The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the holidays! Winter vacation cannot come soon enough, just gotta survive finals first. Anyways, today's review is on......

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

3 1/2 out of 5 Revolutionary Stars

“Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!” 

Where to start with this one...

Well, first off, I love the first Hunger Games book, and like the rest of the series too. Ir has a very nice progression throughout it and I like when there's an overall arc to a story. The first two movies, Hunger Games and Catching Fire, stay very true to the book, and add in phenomenal actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson (and some good scenes with Liam Hemsworth in Mockingjay) and you're bound to have some amazing films. The talent of the actors and the story line are what makes this series such a big hit. However, while Mockingjay is a good movie, I was a little disappointed and that's because all the films these days wanna pull off a Harry Potter. To clarify, Harry Potter split up the last movie, Deathly Hallows, into two separate films. Now, this is an almost 800-page book filled with action and suspense and intense plot lines. To get the full impact of the book transposed for a film, it had to be split, and neither Part 1 nor Part 2 disappoints. And since Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2 were such a big hit, Twilight decided to split up the fourth movie also. Which is a complete fail. I admit to seeing both, and Breaking Dawn Part 1 put me to sleep and Part 2 was filled with complete nonsense, even more than I expected when I sat down to watch it. Which is saying a lot 'cause I didn't really expect anything good from it to begin with. Now Mockingjay has been split into two parts, and while Part 1 was nice to watch and did have some very emotional scenes, I left the theater wondering if it was really worth the $12 to see it. Plus the third Divergent book, Alligent, is also being split up. The first movie almost put me to sleep, although I did like the novel. The trailer for Insurgent isn't so great, to put it nicely, and not sure how the third book being split is going to be a good idea, since it isn't too great to start off with. Anyway, back to the topic at hand:

“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.” 

Mockingjay Part 1 is a nice movie to watch, but it's a filibuster. Plain and simple. It's a way for the producers to make more money, and there is no reason to have the third book (all 380-something pages) divided into two parts. It's a nice set up, but not needed, and now we need to wait another year to watch the resolution with the incredible actress Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. You can always read the book to find out what happens, but I wanna see it on the big screen. I just wish movies would stop being split into two parts, that it will only happen when it's actually needed (like Harry Potter). But alas, the world is a greedy place and I don't see that happening. 

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.” 

So, if you've been keeping up with the movies and really like them, then Mockingjay Part 1 is probably worth seeing. If you've been on the fence about seeing it you might wanna wait until next year to watch Mockingjay Part 1 and 2 back to back. It's hard to say on this film, because once the movie ends, you're really going to want to watch Part 2. Let's just hope that the producers really did save the best for last.

I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1) by Barry Lyga

Wow, it has been too long! I finished Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers last week as planned, but didn't have enough time to sit down and write a good review on it. Apologies for the long wait, but here it is:

I Hunt Killers

5 out of 5 Killer Stars

"It’s not that he’d never seen a dead body before. Or a crime scene. Jazz had been seeing those for as long as he could remember, thanks to Dear Old Dad. For Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz had witnessed crime scenes the way cops wished they could – from the criminal’s point of view."

I've wanted to read Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers for quite awhile, only putting off reading it because I would have to buy it (I'm not registered at any libraries near me yet). I admit, I'm pretty stingy with my money when it comes to buying books. I've spent more than I like on books that I end up really not liking, but not wanting to get rid of them cause, well, I paid money for them so of course I'm gonna keep them. They might be moved into the corner of my closet, but they're still there. Anyways, eventually I decided to take the plunge and spent the money. I ended up buying the mass-market-paperback one by accident, and I don't really like those because the quality isn't the best (smaller pages, smaller font, thinner pages - I just don't really like them that much). Now, after finishing I Hunt Killers, I'm debating buying the original paperback to match with the rest of the series. I love the first novel so much that I went and bought the next two in the trilogy, and I am very eager to read them. Now, onto the details:

Jazz:

"The dice had already been tossed, the cards shuffled and drawn. He was what he was, whether he knew it yet or not. Maybe he was just a guy with a crazy dad, like other kids with crazy dads. Or maybe he was something else."

Poor, poor Jazz; he's been screwed since birth. Having the world's most notorious serial killer for a father, who is intent on making him the perfect legacy, yeah, that's the makings for a royally messed up childhood. Billy Dent is a sociopath, and he raised his son Jazz to be just like him. Eventually though, the police caught up to Billy and he was arrested before he could finish "teaching" Jazz. And now Jazz is stuck living with his crazy, senile grandmother, always looking for ways to prove to himself that he is not his father, that he won't someday kill someone. For him, the best way to do this is to catch other serial killers, work with the man that put his father behind bars to stop a killer. Jazz has valuable information having grown up with Hand-in-Glove/Gentle Killer/The Artist aka his father. He can see a crime scene the way the police wish they could - from the killer's point of view. He has different takes on what's happening, has an idea of what's going on through the killer's head. But since Sheriff G. William, the man who caught Billy Dent (and is now very close with Jazz), doesn't want Jazz anywhere near his crime scenes, Jazz will have to rely on his best friend, Howie, to help him.

Howie:

"Howie had become a constant in Jazz’s life, the kid he’d come to rely on to keep him grounded and sane when the world threatened to tip him over into the Billy-style craziness."

Being Jazz's best friend and a hemophiliac isn't the best combination, but Howie makes it work. He's the humor that balances out the darkness in this novel, the one who lightens things up a bit. After Jazz beat up some kids who were bullying Howie when they were younger, they became best friends. Howie doesn't let the fact that Jazz's father is a sociopath scare him off, and the two make a pretty good team doing illegal stuff to try and stop the new serial killer in their town, Lobo's Nod. However, not everything always works out for the two, as we learn throughout the novel. Nevertheless, Jazz and Howie have a bond of friendship that is unbreakable, and I love Howie's character not only for having funny lines, but also for reminding Jazz that he's not a serial killer, and he's not programmed to be one either.

Connie:

"Connie was different. Connie was the one girl – woman, really – he could be himself with. 'Being himself' meant a whole host of things – good, bad, grotesque. Connie accepted all of them, and most important of all, he allowed her to accept them, something he’d never done with anyone in his entire life. Did that mean there was hope for him? Hope for something beyond what Billy Dent had planned for him?" 

Connie is Jazz's girlfriend, and like Howie, she reminds Jazz that he isn't his father, isn't destined to become a serial killer just because his father is a sociopath. She's a stable constant in his life, and even though she doesn't like Jazz looking into the new murders in Lobo's Nod, she understands his need to. No matter how many times Jazz tries to scare her off to "protect" her, Connie stays by his side because she knows that Jazz isn't his father, even if he thinks he might be. Yes, she gets frustrated with him, but she can see the good inside Jazz that he doesn't think is there. Connie provides Jazz with some normalcy in his life, an escape from his crazy upbringing, but don't make the mistake of underestimating her. Connie isn't just some girlfriend that sits on the sidelines - she's an important character in the novel, and without her, things would turn out very differently, in a not-so-good way. 

Final Thoughts:

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga is an amazing start to a fantastic series. It's got suspense, mystery and creep-factor. I am very curious to see where Jazz's life leads him; what happened to his mother, what's going to happen with his father, what repressed memories are trying to make their way to Jazz's consciousness through his dreams? I'm going to start the sequel ASAP - I need to know! Jazz's internal struggles, hearing his father's voice, are interesting, and I can't wait to see what's in store for Jazz, Connie and Howie. If you don't like some gory details, serial killer hunting, or good old-fashioned creepiness, then I Hunt Killers might not be for you, but for everyone else, don't waste another second not reading this amazing series! You won't regret it.

And always remember.....

People matter. People are real.

Side Effects

Midterms are over! Finally, a little bit of relaxation time - which will be used to catch up on reading! I'm still working on Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers, but hope to have it finished and reviewed by the end of this week :) So far it's a fantastic read! Now, onto today's review:

Side Effects 

5 out of 5 Intense Stars!

"I'm not crazy."

I think I saw this movie a little over a month ago, and would definitely rewatch it again. Side Effects starts off with the main character Emily (Rooney Mara) greeting her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) after he is released from prision. We soon learn though that something isn't right with Emily, as she goes and drives head first into the wall of a parking lot. Emily's had depression in the past, and it seems that her husband's release has caused her to spiral out of control. After this, Emily starts to see a new psychiatrist (Jude Law) in the hopes of getting better. She agrees to be part of a test run for a new drug, but is this new drug really helping, or is it making her worse? Not everything is as it seems, and as new information comes to light, the viewers are left wondering, what is really going on? Is it the depression, the new drug, the psychiatrist, the husband - what is causing Emily's life to change so drastically? The atmosphere of the movie, the music, the acting - all aspects of Side Effects has the viewers questioning everything they're being told. Just when you think you know what's really going on, a new piece of information is provided and you start questioning everything all over again. Each piece of dialogue has meaning to it, and then another hidden meaning too. The ending, in my opinion, is perfect for this movie, and overall I was very satisfied with Side Effects. It's an intense watch that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and if you find you have some free time one evening, you should definitely give Side Effects a watch.

If I Stay (Movie)

Hello internet world! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile - midterms are coming and I haven't had much time. I'm currently reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, and it is amazing. But since I haven't finished it yet, I figure why not revist an old review, hmm? Sooooo.......

If I Stay

2 out of 5 Conflicted Stars

I want to like this one, I really do. The trailer for the movie makes If I Stay seem like a really sad, heartbreaking film, but... I guess I'm just not really feeling it. Which is weird cause every time I saw the trailer I felt like crying. I normally always read the novel before the movie, but the trailer is so emotional for If I Stay that I decided to change things up a bit and watch the movie without reading the novel. That's probably a mistake on my part. If I Stay has its good parts, but they just seem to be overshadowed by the bad. 

Pros:

Hmm, I can honestly only think of one. The emotion. And I'm not talking about Mia and Adam. I'm talking about imagining yourself in Mia's place, feeling that while life has its complications, everything is okay, until suddenly it isn't. To lose your family like that, gone in a flash, is heart-wrenching. Especially after being given hope that things are just bent, not broken, only to have that hope ripped away. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without my family. So, if you take the main idea of the film away from what is showed on the screen, yeah, you'll have an extremely depressing story. Unfortunately, it's everything that is added to the film that makes me wonder why I wanted to see this movie so badly.

Cons:

It. Is. Just. Too. Cliche. And extremely cheesy. I feel like I can't connect to the characters at all. I spent most of the movie trying not to laugh, or being embarrassed that I had brought my family to see it with me. I swear, I didn't know Adam was going to tell Mia to play him like the cello! Jeez, even thinking about that makes me laugh out loud (and cringe at the cheesy-ness). Mia is too insecure for me to really understand her - yeah, everyone has insecurities, but Mia is made only out of them, and for what reason? It's like she can't see anyone liking her or something. It's in the way she talks, the way she thinks and acts, and even in the way she walks! Every scene she is with Adam, she just slouches over like she's trying to hide herself. I really like Chloe Grace Moretz as an actress (especially as Hit Girl) and I don't think it's her acting that made Mia so unlikable for me. I think it's just Mia as a character. Same with Jamie Blackley's character Adam. If the characters had more to them than just cliches, maybe they would have had more depth and given the actors more to work with.

In Addition:

The music is amazing. I love the cello solos, the Willamette Stone songs, and especially the adaption of Today with the cello added in. The band songs are catchy and fun (I Want What You Have) and can also be meaningful (Heart Like Yours). Jamie Blackley's voice is nothing special, but it is nice to listen to :)

Overall: 

If you're on the fence about seeing If I Stay, don't decide based solely on my review. I've talked to people that absolutely loved it, so this movie might just not be for me. Maybe I'll read the book, maybe I won't. I've heard that the movie is a very close adaption of the novel, and that the endings are the same. I've read some reviews that praise the novels (people whose judgement I trust), so one day I might read If I Stay and Where She Went, but I'm definitely not in any rush to get my hands on them. The most disappointing thing for me is how excited I was to see If I Stay and how let down I was by it. Who knows, maybe I'll read the books and fall in love with them. Probably not, but I'll keep my mind open.

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Take Me On by Katie McGarry



4 1/2 out of 5 Worth-Fighting-For Stars

“I know what it’s like to be scared. To wonder if anything will feel normal again. There’s this hopelessness, a sadness that permeates through your pores, when you have no idea what home is or what the word means. I may be under somebody’s roof, but it’s not a home. I just want a home.” 

--Haley 

I've read several books Katie McGarry before, and while I enjoy all of them, Take Me On might just be my favorite out of the Pushing the Limits series. The storyline deals with real situations that people find themselves in  (just like all the books in this series does), and McGarry clearly knows how to pace a novel. I wasn't bored at all while reading and love that we aren't told what the characters are going through, but shown. Haley and West are two people from very different worlds, yet soon find themselves thrust into the same one, wondering how they got there. Both deal with real struggles in their lives, but soon learn that together life becomes better. Still very complicated and by no means easy, but definitely better.

Haley:

I miss who I used to be.

For Haley, her family loses everything after her father is laid off and her sister gets sick. Their only option is to live with her uncle, an evil bastard of a human being. Not to mention the fact that she used to be a national titleholder for kickboxing, until one night has her leaving her love of the ring behind. Her father is broken, her younger sister is growing up in a house made of evil, and her family feels that she's betrayed them, while really everything she does is to protect them. Then West Young crashes into her life - almost literally - and takes on a fight for her. Knowing he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help, Haley begins to train him for up-coming battle. Can she keep her feelings in check, or will she fall for another fighter and once again have to deal with the regret?

I was stupid. I fell for the wrong guy. He hurt me and I paid. He hurt me and I broke. He hurt me and the rest of the world will forever condemn.

West:

I’m not much of anything anymore.

Ever since his birth, West has felt like a failure. He was literally born in the hopes of being a bone-marrow match for his dying sister, but it was too late. Being a Young, West has been given every privilege; he doesn't wish for anything. But he's always been considered the "wild child" of the family, and knows that he will forever be a disappointment to his father. His younger sister is in a terrible accident and West blames himself, and after a fight between him and his father, he finds himself kicked out of his home. Too proud to ask for help, West lives in his car, and learns that he has taken so much for granted. It's Haley that helps him find his real self, be more than a disappointment or the spoiled rich kid. Together, they're better. Until he learns that his family may be the cause of Haley's nightmare of a life.

Abby:

I like pretending. You can create anything you want out of the world.

Abby is by far a very interesting character, and I hope that she one day gets her own book. She doesn't play a major role in the novel, but enough to make things more interesting. She doesn't take pity from anyone, and is one lethal-badass character. She knows everything, but you can never know when she's telling the truth, and I like how she helps West out a bit, protects him without him even realizing it. A very interesting character indeed.

Jax:

“I should have left a lot sooner. He’s toxic. He worms his way in, past your skin, past your muscles and into your soul. Once he’s in, he continues, eating you until you’re dust. I’m already half dust, Haley, and I’m tired of trying to hold together what’s left.” 

Jax is Haley's cousin, but their bond is so much deeper than simply cousins. He spends all his time at the gym or with Haley and her brother, Kaden, anything to be away from his father (the evil bastard mentioned above). He's gone through his rough patches with Haley, but knows that he needs to protect his family, whether it be his siblings from his father or Haley from her demons. I am frustrated with his character at times, but know that he'll do anything to protect the ones he loves.

Overall:

Take Me On is a heartfelt, intense, great read. My only complaint is that it ends a bit abruptly, but even the ending is good. Of course, I would like to know what else happens in Haley and West's future, but everything that needs to be answered is. What I really like though about this novel is how real the character's situations are - it makes them easy to connect to, and you can't help but fight with them for their happy ending. 

Speaking out takes courage, but fear can make a compelling argument. Telling the truth gives you power… It sets you free.

Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons and Panic! At The Disco

I have three obsessions for this week (and most likely next week, too) and it's on Centuries by Fall Out Boy, Warriors by Imagine Dragons, and Miss Jackson by Panic! At The Disco. All three amazing bands, with three amazing songs.

Fall Out Boy:

I saw Fall Out Boy this summer, and they put on an amazing show. I love their Save Rock and Roll album and their earlier songs too, but Centuries is quickly becoming one of my favorites by them. What I really love though are the 2-3 seconds of the song where Patrick Stump adds a little flare to the lyrics. He does it in Phoenix and Death Valley, and Centuries is no exception, like when he sings "heart" about 48 seconds in, and also around 1 minute and 50 seconds in with "opposite of amnesia." The build-up of the pre-chorus is great, and it makes the actual chorus that much more powerful. A definite must listen.

Imagine Dragons:

I also saw Imagine Dragons a couple years ago, and they too are freaking awesome. I love their Night Visions album (especially Nothing Left To Say/Rocks) and Warriors is quickly moving up to the top of my favorites list. They're not your standard band with a drum set, guitarist and bassist. No, Imagine Dragons use a wide range of instruments in amazing ways. If you know them, you know they love their multiple types of drums, and this song is no exception. Add in a string instrument (like possibly a cello, but I might be wrong on that one) and all their percussion instruments and the song just becomes more. Not sure how else to explain it. Plus those quick moments where it's just Dan Reynold's voice with hardly any music in the background, and then the crash-back of the drums and instruments, and you've got a great song. The guitar solo isn't anything crazy, but it perfectly matches the mood of Warriors. Oh, and can't forget the background vocals (like the "don't turn away" line). This song is definitely one of Imagine Dragons best.

Panic! At The Disco:

I'm not crazy about Panic! At The Disco, mainly because I just don't listen to them that much. I really like their A Fever You Can't Sweat Out album, but I've never really branched out after that. This is definitely going to change, as I plan to download their Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! album ASAP. I love the pre-chorus of Miss Jackson - the way Brendon Urie sings up a scale - and just the overall sound of the song. The background singers and added instrumentals just make Miss Jackson even greater.

Overall:

If you've never listened to Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons or Panic! At The Disco then you really should start right away (preferably with the songs Centuries, Warriors and Miss Jackson). All three bands have amazing talent and I can't wait until their next albums are released!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbS-TLEoRA  (Centuries)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmI_Ndrxy14   (Warriors)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUc_jXBD9DU   (Miss Jackson)

Gone Girl (Movie)

So I just saw this amazing movie called...

Gone Girl

5 out of 5 Suspenseful Stars!

Sometimes the simplest answer isn't always right.

If you've seen the trailer for Gone Girl, you probably think it's just another run-of-the-mill cliche movie where a husband's wife disappears, and the husband is a prime suspect. However, this movie is so much more than that. It's suspenseful, dark, filled with tension and constantly has you changing your mind about who's the "bad guy" or "good guy." 

Gone Girl starts off quite simply; Nick Dunne (portrayed by Ben Affleck) returns to his home one morning only to realize that his wife is not there, and the glass table in the sitting area is shattered all over the floor. He calls the police and they proceed to walk around his house, looking for clues. There's blood spots on the kitchen cabinets, and Nick is not acting like a panicked husband. From there, as more and more clues are revealed, it really seems as if Nick Dunne killed his wife, Amy (portrayed by Rosamund Pike). However, not everything is as it seems. I don't want to post any spoilers for the movie, but let's just say that whatever you think is going to happen isn't, and there's a big 180 about a third into the movie.

A brilliantly executed movie with an amazingly talented cast that holds nothing back, Gone Girl is a must see. Gillian Flynn is definitely on my radar. I admit, I haven't read the book, but based on the fact that she also wrote the script, I'm sure the movie is a very close adaption from the novel. I am really looking forward to reading her other novels, Dark Places and Sharp Objects!

So, in conclusion, if you have some spare time during your weekend, or even during the week, you should definitely go see Gone Girl. You won't be disappointed, and it's worth every penny to see it. And even if you don't have time, I would really think about changing your schedule around so you can see this very entertaining, completely eerie, totally suspenseful movie that will definitely have you looking at certain situations in a different light.