michma321

You're more likely to enjoy this movie if either a) you are a fan of the book series, or b) you are a mature viewer. By mature I don't necessarily mean that you've attained a minimal age in years (though I would say that it is unlikely viewers younger than 10 would appreciate the movie). I mean you can equally enjoy not only faster-paced action sequences but also slower-paced drama. As with the books and previous movies, this last Hunger Games movie has intense moments of both action and drama, but also less intense but still dramatically important sequences of people just talking. I suspect this is what less mature or interested viewers have called the "boring" parts.

However if you like movies that are dynamic in pace and emotionally engaging rather than just one long special effects sequence, and especially if you are a fan of the books, I think you'll appreciate seeing this movie in the theater. Relatively speaking it is a pretty faithful portrayal of the book. The action sequences are brutal and the dramatic sequences are tear-jerking. And on occasion, as with the book, you get hit with both at once several times.

I remember seeing this movie when it first aired on TV when I was 8. Scared the crap out of me. Richie's story was in the back of my mind every time I said no to drugs and my friends didn't. Because of that I watched this movie with each of my kids shortly before they entered middle school. It's free on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRwXc-WrTWg. As we watched they would ask questions and I would pause the movie and answer their questions. Or sometimes I would pause the movie and comment on something to make sure they understood the significance of what was happening.

I was tempted to give this movie a 9 but I think that was mostly because it seems dated, and I wanted to avoid punishing a movie simply because it was old (I feel the same way about Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, It's a Wonderful Life). Accepting that this movie was made in the 70s, and made for TV, I think it's a 10 in all respects. The story, the writing, the acting by the 3 main characters, and the score just rip your heart to shreds and fill your eyes with tears. Such a powerful, emotional illustration of how drugs destroy families;how kids should never, ever try them, not even once; and how parents should never, ever give up on their kids, no matter what.

Unfortunately this movie tells a true story. Very dark material that will find its way to the darkest parts of your soul. After watching this movie I felt about drug dealers the same way I felt about the Nazis after watching Schindler's List.

Scary.

Not just the best Mad Max movie. The best action film. Ever.

The two main characters are played extremely well for how little dialog is in the movie. Charlize Therone had the acting chops worthy of the franchise. I was a little concerned about a Max not played by Mel Gibson, being a huge fan of Road Warrior, but by the 2nd watch I was used to it. Tom Hardy is a different, less human Max, but still both a sympathetic and bad ass character.

The villains were the best, most complex characters in the franchise yet, with a sufficiently deep and broad back story as well as even some tangible humanity in them. Sure they were still villains and ultimately bad dudes, but in several scenes their mostly hidden redeeming qualities are revealed. They weren't all scumbags like most of the villains in the previous movies.

The photography is crisp and vibrant for a film that moves so fast. But the action isn't the jerky, hard-to-take-in, hand-held camera junk. You can satisfactorily absorb the entire movie blow by blow.

The costumes are right on. Outrageous without being over the top. Lots of possibilities for Halloween.

The best part... The score and soundtrack of this movie really bring out the beauty in the fury, and the chaos in the carnage. Between that and the emotion in the characters, especially the villains, this movie stands above the other 3, even Road Warrior, which was one of my favorites for decades.

The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because there are still some things I would tweak.