Half-Blood Prince: Double the Wait, Double the Profit
July 15, 2009 at 12:28 pm | Posted in Reviews | 5 CommentsTags: Harry Potter, movie review, Warner Brothers
Was Half-Blood Prince worth twice as long the wait? Well, to Warner Brothers it most certainly was, as it raked in nearly $20 million with just the first midnight show alone (late Tuesday-early Wednesday morning release), which no other movie has ever achieved, according to MTV. Sure, the franchise has always been successful, but this movie in particular was much-awaited, and its delayed release increased anticipation for fervid fans and piqued curiosity for the indifferent tag-alongs just the same.
For me personally, the movie was amazing. This was the first Potter movie I’d seen after reading the series, so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much. But overall I thought the movie was extremely well done, besides the weak ending. Readers of the series will be pleased the screenplay sticks to the storyline, but the way the movie was edited makes me think those who haven’t read the books would most definitely be lost at some scenes, for instance, those involving werewolf Fenrir Greyback, or Harry’s Hogwarts arch-nemesis Draco Malfoy. Some viewers may be thrown by the new Death Eater, or by Malfoy’s outbursts and inner turmoil.
However, all of the actors have matured in their skills. Despite scathing reviews I’d read before the show, and discussions with my friends about Daniel Radcliffe’s inability to show emotion, I think he made a breakthrough with this film. Harry’s character comes off as witty, compassionate, recklessly daring and charismatic, instead of the stony stoicism he displays in other films. Rupert Grint, too, skillfully portrays a lovestruck Ronald Weasley, but Grint has never failed to put on an entertaining performance before. I’ll admit I was a bit put off by a few scenes between Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) because they came off as too sappy, but otherwise the flirting and fighting of the teenage wizards provided ample relief to the dark themes of the main plot. This was at once the funniest and darkest of all the Potter movies yet.
There were only two major disappointments for me, and both involve our beloved Alan Rickman’s character, Severus Snape. Rowling’s Sixth Book makes us loathe Snape, truly produces a reason for us to hate his guts. We even feel that lump in our throat when we discover Dumbledore’s fate as we read through the last few chapters. Yet, the film elicits none of these emotions. Frankly, it fell flat. To make matters worse, Snape’s brief admission that he is in fact the Half-Blood Prince comes as a side note, whereas it is given extensive attention in the books (hence the title).
Aside from some questionable awkward scenes between Harry and Ginny, the rest of the movie was so entertaining I would venture to call it my favorite. Well, for now at least, it’s a tight race between this and the last one (well, maybe not for Warner Bros).
One thing’s certain: whatever doubts we had in our minds that the final few films would not be able to capture the charm of the written series are now dispelled.
Slumdog Millionaire not one in a million
February 1, 2009 at 5:40 am | Posted in Reviews | Leave a commentTags: culture, desi, movie review, Slumdog Millionaire
Four Golden Globe awards, a sweep at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and 10 Oscar nominations….that was it — I couldn’t handle the suspense any longer. I had to find out for myself just what the hullabaloo was all about. My verdict: average.
The rags to riches fairy tale is one that I’ve seen time and time again. So what’s the fuss about? It certainly isn’t the implausible story. An uneducated boy who happens to pull from his past experiences in the slums, answers every question right on a game show to win Rs. 20 million and reunites with his childhood sweetheart. Give me a break. As the story progressed I kept waiting….waiting for the earth-shattering scene that was really going to mark this movie’s greatness–it never happened.
Indians for the most part are definitely thrilled about the recognition A.R.Rahman has received as music director for this film. But even his score is not one to marvel over. Sure it’s good, I’m not saying I won’t play the soundtrack on “repeat” once I buy it (as I do with all the cd’s I buy). However, Rahman has produced even better music for films like Dil Se or his patriotic release Vande Maataram….so I’m still puzzled by the recognition he received for his work on this film, after over 10 years of producing unrivaled music.
Is it the foreign director? the artistic cinematography? the talented young actors or the slovenly state of Mumbai slums that’s captivating so many? Regardless, I still didn’t find any one aspect worth all the ridiculous hype this film is receiving.
The West is raving and the Indians are scathing. So where do the desis stand? Personally (and I have a feeling my view reflects those of many other desis), I think both sides are being ridiculous. We know there are many more deserving movies, but at the same time, I think the Indians need to stop being so sensitive to the portrayal of slum scenes or take offense to the realities of India. I’m in no way saying this is all India has to offer. Of course India is a land of rich culture and wealth. But it IS a facet which shouldn’t be ignored. As for those Indians who have written countless letters to newspaper editors, or those Bollywood actors who feel this is the West’s way to Indians as savage as India strengthens as a world power….give it a rest. There are several films made by Americans revealing the horrors of life in the ghettos and such. Moreover, your insecurities only make the West stronger, so take pride in India’s rich culture and history, and fix what ought to be fixed.
I don’t think this movie should be taken as critical social commentary or even as a magnum opus from an artistic perspective.
It’s just a movie people, so quit getting your loincloths in a twist over it.
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Why We Can “Seriously” Believe the Night is Darkest Just Before the Dawn
July 28, 2008 at 7:25 pm | Posted in Reviews | 1 CommentTags: Batman, commentary, Dark Knight, faith, hope, movie review
When I walked into work “the morning after,” still shell-shocked by the sheer brilliance of what has become the year’s biggest Blockbuster hit (banking $66.4 million opening day,) a co-worker brought me back to earth saying he could go on for hours about the Christian references in The Dark Knight.
No shit, Sherlock. In fact, I would be surprised if you couldn’t, and rather happy if you didn’t.
Oh come on people, seriously?
It shouldn’t even come up as a point of contention that audiences find The Dark Knight parallels Christianity (or Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, fill in the blank with your choice of religion here) ….just as audiences and readers have done in the past for Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and a handful of other fictional works. I mean, don’t we obviously continue to enjoy these tales and look up to the miraculous qualities of our superheroes for a reason?
I completely acknowledge my co-worker’s reference to Batman’s bearing of Harvey Dent’s sins to be Christ-like, but whether god-like or simply too good to be true, the stories of our comic book super heroes and the princes in our fairy tales naturally share an underlying element with the stories of most organized religions– they continue to reaffirm our faith in not only good over evil, but the goodness of humanity.
My own religion has led me to believe the purpose of religion isn’t necessarily to be bound by rituals and practices, or sometimes, even dogmatic belief in a “higher power.” Perhaps it is there, or perhaps it isn’t, but one thing I do believe is that religion was set up to give us hope, to maintain (or in some cases, kindle) our faith in humanity, just when we think there isn’t a shred of goodness left.
In the movie, Harvey Dent is supported by Bruce Wayne as a ray of hope in the darkness that has fallen over Gotham. Dent of course ends up falling prey to the mind games of the Joker, which is why Batman offers to bear the crimes of Dent in the first place. Batman wants citizens of Gotham to continue to have faith in humanity and goodness, which is why he wants to leave Dent’s purity untarnished. But why, you ask yourself, is Batman covering up and misleading the people of Gotham? (I think as recent as two years ago I myself would have found this ending unsatisfactory, unfulfilling.) If Dent, God’s gift to Gotham (aside from Batman, obviously), fell prey to the hands of evil, is that not evidence that pure goodness can’t actually exist?
Well, no. Because that “goodness” does surface in the movie–when Batman (stupidly and) graciously decides to not finish off the Joker, and when the two boatfuls of hostages decide to not blow each other up. That is proof that true goodness does exist and that it isn’t just an impossible ideal.
Why do we continue to fall in love with superheroes, gods, wizards…in short, the good guys? And why is it that for a moment, when we see the good guys lose, we cannot bear it?
It’s because for a split-second, we lose our faith in the good guys, and hence, in goodness, in people’s purity of heart. We begin to question the existence of this characteristic, the plausibility of such a character.
That’s why we cringe when the Joker hangs a copy-cat Batman. It’s why we shudder when we see Superman squirming next to icebergs of Kryptonite, and why our hearts skip a beat when Voldemort raises his wand yelling “Avada Kadavra” at Potter.
The Dark Knight may have easily been one of the darkest movies I’ve seen, but I actually found it to be very hopeful in its portrayal of the human condition. Sure, the Joker, (choose from: Satan, Sauron, Ravana…….) is one bad apple capable of taking down several with him, but similarly, all it takes is one example to show us that, just as we know for a fact daylight will appear even after the darkest portion of the night, so too can we believe in humanity.