The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is one of the movie that I can't wait to see this year.  That's why with fiery spirit, last weekend I watch it in the cinema. Most show was sold out! Wow! This movie is pretty popular here in Indonesia. So, is this movie live up to expectation? I would tell you my opinion about it!

Have I ever told you that I'm a fan of Jennifer Lawrence?

Honestly, for me Catching Fire is a gloomy movie. Of course it is, since war is brewing in Panem. In this movie Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to her experience in The Hunger Games. She didn't realize that her act against the will of Capitol would spark rebellions in 12 districts of Panem and she would serve as a symbol of rebellion. She experience sad and terrifying things, hence the tone of this movie become somber.

Being the 2nd part of a trilogy is problematic because it neither had the advantage of starting the story nor finish it. So it generally become the weakest in the trilogy. Well, maybe except The Empire Strikes Back. Speaking of Star Wars, I don't know why many 2nd part of trilogy movies fells like it try to follow the path of The Empire Strikes Back. Catching Fire is not an exception, which mean this 2nd film is darker than the first film, with cliffhanger and unsatisfied ending. Why almost second part of a trilogy that I saw follow the “darker before it gets lighter” mentality? But I must say that I love Catching Fire and the first movie equally.

I would say things that I love from this movie first. The production design and the CGI is good. They do a good job in create Panem. The costumes are good and beautiful. The acting is good. Jennifer Lawrence bring the frail side of Katniss Everdeen perfectly. And she's really cool with the way she use her bow and arrow. Stanley Tucci as Caesar and Elizabeth Banks as Effie are scene stealers. The addition of Phillip Seymor Hoffman, Jena Malone and Sam Claflin as Plutarch Heavensbee, Johanna Mason and Finnick Odair are refreshing. The things that I don't really like are the movie score and some story telling. It doesn't really show how Katniss's feeling shift from Gale to Peeta. I think Katniss-Peeta's love story lack its deep in this movie.

Overall, I think Catching Fire is a good movie and I enjoy it. I even would say that this movie is better than the book. But my opinion might be biased because I only read the translated book in Bahasa Indonesia. Sometimes when a book is translated to another language it lost some feelings or nuances because the translated version fails to relay it properly. That's my opinion. How about you?

Hellofest 9, 9 November 2013

So on 9 November 2013, beside watch Thor: Dark World and Ender's Game, I also managed to went to Indonesian Book Fair in Istora Senayan and Hellofest 9 in Senayan Swimming Fool's field. There's a lot of stand that sell manga and anime's merchandise. I want to buy  Mikasa Ackerman's key holder but by the time I return to the stand that sell it, it's already sold out T^T. That's why I bought a Star Trek key holder instead. Here are some of the pictures that I took there:

The wall

L and Amane Misa. Where is Yagami Raito?

Another cosplayers

Shingeki no Kyojin Cosplayer

Weekly Shonen Jump that I  bought in this  event

Unfortunately, due to the time limitation I only be there for about 2 hours and didn't managed to watch any performance (only bought some merchandises and sight seeing). But I enjoy to watch a lot of cosplayer there. One woman even cosplayed as Mak Lampir, one of the famous wicked witch in Indonesia. Wkwkwkwk.. By the way,  I accidentally dropped my Star Trek Key Holder on my way home T^T. Silly me. On November and December, I guess there's a lot of Japanese Festival held in Indonesia so maybe I will try to buy Mikasa Ackerman's merchandise next time.  Wish me luck!

Ender's Game (Review)

I watched this movie after Thor: The Dark World. So glad that I did. A science fiction and action movie that isn't mindless! I haven't read the book at the time I was watching this movie, but some people said it's not as thought-provoking as its book. Really?? I think this movie is entertaining and thought-provoking. The book must be so awesome if it's more thought-provoking than this. That's why as soon as I get out from the cinema, I search Google Play Book and buy it without hesitation *laugh.

The Theatrical Poster

So Ender's Game is a science-fiction movie where children is trained to be the next commander of Earth fleets. Some years in the past, humanity encounter attack from bug-like alien known as "the Formics" and lost a great deal of population and land. Never want that to happen again, the International Fleet created the Battle School, a program designed to subject children with the best tactical minds to rigorous training. The movie follows the story of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, one of the trainee that eventually chosen as the commander.

The movie is quite faithful to the book, with some changes and a lot of cut to the story. The main difference is the book tells more complicated story about the relationship of Ender and his siblings, Peter and Valentine. The Wiggin siblings are extremely smart and while Ender is busy in the battle school, Peter and Valentine has prominent role in Earth's affair. The movie only follow the story about Ender without much said about his siblings. It made this movie lacks the deep of the book. For example about the process where Ender finally gain respects from his fellow trainee that really short and about his relationship with Valentine. But aside from that I'm still think the movie is good. I recommend you to watch it!

Thor: The Dark World (Review)

At first, I was reluctant to watch this movie in the cinema as I expected that it would only made me see another superhero movie without any deep meaning and lots of "bangs" and "explosion". The only reason I finally watch this movie is because I'm somehow a fan of Loki <3. Turn out I'm not entirely wrong. It was a 2 hours meaningless fun movie.

The Theatrical Poster

This movie title is Thor: The Dark World, but the opening and ending scenes are about Loki. Made me think that maybe Loki is the star of this movie. *peace*. Many people said that this movie is funny with lots comedy in it, I disagree. I didn't laugh my ass off, only smile or chuckle at some scenes. The best scenes in this movie are the one where Loki looks devastated after losing one of the important people in his life and the bickering scenes between Thor and Loki. The chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston is great. What I like too is the way that Natalie Portman has a big role in the action scenes of the movie, not just as "Damsel in Distress". Kat Danning's performance as Darcy, Jane Foster's co-worker is very refreshing too. The special effects are good. The cinematography and the music score are so so.

There are 2 complains from me for this movie. First, the villain. Maybe it's just me, I don't like the villain. I found him to be uninteresting and not intimidating at all. As I believe that a hero is only as good as his/her enemy, I found Thor to be a little interesting in this movie. I must admit that I found Thor in the first movie more interesting. The second is about the ending. I mean all those scenes where Loki give his life to save Thor and in the end he turn out to be like that?? Really?? Marvel better not said that this ending mean he has killed Odin or I'll be pretty mad. The ending credit scene drop some hints of the next Marvel movie as Sif and Volstagg give aether to a collector whose name I don't know and start talking about "the infinite stone". What is that? I guess I will find that out in the next Marvel movies.

Well, that is my opinion. How about you? Comment below and let me know :D.