the movieGOOMBA

4 GOOMBAS

I read Harry Potter almost every night. Sometimes, I'll only read parts; other times, I'll start reading a whole book all the way through. And each time is always just as good as the first. I do this because I need to remind myself that, though fantasy, there exists a world where good always triumphs over evil. I do this because when I start to feel the insignificance in a world so large, I'm reminded that love and friendship is what gives my life meaning.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened at midnight, setting the new record for midnight sales at $22.2 million. In his sixth year, Harry returns to Hogwarts and faces the wizarding world as "The Chosen One." During private lessons, Dumbledore shows Harry memories that he has collected, in the hopes that they find something that will help them destroy Lord Voldemort.

Though not as intense as its predecessors, Prince is basically just a set-up for the the last installments of the Potter series. I don't think this film is able to stand on its own, but its very good just the same. When the movie stopped to look into the calmer moments of the trio, Hermione, Ron and Harry, it had a number of funny, light-hearted scenes, but almost equal were scenes of heartache and grief. Also, I thought this film did an excellent job of making Harry a likeable character (at this point in the novels, Harry is quite stubborn and obsessive), and the filmmakers did a fairly good job of abbreviating the plot. However, as an avid book fan, I did think they left a lot of important details out. I'm not sure how they'll manage to explain some things in the next film, but if they do, I won't complain.

Coming of age is a bittersweet ordeal, and what struck me the most about this movie was the general tone of maturity. There are certain things in life that you have to go at alone; the first day of kindergarten, moving away from home - anything that involves growing up and making your way through this world, anything involving a defining decision. And that is where Harry is; on the verge of a defining decision. So, just a few hours ago, when I finished watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I was left with loneliness. Though Harry is supported and in the company of truly loyal friends, I'm reminded that Harry is still alone with his burden.

And I feel alone with him.

3 GOOMBAS

I first noticed The Golden Compass at the 2007 Comic Con, and what first struck me was the exquisite use of color and the softness of each still. After a few months, I started hearing the controversy surrounding the religious (or should I say, "non-religious") themes apparent in the story. It turns out that the author of The Golden Compass novel, from which this film is based, was atheist. GASP! Oh the horror! His children's fantasy novel must be filled with immoralities, immodesties, and most importantly, anti-Christian tendencies. We have to boycott! ::rolls eyes:: After watching this film, these are definitely over-reactions to a analytically atheistic story, and this movie's influence is no worse than High School Musical with its promotion of popular teens possessing ridiculously, unattainable beauty.

Lyra is a young girl who lives in a dimension where there are three species; humans, polar bears, and witches. Humans each have a deamon which takes the the shape of an animal and is essentially a manifestation of the human's soul. There's also a thing called Dust - I still don't know what it is. I'm guessing it has something to do with corrupting mankind. Lyra is left behind by her uncle when he goes on a trip, and while he's gone, she finds herself in the middle of an adventure; traveling on a flying ship, befriending an exiled polar bear, and rescuing her best friend from deamon separation all with the aide of a alethiometer.

Visually dazzling, The Golden Compass is compelling and filled with youthful wonder and black and white morality, but its dark and sinister tones created complexities and intrigue. Dakota Blue Richards brings feistiness and courage to Lyra's character, and the world that Philip Pullman created is shared with a generation that may not have known it. However, though an adequate adaption to the novel, the film does not stand on its own. The ending is left open, (presumably for a sequel) with many, many question unanswered, but as of today, there have been no plans to complete the film trilogy. So what will happen to Lyra? What is Dust? This flick felt like the second movie in a series rather than the first, and because of this cinematic choice to tell the story in this way, it becomes a mediocre flick. There's really no excuse to leave so many plot holes.

Its always great to watch a children's fantasy film. It's imaginative, innocent, and usually filled with not-too-bloody action scenes. Yet in this particular instance, I was left unsatiated. Bring on the next installment, and I'll revisit.

4 GOOMBAS

I’m not a big fantasy book reader. My devotion to Harry Potter is a fluke. I like coming-of-age novels, romantic fiction, and stories with adventure in the real world, as opposed to an alternate universe. So it's even more fun for me when I go to the movies and watch something like Narnia, Lord of the Rings, or Eragon. I have no idea what’s going to happen, and I’m quite often, pleasantly surprised. So when a movie like Stardust comes along, I just about gush with excitement; like I've discovered it first.

Stardust brought me into an exciting world of lightening catchers, greedy sorceresses, unicorns, and magic. Tristan crosses the wall and journeys to the land of Stormhold to bring back a fallen star and win the love of village beauty, Victoria. Little does Tristan know that the fallen star is actually a person, that a wicked witch and three princes are after the same prize, and his family ties to the other side of the wall are stronger than he thinks. Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Dinero, Sienna Miller, and relative new comer, Carlie Cox star.

Stardust has what many of the Harry Potter movies lack, a perfect balance of wonder and story. I was thoroughly a part of the adventure and was quite impressed by how understandable the complicated plot was told. Typically, a film with so many moving parts becomes frustrating and unintelligible, but this movie’s plot was clear and easy to follow. Stardust is a good example of great story telling, a concept that is lost to many of today’s book adaptations.

Some other things that may make you want to watch this movie: Robert Dinero dancing around in a pink dress; crushing on the dorky Tristan who, by the end of the film, becomes a long-haired hottie; and pretty intense CG. I was caught up in the universe of Stormhold, and for about an hour, like Yvaine, I longed to be loved.

A few days after my initial viewing of the film, I wondered what a sorceress' powers would look like in real life. It definitely would look like green lighting.

4 GOOMBAS
I love Harry Potter!!! The dorky part of me wishes that I was also a Gryffindor (even though we all know that I'd be a Hufflepuff) with a wand, and a really awesome cloak. Who wouldn't want that, especially the cloak part? The final book, as you hopefully know, is due to come out on Saturday, July 21st; 7 days, 11 hours, 50 minutes from now. No, I'm not the even the slightest bit fanatical. And no, I'm not bouncing up and down in my chair with arms in the air flailing in hysteric excitement. You know this because I'm typing, and to do so requires my hands to be firmly planted on the keyboard . . . GAH! I'm dying over here! I'm about to have a melt down trying to hold it in! GAH AHHH! YAAAY! AHHH! So instead of the physical flailing, you get a written manifestation of it. Lucky you. I have to keep telling myself not to think about it or I'll start doing this silent cheer thing every two seconds, placing me most definitely in the scary geek category.

In, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, or OP, the following events occur: a hideous woman from the Ministry named Umbridge takes over Hogwarts, Harry and Cho make out, Harry teaches his classmates Defense Against the Dark Arts in secret, and there is a prophesy.

I don't really know what to say about the movie. I'm so blinded by the books that I can't even tell if the film is coherent to people who haven't read them. I loved the movie, but I don't know if I love it because I love Harry or because I loved the film. There are uplifting parts, sentimental parts, and funny parts. I thought it was good fix on the part of the film makers to montage the story of the different proclaimations Umbridge instituted with the DA scenes. Not only does it speed up the story, but tells it in an artistic fasion. The special effects are awesome, Harry becomes someone everyone else could look up to, and to top that off, Dumbledore is a bad-ass.

The few complaints I have are the obvious ones; they left out a lot of cool information that the books had. I also didn't like how they dealt with Cho's character, but that's because it was totally different from the book. I just felt like there was no resolution to Harry and Cho's relationship. Are they still together, are they not? I also wished there was a little more fight scene at the end of the film, but if they need to pay Daniel Radcliffe 25 million, it's understandable if they were running low on the budget for CG. I'm facetious, I know.

Anyway, I love Harry Potter. Even if he's suppose to be a miserable, misunderstood jerk in this film. I'm a fan, 100% of the way. I'm bias, so hopefully you take this review with a grain of salt.

4.5 GOOMBAS

Okay, in case you're thinking "Dang, this girl gives out 4 GOOMBAS like water," it's not true! I'm actually a pretty harsh rater, but all the Oscar movies are coming to DVD now, so it's only natural that those would be better. Plus it might just be because there were so many terrible movies that came out in 2004 and 2005 that all the good ones are coming out now. But don't worry! I'll be sure to rate some more crummy movies like Because I Said So and Snakes on A Plane soon!

On to more serious things. Set in fascist Spain during World War II, Pan's Labyrinth is about Ofelia, a young girl who loves to read. In the 'real world,' Ofelia's mother takes Ofelia and her unborn half brother to live with her new husband, the Captain. The Captain is an evil man who only cares about power and his legacy. He has no love for his new wife or his new stepdaughter, and it is because of him that Ofelia's seeks sanctuary in a different world. She meets a faun who tells her that she is the reincarnated princess of the underworld, but in order to live her life as the princess along with her father, the King, she must complete three tasks to prove that she has not become a mortal.

Enigmatic, ominous, and extraordinary, Pan's Labyrinth is a film that feels heavily influenced by German Expressionism. The dark, almost foreboding feel in many of the fantasy scenes creates a world that is not your average fairy tale land, and I must warn that this film is not for the squirely. Its pretty damn intense.

The film begins in a lighter yet very serious tone, but as Ofelia delves deeper into the world that she believes she is a part of, the atmosphere begins taking a turn. In both worlds, things get more dark and sinister, and the need for Ofelia to complete her tasks becomes more urgent. This perfectly auteur-ed piece mixes fantasy with reality, and by the end of the film, both are so intricately woven that you wonder if it was real or if it was all Ofelia's imagination.

If it was Ofelia's imagination, is the whole movie just a tall tale; a commentary on life's despair and the longing for escape? Or is it something more than that? Is it the idea of a better place? With a Father who will wait for your return? And maybe you will get there, especially if you believe.

"A long time ago, in the underground realm, where there are no lies or pain, there lived a Princess who dreamed of the human world. She dreamed of blue skies, soft breeze, and sunshine. One day, eluding her keepers, the Princess escaped. Once outside, the brightness blinded her and erased every trace of the past from her memory. She forgot who she was and where she came from. Her body suffered cold, sickness, and pain. Eventually, she died. However, her father, the King, always knew that the Princess' soul would return, perhaps in another body, in another place, at another time. And he would wait for her, until he drew his last breath, until the world stopped turning..."

2 GOOMBAS