Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all, those who live without love."

 

Directed by David Yates

2011

Viewed July 2011

This was a wonderful ending to such a great series. Its been awhile since I've read the book, and I think it basically follows most of the major points, but it does take some liberties as well. But keeping the book out of it, I still think that this was a really great movie. Harry, Ron and Hermione have battled Voldemort and his forces of evil for 8 movies, and here, in the 8th and final film, it all comes to a head and there is a final battle. Oh how these characters (and the actors who played them) have grown. We have watched them for the last 10 years and it's definitely sad to say goodbye. I got so into HP 7.2 and when the characters had triumphs I wanted to cheer for them. Neville had a big scene and I just wanted to jump up and clap for him because he's come so far from being that dopey, comical chubby kid and turned into a brave young man willing to stand up to The Dark Lord himself and fight for what he believes. This movie is not quite perfect, there were a few scenes that felt cheesy (mainly the "19 years later" part that was horrible in the book as well). Overall this movie was exciting, fun and it did not feel like I had been sitting there for 2 hours and 10 minutes! A-

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

"These are dark times, there is no denying. Our world has perhaps faced no greater threat than it does today." 

Directed by David Yates

2010

Date Viewed: Friday December 24, 2010 and May 29, 2011

This is probably my second favorite Harry Potter film (Number 4, HP and the Goblet of Fire is my #1 pick). I think I enjoy how its in a really dark place and the whole series has led up to this huge ending and this one just gets me really excited to see how the ending will all play out on screen. I think the acting is definitely better, and the friendship of Harry, Ron and Hermione is just so strong- Hermione and Ron are even willing to sacrifice their lives for Harry. I know, Ron has his weak moment in the film where he's all sullen and crabby and ditches them for a bit, but that's Ron for you... This film finds the three wandering the wilderness in search of the Horcruxes that hold pieces of Voldemort's soul. Voldemort is in search of the Elder Wand, which is the most powerful wand in the world. Bellatrix is still a crazy psycho, and Dobby is the hero in this film. B+

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Lucy: "Aslan, will we ever meet you in our world?"

Aslan: "You shall."

Lucy: "How?"

Aslan: "Because there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name.This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, That knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

Directed by Michael Apted

2010

Date Viewed: Saturday, December 11 2010

This is by far my favorite of the Narnia movies. It's probably my favorite of the books too, even though I always say that The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is because it holds a special place in my heart. Edmund and Lucy end up in Narnia with their obnoxious cousin Eustace. They are transported there via a painting. While there they have many adventures with Prince Caspian aboard the Dawn Treader. The children help Prince Caspian in his search for seven lost lords of Narnia. They have many adventures including dragons, Deathwater Island (that has a pool that turns anything it touches to gold... including people), the Island Where Dreams Come True (including nightmares) and the Edge of the World. There are so many great characters and adventures in this story. I love it. A

Hereafter

Directed by Clint Eastwood

2010

Date Viewed: October 30, 2010

This movie follows three people as they face death in different ways. The first is Marie, a French reporter who has a near death experience. She is almost swept away by a tsunami, basically dies and sees the afterlife and then comes back to life and struggles to understand what it all means. The second is a quiet London school boy whose twin brother is killed in a car accident and he goes to psychics and different specialists to try and understand where his brother is now. The third is a blue collar guy from San Fran who, as a result of a botched brain surgery, can speak to the dead. He used to make his living doing readings for people, but couldn't live with the dead anymore and quit. This is an EXTREMELY slow paced movie, but it's also really interesting and brings up a lot of questions about the afterlife/heaven/the hereafter. I already know what I believe about Heaven and what happens when we die, but I can see how this movie could be a great conversation starter for a deep discussion on the subject. This is also a long movie, so be warned. B+

Stardust

"A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" Pointless, really... "Do the stars gaze back?" Now *that's* a question."

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

2007

Date Viewed: Tuesday September 14, 2010

This movie may look super lame and cheesy from the preview, but let me tell you, it's awesome. Tristan crosses into a magical world called Stormhold on a mission to find a fallen star and bring it back to the one he thinks is his true love. He catches up with the star, Yvaine, and they make a deal that if she goes with him, he'll help her get home. Meanwhile an evil witch sees the star fall and wants to capture her and eat her heart because it will make her young again. At the same time Prince Septimus seeks the star because she has a necklace that will make him king of Stormhold. Plus, if he kills her and eater her heart, he'll be made immortal. Tristan and Yvaine are on the run and they come across many interesting and funny characters (a flamboyant pirate captain played splendidly by Robert DeNiro for one). Michelle Pfeiffer is my favorite as the evil witch. She's over the top and seems like she's just having so much fun. I loved this funny, fantastical, magical adventure. A

Twilight

Bella: Did you follow me?

Edward: I... I feel very protective of you.

Bella: So you followed me.

Edward: I was trying to keep a distance unless you needed my help

Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke

2008

Date Viewed: Saturday September 11, 2009

So Bobby and I have this deal... If I watch Twilight with him, then he'll watch Harry Potter with me... So that meant that last night I had to sit through the first Twilight movie. Seriously, Edward Cullen is a huge creeper, how can people not see that? He's all overly protective of her, he follows her, he keeps telling her to get away and stay away, but then HE keeps going to her and then she asks questions and he doesn't give her any answers, but she's like putty in his hands. Creepy creepy relationship. Why should I root for them? And why does every single guy in the school want to be with Bella? She's not really anything special. And then there's the whole vampires sparkle in the sunlight thing. Seriously? Not only does he sparkle, but when the sun shines on him there's even a sparkly sound. The second half gets a little better than the first. Edward starts giving her answers and she meets his family and then has a run in with some bad vampires and one of them chases her down and tries to kill her, which was exciting. The fight scene was decent and the super fast vampire movements were kinda cool but also kind of not. I felt like they could've been done in a little better quality. So first half was lame, second half was ok, but not really that great, so this gets a C- for just being a kind of average movie.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

"Bread makes you fat"

Directed by Edgar Wright

2010

Date Viewed: August 2010

This movie is the definition of awesome. It's got a little bit of everything, romance, action, cool special effects, music and video game references. I loved pretty much every minute of it. Scott Pilgrim is kind of an awkward loser (as Michael Cera, who plays him, is in every movie, but it's ok cause he's awesome at it) who falls in love with Ramona Flowers and proceeds to awkwardly dump his high school girlfriend, Knives Chau. So he goes on this date with Ramona and eventually finds out that if he wants to date Ramona, he has to defeat her 7 evil exes in video game style. The fight scenes are so funny/awesome in their videogameness. The music is also awesome and I loved every one of the characters. Jason Schwartsmann and Michael Cera were superb in this movie as well. I give it an A