This was a very fun movie, in a 1940’s-style movie way. Which means it was a little predictable, but no less fun to watch. I thought Chis Evans was a great choice for Captain America because he managed to convey both strength and compassion throughout the movie.
I had read that this was the shortest of the HP movies, though it seemed very full of length for me. Due to the aforementioned not re-reading the book, nearly everything in this movie was a surprise to me which made for a very entertaining movie going experience. I remembered the “19 years later” ending, although forgot who Harry and Hermione named their son after, and this slayed me afresh, for a perfect ending to a probably-not-to-be-repeated-in-my-lifetime book/movie experience.
This was one of those rare movies where all the characters were slightly flawed in a way that made them very human and very interesting to watch. It was also a movie filled will actors I love: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, and the always delightful “squee, it’s her! squee!” Melanie Lynskey. Alex Shaffer, who played the flat-affect teenager, was also awesome, making this a perfect movie, with great wrestling scenes, a rarity in the movie world.*
This was a bit boring, and I did nod off during the movie. However, the chemistry was quite good between Jane and Mr. Rochester (whom I have just realized played Magneto in X-Men First Class–that guy is suddenly in everything) and I thought the acting was well done on all parts. It was rather sedately paced, good for knitting, I think.
As it tuns out, yes. Dictionary.com defines it as such:
Now we know.
I watch all my TV on DVD and it’s time to begin recognizing this fact via “three sentence movie reviews” posts.
A second viewing of this movie was just as pleasurable as the first.* Unlike other HP movies in the franchise (ahem Sorcerer’s Stone, ahem) this was quite crackling in its pacing. It helps also that I have only read the book once and that was four years ago, so I’ve forgotten many of the small (and main) details.
I felt that what this movie did well it did very well, namely accurately capturing 14 year old boy interactions, which were very funny. I felt that we went too long without seeing the monster, and that worried and distracted me, detracting from the overall film. Though it was lightly enjoyable, (think sorbet instead of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food) I thought the most interesting part of the movie would have come after the movie itself ended, when the people returned to their now devastated town.
A less-than stellar entry into the Vin Diesel movie marathon, despite the fact it was directed by Sidney Lumet. It was too long and I’m not sure why they would cast someone who is fit and under 40 to play a 60-ish, balding, overweight Mafia guy. Plus, the ending was entirely unsatisfying, so I recommend you stay far away.
I enjoyed this blast into the groovy past of the X-Men franchise and particularly appreciated that the “establishment of time period” was done by using songs different than the same tired old “early 60s movie standbys” as evidenced by the inclusion of Freddy Cannon’s Palisades Park. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender were excellent as Professor X/Magnito and Kevin Bacon went for it in his role as the bad guy. About halfway through the movie I leaned over to Matt and said, “I’m pretty sure that’s Mrs. Don Draper* playing Emma Frost.”
*January Jones, from Mad Men. And indeed, it was.
This was the movie that launched the Kenzie/Gennaro reading obsession–an obsession I have managed to spread to several people, Matt included. Matt has finished this book and so we got to watch the movie together and I must say that I was quite disappointed. One of the more interesting female characters I’ve read in years was chopped down to a wide-eyed smiling specter whose only reason for being in this film was to stare adoringly at her man; she didn’t even carry a gun, for chrissakes and in the book, she is the much better shot and saves Patrick Kenzie’s bacon on many an occasion.*
*I can’t rightfully be surprised. As I’ve observed more than once: the main thrust of the movie making industry seems to be assuring men that they are very manly, cool, interesting and women need them. This is at the same time that stories about women’s lives are incredibly interesting (I think) and women deserve to watch movies where the women (or mostly woman, singular) do something besides stand by her man. I watch movie after movie focusing on men and I enjoy many of them, but when will my self throw up her hands in despair and stop attending such–which means the vast majority of–movies? The movie machine could save me from this fate by rapidly increasing the percentage of movies that pass the Bechdel test. What will it take to make that happen?
