Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

by Steve Kochems

I'm just going to get right into it. After 7 previous films, one whose sole purpose is to lead into this film, it would be quite asinine of me to nitpick and criticize Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. This isn't Jaws 8 or Friday the 13th VIII, this is a legitimate series that has maintained a standard of quality in each film of the series, something that's fairly unheard of in cinema and only rivaled by the James Bond series. That isn't to say HPDH2 is for everyone. God help you if this is the first Potter film you try to watch.

But in that minute weakness lays its strength. This is a movie for the millions who've followed the books and the millions more who were forced to watch the first six films in a three day period and then rushed to see Deathly Hallows: Part 1, only to be left horribly blue-balled by what turned out to be only half a movie (side note: the forced part turned into a blessing in disguise and the second isn't a harsh criticism as my Potter liaison team informed me that was the logical point to break the movies, which I found true after watching this film).

The action packed opening to Deathly Hallows Part 1 was only a taste of what you'll get in Part 2. For a series that was slow and tense pacing of mystery story after mystery story, Mr. Potter gets supercharged as Hogwarts and the Dark Lord go to an all out war that involves many favorites from the past films. And most importantly, it ends with class and dignity.

I could argue that Hermoine and Ron seem less important here while Neville soaks up many of the larger moments (side note 2: Potter liaison explained the reasoning from the novel so I've been corrected already). But beyond that I've little bad or good to say about this movie. Not because there aren't good things in this movie (there are many), but let's be honest with each other here. You've seen seven movies in a series, even if you're pissed off at it for some reason you are not giving up on watching the finale. And if you haven't seen any of them you won't know what I'm talking about anyhow.

Still, I felt obligated to put my thoughts up on here about the final Harry Potter. Partially because it's what we have this site for and partly because Mike and I have been a little lagging on the review this summer, which sucks because it's actually shaped up to be a very nice summer of movies. We're sorry, I moved, he's got no internet, the debt issue hasn't been resolved- we're all suffering, guys.

Anyway, I don't know what else to say about HPDH2. I did have a moment of high emotion two days after seeing the final Potter; I came home and saw the Sorcerer's Stone was on cable. I could only handle a few minutes of it because Daniel Radcliffe looked so young, but it showed the process of the Potter movies. It's a ten year journey that we've gone on and now it's over. And I'm not sad because of nostalgia, but because that was ten years ago it started (feeling old). If you take nothing else away from this movie, commend it for leaving with class and pride, something it upheld through all eight films and a decade of love.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Green Zone

by Steve Kochems

Most of my favorite war films are from the World War II era because it is seems to be the most justified war in modern times. It’s clear-cut who is good, who is bad, and why we care about the cause because of its time period. Even Enemy at the Gates, which has us rooting for a Soviet sniper, follows this basic format. However when we start to delve into other eras (Vietnam, Desert Storm, etc.), things begin to get a little hazier. Now, any personal opinions aside, this is strictly because these conflicts have had more grey area to deal with. In fact, it is the personal opinions (and media spins) that make them so difficult to separate who is good and bad, often resulting in conspiracy theories and wild plot twists.

With that, we get to the Matt Damon led Green Zone, a film that follows the story of Chief Roy Miller and his 85th squad of WMD searchers in Iraq. A film that’s as heavy on story and seeking the truth as an early episode of the X-Files, which comes at the cost of things that go boom. Miller (Damon) questions the authenticity of high level sources on the local of WMD’s in Iraq. This leads him on a search through the war-torn Iraq for the truth about the Intel, WMD’s, and what was used to draw the American citizens into supporting the War in Iraq.

Among the War in Iraq movies made since the war began in 2003, Green Zone does in fact stand out as one of the better done films, though not to the level of the Oscar-Winning Hurt Locker. Damon plays an excellent everyman soldier who carries the weight of this film that’s heavy in emotional proximity to its audience.

Unfortunately, Green Zone takes a solid stance on one side of the argument. And while it is widely agreed that there never were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, it is still too close in our history for me to ever want to jump on board with them. Many people today have friends or family who fought and died in a war whose justification is still up in the air, and debating it only rubs salt in those still fresh wounds.

To be frank, I think Green Zone is a well done movie through and through but its final act shoves the initial post-war reaction into our faces when many of us might not be ready for it yet. No matter what the government or media did right or wrong, the results have already happened. Soldiers who may never walk again due to shrapnel or can’t maintain normal lives because of post-traumatic stress won’t have their lives back to normal because we know the truth. For me, this film just comes too soon and might do well to sit aside for some time.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Cyrus

by Steve Kochems

Hey Folks! I know, it's the slow season for movies and, as you can tell, Mike and I have been a little tied up. But I was able to head out the other night and redbox a flick I heard a lot about this past year, Cyrus. For $1, why not try it out?

The film follows John (John C. Reilly), a bum who's circling the drain years after his divorce, with his only real friend being his ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) who's planning to get married (to a well-played asshole, Matt Walsh). After some nagging by his ex and her fiance, John agrees to go out to a party with them.

After many drinks and many failed attempts to talk to any woman, he has one of the most awkward and funny meetings with Molly (Marisa Tomei). After a few dates, John thinks this relationship could be the one, but little does he know, at home Molly has an overly (and somewhat Oedipal) son who isn't quite yet ready to yield his mother away, Cyrus (Jonah Hill).

Honestly, I would've paid more than a dollar for this flick. While advertised as this quirky, Step Brothers-esk comedy, Cyrus is certainly not that. The humor isn't dependent on two actors and a sloppy script. Instead, we have a sleek and crisp story that, while lacking in laughs, actually has a surprising amount of heart to it.

I knew Reilly could act, and even lead (see: Chicago, Walk Hard), but the biggest surprises were Hill and Tomei. Their chemistry onscreen is really a sight and refreshing when it comes to a movie like this. That being said, Hill and Reilly still bring a lot of comedy and awkwardness to their scenes and are a tandem worth watching again (though, their few scenes together in Walk Hard are just as good).

I think this is a film I've gotta take a second look at though, since I went in under the impression it was less on heart and more on comedy. That's the best thing I can say to anyone who watches this movie- go in with an open mind and don't expect anything, good or bad. I bet you'll be presently surprised.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Best Film Award of 2010

by Steve Kochems 

Hey kids, it’s that moment you’ve all been waiting for… (no not Christmas, that was weeks ago) at the bottom of this post is the first winner of the Kamo and Kochems Best Film Award! But before we get to that, I’d just like to give a quick tid-bit as to why I think each film has a shot at being the best of the year.

The Fighter

While it’s not an entirely fresh story (very few sports ones are), the cast drives this one. The quiet and tolerant Mickey, a confident and cock-sure crack addicted Dicky, and the hard-shelled Bostonian of a bartender Charlene are what keep this film fresh and interesting till the final punch. 

Inception

The concept alone is so original and inventive that it stands out further than any film in the last decade. In an era where 80% of Hollywood films are sequels/prequels, remakes, or from a previous source text, Inception is a landmark of creativity.

Toy Story 3 

Aesthetics alone can drive this film I’ve never felt so strongly involved in a narrative like I did in this film. Many will say it’s got the unfair advantage of two previous films to build it up, I would also argue that it’s got those two films to live up to, and Pixar manages to shatter the expectations that seem to go up for them every year.

Black Swan

An intense exploration into a young girl becoming a woman, Darren Aronofsky dazzles us with a dark and sexually violent film that has numerous thematic threads working beneath such a simple plot (not an easy thing to do with a ballet movie). 

True Grit

In a genre that has been so explored in cinema, only the Coen’s could come out with something as good as True Grit. While it’s the simplest of the two brother’s films to date, it’s probably the best-rounded movie of the year and will only get better with more viewings.

Now, before we announce the winner, I’d like to take the time to thank our eight critics who helped vote- Mike and I cannot say enough about how much we appreciate your input. Below you can see the votes for the Best Film category we received last week- we feel it’s worth noting how broad they were and that really shows just how diverse our critics were. Again, we thank you. 

Received Six Votes:
Toy Story 3 

Received Five Votes:
True Grit
The Fighter
Inception 

Received Four Votes:
Black Swan 

Received Three Votes:
(none)


Received Two Votes:
Despicable Me
The Town
How to Train Your Dragon
Shutter Island


Received One Vote:
127 Hours
Kick Ass
Repo Men
Tangled
The Expendables
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Machete
The Kids are Alright
Red
The Tillman Story
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Burlesque

So, with these things aside, we’ve punched our esteemed voters grades into our high tech calculating machine and we’ve got our winner. It’s interesting to note though that all five of these films received an average score of 88 or above and were within 5 points of each other. In fact, the winning margin was 0.05 points!

The winner of the Kamo and Kochems 2010 Best Film Award is…

                                True Grit

All in all, I think True Grit won because the Coen Brothers can write a script and shoot a movie unlike anyone else in the world. It had an all-star cast and such likable characters who all still must pay the price to prove themselves, to prove their grit. It’s also the film that will hold up to repeat viewings the best of the five films in the finals. I’ve already saved a spot on my shelf for the DVD case and am proud that our first Best Film Award went to this film (though I’m hoping next year is much easier!).

Here’s to 2010 and bring in 2011!