The Hunger Games (2012)

The Hunger Games
I heard all the hype on this movie and
I heard how it was like Battle Royale but for a
younger American audience or Twilight fans.
That's just what I heard.
I had to see it to see what the big deal is.
I went in with a fair expectation for the movie.
Didn't want to expect a lot from it.
After watching it I like to say that
this movie was pretty cool.
Didn't blow me away, but it was okay.
I would of wanted a lot more with the story.
I would of wanted to see revolution and beginning
of a new era.
But instead, I got a lot of training and preparation for
the actual game with some drama between
the main character and her "love" interest.
I guess I was hoping for a lot of chaos.
But, it was okay for this type of story.
The action stuff was pretty good.
So no disappointment here.

For those who haven't seen it yet,
see Battle Royale better.
Now that one is more brutal, cold, and crazy than this
movie could ever be.
This one is good to check out for entertainment purposes.
But, I wouldn't exactly get it for my collection.

Merantau / The Raid: Redemption

An Indonesian Action Double Feature

Merantau
Pretty good action flick with a lot of drama.
This is my first Indonesian movie to ever see.
I first heard about this during Fantastic Fest in 2009.
Decided to check it out tonight because it's the same director
and also the same star as The Raid: Redemption.
This movie reminded me of The Protector.
But this one had scenes that were a little too dramatic.
I would of wanted some more action.
The action scenes here were badass, though.
I didn't like the main bad guy.
Still, this was decent.

Okay movie to see. I wouldn't buy it.



The Raid: Redemption
Now for the second Indonesian film to see.
This one was freaking badass.
Non stop action.
Lots of bullets, violence, and great fighting scenes.
I knew I was going to love this since the first scene
we see the bad guy.
And speaking of bad guys, Mad Dog was a good villain.
Lots of good moves and kills.
This reminded me somewhat of Elite Squad.
They might even make a video game out of this.

This is definitely a must buy for the Asian section.
Can't wait to see it again.

This double feature was served with an Asian Chicken Burger
with Sriracha Mayo and Sweet and Sour Orange Glaze
and lots of Coke to keep the adrenaline rush going.

Home Invasion Thursday: Desperate Hours

HOME INVASION THURSDAY

Every third Thursday I'll comment on a
home invasion movie I've never seen before.
When I saw Kidnapped from Spain last year,
I decided to start a home invasion section for my collection.
Might as well do a special on this.


Desperate Hours
Here we have a home invasion movie
starring Mickey Rourke before he changed his face.
It was cheesy and a little boring.
But in a positive note, the leader of these home invaders
(Rourke) was a nice guy.
He always kept his promises to the family
and respected stuff.
Hell, he even let the family have their alone time
together. That's so nice of him.
How could this guy here be a very
dangerous criminal?
The whole movie was more dramatic than
a typical home invasion thriller.
It's probably my least favorite home invasion
to see this year (not counting Silent House because
Silent House turned out not to be a home invasion movie).

Next month, I'll be checking out a home invasion
movie from France.


This was served with a nice juicy steak with my
usual typical homemade grilled sides
(weenies, jalapeños, and asparagus).

Hick

Hick
This isn't the movie I thought it was going to be.
I thought it was going to be "Hit Girl"
going gun crazy for some reason.
This was more drama and some of the
story didn't make sense.
The only parts I liked were the seizure robbery
scene and the cheesy shootout towards the end.
But, that's it.
I didn't really connect well with the characters
so I didn't care for them throughout the movie.
There was okay country music playing.

Not worth your time.
If you want to see a drama about "white trash,"
go see Gummo. More realistic.

New Release Tuesday: Snowtown Murders

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY


Snowtown Murders
Brutal movie from Australia.
This is a movie that came out at Fantastic Fest last year.
It is based on Australia's most notorious serial killer.
The whole thing felt raw and real.
The chopping of the kangaroo's head
and the bathtub torture murder scene
are two of the crazy moments in the movie.
The performances here were awesome.
You can tell the director did very good
in bringing out the best in every shot.
I like that they kept most of the murders
off screen and you can just imagine what
was happening.

If you're into crime movies, this one is a must buy.
But beware, this is no happy movie to watch with family.
It is dark and realistic.

21 Jump Street (2012)

21 Jump Street
Funny movie.
I expected less than what I got.
I found myself laughing a little bit in the first half.
That's a good compliment when it comes to a comedy/action
movie. Maybe part of it has to do with the fact
that I was under the influence while watching this film.
I'm not familiar with the popular tv show so
I can't really compare.
There were a few predictable moments
and a few surprises.
I liked it a lot.

If you're interested in this movie, give it a shot.
It won't disappoint or it shouldn't disappoint.

Griff the Invisible

Griff the Invisible
Sweet superhero movie from Australia.
There's Kick Ass, Mirageman, Super, and among others.
And now there's Griff the Invisible.
This time, for sure, our superhero does not really
have any kind of strength. No powers, no fighting
ability. Instead, it's all in his head.
Crazy, huh?
But our hero falls in love with a girl who shares
the same interests as him.
And together, they become a sweet cheesy couple.
This movie has its flaws but
it holds its charms.
I liked the music.
More drama than comedy.

Okay to see.
I still have Kick Ass and Mirageman as my favorite movies
in this vigilante category.