At the Movies: The Hunger Games

Every year, on the day of Reaping, a young man and woman (ages between 12 and 17) from each of the 12 districts that form Panem are taken to the Capitol to participate in the Hunger Games. 24 people go in, and only 1 comes out. 

Katniss Everdeen is 16 and from the 12th District, she's devoted to her sister Prim and hunts in order to provide for her and their mother. On Prim's first day of Reaping, she's chosen as tribute but Katniss ends up volunteering in Prims' place and is taken to the Capitol alongside fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.

The Capitol is a world away from their poor District, and all too soon they are trusted into the Arena, where they have to fight for their survival. 

Okay, that's my bland attempt to summarize the movie without spoiling it, thought I kind of think pretty much everyone has read the book by now - or at least heard enough about it that they know what's what - and the movie is pretty close to the book.

Now, I didn't love The Hunger Games-the book, and I'm sad to say I didn't like the movie, either. The movie is kind of long, but that's fine, the problem is that it FEELS long. It takes bloody forever for the actual games to start and once that happens the movie does pick up, but its grueling to get to that point. 

As I said, the movie follows the book pretty closely, and the few changes made were well done, on that regard I didn't have any issues. But I have to say that I felt like some things were never quite explained. 

Cinna rocked, he's awesome, and I think Lenny Kravitz was great in the part. The girl who played Rue was exactly as I imagined Rue to be, and I liked her as well. Jennifer Lawrence was OK as Katniss but I realized that she just isn't my cup of tea as a character.

Also, why did they let a drunk person hold the camera in some scenes? it was just bleh. 

Personally, I give it a C, and if you're not a fan, wait until is out on DVD. 

At the Movies: Fast Five

Okay, since last time we caught up with the dudes from fast Dominic and Mia Toretto, and Brian O'Conner, they had busted Dom out of jail and riding off to parts unknown. Parts unknown turns out to be Brazil, where the three of them get tangled with the local big mob boss. 

Deciding to pull one last job and steal 100 million dollars, Dom and Brian put together a crew to manage this feat. And they also have a FBI hunter on their back.

Let me start by saying that I was in a very good mood when I went to see this movie, and I had already heard it was kind of bad so I wasn't expecting much. And I had a really good time. 

Fast Five is more Italian Job/Ocean's than Fast and Furious but there is plenty of unbelievable action and crazy stunts and I just thought it was a nice popcorn movie. 

Go without any big expectations and just have fun. I give it a solid C