Pitch Perfect

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This film is loosely based off a non-fiction novel Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory written by Mickey Rapkin. Beca, a freshman at Barden University, decides to join the Bellas. The Bellas are an all girl singing group that competes against other groups including the male group from their university. Beca brings some much needed changes to make her group win.

This film was directed by Jason Moore. This film story is a parody of musical competitions. It follows a familiar story plot; the outcast decides to join a strange group and in the end changes years of tradition and discovers herself. However, what makes this film original is its humor. Interestingly enough, a lot of these film perform comedy mainly seen by men and make it work. Each of the girls have a different comedy style making their characters stand out on screen. Naturally, films like this are highly predictable. There is also some mild adult humor, but nothing too over the top. The film also take popular music and revisions it like most other recent musical films do. The cast worked really well together-playing off each other's comedic style. Anna Kendrick played the role of Beca. She was great creating a very familiar role. She was able to showcase her musical and acting talent as a leading role. Skylar Astin played the role of Jesse. He was good in his role, but did not really stand out from the female cast. Brittany Snow played the role of Chloe. She was good creating a character to oppose Kendrick. 

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! It is a great musical parody film, but it plays off very familiar groundings.

Answer to last blog: Director Francis Lawrence, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, directed the film I Am Legend.

Que: What other film has actress Brittany Snow starred in?

John Tucker Must Die
The Prestige
Little Miss Sunshine
The Hills Have Eyes

Hunger Games: Catching Fire

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This film is based of the second novel, of the same name, in the Hunger Games Trilogy written by Suzanne Collins, and is a sequel to the film The Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen finds herself a target by President Snow after winning the 74th Hunger Games by keeping herself and Peeta Mellark alive when only one should have lived. This has caused a violent rebellion within the 12 districts of Panem. Despite all their efforts, Katniss and Peeta find themselves becoming contestants in the 75th Hunger Games Quarter Quell. 

This film was directed by Francis Lawrence. This film took the complications from its predecessor and improved them. Luckily, it holds true to the novel with minor variations. The direction in the story is much smoother and opens the story more. This deeper look into the character subtle behavior and the world in which live also allows the story to explore deeper into its political themes. It also uses subtle direction to open the film's story for its future plot. That being said this film also has a much darker story only to get darker. There is more violence in this film that it might not be appropriate for all children. The cinematography was great in this film. It gave enough room to keep a twist in the film. The computer animation on this film was great. It was used to give some effect to some of the terrors in the arena. The backdrops were great on film. It gave the impression that you never really knew where you were going to end up. The great acting allowed them to create amazing neurotic characters. Jennifer Lawrence returned to the role of Katniss Everdeen. She was great returning to this familiar role, and managed to keep true to the story character. She kept all of her characters emotions on a subtle note, but still made her feel important. Josh Hutcherson returned to the role of Peeta Mellark. He was much better returning to his role. He brought more life to his character.

I give this role 5 out of 5 stars! Even if this film may be inappropriate for the age group its marketing for, it is a great science fiction film. Its adult themes work well in this setting. 

Answer to last blog: Actor Michael Nyqvist, Europa Report, starred in the foreign film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Que: What other film has director Francis Lawrence directed?

I Am Legend
Juno
Enchanted
Atonement

Europa Report

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Through found footage, this tells the story of the Europa crew. They flew into deep space to recover samples from Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. The belief is that water is just below its icy surface, and possibly other forms of life. 

This film was directed by Sebastian Cordero. This modern science fiction, found footage, film plays on a very familiar storyline. Explorers go into space and encounter something unexpected. However, this film does feel more honest scientifically. The story actually uses found footage to add to the suspensefulness of the film. It also feels more like a documentary with inserted interviews and news reports. This makes it more sympathetic and almost more realistic. There is a lot kept hidden from view, such as the creatures themselves. The frozen moon itself is only briefly glimpsed. The cast was great, but not much was created for the personalities. Anamaria Marinca played the role of Rosa Dasque. She was great in her compelling role. Her desperation brought suspense to the film. Michael Nyqvist played the role of Andrei Blok. His emotions gave the film its sympathetic edge.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! This is one of the best found footage films I've seen recently. It keeps enough in the dark to keep it suspenseful. It just needed a little story for the characters.

Answer to last blog: Actress Vera Farmiga, The Conjuring, starred in the film Source Code.

Que: What other film has actor Michael Nyqvist star in?

Revanche
Seraphine
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Coco Before Chanel

The Conjuring

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This film is based off the lives of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Ed and Lorraine Warren, husband and wife, are paranormal investigators that research various cases and study them. Lorraine is a powerful psychic and Ed captures the facts as proof. In 1971 Carolyn Perron, and her family, are being haunted after moving into an old house in Harrisville, Rhode Island, by a demonic spirit. Carolyn requests assistance from Lorraine and Ed to stop this entity before it uses her to murder her family. 

This film was directed by James Wan. This film is made to be a real life case study that was kept hidden away. This film plays a lot on cases proclaimed by the Warrens. This is roughly the third film created about their case studies, and it won't be the last. However, like their cases everything is about the ghost entity is in some aspect demonic. Everything about the film is highly familiar to other supernatural films like The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Amityville Horror. This makes the film very predictable. The story plays heavily on the emotions that the cast presents. The film does a great job at presenting the two different stories of each of the families, but not as great in combining them. There is a loose connection using a doll that feels pointless after a while-even if it is really creepy. However, this film does offer a new perspective on supernatural films. It offers an explanation and a clear solution. Even with all its familiarity, this film uses old school techniques and minimal special effects to create a creepy and sentimental experience. The story is also highly left open for many potential sequels (which is intended). Vera Farmiga played the role of Lorraine Warren. The sympathetic emotions she brought to the role made the character believable. Patrick Wilson played the role of Ed Warren. He was good in his role. He gave a realistic approach to the character and to the story. Lili Taylor played the role of Carolyn Perron. She played the very familiar role of the tormented victim. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to provide anything new or different for the film.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! It is a good thriller film, but it doesn't offer anything new to the genre. The predictability of the film isn't hindered by too much computer animation.

Answer to last blog: Actress Fiona Douriff, Curse of Chucky, starred in the film The Master.

Que: What other film has actress Vera Farmiga starred in?

The Tree of Life
The Descendants
Shame
Source Code

Curse of Chucky (2013)

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This film is based off the Chucky character created by Don Mancini, and is the sixth sequel to the Child's Play franchise. Nica, a paraplegic living with her mother, gets an unexpected surprise when a strange good guy doll is shipped to their house. After her mother's death, Nica begins to suspect that Chucky, the good guy doll, is the culprit behind the murder. Her remaining family is left vulnerable to his bloody chaos when they fail to believe her. 

This film was written and directed by Don Mancini. This film turns away from the recent comedic outlook on the Child's Play franchise and instead returns to its classic horror roots. It is also made to re-ignite the 80's franchise for modern audiences. The story is not unique because audiences already know the who-done-it, and the goal of the Chucky doll. The horror of the story is different because it doesn't follow a child, or young adults. However, the ending is very surprising because it keeps up to date with the previous films and brings a new change to the franchise. The ending reminds audiences that this is as much a sequel as a reboot. The only bad part is that the characters are very predictable. There are a lot of good moderate jump scares. Some of the death sequences are gorier. There are also plenty of hints of sexuality in the film, but its not over done. The acting was great for this film. It was a treat to watch father and daughter working together. Fiona Dourif played the role of Nica. She was great working alongside her father. She brought innocence and strength to the film. It'd be great to see her in future Child's Play films. Summer H. Howell, Summer Howell, played the role of Alice. She is great in her very limited role. It is unfortunate that she wasn't used more in the film. Brad Dourif was the voice of Chucky. As always, he is great in this role. He brings life to an unusual character. 

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! It is a great B grade horror film for the fans of the classic films. It may not bring in new audiences, but it is good for laughs and scares.

Answer to last blog: Richard Brooks directed the 1967 film In Cold Blood which was based off Truman Capote's novel.

Que: What other film has Fiona Dourif starred in?

Argo
Lincoln
The Master
Holy Motors

Capote (2005)

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This is a biographical film about Truman Capote, and the events that followed while the novel In Cold Blood. In Cold Blood is a non-fiction novel about the murders of the Clutter family in Kansas. 

This film was directed by Bennett Miller. This film has won countless awards namly for its acting. The story of this film is unique in that as it follows Capote's story and the creation of In Cold Blood, it also briefly follows the criminals Perry Smith and Richard "Dick Hickock. This film's story shows the struggle Capote went through while creating this story. It also shows the unusual relationship he made with the criminals. The ending leaves a question of Capote's true inner nature. The story of the film is slow and relies purely on the actors ability. The simple cinematography keeps to the dark nature of the characters. Philip Seymour Hoffman played the role of Truman Capote. He created a highly charismatic character that is haunted by his past, and whose current motives are unknown. Catherine Keener played the role of Nelle Harper Lee. She was great playing the role of Capote's understandable friend. 

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! It is a great dramatic biographical film about Truman Capote and the novel In Cold Blood.

Answer to last blog: Actress Portia Doubleday, Carrie, starred in the film Youth in Revolt.

Que: Who directed the 1967 film In Cold Blood, based off the novel written by Capote?

Richard Brooks
Stanley Kubrick
Arthur Penn
Stanley Kramer

Carrie (2013)

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This film is based off the novel, of the same title, written by Stephen King and is one of many adaptations of the story. Carrie White, a shy outcast teenage girl, lives with her insane and bible crazy mother Margaret White. After finding herself pushed too far at prom, she unleashes her telekinetic abilities on unsuspecting classmates. 

This film was directed by Kimberly Peirce. This is pretty much a remake of the classic 1976 film. Having a female audiences does make this film feel more personal to the dilemmas of modern teenage girls. This film keeps it familiar without making it too stylish for modern audiences. It does, however, modernize it enough to keep it interesting. There was a lot that was strange in the original, because it was new. This film takes all of those quirks and makes them feel more appropriate for the characters. The film can feel slow to a lot of modern audiences, but this makes it more exciting. There isn't as much tension to add to the horror of the film mainly because its already been seen. To make it horror, it uses more violence during the end. It also adds more to established characters-even if at times it is a bit too much. Unfortunately, there is no real development of Carrie's powers. She just has them. Chloe Grace Moretz played the role of Carrie White. Moretz was great in this role. She opened her acting talents to evoke images of a troubled teenager. Julianne Moore played the role of Margaret White. Moore was amazing in this role. She really opened this character to the insanity just lurking below. But, this film does spend more time showing her psychological problems and doesn't present much of her bible fanaticism. Portia Doubleday played the role of Chris Hargensen. She was good in her role even if went a bit too dark side with it. Gabriella Wilde played the role of Sue Snell. Wilde brought an conflicted innocence to the film. 

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! It is a great remake with more violence. It doesn't have much horrific tension to make it terrifying or impactful.

Answer to last blog: Actor Christopher Eccleston, Thor: The Dark World, starred in the popular British television show Doctor Who.

Que: What other film has Portia Doubleday starred in?

The Hurt Locker
Up in the Air
(500) Days of Summer
Youth in Revolt