The fastest selling book in history, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was divided into two films. Some believe that this was simply a money making decision but I feel that it was a very essential choice to do justice to the final book. The reason for this is that the pacing of each half of the book is completely different. The first half shows the despair the trio are going through in their hunt for the horcruxes. If this was chopped down to an hour of screen time or much less as would have been necessary, it would make their journey seem effortless and uncomplicated. There would be no build-up and the atmosphere would be all wrong. The second half of the book is much more action packed and the movie Deathly Hallows part II is much the same. After a short sombre beginning, this is an all out action flick. It just doesn’t stop. The film picks up right where it left off at Shell Cottage, which is perfect for those who have had a Harry Potter marathon leading up to the final film.

The absence of Hogwarts in the first movie is made up for with the majority of action in Part II taking place in the castle. As a result of the split, the plot of Deathly Hallows Part II has the advantage of staying very faithful to the book. Any changes made were necessary for pacing or to give more screen time to the talented subsidiary cast members yet nothing feels incredibly absent like some of the other movies. Director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves do a fantastic job with ambiance and pacing which leaves this movie one that you’ll watch from the edge of your seat, especially those that haven’t read the book. I do feel however that a lot of the details were kept in for the fans of the books, certain parts of the narrative may have those that haven’t read the books wondering about their relevance. All in all, this truly is an epic finale that ties up every loose end and in doing so, shows just how far ahead Rowling planned when writing these books. Everything is kicked up a notch, just as these young actors have grown so has the complexity and scale of the narrative. All of the hype is justified and I was left feeling like this magical conclusion was well worth waiting for.

After a decade of having a new movie to look forward to, the end is bittersweet. At the London Premiere, Rowling finished her speech with a consoling line “Whether you return by page or big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” Her books have been translated into at least 67 languages and millions of people around the world have been captivated by J.K. Rowling’s creation. That kind of attachment to a story doesn’t just disappear. Harry Potter may be over but I believe Stephen King put it perfectly when he said “I think Harry will take his place with Alice, Huck, Frodo and Dorothy and that this series is not just for the decade but for the ages.”

Deathly Hallows Part II opens at midnight tonight in most cinemas.

Related Posts:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry, along with Ron and Hermione are left with only each other for comfort. Away from everyone and everything they have ever loved, their friendship is put to the test in this life or death quest. The film opens with a statement from Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic reassuring the wizarding world that everything is under control, they are putting up a fight against Voldemort’s forces. However, it is not long before the ministry falls and a real sense of chaos floods into the storyline. This panic and turmoil seeps into the entire plot of the movie. Like the book, the setting of the film is mainly on the road. The trio are always on the move; tensions run high and the action is very well paced. There are necessary changes which is inevitable when adapting such a book to the screen but the film stays faithful to the book in all of the areas that matter most.

Although the film is very chilling, a touch emotional and a little creepy, there are still moments of comic relief which ease this tension and stay true to the characters. An addition to this is a new scene in which Harry and Hermione dance. This was added to the film by director David Yates who said that individuals will either love it or hate it. He also picked it as as his personal favourite moment of the film. To me, this addition was one of the nicest moments in the film. Platonic relationships between guys and girls is a very underrepresented notion in this type cinema. Hermione removing herself from her parent’s memories is just mentioned in the book but features as one of the most emotional moments of the film.

Deathly Hallows part one was originally planned to be released in 3-D but due to time restraints, this was not possible. I’m sure the prospect of pushing forward the release date of this film for the extra profit of a 3-D admission ticket was not worth the wrath of the Harry Potter fanbase. The best decision that they could have made was splitting the book in two to give the series the send off it deserves. We’ll be waiting with bated breath until summer 2011 for part 2. Accio 15th July!

Related Posts:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer

As soon as you walk into Islands of Adventure, you can see Hogwarts in the distance. This acts as a kind of guiding star, drawing you straight to the Harry Potter section of the park. As soon as you step into Hogsmeade, you feel like you have stepped into the movie. The park is a perfect replica of the imagery that we have come to love in the movie series. The Hogwarts Express is the first thing to greet you and there are many trunks scattered around the train. A Hogwarts Express conductor greets you for a photo op and steam intermittently blasts from the train.

There are three rides to experience in the WWoHP. The first roller coaster you encounter is the Dragon Challenge. This was renamed and re-themed from the Dueling Dragons roller coaster but it is such a great coaster that I’m definitely glad it’s part of the WWoHP. It is designed to be like the Triwizard tournament and you are a champion.  You can choose between the The Chinese Fireball which reaches a top speed of 60 mph and the Hungarian Horntail dragon which reaches a top speed of 55 mph. The dragons launch at exactly the same time and there are three times that you feel like you will crash into the other coaster. Both dragons have five inversions but it’s needless to say the Fireball is the one to go for and the front row is definitely worth queueing for.

The next roller coaster is much more family orientated. Flight of the Hippogriff is a very sweet roller coaster that kids will love where you learn how to approach a Hippogriff and then get to fly over Hagrid’s hut and pumpkin patch. There is a lovely view of Hogwarts while you’re up top too.

Hogwarts itself looks incredible. You can’t help but marvel at how much of a perfect replica it is. From far away, you can see that palm trees are really surrounding the area but they have planted pine trees closer to the castle to make it look more authentic.

The third ride is the Forbidden Journey which is the main focus of the park. You get to walk through Hogwarts and encounter lots of fun stuff inside the the castle. You go through the Herbology greenhouse, see the talking portraits, the house points, Dumbledore’s office, the Pensieve, the fat lady potrait, the sorting hat and much more before getting onto the ride which is a fantastic montage of lots of tasks and creatures encountered throughout the series. You feel like you’re on a broom getting attacked by the Whomping Willow, Aragog, Demontors and a dragon. You also get to fly over the castle and onto the quidditch pitch- it’s brilliant fun and very well executed. If you aren’t tall enough/pregnant/don’t want to ride, you can do a separate walking tour of the castle so that you don’t have to miss out on everything.

Ollivanders is designed to be an experience where you enter the wand shop and Ollivander will select a child and let them try out a few different wands to find the wand that chooses them. The experience is very cute and the attention to detail does not stop here. There are wand boxes stacked everywhere around you and they are covered with dust to recreate what you think Ollivanders really should be like. After the wand makes its choice, everyone enters Dervish and Banges where you can then view all the replica wands from the characters in the movie (Harry, Hermoine, Neville, Snape etc.) or you can give your birthday and they supply you with your own wand from that information.

There is definitely plenty to buy other than your own wand including robes, brooms, clothes, mugs, key rings and all the usual stuff. However, the majority of the merchandise is Hogwarts themed rather than character orientated presumably to make you feel that you are part of the school itself.

The most incredible part of the experience is its attention to detail. When you walk into the toilets, you can hear moaning Myrtle in every cubicle. Send a postcard home with a Hogsmeade post stamp on it and while you’re writing it, look up to see that you’re sitting in an owlery. The lockers are designed to be like a train station and even the ATM machine is themed.

The detail is everywhere. Everything inside the windows move, from the quidditch gear to the Howler which tells you off outside Dervish and Banges, a car that beeps when you walk by and a Monster book of Monsters that growls at you.

For a refreshment, you can grab a Butterbeer or a Pumpkin juice on the street in Hogsmeade.

Or pop into the three broomsticks for a magical dinner.

Or visit the Hog’s Head for a nice beverage.

They’ve got Zonkos with a few familiar products to buy.

And Honeydukes for Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and other lovely treats.

And yes, the Chocolate Frogs come with collectible cards- they’re holograms!

Even just hanging out in Hogsmeade is a lot of fun. In a survey send out to those that frequent the Universal Parks, Universal has been asking guests if they would re-visit Harry Potter if it doubled in size in the next twelve months. Plans seem to be in the works to expand the park and it looks like Harry Potter fans have much more to look forward to in the future.

So there you have it, it’s an amazing experience and a must-do for every big Harry Potter fan. Just comment below if you have any questions about the WWoHP.

Related Posts:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

and Xenophilius Lovegood

and now the details of Part one have been released which I found from Steven Neish on HeyUGuys -Movie Blog. If you haven’t read the book and don’t want to see spoilers then avoid this. For everyone else, this is very exciting!

“The film opens with Rufus Scrimgeour, who replaced Corneleus Fudge as Minister of Magic after the events of Order of the Phoenix, hosting a press conference to inform the media of the many issues facing the wizarding world. The audience is then taken to Malfoy Manor where they witness, in addition to the murder of Muggle Studies teacher Charity Burbage, Severus Snape leak the plans for Harry Potter’s get-away to He Who Must Not Be Named. The biggest difference from the book will be the inclusion of the memory charm Hermione uses upon her parents, which was only suggested in the original novel. Cue title credits.

During the escape from 4 Privet Drive, tragedy strikes our hero when Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody fall victim to killing curses. While some viewers felt the latter’s death was skimmed over, the majority felt Hedwig’s death scene was more affective on film than on the page. Rather than being killed in its cage, the owl heroically returns to save its master’s life having been released earlier in the film. Regrouping at The Burrow for the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, the film remains faithful to the book in all but one way: Harry is not disguised as a wayward Weasley. The scene in which Kinglsey Shacklebolt warn’s the couple’s guests that the ministry has fallen was described as being one of the most chilling moments in the film.

Now on the run from the ministry and Death Eaters; Harry, Ron and Hermione escape into the country for a handful of chapters and, according to moviegoers, a proportionate number of scenes. Whether or not such screentime will be amended for the film’s general release, however, it is impossible to say. That said, the reunion between Ron and Harry is supposed to be one of the best scenes in the film, particularly when Ron is required to destroy a Horcrux bombarding him with images of Harry and Hermione in an embrace. At some point, the threesome decide to visit Xenophilius Lovegood to learn more about The Tale Of Two Brothers, a book left to Hermione in Dumbledore’s will. The sequences detailing the story are said to be presented in a Tim Burton-esque animated sequence which avoids needless explanation and exposition to acclaimed effect. The death of Dobby is similarly handled well, immediately proceeding the suggested torture of Hermione at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange. Shown from the perspective of Harry and Ron, the torture and heroism are apparently two of the most affecting moments of the movie.

Ending with Voldermort’s acquisition of the Elder Wand, Hogwarts is glimpsed for the first time since Half Blood Prince. This ends a movie with heavy pure-blood overtones – anti-muggle propeganda is promenant throughout while Bellatrix carves ‘mudblood’ into Hermione’s arm – and few deviations from the source material. While Tonk’s pregnancy is glossed over, and the Potterwatch subplot has been abandoned, this does sound like the most faithful to date. It also sounds as though it could be the best – and darkest – of the series, until Part II at least. When the biggest issue involves pacing of the camping scenes, which are easily edited, there really appears to be no reason to doubt David Yates’s ability to end the series on a high. After the phenomenal trailer, the steady trickle of stills and the positive buzz surrounding initial viewings, anticipation has finally reached fever pitch.”

Next week, I’m off to Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I’ll be giving an in-depth review of this upon my return to give you something to look forward to. As for me, I finally get to go to Hogwarts on September first; something I’ve been dreaming of since I was nine. Hopefully it will live up to my expectations

Related Posts:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer

Erin played by Drew Barrymore is a thirty year old journalism student has recently got her life back on track and is doing a summer internship in New York at a newspaper. Justin Long plays Garrett who lives in New York and works in the music industry. They meet at in a New York bar one faithful night, have great chemistry and enjoy six weeks of no-strings attached frivolity. During their bittersweet parting, they agree to a long-distance relationship. As with all long-distance relationships, the cracks begin to show and the couple realize that living at opposite sides of the country is even further than it seemed. The temporal structure of the film skips through the months when the couple are apart which makes an interesting comparison between New York and San Francisco at different times of the year- New York paces through its seasons while San Fran stays sunny throughout. The only time we do see it rain there is to reflect a pathetic fallacy of apartness.

Something is definitely missing here though, there seems to be a couple of subplots that go absolutely nowhere almost as if they were edited out which leaves a bit of a hallow feeling towards the end. The strength of the movie is its portrayal of the rational choices that people have to make between their relationships, careers and home ties. While Going the Distance doesn’t remotely shatter the generic conventions of the rom-com genre, it is not overly sappy and provides enough laughs and vulgarity to ensure that it doesn’t simply appeal to a female audience. It does follow the pattern of a rom-com pretty rigidly and as such there is plenty of comic relief from the best friend characters Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis (Floyd from 30 Rock). Christina Applegate plays Erin’s uptight older sister who acts as the voice of reason and sanity throughout.

Drew Barrymore is the savior of the film projecting her usual captivating self. Although her character doesn’t differ much from the humorous ‘one of the guys’ party girl that she has portrayed in many rom-coms before, she fits the role perfectly. Overall, this is an entertaining romantic comedy with nothing entirely different to offer but a very likable movie all the same. With some great characters, nice chemistry and a few vulgar laughs, you’ll know what to expect but you’ll enjoy it all the same.

Related Posts:

• Salt
• Knight and Day
• The A-Team
• Toy Story 3
• The Karate Kid 2010

The storyline spirals the viewer through a series of twists and turns that are interesting in the beginning, but by the end create so many plot holes that renders the film altogether senseless. There is no lack of action in this film however, it is a very fast paced escapade that although entirely unrealistic is entertaining to watch. Car chases, shoot outs and some punch ups flow nicely making sure you never have to sit through a dull stint of dialogue.

After looking forward to this film for a long time, I can say that I was underwhelmed overall. If I anticipated this film to be a mindless action movie rather than an enthralling thriller, I would have regarded it more warmly. It is rumored that Tom Cruise was originally set to play Jolie’s character but chose the leading role in Knight and Day instead. I don’t think that the film would be as appealing if Cruise had played the part. Without Jolie in the mix this movie could have been a lot worse but her presence alone makes it worth watching. Whether she’s rolling off the top of a truck or very realistically disguised as a man, she’s not a boring character to watch. Salt will definitely grab your attention and keep you entertained but it won’t give you much to think about afterwards.

Recommended for: People who like the Bourne trilogy, fans of Angelina Jolie, action movie enthusiasts.

Not recommended for: Don’t go see this movie expecting a realistic mind-blowing thriller. It won’t deliver in that respect but if you want to see some great action sequences with a very appealing female lead, then go for it.

Related Posts:

• Going the Distance
• Knight and Day
• The A-Team
• Toy Story 3
• The Karate Kid 2010

Roy Miller is not the knight in shining armor that she expected him to be. He is a former secret agent on the run from the FBI. It’s hard to believe that Tom Cruise is 48 in this movie where he takes on all his own stunts. Having Mission Impossible under your belt might have other advantages after all. His character is extremely likable as he goes on a quest to protect innocent Simon Fleck (Paul Dano), the inventor of a infinite energy source from being exploited and takes June along for the ride. The action moves at quite a fast pace because of a neat plot device that is actually pretty comical. We see the events through the eyes of June who falls unconscious quite regularly. This means that the audience is constantly finding itself in new dangerous situations with the impression that you have slipped past the more tedious parts of the film. Throw in a bit of romance and some beautiful scenery and you’ve got yourself a perfect popcorn blockbuster.

I really didn’t expect to like this movie as much as I did. It’s one of those terrible films filled with ridiculous plot holes and clichés but for some reason, the humor and the characters make this not just bearable but downright enjoyable too. If you must drag your action flick loving boyfriend along to see a chick flick at least the stunts, weapons and motorbikes make it some sort of compromise. Saying that, Knight and Day is most definitely a chick flick and I don’t think everyone will fall under its spell like I have.

Recommended for: Those looking to switch their brain off for a couple of hours. Just disengage and enjoy.

Not recommended for: People that watch the trailer and think ‘No way will I ever enjoy that.’ You probably won’t.

Related Posts:

• Shrek Forever After
• Going the Distance
• Salt
• The A-Team
• Toy Story 3

The television show was loved for its characters and over the top action sequences and I believe that the movie brings those exact qualities to the big screen. With a very lovable cast and some great one liners, there is some great chemistry to enjoy. The A-Team cast consists of Hannibal (Liam Neeson) who loves it when a plan comes together, Face (Bradley Cooper) the irresistible ladies man, B.A. Baracus everyone’s favorite mohawked man (Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson) and Murdock (Sharlto Copley) perhaps the best character of all.

If you’re not familiar with the plot, the director Joe Carnahan who co-wrote the script also, doesn’t stray too far away from the original storyline. There are some time-line changes and a shift of the action from Vietnam to Iraq. After a mission of hijacking of a truckload of counterfeit money in Baghdad, The A-Team find that they have been framed for a crime they did not commit. Dishonorably discharged, these Special Forces officers are sent to prison where of course, they do not stay for long. The storyline takes a back seat with the action doing all the driving in this film. The funny thing is, it doesn’t matter a bit. You get so embraced in the ridiculous nature of it all that it doesn’t even matter what The A-Team are doing anymore. The ending is left wide open for a sequel and with that charismatic cast, I wouldn’t be adverse to the idea at all.

If you’re looking to find faults with this movie, you most certainly will but it doesn’t take itself too seriously so neither should you. Overall, The A-Team is an entertaining adaptation that’s just plain fun to watch.

If you’re looking forward to an action packed flick with a couple of nods to lovers of the popular television series then you’ll definitely enjoy this experience. If you know nothing about the TV show and like action movies, you’ll probably enjoy it all the more.

Recommended for: Lovers of the TV show, action movie fanatics, popcorn blockbuster seekers.

Not recommended for: People looking for a parallel to ‘The Hurt Locker’, this movie is not supposed to be taken seriously.

Related Posts:

• Going the Distance
• Salt
• Knight and Day
• Toy Story 3
• The Karate Kid 2010

I’m sure that cast and crew of Toy Story are just as attached to the movies as we are. In fact, all of the original actors have returned even the voice of Andy and his mother. As far as I’m aware, the only voice that has changed is that of Slinky Dog as Jim Varney has since passed away. Blake Clark stepped in and channelled his old friend Varney perfectly. With a lot of pressure on their shoulders from many now adults that have grown up with these characters, Pixar acknowledges the passing of time with Andy, now 17 going to college. Clearing out his room, there is a mishap and the toys end up being donated to a local daycare centre. With new characters and a new world for them, the toys find themselves on an entirely new adventure. The writing is extremely heartwarming and hilarious all at the same time.

Toy Story 3 joins the ranks of other contemporary animation movies by coming to our screens in 3D. Although always planned to be in 3D, the filmmakers felt it was more important to let the story be told first and to add 3D after, rather than being constrained in what they wanted to do, or have a sequence purely for the sake of it being in 3D. 3D in TS3 is mainly used to draw your eye to certain aspects. They use a very shallow depth of field for these shots in order to make the 3D more effective. They did not want the 3D to detract from the emotions in the film and as it is a very emotional film overall, I think the 3D is just right. If you’re looking for a purely engrossing 3D romp, then this isn’t it.

It has been revealed that Tim Allen has Toy Story 4 in his contract should the opportunity arise but director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla K. Anderson seem sure that this is the end of Toy Story. With a very weepy close that will affect adults much more than children, I personally think that Toy Story 3 is the perfect wrap up for the franchise. The writing, acting and animation is pitch perfect. It is completely worth the wait and I don’t think TS fans will be at all disappointed.

Recommended for: Everybody.

Related Posts:

• Going the Distance
• Salt
• Knight and Day
• The A-Team
• The Karate Kid 2010

This movie makes a conscious effort to not replicate the original Karate Kid completely but rather to take the core values and make them appealing for a modern teenage audience. With violent movies aimed at teenage audiences being released left, right and centre it’s no surprise that The Karate Kid is much more hardcore this time around. The movie is most definitely more violent than the original, which shows that teenage audiences have become somewhat desensitized to violence in films. The fight sequences are very well done and were the most enjoyable part of the film for me. The other aspect I really enjoyed about this film was its China setting. As the original Karate Kid was set in California, it is a refreshing change of pace to see this tale with a different cultural spin.

It wasn’t until Jackie Chan was cast as Dre’s mentor Mr.Han that China was considered. Chan was delighted about this aspect of the film. “This movie will give audiences a chance to learn about Chinese culture as well as Chinese martial arts. Such a wonderful promotion,” he exclaimed. The film certainly is a beautiful showcase of China itself. From the first day that Dre steps out of his new home, we are treated to a spectacle of Chinese culture. From dancing to ping pong with beautiful scenery in between. The movie even features a look at the Tiananmen Gate and inside the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is known as such because it was home of the Emperor of China and seat of power from 1420 until 1912, when the last emperor of China abdicated; no one could enter or leave the palace without the express permission of the Emperor. Although only given two hours to film in this location, this was the first film production to film there in over 20 years, very few productions are given permission to capture the captivating surroundings. The Great Wall and the Wudang Mountains also play big parts in Dre’s kung fu training.

The Wudang Mountains look stunning on camera; those mystical mountains located in central China are up so high that the cast, crew, and equipment had to be transported via cable car and then climb steep stone steps to get to the top of the temple. There is a forbidden love story thrown in that teenage girls are bound to love between Dre and Mei Ying (Wen Wen Han). The nicest moment of this relationship envelopes us even further into Chinese culture with a date to the Qi Xi Festival falls which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese calendar and is sometimes known as Chinese Valentine’s Day. One of the most visually striking scenes is of the Beijing Shaolin Wushu School and focuses on 400 students dressed in traditional red gi. The school was established in 1991 and teaches students a wushu-style philosophy. All of the kids in the film are full time students in wushu martial arts, a physically demanding, active kung fu sport taught and practiced in China.

Jaden Smith has asked his ku fu teacher to continue his training since the movie wrapped. “I want to stay buff,” says Smith.  “If Taylor Lautner ever needs a stunt double, I’m ready for action.”

As a separate entity to the original, this is a pretty good film set against a beautiful backdrop. The acting especially from Jackie Chan is great and it still has the same themes that we loved in the original. A modern day homage.

Recommended for: Those looking for a fun summer romp, blockbuster lovers, teenagers, people who love to root for underdogs, those interested in China.

Not recommended for: If you didn’t like the original Karate Kid, then you might not like this and those that can’t stand even a little cheese in their films.

Related Posts:

• Going the Distance
• Salt
• Knight and Day
• The A-Team
• Toy Story 3