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Harry
Potter
And the Order of the
Phoenix
Cert: 12A
Starring: Evanna
Lynch, Helen McCrory, Imelda Staunton, George Harris,
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Director: Michael
Goldenberg
Running Time: 138
minutes |
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In
the latest instalment about J.K. Rowling’s young wizard,
we find Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) in a sombre mood.
A long and lonely summer is only made worse when Harry uses magic
in front of ‘Muggles’, resulting in a letter of expulsion
from Hogwarts. Only with the aid of Headmaster Dumbledore (played
by Michael Gambon) can he return, but even then Harry’s
reputation is in decline leaving him ostracised even more by
his fellow classmates.
To make matters worse a new Defence of the
Dark Arts teacher has been appointed a Dolores Umbridge (played
by Imelda Staunton). Believing their new professor teaching is
leaving his fellow students greatly unprepared for the return
of Voldermort, Harry takes matters into his own hands.
With the aid of his friends, Ron (played by Rupert Grint)and
Hermione (played by Emma Watson) they form a small group of students
calling themselves ‘Dumbledore’s Army’. It
is these brave young wizards that Harry attempts to teach how
to defend themselves against the dark arts. Skills they will
soon need for the extraordinary battle he knows that lies ahead.
The latest edition to the Harry Potter movie series follows the
general feeling of the book it is based on, in that it has a
much more of a grim feel to it than the previous films. Some
people unfamiliar with the books may be a little surprised as
the focus on the fun and games have given way to darker tones
and an involved plot.
This is really the main difference as this movie is more about
Harry coming of age and the problems he faces with it (as well
as setting the characters and story for the forthcoming movies),
and is therefore aimed at a slightly older audience than the
earlier films.
All the visual effects and cinematography are up to scratch,
and although the plot can be a
little long, there are some eye catching moments to be had. It’s
not going to win any new fans, but for those following the young
wizards development they will not be disappointed. |
Transformers
Cert: 12A
Starring: Shia
LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Travis Van Winkle, Megan
Fox, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, Josh Duhamel,
Tyrese Gibson
Director: Michael
Bay
Running
Time: 128
minutes
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For
centuries, two races of sentient robotic aliens (the Autobots
and the Decepticons) have waged war against
each other.
As the struggle to find a new power source brings them to
Earth, a young teenager Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LaBeouf)
is blissfully unaware he holds a clue as to what the aliens
are looking for.
Sam and his friend Mikaela (played by Megan Fox) find themselves
between the two warring races and could just
be mankind’s last chance
for survival.
Many will remember the animated series and the range of toys
the Transformers gave us many years ago, and will be wondering
what the live action version is going to be like? In most
areas it convoys a very large feeling, from the CGI action
sequences to the music score. Unfortunately the same can’t
be said for the movies plot, which is rather thin especially
given the length of the movie.
It’s not all bad, Shia LaBeouf does fit into his part
quite well
and conveys a
certain charm, and some of the action sequences are impre-ssive.
If the focus had
been kept more on the transformers (and their story line),
and the movie made a lot shorter but with the same energy
it would have been hard to argue with as a sci-fi/action
film. In its present form it’s really going to appeal
more to a younger audience.
If you don’t expect too much from it and just enjoy
the action sequences you will be fine. |
Hairspray
Cert: PG
Starring: John
Travolta, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, Christopher
Walken, Nikki Blonsky, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac
Efron, Brittany Snow
Director: Adam
Shankman
Running
Time: 110
minutes
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This
latest version of Hairspray is based on the John Waters
original and the successful Broadway musical that also
came from it.
The basic storyline is pretty much the same. Set in the early ‘60s
in Baltimore, it revolves around the bubbly Tracy Turnblad
(played by Nikki Blonsky), a big girl with big hair and an
even bigger heart. Tracy’s dream is to dance on the
local Corney Collins TV Show, much to her mother Edna’s
(played by John Travolta) despair.
Despite her mothers reservations about getting hurt, and
against all odds Tracy manages to wow them on and off screen.
While squashing the reining princes Amber Von Tussle (played
by Brittany Snow) she manages to find love with the local
dreamboat Link (played by Zac Efron), and even manages to
score victory for racial equality on the way.
As with a lot of musicals the corner-stone is the main character
and Nikki Blonsky, despite being a newcomer, manages to pull
her character of Tracy off well, leaving you grinning every
time you see her dance.
The supporting cast is also quite good with the likes of
Michelle Pfeiffer playing Velma Von Tussle (Amber’s
scheming mother) and Christopher Walken as Tracy’s
father.
It must be said that John Travolta in a fat suit playing
a woman does take a little getting used to, but even that
does seem to fit in with this movie.
The main plus to this film is not the cast, but the energy
that they all seem to inject into what they are doing, so
if you enjoy musicals and just want to see something that
will make you smile then give this one a look. |
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