The Hunger Games is a bestselling series about fictional Hunger Game trials in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic North America, called Panem in the series. In the story, two teenagers from each of the country’s twelve districts fight to the death in a camera-filled and highly dangerous arena. The story is told from the perspective of 16-year old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from the poorest district of Panem forced to represent her district as a Tribute in the Hunger Games. These “games,” broadcast on national television by Panem’s corrupt elitist government, force citizens of Panem to watch each as the twenty-four teenagers kill each other off until just one survives.

The movie version of the first Hunger Games book releases in late March. A first glimpse of the film premiered on the MTV Music Awards on Aug. 28, while the theatrical trailer released on Nov. 14. The trailer looks promising and has generated much attention and many positive reviews from both fans and the media.

The Hunger Games trailer followed the beginning chapters of the novel, starting with an introduction to the protagonist’s lifestyle and leading up to the countdown before the Hunger Games begin. Katniss (Winter’s Bone’s Jennifer Lawrence) lives in the oppressive District Twelve, spending her time hunting with her friend Gale Hawthorne (The Last Song’s Liam Hemsworth) to find food to sustain her family. She volunteers as a tribute to spare her younger sister from fighting in the Games.

Katniss and the other District Twelve tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) must enter the Games, fighting to save themselves and survive the deadly rigged arena where the Hunger Games take place. The trailer ends with the countdown to the start of the Games, and a haunting four-note tune that avid fans of the books will recognize as supporting character Rue’s song.

This enthralling trailer left viewers with high expectations from the film, which will hopefully not follow in the footsteps of previous failed screen adaptations of famous book series such as Eragon or The Lightning Thief. Let’s hope that the filmmakers of The Hunger Games do not mess up this absorbing series.

For The Hunger Games to be as effective of a film as it was a book, the movie must preserve the elements of fear and violence in the novel, however graphic. The series depicts a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, which cannot and should not be changed in order to make the film more family friendly.

Though it may not seem like it from the description of the novel, clothes are extremely important in this series. As the character Cinna— the stylist for the District Twelve tributes— would agree, the styling of Katniss and Peeta in the novel is a choice that makes a statement about what the characters represent. The imagery relating Katniss to fire is an juxtaposition that remains important throughout the series, and it will be interesting to see how this motif plays out in the film.

From the trailer, it seems that the casting of the lead characters is spot-on, which will hopefully lead to convincing and effective portrayals of the complicated relationships between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. Since the author of the novels, Suzanne Collins, wrote the screenplay for the film, we can hope that this film will avoid the devastating plot modifications that have ruined other film adaptations.

A high level of visual effects can be expected to cover for the wide variety of tests and futuristic elements the contestants of the Hunger Games and residents of Panem must survive. The mockingjay birds, the extreme environments in the arena, and the advanced technology of the Capitol government are all elements of the book that fans of the series can look forward to seeing on screen.

All in all, The Hunger Games trailer looks great. If the film does the books justice in casting, script, visual effects, and costuming, viewers will have much to look forward to and appreciate in this film. The Hunger Games will release on Mar. 23, 2012. Here’s hoping that the film is just as satisfying as the trailer.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

The recent influx of adaptations such as Hugo (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) and the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie leaves me, as well as many others, with one predominant thought–will these movies evoke pleasant memories of the book they were based on or lead us into a never-ending nightmare of plot inconsistencies, underdeveloped characters and all around madness?

Fans agree that that the adaptation must stay as true to the original plot as possible. This sentiment is best expressed by junior Emily Mullins who yelled, “They killed Luke! They can’t do anything without Luke!” in reference to the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief adaptation’s ridiculous departures from the original plot of the first book.

Eleanor Jenner, a junior, said, “Turning a book into a movie only works if you follow the plot as closely as you can. Otherwise, you annoy a lot of fans who think ‘I don’t remember him dying in x scene’ or other things.”

The Harry Potter franchise is often held up as an excellent example of movies that closely hew to the books, even though certain scenes had to be cut to keep the movie close to two hours. Ms. Iorgulescu also offered a glowing review of The Help as a good movie adaptation for the reason that it did, in fact, follow the plot.

The best adaptations also feature visuals better than those imagined during the reading of the
books. Poor special effects or an overabundance of CGI at the expense of character development can destroy a much-loved book.

“Eragon, it was such a good book. But they made it about… I don’t know,” says Jenna Wilkerson,
junior.

Many people acknowledged that the movie adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s book was mainly for the visuals, a point many fans of the Twilight movie echo. “It’s like pictures!” said freshman Natalie Peck. “Pictures with music in the background! And then there’s a little dialogue. Usually from Edward, of course.”

Many fans of adaptations said that the casting directors should try surveying the fans for what they think the characters should look like instead of basing it on popularity or personal opinion in order to make the experience more satisfying. The casting directors claim to take box office appeal into account, but the movie won’t be appealing unless the fans like the portrayals of their favorite characters.

In the end, it’s what the individual takes from the movie that makes it a success or a failure. If the attitude that the fan enters with is to pick the movie apart and expose its failures, that’s all that will happen. If the fan tries to be more accepting, good things could come out of the worst of adaptations. There is still hope for the future.

After finding the answer, the fans were rewarded by securing a place in the Beta testing of J.K. Rowling’s new website, Pottermore. Pottermore is an interactive reading experience for the Harry Potter series which allows fans a place for discussions, fan art and more. Pottermore will open for public registration at the end of October.

Pottermore users are swept into the stories all over again on this interactive site. They start with Harry on the day he arrived at Number 4 Privet Drive and journey with him through all of his magical experiences at Hogwarts.

After buying supplies at Diagon Alley, users receive their own personalized wand. Since “the wand chooses the wizard,” fans take a quiz to discover their own personal wand type. Fans also purchase an owl, a cat or even a toad on Diagon Alley to serve as their pet and user icon.

Next, users arrive at Hogwarts for the Beginning of Term Feast. They participate in one of the most anticipated activities of the site: the Sorting Ceremony. J.K. Rowling designed this activity to accurately sort fans into their houses at Hogwarts.

The ceremony is a quiz that changes questions for each user. These questions can be as simple as “What are you most afraid of?” or as abstract as “left or right?” In the end, each user is sorted into their correct house of either Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin.

Senior Katarina Klask said, “I’m a Ravenclaw of course! When I finished the quiz and the screen turned blue I literally screamed because I was so happy. But was I surprised? Not at all!
”

Because many fans wish to be in Gryffindor due to the fact that it is the house of Harry Potter himself, J.K. Rowling came up with an ingenious idea to make users content with the results of their sorting. If sorted into a house other than Gryffindor, users will receive exclusive new content about their specific house such as the décor of their common room and notable house alumni.

The most exciting part about this site is that fans are also given access to new content from J.K. Rowling about characters, places and events. These “ghost plots” have never before been revealed until now. Fans can learn new content about all their old favorites such as Professor McGonagall or The Hogwarts Express.

“My favorite part of Pottermore would have to be all of JK Rowling’s behind the scene details. I loved reading about poor Professor McGonagall and the Dursleys,” said Katarina Klask.

Pottermore also gives fans a way to communicate with other Potter lovers all over the world. Discussion walls are available on each page of the book, in the Great Hall and in the house common rooms. Additionally, fan art can be shared on any of these pages, allowing users a way to share their visions of characters, places and events.

And for those competitive fans out there, never fear! Pottermore invites users to earn house points to help win the House Cup. By dueling other houses, brewing potions and collecting items throughout the story, users can either earn or lose points for their house.

The final treat J.K. Rowling has for her fans on the site is the first release of the digital copies of the books. In the first half of 2012, fans will be given the option to buy ebooks for their Kindles, Nooks and IPads so they can take the magic everywhere.

Right now, only Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is available for exploration on the site. Pottermore is staggering access to the books so that the experience will last longer. But Harry Potter fans are not daunted by the wait; they have waited a long time for the books and movies, and they are willing to wait a bit longer for the site.

Although the Harry Potter books and movies have finished, the magic still lives on through Pottermore. Pottermore is a great ending to this touching series. Ironically, both the snitch from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Pottermore have something in common: “I open at the close.”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is what all the fans have been waiting for. Though the end of the saga will be sad, the movie is looking to be everything the fans want to end the series. The trailer gives fans snippets of the three amigos, Harry, Ron and Hermione, fighting evil at Hogwarts; Harry’s growing relationship with Ginny; a dragon; and many epic battle scenes between Harry and He Who Must Not Be Named.

The story journeys with Harry, Ron and Hermione as they go back to Hogwarts to find the last of the Horcruxes and finally kill Voldemort. The last movie left off with the tragic death of Dobby the house elf, and this story picks up exactly where that one left off.

The kids are now even more determined to bring an end to Voldemort and to stop him from taking over the muggle and wizarding worlds. Even though many who have read the books already know how it will end, the excitement leading up to the final scene has captured many into going to the movie on opening night and most likely dressing up as well.

Fans of the Harry Potter series are having mixed emotions for the last movie. As senior Katia Kane-Foempe put it, “Oh my goodness I am going to cry! It’s especially poignant for the seniors because the first movie came out when we were in first grade and the last movie comes out right as we leave for college!”

Other classes are having similar reactions as well. Freshman Shavari Bhide said, “It’s sad that the series is coming to a close of course, but it kind of already ended with the coming of the last book. The movies are great, but nothing can beat the books. After the last movie comes out, I plan to watch them all again! Plus, we can read the books whenever we want. The Harry Potter legacy will go on long after the story has ended through the fans. In fact, I used a quote from Harry Potter in my English paper the other day!”

However, the end of the Harry Potter movies will not be the end of seeing Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson on the big screen; all three young actors already have movies set to come out in the next couple of years.

Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, has already filmed The Woman in Black, where he stars as a young lawyer trying to settle things for a deceased client when he encounters the ghost of a scorned woman. The ghost horror film is set to debut Feb. 2012 in the UK.

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) is currently filming Comrade, a story about a British pilot and a German pilot shooting each other down only to be stuck in the same cabin to survive the rough Norwegian winter. This film is set to come out sometime in 2012. Grint is also set to star in a film about the first English Ski Jumper in the Winter Olympics.

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) has already filmed My Week with Marilyn. This film, starring Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, is set to debut sometimes later this year. Watson is also set to film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, along with a slew of other members of young Hollywood. Watson will become the step-sister to Charlie,a young boy, who helps show him his way through high school.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will not be the end of these beloved actors, and even though everything will come to an end on July 15, you can still purchase the DVD and watch the series to your heart’s content.

Where the Jane Eyre movie is spoken in Victorian English with British accents and cadences of a different era and country, Their Eyes Were Watching God displays the southern dialect of rural Florida. The Catwoman and X-Men star Halle Berry plays  the independent and free-spirited Janie Crawford who, unlucky in marriage, has to bury three husbands to truly find love and life.

The TV movie directed by Darnell Martin has a certain vibrancy and life about it, creating the rural Florida of the 1930s, where discrimination and sexism is still rife amongst the thinking of people. The talent as an actress that Berry displays in her work is reflected in her role as Janie who goes through so  many stages of life, changing her outward and inward behavior constantly. Berry can go from being the naive 16-year-old Janie to the proper wife of Mayor Joe Starks, to the carefree lovestruck mid-30s woman and finally to the weary and broken-hearted widow come home. The level of drama between Janie and her husbands is really played upon in the movie. Everything is more dramatic and confrontational than the book with Janie having a bigger voice onscreen than what she says in the book. Many main characters of the book like Nunkie, Mrs. Turner and her brother, Nanny and Janie’s mother are either briefly shown or not at all. The movie really focuses on Janie’s relationships with her husbands, not on her internal growth towards finding herself.

Michael Ealy plays Janie’s third husband and love Tea Cake and he sure is a handsome fellow. Their relationship in the movie clings to the one in the book because the couple have a carefree existence, going where they want to as long as they have each other but there is one flaw with it that really drives me crazy. In the book they get married but in the movie they do not and its annoying.  Anyway, entertainment wise Their Eyes were Watching God has the charm that only movies  presented in the 1920s can have that up-dated and fancy new cameras cannot catch. The essence of just filming a movie not in documentary style nor run around crazy but in good old steady camera concentration gives it a powerful yet carefree effect. Berry’s narration is good too because it explains the movie without sounding boring or drawn out like in the Twilight narrations. The movie skips over plenty of important details and characters from the book but the plot line is still the same and the movie by itself is dramatic  and commanding without the nitty gritty details of the book.

Romeo and Juliet
While Shakespeare isn’t often a favorite among students, his famous Romeo and Juliet, read in 9B, usually is.  This tale of star-crossed teenage love is easy to relate to, and the tragic deaths of the protagonists (we really hope we didn’t just ruin the ending for anyone) make the ending really exciting.

There have been a ton of adaptations of this movie, but our English department rotates between two–the 1968 Zeffirelli classic and Baz Lurhman’s sensory-overload extravaganza, which updates the setting to modern-day, gang-infested LA while keeping the language the same.

The Zeffirelli version is much more traditional and creates a wonderful world of 14th century Italy.  The young actors who play Romeo and Juliet are ridiculously good looking and you can’t help rooting for them.  Maybe the only jarring part of the movie is the actor who plays Tybalt, whose voice has such a low pitch that you can’t help but laugh every time he opens his mouth.

In contrast, the Luhrman version, featuring Americans Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the title roles, is a huge, loud, colorful film that never stops moving.  It’s fun to imagine what the world would be like today if everything had evolved except the language.  The actors are faithful to Shakespeare’s words, but it’s strange hearing them spoken in an American accent.  Still, the story–which turns the Montague/Capulet feud into a city-wide Mafia-style war–makes the language easy to understand and shows that the play’s themes remain true today.  Teachers may roll their eyes at this version, but students always love it.
The Laramie Project

On the outskirts of a small town in Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998, a 21-year-old gay student at the University of Wyoming named Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten, tortured and left for dead tied to a fence. The Laramie Project was originally a play written by Moises Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project.  It’s focus was on the aftermath of what happened to Mathew Shepard that October night and how it affected not just Laramie but the whole country.

    The movie version of the play uses a variety of different filming techniques; sometimes the scenes would be diary clips from the members of the Tectonic Theater Project, describing what it was like for them to interview the people of Laramie. Other scenes were shot like a chronological movie narrating what happened that night from witnesses’ points of view.
    During the movie the company members interviewed people that were friends with Matthew, people that did not know him personally but who gave their opinions on why they thought Mathew was killed and others that were infuriatingly cold towards what happened to Mathew, saying that he was asking for what he got.
    The town itself had a shell shocked view of the matter because many could not wrap their heads around what had happened in their town by their own people. The motto of Laramie is “Live and Let Live” and during the movie that phrase was repeated again and again mostly by the citizens who were trying to from my view point, blame Matthew for being a known gay and for what they thought was flaunting his sexuality to others.
    Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were the two men who tortured and killed Matthew received life sentences even though many wanted them to receive the death penalty. Many emotions and controversial issues are addressed in The Laramie Project, especially pertaining to hate crimes especially targeted towards homosexuals and what legislation there is to prevent cases like Matthew Shepard’s from happening again. It brings to light the reality that you can not just hope that crimes like this will go away, that to prevent this people have to know and The Laramie Project demands you to know and be aware that this is real and not just a random case of violence towards another human being.

Valentine’s Day (2010)
Valentine’s Day begins on the morning of February 14 and ends when the clock strikes midnight. This movie features an ensemble celebrity cast including Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift, and Bradley Cooper. Valentine’s Day demonstrates the complete spectrum of opinions toward the holiday- from the hopeless romantic and the lovey-dovey teen couple to the party of women rebelling against it. This movie is a romantic comedy that anyone will enjoy- whether you like Valentine’s Day or not.
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Landon Carter (Shane West) would never be caught dead talking to Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), the town pastor’s daughter who is basically a saint. However, after he is arrested for trespassing and possession of alcohol, Landon’s punishment of performing in the school play forces him to spend hours with Jamie. Landon finds friendship and love in what he thought would be the most unlikely place. It definitely is A Walk to Remember.
A Cinderella Story (2004)
A Cinderella Story is a modern version of the classic Cinderella. Instead of losing her glass slipper on her way home from the ball, Sam Montgomery (Hillary Duff) drops her cell phone as she races out of the Homecoming costume dance. Following the dance, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray) desperately attempts to discover the identity of his princess. Unfortunately, every girl in school claims to be her.
The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook begins as a summer romance on the eve of WWII. As an old man, Noah Calhoun reflects, summer romances “are shooting stars-a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they’re gone.” Despite obstacles, young Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams)’s love endures the summer and lasts a lifetime.
She’s The Man
She’s The Man is a high school spin on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Her brother’s decision to ditch the first two weeks at his new school provides Viola (Amanda Bynes) with the perfect opportunity. Because the girl’s soccer team at her own school, Cornwall, gets cut, Viola plans to impersonate her brother, Sebastian (James Kirk), join the boy’s soccer team at his school, Illyria, and beat Cornwall’s boys’ team. The situation becomes even more complex when she falls for her roommate, Duke (Channing Tatum), whose crush, Olivia (Laura Ramsey), wants Sebastian. Oh yeah, and they all think she’s a guy.

Best Picture

Winter’s Bone was a complete surprise nomination. It tells the story of 17-year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) of the Ozarks, who risks her life to find her absent father who has put her family’s house up as his bail bond and run, leaving behind a tangle of lies and a code of silence to break through. Although it is refreshing to see the Academy nominate a lesser-known film, Winter’s Bone is too unfamiliar to audiences to be noticed or stand out among the other films which have greatly overshadowed it.

127 Hours tells the true-life story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), a man trapped in an isolated canyon of Canyonlands National Park of Utah over five days with his arm pinned by a boulder. Having not notified anyone of his trip, his family and friends have no idea to search for Ralston in the canyon, and he has little hope of them finding him. Ralston reflects on his life as he talks to his video camera over his hours of suffering and survives off his leftover water and urine. A remarkable story of the will to survive that has launched Franco to a new level of roles, 127 Hours is a great movie, but weak in contrast to its competition that is much stronger in other aspects of film-making than acting.

The Fighter tells the true-life story of Mickey Ward (Mark Walburg), who is given his last chance at obtaining the championship title after many years of difficult training overseen by his trainer-brother-drug-user Dick Eklund (Christian Bale), who lost his own shot at the championship to his personal struggle with drugs. To get to the top this time he must make changes in his life as issues and tension between his family and friends rise to an all time high. The Fighter presents great quality, but tells an underdog-boxing story we’ve all heard before.

True Grit delineates the classic story of southern spitfire and 14-year-old girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Stienfield) when she sets out to exact revenge upon the notorious outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), who has murdered her father. She hires the help of gritty U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to aid her in her search for Chaney across the wild and desolate terrain of the West. Based off the book by the same name, not the John Wayne version made in 1969, True Grit has revived the Western genre of film that has been extinct in Hollywood for ages and is deserving of its nomination.

Toy Story 3 is the crown jewel of the Toy Story trilogy, as Andy (John Morris) leaves home for college, leaving his toys behind to be stored except for Woody (Tom Hanks). His mom accidentally donates them to Sunnyside Daycare. Both the toys and Andy must find a way to remain together and learn how to say goodbye as they grow up. Toy Story 3 is a critic’s favorite and without a doubt a forerunner among the other films for the awards.

Black Swan presents a challenge, however, with the twisted story of ballet dancer Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman). Nina competes for her dream of becoming the lead White and Black Swan for her prestigious New York ballet company’s production of Swan Lake, but her life begins to take a dark turn when newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) enters the picture. Nina begins to resemble the monstrous part she is vying for, fueled by paranoia, fear, and hate of the competition. Thrillers are rarely taken seriously in Academy Awards categories, The Silence of the Lambs and The Exorcist being exceptions. However, with Portman’s stunning performance as Sayers sweeping up awards, Black Swan is the dark horse of the Best Picture category.

Produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Inception is my pick for best picture. In order to return to his family, Dom Cobb must implant an idea into the mind of energy empire heir, Robert Fisher, through his dreams for his client Saito. Saito is looking to destroy Fisher’s monopoly and promises to solve Cobb’s legal troubles abroad if he accomplishes the job. But Cobb and his team’s minds and lives are put at risk when their plan takes a turn for the worst as they find themselves diving deeper into the mind than ever before and unraveling its merciless subconscious. Inception’s combination of revolutionary use of special effects and awe-inspiring original conceptual work had me on the edge of my seat and picking apart every detail of the immaculate scenes to define what was reality or dream. Complemented by a forceful team of actors who each breathed life into their unique characters and relationships, Inception has helped define the new generation of action films. Unfortunately, rumor has it that Academy officials have a grudge against producer Christopher Nolan, having been snubbed in many other categories which critics and audiences expected nominations.

With the eve of World War II approaching, second in line to the throne, reluctant future King George VI must overcome his speech impediment with the help of unorthodox speech therapist and Australian, Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. The future King also must stand strong for his country as his older brother abdicates the throne to marry a twice divorced American socialite in his one of the greatest times of crisis his country has ever faced. The King’s Speech has climbed to mainstream fame after months as an independent British film in select theaters, and brought life to a beautiful history of strength and friendship winning over critics and audiences alike.

The Social Network is the rival of The King’s Speech for the critic’s prediction. The controversial film tells the story of Facebook’s “founding” by Mark Zuckerburg and Eduardo Saverin from the campus of Harvard, the Silicon Valley, and the courtrooms. Hailed as “the film that has defined a generation,” the Social Network is the most buzzed about film of the year.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone, a critically acclaimed independent film that has Lawrence playing the role of the brave Ree Dolly who sets out on her own and breaks her family’s taboo silence about her secretive father who has run away and dumped debts upon her family. Lawrence is relatively new to the film-making scene, having several TV appearances and smaller movies under her belt, making her the shocker of the Best Actress category. You can see her in the upcoming X-Men: First Class.

Michelle Williams, best known for her Academy Award nominated performance of Alma Beer in Brokeback Mountain back in 2005, is now nominated once again for her role as Cindy Heller, a young wife and mother watching the marriage to a man she once loved fall apart. Williams may also sound familiar as the former fiancée of Heath Ledger, with whom she had daughter Matilda in late 2005. She now sheds the past and emerges stronger than ever with her well-deserved nomination.

Another former Oscar nominee, Nicole Kidman, is nominated once again, this time for her role as mother, Becca Corbett, who is coming to terms with the death of her young son and what her life and marriage will become without him in Rabbit Hole, another successful indie film. Kidman was previously nominated for her role as Satine in Moulin Rouge!, and has impressed critics with her display of emotional range in the role of a grieving mother.

Already taking home Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical from the Golden Globes, major competitor Annette Bening has been nominated for her portrayal of Nic, a dedicated physician, wife, and mother juggling marital issues and the reappearance of her children’s sperm donor in The Kids Are All Right. A veteran of the film industry with many nominations and awards as well as being a favorite of critics, Bening is considered one of the strongest competitors this year.

However, Bening is no match for the media storm of Natalie Portman, my pick for best actress. Portman, at just 29, is already a Hollywood veteran as well, with a long running acting history in independent and big-budget films alike. Portman is the overwhelming favorite of experts and audiences alike. Her role of dedicated ballet dancer, Nina Sayer, who loses the line between illusion and reality as she loses herself in her role as the Swan Queen haunts, taunts, and tortures you, yet leaves you blown away and astounded as you leave the theater. With multiple magazine covers, high box office ratings, and critics cheering, Portman is set to mop the floor with her competitors.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Co-Presenter and Palo Alto native James Franco is nominated for playing adrenaline junkie Aron Ralston, whose life is flashing before his eyes as he spends five days pinned against the walls of an isolated canyon all alone. Franco is known the Spiderman franchise, Howl, Pineapple Express, and being considered one of Hollywood’s up and coming stars. He has definitely cemented his place among the A-list as a versatile leading man.

Javier Bardem is nominated as an underworld figure and devoted dad who works to reconcile a past love and secure the future of his children in his last moments in the foreign film Biutiful. Bardem has previously been nominated and awarded Oscars in the past few years, and may seem familiar from No Country for Old Men as the chilling Anton Chigurh. Bardem was recently in the news with the birth of his daughter with wife Penelope Cruz.

Last year’s Best Actor, Jeff Bridges, has been nominated again for True Grit as the merciless U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn. Bridges hails from an acting dynasty and has a immensely successful career dating back to 1950. It seems unlikely, however, that he will win, having already been won last year and playing a role originated by the legendary John Wayne.

Jesse Eisenberg of The Social Network won audiences’ hearts playing the youngest billionaire in the world and global leader in technology, Mark Zuckerburg. Eisenberg has had a quick rise to fame with the critical acclaim from The Social Network and loyal fans from Adventureland and Zombieland. Eisenberg has a good chance at snagging the Oscar, but it may not be his time just yet.

A man loved by women all across the world and the only actor to have played Mr. Darcy three times (once in the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice, and twice in the Bridget Jones series), Colin Firth is the lead contender and my pick for Best Actor as King George VI in The King’s Speech. Firth tackles the monarch’s emotional and physical struggle to overcome his restricting speech impediment as he works to secure his nation’s future as the dawn of World War II approaches. Firth lost to Bridges last year in the Best Actor category for his role as George Falconer in A Single Man but seems to have the upper hand this year after being named the expert’s pick and fan favorite in online polls, and raising such a little known film to great fame.

“No way! I’m not paying that much!”

I have had many similar conversations with my friends concerning 3D movies. While some see no issue in shelling out five extra dollars, many (myself included) adamantly argue that 3D movies are certainly not worth the extra cash.

Recently, 3D has become the norm at theaters, not only with action movies, but with animated films as well. 3D seems to be the newest fad in filmmaking—3D TVs have even been developed in order to immerse viewers in their entertainment, even in their homes.

However, many movies do not properly utilize this technology. Numerous films are marketed as “3D” and “immersive,” but rarely employ impressive visual effects. While movies such as Tron: Legacy were praised for their outstanding use of 3D technology, many animated films did not live up to their promises.

Animated pictures such as Toy Story 3, Despicable Me and Tangled lacked the necessary 3D “wow” factor to justify their extra costs. The films would be virtually unaltered without the addition of the three dimensional glasses.

The summer flick Piranha 3D is a prime example of a movie in which effects were added after the fact as a marketing gimmick, as opposed to those movies shot in 3D from their inception. Scenes featuring poorly executed 3D piranhas were clearly added only to increase ticket prices.

Still, even some movies with a great attention to 3D detail are severely flawed. Many pictures pay too much attention to their special effects. Oftentimes, a great deal of effort is placed into the 3D effects, while the storyline lacks both flow and relatable characters . These effects are often dizzying and headache-inducing.

Additionally, 3D glasses are an extra annoyance at the theater- we must already deal with walking on sticky floors, finding cup holders in the dark and carrying food from the concession stand to our seats. Now, we must also carry along a large pair of glasses. Those who wear everyday glasses to improve their vision must double up by sporting both their normal glasses and a pair of 3D shades.

Junior Mandy Heiser says of the recent influx of 3D movies, “In most cases, I don’t think 3D is really necessary. Tron: Legacy and Avatar have been the only exceptions. But Justin Bieber in 3D? Seriously?”

Sophomore Natalie Lozano agrees, saying, “I don’t think many 3D movies are worth more money. Movies like Alice in Wonderland are helped by the effects, but others just make you pay more to watch the same thing you could see in 2D.”

Senior Amanda Uyesugi offers a completely different opinion, stating, “3D movies are definitely worth the extra money! I love seeing the visual effects coming towards me!”

3D movies should take cues from attractions such as Mickey’s Phillharmagic, a film at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The picture incorporates sight, sound, smell and touch, using a balance of visual effects to impress the audience without making them dizzy.

Instead of applying Disney’s technique of carefully using new technologies to enhance the viewer’s experience, studios are gouging their customers, using technology for technology’s sake.

Until 3D movies are well-balanced in both effects and plot, they are simply not worth the extra money.

In the latest and nearly last installment of the series, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger leave their Hogwarts days behidn them and journey through forests, banks, and the Ministry of Magic, looking for possible ways to destroy the Horcruxes and Voldemort. Their journey is fraught with dangers, what with an infiltration of the Ministry, old foes like Dolores Umbridge and the Malfoys, and a betryal that threatens to undermine everything that the characters have always stood for.

While novel purists will notice that there are in fact parts of the book that were sacrificed for a smoother movie plotline, all of the most important and poignant scenes were left intact. After having portrayed the characters for over half of their lives, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint gave touching and believable performances as the Golden Trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. The saddest parts of the novel, including the death of the house elf Dobby, were handled with care. Watching the characters live out their loss of innocence brought to mind not only the way they had once been young and carefree, but also how circumstances beyond our control us shape our life and how we deal with it. The tale of the deathly hallows itself was very well done, using spooky animation to bring the story to life in an artistic and creative way. There were a few scenes that seemed gratuitous, as the kiss between the spirits of Harry and Hermione during the locket scene was rather long and awkward, but overall the movie remained true to the spirit of the novel.

Even though the movie splits the original novel in two, the ending seemed right instead of stilted, leaving the audience craving more while providing them with some closure. After such an amazing first half, all fans can do now is wait until the second Deathly Hallows movie in July, and hope that the second installment will be as well done as the first.

December 10

The Tourist

If you don’t know the names Angelina Jolie or Johnny Depp by now, what rock have you been living under? The two majorly bankable stars meet in this romantic thriller that’s based off of the 2005 French film Anthony Zimmer. Depp plays an American tourist named Frank, who travels to Venice after going through a breakup with his girlfriend. Jolie plays a British woman named Elise who happens to cross paths with Frank while on his way to Venice. The two start developing a romantic relationship while in Italy and it looks like they are falling for each other pretty fast. Frank is certainly in love, but Elise remains a little mysterious. It seems like it was fate that brought them together, or did Elise deliberately cross Frank’s path?
Shootouts and car chases ensue as the pair make their way through Venice with federal agents on their heels the whole time. They are convinced that Frank is an expert thief that they need to catch, but he seems to be set up. It is all so convoluted, so it is very likely that it is too good to be true. But will Elise really fall for Frank? That’s the million dollar question.

December 17
Tron: Legacy

When your father was considered to be the most brilliant programmer of his generation, as well as being the CEO of a powerful software company, your life is bound to be a little different. That was the case for Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), son of computer programmer and ENCOM CEO Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges, last year’s Best Actor winner at the Oscars). Sam’s father disappeared 20 years ago and there has been no sign of him since then. However, when Kevin’s old friend Alan (Bruce Boxleitner) receives a page from Flynn’s abandoned arcade 20 years after his disappearance, Sam goes to investigate. After he logs in to his dad’s old computer at the arcade, Sam finds himself sucked into the digital world called “The Grid” (the one that was shown in the original Tron movie back in 1982) that his father has been trapped in for so long. With the help of Kevin Flynn’s warrior protege Quorra (Olivia Wilde–Thirteen from House), the father and son pair go on a journey to make it out of the dangerous digital universe.

The original Tron was released 28 years ago, and most people thought the idea was too “out-there,” meaning that an advanced digital world was too outrageous. A completely digital world back in 1982? It didn’t seem plausible, but how about 2010? You all know you can relate to anything that’s digital. The special effects that make the digital world come to life are simply spellbinding. After all, this is the movie that is rumored to make Avatar look like child’s play! The three trailers that have been released and the many movie stills are stunning to say the least. The popular electronic band Daft Punk, who have not released new music in over three years, will be providing an original soundtrack. With amazing visuals and awesome music, “cool” might be an understatement when describing this movie once you see it.

December 22

Little Fockers

It’s been six years since we “met” the Fockers, and now it is time to see how much the kids have grown! With all the original cast members back, as well as additions like Jessica Alba and Harvey Keitel, hilarity ensues. Family communication problems, mishaps and miscues, as well as plain awkward moments are all things that any family can relate to when it comes to get-togethers. Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and Jack Byrnes (Robert DeNiro) always clash, and when you add Greg’s free-spirited parents (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand) into the mix, you get mayhem. As if Greg did not have enough on his plate, his wife Pamela (Teri Polo) has her old fiancé, Kevin Rawley (played by Owen Wilson), come back into her life, which complicates Christmas at the Focker residence even more. Laughs are always a good thing to have when Christmas comes around, and this movie will provide plenty!

January 14

The Green Hornet

With the popularity of comic book movies increasing every year, Hornet is looking to add its name to the list of mega-hits. Funnyman Seth Rogen stars as Britt Reid who transforms himself into the Green Hornet after his father is murdered by a gang. Britt is a lot like Tony Stark of Iron Man–irresponsible, loves to party, and will flirt with anything that wears heels and a dress, but who also changes after he goes through a traumatic experience. At Britt’s side is Kato (Jay Chou), an employee of the Reids’ publishing company by day and a martial arts expert who owns quite the collection of weapons at night. The two band together to battle a master criminal named Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz, Colonel Landa from Inglorious Basterds) who is the head of the city’s organized crime syndicate. Since his father was murdered for trying to expose organized crime, Britt wants to continue his father’s cause. Britt and Kato cause a multitude of problems for Chudnofsky, so he sets all the city’s gangs out to look for the Hornet and his sidekick. If you are looking for action, drama, and a lot of laughs, The Green Hornet is the perfect movie for you.