Hunger Games: Catching Fire
What’s it about?
In this sequel to The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: It’s rare a movie can improve on the book but now The Hunger Games franchise has done it twice. A strong narrative establishes a gripping tale and, more importantly, a very good action film with strongly developed characters. It improves on the first film by clearly identifying the stakes allowing the viewer to get lost in the ride.
And although this simplification tends to dumb down any real-world political messages, it makes for great viewing. Despite the lack of extra layers, this is possibly the best popcorn movie of the year.
Bad Grandpa
What’s it about?
After his wife Ellie passes, 86-year-old Irving Zisman’s (Johnny Knoxville) quest for a new, prime “piece of tail” is invigorated. This dream is short lived when he’s forced to deliver his grandson Billy to his father after Billy’s junkie mum is jailed. Queue the precocious kid/dirty old man road trip.
What did we think?
Elodie says: You would think that taking a small Jackass skit, adding a scripted storyline and combining it with the traditional Jackass hidden-camera pranks to make a full length movie would fail big time, but it doesn’t. This movie is not for the faint hearted or those who would despise a dude dressing up as an old man for shits and giggles. Bad Grandpa is crude, it’s daring, but most of all it’s hilarious!
Enough Said
What’s it about?
A middle-aged divorcee (Julia Louis Dreyfus) wrestles with the many relationships in her life and discovers that experience is a very different thing to wisdom.
What did we think?
Dan says: This delightfully funny film captures the heart of real relationship trials and tribulations. Imagine that you and your friends were slightly funnier than you are when you’re drunk and that you had a chance to do a second draft of everything you said and you’d almost have this film.
Story buffs will leave feeling unsatisfied but the real meat is in the relationships and the interplay between this extremely talented ensemble doing what they do best.
Disney’s Frozen
We’re SO excited about the next animated Disney movie! We cannot wait.
What do you mean you don’t know anything about it? Watch this now!
Insidious: Chapter 2
What’s it about?
After rescuing his son Dalton from the spirit world called “The Further”, Josh Lambert is suspected of the murder of family friend and spiritual guide Elise Rainier. But it appears the ghostly woman who once haunted Josh as a child may have returned to the real world with him with a deathly agenda.
What did we think?
Hilary says: For Halloween this year, I watched Insidious (1) to prepare for this sequel and thank god I did. Insidious: Chapter 2 picks up right where the first left off and hops back and forth between the two films towards the end, with little explanation about crucial elements such as “The Further” from the first film, which could turn fear into frustration. While a little slow to get going, I ultimately found Chapter 2 a more complex, stronger and scarier film than the previous one. The full return of the cast (including the excellent Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) was a definite win for famous Aussie writers James Wan and Leigh Whannell, of Saw fame.
Ender’s Game
One of my all-time favourite novels finally makes it to the big screen. I’m so excited I’m not sure I want to watch the trailer.
(but in case you do, here it is)
What’s Popular
Star Wars The Force Awakens
What’s it about?
Two orphans meet in an unlikely series of events that see them fighting forces of evil in the company of a charming smuggler and his giant hairy pet friend.
What did we think?
In a triumphant return to a galaxy far, far away we revisit the fine tradition of a fun space opera. There are a few problems with the story but frankly few will care once the familiar theme song starts and finishes what is a well-polished and entertaining new entry. The performances of Harrison Ford and Daisy Ridley are simply captivating and, with more humour this time around, the future looks bright for this beloved franchise. There’s a fine line between homage, respect and being derivative and there are times it appears Abrams is going out of his way to repeat scenes from A New Hope (both charming and a little irritating) but it makes you feel like you’ve come home even as you immerse yourself in new politics and adventures. A great romp.
The Good Dinosaur
What’s it about?
An Apatosaurus named Arlo becomes lost and during his adventure home makes an unlikely human friend.
What did we think?
In itself The Good Dinosaur is a wonderfully simple and heart-warming tale but it’s this simplicity that is both its strength and weakness. It suffers mainly because we have come to expect so much more from Pixar. Adults won’t enjoy it as much because there’s no intricate multi-layered story with jokes for different ages. Instead we have likeable characters without any real depth and only two emotional scenes to really connect with us. There’s nothing really wrong with the ‘find your way home’ story other than there’s nothing more to it. But the most important thing is that the children WILL enjoy it.
Suffragette
What’s it about?
Combining both real and fictional characters from the underground suffragette movement of 1912 Britain, Sarah Gavron directs this Abi Morgan-scripted foray into the dirty streets of London women’s harsh fight, depicting the sacrifices so many made to place the first brick in the as-yet unfinished road to equality.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Carey Mulligan is brilliant as working-class mother Maud Watts, drawn into a fight that sees her lose her job, her family and her home. Other poignant performances from Anne-Marie Duff and Helena Bonham Carter ensure the grim reality of this brutal fight against the state hits you right where it hurts, with certain significant events depicted with powerful reservation. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s still a must-see for anyone that feels they owe so much to the women who gave so much.
In The Heart of the Sea
What’s it about?
Moby-Dick is lauded as one of America’s greatest romantic novels. Herman Melville took his own experiences as a whaler to bring the tragic true story of the Essex to life. This is an interpretation of Melville meeting the sole survivor of the shipwreck, and the dramatic recreation of the fateful voyage.
Segue
Dear Chris Hemsworth fangirls, you keep pining for this film, I do not think it contains what you think it contains*
What did we think?
Ishmael^ says: An epic retelling of one man’s monomania that led to the destruction of a great whaling vessel, and the deaths of most of its crew. The brutality and beauty of whaling is told in vivid realism, with impeccable execution: the broad 1820’s Nantucket accents; the graphic harpooning and gutting of a whale; the impending sense of madness and doom. It just feels a tad bloated – a ye olde saga in an age of 15 second attention-spans.
*It says quite clearly on the poster … “Based on the incredible true story that inspired Moby-Dick”. Not “Chris Hemsworth takes his shirt off and reveals his rock-hard abs”.
^Not really, it’s actually me – Stephen Scott – I just thought, for a lark, that for this one review, you could, you know, call me Ishmael?
Editor's Choice
Star Wars The Force Awakens
What’s it about?
Two orphans meet in an unlikely series of events that see them fighting forces of evil in the company of a charming smuggler and his giant hairy pet friend.
What did we think?
In a triumphant return to a galaxy far, far away we revisit the fine tradition of a fun space opera. There are a few problems with the story but frankly few will care once the familiar theme song starts and finishes what is a well-polished and entertaining new entry. The performances of Harrison Ford and Daisy Ridley are simply captivating and, with more humour this time around, the future looks bright for this beloved franchise. There’s a fine line between homage, respect and being derivative and there are times it appears Abrams is going out of his way to repeat scenes from A New Hope (both charming and a little irritating) but it makes you feel like you’ve come home even as you immerse yourself in new politics and adventures. A great romp.
The Good Dinosaur
What’s it about?
An Apatosaurus named Arlo becomes lost and during his adventure home makes an unlikely human friend.
What did we think?
In itself The Good Dinosaur is a wonderfully simple and heart-warming tale but it’s this simplicity that is both its strength and weakness. It suffers mainly because we have come to expect so much more from Pixar. Adults won’t enjoy it as much because there’s no intricate multi-layered story with jokes for different ages. Instead we have likeable characters without any real depth and only two emotional scenes to really connect with us. There’s nothing really wrong with the ‘find your way home’ story other than there’s nothing more to it. But the most important thing is that the children WILL enjoy it.
Suffragette
What’s it about?
Combining both real and fictional characters from the underground suffragette movement of 1912 Britain, Sarah Gavron directs this Abi Morgan-scripted foray into the dirty streets of London women’s harsh fight, depicting the sacrifices so many made to place the first brick in the as-yet unfinished road to equality.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Carey Mulligan is brilliant as working-class mother Maud Watts, drawn into a fight that sees her lose her job, her family and her home. Other poignant performances from Anne-Marie Duff and Helena Bonham Carter ensure the grim reality of this brutal fight against the state hits you right where it hurts, with certain significant events depicted with powerful reservation. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s still a must-see for anyone that feels they owe so much to the women who gave so much.
In The Heart of the Sea
What’s it about?
Moby-Dick is lauded as one of America’s greatest romantic novels. Herman Melville took his own experiences as a whaler to bring the tragic true story of the Essex to life. This is an interpretation of Melville meeting the sole survivor of the shipwreck, and the dramatic recreation of the fateful voyage.
Segue
Dear Chris Hemsworth fangirls, you keep pining for this film, I do not think it contains what you think it contains*
What did we think?
Ishmael^ says: An epic retelling of one man’s monomania that led to the destruction of a great whaling vessel, and the deaths of most of its crew. The brutality and beauty of whaling is told in vivid realism, with impeccable execution: the broad 1820’s Nantucket accents; the graphic harpooning and gutting of a whale; the impending sense of madness and doom. It just feels a tad bloated – a ye olde saga in an age of 15 second attention-spans.
*It says quite clearly on the poster … “Based on the incredible true story that inspired Moby-Dick”. Not “Chris Hemsworth takes his shirt off and reveals his rock-hard abs”.
^Not really, it’s actually me – Stephen Scott – I just thought, for a lark, that for this one review, you could, you know, call me Ishmael?