Slumber Party Massacre (2021)
6.0
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Movie
Based on the 1982 original, this remake follows Dana and a group of her friends as they go on a trip...
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies
Nov 21, 2018
"Crimes of Grindelwald" (or COG as I will call it from now on) has a tone more in keeping with the later films in the Harry Potter original grouping of films. Gone is the "fun" and "whimsey" of building a world based on magic. In is a dark, grainy and grey film that focuses on relationship building that will pay off down the road. Keep in mind that this is the 2nd film of a proposed 5 film series, so there's quite a bit of "set-up" and very little payoff here.
Because of all of this, the younger members of the audience in the theater I saw COGS in were antsey in their seats (as were the "casual" Harry Potter viewers who were just there to see "Magic Battles").
But...and this is a BIG but...those of us (including me) who are "into" the world that J.K. Rowling has built were rewarded with a rich, complex tapestry of backstory and legend building, bringing in characters that were merely mentioned in the original books (and films) and filling out parts of this universe to make it much, much richer, indeed.
And that's the problem with this film - and the problem that this film is going to have in finding an audience. I have heard criticisms such as "it's too dense", "it moves too slow" and there are "too many characters". And that is justified, if you're a casual fan. If you're "into it", then those criticisms don't hold water.
I've also heard that Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, the "hero" of the Fantastic Beasts franchise is too bland to hold the center of these films. I couldn't disagree more. I found that Redmayne's characterization of the magizooligist to be interesting and quirky. True, his characterization is subtle, maybe too subtle for some, but it was intriguing and interesting for me.
Returning from the first film are Katherine Waterson, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol as comrades of Scamandars. They were "serviceable" in the first film and they are "serviceable" in the 2nd film.
It is the newcomers to this series that were of most interest to me starting with Jude Law as a young Albus Dumbledore. I liked his interpretation of this character - he has the same "mysterious" atmosphere about him that Richard Harris (and later) Michael Gambon brought to the character. Johnny Depp is also well cast as the titular bad guy, Grindelwald. Finally, Zoe Kravitz gives a strong performance as a conflicted wizard constantly battling her compulsion to be "good" and "bad".
David Yates returns to helm his 6th "Potter" film and he shows that he knows what he's doing. The world is rich (if grainy) and the action moves along as fast as the script allows. He does have a tendency to become enamored with the CGI aspects of the world he is building, but that is part of the charm of these films.
Remember, this is the 2nd of 5 films, so don't expect loose ends to be tied up. Expect cliff-hangers.
Letter Grade A- (B- if you are a casual fan)
8 (out of 10) stars (6 stars if you are a casual fan) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Maggie Smith: A Biography
Book
'Coveney is the only writer who could get under Smith's skin, capturing her steeliness and...
Sons of Anarchy - Season 4
9.0
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TV Season
The fourth season of the American television drama series Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 6,...
Little Women
7.2
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TV Show
Angela Lansbury and Michael Gambon star, with Bafta award-winner Emily Watson playing beloved Marmee...
classics drama
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Last Witch Hunter (2015) in Movies
Apr 16, 2020 (Updated Apr 16, 2020)
Plodding script is largely to blame, also the fact that Vin basically just does his routine smirking-swaggering-smug performance for most of the film. Usual excess of CGI doesn't help the situation much either. Michael Kaine (look how kool I've made him seem) somehow manages to emerge with dignity, but he's about the only one. Lazy film-making in virtually every way that matters (although it scrapes another point for the moment when Vin Diesel dolphins a giant wooden insect). Are they really still planning a sequel? Kount me out.
All Aboard! The Family Series Collection
Book
This bumper collection features 4 great books from the world's best-loved children's author, Enid...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
8.1
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Movie Watch
Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts is about to start and he is enjoying the summer vacation with his...
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires #3) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I didn't like that this book did not have Eve's journal entries at the end like previous books have done. Those previously gave me clues into her mind and her relationship with Michael, as well as a taste of what happens in the next book, so I was rather disappointed when I realized it was missing.
I'm hoping that future books go into more detail about what the journals cover as well as what exactly the red crystals are and how they affected Claire. I'm hoping that the drama with Eve's brother Jason gets resolved quickly as I find him just plain annoying and obnoxious. The ending had me exclaiming out loud, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires, Book 4).
The Enchanted Wood
6.5
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Book
The Enchanted Wood is the first magical story in the Faraway Tree series by the world's best-loved...