The Hunger Games, Headhunters and Pirates

A movie of two halves, The Hunger Games is an engrossing futuristic film based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. The first half is all sci fi style, with quite brilliant sets and costumes as our teenagers are prepared for a battle to the death. For the second half think Battle Royale goes to Hollywood. The notion of these young people killing each other in a contest seems highly distasteful, but director Gary Ross, who cowrote the screenplay with Collins, manages to make it all quite subtle with a little help from the censor. Thank goodness they were aiming for a 12a certificate. In the end, it succeeds so well because of the performance of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. She has grown up a little since her Oscar nominated performance in Winter's Bone, and brings a refreshingly tough portrayal of a true heroine trying to survive rather than kill. There are also some interesting cameos, particularly from Stanley Tucci as the TV host, Woody Harrelson and an unrecognisable Elizabeth Banks.

Why is it that Scandinavia is currently making all the best thrillers? The latest is Headhunters from the book by Jo Nesbo. Apparently he is the top crime writer in Norway, and it is here that the story is set. With a Norwegian cast, we are treated to their gloriously impenetrable language with subtitles. Aksel Hennie plays our art thief headhunting antihero (a mass of neuroses and all because he is only 5ft 6in) who becomes entangled through both his "occupations" with a hostile killer and has to go on the run. The action sequences are terrific and are a throwback to the best of Alfred Hitchcock. Director Morten Tyldum keeps up a fast pace with twists and turns along the way. OK, there are some faults with the plot, but this will certainly be one of the best films of the year.

It takes a lot to get me out to see any animation movie. I can only think of having enjoyed WALL-E and Up over the last few years. But the reviews for Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists were excellent, and it was made by Ardman. So how could I go wrong? Quite easily. It fails because of the script. Getting Gideon Defoe to adapt his children's books about pirates for the big screen was a huge mistake. OK, there are some funny moments, but when the best of these are some visuals over the final credits, something must be wrong. The high quality cast do their best with the voices, especially (and surprisingly) Martin Freeman as No 2 and Imelda Staunton as Queen Victoria. The animation is as great as ever, and when the movie goes into action sequences, we are treated to some excellent stunts. But as I watched, I just wondered how the dialogue was so dull and awkward. It was only afterwards I found out why. What a missed opportunity for something that could have been first class.