The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

 

Having read the original Hunger Games books and watched the movies, it was inevitable I would see the prequels. A bit underwhelmed by the performances from the teen actors, but the heavyweights held it together. 

They covered a lot of story, but at the same time it felt rushed. I would have enjoyed this more as a TV series. Becoming emotionally invested in the tributes is what makes their stories special, and we only get a brief introduction before they get wiped out in the arena. Still, I was engaged and had fun. 

Rating: C+ 

Tears Of The Sun (2003)

Better than I thought it would be. Gets right into the story with Bruce and the villagers. Some of the moments felt manipulated to get a reaction from the audience, but others were quite touching and/or disturbing. More fighting and action than I predicted. Reminded me in some ways of Three Kings, which is a much better movie.

Rating: C+

Four Brothers (2005)

Caught this one in the theater opening weekend. I liked the acting and direction, but I felt the story was a bit weak. Seemed like a lot of effort to fabricate a reason to kill some old lady so that a revenge plot could kick in. Still, it was a good dose of entertaining violence.

Rating: C+

The Invention of Lying (2009)

Really sharp and funny at times. It's certainly a Ricky Gervais film, which means loads of dark, uncomfortable humor. The concept itself isn't very original, except to the extreme extent that it is taken. It's like "Yes Man", but with the whole world.

Rating: C+

The Guard (2011)

An Irish black comedy about an atypical policeman and an international drug deal. Don Cheadle plays the American FBI agent. I enjoyed the politically incorrect pokes they made at The US and the odd personalities residing on the island. Gleeson played a unique character himself. Some good fun from across the pond.

Rating: C+

The Others (2001)

While viewing this, you'll keep thinking the same thing over and over... this is a DARK movie. Not that the content is so dark, just that the movie takes place in the dark most of the time. Nicole Kidman is a creepy single parent looking after her 2 albino kids in a scary mansion with the help of equally scary servants.

The movie holds many surprises and twists. It will remind you of The Sixth Sense a little, but not in a rip-off way. It's worth checking out if you like scary movies that deliver the chills more from suspense than from blood and gore. I recall 2 distinct times when I screamed out like a girl. But, so did the rest of the theater, so it was ok.

Rating: B-