Nov. 25, 2010
Harry Potter, Unstoppable, and Christmas Buzz
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Grown up on screen to now a magical 17, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his closest friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) face their most challenging wizardry assignment --- stopping the dark forces of Voldemort from taking charge of the Ministry of Magic.
Simultaneously, the followers of Voldemort plan their strategies to kill Harry Potter before he is too strong for them to do so.
“The Deathly Hallows, Part One” has no time for idle family of origin thoughts or school scenes. No, Harry and friends are off on their adventures from the time light hits the screen. With assassins on the way, a group of his friends magically disguise themselves as Harry clones so the real Potter can evade Death Eaters.
Broadened in its appeal , adults can easily emphasize with the young heroes and heroines. It’s as if they have the resources of James Bond or a “Mission Impossible” team, the “magical” actions replace the advanced “gadgets” , while a democracy versus dictatorial governments has a broader good versus evil tag much like Star War’s Dark Side concept.
Spirits and magic coming at ‘ya furiously, “Deathly Hallows” thunders with action and suspense, not hindered by narrative set up of the other flicks in the series. Unlike the “Twilight” vampire franchise, “Potter” contains hints of romance, but stands on a coy approach. Radcliffe takes a in his briefs swim to recover a sword and her zips a dress up a bare back. Otherwise, hormones stay under control.
Oppressive sharp edged dark architecture , dark vapors, and a constant feel of urgency have you overlooking some of the more complex story consideration for unread novel-challenged watchers. You miss some niceties, but follow the main dangers with pounding heart. As Potter and friends search for a treasure chest of objects, the land of magic morphs into a reincarnation of actions that resemble those of the Nazis or early Communistic realms for suspicions of non-loyalty become pretexts for zapping wizards and inhabitants off the streets for a date before an inquisitor.
Whisking to and from the land of magic and London, the effect of the transport has resemblance to those used in the early Irwin Allen “Time Tunnel” series. They are plopped into a new environment and must quickly adapt.
Imaginative settings startle, for instance, a bank of apparent elevators that perform more than vertical motion. Their paths often have traits of horizontal and vertical roller coasters.
Calling “Deathly Hallows” a best of the series occurs without any debate. The greatest “flaw” comes at the set up for Part Two which occurs not through a mounting cliffhanger, but, simply a new more deadly obstacle for the young wizard.
1/2 out of
UNSTOPPABLE
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Break out the valium (legally prescribed only, please.) A deadly missile heads for a city of nearly three-quarters of a million. It’s not coming down from the sky but over the rail --- an engineer-challenged freight hauling hazardous chemicals.
Turning to a pre-disaster premise that has your eyes grasping through every shrill whistle, rushing rumbling tracks, and a couple of teaser crashes, “Unstoppable” catches the remarkable express.
Complementing those sounds, the appeal of two Average working Joe’s becoming last-chance heroes not through vast academic resumes but by maintenance experience working with locomotive engines and the cars carried.
Film love trains (“Stranger on a Train,” “North by Northwest,” “Some Like It Hot,” “Von Ryan’s Express”) and this one takes elements of two older films --- “Cassandra Crossing” and “Runaway Train.” Both of the earlier versions did not turn loose a 70 mph choo-choo with hazardous cargo barreling into a heavily populated area.
Disaster flick aficionados will find the requisite insurance/liability corporate decision sequence , however, odds favor the men in suit, not those in gloves, as this out of control mass of steel pound and screeches toward catastrophe.
Kudos to director Tony Scott whose remarkable train chasing sequences boast nothing short of remarkable detail and danger once reserved for sure footed westerns.
Denzel Washington and Chris Pine become the engineer and in-training conductor of a second train chugging on the same track as the one that got away. Both men have personal issues that occasionally impact their time at the throttle. Washington, the veteran, does not let a thought divert and the young Pine does well as he absorbs the words of a mentor and balances them with his own decision.
out of
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FILM BUZZ
As the date grows closer to Christmas, you can divide film release into two types --- ultra family friendly (many in 3D) and those aiming for a broader adult demographic, along with the holiday Hollywood trait, remaining still suitable for all viewers.
First, Yogi Bear and Gulliver’s Travels have animated appeal followed by the third sequel that visits the Land of Narnia, where dragons, dwarves and lost warriors await at world’s edge.
“Tron: Legacy” threatens to be a gamer film that succeeds beyond expectations given its core --- a treasured, before its time classic, “Tron,” in which virtual world collide and encompass. This journey though will be in 3D and might require a few superlatives beyond awesome.
On Dec 10, the ho-hum sounding “Tourist” title boosts the ultra star power of Johnny Depp on a trip to Venice to recover from a heartbreak quickly engaged to an Interpol agent (Angelina Jolle ) who has more baggage than a broken heart.
Reese Witherspoon snagged a first (or nearly so) --- the role of a female athlete at an age past her prime. “How Do You Know” has James L Brooks in the director’s chair --- that a job he only occasionally assumes, though his stories and producer credits are plentiful, particularly televised episodic series. Brooks has a history of directorial winners --- “Terms of Endearment,” “Broadcast News,” and “As Good as It Gets --- among the now six films he’s personally directed (others were “Spanglish,” and “I’ll Do Anything.”) This one opens Dec. 17.
December 24 brings the delayed from summer, “Little Frockers” star Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Teri Pol and Owen Wilson (of which early reports are in the “make the movie” range). Accompanying “Frockers,” two days later (Dec. 26) the Cohen Brothers commit an unpardonable sin --- they have re-made the John Wayne western, “True Grit.” Oscar winning Jeff Bridges dons the eye patch and award buzz has started building…..
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Harry Potter, Unstoppable, and Christmas Buzz
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Grown up on screen to now a magical 17, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his closest friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) face their most challenging wizardry assignment --- stopping the dark forces of Voldemort from taking charge of the Ministry of Magic.
Simultaneously, the followers of Voldemort plan their strategies to kill Harry Potter before he is too strong for them to do so.
“The Deathly Hallows, Part One” has no time for idle family of origin thoughts or school scenes. No, Harry and friends are off on their adventures from the time light hits the screen. With assassins on the way, a group of his friends magically disguise themselves as Harry clones so the real Potter can evade Death Eaters.
Broadened in its appeal , adults can easily emphasize with the young heroes and heroines. It’s as if they have the resources of James Bond or a “Mission Impossible” team, the “magical” actions replace the advanced “gadgets” , while a democracy versus dictatorial governments has a broader good versus evil tag much like Star War’s Dark Side concept.
Spirits and magic coming at ‘ya furiously, “Deathly Hallows” thunders with action and suspense, not hindered by narrative set up of the other flicks in the series. Unlike the “Twilight” vampire franchise, “Potter” contains hints of romance, but stands on a coy approach. Radcliffe takes a in his briefs swim to recover a sword and her zips a dress up a bare back. Otherwise, hormones stay under control.
Oppressive sharp edged dark architecture , dark vapors, and a constant feel of urgency have you overlooking some of the more complex story consideration for unread novel-challenged watchers. You miss some niceties, but follow the main dangers with pounding heart. As Potter and friends search for a treasure chest of objects, the land of magic morphs into a reincarnation of actions that resemble those of the Nazis or early Communistic realms for suspicions of non-loyalty become pretexts for zapping wizards and inhabitants off the streets for a date before an inquisitor.
Whisking to and from the land of magic and London, the effect of the transport has resemblance to those used in the early Irwin Allen “Time Tunnel” series. They are plopped into a new environment and must quickly adapt.
Imaginative settings startle, for instance, a bank of apparent elevators that perform more than vertical motion. Their paths often have traits of horizontal and vertical roller coasters.
Calling “Deathly Hallows” a best of the series occurs without any debate. The greatest “flaw” comes at the set up for Part Two which occurs not through a mounting cliffhanger, but, simply a new more deadly obstacle for the young wizard.
1/2 out of
UNSTOPPABLE
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Break out the valium (legally prescribed only, please.) A deadly missile heads for a city of nearly three-quarters of a million. It’s not coming down from the sky but over the rail --- an engineer-challenged freight hauling hazardous chemicals.
Turning to a pre-disaster premise that has your eyes grasping through every shrill whistle, rushing rumbling tracks, and a couple of teaser crashes, “Unstoppable” catches the remarkable express.
Complementing those sounds, the appeal of two Average working Joe’s becoming last-chance heroes not through vast academic resumes but by maintenance experience working with locomotive engines and the cars carried.
Film love trains (“Stranger on a Train,” “North by Northwest,” “Some Like It Hot,” “Von Ryan’s Express”) and this one takes elements of two older films --- “Cassandra Crossing” and “Runaway Train.” Both of the earlier versions did not turn loose a 70 mph choo-choo with hazardous cargo barreling into a heavily populated area.
Disaster flick aficionados will find the requisite insurance/liability corporate decision sequence , however, odds favor the men in suit, not those in gloves, as this out of control mass of steel pound and screeches toward catastrophe.
Kudos to director Tony Scott whose remarkable train chasing sequences boast nothing short of remarkable detail and danger once reserved for sure footed westerns.
Denzel Washington and Chris Pine become the engineer and in-training conductor of a second train chugging on the same track as the one that got away. Both men have personal issues that occasionally impact their time at the throttle. Washington, the veteran, does not let a thought divert and the young Pine does well as he absorbs the words of a mentor and balances them with his own decision.
out of
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FILM BUZZ
As the date grows closer to Christmas, you can divide film release into two types --- ultra family friendly (many in 3D) and those aiming for a broader adult demographic, along with the holiday Hollywood trait, remaining still suitable for all viewers.
First, Yogi Bear and Gulliver’s Travels have animated appeal followed by the third sequel that visits the Land of Narnia, where dragons, dwarves and lost warriors await at world’s edge.
“Tron: Legacy” threatens to be a gamer film that succeeds beyond expectations given its core --- a treasured, before its time classic, “Tron,” in which virtual world collide and encompass. This journey though will be in 3D and might require a few superlatives beyond awesome.
On Dec 10, the ho-hum sounding “Tourist” title boosts the ultra star power of Johnny Depp on a trip to Venice to recover from a heartbreak quickly engaged to an Interpol agent (Angelina Jolle ) who has more baggage than a broken heart.
Reese Witherspoon snagged a first (or nearly so) --- the role of a female athlete at an age past her prime. “How Do You Know” has James L Brooks in the director’s chair --- that a job he only occasionally assumes, though his stories and producer credits are plentiful, particularly televised episodic series. Brooks has a history of directorial winners --- “Terms of Endearment,” “Broadcast News,” and “As Good as It Gets --- among the now six films he’s personally directed (others were “Spanglish,” and “I’ll Do Anything.”) This one opens Dec. 17.
December 24 brings the delayed from summer, “Little Frockers” star Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Teri Pol and Owen Wilson (of which early reports are in the “make the movie” range). Accompanying “Frockers,” two days later (Dec. 26) the Cohen Brothers commit an unpardonable sin --- they have re-made the John Wayne western, “True Grit.” Oscar winning Jeff Bridges dons the eye patch and award buzz has started building…..
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
