The Giver

I should have posted this days ago, but I've been kind of lazy, as well as preoccupied with other things.

Apparently, this is based on a book that I didn't even know existed. Anyway, I really enjoyed the film. This review is going to be short and sweet because I don't want to go into detail about it (mainly because you should just go see it). The cinematography was beautiful, and I'm certain they used real life footage of events that actually happened throughout history. That was a nice touch. Brenton Thwaites (Jonas) did a marvelous job reacting to the things his character saw/experienced. How would one react to seeing an elephant for the first time? Especially if they only learned their existence moments prior? Great acting on his part, honestly.

Read the book, see the film, whatever, just partake in this thrilling and beautiful story.

I give The Giver 7 out of 10.

Guardians of the Galaxy

This was such a good film. I was interested in it because it looked funny and dumb, but it was better than I had thought it would be. I had been hearing nothing but good things about it since it first came out, and some had compared it to The Avengers (which worried me, to be honest, since that is a film major's nightmare), but it was good.

I loved the sci-fi feel Guardians of the Galaxy has. At times, I felt like I was watching a Star Trek film, which was cool, even though I've never been into that sort of thing. The never explained WHY Ronan (Lee Pace) wants to destroy Zonar (I think that's the name of the planet Nova is on), unless they did and I missed it, so that bothered me. I also didn't like how most of the best jokes were included in the previews, so they weren't as funny as they should have been. I liked how they tied in his sentiment towards his deceased mother, though. Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) carries with him a mixed cassette tape (for those youngins out there reading this, a cassette tape is a device that records audio onto a thin, skinny film that's wrapped up inside) that holds a collection of his mom's favorite songs. There were a few other things that tie in, but I don't want to spoil anything for those interested in watching it, so I'll keep those to myself.

One thing I really didn't like was that, at the beginning, it looked REALLY CGI. They probably used a bit of that so they could make it into a 3D movie. I really don't understand Hollywood's obsession with 3D. It's annoying. Wearing glasses are annoying. Our eyes get damaged enough watching a movie in the dark, I don't want to cause them any more pain by making them focus on virtually made 3-dimensional images. Fortunately, my eyes soon adjusted to the odd animation and it no longer looked CGI-ish shortly after the beginning credits rolled.

The soundtrack was fantastic, I sang along to almost every song! Also, side-note, Chris Pratt is a babe.

I give Guardians of the Galaxy 7 out of 10.

Lucy

Do not see this film. I have never before wanted to walk out more than during this movie. Lucy was a total let-down. I was terribly frustrated with the logic behind the plot; it didn't make sense and was unrealistic. Also, there were multiple scenes where semi-important information was left to the imagination, rather than being properly explained. Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) was, at first, made out to be what I would have assumed was a ditzy blonde, but then she didn't play the part. The story also dragged. Honestly, I wanted to walk out before it was even half way through. I was not impressed.

I did, however, enjoy some parts of the cinematography. At one point, Lucy gets kidnapped and they show shots of her being pursued and caught by a group of large men and that of a female elk being preyed on by a pack of cheetahs. The similarities between the two situations were astounding; I loved it.

I give Lucy a 2.5 out of 10.