The Hunger Games Trilogy

There are a few spoilers in this blog for those who have not read all three books.

Let’s talk Hunger Games. The plot is creative; disturbing but creative. I, of course, have read all books of the trilogy: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. When I watched the first movie in the theater with a bunch of college students, they seemed to enjoy it a great deal. The movie wasn't all that. When you have all the details of a book, it’s hard not to notice how much is being left out of the movie. The first movie didn't really allow the viewers to see the relationships build between the characters. A movie is like a printed newspaper, limited. And a book is like the internet. You have all the room you need for your story. The question is, does reading the book first, ruins the movie for you? I haven't decided yet.

Katniss running in the arena during one of the Hunger Games

Okay, so you have Panem, the nation in North America after an apocalyptic event. In this nation, you have the wealthy and powerful Capital and the twelve poor districts. Once a year, the Capital holds and televises the Hunger Games. One boy and one girl between the ages 12 and 18, from each district, are chosen to participate in the game. They travel to the Capital with a coach/mentor. They prepare to fight to the death in an outdoor arena that is controlled by the Capital until one person is remaining.

Children killing for a chance to save their own life

Okay, so this is where I arch my eyebrow. Children are being forced to fight and kill in a “game” for their life. And it is guaranteed only one will survive. That is so not cool. And President Snow loves every moment. That is pretty twisted. And to make matters worse, the people in the districts are forced to watch the games. It is broadcast on every television.

Anyways, these games started as a punishment after a past rebellion against the Capital. At that time, District 13 was destroyed, leaving only 12 districts.

President Snow

In the books and movie, you have the districts fighting to survive, the love triangle involving Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Gale Hawthorne, and a secret plan to bring down President Coriolanus Snow. There’s plenty of action and suspense to keep you entertained, especially in the very last game. (Spoiler Alert!!) I think the biggest shock was when Primrose Everdeen died. She was the reason Katniss risked her life by volunteered for the game. She was taking the place of her little sister. 

I don't recommend the books or movies for children. And I don't recommend the books or movies for anyone who feel they will be affected in a negative way and/or become upset by them.  While watching the first movie, I was looking around the theater thinking, why are people cheering and laughing while a child is getting his neck broke or cut? There are scenes where children are killing other children, and that can be disturbing. If I had to pick something I don't like about the trilogy, it would be that.   --Ann

Tangled

The Disney movie Tangled has an awesome soundtrack. The movie itself is hilarious. Music, to me, plays such an important part in a movie. The right music helps get the viewer in the right mood, along with the characters.

I really enjoy computer-animated films. And Tangled is no exception. Even the bad guy has me singing along. What it is is a fantasy-comedy. There’s love and romance among action and comedy. A frightened girl (Rapunzel) stepping out into the world for the first time to live her dream, a young man (Flynn Rider) learning to appreciate who he really is after a life of hiding from himself behind the mask of a fake identity, and a horse who thinks he’s a dog. Oh yeah, that’s right, Maximus, the palace horse. Even he transforms throughout the movie. It’s inspiring.

Max challenging Flynn

Funniest Character: Maximus, the very brave and smart palace horse who acts like a dog and fights like a mighty warrior

Rapunzel having second thoughts about leaving her tower

Bravest Character: Rapunzel who takes a chance going out into the world, even though she is frightened of everything around her

Meanest Character: Gothel, the old woman who keeps Rapunzel captive and locked away from the world, just to take advantage of the magical hair she possesses

Gothel holding Rapunzel's hair

Most Annoying Character: The Stabbington brothers who just won't go away and almost ruin everything

Pascal

Cutest Character: Pascal the chameleon, who is Rapunzel's loyal friend

I'd like to hear about the animated movies you enjoy. --Ann

Make Me Laugh

Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Oh boy! Where, oh where, do I begin?  It’s the funniest movie ever! Ok, maybe one of the funniest.

There as so many funny parts to this movie, I don’t know where to start. Well, maybe from the beginning. This movie starts out funny. Coming off of a business trip, Neal Page (played by Steve Martin) only wants to get home to his wife and kids in time for Thanksgiving (two days away). So, he’s trying to catch the 6 o’clock flight to Chicago. His colleague told him “You’ll never make the six.”, but Neil is a determined man. So, he’s racing a stranger to get the only available cab in the busy streets of New York. He loses out in the end after tripping over some random trunk someone left off the sidewalk. After spotting another cab, he offers $10 to an attorney in exchange for his place in the cab; after the good-natured man raises the price to $75 and walks off with Neal’s money, the cab is then stolen away by Del Griffith (played by John Candy). Oh, and that trunk he tripped over, causing him to miss the first cab, it was Del’s. Well, if you don’t already know, you could guess by now that he didn’t make the six. But only because the flight was delayed.

In this movie, it’s one thing after another, after another, after another. I mean, talk about having a bad day, or two. Anyway, if you’ve seen the movie, you know the story. If not, it’s worth the 92 minutes of side-piercing laughter. Well, at least that’s how it was for me. :-)

Here’s a taste of what this movie has to offer:

• Neal is frustrated and is arguing with Del after having to share a single-bed hotel room with him:

Del: “Well, who let you stay in the room? I even let you pay for it so you wouldn’t feel like an intruder, which you certainly are.”

Neal: “Oh, I’m an intruder?”

Del: “Yes. You’re an intruder. I was having a perfectly nice trip until you walked into my life.”

Neal: I walked into your life? Who was that who talked my ear off on the plane? Who was that? I’m curious.”

Del: “Well, who told you to book a room? I did, out of the goodness of my dumb ol’ heart. Boy! You’re an ungrateful jerk, Neal. Well, go ahead, sleep in the lobby. See if I care. I hope you wake up so stiff, you can’t even move.”

Neal: “You’re no saint. You got a free cab, a free room and someone who’ll listen to your boring stories. I mean, didn’t you notice on the plane when you started talking, eventually I started reading the vomit bag? Didn’t that give you some sort of clue like, ‘Hey, maybe this guy’s not enjoying it’? You know, everything is not an anecdote. You have to discriminate. You choose things that are funny or mildly amusing or interesting. You're a miracle—your stories have none of that. They're not even amusing accidentally!

‘Honey, I'd like you to meet Del Griffith, he's got some amusing anecdotes for ya. Oh, and here's a gun so you can blow your brains out! You'll thank me for it.’

I could tolerate any insurance seminar. For days I could sit there and listen to them go on and on with a big smile on my face. They'd say, ‘How can you stand it?’ I'd say, ‘Cause I've been with Del Griffith. I can take anything."

You know what they'd say? They'd say, ‘I know what you mean. The shower curtain ring guy. Whoa!’

It's like going on a date with a Chatty Cathy doll. I expect you to have a little string on your chest that I pull out and have to snap back. Except I wouldn't pull it out and snap it back — you would. ‘Aah, aah, aah, aah!’

And by the way, when you're telling these little stories? Here's a good idea — have a point. It makes it so much more interesting, for the listener!”

• After a long night, Neal and Del fall asleep. They wake up holding each other. Oh yeah, and Del is kissing on Neal’s ear.

Neal: “Del?”

Del: (eyes closed) “Hmm?

Neal: “Why did you kiss my ear?”

Del: (eyes now open) “Why are you holding my hand?”

Neal: “Where’s your other hand?”

Del: “Between two pillows.”

Neal: “Those aren’t pillows!”

• After the ear-kissing, hand-holding, pillow incident, Neal splashes his face with cold water at the hotel bathroom sink, just to realize that the water in the sink has Del’s dirty socks in it. He’d been soaking them overnight. Disgusted, Neal reaches for a towel. He dries his face and looks into the mirror. In pure HORROR, he holds up the towel. It’s a pair of Del’s whitey-tighties!

Man! It doesn’t get any better than that. And that’s just the beginning of the movie. Yep! The tip of the iceberg.

So, go ahead and tell me what makes you laugh. What are some of your favorite scenes and quotes from funny movies?

Del driving in the wrong direction on the highway at night. 
And this is how Del is starting to look through Neal's eyes. 

                                                 

                      Neal, and his new friend finally makes it home in the end.

Click below and have fun! :-) 

The cab

The hotel

You're going the wrong way!