Explanation of the Title of the Blog

Following my review of the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince I think I should explain the title of my blog. It comes from a quote from the Harry Potter series in particular from the character of Dumbledore. I enjoyed the quote so I figured to make it the title of this blog.

I think it is fitting though to include other quotes from the Harry Potter Series

"Do not pity the dead Harry, pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love." - Dumbledore

"Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked this easily -- weak people, in other words..." - Snape

"To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - Dumbledore

"What exactly is the function of a rubber duck"- Arthur Weasley

"You think the dead we love ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?" -Dumbledore

"Well, well . . . I'm impressed. That suggests what you fear most of all is -- fear. Very wise, Harry." - Lupin

"People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right." - Dumbledore

And Lastly...

"Cinderella? What's that, an illness?" -Ron Weasley

In-Depth Review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Let me preface this by saying that I am an uber Harry Potter fan. I love the books I've read several multiple times, I own all the DVDs of the movies, I even know Dumbledore's full name (Albus Pericival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore). You get the idea.

So while I like the movies I don't believe that they hold a candle to the books. I've always felt after watching a movie that the film makers have left something out that they shouldn't or omitted one of my favorite parts of the book that the movie was based on. Half Blood Prince (the latest film) is the only film where I haven't felt something like that at least not as strongly anyway.

Movie Continuation
Half Blood Prince is the first movie since Chamber of Secrets that has the same director as the previous films. One of the greats feats of the movie series is that no matter how many times directors have changed from film to film the overall tone remains the same. But the result of having the same director for two films is immediately apparent. Half Blood Prince truly feels like a direct continuation of Order of the Phoenix and it enriches the movie experience. It gives me great hope that the same director will finish out the series.

It's a set-up
The problem with Half-Blood Prince is that nothing happens until the end. They set up plot point after plot point all for the last two movies. The amount of the stuff they set-up is extremely exciting for me as a fan but it might not be for others. That is the way that Half Blood Prince the book was too it was a set-up for Deathly Hallows. So the film makers were facing a challenge when they made the book into a movie. They way they remedy the situation is the make the movie much more character driven and I think it works spectacularly the film really makes us care for the characters and their realtionships and their futures in the last two movies. The acting especially by Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) Ron (Rupert Grint) Hermione (Emma Watson) was superb and I am so excited for Deathly Hallows because the majority of the films will be solely on those three actors.

Final Verdict
Do I wish something were different? Yes. Do I wish that Alan Rickman (Snape) was a little less monotone and more emotional and vicious like the book Snape? Yes. (Even though I do enjoy Rickman's potrayal) Do I wish that we saw the gentle funny Dumbledore in this movie in the previous movies? Oh yeah! But Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) really redeemed himself in this one and when he is killed I felt something. Do I wish that there was more memories about Tom Riddle and Voldemort? Yes. But I still believe that it was the best Harry Potter movie yet.

Enjoy this video about comparing the first Dumbledore to the second.

Review of Transformers 2 and Away We Go

In this past week I have seen two movies, the first of them was the blockbuster Transformers 2 and the second was the little known Away We Go.

Review of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers 2 has not been very well recieved crictically but seeing as how its opening weekened in box office revenue was second only to last year's The Dark Knight it hardly needs the acclaim. Transformers 2 does not have a oscar-worthy plot. It isn't a thought-provoking and emotional movie. It is just a action-packed summer movie there are some gaping plot holes but who cares, there are explosions and attractive people. If you go into Transformers expecting to get what you should, a action filled, fun summer movie then you won't be disappointed. It is even better than the first movie because it contains even more beautiful giant alien robot fight scenes. Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen is just good ole' cinema fun.




Review of Away We Go

Away We Go is the exact opposite of Transformers it is not as well known and it has received very favorable reviews. It is a quiet simple movie it has its light moments and serious moments but it is mainly about a couple being forced into a situation and having to deal with (in this case an unexcepted pregancy). Burt and Verona are in their early thirties and in Verona's words, they haven't figured out the basic stuff yet, like how to survive so once they are presented with this pregancy they are forced to adapt. They travel the country trying to find the perfect palce to raise their new child, along the way they meet several characters, which range from sweet and simple to downright crazy, all of these encounters help Verona and Burt reach their final destination. This movie is a great exprience and it just makes you feel good at the end, its original and funny without losing its sense of realism. Its a well made movie and deserves to be seen.

Here's two clips from both movies...
Transformers:

Away We Go: