The Hunger Games

Let me start by saying that this is one of the few movies that actually lives up to its hype.
The story is set in the future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.
The story is not new parts were lifted from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 movie The Running Man where in the future people compete in a live game show to the death. The host of the show was Richard Dawson similar to the host of The Hunger Games played by Stanley Tucci. Other parts of The Hunger Games are reminiscent of The Wizard of OZ (the costumes, when Katniss arrives into the Capitol, etc.) What those geezer movies don’t have is a young love story which is what The Hunger Games gives you. Given all that The Hunger Games is still a solid movie with a star making performance by Jennifer Lawrence who is the best female actress in her age group.
Like Twilight and Harry Potter these book to movie series are now the launching pad for this generations of young actors.

Verdict: Must see movie even if you didn’t read the book. If you read all 3 books and think that there will only be 3 movies than think again.
PS: Get ready for the remake of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall with Colin Farrell.

21 Jump Street

This is one of the many TV shows that Hollywood decides to develop into a movie. Most of them fail (Starsky and Hutch, SWAT, The Beverly Hillbillies, etc.) but this one is a winner. The story is about a pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring. The casting of Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum was genius because they have solid chemistry between them.

The story is not the highlight of the movie but the many comedic scenes that take place between Tatum and Hill. I don't even remember who stared in the original TV show other than Johnny Depp and he makes a cameo appearance.

Writer Michael Bacall does an excellent job of showing how things have changed since Tatum and Hill have been in High School. He also makes fun, (before the audience has a chance to) of the fact that they are way too old to be in High School.

Verdict:

Better than I expected, and way better than the movie The Other Guys. I want to see Tatum and Hill again in another flick.

Seeking Justice

Seeking Justice is better than the last 10 Nicolas Cage movies. The story is about a teacher (Cage) whose wife is assaulted, Cage enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score. Then he discovers they want a favor from him in return. Parts of this story were lifted from the Michael Douglas 1983 movie Star Chamber. Director Roger Donaldson gives the movie a fresh approach and adds some plot twists. There is a reason Cage has an Oscar and that is because he is believable in the roles that he takes on. He can also out act 75% of the actors in Hollywood. The movie also star January Jones from AMC's Mad Men and she is showing improvement in her acting skills (she sucked in the last X-Men installment). Jennifer Carpenter from Showtimes Dexter also stars but she is totally wasted to the point where you wonder if her scenes ended up on the editing floor.

The 3rd act of the movie falters due to the many plot twist but overall I liked the movie.

Verdict:

Give Cage a chance, this is one of his better movies.

Act of Valor

Act of Valor decides to take an action film and fill it with non actors and a few familiar character
actors. Critics have stated that the acting was horrible but isn’t the acting poor in 90%
of the action movies out now? You can go see The Rock bouncing berries off his chest in Journey 2, and he currently stars is in half of the action movies out there now. When the action casting agents can’t find someone to bring people to the Box Office they dust off Bruce Willis, Arnold, and Rocky.
To bring active Navy Seals to screen was a great idea and kept me riveted to my seat.
Sure the acting sucked but the action was on point and there was no sappiness or snarkiness.
There were some scripted corny moments but you forgive them when you see the action scenes.
The timing of this movie could not be better with the killing of Saddam Hussein. Expect more
Navy Seal movies because I feel that this is the first of many. Disney also bought the name Team 6 to use in movies. Finally at times this movie feels like a recruitment film and if you feel that way then it’s the damn best recruitment film I have ever seen.

Verdict:

A fresh approach that worked for me.