Hunger Games: Catching Fire

GENRE: Action, Adventure
RATING: PG-13 for violence and suggestive situations
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 16 minutes
STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, X-Men: First Class)
Josh Hutcherson (The Kids are All Right), Liam Hemsworth (Expendables 2)
DIRECTOR: Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine)
WRITERS: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours)
Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Oblivion)
PLOT: President Snow tries to squash rebellion in Panem by having Katniss compete in the 75^th Hunger Games.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all these characters again. Such great casting. Stanley Tucci (Caesar), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch) and Elizabeth Banks (Effie) all bring their characters to new heights. Lawrence and Hutcherson are amazing yet again.  I was really impressed with Donald Sutherland (M*A*S*H) as President Snow this time around. Also Sam Claflin (Pirates: On Stranger Tides) is fantastic as Finnick.
2 Unlike the first film, this one did not feel as rushed. It was very well paced and the two hours just flew by. I’m not sure if that’s a credit to the writers or the director. Or both. I’m also glad I re-read the book so I could just enjoy the film instead of thinking ‘oh yeah’ every time something familiar popped up.
3 I loved the addition of President Snow’s granddaughter. Great idea.
4 Did no one think the falling debris might cause a problem?
5 So funny hearing a woman in theatre loudly saying something along the lines of “what the hell?” at the end of the film. She obviously hasn’t read the book, as someone else loudly pointed out. Ah, cliffhangers.

RECOMMENDATION: Gotta see it in a theatre
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Her; Nebraska

Film: Thor: The Dark World

GENRE: Action, Fanstasy
RATING: PG for violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 52 minutes
STARRING: Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Cabin in the Woods)
Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta), Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers)
DIRECTOR: Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Sopranos)
WRITERS: Chris Yost (Avengers & Iron Man cartoon series)
Chis Markus & Stephen McFeely (Captain America, Narnia)
PLOT: Thor is up against some dark elves that want destroy all the realms for some reason.  

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 It may be called Thor, but Loki steals the show. He is just so smarmy. I enjoyed the trickstery nature he displayed in this film. I think it’s his best performance of his three Marvel films.
2 Some great action sequences but I was a bit lost when it came to the story. Why were the dark elves trying to destroy everything? Were they just jerks who didn’t like light? And when it comes to ending (which I won’t spoil), how did that exactly happen?
3 There’s a great Avenger cameo in the middle of the film. Very funny.
4 Even with all the destruction and chaos swirling around them, I always enjoy the lightness of Thor, Jane and Darcy (Kat Dennings). Very fun stuff.
5 I keep forgetting that Chuck (Zachary Levi) is Fandral. I don’t know why it never occurs to me until after I see the end credits. Maybe it’s because he speaks with a more bass-y voice.   

RECOMMENDATION: Pretty cool in theatres
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Fall 2013 TV Scorecard

So with November sweeps underway, here’s my verdict for the new and returning show this season. What have you given up on this season?

SUNDAY
The Simpsons [8pm on FOX]
Season: 25
Observation: Still going strong in my opinion.
Verdict: Keep watching. [renewed for next season]

Once Upon a Time [8pm on ABC]
Season: 3
Observation: Starting to get tired of Neverland.
Verdict: Keep watching.

The Amazing Race [8pm on CBS]
Season: 23
Observation: All my favourites are already out.
Verdict: Keep watching.

Boardwalk Empire [9pm on HBO]
Season: 4
Observation: Hope they can end this slow season strong.
Verdict: Keep watching [for now]. [renewed for next season]

Homeland [9pm on Showtime]
Season: 3
Observation: Great now that it’s picking up.
Verdict: Keep watching. [renewed for next season]

The Walking Dead [9pm on AMC]
Season: 4
Observation: Lots more zombie deaths this season.
Verdict: Keep watching. [renewed for next season]

Masters of Sex [10pm on Showtime]
Season: 1
Observation: Great characters and opening credits.
Verdict: Keep watching [for now]. [renewed for next season]

Hello Ladies [9:30pm on HBO]
Season: 1
Observation: Delightfully awkward and funny
Verdict: Keep watching

MONDAY
How I Met Your Mother [8pm on CBS]
Season: 9
Observation: Getting tired of the weekend. Show the mother more.
Verdict: Keep watching. [in its final season]

Sleepy Hollow [9pm on FOX]
Season: 1
Observation: Very fun and creepy. A great Fringe replacement
Verdict: Keep watching. [renewed for next season]

Mom [9pm on CBS]
Season: 1
Observation: Lots of funny characters. Too much laugh track.
Verdict: Keep watching. . [got full season pick-up]

Hostages [10pm on CBS]
Season: 1
Observation: Didn’t feel for the family or Toni Collette.
Verdict: Dropped.

The Blacklist [10pm on NBC]
Season: 1
Observation: Spader rocks. One of my favourite new shows.
Verdict: Keep watching. . [got full season pick-up]

TUESDAY
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. [8pm on ABC]
Season: 1
Observation: Another Whedon hit. Great dialogue & story
Verdict: Keep watching. . [got full season pick-up]

Brooklyn Nine-Nine [8:30pm on FOX]
Season: 1
Observation: Love the chemistry. Favourite new comedy.
Verdict: Keep watching. [got full season pick-up]

New Girl [9pm on FOX]
Season: 3
Observation: Schmidt needs to be cocky again.
Verdict: Keep watching.

The Mindy Project [9:30pm on FOX]
Season: 2
Observation: Still love watching Danny and Mindy interact.
Verdict: Keep watching.
WEDNESDAY
Revolution [8pm on NBC]
Season: 2
Observation: It became a chore to watch it. Don’t care enough.
Verdict: Dropped.

Modern Family [9pm on ABC]
Season: 5
Observation: I think Lily may be funnier than older Luke.
Verdict: Keep watching.

THURSDAY
Parks and Recreation [8pm on NBC]
Season: 6
Observation: I wish Andy wasn’t overseas.
Verdict: Keep watching.

The Big Bang Theory [8pm on CBS]
Season: 7
Observation: Pretty darn funny and consistent.
Verdict: Keep watching.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland [8pm on ABC]
Season: 1
Observation: I just can’t get into the characters. Even Jafar.
Verdict: Dropped [for now].

The Crazy Ones [9pm on CBS]
Season: 1
Observation: The show is starting to grow on me. Love the outtakes.
Verdict: Keep watching [for now]. . [got full season pick-up]

The Michael J Fox Show [9pm on NBC]
Season: 1
Observation: Fine with Parkinson’s but didn’t like the family angle.
Verdict: Dropped.

Elementary [10pm on CBS]
Season: 2
Observation: Not as good as last season. Sherlock is less edgy.
Verdict: Keep watching [for now].

Parenthood [10pm on NBC]
Season: 5
Observation: It is at its best when the siblings talk to each other.
Verdict: Keep watching.

FRIDAY
Masterchef Junior [8pm on FOX]
Season: 1
Observation: Those kids are simply amazing.
Verdict: Finished but keep watching. [renewed for next season]

SATURDAY
Saturday Night Live [11:30pm on NBC]
Season: 39
Observation: Some strong sketches here and there. Miss Hader.
Verdict: Keep watching until it ends.

I will most likely give Almost Human a try. It premieres next week Sunday, then moves to Monday. If you watch FOX, I’m sure you’ve seen an ad for it.