Excellent Cinema

Rating: 8/10 (30 December 2012)

I love living in ignorance. I never read any of the books, and before coming here to appreciate the film verbally after watching it for the first time on DVD, I never knew that the plot of the books upon which the film was based was similar to another set of books that I also never read. Fortunately, I do not care to read either set of books, and, most gratefully, I hadn't yet been polluted by all the trollish trash back and forth here on this board and in these reviews, so I was able to enjoy the movie objectively, having not read anything about it.
I can say that when the film is watched on its own merit - i.e., without all that unnecessary baggage - it stands out as a truly impressive production. I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle. The premise of the film is quite absurd, requiring huge suspension of disbelief, so to get oneself in a lather about plot niceties regarding this particular kind of fictional universe is nonsensical.
No society populated by humans beings (homo sapiens sapiens) would allow the type of behavior typified in this movie to go on for so long. Rebellion would happen from the inside. People wouldn't just merrily go along with it. It's ridiculous to think otherwise. It's science fiction, occurring in a parallel universe of something like human beings, but not quite. That being the case, one would hope there would be more productive things to do than rabid fanboi bickering, but no, sadly.
The pageantry was fabulous. Art direction was stellar. Acting was superb. (Until the credits rolled, I had no idea that was Elizabeth Banks behind that makeup and hair! I make a point to hear as little as possible about a film before I see it.) The score was first class. The story moved within its own logic very nicely, I felt for many of the characters, and I can't wait for the sequel for what was obviously just the opening act. This review from objectivity is the best praise I can give.
I do hope that should some of the makers of this film be so unfortunate as to feel the need to read the rants, they must realize the insults and trolling mean nothing. (Most who are like me would just go away from the toxicity, rather than try to insert something good into all the nastiness.) Keep up the great work! I'll see the next one on the big screen, for sure.