Review: The King’s Speech

The King’s Speech is a fantastic retelling of King George VI over coming his speech impediment and his rise to the throne that is funny, sharp, and interesting every step of the way.

Prince Albert was always a well respected leader and Duke in England and among the family but the rise of the wireless during his time forced him into the public eye in a way that never suited him; as a public speaker.  Albert was the confidant and by the books second son of George V and Albert was more than content and resigned to his role as the next in line behind his brother Edward.  But when Albert begins work with a new speech therapist, Lionel Louge, his previous unfounded progress with his impediment begins to appear.  Both Louge and Albert’s wife, Elizabeth, begin to see a potential future on the thrown if Edward continues down his current path of un-royal actions, but that is something that Albert both fears and is reluctant to embrace.

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Now Playing – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

A few years back when the last Harry Potter book was released I went with my sister to pick up her reserved copy at Borders.  Stepping hesitantly into the throngs of Potter devotees I picked a seemingly safe place away from the costumed clusters animatedly discussing their favorite memories from the series and what is to come.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the books and all, but when an excited voice snuck up behind me shouting, “You’re a wizard, Harry!” and I turned around to find Dumbledore, Hagrid and a Death Eater laughing at my expression, I was clearly not as fanatical as they come.  No matter where you fall on the Potter fan spectrum, you will be pleased to know that they are looking to go out on top with the first half of the 7th book’s adaptation to film.

Those of you who will be running out the theaters to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 can probably spout off the basic storyline of this chunk of the Potter saga, while the rest of you should stick your toes in the water back with the first novel and/or film because at this point drowning is the only way out without previous knowledge. [Read more...]

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 definitely feels like a part one, but it is executed nearly perfectly and it sets the stage for The Deathly Hallows to easily be the best of the Potter films when it is all said and done.

Picking up more or less right where the last film left off, Harry, Hermione, and Ron are foregoing their last year at Hogwarts in an attempt to track down Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.  And if that sentence made any sense to you than that is all you need to know about the film.  If you don’t, go read the books!

If you aren’t a Harry Potter fan, of either the films or the books, then there is no reason to apply here as the movie will not cater to you in the slightest.  That is a good thing and the film does a great job at respecting its audience and doesn’t feel the need to flash clips to reminds us what happened every time they mention something from a previous film; ala Return of the King.

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Review: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp re-team for their 6th film together, and is my favorite Burton film since Big Fish, and is probably right there with Big Fish for his second best film behind Ed Wood.
The film is an adaptation of the Broadway show of the same name and is a full blown musical, so you idiots that won’t give a movie a shot just because there is singing, just go ahead and save yourself the time of reading any further. (I find it funny that a lot of people that grew up on and loved Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder, say they can’t even watch musicals or grown at the mention of one.) [Read more...]

Review: Enchanted

First off, Amy Adams is magnificent, cute, brilliant, and adorable, any positive adjective for performing could be filled in here. She is just a sweet little Disney princess lost in the real world and plays it to perfection. She carries the comedy and makes the fantastical plot believable and all the more real. [Read more...]