Snow White and the Huntsman: A film review

- Vancouver, British Columbia - This year may be a little oversaturated with the tale of Snow White. Earlier this year, I got the chance to view Relativity Media's Mirror, Mirror featuring Julia Roberts, Lily Collins and Armie Hammer, which amounted to a rather comic look at the famed fairytale of Snow White. It is funny the effect that Disney can have upon one's understanding of fairytales, since I had grown up with the impression that the Seven Dwarves were always intended to be among the main players of the fairytale, but apparently not. Now, however, Universal Pictures has released Snow White and the Huntsman just a few short months after Mirror Mirror, and I must say that one of the two studios should've blinked and delayed their release. I've had a little too much Snow White for one year, but nonetheless, I decided to put forth this review.

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The Hunger Games: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - A colleague of mine once posited the question why young adult fiction is so much cheaper than adult fiction. I initially suggested that it may be because the paper tends to not be as high of quality, resulting in a lower printing cost. But from that, I started to think about how much more disposable young adult fiction is, which could be the why publishers use cheaper paper, since most books aimed at young people aren't expected to remain on their shelves forever. Whether this is true or not, I do not know, but I can tell you that there is a lot of young adult fiction which is utter trash. I won't mention any names, but that one about the vampires is among the worst that I've ever read; yes, I did actually read it. Can't ever get those hours back. Nevertheless, I digress. I first heard about the Hunger Games trilogy about three years ago, when a friend said it was pretty solid stuff, being very far from being disposable or forgettable. I didn't pick up the book or take them up on their recommendation, because the truth is that I don't usually follow up on literary recommendations; not because I am snob, but more because I don't have the time to read as much as I'd like to. That, or I'm too lazy. Nevertheless, when I heard that The Hunger Games film had been green-lit, I was pleased that I'd actually get a chance to familiarize myself with the story in a cinematic adaptation. From what I hear from people who loved the books, the film is apparently quite faithful, so here follows my review.

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My Week with Marilyn: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - I remember my first exposure to Marilyn Monroe being with the classic comedy film, Some Like It Hot. If I'm to be honest, I remember not being that enamored by her, but instead by her co-stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. Older films were a big part of my life growing up, and Tony Curtis was one of my favourite actors from that era. Perhaps it is because that I didn't grow up in the context within which Monroe came to the scene (in much the same way that I don't find myself particularly fond of Elvis Presley), but I remember feeling very underwhelmed by her performance in the film, while still embracing the film overall. While it is impossible to deny the cultural legacy that has been left by Marilyn Monroe, I can't say that I was rushing to see My Week with Marilyn when it came to theatres, hence my much delayed review of it today.

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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - I remember during my undergraduate studies in Political Science, I once had a professor say that the most peaceful war in the history of the world was the Cold War. To the naked eye, it probably doesn't seem too far from the truth, especially considering what could've happened with the nuclear weapons that were pointed against each other. Spy games, however, were the main battlefield between the two enemies: the West Vs. Communism. Films have often built up this idea that you couldn't trust anyone, since for all you knew, a commie might be living right under your nose; the McCarthy trials serving as a distinguishable reality of this in the lives of ordinary Americans. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy exists in this sort of environment, where the front lines of the Cold War were waged. Their weapons were not tanks, jets, or battleships, but secrets and extortion.

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