HUNGER GAMES (2012)

"THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING"

Cast :

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark

Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen

Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy

Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman

Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket

Paula Malcomson as Katniss' Mother   

Lenny Kravitz as Cinna

Donnald Sutherland as President Snow

Toby Jones as Claudius Templesmith

Amanda Stenberg as Rue

Jack Quaid as Marvel

Alexander Ludwig as Cato

Trailer (Courtesy of Youtube)

Synopsis :

This story tells of a future in a country called Panem was previously a former North America. It is said that the country is made ​​up of a rich Capitol surrounded by 12 districts. Previously there's been devastating war between them that very painful and caused a lot of death, so to prevent that it does not happen again it was agreed that every year each district must send two representatives consisting of 1 male and 1 female to compete in the national game called Hunger Games .
Hunger Games is a fighting game where each participant had to fight to the death at a predetermined locations until only one winner remains. This year is 74th Hunger Games and the reaping once again held to chose 2 tribute from each district to participate in the game.
Narrated from the poorer districts of 12 selected a girl named Katniss Everdeen who volunteered to replace her sister Primrose who is chosen, and together with another tribute from her district Peeta Mellark, they represent district 12 in following the Hunger Game.
Accompanied by a drunken mentor named Haymitch, they must fight it out against each of the challenges and obstacles in the game until only one winner remains.

Review :

 I've never read the book, but what I can say that I am very, very fond of this movie. Every character in this movie played very, very well and really make the tensions faced by Katniss feels real. Atmosphere of the future depicted in this movie is much different from the typical future movie. If you usually find movies that tells the future always describe a future state with destroyed backgrounds cities, or maybe the human that turns into a mutant but the future depicted in this movie are very different, illustrated that cities are as usual with the forests, rivers only fashion apparel and building structures that describe the state of the future. The depiction of the circumstances that begin when Katniss and Peeta was elected, when they say goodbye from the people closest to them, when they went to the Capitol until the night before the start of Hunger Games raises the horrors that they will face life and death situations, and it gives an overview to the audience as they both will face death sentence.
In my opinion the selection of Jeniffer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen for the role is very suitable. Jeniffer make Katniss character felt so alive, cool, and is not a typical girl who is weak and always need protection and help, but independent, strong-willed, not easily discouraged when facing a situation where death can come at any time.

In addition to the role of Katniss ,I want to highlight the role of another tribute that makes Katniss does not seem to have a chance, there is Cato and Marvel that looks strong and is likely to dominate the Hunger Games with ease, but powerful portrayal of the Katniss character with expertise of firing arrows and accompanied by a former champion Haymitch,  give the audience hope that maybe Katniss will have a little chance. But this is not the usual games, but the games of life and death, where every tribute will have no choice and will use all means to stay alive. So the question is how long Katniss will survive? whether she is able to kill Peeta? or what methods will Katniss use to stay alive? This question will imagine in the mind of every spectator from the beginning, from the Katniss election until the end of this movie and that's what makes every scene in this movie to be very meaningful and attract the audience to know the answer.
Each scene, whether it's the main scene or support scenes not reducing the tension that continues to flow with the passage of the story line. Usually the main character in the film especially the fight-themed movies have always made ​​as a minority and do not like by the audience , but the characters Katniss and Peeta that is describe here is different, and I really love it when they are introduced to the audience at the Capitol that I think is very cool.

The character of Haymitch and Effie is the other character that I find memorable.They had complexity in their personalities, Cinna is OK but I don't like Gale character here. I think Gale is more like a weak man with a daydream even though he looks strong. I don't know maybe in the sequel they will give Gale more roles.

audio in this film is excellent, sound effects used are not excessive, and the background music was very supportive to describe the atmosphere of tension faced.

Depiction of a scene by scene is also very interesting, although sometimes scene change rapidly but still can be easily understood. When the scene is slow audience is like given the chance to breathe, and think what else would happen next.

Many are said to read the book first and then watch the movie to understand the story better, but I can say that I have never read the book but I can understand the story very well.

I think this movie is different from the mindless action films that full of fight scenes , but this movie is an action movie with character, in which the character portrayal of each role is very powerful and interesting, can't wait for the sequel if there's any.
I highly recommend this film for those who are looking for a good action movie.

Many people ask "what is the rating of the hunger games" , This movie is rate PG13.

My Rating Star For This Movie :

   

RESIDENT EVIL THE RETRIBUTION (2012)

"EVIL GOES GLOBAL"

Cast :

Mila Jovovich as Alice

Sienna Guillory as Jill Valentine

Michelle Rodriguez as Rain

Aryana Engineer as Becky

Bingbing Li as Ada Wong

Boris Kodjoe as Luther West
Johann Urb as Leon S. Kennedy
Robin Kasyanov as Sergei
Kevin Duran as Barry Burton
Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker

 Synopsis

The film Resident Evil The Retribution begins with a scene where Alice fell overboard into the sea, then the film running backwards until a certain point and then back to go forward, showing umbrella forces attack led by Jill Valentine which causes Alice falling into the sea.
Once conscious Alice find herself among her husband and her daughter who is deaf, she soon realize that it was false, and that in fact she is in an underground facility of umbrella company. Suddenly the facility security system goes off and Alice can escape to the central facility where she meets Ada Wong. Through Ada Wong Alice knows that there is one team of 5 people working for Albert Wesker was sent to rescue her.
Under the plan that had been developed, they separately have to pass chambers that simulate cities in the world. 

Reviews

First I am a fan of the Resident Evil games and always love watching films about Resident Evil. But the longer I look at this series it's more absurd and worse.
For mere spectacle and entertainment may be quite interesting because this movie is full of fight scenes that we often encounter in the action movie, this film is filled with enough boom and strange monster to support the action in this movie not to forget the zombies.
Storytelling in the film is designed as in video games where cities are simulated describe each level in the game where they have to fight a boss at the end of level.
But a lot of action in this movie make no sense and no goal only for "just thrilling" where the plot in this film is very weak, and are often disconnected from one scene to another scene.
This movie seems to rely only on big name of Resident Evil franchise and Milla Jovovich alone and the role of each player in this movie nothing is too prominent.
Milla Jovovich return to play in a style that is almost the same in every movie, how the expression on her face, how she face any tensions make us feel like we're watching the same movie over and over again.
And one thing I can not accept is the role of Barry Burton, who I remember Barry was a wise man, stout and none of the role of Kevin in the movie that remind me of Barry in a game.

But again if you are looking for a movie that just exciting and full of action, this movie can possibly be an option

My Rating For This Movie :