Film Review -- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The sequel to the wildly successful 2012 film is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone and Sam Claflin. When Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson) embark on their Victory Tour after winning the 74th Hunger Games, they notice that there is unrest in the Districts, and early signs of a possible uprising. President Snow (Sutherland), senses this too, and realizes that Katniss, after defying the Capitol with the poisonous berries in the Hunger Games, has become the people's symbol of hope. To remedy this situation, Snow and Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Seymour Hoffman) decree that the 75th Hunger Games, or the 3rd Quarter Quell, will be unique in that the Tributes will be chosen from the Districts' past victors. This means that Katniss and Peeta must return to the arena and fight for their lives again, much to the dismay of Gale (Hemsworth), and Katniss's sister, Primrose (Willow Shields). This time, they will be up against much stronger tributes, including the charming but deadly Finnick Odair (Claflin) and the sassy but lethal Johanna Mason (Malone). What I like most about the Hunger Games films is that they are as true to the books as possible. The screenplay by Simon Beaufoy managed to take a large amount of content and weave it into a film that contains all of the book's important elements and that is not absurdly long; in fact, those two-and-a-half hours felt like much, much less. What I also enjoy about these films is that they do not try to be a cheeky fan girl love story (ahem, Twilight). The romance that is included is necessary to the story and quite subdued, and the heavier social commentary, as well as plenty of action and suspense, shines through. Of course, this film doesn't try to be a cinematic masterpiece, and you can't really describe as anything more than an action blockbuster. Nevertheless, in terms of blockbuster films, this one is about as good as they come. 

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+

Film Review -- Lee Daniels' The Butler

Directed by Lee Daniels, the film stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, David Oyelowo, and a slew of other stars in cameos. Loosely inspired by the life of Eugene Allen, it tells the story of Cecil Gaines (Whitaker), who worked as a butler in the White House under eight presidents. Born on a cotton plantation in 1919, a young Cecil is taught to serve by his first master, Annabeth Westfall (Vanessa Redgrave). After escaping the plantation, he winds up working as a waitor at a hotel in North Carolina, and then is offered a much better job at a fancy hotel in Washington, D.C. He settles down in the city with his wife, Gloria (Winfrey), and two sons. One day, after serving a White House official, he is offered a job as a butler in the most important house in the country. Over the span of thirty years, he witnesses up close some of the most significant events in American history, from President Eisenhower (Robin Williams) sending troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to President Kennedy (James Marsden) pledging his support for Civil Rights, to President Johnson (Liev Schrieber) signing the Civil Rights Act, to President Nixon (John Cusack) deciding to resign. He also sees his son Louis (Olyelowo) become a Freedom Rider and an important figure in the Civil Rights movement, his younger son Charlie (Elijah Kelley) shipped off to Vietnam. It is definitely a lot of material to pack into a two-hour film, and that is the film's central flaw. There is no room for elaboration or deeper analysis of situations that deserve to be examined more closely. Even so, the film boasts some very strong performances, specifically from Whitaker and Winfrey. Look for them to get Oscar nominations later on. The ensemble cast is filled with major stars, and they do a great job in their small but significant roles. In all, the film is a powerful look at not only one man's journey, but an entire nation's journey through the social demonstrations, civil rights movements, and anti-war calls that shaped twentieth-century America. It is often hard to watch, but you can't help but look.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-