Catching Fire: Part II

THIS POST IS NOT SPOILER-FREE

So I promised you all a while back another (spoiler-ish) post on Catching Fire. Sorry it's a little late and a little short but here are some of my thoughts about the film.

"Claflin makes a fantastic Finnick. From the moment he first approaches Katniss before the victor’s parade, chomping on a sugar cube in a scene lifted directly from the book, he nails Finnick’s blend of charisma and slight danger; even if you’ve read the books and know about the relationship the two will develop, you wonder right alongside Katniss if Finnick is worth trusting. He’s charming, he’s beautiful, he’s a little wicked, but he’s also devoted to Mags (Lynn Cohen), the elderly fellow tribute from District 4; director Francis Lawrence develops their relationship even deeper than the book does, giving Finnick a larger soft side— but never letting go of the idea that he might betray our heroes without a moment’s notice."
(Katey Rich, CinemaBlend.com)

The quote sums up exactly how I felt about Sam Claflin's Finnick, with my only problem being that he needed more humour. Just little lines, like how he is in the book. All they gave him was the sugar cube introduction and then was no more. I still absolutely adored him though, and I can't wait to see more of him in Mockingjay. Jena Malone as Johanna Mason was so good. I wish there was more of her, I loved every second she was in. Like Finnick, I can't wait to see her in Mockingjay, especially to see her relationship with Katniss to grow. I wasn't that keen on Mockingjay being in two parts, but lately I've become more positive about the idea, especially to see more of Johanna and Finnick especially. 

One thing that really bothered my once they were in the Quell is there was no mention Katniss' "pregnancy". In the book it is a massive part, and Finnick (as well as others later) is better able to protect her by reminding her that she's pregnant and she shouldn't be taking dangerous risks. It is a little unbelievable that they never mention it again. On the other hand I really like how they handled the "love triangle". Katniss' line to Gale that she didn't have time to think about anything but her family and keeping her life was needed in the film, especially when the media focuses on that more than anything else when the movie has such other deeper and more important issues. 

Haymitch in this movie was a highlight for me, and I never imagined I would say that. He has never been someone I would look forward to being in scenes but this movie totally changed my mind. Woody Harrelson is such an amazing actor, and the little bits he adds to scenes are so touching. The little looks he gives to Effie, the way he gives these small touches to Katniss, they all just made me heart melt and made me love Haymitch even more.

All in all, I 100% totally loved this movie and I can't wait to watch it a third time in the cinema. I would also like the DVD now, so I can just watch it over and over again. 

November Favourites

(Loving) Film: This month was all about two films, both second instalments and both I saw twice in the cinema. Thor: The Dark World and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Needless to say I absolutely adored both of them and you can read my separate reviews here and here.

(Loving) Television: This month was a really good month of TV, with lots on. I hadn't been watching Reign but so many people told me I should be and so I managed to catch up with that in one day because I did really enjoy it. I have been steadily watching Season 1 of Carrie Diaries and have finally made it to Season 2. I felt it got a little repetitive at the end with Carrie and Sebastian's relationship so I got a little tired of it towards the end. Elementary was brilliant as usual I absolutely loved 50th Anniversary Episode for Doctor Who, The Day of the Doctor and you can read my review here.

(Loving) Reading: I haven't been reading much this month. Since Allegiant I haven't really been in the mood for anything particular. I've started a few books: The Vampire Academy and Bringing Up the Bodies (authors) but haven't got past the first few pages of either of them.

Michelle Fairley

(Loving) Random: One Direction's new album Midnight Memories has been on repeat since it came out. Better than Words and Diana are my two favourites. Fun for Louis one of my favourite Youtubers is in Australia at the moment so I've really been loving watching his videos (as always). Seriously, if you haven't watched his videos they are amazing. Louis is such a positive, giving and thoughtful person. He makes daily vlogs and I still can't understand how someone can have that many interesting things happen to them all the time! I went to a Game of Thrones evening at the Sydney Opera House in the middle of the month and I'm still not over how amazing it was. We heard from Lena Headey (Cercei Lannister), Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) and the genius author George R.R. Martin.

Catching Fire

What about you, girl on fire? Got any secrets worth my time?

Spoiler Free Review. 

After seeing the midnight screening of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire earlier this morning, I was discussing with my best friend what I was going to write in my review. 
I believe what we came up with was pretty accurate: you have to see this movie. It's just that simple. 
I don't think many of you will need much convincing. I know the kind of audience numbers this movie will be raking in and I don't want to give too many things away because I know a lot of people will be watching it over the weekend, so I'm just going to write a few non-spoiler things below (later next week though, look out for a more spoiler-filled/detailed review because I'm seeing it again on Tuesday).

Everyone's performance in this film is absolutely perfect from beginning to end. I want to give a special mention to Josh Hutcherson (plays Peeta Mellark) who is unbelievable, even standing out next to Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence. 
I am a huge fan of the character Finnick Odair and when we got into the car to drive to the cinema I confessed I was nervous that I was going to get bored/restless waiting for him to come into the storyline (those of you who have read the books will know he only comes in about halfway through the book). Fortunately, I did not have to worry about that at all. I was absolutely enthralled from beginning to end. There was not a part where I drifted off and started thinking about what I had to do tomorrow or what time I had to wake up in the morning, which so often happens to me during films. 

Another thing I had been really nervous about were my expectations of the film. They were just so incredibly unrealistic that I could not imagine the movie meeting them, let alone surpassing them which it did by a mile. I don't even know how Sam Claflin (who plays Finnick) managed to exceed my expectations they were so unreasonably high. 
If you are a fan of the book, you'll be a fan of this movie. It used the book so incredibly well. There were so many lines that I recognised to be taken straight from the book, including two of my favourites: Finnick's sugar cube introduction and Haymitch's "you could live a hundred lifetimes and still not deserve him, you know" heartbreaker. I also have a new found love for Johanna Mason, who was played so brilliantly by Jena Malone and I wish she had more on-screen time.

I hope that everyone who hasn't seen it yet has an experience like I did and I would love to hear from anyone who has (or hasn't!) seen it in the comments. 

Trailer Tuesday #1

As I wrote in my Weekly Review post earlier this week, I promised that I had few things up my sleeve for improving my blog. Trailer Tuesday is one of these and hopefully will be something you guys like and I can write one for many Tuesdays to come!

This week I'm talking about two trailers, both of which I am frothing over. Both you might have seen, but I'm hoping at least one is relatively new to you guys. 

The Wolf of Wall Street trailer did come out a while ago, I admit. This has not stopped me watching it at least twice daily. This is an example of a perfect trailer. Scorsese. The music of Kanye. The editing. Leo. 
Yesterday I asked myself a very tough question "If you just had to watch one movie at the cinema for the rest of the year, what would it be?". With so many great ones coming out, you can understand this question was impossible to answer. I got it down to a top three, and this was definitely one of them. 

The second Catching Fire trailer is so amazing. It's one of the other three movies in my top three (the third is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) most anticipated this year. What I like about this trailer is that it is a continuation from the first one they released. The first one focused a lot on the revolution going on and didn't include anything really about the Quarter Quell (and hence there was no Finnick, which is the main thing, lets be honest). This second trailer on the other hand, focuses much more on the Games and shows not only Finnick but a lot of the other contestants too. 
I'm really sorry but while I'm writing this the trailer isn't up on youtube, I think it's a copyright problem as it was just shown at Comic Con. I will edit this later to include a trailer for it. Instead I've added the small part Finnick is in (so worth the wait for this, right guys?). 

source: drunkstilinskis

Let me know what movie you would pick if you could only see one more in the cinemas this year. 

Catching Fire News

Oh, and one more thing. This:

What the hell is this? 
Give me a few days to think about what I actually want to say about this. I'm so mixed about it at the moment. My love for Finnick soared to new heights (that I did not know were possible) when the picture below came out a couple of months ago, but I have no idea where to even start with the above one. I'm just . . . shocked, is maybe the word? 

still cannot get over how perfect this picture is. 

 On another note though, Johanna's portrait is kind of cool. I think it shows a lot of her personality. I love, love, love, who they cast for her to. I've kept a close eye on Jena Malone after her role as my (very unpopular choice of a) favourite character in Joe Wright's 2005 Pride & Prejudice, Lydia Bennet.