The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is based on a young adult novel by American writer Suzanne Collins. The story is set in the future in totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. All the young participants are forced to eliminate other competitors while competing in the life threatening situation in which everyone fights to survive. When Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male partner Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives.

The highlight of the film is the survival game played in the closely monitored and manipulated area. More importantly, the film was presented how it was written. Although the story is not a perfect plot for a movie, the main characters perform well with excellent visual effect and well directed. Nevertheless, the plot development is slow with some of the developing scenes are slow in build-up and without much excitement before the climax. Finally, the film lack in characters’ connection and the theme of the film is uncertain.

Rate: 7/10

Anson

The Vow

'The Vow' was about an unexpected event between an engaged couple, Leo and Paige. Paige lost her all memories with Leo. She does not understand why she left law school, broke her engagement with her previous fiancé, Jeremy, and why she had not been in touch with her family and friends. Her parents insisted her to go back to their home, but Leo found a voice message of her very happy and romantic. Paige decided to go back with Leo, hoping it will help her regain her lost memory. When her parents invited Leo and her to a dinner, Leo did not fit in with her family and friends. However, he persisted in his attempts to help her regain her memory, but Paige was more driven to learning why she left law school and broke her engagement to Jeremy. The relationship was further strained when Paige's dad trie to persuade Leo to divorce his daughter, and by Leo punching Jeremy for talking about chances to bed his wife. Paige rejoined law school and Leo signed divorce papers. She realized why she had made those decision before she had amnesia, when meets an old friend. Paige, while in class, started sketching, so she continued her interest in art. She also turned Jeremy down. The movie ends with an open-ending where Paige met Leo again.

The movie was touching, because even though Paige never regained her memories, she still found her way back to Leo. The movie was about self realisation, and exploring things you really want to do. It expresses a lot about finding the self you want to belong to. This is an ideal movie for couples, as it sends an important message that love is about treasuring and supporting each other. The chick-flick fans may also add this movie into their collection. Personally, the movie was alright, it was not exciting that's why it was not fantastic.

Rate: 6.8/10

Aubrey

Batman -- Batman Begins

So, my first blog will be on the first movie of the Batman series – Batman Begins.

Batman Begins starts the story by mentioning how Bruce has lost hope for Gotham. He was lost and therefore he went to a prison to learn the dark side of human. Ra’s al Ghul, a man with a vision that Gotham is beyond saving, sent Ducard to help Bruce out on one condition – destroy Gotham. Bruce disagreed with him and demolished the temple, killing Ra’s al Ghul in the meantime and leaving Ducard in coma at a small village.  Bruce went back to Gotham and poses himself as a playboy but deep under the mask, he is a vigilante fighter who tries to save Gotham. With the help of Commissioner Gordon, Batman tried to instil fear in the minds of the criminal until he met a long friend – Ducard. In a final fight, Batman saved Gotham by using a vaporizer and with the help of Gordon.

Just as a review said, Christopher Nolan return the soul to a soulless movie. He gave the movie meaning, rather than mere good versus bad fighting. The psychological pathway of Batman, the struggle he had from distinguishing between justice and revenge, the responsibility he bore on his shoulder…… all these are pictured very closely and precisely in the movie.

Rank: 8.5/10

Andrew