Day 256

movie: Harry Potter 5 and the Order of the Phoenix
starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ralph Fiennes,
genre: Adventure, Fantasy
year: 2007
format: TV EDIT

plot: The school is quickly taken over by the wizard world version of government, making extreme changes to the school, while a cult of Voldemont supports scare up trouble

This is based on book five in the series.

It sort of has a typical message here about how the government shouldn't have their hands in everything.  I found that part of the storyline to almost detract from the fantasy of it.
The whole idea of a secret society, or secret group of political rebels firmly puts this one as a metaphor for any generation and any situation.

On the magic side, this is where the big quests that have been happening, really start to make sense, start to formula a reason for the puzzle.

what do i think i learned from this film?
No matter how hard you try, sometimes the truth will out weigh a lie. 

Day 255

movie: Inseparable
starring: Kevin Spacey, Daniel Wu
genre: Comedy, Drama,
year: 2011
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: A young man is saved by his neighbour just seconds before killing himself, then goes on a revenge crime spree with him, only he's the only one who can see him

This starts off as a buddy film, but soon spirals out into something a little bit darker.

At the core is a guy who is so far down the rabbit hole of depression, you are never truly sure what is going on.
There is a strange scene at the end that makes you wonder about the whole film, as to what is real, when what appears to be an hallucination appears to break down the fourth wall.

What do I think I learned from this film?
Everyone secretly wants to be a superhero. 

Day 254

movie: Safe
starring: Jason Statham, Chris Sarandon
genre: Action, Crime
year: 2012
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: An ex cop finds himself in the middle of a mob war after saving a little girl on a subway

Jason Statham.  He kicks, he drives, he shoots.

You know you're in for a good action flick when you see his name in the credits anywhere.  I would have liked some warning about the subtitles though because my tv screen isn't the biggest and reading subtitles is something I like to be prepared for.

I would love to see him step out of these sorts of roles for a movie, it just seems to me that he's been typecast.  Then again, it's what he knows will bring him a paycheck so... I would just like to see him do something that doesn't have him kicking, driving and shooting his way through two hours. Can we just have him do one movie where he plays a doctor or a dragqueen or ... love to see him as a vampire or something. Give this man one real romantic comedy please

what do i think i learned from this film?
You never know who's on the other end of a double cross.

Day 253

movie: Think like a Man
starring: Regina Hall, Jenifer Lewis
genre: Drama, Comedy
year: 2012
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: A group of women all decide to buy the same self help book, and soon the men in their lives decide to use the book against them.

This is based on the self help book by Steve Harvey.

I kept expecting to see Tyler Perry's name to come up on this, but surprisingly, it's not one of his.  It is however, one of those movies that falls into the "the moral of the story is..." movies that he does do. 

I almost want to call this the "anti-He Just Not That Into You"  film.
It's peppered with shots of a tv screen showing Steve Harvey giving advice. That, in turn lays the ground work for the next few scenes, just like the chapter titles of his book.

what do i think i learned from this film?
That no matter how much a man says he's not wanting to be married, in the end he really does....?

Day 252

movie: Remember Me
starring:Robert Pattinson, Pierce Brosnan
genre: Drama
year: 2010
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: After the death of his brother, a young man falls in love with a girl after his roommate dares him to try to date her.

It's a tear jerker. The end has a small twist that I never saw coming, and I ended up crying through the credits.
It starts off like a typical me against the world film, having shades of Rebel without a Cause but it holds a much deeper point.

It's about how we as a society deal with death, grief, and overall disappointments in our life. It's definitely a meaner side to society, with scenes of bullying being a running thread.  The lows humans can get to without realizing that they have gotten there until it's too late.

what do i think i learned from this film?
Edward Cullen can act. Robert Pattinson proves without a shadow of a doubt that he's destined to be as serious an actor as anyone can get, that he's not just the kid from  the teen vampire movie. I knew he could sing, but this proves that if he's given a decent script to work with he's a honest star.

Day 251

movie: Guilty Pleasures
starring: ???
genre: Documentary
year: 2010
format: Shaw  Video On Demand

plot: Following a group of romance readers and writers, and one book cover model as they deal with the reality of romance vs what is found in their books.

First off, it's a bit of a mess.  We meet 3 housewives in different parts of the world, two are seemingly happily married, one is divorced, as well as the main writer and main cover model of the books.  The writer, not only is a man using a woman's aka, but is in his late 60's.  The cover model, is looking for love but has an extreme view point on how the woman of his dreams should look.

I'm little pissed off on the fact that after I paid for the rental of this on Shaw, it ended up being aired for free on CBC News. You might have noticed too, that I could not find a list of who the people in the documentary were, odd when you think about it.

As a documentary, the idea was there, but the movie itself is nothing to write home about.  Not enough time is spent with anyone of the cast to really care about them.  And, in one instance, more time is spent on the husband of the British housewife then in interviewing her as the fan.
The documentary is promoted as a look in side the obsessiveness and the behind the scenes of writing romance novels, but it doesn't end up giving you that at all.

what do i think i learned from this film?
I learned nothing from this

Day 250

movie: Harry Potter 4 and the Goblet of Fire
starring: Timothy Spall, Robert Pattinson
genre: Adventure,
year: 2005
format: TV EDIT

plot: Harry Potter has been unwillingly entered into a tournament that could be fatal, meanwhile, there is a mixed dance with other schools taking part in the tournament and the group of friends start to feel the divide of crushes as they all find disappointment in their dates.  More serious issues pop up,  as the Death Eaters, a cult who follow Voldemort start attacking the school.

This is part four in the series based on the books

The death toll rises in this offering, giving you a sense of something closer to an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer then it did the previous HP films.
Just the fact that they would have "kids"  partaking in an event where they are willingly risking their lives, tells you that things are not safe and innocent anymore.
The vampire elements really start to come out with the Voldemort character. Him and his cult of followers needing to drain the life from his enemies in order for him to return to a physical form is classic vampire traits.

what do I think I learned from this film?
Nothing is ever what it seems. Growing up is full of horrible pit stops, but if you can understand that most of the monsters are there for a reason, you can work your way through the darkness and survive.