Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

I'm going to start this off with a very slight spoiler to anyone who hasn't read the books yet because it's pretty difficult to talk about a Harry Potter movie without mentioning any spoilers, much less the penultimate one. If you've read the book, you would know that Harry and gang don't return to Hogwarts for school at all. Instead, they set out to find the seven Horcruxes upon Dumbledore's instructions. This brings a whole different aspect to the movie, giving it a James Bond feel, somewhat. If you haven't read the book but this all seems familiar to you, that's because this movie starts off right from where the last one ended.

Splitting the last book into two movies was a smart move from Warner Bros. Good for the fans and good for the studio too. Win-win situation. Part 1 is a very good movie. It covers all the important stuff and creates a great platform for what's going to be an epic finale to the movie franchise next July.

This movie just sets everything up. The audience is filled in with the necessary information like the Horcruxes and Deathly Hallows, which will allow the action and pure awesome-ness to flow in Part 2. But as a result, some of the scenes in the middle part of the movie got a little repetitive and dragged out. The general audience may find it a little dull as compared to a Potterhead.

I really enjoyed the way this film was shot. There are a few scenes that are simply awe-inspiring, one of which, very Tim Burton-esque when telling the story of The Three Brothers. The chase scenes through the forest as seen in the trailer is equally as awesome. The action and informational detail in this movie is so captivating that I didn't miss Hogwarts and all the magical exploration the first couple movies brought. As I walked out of the movie hall the feeling sunk in. We don't see Professor McGonagall, there are no classes, no Quidditch and no banter between Harry and Draco. I even missed Snape who had one scene in the entire movie. I know I'm writing this as if I didn't read the book. I know all of this happens but it's just so different when you get to see it all on the big screen.

To be honest, I liked the last movie more compared to this one but only because a lot of important stuff happened in Half-Blood Prince whereas The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is more of a build up, the quiet before the storm if you will. Because trust me when I say that shit is gonna hit the fan in Part 2.

There's no denying this. You MUST watch this movie. There's no two ways about it. This has been the movie franchise of the decade. People will be talking about Harry Potter when we enter the next century. Bring on Part 2 I say.

Movie Review: Unstoppable

Many would say Unstoppable is Speed with trains. I guess you could say that to a certain degree. But Speed will never be as ridiculous as Unstoppable. Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington), a railway engineer is paired up with rookie conductor Will Colson (Chris Pine) for their first day on the job together when disaster strikes. As they are out on the tracks doing what they do, the discover that there is another train that's unmanned and carrying toxic substances heading down to Scranton, PA, a city of high population. Against orders from higher up, Frank and Will go after the rogue train and try to stop it before it causes some serious destruction. This movie is based loosely on true events.

There are two things wrong with this movie - it's ridiculous and Chris Pine is in it. Chris Pine is awesome and I think he's a great actor, which is why it baffles me that he's in a movie like this. It isn't contributing to his push to being one of Hollywood's leading men like how Star Trek did. Then you say what about Denzel? He's one of Hollywood's leading men and he's in this movie. Well, to that, I say to you, he can do whatever the f*** he wants. He's Denzel! I really didn't get Chris Pine's involvement in this movie. I just couldn't connect with his character.

If I directed this movie, first off, it would be a crappy movie, and secondly, it would be half an hour long. The whole middle part of this movie is ridiculous and could have been done away with. But that would have been impossible because then we wouldn't have a movie. With such a premise, there isn't many ways to make a movie that wouldn't be ridiculous and having said all this, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and how Tony Scott shot it.

There is so much suspense in this film I almost soiled myself. Okay, maybe not, or maybe I did. Anyways, the way things fall together in this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat and really accentuates the cinema experience. If you're in the hunt for some brainless action and suspense, go check out Unstoppable. It'll be worth your money. And you could share with me your pants soiling experience. No? Okay, maybe not.

Unstoppable opens in theaters November 11 and I give it a 6 out of 10 Popcorns.