Metro's Monthly Movie Review - 'The Hunger Games - Catching Fire'

Each month a team member of MetroPM writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Alice Connaughton has reviewed the movie ‘The Hunger Games - Catching Fire'. Directed by: Francis Lawrence and Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth & Woody Harrelson.

Firstly I'd like to say that if you haven't seen the original 'The Hunger Games' movie then I suggest you do. Following on from 'The Hunger Games' original film, 'Catching Fire' begins from when Katniss returned home safely after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games with Peeta. In the original film most will know that at sixteen Katniss volunteered in her sisters place to enter into the games and was forced to rely on her sharp instincts and was mentored by the drunken Haymitch. Winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games meant that Katniss and Peeta are required to turn around and leave their family and close friends to embark on the 'Victor’s Tour' of the district. This occurs from the commencement of the film, it is intense and flows back to 'The Hunger Games' film. It certainly is a film sequel where you need to see the first to fully understand the next. If I had the time, I would have preferred to see 'The Hunger Games' and then flowed into seeing 'Catching Fire' so that everything was clear in my mind when it came to the storyline.

I must admit at times I was a little lost in what was happening, but as the movie progressed it all fell together. Throughout the film Katniss was sensing things where not right. The Capitol throughout the film is very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games, The Quarter Quell.

Not giving too much away, I highly recommend seeing 'Catching Fire'. A movie that is certainly interesting and captures your attention throughout the entire film. This is a perfect film to watch with friends or family.

Metro's Monthly Movie Review - 'Blue Jasmine'

Each month a team member of MetroPM writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Melissa Venn has reviewed the movie ‘Blue Jasmine'. Directed by: Woody Allen and Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard & Sally Hawkins.

Blue Jasmine is the funny, emotional and dramatic tale of Jasmine a high flying New York socialite that seemingly due entirely to her corrupt and bankrupt husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) falls far and hard into the reality of life in the ‘real world’ far from her millionaire housewife friends and their homes in ‘Martha’s Vineyard’.

The story starts with Jasmine moving in with her sister Ginger in her modest San Francisco apartment with Gingers’ two sons. Their relationship is soon seen as one of take-take and Jasmine is the taker (as it seems in her nature) all the while Ginger keeps trying to pep Jasmine up (although Jasmine does that herself with constant pill popping to hold together her sanity). Ginger takes her out and helps her to meet other people, gets her a job and tries to help her get back on track.

What ensues is a dramatic film filled with quirky moments (as only Director Woody Allen knows how). You often don’t know if you should feel sorry for Jasmine or hate her. Her path of self-destruction seems easily remedied but she only knows the ways of the wealthy and how to ensure she gets what she wants, using what she sees as “her god given talents”. Her fantastic world is one that is in her head in the memories she holds and the lies she tells herself.

Although this movie seems a bit ‘full on’ I did find myself laughing throughout the film at different points and I really enjoyed being taken into the world that Cate Blanchett’s character creates for herself whether a happy or sad tale in the end (I’m not going to give it away). This movie is quirky and will leave you thinking and I definitely think Cate is up for some awards here with this film. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of MetroPM writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Merryn Schmidt has reviewed the movie ‘Now You See Me'. Directed by: Louis Leterrier and Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine & Morgan Freeman

'Now You See Me' is a star studded movie including, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, (Aussie) Isla Fisher, Michael Caine and my all time favourite actor Morgan Freeman. Right from the opening scenes you are captivated by the wonders of magic and illusion, as you are very quickly introduced to the four main characters, but beware as; "The closer you look, the less you see".

Four unrelated magicians answer an intriguing  invitation, from a mysterious source, 12 months later,  they return to the stage as 'The Four Horseman'. Performing to sold out audiences, 'The Four Horseman' perform the perfect bank heists, but not for their own financial gain.  It is the audience who financially gain from these illusions, in a modern day 'Robin Hood' style.

FBI and Interpol Agents are constantly made to look the fools, as they endeavour to solve these unexplainable crimes, without admitting to the power of ‘magic'. Of course there are twists and turns, but this cleverly made movie will keep you entertained and guessing to the end.

I took my 3 teenage children with me to see the film, and we were all captivated from beginning to end. Part of what appealed to me, apart from the awesome cast, was that there was no extreme violence or coarse language, just good quality entertainment. 

I highly recommend seeing ‘Now You See Me’ and give it a 4 Star review!

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of MetroPM writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Alice Connaughton has reviewed the movie ‘The Lone Ranger'. Directed by: Gore Verbinski Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer & William Fichtner.

I walked into the movies expecting to be wowed, but to be honest the previews wowed me more than watching 'The Lone Ranger'.

2 hours and 15 minutes into the movie and I wasn't impressed. Yawning, checking my watch as to when it may end and wondering what the jokes where all about. I kept looking around seeing everyone else heavily involved in the film. Being the youngest in the cinema, I felt that 'The Lone Ranger' was perhaps directed at 'baby boomers'.

Taking my dad along with me, I could see he was thoroughly enjoying it. "To get an appreciation of the movie you really need to be aware of the Lone Ranger TV series",  Dad stated at the conclusion of the film. He also went on to say, "I felt that it was like a 'send up'. It took a comical look at the Lone Ranger and if my brothers and I all went together it would be a night full of laughter and enjoyment".

Action packed, comical, stupid, questionable, confusing and funny are all words I would use to describe the movie. It was a story (in my eyes) that didn't really go anywhere. Going for too long I felt it could have been reduced and parts of the film could have been cut out. 

I personally wouldn't recommend this film, but if you asked my dad he would.

Happy Movie watching! 

Metro's Latest Newsletter is here!

Hot off the press our June quarter newsletter has arrived. In this issue Leah introduces you to Metro Property Sales, our two new websites (yes two of them!), there's tips on photography (in order to lease your property quicker), advice on Depreciation and a competition to win a $250 Coles/Myer gift card by 'liking' our MetroPM facebook page during this month of July.

Happy Reading and, as always, we'd love your feedback.

Click here to read the Latest Metro Newsletter.

An Exciting Month Ahead with a Big Announcement!

From the desk of Leah Calnan, Director of Metro Property Management

It's with excitement and enthusiasm that we announce the joining of 'One Property Consulting and Estate Agents' of Ashburton with us here at Metro Property Management.

 

The joining of the two businesses is part of the expansion plan of even more suburb coverage across Melbourne. With well over 2000 properties under management and now close to 200 suburbs covered, why wouldn't we be the logical choice for expert property management services?

 

We also welcome the amazing knowledge and skill set of team members Kristy Lubransky, Nivek Dunne and Kaye Tait.

 

I am looking forward to meeting all our new clients and am excited about bringing many new elements to their property management experience now and into the future!

 

Until next time...
 

Metro's Monthy Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Marie Dunkhorst has reviewed the movie ‘21 and Over'. Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, Starring: Miles Teller, Justin Chon and Sarah Wright.

If you haven’t watched a bad movie this year yet, this is the ONE.

You’ll get the 'American Pie' version of 'The Hangover' just on a much smaller budget. When Miller (Skylar Astin) and Casey (Miles Teller) take out their best mate Jeff, played by 'The Hangover’s' Justin Chon, what a magnificent choice for his 21st Birthday, the night before his big medical school interview. As you can imagine everything gets out of control.

'One beer' turns into a night of excessive drinking and soon they don’t know where they are anymore or how to get back home to Jeff’s place. A wild search starts and the boys find themselves in the most random places and situations. The writers of “The Hangover” (that wasn’t surprising now, was it?) have tried hard to make 'gross-out' situations hilarious. For most teenagers this movie might actually be kind of funny, but for us, people in the adult world, a 'full on' drunk on a riding bull spewing his guts out is not even close to being funny.

My verdict: Don’t waste your time.