Summer Reading Binge, or How it seems that's how I deal with stress

In the past 10 days I've read (or re-read in the case of Mr Potter's exploits):

And yes, that brings my Summer Reading Tally (from May 1 - Aug 1, 2009) to a hefty 13 (or - funnily enough 1 per week) if I'm counting everything correctly and remembering everything.

Any suggestions as to what I should be reading next?

Harrry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, or How Hogwarts keeps growing up

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Directed by David Yates

Adapted by Steve Kloves

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham-Carter, Bonnie Wright and Maggie Smith.

The sixth installment of J.K. Rowling's famous boy-wizard saga gets the cinematic treatment at the hands of David Yates who gave us Order of Phoenix (and will give us Deathly Hallows in two installments). Along with screenwriter Steve Kloves, Yates manages to slim down Rowling's sprawling penultimate chapter and center it around three (at times competing) narratives: the blossoming of teen love amongst our heroes, Draco Malfoy's plot to fulfil the Dark Lord's plan and Dumbledore's quest to find a crucial memory that'll help him know more about how to defeat Lord Voldemort. This probably explains the low-simmering pace of the first two thirds of the film, as Yates brings us back to Hogwarts for Harry's sixth year at the magical school (now heavily guarded against Dark forces after the attack on the Ministry) giving us some love woes courtesy of teen awkwardness; some Quidditch matches to fulfill fans needs; some random attacks on students and a rather peculiar Potions book ("property of the Half-Blood Prince") that helps Harry ace the class. All in all, the film moves slowly but surely towards setting up two crucial events: the death of a main character and the revelation of who the eponymous 'Prince' is - both of which fall limp (no pun intended) given the action-less climax during which they take place. Yates and his cast succeed at creating wonderfully nuanced quiet moments (Hermione and Harry at the bottom of the stairs, Harry and Slughorn in his office, Tom Riddle's two memories) but - and this seemed to be a consensus around me in the theater - the two climactic 'battles' at the end of the film (Dumbledore versus the Inferi and the attack of the Death Eaters on Hogwarts) fell short (especially given the wondrous adrenaline-rush of the Ministry-attack in Order of Phoenix). The sight of Dumbledore surrounded by fire (giving us a wonderfully Biblical image) is stunning but the pacing of the scene suggests no real urgency while the Death Eaters rampage through Hogwarts (given how much was stripped from the book) feels needless and aimless (thank god for Ms Bonham-Carter who - providing her own wardrobe and hair, I'm sure, manages to give this scene some spunk). But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise well-accomplished film which depends (quite rightly) on the strength of its cast (both the young trio and the slew of accomplished British thesps proving supporting turns).

Overall this sixth installment did/does what it needed/needs to do: mainly, set up the last (two) chapter(s) in the Harry Potter story. If the action sequences felt muted (or needlessly unthrilling) it might be because this is indeed the calm before the storm, so even if I would have liked to see more crazy Bellatrix, or a more rabid Greyback (really, was the attack on the Weasley's really necessary as a plot/story/action device?) I was happy to see that the dramatic (and comedic - god bless Jim Broadbent!) aspects of the franchise have found its footing in what is arguably one of the most visually stunning and lushly art-directed and -produced installment in the series since Cuarón directed (my #1 HP film) Prisoner of Azkaban. A-

Best scene: Harry after drinking the "Liquid Luck" potion. Who knew Mr Radcliffe could play for comedy so earnestly?

Best scene 2: The mourning wands dissolving the Dark Mark - if only because of the way Maggie Smith can emote without even trying and still out-acting anyone around her.

Watch Out for 2009, or How what are you looking forward to?

Okay, so 2008 is far behind us, and it didn't quite make an impression on anyone (can someone tell me why Slumdog is taking every and all prizes other than because its competition is horribly weak?) In any case: let's look ahead people! I mostly look forward to films because of the people involved so that's why the list skews more towards films made by/starring people I love. "Big Movies" and the "Blockbusters" don't really get me excited though I do end up watching them, so that's why stuff like Watchmen, Terminator and Avatar don't quite make it to the list. Without further ado:

Top 20 Films I'm Most Looking Forward to

20. Cherie (Stephen Frears)

Michelle Pfeiffer in a costume drama. Need we say more?

19. Shutter Island (Martin Scorcese)

Despite The Aviator I still look forward to any Leo/Marty pairing.

18. Duplicity (Tony Gilroy)

You had me at Julia Roberts headlining a film. Add in Tony 'Bourne/Michael Clayton' Gilroy and a shirtless scene with Clive Owen and you've got me really intrigued for this film.

17. A Single Man (Tom Ford)

You have to give props to Mr Ford for bringing together three stars I love: Julianne, Lee & Colin. Also, I love the original story so I'm interested to see how this turns out.

16. An Education (Lone Scherfig)

If there was one deafening pronouncement coming from Sundance this year, it was the breakthrough of a certain Ms Carey Mulligan in this Nick Hornby-penned film. Add in Peter Saarsgard and an academic environment and I'm sold.

15. Rudo y Cursi (Carlos Cuaron)

Gael. Diego. 'Nuff said.

14. Brothers (Jim Sheridan)

Is it just me or was this supposed to be an '08 release? In any case, this remake of a Danish film of the same name has me intrigued, mainly for the talent involved (Ms Portman, Jake and Tobey).

13. Ponyo at the Cliff (Hayao Miyazaki)

I'm an animation freak, so of course I would be

looking forward to Miyazaki's new retelling of Anderson's Little Mermaid. Also, is this not the best voice acting cast since... ever? You had me at Tina Fey.

12. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (David Yates)

This was on my list last year: Warner Bros better make our wait worth while!

11. Los Abrazos Rotos (Pedro Almodovar)

Penelope. Pedro. 'Nuff said.

10. The Princess and the Frog (Ron 'n John)

These are the guys that brought us The Little Mermaid, Hercules and Aladdin, and while I'm unsure about the whole 'Randy Newman writes New Orleans tunes' is gonna work out, I have high hopes for this return to form among the Disney crowd.

9. Away We Go (Sam Mendes)

This is why doing research for upcoming films is fun: you realize John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cheryl Hines, Alison Janney and Catherine O'Hara are starring in a new comedy film by Sam Mendes!

8. Julie and Julia (Nora Ephron)

Meryl. Amy. 'Nuff said.

7.The Lovely Bones (Peter Jackson)

The novel tells the story of a girl who watches from heaven as her family deal with her murder. Intriguing no? We'll see what Mr Jackson cooks up for us.

6. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (Edgar Wright)

Have you really not picked up the wonderful comic books that trace the trials and tribulations of a certain Scott Pilgrim? What is wrong with you? And now, with a wonderful cast, I can't wait to see what this film looks like.

5. Sunshine Cleaning (Christine Jeffs)

Amy. Emily. 'Nuff said. (This film also closes the Amy-Emily-Meryl-Anne square - wait no. Amy and Anne now need to star in something...)

4. 500 Days of Summer (Marc Webb)

I already talked about how much I was looking forward to this film starring Zoey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt here.

3. Nine (Rob Marshall)

Nicole. Penelope. Kate. Sophia. Judi. Marion. 'Nuff said. Well, no - add to it the directorial vision of Rob Marshall and you've got yourself the most anticipated musical this year.

2. Talking Woodstock (Ang Lee)

When has Mr Lee disappointed us? (If you're answer was "Hulk" please go skulk in the corner right now, shame on you!) Also: Emile, Paul (Dano), Liev, Imelda, Demetri Martin (just saw him on Flight of the Conchords - so cute!) and Jonathan 'Spring Awakening' Groff!

1. Up (Pete Docter)

Is this a surprise to anyone? Of course PIXAR's latest installment would make my number 1 (the fact that Ratatouille and Wall‧E were my top picks for the last two years proves that I have yet to be disappointed by Lassetter & co).

Harry Potter and the Bloody Princely Pictures, or How I can't wait!

So, even if the producers of the Harry Potter movies didn't take heed to my advice (when will studio moguls learn?!) to give the remaining movies to the only director who has helmed a truly inspired and Potter-worthy film experience (*ahem* Cuaron *ahem*), I am still excited to see what David Yates et al. have in store for us when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens later this year. If nothing else, the film will be pretty (Art Direction and Cinematography have always been a strength in the franchise):

[Via /Film]

2008 Watch Out For List or How Indy, Harry and others will be back

While everyone else is reveling in 'Best of 2007' I thought we could look ahead. Here at A Blog Next Door there are a couple of movies we are watching out for - and you should too! For sake of brevity I divided my list into three categories: Franchises I Love, Stars I Love and Good Premises. Here goes the first:






Franchises I Love (ie. Hyped Up Movies that I hope won't disappoint)
I know, I know... Star Wars and Lord of the Rings come only once in a blue moon. But sometimes you just have to see the 'next episode' if only to revisit characters you love, retread over premises you know by heart, and even see what the producers/writers/directors have come up with THIS time to make your money worthwhile. Here are my picks for 2008:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Release Date: May 22, 2008
Though I don't know how Indy will make the transition to the 21st Century with newest It-kid Shia LeBouf, I will still buy my ticket to go see what Harrison, Steven and Cate have in store for us this coming summer. That said I am still mourning the fact that Mr Connery will not be reprising his role as Indy's daddy as he was arguably a high point of the 80s trilogy, and the fact that the movie has such a horrible title that makes me think it came out of a dungeons and dragons Saturday night basement charade.

Sex and the City: The Movie
Release Date: May 30, 2008
Like anyone who loved the series and loves watching the reruns (albeit censored on TBS) I am weary about the promising nature of the silver screen shenanigans of Ms Bradshaw and company. That said, watching (what I can only hope will still be R-rated, though I'm sure they'll more likely skew for PG-13) sex scenes on the big screen will be worth the movie ticket - oh and yeah, I'm also excited about the romantic storylines, sure.

Bond 22
Release Date: November 7, 2008
How do you top a movie that has given us one of the most widely reproduced man-candy scenes of all cinema? (Two if you count that torture scene... if you're into that of course) It'll be hard, that's true for Mr Haggis, Mr Foster and Mr Craig to top that and the rest of what was the most thrilling 007 venture in years, but I am confident that it will be one of the must-watch events of 2008 if only to watch Mr Craig owning the 007 title for a second time and seeing Ms Dench scorch the screen as she usually does with those great exasperated sighs and sardonic remarks she has so masterfully honed over the years.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Release Date: November 21, 2008
While I am still torn over the ending of Rowling's franchise (was that subpar last chapter even necessary? I know it's a 'children's lit series' but did it need that useless '20 years later Happy Ending' epilogue?) I am excited about the second to last movie installment - Phoenix delivered and Half-Blood should too. Sure, it won't be the artistic gem that Cuarón's third installment was but it is sure to offer what will be an even greater wizarding duel and a chance for Alan Rickman to scare (new) legions of HP fans.

The Dark Knight
Release Date: July 18, 2008
Chris Nolan - like Paul Greengrass with the Bourne movies - seems to be enjoying himself in this high-profile franchise. Batman Begins was a great entry into the Batman-centered universe with an electric performance by Christian Bale, a great acting ensemble, amazing action sequences and a great reimagining of the Bat-verse (who didn't love that Bat mobile?). With the Dark Knight creating endless online buzz and the ever-presence of Heath Ledger Joker taunts this is a Must Watch indeed.
[Also kudos for knowing that Maggie > Katie]