Harry Potter and the deathly hallows Part 2

I've said it before but I don't think there's anyway that anybody who hasn't read the books would have more than the most basic idea of what's going on while watching these films. Particularly the last couple. This isn't really a problem since a billion people have read the series, but it makes it sort of pointless to review the films in a vacuum. In that sense there's not much to say. The film does a nice job hitting the required beats and, for people familiar with all the backstory, there are some undoubtedly affecting scenes. My biggest issue is that the whole thing felt a little rushed which considering they broke the final book into two parts is a little ridiculous. Maybe a little less wandering around the woods and whining in part 1 would have been okay? Also the way they changed the final battle didn't really make any sense, and didn't really seem to save any time. I don't think it killed anything, it was just an odd choice.

So now that the series is done so I have any closing thoughts? Good question Eric, you are quite the adroit interviewer. I guess I found them entertaining and about as reasonably well executed as you could hope for given the time constraints of a feature. Since I'm not a bug wuss I didn't feel like a part of my childhood ended or anything like I'm hearing from who I'm sure are a bunch of 20 something coldplay fans (now if you asked me about the ending of the Sweet Valley High series of TV movies I might say something different). I also don't have any real desire to go back and revisit the series any time soon. But I said that about the Madea series too and now I can't get enough of them. What can I say, people in fat suits speak to me.

Tabloid

This documentary from Errol Morris tells the story of a former Miss Wyoming (Joyce McKinney) who was accused of abducting, and raping, a Mormon missionary in England back in the late 1970's, and then being constantly hounded by the press with allegations of actually being a high class prostitute. Eventually she jumped bail and eventually the case went away, with McKinney resurfacing a few years ago having cloned her deceased bull dog. Most of the film is devoted to Mckinney telling her story, and while she may not be guilty of everything's she's accused of, she is clearly nuts (and incredibly narcissistic). The film works hard to try and imply that being constantly hounded by the press may have driven her there, but its pretty obvious that even before the case happened she had issues.

The film is a little more interesting as a reflection of how the media consumes a sensational story, but it doesn't cover anything that new. Don't get me wrong, this is a well made documentary (though Morris does go a little crazy with the wacky animations over the voiceovers) but the story ultimately doesn't feel like it justifies feature treatment. Maybe a slot on the history channel, but not much more.

The Trip

The Trip is a film that follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (playing "Steve Coogan" and "Rob Brydon") on a five day roadtrip (hence the title) to some restaurants in the north of England that "Coogan" is writing reviews of. The vast majority of the film's run time is filled with them busting each others balls, and making fun of the other's impressions. "Brydon" in particular spends much of his time lampooning "Coogan's" pretentiousness, but it never feels forced or particularly mean spirited. Just two guys with a shared history acting silly on a road trip. When the film stays focused on this dynamic it works pretty well, and their interactions are generally pretty funny (though at two hours its a bit long). Where the film doesn't work is when it tries to shoehorn in a plot about "Coogan" breaking up with his girlfriend and trying to find meaning in a successful yet shallow life. None of this comes off as particularly profound, and really just feels worked in because somebody thought a more conventional plot line was needed. Thankfully it doesn't make up the majority of the run time, but it definitely kills the momentum whenever it intrudes. Really I just would have been fine with 90 minutes of Coogan and Brydon talking smack and left it at that. Not everything has to have profound implications (which is what I told you sister after our date last night).

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming...

I was just out for a run when I rolled up to a traffic light next to two twenty-somethings (or possibly younger). I immediately heard the guy utter the following words to his girlfriend:

"According to Jim was really funny last night."

Yes someone actually said that about a show starring the lesser Belushi that's been off the air for two years, is currently showing on syndication at 11 pm in the Berkeley area, and features plot descriptions like:

"Andy finds Jim's missing wedding ring with a metal detector. Unbeknownst to Cheryl, Jim has been wearing a fake one for more than a year."

and

"Cheryl tries to set an example for her girls by forbidding use of the vacationing neighbors' swimming pool, only to succumb herself. "

or

"Cheryl lies that Jim's opinion matters as she remodels their bathroom, but her fib is undone by his choice of a state-of-the-art toilet that speaks with the voice of James Earl Jones."

(okay that last one sounds pretty awesome).

The conversation didn't stop there. The girlfriend immediately got annoyed that he had watched it without her, and then they made up by launched into a recap of their favorite moments from the show. At this point the light thankfully changed before I threw myself into traffic.

This explains so much about society.