Growing Up with Harry Potter

Alright, well, I haven't posted on this thing in basically half a year. I guess I lost the drive to write for a little while, I don't really know why. I apologize (but then again, who am I apologizing to? No one keeps on top of this thing anymore anyway). OK WELL enough of my pessimism, I have a new article for you guys :) While it's not really a movie REVIEW per say...it's an article on how Harry Potter has impacted us as a generation and all that crap. Yeah. My editor doesn't want me doing movie reviews anymore (bitch. KIDDING, kidding...sort of...) so this is the best I came up with. Let's hope it makes it in this months issue!

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So I had my friend over the other day and we were just chilling in my basement watching some TV. While scrolling through the channels we saw Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on ABC Family. Both of us stopped, looked at each other, and said “WE. MUST. WATCH. THIS.” Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint (who we all know more closely as Harry and Ron) were so tiny and short, and Emma Watson (or Hermione) still had that signature frizzy mop of hair. We sat laughing and reminiscing about when it first came out back in 2002. “2002?” my friend said, “Man, we’re getting old”. And she’s right. But we’re not the only ones who’ve grown up. At the start of the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone which was released in late 2001, Daniel Radcliffe was twelve, Rupert Grint was thirteen, and Emma Watson was only eleven. Now, nearly a decade later and on the eve of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, Radcliffe is twenty one, Grint is twenty two, and Watson is twenty. Holy. Crud. I think this is an instance where I can use the expression: time flies.

Being in the Harry Potter movies has forever changed the lives of these three young actors. Emma Watson was at first conflicted as to whether she wanted to reprise her role as Harry’s best friend Hermione Granger after the first few movies. She wanted to focus on her studies, attend university, and live a typical life. By the time new contracts had to be signed she decided to stick it out (thank god, I don’t think the series would have been the same without her). While shooting the last installment of the series Watson occasionally found it a struggle to balance her enrollment at Brown with her acting career. The end of filming was a bittersweet occasion for Watson. While she will miss her friends on the set she says “I have such a structure when I’m working on Potter…Every single second of my day is not in my power. Being at college, I took pleasure in the smallest things…it was so liberating!” Rupert Grint recalls that the only reason he was cast as Harry’s best friend, the bumbling Ron Weasly, was because “I have ginger hair”. His experience was a bit different from Watson’s; he’s always been really into the movies and the life it’s created for him as an actor. “It’s been amazing…these films have given me opportunities I never would have had…I’m just grateful to have been a part of it.” As for the star, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter was the experience which defined his acting career. Although the series has been a major part of his life, Radcliffe has been trying to stray away from his type cast as Harry Potter. In an attempt to expand his versatility as an actor, Radcliffe has been trying to appear in some musicals and plays, most notably Equus (oh ho ho, I’m sure we all remember that one). Despite this, Radcliffe is going to miss Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Whilst reflecting on the past decade, he stated “It’s very rare that you get to burst through the surface of water surrounded by a ring of fire. I took that for granted for quite a long time.”

The end of the Harry Potter series is the end of an era for our generation. I remember sitting on the bus in elementary school and seeing the “big kids” reading the books. I remember my parents taking my sister and I to see the movie when it was first released and how unbelievably packed the theatre was. I remember watching spoofs on Youtube like Potter Puppet Pals. And now, another memory to store in my brain: the beginning of the end of this wonderful series. It really has made such a great impact on kids our age, well, I think so anyway. I just find it insane how when the first movie came out we were all so young, but now at the release of Hallows Part I we’re about Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s ages. We grew up with this series. We grew up with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. And now, we’re putting the past behind us just like they are. Because soon, just like the young wizards, we’re going to have to start to face the realities of our adult life. And soon we’re going to have to leave high school and move on with our lives.

The end of Harry Potter is not just the end of an era, but for our generation it signifies the beginning of the end of our childhood. Maybe I’m being a little too over analytical, but, that’s the way I see it. I recall sitting on my bed at four o’clock in the morning, the night after the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the book. I read the last page and set it on my night table. And I just remember feeling such an overwhelming rush of unidentifiable emotions that I can’t really explain. I just knew that it was over, this phenomenon which has touched our generation was over. I wonder if that’s how I’ll feel when I see Hallows Part I and eventually Part II (which will be released in mid 2011). As for now, however, we wait in anticipation for its release…

Blog Revival

hey out there!
so, for those of you who do read this (which i know, is not many) i haven't posted in quite a while...
but in a few days i'm going to post a review on Inception, so just have patience :)

p.s. chances are my review of Inception will piss lots of people off, just saying
p.p.s. OH and happy summer!

Robert Downey Jr, What Have You Done? Sherlock Holmes Review

The action adventure flick of this past holiday season, Sherlock Holmes, got the attention of many, young and old. A good old fashioned mystery! And of course, the famous title didn’t hurt its popularity. So far it’s grossed about $182 million, nothing to scoff at. With a solid cast starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams one would think this movie would be nothing short of flawless. Honestly though, this hyped up film failed to meet my expectations.
The film is set in 1891 London where an eccentric, awkward detective, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his goody-two shoes sidekick Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) stumble upon an odd string of murders. Lord Blackwood, a stoic and mysterious “magician”, is caught and thrown into jail for practicing human sacrifices. Although Holmes and Watson are present at his execution, they later hear news that he has escaped from the grave. And the explanation? Magic (Queue the ooh’s and ahh’s). Holmes is approached by the beautiful yet dangerous Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), whom he has a big crush on. And when I say big, I mean big (think Duckie pining after Andie in Pretty in Pink). And, of course, she’s a high-class criminal, because life just can’t be made simple for poor ol’ Holmes! As the plot thickens, Blackwood remerges, getting revenge on his family members and those who doubt his powers. Can Holmes and Watson stop Blackwood’s murder streak? Is Blackwood really using magic to kill his victims? Will Holmes stop being such a socially awkward misfit?
When seeing previews for this movie, I thought it was going to be pretty darn good. The chase scenes, the mysteries, the this, the that, yada yada yada. Quite frankly however, the plot was just downright confusing. Some may disagree but the movie just failed to tie up some important loose ends. And…magic? Really? Let’s not take a trip back to the UFO Indiana Jones mishap, please.
Robert Downey Jr. did a great job as Sherlock Holmes. He was eccentric and off-beat but brilliant. Typically I picture Sherlock Holmes as being formal but I believe this was actually a more preferable alternative. Despite this, I think a major blow to his performance was his accent. There were times when it was hard to hear what he was saying because he was mumbling so quickly in this low-toned British accent. Nice authenticity, but speak up! Jude Law and Rachel McAdams were alright too, but naturally Robert Downey Jr.’s performance stood out much more.
Another minor criticism: I know the setting is supposed to be grey and bleak but I just didn’t like it. Not much color other than Rachel McAdams vibrant dresses. It’s just the style of the movie; some may like this some may hate it.
So what’s the final breakdown on Sherlock Holmes? Thumbs down on the plot, thumbs up on the acting, and thumbs down on the setting. For a movie that I held such high hopes for I was quite disappointed.
RATING: * *, two out of four stars

Avatar (No, Not the Last Airbender)

We’ve all heard about it, the new phenomenon that’s sweeping movie theaters across the nation. Avatar. James Cameron’s latest. For those of you who don’t know who James Cameron is, he is the director of the highly acclaimed film Titanic, and as of recent, Avatar. A short time after his huge box office hit Titanic, Cameron had formulated the idea for the movie Avatar. When he presented the idea to be made into a film however (back in the 90’s), his idea was shot down. He realized that there just wasn’t enough advance computer technology to create the world he had imagined for Avatar. With today’s computer technology however, Cameron was able to set his plan for Avatar in motion.
So what is this movie about? The cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender on Nickelodean? Haha, no. Not at all. There is absolutely no relation, get that through your head people! An avatar is the personification or embodiment of something. The movie starts off in the year 2154, with ex-marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington, Terminator: Salvation) arriving at the beautiful yet dangerous planet of Pandora. Humans have infiltrated the planet in order to mine a special mineral worth millions back on Earth. Some are sent to the planet to be scientists, others to be part of the military unit. Some however, are sent to control artificially created bodies of the indigenous humanoids on the planet, called the Na’vi. They control this artificial body in a small pod with their mind and are able to live and breathe as one of the natives. Jake’s twin brother, originally meant to be sent on this mission, died a week before he was meant to be sent out. Since Jake has an identical genotype, they recruited him. He’s a bit of a misfit among his colleagues, having no scientific knowledge or information on the Na’vi culture or the avatar program. He meets an array of different characters, Doctor Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver, Alien), head of the avatar program, determined to make peace between the indigenous peoples and the humans. Biologist Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore, Dodgeball) is his nerdy companion, also controlling an avatar. Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi, Saving Private Ryan) is the loud-mouth in charge of the mining operation, only concerned with the weight of his wallet. Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), a harsh, unsympathetic man, is the military leader on Pandora. Jake immediately loves his avatar body, taking advantage of the fact that he can run and walk now and is not limited by his spinal injury. One day while on patrol with Doctor Augustine and Norm, Jake runs into some trouble with the hostile creatures of the jungle and finds himself separated and lost in the forest. He is saved by a beautiful Na’vi woman named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana, Star Trek), who takes him back to her home and teaches him the ways of her people. When Colonel Quaritch is informed of this he immediately approaches Jake, informing him to infiltrate and gain the trust of the Na’vi so they can formulate plans of attack. As time progresses however, Jake learns the beauty of this strange world, and develops close relationships with members of the Na’vi tribe. Ah, confliction, confliction. Can Jake save his new blue friends from the powerful force of the human race?
This movie was one of the most impressive I’ve seen in a while. It’s not common nowadays to see a movie that you really respect and appreciate. First and foremost, the special effects are just breathtaking. Definite visual eye-candy. The world they created, Pandora, is so florescent and colorful. Everything about it, whether it is the trees or the creatures, has such fine detail. Many people compare its groundbreaking effects to that of the Star Wars saga back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. A lot of effort was put into this movie, and boy, does it show. The animation is just revolutionary.
Plot wise? It actually made me think a lot about history class. You know, imperialism and mercantilism and all those “ism’s”. I compared it to the European’s colonization of the Native Americans, kind of like Pocahontas. It was predictable but enjoyable. Could it have been perfected a smidge here and a smidge there? Sure. They never did clarify why the mineral on Pandora was so important and worth so much. But that’s just me being critical.
So far, Avatar has grossed about $350 million dollars here in the US of A. Numbers are still climbing. This is one of those movies were it’s a real experience to see it in theatres (especially since they’re offering it in 3D), so I highly suggest seeing it while it’s still out. Make sure you visit the restroom before viewing; this is a two and a half hour movie ladies and gents! As I said earlier in the article, it’s a rarity that I find a movie that is revolutionary and deeply moving. Now I can add Avatar to that list.
RATING: * * * ½

The Next Blair Witch Project? Paranormal Activity Review

It seems that every ten years or so there’s some low-budget horror movie that comes out of the woodwork and becomes a cult classic. The Blair Witch Project was a 1999 horror film about three students going out into the forest to film a documentary for a college project. In the vast forest, the young adults encounter numerous supernatural experiences. The film was made on a budget of approximately $500,000-750,000. Compared to most films, let me just tell you, that’s not a lot. It soon became a cult classic (you may have heard it referenced in Juno). Now, ten years later, comes Paranormal Activity. Want to try guessing the budget? $11,000. That’s less than most of the cars in the student parking lot. And get this: Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston, the films two stars, were paid only $500 dollars each. Originally filmed in 2007 the film only gained popularity the past few months, being aired in selective theatres October 9, then nationally October 16. So far the film has grossed about $91 million dollars. So what is it about this movie that made it so famous?
Welcome to happy, sunny, suburban San Diego. Micah and Katie are a happy, young couple (“engaged to be engaged” as they put it) ready to start a life together. The film, shot documentary style by Micah, revolves around Katie. Since she was a young girl a strange entity haunts her sporadically in her sleep. They call a psychic to the house to find out the cause of Katie’s sudden increase in ghostly visits. He informs the couple that Katie may be plagued with a demon that will follow her wherever she goes. Micah, excited by the supernatural events, decides to set up a video camera in their room as they sleep (the scary stuff happens at night, go figure). As time progresses the haunting becomes worse and worse, leading the couple to fight more. Strange sounds are heard, doors slam shut without warning, and inhuman footsteps are found in the hallway. Can Micah and Katie rid themselves of the demonic force?
The reason you decided to read this review is either because a) you wanted to know if it was “scary”, or b) you were bored. If you fall under category a) let me answer your question. The movie has gathered a lot of different reception. Some thought it was so terrifyingly scary that they clung to their friends, shrieking in the movie theatre (wow, a little bit of an overreaction, but alright). Some called it terrible and amateur. Listen, guys, don’t expect Texas Chainsaw Massacre here, that’s not what this movie is about. This movie is about the suspense of unseen demons. It’s kind of like Jaws, in that the suspense is the key that makes it scary. It leaves a lot up to imagination. What do I think personally? It’s not that scary (…excluding a few scenes towards the end). The “paranormal activity”, so to say, is just that. Paranormal. Sorry, no gore. Despite the lack of action and Orlando Bloom/Megan Fox type actors and actresses, I thought this was a pretty good movie for what its worth. It had a creepy plot, and (not going to lie) the ending scene kept me up the night after watching it. The acting? Well sorry, you don’t have Morgan Freeman quality here but it was decent…well, besides the psychic. My god, I think even Ben Stein could’ve added more emotion to that role (and that’s saying something). Newcomer’s Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston did a good job acting though, thumbs up to them.
Is this the movie the scariest film I’ve ever seen? Does it have an amazing plot? Not the scariest, not amazing, but I’d say its somewhere on par (and par is pretty darn good for the film industry these days). My rating? Two and a half stars. Want to formulate your own opinion? Grab a friend, get some popcorn. Go see Paranormal Activity!
My Rating: * * ½

"What Did You See?" FlashForward Review

You’re driving to work. You’re out taking the dog for a walk. Hell, maybe you’re even taking a dump on the toilet. Then time stops. You black out for two minutes, and this isn’t any normal blackout. In the duration of these two minutes, you see yourself six months in the future. The vision could be a new chance at hope…or a devastating prophecy. This is what happens in ABC’s new sci-fi television show, FlashForward.
Mark Benford, played by Joseph Fiennes (Ralph Fiennes’s brother…yes, Voldemort has a sibling), is a happily married FBI agent living in sweet and sunny Los Angeles. Doctor wife, Olivia (Sonya Walger, Lost), a darling little daughter, Charlie (why a boy’s name, I’m not sure), all they need is the golden retriever named Fido and they’re set. On a supposedly normal day on the job, Benford and his partner, Demetri (John Cho, Harold of Harold and Kumar) are in the middle of a car chase when BAM! they both lose consciousness. During the blackout, he envisions himself in his office, carefully examining a corkboard full of random pictures that make no sense to him. He notes that the date is April 10, 2010, at 10 PM. He wakes up and finds himself in an overturned car. The city of LA is in turmoil, helicopters crashed into buildings, cars strewn about the highways, the whole shebang. The entire world had been unconscious for two minutes and seventeen seconds and during that time, had visions of their life six months in the future. Trippy, eh? Benford and his team of FBI agents work to figure out how and why this supernatural event occurred. A few want their futures to come true, the vision providing a new hope for them. Others dread the future, and will try everything in the power to prevent it from ever happening.
FlashForward is being called the “sister” show to ABC’s other hit sci-fi show, Lost. Lost, in my opinion, is a pretty kickass show. I know a lot of people out there aren’t into it or think its confusing, but that is only because their impatient and are unable to wait for the mysteries to unravel. So there!
Alright let’s go through the checklist. Plot? In my opinion, quite original, and that’s what I like to see. It’s a pretty cool concept that EVERYONE in the world just stops, and has a vision of their future. It’s more original than Gossip Girl’s “OH EM GEE, HE SLEPT WITH HER?? NO WAY!!!” Thumbs up on plot. Acting? Eh…I think Benford’s daughter, Charlie, is old enough to know that her stuffed animal doesn’t need open heart surgery. It’s understandable because she’s a little girl, and unfortunately Shirley Temple now has Medicare so we can’t throw her in there. Still, horrid choice for the daughter. Otherwise, acting is ok. Joseph Fiennes does a pretty good job as the male lead, and John Cho provides some comic relief. The only problem (for me) is that the character Olivia, played by Sonya Waglar, reminds me too much of her character in Lost, Penny. Thumbs up on acting. Overall? It has a good balance of comedy, action, and sci-fi. I like that it can go from Benford’s boss admitting his flashforward was him “dropping the kids off at the pool”, to a massive explosion at an abandoned doll factory. It covers all the main bases.
Although only two episodes have aired as of yet, I hold high hopes for FlashFoward. My only concern is that it will end up like Heroes, starting off with a strong first season, and then slowly declining there afterward. Heroes jumped the shark a while ago (sorry, Tim Kring), so I’m hoping this will make up for my weekly dose of science fiction. Make sure to check out FlashFoward, Thursdays at eight o’clock. Let’s hope this doesn’t end up like Heroes, folks.

Hi guys!
I know its been a while since my last review and I've been trying to update it. I've been meaning to write a review on District 9 and Inglorious Basterds but I've been quite busy lately. SOOOO I hope to have that up sometime this upcoming weekend. Sorry for the delay!
-Day the Movie Freak :)