Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

3.5 Stars

I just finished the second installment of Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games trilogy,  Catching Fire.

I have to say, I have my misgivings about this book. I really loved the first one and how original of an idea it was and was afraid that doing a sequel, let alone a trilogy, would somehow ruin it. This feeling stayed with me through out the first half of the book. I won't spoil anything, but it ends up somewhat repetitive and stale.

However, the second half of the book proves just as intense and exciting at the first book, and the twist at the end is one I never saw coming. I loved the ending and how it leaves you wondering if you're really happy about it, or somewhat irritated about it. Either way, it makes it hard to resist immediately picking up the third book, Mockingjay, which I will eventually as other books are calling my name for the piles they've formed all around my desk.

Needless to say, I loved Catching Fire, and the way it's left my hanging for the conclusion and I would recommend it in a heart beat. Especially with the way the world is right now, some part of it rings true in me, and I'm sure it does in other, that maybe we should all fight back, just a little bit harder.

 

K.Rollin

Review: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I saw this movie yesterday evening. So at least I'm doing better at consistantly posting my reviews. :)

I should start out by saying that the majority of action movies are not my thing. I love a good superhero movie, but secret agent thrillers aren't exactly my first pick in what to see at the movies. However, my best friend is, and here I am.

This movie is at another disadvantage with me. I am not a Tom Cruise fan. I don't think he's a great actor and his nose scares me.

However, against all odds, I genuinely liked this movie. I blame both Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg. The comedic relief their characters bring to this unoriginal plot, makes the movie pretty damn entertaining. That, and the action scenes are pretty intense.

This franchise seems to finally be on the right track and I'm excited to see what comes next.

***

K.Rollin

Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I feel bad this review is so late,  considering I saw this movie last Friday. Nevertheless here it is.

Before getting in to how good the movie is, and it is, I should state that I was already a big fan of the Millenium trilogy of books by Steig Larson. That being said, the movie was epic. I think director David Fincher did an amazing job condensing what is a long and very detailed story in to two hours and still have it make sense. Of course, he changed a few things, but these changes don't effect the story much at all.

While Fincher did amazing, as did the majority of the cast, I would be a fool not to state that this is Rooney Mara's movie. Her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander, just as the book belongs to the character, owns this movie. She depicted exactly what I, as a reader, had pictured. This girl deserves an Oscar, at least a nomination! Bring on the next one Fincher.

****

K.Rollin

Football Counts as Entertainment

I'm not in to any other sport other than football, college especially. So I thought I'd include my input on whats happening in the football world in my entertainment blog.

Norm Chow, Utah's offensive coordinator is bailing to head couch at Hawaii. I'm sad, but can't say I blame him. Ditching Utah for a bigger pay check and to call Hawaii home? Yeah, I'd take it. Makes me sad though.

Also, NCAA announces that Ohio State will be punished with only one year of probation, meaning they can't go to a bowl game next year. Meanwhile, Pryor walks with no punishment what so ever... ?? Lame. If your going to make USC suffer, Ohio State shoulf suffer equally.

That is all.

K.Rollin

Golden Globe 2012 Nominees and How I Feel About Them

About a week ago, the Hollywood Foreign Press released the nominations for the 2012 Golden Globe Awards, and so award season begins. Although I'm more of an Oscar fan and tend to pay more attention to the fashion than the awards, I figured I'd put my two cents in as to who I think should win the big awards of the evening. I'm not working statistics and doing research, I'm simple making my picks based on what I watched and what I liked. So here goes...


Best Picture - Drama: The Help.
Ok, so I have to admit, I haven't seen everything nominated for best picture this year. I skipped Hugo and War Horse, because I'm not really in to heartfelt and warm and fuzzy lately. I also skipped the Ides of March because political thrillers make me want to pound my head in to the nearest wall. So that leaves three that I actually saw: The Descendants, The Help, and Moneyball... not the best list in my opinion. I still have no idea how Moneyball worked it's way in there, so if I had to choose between the Descendants and the Help, I'd have to go with the Help, simply because I enjoyed watching it the most. It was funny, I cried, and I learned a little about history.

Best Actor - Drama: Michael Fassbender - Shame.
I have a feeling this one with go to Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar even though the movie got horrible reviews, and I didn't see because that's what I've heard. I think that's lame. Michael Fassbender in Shame... fucking epic. If you haven't seen it, go. It's amaze.

Best Actress - Drama: Rooney Mara - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
I feel like this award, hands down, belongs to Miss Mara. She completely transformed for this role and became unrecognizable. As a fan of the book on which this movie was based, I believe she embodied this character completely and deserves it most of all.


Best Picture - Comedy/Musical: 50/50.
Again, I haven't seen everything nominated in this category. I want to see My Week with Marilyn, and hopefully will soon. I can't see the Artist even if I wanted to because it's not playing anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley. Ugh... So of the three I have seen: 50/50, Bridesmaids, and Midnight in Paris I have to say I loved them all for very different reasons. As an all around great movie, I have to go with 50/50. It was hilariously funny but also tugs at your heartstrings pretty convincingly. I was on the verge of tears even a half hour after the movie ended. You can even ask the best friend.

Best Actor - Comedy/Musical: Joseph Gordon-Levitt - 50/50.
He deserves to win, hands down. He carried the movie, and did an amazing job. I believed him, I fell in love with him, felt sorry for him, and cried for him. Enough said.

Best Actress - Comedy/Musical: Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn.
So I'm calling this without seeing the movie.. I know, it's like cheating. And I do wish either Charlize Theron for Young Adult or Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids would win, but from what I've heard Michelle's got it in the bag. Like I said, haven't seen the movie, but I love Michelle Williams as an actress and I feel like she deserves it immensely.

Best Supporting Actor: ???
I have no idea. I've only seen one of the movies for which an actor is nominated in this category. So I'm down with not pretending to know shit about who will win this one.


Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer - The Help.
This is an easy one. She was my favorite part of the movie, and I'm sure she was everyone elses as well. Hilarious, and heartwarming, she made the movie what it was.

Best Animated Picture: The Adventures of Tin Tin.
Ok so, Pixar always takes the prize in the animated picture category, but Cars 2 was a piece of shit movie. Tin Tin gets this one for me.

Best TV Show - Drama: American Horror Story.
Before the beginning of the season I would have said Boardwalk would win, and it probably still will, but the show fizzled and ended horribly. I won't be watching next season. I'm in love with American Horror Story and would love to see it win.

Best TV Actor - Drama: Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad.
I love Breaking Bad and I love Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad. I hope he wins, even though Stever Buscemi probably will, which I'd be ok with. Buscemi is a great actor. I'm just way to anti-Boardwalk to hope he wins.

Best TV Actress - Drama: Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife.
I love this show, I love Julianna Margulies. She's one before, she'll win again. That was easy.


Best TV Show - Comedy: ???
Best TV Actor - Comedy: ???
Best TV Actress - Comedy: ???
I'm not calling any of these because I don't watch any of the shows which fill these three categories. I watch Always Sunny In Philadelphia and South Park, not network bullshit.


Best TV Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti - Too Big To Fail.
I think Paul Giamatti is an amazing actor and I thought Too Big To Fail was an amazing TV movie that deserves to win.


Best TV Supporting Actress: Jessica Lange - American Horror Story.
Let's face it, Jessica Lange carries this show. She deserves to win for it. 


Ok, so those are my picks. I guess will see how right I am when the 69th Golden Globe Awards air on Sunday, January 15th 2012. 


- For complete list of nominees and more information of the Golden Globes visit their official website: www.goldenglobes.org