Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone. What a delight. These movies could have gone off the rails in a million different ways, but they really came through. Somehow I felt the ~magic~ in this one, like literal gasping. So fun. (Side note: this came out 17 years ago???????)
Noah. I didn’t know much going in (except for, you know, one of the most famous Bible stories). There was a good bit of fantasy-type and action-hero stuff that, uh, I wasn’t anticipating. Overall, pretty darn good. The flood scene juxtaposing the Ark and the small spit of land – completely gutting. And I don’t know how that Creation scene works so well, but it’s such a genius interlude…
The Bling Ring. It’s not amazing (characterization is pretty weak (but it doesn’t seem to be trying (but maybe it would help?))), but it does have an addictive energy to it. There’s one burglary that’s caught in a one-take long shot that’s just perfect. I need to catch up on Sofia Coppola’s other stuff. The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation are pretty brilliant.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Had a few nice moments, but really not for me. Didn’t click. I think I disliked the book, too, but I can’t remember it at all. Shrug.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. You know it’s serious when the skies are overcast for two hours straight. Setting aside the expected clichés of dim lighting, muted palettes, stormclouds, speeches, etc., I went in expecting to be highly entertained and I was not disappointed. Until the end. I see the last five minutes as a pretty serious failure given the ~15 hours of good work that came before. Seriously, just throw an Ewok party and call it a day. Don’t try to make 20-year-olds-who-look-like-teenagers look like 40-years-olds. Yep, I’m old and grumpy. One day I’ll be glad to watch these again with my kids.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Honestly, I don’t remember this one well at all. My friends were talking a lot while it played. Whereas I’m not a superfan, and whereas I stopped reading the books after 2¼ books, it struck me as the same kind of chase-this, find-that sort of adventure I was expecting. Which is not at all a bad thing. It was fun. The best moment is Dobby unscrewing the chandelier.
Mark Larson 