The Premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince made quite a stir. Even in the small town of Cobourg there was a very long line-up to get in to the 2nd showing of the movie on it's opening day. Was it worth the wait? Honestly I can't really say it was. It was a good movie as part of the series, nice to see old familiar faces and new ones, but the story lacked depth. This was supposed to be the steamiest and most romantic of the movies but truly none of the love storylines really followed through. In fact, most of the storylines had very little follow through at all, they all seemed to just co-mingle with the other storylines without really satisfying the viewer in any of them. It is a very long movie, likely in hopes of pleasing the audience who have read the books by not missing any major details. Sadly though, it made the movie seem rushed at times. Perhaps it would have been wiser to do what they plan on doing with the next book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and break it into a two part movie.
On a brighter note about the movie, it was easy to see that they are catering to an older audience, as Harry and the crew grow-up, so do their fans. The comedy in this movie far beats any of the others and adds some light to a very dark film. The actors are all fantastic and play their roles wonderfully. The characters have great depth and Alan Rickman, who is one of my favorite actors, really comes through in this one. Helena Bonham Carter also deserves a very honorable mention as the seductively terrifying Bellatrix Lestrange.
All in all, I look forward to the movie coming out on DVD. I plan on buying it and watching it again. It's one of those movies that may be more rewarding watching it a second time when you already understand the plot. (note: I did not read the Harry Potter novels and therefore did not know what to expect, nor would I have gotten the same thing out of it that those who have read it would.)
Did you see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? What was your take on the movie? Leave a comment below!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Moscow Zero and Then She Found Me - Movie reviews
Let me start by saying that after last night, my friends aren't going to let me pick movies anymore. What a horrible selection I made!
Let's start with the first movie:
Moscow Zero (2006):
Starring: Vincent Gallo and Oksana Akinshina
So there I am, standing in the "cheap rental" movie store with one girly movie in my hand (see below), when I decide to get a guy movie too, since I'll be watching said movies with my boyfriend Dave and my best friend Ryan. Ryan favors horror while Dave prefers action and comedy. I come across Moscow Zero. The description on the back of the movie case sounds great. I don't remember what it said exactly but something along the lines of "a priest searching for the gates of hell that are protected by a man (Kilmer) with whom he makes a deal with. Is it a gentlemanly arrangement or a deal with the devil?" Sounds pretty good, yes? NO!
Does that description not make it sounds like Val Kilmer has a main role? Well he doesn't. In fact his small role made no sense whatsoever. The movie is basically some bad filming in a bunch of tunnels with a pale girl in a white dress running around the place. It makes no sense, and the sense it does make is simply boring. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT watch this movie. It is a total waste of time. It was even worse than the movie "23" and I didn't think that was possible. Oh! oh! oh! And on top of that, the characters switch from Russian to English at will throughout the movie. No rhyme or reason, just like they sort of feel like it. Ridiculous. I could go on and on, but I'll stop there. Bad bad bad Bad bad Movie.
So after we sit through that piece of crap, it's time for my escape from reality with my girly movie:
Then She Found Me (2007)
Starring: Helen Hunt and Bette Midler
Ok, you pick up a movie case seeing Helen Hunt, Better Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick with a description of a schoolteacher (Hunt) who's husband (Broderick)leaves her, who's adoptive mother finds her (Midler) and who starts a romance with the father (Firth) of one of her students. You must be thinking "great funny and sappy girly movie, WOOT WOOT!". Hey that's what I thought! But no, no, no. Each actor was great in their role, I'll give them that, but the movie was utterly depressing! A little too realistic for a Saturday night veg-fest. I might as well have been sitting through an afternoon talk show about someone who's had a rough life. Not at all what I expected and I was truly disappointed. I do NOT recommend this movie whatsoever.
Well, it was a rough night for movies but on the bright side, at least they were only one-dollar rentals. You can also check out my other blogs at http://onlinebooksclub.blogspot.com/ and http://writinganovelproject.blogspot.com/
Let's start with the first movie:
Moscow Zero (2006):
Starring: Vincent Gallo and Oksana Akinshina
So there I am, standing in the "cheap rental" movie store with one girly movie in my hand (see below), when I decide to get a guy movie too, since I'll be watching said movies with my boyfriend Dave and my best friend Ryan. Ryan favors horror while Dave prefers action and comedy. I come across Moscow Zero. The description on the back of the movie case sounds great. I don't remember what it said exactly but something along the lines of "a priest searching for the gates of hell that are protected by a man (Kilmer) with whom he makes a deal with. Is it a gentlemanly arrangement or a deal with the devil?" Sounds pretty good, yes? NO!
Does that description not make it sounds like Val Kilmer has a main role? Well he doesn't. In fact his small role made no sense whatsoever. The movie is basically some bad filming in a bunch of tunnels with a pale girl in a white dress running around the place. It makes no sense, and the sense it does make is simply boring. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT watch this movie. It is a total waste of time. It was even worse than the movie "23" and I didn't think that was possible. Oh! oh! oh! And on top of that, the characters switch from Russian to English at will throughout the movie. No rhyme or reason, just like they sort of feel like it. Ridiculous. I could go on and on, but I'll stop there. Bad bad bad Bad bad Movie.
So after we sit through that piece of crap, it's time for my escape from reality with my girly movie:
Then She Found Me (2007)
Starring: Helen Hunt and Bette Midler
Ok, you pick up a movie case seeing Helen Hunt, Better Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick with a description of a schoolteacher (Hunt) who's husband (Broderick)leaves her, who's adoptive mother finds her (Midler) and who starts a romance with the father (Firth) of one of her students. You must be thinking "great funny and sappy girly movie, WOOT WOOT!". Hey that's what I thought! But no, no, no. Each actor was great in their role, I'll give them that, but the movie was utterly depressing! A little too realistic for a Saturday night veg-fest. I might as well have been sitting through an afternoon talk show about someone who's had a rough life. Not at all what I expected and I was truly disappointed. I do NOT recommend this movie whatsoever.
Well, it was a rough night for movies but on the bright side, at least they were only one-dollar rentals. You can also check out my other blogs at http://onlinebooksclub.blogspot.com/ and http://writinganovelproject.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 3, 2009
Top 10 Movies of the 80's
Ah the 80's (add reminiscent sigh here). You remember them right? Big hair and a ton of teenage angst invading your TV set, possibly on your Beta VCR? Below is the top ten list, in no particular order, of movies that everyone who grew up in the Eighties should re-watch. So dig out those old legwarmers, grab some licorice and some Bubble Tape gum, prepare to wash it down with a Jolt Cola and enjoy.
Footloose (1984)
Starring: Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer
Who could forget Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormick, dancing his socks off, in this classic about a town where dancing is illegal?
Best Line: (Ren) Well, it's just I get the feeling you've been kissed a lot, and I'm afraid I'd suffer by comparison
Flashdance (1983)
Starring: Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri
Jennifer Beals made legwarmers a hit in the 80's with this movie about a woman who is a welder by day, and a stripper by night.
Best Line: (Nick) What was he before he was a dog? (referring to Alex's very large dog)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Starring: Sean Penn and Jennifer Jason Leigh
This movie makes you wonder if Sean Penn, now an academy award winner, looks back at his classic character of Spicoli and cringes or smiles.
Best Line: (Linda) In Ridgemont? We can't even get cable TV here, Stacy, and you want romance.
Better Off Dead (1985)
Starring: John Cusack and Curtis Armstrong
John Cusack plays leading man Lane Meyer in this comedy of errors.
Best Line: (Paperboy) Two Dollars!
Weird Science (1985)
Starring: Kelly Lebrock and Anthony Michael Hall
Very geeky best friends, Wyatt and Gary, try to literally make the perfect woman.
Best Line: (Wyatt) Gary? By the way, why are we wearing bras on our heads?
(Garry)Ceremonial.
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Starring: Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson and Mary Stuart Masterson
This one of my all-time favorite movies with so many memorable characters, especially Watts and Duncan. If you ever wonder where the line “You look good wearing my future” comes from, this is the movie. There are so many awesome lines in this movie I could never pick just one.
(Watts)I'd bet my hands on it. (watts) You break his heart, I break your face.
(Keith) Well, I like art, I work in a gas station, my best friend is a tomboy. These things don't fly too well in the American high school.
(Duncan)I'm here to kick your ass, and you know it, and everybody here knows it, and above all, you deserve it. In fact, I think it's safe to say that this party is about to become a historical fact.
Say anything (1989)
Starring: John Cusack and Ione Skye
The iconic moment when Lloyd (Cusack) holds up his ghetto blaster and blares “In Your Eyes” outside of Diane’s window. Classic.
Best Line: (Lloyd) She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Starring: Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall
Poor Samantha (Ringwald) is horribly embarrassed in pretty much every teenage nightmare imaginable, on top of everyone forgetting her sweet sixteen.
Best Line: (Samantha) I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek.
Pretty In Pink (1986)
Starring: Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer
Poor girl falls for rich boy, and of course, The Duckman. Special kudos go out to James Spader in this movie for being such a perfect creep.
Best Line: (Andie)I just want them to know that they didn't break me.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Starring: Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson
Five very different students get detention on a Saturday… and actually show up. Through their differences they find they are each a basket-case, a criminal, a princess, a brain and an athlete.
Best Line: (John)Hey, how come Andrew gets to get up? If he gets up, we'll all get up, it'll be anarchy.
Honorable Mention: These didn’t make my Top 10 Lists but definitely deserve to be mentioned as 80’s icon movies: St. Elmo’s fire, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Did I miss one of your favorites? Let me know by leaving a comment.
You can also check out my other blogs at http://onlinebooksclub.blogspot.com/ and http://writinganovelproject.blogspot.com/
Footloose (1984)
Starring: Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer
Who could forget Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormick, dancing his socks off, in this classic about a town where dancing is illegal?
Best Line: (Ren) Well, it's just I get the feeling you've been kissed a lot, and I'm afraid I'd suffer by comparison
Flashdance (1983)
Starring: Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri
Jennifer Beals made legwarmers a hit in the 80's with this movie about a woman who is a welder by day, and a stripper by night.
Best Line: (Nick) What was he before he was a dog? (referring to Alex's very large dog)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Starring: Sean Penn and Jennifer Jason Leigh
This movie makes you wonder if Sean Penn, now an academy award winner, looks back at his classic character of Spicoli and cringes or smiles.
Best Line: (Linda) In Ridgemont? We can't even get cable TV here, Stacy, and you want romance.
Better Off Dead (1985)
Starring: John Cusack and Curtis Armstrong
John Cusack plays leading man Lane Meyer in this comedy of errors.
Best Line: (Paperboy) Two Dollars!
Weird Science (1985)
Starring: Kelly Lebrock and Anthony Michael Hall
Very geeky best friends, Wyatt and Gary, try to literally make the perfect woman.
Best Line: (Wyatt) Gary? By the way, why are we wearing bras on our heads?
(Garry)Ceremonial.
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Starring: Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson and Mary Stuart Masterson
This one of my all-time favorite movies with so many memorable characters, especially Watts and Duncan. If you ever wonder where the line “You look good wearing my future” comes from, this is the movie. There are so many awesome lines in this movie I could never pick just one.
(Watts)I'd bet my hands on it. (watts) You break his heart, I break your face.
(Keith) Well, I like art, I work in a gas station, my best friend is a tomboy. These things don't fly too well in the American high school.
(Duncan)I'm here to kick your ass, and you know it, and everybody here knows it, and above all, you deserve it. In fact, I think it's safe to say that this party is about to become a historical fact.
Say anything (1989)
Starring: John Cusack and Ione Skye
The iconic moment when Lloyd (Cusack) holds up his ghetto blaster and blares “In Your Eyes” outside of Diane’s window. Classic.
Best Line: (Lloyd) She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Starring: Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall
Poor Samantha (Ringwald) is horribly embarrassed in pretty much every teenage nightmare imaginable, on top of everyone forgetting her sweet sixteen.
Best Line: (Samantha) I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek.
Pretty In Pink (1986)
Starring: Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer
Poor girl falls for rich boy, and of course, The Duckman. Special kudos go out to James Spader in this movie for being such a perfect creep.
Best Line: (Andie)I just want them to know that they didn't break me.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Starring: Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson
Five very different students get detention on a Saturday… and actually show up. Through their differences they find they are each a basket-case, a criminal, a princess, a brain and an athlete.
Best Line: (John)Hey, how come Andrew gets to get up? If he gets up, we'll all get up, it'll be anarchy.
Honorable Mention: These didn’t make my Top 10 Lists but definitely deserve to be mentioned as 80’s icon movies: St. Elmo’s fire, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Did I miss one of your favorites? Let me know by leaving a comment.
You can also check out my other blogs at http://onlinebooksclub.blogspot.com/ and http://writinganovelproject.blogspot.com/
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