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CharlesTheBold
Reviews
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Well-Done Futuristic Political Thriller
This is a sequel to 2012's HUNGER GAMES, and is set in the same future world: a post-apocalyptic world where an Empire, called Panem, has imposed peace on the survivors only to decay into brutal tyranny. The symbol of the tyranny is the Hunger Games, a gladiator-type combat where only one "victor" is permitted and the rest of the fighters die. To keep the flow of victims coming, 12 districts of Panem are required each year to supply a teenage boy and girl for the fight, ostensibly as punishment for decades-old rebellion.
The theme of this movie is the moral issues over how to oppose such tyranny. Katniss Everdeen ( Jennifer Lawrence), the spirited girl who won the previous year's Games, wishes to stop the oppression, but fears that outright revolution will hurt too many people. There is another character (whom I won't identify to avoid spoilers) who doesn't care how many people are hurt as long as the revolution is advanced. Many of the subjects of the Empire are resigned to submitting until some messianic deliverer will appear. Meanwhile the ruthless President-for-life Coriolanus Snow ( Donald Sutherland) is determined to destroy the rebels before they can get organized. Who will win out? Therein lies the suspense.
There's enough special effects to make the futuristic background and technology credible without overwhelming the movie.
Aside from Lawrence and Sutherland as the impressive antagonists, the movie has a strong supporting cast: Woody Harrelson as Katniss's shrewd but alcoholic mentor; Liam Hemworth and Josh Hutcherson as two boys representing the aggressive vs sensitive sides of Katniss's character; Elizabeth Banks as a kindly but naive woman oblivious to the tyranny; Oscar-winner Philip Hoffman as Snow's Machiavellian adviser, and Sam Clafin, Jeffrey Wright, and Jena Malone as formidable former victors drawn into the conflict.
The movie's only real flaw is that being part of a continuing story keeps the plot from being resolved in the end.
Impressions de France (1982)
Great impressions
I think this film is the best single thing in Disney World. If you define a work of art as using its elements to achieve a desired effect, this film does it perfectly. Even a mundane scene like riding down a small creek (the opening scene) or seeing a man chop wood seems magical when you accompany it with evocative music.
The arrangement of the music is skillfully done. Just to take two examples: the arranger noticed a similar theme in Saint-Saens's AQUARIUM and Ravel's DAPHNE AND CHLOE (D C D C D G) , and made it sound like a theme-with-variations. DAPHNE AND CHLOE, in turn segued into Debussy's CLAIRE DE LUNE with perfect continuity. (NOTE: I looked up the musical sources afterward)
Focusing on the beauty of the countryside and the music meant that the film-makers could avoid any of the messiness of French history -- the persecution of the Huguenots, the frequent revolutions, the colonial abuses in Algeria. That can be worrisome, but as I said, this is an artificial work of art.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
One of the best of the movies
In my opinion this is one of the best of the movies, focusing on the human strengths and weaknesses of the various characters as the war approaches. Particularly good: Felton as Draco, trapped between Voldamort's orders and what's left of his human decency; Slughorn, not just a pompous name-dropper but an aging has-been trying to win his new students' respect; Gambon of course gets Dumbledore's best scenes of the series and lives up to them; Ginny comes out of the background to offer Harry love and moral support when he most needs it; Luna is back, as dotty and as helpful as ever.
Time constraints forced the producers to cut and simplify some of the story -- Scrimgeour, the Dursleys, Voldamort's mother, Fleur and Bill all get left out -- and they treat the invasion of Hogwarts at the end as an unanticipated sneak attack in order to highlight the apparent treachery of Snape. This meant the story could proceed directly from Dumbledore's death to Harry's vow to carry on the quest for the Horcruxes. I thought most of the changes were well thought out, though I would be curious to know what Rowling thinks of them. I look forward to the next installment.