Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Hunger Games & Coming Summer Attractions

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen has an interesting premise; wealthy Sheikh Muhammed Amr Waked  wants to Salmon fish in his country and enlists Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor ), through Harriet’s (Emily Blunt) assistance to help him achieve his dream.  Along the way a ‘love story’ develops between Harriet and Dr. Jones, who my mind recalls as Indiana Jones.

The three main characters are well rounded, real and very human. McGregor’s Dr. Jones is older and a bit eccentric, and at first resists the Sheikh’s request, thinking that it’s just a pipe dream.  But once he and the Sheikh share a river and fish, he realizes they both share the same passion about fishing.  Their exchanges ring true and their passion for fishing could be applied to countless other passions that people share.  Harriet’s side story deals with her boyfriend going to Afghanistan, turns up MIA, and her pain and anguish not knowing what has become of him.

While the main characters are very good, the secondary characters are rather cliché, to the point of being buffoonish caricatures.   The British politicians, their spin machinery and bureaucrats as well as some of the sheikh’s countrymen who oppose his plans for the desert almost seem as if they were written to connect the (story line) dots.  Also the love story between stumbles three quarters of the way through the movie and it seems a bit forced and contrived, but in the end, alls well that ends well.

As an added bonus, we are treated to gorgeous scenery, both in the UK and Yemen.  Interiors are very stylish and lush to look at.  Crisp, smart and witty dialogue makes for a truly enjoyable movie and while there are some problems with the minor characters and love story, what I liked the best the movie’s original concept and its execution.  Nice way to spend and afternoon.

4.25 Salmon out of 5

MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/salmon-fishing-in-the-yemen-2012

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The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games looks at a dystophia, set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), the movie’s protagonist and hero, volunteers to take her younger sister’s place for the latest match.

Part Brave New World, 1984, and countless dysfunctional futures, The Hunger Games, has a very dark disturbing premise, where the victor’s world (Capitol) sadistically holds the losing side’s people’s in check with perpetual servitude and holds to the death games to hold the population in check.  The look of Katniss’ hometown looks like American’s Appalachia, which totally contrasts with the look of Capitol’s chrome, glass, sleek silvers, glass and glittering gaudy jewel tones.

Playing off of ancient Rome’s Circus, and using Roman names such as Caesar Flickerman, Seneca Crane, Flavis, and Octavia, one sees the public’s fascination, past, future and present, with bigger than life or death games, whether they are in the Roman Coliseum,  Capitol’s computer generated programs, or today’s reality shows.

The first part of the movie deals with the selection of the fighters and their training in the Capitol, while the second half deals with the fight to the death of the 25 young people.  Foregone conclusion who wins, the question is how.   While the premise is disturbing, the idea of people watching young people mercilessly is handled carefully.  Gary Ross , who directed and adapted the book by the same name, took great care in downplaying the violence, while not shying away from it.

For those of you who might think this is in the same vein as the Twilight sage, rest assure, it’s not.  This is richer, deeper and appeals not just teenage girls or boys.  The Hunger Games is not just about survival, in life and death situations, surviving daily life and political oppression, but there’s a cautionary tale for us in the story, if we so choose to see it.

As of late April made over $350 million and is in the top 20 top grossing films in the United States.  Hunger Games Part Two and Three / Four (from the book trilogy) are already in the works; they definitely will be on my list of ‘must see’ movies.

4.35 Arrows out of 5

MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-hunger-games

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Upcoming Movies

May 4 – The Avengers

Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s The Avengers is the superhero team up of a… More »

Starring: Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson

Friday May 11 – Dark Shadows

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious … More »

I used to rush home after school to see the original — the original after school special

Friday May 25 – Men in Black III

In Men in Black 3, Agents J and K are back… in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry… More »

Friday Jun 8 – Prometheus

Filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists a… More »

Prometheus video gallery on IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/videogallery

Highly Anticipated!

 

Friday Jun 22 – Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

President Lincoln’s mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

I listened to the book, and it ‘reads’ like historical fiction.

Tuesday Jul 3 – The Amazing Spider-Man

In Columbia Picture’s reboot of the franchise, Peter Park is a mild-mannered teenager who has to deal with bullying, a high-school crush, life-changing super powers and a super-villain known a… More »

My thoughts: Really?!?!

Friday Jul 20 – The Dark Knight Rises

The epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy (Warner Bros. Pictures)   Starring: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine.

Can’t wait for this one…