Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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I don't even know where to begin with this. As someone who has seen all the movies thus far and read all the books in one sitting because I was sick of not knowing the whole story, I was wildly disappointed with this film.

For me Half-Blood Prince is the best of the seven novels, and of the seven (since they are making Deathly Hallows into two parts) is really the only one that could fill out a whole film with ONLY things that matter. This for me was the deepest and most painful of all the books. The foreboding Rowling captures in this novel is quite astounding. It's that perfect moment in a series, like an eye of a storm, when everyone realizes what is really in store for them and has to choose a side and hunker down. The final act of this novel far outshines the inevitable ultimate battle between Harry and Voldemort. More death occurs in Hallows, but for me, the deaths in Prince were far more brutal and meaningful.

So, with that said, it's almost difficult for me to say that it was a bad movie, simply because what they did show was right on the money. It was beautifully shot, the performances were consistently stellar from all major players, especially Felton's Malfoy, who is scared and tormented, and Rickman's Snape who is nothing short of tortured in this film.

However, It was an empty shell of what it could have, and should have been. Epically hollow, if you will. I know the whole puberty thing figured prominently in the novel, but I didn't think they would devote quite as much time to it in the film as they did. Plus, really, I can't condone cutting the battle and the funeral. I just can't. And I can't believe they fucked up Dumbledore's death the way they did. The impact of his being gone was so much more significant in the novel, and that's just with my imagination to picture it.

There was nothing really wrong with Half-Blood Prince. But it just made it seem like the sixth book was merely a coaster for the seventh to sit upon which isn't the case if you read through them all. Plus, without introducing all the side-stories from this novel, really fleshing out Hallows will make no sense at all. It was gorgeous, it was, but none of it MEANT anything.

This film, for me, not only missed its mark, but felt like it didn't even know what the hell to aim at. By far my biggest letdown of the year.

Public Enemies

I didn't like this movie as much as I thought I was going to, but it is a well put together drama. My biggest pet peeve with it is at the end when Dillinger walks through his own Task Force unit and no one recognizes him. I get it, Dillinger was an escape artist and smarter than everyone else, thanks for forcing that one down my throat.

I think Michael Mann is a good director, I hated Miami Vice, but I loved the way it was shot, and Mann sticks to that gritty, harsh lighting and natural set-up in this film. Mann really comes into his own when it comes to shoot-outs. He just has a way of shooting gunfire that is unmatched by anyone else. The sound isn't cartoony and I love knowing that he's not talking down to me and trying to make a gunfight pretty. Bullets tear into and destroy everything in their path and I love it.

Johnny Depp really made this movie for me, and even though there was a rather impressive supporting cast I really didn't care about them that much. He makes the most of all his screen time and appropriates Dillinger's much revered nonchalant attitude with ease. While not being emotional, you can see that losing men and having the net tighten around his wily band weighs heavily on him, and every loss is a personal failure on his part.

I loved that the love story wasn't really a love story. Dillinger merely wants to protect something that can't protect itself and Billie just needs someone to take care of her. It's not so much love as it is a necessity in order to feel complete.

The film is confident in its delivery of the last 18 months of Dillinger's life, I felt like when I watched it it was less a movie than it was a cross section of how it all went down. It doesn't pander to the audience or explain how the characters got to where they are, and I love that. We all know how the story ends, and the movie doesn't serve to explain WHY what happens happens, but rather THAT what happens happens.

I'm sure this is one of those love-it-or-hate-it movies for most people, but I think I just appreciated it for the fact that it didn't SAY anything, it just puts together a series of images based on the researched history of one man's life and provides us with images of how it may have happened. It's excellence as a film is completely dependent upon its simplicity, and because of that it succeeds.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

So, I've seen this a couple of times now and I have to say, it was easier to stomach the second time around since I just blatantly tuned out the stupid shit. Let's face it, I love Michael Bay, I really do. But the man is not a poet. He's one of the best action directors out there, and while he doesn't really outdo himself here, the effects and action sequences are spectacular.

Aside from all the normal complaints, ie: the twins, Devastator's "wrecking" balls, random teleportation, a human going to "robot heaven," an even more random trans-terminatrix, being in forests 30 seconds after being in an industrial park, Megan Fox's pants staying white until the last scene, Wheelie humping her leg, Sam's high mom, The Fallen being weak as shit, not an entirely present or cohesive plot, etc., other than all that it was fine.

Yes, I know how stupid that sounds but really, what do you expect? The opening scene was fantastic, and while it left me wanting to know more about NEST it was enough to get me by. I actually liked that we didn't find much out about the new Autobots, and I really appreciated that this movie was basically about Optimus, and how much he was willing to sacrifice for another species. I liked his blossoming relationship with Sam, which can be seen as an allegory for growing up and realizing that sometimes it's not all about you, and you have to do the right thing even though it isn't an easy fix.

Optimus, while not being human, always comes across as a very human character to me. I actually find him to be the most fleshed out of all the characters, and I feel like he's some wizened grandfather passing on his knowledge to the next generation, complete with his double-arm blades. I know it's cliche, but I would have to say my favorite scene is Optimus in the forest, when he takes on Megatron, Starscream and a third decepticon. Not only is it a weird clash of visuals, (an untouched, natural forest being paired with an uber advanced alien race), but it's also where we see how much Optimus cares about Sam. The slow motion of him tearing that other decepticon's face in half was pretty damn amazing as well.

This movie is not perfect by any means, but is still worth a watch. It's fun, and though the plot is sketchy, you understand what's going on and definitely aren't let down by any of the effects. To be honest, the human cast didn't matter as much to me. LaBeouf is solid despite the writing, Fox has to scream way too much, and John Turturro is no where near as annoying here than he was in the first installment of the franchise. Appreciate Revenge of the Fallen for the visuals, and try not to hold the plot against it.

The Hangover

Love, love, LOVE this movie.

Imagine "Memento," then subtract subtlety and seriousness, then add a lost groom, three still drunk, kinda drugged buddies of the groom, a really hot Heather Graham, a dash of Mike Tyson and a gallon of hilarity, cussing, random shit and that funny guy from the Apatow movies, and you've got "The Hangover."

This was a legitimate adult comedy and I loved the filmmakers for it. I was happy that Justin Bartha wasn't in it more, because if he's not a sidekick and talking really fast then I don't care. Bradley Cooper was well cast, and held it together as the one trying to stay cool and not get too worried about having lost one of the boys.

But for me the real comedy came with Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, the latter I doubt that any of what he said was actually scripted. I firmly believe he's just THAT funny. Plus, just how he looks in this film is enough to laugh hysterically.

I loved Ed Helms though, as this guy who is completely tramping down his personality for a woman who treats him like shit. And, even though I HATED her, Rachael Harris was fantastic as that bitch of a girlfriend. I liked that as the movie went on his balls grew more and more until finally, at the end he does what he should have done all along. (How many guys I'm sure were wishing they had an opportunity to go back and say that shit to an ex or two.)

I loved that we as an audience were in exactly the same position as the characters, having to search and try and find our way through a crazy, drunken, drugged orgy of a night in order to figure out where in the hell we lost our best friend.

Mike Tyson's cameo was fan-fucking-tastic and I actually can't imagine the movie without him. The security camera footage of them stealing his tiger was choice, and singing "In the Air Tonight?" Priceless. The ER doctor who helps them along the way was amazing, the whole "It's on the corner of fuck off and get a map," had me doubled over. Ken Jeong as Mr. Leslie Chow who talks like Eminem and wears Prince heals and stole the wrong Doug? Pitch perfect.

The bottom line of this movie is about friendship of course, but the madness along the way is what gets you through the corny shit. Children tasing grown men in the nuts, a teacher stealing his kids' field trip money for Vegas, a father-in-law saying it's ok to miss your wedding if you're on a heater at the tables, etc. If you are an adult (who doesn't take offense easily) you must go see this movie. If for nothing else, sit through it for the memory card of photos at the end.

Trust me.

Disney Pixar's UP

From the short in front of this film to the photo-album ending I really have nothing bad to say about this movie. Much like Pixar's other projects, this movie completely fulfills the differing demographics' desires for an animated comedy.

On the one hand, there's the crotchety yet endearing old dude who provides the (major) funny for the adults, and then you have the vibrant and curious Cub Scout and somewhat bewildered dog for the kids.

I loved the sort of time-lapse journey through Carl's life previous to his becoming a stubborn and grumpy old timer. Even though it was quick, I teared up at the end of the montage, which so beautifully summed up Carl and Ellie's relationship. I think it also created a good realism base for the rest of the highly imaginative and fantastical journey. Much like probably everyone in the theatre, over time, one thing or another cropped up to put their dreams on hold, yet despite that, they were never unhappy because they were together. Because of that, you suddenly find yourself feeling a great bond with Carl, because you feel his loneliness and his desire to honor his word to his wife, even if she can't be there to see it.

The journey to Paradise Falls is fantastic and the growing relationship between Russell and Carl is just so damn cute, you can't help but want to hang out both these characters. I particularly loved that even once he figured out that she was a mom, Russell still called the so called "bird of paradise," Kevin. It's small touches like that which pushed this movie from your average animated fare to the next level.

Carl once again finding someone to care about is moving, as is the moment when he realizes that Ellie considered their wonderful life together her adventure. I remember saying to myself "open it" in the theatre because I just had a feeling that Ellie wouldn't have left those pages blank all her life. Then there's the end with the "Ellie badge" and the corner ice cream shop, and really, I'm sure some people thought that ending was too-pretty-with-a bow-on-top, but I loved it. Watching a character like Carl lose his heart and then, through a wondrous adventure, find a reason to live again was touching and uplifting. I was just SO happy leaving this film, and truthfully, there is nothing I would change about it.

Plummer was fantastic as the outcast explorer/adventurer, Charles Muntz, Alpha the master dog was quite funny, even without the high-pitched voice, and Dug, Dug was just a great dog.

I'm not saying this movie is perfect, I'm sure plenty of people had little annoyances about it, but I am saying that it was perfect to me. If you don't want to take the time to see a silly little animated movie, please reconsider and see this one. I guarantee your spirit will be lifted absolutely.

This film is completely in-keeping with the traditions of Disney Pixar, beautiful, creative, funny, liberating and above all, triumphant.