Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

First part of the last Harry Potter novel series. There are some noticeable deviations from the book, or I can't remember, because it's been awhile since I read it. This film starts with Harry leaving Privet Drive, and ends with (spoiler) Voldemort taking Dumbledore's wand.

I loved it. I must say, this must be the best I've seen yet of the film series. The length of Harry Potter films can be noticeable, but this time, I actually wanted it to be lengthier. Also, I found myself often looking away or closing my eyes, because it was scary. I watched it with my friend and she kept giggling for what ever reason, and I started giggling. I don't know. It's quite poignant the way the audience grows up along with the movie characters as well as the story itself. I mean, if I were eight years old, I'd be wetting my pants with fear if I watched this.

(Spoiler) When Dobby died, I started hearing plenty of coughing in the audience. I know what they were doing. Trying to hide leaky eyes and noises with coughing. It made me think of a documentary I saw long ago, or perhaps it was an article, pointing out how we humans tend to exhibit more compassion than what can be explained out with present evolutionary theories ... or something like that. Dobby isn't a real creature, he's made out of pixels ... freakin' CGI, and yet I hear men and woman uncleverly hiding their tears with coughing. Then again ... I got a bit teary watching Wall-E when it came to this idea of having ruined the Earth and coming back to it - because it is home.

The Capture of the Green River Killer (2008)

The Capture of the Green River Killer chronicles the investigation that ultimately led to the arrest of Gary Ridgeway. What really got Ridgeway was the DNA evidence. Go technology!

So so. It interested me enough that I watched the whole two part series and it was loonngg. It dragged on, much like how the real investigation dragged on close to the two decades mark. It has Tom Cavanagh, so that was a plus.

All those scenes of Cavanagh burning the midnight oil was inspiring. I was drifting off, while I watched, that an academic life is probably the best for me. I'm an introvert, and might as well take advantage of my natural inclinations.

The Rag Nymph (1997)

(photo:GenevieveValentine)

Millie's prostitute mother gets taken in by an evil pimp, resulting in mother committing suicide. She's left in the care of a woman who sells rags for a living named Aggie. Also living with Aggie is a teenage hunchback Ben. Even as a little girl, evil pimp can see potential in Millie, and so the ever lurking danger of getting kidnapped leads Aggie to sends her away to be educated. After her schooling, she has a stint being a governess. She gets invited to a servant's party, where she meets a young gentlemen, Bern, played by the man famous for playing Mr. Bingley.

I didn't like this. I cheated and watched the last four minutes or so and didn't like the ending, and decided not to watch the rest. Millie ends up with Ben, which is disgusting. They grew up together. They're practically like brothers and sisters. I found this even more disturbing than the kissing cousins of Mansfield Park, even though the cousins where blood-related. I was more repulsed about Ben's mullet in the second half of the story than the fact he was a hunchback.

I read more about the parts I no longer wanted to watch, and understood why Millie didn't end up with Mr. Bingley, but omfg it's Mr. Bingley. I blame the 1995 Pride & Prejudice  for ruining my cinematic enjoyment.  Considering the harsh gender inequality and general shithole existence of that time, I would have rather been a gentleman's mistress than be his wife. Dignity is overrated.

Favorite part is Aggie screaming after jealous Ben, "No amount of education will straighten that crooked back!" I like it, because that's something my mother would say ... with a straight face.

The Cazalets - Part I (2001)

(photo:PBS)

A large British clan from the upper-class comes to live in their ancestral home during WWII. I've seen the estate in the film used in another show The Black Books. My family doesn't have an ancestral home in the country. I've heard my grandfather sold it. We sort of had one in the city, but a gambling aunt sold it for chum change.

Liked it enough, I might watch the second episode. Liked the character of Clary Cazalets. I wish I was her when I was younger. Zoe Cazalet seems the most complex and developed character and her story was the most engaging. Some of the stories sicken me, but hey, that's life.  I got loads of family that sickens me.

Hannah (1980)

Middle-aged spinster, Hannah Mole, looks for a new start in life, by moving to the city. She rents out a room in a house, where an uptight bank employee also rents. The banker employee finds her too nosy and blunt. She becomes a housekeeper for a family led by a strict religious man. She begins to have a positive effect with those around her. Meanwhile, her pass threatens to ruin everything.

Liked it. I did. I'm appreciative that I live in the present day, where I can lead a "sordid" lifestyle.

Favorite part - The eldest daughter of the family she works for is a wet blanket, it's funny.

Another favorite - Scenes of Hannah's little house in the countryside, even though that bastard of a man, who was once her lover, didn't want to leave it. Why I like the house - it reminds me of my childhood. My godparents use to take me to the countryside. They liked me, because I was a girl, and they only had sons. Their house was just like Hannah's, right next to a road, no stop signs. I remember this upper ledge above me, that held these clay pots. Quite rustic Behind the house was miles of country fields. I love that memory.

Part I dislike - Hannah's new love's facial hair. Also, while I was searching for film stills for this obscure film series, I kept getting images of Hannah Montana. That bitch.

Emma (2009)

Adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Emma is fond of playing matchmaker. Her next matchmaking scheme goes wrong, as the man she tries to set up, turns out fancying her. Twists and turns, and then a happy Jane Austen ending.

I'm a fan of Romola Garai, so I liked it. Mr. Knightly is played by that man, Jonny Lee Miller, who use to be married to Angelina Jolie, and was also in Trainspotting. He and Garai work well together. I've watched snippets of the 1972 Emma, and I like this one better, although I'm sure the earlier version was much truer to the novel. The character of Mr. Woodhouse, Mrs. Elton, and Ms. Bates were well played. The woman playing Mr. Bates is also in Black Books, so this is all win. She's the reason I'm waiting to see Tamara Drewe.

I've taken a liking to Mr. Martin. He's a farmer. I'd marry him on the spot, so I can start my permaculture garden without seeming to go against propriety. That's right.

Favorite scenes are of Mr. Woodhouse being the hypochonriac that he is, making sure baby Emma's body gets blanketed from the English cold, as much as possible. Also, scenes of Mr. Martin.

Northanger Abbey (1986)

The 1986 adaptation of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. Catherine Morland, with hairstyle that would fit well for a 1980s hair band groupie, is invited to Bath, where love and mayhem ensues.

I liked it. I had stopped watching this, because the whole 1980s rock-band look felt wacky. I started on it again after taking to the 2007 version. I can't decide, which one I like better. Life is tough.  Now that I know more about the novel itself, the 1980s styling was entertaining and ties in with the Gothic feel, which colours Catherine's imagination. Any moment now, I expect Meatloaf to appear and start singing -  he'll do anything for love, anything, but he won't do that.

Best part of it was what I disliked about it before; over the top rock guitar. Also, the Tilney siblings singing. People should sing more in movies.

Return to Cranford

Several stories intertwining in the small village of Cranford. More like a Christmas special. Several characters are gone, and new ones have arrived. The young doctor is gone, along with his wife, and the wife's family isn't in the story that much anymore. Again, lots of death, especially since there's no longer a damn doctor in the area. Miss Matty Jenkins's servant dies from childbirth. Lady Ludlow, played by Francesa Annis, kicks the bucket as well as her land agent or financial assistant. The land agent leaves his fortune, or most of it, to the poor young boy, Harry, who is a young man now. Harry doesn't like the new school he had been sent to and runs away. Then main new love story is between William Buxton, who is from the upper class, with a young woman, Peggy Bell, who is below his station. Mr. Buxon dislikes the match his son William has formed with Peggy. Judi Dench plays Matty, and she becomes the main character here that ties everyone together. Oh and the trains come.

I liked it. It's like watching Golden Girls, the mid-19th century version.

I like the part when someone or other, I forget, invites the Peggy and the William to a small gathering, so they can see each other, without the William's father knowing. They're drinking tea and eating cake. Some of the cake crump falls on the girls' dress and the boy goes down and rubs it off her dress. Oh how very scandalous they are.

Another favorite scene: when the older women are inside the abandoned building, that they plan on reopenning, start reminiscing about the old days when they were much younger and the building held balls. There's an old large mirror and they all see their reflections and find an old dance ticket once owned by Matty, and they reflect on how old they have gotten. How heart-breaking.

North & South (2004)

A gentlewoman, Margaret Hale, moves to the industrializing north with her family. She and Mr. Thornton, a mill plant owner have a bad first impression of each other. She spends time getting to know the lower working class in the area, and there's sick people all over the place, because of all the pollution. Mr. Thornton begins to be attracted to her, and she to him, while there's fermenting dissent among the workers.

Deals heavily with class differences, the effect of industrializing Britain and other things political. The woman looks like Rachel Weiss. Does have note of Pride & Prejudice in it, with the bad first impression and all that. Girl is outspoken. Man appears cold and heartless. Then again, plenty of story has this plot. If Mr. Thornton was a character set in the modern day, he'd totally be a Republican, and working or owning a company financed, or some how related to Dick Chaney.

It's okay. Wouldn't watch it again, unless I fast forward all the parts about how life was shit back then if you were a wage worker and didn't have money. If I lived in England back then, I would stay away from the industrializing center. I'd stay in the countryside like Darwin, and make a name for myself in the science.

Favorite scenes - when it didn't look grimy, which was hardly ever.