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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (DVD)
by Marie234
The award winning film, Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone, is a fantasy based film that revolves around the life of a young boy called 'Harry Potter'. The film was directed by Chris Columbus and produced by David Heyman. The leading actor who plays Harry Potter in the film is the one and only, Daniel Radcliffe. The film was ... released on the 4th November 2001. Daniel Radcliffe has won a variety of awards for his brilliant acting skills. He has won the Saturn Award for best Young Actor and the Empire Award for Best Actor.
Firstly, this film starts off in the quiet little neighbourhood of Little Whinging where the Dursley's live. After Harry's Mother and Father tragically died in the hands of Voldemort, Harry's yet to be discovered arch enemy, He was brought to the Dursley's, his cunning Aunt and Uncle to be looked after. While living there he has to put up with his fat cousin Dudley. Harry's adventure starts when he is sent a letter addressing his name and address which was sent from Hogwarts, The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
Dare to carry on?
Secondly, Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone is an adrenaline pumping thriller which in my personal view is an exhilarating film that will completely take you breath away! Personally, I think that Daniel Radcliffe who takes on the role of Harry Potter is brilliant. Not only was he perfect for the role but also, his excellent acting skills give the film a touch of magic! Similarly, Hermione Granger played by the incredible actress Emma Watson plays a big role in the film too and gives the viewer's something to look forward to. In contrast, Harry's annoying cousin Dudley is my least favourite character as he makes the film extremely boring.
Thirdly, Let's explore the film in more detail! When Harry makes his journey to Hogwarts, he doesn't know the dark secrets that lurk in the underworld of Hogwarts! He's in for many dark adventures and life threatening events that will haunt him forever! There are also many secrets that he must uncover in order to succeed and he must be willing to fight for survival!
Overall, this film unarguably is the best film ever made in the history of films! I highly recommend that you watch this breath-taking film that will truly blow your mind away! If you like a good thriller then this is the film for you. Sit back and enjoy!
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A Little Princess (DVD)
by Hoggle-DR1749
This is a beautiful little story that raises the issues of war, treatment of the classes and various other socail issues of the early 20th century through the eyes of an imaginative young girl. This film is also the only reason i know anything about Hindu Gods and mythology.
The film opens up with the beginnings of a popular ... Hindu myth about the Hindu god Rama and his princess, Sita (played by Alison Moir.) The ins and outs of the myth are shown throughout the film and the myth is used to show key emotional changes/ realisations within the film.
Sara Crewe (played by Liesel Matthews) is a young girl raised in India by her Papa, Captain Crewe(played by Liam Cunningham.) She is an imaginitive young girl who tells the Hindu myth to anyone she sees in a way that seems like she has made it up. Due to her father being called to serve his duty in the War, Sara is sent to America to go to school at the Miss Minchin School for Girls. Very quickly we find Miss Minchin (played by Eleanor Bron) has a dislike for Sara whereas the other girls of the school quickly love her and her outrageous stories. Upon hearing the news of her father's death however things take a dramatic turn for Sara and she learns about the harder side of life. Though a lot of trials and tribulations are given to her however, Sara still doesn't lose hope, and with the help of the Hindu man across the way she still retains her kind and imaginative heart, along with finding out not all is as it seems to be.
The most effective thing about this film for me is, as you might guess, the use of the Hindu myth alongside this story. It provides a nice break between events that happen to Sara and shows us what she learns, and in turn what she teaches those around her as she goes through her trials. The visual effects of this cross- cutting technique are also very effective and rather stunning, for in one scene we are in drab and dreay 1917 America where it is cold and raining, to bright and colourful timeless India where this great divine battle is taking place. The only reason i know this is a Hindu myth is because it came up in a Religion and Philosophy class i took during my A levels.
Another thing about this film is the music used to show when Sara is beginning to fall in her hope and when it rises again, for example in one scene Sara has had a particularly rough day and is really down, and to top it all off a big gust of wind blows away her shawl. But when this happens a jingle played by a sitar shows the transition between Sara before her shawl was blown off, and Sara when she meets the person who catches her shawl for her. Various other moments like that happen throughout the film, and thus tying in the Indian references very neatly.
This is just an absolutely beautiful film based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnet, where any audience will just fall in love with the characters and the Indian scenes at the very least.
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Dark Shadows (DVD)
by Madeinjapan
Let me begin by saying I LOVE Tim Burton films. He has never produced a single thing I've honestly hated... Until now. Forget burning down the town at the end of the film. They should have burned down the house with the Collins' still in it, and left Barnabas underground.
The story follows the awakening of Barnabas Collins, ... who sets about trying to restore his family business and fortunes alongside his quirky little modern day family. He's been absent from the world for nearly two hundred years ... So surely this should be hilarious, right? Wrong. I don't even really know what genre this is supposed to be, it's some sort of bizarre attempt at comedy, supernatural, coming of age mass of silly string. It centres around one storyline, that despite being of minimal interest, overshadows all the subplots that could have been of far greater interest, such as Victoria's abilities or her connection with Barnabas.
I think what butchers this film is a real lack of character development, with the possible exception of the daughter seemingly deciding to become a werewolf at the end of the film. Other than that, every character pretty much remains at a standstill. The backstory with Barnabas/Angelique isn't explored as throughly as could be, nor his relationship with Victoria. The focus however, is primarily on Barnabas, leaving little room for the rest of the cast, who just seem to happily swan along with his plans.
Barnabas himself conforms to every vampire stereotype, there's nothing new or novel to him. I'm not saying I want him to be Edward Cullen, struggling with the beast within or anything, but he falls flat.
The plot itself hardly holds the viewer in a vice like grip, it's possible to fall asleep for twenty minutes, wake up, and to not have missed anything significant! By the end of the film, obviously, Barnabas is a roaring success story and has disposed of the villain Angelique.
It's quirky, quite fun in a childish like way, scenes such as Barnabas' confusion over Alice Copper providing a little bit of entertainment. But other than that, it's a poor attempt at a comedy that falls flat on it's face.
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