Potter Review and Upcoming Blogfests

Now that I’ve seen the entire film, I can finally review it!

Before we get to the review though… (Hey, you waited this long for the final movie, didn’t you?)

Amy at Ramblings of Amy is hosting the Retro Summer Blogfest this Wednesday, July 20. We’re to select an old mix tape or CD and talk about the songs. I intend to amuse you on Wednesday!

Aleta at Fleur de Aleta started the ABC of Your State weekly blogfest. Every Wednesday, post something special about your state that coincides with that week’s letter. This Wednesday it’s “C.” I won’t get to participate every week, but I will have something this Wednesday. Really!

And while remakes annoy me, I am excited about the remake of Godzilla. The screenwriter is David Goyer (Nolan’s Dark Knight movies) and the director is Gareth Edwards, creator/director/editor/special effects guy of Monsters. Do it right guys, and the film will rock!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I caught Part II last Friday and can safely say - it’s the best of the series. The pacing is good and at times the film is thrilling. This one is full of action! The storyline is easy to follow, even for those of us who haven’t read the books. It wraps up the franchise in good form, tying up the loose ends and finally putting an end to Voldemort. Harry finally gets to grow up and show he can kick some butt. (I still don’t buy the relationship between Harry and Ginny, though - zero chemistry between the characters.) Overall, an excellent film and one of the best of the summer.

And I waited to share my thoughts on Part I until after seeing Part II. They are night and day. Part I was slow, plodding, and very frustrating. The storyline was unclear and our great wizard hero spends the whole time running. And hiding in the woods. And talking. More running. More talking in the woods… I’m afraid I found it rather boring. Longer than Part II, the first one would’ve benefited from the shaving of at least thirty to forty-five minutes from the film.

At some point, I do plan to watch the two as a whole. Of course, I’ve been planning an extended edition Lord of the Rings marathon for years, so not sure when that may happen!

All right, Potter fanatics – your turn! What did you think of the movie?

July Movie Preview Already?

That’s right – the year is half over! Now prepare for another month of living in a cool movie theater.

All descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments provided by me.

Today – June 29

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson
The Plot: Against the backdrop of the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, the alliance between Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) and Optimus Prime is put to the test against a common enemy: Shockwave.
This was scheduled to come out July 1, but they bumped it up a few days. Critics say special effects are amazing but there’s no character development. Hello! It’s Transformers. Soon as I get off work, I’m off to see it in 3D!

July 8

Ironclad
Director: Jonathan English
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Jason Flemyng, Brian Cox
The Plot: In 13th-century England, a small group of Knights Templar fight to defend Rochester Castle against the tyrannical King John (Paul Giamatti)
Could be way cool, but I bet it will be difficult to find in theaters.

Horrible Bosses
Director: Seth Gordon
Stars: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis
The Plot: Three friends (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) make a pact to rid the world of their respective bosses.
Okay, this one caught my attention with the line about Bateman street racing his Prius – “I don’t win much.”


July 15

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
The Plot: The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy the final horcruxes. But when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the battle we've all known has been coming -- Harry vs. Voldemort -- looms large on the horizon. And who will triumph?
Like we don’t know how it ends! Maybe this will be the first Potter movie to cross the billion dollar mark. Just please tell me Harry does more than run…

July 22

Captain America: The First Avenger
Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson
The Plot: After being deemed unfit for military service during WWII, Steve Rogers (Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty -- a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals. His first mission: to combat the Nazi propaganda effort headed by Johann Schmidt (Weaving), also known as the Red Skull.
Marvel’s been hitting home runs lately and this one should be no different.

July 29

Cowboys and Aliens
Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde
The Plot: In Silver City, Arizona, Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their differences aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.
Wicked cool! Tell me, what boy hasn’t wanted to see cowboys fight aliens? Besides, Olivia Wilde is hot. Which is good, because Daniel Craig stole Rachel Weisz.

Attack the Block
Director: Joe Cornish
Stars: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail
The Plot: Moses (John Boyega) and the rest of his teen gang look to protect Wyndham Tower -- their housing estate -- from an alien invasion.
Hard to say, but the buzz for this film is good.


So, what are you seeing this month?

November Movie Lineup!

Who's ready for a movie?!?

5th-

Megamind
Director: Tom McGrath
Stars: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt
The Plot: Megamind (Ferrell) is the most brilliant super-villain the world has ever known, though after several unsuccessful attempts to conquer Metro City, a new foe sees him attempt -- for the first time in his life -- to use his powers for good.
Could be good, could really suck!

Due Date
Director: Todd Phillips
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan
The Plot: High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.
Robert Downey Jr. makes this one a possibility…

12th-

Skyline
Director: Colin Strause Greg Strause
Stars: Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson
The Plot: A group of friends fight to survive as a mysterious light source causes people to vanish into the air.
Have you seen the latest trailer? I am so there!!

Unstoppable
Director: Tony Scott
Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson
The Plot: A rail company frantically works to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city.
Based on a real incident which only lasted an hour, involved no dangerous materials, and didn’t destroy cars or maim a soul. LOOSELY based I guess!

19th-

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
The Plot: Harry (Radcliffe), Hermione (Watson), and Ron (Grint) set out from Hogwarts to find and destroy the Horcruxes -- the secret to Voldemort's power and immortality.
Why two parts? More money!!! Bloodsuckers. I’ll probably still see it…

26th-

Tangled
Director: Nathan Greno Byron Howard
Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi
The Plot: Rapunzel (voice of Moore), a princess with 70 feet of magical, golden hair, has been locked away for years in a tower high above her kingdom. Desperate to be free, she strikes a deal with Flynn Rider (voice of Levi), a handsome bandit who chooses her tower as a hide-out spot.
Looks fun and funny! Yeah, I'm a sucker...

Faster
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace
The Plot: An ex-con (Johnson) sets out to avenge his brother's death after they were double-crossed during a heist years ago. During his campaign, however, he's tracked by a veteran cop (Thornton) and an egocentric hit man.
For those who don’t want to go sit with the masses seeing Tangled - dumb, mindless violence!

What are you eager to see?