2020 - This Is The End

I don't know why I ended up throwing this in while I was trying to get some writing done.  Did I?  Of course not.  This is an entertaining tour-de-force and about as meta as it gets.  If you're unaware of this film it's a film about celebrities (playing themselves) during the apocalypse.  It's raunchy, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt.  Rogen and Goldberg handle a pretty effects heavy film pretty well for their first time out and the comedy feels tight when it could have just been one big inside joke.  If you like dark comedies and any of the people in this cast - this is pretty much a must see.

1890 - Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone

I've been looking for a reason to revisit these, and having children is a pretty good one.  We watched this because I wanted to take a crack at reading the first book to my four year old, and while he's pretty good about books with a lot of pictures, because there's a lot of fantasy elements to this he had a hard time visualizing what was there, so I decided to give him a look-see at the film world.
They're sooooo little here.  It's kind of adorable - and what a different tone this film is by the time to we get to the end-game.  One day I would love to do a marathon of all eight films - I think that's something that will have to happen when the kids are teenagers for sure.
This film still stands up, and its fantastic how much foreshadowing is going on, even here, despite how little the filmmakers knew about where the story was going.  There's even subtle moments between Ron and Hermoine.  Charming to say the least.
If you've never dived into these, and you like fantasy even a little, give it a go.  If nothing else than for the pop cultural value.

1883 - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part II

I don't know why I felt compelled to watch this - mostly 'cause I wanted something fun on in the background while I got some work done.  It's a tough film, this one, really just being the second half of something else.  Voldemort is kind of a weak villain here.  You don't really get a sense of his "plan" - what's he going to do if he wins?  What does that mean?  Is he going to take over the world?  You don't really get a strong sense of it.  Is he just going to be pure evil and try to make everyone else likewise?  That's my bigger issue with this series, mostly the films, is that we don't get a strong sense of the stakes outside of the typical good Vs. evil and life Vs. death.  

That being said the film is a lot of fun, the performances are solid, and it's a grand send-off for the series.  I'm really looking forward to exploring this world with my kids when they're old enough.

1591 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

I realize that I said I had this wonderfully elaborate plan to re-watch all of the previous installments first, I even finally bought Half-Blood Prince this week in anticipation of that.  Hell, I even left the house tonight with full intentions of going to see Super 8, but in my heart of hearts I knew that I really just wanted to see this.
In retrospect I really wish I'd at least watched the first part prior as this one starts smack-dab in the middle of it.  Actually, that's probably my only critique is that this one REALLY feels like it's just picking up exactly where we left off with no ramp up at all.  Although - maybe that's not such a bad thing.
There was some really lovely stuff about this one - and it was great watching it with an opening night audience to hear the cheers, of which their were many.  The largest was probably when Ron and Hermoine finally, after all these years, embraced romantically.  Part of me wonders if the producers didn't make an extra effort in the final film to keep Emma Watson with a damp look (which is a nice look for her).  This film is one that's really for the fans and a great conclusion in that it really gives each of its characters a moment to shine, and it has a lot of fun with going back to things from earlier in the series - all of which due to the excellent plotting by Rowling in the book.
I think my biggest problem with this series is just that I don't understand why and how the wizard world exists without involving the world of muggles.  I understand Voldermort's desire to run the world - why would they hide when they are clearly more valuable.  I don't recall this ever being explained.  Seems a bit odd to me.  Alas.
I'm not sure what else to say.  I laughed, I got emotional.  If you're a fan of the series you absolutely have to see it in the cinema.