AYALA MALLS CINEMAS: EPIC PROMO for THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2!

GOOD NEWS Tributes! Ayala Mall Cinemas is offering Epic Promos for you to choose from!

Just choose on the best package which suits you-no need to compete in the arena anymore. 

Ayala Malls Cinemas' complements the momentous finale with their various promos for cinema patrons. Check out the following promos offered by Ayala Malls Cinemas. Please log in to www.sureseats.com for schedule and ticket reservation. 

May the odds be ever in your favor! 

You can check out my movie review for Mockingjay Part 2 here! 

Mockingjay Part 2: Ends in a Glorious Blaze

As the final chapter of the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games series comes to a close; I can't help but feel as if the end of an era has come to pass-and ladies and gentlemen, it does not disappoint. 

From someone who has read the books, Mockingjay Part 2 was a well adapted movie. If you can re-watch Part 1 (or even yet the entire series), you really should. It will definitely help get your head "back in the game" (pun intended).  

The movie opens with an injured Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) as she comes to terms with what the Capitol has done with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). The rebel forces are making their move towards the Capitol and Katniss finds herself in the heart of the battle as she dangerously inches her way to killing the evil that is President Snow (Donald Sutherland). 

Director Francis Lawerence pushes the envelope in the last movie as disturbing images and questions on morality are presented to the audience. Mockingjay Part 2 has become more than the Young Adult Dystopian, its predecessors initially were. It has become a reality check on the truth & cruelty of war. As I was watching the movie I was rather emotional, with my thoughts on the recent events in our world, which has left so many innocent lives lost and the seeds of hatred sown. 

There were so many lines in the film that could fit in the context of the events in the news, I can't help get goosebumps. I came to the realization that in war, it doesn't matter whether it is in history books or in non-fiction books, in war, we all loose something, even the 'victors'.  

There are a lot of things to reflect on in the themes of the movie, but it doesn't lack in the high-octane action and suspense (which the movies are well known for) as well. If you think that the challenges in the arena were disturbing-Katniss et al face even more frightening forces. 

I love that the local distributors of the film (Pioneer /Viewer's Choice Philippines) chose to align early promotions of the movie with our upcoming National Elections. I hope that the Political angles of the film would resonate to the viewers; especially to the youth, that they may become more active and more involved with political concerns, as well as take their social responsibility to heart.

Mockingjay Part 2 takes a closer look at the political themes of the story, it makes the audiences think and as I've written on the blog before, I appreciate movies  like that.  

Early Promotions from Viewer's Choice Philippines aligning Mockingjay Part 2 with the upcoming National Elections. 

Looking back as to what I've written so far, I feel as if I've written an essay for class but I can't help but have these thoughts and feelings. I just hope that somehow the viewers would not only see the movie as a form of entertainment but a film with relevant themes, resounding during these trying times.    

Now, dear reader if you will oblige me to put on my 'movie critic hat' and continue I will be more than grateful. 

9 out of 10 stars - Mockingjay Part 2 is a powerful culmination to the franchise. Sitting with the audience and watching the film, its like everyone already knew the characters, it's like they were all old friends and just catching up. Well, if you've read the books and seen the films, you would in a way be old friends with these characters. You could hear the audience laugh and giggle, whenever the most awkward love triangle in history (Katniss, Peeta and Gale) would get in close proximity. 

Of course we all know that Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away without finishing all of his scenes for Mockingjay Part 2. My fellow movie reviewer friend and I were talking to each other, trying to make out scenes were images of the late actor were just super-imposed. Will definitely miss this talented actor :( 

I have to say that I was a little disappointed that Game Of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie just had a small part and had little screen time in the film. Although, I enjoyed seeing her tower over everyone else in the room :P   

For a franchise that I religiously followed, reading one book after the next and seeing one movie after the other, eagerly anticipating for the next, I can't believe that it has come to an end, it's bittersweet really but my only consolation is that it was ended really well, everything comes full circle and as a fan, you can't really ask for anything else. 

Mockingjay Part 2 is now showing in cinemas and is distributed by Pioneer Films.  

Jennifer Lawrence is 'The Girl on Fire' for the last time in Mockingjay Part II

It seems that it was just a few years ago when our humble book-club of sorts in the office was going crazy over 'The Hunger Games' series. I enjoyed the Young Adult Dystopian books by Suzanne Collins, which has then soared to become a force to be reckoned with in the box office. 

The first three instalments of the global blockbuster Hunger Games franchise have grossed more than $2.2 billion at the worldwide box office and counting.  The last two installments of The Hunger Games franchise (Catching Fire and Mockingjay – Part 1) have become the highest-grossing releases at the domestic box office each of the past two years, the first time ever for back-to-back sequels. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire also holds the record as the 10th highest-grossing domestic release of all time.

The franchise has also helped cement it's lead actress Jennifer Lawrence to Hollywood royalty and who at 25 is an award winning actress and is the highest paid action-actress of 2015. 

The movies have also attracted veteran actors and actresses such as Donald Sutherland, Julian Moore and the late Philip Seymour-Hoffman to be part of the phenomenon. 

Early reviews for the last installment of the franchise have been positive, claiming it to be "the best one yet" and as someone who has read the books I know thta there is a lot of juicy material for them to work with. 

Says director Francis Lawrence: “In this film, Katniss takes the action back into her own hands and goes after Snow personally. The movie really opens up as we go deep into the streets of the Capitol, coming full circle from Katniss’s journey there in the first film. There’s more action, more scope, more emotion and most of all, this film brings the story to its moving conclusion.”

              “This is the chapter when Katniss really starts to believe in the impact that she can have,” Lawrence comments. “She’s always been so reluctant and has always found herself in situations where all she can do is try to survive, but now she’s turning the tables. I was excited for her to finally take her place as a leader. At the end of Mockingjay – Part 1, she was kind of numb, and genuinely unsure if she wanted to go on. In Mockingjay – Part 2 she starts seeing the bigger picture. She’s looking beyond her own personal losses and gains to focus on making a better future.”

              Now, Katniss’s concerns are being channeled directly into action – taking the character for the first time into all-out combat beyond the controlled confines of an arena. Raising the stakes, Katniss’s little sister Prim, long her motivation to fight against the Capitol, is now a medic in the battle zone.

              “The action scenes in Mockingjay – Part 2 are incredible,” Jennifer says. “Some of it was difficult – shooting in wet tunnels, in and out of the water and doing fight choreography with 20 pounds of waterlogged gear – but it was totally worth it because it is going to look fantastically real for audiences.”

              It all brings Katniss to the denouement of her world-changing tale. Concluding the series is bittersweet for Jennifer Lawrence, but she is intrigued to leave Katniss at the most promising juncture of her life. “She’s started to see the beauty in humanity in this film,” Jennifer observes. “In the beginning she had a short view of the way things are because of her upbringing. She did not have much hope then, and she felt alone for a lot of her life. During everything that has happened – in the Games, in District 13, in the Capitol at the end of this story – she found herself more and more connected to people.”

              Jennifer has tremendous gratitude for being granted the chance to embody Katniss. “I have loved being a part of a film that sparks some really cool conversations,” she concludes. “It’s been an incredible chapter in my life, and the way the films have resonated with people has been amazing.”

Mockingjay (Part 1) Movie Review

I have always told people who thought that the whole entire premise of The Hunger Games Trilogy was the "battle to the death- battle Royale" among kids (which they immediately dismissed as simply violent) but this is actually just the tip of the iceburg and everything falls into place, or rather the full "iceburg" is revealed in Mockingjay Part 1. No more Games as we have seen in the first two movies but we are taken in a world torn by war and rebellion. 

Before I go on with this movie review, I think I ought to go and say that I have read The Hunger Games trilogy a few years back and while audiences are ogling at how beautiful Jennifer Lawrence is as (probably her most recognizable role in her career yet) Katniss and rooting for either the hot Liam Hemsworth or the cute Josh Hutcherson. People are forgetting or perhaps the movie has not given enough focus (in my opinion at least) of the many Socio-Political themes in the story.

I distinctly remember one scene in the book (and it really stayed with me) during a feast in the Capitol, Katniss and Peeta are offered a liquid concuction that will let them throw up so they can keep on eating the different dishes that were prepared for their honor. This of course takes our heroes aback since back in their home in District 12, times are hard and food scarce and hunger (pun intended) is their constant companion; while the citizens of the Capitol are indulging themselves in food. Funny how this scene is parallel to what is happening to the present and reality don't you think? 

When The Hunger Games first came out, people thought it was just another Battle Royale, where characters are forced to kill each other off in a fight to the death, last man standing tournament but that is just actually the tip of the iceberg and there is more to The Hunger Games Trilogy than just that. 

In the Mockingjay, audiences see, feel and understand the price of war; which our generation has been fortunate not to ever have known, of course the same cannot be said about our brothers and sisters in war-torn countries and many scenes in the movie are reminiscent of the actual horror from war which is actually happening right now; sometimes truth is also stranger than fiction. 

More reasons to look forward to Movkingjay Part 1 would be the actors (aside from Lawrence, Hensworth and Hutcherson) of course we would see critically acclaimed, award winning actor Philip Seymour-Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee in one of his last roles due to his tragic and sudden death last February 2014. Hoffman was able to finish filming all of his parts for Mockingjay Part 1. As the movie ended there was a "In Loving Memory of Philip Seymour-Hoffman" that was flashed on the screen, that bought a few tugs at the heart strings. I wonder what they'll do with his role for Part 2 of Mockingjay next year? 

I'm also excited to see Game of Thrones' Margery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) as badass Cressida - I've always said it before that I didn't like her first when I saw her as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors but I have come to appreciate her acting in her roles as Moriarty/ in Sherlock and of course as Margery on Game Of Thrones, in The Mockingjay, Dormer shaves half of her head to play the role of former Capitol film director Cressida, who is put in Katniss' "propaganda" team. Loved her in the movie and I loved how bad ass she is, she really rocked that half shaven head look ^_^  

I think I can finally say that I have come to fully accept the changes that transpire from book to movie adaptations (or any kind of adaptation actually) and I think that it is not always a bad idea to make changes, the trick is to know when to make that change. Case in point is keeping Elizabeth Banks on as Effie Trinket in The Mockingjay movies. In the book, the role originally belonged to Fluvia. Yet- audiences have come to love Effie Trinket thanks to Elizabeth Bank's spot-on-portrayal of the fish out of water Effie as we find her without her wigs, make up and extravagant Capitol Couture. Her presence is reassuring as she provides the little humor that is in the movie.