"The Hunger Games" Has the Odds In Their Favor

"The Hunger Games" is a spectacular start to a great series. Based on the book by Suzanne Collins, it tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence. She lives in a dystopian nation called Panem, and she is part of district 12. Panem has an annual event called "The Hunger Games" where a 12 to 18 year old female and male is randomly chosen to battle to the death with the eleven other districts, there is only one winner, and the games are televised. It is a bloodbath for the nation's enjoyment. Effie Trinket, played by Elizabeth Banks, hosts the reaping before the actual games. The reaping is the actual picking of the names where the whole district is invited. Katniss volunteers to be in the games after he little sister, Primrose, played by Willow Shields, is chosen. Katniss is cannot let her little sister go through this tragic experience, because she is more than a big sister to her, she is almost like a mother to Primrose. the other person picked was Peeta Mellark,  played by Josh Hutcherson. Katniss is a very skilled bow and arrow shooter which will help her in the games. Peeta and Katniss are very nervous and scared but they know they need to win for their families.

This film is very well made and very entertaining. Jennifer Lawrence is spectacular in this film. This is obviously her breakout role, and she does a great job for this film. She is very good at every role, and she is becoming a very popular actress for this decade. Josh Hutcherson was very good in this film also. He has been waiting for his great film and this is probably it. He has been around for awhile, this film and "Little Manhattan" are definitely his best films. Woody Harrelson, and Elizabeth Banks were also very good in this film. They brought a great comedic relief to this very serious time for the two competitors. This film brought up a lot of controversial topics. It brought up the whole idea of free will, if we have our lives planned out, do we have the right to change it? Also, it brought up many ideas of entertainment. Are we doing anything wrong when we watch and look at people's lives whether it is on screen or in real life. This is a very good film and the rest of the series is probably going to be great also.

Grade = 90/100 = A-

Movies to See this Holiday Weekend

Things to see this Thanksgiving weekend, in no particular order:

1. "Frozen": The disney animated film about the holidays that is getting a lot of buzz.

2. "Oldboy": The new Spike Lee film with Josh Brolin, it is supposed to be very well made with great violence.

3. "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom": This film tells the story of Nelson Mandela, and it is supposed to be spectacular.

4. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire": This film is very popular now, and it is worth seeing because of the great adaptation of the book and the amazing cast.

Have a great holiday weekend, eat some great food, and I hope it is very relaxing.
Happy Thanksgiving!

"Coraline" is a Great Film that is Visually Beautiful

"Coraline" is a great film that is visually beautiful. It has an animated film telling the story of a little girl named, Coraline. Coraline, voiced by Dakota Fanning, is a young girl who moves to an old house with her parents. She is very bored, and disinterested with the new house. She starts to explore the land, and discovers some neighbors and a boy named Wybie, voiced by Robert Bailey Jr. Wybie is a young boy that is intrigued by Coraline. Wybie gives Coraline a doll that looks exactly like Coraline except she has buttons for her eyes. Coraline accepts the doll, even though she thinks its a little creepy. After being pestered by her parents, she discovers a hidden door in her house that leads to a different world. The different world portrays Coraline's life but having everything she wants. Her mother cooks her everything she wants, her father is very interesting and is very talented. And also this world revolves around her. There is a distinct trait that her other parents have now, they have buttons for eyes. Coraline believes that this world is better for her, but problems arises when she spends a lot of time in the world.

This film is made so well. Henry Selick is a genius. He directed and wrote this film also. He also directed, "James and the Giant Peach" and also "The Nightmare Before Christmas." This film was so aesthetically beautiful I am surprised it has not gotten more recognition. Each actor did a fantastic job, also. It is extremely hard to do voice acting but they were spectacular. Dakota Fanning is a great actress even for her age. She has been in the business and she is great at what she does. Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman and Keith David also did a fantastic job for their roles. This film was very well done and it is worth seeing. It is a great film meant for kids, but it has adult themes in it, that makes it so great to watch.

Grade = 83/100 = B

Leslie Nielsen Was A Genius

"The Naked Gun" are one of the best comedic films of all time. Leslie Nielsen, plays Frank Drebin, a cop who cannot get anything right. Everything he does causes trouble with leads to countless laughs. In the best of the trilogy, the first one, he goes on a case to take down Queen Elizabeth II. With his helpby Ed, played by George Kennedy, and Nordberg, played by O.J. Simpson they try to solve the case, with many laughs and antics that are throughout.

These films are one of the funniest films you will ever see. It is a shame that Leslie Nielsen has left us so soon, because he is one of the funniest actors of all time. His hilarious antics in these films, "Airplane!" and "Spy Hard" has made him a comedic legend. He lived until he was 84, and it is a shame because his films were hilarious. Go see his films, and keep his spirit alive, because he truly wanted to make people laugh, and he does it in his films. Go see it!

Naked Gun 1 = 82/100 = B-

Naked Gun 2 = 73/100 = C

Naked Gun 3 = 65/100

"Do the Right Thing" is One of Spike Lee' Best

"Do the Right Thing" is one of Spike Lee' best. It tells the story of a neighborhood in Bed Stuy, a section in Brooklyn, that is filled with many different types of races, including Hispanics and mostly African-American. The main character, Mookie, played by Spike Lee, is a pizza delivery boy, at Sal's Famous Pizzeria. Mookie is loved by everyone and he gives advice to anyone in need. His boss, Sal, played by Danny Aiello, is an Italian-American trying to get by. His restaurant has been around for awhile and he feels he has grown up with the people of his neighborhood. This film takes place during one day, the hottest day of the year, and tensions arise in this urban neighborhood.

This film really brings up a lot of issues. Violence/anti-violence, love/hate, white/black superiority, police brutality etc. Most of the film Spike Lee is trying to get out to the audience that racism still exists and it is a terrible thing, because it could lead to violence. The Character, Radio Raheem, is looked as threatening, and buff, but in reality the only few things he really wants to do is for people to listen to his music, and buy batteries, and for Sal to put up pictures of African-Americans in his store. The film is very well-made because of it gets people thinking about why Lee filmed this movie in a certain way, with contorted shots, and close-ups, and dutch angles. This film is very good, and it really shows that racism is a terrible thing that still exists in America, and it probably will never stop. But we can try to get through with it without violence, because it could lead to death of a loved one, or yourself.

Grade = 89/100 = B+

"12 Years a Slave" is a Great Film for 2013

"12 Years a Slave" is a great film for 2013. It tells the story of Solomon, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, a slave trying to get back to his family during his terrible life as a slave. He gets captured by two white men, Hamilton and Brown who put him into slavery even though he is a free man. Overtime, we meet a few slave owners that make Solomon work, but also lets him fulfill his hobby, playing the violin. We meet a few other slaves that become friends with Solomon overtime and they all want to get out of this terrible life they are a part of it. By the end, we meet Bass, played by Brad Pitt. He is a Canadian, that really helps Solomon get back to his family because he is a free man.

This film is great mainly because of how raw it was and how beautifully acted it was. This film has an in depth look at how it really was for slaves. It really was a living hell for them. We see the bruises, bloody messes and the verbal and sexual abuse of what slaves were had to get put through. It is a time of tragedy for America because it was a time where innocent people were forced to not be free and equal like everyone should. The slave owners in this film, were excellent in this film regardless they were displaying people that were very vile and cruel. Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, and Michael Fassbender were all great. Even though, Brad Pitt was only in this film for about twenty minutes his character was essentially the hero in his time of need. Chiwetel Ejiofor did a great job in this film and he deserves recognition for the work he did for this film. Also Steve McQueen did a great job as the director. The authenticity of this film was greatly made throughout the film. This film is great but still very gruesome, but it told the true events of what had happened to slaves.

Grade = 89/100 = B+

"Invictus" is a Great Film with Two Great Lead Actors, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

"Invictus" is a great film with two great lead actors. It tells the story of Nelson Mandela, played by Morgan Freeman, trying to unite the apartheid country. He tries to do this by uniting with the captain of the South African Rugby Team, Francois Pienaar, played by Matt Damon. Mandela believes with an amazing run, the National Rugby Team can win the World Cup. He also believes by rallying the team will help with the problem of apartheid and officially unite the country.

This film is great mainly because of Morgan Freeman. He is an amazing actor that has been around for centuries. He is one of the few actors that people know even when we hear his voice. He has been in so many films, it is hard to say he has been in flops. He has, but he makes any flop much better. Including, "Oblivion," "Wanted," "Olympus Has Fallen," and the "The Big Bounce." He was a main part of why, arguably the best film ever made, "The Shawshank Redemption" was so good. Matt Damon, was also very good in this film. He is also a very good actor, and talented writer. "Good Will Hunting" was an amazing film for his career. It really skyrocketed his career into stardom. "Invictus" was a great role for him and he did a very good for him. This film was very well made. Both Actors got nominated for Oscars, and deserved the nominations. This film was very good and it deserved to be credited.

Grade = 84/100 = B