Movie Review: Catching Fire

Catching Fire
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.


Actor Impression:
    As always, Jennifer Lawrence is flawless in her return to the screen, this time reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Her performance was more emotional and intense than the last movie required from her character, and the viewer was definitely pulled in by the character's emotional turmoil throughout the film.
     Josh Hutcherson definitely upped his game in this film, as well, but I think the character/actor that stole the film was Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket. I've read the book, of course, but I didn't remember Effie being so involved in this one as much as she had been in the last one, but she quickly became my favorite character in this movie. She was more vocal and funnier, and Banks brought heart and character into the "tribute handler" in the most unusual and funny ways.
     I think all of the women in the theater were happy to see more of Liam Hemsworth, but his character and development in Gale were less than what we could have expected next to Katniss, Peeta, and even Haymitch (Woody Harrelson).
     Notable performances definitely need to go out to Philip Seymour Hoffman as Pultarch Heavensbee, Sam Clafin as Finnick Odair, and Jenna Malone as Joanna Mason.

Plot Impression:
    Once again, I'm impressed with how much the screenplay was able to stay faithful to (at least what I remember of) the original book. I only noticed one thing that was left out, and it really wasn't all that important (not that it would have been very hard to slip in, either.) Although I was a little disappointed that we didn't get the scene between Katniss and Peeta, as they watched all of the other tribute's Hunger Games victory tapes, and see Haymitch's win. I think that would have been an interesting scene, and really changed the way the audience looked at Haymitch and his "gruffness."

Overall Impression:
     This was a fantastic film, expertly costumed, written, and edited, and I loved how faithful it remained to the book. I think it is more than worth the movie stub price, and while I'm not a big fan of HUGE cliffhangers, there was really no way of getting around it in this book ["There is no District 12..."]

The Blonde Rating: 4.5/5 *****
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Hypable Rating: A- 

Now the real question for Mockingjay is...how the hell are they going to make that two movies? Or follow up THIS act? That will really be impressive.

That's all for now!
Happy Holidays!
The Blonde

Movie Review: Identity Thief

Identity Thief

"Honesty is as Blonde does..."

Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy

Synopsis: Unlimited funds have allowed Diana to live it up on the outskirts of Miami, where the queen of retail buys whatever strikes her fancy. There's only one glitch: The ID she's using to finance these sprees reads "Sandy Bigelow Patterson" and it belongs to an accounts rep who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Bigelow Patterson heads south to confront the woman with an all-access pass to his life. And as he attempts to bribe, coax and wrangle her the 2,000 miles to Denver, one easy target will discover just how tough it is to get your name back.

Actors Impression:
     I have been a Melissa McCarthy fan since her days on the TV show Gilmore Girls, so I'm not surprised with her enormous spike in popularity. She gives 100 percent to her character, and Identity Thief is no different. The character of Diana is a first for McCarthy, as a selfish yet lonely con artist filling her life with stuff instead of meaningful relationships and hard work. Her comedic timing and physical delivery was top-notch, playing well off her co-star, Bateman, and the other sub-characters in the film. 
     Jason Bateman has been a favored actor of mine since Dodgeball, and this new film didn't disappoint. Although, poor Bateman took way too many punches to the throat in this movie, I think, and was maybe a little too uptight after McCarthy's character (I think) proved her loyalty.

Plot Impression:
     I thought this movie was fun and original. The timeline of a week kept the story from getting too out of hand or off-track, and the different obstacles Bateman and McCarthy faced seemed "realistic" in terms of the type of film.
     I think the storylines of the bounty-hunter (WHY DIDN'T HE HAVE A NAME?) and the two other characters that were after Diana needed more explaining. I got that the guy and the chick were working for some guy that Diana sold stolen stuff to, but why was it so important to chase her across the country? And how did the bounty hunter survive a car accident, at least two days in the hot sun in a hot van, a shot to the face, and another car? Also, how did he get to 
     

Overall Impression:
     Overall, I think this was a funny film, but not one to stand up to the test of time. I loved the physical comedy, but I think it was taken too far with so many sexual/physical jokes. Honestly, we did NOT need that much of cowboy-Eric Stonestreet. 


The Blonde's Rating: 2.5/5 -rent it

That's all for now,
The Blonde