I'll be blunt. My expectations for this movie weren't that high from the get-go. I wasn't a huge fan (or fan at all, really) of the last two X-Men movies. The trailers looked good, but I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I love Matthew Vaughn, he makes awesome movies, but when you combine Fox and Superhero movies...well, you don't always get the best results.
All I can say is, Matthew Vaughn...Bravo! You took a dying franchise, that was on serious life support, and you gave it the swift kick in the ass it needed. This is a prequel, yet contradicts events of the first two X-Men movies, so take it as you will - either a Prequel with some inconsistencies, or a complete overhaul of the franchise. I'll be honest, I don't know what to make of it, but I love it.
There's an extraordinarily solid cast for this - James Mcavoy as Charles, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Kevin Bacon as Shaw (the biggest enemy the X-Men have faced yet!), Jennifer Lawrence as a young Mystique, and Nicholas Hoult as Beast.
The movie opens - beat for beat - as the opening to X1 - as a terrified, young Erik Lensherr - yet unaware of his mutant powers - is in a concentration camp. This is the start of his disliking for humans - at least, those that aren't mutants. Mcavoy plays a very suave, smooth Charles, and uses the now infamous opening prologue to the first two movies as a pickup line for the ladies.
Everyone in this flick did great - and setting it in the 60s as a James Bond-like X-Men movie made me love it even more. Should Craig not come back in bond 23, I would love to see a Fass-bond movie, with him as the titular character. The music was fantastic - Henry Jackman is currently gaining more love for me - and honestly this was a fun movie with some thoughtful themes, and brings the dying X-Men franchise to a satisfying return. Hopefully the wolverine, and X-Men : First Class 2 (or second class, whatever) can keep the quality coming.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Finally, a review. I have seen this movie three times- and plan on more. The midnight showing was the greatest thing i've ever taken part in. This was and is, easily one of, if not the most anticipated movie of the year. This has been my most looked-forward-to-film since last november, when part 1 was released. I think it's safe to say, this franchise didn't go out with a bang, it went out with an explosion even Michael Bay couldn't top. This exceeded my already very-high expectations I had - as Yates had already made my top two favorites in the franchise (Hallows Part 1 and Half-Blood Prince). Everything in this movie I love. I had only one single complaint - but that was the blatant editing of the final fight scene [the missing "why do you live" line, for those who may be wondering]. Although I'm sure it'll be on the DVD/Blu-ray release, or future extended cut, I didn't think it needed to be cut out. Now, onto the top five things that made this movie everything I wanted it to be and more. Beware, spoilers abound and this post is going to get lengthy, and even nostalgic.
1. Alan Rickman. Holy hell. I loved the guy's filmography before, and him in general, but If he doesn't at least get a Nod for best supporting actor, then I will have completely lost faith in the oscars. I've seen the movie 3 times, and each time he makes me bawl like a baby in the prince's tale. That was possibly my favorite scene in the franchise.
2. The Music. Alexandre Desplat (and any other composer of the series that isn't Williams) has their work caught into hell because they aren't "John Williams". Desplat crafted at particularly wonderful score for Part 1, and for Part 2 he outdid himself. Lily's theme is the backbone of the score, and the variations used in tracks makes it all the more obvious. Voldemort's End, The Ressurection Stone, Dragon Flight, Snape's Demise, and more feature this extraordinarily beautiful cue. I think the cue "Severus & Lily" makes for my number one cue of the summer.
3. Everyone gets their moment to shine. Their isn't one character that doesn't have a total badass moment. Neville kills that damn snake. Snape has the Prince's tale. Hermione stabs the horcrux, prompting a tidal wave in the chamber of secrets. Harry finishes the deed once and for all. Molly destroys Bellatrix, and with such intensity that I didn't think Julie could preform. Professor Mcgonagall's moment made the entire theater cheer like I'd never seen before.
4. The Mothers. Something I just recently realized, is the love of the mothers in the series. Although not necessarily"good" in the sense,though not a villain either - I came to the realization that Narcissa Malfoy would have done the exact thing for Draco that Lily had done for Harry oh-so-many years ago, which is why I took another look at Draco. Voldemort's mother hadn't abused him or anything, but she didn't care for him like Lily, Molly, or Narcissa did for their children. Obviously he was a bad-guy from the get-go, but you always have to wonder what he would have been like with a caring mother.
5. The callback to the first movie. The final moments of the movie end with the next generation of hogwarts students, and it brings back a ton of stuff from the first movie. A Chocolate frog on the window. Parents looking on as their kids start their magical education. John Williams' "Leaving Hogwarts" cue. It brought the biggest sense of closure to a movie series since George Lucas' Star Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Sith - something not done since 2005.
I truly think this should be movie of the year at the awards. It has damn near a 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it has tons of themes and allusions to real world events, and it causes you to think alot - something such summer fare normally fails to do.
I want to say very, very, very well Done David Yates, Warner Bros.; the entire cast and crew of Harry Potter 7.2, and most of all, J.K. Rowling. I cannot imagine a life without Harry Potter, and I don't think anyone could ever want to.
1. Alan Rickman. Holy hell. I loved the guy's filmography before, and him in general, but If he doesn't at least get a Nod for best supporting actor, then I will have completely lost faith in the oscars. I've seen the movie 3 times, and each time he makes me bawl like a baby in the prince's tale. That was possibly my favorite scene in the franchise.
2. The Music. Alexandre Desplat (and any other composer of the series that isn't Williams) has their work caught into hell because they aren't "John Williams". Desplat crafted at particularly wonderful score for Part 1, and for Part 2 he outdid himself. Lily's theme is the backbone of the score, and the variations used in tracks makes it all the more obvious. Voldemort's End, The Ressurection Stone, Dragon Flight, Snape's Demise, and more feature this extraordinarily beautiful cue. I think the cue "Severus & Lily" makes for my number one cue of the summer.
3. Everyone gets their moment to shine. Their isn't one character that doesn't have a total badass moment. Neville kills that damn snake. Snape has the Prince's tale. Hermione stabs the horcrux, prompting a tidal wave in the chamber of secrets. Harry finishes the deed once and for all. Molly destroys Bellatrix, and with such intensity that I didn't think Julie could preform. Professor Mcgonagall's moment made the entire theater cheer like I'd never seen before.
4. The Mothers. Something I just recently realized, is the love of the mothers in the series. Although not necessarily"good" in the sense,though not a villain either - I came to the realization that Narcissa Malfoy would have done the exact thing for Draco that Lily had done for Harry oh-so-many years ago, which is why I took another look at Draco. Voldemort's mother hadn't abused him or anything, but she didn't care for him like Lily, Molly, or Narcissa did for their children. Obviously he was a bad-guy from the get-go, but you always have to wonder what he would have been like with a caring mother.
5. The callback to the first movie. The final moments of the movie end with the next generation of hogwarts students, and it brings back a ton of stuff from the first movie. A Chocolate frog on the window. Parents looking on as their kids start their magical education. John Williams' "Leaving Hogwarts" cue. It brought the biggest sense of closure to a movie series since George Lucas' Star Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Sith - something not done since 2005.
I truly think this should be movie of the year at the awards. It has damn near a 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it has tons of themes and allusions to real world events, and it causes you to think alot - something such summer fare normally fails to do.
I want to say very, very, very well Done David Yates, Warner Bros.; the entire cast and crew of Harry Potter 7.2, and most of all, J.K. Rowling. I cannot imagine a life without Harry Potter, and I don't think anyone could ever want to.
Summer of 2011 movie breakdown
This has been a huge year for movies.
We've had a very fantasy filled summer. There's the prequel-yet-not-100%-reboot-reboot of the x-men franchise, Ventured to Oa with Hal Jordan, watched harry potter defeat the dark lord once and for all, gasped at the horror of the rising of the planet of the apes, saw Thor learn the power of humility, and watched as a scrawny man became the ultimate fighting weapon.
A few comedies here and there, like the hangover 2 (aka the hangover remade in taiwan), 30 minutes or less, and bridesmaids. All three comedies, of which, i found myself, disappointed in.
In the upcoming posts I'll be reviewing alot of what i've seen this year, breaking down the best - and worst - of what i've seen at the cinema.
We've had a very fantasy filled summer. There's the prequel-yet-not-100%-reboot-reboot of the x-men franchise, Ventured to Oa with Hal Jordan, watched harry potter defeat the dark lord once and for all, gasped at the horror of the rising of the planet of the apes, saw Thor learn the power of humility, and watched as a scrawny man became the ultimate fighting weapon.
A few comedies here and there, like the hangover 2 (aka the hangover remade in taiwan), 30 minutes or less, and bridesmaids. All three comedies, of which, i found myself, disappointed in.
In the upcoming posts I'll be reviewing alot of what i've seen this year, breaking down the best - and worst - of what i've seen at the cinema.
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