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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Solid start to a spectacular series
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first of eight films based on the seven best selling novels by J.K. Rowling. While I certainly don't think it is one of the better films, it is the one that starts them off and crucially it does so in the right way.
The tone of the Philosopher's Stone is considerably lighter than the rest of the series. It is quite childish at times and you never really feel there is any danger. That is a problem because in some scenes you probably should feel a threat. The effects in the series overall are fantastic but in this one they are patchy. The troll, fluffy, the quidditch and Voldemort when he appears all look quite cartoonish.
The biggest success of the first HP film is the world building. So many fantasy films throw you straight into a complicated, elaborate plot and spend ages trying to explain what is going on. The result is that you never feel like you have been transported into another world. That is what Chris Columbus got right about this one. The plot here feels, for large parts, less important than introducing the world itself. The focus of the film is primarily on the wonder and magic of the world.
The sets and locations are fantastic. Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Gringotts all look great. The costumes are also stunning and give the film a real vibrancy. The soundtrack from John Williams is iconic. The cast features some of the best British and Irish talent from the last half-century and they all give memorable performances. The kids definitely grow into their roles but I had no problem with any of them here.
Some of the later films have far more depth, character development and danger about them but they are allowed to because of the foundations laid in this one. When you see Hogwarts, the owls, etc. in the later films you automatically know it is the Harry Potter world and crucially feel a connection to it. That is the Philosopher's Stone's greatest triumph.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
One of my all time favourites
I first saw T2 at my grandparents house when I was about 8/9. I hadn't seen the first one but it didn't matter, I was completely mesmerised. I remember going into school the next day and telling my friends that I had seen the best film ever. I've seen it at least 10 times since then and it's hard to argue with my original statement.
The film is just completely magnetic from the start until the end. Nearly every scene is iconic, although the phone call between the two terminators is a personal favourite. The effects are stunning. The action is spectacular. Yes, there are explosions but they never feel unnecessary. I'm generally not a big fan of chase scenes but they work perfectly here. Each is unique and they never last too long. The pacing is flawless. Cameron lulls the action to give you a breather before it starts up again in force.
Schwarzenegger reprises his role from the first Terminator and he is fantastic. People say he can't act and maybe he can't but it doesn't matter, he is still fantastic. Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor is transformed from the first film and you can see how her ordeal has impacted her. Edward Furlong plays the somewhat bratty, attention deprived John Connor. He is a little irritating at times but works well with Schwarzenegger. Robert Patrick is brilliant. He is expressionless, emotionless and terrifying. Even the minor performances like Joe Morton as inventor Miles Dyson and Earl Boen as the evil Dr. Silberman are so memorable.
I could write pages on why I love Terminator 2 but I think I'll leave it there. It's my favourite action film, favourite sci-fi film and one of my overall favourites. If you haven't seen it then lock yourself in a room, turn the lights off and just enjoy it. It's a pure spectacle.
C'era una volta il West (1968)
Not my favourite Leone film
I can see why people love Once Upon a Time in the West. It has all Leone's hallmarks. It looks fantastic. The cinematogrophy is stunning and you get a real feel for the vastness and wildness of the landscape. The wide shots also contrast so well with the intense close-ups. The soundtrack from the late Ennio Morricone is predictably great. It's not as outlandish as some of his others but runs beautifully throughout the film. The cast are all good. Henry Fonda plays a great, dead-eyed villian. I also really liked Jason Robards as the colourful "Cheyenne".
However, that's where it stopped for me. The first hour/hour and a half is painstakingly slow. I understand the attempt to create mood and atmosphere but I just found it a slog. When the story does get going it's fine but still lacks the verve of some of Leone's other pictures.
Once Upon a Time in the West wasn't really for me. It has a great rating here and I know it's on loads of best film lists so maybe I'm just missing something but I don't think I'll sit through it all again to find out what that is.
Man on Fire (2004)
A thriller with heart but terrible editing
The plot for this film isn't spectacular or ground breaking. Denzel Washington is an alcoholic ex-assassin/agent hired as a bodyguard for a family in Mexico. He starts off broken, cut-off from everyone and suicidal but slowly strikes up a relationship with the daughter played by Dakota Fanning.
The performances from Washington and Fanning carry this film for me. Their relationship feels real. There is good dialogue, emotion and humour and I believe it when Washington starts to return from the oblivion he was in. As Christopher Walken says: "She showed him it was alright to live again." The biggest compliment I can give is that I care when she gets kidnapped although it's hardly surprising.
The pace really picks up in the second half. Washington goes on his revenge seeking crusade and there's a few plot twists for good measure. Radha Mitchell really shines as Fanning's grieving mother. The ending is also satisfactory and wraps things up pretty nicely.
However, the editing. The editing. It was irritating, obnoxious and relentless. It killed all the tension and suspense and almost wrecked the whole film for me. It reminded me of the Powerpoint transitions people used in their primary school presentations back in the day.
All in all, if you can stomach the editing it's definitely worth a watch.