[Movie Unwrapping] - The Giver

     The Giver was on my Christmas list and I hoped to do a better unwrapping of the movie and show everyone what was inside of the movie, it just didn't happen. Mainly I didn't get it for Christmas like I had hoped, but that's okay with me, I got a lot of other cool goodies. In doing so I had to wait until I had the funds to go out and get the two movies I was missing from the late 2014 releases. The Giver was my second to the first book (The Maze Runner) and while I was looking to see this movie again, I wasn't what copy I would get. I enjoyed the theater version and while the home experience isn't all that great, I hope to watch it with a friend or share it with someone more special, but who knows. That is why I went the route I did, and got the combo - DvD, Blu-Ray and Digital.

        

Inside:

     The inside of The Giver had the normal VuDu HD paper that always comes in the whole bit, but the rest of the packaging is normal. I find that the Blu-Ray disc to be my personal favorite, and that is because of the whole graphical aspect. I wish they would have done something with the DvD disc but it doesn't hurt me to see it as a plain disc. What would have been really cool in this was a small little book or something with an excerpt from the book; possibly the first chapter or something. I think that if they had done that maybe some of the book sales would have gone up, but would the cost of having done that sort of advertising been worth it to them in the grand scheme of things. 

Read more »

[Movie Unwrapping] - The Maze Runner

     The Maze Runner was another one of those movies that I wanted to add to my collection of movies. This while not one of my favorite movies of the year, it was a movie that not only made sci-fi and the book in my mind come to life. I wanted more out of the book and to see the grievers and the rest of the lot more. I wish there was an extended version of this movie and I did look around for that, but no avail.

        

Inside:

     Inside the discs are different than what I thought would be, but I am not saying they aren't good or that there could be more. They both do a great job showing the whole bit of what the movie is conveying plus the graphical pleasantries. There is the key point in the movie on the first disc, but at the same time on the second there is just a graphical representation of the maze which the movie revolves around. I just wish the resolution was a bit higher.

Extras:

       

     Inside the case was a comic that while I am not sure what it took to create the little pamphlet, but if I was presented with this book I would buy the movie and this version of it for that comic in a heartbeat. It's the little extras in the packages/movies that make this book worth every part and every bit of what the purchase was. The comic while not going into the greater detail of the movie, shows the darker sides of the movie that maybe the PG-13 rating. I couldn't want more out of the little extra.

Read more »

[Movie Unwrapping] - If I Stay

     Now this is the main reason I went out on Black Friday. I was hoping to get this movie and while there was a bit of a crowd when I got this movie and frankly it was worth it. I have seen this movie more than what I can count on two hands, there is part of my that is touched by this movie and the novel itself. This was and is probably one of my most endearing and enjoyable book-movie adaptation. What I want to convey most in this is my joy of the novel, and seeing translated to the screen so well. It was and will always remain part of me.

        

Inside:

     Now the cover and the back of the case/jacket do a great job of showing more or less what is going on. I love in the cover how Adam and Mia posing together, but Mia has a translucent copy of her behind her. There is a metaphor for that image and it's told over and over in the story, and has a purpose. I love it, and how the image captures it perfectly. The back is just great to, and it's almost symbolic of the movie. A series of memories and pleasantries.

     The discs are magnificent, well the DvD, but at the same image is used again on the cover for the BluRay. However in this case (as opposed to the Catching Fire set) the two are just so great that even using them shows the romance and the symbolic gestures of the two. These images have meaning in them. love, and hope, but when there is memories attached to those images it makes them all that more meaningful. In this case they are so great and touch me just by looking at them.

     Of all the movies I own, there aren't many movies that I hold or would want to get a poster of. This is one that I would love. I would want to mount on a wall, maybe frame it even. The movie means so much to me, and is by far one of my most favorite movies of all times.

Read more »

[Movie Unwrapping] - Catching Fire

     I am catching up on the movies that I got on Black Friday and here is one that frankly I didn't buy because of the sale. I wanted this movie ahead of time, I just missed the time when it came out. Catching Fire was just so great of a movie, and how it turned up the scales in the series. Missing this movie's release date more or less plagued me and I was looking around the local stores for it, so when I found it on Black Friday I couldn't pass it up.

        

Inside:

     Now what I more or less dislike about this cover was the frank reuse of the first cover but from a different perspective. I wanted something new for a cover, but this just wasn't it and while I'm not saying the cover made me angry or upset, it just let me down. Further I took time trying to find a package with another pendant, but they never came out with one. The mockingjay logo changed on the book throughout and it made me rather sad to see they didn't update the pendants.

     Now diving into the discs I find a lack of interest in the graphics chosen here. For a lack of better words it's just lazy. If the main purpose to get get people to buy the package or the movie, then why go with a smaller version of the same image on the cover. I just wish there was something more, and different with the whole lack of effort I guess. However, it makes me wonder if the budget for this movie was a bit lower than what they did in the first. Either way, this movie was late incoming and doesn't make me any less grateful for the movie.

Read more »

[Movie Unwrapping] - The Hunger Games

     I thought I had done this one. I guess I was wrong on this, I am going to go back and fix this than with the unwrapping of the first movie that I actually bought myself. The Hunger Games, one of my favorite movies, and I've seen it more than I can count on my hands and toes. There are scenes in this movie that will tear your heart from your chest. Further, there wasn't a choice on whether I would pick up this movie to start a collection of YA Movies and give my support to the industry and hope to get more book-movie adaptations.
     Now when I got to the store, and was looking at the versions to choose from, frankly if I wanted to start a collection and something I would enjoy myself; I wanted the combo (DvD and BluRay). Further I don't have a BluRay player, but I had purchases of getting one. While the BluRay player hasn't shown up yet, my parents have one and while I don't use it often I love to sport the idea that one day.

        

Inside:

     Now the cover of the box and the case at the time was great. Jennifer Lawrence is just beautiful, and the whole action shot with the bow brings Katniss to life. While I wish there was more color to the cover than the immense reds and oranges, but I get the whole flame/fire theme. What I love most about the whole packaging was what wasn't featured, a necklace with the mockingjay pendant on it. I have that hanging from the rearview mirror in my car. It's just a token and memory of the great book. I enjoy that thing, even though I couldn't really wear it and have it look good.

     Now for the first movie that I ever bought myself this was a bit on the pricey side, but the movie was wroth the money spent. In fact I've seen it more than what it would have been to rent it and be worth my while. However, I wanted to buy the first book I read that really got me interested in books in the first place. So I figured if I started in one place, I may as well start in two..

Read more »

[Movie Unwrapping] - The Fault In Our Stars

The Waiting is OVER!!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

     So while I did one for Divergent, and unwrapping and uncovering the goodies that came with the DvD/BluRay, this time around it may not be as grand. I picked up the only edition there is of this movie The Little Infinities Extended Edition (not really the only edition, but the only one for die-hard fans). I have been watching it now for the last two days and I can say I've seen it three times (not counting the theater visit). This movie has changed a lot of peoples' view on cancer and just how they view/relate to the world around them. This is by far a must have, no don't debate, just get it.

  

Extras:

     Last time I included images of the typical UltraViolet stream page, but I left that out, it's still there. The main thing in this edition is the Infinity Bracelet that is a bit too small/long for me. I will wear it, and the messages are great on it. I love how it captures all the main points of the book and movie and put them on your arm. I just love how it's packaged, whoever came up with this idea, you nailed it on the head.

Inside:

     The Fault in our Stars discs were simple. and while we have all seen those images over and over, there is something nostalgic in those images. Out of everything this part was the one that kinda shocked me the most, and I don't mean to sound negative of the movie at all. The packaging of the discs could have been better. Some colorful scenic image in place of the normal blue would have been great, something to spruce the inside up would be fabulous. Other than that the extra is what made this packaging worth every dime, and well of course the movie. 

Read more »

[Movie Unwrapping] - Divergent

It's Here!!!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

     Finally it's here. I got my hands on the movie. This isn't a review, I just wanted to show off what the packaging and some of the stuff that came with the movie. There was a bit hype for this movie and if you want to read my review, check it out here. I love how they packaged this movie, and while I was hoping for something like The Hunger Games and some fancy extras, but it's still great either way.

Extras:

     The digital sticker with the steps to get it, while that isn't exactly an Extra really. I just like the idea of watching this on my iPad, walking around listening to this movie. The other extra is temporary Tattoos. I have a set of these from a book signing and while I enjoy them anyways, I love how they are just fun to sit around for drawing ideas and getting an idea of how the symbols of the factions look. So great.

Inside:

     Inside the package there is a look into Four by Veronica Roth and a few movie stills of the major characters and scenes. The discs have the two stars in the movie, you can guess who my favorite of the two is. The black and white stills on the backs of the booklet (which is glued in the middle and can't be removed, sad) are brilliantly done. They take one of my favorite scenes and captures the fear and majesty in it. As well, Theo James just looks brilliant in his black and white still, not really an important scene, but still just well done.. 

Read more »