Saw Harry Potter 3 yesterday. It was enjoyable, although I can’t seem to bring myself to gush about it. I think it was stronger than the previous two, probably due to the change in directorial vision. I also think the actors are truly coming into their roles, which is ironic as they’re going to recast them for subsequent HP films. Although there was still one or two instances where the actor playing Harry went a bit over the top. But overall, they showed much more range than in HP1 and 2.
The EFX were lovely. I especially liked how they showed the passage of time via the behavior of the Whomping Willow. And Buckbeak was amazing. My “Oh, Matthew! Let’s get a hippogriff!” comments were tempered only by the realization that one would probably want to eat Hobkin.
But the film didn’t engage my emotions. I sat back, watched all the pretty sets and costumes, and enjoyed myself, but the charm and involvement I got from the book didn’t come across.
Also watched Pitch Black in preparation for the upcoming Chronicles of Riddick coming out this week. Matthew saw it when it first came out in the theater, but I skipped it, as I fully expected it to be too scary for someone as wimpy as myself. As it turns out, I needn’t have avoided it. Nothing particularly squicky or creepy beyond the standard carnivorous alien-in-the-dark fare.
I do find it interesting that they’re playing down the fact that Chronicles of Riddick is a sequel. Not really a problem as I don’t really think Pitch Black requires follow up, and I’m more than happy just to follow the Riddick character.
Surprising myself, I’m liking Vin Diesel as the “new action hero.” Being a fan of the James Bond, clean-cut, tuxedo suave persona, I didn’t expect to find myself enamored with the gritty, ghetto-urban guise that they’re pushing with him. But I liked him in both Triple X and Pitch Black. He’s real and believable and sympathetic, anti-hero and all. Looking forward to seeing Riddick now.
Tried to trim Hobkin’s nails while watching Pitch Black. In the span of a feature-length film, I managed to get two toes clipped before he rolled over (with a reproachful look at me) and tucked all his paws beneath him so I couldn’t get at them. Sigh.
Writing Stuff:
500 words on the fantasy piece. Not much progress, but the story is brewing.
They released a director’s cut of Pitch Black in case you didn’t know. I don’t know what it is like because I haven’t picked it up, but just as an FYI…
I am really enjoying watching Vin Diesel grow as an actor, which I realise is kind of silly sounding, but it’s true. The first movie I saw him in as a character in his own right was Boiler Room. I barely registered his face in the onslaught that was Saving Private Ryan. I thought he was REALLY good in Boiler Room and when Pitch Black came out, I was REALLY impressed. The Fast and the Furious further deepend his role of a complicated tough-and-gritty action character, but I think Knockaround Guys really added a needed dose of wiseass into his otherwise grim line-up.
I refuse to discuss XXX. Sorry.
As an FYI, did you know they are making a kind of “Animatrix”-style animated movie to bridge the gap between Pitch Black and Chronicles?
I would maintain
that all of the HP movies have lacked the wonder and charm that made the books appealing…of course, the last book was lacking in that too…