Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Sigh. The end of an era. It actually makes me feel pretty sad. I feel like I grew up with Harry. I was at just the right age when the books came out, that I traveled through Hogwarts with him. I have to say this was my favorite of the films. I cried and cried and cried during Fred's death. Damn, that was really depressing. I think I have to reread the books now. I am confused that the film insinuated that Snape was Harry's mother.  Or something along those lines...

Also, I was thrown off by the portrayal of Dumbledore. In the pensieve scene, Dumbledore looks like such an a-hole. Raising Harry like a lamb to be slaughtered at the right time, but shortly after, he's a nice guy again during Harry's limbo scene. I was confused.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)

I can watch this movie over and over again and not get tired. I relate so well to Taraji's character. I feel like I'm watching a black, fabulous version of myself. It reminds me to check myself, not to be selfish.

Also, Brian White. Hello.

Babies (2010)

What a cute freaking movie. This made me so sure that I want many many babies of my own. Gahhh. In most documentaries my favorite scenes are the ones with babies...and this was just one documentary full of those scenes! Ahh!! There were some points where it was slow, and there wasn't much of a story. But oh god so cute.

Paprika (2006)

Unfortunately, I watched this film dubbed. The voice acting was terrible! That aside, it was a very cool, very fantastical film. It was kind of like the Inception of anime, before Inception was made. Most of all, I loved the creativity of the artwork. All kinds of craziness happening everywhere.

X Men First Class

 

Mixed feelings about First Class. I loved the concept of telling how things started. The actor for Magneto was a nice, sexy choice as well. However, I felt Xavier wasn't well represented, and kind of a pansy. Also, mutant choice was lacking. Only Magneto, Emma Frost, and Azazel seemed worthy. The rest of their powers were so lackluster. Especially Angel. Why!?!? Also I have a complaint about Mystique. She was so useless :( She's my favorite from the previous films and one of my faves from the cartoon. She just couldn't do anything this time around. Magneto was so much more charming than Xavier in the film. I would definitely join the revolution.

 On the good side, it was much better acted than some of the previous films. Also, the storyline had much fewer holes in it.  The Hugh Jackman cameo was a nice touch too :)

I almost forgot to mention Kevin Bacon. How could I possibly dislike anything with him in it??

Hello Ghost

Watched some Korean movie on the plane called Hello Ghost. Omg totally triggered my momma's boy issues. Had me sobbing next to this quiet Singaporean couple. :( Cue embarrassment.

The Cat Returns (2002)

Most movies I've been watching lately are very serious dramas or documentaries. But when I'm sick I don't want to think that hard. Thus, what better time to bring out some Studio Ghibli happiness? This is my first film from them I've seen that wasn't directed by Hayao Miyazaki. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed.

Four Lions (2009)

Really great film. I was really impressed by how they were able to take such a serious topic and make it accessible to a wide audience. I'll also admit to getting mushy towards the end, I developed a fondness for almost all of the characters.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

To be honest, I wasn't all that fond of the animation style. What won me over was all the weird random shit that Fox would do. Damn that George Clooney, even when he's a fox he is still ridiculously cool. I dunno, not much to say about this film. Been watching a lot of serious things lately. It was nice to have something light-hearted for a change of pace.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

 

Having read the entire series, and seen all three films, I have to say this movie was pretty much exactly what I expected. It was a bit of a letdown since I already knew what was going to happen, and I was already unimpressed by the acting based on previous films. The new guy, Eustace, was so damn annoying. I know in the beginning he was supposed to be, but I was still annoyed of him even after he "turned." Basically, I wouldn't watch it again. I'm unsure if I'd want my 2 hours back though because I'm crazy and like complete sets. So I like to have watched all three, not 2/3.

 

Children of God (2009)

There's another film 2009 called Children of God. Its an LGBT film which looked interesting after I saw the trailer. However, that is not this film. I really wish I could find a trailer online for it. It was such a moving movie. I guess a synopsis will have to do.

Where the dead have more worth than the living…

“A powerful film, the documentary version of slumdog millionaire” —Independent Film Quarterly

Winner! Best Documentary! Jeonju 2009 International Film Festival!
Winner! Best Documentary! Japan, Korea, China Producers Forum
Official Selection! 2009 Hot Docs International Film Festival, Canada!

“Children of God” explores the life of the children who live beside the Baghmati River in Nepal - on the sacred grounds of a Hindu temple in Katmandu – an area forgotten and ignored by the world, but considered the holiest and most sacred to the Nepalese people. The children are undeterred by the daily cries and wailing from the daily funeral ceremonies; instead they rob the corpses for food and dive into the river to grab coins used as funeral offerings by the mourners. Some risk their lives by begging while others fall prey to drugs and disease. The film exposes the social conditions of the suppressed Nepalese people through the plight of their children, where reverence for the old and dead far outweighs the care for the young and living. Experiencing their innocence and their hardship through songs, stories and heartbreaking living conditions, exposes the contradiction of the material world that rests upon perhaps the most spiritual culture on earth. Children of God will remind you of scenes from “Slumdog Millionaire” and is reminiscent of Charcoal People released by Vanguard Cinema.

Earlier I blogged about how emo I was and how I needed someone to smack some sense into me. This film was exactly that. It's good to have a reminder of how blessed I am, how spoiled I am. It keeps me in check and makes me grateful. The children in this film struggle so much, yet the filmmakers managed to make this film relatively light. Focusing on their happiness, the familial bonds that tie them together.  I helps me realize how insignificant most of my problems are. Keeps me driven to succeed, so that I'll be in a position where I can make more of a difference.

For Colored Girls (2010)

I wanted so badly to like this film. It had so many elements that make my day. Thandie Newton, Loretta Devine, Phylicia Rashad, Kelly Washington all in one film. Plus the plot was so dramatic and full of Law and Order SVU type things. I eat that shit up. It just didn't add up in the end. That's not to say it didn't have it's evocative moments. Points to Kimberly Elise and Thandie Newton for getting me to emote.  Poor Tyler Perry, no Oscar for you. I blame it on the spoken word. I feel like that works on stage, but in a film, it was lost on me.

In the Mood for Love (2001)

This film was rather beautiful. I always wonder how accurate depictions of the 50's and 60's are. They're always so glamorous. An age where women gave a damn about how they looked daily, when jean's weren't the norm, when side-parted haircuts were still in. Maggie Cheung was beautiful in this, I wish people were more like her. The plot for this movie was simple enough, but how it was presented was amazingly sexy, without being sexual, and so damn romantic. I'll be checking out more of Kar Wai Wong's films.