Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two

The saga of Harry Potter has come to a conclusion and in a film worthy of its predecessors Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two is a satisfying end to a true cinematic phenomenon. In my lifetime there has never been a series to match the consistent creative excellence of the Harry Potter films. Each chapter has been treated with respect, reverence and sound decision-making. Even when the films departed from the novels the choices were made to enhance the movie-going experience and to focus on the visual aspects of the story. The Harry Potter films have been a class act from beginning to end and worthy of critical praise.
 
For me, nothing will ever match the wonder I felt when watching the first Harry Potter film. Having never read any of the books I came in completely unprepared for what I was about to experience. I felt an instant kinship with our hero Harry and once at Hogwarts I loved all the little embellishments and details found in the background. At times I realized that I was missing dialogue because I was so fascinated by paintings that were alive, staircases that moved, and candles that floated in the air. I was lost in a world of magic and fantasy. I was lost in the world of Harry Potter.
 
As the series continued and I became more familiar with the characters the magical aspects of the film began to lose their impact. In turn I became more invested in Ron, Hermione and Harry. It is for this reason that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part One is my favorite film. I loved the intimacy of the movie. It reminded me of a war film where our heroes are forced to run and hide from the enemy like resistance fighters. It put them in a situation where their friendship is strained and their resolve is put to the test.
 
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part Two is also like a war movie but of a different scope. Whereas Part One is more like a foxhole picture, Part Two is like a battlefield epic. But the beauty of Part Two is that you never lose the intimate feeling. Using 3-D this time around the battle sequences have tremendous depth and scope. But in between battles, in the quiet moments, you forget that the film is in 3-D. The effects are dialed back and once again it is an intimate film. This chapter of the story is also about transition. Ron and Hermione finally admit their feelings for each other and Harry becomes a man. His sacrifice is total as Harry literally lays down his life to save his fellow wizards and Hogwarts.
 
When you look back over the entire series of films it is wonderful to see the growth of Rubert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliff. Beginning with the Chris Columbus school of acting in film one and two, they have grown to be fine and respected young actors. What an amazing life they must have had being immersed for 14 years in the world of Harry Potter and being influenced by the finest British actors on the planet. By keeping their heads on straight and paying attention they have been able to learn from the best. It will be exciting to see where their lives will take them next. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part Two is a wonderful end to a magnificent series. I doubt we’ll ever see its like again.

Rating: Must See A piece of cinematic history

Green Lantern

Two summers ago at Comic-com, the world of Geekdom was abuzz about the prospects of a live-action version of Green Lantern. Until a few years ago I had never heard of this super hero, but now that I was hanging out more with comic-book fans I was learning that he was quite popular. In order to prepare and familiarize myself with the story I sat through a feature length animated film entitled Green Lantern: First Flight. It did a terrific job laying out the mythology and I found Hal Jordan a likable character.
 
The next year Ryan Reynolds was on hand to promote the upcoming film and I thought that he was a good choice. During the question and answer portion of the panel a little boy approached the microphone and asked Ryan Reynolds to recite the Green Lantern oath. The entire place melted as Ryan solemnly recited his vows and then proceeded to give the child the ring off of his own hand. It was the cutest thing I ever saw and I was beginning to understand the power of this hero.
 
Now that the film is out, after a build-up of over two years, the moment of truth has arrived. Does the film measure up and will it please the fans? The reaction has been mixed. I for one was slightly disappointed. In watching the animated film two years ago, the part I liked the best was Hal Jordan displaying his cocky, flyboy antics. He had a tremendous ego and watching him interact with other pilots and his friends was a lot of fun. This should have been easy for Ryan Reynolds because he is good at creating a wise-cracking persona. But the Hal Jordan portrayed in this film had more angst. Except for flying, he didn’t feel like he was good at anything and he had some real self-esteem issues. That wasn’t what I was expecting and not being a true devotee, I don’t know if that quality is true to the comic book version.

In the animated film we got to know Hal first before the aliens were introduced and I liked this because I can identify more with Hal than any space being. But in Green Lantern they started with the alien world and a warrior who is in a battle for his life. He is the one who eventually gives Hal his Green Lantern ring. It took me awhile to get up to speed and figure out who was who. The only alien character I remember well from the animated film was Sinestro, being played here by Mark Strong. I thought that Mark Strong did a good job but he wasn’t given much to do. It felt like we were just being introduced to the characters, much like a television pilot expecting to develop further over time. In my opinion the script was too concerned about how to display and use the cool green super powers than developing its characters. I didn’t care about Blake Lively’s Carol and I felt sorry for Peter Sarsgaard. He could have done so much with that role if given enough time. I found the focus and priorities of this film all wrong.

Green Lantern isn’t the worst super hero movie I’ve seen but after a two year build up it didn’t live up to the hype. Super hero powers are cool, but it is the back story and the hero themselves that compel us to follow their stories. That’s why the X-men franchise works so well. These inhuman mutants are made human by allowing us into their private thoughts and lives. Green Lantern needs to be more grounded, only then will be be ready to follow him in flight.

Rating: Rent It Did not live up to the hype

Friends With Benefits

Hooray! The romantic comedy slump is over. Friends With Benefits is smart, sexy, engaging and a lot of fun. And that’s just talking about the co-stars. If you aren’t already in love with Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake then this film with do it. If you are already in love with them, then this film will make you feel intelligent for discovering them earlier. With Patricia Clarkson portraying Jamie’s flaky mom and Richard Jenkins playing Dylan’s Alzheimer's stricken dad even the supporting cast is above par. Throw in Jenna Elfman as the understanding sister and Woody Harrelson as the wise, advice-giving “girlfriend” and you have one outstanding cast.

Friends With Benefits begins with New York dwelling Jamie cursing a Katherine Heigl movie poster for filling her head with romantic notions. She has just been dumped by her boyfriend (Adam Samberg) standing in front of a revival house playing Pretty Woman. Meanwhile across the United States in Los Angeles, Dylan has just been dumped by his girlfriend (Emma Stone) in front of a John Mayer concert. Since the break-up will allow him to skip the concert he is considering it the best break-up ever, but in truth he is too emotionally guarded and his girlfriend has just called him on his lack of commitment.

When Jamie, who is a corporate head hunter, recruits Dylan to come to New York for a job as an artistic diretor of GQ magazine she decides not to sell the position but rather the city itself. If she can convince a contented Angeleno to give up his beloved LA, then she will get a huge signing bonus and another one if he makes the year. So she woos him. Not with her body, but with her love of New York and gives him the most romantic Big Apple weekend ever. He takes the job and Jamie and Dylan become best friends. Their relationship grows, they let their defenses down and become very close. But when a friends with benefits experiment threatens to destroy what they have, everything must be reevaluated and put right. They both start seeing other people and try to hold on to their friendship with both hands.

The beauty of this film is the intimacy and rapport that we develop with these two characters. You become so invested that you enjoy spending time with them. You are in on the jokes, you learn their little quirks and you feel their pain when you watch them struggle with their other relationships. The script is so rich and layered that you feel like you really know this couple and you care deeply about them. You want them to succeed as people, together or not.

The comedy from this film comes mostly from character and you will find no gross-out humor, minimal physical schtick and only the occasional gay joke supplied by Woody Harrelson who plays a homosexual sports reporter for the magazine. The writing is so well done that you laugh with the characters instead of at them. They don’t go cheap to get you to snicker and another plus about this film is that it capitalizes on it’s stars natural assests. Mila uses her raspy voice, exotic looks and plucky nature to great effect and even makes fun of her small breast size. In contrast Justin uses his white bread visage and his ability to make fun of himself as he croons cringe-inducing pop songs and sneezes after sex. These are two actors who are very comfortable with who they are and it shows. Throughout this film you want to see them together.

Another fun thing about this film is it’s use of location. There is this whole east coast, west coast challenge going on and it leaves you wishing that you were rich enough to live bi-coastal. Both New York and LA are given such glamour treatment that it makes you want to take a vacation. That is the sign of a good romantic comedy, you fall in love with falling in love.

So if you are disappointed and feel betrayed by the most recent offerings of romantic comedy, then take perk up. Friends With Benefits will give you hope. If not for a relationship then for the state of the American film. There are outstanding young directors on the rise and Will Gluck is one of them. He also directed the delightful Easy A and the hysterical Fired Up! I also want to give props to writers Keith Merryman and David A. Newman. Great job team, I had a excellent time.

Rating: First Run If you aren't already in love with Justin and Mila, this film will do it

Zookeeper

If you could talk to animals, I mean really talk with animals, what would you say? Are you one of those people who like to commiserate with their cat or burden their dog with their troubles or woes? Well, Griffin Keyes (Kevin James) lead zookeeper of the Franklin Park Zoo is. He shares all his problems with his animal friends. But when the woman (Leslie Bibb) who dumped him five years ago shows up, hinting that she may have made a mistake, his animal charges step up and break the code, for once instead of just listening they talk back.
 
The premise for Zookeeper is based on the idea of what kind of dating advice would an animal give. Just because an animal can talk doesn’t mean that their advice will be any good and this is the dilemma for Griffin Keyes. Do you pee on trees, puff up your cheeks, mark your territory and give your best roar, or do you reach out and listen to your human counterparts and hope that they’ll have a better advice?
 
Stephanie is back in town to attend the wedding of Griffin’s brother. She has just broken up with her boyfriend (Joe Rogan) and seeing Griffin again she remembers how sweet and kind he was, a quality that her most recent boyfriend sorely lacks. But right before Griffin can ask her out, she reunites with her boyfriend and he and Griffin become romantic rivals. Competitive, vain and extremely athletic Joe Rogan’s Gale appears to be the better man. In weakness Griffin listens to his animal friends and displays some behaviors that are less than human. The surprise is, some of them work.
 
Using a combination of live animals and CGI the animal stars of Zookeeper are full of personality. We’ve come a long way from putting peanut butter on the lips of horses to give the illusion of conversation. But the problem with Zookeeper is that as good as the animal actors are there are still scenes where the animals could not perform together. They would act their parts separately and then using movie magic they would be spliced together. This gives the appearance that the animals are in the same place but like the actors who voice them all the acting is done separately and apart from each other. This impacts the comedic timing and makes things feel slightly off.
 
I really enjoyed Kevin James and I especially liked the chemistry he has with fellow zoo employee Rosario Dawson. Their scenes are sweet and at times very sexy. It was also fun to see Donnie Wahlberg in a small role playing an abusive colleague that eventually sends Griffin over the edge with gorilla rage. But overall the film felt compartmentalized. Each segment on its own worked fine but when put together it doesn’t quite mesh. Good comedy is as much about rhythm and timing as it is about funny dialogue and prat falls. For me the film was full of starts and stops, and things that should have been funny fell flat.
 
As a family film the kids will really like this one. I also think that there is enough there for the adults to enjoy. But for a film about wild animals this movie feels very tame. Appropriate for taking the kiddies, but too weak for date night. I would have liked some better dialogue and some sharper jokes, but Kevin James nails the physical comedy perfectly. Ken Jeong also appears as a reptilian reptile expert. I think that he and Crystal the monkey must have the same agent.

One of the more funny segments of the film is when Griffin sneaks Bernie the Gorilla out of the zoo to visit T.G.I.F. Fridays. Bernie the Gorilla voiced by Nick Nolte has been depressed and now that the two of them are talking Griffin has learned the source of Bernie’s depression. Falsely accused of attacking Donnie Wahlberg’s character, Bernie’s has lost his enclosure with a view. Griffin decides that a night on the town and a change of scenery will do the trick and seeing Bernie work his animal magnetism on the ladies helps Griffin too. He learns to channel his own inner beast.

This film is full of star-studded voice work with the likes of Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love and Maya Rudolph to name a few. But honestly, a lot of the time they were talking over each other and stepping on each other’s lines. I think this is what lead to my sense of disjointedness because they probably didn’t record their scenes together. But kid’s won’t notice this and teenagers won’t care, they’ll be too busy quoting Donald the Monkey. The film is fun, family friendly and celebrates the gift of being human. “It is all about the thumbs” quotes Donald.

Rating: Bargain Matinee A film about wild animals that feels very tame

Attack the Block

I’m not sure what was more alien to me the South London street kids or the extraterrestrials falling from the sky, but Attack the Block was a lot of fun. As soon as I was able to pick up on the British slang and get past some thick accents I thoroughly enjoyed this fresh take on the aliens invading earth genre. Brought to us by the producers of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead I was expecting a lot of humor and satire, what I didn’t expect was some pretty cool creatures that were unique, effective and quite scary.
 
Attack the Block takes place in a low-income housing project with four towering complexes joined together by a labyrinth of bridges and stairways. A group of boys who live there fancy themselves as thugs and patrol the block committing petty crimes and misdemeanors. The oldest boy Moses, played by John Boyega, is the natural leader of the gang and the other boys look up to him. When an alien crashes down on them from the sky, interrupting their mugging of a young nurse, Moses and the boys chase it down and kill it. This is a mistake that they soon regret as dozens of other aliens follow with revenge on their minds. Their childhood bravado becomes a matter of life and death as they fight together to protect their neighborhood.
 
What made this movie work for me was the chemistry between the gang members. At heart most of them are good boys with a caring parent trying to survive in a violent world. But the street has hardened them and exposed them to the thug life. Having an enemy they can unite against is therapeutic for them. Their criminal skills now have a noble purpose and working together strengthens them.
 
The only cast member that may be familiar to American audiences is Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz). He plays a marijuana horticulturist who works in a fortified apartment on the top floor of the complex. His boss, Hi-Hatz, played by Jamayn Hunter is an authentic gangster and he is just as scary as any invading alien. When he sets his sights on taking out Moses, the boys don’t know who to fear most.
 
This film is full of fun characters from trash-talking home girls to a wanna-be ladies man. All of the teenagers are amusing and watchable, but Alex Esmail stands out as Pest. Seeing him trying to make time with the nurse (Jodie Whittaker) that they just tried to mug earlier that evening is hysterical. He also comes through in a few other crucial moments with some welcome comic relief. I really enjoyed his performance as well as the other boys who are all quirky, fun and fully developed characters. Keep a look out for Sammy Williams and Michael Ajao as Probs and Mayhem, bravery can come in small packages.
 
Attack the Block works as a comedy, sci-fi adventure, as well as an action film. To quote one of the characters in this film, “These aliens are sick” and with their black fur and glow in the dark teeth they are truly frightening in the dim lighting of the run-down apartment complex. Young John Boyega has a lot of charisma and has the making of a true action star. He is the heart of the film and brings a lot of gravitas to the story. I look forward to more from this up and coming actor and highly recommend this film.

Rating: First Run A fresh take on the aliens invading earth genre

Bad Teacher

Has Cameron Diaz ever carried a movie before? This was the first thought that came to my mind when I exited the theatre and every title that I came up with had her in a supporting role or sharing the screen. But in Bad Teacher, Cameron Diaz is definitely the star. The question is did she pull it off and if so, how did she do? Well after weighing the pros and cons I have to say she managed to hold her own and if I was going to grade the film overall, I think I would have to give it a C; a solid effort, but room for much improvement.

In Bad Teacher, Cameron Diaz plays Elizabeth Halsey a shallow, self-centered, duplicitous woman who becomes a teacher because the hours are short, you have summer’s off and there is little to no accountability. Ready to kiss her one year teaching career good-bye, she plans to marry over the summer, but her situation suddenly changes when her gold-digging motives come to light and her rich fiancee dumps her. Nearing forty and running out of time, Elizabeth decides to focus all her attention on finding a new millionaire and she feels that the best way to achieve this is with a boob job. Instead of throwing herself into her second year of teaching her new focus is raising cash and finding a rich husband. After all, new tits are not cheap and you have to buy two of them.

As a character, I think that Cameron Diaz had a clear vision of who she wanted Elizabeth Halsey to be, but when you consider what an awful, morally bankrupt person that is, it was kind of brave of her to throw her self completely into the role. The R rating is deserved, but on the other hand there is little nudity involved. There is however a lot of profanity, racial slurs, gay jokes, vulgarity and explicit drug use. If your idea of funny is watching a teacher light up and engage in the kind behavior they told you not to do, then you will like this film. But if you think that is too easy and you expect more cleverness in your script, then you are going to be sorely disappointed. This film is wearing a dunce cap, it could have been much smarter.

One of the strengths of Bad Teacher is its stellar comedic cast. There are some real pros in this film and the featured actors are funny too. Jason Segel plays a flabby easy-going gym teacher, Justin Timberlake, a repressed substitute teacher, and Judy Punch portrays a over-zealous colleague who has Elisabeth Halsey in her crosshairs. The dolphin-loving school principal is nicely played by John Michael Higgins and Phyllis Smith from TV’s The Office plays a weak-willed teacher who looks up to Halsey for validation and approval. But as good as all these actors are, their comedic styles didn’t always mesh. Some characters were broad and over the top while others were a bit more restrained. There were sparks of brilliance and some really funny moments, but overall the film lacked cohesiveness. The tone was consistent, but it needed more color and shade. I often felt that the film lacked originality.

I wouldn’t say that Bad Teacher was a bad movie, I did laugh and I found a lot of scenes in the film to be funny. But it is too inappropriate for teenagers and probably not raunchy enough for young adults, so I wonder who this film is made for. If this movie was a teaching assignment an evaluator would ask what the objectives were and what was the goal of the assignment. A little clarity and more direction would have made a much better film. The result seemed like a term paper written the night before it was due. It got the job done, but if better planned, it could have been brilliant.

Rating: Bargain Matinee I think I would have to give it a C; a solid effort, but room for much improvement.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Everyone loves finding a package on his or her doorstep, but for Tom Popper (Jim Carrey) that experience has lost its thrill. For years his globetrotting father has been sending him exotic gifts from all around the world. As a child Tom Junior loved his dad and was thrilled to follow him on his ham radio at night. But now a package means a missed birthday, Christmas, or other landmark occasion. For “Tippy Toes” Popper a package has become synonymous with disappointment.
 
As an adult Tom has created his own kind of adventure. He has become one of the premiere real estate developers in New York City and for him New York is the world. To match the prestige of his envious position Popper has traded in all the curios and souvenirs of his youth for a sterile, cold penthouse apartment. He is rich, successful, and at the top of his game, yet he is divorced, alone, and only sees his kids on alternate weekends.
 
One day Popper receives some devastating news. His father has died on an expedition to Antarctica and during the reading of his will it is revealed to him that Tippy Toes will be receiving one last gift. When it arrives Tom opens the crate with resignation and is surprised to find a frozen box containing a full size Gentoo penguin. Tom is less than thrilled with his father’s gift but admires the expert taxidermy. Little does he know that the penguin is alive and about to upend his life.
 
Due to a bad phone connection and a language barrier, Tom receives five more penguins. He’s called every agency in the book and no one will take them off his hands. Finally the zoo agrees to give them a home, but before they can pick them up his son mistakes them for his birthday present. Popper decides to go along and now his kids can’t wait to visit him. Enjoying his newfound status as the world’s coolest dad, he puts the zoo off for now and decides to enjoy this time with his kids.
 
As the needs of the penguins soon outweigh his own Popper begins missing work, changing his priorities and forges a new relationship with his kids (Madeline Carroll and Maxwell Perry Cotton). Even his ex-wife (Carla Gugino) is enamored of his new house guests. For the first time in a long time the family is together and happy.
 
If you are expecting this film to be similar to the Newbery Award children’s book, let me stop you right here. The original book Mr. Popper’s Penguins written in 1938 by Richard and Florence Atwater has a completely different story line. The only thing that this film shares with the classic tale is the title and a basic premise. But both stories have something to offer. This film just has a different emphasis. In Jim Carrey’s version it is about love, loyalty and a strong sense of family, qualities that penguins exhibit in the wild. You won’t be getting the Popper’s Penguins of your childhood, but you’ll be getting a new story to cherish and love.
 
Jim Carrey is delightful as Mr. Popper. Using live Gentoo penguins in the making of this film, all his comic skills come into play just to keep up with their chaos. Jim, who loves animals, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but admits that working in a refrigerated environment was quite a challenge. Another treat in this film is the return of Angela Lansbury. She plays the fictional owner of Tavern on the Green, Mrs. Van Gundy. This film is a real love letter to New York, and you will thoroughly enjoy visiting some of its most beloved sites.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a quality family film that everyone can enjoy together. With the mix of live animals, animatronics, and CGI you’ll be hard pressed to tell where the real penguins end and the animated ones begin. In this film Jim Carrey has returned to the comic silliness that made him a star. And if you are not already a fan of penguins, you will be. To quote Jim Carrey, “They’re like puppies times ten.”

Rating: First Run A quality family film that everyone can enjoy together.