Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Katniss Everdeen returns as our new favorite sci-fi heroine. The film picks up right where we left off, the beginning of the Victory Tour. Catching Fire has a new director and bigger budget this time so expect a whole new refreshing feel. Katniss finds herself struggling with her feelings for Peeta and Gale. (Edward and Jacob? hmmm) While also once again being thrown into the 75th Quarter Quell.

This second movie is by far better than the first and follows the book better as well. The movie does NOT spend a lot of time recapping the first installment. Just enough. Expect certain things to be cut out but not enough to complain, i.e., the "mutts" from the first movie. Yes I am still annoyed with that. All new characters emerge in this film as well as the ones we love to love and love to hate. The truth here is that very few people will look at this for what it is in our culture. The spectacle of reality television and how it can amuse you to "death".

This Is The End (2013)

Now who doesn't love these guys? Okay maybe not everybody. You have to enjoy the humor of Seth Rogan and the fact that he plays Seth Rogan in all of his films. The movie opens with an all-star cast who all quickly "die". Sound funny? It is. 
Rogan's fellow actor friend Jay is in town to visit and wants some one on one buddy time.
However it just so happens that James Franco is having a housewarming party to which they attend and all "hell" breaks loose. Were talking aliens, demons, weed, dancing, earthquakes, fire, beams of light, Hermoine Granger, you know all the right shenanigans.
Now it is my gut instinct that this group of actors  hung out one weekend, smoked a lot of weed, and wrote this insanely ridiculous script. Definitely funny!

Stoker (2013)

Ok we all know why I watched this movie, Nicole Kidman. One of the most versatile actresses of her time. But the film itself was, rather, dull. Playing a widow who just lost her husband in an accident, becomes attracted to her husbands brother. Do not get me wrong I enjoy dark and mysterious story lines, but this one lost my interest. Incredibly slow with a lack of build up. However it managed to make me uncomfortable at times, which isn't always a bad thing. I assume that is exactly what the audience was supposed to feel. Mia Wasikowska, (Burtons - Alice in Wonderland) was not impressive and easily forgettable. Wait what was her name again? Point understood? Kidman's role was eh ok at best. Almost a filler role for her. Now the lead male, Mathew Goode (you probably will not know anything else he is in...) was to me the most interesting character of the movie. Dark, mysterious, handsome,  and above all, creepy. His actions are what kept me interested otherwise, boring. Enjoyed some of the intense color schemes which really accomplished the mood. Not a shocking ending, but did the film justice. At this point I am really just going on about something none of you should or will watch. I was hoping for a good mysterious thriller. Fail.

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Ok, where to begin. Can't say that I liked it. A for effort? This once book turned screenplay about, well, how to even begin to describe this. I believe it to be a multiple lives endeavor of sorts. Maybe. I was left so confused I had to discuss this with a friend of mine who actually read the book and then said she liked the movie better so I am still left with questions. Now granted I am all for movies that make you think, and especially sci-fi futuristic films at that. This one just really dropped the ball for me. At least 5 different time periods, with reoccurring actors playing different parts and different languages. All over the place! Very long and could have been edited to a much shorter version. Should the story have been changed just a little it could have been amazing. Could have.

Side Effects (2013)

Finally! I can say I have watched a GOOD movie! Do no be confused by the slow buildup at the beginning, it is worth it. Rooney Mara, this girl, ( Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) gives an amazing performance once again as a severely depressed young wife upset about her husband having to go to jail. (Channing Tatum, no need to discuss him any further.) Jude Law playing her psychiatrist with nothing but the best intentions gets pulled into a twisting turning unpredictable round of events. Catherine Zeta Jones, where has she been all this time? Maybe getting more plastic surgery because something happened to her once beautiful face! Regardless, love watching her play the villain. Have I said too much? It is a thriller none the less, and a well done one at that. Pay attention to the up close shots of small items, it adds much more to the storyline. A dark mystery well worth the watch. Soderbergh, well done.

 

Identity Thief (2013)

Ok who doesn't love this once no namer Melissa McCarthy? (Bridesmaids) Really she should just have her own show, oh wait she does (Mike & Molly)! The movie is lightly entertaining with some so so funny parts. Really it could have just been a movie about her stealing everyone's identities and that would have been funnier! Jason Bateman as always seems to play the same character in every movie, but for some reason that's why we love him and he can get away with it. It started out decent with a slow build up, then nothing. Very predictable with some horrible acting by the "bad guys". Kind of wanted to turn it off and go to sleep at one point.

OZ The Great and Powerful (2013)

For me this was a huge disappointment and I emphasize HUGE considering all of the buildup before the release. Let's break this down shall we.....the concept was not as creative as I wanted but that could just be me. I was wanting something deeper and perhaps more relative to The Wizard of OZ. Here we take an ordinary man who wants to be a great wizard, who gets trapped in a tornado via hot air balloon, lands in a magical land and I use magical lightly because the landscape was very Alice in Wonderland Tim Burton Style (only lacking the detail), meets a lovely witch, bla bla bla, she falls in love with him, bla bla bla, sigh, the story is almost too boring to discuss. Moving On! James Franco, love the guy but not the perfect role for him. Mila Kunis, I expect bigger and better things from her especially after her role in The Book of Eli. However I will add, so not believable as the wicked witch. Oh Michelle Williams, eh. Even as Glinda The Good she lacks the true backbone of a powerful witch. The movie is very long, too long, so sit tight if you plan to make it through the whole thing.