I was very impressed with the musical. I really thought it was going to be cheesy and suck so bad. To clear things up, I have never seen the Broadway version nor even heard of it until I saw the trailer on TV. As I write this review, I am currently listening to Broadway playlist on Spotify.

Into the Woods stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow), Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, Pitch Perfect), Chris Pine (Star Trek, Jack Reacher), and Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands).

I would like to start off that I really liked the idea of combining these fairy tales together into one story. When the characters get their wish, they then show the consequences of their actions. By depicting a more realistic story for the characters, Into the Woods is a cautionary tale that describes the pros and cons of getting what you want- all while not ruining your childhood.

The songs in the movie are amazing! Although I’m slightly upset that the songs were pre-recorded before filming, I really enjoyed listening to them. “Agony,” “No One is Alone,” and “The Last Midnight” are my top three favorite songs.

i highly recommend this movie to anyone! It has A-list actors, great storyline, great acting, and awesome songs. While the message behind it can be cliche, there’s no doubt that “Into the Woods” is inspirational.

Click here to check out my colleague’s review of “Into the Woods.”

My friends and I had high expectations for Mockingjay pt. 1, and  I will honestly say that I was a bit disappointed with it. However, I didn’t think it was that bad either. The following paragraphs will explain why. POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD! I recommend not reading until you’ve either seen the movie or have read the books.

Mockingjay Pt. 1 stars Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle, X-Men: First Class), Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Bridge to Terabithia), Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song, The Expendables 2), Elizabeth Banks (Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Scrubs), Philip Seymour Hoffman (A Most Wanted Man), Woody Harrelson (No Country for Old Men, Zombieland), and Donald Sutherland (MASH, Pride & Prejudice). The movie shows Katniss in District 13 after she’s rescued from the arena of the 2nd Quarter Quell, and helping President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and the rest of Panem fight against the Capitol.

The movie had a slow buildup, with at least three major action sequences: the bombing in District 8, Panem citizens showing acts of defiance, and Peeta’s rescue from the Capitol. Now, this first part focused more on Katniss’s inner struggle between her love for Gale and Peeta as well as her duties as the Mockingjay of Panem.

While it is also considered a war movie, the first half is mostly a political commentary on dictatorship and poor government decisions. This does reflect the actual first half of the book but, since it is told from Katniss’s point-of-view, it is more limited. In contrast, the movie showed citizens actually protesting the Capitol, and showing what Katniss’s propaganda looked like. I’m sure that Mockingjay part 2 will be more action-packed since that will be when Katniss and the rebels take on the Capitol.

Lastly, I’m giving a shoutout to Lorde for curating the soundtrack. The songs are amazingly beautiful. Kudos to her for doing at 17 too! I’m predicting tons of awards for Lorde and the soundtrack album. Click here to view the music video to “Yellow Flicker Beat” by Lorde.

I’ll admit that this movie wasn’t the best, but I still can’t wait for part 2. It is still accurate to the book adaptation, albeit a few changes. I have no doubt that the second half will be very good, if not better, as well.

Before I begin, let me just say that I have not read John Greene’s book yet. I have heard several good reviews about it so I am psyched to read it. Cancer sucks. It does. It can affect anyone regardless of race, religion, gender, or age. It is literally a pain in the butt.

The Fault in Our Stars stars Shailene Woodley (Divergent), Ansel Elgort (Divergent), Nat Wolff, and Willhem Dafoe. The story is about two teens, who both have different cancer conditions (Woodley and Elgort), fall in love after meeting at a cancer support group. 

I know four people who suffered from cancer, two that have lost their battle with cancer. Watching The Fault In Our Stars just reminded me of the suffering they went through. Thus, I was able to relate to Hazel and Augustus’s battle for their lives. What interested about their love story is what I like to call the ultimate YOLO. Both characters accept that they will have short lives, but they tried to make the best of it. For example, Hazel told her parents to get her a fake ID so she can party in clubs and take pot. I know that’s not the wisest things to do (especially for a 16-year-old), but it shows her ambition to check things off her “things-to- do-before-I-die-from-cancer” list. If I was in her position, I’d totally understand. Heck both of them get a chance to go to Amsterdam and meet Hazel’s favorite author. 

I am not usually a fan of romantic movies because they’re usually too predictable, but TFIOS is an exception. I’d recommend this movie to anyone who want a truly inspirational story.