Review- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman & Richard Armitage

I am an avid fan of Lord of the Rings, both the movies and the books and was stoked when Peter Jackson announced the making of The Hobbit and that it would be a three-part film. After I watched The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and having read the book I anticipated The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug to be another three hour movie full of walking with a few action parts to keep you interested.

I was surprised to find out there was way more action in this second part. Although the main story line is mildly the same there are added characters not in the book and the events are not necessarily occurring in the right places. If you can get past the adaptation not being all that close to the book the film is truly great. The acting is well done, with the exception of Evangeline Lily whom can’t act a lick if you ask me. The cinematography is also splendidly done. There are many parts that link this film to The Lord of the Rings trilogy in both comical and clever ways. Furthermore the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic including the song that plays during the credits, “I See Fire” by Ed Shreen, I found myself singing it over the next few days and had to eventually download it.

Was this film a great adaptation of a famous novel? Not so much. Is it worth seeing anyway? Absolutely. Looking at it from the perspective of a film and not a full adaptation of a book I give this film 3 out 4 stars.

My Apologies

I am so sorry I have been away for so long. December has been a very busy month with Christmas and me having come down with an illness. I promise that by the end of the week I will make up for it with at least 3 new reviews for you, one of which being The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Thank you for being understanding.

Review: The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back (2013)

Directed By: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janny, Liam James & Maya Rudolf 

I remember seeing the movie poster for The Way Way Back and telling my husband very sarcastically, “Yeah that’s a cast that draws me in.” I am not a fan of Steve Carell or of Maya Rudolf and until I saw a preview for it while watching The Heat I was dead set on not touching this film with a ten foot pole. I am a huge Indie film fan and before I know what the trailer was for I was captivated, even with Steve Carell I knew this was a movie I had to see.

            The opening scene alone with Liam James and Steve Carell as his mother’s boyfriend was totally relatable to anyone who has been in a situation with someone basically replacing your father. Thought the entire film I was constantly saying, “Ugh, I hated when my stepdad did that.” or “Oh my word, that so happened to me too.” Although it is technically a current setting due to budget constraints, you totally get the 80’s vibe, from music to the unchanged dated waterpark.

The acting by Liam James was great; he pulls off the awkward teen so well you feel awkward just watching him. There of course was a love story, that you will totally see coming but you won’t even care because the film is just so well done. The soundtrack was also cleverly done, it gives you an 80’s summer feel and if you’ve ever spent a summer with you’re parents at a lake house you will be vividly transported back to those memories.

This movie was so well done and relatable, I highly recommend this to anyone and feel for stepchildren it’s a must see. It’s in my high ranking of Indie films, up there with the likes of Perks of Being a Wallflower and Silver Linings Playbook. I give this film a 5 out of 5 stars.

Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson

When I first heard about The Hunger Games I was enraged and swore I wouldn’t watch it because it was a cheesy, teenage girl remake of the Japanese film Battle Royale. I ended being dragged there with a couple of co-workers and found myself secretly enjoying it, although I was too stubborn to admit it at first. I requested my grandma to purchase the book series for me and I began to read.  After reading “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” I knew I wanted to see the film. The new style of game arena was interesting and I was kept wondering what was coming next.

I went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as soon as I could and was as giddy as a schoolgirl to see how they adapted the book into film. As with the first film the beginning was slow going, bleak and went on far longer than needed. This film was a little over two and a half hours and only about an hour of it was spent in the arena itself. Each deadly gambit was touched on only briefly; characters that died did so far earlier in the film, everything in the arena just seemed rushed.

As for the acting it was mediocre at best, but that was expected from this film. The film was also lacking in explanation and portrayals of various things. Finnick was not the suave flirtatious character he was portrayed as in the book and his only love Annie, though mentioned was not explained well enough to understand why her voice was featured in the Jabberjays. Another point that wasn’t explained well was the selection of the Quarter Quell. My husband was confused how there were enough victors from each district to partake in this every 25 years, not understanding that each Quarter Quell is different.

Taking into account the unnecessary long beginning, the lack of clarifications at points in the movie and the poor character portrayals I ended up giving this film 3 out of 5 stars.

Poll Winner

Thanks to those of you who took the time to vote and it looks like my next review will be Iron Man 3 in 3D! I will also do an extra review for you all this week as well, Catching Fire!!

Review: The Heat

The Heat
Directed by: Paul Feig
Staring: Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy

I wanted to love this movie, I truly did. I adore Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy is one of the funniest ladies out there nowaday. Unfortunately this movie turned out to be nothing more than an updated spin on Miss Congeniality.

            The Heat had a few parts that I chuckled at but nothing that made it a stand out comedy. Sandra Bullock’s character was a foreseeable transformation story and Melissa McCarthy played the typical potty mouthed, reckless character she has in all her other films. The plot was also easily predictable; with myself knowing whom the mysterious “Larkin” was by the middle of the film. The soundtrack was nothing special, a mix of mainstream Hip-Hop and Classic Rock. Like the sound track, the special effects were standard and nothing to rave about.

            I have to say I am glad that I waited to rent this film from the local Redbox instead of going to a theater or even renting it off of On Demand. I would suggest if you are thinking about renting this, wait for it to come to a premium cable station or rent it from Redbox if you want to waste a $1-$1.50. In my opinion this film earned only 2 out of 5 stars.

Poll Trailers

We're the Millers

The Purge

Iron Man 3 (3D)

Man of Steel (3D)

The Heat

Unfortunately The Book Thief is still not available anywhere near me and looks like it may not be anytime soon. I am so sorry but I WILL review this film as soon as it becomes available to me. I will review a movie this week still and I chose The Heat, directed by: Paul Feig and staring: Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. I will also place a new poll up either later today or tomorrow for next weeks review.

Review Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World
Directed By: Alan Taylor
Staring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins

Last night I experienced Thor: The Dark World in Imax 3D and it was, dare I say, MARVELous…sorry I couldn’t help myself. All puns aside, Thor: The Dark World was better then I expected it to be.

Thor: The Dark World starts off very intense and really keeps that epic battle feel going, as well as taking you on an emotional ride throughout the film. The cast is great I am a die-hard fan of Anthony Hopkins and he is featured much more in this film than the first. Natalie Portman continues to stun in the overall perfection she is. Of course there is the “sex appeal” of Chris Hemsworth but in my opinion he is not that great of an actor, nor is he that attractive. I am more of a fan of Tom Hiddleston both for looks and acting ability and this film was no exception.

The score was great and very fitting to the film; it provided the viewer understanding on a deeper level as needed with any score. The special effects and graphics where also nicely done as well as the makeup. The 3D was sadly underwhelming though. If it weren’t for wearing those gaudy glasses I would have forgot this film was 3D to be quite frank.

Although I would not waste your money for the 3D version of Thor: The Dark World I would definitely recommend seeing this in the theater. Also I recommend staying for both sets of credits to see some extra scenes. In my book this film earned itself 3 out of 5 stars.