The Hunger Games – based on the extremely popular novel by Suzanne Collins, takes place in a dystopian futuristic setting where the North American continent (now known as Panem) has been spoiled by years of war, famine, and drought. Panem’s government keeps its twelve districts in line by annually holding a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games, a death match in which a teenage boy and girl, or “Tributes,” from each district are randomly selected to participate in. Whoever wins said gladiatorial competition walks away with a massive amount of precious supplies and food materials for their respective district. There hasn’t been much released for the much anticipated upcoming movie “Hunger Games,” and the same goes for the theatrical trailer that has just been released.  However even though this newest trailer is just as short as the previous teasers, it gives us a better chunk of information about the main plot of the movie.

Be sure to check out the trailer on TV as its set to air during the Super Bowl this weekend, also the Hunger Game hits theaters in the United States on March 23^rd, 2012.

Drive, a crime, drama, thriller, is a bold, classic film that will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next.  It’s a retro genre heaven; giving you the feeling that it came straight out of the 80’s. I love the feeling that this movie gives off, it’s a dark almost dream like setting that grabs you and brings you into the story making you feel what the driver feels. Directed by a fairly unknown director, Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive is based on a crime novel by James Sallis.  Starring Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, and Carey Mulligan. Drive has the feel of an art house film on steroids.

Without giving anything away, Drive follows a “Driver” (Ryan Gosling) who works as a Hollywood stuntman who also moonlights as a getaway driver.  He likes to keep a low profile and keeps pretty much to himself.  He rarely speaks but when he does he makes it count.  The story gets going as the driver’s attraction to a young mother leads him to help her ex con husband who has gotten too deep in the mob.  This brings the driver right into the fire and forces him to break all of his disciplines and break all of his code to jump into a fight that he has no hand in.  Things get out of hand quickly, forcing the driver to make some decisions that he normally wouldn’t.  It becomes a game of cat and mouse, as he try’s to clean up the mess.  This brings out a side of the driver that you would not think possible.

This is one of the best and critically acclaimed films made in 2011, and I am shocked that it was snubbed for an Oscar nomination.  This isn’t your typical Fast and the Furious kind of movie; it’s much deeper than that.  Drive doesn’t focus on the cars and the money; it’s about feeling the emotion and the life of a man who just wants to do the right thing for a family in need.   After seeing it I am disappointed that I wasn’t didn’t go to see it in the theaters.

“A brilliant piece of nasty business that races on a B-movie track until it switches to the dizzying fuel of undiluted creativity. Damn, it’s good. You can get buzzed just from the fumes coming off this wild thing.”
-Rolling Stone

“Low-key, sleek and sophisticated, Drive provides the visceral pleasures of pulp without sacrificing art. It’s cool and smart. Some critics might even call it European.”
- Washington Post

This film has little to no dialogue which may be a turn off for some, but give it a chance, and don’t just turn it off right away.  Get into the story and see that even though the driver only has a handful of lines, Goslings actions and emotions and facial expressions speak much louder than words. Refn gives you a movie experience different from the normal action packed car chase/mobster movie.  Although some people may not like this, it’s a nice change from the cliché mob movie. It has the perfect mix of a drama, action, dark, and gritty type atmosphere. Along with the directing, the acting, the cinematography to the music I thought they did an awesome job all around, giving you the feeling of a classic film. I’d say it’s worth checking out Drive if you haven’t yet! Check out the trailer below!

Drive hit Blu-Ray and DVD on January 30^th also check back later to see news of a possible Drive 2 in the works!

Moneyball is not your typical baseball movie, its more than just baseball; it’s about the game within the game; about Billy Beane as he faces the struggle of trying to succeed against the rich powerhouse teams in the MLB like the Yankees with a budget that is one third the size ($114 million vs. $39 million). Moneyball looks more at the business management side of the sport rather than just what happens on the field. Showing the interaction, tension, and drama between the owner, general manager, scouts, players, as well as other teams, Moneyball will get you into the drama; feeling the emotions of what the characters themselves feel.

Brad Pitt is great as Billy Beane, a complex and emotional character who was once a star prospect coming into the league straight out of high school only to be a huge bust in the MLB who then takes over the general managers role in Oakland. Pitt helps you feel the emotions and struggles of trying to compete with a small budget, constantly working, along with trying to raise a 12 year old daughter all at the same time in a dysfunctional and separated family. Supporting Pitt is Jonah Hill who plays Billy Beanes right hand man, Peter Brand, a quiet, reserved individual who graduated from Yale with a degree in Economics, came up with an equation that rates players by a single number. Hill plays his role very well showing that he can do more than just his comedy type of character. Some other notable actors include Philip Richard Seymore who plays the A’s manager – Art Howe, Robin Wright, and Chris Pratt.

So in conclusion Moneyball is definitely a movie that is worth seeing whether you are a baseball fan or not. It isn’t a movie about baseball, this movie is a story that goes much deeper than the game itself. Moneyball is great in all aspects – an entertaining and engaging story, interesting characters, solid acting, a great script, and good cinematography. I definitely recommend checking it out!

“Moneyball is one of the best and most vicerally exciting films of the year.” – Rolling Stone

“Its hard to imagine anyone but Mr. Pitt in the role. He’s relaxed yet edgy and sometimes unsettling.” – The New York Times

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent’s crimes.

This is the official first full length trailer for the third and final movie in the Christopher Nolan series, enjoy!

Here are my thoughts after watching the trailer…

After the release of this trailer there is a TON of talk about the upcoming film. Its safe to say that this is one of the most hyped movies of all time and even though it will be extremely difficult to live up to its predecessor, The Dark Knight (from the looks of the trailer it definitely will). This trailer gives us a lot more than what the teaser did this summer.  We finally get a good look at the new terrorist of Gotham, Bane (Tom Hardy), reeking havoc on the city including at a football stadium full of people.  We also get a glimpse of Cat Women (Anne Hathaway)  who whispers to batman “you think its going to last? …Theres a storm coming Mr. Wayne, you and your friends better batten down the hatches, because when it hits, you’re all going to wonder how you ever thought how you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.” So is she good or bad? And finally we see Bruce Wayne limping around with a cane, and then also beaten and bruised beneath a triumphant Bane.  So how do you think its going to end?

From the small glimpse that we get from this trailer with all the action and the juiced up cast along with Christopher Nolan, it looks as though The Dark Knight Rises could be the darkest and most mind blowing film yet in this amazing trilogy. Let me know what your thoughts are below!

The Dark Knight Rises will be in regular and IMAX Theaters on July 20th, 2012.