Review - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

The series has featured two Hunger Games battles in the first two films, but alas - there will be know formal "Hunger Games" in this film. This is all about revolution.

As we pick up on the series, Katniss is in the heart of the revolution, District 13. It's here that she has been brought since she abruptly left the last Hunger Games and after some time has passed, she's ready to be pitched on a new role.

The Districts have found someone they can relate to in Katniss. She is strong, defiant, and oh so
real...and the Districts love her.

She hesitates when presented with an option, become the Mockingjay and help lead the revolution against the Capitol.

Struggling with her anger over the results of the Quarter Quell, she longs to have Peeta by her side...even if it would mean she wasn't alive. While she does have Gale and her sister and mom, the emptiness that comes with Peeta being left behind consumes her. But as Prim tells her...she has a lot more power than she has ever imagined.

Filled with that knowledge, Katniss agrees to become the Mockingjay with the agreement of District 13 President Alma Coin to rescue Peeta along with Johanna and Annie at the first chance they get. Now, as she starts to see the devastation caused by the Capitol in her old District 12 home, along with witnessing a callous disregard for life on up close and personal level, she agrees and the battle begins.

First the battle will be fought for the hearts and minds of the outlying districts, but it's only a matter of time before they will all need to confront the Capitol head on.

The journey, while rough, sets up like the early, background knowledge necessary to set the table for an incredible climax. I can't wait to see where Part 2 goes...but that said...I'm looking at THIS film here.

The feeling of this is quite dry and I found myself leafing through the film like a new book that I just didn't get entirely connected with. Much of the film is used to set the background for the revolution. What has been going on in the districts since the last games, and even before then. Relationships are forged and some start to fizzle...but there are people you care for in the film that don't generate the connection that we felt in the first two films.

The action felt interrupted and almost like an add on to make sure we stay involved as we move forward. It lacked the true intensity that had hallmarked the series.

That all said - it was far from an awful ride. I still care about Katniss and the revolution. I love to see the growth of Katniss as se becomes the person who will awaken the Districts. And I think Jennifer Lawrence still brings all of that to the screen. Lawrence is a true gem here and I can only imagine the conclusion.

The key is the film left me wanting, it didn't fill my hunger at all, an maybe that's a good thing. But in our microwave society, where we want everything now...and lots of it, will it be worth the wait to close the book.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
Directed by Francis Lawrence

B-/C+

Cast: Katniss - Jennifer Lawrence, Peeta - Josh Hutcherson, Gale - Liam Hemsworth, Haymitch - Woody Harrelson, President Snow - Donald Sutherland, Plutarch - Philips Seymour Hoffman, President Alma Coin - Julianne Moore

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 opens in theaters everywhere on November 21, 2014

Review - Little Hope Was Arson

In five short weeks, 10 buildings burned to the ground in East Texas.

Sure it would be a story if it was convenience stores or houses.

It really would have been a story if it was schools.

But it became a major story in the Bible belt when it had churches burning to the ground.

Churches have always seemed to been untouchable, and for good reason. They don't generally get robbed and they absolutely don't burn to the ground at the hand of any human.

The church as a place of worship is a gathering point. It's a place where fallible men and women come together as one body. And sure, as we here in the new film Little Hope Was Arson, the church is the body of believers more than any building. But it sure stings when someone has put a direct target on the backs of Christians at their house of worship.

It was January 2010, and the largest criminal investigation in East Texas history was getting started. Terror overcame residents of these small town churches as no one could understand or assign any motive to what was going on. All they knew is that their faith was about to be tested.

As director Theo Love unfolds the story in front of us, we find that everyone is on edge in this documentary. While dealing with true facts, Love is able to reveal the pieces of the story at his pace from finding out who was setting the fires, to the response of church members and pastors that were impacted the most.

My heart broke as we see footage of a pastor who felt responsible for things. I wanted to virtually hug him through the screen and tell him it wasn't his fault.

There are moments in the film that Love delivers that will stay with you for days. From the family situation of one of the boys that had to deal with death and suicide attempts. To the woman who had to find the courage to help the authorities.

And there was the Pastor that exhibited a power of forgiveness for the actors, while not condoning the actions while his wife could not yet get past the fear and anger that was generated inside her.

And we get summed up in the words of on man who struggled all his life, doing his best, by saying "Thank God, the God we serve is a God of second and third chances."

The film had me intrigued and wondering what was around every corner. Sometimes I saw it coming and others...I got blindsided.

Kudos to the team for bringing this story to the screen. Search this film out at theaters in parts of the country or rent it from Itunes/Amazon or other online retailers.

Little Hope Was Arson

B+

Directed by: Theo Love

Little Hope was Arson is in select theaters November 21, 2014. Or online at Itunes, Amazon and other rental sites. Visit http://www.littlehopewasarson.com for more on the film.

Monday Morning Quarterback - Haven't posted lately....

Time for Monday Morning Quarterback....

Hey everyone - I haven't posted here lately, and I apologize.

Life gets busy many times...and I get into other things.

I have to say - as award season approaches, I really want to share more quick and interesting thoughts - much like I ramble about on Facebook and Twitter all the time...

Here are those sites....follow / like / and all the rest!

http://www.twitter.com/commonguymovies
http://facebook.com/CommonGuyFilmReviews

That said...make sure you give me a follow on those places too- I'm much more active there...but I'm about ready to give that a change and start with a more frequent video piece....right here!

But let me tell you what I have been doing...

1) Seeing a LOT of movies.... The Critics' Choice Movie Awards presented by the BFCA (that I'm a voting member of) nomination ballots are due the second week of December. That means a lot of
movies in not so much time, including viewing some titles again, and others for the first time. I must
say...the last couple weeks have been dotted with titles that I can recommend to folks, and that makes me smile! And the Critics' Choice Movie Awards comes up on A&E on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015!

2) Working on a super secret project, that I hope will launch in 2015. Let's just say....I had someone give me a camera....and a set and .... well... you'll see... can't wait to share....and I will when it's cool.

3) It's fantasy football and the NFL and it consumes me sometimes....this DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) is really, REALLY addicting for anyone who plays. I find myself meandering through Fan Duel (yep launched an account there) and Draft Kings (Though I haven't launched an account there yet) and maniacally listening to Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio (XM87 if you're looking for it). Not only the daily stuff...but also I'm in first place in the division of my neighborhood league...though I'm crawling to the finish line after winning my first 5, I'm about to fall to 7-4.

4) And it was listening to the that station that I was introduced to the combination of that love of fantasy football and movies...a new movie that is closing out its Kickstarter campaign this week - Living the Fantasy

If you want to be a part of this...I strongly encourage heading over to Kickstarter and getting involved. Check out the trailer and more at their page - Living the Fantasy Kickstarter




I want to see this movie - and after hearing Josh, one of the directors on the air....it sounds like good people that know the game and will bring the life of fantasy sports in general to light in a cool way.

5) I liked Interstellar - Mark Reardon at KMOX (whose show I do weekly) didn't....listen to our conversation on that and Big Hero 6 right here.

6) If you missed me on Real Milwaukee - don't fret - headed back this Friday - but you missed all the fun from November 7 when I had a copy of Maleficent and one of Planes: Fire and Rescue to give away - it was posted at the Facebook page - so make sure you are following there so you find out FIRST about my giveaways. Oh - and here's that appearance from the November 7 show...

7) Oh and one last thing....I got to go up and sit in the cold for the Green Bay Packers / Philadelphia Eagles game in chilly....Really chilly Lambeau Field. I'm the goofy looking guy in the Packers Santa hat (it really is warm though)....

Enjoying Lambeau Field with my brother JJ.

Thanks for reading - hopefully this will be a great awards season for us all!

Paul