The Avengers Assemble

So I think we all knew just how amazing this movie was going to be, but I still think it's necessary for me to reiterate it to all the true believers and the non-believers. Because let's face it, who often is it that we have all of our favourite characters in the same 22 by 52ft space?

I am a big fan of intertwining storylines but even I was a tad sceptical at how the amalgamation of all the principal characters would work. Especially as they all have such very big and very different personalities, with Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) being the only thing they all had in common. The first hour or so felt a little choppy as they established what all our superheroes had been up to since we last saw them and saw them being drafted into the folds of S.H.E.I.L.D once it had been established that the world was in danger and it would take more than one hero to save it.

In no particular order of favourites....... Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) all must learn to work together to each others strengths and weaknesses in order to defeat the slick, villainous and greatly misunderstood Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who reprises his role from the movie Thor.

There's not much more I can say without really giving everything away, let's just say that I laughed, I gushed and I loved. To end on a cheesy note; Superheroes wouldn't be super if they didn't have to overcome something within themselves to achieve the greatness we all know they're capable of.

The Hunger Games

Another book series turned movie the squeaky teen generation has helped ruin for millions of us sane people out there. Suffice to say I wasn't particularly "Hungry" for the coming of this movie (Necessary Pun) but alas, the objective movie review blogger that I am allows me to appreciate this film on a certain level.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take part in a  murderous version of Big Brother in order to save her sister from a dooming fate. A less willing candidate is Peta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) who is neither smart, particularly interesting or a very good baker. One thing he does have is a unique skill with make up... I'll let you come to your own conclusions about that one. Nevertheless these two individuals have no choice but to represent their district and battle against the other eleven, more skilled and in some cases highly trained districts in order to stay alive.

Even in a post apocalyptic future, some things never change as it's the masochistic bourgeois' that take pleasure from watching the Proletarians fight and kill one and other for survival. Let's not forget however that entertainment is also a heavily induced factor, and this year Katniss Everdeen is giving everyone something to watch. Equipped with a bow and arrow and a sturdy moral compass she fights to survive, not kill and picks up a few sadly short lived friendships during the games.
Her morality slips when it comes to fellow District 12er Peta, the obvious complication of one or both of their inevitable demise keeps their audience on edge, but will it be enough to keep them alive?


Jennifer Lawrence provided a stunning believable performance as an independent, indecisive, and slightly overconfident teenager in the midst of battle and I look forward to seeing her reprise her role as there are no comments to make about whether or not a sequel is intended. 
We have all seen the adults on public transport in rush hour, the teachers reading to kids in the classroom and the cyber teens reblogs to know we are now in the age of the Hunger Games.