The Hunger Games - May the odds be ever in your favor.

Rated PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens

Runtime: 142 min

Starring:  Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth



I remember first seeing The Hunger Games series floating around the book reviewing blogs and most of the reviews were great.  But, the cover and back blurb didn't really catch my attention, so I put them off.

That is until Christmas of 2010 rolled around.  I thought my eleven-year-old daughter might enjoy the books, so I ordered them up for a Christmas gift.

Curiosity got the better of me and I thought I'd just skim the first book to make sure it was appropriate for an eleven-year-old.  I had all three books read within a few days.  I've been wanting to read the series again, but time just hasn't permitted.

I thought it only fair to the readers of this review that I come clean about thoroughly enjoying the books and actually counting the days until the movie release.  This, I believe, colors my opinion.

The main story is about a future where the U.S. has fallen on very hard times and the states no longer exist.  Instead of states we now have a Capitol and twelve districts.  Katniss Everdeen, our heroine, hails from district twelve.


The Capitol, as a way to keep the districts under control, hosts The Hunger Games every year. The Hunger Games are a brutal, fight to the death competition in which 24 tributes strive to be the last one alive. As if the games weren't horrendous enough, the competitors are chosen from the district's children between the ages of twelve and eighteen.

When Primrose, Katniss's twelve-year-old sister, is chosen, Katniss does the only thing she can do to protect her.  She volunteers as district twelve's female tribute.

 After watching several movies based on books over the years I have decided the only way to enjoy a movie made from a book is to watch the movie as if the book did not exist.

I will admit, I wasn't able to do that with this movie because I didn't need to.  However, I may have taken something entirely different away with me from the movie had I not read the books first.

Of course there is a lot left out and a few changes that were made, but I didn't feel that any of that hurt the overall story.  I knew what had happened behind the scenes (because I'd read the books) but I think the movie could be just as enjoyable if you hadn't read the books.

The rating, PG-13, is quite appropriate as there is quite a lot of violence.  The story, after all, is about teenagers being forced to compete to the death. I brought my eleven-year-old daughter to this one and would allow her to watch it again, and again.

This is one I would definitely recommend for older family members. 

Season of the Witch - Which Witch is Which?

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, violence and disturbing content

Runtime: 95 min

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Moore, Claire Foy

I was drawn to this movie because it stars Nicolas Cage and I’m a fan. If I were reviewing this strictly for an adult audience I’d recommend it.  Especially since I was able to watch this one on Netflix direct streaming. 

What I’ve finally boiled it down to is the choice of the parent.  After my initial viewing I wouldn’t let my eleven year old watch it but now that it has set for a few days I might be persuaded to give in. But she would be warned that I think it might be too scary for her. 

We have a rule in our house. Scary movies are not off limits just because they are scary. But if you want to watch it and get scared, don’t come running to me in the middle of the night. 

The movie didn’t have any horrible language that I noticed and no bare bodies or inappropriate behavior in that area, so my only cautions are the potential to cause nightmares and the story does have a religious theme and doesn’t always portray the Christians in a good light.

The opening scene scared me and I’m a little bit older than thirteen. Of course, it’s not a slasher movie and the story was good.  However, the story itself is a bit scary – it wasn’t just the special effects that were frightening.

The movie begins with the hanging of suspected witches. Later that evening a priest returns to read passages over the witches to assure they cannot return from the dead.  This does not turn out so well for the priest.

Then the story moves onto the Crusades and shows a pair of soldiers, Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) going around and waging war in the name of God.  That is, until Nicholas Cage decides this might not be the right thing to do.

The two desert God’s army only to be later captured and put into a dungeon. They are promised freedom if they will help escort a witch accused of causing the Black Plague to a distant monastery. Once there, she is to get a fair trial, which is all Behmen (Nicolas Cage) wants, fairness.

Will the band get the accused witch to the monastery and if they do, will she still get a fair trial?

That is what I expected of the story but it took a bit of a turn near the end and I enjoyed the ride. Just use caution when deciding to allow someone under fifteen to watch this one.

Reviewed by JC Phelps

The Secret World of Arrietty - Borrowed from Japan

 

Rated: G

Runtime: 94 minutes

Starring: Bridgit Mendler, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Carol Burnett 

I thought I knew all I needed to know about this movie before I brought the kids.  Well, I was wrong. 

What I did know:  

It was cute and fun for all of us and it was based on the book, The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. 

What I didn't know:  

This animated version was first released in Japan in 2010.  And Mary Norton also wrote The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons and it's sequel, Bonfires and Broomsticks.  If there are any Disney fans out there you'll probably already know that these two books became the basis for the movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks (one of my all time favorites, by the way.)  

The story:  

Borrowers are very small versions of people that live under our houses and come out at night to "borrow" items we will never miss such as a cube of sugar or small lost items.  A little goes a long way for these tiny people.  If a Borrower is seen by a human being (they call us Beings) then they must pack up and move because a Being's curiosity is never satisfied.

It just happens that Arrietty is now fourteen and about to embark on her first Borrow.  She is seen by a new member of the household, Shawn.  He has been brought to the country to be kept quiet and still before a life threatening heart surgery.  

The family decides they must move but a lot happens as they start planning and readying themselves to find a new home. Arrietty's father is slightly injured while scouting for a new home and is brought back by another Borrower.  There is hope there are more Borrowers to be found out in the wide world - which happens to be even more wide because of their size.

I brought my eleven-year-old and four-year-old and other than one trip to the bathroom, they were both very still and engrossed in the movie.

The very first things I noticed in this movie were the sounds after Arrietty is introduced.  They are all as if you are hearing through her ears.  Imagine hearing a being many times your size walking past you.

The animation is different than that of movies like Kung Fu Panda.  The colors are a bit more muted but the scenes were gorgeously depicted.  Though all animation is art, this is so rich it's worth the trip to the theater just to see the beauty of it.  

There wasn't a lot of action or humor so I was a bit surprised that the film held the attention of the four-year-old for more than half-way through before she had to make a trip out and about.  Yes, the trip to the bathroom was a ruse.  We refilled popcorn and pop and never did use the restroom.  Faker.

Of course, the biggest action scene took place while we were roaming the halls of the theater.

Afterward, when I asked the girls what they thought of the movie, they both said they loved it.  But I think the excitement of actually going to the movie was more exciting than the movie itself.

Though not full of action, thick with suspense or laugh out loud funny this is a definite yes for full family viewing.  There is plenty to keep all ages entertained for the hour and a half it takes to watch.  I did not bring along my two-year-old for fear of missing most of the movie, but this could have easily been one she would have sat through.

Reviewed by JC Phelps