Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Trailer Brings War to Capitol

Katniss is back for the fourth and final time in the brand new trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. It's time for the people of Panem to rise up and overthrow that mean old bastard President Snow. But at what cost will victory come?
 
Those who have read the books will know all too well just how dark this final chapter goes. Author Suzanne Collins was not kidding when she decided to write her stories based on the sickening shit she saw on the news in wars around the world (and reality TV shows).

Mockingjay Part 2 should be the most adult of all Katniss' adventures and that's really saying something after the firebombings, genocide and kids killing each other ruthlessly for the entertainment of the rich of the previous installments.

We also finally get to see Brienne (Gwendoline Christie: future Star Wars star) from Game of Thrones in this trailer and she manages to look pretty terrifying just with one sideways glance.

I wasn't a massive fan of the final book in the trilogy but I think they've done a great job of adapting it so far, so I'm hoping the final film is going to end this franchise on a high note.

More trailers at I Love That Film

More on The Hunger Games

In cinemas across the UK from 19^th November 2015

This franchise has grossed more than $2.2 billion at the global box office, so it's pretty safe to say that this final chapter will be a huge smash at the box office in November.

Top 10 Blockbusters of 2014

How do we define a blockbuster? Is it just the size of the budget or is it about how much the film makes at the box office? If it's about budget, then how many dollars poured in to the production makes it a blockbuster? Is anything over $100 million in this day and age a blockbuster? I have no idea.

Does a blockbuster have to be simplistic? Good vs evil, bombastic special effects, product placement and completely sold on special effects... that kind of thing. Or can a blockbuster be intelligent? Personally, I think blockbusters can be dumb as fuck or smart as science and stuff. I don't mind them being dim witted, as long as they dazzle me with something I haven't seen before or make me care about their simplistic characters! But neither do I mind if they make my mind do some mental somersaults.

Anyway, enough with the questions and half-hearted answers. I'm counting any film with a budget of over $100 million as a blockbuster for this list. As far as I can tell, I saw 17 films released this year with that kind of meg-budget behind them. With a top 10 list like this, there always has to be losers, so the ones that missed out on a place in the final 10 were: Transformers: Age of Extinction, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hercules, Pompeii, RoboCop, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and (whisper it) Guardians of the Galaxy (sorry everybody in the world ever!)

So without further ado, here are my top 10 blockbusters of 2014:

10. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Epic end to what shouldn't have actually been a very epic story. The best compliment I can pay this film (and Peter Jackson) is that ever since I saw it, I have been desperate to have an LOTR binge session.

9. How to Train Your Dragon 2

Wish I'd seen this in a cinema on the biggest screen possible. 

8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Again, wish I'd seen this on a sensible sized screen, rather than on a crappy little screen on a plane to Cuba.

7. Edge of Tomorrow

Just for the joy of seeing Tom Cruise playing a coward and getting killed over and over again. 

6. Godzilla

Got to go to the premiere of this for Filmoria and chat to Bryan Cranston on the red carpet. Shame he didn't have a bigger role in the actual film though.

5. X-Men: Days of Future Past

Not a huge superhero movie fan but this was an epic cast and had the added bonus of time travel. That Quicksilver scene was jaw dropping. 

4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

The Apes of Wrath return in a sequel that was at least as good as its predecessor. I just love the way these films are so tragic. We all know where it is all leading but it has been a hell of a ride getting there so far.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street

Not sure if this is really a blockbuster but it has the budget to back it up and a huge cast going balls out. Jordan Belfort is a disgusting man who I really hope gets nothing from this movie but what a movie it was. Also contains the funniest scene of the entire year.

2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 

Aided immeasurably by Lawrence’s powerful performance, Katniss is still the current queen of science fiction cinema and if Mockingjay is anything to go by, this franchise is building to an explosive and no doubt incredibly emotional conclusion.

1. Interstellar 

Emotion + Intelligence + Spectacle = A near perfect blockbuster

What were your favourite blockbusters of 2014? 

More 2014 lists at I Love That Film:

Best Books I Read in 2014

TV in 2014

Top 10 Music Performances of 2014

Top 10 Best True Stories of 2014

New Releases of the Week: Mockingjay, Homesman, What We Do in the Shadows

There is a bit of something for everyone in cinemas this week. Big blockbuster fans have smart and bleak YA adaptation The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, those looking for somehting far more serious but equally interesting should try The Homesman and anyone after silliness in spades should give What We Do in the Shadows a chance.

Vampires, westerns, science fiction and mockumentary all in one week! 

If none of those tickle your fancy, then there is always the James Brown biopic Get On Up.

Here are links to my reviews of this week's releases in cinemas:

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 at Starburst Magazine

The Homesman at Tastic Film which I got to see at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

What We Do in the Shadows 

I'd love to recommend one of the smaller two films here that don't have the marketing budget of  the Hunger Games franchise but if I could only see one of these in the cinema, I'm afraid it would definitely be Mockingjay Part 1. The Homesman is a depressing watch and What We Do in the Shadows is bit hit and miss but all three of these films this week are really worth watching.

You can also catch me talking more about these films on Amazing Radio on Friday afternoon with Dani Charlton soon after midday.

Will you be seeing any of these in the cinema?

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 Marketing and Review

Before I get stuck into the marketing, please check out my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 at Starburst Magazine now.

The marketing campaign for the penultimate entry in the Hunger Games franchise has seen a wonderful mix of traditional and more modern methods of spreading the word about the film. While waiting for Mockingjay Part 1 to be released, Hunger Games fans have been torn between propaganda messages from the Capitol and interrupting broadcasts beamed directly from District 13. 

Lionsgate opted for an immersive series of poster and viral videos that will inspire audiences to start picking sides and ensuring followers will feel like joining the revolution (and by that I just mean go and see the film). First came a series of disturbing and chilling posters from the Capitol, displaying and 'celebrating' the hard work, perseverance and crucially the sacrifice of ordinary people from the districts.

Next came a formal address from President Snow in which a brainwashed, docile Peeta stared blankly by his side. The Capitol’s television is going into propaganda overdrive in order to win back the servitude of the districts. Panem forever baby!

 

Then came Snow’s second address to the people of Panem. As Snow delivered his message to the divided nation, the screen distorted and the Capitol’s pristine vision was interrupted as Jeffrey Wright’s Beetee hacked his way onto the Capitol TV feed. His stark warning to the Capitol of Panem and fans of the Hunger Games franchise? The Mockingjay lives. 

Sooner or later the marketing had to get sensible and traditional again. So then we got the trailers actaully delivering some snippets from the movie. Of course we got the obligatory teaser:

And then finally the real deal:

Now the movie is almost here and I was lucky enough to attend a screening for Starburst Magazine so here is my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.

If you subscribe to or pick up a copy of the latest issue of Starburst Magazine, you can read my full preview of the film. 

More from I Love That Film:

What is The Hunger Games trilogy really all about?

Why I Love The Hunger Games

Trailers at I Love That Film

Reviews at I Love That Film

Buy my book on The Blair Witch Project

The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 1 Posters and Trailers

The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 2 TV, Radio, Internet 

The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 3 Merchandise
The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 4 Premieres
The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 5 Press Junkets and Preview Screenings
The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 6 Film Festivals

Starburst Magazine: Hunger Games Mockingjay Preview and Reviews

In the latest issue of Starburst Magazine, I have written a preview of Mockingjay Part 1 detailing everything we know about the upcoming blockbuster. I also have a review of The Equalizer and Kidnapped in there if you fancy picking up a copy from here or WHSmiths or HMV or many other places. Or you can subscribe here and never miss an issue!

More published articles from I Love That Film

More reviews from I Love That Film

Hunger Games Teaser: President Snow's Panem Address

Poor Peeta. Check out Josh Hutcherson in this teaser video for the third Hunger Games movie Mockingjay Part 1. He is brainwashed like so many of the citizens of Panem and is now President Snow's mascot.

Poor old Peeta is about to become a propaganda tool in the fight against the rebellion that will rise with Katniss Everdeen at the centre. This also means that we'll actually get more of a chance to see Katniss getting cosy with Gale as Peeta is going to be far too busy standing still and staring into space at Snow's side.

The third book is probably the weakest of the book series and the decision to split it into two films is perhaps unwise but with marketing like this, we'll just have to wait and see. No matter what, it will be good to see Katniss out of the arena and into a real war, and this will also be the final chance to witness Philip Seymour Hoffman's majesty on screen.

Does anyone else get a creepy Michael Jackson/Jimmy Saville-like vibe from the President in this video?

Panem forever baby...

Cannes Film Festival Day 3 (Friday)

Sorry for the tardiness of this update. Very busy at the festival!

I saw 5 films on Friday! And in amongst that I got time to chat with Amazing Radio and Marlow FM in  my usual weekly slots to talk about being at the festival.

Here's my reviews of all 5 films:

The Captive (Captives)  

Wild Tales (Relatos Salvajes)

The Blue Room (La Chambre Bleue) 

The Salvation 

Red Army

Wild Tales is still my favourite of the festival so far but closely followed by another film I saw on Day 4 and also the excellent documentary Red Army. And here's some pics I took today:

Spring Breakers 2 poster

Open air screenings list

Marlow FM wanted me to tweet a selfie

Not very good at these things

The press at the gala red carpet

2013 Top 10 Update: Still not definitive

I'm still struggling to get all the films from my list of shame watched before I make my definitive top 10 (or 20 or 30 at this rate) of 2013. Films still to watch include Lincoln, Frozen, Blue Jasmine and Blue is the Warmest Colour and you never know which, if any, may squeeze their way into my top 10 of 2013. I expect to have a definitive list by June hopefully!

Seeing as yesterday I already took the crazy step of doing a top 10 of 2014 so far list, I thought it best to also update what I think were my favourite films of 2013. I have already done my top 10 British films, top 10 horror, sci-fi and fantasy and top documentaries but all these will have changed as my mind works through the films for years to come and also I add more films from the list of shame.

Way back in July 2013, I decided these films were my top 10 of the year so far but this has changed considerably now. Click the titles for full reviews. Without further ado, here is my top 10 of 2013 at the moment:

10. The World's End

 

9. Gravity

8. The Selfish Giant

7. Captain Philips

6. Philomena

5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

4. Side by Side

3. Spring Breakers

2. Before Midnight 

1. The Impossible

Unfortunately I never reviewed Gravity and there are two other newcomers to this list that I have also not reviewed.

I watched Before Midnight last night and it has blown away most of the competition. I expected it to be good but not that good! It will stay with me for a long, long time I suspect. Though I didn't fully believe the last minute hint at a happy ending, I think maybe that is the point. There are some serious cracks in Jesse and Celine's relationship and though they can keep trying to paper over them, the cracks may yet continue to grow. It might be a very sad story if we ever catch up with these two again.

Another newcomer to the list is The Selfish Giant which is a small British film about two kids who get in with metal scrappers to earn some pounds while skipping school. The performances of the two boys in the leads were absolutely incredible and the story and cinematography were amazing, if utterly tragic in every sense.

What do you think of my top 10 of 2013 so far?

Top 25 Films to see in 2014

2015 might be the year of the really big mega-franchises but that means 2014 is packed with plenty more originals before we get stuck in to the Star Wars, Avengers, Jurassic World and Terminators of 2015. There's also the usual bunch of sequels, reboots and even a sequel to a prequel to a film that already had 4 sequels (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes).

2014 will no doubt be filled with surprises but at this early stage, these are the films that I've heard of and am most looking forward to. Begin the countdown:

25. Noah

Biggest draw for me is Darren Aronofsky but to be honest, this looks a million miles away from Requiem for a Dream and probably a million miles away from the bible story it is based on. Should be big though.

24. Need for Speed


Reason to see is quite simply post-Breaking Bad Aaron Paul. Also the car action looks like it might be more fast and furious than a certain other franchise.

23. Human Centipede 3


I could give you a hundred reasons not to see this and I'm personally not looking forward to the experience but I bet this one gets people talking when it arrives with its 500 person centipede.

22. Her

Joaquin Phoenix and Spike Jonze together at last?

21. Maggie

  
Arnie is a father who must over see his daughter's slow transformation into a zombie along with his wife Joely Richardson.

20. The Hobbit: There and Back Again

Excited for it all to finally come to end to be honest. It's been a long and drawn out wait.

19. RoboCop


Early trailers have received mixed opinions but the politics of this prescient remake might just pull it through.

18. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I grew up on these guys. I can't help but get excited for their return.

17. Transcendence

Cinematographer Wally Pfister finally has a go at directing. Johnny Depp takes over the world!

16. 22 Jump Street

The first one was unexpectedly hilarious. Hope this one can pull it off again.

15. The Green Inferno

Not a massive fan of Eli Roth but hoping this one is as extreme as Cannibal Holocaust without any of the actual animal cruelty that went into that abomination!

14. Birdman

Alejandro González Iñárritu finally cheers up a bit. Great cast and premise too.

13. Jupiter Ascending

The Wachowski siblings return after Cloud Atlas with another sci-fi epic. Not sure about Channing Tatum's make up though.

12. Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto may just give the performance of their careers in this true life story of coping with AIDS.

11. REC 4: Apocalypse


Jaume Balagueró returns to the franchise, continuing the story of the first two films and confining the zombie infested action to an off shore oil tanker.

10. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Andy Serkis returns as Caesar, lord of the apes and exterminator of the human race!

9. The Maze Runner

Will Poulter stars in this YA adaptation that sounds to me a hell of a lot more promising than Divergent.

8. Fury

A great little cast stuck in a WW2 tank and directed by the guy who gave us End of Watch.

7. Wolf Creek 2

Mick Taylor returns to the outback for more fun and games.

6. Godzilla

Big! And Bryan Cranston.

5. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

After Catching Fire, this looks very promising indeed.

4. 12 Years A Slave

Receiving standing ovations and great odds at the Oscars already, this true story should be unforgettable

3. The Wolf of Wall Street 

Scorsese directs another sleazy true story with DiCaprio getting let right off the chain.

2. Gone Girl

Two words: David Fincher.

1. Interstellar

Two words: Christopher Nolan.



What are you most looking forward to seeing in 2014?

Why don't you stay awhile? More 2013 lists from I Love That Film:

TV in 2013: Breaking Bad, Dexter, The Walking Dead, Homeland and more

World Cinema in 2013

Best books I read in 2013

Top Documentaries of 2013

2013 List of Shame or 25 films I should have seen this year

2013 Top 10 Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction

2013 Top 10 So Far (written in July)

Best British Films of 2013