Reaction/Recap | 'Asylum of the Daleks'

*MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD* Okay, let the title speak for itself; this is a reaction, not a review. Many statements made in this little expression of thought may or may not be cohesive.

Steven Moffat Talks Series 7 of 'Doctor Who' | Spoilers ahead.

Steven Moffat, producer and writer of the BBC drama, Doctor Who, has spoken to Doctor Who TV about the future of the series and what we can expect from the next series, which we already know will consist of the departure of Amy Pond and Rory Williams, the Doctor's current companions.

• Rory and Amy are no longer regular travelers with the Doctor: “If he thinks he needs them, he just pops in on them,” but, “Each time they’ll get a little older.”
• Moffat on killing off companions: “Even if Idon’t think I’ll do it…maybe I will do it!”
• Moffat ponders, “If we did a UNIT story, would Martha be there?”
• The Special Weapons Dalek will definitely appear in the opener
• Moffat reiterates that the New Paradigm Daleks are an “officer class”
• Can the question “Doctor Who?” be answered? “Wait and see”
• We will find out exactly what Trenzalore is all about
• “The Fall of the Eleventh” will also be resolved (perhaps not in Series 7 though)
• Moffat is very keen that the order of the episodes can be swapped around this time
• There will still be a story arc, but it will be “the opposite” of Series 6
• Even though he said no more two-parters, they are still possible if the story requires them
• Jenna-Louise’s companion will be different to the others and is “going to be a shock”
• Filming will continue throughout the rest of 2012 and further into 2013 and beyond

These spoiler-y plot points can be found in tomorrow's issue of the Doctor Who Magazine and its interview with Moffat. 

A couple of observations:

• Moffat says that series 7 will consist of a plot arc that is opposite to that of series 6, which [spoilerspoilerspoilerspoilerspoiler] revolves primarily around River Song and her history and involvement with the Doctor. What, exactly, do you think this means? Will the plot arc revolve around the absence of someone? Perhaps a more light-hearted storyline, whereas River's was very tragic? We know that River will be appearing in the series, so could she be involved somehow? 
• Karen Gillan has said that Amy and Rory's exit will close things up (many people believe they'll be [spoilerspoilerspoiler] killed by Weeping Angels; but will they survive and make cameos later on?
• What is "different" in Steven Moffat's eyes (RE: the Jenna Louise Coleman comment.) How do you think her companion character will act? I've actually started to believe that she'll be very stubborn and resistant on her quests with the Doctor, and that she may even betray him for her own benefit.

What are your thoughts? 

Film Review | 'The Hunger Games'

The Hunger Games

Directed by Gary Ross

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson

Run time: 2h 22m

Distributed by Lionsgate

Rating: 5 stars (A+)

The Hunger Games is the one film I’ve been waiting three years to see now. I mean, sure there were the final Potter films, and I did wait for those, but the anticipation was entirely different for these two franchises. For Potter, it was definitely more of a sentimental thing for the films to come out, and as wondrous as the acting is in the films, I always valued the story much more than I did the people who represented it. It’s tough for me to admit this, but I think having that closure nearly a year after the final film definitely helps, as well as the release of the first film in The Hunger Games. Looking back, I am able to openly point out flaws in the acting and in the adaptations made from the books to the films, and while I will always value Harry Potter more than anything, I think that The Hunger Games is a wholly better adaptation, and a wholly better film.

The acting spotlight in this film is definitely shed on Jennifer Lawrence, whose performance as the world-renowned heroine in the oppressing Panem trumps over all over actors in the film. This is probably a result of the fact that Lawrence’s character is the one seen most in the film. She provides a sense of irresistible courage balanced with a sense of haughtiness, something I wasn’t necessarily expecting, but that I definitely loved. I think the second-best acting job comes from either Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss and Peeta’s mentor, or Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman, the Capitol-based talk-show host whose character plays a much more expanded and important role in the film than in the first novel. I read many reviews prior to the official release of the film stating that Harrelson didn’t portray Haymitch as drunk or funny as he was in the book, but I totally disagree. Harrelson’s performance definitely deserves an Academy-Award nomination for its honesty, its complexity, and its hilarity. Tucci just wowed every single person who saw the film, cracking a laugh out of the audience just with his charm and his facial expressions. There always is just something about Stanley Tucci that wins an audience over. My personal favorite character in the series’ entirety is Effie Trinket. Effie was portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, who took Effie’s mannerisms and eccentricities and built upon them in a major, yet surprisingly subtly hidden, way. Effie is perhaps the most frighteningly ignorant character in the series, building a false sense of hope (“Contain it”) at the Reaping, as well as trying so hard to cheer up the Tributes when they arrive at the Capitol (“I don’t think they get dessert. But you do.”). Banks and Harrelson perfectly portray the animosity between their respective characters as present in the novel, and Effie is always irritated when Haymitch is around (“That is mahogany!”). The Tributes, portrayed notably by Leven Rambin, Jack Quaid, Alexander Ludwig, the chilling Isabelle Fuhrman, Jacqueline Emerson, Amandla Stenberg, and Dayo Okeniyi, were all their own characters, something I was worried they wouldn’t be. I liked the romantic build-up between Glimmer and Cato, seeing as they’re both attractive people, as well as immensely strong and powerful. I thought Foxface’s appearance was downsized a bit too much to the point where a non-reader wouldn’t know the threat she posed (she wasn’t brutal, but she was stealthy). Amandla Stenberg, as well as Willow Shields as Prim, delivered a heart-wrenching performance as Rue, Katniss’s ally during the Games. Her death scene truly was painful. And of course, I could not have gone through this film review without mentioning the stylists, most importantly Cinna. Lenny Kravitz’s performance was astoundingly intimate and phenomenal, maintaining the ambiguity of his character as well as providing a sense of adoration and admiration. Truly superb acting from all, really.

As far as direction and adaptations go, Gary Ross was a great director for this film. The cinematography, the screenplay, the set design, everything was just so similar to the way they were in the novel, and none of that could be so without such an amazing director. Lionsgate made the right decision bestowing this tale unto the hands of Gary Ross, and it truly shows. As for book-to-film translations, I believe this film is the most accurate that I have seen in my life. More on omissions and inclusions in the spoiler filled part of this review, appearing below.