Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Harry Potter is growing up! Daniel Radcliffe’s voice is deepening, as is the voice of Rupert Grint, the Ron Weasley character, Harry’s male partner in crime—and young Emma Watson, as their female cohort Hermione Granger, is transitioning to young womanhood. What a miracle of timing, to find these young people so appropriate to the original J.K. Rowling’s stories and our own personal imaginings of these characters—and that as they are maturing in our world of movie-making schedules, they are in step with the release of this newest film in the series. The…Prisoner…is Sirius Black, played by the chameleon-like Gary Oldman, expertly disappearing into his character, the evil Sirius, with which Harry, Ron and Hermione, along with Professor Lupin of the Dark Arts, have a date with destiny. Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith elegantly reprise their roles as Professors Snape and Minerva McGonagall. A Harry Potter best ever.

Metaphysical Overview: During the worst of times, when we are looking for someone to ‘save’ us, the someone most often turns out to be ourselves.

THE NOTEBOOK

James Garner is sure to be nominated for his role in The Notebook. His character, Noah Calhoun, wrings emotions out of the viewer several times, and always pleases, which we have come to expect as Garner’s pedigree. Gena Rowlands, is perfectly cast and allows insights into dementia with her deeply moving portrayal of Allie Nelson. Their story line is augmented by the underlying back-story, featuring relative unknowns, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, giving surprisingly mature performances. Both stories mesh wondrously, as Nick Cassavetes interweaves the couple’s life stories, in the sunset and sunrise years of their relationship. The Cinematographer, Aaron Zigman, also gets kudos for his superlative shots. Know that it took the production one year to raise and train the ducks for the river scene! 

Metaphysical Overview: A couple can often transcend illness, loss of mental faculties, alienation and even death, if their bond of love, nurtured over a lifetime, is invoked.


THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW

This film is not about the Day After Tomorrow, (which may allow them a sequel.) It is an extremely satisfying thrill ride, ala special effects extraordinaire. Just go enjoy it, and don’t pick at the science, because they don’t even get the geologic dating right, so, of course everything else is suspect, as well. The young people, Jake Gyllanhaal and Emmy Rossum, do a stand-up job, and are supported by Dennis Quaid in the predictable role of town crier.

Metaphysical Overview: Our species will survive even when the world is coming to an end, or the sky is falling…however, we should still attend to our behavior and environmentally impactful activities.


Around The World In 80 Days: 
The special effects reign in this flick, and Jackie Chan turns in another one of his charming performances and saves an otherwise tedious cast, lackluster direction and inane script from utter ruin—though the two ten-year-olds in the row behind, roared with laughter in all the right places at the screening, and gave two thumbs up when asked after the credits rolled how they liked the movie…so there you are.

Chronicles of Riddick:
 Vin Diesel gives bravura, encore performance as Riddick—and is vividly supported by the entire, menacingly sterilized world of the Necremongers Crusade, brought to futuristic life with marvelous special effects and elaborate sets. Diesel is nicely supported by a good cast, headed by Dame Judi Dench, herself, beautifully playing an ethereal being that guides Riddick.

The Stepford Wives:
 Bette Midler steals the show in this remake worth seeing for the fun of it, not the least of which is watching the entire ensemble cast including Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close and Christopher Walken cavort about in vintage costumes.