Reviews and Ramblings

This film adaption based off of the novel "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, came as a surprise to me. Having just completed the 3-book series before I watched the first film was certainly helpful because otherwise I would have been highly confused had I only read the first book. While watching the film, the person I was with had to have some scenes explained by me as simply saying 'Book 2' or 'Book 3' because the scenes were actually from stuff that happened not in the 1st book. In the novel, there were quite a few flashbacks - in the film, the flashbacks were much less in number, but also not shot the way I expected. Beware there are spoilers of the storyline and some details as this is more a comparison of the book to the film. Then again, the entire film was shot in a way I was not expecting. The angles of shots, the use of music over silent scenes, and the overall choices by director Gary Ross were not pleasing to myself, a self-described fan of ...

I get a pretty awesome opportunity later this week. I get to watch Hitchcock's Rear Window again. Sure, this could happen at any time on my own. However, I will be watching in my History of Photography course. It has been about 6 years since I have seen this film. While that's not that special, I will be reviewing my notes and view of the film from my first viewing before I watch it again. Here is my first review While it will not be required to write another review on this film, I plan on it. I feel like being able to review a film after 6 years with only those 2 views of the film will be an interesting read for myself later in life. Maybe I won't let myself see it again for another 6 years and write another review then. Who knows - but I think it will be very interesting to see how aesthetics and my comprehension of things has changed over the years. So, be on the look out for it! So, until next time--

As always, Johnny Depp delivers as Jack Sparrow. Ingenious plans that sometimes get foiled by the British (although in this movie, once by the Spaniards), dashing good looks, and ever-present confusion as to which side he is on. While the majority of this film takes place in Spain and on islands, which is duly-noted in the music with constant guitar riffs added into the favourite PotC songs, it doesn't quite always seem to work as well. In this film however, he plays along-side 'Blow' Co-star, Penelope Cruz, who plays Angelica Malon, a long-ago lover of Jack's. I will not bore you with the details of the film itself. Mainly because I can also guarantee it will leave your jaw hanging open at least thrice, and don't want to spoil it too much for you. The viewer can expect to miss the addition of Depp's co-stars Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann) and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), sadly. Even though the plot of this film does not call for either of their charact...

Alright so, I was going to write a constructive review on Twilight. However, I realized that as terrible as it is, I don't have enough respect for it to write a review about it. I don't CARE enough to write a review about it. I did want to let you guys know that I have actually read all four books in the series though, so now I am actually able to argue over it. But like I said, not even enough substance to it to care enough to write about it. So, until next time--

Nick of Time, directed by John Badman and produced by D.J. Caruso, was one of those films that, even though it was an hour and a half long, it did not seem to be that long. It took almost half an hour for the story to get going, though. The title sequence, a montage of close-ups of a gun being loaded and a clock working that turns into actual film sequences, was interesting, but reminded me of the title sequences of "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory" and "Sweeny Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street", both of which Johnny Depp also stared in (although after Nick of Time). Now, I am a huge fan of Johnny Depp, but this was not the only similarity I saw to some of his other films. He did do a wonderful job portraying a father who is forced to become a killer, which is not a recurrent roll. However, we have seen him wear glasses before, and be a killer before. The father roll was a nice change, as he is a father himself. I am confused however, as to when the film was su...

An action packed movie, 'WANTED', directed by Timur Bekmambetov, definitely includes some scenes and ideas never before seen. By me, anyways. And I have seen a fair share of action films. Unbeknown to me, this film was based on a comic. However, this film was far from simple drawings. Although I was able to call out who the main characters' father really was before you actually found out, the story line was so detailed and so well mapped out, that I almost didn't catch it. There were a few other surprise elements in the plot as well. However, the dialogue of another main character, Sloan, played by Morgan Freedman, could have been cleaned up, and was reminiscent of Samuel L. Jackson's dialogue in 'Snakes on a Plane'. Wesley, played by James McAvoy, is the protagonist in this plot, who gets drawn into "The Fraternity" by Sloan. At one point, it seems that Fox, played by Angelina Jolie, and Wesley will end up together. However, fate (as the film woul...

The music at the beginning of the film already reminds me of an older movie from the 60s or 70s. As soon as you see visuals, you can automatically see that it is an older film. However, you may know that I love grainy films because of when or how they were made. It make me happy. The acting so far is wonderful. In fact, I am watching to it right now. I'm in the middle of watching it. It is clear that in this film, made in 1974, the events take place in the early 70s. This is evident through the costumes and the way people talk. It is also self-evident that it takes place in New York, by the accents. Now, even though this movie is classified as a drama/thriller, there are elements of comedy (for example, when the directors of the Japanese subway system start to speak clear English and one of the transportation lieutenants' has been speaking to them like they are stupid. Another amusing element of this film is that a bunch of the major characters are named after colors. To me thi...