Film Review – The Giver

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Alexander Skarsgård, Brenton Thwaites, director Philip Noyce, Divergent, dystopia, film reviews, Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Logan’s Run, Lois Lowry’s, Meryl Streep, movies, Odeya Rush, reviews, screenwriters Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weid, Taylor Swift, The Giver, The Hunger Games, young adult fiction

Based on Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel The Giver shows the darker side to young adult fiction and a dysfunctional dystopia.

The idea is similar to Logan’s Run, Divergent or even distantly to The Hunger Games, however less action packed.

Set in a colourless world that has eliminated all emotions, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is selected to be the new ‘Receiver of Memory”. Since no one can remember the past and no one is able to feel pain, anger, desire, joy and love one citizen in this bland utopia is chosen to feel and remember.

The Chief Elder (Meryl Streep in a wig) hints at a tragedy that accord to the last receiver, but one talks about it, even remembers properly. So when Jonas meets is mentor, The Giver (a craggy Jeff Bridges) he tries to find out what the secret is.

But unable to share what he is experiencing when the Giver shares his knowledge and allows emotions to erupt, Jonas soon finds life hard in the community, especially when he is at home, which they call dwellings. His dutiful but distant parents (Katie Holmes and Alexander Skarsgard) notice the changes and are concerned.

Luckily his best friend and love-interest Fiona (Odeya Rush) is more open to the idea of something new, but she is afraid of the strictly monitoring Chief Elder.

As the plot moves on and colour is infused into the scenes it becomes obvious that The Giver never quite grips it’s audience and just muddles along, a little like the community it is criticizing.

And while director Philip Noyce and screenwriters Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weide have stayed close to the original story, it doesn’t translate to screen well, especially the bombardment of images at the seems like trying to hard.

Overall the strong cast just isn’t enough to turn The Giver from a bland tale of an unhappy future into a vivid story you can emotionally attach to. And even though newcomers Thwaites and Rush do try their very best, and receive good support from Taylor Swift, in a thankless walk-on role, they are just not convincing as 16year olds.

So if you want an action packed dystopia with a strong story and convincing actors maybe wit for The Hunger Games later this year.

Film Review – Think Like A Man Too

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Angela Elayne Gibbs, Bridesmaids, Film Review - Think Like A Man Too, Films, Hangover, Kevin Hart, Las Vegas, movies, Regina Hall, reviews, Terrence Jenkins, Think like a Man, Think like a Man too

After the mess the film Think Like a Man was two years ago it comes as somewhat as a surprise that there is now a sequel: Think Like a Man Too .

The last film used Steven Harvey’s best-selling relationship book to create a loose story around the battle of the sexes, this time around there isn’t even such an excuse.

Set in Las Vegas, the five couples find their relationships tested, in the most unlikely of situations. Candace (Regina Hall) and Michael (Terrence Jenkins) want to tie the knot but his overly domineering mother (Angela Elayne Gibbs) keeps getting in the way.

And while the men and the women try to beat each other at having the best stag/hen do on the glittering Las Vegas strip you can’t help but feel someone was trying to create a bad Hangover/ Bridesmaids mash up and not succeeding.

And doesn’t even matter that there are a few individual performances by some of the cast and even the few funny moments that Kevin Hart does supply are too over the top, predictable and nothing new.

Think Like a Man Too was a massive flop when it came out in the USA earlier this year and it is doubtful that it will score big in the box office here either. Don’t waste your money on a ticket, as the only thing you’ll probably enjoy is your popcorn.

grey day, greek words and Dublin culture night

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autumn, dublin culture night, grey days, ombrophile, psekaphile, quotes, Singer/Songwriter Roger Miller

Today is one of those grey Irish days in which the sun stays hidden behind layers and layers of clouds, the air is heavy and moist and rain is constantly teetering on the edge of a downpour.

On days like this you know that autumn is here, those cooling down months between summer and winter that can be  a little erratic, even by Irish standards.

But I quite enjoy this season, I like the cosiness it brings, the woolen socks, the lit fire, the puddles. Maybe I have ombrophile tendencies (someone who loves the rain), or maybe I am a psekaphile (someone who likes drizzling rain)  but then maybe I just like excuses that allow me to stay in and read or write.

So for now I will take this grey day, enjoy it and wander out into the colours of culture night this evening, allow the creativity of this city to enchant me.

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.

Singer/Songwriter Roger Miller