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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince : 3 of 5
7.21.2009 11:41 AM \| Link 1 comments	Even though I'm only a casual Harry Potter fan, I still get excited when a new movie is released, and I enjoy seeing them with my pal Melinda since she has read all the books and can fill me in on all sorts of details! I've already made so many jokes about how old the actors are now (and they still have two movies to go!), but this time I have to say that they somehow did a great job of making them seem young enough for their roles. I think the introduction of some romance and heartbreak really helps, too - not only to reinforce the characters' growth, but also to provide a few lighthearted moments in this otherwise dark movie! I really liked Jim Broadbent as the new Professor Slughorn (he's good in just about every role he plays, and he fits this one perfectly), and I thought it was cool that much of this movie focuses on "physical" magic (like potions), although of course there is plenty of wand-play. Speaking of play, the Quidditch scenes are better than ever and they were a blast to watch as a break from the rest of the story (it seems like it would be so difficult to balance on a broom, even with those foot stirrup devices!). Besides the major plotline of Malfoy's attempts to kill Dumbledore, there is the additional mystery of who the Half-Blood Prince really is, since Harry discovers an old textbook filled with the Prince's notes and spells. The pacing of the movie isn't too bad, since the action sequences are fairly well-spaced, but it still takes a while to get through the two and a half hour story, and even then the ending felt a little rushed to me. In many ways this movie is just a giant setup for the final two (both of which make up the last book). Of course, I still had a great time at the theater, but I think the next film in the series will blow this one away! Labels: harry potter, movies
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix : 4 of 5
7.19.2007 7:26 AM \| Link 0 comments	Since this is the 5th movie in the Harry Potter series, Harry has now caught up to the Planet of the Apes in length, and it still has two more movies to go (which will both be hits, I'm sure)! Even though I haven't read a word of the books, I'm really a fan of these movies, though it helped to have my pal Melinda with me to fill me in on some details (by the way, the good ol' IMDB has a nice FAQ that explains some things). This is a fast-paced movie with a much different feel than the earlier films, since there isn't much comedy relief, and it's really depressing to see Harry so angry and outcast most of the time. There are some great action sequences, especially the wizard battle at the end, and watching Dumbledore and Voldemort fight was really thrilling (with awesome special effects), even though I kept flashing back to Jedi battles! The story is definitely one of those "in the middle" plots, so most of the events are just setting up what's coming in the next movies, but I definitely had a great time watching it! Of course, the kids are really grown up now (which I've mentioned before) - there's a quick scene of Harry from the first movie, and it was such a shocker to imagine that little bowl-haired kid is only supposed to be five years younger! Oh well, maybe they can finish the next two movies before the actors go grey or bald (or both!). Labels: harry potter, movies
Epic Movie : 2 of 5
2.09.2007 6:49 PM \| Link 0 comments	I'm just as surprised as you are that I saw this movie, but my pal Melinda and I went because there really wasn't anything else that one of us hadn't already seen! Of course, Epic Movie is pretty much mindless, but every now and then it's not so bad to just laugh for a while and wonder how some movies ever get made. The idea is just to spoof tons of recent Hollywood blockbuster films, so lots of things are thrown together to make some kind of story. I definitely wasn't expecting The Chronicles of Narnia (or Gnarnia, in this case) to be the framework for the plot, but I guess it worked pretty well. Although several jokes fell flat, there were some moments I really enjoyed, especially the Harry Potter segment, where Harry and his friends are all middle-aged and run-down even though they are supposed to be teenagers (so true!). The Pirates of the Caribbean spoof was pretty good, especially the crazy music video (based on Lazy Sunday from Saturday Night Live). It was kind of fun seeing how well they reproduced sets and props from the various films, which was a nice distraction whenever the jokes were lame. I wouldn't really recommend Epic Movie to anybody, but I still got some laughs in and had good time seeing it. Labels: harry potter, movies
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire : 4 of 5
11.30.2005 10:48 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've really enjoyed all of the Harry Potter movies, and I love being surprised by everything since I haven't read the books. My pal Melinda was nice enough to see this one a second time since I wanted to go, and I definitely enjoyed it - quite a bit more than the last one, actually. In Prisoner of Azkaban, I thought the kids looked older than they should, but somehow in this movie they seem just right (they have cool long, messy hair that would be fun to wear for a while). The effects are really well done, especially when Harry is chased by the dragon - in particular, when the dragon is crawling on the roof and digging its claws into the shingles, it looks amazing! I thought the big dance was fun, especially seeing Hermione swoon for the guy from one of the visiting schools - it's nice to see more character interaction and a little less complicated mystery. But speaking of mystery, this one has a great plot with puzzles that are fun to try to figure out, and the fact that the Tri-Wizard Tournament is kind of episodic gives the film a nice pace. Unfortunately, the film ends totally bleak with the return of Voldemort, and there's absolutely nothing the movie can do to make you feel better before you walk out of the theater. It definitely makes you ready for the next film, though! This is certainly one of the best Harry Potter movies out of the four, so I'll certainly be looking forward to more of the saga. Labels: harry potter, movies
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban : 4 of 5
6.12.2004 4:21 PM \| Link 0 comments	Since I was busy with play rehearsal, I had to wait a few days to see this latest Harry Potter movie. I'm excited about following the films, even though I haven't read the books, but I have to say that this one is my least favorite so far. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the movie - I had a great time watching it! The story is much darker and mysterious than the previous plots - much more of a mystery (with a problem-solving pace) than the others. There are some great special effects (I thought Buckbeack the hippogriff was simply beautiful), and some nice acting from the kids (though they are hardly kids anymore - I have no idea how they are going to keep making these movies unless they start taking drugs to stunt their growth!). I wasn't too fond of the new Dumbledore - he looked okay, but his voice was just too fast and not caring enough. I guess he just needs more charm. Once again, we learn a lot more about Harry's parents and past and see him developing into a powerful wizard, all against the cool set of Hogwarts with its living paintings and ghosts. Overall, this is a nice third effort from Harry, but I hope the fourth brings back a little more humor. Labels: harry potter, movies
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets : 4 of 5
11.17.2002 7:20 PM \| Link 0 comments	Even though I haven't read the books and all of last year's marketing hype made me sick, I still really enjoyed watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on DVD. So, I was actually pretty excited to see the second film in the theater (it's always fun to listen to the reactions and laughter of the kids). This is a great movie, with some exciting sequences (the spider chase was terrifying!) and touching moments between our student friends (who are twice as cute just because they're English kids). The kid playing Harry is actually a wonderful actor, and he really brings reality to the action sequences, too. I'm having fun learning about Harry (since I'm seeing these movies cold), and I'm ready for the third episode! Labels: harry potter, movies
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone : 3 of 5
7.07.2002 7:57 AM \| Link 0 comments	I first heard about Harry Potter when my pal Helen was obsessed with the books. I had intended on reading them, but then the hype engine went into full swing and I just couldn't bear to have anything to do with those freaky spectacles. Now that the popularity has wound down, I figured I could handle watching the DVD, and I actually enjoyed it. I thought the first half was much better than the second, since I was more interested in the whole dual world thing than the actual "evil plot". The effects were pretty cool, too. I can't say I'll lose any sleep until the sequel comes out, but I'm sure I'll rent it eventually. Labels: harry potter, movies