The Wesleyan campus can be a lonely place over Thanksgiving break. Not many people are around, and the bleakness of winter starts to set in. I stayed warm and entertained throughout the break by visiting Metro Movies three times to see some of the hottest movies out right now. Whether you’re looking for a way to procrastinate during finals week or already planning how to spend the extremely long winter break, here are three movies that you can’t miss.

 

“Blue Is the Warmest Color”

Some movies will manage to entertain you for a night or two, but some will hit you like lightning. Inspiration is harder to find when it comes to movies these days, as blockbusters looking for nothing but box office success dominate the film industry. But every now and then, there comes a movie that will leave you speechless. Last week, “Blue Is the Warmest Color” convinced me that movies can still cross boundaries and offer more than just entertainment.

“Blue Is the Warmest Color” introduces us to a young high school girl named Adele who unexpectedly falls for a college girl named Emma. We follow her journey through the path of finding who she is and who she wants to be. What makes this movie so special is that it doesn’t follow the rules of the romance genre. It tries to define a new modern meaning for love, and it accomplishes its goal without a single flaw.

“Blue Is the Warmest Color” is more than a movie. You will not be the viewer watching the screen. You will be the invisible camera following Adele, and you will lose yourself to the world in which she desperately searches for the truth that may be her only shot at finding peace.

Some may call this movie controversial due to its extended scenes of explicit sex, but I call this movie a piece of art that rarely happens. “Blue Is the Warmest Color” is the phenomenon that must be welcomed with open arms to keep more of its kind coming.

 

“Frozen”

Once upon a time, there was a company named Disney that gave life to imaginations. For years, the world was amazed by the masterpieces Disney made, such as “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid.” But no one remains on the throne forever, and Disney was not an exception. Pixar took the lead with movies that mixed philosophy with animation. “Wall-E” and “Up” were universally acclaimed, and each topped the charts with impressing figures. While distributing Pixar’s films, Disney’s in-house output fell behind.

However, Disney did not give up and made a comeback with “Tangled.” But it didn’t work out, despite its lovely characters and its colorful world. It lacked something that Disney was known for: the music.

“Frozen” is the dream that nobody believed would happen. Call “Frozen” a Disney Broadway show because it will take you back in time to the days of “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.”

Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) are the two princesses of Arendelle. Long story short, Elsa runs away to the mountains and builds a castle for herself without knowing that she cast an eternal winter on the whole kingdom. Anna, feeling guilty and responsible for the winter, goes after Elsa to return summer to Arandelle.

“Frozen” may not be as meaningful as “Wall-E,” but it satisfies what you might expect from a Disney animation. The winter theme  will make it one of the top choices for a family holiday movie for the years to come. Don’t miss the chance to watch “Frozen,” and be ready for some interesting plot twists that make this movie safe from falling into the cliché trap.

 

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

When it comes to book adaptations, making movies can be challenging. The films can satisfy but not be quite loyal to the book, like the Harry Potter series, or it can be neither, like the Twilight saga. It rarely happens that an adaptation turns out to be stellar. However, last year, “The Hunger Games” proved us wrong: its brilliant cinematography and unique directing makes the viewer feel as if they are reading the book word by word.

“The Hunger Games” was a major success, and the sequels were immediately planned. Since the movie became a box office beast, I was worried that the producers’ hunger for cash would make them abuse the technology and sacrifice the storyline to gimmicks like 3D and over the top CGI. After watching the new sequel “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” I can put all my worries aside and start counting down for the next movie in the series.

“Catching Fire” takes off in District 12 after the events of the first movie. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the champions of the 74th annual Hunger Games, get ready to start their victory tour just before the 75th Hunger Games. However, as uprisings start to form across the nation, unexpected events lead Katniss to once again play in the deadly Hunger Games, now consisting of larger threats and more experienced contestants.

“Catching Fire” can be divided into two sections: one that focuses on Katniss and the events of the victory tour and one filled with action scenes that will pin you to your seats. The CGI never feels overused or gimmicky; in fact, it is the exact amount that this movie needs to present its full potential. Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss, brings her best acting since “The Silver Linings Playbook,” and she is no doubt the best fit for her strong and fierce character.

Whether you have already read the books or not, “Catching Fire” will undoubtedly surprise you with its dark humor, drama, and inspiring characters.