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I Kill Giants (2017)
If you're looking for a fantasy adventure... keep looking!
I've had great expectations for this movie. Based on the trailer I was hoping it will be one of the big fantasy hits this year, coming from the producers of Harry Potter and and starring the little girl version of Thor.
In the first 2/3 of the movie it does a great job at keeping you on your toes, it is intense in a way. You're just barely not given and not shown enough to be able to decide how much of what Barbara thinks is real and why is she the way she is. However at a point it starts really going downhill, and everything one would expect based on the trailer is derailed. You soon end up with a mediocre psycho-drama and the taste of disappointment in your mouth.
Childhood's End (2015)
Sense. This movie makes none.
I'm not familiar with the original Childhood's End story, I haven't read the books, but in general I am a huge sci-fi and fantasy fan as well.
Starting with that background I had great expectations for this miniseries, since it's put in a world that I would have supposedly liked, and it could have shown me all new things, not knowing any of the original tale.
Now that's what I call a letdown. Anyways, let's start with the good: the aesthetics, visuals, designs are great, everything looks good and is well shot. The soundtrack is also kind of nice, or at least fitting and atmospheric. The main antagonist is also very well done, his looks and voice work very well with what he is.
But everything else... Oh man! This story makes no sense whatsoever. It's full of references to the real world but none of them really makes a connection. It's full of stupid characters with zero development, who don't seem to notice what's happening around them and instead are just stuck in their own loop. It's also full of conversations where the wrong questions are asked, and even for those simple wrong questions, answers are given that tend to bear no meaning. The story is also blessed with about a dozen time-jumps, but here again there is not much connection between them. Furthermore the main characters feel pretty random, they're dull and their relations to each other either make no sense or are just plain meaningless.
A big mess is what this miniseries is. Nothing makes sense, nothing is explained, every character is stupid, the connection between time periods, characters and locations is non-existent, etc. It all just feels like a lot of ideas got shoveled together into a bucket and released as a movie.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Positive surprise of the year
Back when I saw the first Hunger Games I generally liked it, but I had several concerns about it. It was a bit predictable, at times too slow paced, and (except for Rue) I wasn't 100% satisfied with the acting performance. Still the universe of The Hunger Games seemed appealing enough to check out Catching Fire...
And man it was worth it so much! The Hunger Games back at the time didn't make me read the books these are based on - now the first thing I did after getting home from the cinema (from Catching Fire) was to order the trilogy.
In Catching Fire everything just clicks into it's place. The universe expands, the story and characters unfold and start to gain their twists, and the slow-pacedness is gone. The movie gains your attention right at the start and it stays entertaining, exciting, thrilling and gripping all the way to the end.
The director change to Mr. Lawrence was also a blessing, the scenes are beautifully shot, the pace is very good, and the view is spectacular. Although it's not in 3D and all, things, details (e.g. Katniss's dresses) are designed with an awful lot of creativity and attention. It's obvious that the scenes got a lot of love and care during shooting, and this makes it all feel more natural, real, and very high quality. Combined with the soundtrack which was already great in the first episode, the overall experience is marvelous.
The last, but most important thing I also have to mention is the acting performance. Well here it is just brilliant, both by the protagonist and all the other characters, I was left breathless! Among many things regarding the story and the characters, while walking my way out of the cinema I couldn't stop wondering about just how many unspeakable talents Hollywood has, and all they need is just a chance to be able to shine. Here they got it, and they lived with it well.
There is however a negative side of Catching Fire as well, which is the fact that it is cut in half the way an ordinary TV channel cuts movies to pieces with all their advertisements. They didn't even have to bother to leave you with a great cliffhanger... There is so much of the story and characters that you crave to know and see, that when you realize you have to wait another year to continue, it physically hurts.
In a nutshell: Although unfinised, without doubt this one is a masterpiece in all imaginable aspects!
How I Live Now (2013)
Feels like the best anybody could do based on a bad initial story
I haven't read the book myself, and unlike (for example) The Host this movie didn't make me want to read the book it is based on. There are a few things which somehow just feel to be out of place: the slight craziness of Daisy and the telepathic bond thingy with her and Eddie (which could probably be led back to the first). These don't seem to be adding anything to the characters or the story, but take time away from other aspects.
However, once you put the above aside, the movie turns out to be quite interesting. Even against the flaws in the storyline, it somehow gets under your skin quick, and drags you all the way to the end, without a single minute of boredom. At times it made me think of 'Tomorrow When The War Began' in a positive way. Maybe the face of war through the eyes of children and teenagers offers one of the best windows through which we can take a glance at who we really are, or who we're supposed to be... and that captures the audience... both of these movies have a definitive, unique, engagingly uneasy feeling.
Over the messy storyline and senseless additions, this piece is also cursed with a bad sense of time. Thinking of the story there probably are at least weeks or months passing, but through the screen it really just feels like a few days, which can occasionally disturb your sense of how or why things happen. On the other hand, the screenplay is remarkable. The scenes are outstandingly well shot and beautiful.
Finally, I'd add the most important thing: Because of its nature and the storyline, this whole movie would be worthless if the protagonist wasn't interesting, if you couldn't bond with her... But here again, Saoirse Ronan shines through! Her performance is amazing, especially in some scenes where she does voice-over: the way she carries her voice often wakes unexpected emotions in you, and that's the key of this movie's success.
Byzantium (2012)
Takes you back to the times when vampires were considered monsters
Although not well advertised and distributed, this movie actually is a piece of true art. It returns to the roots of the vampire genre, but unlike Twilight or the more action-oriented alternatives, this one has a very adult take on it.
Although it has a fair share of action and blood, this movie really is not for those who expect exciting, thrilling and spectacular fight scenes. More like Interview With a Vampire, the movie concentrates a lot more on understanding these beings. Throwing some of the vampire's newborn traits away (sparkling in the sunlight eh?) and turning them into "Sucrient"-s, the movie revolves around how these creatures find their means of survival and how they deal with the price they pay for it.
Many critics say that the movie is too long and slow paced, which is true, but that's actually one of the reasons what makes it work. The scenes, the music, the characters all give you a dark, twisted, gripping and uncertain feeling. The slow-pacedness of the movie adds the sense of being lost, the sense of being empty to all of it.. which might make you uneasy, but by the end you will realize this is how the characters themselves feel like. You are made to feel uneasy, because it's necessary to be able to understand them.
...and although there are several quite good acting performances in Byzantium, by "them" I now think about Clara (Gemma Arterton) and Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan). Their characters are very different, but are also very interesting and more importantly: very well played. Saoirse Ronan does a perfect job in giving you the Eleanor whom you both understand and don't understand at the same time, an Eleanor whom you love and still are afraid of. Then there's Gemma Arterton who brings her best performance ever to the screen, giving you a cruel, wicked and wretched Clara who soon turns out to be so much more than what they call her...
There are quite a few vampire stories out there already, yet Byzantium achieves to be a unique pearl among all of them. Its dark feeling, interesting characters and slow storytelling do require a specific audience - people who like to listen and be mesmerized. If you feel like one, Byzantium is a must-see for you.
The Host (2013)
Unique and wonderful in ways you wouldn't expect
If you're trying to decide if you wish to see this movie, decide by the following: If you're looking for a pure sci-fi movie, keep on searching, this is not for you. However if you're looking for a fantastic love-story and drama which happens to be set in a wonderful sci-fi environment, you must see this one.
This movie really split the audience - some people can't stop loving, while others can't stop hating it. At the first glance this sounds like a downside, but in fact it really is quite the opposite: Movies like this require you to have a certain type of open-mindedness, a hunger for a different, deeper kind of art. If you can find it in yourself then The Host will embrace you, but if you don't...
Negatives: Like with all book adaptations, the book itself is better, but that doesn't necessarily make the movie bad! Also Stephenie Meyer couldn't get away from her love for love-triangles (more like a love-square in this case), you have that here too, but unlike in Twilight - instead of being awkward - here it all makes sense.
The greatest issue with the movie is however, that it's too short. All the changes of characters, the reasons behind what is happening and why, and stuff like that is well explained in the book.. but here in the move these things come too fast, with more subtle hints about their reasons.
Positives: The rush of the movie is well compensated: The cast is absolutely wonderful, some of the years best acting performances are in this one. The book itself offered some very fascinating, exciting and love inspiring characters, who are great but also offer great challenges to an actor. Here they just nailed it, Jeb, Jared, Ian, all of them and especially Melanie and Wanda... Saoirse Ronan made them come alive so well, I doubt anyone else in the world could do any better.
Completing the great performance from the crew, the soundtrack of the movie is a masterpiece. It helps a lot in understanding how the characters feel and keeps you interested all the way to the end.
Above all this, its world is very interesting, the story thrilling and most of all: heart breaking. The Host is one of those movies what you just can't get out of your head. It sneaks up on you slowly, but surely: You fall in love with the characters and get excited of it all so much, that even weeks after watching you will find yourself still thinking about it.
After watching: If you liked the movie, read the book! It's not just worth it, but it helps in understanding what the characters go through and who they really are. (Tip: get the latest release of the book, it contains an extra chapter which is just stunning!)