mockingjay, part 1: post-traumatic stress katniss

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 picked up right where the second film, Catching Fire left off, but viewers may still feel like they got caught in a different film franchise, though it is following the original story, written by Suzanne Collins, (who also gets a screen credit for adapting her novel). This film is very deliberately paced, some may even feel slow-moving. But it is a very different story than the first few films, which followed Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as she tried to survive two Hunger Games, an annual ritual that pits young people from each district in the country of Panem in a fight for survival — only the strong, and the last person standing — make it out alive. But in both instances Katniss thwarted the powers that be, which distinctly upset oligarch President Snow (Donald Sutherland). In her first Hunger Games she managed to also save fellow District 12 resident Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Snow sent the pair and a host of other champions back the following year, trying to kill all of the insurgent birds with one stone. But Katniss destroyed the game zone and was airlifted out with other contestants Finnick (Sam Claflin) and Beetee (Jeffrey Wright), but Peeta was left behind, his whereabouts and fate unknown.

A rose by any other name — President Snow leaves a gift for Katniss

As the new film begins the Hunger Games are no more, and Katniss is bereft. She wakes up in the vast underground bunker of District 13, which had perviously been assumed to have been destroyed by Snow and the Capitol forces. But it has been built into a hidden fortress, led by the steely President Coin (Julianne Moore) with ex-Capitol advisor Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) at her side. Plutarch is convinced that Katniss, as the "Mockingjay" is the symbol they need for a successful revolution. Coin listens to him, but doesn't always agree. Katniss is reunited with her mother and sister Prim, who seem to have (mostly) adjusted to the totalitarian environment, and old pal Gale, who still seem to carry a torch for her, when he isn't busy becoming an uber-soldier for Coin. But Katniss can't connect with much around her, haunted by her guilt over the destruction of her home, District 12, and especially the missing Peeta's and her feelings for him. Mockingjay Part 1 is about war and its after-effects, from Katniss grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder to Snow's attempts to match District 13's rebellion with attacks on all of the country's districts — innocent lives lost to make a point.

The first film in the series to be shot digitally, Mockingjay Part 1 is dark, with much of the action taking place underground in District 13. Also the first not to be released in IMAX, the film didn't bow to the blockbuster de riguer 3D, which it had no need of. But what really sets the film apart is the quality of its cast. It is fascinating to watch Lawrence as Katniss, a raw nerve, and more of a pawn than ever, being buffeted by the political and emotional forces around her. Philip Seymour Hoffman is also a wonder, as always, bringing layers of nuance to his role as the main brain of the war room. The film is dedicated to his memory.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore appear in their fourth film together (Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, and Magnolia)

As dark and serious as things are for Katniss, there are also some welcome moments of levity. It is great to see her trainers Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks) again. Both actors have a blast with their fish-out-of water characters, a dried-out Haymitch without his requisite bottle of spirits to help him through the day, and the irrepressible Effie suffering from all the gray-on-gray surrounding her. A big silly cat called Buttercup also brings not just a touch of humor to a few scenes, but provides for a silly, but necessary jolt of action mid-film.

In the land of the drab, Effie makes it work

Is Mockingjay Part 1 a film that can stand on its own? Yes and no. It works well as a set-up for the final installment, due this time next year. Could it work without the greater context of the Hunger Games? Not really, but it wasn't really intended to. This is serial story-telling. It is hard to call it a cash grab, however, as might be said about the bloated approach to The Hobbit taken by Peter Jackson. Mockingjay's themes of war and its aftermath, especially the toll it takes on the young is worthy of exposition. A single film may have had to rush Katniss's experiences in favor of a fiery finale. Mockingjay may not be the blockbuster movie that everyone thought they were going to get, but in this age of televised torture and warfare, it may be the deeply emotional film that we need.

epic

The animated film Epic is anything but, but it does have some nice things about it. Colin Farrell gives an engaging vocal performance as ... I can't really remember his character's name, not that it really matters. He plays a tough soldier, a "Leaf Man," and he gets to use his own Irish accent. I actually can't remember any of the character's names. It's a very ephemeral movie. It's undeniably sweet and pretty, but it's as fleeting as a summer's day. Maybe that's the point.

The animation is beautiful, set mostly in a magical forest. Comic relief comes in the form of Chris O'Dowd and Aziz Ansari, who are suitably amusing as a couple of snails — pardon me, that's a snail and a slug — who befriend young heroine Amanda Seyfried, who like Alice, gets magically miniaturized. Teenage Mary Katherine, or M.K., as she prefers to be called (I looked the character's name up on imdb) must help her new friends save the world from the evil Mandrake (Cristoph Waltz), who has cornered the bad guy market in recent films.

Less impressive are Beyoncé as a fairy queen and Josh Hutcherson as a smart-alecky teen. The movie shares some similarities to the other recent adaptation of a book by William Joyce, holiday fare Rise of the Guardians. Wise-cracking youth — check. Gorgeous animation — check. Extremely nasty villain — check. Fairy tale theme — check.

These are all actually great things to have in a kid's movie. I just wish that maybe the two young leads from different worlds, what's-her-name and who's-he-what, were just a tad more memorable characters. Still, considering that most of the multiplex fare is completely unsuitable to take the kid to, Epic is actually a fine and fun way to spend some time on rainy day.

a big smile can go a long way

The new, ridiculous, preposterous, but still entertaining Journey 2 the Mysterious Island takes its characters on an adventure where volcanoes spew pure gold and the lost city of Atlantis is once again discovered, but its greatest special effect is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's 1000 watt smile. As absurd as things get on that island, Johnson pulls out his Hollywood grin and the audience just relaxes and surrenders to the silliness. Why not?

Matt Sayles, AP Photo

Journey 2 is a pseudo-sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, which starred Brendan Fraser, whose character has disappeared from this story and doesn't even get a mention. Johnson takes over the Fraser role here, a hunky but also clever guy who is ripe for an adventure. Johnson has eased into the same sort of family/adventure movies favored by Fraser and looks to continue making many more in the future.

Josh Hutcherson, who played a slightly callow youth and the nephew of Fraser in the first film, is in Journey 2 a callous youth. For the majority of the movie his character is more than a little annoying. While the film purports to be about the bonding of Hutcherson with his new stepfather (Johnson) it's really a series of silly and sometimes scary set pieces designed to amuse the kiddies. Tiny elephants, giant bees and other wonders are glossed over rather quickly as the cast races to get off the magical island, almost as soon as they get there. More nonsense incorporating Captain Nemo, Atlantis, and the kitchen sink are thrown in. The whole effect is similar to games my brother and I used to play in the back yard with our friends, where we would mash up favorite shows like Star Trek and The Avengers and make up adventures and perils as we went along.

L-R: Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Luiz Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens, and Josh Hutcherson in Atlantis

Michael Caine enjoys himself to the hilt playing the wacky scientist grandfather of Hutcherson. Luis Guzman is a comic relief pilot who happens to have a gorgeous daughter (Vanessa Hudgens) who hates Hutcherson at first sight. We know it will all work out and kids in the theater loved it, even applauding at times. I suspect (fear) that this will be on heavy rotation when it comes to television in our house. But who am I to quibble? It's hard to resist Johnson's good-natured grin.

Note: Right before the movie begins audiences are treated to a new Looney Tunes animated short, Daffy’s Rhapsody, featuring Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. Not only is it great to see such classic Warner Brothers characters in a new cartoon, but Daffy is magically voiced by the late Mel Blanc. Animators discovered a children’s record album from the 1950s which included a song by Daffy voiced by Blanc and were able to use that to create the soundtrack for this cartoon. I hope they continue to search their vaults for similar gems.

movie madness

The kid enjoyed documenting the latest Mummy movie as much as watching it. It was actually fun - one of those movies that you would have probably left the theater disappointed, but seeing it on cable can be a hoot.


You know, a Brendan Fraser flick. I've always had a soft spot for him, but apart from the first Mummy movie, I think his movies play better on the small screen. I've seen most of them - Encino Man, Bedazzled, Journey to the Center of the Earth, the Looney Tune one. I'm pretty sure I saw George of the Jungle but I couldn't tell you anything about it, except I enjoyed the visuals...

What I've always liked about him, besides his good looks, is his absolute willingness to look silly, even ridiculous. It's a major part of his charm (besides the torso.) My daughter adores the Journey to the Center of the Earth movie, mostly for Fraser's nephew in the film, played by Josh Hutcherson. She'll be thrilled to hear that a sequel is being planned. Her favorite part of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - the Yeti, of course...