Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Following the gradual dark and moody setting from previous installments, HP7 has Harry and his two compadrés go on the run from Voldemort, as his Death Eaters infiltrate the Ministry of Magic and the good guys go into hiding.

The final Potter book gets the two-movie treatment. So how does it fare compared to the previous movies?

Pretty well, actually.

HP7 presumes that you have just read / re-read Book 7, and jumps into the storyline. Gone are updates and gentle reminders on the events that have happened, gone are naming spells before casting them, no more introductions to new characters (with the exception of Bill Weasley and Xenophilius Lovegood), very little deviation from the source material... in other words, this movie is a purist's dream come true.

My dream come true, in fact. But I'll digress.

Unfortunately for those who have not read the book, the movie might seem like two-plus hours of nothing absolutely happening. Part 1 focuses on the conflicts between our trio, with Ron taking off midway through the movie, and though faithful to the book, most of the screen time is spent on staring pensively at lovely landscapes and visiting people.

Kind of a treasure hunt-type movie, really, except that in Part 1, nothing was really found.

One scene that really got to me was at the beginning, when Hermione wiped her parents' memories so that they could be safe while she's out fighting bad guys. It added to the gravity of the situation for our heroes, and also in a subtle way, told us that this is no longer a kid's show anymore, that it's evolved towards heavier material, dire grown-up stuff.

Though I believe that this will only sink in on some, when in Part 2, we will see a crapton of familiar faces die. But that's really depending on which actors make it to the final movie. Probably everyone, though.


[Except Bill Nighy.]

Anyway, one scene that was made longer (probably to pack a more emotional punch) was Dobby's death, near the end of Part 1. The emotional effect was definitely delivered; however, extending that scene made it look like nobody wanted to save poor Dobby, instead just hanging about, shaking their heads, looking tearful. It was quite awful, and I feel that Dobby deserved a heck lot more than that, despite him not having much screen time in the movies. I guess my emotional attachment's developed from the books.

A far, far better adaptation compared to the previous ones, though some changes/additions were really unnecessary. Like that dancing scene between Harry and Hermione which went on for five minutes. What the hell, man. Absolutely pointless.

Between 6.5–7 / 10, for I'm undecided.

Gulliver's Travels (2010)

A funny story, without Mr Black, the movie would not have been so nice. Easy task for Mr Black too in this movie since its rather not a long tale. Overall, I would say its easy to be digest movie during the weekend with your family.
A 7 for its plot but an easy 6 goes to Jack Black (a total waste of talent).

The Mistress of Spices (2005)

3 words: spicy and charming! Try its seduction....a 6 1/2

Population 436 (2006)

Honestly not bad, me just likey the ending!! :)

A 8!

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

I thought this movie was just "blah".

Wasn't horrible, wasn't awesome, just middle-of-the-road.


This being a Tim Burton movie, I was expecting dark. The movie is just, well, relatively dark grey.

Even though this is a sequel to the original Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, which is a neat way of casting an older actress for Alice, the storyline is pretty much the same the first half, since Alice doesn't remember being in Underland (apparently she misheard it first time around) and has to go through most of everything again. Journey of rediscovery, perhaps?

The characters are the highlight of the film, even though Johnny Depp's recycling Willy Wonka with an English accent and shocking red hair. The Futterwacken dance when everything's won was, um, loopy. And not in a good way. Crispin Glover was underutilized, as with every movie he's been in (except for Willard, which would've been boring for me if it weren't for him), and more Knave of Hearts would've been fantastic.

The few final scenes where she tells her family and the rest of English society that she wants to make her own destiny was clichéd and... so '90's. It felt forced and out-of-place, since this is a Tim Burton movie after all.

6/10. Watch it for Underland, for the landscape and its inhabitants. No one really cares about Alice.

Oh, side note: Danny Elfman can do no wrong.

I Love You Beth Cooper (2009)

its a nice movie to enjoy only when you have nothing to do . bottom line, not too bad thou. A 5 should be good.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

I liked Iron Man 2. 


[This is quite overdue, by the way. So, SPOILERS!]

The storyline isn't as plain and simple as the first movie, which is a bit like Batman Begins except funny enough to make me not hate it. Overcrowding and some unnecessary inclusions (yes, Scarlett Johansson looks superhot in black leather/latex, but minor role S.H.I.E.L.D. agent? Come on) in the plotline aside, it's still a fun movie, the main highlight being the racetrack sequence a half hour into the film, where  Whiplash/Crimson Dynamo amalgamation Mickey Rourke was introduced in his arc-reactor-powered glory.

Oh, and don't forget all those minute details that lead up to the main movie event of 2012-3: the Avengers movie. Though admittedly, the final scene after the end-credits wasn't as cool and history-making as the one in the first film.

Anyway, the race scene brings me to the downside of the film: the final fight scene.

It's a whole lot more disappointing compared to the one in the first movie (between Warmonger and Iron Man), because Mickey Rourke was a totally freaking bad-ass villain. And he didn't deserve to go down after ONE MINUTE OF FIGHTING. ONE BLOODY MINUTE.

While Warmonger got seven.


That aside, Robert Downey Jr. is awesome, as usual, and everyone else does a stand-up job. Not to hate on Don Cheadle, but I miss Terrence Howard. Originals are always better, and I hate it when they replace actors in a series.


[Rampant Rumor: Howard was paid more than Downey in the first movie. O.o]

Lousy anti-climactic fight scene and plotholes aside, I loved the movie. Even Garry Shandling, whom I found funny for once, and was reminded of when he hosted the Emmys some 10 years ago.

7/10. I would've watched it again on my office's Movie Night if I weren't so swamped with work at the time.

Observe and Report (2009)

Another Miss Faris film gone bad...Other than the pervert, this film is a definate 4..

Jennifer's Body (2009)

Not too bad for a cult thriller flick...and the plus side: Miss Fox is extremelly smoking hot!

A 6...

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Nothing much....just another Alice movie...and the fact that Mr Depp is in...makes him...in yet another "good-looking aka extra heavy make up guy"...Really do miss his real self after 21 Jump Street..

a typical balance film...ill say a 5.5..