Snow White and the Huntsmen Review

 

 I don't review movies that often.  Mostly because I don't go that often.  I'm a movie buff, but my husband HATES the theater.  I haven't quite become comfortable going by myself, so I either miss the movies or find someone else to go with.   Oddly enough my mom and grandma wanted to see this one.  

Charlize Therone...what I can I say.  I really wanted to see this movie just for her.   And she did not disappoint in her role as the Evil Queen.  I loved her costumes and the way she played her character.  I loved Christ Helmsworth asthe Huntsmen.  He had just the right attitude for the part.  I loved his accent and really, he's just sexy (I like him as Thor too.)   Kristen Stewart however, I'm really just not sure on.  I think she's the right look for Snow White.  But what was weird for me is she didn't talk, behave, or look in different than anything else I've ever seen her in.  And her speech were she's trying to get everyone to stand against the Queen wasn't really that moving.  Disappointing when I felt it was her pivotal moment in the film. 

I really enjoyed the twist on the storyline.  I liked how the Queen came into power.  I liked how the land and the people suffered beneath her rule, but that there were those who would defy her.  I think they were all looking for that sign or ray of hope that there might be something better out there.  They needed a reason to take a stand.  I did feel like the Queen wasn't explained very well.  We see how she got her powers, but didn't understand why her mother did it.  And did she get more powerful over passing years?  

Overall, I would recommend it only if you don't mind retelling of fairy tales, darker fantasy, and magic.   These are all elements that I love, so I was pleased.

The Hunger Games Movie Review

 

I had high hopes for this movie.   I jumped on the bandwagon early (I thought I was late, but realized I read this book less than a year after coming out), so it's been a long wait for the movie.  For me it had highs and lows.  I didn't love it, but obviously didn't hate it either.  Would I see it again in the theater, probably.  Will I buy it...absolutely.

LOVED:  

• The beginning.   I actually teared up when Primrose's name was called and Katniss volunteered.   
• The capitol and it's people.   I know my husband was surprised by the colors, etc.  But, I thought it was perfect.
• The gamekeepers, Seneca, Claudius, and Caesar.  I love the whole behind the scenes of the games stuff.  It's something we don't see in the book but worked really well on the screen.   It showed a different aspect in how the games worked.
• Cinna - I wasn't sure how Lenny Kravitz would do with this but he surprised me.
• Katniss and her raw emotion moments.  She hides them so well most of the time.  Her outbursts were perfect.   I loved how she grabs on to Gale, her uncontrollable shaking before she enters the tube to the games, her crying after Rue dies.   I especially loved her salute to district 11 (another moment I teared up).
• President Snow - He's not in the book hardly at all.  But, I loved his inclusion in the movie.  Also loved how quite a few of his scenes happen in his rose garden.
• The screenplay - I love the Suzanne Collins got to help with this.   It really felt like the book in most places.  

 What was So-So

• The movie overall was really slow.  I thought the beginning might be.  It didn't drag, but it definitely wasn't fast paced.
• The games as a whole.  I was expecting it to be toned down to get the PG-13 rating.  But the games seemed a little...well boring.  Katniss doesn't almost die from dehydration. Peeta's knife wound doesn't seem as bad as it was in the book.   The water doesn't dry up to force them to the lake.  There were a few things that I felt could have been done differently.
• The romance between Katniss and Peeta.  It feels all contrived for the games, and I didn't buy it at all.   We know Peeta actually is in love with Katniss and we know that Katniss is acting but feels it too.  On the screen the romance seemed barely touched on when its a big part of the story and it felt fake.
• The ending felt off to me.  I missed the stuff that happened right after the games (in the hospital).

Didn't Like:

• The mutations at the end.   I was afraid of those being off.  But, I didn't expect them to look like the dogs from Ghostbusters.  It was disappointing.
• I know in the book Katniss and her mother have issues, but I never felt like she hated her.  In the movie it was like she down right despised her.  
• The story of the bread.  I wish they would have put it all in one place.   I didn't like the mini flashbacks.  It took almost the whole movie to piece together that one little scene.

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

While, I can not exactly say the I grew up on Harry Potter, in a way I did.   I was 21 when I was first introduced to the series.  One of my roommates was studying to be a teacher, and Harry Potter was a topic covered in her classes.  She of course loved the books.  I had never heard of them.  Never the less, she dragged another roommate and I to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the theater.  

I admit, I was hooked from that moment on.  I asked for the first 4 books for Christmas, which I devoured over my break.  I took them to college with me and read them again.  I waited patiently for book 5 to come out, the first time I ever pre-ordered a book.  I devoured it the day it came out.  I did the same with book 6 and 7 (I never did one of those midnight release parties).  I've read the books more times that I can remember.   I've seen every movie opening weekend and usually more than once.  

I admire the world J.K. Rowling has created. She saw a visions and saw it through until the end.  While there may be discrepancies, for the most part the story is complete and ever loose end neatly tied together.  I was sad when the books were over and now the movies come to a close as well.

 This was my first midnight premiere (alright 12:30), but I've been wanting to go to one for awhile.  My husband finally agreed since they were coming to end.

Was it worth it?  Yes!  While, I'm dead tired today, I'm so glad I went.  I might not be later, but we will see.


I completely enjoyed the movie.  I think this one follows the script the most.  There's lines that are right out of the book.  I thought it looked great visually.  It moved at a nice pace with some key down moments in all the intense actions.  In just a dark part of the entire series, there was quite a bit of humor.  I loved the battle of Hogwarts.  It's gives something I think the book was lacking.  I think one of my favorites is the roll Pro. McGonagall takes during all of this.  She's always been one of my favorites characters and in this movie, she really shines.  And I'm sure you won't see a review without some mention of Neville.  While, I liked his part in the book, in the movie he was fantastic.   Who knew? 

So, overall I would probably give it a B+ maybe an A-.   There were a few key parts that I felt could have been played up a bit more than they wear.   First, for as much as they played up the Grigotts break-in, it felt short and not nearly as dramatic.  Second, I loved seeing Snape on screen.  It was the one the things I was looking forward to most.  But, I felt like they left out some key scenes.  I didn't feel like it adequately showed    the depth of his devotions.

*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*HIGHLIGHT TO READ*

I felt the final battle was was extremely anticlimactic.  I didn't like that Harry and Voldemort battle each other alone.  No one witnesses his final downfall.  I also didn't like that Harry didn't fully explain to Voldemort who was the master of the wand.  I thought it was a key point they missed.  I also didn't like the last little bit when Harry broke the elder wand.  I wanted the whole scene in the headmaster's office.  I was expecting it.  It's always a part I cry during.  And while yes, Harry talks to Dumbledore right after his death, I think the office scene is important as well.

The epilogue was ok.  I knew it was going to be there and I had a feeling for the stories I've read that it probably was going to be a little odd.  I was right.  But, I didn't really care.  I think I would have disliked it more if they left it out just because they couldn't get it just right.

New Moon Movie Review

     I had high hopes for New Moon.  I liked Twilight, but there was so many things that I felt could have been better or different.   The scenes, clips, and trailers I've seen for New Moon looked fantastic.  So, I kept my fingers crossed.  I was not disappointed!
     Everything about New Moon was taken to the next level.  The makeup was so much more believable this time around (no shocking white faces)!  The contacts were more what I pictured.   I felt the acting was better (Kristen Stewart did not annoy me as much).  The werewolves were fantastic!!  I was nervous how they would make bear size wolves believable, but they did it.
     I think that I was most surprised by was Michael Sheen.  I had liked what I had seen concerning the Volturi, but nothing prepared me for it.  I thought the whole scene in Volterra was awesome.  Michael Sheen was perfect as Aro.  He was positively creepy!!
     I will probably see it again sometime soon.  And, I can not wait to see what they do with Eclipse!