Now that you're all done gagging at me, I can get to something more important to the rest of you. Another movie review! (Yay! *applaudes self whilst crowd stares at him like he's lost his mind*) Ok then. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabamawamawhatsit. Keep in mind I've read none of the books and all my insights are straight from the movies I've seen, which are the 3 that have been released as of yet. Also, I make a point of avoiding spoilers, so anyone can read this. The first 2 movies were very fun and filled with the happy magic defeating the bad guy that everybody loves. The 3rd was much darker, both in mood and lighting. A lot of scenes had nothing but CG lighting. Interesting but not easy to see. Or maybe my eyes are finally dying. Meh. Harry is a bit older now, and he's got that whole pre-teen phase creeping up on him, which I don't think would be so hard if he didn't have the whole wizard background. He really misses his parents, and wants to believe they still exist. Take 1 growing teen boy, throw in a jumble of confused emotions, sprinkle in magic powers liberally, add and then extract quickly 2 loving parents, and finally add a dash of hormones. Poor lad's head is a mess. (just because I say hormones doesn't mean Harry spends the whole movie trying to jump Hermoine's bones. Believe it or not kids, hormones is more than that.) Confused, Angry, Depressed, and overall fed-up with the world is the best way to put it I think.
I love the great assortment of mystical creatures that are in the stories. I recognized the Phoenix before Dumbledore said anything, cried when they got rid of the baby Dragon, and couldn't believe I missed Basilisk. (I was thinking Medusa. However, doesn't a Basilisk usually have legs?) The one in this movie was just as fantastic. The Hippogriff was simply amazing. Unlike the Pegasus, which is a horse with wings, the Hippogriff is an eagle with a horse body, but has the eagle head, wings and talons. Very loyal creatures, once you gain thier approval.
Overall, I enjoyed the 3rd installment and look forward to the 4th. My only drawbacks to the movie might be the fact that the actor playing Dumbledore from the first two passed away. He set the standard for the old Wizard/Professor, and I don't think the new one quite adds up to it yet. Lose the beanie man! Bring back the wizard hat! The only other unpleasent experience throughout the movie were the noisy and obnoxious girls sitting behind us, who insisted on talking and palying with thier cellphones. Not just normal cellphones mind you, but the stupid Nextel Walkie-Talkie ones. So not only do we hear them talk, but we hear the *beep* of the phone and the other person's voice.
This experience prompted my brain to think of a solution to this kind of problem in theaters everywhere. Naturally this would cost a tidy sum, but play along with me for a while and let's pretend I have an unlimited budget in which to do this. Create a theater with a STRICT no cell-phones policy. Similar to a coat-check system, you would check in your phone as you entered the theater. You'd get a tab with a number, which corresponds to your phone. Don't lose this tab, or you lost your phone. (people seem to have no problem holding onto ticket stubs, why should they with a phone tab?) Next, create a Day-care area for young ones. Ball pits, play-tubes, etc. with tv's showing old movies/cartoons. Got an infant and couldn't/didn't find a baby sitter? Our fully-trained Day-care staff will take care of them for you. (and give you a tab. Remember! Lose your tab......that's a joke people. Stop throwing tomatoes!) Finally, have Usher-Enforcers. These UE's would monitor the movie-watching public and dismiss any patron not abiding to the rules. I'm not talking Hell's Angels, but they would ask you to leave the theater and take care of the problem (i.e. cellphone, noisy kid, talking too much/loud). If they refused, they would be escorted out by mall security. Oh, and did I mention I'd have a UE every 5 or 10 rows on both sides? Now granted, the price of tickets would have to be a little higher, but for the peace of mind of knowing there would be no noise, distractions or otherwise, who wouldn't pay an extra buck or 2? You could actually hear the movie! Imagine that! By the way, Any and all KISA members are guaranteed to be hired as UE's or anything else for that matter if I'm the one who gets this rolling. Just something to think about.
Well thats all the time I have for now. More class tomorrow and a Saturday class too. Ick. Elsetime Bloggities!
