Michael GoldenbergReseñas

Fantasy

A solid, if slightly forgettable, adaptation, highlighting and making use of many of the (to me) more memorable aspects of the original story, but usually failing to really push them and elevating them in the new medium. Cast is quite good, too, with solid child acting, even if the parents steal the show: Jason Isaacs is absolutely terrific in the dual role as the hapless father and the cruel Hook, and Olivia Williams captures Mrs. Darling's famous mysterious-yet-warm incarnation of motherhood to a degree I'd be hard pressed to expect a human being to manage.½

If you read my reviews regularly (and you should) you know that we are a sucker for the summer blockbuster superhero movies, so we went to see Green Lantern even though the reviews weren't that great.Well, first off, it was fun, which really, what more can you ask for from this sort of movie? You're in the wrong room of the multiplex if you are looking for introspection, character development, suspense. or just about any quality which makes for a classic movie.

I used to read Green Lantern comic books in the 1960s. I remember liking the series but couldn't remember much about him. He has one of the more complicated superhero back stories (try to follow this on Wikipedia, it you can). The movie tries to explain some of it (like the Green Lantern Corps) in voice-overs but it doesn't really make too much sense.

Ryan Reynolds plays Hal Jordan, the hot-shot test pilot. He is chosen by the ring when it's previous user dies after his spaceship crashes on earth. The purple-skinned alien gets about 2 minutes to explain the ring to Jordan before he dies. Jordan, who is a fearless test pilot (some might say irresponsible, or even crazy) doesn't think he has what it takes (whatever that is) to be a Green Lantern. His beautiful (of course) girlfriend explains it to him in about 2 sentences, he gets it, and flies off to fight the bad guy (some sort of giant, octopus made out of smoke). The details don't matter too much.

The choice of Ryan Reynolds for Hal Jordan is a mystery to me. I mostly know him from lighthearted chick flicks like Definitely, Maybe and The Proposal. Sort of like casting Michael Keaton as Batman.

Go ahead and take the kids. They'll love it. There isn't any sex and no gore. The scary parts are more comical than really scary.

One thing to look for. Green Lantern's costume is pretty much painted on which made me wonder what happened to certain parts of his anatomy, especially when he gives the beautiful girl friend a big kiss before he goes "looking for trouble".

Charming version. Better than the Disney version by far.

The Darling family children receive a visit from Peter Pan, who takes them to Never Never Land where an ongoing war with the evil Pirate Captain Hook is taking place.
Rated PG for adventure action sequences and peril

Ellie Harroway, scienziata, risponde a segnali che provengono da Vega e decide di recarsi nello spazio per entrare in contatto diretto con gli extraterrestri. Il suo problema sarà quello di conciliare la propria razionalità con le attese messianiche di massa. Zemeckis torna su temi a lui congeniali utilizzando tecnologie sempre più avanzate (nel film compare anche un Clinton digitalizzato). Il problema è però quello di una sceneggiatura fragile e un po' troppo "americana" che si fa sostenere da un'interprete in stato di grazia. La Foster sa ormai conciliare alla perfezione il proprio interesse per la regia con una capacità di recitazione sempre più "raffinata". (fonte: Mymovies)

One of the best scifi movies that had the science right and molded it into a thrilling story full of twist and turns. I just can't get around the ridiculous politics of the ending, hence a star deduction.

This review is from an adult who has NOT read the books. I find this film series wildly uneven and a bit mystifying for several reasons:

1) There are just way too many characters flitting in and out, and it isn't apparent what the importance (if any) of a lot of them is. Even if they are played by great actors, such as Gary Oldham, it is stilll confusing.
2) Did J.K. Rowling have any idea where the story was going when she started writing it? In so much of it, Voldemort is just an afterthought. We have long parts of the plot devoted to things such as the visit from the French school for wizards. What is that all about? How is it important to the overall plot? And don't even get me started on the episode when Hermoine and Ron are not on speaking terms with Harry. Since the relationship between them and the strenth of those actors is what pulls a viewer through the series despite the occasional mediocrity, this is maddening.
3) Why does everyone get married at the end? (Sorry; I'm jumping ahead to the last film, which isn't in this set!)
4) For an arch villain, Voldemort is not very interesting.
5) Why do some characters who seem so important at first, such as the Malfoys, have a distinct lack of screen time toward the end of the series?

I could go on, but you're probably mad enough at me already. What makes the films worth watching is the actors, especially Daniel Radcliffe, who has the toughest job and manages to pull it off, even while growing up in the process. Hermoine is also good, but annoying--why does the female character seem to always inherit that role? Ron is well played, but falls short of Sam in The Lord of the Rings as a best friend. Lots of the supporting cast are stellar--too many in fact to name. Even some of the ones whose purpose I have no idea of...½

If you haven't watched them...please do!

I bought the 8-disc Blu-ray set and I love it. My favorite of the extras is the deleted scenes, so I was happy with everything this included. As for the movies themselves, seen one after the other they let the viewer see the progression through the years. The movies slowly get darker, although Delores Umbridge is the one who sends cold chills down my back.

The movies have enduring themes of the value of friendship, finding courage when needed, and standing up to wrongdoers. They are well worth watching more than once.

Good but not as good as the preview made it out to be. That being said however, Ryan Reynolds in tights is always worth 4 or more stars!½

Kurzbeschreibung
"Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen"
In der zauberhaften Verfilmung von J. K. Rowlings Weltbestseller erfährt Harry Potter an seinem 11. Geburtstag, dass seine verstorbenen Eltern mächtige Zauberer waren und auch er selbst magische Kräfte besitzt. Als er von Hogwarts, der Schule für Hexerei und Zauberei, aufgenommen wird, erlebt Harry das Abenteuer seines Lebens. Er lernt Quidditch, das hoch in der Luft gespielt wird, und auf dem Weg, sich einem schwarzen Magier zu stellen, der ihn vernichten will, muss Harry eine spannende Schachpartie mit lebenden Figuren überstehen. Treffen wir uns auf Gleis 9 3/4 zum Start eines außergewöhnlichen Abenteuers!
Laufzeit: 147 Minuten
Produktionsjahr: 2001
Regie: Chris Columbus
Darsteller: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, John Cleese, Richard Harris;

"Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens"
Fliegende Autos, gemeingefährliche Bäume und die Warnung eines mysteriösen Hauselfen - so beginnt Harry Potter das zweite Schuljahr in der faszinierenden Welt der Zauberei. Dieses Jahr in Hogwarts trifft Harry auf sprechende Spinnen und schimpfende Briefe, und wegen seiner besonderen Fähigkeit, mit Schlangen zu sprechen, wenden sich sogar seine Freunde von ihm ab. Der Aufenthalt in Hogwarts ist voller Abenteuer und Gefahren. Duellierclubs, besessene Klatscher und auf einer Wand verkündet eine geheimnisvolle Schrift: Die Kammer des Schreckens wurde geöffnet. In der fesselnden Verfilmung des zweiten Buchs von J.K. Rowling müssen Harry, Ron und Hermine all ihre magischen Fähigkeiten und ihren ganzen Mut einsetzen, um Hogwarts zu retten. Freut euch auf einen Film voller Spaß und Spannung, wenn Harry Potter zeigt, dass er mehr als ein Zauberer ist - er ist ein Held!
Laufzeit: 153 Minuten
Produktionsjahr: 2002
Regie: Chris Columbus
Darsteller: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright;

"Harry Potter und der Gefangene von Askaban"
Das dritte Ausbildungsjahr an der Hogwarts-Schule für Zauberei und Hexerei beginnt. Der gefürchtete Zauberer Sirius Black ist aus dem Gefängnis von Askaban entkommen und er scheint es auf Harry Potter abgesehen zu haben. Seine Freunde Ron und Hermine haben keine Ahnung, wieso Harry in Gefahr ist. Mutig versuchen sie es herauszufinden. Ein Geflecht aus Lügen, Verrat und Rache muss entwirrt werden und was sie schließlich entdecken, lässt sie beinahe an ihrem Verstand zweifeln...
Laufzeit: 136 Minuten
Produktionsjahr: 2004
Regie: Alfonso Cuaron
Darsteller: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman;

"Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch"
Das große Abenteuer beginnt, als der Feuerkelch Harry Potters Namen freigibt und Harry damit Teilnehmer eines gefährlichen Wettbewerbs unter drei ruhmreichen Zauberschulen wird des Trimagischen Turniers. Wer aber könnte Harrys Namen in den Feuerkelch geworfen haben? Jetzt muss er einen gefährlichen Drachen bezwingen, mit gespenstischen Wasserdämonen kämpfen und einem verzauberten Labyrinth entkommen nur, um am Ende Dem-dessen-Name-nicht-genannt-werden-darf gegenüberzustehen
Laufzeit: 150 Minuten
Produktionsjahr: 2005
Regie: Mike Newell
Darsteller: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Stanislav Ianevski;

"Harry Potter und der Orden des Phoenix"
Das Zauber-Ministerium will der Tatsache, das Lord Voldemoort jeden Moment angreifen könnte keinen Glauben schenken. Doch Harry Potter hat die Auferstehung Voldemoorts selbst gesehen. Da er vom Ministerium keine Unterstützung bekommt gründet er eine Geheimtruppe und bereitet sich auf mögliche Anschläge vor.
Laufzeit: 133 Minuten
Produktionsjahr: 2007
Regie: David Yates
Darsteller: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint;

"Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz"
Der Zauber der Liebe beherrscht das sechste Schuljahr von Harry und seinen Freunden Hermine und Ron. Hormone und ein Liebestrank sorgen für Gefühlsverwirrung, während sich die Anhänger Voldemorts zu Attacken auf die jungen Helden und ihren größten magischen Verbündeten formieren. Doch als Harry und Professor Dumbledore das Geheimnis für Voldemorts ewiges Leben entdeckt, hat der dunkle Lord bereits den Tod nach Hogwarts entsandt...
Laufzeit: 147 Minuten
Produktionsjahr: 2009
Regie: David Yates
Darsteller: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Felton, Helen McCrory, David Thewlis;

DVD

114 minutos

Peter Pan (Widescreen Edition) ~ Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs, Olivia Williams, and Lynn Redgrave (DVD - 2004)