on the suit in this film and more of a focus on the man who created it. Stark really has to prove his worth and is often forced to rely on his own genius and ingenuity rather than on the suits alone. But, of course, when the suits are used they are undeniably spectacular – a positive outcome of Stark’s obsessive workaholic behaviour at the start of the film.

     Stark, as always, retains his likeability as the charming and witty genius. Although this instalment shows Stark at his most vulnerable, allowing viewers to see a more caring side to his character, particularly through his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). I liked the development of the romantic storyline between Tony and Pepper and it served as a refreshing inclusion amongst all of the chaos and violence and people blowing up all over the place. I also loved the introduction of 10 year old Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins) who helps Tony get back on his feet and inspires him to put his genius to good use when his suit is temporarily out of use. The duo made a very unusual but very lovable and comical pair.

     Packed with plenty of charm, humour and rip-roaring action, this third instalment is a thrilling superhero delight that you will want to watch again and again. So if you haven’t done so already, do yourself a favour and get watching!

Favourite bit: This was a hard one to pick but I did really enjoy the scene where Stark makes numerous attempts to “call” his suit when he’s held hostage. The threats he splutters while waiting for his armour did make me laugh.

Rating: 9/10 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Year of Release: 2013

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson

Well, I finally got myself down to the cinema to see this after months of waiting. I’d previously ignored the Percy Jackson films as friends of mine had put me off with their claims that it was like a poorer version of Harry Potter, but I was intrigued by it and having watched the trailer I figured, well, how bad can it be? I’m glad that I decided to give it a chance because I actually really enjoyed it. So, having loved the first film I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

     Whilst the first movie was certainly full of adventure, I found this next instalment to be a little more action-packed, dangerous and exciting. After the magical border protecting their camp is broken, leaving them vulnerable and unprotected, Percy (Logan Lerman), along with his loyal friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), head out on a quest to the Sea of Monsters (aka The Bermuda Triangle) in search of The Golden Fleece in a desperate attempt to save their home.  

Needless to say, their quest is a dangerous and unpredictable one, with new and old faces joining them along the way. Percy acquires a long lost half-brother, Tyson (who turns out to be a Cyclops –mythical giant creature with one eye. Probably not quite the brother he was expecting), who is a lovable, charming character, but has a habit of landing them in hot water due to his clumsiness and inability to tread quietly. Luke returns and is still hell bent on revenge and seems more likely to succeed than ever. And then there is Clarisse, an egotistical and arrogant fellow resident at Camp Half-blood who loves nothing more than to win and beat Percy in everything he does.

     While the new characters do bring more depth to the story, it is still the trio of Percy, Annabeth and Grover that really make the film for me – these three actors are fabulous together and Lerman in particular never fails to impress me. So I was a bit disappointed that Brandon T. Jackson’s character didn’t feature in this one quite as much. There is a huge chunk of the film where his character is missing – granted this is a result of the script and can’t really be helped (I suppose I can’t really argue with the plot, can I?), but I do think it suffered a bit in his absence as I feel he brings the most comedic value to the film. His responses to sticky situations always manage to amuse me. The character of Tyson, who was featured more heavily, wasn’t quite as engaging to watch and he didn’t bring the same wit and charm as Grover.

Still, there were plenty of laughs and from start to finish and the plot remained interesting and entertaining. It wasn’t one of those films that take a good hour to really get going. To really enjoy the Percy Jackson movies though, I do think you need to have a good imagination. The film really does contain a lot of weird – strange, mythical creatures, peculiar legends and prophecies, magical powers and returns from the dead (to name just a few). If you didn’t have a good imagination you would just end up sat there chiming ‘yeah right’ or ‘as if’ the whole way through. But the special effects are brilliantly done so it’s easy to allow yourself to believe what you’re watching.

     It’s a rip-roaring adventure from start to finish, with engaging characters both new and old, and an ending that promises an epic follow up somewhere down the line. With its all-round great entertainment and enjoyment value that had me interested and engrossed the whole way through, I have to say that this follow up didn’t do bad. It didn’t do bad at all.

Favourite bit: It’s a toss-up between the scene where they take a ride in the taxi and Percy (Logan Lerman) almost comes a cropper when it splits in half, or the one where Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) is dressed as a female Cyclops. Both equally amusing.

Rating: 9/10