Cinematic Moments: Into the Woods (12/25/14)

For several months I've been (here and there) incorporating "Read of the Town" posts that basically discuss books before they are released. They may be highly anticipated or books that I'm personally looking forward to reading. I write them to get a conversation started amongst readers like myself, and maybe to share something new with someone who may be on the fence about that particular author or book. Ever since I started doing "Read of the Town" posts I've wanted to do the same kind of posts for movies. Not just movies coming out but classic movies as well (doesn't matter the decade). And not until the (small yet significant) buzz about Into the Woods did I finally figure out how to do it. So, allow me to elaborate further, and please do look for more "Cinematic Moments" to come.


Every movie that comes out now gets its momentum from the cast involved, the trailer, and lastly the actual storyline. Sadly enough it's usually in the order. I like to think it wasn't always that way. I like to think that back when movies were in black and white and there wasn't so many ways of advertising, a movie had its storyline and its actors to rely on to get people to go to the cinema. But I digress.

This Christmas there are at least 8 movies I know I want to see. The one at the top of my list, and probably on many others, is Into the Woods. For many it'll be because of Meryl Streep (has she EVER done a bad movie??) but for me I'll have to admit it's Johnny Depp (I love everything he does). Also, I'm a fan of the play which I saw with Bernadette Peters playing the role now taken over by Meryl. I wonder if there's a reason why they went with Meryl instead of Bernadette? I'd like to think she was asked and declined as opposed to not been asked at all. If you know don't tell me! lol

So, there was a bit of drama with the opening teaser trailer. Not sure why since the fact that it's supposed to be a TEASE should signal why it didn't give much away, but people wanted to know "where's the singing?" I'll admit I was kinda asking the same thing. Now there's a longer trailer where the actors talk with praise about the whole experience (see below) and we get singing, but there is still some apprehension that it might not be what we expect?? Uhm, have you SEEN the Broadway play? If you have then I can't imagine where you'd be disappointed.

1st Official Trailer


The Story Featurette


Or maybe the problem is how Johnny Depp's character of The Wolf looks? As revealed on one of four Entertainment Weekly covers for the movie: (all 4 covers below)

 

Will you be going to see Into the Woods this Christmas? Do you give much stock to critics or even to trailers when determining if a movie is worth going to the cinema? Let me know!

The Hunger Games (2012) (Movie Review)

Title: The Hunger Games

Director: Gary Ross

Writer: Gary Ross (screenplay)

Music by: James Newton Howard

Cinematography: Tom Stern

Producer: Nina Jacobson & Jon Kilik

Distributor: Lionsgate

Studio: Lionsgate & Color Force
In Theaters: March 23rd, 2012

Running Time: 142 minutes

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, & Lenny Kravitz

Genre(s): action/drama/sci-fi/thriller

Storyline: In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Written by Suzanne Collins

Movie Trailer:


My Review: Why, if I saw this movie the weekend it came out, has it taken me THIS long to write my review? Because initially I hated it and I wanted SO BADLY to love it (or at least like it a little bit) as those I know (and total strangers) have. Unfortunately, time did not heal this wound the movie left me with. I stand by my belief that the ONLY commonality this movie had with the book is it’s title and the character names. Otherwise, the movie is utterly different. If you haven’t read the book OR seen the movie you might want to stop reading here since I plan on revealing quite a few important spoilers from both.

For starters the mockingjay pin was my BIGGEST issue with the movie. The fact that Katniss simply finds it amongst some other cheap items at the Hob, in itself, is wrong and takes away from the sheer magnitude of what that pin is and represents! In the book that pin is made of gold and is so rare and valuable Gale is upset with her for accepting such a gift (from Madge whom the writers chose to leave out of the movie completely!) that could easily feed his large family for 6 months! The fact that the movie played down its significance in such a way right at the beginning of the movie, then had the pin simply given to her and she in turn, gives it to her sister?! I was turned off immediately.

My other issue wit the movie was the children participating in the Hunger Games. The only desperation I saw in the movie was in the few (and far between) scenes of what their neighborhood looked like. Otherwise, none of those who were chosen for the Hunger Games looked or acted as if they were “without” at all. Perhaps this was Disney’s way of babying the movie for those younger viewers? To me that seemed unfair to those who’ve read the book and already understood (and like myself, expected) those scenes of desperation and violence. There were too many bad camera angles on the death and violence that it left me unmoved. Especially the scene where Rue is killed. That moment is probably one of a few I was looking forward to seeing played out on the screen. That moment when Rue is hit in the stomach with the spear and Katniss, without hesitation, shoots an arrow right at the attackers neck!! For the sake of keeping this movie PG-13, I’m sure Disney thought simply shooting him in the stomach would have sufficed the audience. Not me it didn’t!

There are SEVERAL other issues I too had with but I will only mention one more that truly bothered me and that is what I consider the best moment in book one. The visitors Katniss has just before she is to leave for the Hunger Games. That scene with her mother still gives me chills but in the movie they played down the mothers character entirely. Not only that but her most important visitor (to me) in the book, was left out entirely as well, when Peeta’s father visits her!

And don’t get me started on the POOR acting on everyone’s part. I fault the writers staccato dialogue choices more than the actual actors though. The fighting was substandard considering all the CGI technology we have today and the romantic scenes were more uncomfortable (for me) than natural and comforting like they should have been. I believe Disney was a poor choice to handle making this trilogy into a movie. I think this would have been in better hands had someone like Tim Burton been at the helm of this production.

My Rating: D

Will you…Run And Tell That?

The Lorax 3-D (2012) (Movie Review)

Title: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Director: Chris Renaud & Kyle Balda

Writer: Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul (screenplay)

Producer: Chris Meledandri & Janet Healey

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Studio: Illumination Entertainment

Production Company: Illumination Entertainment

In Theaters: March 12th, 2012

Run Time: 86 minutes

Color: Animated

Starring: Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White

Genre(s): animation/family/fantasy

Storyline: (IMDb.com) A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Movie Trailer:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PZr1rqOR0]

My Review: I love Dr. Seuss and every book I ever read of his. I grew up on Dr. Seuss, with a few other popular authors as well in my childhood. Anytime I see a Dr. Seuss movie is being envisioned for the big screen I make it a point to see it and for the exception of the live action Cat in the Hat with Mike Myers, I’ve never been disappointed in those movies. The Lorax was no exception.

Going into the movie I was unaware of the amount of songs that were present. I also found their placement and execution a bit “forced” in. And keeping in mind this movie is supposed to be for “children” I found the lyrics to the songs to be mature and delivered quickly. I doubt the children in the movie theater with me were able to understand the complexities of the word choices for the songs. Most of them dealt with corporate greed and doing whatever necessary to get to the top and how life is all about money and what’s wrong with that idea? Children are not and should not be aware of such evils in the world yet. But then again, children are growing up so fast. Maybe they do “get it” as the movie would have us believe.

I do remember a man (I believe a grandfather) sitting to my right with his two grandsons of about the same age. One child was fixated by the colors and the music and the grandness of the 3-D experience while the other child, every time there was a quiet moment in the movie, would say, “I don’t want to watch this anymore” or “I want to go home” but his words fell on deaf ears. The child who was captivated however was actually on the edge of his chair with awe and if I thought I could get a clear picture without the person behind me wondering what I was doing I would have snapped it. He embodied what taking children to the movies aught to be about. NOT hammering home a message in such a cryptic and sing-song way to children.

The story line, also, seemed a bit awkward and misunderstood by those children present. Obviously the adults taking the children got the teen romance that was brewing in the movie. At best that catalyst for why the main character goes in search of a tree did not have to be played up as it was. It felt like the movie was trying to appeal to too broad an audience.

Then there was the whole point of this movie which was saving the trees equates saving the planet and anyone who doesn’t want to save them is a greedy scumbag. There seemed to be no room for compromise in this movie. Either you did not cut down a single tree or if you did you were evil. Point. Blank. Period. In Hollywood these days, it would not be a great movie if it did not make such bold liberal statements along the way.

Aside from the wordy songs, the rushed storyline(s), and the strangely unsatisfying ending, it was funny and the main character did exhibit some endearing qualities any parent would be proud to see their child emulate. The movie also paid homage to a great story teller, yet again, and he said it best:

“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” - The Lorax

My Rating: B-

Will you…Run And Tell That?