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bedsitter23Hunger Games - Okay, so having now read the book, it was time to watch the movie. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do a fair job of reviewing the movie without referencing the book. I was pretty happy with everything, though. Although, I found the protagonists to be a little bit older than one expects from the book (which is naturally Hollywood's way of doing things), i was pretty happy with the selections, and really thought Jennifer Lawrence was a good pick for Katniss.
Elsewhere, Woody Harelson was not who pictured for Haymitch. Donald Sutherland as President Snow, was a nice surprise, though. The movie had a certain image of a Dystopian world to portray, and I think that generally worked. The greyness of District 12, I thought was well done by director Gary Ross. As far as the over-the-topness of the Capitol (think Fifth Element or Babylon Five), I thought also was okay, though Wes Bentley's character looked like a Kids in the Hall character.
Overall, I only had minor concerns about the film. For sure, I felt if the book did not have a built-in audience, I don't know that the movie would have caught a hold like it did. That said, as an adaptation and as a stand alone movie (as far as I could tell), i thought it worked well. It did drag at times, and one could argue that the book builds up better development around the games, the characters, and the world; but I really don't know how you would improve on the finished product (without braking it into two movies, which wouldn't have been satisfying either).
I liked it. I think a lot of other people would like it. I think it worked well as an adaptation, and as a stand alone movie to someone who hasn't read the book. I don't know that it breaks any new boundaries 9for those that may have those expectations), but on most levels, it succeeds.
Marley- The Kevin McDonald documentary has gotten a lot of buzz. As fan of both Marley and all things rock documentary, I had to watch it.
I would recommend it to fans of the man and the genre. Unfortunately, I probably have more knowledge than I need, and wouldn't be happy unless it was eight hours long. Magazines like Uncut and Mojo regularly feature Marley, and I have read a lot about his life in depth, and some of these topics are only briefly mentioned, though they could devote an entire movie to them (The Studio One years and the colorful Coxsone Dodd; the early years and the interplay between Bob, Peter, and Bunny). Still, it's only a two hour film, and the story is about Bob, so one has to move on.
Everything this movie does is done well. The footage, the music, the interviews all are top notch selections. Unfortunately, Behind the Music got to this topic before (and it spent time on the CIA/Cancer rumor that McDonald doesn't touch). In fact, the only thing you may have against this film is that you know all the stuff it is going to concern. I think it is still well worth watching. All of the major players are interviewed (Rita, Cedella, Ziggy, Bunny Wailer, Cindy Breaksepeare,Aston Barrett, Chris Blackwell, as well as close friends and family) and it is compelling in that the movie will be over before you know it.
Elsewhere, Woody Harelson was not who pictured for Haymitch. Donald Sutherland as President Snow, was a nice surprise, though. The movie had a certain image of a Dystopian world to portray, and I think that generally worked. The greyness of District 12, I thought was well done by director Gary Ross. As far as the over-the-topness of the Capitol (think Fifth Element or Babylon Five), I thought also was okay, though Wes Bentley's character looked like a Kids in the Hall character.
Overall, I only had minor concerns about the film. For sure, I felt if the book did not have a built-in audience, I don't know that the movie would have caught a hold like it did. That said, as an adaptation and as a stand alone movie (as far as I could tell), i thought it worked well. It did drag at times, and one could argue that the book builds up better development around the games, the characters, and the world; but I really don't know how you would improve on the finished product (without braking it into two movies, which wouldn't have been satisfying either).
I liked it. I think a lot of other people would like it. I think it worked well as an adaptation, and as a stand alone movie to someone who hasn't read the book. I don't know that it breaks any new boundaries 9for those that may have those expectations), but on most levels, it succeeds.
Marley- The Kevin McDonald documentary has gotten a lot of buzz. As fan of both Marley and all things rock documentary, I had to watch it.
I would recommend it to fans of the man and the genre. Unfortunately, I probably have more knowledge than I need, and wouldn't be happy unless it was eight hours long. Magazines like Uncut and Mojo regularly feature Marley, and I have read a lot about his life in depth, and some of these topics are only briefly mentioned, though they could devote an entire movie to them (The Studio One years and the colorful Coxsone Dodd; the early years and the interplay between Bob, Peter, and Bunny). Still, it's only a two hour film, and the story is about Bob, so one has to move on.
Everything this movie does is done well. The footage, the music, the interviews all are top notch selections. Unfortunately, Behind the Music got to this topic before (and it spent time on the CIA/Cancer rumor that McDonald doesn't touch). In fact, the only thing you may have against this film is that you know all the stuff it is going to concern. I think it is still well worth watching. All of the major players are interviewed (Rita, Cedella, Ziggy, Bunny Wailer, Cindy Breaksepeare,Aston Barrett, Chris Blackwell, as well as close friends and family) and it is compelling in that the movie will be over before you know it.
