The Midnight Experience

My sister and I rocking our HP 3D glasses at midnight

So I just got back from seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 3D at midnight. I went with my sister who is in no means a Potter fan. She goes to these things because I drag her; she has never read the books and barely made it through the last two films. She is still confused about what the Deathly Hallows actually are and why it is so important that Snape is the Half-Blood Prince.
Herein lies problem number one. My friends who are as obsessed as I am are spread throughout the country and world. Most of them are in NY, but one is in Nevada, one in Wisconsin, and the other, France. So while mass texting in our separate theaters was fun, it wasn't the same as sitting in the same theater holding hands during Part One and crying on each others' shoulders about Dobby's death.
Problem number two was the moron I was sitting next to. He kept checking the time on his phone throughout the film. While the theater echoed with sobs upon seeing Fred and then Lupin and Tonks' bodies, he turned to his girlfriend and laughed. When I started making choking sobbing sounds as Harry walked into the Forbidden Forest, he scoffed. His girlfriend made him sit through the credits and he complained the entire time. Then he said that Will Dunn (Albus Potter) was the boy from Super 8. No. Just because he is young and has brown, curly hair, does not make him the same actor. I feel like more than anything, he hindered my enjoyment of the film because I felt like I had to stifle my emotions. 
So much of a film comes from the audience reaction. That's why I like going to midnight films so much; all the uber fans go to the midnight premieres so usually you get a good crowd. My theater was very tame. There was a smattering of clapping and some cheering at the expected places, but not what I expected.
However, the main problem I think I had was that I hyped the movie up so much in my mind. I imagined it was going to be exactly how I pictured it when I was reading the books and that is never the case. Yes, I liked the film. It was really good. Yes, I cried, numerous times. But was it everything I hoped for? I'm not sure. I am an extremely hopeful person. So much so that it gets me in trouble because my expectations are always too high. And I had Great Expectations for this film.
I'm not saying I hated it, I just don't have the same end of movie euphoria as everyone else right now. Honestly, I feel kind of empty inside, the same way I felt two years ago when the final book came out. I also think I haven't really had time to process the whole thing. That's why I'm going to see it later today with my Dad in IMAX. I also plan on seeing it eventually in its regular format with my mom (I live with a bunch of muggles, no one in my family has read the books). I am hoping that seeing it a second and third time, with a new crowd will give me a different perspective.
Also,one last note, this is just a quick post to get my initial feelings out. I promise to be more eloquent with my next post and more explicit on what I did and did not like. I just hit the 24th hour of me being awake so I'm surprised that my fingers can still find the right keys.
Rating: Needs Milk

Where Have all the Good Films Gone?

So Johnny Depp is thinking of signing up for yet another Pirates of the Caribbean film. This is not surprising in the least seeing as the film has grossed over $1 billion worldwide. It is just disheartening as a film fan to see the constant barrage of remakes and sequels coming from Hollywood lately. Don't get me wrong, the first Pirates was one of my all time favorite films. It had everything a film like that needs: adventure, sword-fighting, a stellar cast, and lots of great lines. I even dug the second one, especially the ending. But as the series wore on, it got tiring. There are only so many times that I can watch Johnny sauntering drunkenly around trading one-lines with Geoffrey Rush.

I know the purpose of making a film is to make money. Working in Hollywood is the same as having any other job; film studios are making a product and they want someone to buy it. At the same time, movies are much different than anything else. While films are commodities, they are also art forms; they are experiences that transport the viewer, engage the senses, and inspire the mind. The problem becomes one of constantly having to balance the desire to make a profit with the need to be creators. See the Pixar/Disney Cars 2 debacle for proof. The New York Times had a great article about this issue called "A Collision of Creativity and Cash" which discussed Disney's desire to create a franchise vs. Pixar's need for great story telling. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/business/02stewart.html. 

It is so frustrating. Why does it have to be one or the other: a film that makes a ton of money or a film that tells a good story? Why do movie-goers shell out $13 to see Transformers 3 in 3D and neglect Tree of Life?  I know in my case it was availability. Tree of Life, Submarine, and Beginners (all films I want to see) are playing no where near me. I also know that once I get involved with characters in a series, I want to see what happens to them; I become invested in their stories and so I go to see each sequel that comes out. And like I've stated in numerous reviews so far this summer, sometimes I do not like to think, sometimes I just want to see things explode. However, that is not all the time. I loved Midnight in Paris because it was thoughtful and beautiful and so different from everything I've seen so far this summer.

I feel that more and more directors are discouraged to put out new, original films because it is safer to make films that audiences already know. We have so few Inceptions, films that are willing to be totally original and at the same time become top box office winners. Pixar proved that one can only be successful for so long before the desire to make money outweighs that of the need to create something new. Hopefully with Brave they can get back on track.

So, what about for the rest of the film industry? It seems that for awhile at least we will be stuck in this never ending cycle of remakes and sequels. Film industries will still look for ways to make money that they know will be guaranteed successes. The thing is, we do not have to take it. Another reason why the film industry is so unique is because it relies on us, the viewers to decide what they produce. If we refuse to watch another Pirates sequel or the Spiderman reboot, they will stop making them. But that will never happen. There will always be those people who like the familiar, who like the comfortable, who go to the theater to have fun and nothing more. At the same time, there will also always be people who go to the theater for a new experience, to think, to be drawn in. 

As I have said, I am conflicted because I belong to both worlds. I love films that are beautiful and thought provoking, but at the same time I am guilty of seeing all of the Pirates and Transformers that come out. I'm not saying we have to chose just one type of film to watch. What I am saying is that I wish studios could find a way to make both kinds of films more often and to trust that those are the kinds of films viewers want to see: funny, smart, and also packing some punch.

Boom! Goes...Everything

Let me say this from the start: you don't go see Transformers because you want to discuss the long sweeping shots, the intricate character performances, and the moving score. You go because it's summer and you want to see things get blown up. I am a self proclaimed film snob, but at the same time I don't always want to have to think when I see a film (see my thoughts on Pirates 4). Sometimes, you just want to have a fun movie experience. And that is exactly what Transformers: Dark of the Moon was-pure, robot fun.
The thing that makes it so much fun is the action.  I think the best word to use here would be "unrelenting" because once the robots start fighting, they do not stop. Did I think the last scene ran a bit too long? Maybe. But as my dad said, "guys can never get enough of robots beating each other up." Did I enjoy it though? You bet! What really added to the fight scenes was director Michael Bay's use of 3D technology. Many times during the previous two Transformer films I had trouble telling the good and bad robots apart, especially during the fight scenes and especially during the last scene of the second film. In this film, I felt that it was much easier to tell the robots apart while they twisted and spun through the air and buildings and city streets. (Speaking of cities, it was refreshing to see a city besides New York get destroyed for once). The 3D element added another dimension. It made for a cool visual experience, although I feel like comparing it to Avatar is a bit much. 
The story was not bad either. I am a sucker for historical tie-ins and I liked the use of old footage and sound clips combined with new ones. I found it interesting, though how believable it is I'll leave up to you. Although, the premise of the film in general is about giant robots transforming into cars and speaking to humans so plausibility kind of has to be left at the theater door... I for one can believe that the government would hide something of this proportion from us for so long and the fact that we are not the only ones out there. But that's just me.

 The acting performances are nothing to write home about. Shia LaBeouf screams too much and I felt was more unlikable than in the previous two films. The new girl, who's name I can't even be bothered to remember was unmemorable except for her freakishly large lips and remarkable ability to run from a robot invasion in five inch heels. I did appreciate all the digs they made at Megan Fox though. I also liked Leonard Nimroy as Sentinel Prime and all the Star Trek homages they threw in.

Overall, this film was perfect for the summer. Will it win any Oscars? No, probably not, unless it is for tech stuff, but not every film can. Then there would be no point in having an awards ceremony for the best films.

Rating: Needs Milk

I Think You Should Know Thursday

Since today is one of the first Thursdays in a long time that I remembered to do this, today is a double post day. Today's song I think you should know is "Soul Man" by French artist Ben L'Oncle Soul. My friend recommended this song to me (and translated it) and I love it. So groovy. Yes it is in another language. Become cultured and deal.

 

 If you don't want to listen to a song in another language, listen to his equally good cover of The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army"

This is the End, Beautiful Friend

 http://trailers.apple.com/movies/wb/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallowspart2/hp7part2-tlr2_480p.mov
I just watched the last new Harry Potter trailer I will ever see. Already as I type this my hands are shaking and the last remaining tears are streaming down my cheeks. This is it. The end. They have made an amazing final teaser to what is sure to be an outstanding finale to one of the best loved film franchises of all time. And as I sat there (during my second viewing) I thought to myself, "will I ever love a movie as much as I love this one?" Sure there have been many great films in my life. Films that have changed it, films that have made me watch them again and again. But nothing comes even remotely close to the way I feel about Harry Potter. I am crying at a trailer. I have an entire bulletin board in my room dedicated to reviews and articles from every single major New York paper since the second film. This movie and book series has been my entire childhood life. Now I am 20 and the last movie is coming out in less than a month. It feels like my birthday all those months ago meant nothing; July 15th is the real day my childhood comes to an end.
But enough nostalgia and thoughts on growing up. The trailer itself is magnificent. It has everything a trailer should, thrills and action and enough teasers to keep you wanting more. The part where I really lost it is the same scene that gets me in the book every time- Harry walking into the forest surrounded by his parents, Sirius, and Lupin. (I don't do spoiler alert warnings, if you haven't finished the book yet you deserve things to be spoiled for you!) The trailer opens in a way that gives you chills and never lets go. I love the incorporation of clips from the old movies and the words that sets the tone. The score is equal parts eerie and ethereal, it makes a great companion to the images. I also love the depiction of the old locations of the films and the cuts to them being destroyed. Warner Brothers really knows what they are doing. And having seen it four times it a row, it just keeps getting better.
28 days seems like a long time to wait, but at the same time I need it. I will savor these last days of my childhood in order to fully prepare myself for one of the biggest events of my (movie watching) lifetime.

Gives a Whole New Meaning to "Good Cop, Bad Cop"

"No one gives it to you, you have to take it."-Frank Costello

"Holy fucking shit!" was my reaction to the end of The Departed (2006). Not the most eloquent statement I must admit, but now I understand why people have been telling me to see this film for years. I honestly did not expect to like the film as much as I did. Which is strange seeing as I loved The Town (2010) and the parts of The Godfather (1972) I have seen (I know, I know, I can't really be a film snob if I haven't seen the whole Godfather...). I generally have no problem with gritty, bloody, violent films. The war film genre is one of my favorites. But I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this film. I knew a lot of my guy friends liked it, and that it took place in Boston and it was about the mob and the police, but that was about it.
I think the thing I liked so much about the film was how performance driven it was. The Town was great (I know I keep using it as a comparison, but it's the best I've got in terms of Boston mob films), but the cast could not measure up to the splendor that was The Departed. Each performance was better than the next. I kept trying to decide who I liked better, Leo or Matt Damon and it kept changing based on the scene. For awhile I was majorly impressed with Damon's acting, his composure and the way he seemed to be in complete control of his character and many elements of the plot. Then there was Leo, the complete other side of the coin; in no way composed, deteriorating in front of my very eyes, so vulnerable and yet so strong, impressing the hell out of me like he always does. I loved Marky-Mark too; I think he might have been better here than he was in The Fighter. I think he really held his own among the cast unlike the other film in which he was overshadowed by Christian Bale. James Badge Dale I recognized instantly from The Pacific and I was very excited to see him in another completely different role. But it was Jack Nicholson who obviously stole the show. I think I will forever have the image of him with his mouth full of blood, teeth bright red, smiling wide in my head. I don't even remember what scene that image was from, but he continues to create some of the most memorable characters of all time. He was just on another level in this film. Completely crazy? Yes. It worked though. All the acting worked and most importantly, they worked well together; they all fed so well off each other. And while I would have loved to see Leo finally win an award, I completely respect his decision to stand by his fellow cast members. He couldn't have done it without them.
I was also a really big fan of the score. I thought it added a great dimension to the film, especially the Dropkick Murphys' "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" (which I'm listening to as I type this). It was a really good mix of songs and I liked the old school feel they provided. It put the film back a bit, not so much in the past, but a time not our own (like the opening says).
Lastly, I really liked the way the narrative was structured, the way it skipped back and forth and yet was easy to follow. Scorsese did an amazing job using the camera work to aid in the ease of viewing and the flow of the story. He also made great use of cuts to add just the right amount of suspense.
Overall, I'm glad that I finally watched The Departed and mad at myself for taking so long!
Rating: No milk needed!

At Least Its Better than "At World's End"

So I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides at midnight last night with my sister and a bunch of other high school kids. It was honestly one of the tamest midnight showings I've gone to. Not all the seats in the theater were full and there were hardly any people in costumes (myself included). There seemed to just be a general lack of excitement, buzz, whatever you want to call it. With all the reviews I read, I admit, I too was not as excited as I had been in the past. 
However, the film exceeded my (very low) expectations. While it was no where near the perfection of the first one which is one of my favorite films it was much better than the third film which left me confused and sad at how far the mighty had fallen. Like everyone has said, this plot was much easier to follow, although I found it slightly predictable which was a first for one of the Pirates films.
Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz had great chemistry and by far made up for the dismal replacements for Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly. What were their purposes in the movie? If those random "lovers" were cut out of the film it would have saved so much time. The thing I like about Bloom and his character was his banter with Johnny and the way in which they worked so well together getting into and out of shenanigans. This missionary guy (who's name I can't even remember) served no purpose and was not even slightly attractive. I also missed Keira because at least she was feisty, fun, and served a purpose. That random mermaid girl, not so much. I was just not a fan of the whole mermaid idea in general.
Overall, I thought the film was fun, which is what it was supposed to be. It was not the most fun or funny film, but it was not the snore fest I thought it would be. Sure some of Jack's escape plans were far-fetched and insane and way over the top (especially the one involving the coconut trees) but they ended eventually and got back to the good stuff. And while I've heard many complain about the fight sequences, I didn't have a major problem with any of them. At least they were shorter than the whirlpool scene from the third film which I fell asleep during and when I woke up it was still going.
The thing is, once the movie was over, it was over. I didn't sit and brood over the ending or discuss my favorite parts (I honestly can't think of one even now). My mom asked me how it was and I said "good" because I really didn't know what else to say. It was good. Not bad, not great. It was there and then it was over. But while it was there, I will say that I did enjoy myself. It was fluffy fun. Sometimes you just need a film like that, this summer is going to be filled with fluff. Which I have no problem with. I may be a film snob but I love a good blockbuster now and then (Pirates was not it).
Eddie Izzard makes my point very well. Sometimes, I just want a film I can eat popcorn to.