Tag: movies

A fan awakens… the new Star Wars trailer is here!

It was as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in joy:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer

This voice certainly did!

When I first heard about Episode VII, I was cautiously optimistic. Star Wars shaped my childhood. I had many of the toys–and still do, although they are well loved and sadly not in the original packaging. But I was definitely burned by the abominations that are known as Episodes I-III. So much wasted potential.

The excitement has been building for the new movie, though. I think the actors will actually have a chance to act this time. I felt more real emotion in the new trailer than I did in the climax of Episode III. I felt like the child who couldn’t wait to see Return of the Jedi to find out whether Darth Vader really was Luke’s father. And I am counting the days until December 18! Christmas may be coming early for this Star Wars fan!

Endings and The Boy Who lived

(warning, there be a few spoilers ahead, in case anyone still doesn’t know the ending)

We finally saw Deathly Hallows Part 2 last week. I guess I’m a fan (fanatic?) because I was one of the ones who pre-ordered Deathly Hallows from Amazon, waited anxiously by the door for it to be delivered, and read the whole 700+ pages in three days. I started late on the series, though, around Goblet of Fire, and got caught up from there. Some of the movies have been hit or miss. I loved Prisoner of Azkaban, mostly because Sirius Black is my favorite character and Gary Oldman was perfect casting. But I have to admit, I was disappointed in the final installment. I enjoyed Deathly Hallows Part 1 a lot. The tent scenes, which dragged on forever in the book, were well done, and of course I cried at the end. The dark tone and grim state of the wizarding world showed just how high the stakes had become for our young heroes.

I had really high hopes for Part 2. I loved the final battle scene in the book (go Mrs. Weasley!), and the beginning of the movie had a good setup, lots of tension. Then we get to the final confrontation, and it seemed to fizzle. Where were the students? The teachers? Hagrid just appeared out of nowhere. It felt like they rushed to the ending. I loved the scene with Snape (a close second favorite to Sirius) and his memories of Lily, but the big finish I was expecting never came. Even the showdown between Bellatrix and Mrs. Weasley was disappointing, and that had to be one of the best lines of the book.

I admire any series that can get kids to read the way Harry Potter has. And I can imagine how the kids who grew up reading Harry Potter must feel now that the ride is officially over. I still enjoyed the last movie for what it was, and  I cried at the sad parts, but I wasn’t wowed as I had been with, say, Lord of the Rings. Now it’s time to look forward to the film version of The Hobbit.