The second Harry Potter movie was reviewed yesterday. Today you getmy thoughts on Saved! and the third wizard flick, still in theaters. I'll get around to writing on the first at some point, but it won't be right away. In the meantime, I suggest you all check out Ken's review of it on this very site. It's in the review section, under H for Harry. Happy father's day!
Saved!
Review by Jon Waterman
**
Mary lives a good Christian life. She does everything asked of her by her religion. She lives happily with her mother, while attending a Christian High School with many friends and a bright future and a great boyfriend, Dean. However, when Dean confesses to being gay, Mary’s world begins to tumble. She tries everything she can to cure him of these thoughts including giving her body to him (after all, Jesus told her to). It ended up not being enough, because Dean gets transferred to Mercy House, a rehabilitation center for Christian youths and Mary is in for a few more surprises of her own. What results is a test of faith unlike any she has faced before.
This is director/co-writer (with Michael Urban) Brian Dannelly’s feature film debut. It’s a good effort, but could have been better. The shot selection and composition was very functional and safe. The script also served its purpose and also seemed to shy away at times (I’ll explain more in a bit). The best move was the casting. This is one of those movies full of potentially big-name stars. I know most of them have been acting a while; yet only Mandy Moore and Macaulay Culkin have the big-time name recognition factor (even though Culkin no longer deserves it). These kids are young and quite talented. As they grow and mature, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start climbing the Hollywood ranks. The acting is good. Jena Malone (Mary) surprisingly holds the lead with a reasonable amount of range. Moore sometimes steals the show as the overly happy, conversion crazy Hilary Faye (although, that could be partly because she’s the loudest). Culkin (playing Hilary Faye’s brother Roland), as I hinted at before fails to impress me. It seems like he’s just delivering an older version of his “Home Alone” character, Kevin, who’s slightly bitter and jaded not because of his wheelchair, but because of his ideology. He does give us the funniest moment in the picture.
The humor is hit or miss. It just seems to try too hard to play off of the situations at hand, when it should be looking for comedy from anywhere. It’ll make you crack a smile or too, give you a few giggles, and a couple laughs, but nothing spectacular. I wasn’t expecting a gut-buster, but I was hoping that the movie would be a little more thoughtful. With the religious theme surrounding everything, there were plenty of opportunities for the desired effect of statement mixed with satire. The satire was accomplished, sometimes rather subtly. The statement the film wants to make was quickly given near the end rather than reinforced throughout like it could have been.
It’s pretty obvious to tell if you’re right for the film. If you consider yourself rather religious (and especially if you don’t enjoy when people mock your religion), then I’d avoid this. If you’re the opposite, then give it a shot. Maybe you’ll get more out of it than I did. If you find yourself somewhere in the middle, it can’t hurt to hear what the different sides have to say, even though the film isn’t particularly thought provoking. No matter where you stand, keep in mind it’s not all that funny, powerful or good.
++++++++
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Review by Jon Waterman
***1/2
Harry Potter enters his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It’s been an eventful education so far, and it’s only getting worse. Murderer Sirius Black has escaped from prison and is looking for Harry. As the killer gets closer, Harry and the rest of the school have to face their deepest, darkest fears as well as try to figure out a way to stop the evil force from invading and causing more harm.
Well, the gang’s all back. But once again, I’m not feeling it. I still don’t feel like these people are opening up and exploring their characters. The kids are growing up and hitting puberty and changing hairstyles and whatnot, but they’re not growing into their roles. Even the veteran actors playing the teachers (Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman) don’t lend anything new or introspective. Perhaps the original material doesn’t offer any more depth than what is seen in the first film, but that seems like a shame to me. These could be great characters, if only there was more to them presented on screen.
Once again, the movie is still good. The story is pretty solid and entertaining throughout the 2 1/2 hour running time. The length isn’t felt hardly at all. One thing I particularly enjoy about these films is that once the main resolution and climax of the story passes, there’s still more action and mystery and magic around the corner. Unless you read the books, it’s pretty tough to know what to expect. You can always assume twists and turns and for your original instincts to be wrong. It’s amazing that these family films can accomplish the mystery/suspense thing so well, yet adult genre movies fail nearly every time. That’s a true testament to the great writing by novelist J.K. Rowling and to screenwriter Steve Kloves.
I’ve heard complaints from people who’ve read the book and don’t like the movie, because it ignores key aspects of the novel. All I can say is welcome to the world of adaptations. I’d be amazed if there is a movie out there that is actually better than the book it came from. The movie was over two hours long and can’t possibly include every nuance or every side story. I wish there was more characterization (which is a main complaint), but the movie still works as is. It’s still a lot of fun and excitement.
Director Alfonso Cuarón adds an interesting touch to the visual side of things and presents us with a darker palate to accompany the increasingly ominous mood. Also new to this film are vignette scene transitions. It’s a slightly subtle addition and enhances the feel as well. The screen becomes engulfed in black and then is lifted from it again only to have it hover along the edges until it retreats past the borders of the frame. Maybe I’m reading too much into that, but I’m sticking to it.
Once again, we get a worthy sequel. It’s pretty easy to see why so many get excited about these movies and books. They’re fun, entertaining, exhilarating and well made. It’s good to see a worthwhile movie series being produced again. Let’s keep them coming.
Saved!
Review by Jon Waterman
**
Mary lives a good Christian life. She does everything asked of her by her religion. She lives happily with her mother, while attending a Christian High School with many friends and a bright future and a great boyfriend, Dean. However, when Dean confesses to being gay, Mary’s world begins to tumble. She tries everything she can to cure him of these thoughts including giving her body to him (after all, Jesus told her to). It ended up not being enough, because Dean gets transferred to Mercy House, a rehabilitation center for Christian youths and Mary is in for a few more surprises of her own. What results is a test of faith unlike any she has faced before.
This is director/co-writer (with Michael Urban) Brian Dannelly’s feature film debut. It’s a good effort, but could have been better. The shot selection and composition was very functional and safe. The script also served its purpose and also seemed to shy away at times (I’ll explain more in a bit). The best move was the casting. This is one of those movies full of potentially big-name stars. I know most of them have been acting a while; yet only Mandy Moore and Macaulay Culkin have the big-time name recognition factor (even though Culkin no longer deserves it). These kids are young and quite talented. As they grow and mature, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start climbing the Hollywood ranks. The acting is good. Jena Malone (Mary) surprisingly holds the lead with a reasonable amount of range. Moore sometimes steals the show as the overly happy, conversion crazy Hilary Faye (although, that could be partly because she’s the loudest). Culkin (playing Hilary Faye’s brother Roland), as I hinted at before fails to impress me. It seems like he’s just delivering an older version of his “Home Alone” character, Kevin, who’s slightly bitter and jaded not because of his wheelchair, but because of his ideology. He does give us the funniest moment in the picture.
The humor is hit or miss. It just seems to try too hard to play off of the situations at hand, when it should be looking for comedy from anywhere. It’ll make you crack a smile or too, give you a few giggles, and a couple laughs, but nothing spectacular. I wasn’t expecting a gut-buster, but I was hoping that the movie would be a little more thoughtful. With the religious theme surrounding everything, there were plenty of opportunities for the desired effect of statement mixed with satire. The satire was accomplished, sometimes rather subtly. The statement the film wants to make was quickly given near the end rather than reinforced throughout like it could have been.
It’s pretty obvious to tell if you’re right for the film. If you consider yourself rather religious (and especially if you don’t enjoy when people mock your religion), then I’d avoid this. If you’re the opposite, then give it a shot. Maybe you’ll get more out of it than I did. If you find yourself somewhere in the middle, it can’t hurt to hear what the different sides have to say, even though the film isn’t particularly thought provoking. No matter where you stand, keep in mind it’s not all that funny, powerful or good.
++++++++
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Review by Jon Waterman
***1/2
Harry Potter enters his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It’s been an eventful education so far, and it’s only getting worse. Murderer Sirius Black has escaped from prison and is looking for Harry. As the killer gets closer, Harry and the rest of the school have to face their deepest, darkest fears as well as try to figure out a way to stop the evil force from invading and causing more harm.
Well, the gang’s all back. But once again, I’m not feeling it. I still don’t feel like these people are opening up and exploring their characters. The kids are growing up and hitting puberty and changing hairstyles and whatnot, but they’re not growing into their roles. Even the veteran actors playing the teachers (Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman) don’t lend anything new or introspective. Perhaps the original material doesn’t offer any more depth than what is seen in the first film, but that seems like a shame to me. These could be great characters, if only there was more to them presented on screen.
Once again, the movie is still good. The story is pretty solid and entertaining throughout the 2 1/2 hour running time. The length isn’t felt hardly at all. One thing I particularly enjoy about these films is that once the main resolution and climax of the story passes, there’s still more action and mystery and magic around the corner. Unless you read the books, it’s pretty tough to know what to expect. You can always assume twists and turns and for your original instincts to be wrong. It’s amazing that these family films can accomplish the mystery/suspense thing so well, yet adult genre movies fail nearly every time. That’s a true testament to the great writing by novelist J.K. Rowling and to screenwriter Steve Kloves.
I’ve heard complaints from people who’ve read the book and don’t like the movie, because it ignores key aspects of the novel. All I can say is welcome to the world of adaptations. I’d be amazed if there is a movie out there that is actually better than the book it came from. The movie was over two hours long and can’t possibly include every nuance or every side story. I wish there was more characterization (which is a main complaint), but the movie still works as is. It’s still a lot of fun and excitement.
Director Alfonso Cuarón adds an interesting touch to the visual side of things and presents us with a darker palate to accompany the increasingly ominous mood. Also new to this film are vignette scene transitions. It’s a slightly subtle addition and enhances the feel as well. The screen becomes engulfed in black and then is lifted from it again only to have it hover along the edges until it retreats past the borders of the frame. Maybe I’m reading too much into that, but I’m sticking to it.
Once again, we get a worthy sequel. It’s pretty easy to see why so many get excited about these movies and books. They’re fun, entertaining, exhilarating and well made. It’s good to see a worthwhile movie series being produced again. Let’s keep them coming.
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