Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 -- My Childhood is Slowly Coming to an End

Rating: 8.9/10 --> Why are you reading this, go see it now!!! 

Source: http://seat42f.com/images/stories/Movies/Posters/Harry-Potter-And-The-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2.jpg

Wow.

I was extremely pleased with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.  If you think of the Part 1 and Part 2 as one giant movie it’s an extremely well done film.  David Yates has won me back.  It took me a while to forgive him for the shit he put on the screen with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, but he definitely redeemed himself with the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga.  I loved pretty much everything about the movie. The soundtrack gets me every time. I’m a music geek, so I get chills just hearing Hedwig’s theme, and every other epic composition in the film.  The acting was way better.  The cliché dialogue was exactly what I was hoping for, because that’s what made the books so enjoyable as a kid.  I couldn’t help but gasp like a little schoolgirl when I realized Molly Weasley was about to tell Bellatrix, “Not my daughter, you BITCH!”  That scene was fantastic!  I thoroughly enjoyed my midnight showing, and the LARPing that occurred outside the theater elevated the experience.  A bunch of Potter geeks ran around yelling curses at each other, waving their wands like they were real. Priceless.

See the thing is you HAVE TO ignore everything you know about the books, so that you can just ENJOY the movie.  It’s an adaptation.  Things are going to get left out, things are going to get changed, and you just have to deal with it.  If you can get past that, then you’ll like the movie so much more.  However, there are a few little things that could have been done about Part 2, that would have made the film easier to understand for those who haven’t read the books, because let’s be real, if you’ve read the book, it’s so easy to understand exactly what’s going on, because even if it’s wrong, you’re correcting it in your head.  So here are the few things I’d fix…

SNAPE’S MEMORIES & THE PERCEPTION OF JAMES POTTER

I read on the IMDB boards that some people thought Snape was Harry’s father.  As RIDICULOUS as that is, I can understand why (but seriously, there was never a doubt James was his father, and he looks EXACTLY like James, clearly Snape’s not his father).  The filmmakers make it so that you sympathize with Snape so much that you forget he was a complete douche to Harry.  That’s fine, but one little line was left out, which would have made the Snape, Lily, James love triangle clearer… When Snape calls Lily a mudblood. This little forgone scene shows Snape’s darker side, and is the reason Lily stops being friends with Snape, and ultimately marries James.  That would have taken 2 seconds to add in.  Instead, to non book-readers James is a complete dick and Snape is just the misunderstood goth kid that could never find love.  Even in the Resurrection Stone scene, James says something encouraging to Harry, but he just ignores him.  That being said, the sequence in Snape’s memories was extremely well done (besides omitting that one scene) and Alan Rickman was an amazing Snape. 

WAIT, WHICH TWIN DIED?

They really didn’t do the twins any justice.  There’s no way you can’t love Fred and George.  If you don’t you’re dead to me.  There was never a clear shot to indicate which twin was Fred and which twin was George.  It would have been so easy to show George’s ear missing at some point to make it clear that FRED is the one who dies.  Also, draw out our emotions, make us cry, show Fred DYING!! It was so graceful and eloquent in the book, but in the movie we have no indication of him dying besides his lifeless body.  The only way you could even figure out that it was Fred who dies, is by listening to Neville’s monologue at the end. 

IS HARRY INVINCIBLE OR SOMETHING????

Ok so Harry is SUPPOSED to come back from the dead because he has the Resurrection Stone in his hand, the invisibility cloak, and was the current master of the Elder Wand, allowing him to defeat death, and choose to come back and fight Voldemort.  So why in the world does he drop the Resurrection Stone in the Forbidden Forest?  It doesn’t make sense why he comes back to life; rather he just appears invincible, when really that’s not the case at all.  The Hallows are the key to this story, but they are minute details in the movie. 

------ Like I said, I REALLY REALLY REALLY liked Part 2.  When you think of Part 1 and Part 2 as one movie it’s actually an epic film.  These little things that I think Yates and his team could have included would only elevate the film and make it a little less confusing for those who have not read the books (which you need to do NOW).  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is a great film, and it just might beat Batman: The Dark Knight’s weekend box office record of $158.4 million.  But don’t worry; Batman: The Dark Knight Rises will reclaim the crown.

P.S. - When's the last time they actually showed Harry with his lightning scar (not as a baby)?

Rayner… Out…

The Thing -- It's Backkkkkk

Source: http://gamingshogun.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/the-thing-trailer.jpg

The Thing is a horror movie I would actually go pay to see in theaters.  The trailer did a great job of making me want to see it. Plus, it always help to have an absolute Smokeshow - Mary Elizabeth Winstead - as the lead. 

Check out the new trailer - The Thing Trailer 

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World -- Bam! Pow! AWESOME!

Rating: 8.0/10 --> Put it on your Netflix Queue NOW!

http://www.moviewallpapers.net/images/wallpapers/2010/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-1-1024.jpg

Directed by: Edgar Wright
Written by: Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright

I’m not gonna lie, when I first saw the trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, I thought it looked like shit. Not just, “oh this looks like a shitty movie,” I’m talking big pile of dog-shit, how could you let Michael Cera even attempt to be a bad ass with super fighting skills.  Then I heard how awesome it was.  Yeah, awesome.  And it wasn’t just comic book nerds saying the movie was sweet, a lot of people were telling me you have to check out this movie.  So I figured, what the hell, Edgar Wright directed it, so it’s probably pretty good. I knew that at the very least it would LOOK good, so I watched it…

Wow.

If you like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, then you will definitely like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.  Even if you haven’t seen those movies, or don’t particularly like them, I’m gonna tell you why you should see Scott Pilgrim in 7 reasons (just like the 7 evil girlfriends, aren’t I witty?)

1.  Edgar Wright kicks ass.  This movie feels like you’re watching the graphic novel.  The shot selection, special effects, and editing style depict the comic book panel style.  The quick pace editing resembles the quickness of reading a comic book, the freeze frame shots with “pow” emblems are just campy enough, and the special effects are fun and slightly exaggerated adding to the superhero feel. 

2.  Michael Cera is actually kind of a badass.  We’re so used to the painfully awkward Michael Cera, but in Scott Pilgrim, he has a sarcastic tone to him that’s actually funny.  There are some classic awkward Michael Cera moments, but they don’t outweigh the new bad ass Michael Cera.

3.  The supporting cast is really good.  Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers) does her part as the leading lady.  Alison Pill (Kim), Mark Webber (Stephen), and Johnny Simmons (Young Neil) make up Scott’s band.  They provide great jokes and one-liners throughout the movie.  Ellen Wong (Knives), Scott’s overenthusiastic girlfriend is comical because of how infatuated she is with the mediocre Scott.  Finally there’s never a dull moment when Kieran Culkin (Wallace [and yes that’s), Scott’s gay roommate, and Anna Kendrick (Stacye) from Up in the Air, Scott’s sassy sister, are on screen.

4.  The story.  The idea that Scott has to fight and destroy Ramona’s 7 evil boyfriends (one of which is actually a girlfriend), so that he can date her, is so ridiculous, but somehow it works.  It’s ridiculous enough that it gets you interested, and allows for the superhuman/effects heavy film.  The plotline is humorous in itself.

5.  The fight scenes with the boyfriends.  These scenes look like a Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat video game, but that’s what makes it so freaking sweet.  There’s nothing like ordinary looking people fighting to the death with super powers.

6.  The animated sequence was a nice touch.  I won’t ruin it for you, but there are some cool animated aspects to the film

7.  Edgar Wright (again).  It’s worth mentioning Wright again, because his style just works so well for this movie.  Also, I didn’t really have a 7^th thing to say, so yeah…

Buried - Ryan Reynolds Can Act?

Rating: 7.0/10 --> Good Sunday afternoon movie when you're bored

Source: http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/buried_movie_poster_01.jpg

Buried, directed by Rodrigo Cortés and written by Chris Sparling, is an interesting indie film that proves Ryan Reynolds can actually act.  I watched this movie with my LA roommates a few nights ago, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed the movie.  To be honest I wasn’t too keen on watching this movie back in April when my buddy Grant INSISTED we watch it, but I owe him an apology, because it was pretty damn good.  I wouldn’t go out of my way to pay and see it in theaters, but watching this film on DVD was worth the time.

The Summary:  Paul Conroy (Reynolds) wakes up buried alive in a coffin.  His captors leave him with a cell phone, a lighter, and some alcohol.  Ryan only has until 9pm to get his captors 1-millon dollars; otherwise he’s going to die.

My Thoughts: One of Buried’s most captivating features is the feeling of claustrophobia. I don’t know about you but I’m scared shitless of small spaces.  The thought of being trapped in a coffin with only a few hours to live makes me cringe.  Reynolds pulls off the anxiety and fear one would experience in a life or death situation really well.  He’s frantic, flustered, sweating profusely, cursing like a sailor, and going insane. Yup, sounds about right. I’d probably die from pure shock if I woke up in a coffin.  Reynolds honestly did a great job.  He deserves a lot more credit for his acting ability than he’s given, but I guess that’s what happens when you do movies like Van Wilder and The Proposal.

As for the cinematography, it was pretty exceptional for only having a small and confined space to work with.  Lighting was an essential part of making the film look good, and Cortés did a fantastic job.  For a movie that literally only takes place in a coffin, I was never bored with the shot selection.  Cortés made the film really interesting, even though there wasn’t much to work with.  The writing was fairly good too.  There were some twists and turns (I won’t ruin them for you) that I was not expecting at all.  If Buried had been predictable, it would have been an absolute terrible movie. 

Bottom Line: Buried is an above average movie, but nothing special.  For a movie in only one setting, it’s pretty captivating and interesting.  Ryan Reynolds does a great job conveying the stress and anxiety one would face when buried alive in a coffin.  The main problem lies in the fact that some aspects are just “come on” moments.  Every person Conroy calls on the cell phone doesn’t pick up, people don’t believe his story, and he’s given a hard time by the American government.  It loses some credibility with these moments, but generally speaking, Buried is an entertaining movie, and that’s what movies are supposed to do ENTERTAIN you.  So if you get a chance to see this “On Demand” or “Red Box” it’s worth it.  After this movie, you’ll probably be claustrophobic. 

Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Typical Michael Bay

It's been a while.. but I've finally found some time to write stuff. More to come later...

Rating: 6.7/10 --> See a matinee in 3D, otherwise wait until DVD

http://www.clattoverata.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Transformers-Dark-of-the-Moon-Poster1.jpg

I saw Transformers: Dark of the Moon opening weekend, knowing that I would just see a typical Michael Bay movie.  Trust me, there was never a moment in my mind that this would be the next greatest movie of all time.  All I wanted was to see some explosions, hot chicks, and alien robots beat up on each other.  What did I get when I saw Transformers? Exactly that, and in 3D. While still better than the second movie, Dark of the Moon was all in all crap.  But somehow, the world loves it.  To date Transformers: Dark of the Moon has brought in $645 million internationally.

Michael Bay gave me everything I expected and wanted, but it still wasn’t good enough.  The movie just ENDED out of nowhere.  Seriously, the movie climaxed, then went to sleep on us.  Optimus has this pretty cool battle with Megatron and Sentinel where he uses only one arm to kill them and saves the entire world.  Then the movie is just over, there’s no resolution, nothing at all.  It wasn’t even a cliffhanger, so it makes no sense.  Bay could have easily taken 20-30 minutes out of the earlier scenes and given us an ending, but he didn’t.  Instead of being a flashy alright movie, Transformers built all of this hype then just left me there wanting more.  I almost thought that the movie was actually worth the 15 dollars. 

Instead of wasting your time analyzing the sweet special effects or breaking down the story and acting (which there really wasn’t any), I’m just going to give you a pros and cons list.

Pros:

·        Sweet special fx/cgi

·        Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – So HOT

·        Ken Jeong’s random scene – It made no sense, but it was hilarious, especially if you’re a Ken Jeong fan (otherwise it might scare you)

·        A lot of robot battle scenes and car chases

·        Random one liners

·        Steve the Pirate – Haven't seen this guy since Dodgeball, but he was really funny

Cons

·        The lack of story development and an ending

·        Same old annoying Shia LaBeouf

·        Misogynistic – huge gender role issues

·        Too long – A lot of unnecessary scenes  

·        John Malkovich – his character was pointless and dumb

·        Such a high cost ticket, especially for 3D

No Thursday Lunch Special for You

I'm taking off from blogging today.  A lot of work at my internship.  Expect reviews of movies like Catfish, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, and more tomorrow though.

Daily Entertainment Links: Wednesday Edition

Source: http://www.capsulecorp-online.com/images/imageim/NN7986%20The%20Horcrux%20Locket.jpg

I feel like being nice, so instead of making you find all of these links yourself, I'll give them to you. 

Can't wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.  Neither can I, so here's a featurette on the horcruxes.  (Comingsoon.net)

Chris Hemsworth (Thor), is attached to star in the new film Shadow Runner. (Collider)

Maybe making such a crappy 2nd movie made people skeptical to see Transformers: Dark of the Moon(Super Hero Hype) at midnight...

Holy toquitos Batman! Joe Rogan is gonna host the Fear Factor revival. Let's pretend like we're REALLY excited!!!! (TV Guide)