Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1

This is the first part in the epic 2 part conclusion to one of the greatest film franchises of all time. As well as large part of my childhood. I still remember my dad taking me to see The Sorcerer's Stone a decade ago, it doesn't feel that long ago...

The whole crew is back as the story continues from #6 with Harry in search of Horcruxes to defeat Lord Voldomort. I wont get into plot and spoil anything for anyone hopefully.

Deathly Hallows comes off as the darkest Harry Potter yet. But at the same time, it's also one of the funniest. Director David Yates (whom I still disapprove of) did a great job of balancing the serious with the humorous.

This first part is deffinetly not the best installment of Harry Potter. Much like Half-Blood Prince (aside from one major plot event at the ending), Deathly Hallows is a lead in to this 2nd part finale. The finale promises to be epic on all fronts as the crew really kicks things into high gear leading up to the epic conclusion of hero vs anti-hero.

My main gripe with part 1 is that, it felt like nothing happened, as I said it is a lead in and I'm grateful they split this into 2 parts, but nothing really happens and scenes are unecessarily drawn out. I did actually read the book so I knew what to expect and knew it wouldn't change pace for a while.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a good film and must see for any fan of the series. But I left the theater thinking One thing and One thing only....IS IT JULY YET?!?!?!?!?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 recieves 7 "Dobbys"...out of 10



Oh and a preview for The Green Lantern debuted before it...Not Impressed

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Pixar strikes gold again with the 3rd, and seemingly final, installment in the Toy Story franchise. Despite not being as good as its predecessors, it does a fantastic job of capturing the nostalgia factor for all of us who were in infancy when the first 2 released over a decade ago, yes its been that long.

Most of the original cast returns but only the truly important characters appear, i miss weezy and bo peep. To make up for loss of original characters, Pixar creates a few new toys. The most important being Lots-o'-huggin bear, and Barbie's significant other, Ken.

The story begins with Andy getting ready to leave for college. The toys knew this day was coming but it still hit them like a ton of bricks. Andy originally intends to put the toys in the attic and take Woody with him to school. But they get mistaken for trash and eventually make their way into a box to be donated to the local daycare. Here is where the new characters appear, Lotso is clearly the leader of this place and comes off as a warm, cozy and safe leader. But our band of toys uncovers the harsh reality of the daycare and Lotso's heirarchy and abuse of power. It all culminates in an escape plot by Andy's toys which then leads to a local dump and eventually back to Andy's. The film ends with a real tearjerker moments, and it makes me feel really old.

Having grown up with these characters they are as much a part of me as any film...maybe more. As mother has said, TS1 was the first movie I sat through calmly, so clearly nothing will ever top the original in my heart. It sad to see these characters go but if they make another I feel it could potentially ruin the legacy, for me at least.

A great film that doesn't hold up to its predecessors but cashes in on the Nostalgia factor
Toy Story 3 receives 7 "Garbage man Sid's"...out of 10.

Frankenstein (1931) / Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

The originals, the iconic, the must-sees, great director James Whale brings us the original (talkie) and best incarnation of the famed Frankenstein Monster. These are the movies that made Boris Karloff a household name and legend on the horror circuit.

Both films are amazing and innovative for the time. The first sets up the entire well known story, but the sequel is the far superior film and what made me fall in love with these movies as a whole. One really needs to put the two together because the first really leaves you wanting more of a story arc.

The first one stars Colin Clive as Dr. Henry Frankenstein who seeks to create or reanimate life inside of the mutilated corpse composed of various sources. He then proceeds to the well known lightning strike which awakens the body, and begins shouting one of the most famous line in cinema history "It's Alive!". The monster eventually escapes and wrecks havoc on the town. When a mob forms, traps him in a farmhouse and burns it down leading into the next film.

The second film repeats the cast of the first one with a few additions. These additions contribute to the sequel being better but the main reason for it superiority is the performance of Karloff as the Monster. In the first film the monster is a rather flat character with no dialogue and no reason. But with the introduction of Ernest Thesiger's character, Dr. Pretorious and the Blind Caretaker played by O.P. Heggie. These two character help the monster develop his voice and personality turning him into a Three-Dimensional character. They teach him to eat, drink, smoke and develop friendships eventually creating a wife for him. But when she rejects him he blows up Frankenstein's tower ending the film.

Both films are fantastic but the main focus of them is the monster and he becomes more well rounded in the sequel, thus making it a superior film to the legendary first.

I highly reccomend that everyone see both films, and any film fan should be able to understand and enjoy these films as much as I do, they are in every sense of the term....Classics.

Karloff did also star in the 3rd installment Son of Frankenstein, I have the movie but have yet to watch it. It stars Karloff and another horror legend, Bela Legosi, but sadly it is not directed by James Whale and does not star Colin Clive as he passed in '37. Ill watch it eventually but I'm not expecting much.