Harry Potter 7.2

M: A very good finish to a good movie series and a classic book series. Great special effects. The thing that impressed me the most was that I never thought, wow, what a special effect. It all felt real. It has been fun to watch the actors grow up, and they were all good, especially Harry. 3 1/2 stars

V: Hooray Harry Potter! Loved the books and the movies. This was a v ery satisfying final movie. I thought it was great. There was one little thing that I would have done differently - and that was the expression on Harry's face after it's all over and he's walking through Hogwarts, which has been devastated by the last battle. He has a slight grin - I don't think that was appropriate. Some of his friends died in that battle, not to mention what an incredible toll it must have taken on him through all those years being hunted by You-Know-Who. I think I would have preferred to see him collapse and weep a little bit. Yeah, he won. But it wasn't a soccer, er, football game. What has just happened was truly horrific and ahead lies rebuilding and healing. I think soberness is called for. But maybe that's just me, I like to wallow in tragedy sometimes. It's cathartic. Okay - BUT - otherwise, a really great movie. And the effects were seamless! I loved the whole, exciting Potter series. 3 1/2 stars

Harry Potter 7.1

M: I am going to say that this may be the least good of the Harry Potters to date, at least in my book. That is not a huge knock, because it has been a great series, but this just didn't have the story line to make it a great movie. It is a good half-a-movie. Very good special effects that are worth seeing. And some good acting by our now grown friends. 2 1/2 stars

V: I am a huge fan of the books and the series. I really liked this movie. It had great suspense. It caught the frustrating dreariness of the first half of the 7th book which takes place largely in the forest or some other wilderness, hiding and waiting and wondering what to do. The scene where Harry tries to bring a little cheer with some music and dancing was great. It's not the best one yet, but it was nicely done. I really enjoyed it. I think it was necessary to break the 7th into 2 movies, it will not rob the conclusion by rushing through it. Because of this movie (with all its waiting and hiding and agonizing) - the conclusion will be more satisfying. 3 stars

Inception

V: What an interesting, unique movie! M and I sat through the credits and then walked out of the theater in silence, just so much to think about. It was a cool concept involving dreams and dreams within dreams. I won't include any spoilers, here. There are times with wild action and violence, but it's inside dreams, so the people are "pretend", and it doesn't seem so bad. Leonardo DiCaprio and the rest of the cast are great. There are some super-cool effects, and amazing images. I was thoroughly captivated and interested. I loved it. 4 stars

M: Great show. Took a while to figure out what was going on. Then, at the end, V and I could agree on what it all meant. But, I think that it is a deep and well thought out movie that is absolutely worth seeing. I would love to go further, but I can't think of what to say that would not include spoilers. After you watch it, which you should, call me, we can discuss. 3 1/2 stars

Avatar - no spoilers!

V: It's that special time of year again: the time we see a movie in a movie theater. (In general, we feel it's a financially silly thing to do when you could just wait a few months and pay a buck for it at the redbox.) But you must, you really must, see Avatar and see it in the theater. And I would say watch it in 3D, too. Imagine watching Cirque du Soleil on a 22 inch television. Not the same, right? I'm itching to watch a "making of" because this was just really cool to see. James Cameron has created a beautiful world with beautiful creatures that need to be seen up close. Try not to draw comparisons-- whether or not they were intended, (which I suspect they were) and despite the strong urge to do so-- to world politics. (I wonder how members of the military community will react to this film.) I also heard mention of Pocahontas. But I think the story stands on its own, and is more interesting (less annoying) that way. Just take a deep breath, and let your mind go. Avatar is almost 3 hours and I ate it all up. I only have a very few complaints: a little less swearing would have been nice. I like my swearing as much as anybody, of course, but in this fantasy-land it was distracting and too pedestrian. And I wish they would have held the very last shot for a couple more seconds. And they had to include a pop song right after all that coolness, really? I guess they were hoping for another "My love will go on" money-maker. Despite those little things, this film is an easy 4. It's an amazing accomplishment. I'm not usually much concerned with special effects, but this was . . . just so cool. I read that Avatar is the second largest grossing film of all time internationally. The first is Titanic (also Cameron.) He takes his projects seriously, apparently. I love the concept of the Avatar, and the two worlds, the split consciousness. I loved it. 4 stars

M: No spoilers! Well that spoils things. I think V gave that title as a warning to me, which I will heed. As V and I left the movie, V commented that Avatar is a feat of movie making and an accomplishment for mankind (ok, so I am paraphrasing). She was right, and my paraphrase is right too. This is the most beautifully made movie I have ever watched. I had a few minor complaints, I didn't like the narrating, and some scenes were a bit long - ala King Kong (full disclosure, I loved King Kong). It is also fairly violent. Nevertheless, this movie just floored me. You have to see it on the big screen. I thought the characters and the world were so beautiful, lifelike, and full of expression. Do not miss this movie. It is 3 hours, so be prepared. And as V said, don't get caught up in what political statements you can draw from the story. Just sit back and be entertained. Amazing. The best show of the year, and the best show I have seen in a long time. Wow. 4 stars

Penelope

M: Heart-warming, funny, well acted and well written. I really liked this movie. Penelope is born with a pig-nose. Her family hides her in shame, waiting for the day when her love will accept her as she is and marry her and break the curse. However, the curse is not as simple as they think, and before the end of the movie, the characters will all learn some good lessons. Such funny lines. Cathrine O'Hara plays Penelope's mother and nearly steals the show. James McAvoy plays the same character he played in Becoming Jane (one trick pony? I guess we will see). The movie is hilarious and definitely worth seeing. 3 1/2 stars

V: A really charming little movie! This is a darling story about loving yourself, and looking for the beauty in people. Great cast. Great color. Liked the characters a lot and the quirky little world they lived in. It shows that everyone has their freakiness and their lovliness, just depends on where they wear it. I loved that the investigative photographer, who is trying to discover Penelope, is a little person. Christina Ricci is great, and James McAvoy charming. Penelope's parents, hilarious. Very sweet show. 3 1/2 stars

The Golden Compass

M: Woody Allen said, "This food is terrible . . . and such small portions."

This movie felt like it tried to cram so many characters and scenes into its - actually not so short time allotment - that the story just bounced randomly from character to character and event to event. The movie wasn't exactly short, but I can only explain the splintered presentation by a lack of time to present an un-splintered version. I didn't feel like I knew, or liked for that matter, any of the characters. Because I didn't know or understand them, I didn't know why they did the things they did (like the little girl going into a scary tent by herself in the night). The movie was definitely made for people who have read the book and know what is going on. For the rest of us, it makes no sense. And the discussion of "dust" just doesn't matter, who cares. Give us an idea of what you are talking about and maybe we can get on board. Instead, I was just bored. The movie was very pretty and and well made, but it was very high on the "what the" factor. After pausing the movie for a brief intermission, we came back, pushed play, and discovered to our amazement that the movie was actually over. A major "what the" moment. After sitting through over 2 hours of head shaking moments, the movie presented us with a "leaves you wanting more" moment. Woody Allen's refrain fits: the movie was terrible, yet it was too short and it ended too soon. 2 stars

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V: I was looking forward to seeing this, and it left me quite underwhelmed. When it ended, we were both asking, "Really? Really, that's it?" (We know they hope for a sequel, but still.) The positive is that it is very, very beautifully done. (Oscar for Best Visual Effects, nominated for Art Direction) It might even be worth watching just for that. Maybe just mute the sound. No, the script isn't that bad, but it does have a few of those obvious "power" lines that the characters repeat later in the film (or a couple of lines later) for dramatic effect. My biggest complaint was that it just quickly jumped from event to event with little lead-up or suspense. It was incongruous and inconsistent. For example, we asked (spoiler!) why the bear was nothing without his armor, owed his life to the girl for (very quickly and casually) helping him get the armor back - then spent so much time without it - then had it again after traveling long distances. Stuff like that bugged us. A shame as it is obvious that a lot of money and effort was spent on the rest of this film. We'd heard Tom Stoppard was hired then fired for this film - now that might have been a great movie. And the religious controversy - it's pretty harmless. (I would say more about that, but this is already getting long.) I'm adding half a star because it's so pretty. 2 1/2 stars