Critic Vs. Critic: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part I & II (2010 & 2011) [1/2]

Since the start of TCWreviews.com, we have prided ourselves with the notion that we present to our readers with critiques built on high standards with quality writing, presenting only honesty and an unbiased moral high ground. Though because we support freedom of speech among our writers, there’s always going to be a spin zone due to difference of opinions, and from time to time one or more critics here will voice their opinion in a completely different direction of the others. So in the sprite of outspoken voices we at TCWreviews would like to present a new exciting edition of Critic Vs. Critic!

Tonight TCWreviews’ Editor in Chief and Chief film critic Clifford Kiyabu sits down with fellow film critic, columnist and colleague Kelsey Zukowski. In this edition of Critic Vs. Critic: we talk about Warner Bros. Pictures’ final installment to the Harry Potter series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I & II Written by Steve Kloves (screenplay), and J.K. Rowling (novel). And Directed by David Yates.

Clifford: Before we go into breaking down what we’ve seen in the final chapter of this magical series, I think we really must make note of the fact that this final chapter coming to a close truly is the end of an era. It feels a bit surreal realizing that it’s been a decade since we began this marvelous journey into the cinematic world of Harry Potter and all it‘s companions with whom we‘ve come to love and hate along the way. From the Sorcerer's Stone to the Deathly Hallows, we’ve invited these young individuals into our lives and watched them over the years grow into the people we’ve come to know today, from the characters they play on-screen, to the talented individuals we’ve come to know them as off-screen. Daniel, Rupert and Emma have been our beloved companions along this journey from beginning to sweet end, and for all fans true to the series, this last chapter is a bittersweet celebration, because it will be the last time we’ll experience this magical tale on the big screen in a crowded room filled with complete strangers with whom we share a common bond with.

Now Kelsey, I know you want to jump right into dissecting the last chapter but I think we really must look at this final installment not as part 1 and part 2 individually, but as a whole film as it was intended, because it was after all adapted from a single book. So with that being said, let me say this: Chapter 1 (or, the first half) was great, but not as great as some claimed it to be. I mean I thought it was on par with some of the previous sequels and I enjoyed it just the same, but I felt it was a little to slow paced than usual and at times felt almost as if it was coming to a screeching halt. It certainly didn’t feel like any other Potter film that came before it. To steal a quote from you; “The Deathly Hallows Part I is practically void of any light; darkness nearly filling it whole. In many ways it doesn’t feel like a Potter film”. Granted each of the Potter films have their own uniqueness about them that makes each film/book stand out on it’s own, but the first chapter felt extremely out of place, at times it felt as though I was watching a non-HP film which just so happen to feature the characters from the series. the first chapter was my least favorite part of the potter series next to Prisoner of Azkaban, but my dislike to Prisoner of Azkaban mostly steams from the fact it was the first film Michael Gambon took over the role of Dumbledore from the late Richard Harris, whom I feel played a much better Dumbledore then Gambon.

But with that being said chapter 2 really does pick up the slack for the first chapter and really serves up the showdown we’ve waited nearly a decade for. Unlike chapter 1, the film managed to be ever so dark, but maintained that radiant glow that always made the potter films so magical even in the darkest of parts, which is something the first chapter was missing, the first chapter showed us a dark void in which there was no hope of light at the end of the tunnel, as where chapter 2 showed us that it’s always darkest before the dawn.

Kelsey: That’s exactly why it’s so hard to believe that we have really seen the last Harry Potter film. I was 13 when the first film came out, around the age most of the main actors were. I grew up watching these films and I grew with the cast, characters, and this magical world they had brought to life. The last film was bittersweet, but honestly I couldn’t have wished for more. It oozed epicness, was full of non-stop world changing action, and had so many mind blowing revelations about characters we thought we know so well. In many cases, we find out that the last decade was really all about what we were able to experience with The Deathly Hallows Part II. This is what it has always been about; a reality the audience and so many of the characters were blind to until now.

I understand that The Deathly Hallows is essentially one chapter of the Harry Potter series, but I have an extremely hard time grouping Part I and Part II together. They are such completely different films; day and night. Although, part II still has plenty of darkness seeping through. Part I doesn’t feel like a Potter film at all. While it isn’t one of my favorites for that reason, I do like that it’s different from the others. Harry and his friends were always the underdogs. They were going up against one of the most powerful dark wizards of all time. Especially towards the beginning, they were young, inexperienced wizards. They were always in over their heads, but somehow they managed to beat the odds and defeat Voldemort time and time again. They could only get so lucky for so long. Yes, they are talented and strong individuals, but things couldn’t go there way forever.

The Deathly Hallows Part I brings them to the reality that their luck has run out. All hope is lost. The Harry Potter series was always about hope, possibilities, and escaping to a place where anything was possible, where good prevailed even in the increasingly dark times. All of that is gone in The Deathly Hallows Part I. Our protagonists are in way over their heads. Their entire world is utter chaos. On the defensive, running for their lives when they are the last hope for both the muggle and wizarding world. For most of the film they aren’t even getting anywhere close to stopping Voldemort or weakening his power, but they keep on going, keep on trying, nearly being driven mad in the process. Why? Because they have no other choice. They have to at least try even if it makes them hopeless fugitives. Honestly, if you think about it that is almost more heroic than any other film; fighting the darkness when there are no delusions of thinking it won’t consume you whole.

I have to disagree with you on Prisoner of Azkaban. I’m actually a little shocked by your stance as it’s one of my favorite films of the series, behind Deathly Hallows Part II and The Order of the Phoenix. Out of the first four books that I read, it was my favorite one. I really see it as a step in the right direction for the series. The darker the films got, the more intriguing they got. The first two feel much more innocent. I love them for creating the world of Hogwarts and everything that was established through them, but in comparison the first two films aren’t nearly as compelling as the Prisoner of Azkaban or later ones that followed its lead. It was also the first that showed that some people are not what they seem to be, a component that is reoccurring throughout the series. Prisoner of Azkaban did this through Sirius Black, one of my favorite characters of the series. Ron, Hermione, and Harry are clearly growing up and are stepping things up a notch. Harry grows a tremendous amount in this film from mentally what he has to go through in what he thinks is the reality of Sirius selling out his parents and causing him to relive the memory of their untimely deaths to realizing Sirius is the only real family he has left, the very person his parents would have wanted to raise him. I do agree that switching Dumbledores felt unnatural and it was a difficult transition. It was some time before Gambon really felt like Dumbledore, but it was a necessary change.

The Deathly Hallows Part II has it all. That glow is what put it over the top, so charged of energy, rich story and characters, and such an intense showdown, but the thing is Part I wasn’t supposed to have that. Part II was a better movie for it, but it would have taken away the dreary state that defined Part I and made the revival of Part II so exhilarating.

Clifford: So true, just about anyone who is a true fan can easily recall their first encounter with the Potter films. I was 15 when the Sorcerer’s Stone was released in theaters, and I remember at the time I had known zilch about any of the potter books or the series itself for that matter. If I remember correctly, I had no interest whatsoever to watch the film or read any of the books as it did not intrigue me at that current period of my teenage years, I only went to see it because it was a free movie ticket (and only a idiot turns down the chance of a free movie). But after my first viewing I left that theater room and began my delightful journey into reading the books because that was the kind of impact the film had on me, to which the series itself made me a lifelong fan. The finale of this series, although bittersweet, was as you put it, worth every minute. From the nonstop action and beautifully captured cinematic battles, to the powerful revelations revealed in this final installment, every single thing about chapter 2 was beyond epic and fully lived up to the hype and standards set before it from the previous films. And even though we had known good and well all along what was awaiting us, we were still very much surprised and emotionally moved by it. Which is something I can honestly say few films in the history of cinema can stand out for.

One could even go a notch further and argue that the HP series was this generation’s Star Wars (Original trilogy of course). Sure we’ve all enjoyed those films and basked in it’s glory, but neither you nor me can honestly know what it felt like to experience the original trilogy in it’s entirety on the big screen for the first time like those who saw it in the late 70’s and early 80’s. And in a rare case like this one before us, this is what the HP films have done for our generation, no one old enough to remember or yet alive from this moment on will get to experience what we felt growing up watching these films on the big screen for the very first time, this is our cinematic moment, or in other words, our epic journey that no other future generation will get to experience from this series.

As for my stance on Prisoner of Azkaban, I’d thought you might be a little surprised by it seeing, that you‘ve never made it a secret about your love for the film and the book. But don’t get me wrong, Prisoner of Azkaban is a very good film as is all the films in the Potter series. I just felt that the cinematic atmosphere in PoA was a little too dark from the last two previous films, and granted the book is equally dark, but to go from a more lighter tone with 1 and 2 to an extremely dark setting in PoA felt a tad bit out of place for me. Maybe it’s just me but that’s how I feel about it, I agree it was a step in the right direction for the series, but I would have preferred it much better had they gradually made it darker rather then take a leap forward like that. But I won’t lie that a major part of my liking this film the least still falls flat on Michael Gambon coming in to take over the role of Albus Dumbledore, because when I envisioned Dumbledore in the books, I pictured him as reserved and wise. He might seem weak because of his age and appearance, but proves to be the most powerful Wizard in the wizarding world when need be. If you remember in the book the Order of the Phoenix, when Dumbledore faced off against Voldemort he was patient and wise in his actions in the fight and retained a calm mood and a cool head that angered Voldemort as well as made him fear Dumbledore. This is not what I felt while watching Gambon’s performance as Dumbledore. I also feel that had Richard Harris lived to continue in the role, Dumbledore’s death in The Half Blood Prince would have been much more emotional and moving.

But I will say that the one truly magnificent thing that I am grateful towards Prisoner of Azkaban was that it serves as the gateway for Gary Oldman’s entry into the series as Sirius Black. Oldman’s performance as Black and Alan Rickman’s performances as Severus Snape alone makes Prisoner of Azkaban and every film to follow it worth watching, Black may have appeared to be the villain in the start of Prisoner of Azkaban which lead Harry to hating him, but his revealing to be one of the good guys, and proving to be the only family Harry truly has left was indeed brilliant and touching. And Rickman’s performance as Snape was probably one of the most moving in the series, because he brought to these films a delightful touch of class only a veteran actor of the theater arts such as himself could. And his breath taking performance in Chapter 2 only amplifies it, which further validates my argument that Rickman brings to these films a touch of brilliance and grace that grants credibility to both the character and the series that no other actor could have done had they been placed in this same role. In short, Rickman was born to play the role of Severus Snape. he only thing that I was a little skeptical about seeing prior to seeing chapter 2 was the 19 years later part, because I was a bit worried that the transition from paper to screen would come off feeling a little cheesy having Daniel, Rupert, Emma , Bonnie and Tom portray their characters in the 19 years later scene. But shockingly enough it worked extremely well, and if either of them look anything like they did when they reach their late 30’s then it will be something to see I tell you what.

READ THE SECOND HALF: HERE

Review: Frog Dreams (2011) [Reviewed By Clifford Kiyabu]

Directed by: Daniel Jordano
Written by: Daniel Jordano
Genre: Drama

MPAA: Not Rated
Released: 2011
Starring: Daniel Jordano, John Squire, Toni Vitale, Kara M. Tyler, Keith Jamal Downing, Lauren Steffany.

Plot: The personal lives of two complete strangers become entwined with each other after a car ride one afternoon, and through it all they rely on each other as they confront their own inner problems.

Review: 7/10

The Story is about: Jim is a coke addicted, fund manager who just lost his job and millions in the recession. Mickey is the man-with-a-van mover Jim hires to help him transport his file boxes to storage in Pennsylvania. The two become unlikely friends and help each other gain a new perspective in their struggle to recover their lives and their manhood.

My Thoughts: There‘s an old saying "When life gives you lemons make lemonade”, well what happens when lemonade doesn’t quite serve up lemons in it? Nothing in life is as picture perfect as it’s perceived in the movies or TV shows, majority of folks will be lucky to just settle for average in the rat race of life, because in reality life doesn’t give you lemons, it gives you shit, and a lot of it to be frank. And more then usual it’s much more complex than making lemonade, because there is no simple black and white to all of life‘s problems. Trust me, there’s a whole lot of gray in the middle, like the human body, life looks simple on the outside until you cut into the skin and it reveals the complexity of it’s circular pluming.

In his directorial debut Writer/Director Daniel Jordano lays out an important message to his viewers in the film FROG DREAMS, a message that’s in many ways is sincere and true to life itself. You’re not going to get everything you want in life, but boo f****** hoo, life goes on and you need to man up and take the hand you’ve been dealt and deal with it. The perfect example would be one of the film’s primary characters, Mickey Chanos (Played by Daniel Jordano), here’s a guy who had a decent job writing medical books for the medical field, he had it all, a great pay to support his family that included benefits, however his real passion is really writing children’s books and as you know there‘s very little time to write a children’s book when you‘re busy writing complex medical books, so he makes the biggest decision on his life and quits his job to pursue a career which suits him more. But because of his inability to deal with his inner fears with moving forward with his dreams he’s left to settle for the alternative which is anything that keeps his mind occupied, which in this case is being a self-employed mover. His decision leads to him living out of his own car while his wife and son live their own lives without him. He is obviously regretful for some of the actions that led him down this path but cannot find it in him to fully progress beyond his current situation in life until he meets Jim Evans (Played by John Squire) a choke addicted (financial) Fund manager whom has just lost his job in the industry after blowing millions in investments in the recession and is looking for someone to help him move his stuff. After the two become acquainted their personal lives and dire situations become entwined with each other.

Frog Dreams might not be the Oscar worthy indie drama most people kill to see, but it’s proved to be a very interesting conversation piece that worth looking into to say the least. The general plot is appealing and very relatable. Watching these characters and their inner personal problems bleed out in the open before each other leaves each of the characters venerable, but it’s their vulnerability and the risk taken for another human being that’s a complete stranger none the less, that’s also strengthening and leave both with a unlikely friend out of the ordeal which I found to be heartfelt and quite powerful. For an indie on a small budget, Frog Dreams stands out for having top notch film quality that I can honestly say can rival some bigger budgeted Indies I’ve seen in the past. The dialogue plays a major part to the film as much of the movie takes place in or around the characters conversing between each other, and while the dialogue at times proved to be compelling and helps the film progress, it also plays as it’s Achilles’ heel because the film tends to slow down and drags on in certain areas. But that’s easily forgiven as most conversational dramas like this tend to do the exact same thing from time to time. What I did feel was a deal breaker for me though sort of speak, was it’s underwhelming ending that left me feeling like things didn’t quite get resolved as I would have liked it to have. Throughout the film we’re presented with multiple obstacles for both Mickey and Jim to overcome, and there is a clear presence of tension building up big to one of these obstacles (I‘m not gonna spoil it so bare with me here) and when the time arrives for this moment of truth we’re left under-whelmed with a less then par result that to a degree angered me. However despite the disappointing hiccup of a ending Frog Dreams still has a lot of value in it that is something worth looking into.

As for the acting: the acting was a slight mix bag here, from having some solid performances to just okay performances to underwhelming performances. I’ve always been the type of person who starts off with the good news so lets start with the good shell we. Daniel Jordano performance as Mickey was superb and serves as the perfect complement to John Squire’s performance as Jim, it’s pretty clear that the chemistry onscreen resonates from a real life friendship between the two as there is a sense of authenticity present here, which means that either they’re friends in real life or this is proof of fantastic acting between them. Kara M. Tyler delivered a incredible performance as Sophia Chanos, her performance as an angered and emotionally hurt spouse was just and true to the character and deserves kudos for it. Keith Jamal Downing was very exceptional as the drug dealer Rashad, serving as the film’s antagonist, though one would argue that the real enemy in the film was actually the main character’s themselves at times as their own worst enemy for holding themselves back at achieving their goals true goals. But Keith still pulls off an exceptionally well performance I did have one slight complaint here, while he did a fantastic job for the most part onscreen the end scene felt a bit held back for the character and should have gone further. still though, it’s only one minor problem. Toni Vitale gave an acceptable performance as Marisa Evans, though I would have liked to had seen a little more tension onscreen between her character and John Squire’s character. Her performance was still very acceptable in my opinion. Lauren Steffany performance as Kristen Evans was one of the major problems I had in the film. Her character felt painfully unmoving for someone who’s been disappointed by her father her whole life, nothing against the actress as I’m sure she’s a decent actress to boot, but her performance came off as mild and noticeably scripted, as a viewer, not just a critic, I should be taken in by the characters in the film and feel for them, their emotions is what connects the viewer to them and more importantly, the story, and sadly I was not feeling this with Lauren as Kristen.

Final Say: Like many films, Frog Dreams suffered from the same generic problems most movies tend to encounter especially with keeping focus on the main plot, yes it’s very flawed and there seems to be a slight issue with plot pacing from time to time. But the film did present a very interesting and somewhat empowering message, that life isn’t going to be easy and it probably never will for some, but just because life is going to be rough doesn’t mean you should just through in the towel and give up, that you should man up can take what’s dished out and continue moving forward. Frog Dreams may not have been the masterpiece I would have like, but it’s certainly worth taking a stab at.

Copyright 2011 TCWreviews.com
All Rights Reserved

Review: Ill Square (2009) [Reviewed By Clifford Kiyabu]

Directed by: Edgardo Flores Written by: Edgardo Flores
Written By: Edgardo Flores
Genre: Comedy/Musical
MPAA: Not Rated
Released: 10 August 2009
Starring: Barry Schwam, Edgardo Flores, Joe Fraley, M. Running Bear Bunch

Plot: An ill depressed man in search of love, a neurotic old git and a lonely documenter converge in this offbeat, experimental musical.

Review: 5/10

The Story is about: Three tales converge in this mind warping directorial debut by Edgardo Flores. A love sick man (Edgardo Flores) sits at home broken hearted and hopeless. After months of rebuilding his confidence, he sets out to find his one true love, but what he ends up with instead is something far more complex. Meanwhile, a neurotic old man (Barry Schwam) and his son (Joe Fraley) prepare for a zombie invasion, after an emergency broadcast sends them off. Armed with a pellet gun and a hand saw, this father son duo will stop at nothing to save the world.

My Thoughts: Originality is a hard thing to come by these days, especially in the film industry since it’s a rat race to the finish line for the next big idea. Filmmakers and writers pushing the envelop and taking things up a notch all the time, pushing the boundaries between what’s acceptable and what’s not. And most importantly, what’s never been done before. And every once in a while there will come a film unlike any another. And when that serendipitous moment arrives for a viewer, it’s always one they’ll soon not forget.

As I sat quietly in my chare viewing Writer and Director Edgardo Flores’ directorial debut “Ill Square” for the first time, one pivotal thought ran through my head as the film began to play out… Just what the heck is a “Ill Square” anyway!?!? Well the answer hit me like a solid brick to the face. Ill Square is a offbeat experimental musical on a very low micro budget of about $2000. Now I know that the idea of a overly ambitious filmmaker directing a low budget indie doesn’t quite go together seeing that it’s the perfect combination that equals for total disaster most of the time (More common then we‘d like I‘m afraid ), and lord knows how many times I’ve personally seen that unfortunate scenario play out in the past. But in this case it doesn’t quite end completely that way. Flores brings something very much different to the table then most wouldn’t be accustom to in a indie feature, to best describe what this cinematic experiment actually is would have to compare to something in line that Tim and Erick from “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” would proudly make had they gone into the feature making business, and with that being said the film works very well for being just that, an experimental piece of filmmaking which no doubt earns my respect for taking a leap into the unknown for this type of genre let alone going into making something as ambitious as this with no sureness or guarantee of an outcome, and only being armed with a loyal cast and a skeleton budget, I tip my hat off to Flores for doing this. The story basically follows a handful of different individuals who’s plots take much different courses of action in terms of theme, one being of a man who’s brokenhearted and hopeless to the love he has for the woman who broke his heart, and after finally building up the confidence to win her back he discovers a shocking revelation. The story proves to be interesting to say the lease, but unfortunately fails to maintain a strong grasp over my attention long enough to keep a hold on me at times mostly due in part that the first story felt overly bland, making it somewhat bitter.

The second story follows a lone documenter who quietly ventures around the city and transit stops filming random people, though this story has no particular plot it does serve the film with some lovely shots of random locations as well as a few interesting people along the way that proves to be quite interesting that a artsy crowd might appreciate. And if you don’t appreciate it then it will also serve the viewer as the perfect intermission point before the next plot driven story starts back up. Now with that said, the third story follows an old man and his son who has purposely trapped themselves in someone’s empty house in the middle of the night after hearing an emergency broadcast over the car radio claiming of a zombie invasion (which if you‘ve been following the previous plot lines then it's most likely a radio prank gone wrong) armed with only a pellet gun and a handsaw the father/son duo prepares for a zombie apocalypse. In all honesty the third story is actually where the film becomes extremely entertaining as it serves up both comedy and horror to the viewers in a very pleasing way. Sadly, because the film bounces back and forth between storylines it leaves you waiting to see the father/son due back in action on your screen rather then the other interconnecting storylines. Now with that said the other flaw I found was that the film prides itself on the music numbers in the film's description, yet much of the music doesn't quite hold up to be the slightest bit memorable and comes off as easily forgettable, which is not the fault of songs themselves but rather it just doesn't fit in with it all to well. But the film’s biggest problem seems to stem from a lack of proper story pacing that would connect these stories together in a more understanding manner and because these stories are very different in terms of theme, it makes it incredibly difficult at times to keep up with the pacing making you wishing the film would just settle with watching the quirky father/son due for the duration of the film rather then anything else, which is not an attack on the other plots in the film or the filmmaker, but rather pointing out the flaws in a constructive manner, because Ill Square is in itself an interesting piece of indie work made out of next to no budget and little film tech at it’s disposal, and I have no doubt in my mind that it’ll gain a cult following with time. My only wish is that Flores will see these flaws presented here and ratify them in his future endeavors.

As for the acting: Well the cast did a fairly okay job here, though the real eye catcher is no doubt Barry Schwam, he brings a truly captivating persona to the table that has a life of it’s own, and at times it proves to be an overwhelmingly compelling personality that is extremely hard to ignore then alone dislike. Joe Fraley’s performance only further complements Schwam’s performance with his Simple Simon attitude towards everything, especially everything being told to him by Schwam’s character. Edgardo Flores, who not only wrote and directed the film, but also starred in it, did a pretty good job in his performance, though I really did wish there was more life and emotion put into his character, because the biggest flaw to Flores’ character is that it lacked the emotion one would have had they just gotten their hopes knocked to the curb with a curve ball. As of the rest of the cast, they all did pretty decent in the film, however, because of the third storyline taking the biggest interest here, it’s hard to really follow the performances of the rest of the ensemble cast with a earnest opinion of those actor’s not directly involved in that particular plot.

Final Say: although Ill Square was not the slam dunk I would have liked, it was still very much interesting jumping into, and despite my not recommending it or giving it a somewhat low rating, Edgardo Flores is a filmmaker who is now on my radar as one to lookout for in the near future, and I very much look forward to seeing him prefect his craft.

Copyright 2011 TCWreviews.com
All Rights Reserved

Review: Crestfallen (2011) [Reviewed By Kelsey Zukowski]

Starring: Deneen Melody, Michael Partipilo

Written By: Russ Penning

Directed By: Jeremiah Kipp

Grade: B+

Crestfallen tells the tragic story of Lo, a young woman who finds herself unable to deal with her husband and best friend’s betrayal. She can’t deal with the pain any longer so she decides to end her suffering by killing herself. Lo slides in to the tub one night with a knife at hand as all of the memories of the past come pouring back to her.

Writer, Russ Penning, really reflected the pain and anguish going on with this woman. It’s more difficult to write a script with little or no dialogue, but I always respect it when one is done right. Although there are many interesting dynamics and insights that can be brought out through dialogue, it’s films like Crestfallen that can help remind you that at its core filmmaking is a visual from of storytelling. Without one word we completely understand this heartbreaking tale.

While there is a beautiful story here, I could see Crestfallen not having as much of an impact as it does without the visuals and sound; the two areas of the film that truly shine. The beautiful imagery commands the audience’s attention and the score makes us hold on, already feeling so invested in the characters and their world. DP, Dominick Sivilli, did an outstanding job. The entire film is full of striking images, both of light and darkness, bringing out the appropriate balance for the subject matter.

Of course the man I really need to single out is director, Jeremiah Kipp. I was really impressed with his very stylistic short, Contac. After Crestfallen it is clear he is just an impressive filmmaker; this is the standard he brings to the table. Kipp really brings all elements together; heartfelt performances from his actors, a disquieting and troubling tone, and the right atmosphere to let the story not only be told but experienced.

Review: The Absent (2011) [Reviewed By Kelsey Zukowski]

Starring: Bryan Kirkwood, Denny Kirkwood, Sam Ball, Damon Abdallah
Directed By: Sage Bannick
Written By: Sage Bannick, Damon Abdallah, Ari Bernstein
Grade: D-

The best part of The Absent is the very beginning, which is more of a backstory than anything else. It shows two greedy parents who conspire to kill their own son so they can benefit off the insurance money. This sounds crazy enough, but watching them put this plan in to action is pretty entertaining. Even better, their son is no dummy. He knows what they’re doing.

Imagining what it would be like to be that age and for your parents, those who are supposed to care for you and love you unconditionally, to try to kill you is pretty hard to wrap your mind around. Luckily, this kid is smart and he decides to turn the tables on his murderous parents, leading up to their final bloody fall and Oscar’s jail sentence.

I’m not saying the beginning was anything great, but it was enjoyable enough just to watch everything unfold. Honestly, I think it would have been better as a short film just dealing with this subject matter. Instead, the film fast forwards to Oscar as an adult, getting out of jail. This already exposes two flaws: he would not have been in jail until he was nearing middle age, for a crime he committed at that young of an age, and it is not even clear if he was released or escaped from jail. The Absent is full of plot roles though, such as there only being one sheriff in the town and the only one investigating a string of grisly murders, leading back to a serial killer. So in retrospect these are some of the more minor offenders, the worst comes at the end, where the whole film falls flat and any merits that it did have being shattered.

Oscar comes back to find his brother, Vincent, having a relationship with one of his students. Without making his presence known Oscar sets out to help his brother keep his dirty little secret by killing off anyone who might be suspicious or have knowledge about the affair. One by one he kills off Vincent’s students, marked absent from there on out.

The acting wasn’t all that good, especially the parts with the sheriff, which were all in all just atrocious. They were cheesy, horribly overacted, and ridiculous. Some actors can bring out the best in those they work with, giving them something good to work off of. Sam Ball is the opposite. Anyone he was in a scene with he seemed to make worse, almost as if his bad acting was contagious.

I don’t know how much of the running time consisted of random landscape shots that didn’t appear to have anything to do what was going on in the film. It really just felt like filler. If it just looked beautiful then at least it would have been something pretty to look at, but the shots and scenery were nothing all that notable, for some reason though the cinematographer was clearly obsessed with them. There is even a horribly random cut to a wolf after a scene with Vincent and his student, then after a second or so cuts to another completely different scene.
I try to keep an open mind about a film until it’s over, even if my opinion is clearly being steered in one direction. I did this with The Absent, but it ruined anything it had going for it with the ending. If it was just a bad or pointless ending, that would be unfortunate, but even worse it tries to pull the twist ending that is so contrived and artificial; if it were true than nothing else we say in the film would be. I’ve seen this before and it’s one of my biggest pet peeves with films. Sure some can do the split personality, blurring the lines of internal and external manifestation like Fight Club, but most films that try this are kidding themselves if they think there is any real merit in what they’re doing aside from trying to trick the audience and shock them in to having the film stick with them.

Review: Awoken (2010) [Review By Kelsey Zukowski]

Starring: Aaron Mathias, Edward Sheldon, Alex Odell
Written & Directed By: Casey Chan
Grade: D+

Awoken is a short film that follows a mourning husband, Owin (Mathias), who struggles with losing his wife. She’s in a coma and is now getting to the point where her body is giving up and she is slowly dying. Owin has been researching ways to communicate with coma patients while they are under; to try to reach them and guide them back. His research concludes that their brains are still functioning; they’re just living in another world rather than this one. Owin’s wife was a big believer in different realms. If she can’t come to his realm then he just might have to come to hers. With the help of another researcher who lost his wife, Dr. Albert Kane (Sheldon), he tries the impossible, unwilling to let his wife die.

The ending really frustrated me. It is extremely anti-climatic and the audience is left without ever having any type of satisfaction. Other things could have been cut down, but the essential ending is what should have been concentrated on more. We are given no clue as to what happens next in what should have been the climax. Even beyond that, what lied ahead of our character, one way or another, could have made for the most intriguing material. I’m assuming it wasn’t dealt with because they didn’t have the budget to pull off an “other realm” look, which is a shame.

At moments the film’s low budget shows. The effects are extremely cheesy and some of the acting is very over the top. Edward Sheldon was the worst case of this. His acting was atrocious, which distanced me from the film in the heavily emotional scenes he was in. It was just a reminder that none of this was real and he was simply playing a character, and a poor portrayal of one at that. Luckily, our lead, Aaron Mathias, dealt with the material far better. In fact, he’s probably the best thing this film has going for it. I believed his character and felt for him. He showed a good range and helped keep the audience involved when they might have been losing patience with the film.

Awoken is so melodramatic at times it’s hard to take it very seriously. It has an interesting enough premise, but once it finally gets to the more compelling material, it is quickly cut short. The over-the-top tone certainly doesn’t help. Aaron Mathias’ performance helps keep us there, with his character, but by the end of it, even he can’t override the lackluster content and production values.

Review: Death of The Dead (2011) [Reviewed By Clifford Kiyabu]

Directed by: Gary King
Written by: Bo Buckley
Genre: Comedy / Horror
MPAA: Not Rated
Released: 2011
Starring: Christina Rose, Jack Abele, William Lee, Michael Blaustein.

Plot: When a toxic chemical is accidentally released, a zombie outbreak plague a small town, when Wanda , a geeky young girl with her karate trainer finds out that a rival karate dojo has been infect with the virus turning them into Zombie Ninjas it’s up to Wanda and her overly perverted teacher to save the day before the infection spreads beyond containment.

Review: 6/10

The Story is about: Wanda is an uber-nerd with the coordination of a seizure victim. Her karate trainer is an aging pervert with a penchant for ball gags and various sex toys. When a bus from a rival karate school accidentally runs over a couple scientists dumping a toxic chemical down the sewer, the entire class is turned into high flying, flesh eating baddies! As they wreak havoc on the town turning others into zombie ninjas, Wanda and her instructor must save the planet with the help of a magic karate belt.

My Thoughts: A few years ago I had the pleasure of reviewing director Gary King’s début film, New York Lately (2009), from the start of the film I was instantly taken in by how wonderful his directing style was and how well he was able to captured the life and essence of the east cost lifestyle revolving around a group of individuals who‘s lives take hold of the viewer watching from star to finished. I spent the better part of writing my review for that film trying to figure out what I didn‘t like about the film, any shred of a fault would be suffice, but alas there was none great enough. His cinematography was visually captivating and I eagerly awaited to see what would he come up with next. I had heard he worked on various different projects other then his own but it was later on that I learned of a feature he was working called “Death of The Dead”, to which I found very interesting despite my not knowing much about the project other then it being a comedy of some kind (the title was also a dead giveaway to this) so without having any know-how on what to expect out of a title like that seeing that the filmmaker’s résumé paints a different story about him, one that reads “art-house” filmmaker! but I went into watching this film anyway putting aside all that I had originally thought about him and felt pretty optimistic about it too… but sadly if left me with somewhat mixed feelings with how the end result turned out.

I don’t like to pride myself as a parody buff but I am a fairly decent fan of the genre, and like all good fans I enjoy seeking out a good parody film if that makes any sense, but believe me when I say that there are ways to find the perfect parody if you look hard enough, along the journey of finding perfection you will indeed frequently come across the not so desirable ones in the process, you know, the unsavory comedies you wished you hadn‘t seen or for a lack of a better word, un-see. When I watched Death of The Dead which was directed by Gary King and is written by Bo Buckley, my first reaction to witnessing the first act of the film unfold was like watching what I like to call something that somewhat resemble something in line of if Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg got together to write up a script that would be directed by Lloyd Kaufman as a Troma film, then, my boy Death of The Dead would seemingly be the end result (see where I‘m going with this? Though a Kaufman film isn‘t entirely a bad thing however) but I digress, let me elaborate as to why I feel this way. For a parody such as this to work there needs to be a sense of guidelines that keeps stability for the film and to properly set the jokes up in the right motion, of course the manner in which they are executed need to be timed just right as well or else it will face the inevitable fate of falling short. It doesn’t matter how ridiculous the plot is, or how cheesy the jokes are (the 1980 classic Airplane! Was complete proof of this being so), but what is impotent is to know when to go all in on the joke, and sadly it’s the timing where this films fails short on.

Much of the humor is presented of timed in my opinion and feels more juvenal then humorous, and what jokes that are delivered on key aren’t as comedic due to the joke not, as they say ‘going there’ enough, the film obviously wanted to be as explicitly raunchy as possible like any Troma themed film would want (the beginning locker room scene and the ball-nunchucks is evident of this) but didn’t quite take it all the way there, while some of the film’s aspects do in fact retain hard R rated atmospheric themes with a few decent mature attire humor and sexual themes such as adult sex toys and such featured in it, the problem with it not going there as previously mention is that if there was so much themed material featured in the film why wasn‘t some of it used at their disposal? One that easily comes to mind (Pardon my French) why wasn‘t there a dildo sword fight scene featured in it!?!?!. Because of lack of such usefulness of jokes like this makes a lot of the film come off feeling as if there was a lot being held back. leavening some of the film’s more humorous moments feeling as if it was conflicted between a age range war to gain a wider audience vs. going all out. But with that being said the film did in fact have it’s moments in which I managed to let off a chuckle here and there. There’s isn’t much of a solid plotline going for it other then a group of karate teens get infected by a zombie virus of some sort and faces off against a small town nerdy girl who’s sole purpose is to save the town and hopefully the world. Though that isn’t much to go on with you can’t really hate on it for that on the bases it’s a parody film which means a strong storyline isn’t truly warranted (though it still would have been appreciated). The upside to the film really comes at the closing moment of the film when the director himself redeems the film a little by letting the viewers know that he’s in on the joke and not to take Death of The Dead so seriously and to enjoy it for what it is and nothing else. I may not have initially liked the end product that resulted with this film but I respect the filmmaker and writer for doing this.

As for the acting: Well what can I say, the acting here was not one of the film’s strong suits, usually when a film suffers from too many faults you can always breath a sigh of relief over the fact that there’s at least one good aspect, but this is not the case as it was difficult to find any good in the performance either, which is giving me more reason to believe the strong show of ‘Eye candy’ (Which is much appreciated, guys) at the film‘s beginning was placed to masked what lied ahead. Now I don’t mean to be mean here but I’ve seen a better performance deliverance in a daytime soap opera then I did with Death of The Dead which is saying a lot seeing that I don’t care for soap operas one bit. But on the Brightside it’s not all bad. The leading star Christina Rose, gave a fairly decent performance as Wanda, she played the nerdy girl part well and to a degree won me over with the expression on her face as she yanked out a pair of balls off of a Zombie in one scene in the film. Jack Abele and William Lee gave a somewhat humorous performance as the overly perverted Master Sensei and the Evil Sensei. The pair seemed to work well and would have had high praise on my part had it not been for a few bumps on the road with their performance. Sadly though the film’s bad apple falls flat on Michael Blaustein part in my opinion. I tried to like his performance in this seeing that he’s appeared in ‘New York Lately‘, which is a film I greatly enjoyed, but sadly his performance as Donnie felt too forceful and not organic enough for me to get into the character as one of the film’s main antagonists. All in all the cast proved to be disappointing with the exception of a few.

Final Say: Death of the Dead wasn’t all that it was banged up to be in the end, it had it’s moments and could have been a shining example of a great indie parody, but ended with more cons on it’s check list then pros, but in hindsight to everything I said I will say that I respect the filmmakers for at least attempting to making something that had great potential. Which at the end of the day you’ve got to give kudos for at least trying. So for that I say; Nice try guys, but better luck next time.

Copyright 2011 TCWreviews.com
All Rights Reserved

Review: The Green Hornet (2011) [Reviewed By Clifford Kiyabu]

Directed by: Michel Gondry
Written by: Seth Rogen (Screenplay) & Evan Goldberg (Screenplay)
Genre: Action / Crime
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violent action, language, sensuality and drug content
Released: 14 January 2011
Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Christoph Waltz, David Harbour, Edward James Olmos, Jamie Harris.

Plot: Following the death of his father, Britt Reid, heir to his father's large company, teams up with his late dad's assistant Kato to become a masked crime fighting team.

Review: 7/10

The Story is about: Playboy Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) becomes the new publisher of Los Angeles' "The Daily Sentinel" after the sudden death of his father. Britt's party life is about to change when he and his driver and kung fu expert, Kato (Jay Chou), stop a robbery. With the help of Kato, Britt starts a new career of fighting crime as the masked superhero "The Green Hornet".

My Thoughts: One of my favorite late night shows to watch growing up was the re-runs of the old 1960’s Adam West Batman series which played in the early morning hours on Nickelodeon during their Nick at Nite timeslot. The show was way before my time, but for a child with a good imagination and easily entertained, this show was my late night delight (As you‘ve probably caught on by now I was a kid who liked sneaking out of bed to watch TV while everyone slept, not knowing of my little adventures) And every once in awhile they’d play the cross over episode which featured The Green Hornet which I thought was very interesting seeing that even at a small age I easily recognized Bruce Lee playing ‘Kato’ when others my age didn‘t know who Mr. Lee was, but I digress…

I’ve never really watched The Green Hornet show regularly but I caught a few episodes here and there, and I must admit, in comparison with the Adam West Batman series, it was very different, as where Batman was presented more of a cheesy comedic ZING and BLAM series, The Green Hornet was more of a straight up crime driven drama mixed in with some pretty heavy martial arts. But the two shows were suddenly two in the same when crossing paths but remained complete opposites from each other standing alone. For years there’s be talks in Hollywood about wanting to adapt the classic serial into a full length modern day feature but could never get around to solving their biggest dilemma, trying to decide which course of action to take the franchise. The series has changed hands with studios as well as changed names of filmmakers and stars being attached to the project, this film was considered dead in the water long before filming would even begin. It wasn’t until funny man Seth Rogen and director Michel Gondry took on the project no one was able to tackle.

And the finishing product, though wildly flowed, turned out to be quite enjoyable. I was a bit skeptical about TGH being a comedy action seeing that some would consider it a insult to the source material for it to be mostly comedic, but as Rogen himself had stated that this was his incorporation of the classic series and not a carbine copy of any previous works, which to some degree I can respect even though I’d have prefer those in the industry respect the hard work that went into birthing these original characters. However, TGH proved to be exhilaratingly entertaining and unapologetic. TGH works as a modern day version simply because it’s not hiding the fact it’s a little over the top at times but rather embraces it. I mean here we have Britt Reid (Rogen) a spoiled rich playboy party animal who spends his days doing what he does best, making a fool of himself and dragging the family name down with him but when he suffers a tragedy he suddenly wakes up to his childish ways and becomes the man he was meant to be alongside his trusty companion Kato (Chou).

If that’s not enough to get you to want to watch it then I’ve failed you! it was an all around a blast, the special effect were fantastic, and even more so were the fight sequences which proved to be a quite the sight to see. Though I won’t deny the fact the film had somewhat of a paper thin plot going for it which at times were quite predictable, and must worn the 3D effect weren’t much of a wonder but more a distraction if anything, with the exception of a couple scenes in the film, 3D was completely over hyped and underused in this. Aside from that The Green Hornet’s biggest problem seems to fall flat on the fact it suffered from an identity crises. It simply did not know what it wanted to be, where in some instances it played heavy on family orientated themes, the film carried way to much violence and vulgar language to make any parent feeling awkward from the experience with their child, and that’s not even including the wide use of sexual innuendos throughout the film.

As for the acting: The acting seems to be one of the film’s strong points. Seth Rogen’s performance as playboy Britt Reid was great, he’s not playing the same Britt Reid fan’s of the series are use to, and at time feels a little too similar to Rogen being himself rather in the role but it’s a version you’ll grow to love over time for being completely unapologetically it‘s own. Jay Chou was phenomenal as Kato, his performance was strongly reminiscent of that of Bruce Lee when he played Kato and he alone makes this fight sequences worth wild. Cameron Diaz was fairly decent as Lenore Case but I feel her talents ignored here, there was so much possibility surrounding her character that went ignored. Christoph Waltz, who played the character Chudnofsky AKA Bloodnofsky, was fantastic. He owned the role from the very start and makes for a fun and very unique villain. Another two great performances I feel were completely underused in this were Tom Wilkinson and Edward James Olmos. Both actors are legends in the film industry and should have had more involvement in the plot then what they were given. Shame on the filmmakers for not giving these men more screen time. James Franco’s small cameo as nightclub owner and crime boss ‘Crystal Clear’ in the beginning was hilarious and all around awesome.

Final Say: In hindsight to everything I just said. The Green Hornet was very enjoyable, it sure isn’t going to be a box office break nor does it completely live up the expectations that was building for it over the years, I for one was a little disappointed in the final product but when looking back at it all, it could have been much worst, so to that I say it was an okay way to kill a couple of hours. It’s totally worth checking out but NOT IN 3D. Recommended in 2D.

Copyright 2011 TCWreviews.com
All Rights Reserved

Review: Machete (2010) [Reviewed By Clifford Kiyabu]

Directed by: Ethan Maniquis & Robert Rodriguez
Written by: Robert Rodriguez & Álvaro Rodríguez
Genre: Action / Comedy / Crime
MPAA: Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual content and nudity.
Released: 3 September 2010 (USA)
Starring: Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, Lindsay Lohan,

Plot: After being betrayed by the organization who hired him, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.

Review: 6/10

The Story is about: A highly skilled Federale Machete (Trejo) is hired by businessman with illegal dealings to assassinate a U.S. senator who‘s at the helm of anti-immigration radicalism. But soon realizes he's been set up and past off as a patsy in a devious plot by those in higher office. The man without a country of his own is out revenge on his former employers, with the reluctant assistance of his holy brother father Padre Cortez (Marin) and Luz (Rodriguez) a young woman who’s helping those seeking refuge in the states, and Sartana Rivera (Alba) a sexy ICE agent who’s bent on upholding the law. Together they make the bad guys wish they‘d never existed!

My Thoughts: In 2007 Director Robert Rodriguez teamed up with director Quentin Tarantino to direct Grindhouse (2007), a double feature experience that were created as an homage to the lost genre of the 70‘s and 80‘s. Among the double feature were a series of fake trailers that played before the start of each film, among the list of fake trailers were films like: WEREWOLF WOMEN OF THE SS, DON‘T, THANKSGIVING, HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, and MECHETE. After seeing the fake trailers I became just as enthusiastic about these trailers becoming a reality as the rest of the fan base were, because it was just as entertainingly enjoyable as the film’s they were attached to. So after three long year the fan base finally got what they’ve so desperately wanted. A full Machete adaptation brought to the big screen. What many don’t know however, is that the story of MACHETE was not actually written to be a fake trailer but rather conceived by Robert Rodriguez before he had written the script for Desperado and that the development of the project has been a long labor of love.

So what’s the verdict? Well to put it so simple and straight forward is not that easy, while the film works on one level it simply does not on another, and sadly the film repeats going down this depressing course of action repetitively throughout the course of film‘s run. The Good: The start of Machete is pure nostalgia for any Rodriguez fan out there as it brings a delightful splice between his work on “The Mariachi Trilogy” (AKA The Desperado Trilogy) and his work on Grindhouse, which brought together formulated into it‘s own as a bi-product, it works because it put’s Rodriguez in the zone of what he loves to do most which is making highly entertaining action driven films cuddled with rich Latin culture which he seems to execute quite nicely here, also seeing Danny Trejo and Jeff Fahey reprise they’re roles from the fake trailer was fantastic and seeing most of the scenes from the trailer strategically placed in the film was genus work on Rodriguez‘s part. The Bad: however, while the film seems to work well on the level of being entertaining it fails miserably on providing an adequately entertaining plot that moviegoers can enjoy, instead of giving the viewers a plot that’s worth their wild it ends up becoming overly repetitive and highly predictable to a mind numbing state. For example: Machete kills a bunch of bad guys then winds up with a young beautiful woman in his arms, then gets wounded. Later he winds up killing more bad guys and then, surprise, surprise - He winds up with another young beautiful woman in his arms and then get‘s wounded.. Again!. Sadly this becomes repetitive mostly throughout the whole film and doesn‘t add any new twists or turns that haven’t already been seen coming a mile away.

And The Ugly: it’s pretty obvious that Machete was made with the intention to be an inspiration to those of Latin heritage but I can tell you that I, being someone who has both Spanish and Latin ancestry felt more insulted by the portrayal of Latin’s in the film then inspired. But I digress, the main problem wrong with Machete is that it got a little too political at times instead of being just a all around fun rollercoaster ride of action meets entertainment like Death Proof and Planet Terror was. Simply put, Rodriguez couldn‘t make up his mind on what he wanted the film to be, at some points the film expresses a unreal sense action to the viewers but then demands to be taken seriously. As much as Rodriguez refuse’s to admit it, the film’s timing did seem a bit too coincidental coming out around the same time as when immigration reform is now a hot topic in the country again. In hindsight to what I’ve said. I really wanted to like Machete because the Grindhouse Trailer showed it had soo much to offer moviegoers but instead, wound up becoming mediocre at best

As for the acting: as much as I disliked the portrayal of the characters in the film, the actors did a fantastic job in their performances. First off Danny Trejo is probably one of the hardest working actors in the industry, the man just doesn’t know what it means to take break as he’s working on more projects these days then some of the biggest paying actors do in a few years, and no matter how awful a film may be he always known’s how to shine a little light into it be simply being in it. I know he made the Spy Kids films somewhat bearable just for being in it. His performance in Machete was like watching a Mexican version of Rambo, no I take that back, he is the Mexican Rambo! His performance was outstanding, it was so impressive to see him reprise the role of machete without missing a beat that it was extremely difficult at time to tell the scenes of him from the fake trailer and the new scenes apart. Robert De Niro is a fine actor who’s done some incredibly work, but his performance as Senator McLaughlin didn’t do him any justice on his career I can tell ya, I’ve seen him do a better performance in The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle then this film, but on the Brightside, at least it’s better then any of those Focker films he‘s been in, I mean those are just painfully awful.

No matter how cheesy a film may be, having Steven Seagal, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, and Tom Savini in it is a guarantee win-win on the entertainment level. Sure these guys are old, and out of shape, and probably waaaay past their prime, but having them together on screen is a sight none the less. Michelle Rodriguez was fantastic, but I may not be the only one (yikes I hope not!) but I enjoyed her much more as an actress when she had a harder body. I know she wants to feminine up but it also take a way from the bad-ass persona we were first introduced with all those years ago with Girlfight, Jessica Alba was mildly enjoyable, but if there’s one thing that irritated me the most about her performance in this films, it’s that she lacked complete personality, back in the day she could act, and would always give it her all, but now days it seems like she’s just phoning in the performance for the paycheck. Don Johnson on the other hand was a pleasant surprise in his performance as twisted border vigilante Von Jackson, who’s persona bore a strange familiarity I can‘t quite put my finger on. But if there’s any person who’s gone to the top of the mountain, fallen down to the bottom, climbed back up, only to fall back on her ass it’s Lindsay Lohan, it’s been years since the starlet has proven she’s still got what it takes to be in the big leagues, and though her performance in Machete doesn’t help her cause, she still managed to pull off a reasonable performance as April AKA Sexy Nun!

Final Say: When I initially heard about Machete being turned into a full length feature I was thrilled beyond belief, now that I’ve seen it I kind of wish it had stayed as a fake trailer, at least that way I still would have retained all my hope and love for the project. Though I hold disappointment towards the film I still hope for improvement in a sequel if one should ever be made. It’s defiantly not a recommendation to buy but is a rental fair.

Copyright 2011 TCWreviews.com
All Rights Reserved

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I [Reviewed By Kelsey Zukowski]

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Directed By: David Yates
Written By: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)

Grade: A+

I have always been a huge fan of the Harry Potter films, but when they started taking a darker turn they escalated to a whole other level. The Deathly Hallows Part I is practically void of any light; darkness nearly filling it whole. In many ways it doesn’t feel like a Potter film, it's vastly different than any that have come before it. In the last film, it ended on a very somber note with Harry and his friends seeming to be running out of their luck as they are faced with impending doom. Even though Voldemort is never destroyed at the end of any of the movies, Harry and friends somehow against the odds manage to save the day and set things right. This can only happen for so long, especially with Voldemort on the rise and followers flocking to him.

The Deathly Hallows Part I is of a different breed. I definitely appreciated that it was so different though. Each film in the series stands on its own, but there is a certain basic set up to each film; pre-school year, usually Harry stuck in the muggle world with his sad excuse for a family, the joys of reuniting with friends and Harry’s true home with the hint that something is brewing, Harry and his friends researching to try to find out more about what’s coming among quidditch, enchanted surroundings, and magical explorations before the final showdown, where things may look grim, but between Ron, Harry, and Hermione‘s skills and instincts, lightness is restored.

The only one of those elements that are present in the Deathly Hallows Part I is that something is brewing (although there is no subtle hinting about this, the whole world, magical and muggle has nearly collapsed) and trying to research and find out more in hopes of having a chance against Voldemort. We never even arrive at Hogwarts or have any of those nostalgic quirks of the series that we have become accustomed to. This makes it feel disconnected from others in the series, but at the same time it is very refreshing. With others, even without reading the books, more or less you know what to expect. In this film you’re really not sure what to expect, clearly whatever it is will be like nothing we have seen before and could be the end in many ways, meaning for all we know key characters could reach the end too. We don’t have the same self assurances that everything will work out, all signs are pointing to it not working out.

The one thing it felt like it was missing was that ever powerful sense of hope that fuels the magic and strength that these seemingly amateur wizards showcase when they need it the most. That has always been a big part of the appeal and magic of Harry Potter; not that physical magic itself but that belief being the foundation for doing wonderful, impossible things when all the power seems to be within the dark entities. Harry, Hermione, and Ron keep on running, trying to find the Horcruxes: possessions that contain immortality. They must destroy them, Dumbledore's last instructions for them before he died.

It’s hard enough for them to stay under the radar when everyone is looking for them since Harry has been named “Undesirable No. 1”, the Ministry of Magic has a number of people who are serving Voldemort, his takeover clearly just beginning. Always on the run, they have to find out where the other Horcruxes are, how they can get them, and destroy them in order to stop Voldemort. Amongst this their attention is turned to the symbol of the deathly hallows, which they soon discover represent the three most powerful possessions in the magical world. Voldemort is ready to take over the world, starting with Harry Potter. He knows that since their wands are made of the same bird he will never be able to kill Harry with his wand. Once he has the right wand not only will he effortlessly be able to kill Harry once and for all, but total domination won’t be far away. Harry and his friends never fully give up though, which is perhaps one of the most inspirational things I can think of; to fight endlessly even as it is destroying you as the rest of the world is crumbling to destruction and terror; daring to hope when it is seemingly so far gone.

This film is far more slow-paced than usual. There’s blurbs of action, followed by a lot of running and hiding out. It’s a lot more emotional too, good and bad emotions included. One particular device seems to bring out the worst in each of them, stirring up hopelessness, fear, and aggression, even turning them on one another when they’re all each other has left and the last hope the world has.

The cast has always brilliantly brought their characters to life, improving and building on them as the series continues. They definitely kick it up a notch here with less comic relief, whimsical fun, and action; it really rests on the characters and how they deal with the whirlwind of emotions, insecurities, and pressure among them. They all have darkness inside them too, which is being brought right before them, yet they struggle against it.

Rupert Grint was really given the most of this material, letting his fears get the best of him, showing the turmoil this could bring on Ron if they were to actually come true. Emma Watson develops Hermione further, building on her maturity as the one who has to keep everything together. We also see she feels pain and the consequences of the unknown fates before them, showing us she is only human. Daniel Radcliffe shows utter desperation as Harry in most of this film who can’t help but be doubtful that they even stand a chance anymore.

Of course, there are many notable performances. One of my favorites, Evanna Lynch as the quirky, oddly charming, and utterly intelligent, Luna Lovegood. The introduction of her father, Xenophilius Lovegood, was a good addition as well, just as light and whimsical as her in some cases and scared out of his mind to where it’s clear that person he was has been completely stripped of him. Imelda Staunton is completely repulsive and hateful as Dolores Umbridge, as she should be. She doesn’t falter in the slightest from the fifth film where she was the focus. It’s clear she actually does believe in what she’s doing, no matter how twisted her actions are. There are some who are clearly just scared for their own safety that they have conformed to the ways of Voldemort, but there are some who have the same ideals as him, making his army full of both fear and twisted self-righteousness.

There is a certain feeling of inevitability to Voldemort’s takeover. There are some scenes with the “educational reform” and searching for muggles and anyone with human blood, imprisoning, torturing, and killing what some believe to be inferior beings for not being pureblooded, that just reminded me a lot of Nazis and their hunt for Jews during the Holocaust. It’s a lack of acceptance and masking insecurities with trying to proclaim purebloods as the only ones worthy. Ironically enough, just as Hitler may have had Jewish ancestry in him, Voldemort has human blood in him. Childhood pain caused by his human father, fueling hate inside of him for his entire life has created a hate and power hunger so strong, hiding out is one’s only chance of survival to escape it.

This is no longer a mystical world to escape to; it’s one to escape from. Of course hiding out is only a temporary means of survival. It’s no wonder there is ever dwindling hope when Voldemort’s reign is both institutionalized and in the shadows. In some ways this is perfect as it hits closer to the real world we live in, both historically and just showing something more grim and less magical. It's an escape that both comforts the ugliness in the world that one might have experienced, allowing them to dwell in the grim mindsets that have a way of staying with us. It still works as a worst case scenario, showing that if they can keep on fighting against such a powerful dark being that will bring complete destruction, tedious torture, and utter domination to the earth when they know they are likely fighting a war that they cannot win, then that gives you hope against everything, even utterly consuming blackness. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I is a character-rich, doom and gloom film, nearly void of hope, but one that lets us know that luck is running out for the characters we have loved and grown with since their first day at Hogwarts; the beginning of the end.

Review: Road to Victory (2007) [Reviewed By Clifford Kiyabu]

Directed by: Mike Reilly
Written by: Mike Reilly
Genre: Drama
MPAA: Not Rated
Released: September 22, 2009
Starring: Mike Reilly, Julia Benson, Poppi Reiner, Peter Abrams, Winston Brown, Clay St. Thomas, Keith D. Humphrey,

Plot: A star athlete on the verge of turning pro must decide which dream to pursue while he battles his own body.

Review: 8/10

The Story is about: An injured college athlete, accused of taking steroids, falls for a stripper, but is unable to perform sexually. The relationship oscillates between tender and cruel; issues of infidelity, along with doubts about his ability to father children arise, as his on-field performance begins to decline, putting his draft status at stake. Road To Victory is a thoughtful look at the role of gender in the patient / physician relationship, limits imposed on physicians by changes in the health-care industry, and even the limits of drugs designed to replace the physicians. It asks the question of what level of fidelity is acceptable in a relationship where sex isn't possible. And lastly, it looks behind sensationalized media headlines over steroid abuse, at the human elements that really drive athletes to succeed, and the price associated with the choices required to achieve that success.

My Thoughts: The journey to one‘s recovery is a process that often at times leave tire marks on the human psyche as it is filled with stress and emotional pain that will take it‘s toll on the most strongest of willed people, and a fight to win this recovery isn’t always a simple one. But the anecdote to the journey is a well deserving lesson to be learned, to heal; one must be ready to choose to let go the thing they love most or that which completes them, which are never always the same.

When I first heard about Mike Reilly’s feature length directorial debut, Road to Victory (2009) I initially thought this was going to be another sports film because everything about it that was advertised commercially screamed ‘football’ movie! The trailer said it, the poster said it, even the synapses hinted at it. However when taking a closer look at the film (Thank goodness). You discover this film is far from being a sports movie, though football is shown throughout the film, it plays somewhat of a minor role at best to the plot. What the Road to Victory actually turned out to be is a very powerful and engaging his & her relationship film that dug deep into the real problems some couples face once the honeymoon of the relationship has passed, such as intimacy issues, and feeling suffocated by each other which leads to communication between one and other to break down into a bitter ending. Unfortunately for the main characters of RTV, the cute puppy love period of the relationship was over before it even began. The main characters, Elliot (Mike Reilly) and Anna (Julia Benson) are experiencing some pretty though obstacles to overcome only three months into their relationship. Elliot, a star quarterback football player on the verge of professional football stardom is having trouble being able to perform sexually with his girlfriend due to low testosterone levels, the decrees in testosterone is also affecting his ability to perform antiquely on the field as well as on a every day to day bases. As the accusations about whether or not substance abuse had anything to do with his impotence pile on, he’s having an even harder time coming to terms with Anna working as a stripper at a local club. Anna is having a hard time dealing with their sexless relationship and is beginning to have doubts about their relationship together and if weather or not remaining with him is a good idea in the long run, a part of her wants to experience the experimental years of her youth in collage but retains too much ernest love for Elliot to just simple walk away. While they share a sincere love that goes maturely both ways, Elliot and Anna will be tasked with making the ultimate decision, can they’re love for each other be enough to save what they have together or will it be they’re undoing?

RTV was fascinatingly seductive, it lures the viewers in and capture they’re attention fully, it was the first mature romance drama for both genders I’ve seen in a really long time, most romance dramas out there are meant to cater to female moviegoers rather then it’s male counterpart. It’s an unfair tone the movie industry has stuck with for quite a long time, but thankfully Mike Reilly shed light on this problem and brought to the table a film that’s powerful message can be enjoyed by both sexes, and presents some very pressing matters. Substance abuse among athletes have been in the media quite often lately but only half truth’s behind the reason some are willing to make a compromise with their ideals. People love hearing or reading up on the gossip behind athletes being accused of taking steroids and the constant denial of it in hopes that eventually one of them will crack and tell all. It’s easy to take in the how and the when, but not the why, no one ever wants to hear why they took it, what magnitude of stress to maintain a picture perfect image we perceive of them were they under before deciding to forgo on such a disappointing path. And even if they’d fully explain themselves would you listen then alone believe it? The film explores the harsh reality most men go through when not being able to be 100% with their other half, contrary to popular belief; men and women are equally vulnerable emotionally, though most men may not express their inner emotional stress as commonly, the ability or lack therefore of, to perform harbor great emotional stress that takes it’s toll on both a man’s physical and psychological health over time.

But make no mistake about it, RTV is a relationship film first before anything else, and shows the reality of relationships and not the commercially manufactured version we’re sold by the mainstream industry. Real love isn’t the happy-go-lucky “love defeats all” message we’re told by mainstream films, real love is when the spark between a couple dims, or in most cases, die, and you find yourself gunning for each others throats half the time, thinking about how to get back at each other, but no matter how much you think you can’t stand to look at one another; you find that you cannot for the life of you imagine a life without that special other in it. Among other things, the score was truly remarkable, it set the tone of the film with it’s deep emotional overtones that proved to be quite affective in every way, I being a fan of movie scores found it to be one of the best attributes this film has going for itself, because it complements the story and graces every scene in just the right manner. Like all films though, RTV doesn’t go without flow and lags for the most part of the first act, but thankfully it‘s quickly saved towards the end of it‘s second act which picks up the momentum for the closing act.

As for the acting: movieScope Magazine in 2008 named Mike Reilly as 'One to Watch', before going into RTV I had no idea what they meant by it, was it his acting skills? his writing? Or maybe his directing? Well as it turns out it was all of the above, Reilly’s performance as Elliot proved to be extraordinarily entertaining, and I can certainly understand the appeal by movieScope for naming him “one to watch“, his performance as Elliot was outstanding because it project the troubling truth on what effects low testosterone levels play on the male mantle and physical state. His acting, though flawed, turned out to be quite enjoyable and shows great room for improvement with time. Most may not realize that Julia Benson have been in the biz for quite some time now appearing in mostly Sci-Fi shows and films, in RTV Benson portrayal of Anna was magnanimously wonderful. Her portrayal was spot on fantastic for a character that was a real love/hate combination for me, while I hated Anna’s overzealous negative treatment towards her boyfriend Elliot, the way she belittled him about his condition at certain points proved to be a real deal breaker in terms of liking the character. However, in the most dire moment of the film Anna is redeemed in my eyes when she show’s the willingness to stick by his side no matter what the outcome. The chemistry between both actors proved to be brilliant and worked on a believable level.

Final Say: Looking back at Road to Victory, it turned out to be more impressive then I originally expected. Ultimately it dares to ask an important question for both men and women. For the Men: are you man enough to put aside games to settle down and start a family? And for the Women: if your man suddenly became ill beyond medical ad, would you still stand by his side trough think and thin? though dreadfully hash these questions may be, it reminds us all one important piece of advice; be there for those you love no matter what, and always choose what’s right, over what’s desired. I highly recommend!

Copyright 2010 TCWreviews.com
All Rights Reserved