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Showing posts from March, 2012

The Hunger Games

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth Directed by: Gary Ross Screenplay by: Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins      If reality television hasn't gone too far yet, then this show should definitely make it go too far.      In a futuristic nation called Panem, one boy and one girl are selected from each of the nation's twelve districts to represent them in an annual television event called the Hunger Games.  Of the 24 contestants, only one will survive in this televised fight to the death.      I like the concept of the story.  While this futuristic society seems somewhat simple, it does not seem all that well developed.  It is unknown how this society came into being, even though it is known how the Hunger Games began.      If this film were released last year, I would have hoped it would be nominated for best make-up.  Many of the characters look absolutely ridiculous and are way too flashy, but the make-up is v

John Carter

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, and Willem Dafoe Directed by: Andrew Stanton Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton and Mark Andrews       Just think, if this movie were a true story, there would actually be life on Mars.  But unfortunately, it's not a true story.       Civil War soldier, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), is mysteriously transported to Mars where he is taken prisoner by the local inhabitants.  After they can see what John Carter is capable of (jumping extraordinarily high because he is not used to the different gravitational force on Mars), he gains extreme respect from the locals.  He later escapes and finds himself caught in the middle of a war between two major cities on the planet.  Will John Carter try to find his way back to Earth or stay on Mars and fight for one of the sides in this war?       I like the basic premis of the story.  I like seeing the fantasy of a whole new world and the developments of such a world.  However, it goes a little too much into fa

Project X

Starring: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, and Jonathan Daniel Brown Directed by: Nima Nourizadeh Screenplay by: Matt Drake, and Michael Bacall      Think this is the craziest, coolest party in the whole world?  Well, you might be right.      When three friends are trying to plan a simple birthday party for their friend, not everything goes exactly according to plan.  First, a few more people show up than were called for.  The security team sucks, and a dude with a flame thrower burns down the neighborhood.  It's not a party; it's a complete riot.      This film has absolutely no story at all.  All we see are the planning stages and execution of an insane party.  There's not much to it.      The ridiculousness of the party only increases, and so does the intensity of it.  As more people show up, so does more alcohol and drugs.  This leads to more rowdy kids making more noise.  So now, the neighbors are getting annoyed and call the police.  And at first they do nothing to

Act of Valor

Starring:  Alex Veadov ,  Roselyn Sanchez,   Nestor Serrano, and SEAL team 7 Directed by: Mike McCoy ,   Scott Waugh Screenplay by: Kurt Johnstad     We all wonder what really goes on with the most elite forces in the US military, the Navy SEALS.  Now, we see just what one of their operations is like.     A CIA operative has been captured in Costa Rica, and it's up to this team of elite soldiers to rescue her. At first, it's just a simple rescue operation, but soon they find that it's just one part of a bigger, scarier, and far more important operation.       The film gives a great deal of insight into what these covert operations are like.  It shows the intricacy and delicacy of both planning and executing a mission better than just about any other movie with a similar subject.  Sometimes it is possible to become lost and not know what they are talking about, especially in the execution phase of the mission because they communicate using military terms, and some