Run Lola Run

Title: Run Lola Run (English)

Lola Rennt(German)

Language: German (Original)

Year of Release: 1998

Director: Tom Tykwer

Actors: Franka Potente , Moritz Bleibtreu

Awards: The film was nominated for 41 awards, 26 of which were won. These included the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, Best Film at the Seattle International Film Festival, and seven separate wins at the German Film Awards

Verdict: 4/5 (Awesome! Must Watch)

Have you ever wanted to change your destiny? What happens when you alter some things in your present? How does that impact your future? How far can you go to save the one you love? Is it possible to earn $100,000 in 20 minutes?! Sounds impossible...but it's not so. Check out this awesome German Flick, "Run Lola Run" for all the possible answers. And you will end up admiring much more than you will realise.

The story begins with Lola receiving a call from her boyfriend Manni who tells her about an impending danger to his life. And to save himself, he needs $100,000 in 20 minutes which has to be delivered to his boss. Lola forseeing a possibility of Manni making some stupidity warns him from doing anything and pleads him to wait for her. And she drops the phone and runs....runs....runs.

Probably that's the maximum story I can divulge, anything more would be stupidity and anything less doesn't serve the purpose of this post. Coming back to the story, its divided into three parts which each ending in a different way. So, the movie is all about, what happens when Lola arrives after 20 minutes, just before 20 minutes and right at 20 minutes. The story brings forth an important perspective that the road to your destiny is paved by your present actions. The brilliance of Run Lola Run lies in its ability to surprise you at every stage. The style of film-making, soundtrack, editing and narration are awesome and mind you calling it "awesome" is denigrating the fast paced action and the adrenaline it boasts of. Of all the people associated with this film, Tom Tykwer(director and writer), Franka Potente (Lola) and Mathilde Bonnefoy (Editor) need special mention.

Tom Tykwer relies on the pace and narration of the story, so much so that, the entire story rests on Lola and her bumping into several people. With a clever mix of animation and themes like time limit, Tom scores the maximum in leaving a great impact on the audience. Honestly, I wouldn't have stopped raving about this film, had I seen this 2 years ago while I was in college. I say so, because you rarely get to such a film where there's no threat of a terrorist attack or someone threating to blow up a bus/building! It's a concept driven by love and doing anything for the ones you love.

Franka Potente (who later appeared in "Bourne Identity") is more than good in her role. She captures your imagination with her bleached hair and a zeal to earn 100 grand in 20 minutes. Watch her in one of her runs when she manages to get the money from the bank, it's possibly one of the best shot sequences in the flick. She's what I would call a perfect diro's actress! And at the end of the day, the most important thing is, she delivers a stunning performance!

Mathilde Bonnefoy, the editor of the movie is another asset. It's not easy to show three acts back to back with the same beginning but a different ending. With her brilliant editing, Mathilde makes sure that we as audience, don't fret about the repitition of certain scenes.

I have always wondered why our Indian film-makers don't make such genuine fast paced action flicks. Although they have over the past few years, it's still a long way to go before they reach a stunner! Perhaps some sensible people should watch this "Run Lola Run" over and over again....I would hate them to the core if they rip the entire movie and give it a local name, but some budding sensible film-makers, I believe have the conviction to do what's right. And hopefully we will get to see a truly stylish and genuinely good action flick sometime in future.

Watch this film over and over again....it won't fail to surprise you. One of my favourites!

Quantum of Solace

Title: Quantum of Solace

Language: English

Year of Release: 2008

Director: Marc Forster

Actors: Daniel Craig, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench

Verdict: ***

First things first...What happened to Bond, James Bond?! To put into a proper perspective, the iconic character of our age seems to have been slowly stripped off his panache. Of course, the new interpretation of James Bond is enthralling for those who bask in realism. But where is his wit?! Where are his jaw-dropping gadgets?! Where is the charm which women find irreristable?! Where did his Tuxedo go? What happened to his own Martini?! There are way too many questions than this if you have just walked out of the latest James Bond flick, "Quantum of Solace". Having said all this, I will not take any credit away from this. Despite all its shortcomings, including a theme which is very unBond like, wayward editing and total absence of everything what we have known Bond for, "Quantum of Solace" is still a movie which has loads of energy and edge-of-the-seat action.

Daniel Craig stars as James Bond, tracking down the people behind Vasper Lynd's death with vengeance in his heart. The movie begins with a stunning car chase in Italy as Bond tries to escape from the henchmen. In Siena(Italy), M awaiting Bond to bring forth Mr.White tries to know about the organisation for which Mr.White works for. And sooner she finds out that the organisation has infiltrated even Mi6, she's caught unaware when her own aide shoots at her. Back in Mi6 as the forensic experts successfully tracks down some of the key people associated with suspicious money transfers, Bond is on his heels. His voyage to track down those responsible for Vasper's death takes him to Carribean and later to Bolivia, Austria. Dominic Greene, the chief of Green Planet, and as a member of Quantum, the organisation behind some of the most heinous crimes across the world. How Dominic tries to dictate terms to the governments in South America? Who helps Bond in his path to redemption? Does Bond successfully tracks down those behind Vasper's death? All this form the basic theme of Quantum of Solace.

Quantum of Solace originally is a short story adapted from Ian Fleming's "For Your Eyes Only", and it really is SHORT! With a running time of around 105 minutes, the film hardly has time to lay down the plot for the convenience of its audience. It's stuffed with as many action sequences, car chases, hand to hand fights ., etc in those 105 minutes. And we end up getting a half-baked plot which could have been a much better one to talk about. When you clinically look at this movie, you will realise that, despite some great cinematography and action sequences, the editing is so wayward that, atleast I had no clue what was happening in that scene. The frames change faster than you can gaze, the scenes and the acts are just too short to give much of a thought and in the end, the void is so clearly seen. Daniel Craig as the Bond, looks as good as any other action hero, but isn't it the charm which the likes of Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan once displayed which makes Bond, the Bond?! These are the moments when I truly miss Brosnan, the erstwhile Bond, who despite not having the muscle, had unparallel charm and wit. Olga Kurylenko as Camellie is good in her role, but with zilch chemistry between her and Craig, it's as good as not having her in the same frame as Bond. And what happened to the "Other" Bond Girl?! She's supposed to be the hottest chick in the flick; and they had to choose Gemma Arterton, of all the beautiful women in the world! Phew, if this is what the hotness parameter has fallen to, God save Bond! (She supposed to be the one who can surge the adrenaline levels when she's on screen, but watch Gemma on screen, and you will realise why I am fretting so much!). Dominic Greene(Mathieu Amalric) is perhaps the worst antagonist of Bond I have seen in ages. It's not that Mathieu hasn't done a good job, but his character in the film is so weak that you will realise that the purpose of his existence is to wait for Bond to kill him!!!

The only reason why you cannot walk out of the cinema hall is because of some stunning action sequences (however incongruent they may be), the conversations between M and Bond, and a new theme which takes us to places where no Bond film has ever gone before! And Thank God, the antagonist is not from a country which US and UK always has on their blacklist. He's not into building nuclear weapons or any other such thing to create havoc. Judi Dench as M, shows why no other woman can usurp that role atleast for the next few years. She's almost perfect to her role and delivers a commendable performance. This film was said to be most jinxed in the history of Bond flicks. You will realise why stunt drivers lost their lives and others ended up with broken bones when you see the first 5 minutes of the film....don't miss the beginning!!!

Lets hope that someone who's thinking about the next Bond film's script sees what Bond has missed in this flick. Bring back his gadgets, his tuxedo, his style, his wit, his way with women ! Put the sex back into Bond!!! You don't feel like having seen a truly genuine Bond movie unless we see all this on screen and hear his iconic line....Bond, James Bond!

Amen!

The Dark Knight

Title: The Dark Knight
Language: English
Year of Release: 2008
Director: Christopher Nolan

Actors: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman.

For the past 8 years of so, ever since I switched my loyalty to Star Movies, HBO, I have tried to ask myself what is it about Hollywood flicks that makes me watch more and more? For the past 8 years I haven't been able to understand why I have fallen in love with movies so much!!! For the past 8 years, I have tried to compare one movie after the other and come to a conclusion which is my favourite movie of all...I think, my search ends now and on 20th July, 2008 I got the answer for my quest so far. I saw "The Dark Knight".

Before getting into the details of the story, a little bit about the reviews I had read before watching the flick...Rottentomatoes gives a 90% fresh rating, IMDB ranks it at no.1 among the Top 250 movies of all time, atleast for now...and among the Indian Critics, Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gives a 4 star rating out of 5. And added to that little reviews from my friends added to my curiosity. Too many good things...huh?! I guess the best was yet to come and the IMAX version of the flick (I somehow managed to get a ticket for Sunday) made the "best" a little better!!!..

Sitting in the 5th row from the screen amidst a packed crowd, the story unfolded. The flick opens with a bank robbery which the antagonist, Joker (Heath Ledger) carries out along with others. The nemesis of the criminals in Gotham, Batman (Christian Bale) has been largely successful in controlling the crime rate along with Lieutenant James Gordon. But as the new District Attorney, Harvey Dent(Aaron Eckhart) vows to put every lawbreaker behind the bars, Batman is forced to reconcile his resolution to save the city all alone. He finally decides to give up everything and let Harvey take control. But before he would do it, he's confronted with Joker, the lip smacking, greasy, pyschopath, whose main aim is to spread chaos across Gotham forcing everyone to madness. He demands that Batman must come forward and make his identity public, saying that the city needs the hero with a face.

The rest of the story...well, I am gonna leave it to you to watch it on the Big screen! Because to reveal everything would be like trying to explain how Leonardo painted his "Mona Lisa"....[:-)]

I find it rather difficult to not use any superlatives/adjectives for the spectacular work done by each and every department and each and every character associated with the flick. But have got two words for Nolan and Ledger, Fuckin Awesome!!!!!! I don't know what it takes to be a genius at something, I think it's only after you see the product that you appreciate the creator. Christopher Nolan, who's directed films like, Memento, Prestige, Batman Begins pulls off another masterpiece. Never reeling into boredom, this 150 min+ flick packs a powerful punch especially in terms of the pace of the storyline; the characters just keep getting better and better and the same with the action.

I think the initiative to do away with "Breaks/Intervals" for an English flick is one of the good things which has been introduced. Popcorn and Cool Drinks, will be sold anyway!!! But it's the experience to watch a English flick uninterrupted for this long which pays off eventually. Never giving you a moment to ponder upon any possible loopholes, everyone around is sucked into the mood of the film. Dark beyond one's imagination, you cannot help but gaze with a feeling of awe at Joker's evil mechanisms. To masterfully spread havoc across a city requires either a genius or as Joker would put it, someone who just does it without any plan!!! He's evil beyond one could fathom to an extent which leaves a lump in your throat at the end of it. My favourite scene from the movie is that 5 minute scene where people aboard a ferry have to decide who lives....what a scene!!!

To cater to your adrenaline, there are enough fights, guns, bombs, chases, I love the Batpod!!! But it's not gory where you find blood spilling around...I think the lump in my throat had to do more with the fact that, you are actually trying to understand what Joker would do next, who's the next to die, how will he carry out his evil plans, for a moment, you are one among the denizens of Gotham. Watch out for that scene where Batman chases Joker in his Batpod and eventually flips the truck at a 180 degree angle, and his own Batpod doing a 360!!!!....Stunner!!! Truly one of the several "Woah" moments in the flick...

I have always wondered, how writers create a character; and my curiosity just got increased after seeing Joker and Harvey Dent! Such variations in their characters, your heart goes out to them in both ways, sure they are both dark and evil in the end, but the reason why they have turned that way and they would end up doing; you cannot take your eyes off them and at times you want to see them more than Batman! Probably for the first time, it's a villain who overshadows a superhero...the menacing, lip smacking, man of the moment is the Joker, portrayed so brilliantly by Heath Ledger. Truly a performance which is worthy of Oscar and almost every other award imaginable. For a moment, I suspected that his facial expressions might come close to "V" in "V for Vendetta". But Heath Ledger completely takes you by surprise with his awesome portrayal of Joker. His versions of how how got a big smile on his face, the simplicity with which he drives everyone around him into confusion, chaos sends a chill down your spine. And kudos to the writers who have given him some memorable one-liners. Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart is another surprise package. He's sincere, focused as the DA, but equally scary as the "Two Face" who would stop at nothing to exact revenge.

You must be wondering why I haven't put a word for Christian Bale who's donning that Batsuit for the second time in a row! Well, that's what he does through most part of the flick...with Joker around, he doesn't face the camera as the charismatic Billionaire Bruce Wayne for long, except when he's conversing with Alfred, his Butler (Micheal Caine) and Fox (Morgan Freeman) or partying with some blondes and meeting Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal). If at all, I have a problem with this film...then that would be the voice modulation of Batman once he gets into that suit...somehow, he sounds like Sylvester Stallone with a sore throat!!...:-P...but that doesn't matter, because he's got this awesome Batpod this time...and performs some death-defying stunts, whether he's flying across Hongkong skyscrapers or in Gotham. And everytime, he dives from the top of a skyscraper, you wish you had that suit with you!!!

And finally, the director of the movie, Christopher Nolan. I bow to the genius and his team who have come up with such dark interpretation of the characters from this comic book. He's really pushed Batman far ahead than Spiderman, who's the closest superhero to Batman who has been brought to life on screen. (Somehow, in all these years, Superman is the only character who's got such ridiculous interpretations...after having watched all these superheroes, I think it's time for a makeover for Superman!). The filming with IMAX cameras is a big asset to the flick, and the CGI is out of the world. Watch Harvey Dent after he turns into "Two Face" if you don't believe me...

I think I can go on like this...but the fact of the matter is, I understand what I have been looking for. I have a perspective that there's no shortage of creative talent and irrespective of what region it comes from, it will eventually find its audience. I bow to the entire team of "The Dark Knight" for delivering this gem of a movie and specifically to Wally Pfister, the Cinematographer of the flick, Zimmer and Howard who composed the music, Christopher Nolan, the Director and Heath Ledger who's delivered a awesomely scary performance as Joker. He's in a way, the very reason why you should watch this movie.

Sometimes, I get this feeling that film critics across the world have been little harsh on the flick. Why rate it only at 4 out of 5?! Its not every time, you end up with tears in your eyes and clap at the end, unless you have seen something overwhelmingly terrific. I am gonna go with 5 out of 5 for this flick and without hesitation, I declare that this is the best Action/Superhero flick I have ever seen...cancel all your plans this weekend and make all possible attempts to get tickets for this flick. Make sure you watch it only in the best cinema hall in your place( the best would be IMAX, if it's playing there), and if you are in the city of Hyderabad, please watch it only in Prasads, IMAX. It belongs to the rarest set of flicks which give a feeling of "Awesomeness!!!".

I wonder if 90% rating on Rottentomatoes is this good, then how would a 97% rating for a flick be!! Watch out for that next...it's the latest from the house of Pixar Studios..and it's called "WALL-E".

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull

Title: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull

Language: English
Country: USA
Year of Release: 2008
Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett

Indy is Back!!!

A shadow in front of an US Army Truck bending down to pick up his Fedora who’s surrounded by a group of KGB agents marks the return of Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) after 19 long years! To be honest, I haven’t seen any of the Indiana movies of the past, still the premise of going to this flick was definitely the media hype and also the fact that certain biggies like Spielberg, Lucas were associated with it. And what more can I say?! I loved it…Loved it for the way the story unfolded (although I would say kinda complicated for my lack of knowledge in this legend!), loved the characters, the direction, the cinematography, and many more like that.

Set in the year 1957, amidst the Cold War, a group of Russian KGB agents lead by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett)) infiltrate into a Military Location in US on the lookout for a crate which they believe contains an alien sort of thing which was recovered a decade ago from New Mexico. Indiana Jones was one of the few people who had worked on that project to restore the alien sort of thing safely; he’s captured by KGB and after being double crossed by his longtime friend Mac, he agrees to help them in finding out that crate (You must watch this scene on screen, especially for the technique which he uses!!, one of my favourite scenes in the flick). A fight commences and Indy manages to escape from the clutches of KGB, but runs straight into a town, which in fact is a Nuclear testing site; guess what?!!! Indy manages to escape this too by enclosing himself in a Lead lined Refrigerator (hehehe….reminds me of the countless unbelievable stunts I have seen in Indian flicks!.. since it’s Hollywood, there is some sense of believability. But escaping from a Nuclear Bomb?!!! Phew! ). He’s later interrogated by the FBI agents, for his associated with Mac, who turns out to be a Soviet Agent. Despite his repeated claims of innocence, FBI rummages around his office which compels the University where he’s teaching to let him go on a long leave of absence. Disappointed by the attitude of the University, Indy plans to leave for New York and there after go to London. But when the train to NY is about to leave, he comes across Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf) who tells Indy that he needs his help to find Oxley, an old colleague of Indy and mother who have disappeared somewhere in South America. After a brilliant motorcycle chase around the college campus (again brilliantly filmed), Indy and Mutt escape to Peru where they find out that Oxley had once been locked in a psychiatric hospital until he was kidnapped.

In the cell, Indy is successful in deciphering some clues which would lead them to the Crystal Skull which is believed to contain mystical powers. The search leads them to the grave of Fransisco, who went missing in the 1500s while seeking Akator (also known as El Dorado). Here, they successfully find the Crystal Skull which was hidden by Oxley. But they are soon captured by Spalko’s gang who force Indy to translate what Oxley could tell about Akator. Indy reunites with his longtime friend Marion Williams who’s the mother of Mutt; but later comes to know that he’s the real father of Mutt. What follows next is a gamut of fights, chases, some spectacular locales depicting the jungles surrounding Amazon River and finally the destination…Akator!

You must watch all this on screen to fully appreciate the cinematography, direction and the story. Lot of reviews have compared it with the previous Indy flicks and thus came to a conclusion that it doesn’t have the same charm because of a predictable plot and so on…but I don’t know how many of us actually have seen the movie! (It’s very difficult to watch movies which are 15-20 years old unless you have the perfect source or if you are lucky enough to watch them on the movie channels!!). Sure, it’s predictable, but the way, things move on is what keeps us (or atleast kept me) interested to watch the flick. Coming to the characters, Ford is still good to perform such a demanding role despite his age! The series has five parts, of which four have released till now. It would be interesting to see if Ford appears in the last part too! In this one, Ford delivers a good performance with some cool stunts, and charm that’s evident on screen. The Transformers hero Shia LaBeouf is making waves with his performance, first with Transformers and now with this…check him out for that scene where he prepares himself for a fight and that comb!!! His Marlon Brando kinda style is sure gonna go down well with the audience. And with Starwars fame, George Lucas, and E.T fame Spielberg around, how can we not come to the world of Extraterrestrial beings!!

Whatever maybe the case, this flick has all that what it takes to make a full-fledged action-adventure flick, although it's kinda tough to digest it for a 2008 flick! But as Lucas says, it looks like it was filmed just 3 years after the last Indy film was released! Watch it with a suspension of disbelief …it won’t disappoint you. If only there was someone like Megan Foxx with Shia LaBeouf in the film!!...Hope Spielberg is listening…:-)

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
Director: David Yates
Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon
Year of Release: 2007
Genre: Action, Fantasy

Harry Potter...for some it's just a character that has become famous worldwide, but for most others it's a symbol of Love, Friendship, Courage and so on. Whatever maybe the case, the series and image of Harry Potter is surely a huge cash register for the publishing/production companies. And the release of the fifth part of the series almost at the same time when the whole world is talking about how's it gonna end...well there couldn't have been a better time to release this flick! Although I am not too sure how far the director of the movie, David Yates has been able to get an accurate version of the book on the screen (I haven't read the book)...but as a genuine movie buff, I would give a thumbs up for the flick in general. He incidentally has been confirmed to direct the next version of the Harry Potter series....

Harry and his friends are in the fifth year in Hogwarts, and the incidents back at home lead to Harry's usage of a dangerous spell especially infront of a muggle. This prompts the Ministry of Magic to expel Harry from Hogwarts, but he will go through a formal hearing to prove all the charges. Before attending the hearing, Harry meets his Godfather, Sirius, who warns him about Lord Voldemort and that Voldemort is trying to build an army. During the hearing, Professor Dumbledore supports Harry for what he has done and convinces the Ministry to clear Harry of all charges and send him to Hogwarts. Back in school now, the students are told that Hagrid is on a temporary leave and that Dolores Umbridge would be the new teacher for Defence against Dark Arts. She represents the Ministry and gives an impression to everyone that the Ministry is trying to take control of Hogwarts. In her first class, Harry becomes angry at her, and she inturn asks him to come to her chamber after the class and makes him write "I will not tell lies" ; and asks him to write as many times as he can until the message sinks through.Slowly day by day, she begins to impose new rules starting from her own class, where the students are just given theoretical knowledge without any practice for defense incase of danger. Now, with full Ministry's support, she furthers imposes new rules on the conduct of the students and also the way they are taught, under the pretense that the standards are falling down in Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Harry begins to get illusions about Lord Voldemort trying to find a secret weapon with which he can become all the more powerful from the vault of Department of Mysteries. Harry along with his friends Ron and Hermoine, encourage others to learn magic spells and they form a secret society called "Dumbledore's Army" and they find a place in the main building where they can practice without anyone knowing it. In the meantime, Hagrid returns and tells Harry and his friends that Dumbledore had sent him on a secret mission to convince the giants to join their side if at all a war with Voldemort takes place and he introduces a Giant, his half-brother to the three students. Back in Hogwarts, Dolores suspects some foulplay by Harry and extracts the truth from Harry's love interest Cho. They are immediately taken to Dumbledore where the Ministry tries to send him to the Prison of Azkaban; but Dumbledore escapes with the help of the Phoenix. Then Dolores tries to extract the secret out of Harry of what they were doing all this while; Hermoine and Harry trick her to come along with them to the Forbidden Forest by telling her that they know the secret weapon of Dumbledore.

There in the forest, Dolores insults a herd of Centaurs and she's inturn taken away by them. Harry who had already saved Ron's dad and Sirius from Voldemort through his visions, is convinced that the secret weapon in the Department of Mysteries. He and his friends reach there and after a thorough search they find the thing they were looking; it's the prophecy that "either must die by the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives". Right when Harry is trying to leave with his friends, Lucius Malfoy confronts him accompanied by his other friends. The two groups engage in a severe battle of spells and magic; finally they fall into the Chamber of Death where Lucius threatens Harry that if he doesn't give him the Crystal Ball which has the secret, he will kill all Harry's friends. Right at this moment, Sirius and the order come to rescue Harry and his friends and in the fierce battle, Sirius is killed. Potter out of rage follows the killer to another chamber where Voldemort himself comes and tried to kill Harry. Out of the blue Dumbledore comes to Harry's rescue and there is a faceoff between the two and eventually Dumbledore is successful in trying to stop Voldemort. But Voldemort tries to get inside Harry's mind and soul; but Harry fights back with all the qualities of Love, Friendship in him. Voldemort leaves him saying he will lose everything that's precious to him. Right at this moment, the Ministry sees his presence and acknowledges the fact that Voldemort is back. The minister is forced to resign, Dolores is thrown out of Hogwarts, Dumbledore and Harry are cleared of all charges against them. And the students leave the school to come back for their penultimate year of their study.

I saw this film in a cinema hall named Rex in Bangalore; in the beginning was quite apprehensive as to how students would receive the movie...but I think, most of them were hardcore Harry fans...everyone was so immersed in the story...they clapped when something spectacular was happening on screen, they laughed and cheered when the students manage to break rules...an exciting crowd actually. And I more or less followed them...the movie is good in the sense that, this is where Harry and the rest of his friends are more mature and now, they realise that things are gonna get much darker; a good base to what promises to be a great combat with the dark lord! Although, I haven't read any of the books, some of my friends tell me that the movie is kinda incomplete; anyway, it was an enjoyable flick.

On the other side, I thought Harry's grown a lot! His boyish looks of yester films is gone....I would still prefer Harry from part-1...!!...Anyway, except for Harry, all others have got a relatively lesser screen presence especially Ron and Hermoine; I had kind of expected to see them in almost every frame as that of Harry...anyway, no worries, both of them are good in their roles. Dolores, played by Imelda Staunton steals the show with her performance...be it her cunning laughter, or the simplicity with which she imposes all kinds of rules under the pretext that opposing her would mean opposing the ministry and her wickedness in giving punishment to those who disobey....Sirius and Dumbledore inspire....and so do all others.

A British gentleman once said, that Potter teaches the values of Love, friendship, courage especially to children who think he's an icon...I think he's right! All credit to Rowling for developing that image of Harry and others which makes it so immensely popular....no wonder millions of fans don't want to believe that Harry might die in the final battle...although it seems unlikely, one must wonder, if such thing happens, will people learn of Sacrifice??...or would they think there's No Hope left!...that debate is for future...and the secret shall be revealed on July 21st when the final book hits the stands. Maybe the best thing to do, would be not compare how good the book is compared to the movie...of course if there's a factual error one cannot help pointing out such things. Overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie coming just at the right time!.....

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Photo and info courtesy: Wikipedia
One of the trailers of the movie....