Review #10 – Harry Potter 5-7
If you see these SPOILERS, you can’t use a time turner to undo it.
Andrew 21:34
ok
lets do this
Chris 21:35
I guess I’m ok with that.
21:35
you better be
21:36
Well, there is an intense Cardinals game happening right now, but I have to do my duty.
21:37
network tv or fox sports?
21:37
Internet for me actually.
I think it’s on Fox Sports Midwest, which I don’t get.
21:38
im looking for it
got it, fs midwest
double fucking play you ohio bastards
ok, so about harry potter
Obviously we broke up the series based on David Yates’s taking over directing duties
how do you think Yates changed the series?
21:40
Really? I thought we just went in half, but that’s cool too.
21:41
then we should have stopped halfway into goblet
21:42
David Yates was an incredibly interesting choice for director for these movies, since he had never directed a specifically designed big screen film.
The only thing I knew from him was The Girl in the Cafe, which is a little known but very powerful movie he directed for HBO, if I’m not mistaken.
That being said, I think he found the perfect blend for these movies and took it in exactly the right direction both stylistically and narratively.
21:44
yea, for a relative unknown, he turned out to be exactly what the series needed
both stability and a great balance of the fantastical and real
21:46
Now, when I say perfect blend, I mean that he took the visually dark style that had been established by Alfonso Cuaron in PoA and devotion to telling the stories as faithfully as possible that had been established by Chris Columbus. Mike Newell tried it with GoF, but I think Yates perfected it.
21:47
yea, i know these more recent films get flak for not having as much detail, but the books here are huge
there is just no way to fit in all the subplots
I know we were just talking about it, but I think OotP was way too long as a book
21:48
It was. OotP could have been trimmed by 200 pages if Rowling would have taken out half of the explanations of why Harry was complaining and angsty.
He’s a teenager now. We get it.
21:48
he’s a pussy of a teenager
i started hating him a little in that book
21:49
That being said, I think Order of the Phoenix is the only movie that is actually better than the book.
21:49
hmmm, I dont know
ive never really thought about the movies being better or worse than the books
21:50
I know you don’t know. I say things that are controversial, and you disagree with them. It’s kind of our schtick.
21:51
ok, I think we are above self referential humor
but i say I dont know because I dont
not because i disagree necessarily
I don’t usually try to compare books to movies, they’re so different
21:52
In terms of which one I enjoyed more, I’ll definitely go with the film.
It just worked better seeing Harry go through all his teenage angst and try to read it through his actions and emotions than seeing every single thought that went through his head.
21:53
yea, i think they toned it down a bit too
21:53
This particular book was just one that works better cinematically than it does in written word.
21:53
I really like luna lovegood as a character
the actress they found nailed it
with that slight irish accent that makes you sound a little stupid
sorry irish people, you know its true
21:54
I think her look of bewilderment was what helped her in this case, not the Irish accent. She just looks a little crazy, in all honesty.
21:55
she looks a little crazy, but i think its the delivery of her lines that makes me laugh
and her sincerity really comes off well
21:57
Well, as much as I love Luna, she was not my favorite new addition to the cast from that film.
That honor, of course, has to go to Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge.
21:58
she is pretty much perfect
21:58
Seriously, could they have cast a better person for that role? She almost seemed born to play it.
21:58
that damn laugh of hers
I’m a little conflicted about her though
On one hand, she’s perfect for the role and makes you just hate her soooo much
but on the other, I hate her so much that it starts to become frustrating
and I get it, thats what I should be feeling
but I dont like it
I just want to yell at all of them to stop putting up with that bitch
22:01
I think that’s a credit to Yates and her.
22:02
HOME RUN CARDINALS
I would hate to be from Ohio right now
22:03
She’s one of the most despicable women on the planet. You’re not supposed to be happy that she’s torturing Harry. She’s there to represent the absolute worst that any school system has to offer.
22:03
i know
I get that
and i respect the movie for it
I’m just saying I don’t like the anger i feel for her
i dont like feeling it
it is a double edged sword for me
22:05
Speaking of swords…how about that climactic duel between Dumbledore and Cranky Mc-Nonose?
22:05
that was a terrible joke
i apologize to the readers for my colleague
it was really cool though
the glass shards turning into sand
awesome
22:06
And you yell at me for the self-referential humor.
22:06
but that was just…. an apology was needed
22:08
I love that the whole series, you hear that Dumbledore is the ultimate wizard and the only one that Voldemort feared, but you don’t ever really understand why until that moment. It’s kind of like Yoda in Attack of the Clones, only it didn’t make me laugh out loud at the absurdity.
22:09
yea, thats a good analogy
although i did like yoda’s fight scene
i think thats the only way to do it
but back to harry potter
I was just amazed how unique it was, it was a fight that only could work in this universe
22:10
Exactly. I think, when I saw this in theaters, that was the moment when I realized how much the universe of this film just felt right and that they could get away with scenes like that without the audience ever feeling like it couldn’t happen.
22:11
we better get moving on to HBP
22:12
I saw HBP when I was in Colorado with a couple of friends. I say this, because it is one of my favorite movie-going experiences ever.
I was surrounded by people I love in a place I love watching characters I love in an adaptation of my personal favorite HP book.
I can’t stress enough how much I love this movie.
22:13
wow, its my favorite book too
I don’t think it is my favorite movie though
but it is certainly up there
22:14
Well, we haven’t gotten to DH:P1, have we?
I’ll tell you the reason why I love this film so much…Voldemort/Ralph Fiennes is not seen in the current story line at all in the film.
However, his threat is larger in this movie than it ever was before.
They showed by the end of the film how much his forces have grown, and the audience feels the losses. That means you have built a universe worth buying into with a threat that feels dangerous.
Not only that, but I think Daniel Radcliffe showed his best acting chops of the series so far at the end of the film.
22:18
Yea, I like it because it gives some good backstory, it builds Dumbledore up as a good, dimensional character, and it ends with a great shocking and emotional moment
also, those lake people a terrifying
and the fire swirl thingy dumbledore does is impressive with the sfx and music
22:19
Also, how amazing is the photography in this film? Everything from the castle to the flashbacks is just gorgeous.
22:20
i love the liquid feel of the memories
how people drop in like ink
now, this is one where the subplot and the title of the film seems almost forgotten
the Half Blood Prince stuff gets kind of sidelined
22:22
I think that was kind of the purpose…you’re supposed to forget about the sideplot in this movie so the big reveal at the end is that much more shocking.
22:22
i thought it was much less shocking
i thought the book made it feel much more important, and in the movie you’re like, oh yea thats the name of the movie
22:23
Well, you don’t have any real emotions, so it doesn’t surprise me you feel that way.
For example, did you cry at the end of the film?
22:23
no
why would i
im not a woman
22:24
Because you’re a soulless being, my friend.
22:24
also, you know he’s coming back in the last book
in some form
I will admit, the wand light scene was pretty good
Ok so here’s the deal. I brought some stuff up that would certainly spoil things if you haven’t read the last book. I wanted to put it in, but Chris seems to care about not ruining things for people or integrity or something. So I was persuaded to hide the following comments in case you don’t read books like some backwater hillbilly. If you do want to read what we had to say, head to the bottom of the post and highlight the big block of black text. Otherwise, continue on your ignorant way.
-Andrew
22:34
so, Deathly Hallows
I hate the name
but I loved the movie and book
22:36
What would you have preferred?
22:36
Harry Potter and the Most Awesomest Battle Ever
22:37
I was thinking more along the lines of Harry Potter and the Battle of Hogwarts, but that would appeal to the highly coveted teen male audience.
22:38
how about Harry Potter and the Boring Forest Scene in the Middle
22:38
Which works really really well for the movie!
22:39
the forest scene? no, it doesnt work
the movie had all this momentum and then it just comes to a screeching hault when they pitch that tent
22:39
That’s what she said.
I loved the scenes in the forrest.
It reminded me of why I fell in love with these characters in the first place.
The books and movies have and always will be about those three characters, and for the first time in a while, we had almost an entire movie devoted to showing how far they had come as characters and as actors.
22:41
It reminded me of what I needed to get at walmart later on
because i started to zone out
22:41
It was necessary to do before the final part, which is going to be an all out war.
Take the time to let us remember the journey and what these three had gone through to get there.
22:42
See, when they break into the ministry of magic I got the team dynamic
because they were doing something
not just yelling at each other in the woods
22:42
They were surrounded with all the other kids though…it was more than just the three of them.
22:43
I’m sorry, but that forest stuff is what makes me put HBP above DH as the best book in the series
22:44
And, without those scenes, we wouldn’t have gotten to see a naked Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe since apparently Harry is going to be clothed in the one scene from the finale where he was naked in the books…
And really, isn’t the Harry Potter franchise all about the sex?
22:44
….no
no it is not
anyway, we did get billy mac in this one
so thats pretty awesome
I wish he had said that he felt it in his fingers, he felt it in his toes
22:45
I mean, you knew he was going to be in the series at some point after The Girl in the Cafe.
22:46
yea
22:46
It was just a matter of who.
22:46
i think it was a good choice
too bad he wont be in the next one
22:46
Davey might throw a few surprises at us. You never know.
Like a credit sequence similar to what they did with LOTR.
You know, I was talking about it earlier today, but it really is amazing that this series has kept the entire original cast all the way through, with the exception of one death and replace.
I can’t think of any other film series that has accomplished that.
22:48
yea, it helps the series i think
although they changed professor ugnaut from a crazy gremlin thing in the first two to just a midget with a hitler stash
same actor, different makeup
22:49
Flitwick. His name was Flitwick.
I would have also gone with Ewok.
22:50
no, he looks like he belongs on cloud city
inspecting Han’s carbontie frozen body
22:52
Except Warwick Davis wasn’t in Empire Strikes Back, was he?
Get your little people actors straight!
22:52
not talking about actors
talking about ugnauts
22:53
It’s pretty ridiculous that you know what they’re called.
22:53
http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgxrdpjzH21qa8syoo1_400.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/harrypotter/images/a/af/Flitwick-film.jpg
22:54
Those will both give me nightmares.
22:54
good
22:55
Now, one last little thing I wanted to mention about DH:P1.
I absolutely hated the character of Dobby in CoS.
And yet, I totally was rooting for him and kind of sad he died in this movie.
Why did that happen?
22:56
i dont think you are unique
even if he is annoying, he is innocent
so since he only wants to help, and then saves peoples lives, it makes it all the more tragic
although, i gotta say, they buried him on the beach and you know wild animals are going to dig him up and eat him
22:58
He would be a pretty decent meal for a baby werewolf.
22:58
he might as well be a free meal if he’s gonna be a free elf
do you feel that? thats how i felt after your joke earlier
22:59
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am audibly loling.
22:59
so, rank them
all seven
23:00
Ok, in order of least favorite to favorite.
Chamber of Secrets.
Sorcerer’s Stone.
Goblet of Fire.
Prisoner of Azkaban.
Order of the Phoenix.
Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Half-Blood Prince.
23:01
ok, here’s mine
Chamber of Secrets
Sorcerer’s Stone
Goblet of Fire
Order of the Phoenix
Prisoner of Azkaban
Half-Bllod Prince & Deathly Hallows P1 TIE
23:03
Psh. Since when has there been a tie in ranking Harry Potter movies?
I think you’re just indecisive.
23:03
I think they are both really good
23:03
You have to have liked one over the other though.
23:04
I honestly can’t say that I do
Had Deathly Hallows not had camping involved, it would have one
23:05
Ok…I’m holding your copies of HBB and DH:P1 over an endless chasm. You can only save one. Which one would you save?
23:05
I don’t own them
so you can’t do that
23:06
I am holding every known copy of HBP and DH:P1 over an endless chasm. You can only save one. Which one would you save?
23:06
I push you into the chasm, then go to your house and take your copies since you wouldn’t risk those
23:07
And there you have it folks…Andrew loves Harry Potter more than me!
Make sure to include that in your official ranking.
23:08
no, you’re just being a jerk for threating all the copies of harry potter from around the globe
I’m doing the world a service
23:08
Not the globe. Just you.
23:08
you said every copy
thats a dick move man
I’d probably get a medal for pushing you into that chasm
23:10
Well, jokes on you! I had the final Horcrux with me, and now you’re going to get killed by Voldemort!
23:12
wow, that is probably the nerdiest thing you could come back with
23:12
I pride myself by that fact.
22:26
Didn’t make it any less emotional. The man was actually killed by another man that he authentically cared about.
22:26
but he wanted him to
22:26
Don’t give it away!!!
22:26
I believed snape was a good guy from the start
and I’ll put a spoiler alert for everything at the top
22:27
We’re only doing spoilers for these three movies…not the final one!
22:27
the book has been out for like five years
they can deal with it
22:27
Four.
I really don’t think you should put it in there, because I know for a fact some of the people reading it have not read the book and will get mad.
22:28
I want to address it though because I think the scene is important to look at
with that knowledge
Gambdon does a great job with that line, “Severus, please”
22:30
He does leave things very ambiguous. You really can’t tell which way he’s saying it.
22:31
see, i feel like it could be interpreted as ambigous. But I think he just sounds exauhsted. He’s begging him to do it and I think had I not already known I’d have figured snape was doing it oh his request
Review #7 – Transformers 1 & 2
More SPOILERS than meets the eye
Chris 17:24
Let’s…ROLL OUT!
You had to have seen that coming.
Andrew 17:26
ok, so transformers and michael bay get a lot of flak, do you think its justified?
17:26
Half way.
Half of the franchise up until this point has been good.
The other half not so much.
17:28
i can agree with that
although the first one has many problems and dumb moments, it is fun
and thats all i really wanted from it
17:29
I am going to make a very controversial statement here…
The first Transformers…is a good movie.
17:29
oooh, you hear that people
kick his ass
17:30
I know, I can’t believe Mr. Hates Explosions and No Character Development For the Sake of Selling Toys (I really need a shorter name) liked it either, but bare with me here.
17:30
do explain
17:30
Shia Labeouf: charming in this role.
Story: easy to follow and fun.
Effects: absolutely gorgeous for the time (and still holds up nicely)
Action: fun while having room for elements of humor mixed in.
Side characters: very entertaining and talented.
And, my most controversial statement of all (drum roll please)…
Megan Fox: strong female character who actually pulls her weight in the acting department and in the action of the story.
I feel like a traitor to film critics everywhere.
17:34
you do realize you are now on the black list
17:34
I’ll never get a job again.
17:34
but…. I agree with you on most of those points
17:35
I can only guess as to what you disagree with (you sheep).
17:35
i think the humor is balanced well, shia is actually good in this movie. I’m not a big fan of his, but he works in this environment. However, there are times with the parents that really get on my nerves
and there are a couple jokes that are just too stupid, like peeing on barton fink
as for megan fox, i cant say that i think she’s a good actress, but no worse than any other action movie female
17:37
I’m sorry, but the scene where the parents walk in on Sam and Mikaela is one of the most believable I’ve seen in terms of playing off the just walked in on something inappropriate terms.
And just plan funny.
plain*
17:38
my problems with the movie come elsewhere
specifically the way the government deals with things
like having a supersecret robot man hidden but not telling the secretary of defense
or the fact that they seem to be able to cover up these massive downtown robot fights
weiner cant cover up his dick photos, the government cannot cover that shit up
17:40
You’re talking about a movie based on a TV show based on a line of toys…I’m ok with there not being logic from the government’s end.
I mean, if you heard there was a giant robot attack in Los Angeles, do you really think you’d believe it?
17:41
if there was an influx of cell phone videos and anderson cooper said so, yes
17:41
How could anyone take those people seriously who saw it?
“…and then the robot turned into a big jet and flew after a kid carrying a shiny box with magic powers!”
17:43
you are not going to convice me that they could cover that up in an age with camera phones
and another thing that pisses me off
optimus prime talks about how humans are primitive and destructive and its like wait a minute, who had a civil war that decimated their planet? oh wait that was you guys
17:46
But…they’re robots. In disguise. Therefore better than everything.
You know what I think is hilarious about the first movie?
Since I love pointing out the clearly racist things Hollywood does: the only Autobot to die in the movie (Jazz) was also the only Autobot voiced by a black actor.
17:48
oh yea, this is the third movie we’ve done where the black guy dies
I mean damn
17:50
And speaking of overtly racist Hollywood films: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen!
If I could, I would like to sum up this sequel in two phrases:
1) Jive-talking twin robots
2) Robot testicles
17:52
nice transition
yes, the testicles were a bit much
and that, from now on, will be my catchphrase
17:54
It’s better than mine at the moment.
17:55
I will say, for as bad as Transformers 2 was, I did enjoy the fight scene in the woods where Prime dies
17:56
Oh, you mean the scene where a bunch of metal started rolling through trees in slow motion and no definable outline of which metal is which robot while obnoxious music was playing the background? Yes, that was also my favorite scene.
17:57
hey i liked it, genuinely
especially where prime chops off starscream’s arm
17:57
And I genuinely think you are insane for liking it.
17:57
what i hated though, was when they decided to make a terminator
like, where are the rules for this franchise? you cant just start doing human looking transformers
17:58
And then make them disappear without mentioning at all how or why they are there in the first place.
And, that make out scene with him and the Pretender? One of the most disturbing things I have ever seen on film.
This includes the naked wrestling scene from Borat.
17:59
hey, that scene was needed for character building
but you mentioned the music and its something that bothers me for the whole franchise
number one it sucks
and number two it never implements the incredibly cool theme of the show
it could have been done so well, just everyone once in a while you get a “dun dunnuh”
18:01
If I may take a quote from Roger Ebert’s review of Revenge of the Fallen:
“If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination.”
18:02
ha
i might do that later tonight
18:03
You can get a male choir and a child at such short notice?
18:03
i have some favors i could call in
18:03
With a pedophile?
18:04
not after i cleaned his record from the computer…. you know we’re getting off topic
how badass was it when that one guy ripped his own heart out though
18:06
I think it tells you something about the film that you referred Jetfire as “that guy”.
In all sincerity, if you can tell me what the basic plot of the movie was, please enlighten me. I’ve seen it three times, and I still could not tell you why robots were building pyramids in Egypt to blow up the moon.
18:24
the sun, blow up the sun
to make energon
which is apparently like food
18:24
But why did it have to be that sun?
And why did they build a pyramid around it?
And why did that box turn to sand?
18:25
i dont know these things
18:25
And how the hell did Sam come back to life?
18:25
science?
i have no answer for you
20:56
Also, since when can Transformers teleport?
Why did Nemesis crash into a moon of Saturn?
Why does every action scene have to be in slow motion?
20:57
because slow motion is cool
20:58
How does a former secret agent get out with that much information without dying?
20:58
these are questions you shouldn’t worry about
pay no attention to the lack of intelligence in the plot
21:00
Ok, having said these horrible things about Transformers 2…what are you looking forward to seeing (or possibly just wanting to see) in Transformers: Dark of the Moon?
21:00
um, i like the leonard nimoy is in it
and i want to see more Optimus killing people with swords
sorry to backtrack, but in the first movie they let an Austrailian in on some of the country’s most sensitive secrets
I almost forgot that fact, wanted to point on the absurdity of an austrailian hot chick whose like 20 something and smarter than everyone else at the DoD
21:03
And, since she is not mentioned in the second movie at all: she was clearly killed in between the two films by the American government.
There’s your explanation.
21:03
oh now it all makes sense
so what are you looking forward to then?
21:03
This is going to really show the geek in me…
I want to see more mythology, maybe a few images or shots of Cybertron.
I don’t know for sure, but I think the ship on the moon shown in the trailer is the Ark, and if that’s the case, it’d be awesome to see an epic ship battle of the Ark vs. Nemesis.
21:05
why do you keep saying nemesis
am i missing something?
21:06
I’m sorry…I guess I need to explain for those who don’t the Transformers mythology that much.
Nemesis is the ship that was on Saturn’s moon that the Fallen was in during the second movie.
21:07
oh ok
gotcha
I think it is the ark btw
21:07
It is the ultimate Decepticon weapon and is able to destroy planets when used at full power.
21:07
on the moon that is
i want to see Orson Wells voiced by Unicron
can that be in the movie please?
21:08
….Unicron is real?
And Orson Welles was just a fictional character all along?
21:08
ineed
he’s the best filmmaker of all the decepticons
ok, last thoughts on the first two transformers
go
21:11
Well, so far the series features one of the most fun summer films of the past decade and one of the worst movies ever made. It should be interesting to see how Dark of the Moon balances the scales.
21:12
while the first movie is a fun action film, the second suffers from a severe case of sucking. Overall, should have more fan service and less Michael Bay service
21:14
Can it be said Michael Bay’s films are….more than meets the eye?
21:14
you just won’t rest until the bloody, lifeless body of comedy lays cold at your feet will you?
Review #6 – Cars
Q. What do you call fins on cars? A. SPOILERS
Andrew 18:55
saw tree of life
hated it so much
Chris 18:56
Just saw Cars 2.
I’ll leave my thoughts for after you see it.
18:57
i havent, unfortunatlely
we could each review our own movie lol
you discuss cars, i discuss tree of life but at the same time
18:57
That would be…confusing.
Besides, I want to see Tree of Life, and I know you want to see Cars 2.
18:57
indeed
i do
and i know you shouldnt go see tree of life
18:58
But I’m going to. It maybe pretentious, but I think it’ll be worth seeing.
18:59
is it a good sign when you check the time thirty minutes into a movie?
18:59
Sorry I haven’t been around the last few days. Been extremely busy.
No, but maybe the movie was supposed to make you think about the origins of time and what it really means.
19:00
so pretentious
i did watch cars 1
19:01
Nothing wrong with a little pretense once in a while.
As did I.
19:02
i actually have a very well structured arguement on why tree of life was shit
but ill save that for another day
but if you want to cover cars im game
19:03
That sounds like the end of a horrible movie that wants terribly for there to be a sequel.
Let’s do it.
I need to get some frustrations out through writing, and this movie may help me do that.
So Cars was Pixar’s 7th feature, if Im not mistaken, correct?
19:08
whose counting?
but yes
19:10
I will admit, Cars is the only Pixar movie I did not see in theaters, because I remember having absolutely no interest in seeing a movie about talking cars when I was 17.
19:11
I honestly dont remember if i saw it in theaters or not, probably not
19:11
Talking toys, or fish, or bugs, maybe. But not cars.
19:11
I really don’t have a problem with the premise
19:12
Well, what do you have a problem with then?
19:13
i think i can sum up my feelings easily. It isn’t a bad movie, but it feels more like a good Dreamworks film and less like a pixar movie
there isn’t any of the originality or emotion that usually comes with pixar
19:14
I actually was pleasantly surprised when I first saw the movie. I thought it had a great deal of emotion behind it, and it made me feel for these cars, which I was not expecting at all.
19:15
I dont know, Owen Wilson is just so bland
and im just not a fan of larry the cable guy
19:16
I do think it has a fairly weak protagonist with Lightning McQueen, but the supporting cast is what gives the movie its true star power.
19:16
well i love the italian pit stop guys
but this is one of the first movies where pixar did stunt casting
and that bothers me
19:18
Each of the characters that originate from Radiator Springs are charming and have their own little quirks that I found very amusing, particularly Sally and Doc Hudson. And I will admit…I love Mater. I think he’s hilarious.
19:18
i dont hate him as much as i thought i would
but i dont love the character
Again, i like the movie
but compared to any other pixar film it is kind of weak
19:20
See, I don’t think Mater could ever actually carry an entire movie based off that character and his antics alone, but he is a lovable goof in the same guise as Rex from Toy Story, Dory from Finding Nemo, or Mike from Monster’s Inc. are.
19:21
fair point
19:21
He’s a great side character, and he helps bring the overall theme of the movie in play, and I fully support what the movie was trying to say.
19:21
dont be an asshole?
if your not first your last?
19:22
How about…take time to slow down and enjoy moments in life instead of being consumed by fame and fortune.
19:23
hmmm…
not sure about that
pretty sure it was if your not first your last
here’s my question, dont you get DQ’d if you obviously try to crash someone?
19:25
That’s only in NASCAR races.
In this world, it’s kind of similar to a marathon.
19:25
I mean, everybody saw michael keaton almost kill richard petty
19:25
And we know cheating is fair game in marathons.
19:26
i just think the piston cup people might revoke the title from him
and give it to richard petty
19:28
I think they should have given it to Bob Costas. He was much more entertaining.
19:28
he is always entertaining
19:30
Was Cars Paul Newman’s last major role in a movie?
19:31
pretty much
i noticed something that seems to happen a lot in pixar movies
19:32
That’s kind of sad…he should have gone out on a much more badass role.
19:32
once we get the backstory of a sidecharacter, there is a sad song flashback thingy
happens in both toy stories
happened in cars, up
19:33
At least more badass than a bucket of bolts former race car from the 1960s who’s really cranky.
19:33
yea, usually you don’t get to go out on a badass role when you’re really old
19:34
But it turns out is very charming and doesn’t completely hate people.
I hope the Cars franchise doesn’t set a precedent of killing off the actor who voices the main mentor of the film.
Because it would be really sad if Michael Caine died soon.
19:36
but at least his last role would be dark knight rises
thats going out on top
19:37
Well (spoiler alert), Cars 2 does not have any corny flashback sequences.
Brave most likely will though.
And Monster’s University will pretty much be an entire movie of corny flashbacks.
19:38
probably
but im pretty excited for those last two
19:39
Not excited for Cars 2?
19:39
i want to see it
but im not like crazy excited or something
I just don’t think Cars deserved a sequel. I know it makes crazy merchandise money and thats why it did
but artistically not so much
19:42
Out of all the Pixar films, I think Cars was the least deserving of a sequel.
19:43
easily
but back to the movie
i think my biggest problem with mcqueen is that he’s not charming
19:43
I will say, after I have praised the film so much here, that it was without a doubt my least favorite Pixar film before I went to see Cars 2. I think every Pixar movie has been great until now, but this teetered on greatness and different points.
I think he’s charming at the end of the film.
He went through an arc throughout the course of the film.
Started out as a major douche, then ended up a nice guy by the end.
19:45
but the problem is that you cant make the protagonist a douche with no redeemable qualities or i dont care
i don’t want him to succeed unless there is something else there worth liking
and i see nothing worth liking
19:47
His likable characteristics are revealed throughout the course of the movie. He becomes a better person when he is surrounded by better people.
19:48
i get that
but what im saying is i cant get behind a character at the begining if he’s bland and unredeemable
of course there has to be polarity, but there needs to be a hint of his ability to change, or at least something compelling about him from the start
19:50
You know what’s compelling about him?
19:50
no i dont
19:50
He’s a freaking race car!!!
19:50
they’re all race cars
its called cars
19:50
They’re not all race cars.
Some are regular cars.
Or trucks.
19:51
sorry, being a racecar does not makeup for a lack of good character
being a talking dog was not enough for dug, he was engaging
being an action figure was not enough for buzz
19:52
It’s enough to keep people in their seats though.
And learn more about the world they are in.
19:53
well i paid for a ticket, im not gonna walk out in the first ten minutes
19:53
And stay in their seats until they realize what a wonderful person (machine?) he is on the inside.
Are they people?
19:53
yes, they are people
but i don’t equate people not leaving to good movie
i didnt walk out on tree of life
and i seriously hated it
19:54
You couldn’t have hated it that much.
19:55
i honestly think its one of the worst films ive seen in a long time
19:55
And Lightning was set in such a colorful and awesome world with intriguing principles and mechanics that people were drawn in within the first few minutes! You can’t deny that.
19:56
im not saying i even considered walking out on cars
19:55
Plus, it starts off with a race.
Which is kind of like a chase scene.
19:56
again, i like cars
19:56
And, as Alfred Hitchcock says movies are all about the chase.
19:56
my argument is simply that the character sucked
not that the movie opened wrong
19:57
And if you deny the words of Alfred Hitchcock, you are a Nazi puppy killer.
19:57
strong words
im not sure that hitchcock is THAT infallible
19:58
Then, my friend, you are a Nazi puppy killing racist.
19:59
you added racist
19:59
That I did.
Racist is kind of implied by using the word Nazi though.
20:00
i suppose so
ok, sum up cars in one sentance
20:01
Cars are vehicles that make people go faster than walking.
20:01
i hate you
Review #4 – Harry Potter 1-4
Beware, major SPOILERS this way come!
Chris
17:13
“Democrats finally wash their hands of Weiner.”
I made that one up.
Andrew
17:15
thats a good one
you should call the new york post
17:17
I’m surprised no one has used that yet.
17:17
yea, its pretty terrific
i honestly had a few lulz
17:18
I’ll send it to Stephen Colbert.
Might get 20 bucks out of it.
17:18
something i hope
17:32
BTW, I’m ready for the first part of the review if you are.
17:36
ok
sorry, i was out of the room
first question, which of the first four is the best?
better yet, rank them
17:37
Ok, of the first four, I think there’s a pretty clear order:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Goblet of Fire
3. Sorcerer’s Stone
4. Chamber of Secrets
17:38
yea, I have to agree 100%
i don’t even need to think about it, it seems so obvious
with the books, i think id rank them the same way too
17:40
It should be noted I have been a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter franchise since the books were first released. As I have always said, I liked Harry Potter before liking Harry Potter was cool.
17:40
hipster basterd
17:40
What’s interesting from our perspective is that we are the exact same age as the actors who portrayed the characters in these movies.
We have literally grown up with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
17:41
yea, i always thought we were lucky like that
my background is a little different with the HP
I read the first book because I had to in 6th grade
didn’t really like it, didnt really hate it
then I kind of ragged on the series because, well, it was the cool thing to do
but senior year i took a bet that I could read all the books before the last one came out…. in a week
and I did, and then i read the last one at a more normal pace
I have to say that I am a moderate fan now
ok, storytime over
17:44
Haha, I come from the exact opposite background…my mom bought Sorcerer’s Stone for me when I was 8 because she heard it was about wizards and witches, and because I was a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, she linked the two.
After that, I bought every book the day they came out.
When I heard they were going to do a film series, I remember being incredibly scared.
17:45
speilberg wanted to do them animated you know
17:46
I did not want them to mess up what I felt was the real magic of the series…and yes, I do remember hearing that. I also remember thinking that the director of the Home Alone movies was a horrible choice to start up the franchise.
17:46
well… he was
17:46
And this is coming from a kid who watched Home Alone five times a day.
17:47
speaking of chris columbus, lets talk about his films
how do you like SS?
SS = Sorcerer’s Stone btw
17:47
Sorcerer’s Stone, which I do remember enjoying when I first saw it, is really a horrible film.
17:47
or PS if your british
really? you know as much as i wanted to hate it, I don’t
17:48
The pacing sucks, the acting sucks, the effects are so much worse than I remember them being.
I can’t help but think that I saw this film before LOTR came out, and that series really raised my expectations on what a fantasy film should look like.
17:49
agreed, i think when you compare it to LOTR it looks bad for sure
and I agree that the pacing is off, as well as most of the child actors sucking
17:49
And such, as much as I don’t want to and try not to, I have compared almost the entire series to the LOTR series..
I remember thinking Daniel Radcliffe in the first film was God awful as an actor.
I felt nothing every time he was on the screen.
Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were mediocre at the time.
17:50
yea, they all get better as the series goes on
17:50
The one I remember really thinking was going to be a star was Tom Felton who plays Malfoy.
17:51
i really dont like him in the early movies
17:51
I thought he fit that perfect mix of slimy and charming.
17:51
really, cause i think any teacher would see right through that shit
snape obviously wouldnt care, but the others are a little more level headed
But I agree there are many faults with SS
Yet, I have to admit that it achieves something to admire
17:52
Which is?
17:53
The world of the wizards, I think we take it for granted now but the sets and art direction are fantastic
it feels like a kids movie, which it should
17:54
I don’t really give the films credit for the feel of the world as much as I should…Columbus’ production team really did a great job of establishing the rules and overall look of the Wizarding world which has remained more or less intact throughout the series.
17:55
exactly, would someone else had been able to make something cool? possibly
but tat doesn’t diminish what they achieved
Harry Potter has a distinct look to it that is very unique
17:55
But then we got to Chamber of Secrets…
17:55
yea, or as i like to call it, Sorcerer’s Stone Remix
its the same damn story
17:56
Exactly! My problems with Chamber of Secrets are all the exact same problems I had with Sorcerer’s Stone.
I realize the first two films were rushed into production very fast and came out a year after the other, but during the interim, there should have been someone who realized what was not working with the first movie and try to correct those mistakes.
17:57
yea, for sure
17:57
The acting was just as stiff, if not worse, the pacing was way off, and it had an even worse climax than the previous movie.
The one saving grace of Chamber of Secrets I think was Kenneth Brannagh.
17:58
ha
hes fun, but i hate his character so much
17:58
He fit the role of Gilderoy Lockhart perfectly.
17:58
indeed
17:58
You can’t deny that he was made to play that role.
17:58
its good casting for sure
the only other thing i like about chamber are the tom riddle flashbacks
17:59
Now, I don’t want to dwell on CoS because I hate it so much, but we do need to take the time to talk about the first Dumbledore…Richard Harris? How do you think he fit in the series?
17:59
you know, he works for his movies i think
he’s very grandfatherly, but i cant see him dueling Voldemort later on in the series
18:01
The one thing with his interpretation of the role is that he played the frail aspect too much. At no point in time did I ever see that he was the only wizard Voldemort was ever afraid of.
God rest his soul, he just never worked for me.
18:01
exactly
that exactly was meant between comments
id say he worked for me a little
but, if i could change anything about the series I would cast sean connery as dumbledore
and its not just cause im a connery fanboy
although, its a little bit that
18:03
I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no way that man would have worked in that role.
18:03
oh he’d have been amazing
18:03
Connery is just too big of a presence to fit into this world.
18:03
have you seen Highlander?
like that but with a wand
If i was Voldemort, I’d be afraid of him for sure
18:04
All the other actors, while prestigious in their own rights, were not that well known by American audiences. They were all: “Hey it’s that one lady from Hook” or “Hey, wasn’t he in some Shakespeare thing I saw in middle school?”
Sean Connery never could have been known as Dumbledore…the audience would have always looked at him as Sean Connery.
18:05
problem?
anyway, moving on to movie three
people often talk about when the series has a tone shift, and I think it comes right after this one
hear me out on my theory
the way I see it, the first three books/movies are kids books
while goblet onward are really teen/adult books
azkaban is the first time I think JK really becomes a good writer, and it is true that this one is much darker
but the threat still feels more contained, its not really life and death yet
Goblet really introduces people getting killed and Voldemort as a personified threat to everyone
18:09
I think PoA gives the audience a peak at what is about to happen. Voldemort is only mentioned in this book and movie…he is never seen in any incarnation at all in the movie.
Because of that, I think this movie established him as a greater threat.
If he would have continued to come in some sort of form only to be stopped by Harry, he wouldn’t have been seen as a threat anymore.
In this movie, Harry actually loses in the end.
He lets Voldemort’s right hand man go, the one good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher the school has seen is forced to leave, and his godfather is still on the run from the law.
18:12
and they forget that they have command of FRIGGEN TIME
that isnt helpful after this book though, couldnt whip that out later on to fight Voldemort
18:13
I thought this was a brilliant move by Rowling to leave Voldemort out of the plot itself while still feeling his presence…now, why did this work so well as a film? We finally got some angst out of these actors.
18:13
yes
angsty teens make movies work
i agree that voldy shouldnt have appeared
but i think the story is good because its so much more complex than the last two
it has the time travel, the double switcheroo, and nazgul
18:15
Dementors.
18:15
same thing
well, dementors dont ride dragons
so point lost there
18:15
And Nazgul don’t EAT YOUR FRIGGIN SOUL!!!!
18:16
the dragon they ride might
i mean, if your soul is in you and you get eaten….
18:16
Back on track…
Who was responsible for the sudden turn around of this series after two bad adaptations?
I personally have to give full credit to Alfonso Cuaron.
18:17
HOLD THE PHONE
I agree with that statement
but let me disagree with something else
two bad ADAPTATIONS? I have to disagree. I think the adaptations were actually fine, I dislike the source material being adapted
18:18
I think all the books are good, so I have to give it up to bad adaptations.
Rowling’s writing grew up with the characters.
18:19
bad movies, yes. pretty faithful adaptations if you ask me
thats such a cop out for bad writing
18:19
The reason you don’t like them as much is because you read them at a later age.
As an 8 to 11 year old, those books were perfect. And guess what? That’s the age they were meant for.
18:19
wrong, i can read Narnia books now which I hadn’t read before and enjoy them
18:20
And when did you first read them?
When you were a kid.
You have a sense of nostalgia that goes along with them.
18:20
i genuinley think she wan’t a good writer until PoA, and as evidence I submit to the court, The Epilogue
18:21
Which skews your opinion.
18:21
wrong, i never read any of the narnia books except for LWatW
but i read VotDT a couple years ago
18:21
What the heck? Did you never read anything as child?
18:21
I read Jurassic Park as a kid
18:22
…to my wonderful audience: Things starting to make sense towards our respective personalities?
18:22
dont adress them
your breaking the fourth wall
18:23
Back on topic to the films: Cuaron worked with those actors so much and formed a connection with each of them.
Daniel Radcliffe finally became an actor during the process of making this film, and the other kids on set grew exponentially over the course of making this movie.
18:24
yea, I dont think its controversial to say he made the series better
He thought about coming back for Deathly Hallows you know
18:24
Since he was responsible for making the main actors as successful as they have become, I give full credit to Cuaron for making this a series I have actually been able to enjoy instead of becoming a chore.
18:25
I agree, he turned it around for sure
18:25
And no, I did not know that. We’ll discuss that in the next review, if you remember…
18:25
for me, PoA retains the childlike vibe but manages to mix it well with a little more at stake
18:26
See, I don’t feel the chldlike vibe in PoA…I think it became adult in that movie.
18:26
some of the later movies i forget that they’re going to school
18:26
I mean, the cinematography itself is visibly darker.
And then, it suddenly gets lighter in Goblet of Fire when Mike Newell comes in.
18:27
yes, indeed it does
I have to hand it to Goblet though, thats a lot of story to cram into two and a half hours
18:28
That it did. As an adaptation, it definitely left a lot out, but I think it works as a film.
Now, while I enjoy Mike Newell as a director, I do think his style was not the best choice for this film.
Now, while I enjoy Mike Newell as a director, I do think his style was not the best choice for this film.
Before this movie, he had been known almost primarily for romantic comedies and period pieces.
I think that light hearted style carried with him to this film, and as a result, the final confrontation in the graveyard is not nearly as scary as I imagined it when first reading.
18:29
hmm, i saw the movie before i read the book so i had no problem with it
18:30
That being said, I did enjoy that he took many opportunities to give each of the main characters little quiet moments on the screen and helped flesh out the characters and actors a little more.
Particularly, the Yule Ball sequence is very fun to watch, and makes you care for these kids quite a bit.
18:31
yea, it was smart to put them in a typical high school situation
easy to relate to
but what I hate about that scene is the music
the the score, the music the band is playing
I HATE THAT SONG
I’ve heard it so many times cleaning the theater cause they played it in the credits
I can recite it from memory
care to hear?
18:32
I do not envy you.
Sing it to me, you crooner.
18:33
Believe, that magic woooooorks
don’t be afraid, of getting huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurt
its awful
Goblet is a good time for me to point out something from the series as a whole
really, three things
1. Hogwarts would be shutdown for child endangerment.
2. Quidditch is a stupid sport that doesn’t make any sense at all other than to make it easy for Harry to win it for his team single handedly
3. If the Quidditch World Cup gets attacked by Nazis, there is no way that the rest of the world would allow Britain to exclusively deal with Voldemort
18:37
You realized you just alienated well over half our audience with that second comment.
I have many friends who play Quidditch.
18:38
im sorry, but any sport that the points dont matter because one guy essentaily wins it by himself is stupid
fifty bizillion points for the snitch
18:38
So you have a problem with Whose Line is it Anyway?
18:38
why are they not all going for it?
seriously, did Drew Carrey invent the game?
18:39
No, some British people did…we Americans just took it and claimed it as our own.
Much like the Harry Potter series, really.
And on that note, get ready for the second part of the review.
18:40
you aren’t even going to try to defend my comments?
does this mean you agree?
18:41
It means that you should stop thinking so hard about a world that doesn’t exist and just go to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and live the experience yourself.
I will take my payment in cash please, Mr. Universal.
18:42
I’m just saying, there are many errors in logic
like putting kids in a school where they divide up based on personality and then encourage them to compete over whose the best
and fucking OWN SLAVES
this is not the magical world i though it was
18:44
To that I say: Gryffindor are the jocks, Ravenclaw is the academic team, Hufflepuff are the band geeks, and Slytherin are the goths.
House elves? Your janitors and lunch ladies.
18:44
if you didnt pay janitors and lunch ladies
and if you beat them
18:45
They get payed?
