I think this is my least favorite HP of the series. Moments like this can begin to show you why. I believe what bothers me about this particular HP installment is sadly obvious in the clip, despite the laughably poor quality of this video. If you don't pick it up, then I think you and I are on very very different pages in terms of movie taste.
But anyway, besides the over-the-top campyness used to portray the two visiting schools of magic, the main problem I have with the movie is that there is neither enough blatant silliness and nor enough disturbing darkness to really draw me into the film as much as the rest of series.
There are a few redeeming features, however, and experience of watching Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is by no means a waste of time. My favorite aspects of HP4 are MadEye Moody, the portrayal of the nationalistic mania associated with the Quidditch World Cup, and the blunt sucker-punch of Cedric Diggory's death.
Plus, who can help but slyly grin at all of Ron Weasley's vaguely vulgar asides regarding the rear ends of the ladies of BeauxBatons? Certainly not me.
In fact, I find myself clinging to this film in a way, especially knowing what sort of emotional blows await me in the final chapters of the story.
While I look forward to seeing the development of my favorite characters (and the introduction of my alter-ego!) in the films to come, HP4 marks the turning point from which I may look back at the previous films with nostalgia for the innocence portrayed in them.
29 April 2011
Rio (2011)
Semi-amusing, one dimensional characters traipse about a brightly colored two-dimensional (yes, I opted out of the 3-D) world. Highly predictable plot, but that didn't really bother me.
What did bother me were the poop jokes, Jesse Eisenberg laying his "trying to be the adorable loser with a slight edge of assholishness" persona on distastefully thick (especially for a cartoon bird), and almost a total (predictable) lack of the favelas that make the real Rio de Janeiro what it is.
Overall: C- at best. If you really feel compelled to see it, wait for the rental.
What did bother me were the poop jokes, Jesse Eisenberg laying his "trying to be the adorable loser with a slight edge of assholishness" persona on distastefully thick (especially for a cartoon bird), and almost a total (predictable) lack of the favelas that make the real Rio de Janeiro what it is.
Overall: C- at best. If you really feel compelled to see it, wait for the rental.
14 April 2011
Source Code (2011)
Inception meets Groundhog Day meets Sisyphus. Plus a little self-indulgent wish fulfillment thrown in for good measure.
I don't want to tell you much about the plot because you'd probably be able to figure out the ending if I gave you even just a few basic details, so I'll just keep it mysterious.
All I want to say about this movie, besides what's above, is that it was pretty entertaining, even to someone who doesn't really like action movies at all. However, it made me really want to smack this lady because she is annoying.
Overall--pretty OK.
I don't want to tell you much about the plot because you'd probably be able to figure out the ending if I gave you even just a few basic details, so I'll just keep it mysterious.
All I want to say about this movie, besides what's above, is that it was pretty entertaining, even to someone who doesn't really like action movies at all. However, it made me really want to smack this lady because she is annoying.
Overall--pretty OK.
Waiting for Superman (2010)
A quietly convincing documentary about the bureaucratic quagmire in which many public schools in the US are dishearteningly lodged.
Eye-opening if you are not often in or around public schools, depressingly familiar if you are.
Generally solid but goes a tiny bit overboard sometimes, most notably while painting the teachers unions with a suspiciously wide (and demonizing) brush, and using too many cutesy animated scenes.
Overall, good information, important message. Decent delivery.
Go ahead and watch it!
Eye-opening if you are not often in or around public schools, depressingly familiar if you are.
Generally solid but goes a tiny bit overboard sometimes, most notably while painting the teachers unions with a suspiciously wide (and demonizing) brush, and using too many cutesy animated scenes.
Overall, good information, important message. Decent delivery.
Go ahead and watch it!
Rango (2011)
I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the dialogue was genuinely interesting and funny, and that the subject matter was both whimsical and novel.
The character design was never cute, and for the most part, not visually appealing on any level. I found this lack of aesthetic appeal refreshing. The ugliness and oddness of the characters was pleasantly counterbalanced by some very delightful visual moments. Two (of many possible) examples that spring to mind are 1) when Rango is "drawing" in the dark night sky using a smoldering stick from a fire (it looks like flashlight trails captured on long exposure film), and 2) the strange wandering plants based on the real-life Spanish Dagger cactus. I loved the movement and strange personification these plants had in the film.
Overall, Rango was through and through a great animated film. A word of warning, however: though marketed as such, this is DEFINITELY NOT a children's movie. From beginning to end it has elements that would (and did, in the theater I was in) outright terrify small children. There were also some really violent moments, and some mild cussing (along the lines of hell and damn).
To be truly enjoyed by grown-ups only.
The character design was never cute, and for the most part, not visually appealing on any level. I found this lack of aesthetic appeal refreshing. The ugliness and oddness of the characters was pleasantly counterbalanced by some very delightful visual moments. Two (of many possible) examples that spring to mind are 1) when Rango is "drawing" in the dark night sky using a smoldering stick from a fire (it looks like flashlight trails captured on long exposure film), and 2) the strange wandering plants based on the real-life Spanish Dagger cactus. I loved the movement and strange personification these plants had in the film.
Overall, Rango was through and through a great animated film. A word of warning, however: though marketed as such, this is DEFINITELY NOT a children's movie. From beginning to end it has elements that would (and did, in the theater I was in) outright terrify small children. There were also some really violent moments, and some mild cussing (along the lines of hell and damn).
To be truly enjoyed by grown-ups only.
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