Season 2, Winter 2014, Movie Review #8: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

   Late 2013 brought, in my opinion, the two movies that stole the year, one being the second Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug, and the other being The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, a film adaption of Suzanne Collin's New York Times Bestselling sequel to The Hunger Games, a dystopian book series set in the near to faraway future.
   Between The Desolation of Smaug and this movie, I am tormented to come up with a favorite, and I can't decide yet, but I'm leaning towards Catching Fire. So, if you've got a little time, pull up a seat and enjoy my take on this box-office monster.


PART ONE: THE PLOT

   A handful of berries. A moment of rebellion. A martyr. A spark of hope.
Oppressed by the total power of the Capitol for over 75 years, the 12 starving Districts under its power have long since abandoned even the vain dream of hope, as far away as the stars from the soil they strive over.
   For 74 years, the Capitol has forced the 12 Districts to send two Tributes, one male and one female, to compete in the Games, a fight to the death among children from the ages of 12 to 18.
  The Games take place in a nightmarish Arena full of terrifying creatures and deadly challenges, to say nothing of the other Tributes. Death is certain, as only one Tribute can come out alive, with the promise of lifelong wealth and comfort.
   A promise that was kept...Until now.
In the wake of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, in which not one but two victors were allowed to live, the female Tribute from District 12, the Girl on Fire, Katniss Everdeen, is home again. Struggling with her own trauma and confused between the two men she cares about, Gale and her fellow victor, Peeta Mellark, Katniss has come to the conclusion that she never truly won the Games.
   With the attention of the Capitol solely resting on Katniss and Peeta, the 'star crossed lovers from District 12', Katniss fears for the safety of her family and her District.
   When the Capitol's President Snow himself visits Katniss's new home in the Victors Village, the deadly thread she must walk is made clear: She will be madly in love with Peeta. She will convince the Capitol and the President that her gambit for bringing both of them out of the Arena was an act of passionate love, not of rebellion. She will not be the spark of hope the Districts think she is.
   She will go on her Victory Tour with Peeta, visiting the Districts, and say nothing but what is pre-written by the Capitol on her cards. If she fails, neither she nor any of the people she loves will have a second chance.
   But when the 75th Annual Hunger Games is announced to involve twice the number of Tributes, all reaped from the existing pool of Victors, however, Katniss realizes that following Snow's orders may not be as easy as she thought.
   Struggling to quell both the rebellion in the Districts as well as the rebellion within, Katniss Everdeen fears the last thing she will see is the whole of Panem catching fire.


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   Cinematography: Excellent. Visual Effects: High quality. Music: emotional and fitting. Physical Plot: Intense and very suspenseful.
Emotional story: Tear jerking and heartfelt (Of course, I didn't cry), incredibly well-done.
   As an adaption from the book (Which I read), I could not be happier. In the book, I felt like Suzanne Collins threw together a bunch of elements and plot moments at random, dispensing with organization, and adding things that were not necessary. The movie, however, is well-scripted, well organized, and excellently streamlined, wasting no time with unnecessary stuff. The suspenseful plot, combined with the emotional story, were straight to the point, the point itself being well communicated.
   The familiar themes of the original return: Survival versus sacrifice, killing versus sparing, the role of government, the role of rebellion, the symbolism of Katniss herself, paired with the Mockingjay, the power of hope versus the strong control of fear, and much more. Very thought provoking stuff, worthy of discussion with your family and friends.
   Though there are definitely evil forces in the film, the positive messages conveyed by the good characters are well contrasted against that evil.
   Peeta is kind and looks out for Katniss, willing to risk his life for her. Gale pushes Katniss to become the Mockingjay, the symbol of District rebellion, and to achieve her potential, while at the same time showing his willingness to fight for what and who he believes in. Newcomer characters Johanna Mason and Finnick Odair risk their lives, along with a few other new Tribute characters, to save or help Katniss and Peeta.
   Cinna, like Gale, reaches out to Katniss's inner rebellion in his own way by making Mockingjay outfits for her. Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta's mentor, promises to go to the Games in Peeta's stead, and Peeta does the same. Haymitch is very supportive of Peeta and Katniss and helps every way he can.
 

 
   Obviously, though, it's Katniss who takes the cake.
Devoted to loving and protecting her family and friends, Katniss shows a brave and selfless face to others despite her own inner torment. She tries to save Peeta and others over and over, and does not toy with either Peeta or Gale's feelings. She is giving and loving towards her little sister, Prim, and is impressed by Prim's own growing bravery. She stops a Peacekeeper from brutally torturing Gale, and is involved with getting him healed afterward. When District 12 receives a visit from a large troop of Peacekeepers who go around destroying black markets and harming anyone in the way, Katniss helps an elderly women whose eye has been hurt. Katniss shows her heartfelt regards to District 11, the place where the little girl and martyr of the rebellion, Rue, was born, and Peeta promises to donate money and food to the people of the District.
   It hardly needs to be said these days, but Jennifer Lawrence not only portrayed Katniss perfectly--she blew other actors out of the water. The other actors and actresses performed seamlessly as well, but as before stated, it's Lawrence who takes the prize.
   A fresh and exhilarating story, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire took center stage for 2013 cinema.
In fact, I'll decide it now--I preferred it to The Desolation of Smaug (Although I beg you to go watch that too!).


PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   Katniss does much more kissing this time around with Gale and Peeta, and also gets kissed randomly by a stranger. Johanna Mason has an unforeseen stripper moment in an elevator in front of Peeta, Katniss and Haymitch (Shoulders and back seen only, along with the others' reactions), after asking Peeta what it's like to have everyone in the Capitol want to sleep with him.
   Johanna also has a f-bomb dropping episode against the Capitol with Caesar Flickerman (the profanity is bleeped out, but heavily implied, although I say the Capitol deserves what it gets). S--t is said, also.
   As in the previous movie, the Games take place with Tributes killing each other with a variety of weapons and in a variety of ways (Stab, drown, slash, shoot, poison etc.), and some innocent people are killed off camera. There are riots, Peacekeepers destroying black markets etc. and dealing public whippings. Peeta and Katniss are the youngest contestants in the Games, and as such they bring back the idea of children killing each other.
   People are shown covered in what looks like a mixture of mud and blood (Not their own).
Creepy monkeys attack the Tributes, poisonous fog brings hideous boils/blisters to their skin, and Jabberjay birds simulate pained screams of those the hearers love, which is particularly painful for Katniss and Finnick. There are a few jump-out-of-your-seat moments.
   As sensitive as I am to psychological elements in movies (PTSD moments, for example), I was not disturbed in the least by Katniss's moments of fear after nightmares and flashbacks. They aren't dramatized or focused on too much, and they aren't eery, but that's not to say more sensitive viewers than me might be disturbed by them.
   Katniss and Haymitch drink, and two Tributes are called Morphlings, a reference to their Morphine or whatever it is addiction. A person in the Capitol offers Peeta a drink that will make him throw up so he can eat more. The movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language.


PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   I shall give it five stars. There's nothing I can think of about this movie that I dislike. I love the symbolisms involved (As a writer, I try to create my own symbolisms, so it was fun looking for them), the themes explored, and the story told--what more could you say? I was emotionally invested, mentally involved, and satisfyingly entertained--more so, I admit, than I was with The Desolation of Smaug (Again, though, go watch that too!). While I disliked the book, I very much enjoyed this film adaption, and I look forward to when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray. You won't be able to resist following Katniss Everdeen, and you won't be able to take your eyes off the story as it really does start catching fire.
   So, I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it! Go get a ticket or two and give The Hunger Games: Catching Fire a try!

Peace,
Matt~
 
        

Season 2, Winter 2014, Movie Review #7: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

   So my family and I went to see the Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the sequel to 2012's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Here is my take on it.
Enjoy reading!



PART ONE: THE PLOT

 

      The Lonely Mountain, Erebor, filled with treasure beyond the imagining of mortals and immortals alike, stands open and unguarded. The Dragon Smaug, conqueror of the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor, has not been seen for many years, and as birds return to the mountain, countless eyes watch, and wait, and weigh the risk.
   Having narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Pale Orc chieftain Azog, Thorin, rightful heir to the throne of Erebor, travels with a company of twelve other Dwarves, a wizard and a Hobbit to reclaim his homeland.
   But as Gandalf's suspicions of a dark force returning to power increase, and a certain Ring of Power begins to take hold of Bilbo Baggins himself, the threat to Middle Earth grows.
   Worse, as outside forces from Elves to Men and dangerous monsters threaten to stop Bilbo and his companions, true colors are revealed and the quest to reclaim Erebor teeters on the edge of a blade.
   And at the end of the journey lies the greatest challenge of all, one that could wreathe all of Middle Earth in flame...


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

      While I think it a fair suggestion that
the Hobbit films will never be as good as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I also think it a fair thing to give this movie wild applause and appropriate praise.
  While I have wondered how Peter Jackson took a few hundred pages from the Hobbit book and a few pages from the Lord of the Rings Appendices and is making three films out of it, the fact is, it works.
   Tolkien fans may be annoyed by several liberties the filmmakers took with the book, mainly the following:
   -A non-Tolkien she-elf character, Tauriel, is added into the story as Captain of the Mirkwood Guard. Though she isn't in the book, the movie makers needed at least one female face in the story, as the book was pure males all the way through, and besides, Tauriel's epic war capabilities will be sure to please.
   -Legolas, son of the Mirkwood king Thranduil, returns, although not described in the book.
   -A love triangle between Legolas, Tauriel, and the Dwarf Kili is introduced--for what benefit to the story I know not, but I guess if it makes Peter Jackson happy, whatever.
   -Other small liberties, such as shortening the scene with Beorn, lengthening and altering the time spent in Laketown, etc.

   Despite these changes, the movie is a great improvement over the less action-packed original, being filled with incredible visual effects, shape shifters, horrific giant spiders, Orcs galore, greedy leaders, noble and skilled warriors, a terrifying Dragon and most importantly, the key emotional moments shared with the protagonist, Bilbo Baggins. As his attachment to the One Ring grows, so does his determination to see the quest through and his bravery to achieve it. As the most active and resourceful character, Bilbo dares countless dangers, risks his own life, and does everything he can to get his companions out of trouble, even when in the end some don't return his goodwill.
   The performances of the actors and actresses in the movie are almost all perfect, with the exception of a few cheesy lines in moments with Tauriel and Kili.
Martin Freeman flawlessly embodies Bilbo, Ian McKellen pulls off Gandalf's awkward wisdom, Richard Armitage performs well as Thorin, highlighting his gradual change for the worse and inner conflict, and Benedict Cumberbatch dazzles the audience with his motion-capture portrayal of the Dragon Smaug.
   The music and cinematography are a huge credit to the people who made it happen, as is the story itself.
   While I can't say I care much for the love triangle between Legolas, Kili and Tauriel, all the other changes to the story, I think, were beneficial ones.
   Changed as it may be, the story of the Hobbit remains true at its core: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future--as long as that gem of Tolkien's is still intact, the story is great at its heart.


PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   Kili asks Tauriel if she's going to check down his trousers in one scene as 'he could have anything down there'. Tauriel replies by saying 'or nothing'. Kili flirts and holds hands with Tauriel.
   Violence involves a character being shot and suffering under the influence of a poisoned arrow, Smaug breathing fire all over the place, Orcs and spiders being killed in many stylish ways, including decapitation, and one character being buried in a pool of molten gold.
   The shape shifter Beorn can transform into a massive, frightening bear, and Orcs, giant spiders and the spiritual form of Sauron himself may be scary for some in the audience. Thranduil reveals a gross wound on his face that might also catch watchers off guard.
   Thorin tells Balin he told the Elves to *Dwarvish word* themselves, which is the closest reference to a strong curse word I've ever seen in a LOTR movie.
   Some Elves are shown drunk, and the opening scene takes place in a pub, while the ravenous Dwarves eat a lot and drink a lot as well.
   Greedy leadership in Laketown and Mirkwood, along with the growing dark side of Thorin are shown, but dwarfed by more positive role models, such as Bilbo. 
   The movie is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.


PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   I award the film four and a half stars. While the sparse cheesy lines and added love triangle put a question mark over my head, the rest put a big grin on my face and a tall exclamation point over my head. The cinematography, music, visual effects, story, action and connection with Bilbo exceeded my expectations.
   As said before, though, what's most important is the heart of the story, the core values and positive messages that are central to its success--and Peter Jackson has definitely kept true to them.
   So, with that said, the film has only made a little over $700,000,000, so go buy tickets and help it exceed the one billion dollar box office mark, and enjoy!

Peace,
Matt~   


 
          
     

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #6: Superman: Man of Steel

   Hello again! I have watched more movies this year than I think I ever have in one year, so I have a lot of reviews to write, starting with another superhero movie, Superman: Man of Steel.


PART ONE: THE PLOT

   As the planet Krypton destroys itself from the inside out, a single pod escapes the destruction, holding the first and last naturally-born child of Krypton.
   Young Kal-El crashes on a farm in Kansas and is raised as Clark Kent by the  farm owner and his wife. Struggling to control massive power he doesn't understand in a world he does not belong, Clark longs for the answers of his existence, and of his past. Yet to get them, he may bring the planet and its inhabitants to their knees before self-convinced savior of Krypton, General Zod.
   As strangers pry into his secrets and answers come out of the shadows, Clark finds himself at the center of a struggle for the survival of mankind.


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   While visually entertaining and full of comic-inspired, skyscraper wrecking action, as with many superhero movies, the main character seems underdeveloped and at times boring. Although Kal-El certainly has his own past, his own hurts, his own ideas, I feel like the moment he got his suit, his emotions lost all impact on the story, and his doubtful side was replaced by a macho guy in tights and a cape.
   Be that as it may, the movie achieves what all movies should: it was entertaining. The fight to save planet Earth was as always full of suspense, and the visual effects were very impressive.
   Clark's willingness to sacrifice himself for others and general goodness is shown over and over, sometimes almost to the point of me wanting to call him a goody-two-shoes. But as a good, strong, planet-saving guy, you can't really complain about him.
  

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

D's, S's, H's and A's, OMG's, along with slang words and someone saying 'F-ing' without filling in the middle words constitute the movie's language.
   Violence includes necks being broken, people being choked, skyscrapers toppling and general mass destruction, along with guns and weapons being shot nonstop...People die, things explode. You get it.
   A woman's rear is flicked, and she is rudely talked to by a man at a bar. People drink.
   Clark and Lois kiss, hold hands and make googly eyes at each other.
The movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, and for some language.


PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

I dub the movie three stars, for 'ok' and 'just worth watching'. While entertaining visually and in its fight scenes, the underdevelopment of the main character himself, along with a very rushed romance and slow pacing at times, made me not want to watch it a second time. I'll just say it was a bit lackluster, not what I was expecting, but worth watching.

So give it a try and see what you think!
Peace,
Matt~

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #5: Thor: The Dark World

   Hey guys! I't been a while since I wrote any media reviews, but we've been watching quite a few movies lately, the first of which being the sequel to Marvel's Thor. I have this review and three more lined up for the next day or two, so keep an eye out for them!
    So, starting in 3, 2, 1...



PART ONE: THE PLOT

   Two years after the events of Thor, the hammer wielding god of thunder is busy quelling rebellions and crushing the foes of Asgard, bringing peace to the Nine Realms.
   That peace is threatened, however, when an old foe, Malekith, and his Dark Elves from an age long past return from darkness to challenge Asgard again.
   Worse, Thor's Earthling damsel Jane Foster is caught at the center of the struggle, having stumbled upon the powerful Aether which Malekith seeks, an element that will allow him to return the universe to darkness.
   Forced to rely on his deceptive brother and rival, Loki, Thor must destroy the Aether and stop Malekith before all Nine Realms are cast into eternal blackness.
 


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   I enjoyed the sequel to Marvel's Thor, but it could have been so much more.
First of all, it could have done with quite a few less jokes, particularly in the climax, when it could have been and should have been far more epic.
   Despite being visually entertaining, the movie needed and deserved more development. The villain, Malekith, failed to deliver as the ancient enemy he was described as, and was poorly developed.
   More frustrating, to me, was the lack of inner struggle in Thor himself. While the original movie had Thor facing an inner flaw, his pride, to overcome a problem, the sequel included no such inner struggle, unless you count a damsel in distress and an insane brother as an inner struggle. And if neither the hero or the villain has a flaw, the story will hurt for it.
   As an aspiring author, I know what goes behind the creation of writing a story, and the first thing I look for is the protagonist's inner struggle. There wasn't one.
   Jane Foster, the lead female role in the movie, was much more of a distressing damsel than a brave character, although her vast intelligence as a scientist and her effectiveness in the climax was still intact. 
   Be that as it may, the movie was fun, and while many funny moments didn't belong, they were still funny. I was disappointed with a few of the actors/actress's performances, mainly Natalie Portman, but others were better, foremost of which being the performance of Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
   Almost completely stealing away the screen, Tom Hiddleston's Loki, the untrustworthy and vengeful  adopted son of Odin, kept the screen time interesting with the dynamic he added between himself and Thor. You know he'll do anything to get to the top, and yet you can't help but want to see him redeem himself. Although, if you're a reader of Norse Mythology like me, you'll know where his story ultimately ends.
 

   I must say I expected the movie not only to be more epic, but to be a good bit different. For starters, I thought Thor would be facing the great possibility of losing Jane with more emotion, and I thought the threat against Jane would be brought up and kept in the eyes of viewers longer. Instead, the entire sub plot about Jane was dwarfed by Loki's involvement.
   Secondly, I thought there would be some jealousy going on between the Asgardian female warrior Sif and Jane surrounding their affection for Thor, who shows respect towards one and little strong emotion towards the other.      
   Now back to the positives: The action was very cool.    

I particularly enjoyed watching the Dark Elf ships in action, using their angular, rigid bodies to maneuver around and dodge laser bolts. The landscapes and visuals were impressive, and there was also a good bit more of Asgard shown than in the original movie, which only showed the city itself.
   As before stated, Tom Hiddleston's performance and the dynamic between he and Thor was entertaining, and the humor was great, although I would have liked less in the climax.
  As a movie based off a Marvel comic book, it's amazing. As an epic one....It could have used a little more oomph.


PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   Predictably, there is a good bit of kissing and flirting. A man is shown in a news report running around nude, although objectionable areas are blurred out (Else the movie would be rated R!).
   Violence includes knife fighting, people being killed and massive areas being obliterated throughout, although there is very little blood shown. One character's hand is shown cut off.
   The Dark Elves have an elite unit called the Kursed, who use some kind of object to, I guess, burn themselves into agony and rage, which they spill out on their enemies. The Dark Elves, Malekith and the Kursed could be scary for younger children, along with a few scene including the Aether, which might also be disturbing for children.
   Loki, being who he is, deceives and has his own sneaky agendas. One scene shows him in the midst of a prison cell that he wrecked, sitting with his hair down, looking slightly crazy.
   Characters are shown reveling and feasting with drinking involved, and Sif asks Thor to have a drink with her.
   The movie is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence; some suggestive content.


PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   I give it four stars. Although I was disappointed with several things as I said above, the movie was fun, funny, and had a few cool action moments, paired with the highly entertaining dynamic between Tom Hiddleston's Loki and Thor, and impressive visual effects. The movie was left wide, wide open for another sequel, which I look forward to seeing, and overall, it was well worth eight bucks to watch in theaters.

   Thanks for reading!
Peace.

Matt~  

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Trailer Review #2: Halo 5 Teaser

   Hey everyone! Welcome back! Today I'm very excited to share with you the teaser trailer for Halo 5, along with my theories about what it entails.   
   343 Industries, the new owners of the Halo franchise released a teaser for the next upcoming Halo game this year at E3, so here it is:

PART ONE: FACTS

   It's been less than a year since the release of Halo 4. No one would have expected any kind of Halo announcements at E3 this year, and yet Microsoft and 343i surprised us with this mysterious teaser. Why? Because Microsoft's new, next gen game console Xbox One was also announced at E3, and Halo has almost always been the killer app of Xbox consoles.
   So, let's get down to business. The creators for this new Halo game have told us that Halo 5 will be formatted for 60 Frames Per Second video and made exclusively on Xbox One. Also, Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer has announced that the new line of Halo games will no longer be called the Reclaimer Trilogy, as he says Microsoft
   "Didn't want to limit the Reclaimer story within a trilogy."
That's not surprising, given the enormous popularity of the Halo franchise and the even more enormous amount of story still open to be told.
   Franchise director Frank O'Conner has said that 343i
   "Will do better next time," and that the studio has learned from their experiences with Halo 4.  
   Phil Spencer, explaining the teaser trailer, also said:

   “There was no ambiguity in not putting a number after the game. For me, what we showed wasn’t the game. Nobody should be confused on that. I didn’t really want to try to show something that was clearly a thought piece by the studio around where Master Chief is in his journey, and then drop the name after it and be somewhat disingenuous about that being the game. But I did want Bonnie [Ross] to come out and say 'First-person shooter. Master Chief.' Because they'll get the questions- 'Hey, is this ODST? What are you guys doing?'. Bonnie [Ross] comes out and reaffirms that 343 is building this game. It’s Master Chief. It’s a first-person shooter at 60 frames per second. It’s coming in 2014."

   343i has also stated that the upcoming Halo game will be a much darker title than its predecessor.
    A final note is that a new live action Halo television series will begin on Xbox One in the near future, directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. 


PART TWO: REVIEW, ANALYSIS AND SPECULATIONS   

   Despite what Phil Spencer said about not putting a number after the title, it has become quickly obvious that there is indeed some ambiguity going on about it. While 343i calls the upcoming Halo game 'Halo Xbox One', the title screen bears the number 5 in the clouds above it, and beneath it the letters L and O form to look like a 5 as well.
   If the upcoming Halo takes place after Halo 4 (Which it obviously does), and if it is a 'legitimate' entry into the franchise as opposed to a spin-off like Halo Wars or ODST, then why not just call it Halo 5? Well, my best assumption is that 343i wants to look at the upcoming Halo as a new beginning for Halo. Perhaps the industry feels that Halo 4 was just an introduction to the Reclaimer Saga as opposed to a full chapter in it? Or that, because of the release of Xbox One, they want to start afresh?
   In any case, because of supporting evidence, it seems only fair and logical to call the upcoming Halo game Halo 5.
   So, let's move onto the teaser itself. The first noticeable thing about the teaser is that Master Chief is obviously on another world--a world that has at least one large moon, which can be seen in the sky if you look very closely.
   Also, the surrounding terrain is desert. Many Halo fans have theorized that the Chief is on the Ark, an installation tasked with creating, replacing and activating the entire Halo Array.
   As most Halo players know, Master Chief himself activated a replacement Halo on the Ark and 'did a number on it' according to Cortana. Whether doing a number means destroying it completely or just damaging it is unclear.
   Another supporting fact is that the Ark is known to have vast deserts and wastelands on its surface, and that it has at least one moon, including one that is shielded at the Ark's center.
   However, there is more than one Ark. The Ark Master Chief damaged is called the Lesser Ark. It handles only the Halos with 10,000 km in diameter, while the Greater Ark creates the Halo with 30,000 km diameters. However, as you'll see, it seems more likely that Chief is located on the Lesser Ark.
   Next, we notice that Master Chief is heavily cloaked and hooded. 343i has stated that the Chief is purposefully disguising himself from someone or something.
   Soon after, we hear some kind of odd phantom sound, followed by a moment of anti-gravity surrounding some kind of huge Forerunner construct which emerges from the sand.
   Many fans have suggested the construct could be a type of or merging of War Sphinxes or a Seeker, both large Forerunner constructs, but this seems unlikely to me, as neither are described as having wings, and Seekers have no upper cabin or 'face'.
   It is very clear that the construct is Forerunner in origin, although there is the slim possibility of it being a Precursor creation.
   Next, the Chief reveals an AI chip on a dog tag in his hand. The sad music accompanying the scene insinuates a memory of Cortana, but Cortana's chip was destroyed on the Didact's ship in Halo 4. I've noticed that the central section of the chip appears to have some kind of Forerunner symbol or pattern on it (But more on the chip later).

    Finally, we see Chief's helmet is cracked on its right side, and that all his armor is very worn and possibly damaged. What does this mean? Could Master Chief have had some falling out with the UNSC or Humanity? How much time has passed since the events of Halo 4?
What is he doing out on his own? Why is he carrying an (Obviously dormant) AI chip?
   Well, that's where a new and very interesting possibility comes into play.
Because get this: the Lesser Ark is also the home of the ancient, powerful Forerunner AI Mendicant Bias.

   For those of you who don't know, Mendicant Bias was a Contender-Class Forerunner AI--the most advanced and powerful Artificial Intelligence at the time of his creation by the Forerunners. He was originally created to organize and use Forerunner defenses against the Flood, but he defected to the parasite's side when a Gravemind convinced him otherwise and eventually caused Rampancy in the AI, who turned on his creators.
   However, the Forerunners created a new AI, Offensive Bias, who stopped Mendicant and separated the traitorous AI into several shards.
   Eons later, Master Chief and Cortana encountered a shard of Mendicant in a Covenant ship in Halo 2. Cortana managed to stall Mendicant Bias at High Charity long enough for Chief to make it aboard the ship holding the AI.
   Eventually Mendicant Bias was reunited with his shards on the Lesser Ark and tried to communicate with Master Chief through Terminals in Halo 3. 
   One message from Mendicant Bias shows clearly his intent to communicate with the Chief:

  “And so here at the end of my life, I do once again betray a former master. The path ahead is fraught with peril. But I will do all I can to keep it stable - keep you safe. I'm not so foolish to think this will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall be my example.”

   At this point, Mendicant had become penitent for his crimes against his creators and obviously wishes to redeem himself through Master Chief. Why the AI specifically chose the Chief is unclear, but what is clear is that Mendicant could still lie 'entombed' on the Lesser Ark.
   What this could imply is that the Chief is seeking out Mendicant Bias for some reason--perhaps as a guide, perhaps as a new ally...There are infinite reasons why Master Chief could be seeking Mendicant, but keep in mind, nothing has been states--the Chief could just simply be searching for a fragment or shard of Cortana, or seeking answers about the Forerunners.
   Above all, it's obvious the Chief is going to be facing an even tougher foe than before--I mean, who else could manage to bang his majestic armor up that bad when four previous games haven't even made a dint in him?
    It is very possible and almost proven that the
Didact could return as the villain of Halo 5. 
Besides being a great villain overall, he was not actually shown to die in Halo 4. In fact, all he did was fall into a mist of what Cortana called a 'significant slipspace event'. Meaning he could have been teleported to another planet and survived.
   Also, the Didact knows possibly more about the universe than any living being--he could have answers that the Chief needs in order to defeat a new or old enemy and save Humanity.
   To recount the proposal that Halo 5 will be a darker story, what could be darker than the possible return of the Flood and an alliance with a reportedly rampant Forerunner AI, along with the loss of Cortana and a possible falling out with Humanity?
   My personal opinion is that the Chief will be totally on his own in the upcoming title, and I am almost certain that the Flood will return as an even greater threat than before. After all, the Chief didn't fully end the Flood in Halo 3--he only defeated it and temporarily stopped it from growing more.
   The Flood are still out there, the Didact could still be around, Mendicant Bias could make a comeback, Chief could be outlawed by Humanity, and there could be something far bigger looming ahead--possibly the return of the Precursors, if I'm any judge of story expansion and raised stakes.

           All in all, I'm enthusiastic about Halo 5. 
While 343i definitely made some mistakes with Halo 4, I feel confident that they have been (Possibly since before Halo 4's development) and are working double time to produce a great Halo game for 2014, especially considering that Frank O'Connor himself has said the studio has learned from its mistakes and will do better. He also said that they've specifically learned the 'players needs and wants', which is also encouraging.
  Compounding that, the game is being released on the next gen Xbox One console, and it will be exciting to see any positive changes resulting from the new console's abilities. Despite having some problems with Halo 4's gameplay, I am thoroughly enjoying the new story arc forcing Master Chief to come to grips with his humanity. The Reclaimer Saga will most definitely be an incredible ride, and I look forward to seeing where 343i takes us.

                   

                      "Every Great Journey begins with a single step.
                                         This is our beginning.
                   Thanks for trusting us with the universe you love and
                                 joining us on this epic adventure."
                                           -343 Industries.


   So guys, hope you enjoyed this second trailer review and analysis on No Spoilers Allowed! Feel free to comment below and return for more epic media reviews in the near future!
Peace.
Matt~           

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Trailer Review #1: How To Train Your Dragon 2

   I recently wrote a review on one of my favorite movies, How To Train Your Dragon. I referenced the coming sequel, How To Train Your Dragon 2, and that got me thinking 'You know, I'd like to review trailers of movies, too!' so here I am, starting a new thread of Trailer Reviews and speculations about what the upcoming movies may contain. In the future I would like to start doing video reviews as opposed to text reviews, but for now, I hope you enjoy the first of my Trailer Reviews, starting with How To Train Your Dragon 2.


PART ONE: THE TRAILER(S)

   So far there has only been one trailer for How To Train Your Dragon 2-actually a teaser, but it's given us enough to wonder about. You can watch the teaser on Youtube here, but just remember, I'm not responsible for any content seen outside my page.

PART TWO: BACKGROUND INFO

   Dreamworks Animation has announced they have intentions of making at least three How To Train Your Dragon films. That's not surprising, given the original's financial success and lasting popularity. The HTTYD films are set to become Dreamwork's newest big franchise, which they themselves have stated.
   All the original cast members from the original HTTYD film will be returning and reprising their roles, despite some doubt early on in pre-production. Also, the composer of the HTTYD soundtrack, John Powell, will be returning to create the score for the new movie, which probably has me more excited than anything.
The film will be written, directed and executive-produced by Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and co-directed the first film, along with the return of Bonnie Arnold as producer and former co-writer/director Chris Sanders as an additional executive producer.
   New characters and voice talents have been hired for the sequel, including Game of Thrones's Kit Harington as the film's new villain, Eret, Cate Blanchett as Valka, a vigilante dragon rescuer, and Djimon Hounsou as Drago Bludvist, a dragon trapper.
   Dreamworks is now using two new programs, Premo and Torch for the film's animation, which they say will 'allow more subtlety, in facial animation, the sense of fat, jiggle, loose skin, the sensation of skin moving over muscle instead of masses moving together'.
   As far as the new animation goes, the teaser trailer has

shown us enough to see that the overall animation atmosphere of the HTTYD universe has kept a familiar look but also introduced a positive new feel. 
   Photos for the new movie are not abundant yet, as the sequel is scheduled for June 13, 2014, almost a year away (Oohh...I can't wait!), but a few photos have been released, which I'll spread throughout this blogpost. 
  So, what do you think about the new animation and redesign?
   One more note I thought would be of interest is that the same cast, producers etc. are set to not only return for HTTYD 2, but for the third film as well.
   Good stuff.


PART TWO: REVIEW, ANALYSIS AND SPECULATIONS

   

   Dreamworks Animation gave us a brief blurb for the plot of How To Train Your Dragon 2, which I would have put in the background info section if not for the fact that I'm going to dissect it here for information.
   Here it is:

    It has been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island's new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. At the beginning, Hiccup is pressured by Stoick to start a family and become chief, but Hiccup rebels by flying away from Berk and exploring new lands. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons.

   Now, you may have noticed how I conveniently highlighted the key details described in the blurb, and the reason for that is because I'm going to break them down and speculate on their meanings.
   So--by charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds, what did Dreamworks mean? Well, DeBlois pretty much answered that question for us in an interview, when he said:
 
"At the end of last film, all these Vikings who were previously somewhat landlocked are now on the backs of dragons so the entire Northern Hemisphere opens up to them. And with that Hiccup's curiosity increases, the map expands and inevitably they are going to come across new dragons, new cultures."

      My assumption is that, as Hiccup and Toothless explore, they are going to run across lands and cultures that may or may not be influenced by places in the books by Cressida Cowell. The author of the original book herself has said that the HTTYD films and books will 'share their ends', so whether or not that means elements, characters, lands from the books will be incorporated into the next couple of films or not I can only imagine. I have only read the first book by Cressida Cowell, but as far as I've read, the series really takes a more mature twist near the end of the series. The 12th and final book has yet to be published, so we won't know what 'end' Cressida was talking about until 2014, at its release.

   Now onto the next tidbit: Hiccup is apparently again being pressured by his father, Stoick the Vast, to start a family and become chief. This isn't surprising, given how old Hiccup is now (I estimate about nineteen, if he was fourteen in the first movie). But why Stoick's newfound pressure? If he himself is still well and able to be chief of Berk, why is he pushing his son? Could he be aging, ailing or have some kind of new fear or enemy bothering him?

   Next, we're told about an ice cave. Now, I literally have no idea what or where this ice cave could be, whether it's far away from Berk in a colder land in the Northern Hemisphere, or what. Hiccup did say that Berk was located a few degrees south of freezing to death, didn't he?
   Next, we're told the ice cave is the home of many new and wild dragons, and of a mysterious character called the Dragon Rider. I cannot speculate about what other, new dragons there could be, but it seems obvious that the Dragon Rider will be Hiccup's new archenemy--a character who rides dragons but uses them for evil.
    Finally, the blurb reads that Hiccup and Toothless find themselves 'at the center of a battle' to protect the peace, and that only together can they solve the problem between man and dragon. My idea of what 'at the center of a battle' means is that Hiccup and Toothless will be a median force in between human and dragon again, and that they will have to settle differences between each other to fix it. It would be interesting to see a human vs. human battle involving dragons on both sides--for instance, aerial combat between the forces of Berk and the forces of the Dragon Rider.
   I wouldn't be surprised if another character, the old lady character from the first movie, called the Elder, plays a more important role in this movie, given that she was originally going to have a larger role in the first film. But that's just a random thought of mine.

   All in all, I'm incredibly excited about How To Train Your Dragon 2. How could you not like that high flyin', Toothless/Hiccup teamwork (Teamed with a trailer song by my favorite epic music band Audiomachine)? As the #1 HTTYD fan, I can honestly say I'm not worried about the sequel--not worried about Hiccup and the others being five years older, not worried about the new animation, and most surprisingly, not worried about a Dreamwork's sequel ruining the original, which the company has a bad habit of doing. I think making the characters be five years older is a great move for the story, seeing as the kids like me who were four years younger when the original came out will now again be able to relate with Hiccup and his problems. The animation and redesign, though surprising at first, I now am excited about, along with the direction of the story.
   Best of all, it appears Hiccup and Toothless have retained their personalities. Judging by Hiccup's new gear, including the flying squirrel flaps and newly designed prosthetic foot, it looks like he's been expanding and improving everything he uses to ride Toothless.

   And Toothless is still as cute/epic as before. And even better is the fact that Jay Baruchel has kept the same toned voice for the character. Yes, it's obvious Hiccup has gone through adolescence, but there is no other voice for Hiccup--ever.

   So, there it is, my first Trailer Review. I hope you've enjoyed hearing my speculations and hopes for the movie, and also that the solid facts I've presented have satisfied your taste for knowledge about the upcoming film. If so, please feel free to return for more, and comment if you have any more questions or thoughts on the review!
Peace.
Matt~
 

   

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #4: How To Train Your Dragon

   Well, Autumn has just completely dismantled Summer in a matter of days, and the wind is blowing full force around the house even now, which means I have less than two months to use the term 'Season 1'. Then come the bleak, cold days of Winter. And speaking of cold, today I'm taking you to an island twelve days North of hopeless and a few degrees South of freezing to death.
   This, is Berk.


PART ONE: THE PLOT

 

   Dragon fire blazes on the small Isle of Berk, set like a jagged spike in the midst of the great North Sea, where Vikings dwell. And only a Viking would be brave, or stubborn enough to stay.
   Besieged and stolen from by wild and deadly Dragons of vast varieties and numerous abilities, the Vikings of Berk have fought this war for centuries. Hundreds of Vikings, thousands of Dragons have fallen, yet the conflict shows no sign of ending.
   That is, until a hiccup occurs. No, literally, a Hiccup. Given the name reserved for Viking weaklings and shorties, young teenager Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III isn't exactly a comfortable topic on Berk, especially not for his father, Stoick the Vast, the bitter and powerful village chieftain.
   Brilliant and inventive, but unappreciated, Hiccup's deepest desire is to please his father and his tribe, which by societal norm means he must slay his own Dragon.
   But when he shoots down a legendary and mysterious Night Fury Dragon, which is never seen, but never misses, Hiccup discovers that everything his people have ever known about Dragons is wrong.
   Suddenly caught between man and Dragon, Hiccup finds himself opposed by a foe more deadly than even his father realizes, and faced with a choice that will rock both Dragon and Viking's worlds forever.

PART TWO: THE REVIEW

     One does not simply dislike this movie.
When I first watched it in 2010, I was so inspired by it that I wrote a 65-page research booklet about Vikings. Betcha didn't know they never wore horned or winged helmets, didja?
   The main character, Hiccup, is immediately lovable, a character whose insecurity, struggles and own agendas can automatically be related to. Plus, he's brilliant, inventive, witty, hilarious and brave, so it's impossible not to like him.
   The other characters are also hilarious or cool in their own way: Stoick, despite his frustration at his son's uniqueness, longs to relate with his son, and is an epic, powerful warrior with nearly no fear--the picture of a true Viking.
   Then there's Gobber, the witty Viking with a missing hand and leg, who trains the young teen Vikings, Fishlegs, a nerdy character, Snotlout, a rough, smooth-talking character, the rowdy twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Astrid, the beautiful but tough, strict Viking girl, and of course, the Night Fury, who Hiccup names Toothless.

    The conflict between Hiccup and his father Stoick, both polar opposites, one with a totally hatred towards Dragons, the other with sympathy towards them, one a rough and powerful Viking chief, the other a small, insecure teenager, is the main element driving the story, while the war between Dragons and Vikings is just the cloud of doom making us appreciate it.
   But without the deep, sincere friendship between Hiccup and Toothless, there would be no story, and no possibility of change.
   Ultimately, they are the only solution to the war.
Other than being a great story idea (Vikings vs. Dragons, but with a twist), this movie is also a fun ride that can be enjoyed by all ages (I know a twenty year old college student who LOVES this movie). There are no cheesy or cliche lines that I can think of, and the depth of the story, pacing, action and breathtaking animation all mix to make a very endearing-on-an-epic-scale movie.
   I admit that I was never a huge fan of Dreamworks movies until this movie came out, but the creators of this story turned a page for the company, I believe, proving they don't have to make gross comedies and cheesy stories (e.g Shrek films) to be successful. In other words, Rise of the Guardians and The Croods have stayed true to the great storytelling and awesome animation, taking the studio to new heights.
   As Dreamworks' next big movie franchise, I for once am actually very excited and hopeful for a good How to Train Your Dragon sequel--one that may even exceed its predecessor, if the rumors are true and the new, awesome teaser trailer for #2 are any guide.

                             

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   The characters occasionally say things like 'Oh gods' or 'Thor almighty!' and there is one use of the H word. Violence between Dragons and Vikings occurs often--there are large scale battles and smaller training sessions against them, although no blood is shown and the action is obviously animated. Dragons are shown knocked out of the sky by catapult boulders, Vikings are lifted away, village houses are burned, ships are destroyed and minor characters are killed, but this is not often shown.  Hiccup accidentally wounds Toothless very badly, partially crippling him.
   The main enemy of the movie might be scary for younger children--huge and very dangerous--the equivalent of a breathing atomic bomb.
   A comedic scene between Hiccup and his father shows Stoick giving Hiccup a helmet made from his mother's breastplate, which he awkwardly calls 'breast hat'.
   Hiccup unintentionally lies to his father, and Stoick is very harsh to his son in one particular scene. The movie is rated PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language.

 PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   Five stars. That's how big a nerd I am for this movie. I've been obsessed with both Vikings and Dragons for years, so of course I freaked about a movie with both in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and, as aforesaid, am impatiently waiting and dreaming of June 13, 2014, the day How to Train Your Dragon 2 will finally be released.
   The age of Shrek is over. The age of a great story is here.

   So, hopefully you found this review helpful, and if you enjoyed it, feel free to return for more upcoming media reviews!
Peace.
Matt~