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The Hunger Games, a review by Tom

The Hunger Games (2012/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Lionsgate Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Gary Ross Writing: Gary Ross (Screenwriter), Suzanne Collins (Screenwriter), Billy Ray (Screenwriter), Suzanne Collins (Original Material By) Length: 143 min. Video: Widescreen 2.40 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen
Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

Plot:
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister's place and must rely upon her sharp instincts when she's pitted against highly trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Awards:
Won:

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2012)		Best Actress in an Action Movie (Jennifer Lawrence)
Empire Magazine Awards (2013)		Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best Female Performance (Jennifer Lawrence)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best Fight (Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Alexander Ludwig)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best Male Performance (Josh Hutcherson)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best On-Screen Transformation (Elizabeth Banks)

Nominated:

Golden Globe (2012)		Best Original Song - Motion Picture (Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams, T-Bone Burnett)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best Cast
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best Hero (Jennifer Lawrence)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Best Kiss (Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Breakthrough Performance (Liam Hemsworth)
MTV Movie Awards (2012)		Movie of the Year

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Photo Gallery
• Featurettes
• Interviews

When I first heard about this movie, my first thought was that it sounds like a total Battle Royale rip-off. So I wasn't all that keen to watch this movie. I have waited until the price for the blu-ray came down. After seeing it, I still think it rips off Battle Royale. Though it has a much slower start and a not as effective pay off. They had been rumors of a Battle Royale remake, but I fear if they do it now, people will think that it rips off The Hunger Games. I rewatched BR after watching Hunger Games to make sure if I still feel that it is the superior movie. And yes, it is by far.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on June 23rd, 2013)

Grave of the Fireflies, a review by dfmorgan

Title: Grave of the Fireflies
Original Title: Hotaru no Haka
Year: 1988
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: NR
Length: 90 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Tsutomu Tatsumi
Ayano Shiraishi
Akemi Yamaguchi
Yoshiko Shinohara

Plot:
In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year old sister, the helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring. Grave of the Fireflies is a tale of the true tragedy of war and innocence lost, not only of the abandoned young, but of an entire nation.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes
Multi-angle
Interviews
Storyboard Comparisons
DVD-ROM Content



I finally watched this film through to the end. I still found it moving, especially with the young child Setsuko, but managed to sit and watch all the way. People have said that this film is anti-war, I'm not too sure I agree with that but have to say that it does make you think as it does show a side-effect of war that often isn't shown or covered.

The film is based on a semi-autobiographical novel, as the lead character dies in the opening minutes it can't be a full autobiography. Seita and and his sister Setsuko are left homeless orphans after a firebomb raid on Kobe. They move in with an aunt but relations there become fractious as the aunt sees them as no more than spongers, especially once she has used all their available resources. The two children move out and try to set up a home of their own but even that has its problems. We see the gradual decline of the children until the inevitable happens to Setsuko. Seita continues his decline until we reach the state he is in at the films beginning.

I'm glad that I finally managed to watch this to the end. It is a moving experience made more so maybe because of the age of the leads, a pre or early teen boy and a four or five year old girl, as well as the depiction of the events that cause their life changes from the bombing to their eventual ends.

Nothing less than a 5

Dave

ETA original title

(From dfmorgan's Studio Ghibli Marathon on June 19th, 2010)

Veronica Mars Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

13. Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough
When all of the proceeds for the senior class trip disappear while in her possession during the Neptune High Winter Carnival, Veronica must identify the clever thief among them and surprisingly finds herself defending Jackie as accusations fly.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good episode... I enjoyed it a lot! Of course I knew what happen when I watched it this time... but I do remember the mystery on this episode kept me guessing all the way through it when it originally aired. I would have to say this is one of my favorites of the season... if not the series.

14. Versatile Toppings
Neptune High's closeted gay teens, including cheerleader Kylie (guest star Kristin Cavallari), turn to Veronica for help when a blackmailer cracks into a private online bulletin board and threatens to publicly out everyone associated with the site unless they pay $5,000 apiece.

My Thoughts:
This was a good episode... had a decent single episode mystery.... but what I really enjoyed on this episode was how far they went on the season long mystery.

15. The Quick and the Wed
Wallace's new girlfriend Jane enlists Veronica's help when her older sister Heidi appears to be a "runaway bride," but the clues suggest something possibly more disturbing happened on the way to the altar.

My Thoughts:
This was a decent episode... though nothing really special about it. I found the single episode mystery only mildly entertaining.

16. The Rapes of Graff
While checking out Hearst College with Wallace, Veronica is stunned to run into her shady ex-boyfriend Troy Vandergraff during the tour, but the real surprise comes when Troy gets accused of date rape on campus and calls Veronica for help.

My Thoughts:
This episode was really good... had a great single episode mystery which sets up the third season very well... and it also works on the season long mystery quite a lot. Even though it is the third time I saw it... I was still glued to the TV for this episode!

(From Veronica Mars Marathon on August 31st, 2007)