For me and a lot of people, this was a huge movie and is therefore a huge movie to be reviewing. This picture represents the culmination of my generation's greatest and favorite story and that kind of influence is not to be taken lightly. For everyone, Deathly Hallows had to be awesome. Going in with that in mind may have been a bad idea as it made my expectations ridiculously high. I think I'll have to see the film again to form a clearer opinion. I'll try my best to sort everything out regardless. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 did some things right and some things wrong. Its greatest strengths were by far the acting and directing. The main three characters delivered excellent and believable performances in a movie that was emotional tense and at many times quite moving. And many of the supporting cast (particularly Ryhs Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood, Toby Jones as Dobby, and the various actors comprising the Malfoy family) also delivered performances that added a lot to the movie. Direction of the movie was also great. The forest chase, parts of the sky battle, and everything in Godric's Hollow had me enthralled. Not to mention the desolate and beautiful landscapes that added so much to the middle of the film. This paired with some excellent cinematography gave it a very grey and very isolated and alone feel. The movie and the characters and the world as a whole seemed to feel hopeless. For effects, this movie was also sewn up pretty well. The style of dueling that was executed so well in the fifth and sixth movies was presented well again in this one. The more pronounced role of apparation in this movie was also handled with visual excellence (the escape from the ministry and splinching come to mind). There was also the addition of an animated sequence that fit pretty well with the theme of The Tales of Beedle The Bard and was visually intriguing if not fully fitting with the movie in its entirety. Throughout the movie there were a number of little things that I picked up on that I did really enjoy. The scene where the locket is destroyed was done far better than I could have expected it to be. The scenes involving snatchers were also well done. What I enjoyed most about this movie was that it kept inline with the book very well and also that it did not hang itself up on explaining what was going on to the viewer. The filmmakers knew that if you're a Harry Potter fan you should be able to understand the subtle elements and ideas of the series (i.e. the two way mirror). This was what I had the most hope for while waiting for the release of the movie. That by dividing the book into two films essentially a 4-6 hour film, they could make a movie that would make fans proud. In this respect HP7 did not disappoint. I did however feel that there were a few weaknesses of the film. Most notably for me was the score. While I don't deny that Alexandre Desplat wrote a beautiful score and that he is a great musician, for the most part I just didn't feel that the music really fit. In a lot of ways this soundtrack reminded me of the scores of the first two films as well as elements of the fourth. While the second score was probably my favorite of the whole series (the 6th is close too) the Deathly Hallows score seemed to fit this film just as much as the Chamber of Secrets score would have (that's saying not terribly well). It had too much of a romanticized lightness throughout that I didn't feel was appropriate for many of the more intense scenes and themes of the film. That's not to say it didn't have its moments. The Obliviation and Farewell to Dobby gave me goosebumps and themes like Snape to Malfoy Manor and Godric's Hollow Graveyard did have some great elements that I hope will be brought back in the next film. Similarly to the score, I just didn't get the exact feel that I would have liked from this movie. What it came down to for me was that this movie just didn't have the sense of gravity and importance that it really should have. This is a quest to destroy the fragments of the most evil soul to ever live. A battle for the very fate of the world mixed with a side story involving the greatest triad of magical objects in history. It didn't seem like this movie took itself seriously enough. I would have liked to see more from the outside world and the state of chaos and disorder it was in, even though I do completely understand and will not debate that the story is and should be primarily about Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I think in a lot of ways the absence of a really deep score did make this discrepancy more pronounced to me. All in all I really did enjoy this movie. I wouldn't say it was my favorite of the series but it was certainly among the top. I am now more than ever looking forward to the sequel and final chapter of the Harry Potter saga. Hopefully I will get the chance to see this movie again and clear up some final thoughts. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 receives an 8.5/10.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
For me and a lot of people, this was a huge movie and is therefore a huge movie to be reviewing. This picture represents the culmination of my generation's greatest and favorite story and that kind of influence is not to be taken lightly. For everyone, Deathly Hallows had to be awesome. Going in with that in mind may have been a bad idea as it made my expectations ridiculously high. I think I'll have to see the film again to form a clearer opinion. I'll try my best to sort everything out regardless. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 did some things right and some things wrong. Its greatest strengths were by far the acting and directing. The main three characters delivered excellent and believable performances in a movie that was emotional tense and at many times quite moving. And many of the supporting cast (particularly Ryhs Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood, Toby Jones as Dobby, and the various actors comprising the Malfoy family) also delivered performances that added a lot to the movie. Direction of the movie was also great. The forest chase, parts of the sky battle, and everything in Godric's Hollow had me enthralled. Not to mention the desolate and beautiful landscapes that added so much to the middle of the film. This paired with some excellent cinematography gave it a very grey and very isolated and alone feel. The movie and the characters and the world as a whole seemed to feel hopeless. For effects, this movie was also sewn up pretty well. The style of dueling that was executed so well in the fifth and sixth movies was presented well again in this one. The more pronounced role of apparation in this movie was also handled with visual excellence (the escape from the ministry and splinching come to mind). There was also the addition of an animated sequence that fit pretty well with the theme of The Tales of Beedle The Bard and was visually intriguing if not fully fitting with the movie in its entirety. Throughout the movie there were a number of little things that I picked up on that I did really enjoy. The scene where the locket is destroyed was done far better than I could have expected it to be. The scenes involving snatchers were also well done. What I enjoyed most about this movie was that it kept inline with the book very well and also that it did not hang itself up on explaining what was going on to the viewer. The filmmakers knew that if you're a Harry Potter fan you should be able to understand the subtle elements and ideas of the series (i.e. the two way mirror). This was what I had the most hope for while waiting for the release of the movie. That by dividing the book into two films essentially a 4-6 hour film, they could make a movie that would make fans proud. In this respect HP7 did not disappoint. I did however feel that there were a few weaknesses of the film. Most notably for me was the score. While I don't deny that Alexandre Desplat wrote a beautiful score and that he is a great musician, for the most part I just didn't feel that the music really fit. In a lot of ways this soundtrack reminded me of the scores of the first two films as well as elements of the fourth. While the second score was probably my favorite of the whole series (the 6th is close too) the Deathly Hallows score seemed to fit this film just as much as the Chamber of Secrets score would have (that's saying not terribly well). It had too much of a romanticized lightness throughout that I didn't feel was appropriate for many of the more intense scenes and themes of the film. That's not to say it didn't have its moments. The Obliviation and Farewell to Dobby gave me goosebumps and themes like Snape to Malfoy Manor and Godric's Hollow Graveyard did have some great elements that I hope will be brought back in the next film. Similarly to the score, I just didn't get the exact feel that I would have liked from this movie. What it came down to for me was that this movie just didn't have the sense of gravity and importance that it really should have. This is a quest to destroy the fragments of the most evil soul to ever live. A battle for the very fate of the world mixed with a side story involving the greatest triad of magical objects in history. It didn't seem like this movie took itself seriously enough. I would have liked to see more from the outside world and the state of chaos and disorder it was in, even though I do completely understand and will not debate that the story is and should be primarily about Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I think in a lot of ways the absence of a really deep score did make this discrepancy more pronounced to me. All in all I really did enjoy this movie. I wouldn't say it was my favorite of the series but it was certainly among the top. I am now more than ever looking forward to the sequel and final chapter of the Harry Potter saga. Hopefully I will get the chance to see this movie again and clear up some final thoughts. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 receives an 8.5/10.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Kanye West's 'Runaway'
So I had no idea that this was even a concept until it appeared on my facebook wall. I'd been checking up with Kanye's G.O.O.D. Fridays stuff every now and then but I had no idea that a feature length film was being produced for his upcoming music. That being said I'm sure you can understand that I had no idea what to expect. To begin, one should take note that this is essentially a 30+ minute music video and there's no way that would fly without some good music to back it up. Luckily, Kanye delivered, putting me into high anticipation mode for his new album. I can imagine that this film had a respectable budget and it clearly showed. The production was on point. This piece was visually stunning. Whether it be the wings of a 
bird-woman or a troupe of ever-shifting ballerinas, the movie was a continuous mass of imaginative and moving images. However, I do feel that there may have been a bit too much slow-motion used. It got to the point where I was saying to myself, "Is it really necessary to have THIS much slowmo in one scene?". While this may have been done to back up Kanye's deep emotional and mental struggles like some have implied, I have thought it all through and cannot find a parallel in Kanye's life for every single instance these type of effects were used. The storyline was simple and yet didn't make much sense, although, again, this may or may not have been intentional. I felt like maybe Runaway tried a little bit too hard to be introspective. Overall I enjoyed the piece. It was an incredibly interesting video to watch and the music was great. {Edit} I just purchased Kanye West's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' and after listening to the whole album I found the words to say that I wanted to say after watching Runaway. When it had finished I had the undeniable feeling of "I just experienced something" and not just anything. Something unique and beautiful if not a little bit Dark and Twisted. {Edit} Runaway gets a 7.5/10.
bird-woman or a troupe of ever-shifting ballerinas, the movie was a continuous mass of imaginative and moving images. However, I do feel that there may have been a bit too much slow-motion used. It got to the point where I was saying to myself, "Is it really necessary to have THIS much slowmo in one scene?". While this may have been done to back up Kanye's deep emotional and mental struggles like some have implied, I have thought it all through and cannot find a parallel in Kanye's life for every single instance these type of effects were used. The storyline was simple and yet didn't make much sense, although, again, this may or may not have been intentional. I felt like maybe Runaway tried a little bit too hard to be introspective. Overall I enjoyed the piece. It was an incredibly interesting video to watch and the music was great. {Edit} I just purchased Kanye West's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' and after listening to the whole album I found the words to say that I wanted to say after watching Runaway. When it had finished I had the undeniable feeling of "I just experienced something" and not just anything. Something unique and beautiful if not a little bit Dark and Twisted. {Edit} Runaway gets a 7.5/10.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Alice in Wonderland
This one is way late I know! I just noticed Alice on instant play on netflix so I decided to jump on it. When this was in theatres it was one of those impulse kind of movies for me, which, in general, is either a sign that the advertising campaign is on point, that the movie seems very intriguing, or a combination of both. I wanted to see it because it intrigued me and it looked awesome. Now, I'm not usually one to put much stock in the words of most critics when a movie first comes out, but I must admit, critics did make me pass on this one in the beginning. Hopefully you get the sense that I wasn't particularly sold on this movie in any legitimate way. Tim Burton has kind of become a cold subject to me, he pigeon-holed himself into a very predictable genre and in doing so it has almost turned into a joke. Now I'm not going to go as far and say that Alice breaks his mold, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by it. Visually, this movie was inescapably brilliant. The only thing I regret about the visuals is not being able to have seen them in 3D. Story-wise, this movie was alright. I did enjoy the story but to be perfectly honest there wasn't that much to it and I feel like it sacrificed development in some areas for graphics. The plot was pretty simple and it only really hinged on a few key moments. In my opinion this was also one of it's pitfalls as its lack of events really did slow it down. I wouldn't say I was bored, but it was by no means a nail-biter. Musically this movie really impressed me. I was surprised by the scope of Elfman's score and really by how epic and yet lightly wonderful it managed to be. This, at least in part, having to do with Elfman's implied pigeon-holing (although not nearly as notably) along with Burton. The acting was decent, Alice performed well and Johnny Depp played a good role as always. I think what I liked most about this film was how well (at times) it was able to shrug itself off with the sort of strange detachment and madness that was characteristic of the original Wonderland. This, though, as seemed to be the dual-standard of the movie, was also a weakness as it was not able to keep it up throughout the whole film. All in all this was a better movie than I expected even if it wasn't perfect. Alice in Wonderland gets an 8/10.
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