Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint

Description: After a lonely summer on Privet Drive, Harry returns to a Hogwarts full of ill-fortune. Few of students and parents believe him or Dumbledore that Voldemort is really back. The ministry had decided to step in by appointing a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher that proves to be the nastiest person Harry has ever encountered. Harry also can't help stealing glances with the beautiful Cho Chang. To top it off are dreams that Harry can't explain, and a mystery behind something Voldemort is searching for. With these many things Harry begins one of his toughest years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Review: What an awesome movie! I was blown away by this adaptation. Yates did a good job with a difficult book. After I read this book I had no idea how they were going to make this into a movie. There was so much in the book, but I feel they covered the most important parts. Yes, some things were changed, but I did like the changes. They made the movie flow well. I think my favorite parts were the action towards the end. The battle in the Department of Mysteries was awesome. I nearly wet myself watching it. I have heard many complaints that so much was left out, but I felt the filmmakers kept the spirit of the story alive. Yes, this one is definitely dark as will the later installments be. Harry Potter is no longer for the little ones, but I think that is a good thing. All in all, an excellent flick.

Score: 5 out of 5

Book Connections: David Yates brought the magic of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to the big screen. The first time I read this book I didn't like it as much. Harry was so full of angst. He was so very angry throughout the book and to be honest, he annoyed the crap out of me. In subsequent reading, I have begun to like to book more. I think this is one of the most action packed book to date, but we shall have to see with the new one coming out. So, not my favorite, but definitely worth a second look.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (2003)

Orlando

Orlando (1992)

Director: Sally Potter

Starring: Tilda Swinton

Description: Young nobleman Orlando is commanded by Queen Elizabeth I to stay forever young. Miraculously, he does just that. The film follows him as he moves through several centuries of British history, experiencing a variety of lives and relationships along the way, and even changing sex.

Review: Definitely a different movie. I have to say this was one of the more strange movies that I have seen in a while. I think Tilda Swinton did quite a good job with this role. All of the other characters just seemed thrown in the mix in an odd sort of way. It makes me want to read the book just to see what the story really was about. I don't think that Sally Potter really gave enough information as to what was going on. I don't think I would really recommend this movie.

Score: 1.5 out of 5

Book Connections: Sally Potter attempted to bring the novel (of the same name) by Virginia Woolf to the big screen. I have not yet read the book, but I think I will just to see what the real story is all about. The idea is interesting and I really want to see where Virginia Woolf was going with it.

Orlando by Virginia Woolf (1973)

Transformers

Transformers (2007)

Director: Michael Bay

Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Rachel Taylor, Anthony Anderson, Jon Voight, and John Turturro

Description: High-school student Sam Witwicky buys his first car, who is actually the Autobot Bumblebee. Bumblebee defends Sam and his girlfriend Mikaela Banes from the Decepticon Barricade, before the other Autobots arrive on Earth. They are searching for the Allspark, and the war on Earth heats up as the Decepticons attack a United States military base in Qatar. Sam and Mikaela are taken by the top-secret agency Sector 7 to help stop the Decepticons, but when they learn the agency also intends to destroy the Autobots, they formulate their own plan to save the world.

Review: An awesome summer movie! I felt like a kid again watching this movie. All of my memories of the original cartoon came back as I was watching the movie. Honestly, I was a little concerned how they would make a feature length movie about the Transformers, but was pleasantly surprised by a believable storyline. I also loved that they brought back the original voice of Optimus Prime. The only real negative thing about it was the length. It was nearly 2.5 hours long. Other than that, I thought it was really good, especially the special effects. It really looked like they were transforming in real life. All in all, a great summer movie.

Score: 4 out of 5

Dark City

Dark City (1998)

Director: Alex Proyas

Starring: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connolly, and William Hurt.

Description: John Murdoch awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he has lost his memory and is wanted for a series of brutal and bizarre murders. While trying to piece together his past, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of beings known as "The Strangers" who possess the ability to put people to sleep and alter the city and its inhabitants. Now Murdoch must find a way to stop them before they take control of his mind and destroy him.

Review: I had seen this ages ago and had forggeton how brilliant it was/is. This movie was definitely ahead of its time. This is a great SciFi/Mystery. To me, the concept for this movie was ripped off by The Matrix. Granted, its not the same exact story, but there are way too many elements from Dark City that end up in The Matrix. I highly recommend to see this movie.

Score: 5 out of 5