The university I attended was near a city I hated: San Francisco. Well, the first time I visited this city, which I like to call TownCity, I loved it. Looooooved it. It was new and pretty and gay and odd, and I didn't have to drive through it. The second through umpteenth time I visited TownCity, I kind of more or less hated it. I saw it as less a city than an overgrown town (hence the evident moniker). A town that was filthy and awkward and unplanned and...so freshman year. I'd moved on to DoPA, the smaller, closer, less-obvious equivalent. DoPA became my playground, and many fine nights of small fun were spent there. TC became a place I visited only under heavy coercion and when I was in too good of spirits to hate it so much. What can I say? Against cities, I hold a grudge.
But it's been 5.5 years since my first visit, and having now spent time there with a cool superpower called "early 20s enthusiasm," and a host of friends who play the same game--and again without a car--I fell in love for the first time. I say "the first time," because the first-first time, five years ago, was really just infatuation. But now, it's love. I misjudged TownCity.
Friday night we partied at a place called Fluid in the Mission where the DJ was sub-par, the crowd included hookers, the Grey Goose was definitely Smirnoff, but it was for some reason still TONS of fun. Maybe because entry was free for ladies.
Saturday, we went crazy at Gravity in the Marina (there are clubs in the Marina?!?!--yeah!). This place was GREAT. I don't remember much, but I remember that.
For food: there was a lot of eating out. Friday afternoon, I tried Cafe Museo at the TC-MoMA. The ahi tuna was overcooked, but the bed of Brussels sprouts it rode in on was actually quite delicious. Props to the oatmeal cookies, too--though my dining parter most definitely gave his dessert (otherwise known as "upside-down pineapple polenta") a thumbs sideways-to-down. Friday night, a flurry of friends from freshman year ate out in DoPA, unfortunately at the sub-par "Mexican" chain, Celia's. We cleared out our side of the restaurant with our raucous laughter, and though they served me Van de Kamps shrimp with my order (I think I saw the cardboard box in the dumpster out back...), fun times still flowed in spades.
Saturday, I had plum cinnamon tea and pumpkin bread deliciously speckled with cream cheese (sounds weird, but it was DIVINE) at a small coffee joint called Chestnut Street Coffee (I think) in the Marina. I also snacked on a slightly healthier food option: a concoction of oatmeal, honey, raisins and gooooodness I think they called "granola cake" (I said slightly). Dinner was another positive venture: A16, also on Chestnut Street, is an Italian wine bar featuring the best Italian pizza I've had in a while. Beats FireCity's new hotspot MOZZA by six points, no lie. Though I had intended to try some California wines while traveling up and through TownCity, I instead went for a round Italian red whose name I'll never remember that was pretty good. A bit pricey per glass, but otwise....Our meal started out with Buffalo mozzarella smothered in extra virgin and paired with crostini toasts, then we nibbled on a hummus made of fava beans. Fava beans? Doesn't that make you think of Anthony Hopkins? But no mind, next was the pizza. MMMM. All of it, and we had a threesome. This pizza was sexy. For dessert, we picked another combo of three. Persimmon pudding with spice garnish...chocolate olive oil torte bakes with sea salt...chocolate gelato. I don't like chocolate, but that torte almost made me reconsider. The pudding? Beyond amazing.
After our crazy mash-up of a Saturday night, we needed good eats for Sunday, too. Started with brunch at Squat & Gobble, an odd name for a place so charming. I had the challa bread French toast; came out a little burnt, but it was okay. I don't want to judge, because my friend's omelettes looked sooooo good. One recovery-bruncher in my party tried an omelette with yogurt and sprouts or fennel or something...and it was tasty-tasty. I definitely want to go back here. For dinner we ended up at Steps of Rome in North Beach. Cheap Italian eats, but you get what you pay for. The highlight was the...well, nothing. A16 ruined me for all following Italian experiences in TC. Thanks a lot!
So since the 20th: I've enjoyed another holiday party, I've traveled north to the chilly Bay and back again, I've celebrated the new year and made my resolutions. I've seen old friends, made new ones, called the folks, road-tripped, flown and been barred from airports (did I mention that?). I've decided to finally start thinking about furniture for my room and apartment, and I've found out that FireCity's first Restaurant Week (the week where 4-star restaurants offer 2-star prices!) takes place the last week of this month. And I am SO excited. I haven't updated my movies (STILL), but I will, I will. I will.
Whew, time flies when you leave your day-planner at home.
vendredi 4 janvier 2008
vendredi 21 décembre 2007
the 20th
I forgot to mention in that last post that I hope this still remains primarily my personal movie-memory blog. I'm a foodie, so I bet I'll write about food now, too--especially since, besides movies, the Food Budget is the only crevasse into which I pour my small amounts of disposable income--but I'm here to write for me and the movies I see. And I didn't think there would be, but there were some very memorable moments from the month of November. Ask me about when I met James McAvoy.
At any rate, this day is a new turning point: the day on which I rediscovered my blog. And actually, I just looked at the clock, and it's after midnight, so apparently it's the 21st, but I'm calling it the 20th, because December 20th is the most important day of the year. It's my parent's anniversary! Three cheers to 27 years.
November updates are forthcoming, but mark my words as was ordered back in September: they will come.
At any rate, this day is a new turning point: the day on which I rediscovered my blog. And actually, I just looked at the clock, and it's after midnight, so apparently it's the 21st, but I'm calling it the 20th, because December 20th is the most important day of the year. It's my parent's anniversary! Three cheers to 27 years.
November updates are forthcoming, but mark my words as was ordered back in September: they will come.
jeudi 20 décembre 2007
ashamed comma Taste should be
I am ashamed. There's nothing to blame but lack of time, diligence, forethought and wherewithal for the absence of my recent "blogging." A Good Friend of Mine from the Past alerted me to my failing entry-rate when she told me, "I used to look at your blog to check out movies and see what you thought." And I cringed. Used to.
Can I at least do a once-a-month summary of my movie-guided travels? I should! I see a lot of good stuff out there! And now that I've landed well in this new city, I also want to say what I think about this city and what's inside it when I can. For instance, I ate dinner tonight at a restaurant called TASTE.
TASTE was awful. TASTE left a bad taste in my mouth. It's on Melrose, it's trendy, and I'd been looking forward to dining there. Not because I'd "heard good things," but quite genuinely, I'd checked out the menu in advance and started salivating a little bit. That's a good sign. We started with the calamari--fantastic. Peppery, salted, nice sauce. But then we had the appetizer mushroom mac-and-cheese, which was too small to share, and then I opted for the starter crab cakes as my meal. That's when it went alllll downhill.
I judge restaurants on two things these days: their wine selection and their crab cakes. Honest. TASTE lost in both categories. Can I first say they didn't have ONE French wine by the glass? I know we're in California, but Sonoma Valley Chardonnay still pales to a bubbly Chablis. I know nothing about wine, and I still say this, so it must be true. I hate Chardonnay. I settled for a Marlborough Savignon, which was fruity and not bad (though I would have still preferred something French), so I decided things were looking upwards of mediocre at least. But then the crab cakes arrived.
On a scale of 1-10, they were...a 2. Only because the side salad with which they were served was quite tasty. What was that dressing? I was too busy frowning at my must-have-been-WalMart-freezer-section-bought crab cakes to take the time to ask the waiter. Not only were they served just under room temperature, but they were only crispy on top (strange feat) and...did I mention they were cold? And they gave me a dabble of aioli sauce that did little if anything to flavor their bland slightly burnt exterior. Damn you, Taste! You were foul indeed. Don't go to this restaurant.
On a scale of 1-5: 2.5 for decor, 3 if we include service, but back to 2.5 if you remember the crab cakes.
And if you're planning for guests here, please note that TASTE charges a $20 fee for every person who doesn't show up in your party--zing!
Can I at least do a once-a-month summary of my movie-guided travels? I should! I see a lot of good stuff out there! And now that I've landed well in this new city, I also want to say what I think about this city and what's inside it when I can. For instance, I ate dinner tonight at a restaurant called TASTE.
TASTE was awful. TASTE left a bad taste in my mouth. It's on Melrose, it's trendy, and I'd been looking forward to dining there. Not because I'd "heard good things," but quite genuinely, I'd checked out the menu in advance and started salivating a little bit. That's a good sign. We started with the calamari--fantastic. Peppery, salted, nice sauce. But then we had the appetizer mushroom mac-and-cheese, which was too small to share, and then I opted for the starter crab cakes as my meal. That's when it went alllll downhill.
I judge restaurants on two things these days: their wine selection and their crab cakes. Honest. TASTE lost in both categories. Can I first say they didn't have ONE French wine by the glass? I know we're in California, but Sonoma Valley Chardonnay still pales to a bubbly Chablis. I know nothing about wine, and I still say this, so it must be true. I hate Chardonnay. I settled for a Marlborough Savignon, which was fruity and not bad (though I would have still preferred something French), so I decided things were looking upwards of mediocre at least. But then the crab cakes arrived.
On a scale of 1-10, they were...a 2. Only because the side salad with which they were served was quite tasty. What was that dressing? I was too busy frowning at my must-have-been-WalMart-freezer-section-bought crab cakes to take the time to ask the waiter. Not only were they served just under room temperature, but they were only crispy on top (strange feat) and...did I mention they were cold? And they gave me a dabble of aioli sauce that did little if anything to flavor their bland slightly burnt exterior. Damn you, Taste! You were foul indeed. Don't go to this restaurant.
On a scale of 1-5: 2.5 for decor, 3 if we include service, but back to 2.5 if you remember the crab cakes.
And if you're planning for guests here, please note that TASTE charges a $20 fee for every person who doesn't show up in your party--zing!
samedi 27 octobre 2007
THE LANDING
And here we are about a month later, few movies added, but lots has changed. I said I wouldn't get preachy, but I must share the news: I've wandered again, and now I'm in a new city. The city has fire in the sky, and the movie theatres are expensive. But movies will be seen! Mark my words.
In the last month, I enjoyed viewing EASTERN PROMISES, starring the delicious Viggo MORTENSON. In five words or less?
Plot: "Russian mafia works in London."
Thought: "Naked never looked so violent."
It was good. It was...Cronenberg-y, but it was good. 3/5
I also finally saw my dear Quentin's first film RESERVOIR DOGS. Bought it for five bucks from...a discount store that I don't support. And it is fabulous.
Plot: "Irreverent deeds backdropped by catchy music." (is that six words? that's six)
Thought: "Enter, the new pulp genious."
4/5
After watching this film, all I could think was how great it would be to make a spoof of it, perhaps as a short film, or perhaps in a big kind of way with references from a bunch of Q-movies. I wanted to see Havey Keitel scream, "Bitch, we're gonna have a knife fight," while diving towards Rosario Dawson holding a suitcase filled with golden light. And apparently, it's already been done before: MY BIG FAT INDIE MOVIE. Haven't heard of it? You wouldn't have; it's artistic.
Plot: "The SCARY MOVIE of indie."
Thought: "Here's looking at you, Plot Devices."
2.5/5
While roadtripping across the US (en route to my new city), I stopped in a place we'll call "The Fertile Lowlands," to visit an old friend. She successfully found me the movie I was waiting for all summer long: KNOCKED UP. And it did not dissappoint.
Plot: "First comes baby, then love."
Thought: "There's no stopping Judd Apatow."
4.5/5
Besides these films, I sadly spent much of the month at a computer studying for an exam I took two days go. Yes, I kind of killed it. Like you had to ask. Now that I'm in my new Fire City, I'm done studying, and I'm starting to look for work. Once I find work, I'll be funded and able to watch many a movie. And since I recently won a 52" HDTV (jealous?) many of these movies just might be watched chez moi. Woop! Such is the life of a girl who lives off contest winnings. Let the adventure begin.
In the last month, I enjoyed viewing EASTERN PROMISES, starring the delicious Viggo MORTENSON. In five words or less?
Plot: "Russian mafia works in London."
Thought: "Naked never looked so violent."
It was good. It was...Cronenberg-y, but it was good. 3/5
I also finally saw my dear Quentin's first film RESERVOIR DOGS. Bought it for five bucks from...a discount store that I don't support. And it is fabulous.
Plot: "Irreverent deeds backdropped by catchy music." (is that six words? that's six)
Thought: "Enter, the new pulp genious."
4/5
After watching this film, all I could think was how great it would be to make a spoof of it, perhaps as a short film, or perhaps in a big kind of way with references from a bunch of Q-movies. I wanted to see Havey Keitel scream, "Bitch, we're gonna have a knife fight," while diving towards Rosario Dawson holding a suitcase filled with golden light. And apparently, it's already been done before: MY BIG FAT INDIE MOVIE. Haven't heard of it? You wouldn't have; it's artistic.
Plot: "The SCARY MOVIE of indie."
Thought: "Here's looking at you, Plot Devices."
2.5/5
While roadtripping across the US (en route to my new city), I stopped in a place we'll call "The Fertile Lowlands," to visit an old friend. She successfully found me the movie I was waiting for all summer long: KNOCKED UP. And it did not dissappoint.
Plot: "First comes baby, then love."
Thought: "There's no stopping Judd Apatow."
4.5/5
Besides these films, I sadly spent much of the month at a computer studying for an exam I took two days go. Yes, I kind of killed it. Like you had to ask. Now that I'm in my new Fire City, I'm done studying, and I'm starting to look for work. Once I find work, I'll be funded and able to watch many a movie. And since I recently won a 52" HDTV (jealous?) many of these movies just might be watched chez moi. Woop! Such is the life of a girl who lives off contest winnings. Let the adventure begin.
vendredi 21 septembre 2007
THE HIATUS
It's so sad, I've been gone so long, I've considered not coming back. You see, it's time I explain my hiatus. As my long-winded soujourn in France dwindled to a close and I began hopping from apartment to apartment like bees to flowers, I just didn't have the TIME to keep up with all the movies I was seeing. But movies, I did see.
I never intended for this blog to be one of those online "this is my life" journals, but my life entered a sort of upheavel at the end of July (leaving one apartment to house-sit in another, to vacation in another, to finally, eventually leave Paris), and I got more caught up in that than the meat of this blog, so I just quit writing. The blog was started for me to document the movies I'd seen, and my life was turning into a movie. So the question became : to write or not to write ?
Well, here I am. And I will write, still, about movies. My life is a little steadier now--I'm back in the US and planning my Westward journey to the land of milk & money, so I again have the time to write. Limited, but it's something I want to do. Movies make my world go round (is that cheesy ?), so I have the express desire to remember which movies I've seen, when and why. It's my ego. Blame my ego.
During my last two weeks living down the street from the Louvre (or "up" the street if you consider walking away from the Seine heading up--which you should, because that's north) and attending the #1 movie theatre in France, UGC Cine Cite Les Halles, I saw seven films.
1. HOT FUZZ - British cops against the neighborhoood. - 4/5 stars
2. HEAD ON (rental, German, otherwise known as GEGEN DIE WAND) - Love is a car wreck. - 4/5 stars
3. A VERY BRITISH GANGSTER - This gay, British thug's life. - 3/5 stars
4. YOU KILL ME - Sir Kingsley is Sir Awkward. - 2.5/5 stars
5. TRANSFORMERS - Mmm, I heart Shea LeBoeuf. - 3.5/5 stars
6. SIMPSONS - Like the show, but longer. - 3.5/5 stars
7. RAISON D'ETAT (otherwise knows as THE GOOD SHEPHERD) - Made sense the second time. - 3.5/5 stars
During the month of August while living two streets over from the Bastille (one of Paris' most historical and most night-party-friendly hotspots), I saw four films, most at UGC Bercy Village, a beautiful, new theatre off the lovely line 14 metro.
1. MISE A PRIX (otherwise known as SMOKIN ACES) - Good until the feel-good ending. - 2.5/5 stars
2. LES FANTOMES DE GOYA (otherwise known as GOYA'S GHOSTS) - Art shouldn't be this boring. - 2/5 stars
3. CARAMEL - Sticky and sweet, like life. - 4/5 stars
4. RATATOUILLE - Mmm, that rat made me hungry. - 4/5 stars
I saw one last film at the end of August, again at UGC Les Halles, because I was living in the Marais, the gay/Jewish district of Paris...meaning it's the cleanest, safest and has the best food. Excellent. The movie of choice :
1. 3 AMIS (look, a French film !) - Where are my French friends ? - 3.5/5 stars
And finally, since returning to the good ol' US of A (I've been here two weeks), I've seen three films, all in the Dallas area.
1. HAIRSPRAY - Song and dance on sugar high. - 3.5/5 stars
2. SUPERBAD - Wedding Crashers meets American Pie - 3/5stars (I really wanted to like it more...but it just was too over-hyped for me)
3. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM - Hey, Bourne, ya done yet ? - 4/5 stars
I'm still wanting to catch KNOCKED UP and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Anyone know where I can find 'em ? Anyone ? Anyone ?
Now that I'm back in the States, the movie-watching is sure to slow down. I mean, in Paris, it was "gratuit" (that means "free"), and here...well, I have no job. Maybe I'll turn to Netflix, Greencine or Blockbuster.com. Who knows ? But I still love a good movie. So I'll be back.
I never intended for this blog to be one of those online "this is my life" journals, but my life entered a sort of upheavel at the end of July (leaving one apartment to house-sit in another, to vacation in another, to finally, eventually leave Paris), and I got more caught up in that than the meat of this blog, so I just quit writing. The blog was started for me to document the movies I'd seen, and my life was turning into a movie. So the question became : to write or not to write ?
Well, here I am. And I will write, still, about movies. My life is a little steadier now--I'm back in the US and planning my Westward journey to the land of milk & money, so I again have the time to write. Limited, but it's something I want to do. Movies make my world go round (is that cheesy ?), so I have the express desire to remember which movies I've seen, when and why. It's my ego. Blame my ego.
During my last two weeks living down the street from the Louvre (or "up" the street if you consider walking away from the Seine heading up--which you should, because that's north) and attending the #1 movie theatre in France, UGC Cine Cite Les Halles, I saw seven films.
1. HOT FUZZ - British cops against the neighborhoood. - 4/5 stars
2. HEAD ON (rental, German, otherwise known as GEGEN DIE WAND) - Love is a car wreck. - 4/5 stars
3. A VERY BRITISH GANGSTER - This gay, British thug's life. - 3/5 stars
4. YOU KILL ME - Sir Kingsley is Sir Awkward. - 2.5/5 stars
5. TRANSFORMERS - Mmm, I heart Shea LeBoeuf. - 3.5/5 stars
6. SIMPSONS - Like the show, but longer. - 3.5/5 stars
7. RAISON D'ETAT (otherwise knows as THE GOOD SHEPHERD) - Made sense the second time. - 3.5/5 stars
During the month of August while living two streets over from the Bastille (one of Paris' most historical and most night-party-friendly hotspots), I saw four films, most at UGC Bercy Village, a beautiful, new theatre off the lovely line 14 metro.
1. MISE A PRIX (otherwise known as SMOKIN ACES) - Good until the feel-good ending. - 2.5/5 stars
2. LES FANTOMES DE GOYA (otherwise known as GOYA'S GHOSTS) - Art shouldn't be this boring. - 2/5 stars
3. CARAMEL - Sticky and sweet, like life. - 4/5 stars
4. RATATOUILLE - Mmm, that rat made me hungry. - 4/5 stars
I saw one last film at the end of August, again at UGC Les Halles, because I was living in the Marais, the gay/Jewish district of Paris...meaning it's the cleanest, safest and has the best food. Excellent. The movie of choice :
1. 3 AMIS (look, a French film !) - Where are my French friends ? - 3.5/5 stars
And finally, since returning to the good ol' US of A (I've been here two weeks), I've seen three films, all in the Dallas area.
1. HAIRSPRAY - Song and dance on sugar high. - 3.5/5 stars
2. SUPERBAD - Wedding Crashers meets American Pie - 3/5stars (I really wanted to like it more...but it just was too over-hyped for me)
3. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM - Hey, Bourne, ya done yet ? - 4/5 stars
I'm still wanting to catch KNOCKED UP and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Anyone know where I can find 'em ? Anyone ? Anyone ?
Now that I'm back in the States, the movie-watching is sure to slow down. I mean, in Paris, it was "gratuit" (that means "free"), and here...well, I have no job. Maybe I'll turn to Netflix, Greencine or Blockbuster.com. Who knows ? But I still love a good movie. So I'll be back.
samedi 21 juillet 2007
HALF NELSON
http://www.halfnelsonthefilm.com/
plot : My teacher is a pusher.
thought : Not only in the 'hood.
The motivation to see this film was simple : what's that Ryan Gosling up to ? HALF NELSON garnered the once-NOTEBOOK star an Oscar nomination. I wanted to see why. From the poster, I figured he went into some project neighborhood and changed the lives of a few students, in a DANGEROUS MINDS meets SAVE THE LAST DANCE kind of way.
Sometimes I think I should start reading film synopses before watching the film.
For starters, the film is about a teacher named Dan DUNNE (Gosling) with a heavy drug problem who needs someone to step in and change his life. Gosling plays the part well, though I must admit I'm not quite sure why he got the Oscar nod. (Hollywood star playing a drug addict, does that qualify as acting ?...oh, did I go there ? I went there.) I was surprised, because I only believed him 75% of the time. But then again, when I did believe him, I was truley convinced.
But aside from Gosling--once I figured out the heart of the story, I naturally found it intriguing, because of my own obsession with this subject matter, i.e. the slow descent of an isolated individual under the eyes of a caring society. This happens in many forms : drug use, depression, eating disorders, etc. To see it happen, in this story, to a teacher who actively attempts to serve as a role model about 50% of his day, is very striking. And seeing the relationship this teacher thankfully establishes with one of his students, played by the spot-on young actress Shareeka EPPS (no relation to HOUSE MD's loveable Omar EPPS), renders the story that much more poignant.
Thank goodness for Gosling's Oscar nom, or HALF NELSON may have remained a completely overlooked gem of 2006. Lucky for me, France picked it up off the world market.
NOTE : I was also insanely PSYCHED to bear witness to the wonderful ear-gasm that is this movie's soundtrack. Broken Social Scene from start to finish. Amazing music matched to amazing footage makes for an amazing movie.
Overall rating : 4/5
plot : My teacher is a pusher.
thought : Not only in the 'hood.
The motivation to see this film was simple : what's that Ryan Gosling up to ? HALF NELSON garnered the once-NOTEBOOK star an Oscar nomination. I wanted to see why. From the poster, I figured he went into some project neighborhood and changed the lives of a few students, in a DANGEROUS MINDS meets SAVE THE LAST DANCE kind of way.
Sometimes I think I should start reading film synopses before watching the film.
For starters, the film is about a teacher named Dan DUNNE (Gosling) with a heavy drug problem who needs someone to step in and change his life. Gosling plays the part well, though I must admit I'm not quite sure why he got the Oscar nod. (Hollywood star playing a drug addict, does that qualify as acting ?...oh, did I go there ? I went there.) I was surprised, because I only believed him 75% of the time. But then again, when I did believe him, I was truley convinced.
But aside from Gosling--once I figured out the heart of the story, I naturally found it intriguing, because of my own obsession with this subject matter, i.e. the slow descent of an isolated individual under the eyes of a caring society. This happens in many forms : drug use, depression, eating disorders, etc. To see it happen, in this story, to a teacher who actively attempts to serve as a role model about 50% of his day, is very striking. And seeing the relationship this teacher thankfully establishes with one of his students, played by the spot-on young actress Shareeka EPPS (no relation to HOUSE MD's loveable Omar EPPS), renders the story that much more poignant.
Thank goodness for Gosling's Oscar nom, or HALF NELSON may have remained a completely overlooked gem of 2006. Lucky for me, France picked it up off the world market.
NOTE : I was also insanely PSYCHED to bear witness to the wonderful ear-gasm that is this movie's soundtrack. Broken Social Scene from start to finish. Amazing music matched to amazing footage makes for an amazing movie.
Overall rating : 4/5
HARRY POTTER V
http://harrypotter.warnerbros.fr/site/index.html
plot : Young Potter grows a pair.
thought : Guess I'll forgive your horse-humping.
As the fifth installement in the Harry Potter film franchise, HARRY POTTER ET L'ORDRE DU PHENIX (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, non ?) does not disappoint. The action is still building, the story surging forward, becoming darker, as promised, and hence, much more interesting. The biggest change--and a change for the better, I'd say--came from Harry.
In the first Potter film, I really found young Harry quite charming. Cute. Had that little scratch on his little forehead. Winced a lot. But every film since then, he has bored and annoyed me. I think I might be an isolated case, but I've consistently found the supporting cast of each Potter movie more engaging than its principal hero. Harry's mopey attitude made me think Daniel RADCLIFFE was feeling mopey about the contract he signed. But hark and lo and never say never : Phoenix's Harry has changed. Maybe it's just that Radcliffe has rediscovered the character. But perhaps it had something to do with is brief stint on the London stage earlier this year appearing in EQUUS when he humped that horse.
Phoenix's Harry has depth ; he's becoming a man. The film is dark and deals with some subject matter that, frankly, I'm not sure I'd want the original eight-year old Potter crowd to be watching--but this Harry can handle it, and he does. Without feeling too much like a financially-bloated commercial for the upcoming sequel (like a certain PIRATES movie that may or may not have come out summer '06), ORDER OF THE PHOENIX will leave you excited to see the continuation of what is becoming an epic fantasy adventure. And if you know how to read, you already know what happens next ! Lucky.
Overall rating : 4/5
plot : Young Potter grows a pair.
thought : Guess I'll forgive your horse-humping.
As the fifth installement in the Harry Potter film franchise, HARRY POTTER ET L'ORDRE DU PHENIX (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, non ?) does not disappoint. The action is still building, the story surging forward, becoming darker, as promised, and hence, much more interesting. The biggest change--and a change for the better, I'd say--came from Harry.
In the first Potter film, I really found young Harry quite charming. Cute. Had that little scratch on his little forehead. Winced a lot. But every film since then, he has bored and annoyed me. I think I might be an isolated case, but I've consistently found the supporting cast of each Potter movie more engaging than its principal hero. Harry's mopey attitude made me think Daniel RADCLIFFE was feeling mopey about the contract he signed. But hark and lo and never say never : Phoenix's Harry has changed. Maybe it's just that Radcliffe has rediscovered the character. But perhaps it had something to do with is brief stint on the London stage earlier this year appearing in EQUUS when he humped that horse.
Phoenix's Harry has depth ; he's becoming a man. The film is dark and deals with some subject matter that, frankly, I'm not sure I'd want the original eight-year old Potter crowd to be watching--but this Harry can handle it, and he does. Without feeling too much like a financially-bloated commercial for the upcoming sequel (like a certain PIRATES movie that may or may not have come out summer '06), ORDER OF THE PHOENIX will leave you excited to see the continuation of what is becoming an epic fantasy adventure. And if you know how to read, you already know what happens next ! Lucky.
Overall rating : 4/5
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