With the release of Titanic 3D coming on Friday the 6th of April, I started to wonder, although Titanic is a favourite of mine, about the re-release of big films. Titanic is just one of many films to be re-released over the past year with the fact that it's in 3D being used as the selling point. From 2011, you had The Lion King. Being my favourite film of all time I did go to the cinema to see it. Twice. But I certainly didn't think the 3D aspect added anything dramatically different to the film. Sure, compared to the video I almost wore out watching when I was young, everything seemed better quality; the colours seemed much brighter and vivid and the characters were better defined but there is only one moment from the film where I felt the 3D was particularly noticeable. It was, unfortunately, **SPOILER POTENTIAL** though if you haven't seen The Lion King, really, what is going on with your life? Mufasa's death scene. The stampede seemed much scarier and altogether realistic in 3D and little Simba's face really seemed to pop out of the screen. Now that's a scene I can barely watch in 2D, let alone 3D, but for it to be the only scene in the movie to stand out in 3D is pretty disappointing.
After The Lion King made $80 million in the US for its re-release Disney have announced 4 other films they plan to release again: Beauty and the Beast, Monsters. Inc, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid. Childhood classics that will pull in people who loved it the first time, as well as younger kids who won't have experienced these films. By re-releasing a cinema you have a guaranteed audience who are going to be satisfied with the film. Although $80 million isn't really a lot by Disney standards, they spent virtually nothing to get the film back out there, making it a pretty good profit.
Titanic does have the potential however to be more appealing in 3D, specifically the parts where Titanic hits the iceberg, and the famous scene where she's half submerged in the water. However, are there many people going to see these films because of the 3D? Or are they simply going to see them because, perhaps, they are movies people missed out on in the cinemas first time around? Because it's their favourite film and it will be totally different seeing it in the cinema compared to their tiny home TV? I can just imagine what Cineworld Glasgow will be like on Friday night. Usually it's queued out the door on "Orange Wednesdays" but I'm expecting Titanic to double those queue sizes. It's the experience of going to see a film in the cinema that's so important. I know I'll be one of the people spending £8/£9 to see a film I've watched a billion times before in uncomfy seats, those annoying 3D glasses and no doubt embarrassing myself in front of many other cinemagoers by crying my eyes out. But really, what else is the cinema for? And yes, it is the big companies, big stars and big multiplex cinemas who benefit from these re-releases with it being more likely you'll choose to see Titanic in an Odeon or Cineworld rather than the tiny Grosvernor, when it's your favourite film on offer does it really matter?
Here's the trailer for Titanic take two. Commence the crying.
The Hunger Games is the first of three books set in a post-apocalyptic world, specifically "Panem", a new country where North America once was. It follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to replace her sister in a brutal battle, named after the film's title, in which 24 teenagers fight to the death and only one survives and becomes the "Victor". It was adapted into a film and released this year and with the books author co-writing and co-producing the film, I don't think fans, or newcomers like myself, will be disappointed.
I went to the see the film in my local Odeon cinema in East Kilbride and, one week after its UK release, the screen was full. Having never read any of the books and without even seeing the trailer ( I know, not sure how I managed to avoid that one) I had absolutely no expectations for the film. I'm not sure if that's why I thought it was fantastic but I did, and it was.
Although the film does take 5 or 10 minutes to fully get into it, once it does it's definitely worth it. At first,the setting or plot isn't really explained and for someone with no knowledge that this was a post-apocalyptic world or that there are 12 differet districts who must provide a boy and girl for the Games, this was confusing. Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, isn't immediately likable and comes across as fairly cold and detached until the later scenes. However, this all turns around in the scene where the so-called "Tributes" are chosen at random to compete in the games. After her 12 year old sister's name is pulled out, Katniss screams that she will volunteer for the Games, something which has never happened before. Her reaction and that of her friends and family are really emotional and it instantly makes you see how involved you are already with the character. The film itself is quiet at times with obscure shots which meant at first I was totally unaware of how involved in it I was, until I realised I was holding my breath the majority of the time.
The futuristic world where the Games takes place is incredibly realistic as it doesn't try to be to over the top; things simply look better, sleeker and faster. The supporting actors include Donald Sutherland, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson and each of them are fantastic in their roles. Woody Harrelson especially begins as a dismissive, alcoholic ex-Victor who then becomes invovled in Katniss' story and becomes one of her biggest supporters.
At around 2 hours and 20 minutes the film is long and at times it does feel like it's dragging at certain points, but for fans of the book I'm sure, they'll be glad no major scenes were missed out. The actual Games takes up a large part of the film which was satisfying as with such a big build-up, it would have felt unjust to be denied every detail of the battle.
In a nutshell, if you're looking for something exciting, nerve-wracking and action packed but with real emotion and brilliant characters, The Hunger Games is for you. Now I just need to avoid the next two film's plots being ruined before 2013. Unlikely. Here's the second trailer for the film where you can see the moment Katniss volunteers:
Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour...
Kelly Macdonald was born in Glasgow in 1976 and is probably best known for her role in Trainspotting. Working as a barmaid in Glasgow in 1995, Kelly picked up a leaflet advertising an open casting audition for Trainspotting, director Danny Boyle's breakthrough film. Winning the part of Diane, Macdonald started to seriously consider acting as a career. Since then, she has played mostly supporting roles albeit in some big Hollywood films such as Nanny McPhee and the Coen brothers' "No Country for Old Men". She also won an Emmy for her role in the 2005 TV Movie "The Girl in the Cafe". Somewhere else you may have noticed her would be in the final Harry Potter film; she played the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw.
Perhaps her biggest role though and one that has propelled her celebrity status in America is that of Margaret Schroeder in HBO's award winning TV series "Boardwalk Empire". Set in 1920s America, it's essentially a period drama about how sometimes politicians and gangsters weren't so easily separated. The fact that it's directed by Martin Scorsese was a big pull for Kelly as she tells in an interview with The Guardian:
It was, like, "By the way, Marty Scorsese's directing it." I just said, "Right, I'm on board if you want me." I didn't really know anything about the character or her development but it was Scorsese. That was enough for me."
She goes on to talk about the famous director and says "He's so welcoming and enthusiastic and full of knowledge, but he's also interested. Honestly, he's one of those people who's such dead good company that you forget it's him." Working with Martin Scorsese can only be a dream come true for young Scottish actors and Macdonald in particular seems completely at ease with the legend!
Although she's spending eight months out of the year filming the series in Brooklyn, she moved out of her London home and returned to Glasgow. She thinks the city has changed, saying it's become "more vibrant, bohemian". She also adds "My home could be anywhere, but I love Glasgow". Hopefully when she returns from shooting this series of Boardwalk, she'll do some Scottish filming! Kelly Macdonald strongly disputes that she's a celebrity and it's this kind of down to earth, homegrown talent that Glasgow, and Scotland as a whole, needs more of. Although she may have left for bigger and better things in New York, she's coming home. And that is very exciting indeed.
Here's the trailer for the first season of Boardwalk Empire, which is available on DVD.
