The dystopian sci-fi literary saga for teens written by Suzanne Collins finds a satisfying film adaptation in the hands of director Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit: Soul of a Hero"). Thematically, "The Hunger Games" is like a "toned down" version of movies like "Battle Royale", but it still manages to be an exciting movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The key is Jennifer Lawrence's convincing performance, the role that made her a star.
Adam Clay (Jason Statham) is not happy. He is on a brutal revenge attempt after an event that shook his life and now poses risks to the entire world. Why? He is a former agent of a powerful and clandestine organization known as Beekeepers. Directed by the volatile David Ayer (of the dreadful Suicide Squad but the good Fury), The Beekeeper relies heavily on the success of John Wick: not only for having a protagonist who kills everything and everyone in his path in pursuit of nearly unattainable revenge but also for its neon-oriented aesthetic, trying to distinguish itself. There are some Ayer excesses, as happened with Suicide Squad, with unnecessary camera movements and the like. What helps the film is Statham's charisma, skillfully blending humor and action in good proportions.
An adaptation of the popular horror video game series, "Five Nights at Freddy's" takes the basic premise of the games - a security guard must survive the night shift at a children's restaurant inhabited by killer animatronics - and adds more layers to it. The story follows a conflicted security guard (Josh Hutcherson, from The Hunger Games) who takes on the questionable job to take care of his little sister and prevent her from being taken away. Amid this family drama plot, the terrifying atmosphere is somewhat lost, resulting in a rather average horror movie. However, for fans of the franchise's mythology, there's a lot to see here, so they will undoubtedly enjoy it.
