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!