Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

My Rating: 90%

Uhh. this movie sorta messed with my head. but whatever; here we are with me back to my Marlon Brando marathon. Here's review #3: A Streetcar Named Desire.

Plot: A fading, yet still atrractive Southern belle girl, Blanche travels to New Orleans after losing her ancestral southern plantation, Belle Reeve, to visit her sister, Stella and her husband Stanley. From there, Blanche witneses the everyday life with Stella and Stanley's relationship while becomeing romanticaly interested in Stanley's best friend, Mitch.

Now that's all I'm going to say about the plot for thsoe of you who have not seent he film or at least may be familiar with it, or the play it's adapted from. But thsi is areally good film. the acting was well done, the story is good in a messed up way, and there's a lot of symbolism to it that's interesting. Granted, I only understandthe general concept of it but still.

Acting/Characters:
Vivien Leigh/Blanche DuBois: gee. she played her part well. Blanche is a unique character when it comes to her fantasy. And it doesn't surprise me that she won an Oscar for her role. And i'm curious as to how much different (if there's a difference at all) there is to the woman who originally played the role in the play and won a Tony for it.
Marlon Brando/Stanley Kowalski: He di an excellent job. H eplayed quite the characters and he worked it out very well.
Kim Hunter/ Stella Kowalski: She did a very good job too. You really have to pity he character with everything that happens.


Music:Well this wasn't much for music so there's nothing to tell other than the music was...well like any other music from back then. I know that's not really saying much but still.

Editing: I thought it was good. They gave us a good idea of the setting and with what they were trying to tell.

And that is my review for A Streetcar Named Desire. I know i'm not saying much, but that's probably for the best for those of you who have yet to see it.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)

My Rating: 100%

Once upon a time, there was a boy in Peabody Elementary School. Whenever his class when to the Library, we would hear about a book series from his classmates called Harry Potter. He was far less interested in it at the time. nothing but Disney and Pokemon would be in his mind. But shortly after that, after his family moved, He heard about a movie to the first book of Harry Potter. One Thanksgiving, his family decided to go see it after watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade. When he saw that film, he enjoyed all of it amazement with magic and all the characters that were in that film down to the main character Harry Potter himself. since then, he was into the series like so many people. His mother would read the series to him and his siblings when they were eventually homeschooled, after he beat the video game to the first film, he made a goal to work his way video game wise through all the years of Harry Potter and to kill the main villain, the Dark Lord Voldemort himself. It's been nearly 10 years since that Thanksgiving day with his family. Like so many people, he witnessed many things whether by film or by book with the story of Harry Potter, for a time, waiting to know how it'll end, and for a shorter time after finding out, seeing that ending himself. Now it's been only a couple hours since that quest has finally ended. and though the deed is not done video game wise (which whether or not it will is yet to be shown from his master he choose a long time ago earlier in those 10 years) the fact remains that the big ending to what started years ago has come. A time of laughter, amazement, action, tragedy, and suspense was over. They will be remembered for a very long time, but that boy who is now a man, finally doesn't have to wait anymore. And I know you have figured out, that boy from that school was me. After everything, I still can't get it through me that it's finally over. But while it may be over now, I am happy to say, that despite a few things, it ended with one heck of a bang.


Plot: After Dobby is buried, Harry, Ron and Hermione along with Griphook the goblin, go into Gringotts into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault where they take the fourth Horcrux. After they escape, separated from Griphook, Harry finds out that the next Horcrux is in Hogwarts. While they make it to Hogwarts, Voldemort finds out that he's there and so he and all his followers attack Hogwarts. and it's there were the final battle begins. Where it all ends.

This has to be the best of the series. definitely one of the best if not the best. The effects are very good, the acting through everything was powerful, and there was an ending like you wouldn't believe. There were things like the battle where they could've shown it more and made it bigger, and things like where Molly Weasley said that line that we all wanted to hear could been bigger and with huge rage. but they still gave a very good concept with the battle and it was still bad-a of Molly when she said that line that we all so desperately wanted to hear her say for a long time. They did leave out a few characters and point but that was probably expected when it comes to Yates and they still gave us a general idea that worked. To me, despite those downs, they made it enough where I find it worthy to give it 100% on my review here.

Acting/Characters:
Matthew Lewis/Neville Longbottom:He had his moment. And it was awesome. to think about all that he did after he was only a major wimp years ago. He truly did make his parents proud.
Maggie Smith/Professor McGonagall: She was an excellent choice for McGonagall and I loved her line when it came to summoning those stone guys.
Julie Walters/Molly Weasley: She said the line! she said the line! I won't say what it is for those of you who do not know, but it's the last thing she says in this film. A line that was going to be long remembered when first read from the book and had since hoped that it was going to be used in this film. and it was, and she did her part wonderfully.
Bonnie Wright/Ginny Weasley: she did a very good job with her part. especially with how emotional with what seemed to have happened to Harry.
Alan Rickman/Severus Snape: I remember when I hated his character because of the venom he seemed to have against Harry and his friends. But so much has been revealed that makes him even more unique of an excellent character that after all that Alan Rickman has already given us, we could only hope to be satisfied with what he would give to show what happened. He gave us that and more. What Harry saw inside the pensive was done beautifully. Rickman was so powerful that with everything that happened, you were close to tearing up. It was perfect. The time of Severus Snape is over with the rest of the series, but that does not change how what Alan Rickman gave us a performance and a character we are never going to forget.
Ralph Fiennes/Dark Lord Voldemort: Evil to the end. That hug he gave Draco was awkward but that doesn't change the dark character he was. Fiennes was a perfect choice to become the Dark Lord Voldemort to the very end.
Emma Watson/Hermione Granger: To think, she had all that big bushy hair when she started. now she has grown to be a really good actress. Emma Watson has done an excellent job as Hermione Granger and we will miss her time in Hogwarts.
Rupert Grint/Ron Weasley: When he started, he was a clumsy boy who hardly stopped eating and was somewhat, just the sidekick. Now he has shown to be a strong wizard and despite being mainly the comic-relief of the series, was shown to be a powerful actor after a certain character died. It was very well done. Remarkable job Grint. Remarkable job.

And of coarse:
Daniel Radcliffe/Harry Potter: In 2000, producer David Heyman asked Radcliffe to audition for the role of Harry Potter for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rolling had been searching for an unknown British actor to personify the character. However, Radcliffe's parents did not want him to audition for the role as the contract required shooting all seven films in Los Angeles, California, so they did not tell him. Once the movie's director Chris Columbus saw a video of the young actor in David Copperfield, he recalled thinking, "This is what I want. This is Harry Potter". Eight months later, after several auditions, he was selected to play the part. Rowling also endorsed the selection, saying the filmmaker could not "have found a better Harry" (Wikipedia) Not be best source, but it still is telling the story about this particular actor. I think many people felt the same way as Columbus did years ago when it came to Daniel Radcliffe in portraying this role. And I think we can all agree strongly about it. He gave us a boy who was being mistreated by his relatives and was then introduced into a world he never saw before where over the years he found friendship, courage, laughter, love, and the chance to save everything from an evil man. It's sad if not plain terrible to see it happen now. We can only wonder what is in store for this actor now that he is leaving everything behind. Bravo Daniel. And thank you.

Music: It was different as far as the original score goes. But the best part about it is that it played many songs from the first movie that made it work so well. my favorite part was that they especially played the very last song from the first film to finish it all off. wonderful.

Cinematography: I don't normally talk about this since i'm not much into it when it comes to film. But still, there is a shot during the very end of revealing snapes memories, it's probably the most powerful thing in the entire movie. it makes you want to cry. I will be beyond pissed if the cinematography is not at least nominated at the oscars.

Editing: little problem in one or two shots, but none of it mattered. that easily set aside, the editing was excellent. It set everything right. snape's memories, the battle, the really dramatic moments, everything.

And that is my review of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows-Part 2. This was a wonderful series topped by a wonderful ending. an ending I for one waited for almost 10 years. 10 years I for one will miss dearly. Until I write another review, thank you very much, all of you for reading my reviews to the memorable series of Harry Potter.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010)

My Rating: 80%

Okay everyone. the second to last round of my Harry Potter Marathon before the big finale. so here we go Round seven

Plot: Dumbledore is dead and with him, whatever help Harry feels he need right now. He has no intention to go back into Hogwarts for his final year. He plans to head out into the world with Ron and Hermione to find the remaining Horcruxes so he can finally kill Voldemort. He sends the Dursley away to keep them safe before he and his friends go on a dangerous mission to get him away from 4 Private Drive one last time and into the Burrow where he'll be safe until he's 17. he manages to get there after at the cost of a few deaths, but shortly afterwords, he and his friends are informed that Vodlemort has killed the Minister of Magic and he has not offically taken over the magical world. and so Harry, Ron and Hermione flee into hiding and carry on their quest to find and destroy the Horcruxes and kill the Dark Lord Voldemort.

Okay. i don't know about you guys, but i thought that while this may still be preparing for the ending like the rest of the movies from David Yates. (Still hate you for ruining Half-Blood Prince a little bit btw Mr. Yates you frick-hole) they actually did it mostly right in the extent of taking things slow, and adding important things that are in the book. granted, sometimes they took it too slow, and other times, especially during their time in the burrow,they took it just about as fast as they especially did in Half-Blood Prince. But what they did all around with telling most of the story so far, not to mention how much of the book was in there in just 2 1/2 hours, I was a bit impressed.

but there were a few things that were a particular down in this film. WARNING:I'M ABOUT TO SAY A FEW SPOILERS DURING THE REST OF MY REVIEW. I KNOW I NORMALLY DON'T ALL THAT MUCH BUT I JUST FEEL ALL OF IT NEEDS TO BE SAID FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN IT:
1)revealing information visually or no.
A)in the books, there was a mirror that Sirius gave to Harry and was destroyed after he died. But during the Deathly Hallows book, Harry kept a piece of the mirror with him during his travels with Ron and Hermione. The only thing those of the audience who didn't read the book or don't remember it got out that piece, was that Harry kept looking at it sometimes and it would even show someone in particular that they don't even know who it is. so with the mirror not even seen in the previous movies and that it wasn't even discussed what it was in this movie, most of the audience it totally in the dark.
B)some information is hardly seen. one example is where Harry, Ron and Hermione discover that R.A.B. turned out to be Sirius' brother when they looked at the door in his room, but there was no Close-Up of the name so that the audience could see it for themselves. Granted, for all we know that was shot but was not used by the choice of the editor, Mark Day (which I can believe a little under the circumstances of some of Day's choice of editing when it came to Half-Blood Prince.) but the fact remains that in the official showing of the film, there are things like no Close-Up on that particular part that are suppose to fall in line to the story.

2)Holes: some thing that were part of the detail were left out. Main example is not revealing more about Sirius' brother and how he ever came to know so much as how Voldemort survived when Harry's parents died let alone that he had Horcruxes.

3)Wasting time: so many things were used to fill in the time and it was was not needed.
A)Harry trying to leave and find the Horcuxes by himself only to be stopped my Ron with needless dialogue.
B)Death Eaters stopping the Hogwarts Express just to see if Harry is on it.
C)long moment of just showing characters looking at the environment they are in when they are hiding whether they are in the wood, or on top of a cliff or whatever.
D)moments like Harry & Hermione dancing and Harry taking one last look at the Dursley place...maybe. i mean i personally thought they worked very well for the most part but truth very well might be that they should not have been there.

Now aside from that, storytelling I thought was done well. they explored more and more of the world and the events of Harry Potter. and they actually went as far as covering what seems like close to about 2/3rds of the book in 2 1/2 hours. now crumbling so many Harry Potter events generally doesn't work, especially when it came to the last movie. (yes i know i'm talking about that one too many time i'm sorry.) But this time, they did it in a way where it worked more then it normally does. from the flight, to the chase, to finding the Horcuxes all around, destroying the one they took from Umbridge...and boy did i not expect (ANOTHER SPOILER) the Harry and Hermione from the magic inside to Horcrux kissing naked... that was so unexpected...made a lot of fans screaming in joy during the midnight showings I bet though.

Comedy: went alright as far as moments like what little bit there was of Fred and George.

Acting: Usually I give you guys a list to narrow down everyone's acting, but really this was just Harry Ron and Hermione the entire time around. I had no problem with the acting. and whatever downs there were especially to new characters was not the fault of the actors in my mind's eye. And even then, there's still Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. New Potter movie after new Potter movie, it's still it's always a pleasure and a joy to see the recent Harry Potter work of the ever loving trio. They get better every time.

Effects: they were fine in the long run. Although i didn't like that the Patronus' were often just a ball of bright light. and i didn't think the effects for the Deluminator were not all that particularly creative.

Mood of the Film: i thought it was done just perfectly. especially with the very end for Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Editing: mostly good, but my main problem was the lack of good shot for specific information like revealing the name of Srius' brother so that we would all be on the same page as the trio. They did a very good job still, but there were still times like that where I disagreed with their choices.

And that is my review for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Oh boy. Now to just look forward to the moment of truth. there is now only slightly less than eight hours left before I see the final film after waiting all these long years. Be excited my fellow viewers. be very excited. The moment of truth is near. The time has come. we only need to wait a few hours longer...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

My Rating: 70%

I honestly think this film is slightly overrated. I mean they still made it Harry Potter which is what makes to very good, but when you compare it to the book, it dishonors the excellent literature in that book. So here we are with round Six of my Harry Potter Marathon

Plot: Narcissa Malofy, Draco's mother, makes Snape make the unbreakable vow in order to protect him during something that is being planned to happen. Meanwhile, Dumbledore takes Harry to see Horace Slughorn and convince him to return to Hogwarts as the potions teacher at Hogwarts Making Snape finally the professor of Defense against the Dark Arts. Back at Hogwarts, Ron gets a girlfriend and Harry si starting to have thoughts about Ginny. and over the school year, Dumbledore takes Harry to his office to show memories of Voldemort's past.

Like I said, it's not terrible, but with the way things were stuffed in, I could have been so much more. Many debate that it really should've been split in two like Deathly Hallows. Because here's the thing, the Order of the Phoenix rushed a fair bit and Goblet of fire rushed a little bit as well. The books are better in pretty much every reader's point of view, but both of them - mostly Goblet of Fire - still put it together were things, in the long term, can be understood by everyone - readers and non readers of the books alike, like the rest of the series. But while they do it enough were I for one at least give it a 70%, no more no less, while it still did an alright job at putting things together, it was so stuffed that it was christmas time in Hogwarts and we're only 20 minutes in Hogwarts we would normally otherwise wait around 50 minutes after they arrive at Hogwarts via the Hogwarts Express. I checked. Plus while they did a very good job with telling the story socially especially with the matter with Ron and his girlfriend Lavender, they didn't really get to much into the important parts of the movie like with the whole matter with Voldemort or really get into the whole matter about the Half-Blood Prince and his book except for helping Harry with that one potions class and taking part in technically teaching Harry Sectumsempra. I would kinda accept all of that, almost all of that, if they especially didn't really get into the HORCRUXES!!!! I"m not going to say anything about them for those of you who haven't watched the film or read the book, except that the Horcruxes are pretty much the most important part of the story of the Half-Blood Prince. It's what made us readers of the series super-ultra excited for the final book to top that it's the last one anyway, and while they gave us a fair idea at the concept, they did an extremely poor job and being any more specific than that. I mean my friend Mandy has, last she told me anyway, never read the books, and when I asked her how much she understood about the Horcuxes, she told me that they had to be explained to her by her other friends who have read the book after she saw the film. They may have done enough for some people who didn't read it by just giving us the concept in this film, but when they've stuffed so much that something as important, and the Horcruxes have to be explained more specifically than they did for people like Mandy, that's were I especially put my foot down and to this day, have a little bit of venom against David Yates for making this film as it is.

Acting/Characters:
Daniel Radcliffe/Harry Potter: he did a really good job as always. but I personally llllloooooovvvveee his performance when he drank the Felix Flixes. It's fun to watch every time. and he did a good job at reacting to a particular character's death in the end.
Rupert Grint/Ron Weasley: He was hilarious. from his relationship with Lavender all the way to when he accidentally drank that love potion. Grint pretty much did it a gain and a little bit more.
Emma Watson/Hermione Granger: She did very good too. especially when it came to he seeing Ron with Lavender. Good acting.
Alan Rickman/Severus Snape: Now don't get me wrong, they did a pretty good job with Snape to build things up a little, but it still could've been more.
Jim Broadbent/Horace Slughorn: He did a brilliant job with his character. my only regret was that his intro was spoiled for me because it was played at a "firstlook" thing in the theaters right before we saw this film, midnight showing. but luckily, even after that, there were still enough things that weren't spoiled that made up for it for what it's worth.
Tom Felton/Draco Malfoy: I know I actually haven't mentioned him yet in any of my reviews. But up till now, there wasn't too much to say since it was probably better that you guy see for yourself. But now there is something to say which is simply that they did a good job with portraying Malfoy with what he was going through and Felton did a very good job with his acting.
Michael Gambon/Albus Dumbledore: This was Gambon's moment to really shine as Albus Dumbledore. and with what they did show from the book, he did a very good job at it. It's times like this though, that I for one will wonder what it would've been like had Richard Harris lived to do the role to the very end of the series.

Music: I thought the music was very good.

Editing: they had some very good shots and cutting...right to the end to me. I mean once that one Inferi grabbed Harry they just cut to a whole much of shots from different angles that were shooting in front of him in like, under 3 seconds. And after the certain-character-who-will-not-be-named-for-those-who-don't-know died, they sort of did the same thing only with two shots. one didn't really show harry and the other was closer and did show more of him. and they cut from the one that didn't really show to the one that did really quick. They really should've just stuck with the closer one to show Harry Reaction to what is happening.

And that is my review for Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. while still telling a fair bit of the story and being a good film, I find it the weakest in terms of really telling the story of the particular book.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

My Rating: 70%


well everyone, it's time to face the David Yates half of the series. where too much is stuffed and made quick and is only partially made up by the fact that they slit the last book in two. So let us begin with round five of my Potter Marathon with The Order of the Phoenix.

Plot:When Harry uses a Patronus charm in front of Dudley in order to save both of them from two Demontors, Harry is at first expelled from Hogwarts. But after the matter is put on trial, he is cleared of charges but along the way, becomes aware of how many Witches and Wizards in the magical world think Harry and Dumbledore are lying about Voldemort's return after the Ministry of Magic denies it completely. back at Hogwarts, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge appoints Dolores Umbridge the new Defense Against The Dark teacher of the school. Umbridge not only believe that Harry and Dumbledore are lying but she refuses to teach her class due to her belief that Dumbledore is forming a rebellion and so Harry and the other students have to use a secret room to learn defense against the dark arts.

As enjoyable as the film...mostly is once you get over the downs to it, the fact remains that there are downs. They do take things a little quickly. not too quickly but it was enough at the time for some of us to be concerned. But at the same time, they still kept it fairly organized, they gave us a really good start of the idea of actual magical battle in this Magical world, and they had a very good way of introducing characters like Tonks and Bellatrix.

Acting/Characters:
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson/ Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger: There was nothing new about them. in a way they were just doing the same thing. I mean it's not bad, but they didn't completely give us something new.
Imelda Staunton/Dolores Umbridge: She did her part so well, that i'd love to do so many things that character that i hate her so much. I mean Umbridge is so evil that if it didn't mean going to Azkaban or be found as evil in any way, i'd crucio that b word tot he point where she's so insane that she makes Neville's parents look like the most sane people in the world, and at the same time i'd grab her throat attempting to rip half of it out of her body. that sounds a little far, but that's my choice of torture because she is really evil with every inch of her and every sound of her voice. so in other words Staunton did a good job with that character.
Evanna Lynch/Luna Lovegood: She was a very good choice for the character. She acts so strange but that is what makes her so lovable.
Helena Bonham Carter/Bellatrix Lestrange: Carter really does an excellent job for this character. She's so evil that you wonder how it's going to go down in the final film.

Music: not bad. I think my favorite parts are the Battle at the Ministry of Magic and that theme for the Weasley Twins.

Editing: eh. it was okay. like I said, a little quick but that's not entirely the editor's fault.

And that is my review for Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix. just two - technically three more reviews to go before the final film.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

My Rating: 80%

SO here's Round four. the final one before the half, terror that is the David Yates half of the series. D: so let's begin.

Plot: before their fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione and the Weasley family join Cedric Diggory and his father to the Quidditch World Cup. shortly after the game, the campsites for the Cup are attacked by Voldemort's Death Eaters. And before that, Harry begins to have nightmares about Voldemort planning something that has to do with him. Back of Hogwarts, Dumbledore announces that Hogwarts this year will host the Triwizard Tournament with two other magical schools; the Durmstrang Institute and the Beauxbatons Academy of magic. In this tournament, 17 year old students from all three schools can place their name on the Goblet of Fire and one student from each school is selected to be the champion of that school and participate in the tournament. when the champions are decided, the Goblet of Fire chooses the three champions from each school, but then it chooses out one more person: Harry Potter.

I understand why some people would not care to much for this film compared to the book, but personally I liked how they put it all together. The obviously changed a lot of it such as how Harry received help whenever he needed it during the tournament, but what they made it to be with that change, I thought worked very well. And it was also still very funny, especially with the Weasley Twins, Mad-Eye "punishing" Malfoy, and all sorts of other things. And I thought it was still very dark especially in the very end with that maze and what happens after that.

Actors/Characters:
Daniel Radcliffe/Harry Potter:Ah yes. the particular year for both Radcliffe and Grint where they grew their hair stupid long. Obviously I thought Radcliffe did a good job, especially with the dramatic moments, particularly with how he was expressing pain during the very end or with the death of a character.
Rupert Grint/Ron Weasley: Still funny, but also rather mean to both of his friends. but even then he still was the Ron we all know and love.
Emma Watson/Hermione Granger: Watson did get better in this film. mostly with her emotions in all the dramatic moments like with her argument with Ron at the Yule ball or when with came tot eh Death Eaters and the Horntail.
Brendan Gleeson/Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody: For many people- which is including me- This wasn't what people had entirely in mind when it came to Mad-Eye. which is not exactly a bad thing, but some people might've disliked it that way. But in my opinion, they did a good job with him, especially with his eye (obviously) and with his always drinking his potion.
Robert Pattinson/Cedric Diggory:well...he has way more movement, tone and facial expression than as Edward. In fact, some people playfully say that he really turned into a vampire because of that curse...which in that case, we would rather die. so let us raise a glass for Pattinson for two seconds for the whatever tal- okay the two seconds are over. back to hating this guy because he's popular for making pieces of crap.
Ralph Fiennes/Dark Lord Voldemort: He did a really good job. the end all around was a really good start in showing how Voldemort is truly dark and evil and Fiennes did and Excellent job in acting that out.


Music: well it was Jo- just kidding. It was Patrick Doyle. Although they obviously kept the themes from John Williams. I liked the music for the most part with this film. they were brilliant but they aren't pieces of crap.

Editing: I thought it was well put together. I mostly refer to the hints if you will about the Tournament and Mad-Eye. I think they worked.

And that is my review for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. only two more to review and then resend you guy my review for Deathly Hallows part one, and i'm all set and ready to go to go see the end of this memorable series.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

My rating: 90%

Alrighty everyone, round three of my potter marathon. let's get going.

Plot: Before beginning his third year in Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry is warned by Ron's father and the ministry of magic to try to avoid Sirius Black; a man who recently broke out of Azkaban, the wizard prison and was said to be a very big supporter of the Dark Lord Voldemort before Voldemort was defeated and Black was sent to prison. And during his time at Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic has allowed Dementors; creatures that feed on happiness into the school grounds in order to find Sirius Black for if he comes near hogwarts. Meanwhile, Hermionie and Hagrid try to defend Hagrid's hippogriff Buckbeak who attacked Molfoy from being sentenced to death even though the attack was out of Malfoy's stupidity.

The thing about this film is that now we are getting a better idea about the dark world of Harry Potter. I mean we have a fair idea already from the first two films, but like I said with the first one, while they gave a decent idea of that dark magical world, at the same time, they made it feel like it was more a movie to watch on like, halloween with the way the introduced magic, sorcery, ghosts, an enchanted castle, not to mention the cloathing of witches and wizards. But now with introducing creatures like Dementors, or the book of magical creatures, unique sort of majic or magical things like the Knight Bus or the Patronus charm, or just how the color in the film and the particular story is different from the first two films, this film is starting to show us how Harry Potter is it's own unique thing concerning a magical world somewhat similar to how J.R.R.Tolkein showed Middle-Earth to be it's own unique mythical world with The Lord of the Rings. I mean it's that and the fact that they were pretty loyal to the books for the most part again, so that does the trick.


Acting/Characters:
Daniel Radciffe/Harry Potter: Now I'm going to start by talking about the whole kid cast for a moment. And that's just to state the complete obvious on how much everyone has grown and practically seem like they're totally different people from the loveable rascals from the first two films. I know that's silly and a little dumb to point out since it goes without saying, but I think looking back, especially when i compared pictures from the characters from the first film to their posters of them for the final film, it's just messing with my head so much that i feel it needs to be said right here and right now. Anyway, on to actually talking about Radcliffe. Obviously he did a very good job, especially when it came to the...somewhat, two-part climax of the film.
Rupert Grint/Ron Weasly: Same actor, just funnier. :D
Emma Watson/Hermione Granger: Well she is much more strong spirited this time. that's for sure. I mean when she punched Malofy...well it's like Ron said: "Bloody Brilliant" and appearance wise she definetly has changed hair wise. not so big and bushy looking anymore.
Michael Gambon/Albus Dumbledore: I would've failed as a critic if i forgot to put him in this review. Now granted, he wasn't in here a whole bunch. I mean it's not like he and Harry had another moment about how Harry is better than Voldemort or anything like that unlike the rest of the films. But this was an okay way for him to start even though this time he was mostly kinda being the third person to take part in saving the day instead of just leaving some clues or finding thing out for himself before Haryr and his friends save the day for him somewhat and then he and harry have another moment concerning Voldemort & all that. so yeah.
Gary Oldman/Sirius Black: gee...it kinda feels weird typing Oldman's name in order to tell you guys he played Sirius looking back. I mean i've been looking at so many of his other films then this one for quite a while, good and bad that i've almost completely forgotten how I first came to know the actor in the first place: via this series. But still, he was a nice character.
David Thewlis/Remus Lupin: He was a very interesting character. especially on how he was the mentor in this film instead of Dumbledore.
Timothy Spall/Peter Pettigrew: he wasn't there for very long, but he did pretty good in introducing the character.
Emma Thompson/Professor Trelawney: she was a fun character. nice and crazy.

Music: again, now altoghether everyone, *me and all of you*:John Williams. *back to just me*: John Williams does it again but what was smart here was that there was some new pieces of music which were pretty good.

Editing: It was well edited altogether. But what you really have to like is how the whole time travel thing messes with you. you pretty much expirience the whole climax twice only a few things are added into it the second time. it's just messed up. That actually makes it clever with shooting the big clock during the beginning and the end of Harry and Hermione's adventure where either they're going down the stairs from the Hospital Wing to the Courtyard or vice versa, the camera kind atake a shortcut going through the castle clock and there's this sort of time music going on. it was just well done.

And that is my review for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It was the perfect film to show the dark world or Harry Potter more clearly while still giving us a heck of an adventure to love.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

My Rating: 80%

Well it's round two of the Harry Potter reviewing marathon, so let's get started.

Plot: Before he begins his second year at Hogwarts, Harry comes across a house elf named Dobby who tells him not to go back to Hogwarts or he will be in danger. Despite his attempts to stop him, Harry makes it back to Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione. But things start to become suspenseful in Hogwarts when people start to be attacked by a mysterious creature.

The main reason why I enjoy this film a little better than the first is that it's more loyal to the book. You know, at the time when I went to the midnight showing of this film, my family and I had already read like, the first three books or so. And then we went to see this film and almost everything from the book happens here. And it had a more interesting suspense from the first film. or more a different take on time at Hogwarts. I mean that's the case with all of Harry Potter, but I thought this was a good way to start really showing that with this series. It was just enjoyable that way.

Acting/Characters:
Daniel Radcliffe/Harry Potter: Well you know he's definitely growing older by the change of his voice of not how he's grown a bit taller. That aside, he was just as clever and intrigued with the new magical things to see at Hogwarts as ever. Real good job all around.
Rupert Grint/Ron Weasley: I thought he acted pretty well. especially with showing how he was really scared when it came tot he spiders.
Emma Watson/Hermione Granger:She was still Hermione.
Kenneth Branagh/Gilderoy Lockhart: He made a very funny character. It's strange to think of Branagh now, with all his other acting role and his career in directing. I mean he's the guy that directed Thor...Gilderoy Lockhart made Thor! that kinda messes with your head when you think about it. fun fact about the character though, Hugh Laurie was the first pick. but due to some scheduling, he couldn't do it. gee...now i'd really like to know how this would've turned out with him playing Lockhart...hmmm.

Music:same set of music and it was still done by John Williams. :D

Editing: It's still good. same as the last film.

And that is my review for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) (2001)

My Rating: 80%

Well guys, this should be a surprise under the circumstances. But it still has to be done. You know, I remember how i had first thought of Harry Potter a long time ago. People were talking about it, and I tried to read it but I just flipped through, cause then I really just cared about my comics, Calvin and Hobbes and Pokemon half the time. And it wasn't until I saw this film that I really got into the series. I enjoyed it so much that from there there was reading it together with my mother and my siblings, and the game to the film film being my favorite game for a short time and when I first defeated it, I had officially set myself on a quest to go through the entire series game wise and kill the Dark Lord Voldemort myself. a goal I still hold to this day, so far have only gone as far as the first six years, haven't been able to get the game to part one of Deathly Hallows. and that aside, here I am now, excited for the final film with a poster from when the sixth boo came out on one side of my wall, and on the other, a replica of Bellatrix's wand from when my brother went to Europe. All i'm saying here is, it's crazy to me how my view for Harry Potter has changed looking back to when I first became aware of the series. So without further ago, here's my review to the film that started it all.

Plot: ten years ago, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed the parents of Harry Potter, but when he tried to kill Harry, his killing curse bounced back and hit him, and he was never seen since, leaving Harry with nothing but a scar shaped like a thunderbolt. He was then sent by Professor Dumbledore of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry to live with his none magical parents, the Dursley's. Now he is still living with the Dursley's who have treated him badly before many letters, and eventually a giant named Hagrid came to him on his 11th birthday inviting him to come to the school and become a Wizard.

To some people I know, they have liked it less as much as they do now due to how we all have grown since the very first adventure of Harry Potter. But I think I pretty much feel the same affect as I did before with this film. It is an amazing story to me about a boy who is being brought into an amazing world of magic from watching Hagrid give his cousin a pig tail, to Diagon Alley, to finally going to the magical school of Hogwarts. Granted, this film does make it feel a bit more like it's a movie to watch on Halloween the way they made things a bit Halloween like when it comes to the concept about Wizards and Witches and magical brooms and a women turning into a cat. But they still did enough more or less for it to be its own thing.

Acting/Characters:
Daniel Radcliffe/Harry Potter: I really liked Radcliffe's performance. He acted so well with how to react to the things happening around him throughout the film with this whole new world coming right in front of him.
Rupert Grint/Ron Weasley:He is a very lovable character too. I enjoy how he's the kind of sidekick that he is.
Emma Watson/Hermione Granger: What's to say,? she knew just what to show that Hermione is this smart, stubborn yet charming girl.
Allan Rickman/Severus Snape: Ah yes. Snape. Oh how we all know how to hate this character because of how he hated Harry. Rickman did an excellent job performing this character, and he will be missed when this is over.
Robbie Coltrane/Rubeus Hagrid:What can I say? he's a lovable character and Coltrane did a very good job at it.
Maggie Smith/Professor McGonnagal: You really have to like McGonnagal. She turns into a cat, she knows what to do, and she's all for Griffindor.
Richard Harris/Albus Dumbledore: He did a very good job with this role. It's just sad that he didn't get to be there for very long. But in a way it works in terms of how like the first two films, Dumbledore is being viewed mostly in a way that's primarily for kids. Just as this lovable wise old man for Harry to look up to.

Music:Well...and I know I use this as my very clear cut of starting off but...it was John Williams. And why not put it that way? just like the rest of the films with him, Williams gave us some very well made music for all of us to know and love and to remember for a very long time.

Editing:It was very good. I think they told the story very well in showing us this magical world in a visual, clear way.


And that is my review for Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. It was beautiful made film to introduce both us and Harry a remarkable world, and it is only the beginning.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Blue Harvest (2007)

Rating: 70%

This was a fun way to enjoy yet make fun of Star Wars, Family guy style.


Plot: The power goes off while the Griffin family are watching TV. so to pass the time, Peter tell the story of Star Wars-New Hope with all of the characters re-imagined as the Star Wars characters.

This wasn't a complete LOL for me but it was still totally enjoyable. It has its random moments like Family Guy, and it stays loyal to Star Wars, effects and all, and makes fun of it at the same time. there are some points where you probably would have to be familiar with family guy to get it, but even if you don't it has it's points where it's funny nonetheless.

Characters:
Quagmire and Cleveland/C-3PO and R2-D2: well with Quagmire, It was nice that he they still had his little obsession for sex. and with Cleveland and R2, I thought it was funny how he would slowly in a Cleveland manner doing R2's beeping sounds whenever he would do that.
Chris Griffin/Luke Skywalker: With Chris I just enjoyed his Star Wars jokes like his reason for killing animals for fun when he was on Tatooine.
Lois Griffin/Princess Leia: yeah. that worked. that's all I have to say.
Herbert/Obi-Wan Kenobi: Now I don't care too much for Herbert concerning his lust for young boys like Chris, but I liked some of the jokes he made about it.
Peter Griffin and Brian/Han Solo and Chewbacca: They were hilarious. my favorite parts were the couch and a the pigs ear.
Mayor West/ Grand Moff Tarkin: HE WAS AWESOME!!!! WARNING: if you don't want to know about the film yet don't read the rest fo this, but this was my favorite part with Mayor West as Tarkin, and I quote
Tarkin: Princess Leia, we have chosen to test our Death Star planet-blower-upper-gun on your home planet of Aldderan
Leia: NO!!!!
Tarkin: (To Vader) She said no. should we still do it?
Vader: ...yeah.
THAT WAS JUST AWESOME!!!!
Stewie Griffin/Darth Vader: He was AWESOME!!! a perfect choice for Vader. It was perfect.


and...well...that's my review for Blue Harvest...nothing left to say.

Monday, July 4, 2011

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

My Rating: 100%

Well the next film is coming soon and I plan to go see it with my grandmother who is a huge Winnie the Pooh fan. SO i went on youtube and watched this movie again for the first time in probably around 10 years.

Plot: This movie contains three main stories of Christopher Robin's favorite toy, Winnie the Pooh along with the rest of his toy animals in a place called the Hundred-Acre Wood.
1)The Honey Tree: Pooh falls short on honey at home and so he sets out with ways to go into the honey tree.
2)A Blustery Day: This starts out as a story about a few adventures during a very windy day, and later a very rainy day in the Hundred-Acre Wood. This also contains introducing that ever lovable tiger, Tigger. :D
3)And Tigger Too: Due to his major habit of bouncing everywhere, Rabbit tries to find a way to get the bounce out of him.

Good golly I've forgotten so much of this film. It really comes to show how much you forget about your childhood as you grow older. Forgetting a bunch of this film for around 10 years definitely proves that. It was so fun to see all of these characters again and their adventures. Plus, you kind realizes how much Winnie the Pooh lives in a rather unique kind of world.

Characters:
Winnie the Pooh:It was awesome to see him again... though i'm very curious as to how much he's going to stay the same in the next film.
Piglet:...He was Piglet just as I remembered him.
Eeyore:He's a much more interesting character now that I'm older. mostly on how he's always so gloomy and all that.
Christopher Robin: Same as I remember him.
Owl:I find him a strange character now. mostly with his intelligence and how he always has a story about his family.
Tigger: The sad things is, if there's one thing i've forgotten the most when it comes to Winnie the Pooh, it's how much i really loved Tigger. I mean as soon as he came into Pooh's house and introduced himself I had a huge grin in my face and started chuckling from spelling his name, all the way to every time he sings his song. I'm kinda excited as to how he's going to be in the next film.

Music:Well it was Winnie the Pooh to it had a lot of classic musicals, primarily the theme song and "The wonderful thing about Tiggers."

And that is my review for The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh. It was a pleasure to see it again and i'm hoping for the best with the next film.

Easy A (2010)

My Rating: 90%

Well guys, i've reached 100, so it's time to get started with the next 100. Now for a while, I have been curious to see this movie. I mean I still more or less remember the trailer with "Poker Face" from Lady Gaga playing and all that. So it was just a couple of weeks ago that I had finally remember it and decided to borrow it from the library and see it. So here's my review on it.

Plot:Olive Penderghast is a not so popular girl (of coarse) who starts off in this movie lying to her best friend Rhiannon that she is going out with a college student during the weekend in order to avoid going camping with her because of her hippie parents. At the end of the weekend, Rhiannon asks if she slept with the college guy and she nags Olive to the point where she lies and admits that she did. Another student, Marianne who is the leader of the church group of the school, hears about this and spreads it all over the school. After Olive admits that it's not true to her gay friend Brandon, he asks her to pretend to have sex with him so that he would not be harassed for his gayness. From there other boys use the lie to pretend to sleep with her to strengthen her reputation and raise their school status.

Well to be fair, the concept isn't that good as far is being the story about someone becoming popular based on a lie or a set of lies. I mean we've all seen movies like that from A bug's life and Aladdin, and it's part of why especially hate Rango as some of you well know. But unlike Rango, This was more original and entertaining to me. The characters were unique and fun, it had a-while not a extremely creative twist-a fairly good twist, it was altogether more amusing.

Acting/Characters:
Alyson Michalka/Rhiannon "Rhi" Abernathy: there's actually nothing too much to say about Rhi. she was like any normal gossip type of girl when you think of high school. The only difference are the jokes she makes.
Amanda Bynes/Marianne Bryant: Now I have a sort of dislike for the kind of "carried-away-and-not-think-more-about-trusting-in-the-lord-and-talking-more-to-him" sort of Christians, so Marianne didn't have a completely good start for me. But her character was more interesting when her relationship with Olive changed.
Thomas Haden Church/Mr.Griffith: He was a decent character. I mean some might not like how he's kinda on the same tone and stuff like that but you can totally see all there is about the character that made him Olive's favorite teacher. And it's a little nice to see Church outside of Spider-man 3 (FRICK YOU EVERYONE THAT RUINED THAT FILM!!!! HOW COULD YOU!?!?!?! HOW COULD YOU!?!?!?! IT HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN GIVE US A LOT OF GOOD LOOKS AT VENOM!!!! WHAT WRONG WITH VENOM!?!?! WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF EDDIE YOU MORONS!!!!!! WHAT THE FRICK WAS IT THAT DANCE IN THE RESTAURANT!?!?! OR GWEN KISSING HIM!?!?!?!! OR HIS EMO HAIR!?!?!?! FRICK YOU!!!!! FRCIK YOU!!!!)
Lisa Kudrow/Mrs. Griffith: just as it is nice to see Church outside of...*tries to keep his temper together*...you know what, it was also nice to see Kudrow outside of Friends. And she had a pretty nice character and I loved how she became a part of the whole situation.
Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci/Rosemary Penderghast and
Dill Penderghast: I liked the parents I thought they were pretty original and cute.
Emma Stone/Olive Penderghast: Every time I watched this film thinking of the actual actress i think of one thing: THIS IS THE NEXT GWENDOLYN "GWEN" STACY!?!?!?!?! Because while Andrew Garfield shows that he can be a pretty good actor with Social Network, this shows, to me, that Stone can REALLY act. I mean Olive was a very interesting and entertaining character and Stone did quite a job at portraying her.

Music: Well I have that Sunshine song stuck in my head thanks too this film. other than that I didn't pay to much attention tot he music so i'll just say it was just average.

Editing: It was good.

And that is my review for Easy A. It was a pretty good movie for a teenage comedy and I enjoyed watching it.