Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 

I have a lovely pleasure of which I have made a habit: I love to wait to read the next Harry Potter book right before the movie comes out and not a bit before. So this year I started Order of the Phoenix two weeks before I planned to see the movie in theaters. As you all know, it is the longest book in the series and has amounts of detail (i.e., ones that don’t necessarily lead anywhere plot-wise, but make you really love the story more) that make it both darker than books 1-4 and more exciting. It fills in a lot of gaps, which I was really glad for.

But this is exactly why I thought the film version was just “Okay” rather than spectacular. Granted, I ran the risk of being a little disappointed since I finished the book literally 45 minutes before I saw the film, but I really did expect more from it. Some of my friends who saw the movie before I did told me they did a great job considering it is the longest book and the shortest film, but I personally feel they could have made the film significantly longer than they did, included much more detail from the book, and people would still see the film and love it. We’re Harry Potter fans, for crying out loud! If we had the patience to read the book, we can certainly watch a 2hr. 45min. or 3 hour movie and still wonder why it was so short.

I’m not giving this film too poor of a review because I did think it had some great parts (examples: seeing the actors actually looking so adult!, an excellent job showing us the Ministry of Magic in all its wonders, and casting an exceptional Luna Lovegood), but I have to say I think they could have added so much more. There were so many scenes, people, places that I pictured while reading the book that I was incredibly disappointed not to see in the film. I guess that’s what happens when they shrink an 800+ book down to 2 hours. Hopefully bringing back Steve Kloves, (screenwriter for all the other HP films) will indulge me a wee bit more as he’s done so well in the past.

Viewed: August 2, 2007
Rating: Three and 1/2 stars

American Pastime

I absolutely hate it when a really good film (usually an Indie film) never makes it to the big screen (because it’s Indie), while there are so many truly horrible movies that do. One perfect example of a film that has yet to get the recognition it deserves is “American Pastime.” This film is based on true stories of Japanese Americans who were suddenly discriminated against then forced into internment camps all over America during WWII.

Writer and director Desmond Nakano (writer and director of “White Man’s Burden” - 1995), tells the story of one particular Japanese American family whose two sons respond very differently to the move into the camp. Lane (Leonardo Nam), the elder son, enlists in the army to fight for America while the younger son, Lyle (Aaron Yoo) rebels against it all and initiates a forbidden romance with Katie, a white camp guard’s daughter (Sarah Drew). Kaz Nomura (played by the incredibly famous Japanese star Masatoshi Nakamura), their father, decides to start an in-camp baseball league to “pass the time,” as it were, and make them all feel as if they were free again. When the league they’ve begun starts getting good, they challenge the local minor league team, which is made up mostly of camp guards, in hopes that they will win back the thing they value the most: their dignity.

The film has brilliant historical value, telling a tumultuous yet redemptive story that everyone should hear at least once, yet most have never heard. I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen at this year’s Asian American International Film Festival in New York City this past weekend, but it is available on DVD. I highly recommend this film to absolutely anyone.

Other noteworthy stars:
Gary Cole (“West Wing,” “Office Space”)
Jon Gries (“Napoleon Dynamite”)
Judy Ongg

Viewed: July 21, 2007
Rating: Four stars

I Can Has Cheezburger?

Click here, please.
(icanhascheezburger.com)

I don’t know why I love it. I just can’t help myself.

Discovered: July 10, 2007
Rating: Three stars

Ratatouille

I like Pixar movies just about as much as the next guy, but I have to say that “Ratatouille“ is really spectacular. The trailer piqued my interest — a rat who hates garbage and loves truly good food! — but I ended up being surprised at what made me love the movie the most. It was the actors behind the voices, the artistic cinematic choices they made, and the sheer energy & vibrance of the animation (which was good even for Pixar) that hooked me in. My favorite moment in the film — without giving too much away, as I will try to never do in these reviews — was when Anton Ego, an antagonistic food critic (voice of Peter O’Toole - BRILLIANT!) , takes his first bite of the ratatouille made for him. This is not a spoiler so you have to see the movie to learn what happens, but it is 100% genius, and made me tingle with glee.

This fresh Pixar creation sweeps over you with just enough of everything you’d like to feel while watching a well-done film. Not only does it take a commanding lead over all the other Pixar movies out there, but in my own opinion it’s better than most of the movies I’ve seen this year. I’d recommend it to anyone.

Viewed: July 3, 2007
Rating: Four stars