Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix IMAX 3D

 

I know this film has been reviewed a million times, so one more won’t hurt.

 

Beatrice and I went to see it on Friday in Imax 3D at Loew’s Lincoln Center and we both left the theater in tears.  When Harry says at the end, “But we have something Voldermort doesn’t, something to fight for.” The 10-year-old boy next to me whispered this incantation over and over, “Please don’t be over, please don’t be over.”  If those aren’t testaments to how good this movie really is, I don’t know what is.

 

Beatrice is not a big Harry Potter fan and has not read any of the books and the only film she seen before Order of the Phoenix was “Prisoner of Azkaban.”  I literally dragged her to this one. 

 

We get to the theater and it is packed.  We end up sitting at opposite ends of the last row in the IMAX Theater.  When I met up with Beatrice after the film she was still crying.  It was Gary Oldman’s line as Sirius Black to Harry, “You did it beautifully.” That really got to her.  She said it was the first time in a long she was so affected by a character.

 

The 3D in the finally of the film really gives it that extra lift at the end.  Although, it would have been cool to see the broom sequence in 3D. 

 

Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood was very good.

 

Imelda Staunton (well known Shakespearian actress) as Dolores Umbridge was truly terrifying.   Not since Nurse Mildred Ratched in “One Few Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” has a character been so politely cruel; an Oscar worthy performance.  She inspires true hatred.

 

Daniel Radcliffe is turning into a very good actor.  The very last sequence is very good and I would love to see this young man in Peter Shafferr’s Equus.  (I hope he comes to New York with the production.)  Too bad Richard Harris didn’t live to play Dumbledore all the way through the series, but Michael Gambon does a good job.

 

What disappointed me was Fred and George’s departure from Hogwarts.  And Ron (Rupert Grint) seemed to disappear in this one a bit.

 

If you can see it in IMAX 3D, I highly recommend it.

I know it's the slogan for Underoos, but I didn't think Underdog That's Funderdog made any sense, yet I associate the two very closely.

One of my favorite things to do is judge a movie on it's trailers and ads, then go see it and see if my impressions about the film are correct.  So, I decided to include film trailer reviews on this blog.

I will definately go see Underdog.  Although the smelling butts joke gave me pause, I mean how old is that?

But like I said, I associate Underdog with Underoos and those fun days of coming home from school at 3 PM and having nothing to do, but watch Underdog on TV.  Or Saturday morning spent in your Underoos.

 

I get the same vibe from the the films trailer and the voice of Under Dog.  I feel confident that the makers of the film "get it."

I also love the way they are promoting the dogs as characters.  I am refering to Polly Purebred and Rif Raff. This is genius.  The person who thought that up deserves a big bonuce.

So, I say Underdog is good bet.  We'll see if I'm right!

There is new book out about the life of Mata Hari that I'm definitely going to request from the library today.  I did not realize that her guilt was in question.

The book is “Femme Fatale: Love, Lies and the Unknown Life of Mata Hari” by Pat Shipman and is reported to be based on recently declassified documents in France and England.  Was she guilty of espionage? And what propelled Margaretha Zelle, destined to be a Dutch schoolteacher, to transform herself into Mata Hari, an international symbol of sexuality?

In brief, to quote from the article “The Scapegoas Femme Fatale” by Carl Rollyson, “she was born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle and had an almost matronly figure. She moved well and made a keen study of native dancers. Her complexion was swarthy, and her costume resembled one of those goddesses hanging off of Indian temples. Her adopted name, taken from a Malay phrase, means something like "sunrise." With the dim lighting and a pair of small, cymbal-like cups covering her mammaries, she was able to enchant European audiences for the better part of a decade, claiming to offer dances that had their origins in the sacred rites of the East.”

She was accused of espionage by the French and then of being a double agent after taking money for them to spy on the Germans.   Finally sentenced to death by firing squad, she met her end with dignity.

Mata Hari is probably best known by Greta Garbo’s portrayal of her as the fallen woman redeemed by love in,  “Mata Hari”

Patti LuPone bringing the house down performing "Rose's Turn" in City Center's production of Gypsy

The Patti LuPone GYPSY at New York’s City Center running through July 29^th is a must see!

 

GPYSY

Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephon Sondheim
Directed by Arthur Laurents

Starring
Patti LuPone  as Mama Rose
Boyd Gaines as Herbie
Laura Benanti as Gypsy
Tony Yazbeck as Tulsa
Alison Fraser as Tessie Tura

I’ve seen GPYSY three times and this is the first time it’s brought tears to my eyes.  Not only does LuPone have the big voice, but she can act.  This is definitely a mother/daughter death match.

Laura Benanti as Gypsy Rose Lee in City Center's Production of GYPSY

Laura Benanti is wonderful as the title character Gypsy, she brings a real punch to the roll along with a beautiful voice.  It’s not easy to go toe to toe with LuPone, but this young singer/actress is up to the challenge.

The production uses very little in terms of set, but it doesn’t need to.  The direction is superrb.  I particularly liked the “You’ll Never Get Away From Me” and “All I Need Is the Girl.”  The later is a very touching mini-story of a young girl’s first love.  Both scenes contain inspired moments that gave me a stronger understanding of the story.  The fact the book writer, Arthur Laurents, directed this production, I’m certain, is the reason for that.  We finally get to see the writer’s vision.

                                                         Tulsa (Tony Yazbeck) per forming
                                                         "All I Need is the Girl"

 

The strippers are funny as always, but in a very original way in this production.  Alison Fraser as Tessie Tura is very memorable and so is Marilyn Casket’s take on Electra.  I won’t ruin the surprises.

 

It’s running at City Center until July 29^th.  If you’re in New York, try to see it, you will not be disappointed!

I have a love/hate relationship with Stephen King.  I think he is one of our greatest storytellers.  And he makes a living writing novels.  Neither of those things is easy to do and he's been doing it for over 20 years.   He chooses horror because that's how he thinks, but he can write non-horror stories very well (read THE BODY). I love the way he writes kids, especially of the ages 10 - 13.  He understands how they think, move and feel.  And he definitely knows what scares them.

This book is no exception.  It has all the qualities I like about Mr. Kings writing.  The characters are drawn in such a way you feel you know them in sentence or two.  For example, CELL opens with the main character, Clay, coming from an interview in which a major publisher in Boston has just agreed to publish his graphic novel.  To celebrate, Clay stops at what I imagine is a Sharper Image store and buys his estranged wife an expensive paperweight of a fuzzy dandelion incased in acrylic.  (The paperweight is used later.)  This is all great detail that puts you right there with the character and his feeling state.

He paints the other main character, Tom, with equal subtlety, economy and specificity; from the cat he can't part with to his upbringing by devout Pentecostals; nothing is wasted.  He never comes out and says Tom is gay nor does he rely on stereotypes to relay the information; I'm not certain how he does it; but, half way through the book, you know Tom is gay.

Also, in this book he questions the mundane aspects of our lives.  Will our material possession be the death of us? 

If you hate cell phones and those rude cell phone loud talkers, this is a must read for you.

Where does the hate come in, in our love/hate relationship?

Mr. King does not know how to end a book; at least, not to my tastes.  It is the single reason I've not read a King novel since NEEDFUL THINGS.  I hate nothing more than reading a book with great characters, story and sense of place, only to have it end in an unsatisfying way. 

I was so angry at the way CELL ended; I desperately searched through the back of it for the rest of the story then threw it on the floor when I realized there wasn't any more.

Maybe I've been programmed by the Hollywood ending?  I don't know.  Maybe this is a great ending and I don't see it, but I doubt it.  I know Mr. King has an odd sense of humor and getting people to throw his book on the floor is funny. 

I'd like to hear from others that read CELL; am I right or am I wrong about the ending?

 

The book does make you think.

The New Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are worth seeing if you are in New York City.  And, if you are like me and my friend Beatrice and like to look at hot men in a cool place, this is the place for you!

The newly renovated gallery allows  nature lite to illuminate at art work and feels like a Greek temple as you can see from the picture above.  It's very peacful.  There is plenty of room to walk around the sculptures as was intended for most of them.  But, the main thing is, those Greeks new what a human body should look like.  This will inspire you to get to the gym!

Take a look at this marble of Hercules. 


These pictures were all taken without a flash.  You are allowed to take pix at the Met as long as you don't use a flash.  If your flash accidentally goes off ; you are pounced on by 2 or 3 Museum security people all yelling at you. 

Here is a closer look at Hercules:

No, I did not get  a picture of the front.






Look at the muscle detail on this torso in marble.  They are not certain who the subject is, but strongly suspect it is Hermes.











This is a Bronze of a Greek God that Beatrice thought resembled my favorite Broadway performer, Hugh Jackman.  I'm not sure it does.  What do you think?




Funny, I don't seem to have any photos of the female statues? LOL  I'll get a few next time I go.

A few things about the Metropolitan Museum.  It is located on 5th Avenue and 81st in Central Park.  When you go there, you will see a sign that says admission $20.  In small letters it says "suggested donation."  This is true.  Please give them something when you go in.  If you can afford the $20 please give it.  It is an excellent institution.

The Met isn't the best place for small children.  When Beatrice and I were there, a couple with two small children, 3 and 4, did nothing but run around preventing the kids from touching the art.  I don't think they saw any of the exhibit.  In The Greek and Roman Gallery, the art is in touching range of a small child; what isn't is in glass cases just perfect for little finger prints. Throughout the Museum, many of the paintings are hung low enough for a small child to touch.  So, think twice before taking them unless it is a special event for young children.  The Museum has many.  Check their website: www.metmuseum.org

And finally, Beatrice and I were in complete agreement that this was hottest Greek:

This is of a young working man.  Do you think he's hot?

Please let me know if found the review helpful at all.  Or at least entertaining.  And I'll be happy to answer any questions.