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Archive for July, 2011

Based on the Marvel Comics character from World War II. A brave, yet mild-mannered young soldier named Steve Rogers, volunteers to undergo a series of experiments for a US army Super Soldier program. The military succeeds in transforming him into a human weapon, but quickly decide that their Super Soldier is far too expensive a creation to risk in combat. So, they decide to put him to use as an army celebrity and parade him across Europe to boost morale by performing in USO shows for American troops. He is even given a costume that bear the colors of Old Glory for the stage. Then, when a Nazi plot reveals itself Rogers must rise up and and become the First Avenger, in order to save his country. Steve Rogers becomes Captain America and he earns his way into the hearts and souls of every American, bringing hope and justice to a war-weary nation. Later, during a mission to Germany to stop his archenemy – The Red Skull, from launching rockets at the allies, Captain America sacrifices himself and winds up frozen in ice for almost six decades! Revived, Steve Rogers now must join forces with new heroes and become an Avenger of the modern age.

This movie was an unexpected guilty pleasure. It was much more than expected and like Super 8 proved to have the fantasy and storyline that kept it entertaining. Chris Evans should become one of the new young-turk movie stars. He only got $300,000 for this movie, but you can be he will definitely get more for the next installment. Hopefully this will be a big enough box office draw that this franchise will do well and so will Chris. Hopefully, I will get a chance to see it again, but in 3D next time.

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

After burying Dobby at the garden of the Shell cottage, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) convinces Griphook to help them get to Lestranges vault in Gringott’s, to retrieve one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes in exchange for Godric Gryffindor’s Sword. Meanwhile, Ollivander, the Wandmaker warns Harry that he won’t stand a chance with Voldemort who has the Elder Wand. They arrived in Gringotts, Hermione (Emma Watson) disguised as Bellatrix, using a Polyjuice Potion, Ron (Rupert Grint) disguised as a random wizard while Harry and Griphook go under the Invisibility Cloak. With the help of Imperius curse, they manage to get to the carts that take them down to the vaults, but when their cover is blown, Gringott’s security attacks them. They manage to get to Lestrange’s vault and finds the Horcrux, Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, at which Griphook betrays them and flees with the sword yelling “Thieves! Thieves!”. Harry grabs the Horcrux and the trio escape using a captive dragon. As they swim ashore of a lake, after jumping off the dragon, Harry has a vision about Voldemort receiving the news that the Horcrux was stolen. Harry sees that Voldemort is angry and scared. Voldemort kills the goblins, including Griphook, that bring him the news. Harry also sees that the next Horcrux is related to Rowena Ravenclaw, and is in Hogwarts castle.

The three Apparate to Hogsmeade in hopes of sneaking into the school but a Caterwauling charm is set off that warns the Death Eater’s of the trio’s arrival. They are saved by Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus’s brother, who Harry has seen through the mirror that he has. The trio use a passageway to Hogwarts provided by Aberforth, with Neville Longbottom leading the way. The group arrives at the Room of Requirement where Dumbledore’s Army made a resistance from Snape’s regime. As headmaster, Snape has turned Hogwarts into a lifeless prison. Harry confronts him in front of the entire school by saying, “How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them how it happened that night. How you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him” (referring to Albus Dumbledore). Minerva McGonagall intervenes and fights Severus, who flees to his master. Meanwhile, Voldemort has summoned his army and surrounds Hogwarts.

McGonagall and the other Hogwarts staff made a barrier to keep the school safe from any attack. Hermione and Ron go to the Chamber of Secrets to get a basilisk fang (which can destroy Horcruxes), destroy Hufflepuff’s Cup, and share their first kiss. Harry, with the help of Rowena Ravenclaw’s ghost daughter, Helena, finds out that the Ravenclaw Diadem was hidden, by Voldemort, in the Room of Requirement. He goes there, but is confronted by Malfoy and friends. When one of Malfoy’s cohorts creates an unstoppable fire (and perishes due to it), Harry, Ron and Hermione rush to escape on brooms. They save Malfoy and his other friend on the way. They destroy the diadem using a basilisk fang, and the fire. Voldemort uses the Elder Wand to destroy the shield around Hogwarts.

Voldemort and Snape then meet in the boat house, where Voldemort tells Snape that the Elder Wand is not truly his, because he is not the master of it; that Snape is the master of the wand because Snape killed Dumbledore, the previous master. So, Voldemort attacks Snape, and then orders Nagini to kill him.

Meanwhile, Harry had been looking into Voldemort’s mind to see where he was, and so knew that he was in the boathouse. Harry, Ron and Hermione witness all of this, and when Voldemort disapparates, go into the boathouse. Snape cries a tear of memories, and comments on how Harry has his mother’s eyes, and dies.

Voldemort then speaks into the minds of every person in the area. He commands his forces to retreat so that the fighters at Hogwarts can dispose of their dead with dignity. He then tells Harry that, unless he gives himself up in the Forbidden Forest, Voldemort will kill everyone who stands in his way.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to the castle and find that Lupin, Tonks, and Fred have all died. Harry goes to the Headmaster’s office, where he uses the pensive to view Snape’s memories. Harry learns that Snape has been on the good side ever since Voldemort decided to kill Lily Potter (Harry’s mother). Snape loved Lily almost his entire life, and promised to do anything for Dumbledore as long as he protected her. Then, when she was murdered, Snape promised to protect Harry in her place. We learn that Dumbledore had told Snape to kill him, as he would die soon anyway. We then learn that Harry is a Horcrux. Voldemort accidentally created one that fateful night at Godric’s Hallow. For this reason, Harry must die.

Harry then goes to the Forbidden Forest and opens the snitch (by saying I am ready to die). The Resurrection Stone appears inside the snitch, and Harry uses it to bring back his deceased loved ones. Harry faces Voldemort uses the killing curse to kill Harry.

Harry wakes up and talks with Dumbledore in a ‘heaven-like” place. They talk a little, and Dumbledore says that Voldemort actually killed the bit of his soul that was in Harry, and not Harry himself. So, Harry decides to go back to the Forbidden Forest (his body was always there, but his consciousness was not).

Voldemort has Narcissa Malfoy check if Harry is alive. When she reaches Harry, she finds that he is alive, and asks Harry quietly if Draco is still alive. Harry nods, and she pronounces him dead.

Believing that he is truly dead, Voldemort’s army marches down to the defenseless Hogwarts while Harry is being carried by the tied Hagrid. Voldemort torments the students and staff as they are now vulnerable and he’s ready for anyone who wants to join him. Neville then gives a moving speech in which he says that although Harry is dead, the fight is not over. He then gets the sword of Gryffindor from the sorting hat. Harry reveals himself to be alive and casts a spell to Voldemort and his army. Many of the other Death Eaters flee, including the Malfoy family. Battle ensues inside the castle, and Harry and Voldemort face off and continuously cast spells at each other. On the other hand, Hermione and Ron tries to kill the last Horcrux, Nagini. However, they fail to do so. However, when the snake is about to kill them, Neville kills it by decapitating its head using the sword of Gryffindor.

Harry and Voldemort cast spells at each other, and Voldemort’s killing curse backfires, and kills him, as the Elder wand flies to Harry. Harry explains to Ron and Hermione that Draco was master of the wand, not Snape, because Draco disarmed Dumbledore before Snape killed him. Then, at Malfoy Manor, Harry disarmed Draco, making Harry the true master of the wand. Harry then snaps the wand in two, and throws it away forever.

19 years later, Harry and Ginny are now parents and are guiding Albus Severus Potter and their other children into platform 9 3/4. When Albus is nervous about being sorted into Slytherin, Harry reveals to him that the sorting hat will take your opinion into account. The Potters meet up with Ron and Hermione (who are married) who then watch as their kids ride away on Hogwarts express.

The perfect ending for the series. Definitely the best was saved for last. Not only is this a great ending and the whole series in epic fashion is like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Pretty true to the books and a credit to the author, screen play writer, director, and cast. A must see on the big screen and preferably in 3-D.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Friends Nick Hendricks, Kurt Buckman and Dale Arbus are average guys who want to work hard to get ahead in their respective jobs, but they each have the same professional problem in achieving this goal: they have a horrible boss and a job difficult to escape without starting from scratch. At the financial firm where he works, Nick’s sadistic boss, Dave Harken, has long implied to Nick that he is in line for a senior vice-president position which was the farthest thing from Dave’s mind. Kurt, who works for a family owned chemical company, used to have the best boss in the world in Jack Pellitt until he died, which meant that the reigns of the company were passed to his insensitive cocaine-induced son, Bobby Pellitt. And dental hygienist Dale’s boss, Dr. Julia Harris, is sexually harassing him, which is made worse as Julia vows to tells Dale’s fiancée that they did sleep together if he doesn’t. He knows he can’t get another job due to being on the sexual predator list for an innocent incident. After the three initially joke about wanting to kill their respective bosses, Dale is the first to state that he really wants to do it, to which the other two agree. As they are just three average guys, they have no idea how to go about doing it or even hiring a hit-man. With a supposed hit-man named Motherfucker Jones as their advisor and television crime shows and old murder mystery movies as their guides, the three go about trying to determine the best way to kill the three bosses while keeping as far away from the crimes as possible. Even with their guides, they commit a few errors in the initial reconnaissance and intelligence gathering stage which may thwart the entire plan. The motivations of Julia, Bobby and especially Dave, as well as Nick, Kurt and Dale’s own morals may also factor into the success or failure of carrying out their mission.

This movie is just funny. It is a bit like a male version of Bridesmaids and is a good watch.

Rating: 3.5 our of 5 stars.

Don’t waste your time. Too much CGI, not true to comic book. Even Ryan Reynolds couldn’t make this one fly.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars.

Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz) is a poor Chicago area teacher who curses at her students, drinks heavily, and takes copious amounts of drugs. She plans to marry her wealthy fiance, but when he dumps her, she tries to win over substitute teacher Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake), who is also wealthy. Their colleague Amy Squirrell (Lucy Punch) is also pursuing Scott, while the school’s gym teacher Russell Gettis (Jason Segel) is making advances on Elizabeth.

Halsey planned on getting breasts implants in order to impress Delacorte but cannot afford the operation. To make matters worse for Halsey, Delacorte begins to have feelings of affection for Squirrell and only views Halsey as a friend. She attempts to raise money for the surgery by participating in her 7th grade class car wash and by manipulating parents to give her money for more school supplies, her efforts however were to no avail.

She later learns of a bonus for the teacher who has the class with the highest state scores. Halsey decides to change her style of teaching, going from a teacher who only showed movies to one who makes her students study vigorously for the approaching exam. The change in her teaching style and her efforts to prepare her students was not enough, seeing how they were scoring low on the quizzes she gave them. All the while she begins a friendship with Gettis, the gym teacher, and Squirrell and Delacorte begin dating.

Halsey then decides to steal the state exam that her students were going to be taking by passing for a journalist who wanted to do a report on the racial bias of the exam. When the man in charge of the exams, who she is interviewing, explains he can not give her the exam due to protocol, she resorts to seducing and drugging him in his office and stealing it from his office herself. She also takes nude pictures of him as insurance in case she gets caught. A month later Halsey wins the bonus and pays for the appointment to get her breasts enlarged.

When she hears about a field trip her class is having, and Delacorte and Squirrell will chaperone, she puts poison ivy on an apple and leaves it on Squirrells’ desk for her to eat causing her to not be able to go on the field trip and Halsey replacing her. In the field trip she seduces Delacorte and they have sex with their clothes on, which Squirrell finds out through Halsey leaving a ‘revealing’ voice message on her cell phone. She also gives advice to one of her students on letting go of a crush he has on another fellow student who doesn’t like him because she is too superficial, and causing her to reflect for a moment on how she has been superficial as well with her love interests.

After hearing the message, Squirrell switches the desk in her classroom with Halseys’ desk in order to get a someone to unlock her desk for her to find evidence that Halsey won the bonus unfairly. Squirrell informs the school principal of what she found and a meeting is set up for Halsey discuss the matter with the principal and the superintendent. She gets away with her mischief through blackmail and informs them that some teachers in the school are doing drugs. When the police search the school they find drugs on Halsey’s desk which is in Squirrell’s classroom and she is thus thought to be the teacher in the school doing drugs. Squirrell is then moved to another school by the superintendent.

With Squirrell gone, Delacorte tries to get sparks going with Halsey. She, however, turns him down due to her realizing that she has a better thing going with Gettis seeing how he is more down to earth and how superficial she has been.

The next school year it is shown how Halsey didn’t get the breast enlargement because she feels she doesn’t need them and she looks fine the way she is, she also seems to be kinder to her co worker, and she started a relationship with Gettis. As well, instead of returning to her English classroom, it is shown that Halsey is now the school’s new Guidance Councillor.

The movie is crude, rude, and hysterically funny. Justin Timberlake’s character was a little bit cheesy and wimpy but still was a watchable and laughable movie.

Rating: 2.9 our of 5