Tolkien Snob: Thoughts on The Hobbit

I went into this movie with very low expectations because of all the soap boxes I got onto during the development of this movie (especially the announcement that it was going to all of a sudden become a trilogy). For the most part, my biggest problem with what I KNEW Peter Jackson was going to do was make The Hobbit NOT about the hobbit, Bilbo, thus making a movie that's more about how bright and shiny Middle-earth is than it is about my favorite character. How could Bilbo actually be overshadowed in his own story when he's the title character?! It was an infuriating idea, but was something I knew would happen and I prepared myself for it.

Spoilers below I guess. 

In the end, here are my thoughts on the film:

The Hobbit should be The Hobbit, but since I knew it wasn't going to be about that going in, I lowered my expectations and so it was ok. I liked it. I loved parts. I disliked parts. It's more about the Rise of the Shadow in Middle-earth than The Hobbit storyline, but again. I already knew that was going to happen. Also, anything that gives Andy Serkis more "screen time" can never be a bad decision. When Gollum happened I had too much of a fangirl reaction to be normal. I love Andy Serkis and I am not ashamed.

Had I not been a Tolkien fan, this movie would have dragged on and on. I loved the beginning because there was Frodo and old Bilbo, but then the introduction of all the dwarves took forever. I did end up liking them all much more than I expected, save for Thorin who I didn't like at all, though I wish I had. Regular movie-goers (opposed to book nerds) probably felt like dozing the entire beginning. They wanted a journey, but we were still in Bag End an hour after the film started.

The last fight scene was so over-the-top slow-motion dramatic I am sure you could hear my eyes rolling. The pale orc was way overdone as well. I hated all that extra stuff that basically just added fake tension and minutes to the film. Hated it. It didn't add anything for me because it felt regurgitated and contrived. If PJ had been able to present that extra stuff in a better way, maybe a more original way than cookie cutter bullcrap from LotR, maybe I could have dealt with it. And if they had added something to Thorin's character other than just making him seem petulant and bitchy, sure that would have been good, too. But it did not work. Not for me, and many others at least. I know it was trying to beef up their story, but it didn't add what it should have. 

Also, it was unnecessary because as cool as the dwarves are, they aren't supposed to be the stars, so beefing them up to overshadow Bilbo was never going to work for me. But I had at least hoped what they did would be better than what it actually turned out to be. Azog, the pale orc, just needs to GET OUT. 

That's not to say I wasn't surprised by how much I loved some of the dwarves. I really enjoyed them. Especially Bofur and Bilbo's exchange near the end. I felt that and it was so sweet. It's really just all the extra stuff they added and tweaked for Thorin that pissed me off. Like... do we really need a history lesson at the campsite with a flashback of Thorin's life while he broodingly pouts across the way? We've seen that before PJ! Find a new trick. Ugh, PJ is such a sap and overly self indulgent and he reminded me of that at ever turn.

However, I enjoy it for the most part, and especially these:

• Gollum was the best part of this movie. 
• Gandalf was absolutely badass. 
• Bilbo was precious, but as I suspected, there was not enough of him.   
• There was Frodo at the beginning and he checked the mail and I died. 

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

I can only really express my feelings for this movie with bullet points... so here we go:

MEGA Spoilers below...

• I absolutely ABSOLUTELY loved this dang movie.. sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. I JUST... lk;fasjdlkfajsdl;kfajwefncihxg;e rijkg[pflht

Ok now actual things. 

• I CRIED
• I enjoyed Bale as Bruce more in this movie than ever before. I felt like there was so much more playful writing for his character than there ever has been. 
• I was very sad when Alfred left Bruce.
  
  And then I was sure Alfred was going to die... bc Bane knew who Bruce was, so I was sure he'd use Alfred against him. So glad he didn't.
• IT WAS SO VIOLENT. I know that's redundant for a super hero movie, but I've never seen Batman get beat on like he does in this movie, and I was NOT okay with. Nope. Nope. Nope. 
• ANNE HATHAWAY ... she was like... good. I was so skeptical the whole lead-up to this movie about her being Catwoman, but the way they did her.. she was fabulous. It was great. GREAT. 

(Let me preface the next "feels" by this, Catwoman and Batman were the cake toppers at my and my husband's wedding, srsly)

•     BATMAN AND CATWOMAN KISS
      IN COSTUME
      AND OMG
      lkasjdl;fkjdflkwjekrlfjpbdfbj;lkcvjb
• And Catwoman even begs Batman to come with her because they could go anywhere and be anything together and GOD OH GOD OHOOOGFGG GODDDDD

Here are all my ending feels:

• THE ENDING. THE FLIPPING ENDING OF THIS MOVIE... OH MY GODDDD. 
• I was stifling sobs. It was... almost like Snape-crying. 
• They absolutely tricked me. 
• And then the funeral... and Alfred CRIED and said he was sorry he failed the Waynes... and I just... fg;lehcjgnjsdhjg NO NO NO ALFRED NO. 
• Then JGL quits the force... and then they give Batman a statue in the city... 
• Then Alfred goes on his little trip... and we find out JGL's REAL NAME IS ROBIN AND Asdj hcgnfpaieudfnghkdjfvnlksajfghbkljdh 
• Then Alfred SEES SELINA AND BRUCE HAVING LUNCH BC THAT FLIPPING SHIP IS FINALLY CANON.... 
• SELINA AND BRUCE WERE ENDGAME FOR THIS SERIES!!! 
• THEY NEVER END UP TOGETHEERRRR BUT THEY FINALLY DID 
• A HAPPILY EVER AFTER SELINA AND BRUCE OMG
• I kept having feel after feel after feel until I died of emotions.
• The ending was everything I never knew I was allowed to want and especially didn't think we'd get.
• I was SURE Bat and Cats would not be in love. I was sure they were going with the Talia thing as the love interest. Period. So I was SO surprised and happy kldjfgldaksjghenhgbcxjd nfxhvjm
• Nolan it's like you wrote your ending after digging through my HEART

Titanic Reflection: Why Does it Work?

So, Titanic has just been rereleased into theaters after fifteen years. It was one of the most successful movies in history and began the careers of what we can now say are two of the most accomplished and talented actors of our time. Yet, despite all of that, plus the enormous fan base this film still has, there are tons of detractors who claim this movie is terrible. Are they right? Actually, they're onto something. Despite its success and the big name actors that are involved, there is a lot wrong with this movie. Which begs the question, then: why does it work? 

Why I Love It 


I watched Titanic for the first time as an 11-year-old, was deeply affected by the tragedy/story, became fascinated with the history, and fell in love with Leonoardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet. I think a huge amount of the people my age (mostly the girls) probably had similar experiences with this movie, and so it played a huge part in our adolescence. Nostalgia is most likely the reason why 99.8% of people are paying $14 to wear stupid 3D glasses and sit for three hours to see a movie they probably own on DVD. I know when the movie began in my theater, I clapped my hand over my heart and I was in 6th grade again. Same heart pangs and everything.

The movie gets me every time, even when I start out completely convinced I'm not in the right mind-set to cry. It's no use. The following is a glimpse into my mind as I relive watching the movie: Basically from beginning to the middle of Titanic my heart is exploding with rainbows because I love Jack and Rose SO much, and there is all this sexual and romantic tension and … LEO’S BEAUTIFUL PERFECT FACE BEING ALL IN LOVE AND STUFF...

HIS FAAAACE

..but THEN they hit the iceberg and immediately I’m all, “I REGRET THIS DECISION. MISTAKE MISTAKE. ABORT MISSION.” And by the end…I'm weeping for the remainder of the week day. 


Obviously, I adore Titanic. However, while I adore this movie and have no resistance to it's inexplicable charms, there is no way you'll ever hear me describe it as "genius" or "masterful" or "spectacular" in terms of film making.


What's Wrong With It?

James Cameron loves to plaster his name all over this film and make sure to remind everyone that he invented the Titanic -er, that he made the movie Titanic. As the credits began to roll, the first thing that flashed across the screen is "Written and Directed by James Cameron." He's really proud of what he's accomplished, and I guess he's earned it because, as I said, it's ridiculously successful. But I am under the impression that Cameron thinks it's because of him and his writing, which I have to proclaim to be false. 


He writes in circular symbolism and irony that is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. It's not hard to get it upon first viewing, let alone multiple viewings. It’s not “genius” or deep in any way. It’s just… obvious. The characters are all flat, two-dimensional beings and only a fraction of them are dynamic.  It's nothing that another writer couldn't produce with his/her eyes closed. It's not earth-shattering by any means.


I love this movie in spite of how shallow the characters and dialogue are. The love story is done well, but I think it has a lot to do with the arrangement of events created and how they’re acted, not how the events and dialogue are written. 

The dialogue can sometimes be so self-indulgent and cheesy that, if it weren’t Kate and Leo saying the words, I’d roll my eyes. But then there are moments that are meant to pander to the audience, yet they still work for me and make me smile. Blast James Cameron, because some of his cheap tricks still work on me, even though I acknowledge that a trick is what it is. But, again, that doesn't mean it's good film making. It just means Cameron knows the tricks to manipulate.

I had this poster hanging in my room when I was 11. Srsly.

Why It Works

The reasons Titanic works, in my opinion, are these things:


Firstly, the history it’s based on is tragic, fascinating, and unique; naturally people are going to be drawn in by it. If I refuse to give James Cameron credit for most of the things he did with this film, one credit I cannot withhold is how much research he did to make it as real as possible. He immersed himself in the history, studied picture after picture of life on Titanic, even recreated some of the most iconic images in the movie. The sinking of the ship was well-thought out and wonderfully executed. When it comes to film making, Cameron excels in special effects and details. 


He also showed forensic details as well as emotional details of the disaster. What would it look like from a technical standpoint when "A" happens to the ship? What would it feel like from a victim's standpoint? etc... We see horrifying images of the lights blinking on and off, strange groaning as the ship is bent by the pressure of the water. We see haunting images of unused China shattering in piles, an old couple holding one another in bed, knowing they can't make it to a life boat. In that way, Cameron didn't miss a beat. Watching the the last 45 minutes of this movie is enthralling because Cameron has recreated something only the actual people on that ship had seen up until this movie was released, and however morbid that might be, it is also fascinating.


Another reason it works is because the characters are archetypal so it makes them easy to relate to. There are no characters in the movie that are multi-dimensional (unless you want to argue in favor of Rose which would be a skimpy argument, overall). They are mostly vague versions of people and therefore it's easy for many viewers (rather than a small specific group) to latch onto the good guys and abhor the bad guys. 

And lastly, it works because the love story is something many, many people root for. They want to believe a love like that of Jack and Rose can really exist. I was reading some movie responses for Titanic and many said they don't believe that a love like this can exist anymore, which was rather sad to me. One in particular spoke about how materialistic and selfish current day culture is and that it doesn't foster this kind of devotion, claiming that the time in which a love like this maybe could have occurred is gone forever. 


That perspective just drives my point home further that people really want to believe in this kind of love, and if they don't believe they can find it in real life, then where will they go? Maybe... to a movie, where they can cling to the hope they feel when they watch a girl give up her millions to be with a penniless artist who wants nothing more than to make sure she's going to be okay, because nothing is more important to either of them than the other person.   

Movie Review: The Woman in Black

I have been looking forward to this movie for a very long time! It's Daniel Radcliffe's first post-Potter film, and although it deals with the supernatural, his character is very different from the Boy Who Lived. He plays Arthur, a father and a widower.  It's a sad story which is driven mostly just by Dan's facial expressions and reactions. (But we're in good hands because, I mean, just look at that face...)

Seriously, tho... that face.

Radcliffe is a really smart man who acknowledged the fact that it will take at least three new films before people see him as something other than Harry Potter. In the same vein, Dan has said that with all the success of the Potter films, he knows he has freedom (where other actors may not) to choose smaller projects at this point in his career, and he feels it's his duty to exercise that. He also acknowledges the fact that many of his fans will see a movie just because he is in it, and because of this he feels he has a responsibility to them to make sure he doesn't force them see something terrible. This is how he chooses the roles he plays. It's really refreshing to know that a kid with this much commercial success and fame can still be so down-to-Earth and reasonable. He's a good one.

That being said, going into this movie I had really high expectations and unfortunately this movie didn't completely live up to them. With how short the movie is, the emotional punch I think the film was trying to make was muted. The middle section felt rushed and so the resolution didn't seemed to grow organically as much as it felt like it was pushed along, feet dragging. It's not as original as I had hoped, nor as severe as the trailers lead me to believe it would be. I think if there had been more time spent on the rising action, it would have held up better, overall.

However, as a PG-13 "horror" movie, it was really good. There were many sequences I thought were perfectly planned out and executed. I jumped and covered my eyes over and over again, sincerely! Not to mention, Daniel Radcliffe does have to carry the film all by himself most of the time, and he does a great job of it. I think it was a good first step out into the world of non-Potter related projects for him and proved he doesn't have to be a school boy for the rest of his career. I really can't wait to see what he does next.

I would suggest that if you are interested in a gore-less scary movie, check this out. It was so much fun. This is especially a great film for any Dan Rad fans. I doubt you'd be disappointed! I enjoyed this despite feeling it didn't live up to my expectations and will probably see it again with my friends.

Movie Review: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I went into this movie having not read the book, and also being slightly uninterested in seeing it. However, I knew there was immeasurable hype surround both the book and the movie, so I knew I needed to see it. I was excited to see what all the fuss was about and went in with an open mind.

The movie begins with what may seem like incredibly odd opening credits. As someone who knew nothing of the story and barely anything about the characters I was about to meet, the oddness had no context and so it didn't really work. As I left the movie, I remembered the opening and chuckled to myself because, even after knowing everything, it still seemed out of place. It may have worked better as part of the closing credits instead... who knows?


Rooney Mara was awesome. For me, she was absolutely the best part of the entire movie. I read somewhere that she is "the next Kristen Stewart" which is too cruel a comparison to be real. Rooney is much more dynamic, talented, genuine, and explosive as an actress than Stewart could ever hope to be, but the hype that statement was meant to express is true. Rooney certainly proved that she should be the next big thing. 

I also enjoyed Daniel Craig in this movie. He portrayed Blomkvist as likable and down-to-Earth. He was another part of the movie I really liked, which helped pull me through some of the stuff I did not. However, I did not enjoy a lot of the movie and all the reasons have to do with the choices Fincher made as the director, not the story itself or the acting. The film was uneven, unbalanced, and I felt a lot of it was choppy. For viewers who have read the books, it may seem different to you because you know what's coming and you know all the stuff that was left out, therefore, it may flow more easily for you. But for a viewer who has not read the books, not only did the story not flow, but the big reveal of the mystery and events stemming from that seemed anti-climactic.


Basically, the rest of the film never lived up to the intensity of the rape scene, which happened in the first 30 minutes, was exposition, and had hardly anything to do with the main story line. I feel like Fincher paid too much attention to that scene and less to others he should have highlighted. That scene was so powerful, so meticulous, and so obviously choreographed to the finest detail/camera angle/sound effect that it made me wonder why Fincher didn't spend that amount of effort on other, much more important events in the story. 


I wanted the rest of the movie to be that meticulous. I wanted the film to show me that amount of intensity and focus, but no other scene ever really did that. When the most fierce scene has already happened in the first 30 minutes, the rest of the movie doesn't pack a punch. Many people have said to me "Well, the rape scene is that intense because it's like the book" but my issue is not about being faithful to the book. My issue is that the way Fincher dealt with that scene is what made the rest of the movie unbalanced, in my opinion. Why spend so much time highlighting a piece of exposition, then later skimming over actual important plot points and events? 

It raised questions in my mind of what Fincher was thinking when he was editing and why he didn't think to allude to more and show less of the rape scene, so that later he'd have time to pay more attention to things that mattered more to the story. The same things could have been achieved for Lisbeth's character had he edited that scene down; I am not saying it should have been cut altogether.


OR if the climactic moment of this movie had been done with as much care as the rape scene, I probably would have no issue with it at all. I would have felt that the ending was satisfying and the movie more balanced. Either way, in order to fix this problem, one of the two things I've mentioned needs to have been changed. 


Overall, I would say that there was too much hype around this movie and not enough delivery. I think if I had read the book I may have enjoyed it more, but as a neutral viewer, the story fell flat with the way Fincher presented it. If you love the book, see it! If you like action mysteries, you may enjoy this movie. If you are neutral and don't care one way or another, don't waste your time. If you can't handle rape scenes, run far, far, far away. 

Movie Review: Sherlock 2 - A Game of Shadows

I have been waiting quite a while for this movie to come out. I loved the first Sherlock Holmes, and so I was eager to see what the second in the series would bring.

Going into this film, I understood the risks of it being a sequel, so I expected some "cheesy" moments like what we witnessed in the Pirates series, where the same joke was referenced in nearly the exact same way. Those things were abundant, but not overpowering in Game of Shadows. The movie, overall, was really enjoyable. After a while of thinking it may stay too close to repeating "safe" element of the first, it catches its own rhythm and momentum. Also, there were even some things I could have never expected. At the end of the movie, although I started out unsure, I decided that I enjoyed it and it was a good movie.

The only thing I was a little annoyed about was it felt like Ritchie relied far too much on the slow motion action sequences that made the first film so unique. Watching Sherlock's thought process as he decides in split seconds which strikes to make in a brawl was mesmerizing in the first, but in the second he does it again and again, and eventually it is beat to death. We get the shtick, let's see something new.

The chemistry between Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr is, once again, what carries the movie, even through some of the rough patches. Although she was around most of the film, Noomi Repace almost went unnoticed as her character was barely a plot device (and personally, I felt her purpose could have just as easily been served by Rachel McAdams' character), but Stephen Fry was a hilarious and brilliant addition to the cast.

This movie was fun, fast-paced for the most part, and enjoyable. If you want to have a good time, see it. If you love the first one, see it. If you love RDJ or Jude Law, see it... just... see it. It's fun.

Short Movie Review: The Muppets

I loved "The Muppets" so much!

More specifically, the following:

• The musical numbers
• The dancing
• The cameos
• ”Rainbow Connection”
• Jason Segel being awesome
• The fact that I thought the lyrics of “Muppet or a Man” sounded like Flight of the Conchords lyrics, and then found out that Bret McKenzie wrote the songs for “The Muppets.” 
• Amy Adams’ entire wardrobe
• 80s Robot
• The ever-growing need to see Amy Adams in a true, full-blown musical
• Everything

It. Was. Precious. Jason Segel did a great job with this film! Go see it right now. 

Movie Review: 50/50

This is one of the first movies I have seen since the summer that I absolutely adored from beginning to end. It was so enjoyable that is surprised me. I remember thinking in the middle of it, "I cannot believe how good this is."

What I really loved about the movie is that it wasn't a cliche. Most movies that deal with serious stuff like cancer usually flower up the sickness. Instead, 50/50 shows a very honest interpretation of what it means to be struck with something so bleak and doesn't shy away from the fact that it really sucks. Because they didn't try to dress it up, I felt as an audience member much more connected to the story. But what is really amazing is it still manages to be funny. Needless to say the writing is just wonderful. Even when Adam is going through the worst of it, the tone never crosses the line into territory that's too dramatic. There is a perfect balance of comedy and tribulation to keep you from being pulled too far one way or the other. It's kind of astounding how they managed to do that.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was just wonderful in this role. I loved the way he played his character, kind of insecure and a bit awkward. He was the perfect lead for this story because, he's so likable, you cannot help but care for him. I don't know what kind of award he should get, but walking out of the theater I just kept thinking... "He really deserves some kind of recognition for that!" Seth Rogen was also really good. He played his usual character, but with a touch of vulnerability we don't usually see in him.

Overall, it was just such a wonderful movie. I made it to about the middle without crying, but then I teared up. By the end I was very noticeably crying, but even so I still burst out laughing through my tears. It is slightly hard to know what to expect from a film like this, but all I can say is expect to feel lots of things, and I mean that in the best way! 

PS. I tweeted my mini-review to Joseph Gordon-Levitt and he reposted it and sent me emoticons back! Haha!

Movie Response: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The reason I have titled this a movie "response" instead of a review is because there is no way on Earth I could ever review this as a film. I am so in love with the book series I am blind to anything that would make The Deathly Hallows Part 2 anything other than just a book adaptation. So, this is more about how an avid HP-book fan (who also happens to love film) has responded to it. 

I have sat down about five different times over the past two weeks trying to begin what I imagine won't even be a review of this movie as much as it is me just weeping over my keyboard, and each time I was unable to accomplish anything. My love for the Harry Potter series knows no bounds, so sitting down to write about the end of it is quite emotionally overwhelming. I don't even know where to start or how to organize my thoughts. So, hopefully this post won't turn into a horrible mess, hah! I've been told by a few people that if it's so hard to write I should just not write it, maybe it's too close. But usually, when something means this much to me, I have to write it out, get it out on paper so I don't have to carry it around. It's my own little version of the Pensieve.

I think I've gone about trying to write this the wrong way. With other movies of the HP franchise, I would have to see them over and over to really nail down all the things I wanted to say, otherwise I'd be at a loss. But with this one, I have so many things to say just from the first viewing, that seeing it over and over again before I started writing has actually become a hindrance. Now that I've had some space from it I think I can finally start. LET'S DO THIS.

Gorgeous graphic, no idea who to credit.

Two and a half weeks ago I reread the last two hundred pages of The Deathly Hallows (since that's what Part 2 will deal with). Also, it was my fourth time to reread, so this wasn't new territory for me. However, the new thing I did was I read it aloud in the span of about a day and a half. It was something I wanted to do because my husband was on a camping trip, I had the house to myself, and I had never read any part of the HP series aloud before. I also knew it was the last time I would get to read the book without having the movie in my mind to influence me one way or another. However, I had no idea what reading these last few chapters in this way would do or the effect it would have on me. For some reason, that experience allowed the story to settle in much deeper than it ever had before, and by the end of the chapter called “The Forest Again” I could barely finish saying some of the sentences because I was crying so hard. I definitely collected a nice pile of tissues and by the time I finished the book, around 4 AM that Saturday night, for the nth time in my life I fell asleep holding a Harry Potter book (judge if you will).

I don’t have reactions like this to every series I read. I’ve cried at the end of a few because they have moved me, but I have never felt so deeply connected to characters like I have when reading Harry Potter. It’s absolutely my heart and I love it so much. The only book series that has ever rivaled it is Lord of the Rings. So, needless to say, heading into the theater to see the ending for the first time was confusing. I was excited because I couldn't wait to see what it looked like, I was dreading it because I didn't want it to end (plus I knew some of the things that happen within it are horribly sad), I was skeptical because there are moments that I wanted to be absolutely perfect, I was hopeful because Yates had done a great job with the last three movies, and yet I was scared that there was no way it could all really hold up to the standards I held for it. 

I'm not sure if any of you have seen this cartoon before:

But... this was pretty much me and my crew during the opening. It didn't take us, especially me, long to get emotional. In fact, the first shot of the entire film is so meaningful I couldn't even stand it. We start to hear one of Desplat's beautiful pieces (the one called Lily's Theme) played over a shot of a silhouetted figure, shrouded in black, Severus Snape. He watches over the courtyard as the students are marched inside the castle in a sort of boot camp style arrangement. A thoughtful, perhaps indiscernible expression is worn on Alan Rickman's face, and then the Harry Potter logo appears.

It was absolutely the perfect way to open this movie. Snape is the character that the entire series hinges on. It would have been easy to go straight in to the trio's story at first. I mean, that's the next step in the book, after all. Yet Yates is smart enough to know that he has to remind movie audiences that there is a crap-ton of mystery around Snape and that, by God, we're finally going to figure it out within these next two hours. Not to mention, he threw all of us book fans an enormous treat by opening with Lily's song during a Snape shot, something movie-goers will only understand after they see it. (HIGH FIVE!) Since I wasn't expecting this image so early in the movie, I got choked up immediately (especially since, Snape is my favorite character).

This opening set the bar pretty high, but I felt like the movie continued to hit the right mark in the following scenes, too. Helena Bonham Carter playing Hermione playing Bellatrix was enigmatic, Ron's hilarious and oddly attractive Death Eater costume was awesome, and the dragon at Gringotts was exactly how I pictured it. Exactly! There were some changes that were made for the movie, such as the goblets didn't burn the trio, but I think it was ok to leave little things like this out. Especially since visually, it would be really hard to explain what was happening without having a Legolas-line in there explaining the charm. ("Guys, it's a diversion!") I thought it was smart to cut that.

When the trio made it to Hogsmeade I got really nervous because I knew from that point on there would be no moment of relief until the end. I was also curious to see how they dealt with Aberforth since so much of Dumbledore's story had been left out. Just as I wondered that, this line happened: "I don't care about what happened between you and your brother," as if Daniel Radcliffe had paused the movie to say directly to me 'Audree, it's not gonna happen, we will not be dealing with that storyline. That crap doesn't matter.' And while I guess I understand why it had to be left out at this point, since it would have been pretty overwhelming to bring it up in the last hour and a half of the entire 8-movie series, I was still slightly disappointed.

Some may argue it was unnecessary backstory, but I love that Dumbledore had a sordid, questionable past. It is just another example in this series of how choices define a person’s life (a motif that the series deals with in every book). It also makes Dumbledore so much more relatable and human, in my opinion, because it shows us he had flaws that even he had to overcome. It makes all of his achievements that much greater because, unlike we were lead to think by seeing Dumbledore through Harry’s idealizing eyes, Dumbledore wasn’t always this god-like, all-knowing genius. Once he was a mixed up kid who was overly ambitious and self-centered. He had to work through all of that to become great, and that’s one of my favorite elements of his character.

Also, it mirrors Snape’s life to a degree. Obviously these characters are very different, but a lot of their choices in the past lead them to be the great Wizards they were. Which, I believe, might be why Dumbledore ended up giving Snape another chance, because he saw some of himself in Snape and believed that people could turn around from bad choices they have made in the past. Leaving Dumbledore's past out of it robs the movie audience of this depth to the story. But then again, maybe it wouldn't have worked so well on screen and in the last stretch of the story. I forgive them.


When the trio is taken by Neville through the portrait back into Hogwarts and they emerge into the Room of Requirements to clapping and to the original Harry Potter theme music from the first movie, tears. Tear. Tears. So sweet and so wonderful! I especially appreciated the fact that they were able to keep some funny or light-hearted moments going, especially in this scene. Helped to balance all the looming deaths a bit, I think. (Also, can we just take a moment to applaude Yates for Neville/Luna? I always thought that's how it should have ended up!)

It was after this scene that the movie did one of those things that makes all book fans cock their heads to side and say: "Whaaaa?" Ginny comes in and says Snape has heard Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade and he calls all the students to the Great Hall. Then he makes a speech (with cleverly worded phrases that can later be interpreted differently) and asks the students to step forward if any of them know where Harry might be. Then Harry jumps out and accosts Snape for killing Dumbledore and wreaking havoc on Hogwarts as the Order of the Phoenix marches through the doors.

That moment was pretty epic, however, it never happened in the book. I do, on the other hand, understand why they added it. It was important for them to establish that Snape has killed the headmaster and now he is parading around as the headmaster, standing in Dumbledore's spot. Here the line is visually (albeit symbolically) drawn in the sand with the two sides taking stands. The only issue is that Snape belongs on the side of the line Harry is standing on, so as a Snape fan, it was hard for me to hear Harry yell horrible things at him, but it was good for the audience who didn't know what the heck was to come, plus it gave Snape more screen time which is always the better choice. Then, "The Sacking of Severus Snape" happens and the epicness progresses because McGonagall steps out and displays a level of badassery we've rarely seen in previous Harry Potter films. (Anyone else notice that Snape knocks the Carrows down himself during his duel with McGonagall? PRETTY SNEAKY, SEV.) 

One nit-pick tangent: The only part about this scene I did not like was when McGonagall told Filch to take the Slytherins to the dungeons like they were in trouble. I get it, the Slytherins are supposedly the "bad guys" but that's... not really true. And the movie kind of took the idea that "all Slytherins are bad" and ran with it. It undermines a lot of what I think houses stand for. Some people have even gone so far as to say they should just eliminate Slytherin house but I think it’s important to have Slytherin in Hogwarts. The reason why I feel this way is that motif I keep talking about in context of Harry Potter: choices. I think the sorting hat has a lot more to do with choices than people realize (Harry even says this to his son at the end), and by taking Slytherin away, you are eliminating a choice the students could make. Harry could have been sorted easily in Slytherin, but he chose Gryffindor. I guess what I am saying is you can’t have good without the bad, and so Rowling keeps it that way to show that life is full of choice and no matter where you are put, even in Slytherin, you can always choose to be good. Look at Slughorn. He’s a Slytherin and the worst thing he’s ever done is be a raging opportunist and steal some weeds from Herbology.

Just because someone is in Slytherin doesn’t mean that they are evil. Being sorted into a house is more about which traits are stronger in you, but not necessarily that you lack any of the other houses’ traits. There are examples of many people acting “uncharacteristically” within all houses. You could use Percy as an example, or an even better one, Peter Pettigrew, for Gryffindors who don’t always do the “courageous” thing. In fact, Peter turned out to be one of the most cowardly and treacherous characters in the entire story. And then we have Snape who was a Slytherin who spent more than half his life choosing to be the most courageous spy in the Wizarding World, constantly in danger. They had to make choices and that defined them; it was not the houses they were placed in. Dumbledore did many things in his youth that a lot of people would say are Slytherin traits, while Snape did many things in the second half of his life that were very Gryffindor. So to lump all Slytherins together and send them away, with the rest of the Great Hall cheering, just rubbed me the wrong way. In the book she gave all of-age students a choice, and I like that better. Because Slytherins, by definition look out for themselves and probably would have decided to leave anyways, but at least then she didn't single them all out.
 < / tangent>


Back to the review: This is when all of the professors and members of the Order start stationing people all over the castle and setting up protective charms. As soon as this began I started to tear up. Not only was Desplat's beautiful score to blame for this, but also what Hogwarts represented to the characters and to me, and knowing that it was about to be destroyed. When it was attacked by the Death Eaters and parts of it began to fall apart and be set on fire, it felt like I was watching a character I love die. Not to mention the little moments Yates gives us with characters we know will die, just before the battle begins (Remember Lupin quoting himself, and the "You ok Freddie? Me too" moment? TEARS. TEARS FOREVER.) And from that point on, the flood gates were open. There was no "Is she crying?" about it. It was more a question of just how hard the crying was at any given moment.

From here, all hell breaks loose and the battle has officially begun. I felt most all elements of the battles were just perfect. The graphics, the pacing, the music, pretty much everything seemed wonderfully awful, like it was supposed to be. They also added an element that I thought worked really well in the film, Harry being able to hear the horcruxes, which simplified Harry's search for them and I think added to the coalescence that he is one. For movie-only audiences, that probably worked very well to smooth out any complications or misunderstandings in dealing with that storyline, plus it helped trim some of the extra exposition that would seem out of place being explained at this point.

It's here I have to mention how wonderful the performances of the trio really are. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint cannot be complimented enough for their chemistry and their talents. Especially Dan, who in many scenes gave me goosebumps, specifically when he tries to look into Voldemort's mind. So intense, so genuine. It also needs to be pointed out that film was the first time I didn't question Ralph Fiennes once as Voldemort. His performance in Part 2 was spot on and I believed him every second he was on screen. I don't know if it was because he got to do more with him because Voldy was a lot more emotional in this one, or what, but whatever he did sold me on him, finally.

Like the book, the movie pulls no punches. People are going to die, people you really love, and it might be shocking, and it might not even happen while you're able to watch, because that's war. After the trio saves Draco and Blaise and kill the Diadem, they have to run down to the boat house (Which... I don't know why they changed where this next scene takes place from the Shrieking Shack to a boat house, but ok, whatever. I guess it's not really that big of a deal.). As they make their way through the Hogwarts courtyard, it's just a horrible mess of friends being beaten up, Death Eaters attacking, giants crushing things, Hogwarts being exploded, me ugly crying.... oh the horror. But maybe the most disturbing thing for me, something I was not expecting (and perpetually forgot about until it was right in my face each time I've rewatched) was the trio coming across Fenrir Greyback chewing on a dead Lavender Brown. Genuinely horrified me each time I saw the film. It was a small moment, but very impactful.

Which brings us to the moment I had been waiting for since I read this part when the book was released in 2007: the Snape Revelation. I had built up these next few scenes so much that there was no way on Earth they could have done them to my standards. I just knew I was going to be let down, so as Harry, Ron, and Hermione sneak up to the boat house and we see the dialogue between the Dark Lord and Snape unfold, I tried not to get my hopes up. But, it didn't matter. I could have never, in a million years, imagined the perfection that Yates and Alan Rickman could produce in the way they handled the end of Snape's story. I was completely blown away!

The way Snape was killed was shocking, even though I knew it was coming. There was something really frightening and sickening about not actually seeing it happening, but only hearing it through (and slightly seeing against) the glass of the window Harry was ducking underneath. In the trailer there is a glimpse of what looks like Snape being attacked by the snake. I think it was wise to leave that out of the finished product because it was much more significant the way it ended up.

Then, there's this moment, this beautiful moment, where the goodness in Harry won't allow him to let Snape, a man he hates, die alone. So he rushes in and comes to Snape's side and does what he can to stop the bleeding, and instead of a bitter or hateful expression, he sees a man with anguished tears streaming down his face. (I absolutely love that they changed the memories to tears! What an absolutely perfect personification of Snape's entire life! The memories that are his secret miserable lonely regrets are revealed in his TEARS! YATES I LOVE YOU.) Harry takes the memories into a flask and then we hear those words "Look at me," not a demand, a request (RICKMAN FOR ALL THE AWARDS). Then, the most beautiful addition to this scene, "You have your mother's eyes." With these words coming from this man, Harry looks as though he's hearing this comment for the first time. (Welp, I'm crying again.) THIS. SCENE. WAS. PERFECTION. From all sides. I couldn't have ask for more!


Immediately, we are thrown into another tragic moment (Fred being attacked by a Death Eater) that was completely lost on my first viewing because I was rendered so useless from the perfection of Snape's death scene that I ugly cried right through it. One of my friends had to tell me that we actually see Fred being disarmed. Then we see the Weasley family weeping over his body as the trio re-enters the castle. It's just awful! So heart-breaking, especially seeing George's face. Then the camera cuts to Lupin and Tonks, both pale and dead on the floor. It's bam! bam! bam! with these deaths and Yates gives us no time to recover from any of them, much like Rowling did in her books. Honestly, I felt like it kept with the tone of the book quite well and I appreciated why it was dealt with in this way. I know many people felt like Fred's death deserved more screen time, that it was just glossed over (heck, I nearly missed it the first time), but I actually don't have this complaint. It's war and there isn't time to pause the battle to savor a dramatic moment. That's one thing I really loved about Yates' Battle of Hogwarts.

The Pensieve scene hung looming, right around the corner. As it began, I held my breath. The children they cast as young Lily and Snape were perfect and the music during this part was astounding. As we meandered through Snape's most personal moments at school, I hungered for more. They had skipped some of my favorite scenes of the book from when he and Lily were at Hogwarts. It jumps from the Sorting Hat straight to when Severus was in his 20s and leaves out the awful memory about Sirius and James which I felt was important. But, because of how the memories kept sweeping from one thing to the other, I didn't have time to be very disappointed. During the scene where Dumbledore tells Severus that Lily has been killed, I couldn't believe how perfectly Alan Rickman played Snape. It was just what I wanted to see because that moment in the book is so heartbreaking. Also, the mixing in of sound bites from previous films to give the flashbacks context were brilliant. I really loved what I was seeing, but, still, something felt like it was missing and I didn't know what.

Then, the final part of the memory begins. If ever I had doubts about anything in this film, this scene completely erased them all. This is, arguably, the most important part of the entire series, where all the mysteries are revealed and we finally realize Snape's motivation for killing Dumbledore, the true depth of his love and selflessness, and what Harry will have to do in order to defeat the Dark Lord (all in one scene, overwhelming!). The music swells as Dumbledore reveals Harry's grim fate and the fan favorite "Always" moment occurs all while a scene of a younger Snape discovering Lily's body, cradling her, crying over her, is woven throughout. Flawlessly done! It was the perfect visual and emotional crescendo for this beautiful and tragic scene that so much of the story has depended on and still depends on. The image of Snape holding Lily was something I had never dreamed I'd see in the film, so when it happened I couldn't believe it. It was the most satisfied yet heartbroken I have ever been during a movie. That sequence is the best in the entire series, in my opinion. Absolutely perfect, even better than any standard I could have set for it myself.


Oh, but don't think you have any time to recover from this wave of emotions, either. There's not even enough time to wipe your eyes and (let's face it) your nose before the next heart-wrenching moment is all up in your face. Because as soon as Harry pulls his face from the Pensieve and the weight of everything he's just learned about his fate crashes down on him, he's in the arms of his two best friends and they are saying goodbye to him, forever. This scene isn't in the book because Harry goes to the Forbidden Forest alone and under his invisibility cloak, but I think it was important to show the trio's reaction to this news. The only thing I didn't like about this moment is a perpetual problem the entire film series has always had: making Ron secondary to Hermione. It always bothers me that Ron tends to take a backseat in the trio to Harry and Hermione's friendship because in the book all three are very close and Harry needs BOTH of them to survive. But in the grand scheme of things in this film, it's a small complaint for another post.

"The Forest Again" scene, at risk of sounding horrible redundant, was just beautiful and it seemed to be adapted word for word from the book! Daniel was so moving in this scene and delivered his lines with the best kind of vulnerability (my ugly crying continues). Then, there was another precious addition to this scene that took me by surprise. When Harry says "They won't be able to see you?" Sirius replies, "But we're here you see," and his mother adds, "Always." (I really feel that Yates ships Lily/Snape, too, as well as Neville/Luna!) Again, this is a change I never imagined, but when it happened I couldn't handle all my feelings. Just when I thought I couldn't get choked up any more than I already had, Harry marches into the forest to his death, and it cuts to Hagrid tied up to the trees, begging Harry to go back. (I'm surprised I didn't frighten people around me with my cries, though I was told that even though I was obviously distraught, I did a good job muffling/hiding it. So there's that.) Again, Daniel plays this part with palpable vulnerability, a boy who has come prepared to die for the ones he loves, and then he does.

The last stitch of hope I had held on to that they would visit some of Dumbledore's past was squashed when Harry woke up in King's Cross. Some of my favorite lines of the headmaster from the book were still in this scene, but the tone of the entire thing was all wrong. In the book Dumbledore explains everything to Harry in an apologetic, broken way, and Harry, for the first time in their relationship, comforts Dumbledore and reassures him. Harry wasn't unsure of what to do next in the book yet at the end of this part in movie his last words to Dumbledore are "Professor, what do I do?" What really upsets me about this is, in Dumbledore's last scene of the series, his character has officially NEVER been presented correctly on screen. It's such a shame, because he's such a wonderful, complex creation.  

Onto the final battle! Many people had some reservations about the way the final battle was handled. I think mostly because of the odd blocking they chose instead of how Rowling had it mapped out, but to that I say this: It's a movie about a war and they are going to sensationalize it. I feel making the final battle of an 8-movie series bigger, scarier, and bloodier is called for because we've waited for ten years to see this showdown. Yes, they prolonged the killing of the snake and drew out the physical and violent nature of Voldemort vs Harry because, if they hadn't, people would have then complained it was anti-climatic. Plus, all that epic stalling made Neville's shining moment that much more awesome. (Also, ZOMG MOLLY WEASLEY. That is all.)

In the end, the last few people Harry interacts with are Hagrid (whom he hugs in the Great Hall after Voldemort is finally dead), and Hermione and Ron. I desperately wanted Ron or Hermione to ask Harry about Snape or about the Pensieve so he would talk a little about him, maybe even mention that he's going to have a portrait of Severus hung in the Headmaster's office with the others. But that didn't happen. Instead, Harry explains about the Elder Wand to his friends and not to the Dark Lord in the heat of battle, which I think was a much more reasonable and believable choice than what happened in the book. Then, it blacks out on a shot of the trio holdings hands with a destroyed Hogwarts standing in the background (ouch, my heart).

Many people didn't like the epilogue in the books, and many more people didn't like the name Harry and Ginny give their youngest son, but I love both because it's so sentimental and meaningful. The Boy Who Lived who wanted nothing more than a regular life finally got to live one. I thought the movie portrayed this scene quite well. As our three heroes get their kiddos ready to board the Hogwarts Express, we get to see these beautiful characters we've watched grow on screen across the last decade act as parents. They are now sending their own little ones to the place that started it all for them and the magic is about to begin again. It's never over, it's just about to be experienced in a new way! Kind of like when you finish a book series and decide to start it over.

And then I never stopped crying, ever.

But seriously, the way I feel about this movie is almost indescribable. I've never really taken the Harry Potter movies very seriously as films before because the adaptations were never up to par with my expectations. I can say with this one, a film that blew my standards out of the water with what it achieved, I feel very different about it. I can't verbalize what it means to me to have a movie adaptation of a series finale that I approve of so triumphantly like this. It was everything I could have hoped for. All I can really say is I am so grateful to be in this generation where I got to catch the books being released and I got to wait for the movies to come out, and I got to share all of this with my best friends and my husband. I am just so thankful. It's something that will always be special to me and something I hope to experience in a new way with my kids someday!

Movie Review: Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

One of the first entries I ever made when I started this blog about a year and a half ago was a Hollywood wish list. On that list I talked about how badly I wanted to see Conan O'Brien's tour, but couldn't, and therefore I hoped a DVD of some sort would be created. You can imagine how excited I was to find out that this documentary, Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, was coming to the Magnolia in Dallas this weekend. I grabbed up my best friend, Ashlie, who adores Conan just as much as I do, and we got our butts in seats as soon as we could.

I had a few ideas of what to expect from this movie when I went into it, but what I saw was much better than anything I could have hoped for. I got to see a side of Conan I hadn't seen before. He was candid, he was vulnerable, he was frustrated, he was insecure, he was working through one of the hardest parts of his career, and he was letting us see what that meant. He was ok with just being human on screen, something a lot of celebrities, or at least people with his amount of success, are not usually comfortable with. That's something, as a fan, I really appreciate. It was just so honest.

Now, that's not to say with all that vulnerability the movie was not hilarious, because it absolutely was. I don't think Conan can help himself. Even in the hardest of times he's cracking jokes in most every sentence he speaks. It starts out by explaining the title of the documentary: Conan doesn't know how not to be on a stage with an audience and because he can't stop working, we begin to see the evolution of the tour. It didn't occur to me when I was scouring the internet for tickets, unable to attain any, what exactly I was trying to get tickets for. I just knew it was Conan, it was in a venue up the street, and I needed to be there. In the film, it seemed like the very same thing happened to Conan and his crew as they put tickets on sale. Conan knew he wanted to tour, he wanted to be on stage with an audience, tickets were sold -now what? 

The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on TV Tour was a little bit of everything. Conan did stand up, he played music, he did skits and bits, he had special guest stars join him throughout the tour, and all the while he looked like he was having a blast on stage. (Since I didn't get to see the show live, I was glad to get to see chunks of it on screen.) Even though he was energetic during the shows, after the shows the camera zoomed in on a stoic O'Brien resting backstage, talking about what needed to be changed or tweaked to make the next show better. But, no matter how tired Conan seemed on this grueling schedule (a few times doing two shows a night!), he still went out to talk to fans lined up outside the venue, hoping for an autograph or picture.

For someone to go through something like what NBC unjustly did to Conan, it would be easy to become discouraged, to give up, and lash out. In order to find a way around that Conan, despite his pain, found a fantastic way to deal with the situation and to heal from it by going on tour. In the end, this film is surprisingly touching. Because it's so raw and I felt I was allowed to listen in on something truly personal, I was even more invested than I realized. When the tour ends in the last few minutes of the movie it was easy to feel emotional. This film doesn't paint the picture of a martyr or a saint, but of a regular guy who was trying to get through a rough patch with grace and humility. Such a great documentary! It made me laugh, it made me tear up, it made love Conan O'Brien all the more.

Movie Review: X-Men: First Class

There were some pretty big statements made about this movie before it was released, and one of them was that it was going to rival The Dark Knight for best super hero movie. Anyone who knows me can guess my reaction to that statement. Yes, I did scoff at the idea. In fact, I shrugged it off completely because going into a movie like this with expectations like that would have been an utter disaster, not to mention horribly unfair to the film.

It's probably not surprising to anyone that I did not find this to be the best super hero movie, especially not better than The Dark Knight. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the heck out of this movie! It was very good. I felt the story was interesting and well balanced. There was just enough humor to counter-act the many, many people who are killed throughout the film. There were just enough allusions to the original series to remind us who these characters are and where they're going, without being cheesy and self-indulgent. The cast was well assembled, all fitting into their characters well, especially Kevin Bacon as the villain. Plus the effects were well-done and realistic enough that it didn't distract away from the plot. And let's not forget the score, which I thought was beautiful (if I can say that about an action film), particularly in the scene where Erik lifts the submarine. There were a few parts of exposition I felt were rushed, but nothing that mattered in the long run. All-around great job.

I was surprised at just how serious this movie got in some parts. We begin at a concentration camp where we learn that Erik's past is immeasurably tragic. It's truly heartbreaking. We begin to understand why Magneto becomes who he becomes throughout the movie, as he struggles with the difference between right, wrong, vengeance, peace, and retribution. There are also, as I have mentioned, tons of people who are killed in this movie, including a few characters we grow fond of. Then, they are quickly taken away. It is not as light-hearted as some of the other X-Men movies have been.

What truly anchors the entire movie is the chemistry between James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. The entire reason this movie is interesting to people is because we want to see how these enemies started out friends, and just what did happen to make them choose two totally different paths to walk on. Without these characters having an obvious connection and special bond, the story would have lost its power completely. Luckily Fassy and McAvoy were perfectly cast together. Both brought so much heart to the movie. The friendship and fallout these two men create for these characters is beautiful and tragic and wonderful and brutal all at once. The whole time I felt it was exactly what the fall-out between Anakin and Obi Wan should have been, had the Star Wars prequels not sucked so bad.

Overall, I LOVED this movie. It was so much fun, so enjoyable, but also left me feeling emotional in many scenes. I can't wait to see it a few more times this summer.

Movie Review: Pirates 4 - On Stranger Tides

Perhaps no one was more wary of this last installment than I was... (well maybe there were a few of you). I love the Pirates series, but I have to admit that the last two movies in the original trilogy are just awful. They rarely make sense, and when they do make sense, it's for questionable reasons. So why go on to make a 4th, I would always ask. What haven't we done to this franchise that hasn't already been beat to death?

The answers to this question are this: We haven't had a sequel with a legit Jack love interest fraught with delicious sexual tension. We haven't had a sequel with a simple yet interesting story-line. We haven't had a sequel script that was fresh and didn't try to piggy-back on jokes that had already been warn down. We haven't had a sequel that completely focuses and centers around the glue that holds this entire franchise together: CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW. Of course, that is until now. This Pirates movie does all the things that made us love the first one, and more. Is it better than the original, perhaps not. But is it just as refreshing and fun? Absolutely. It may be that my expectations were so low that it surprised me, but I enjoyed the crap out of this one. 

I think it was absolutely necessary to make Jack the star once again in his own story. For too long, the movies have centered around other things that were weaker than the aura that is Sparrow. Not to mention convoluted. Trimming the fat of the franchise is what made this movie good. Not saying Orlando and Keira polluted the series, but without all the extra stuff, this movie was able to easily capture the audience without anyone saying... wait... but...? and I forgot about... wasn't he with...? OMG WHATEVER JUST FORGET IT.

Also, this movie wasn't too long. It was just right. I was entertained and happy the entire time and, just when it should have been wrapped up, it was. Plus, the movie  left me with a feeling of actually being interested in future movies in this franchise, something the last two did not achieve. I just wanted more of Jack being Jack (with actual good lines written for him!) and more time with Angelica, a character I was surprised to really like. I also really enjoyed the missionary and the mermaid, the new, silly crew members, and watching Barbosa be his usual awesome self. The Sparrow/Barbosa dynamic is another reason to truly love this film. Depp and Rush play off each other so well!

Overall, this is a great addition to the series, in my opinion. It brought us back to what made the first movie so much fun. It was able to revive in me, a skeptic, the desire to see more of this series and even hope for it. I highly suggest this for anyone who loved the original and wished the rest of the series was more like it. Here is your wish coming true.

Movie Review: Last Night

I was so excited to see that this movie was on pay per view. It's coming to the Dallas Angelika in 2 weeks, but I just couldn't wait. I had to watch it as soon as I had a spare moment, which just happened to be tonight. I have been waiting to see this movie for about a year and a half. The release was delayed a few times because of the problems Miramax was having, but thankfully, it finally made its way to me! Keira in a modern time period? I hardly knew what to do with myself! Unfortunately, I am unable to write a review about a Keira movie without spoilers.

This movie begins at a fast pace, showing the dynamics of characters and background of couple. Immediately you can see the chemistry between the two leads and how comfortable they are in their relationship. They've been together for a while, even though they are still newlyweds (married for 3 years). Keira (Joanna) was completely lovable and genuine in her role, and surprisingly, Sam Worthington (Michael) was even tolerable. (This is a big deal because I have pretty much despised him in everything else I've ever seen him in.)

Eva Mendez's Laura is hard to connect with because she is presented in a way that makes you dislike her on principle, but eventually I did end up feeling for her. The only character I never really connected with was Guillaume Canet's Alex. It's hard to say why, but it could have had to do with the fact that the whole time I kept expecting him to speak with an Irish accent but he was most certainly French. It never ceased to throw me off, and that's just my own stupidity. But also, I found his character to be the only one who never became more self-aware nor did I feel that his intentions were ever anything but selfish.

The story takes place as a side by side as Joanna's husband goes on a business trip. The actions of one spouse mirror the actions of the other, both in similar situations, just in different parts of the country. (The film cleverly does a few camera tricks with mirrors to drive home this motif.) Both spouses deal with equal temptations at the same time. Neither are really the bad (or should I say worse) guy because they are both doing things that they know are wrong or shady, both feeling guilty, and having to decided moment by moment what to do in their own specific temptation. When asked by Laura if he is happy in his marriage, Michael replies, "You can be happy and still be tempted."

The stance this film takes on cheating is that a person can't always be blamed for being attracted to another or having feelings for another. The true betrayal is subjecting your loved-one to the knowledge or the image of your desires for another. Joanna mentions a few times that Michael should have "spared" her from seeing his attraction to Laura. She wasn't upset that he was attracted to her, she was just mad that he didn't try to hide it better. She retorts, "I would've spared you." This is a kindness to be dealt your partner, in her eyes. Later, even Laura mentions the things she could never get our of her mind, when she was cheated on, were pictures she saw on a computer. Not the infidelity itself. "I could have done without the visuals." The images of cheating are more hurtful than the actions. If you have to see it, it's more of a betrayal, in this story.

As well as speaking with candor like this, the two main characters were also very self aware. They know themselves well enough to verbalize things many others wouldn't be able to. Joanna is very honest with Alex when he begins to ask about why they never have worked out. She says, "I don't know that this would be what it is on its own." She loves Alex because she idealizes him and she likes it better that way. What's rare here is she knows that's why she loves him. She won't allow more to happen because he'll become too real and the ideal will end. For a person to step out of their own head and admit this to themselves is very rare. This made her such an interesting character.

The entire movie is building up to the part where both our lovers make a decision about what to do in their temptation, creating a turning point on either front. The voice overs from one scene laid across the others' bring the actions together, even though they are geographically far apart. It links them seamlessly and makes them feel like they are happening in the same room. It's very affective and cleverly done.

In the end, the degree of betrayal on either side will have to be judged by each individual viewer. Michael has a physical affair, Joanna has an emotional affair. Which is worse? No matter what you decide, I think the film is really asking this: Is it better to know or not know when you have been betrayed in a relationship? Is it selfish to admit to it, subjecting your lover to this horrible news to clear your own conscience, or is it noble, being honest to try to work it out? And in all that goes into a marriage, how would you define betrayal?