44/50x2: Schindler's List

This film was not exactly what I was expecting. I can't believe such an epic film from so many years ago I hadn't really known what it was exactly about.

Schindler's List stars some amazing and talented actors. Liam Neeson stars as Oskar Schindler, Ben Kingsley as Itshak Stern and Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth.

Schindler and Goeth are both part of the Nazi party. Schindler's main concern, however, is finding a way to get richer during the war, while Goeth actually enjoys the killing of Jews.

Schindler comes up with an idea to start a business for pots and pans, fronted by some Jewish businessmen (because Jews at the time couldn't own a business) and led by Stern as the bookkeeper.

Schindler is first alone in Poland when coming up with this idea and grabs Jewish workers from the Krakow Ghetto where they are all being forced to live.

Goeth comes in later to set up a new concentration camp and ends up poaching a few of Schindler's workers, but soon Schindler bribes Goeth into allowing a sub-camp and is able to keep his workers and continue earning money. Stern, meanwhile, is the eyes and ears for Schindler and as he hears Goeth may execute some people, Schindler asks to use them at his camp - pretty much saving their lives.

Soon, Goeth receives orders to destroy all of the remains of the dead and ship everyone, including Schindler's workers, to Auschwitz.

Schindler, though, uses a lot of the money he has gained throughout the war in order to save his workers. In fact, Schindler and Stern draw up a list of over 1,000 Jews that he wants to keep for his new factory in his hometown of Czechoslovakia.

Though his original intent during this war was to become rich, Schindler's heart is changed and he becomes friends with his workers, especially Stern.

Much like Brian's Song, I feel the story that this film was based on is historic and what Schindler ended up doing for these people was amazing. The film itself wasn't as great as I was expecting. The main three actors are amazing, but I just felt it was far too long and really didn't get going quick enough for me.

I had to switch DVDs when watching this film, which is odd nowadays and shows how long this film is. The best part of the film for me was on DVD No. 2. When Schindler began to realize that all of his workers and people has grown to care about could be taken from him and murdered, he did all he could to act to save them - including giving up most of his fortune. And, in the end he felt he hadn't done enough.

One cool thing for me though, I didn't really notice that the film was in black and white. I am not a huge black and white fan, but this film really did work very well in that aspect - so much so that I hardly even noticed.

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24/50x2: In Bruges

When I first started watching this I could have sworn it was a Harry Potter reunion party. Almost like someone said, "Hey, there is this film being made over here. We can do it in between shots." And a bunch of them listened.

So, In Bruges is about a pair of hitmen, Ray (Colin Farrell), who is very new to the job and his partner, Ken (Brendan Gleeson), who has been around for awhile.

After a job, the two are sent to Bruges by their boss, Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes) and told to wait there until he contacts them with further instructions.

For Ken, it is great. He takes in the sights and actually enjoys being on leave. Ray, though, has been dealing with the previous job where in he accidentally killed a young child during it.

He befriends Chloe (Clemence Poesy), who he believes is working on a movie being filmed locally, but as it turns out she is a drug dealer and thief. But the two actually hit it off quite well.

Still, he can't seem to shake the murder of the child. Ken receives a call from Harry and is given his next assignment - to kill Ray. Apparently there is a code for killers as well - there is no forgiveness of killing a child. Ken follows Ray to a local park and watches him - just as he is about to sneak up on him and put a bullet in his head, Ray pulls a gun up to his own head and is about to commit suicide, but Ken stops him.

Ken puts Ray on a train and tells him not to return. He would deal with Harry.

The next part of the film is Harry coming after both Ken and Ray to clean up their mistakes, and it is actually a pretty fun and wild ride.

I say this is a bit of a Harry Potter reunion because it has three of its stars in it. Poesey played Fleur, Gleeson, of course, was Mad Eye and everyone knows Fiennes was Voldemort.

It was fun seeing all of them together again. And in such a different type of film. This was mostly a dramatic film, with some high points of action and some good comedy sprinkled throughout. As I said, a fun little ride for a film that sort of flew under the radar upon its release.

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Theater Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

I am not going to sit here and hash out the entire story line of the final Harry Potter film. If you are currently a fan of the series, you have no doubt read the book or most likely have seen the final film anyway.

So, my ramblings will just blend with what you already know and what you have already read on many other blog and review sites.

My review may be a bit different. I have waited patiently like so many others as the Harry Potter films have been released - usually once a year with a few that took a little longer. But, I have never read a single one of J.K. Rowling's books.

No, I was first introduced to Harry, Hermione and Ron during a showing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - well after the second film had already been released. Was I blown away? No. But I was definitely intrigued enough to go and see the third film.

It was right around this time that I introduced my mother, my wife and my sister to the books - weird I know, since I have never read a single one - and they fell in love with them.

So, the quartet of us went to a Friday showing of the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II - which picks up right where the first one ends.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is still searching for Voldemort's horcruxes with Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint). But, they are having a bit more luck during the first half of this film than they did in the entire first film.

This is all leading up to what would be the final showdown between Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and Harry. Which takes place at Hogwarts - but before their final battle, a much larger battle looms between the Death Eaters and many horrible creatures taking on the witches and wizards in Hogwarts walls.

Many perished on both sides to protect and serve their leaders - but it is up to Harry to end this war once and for all by taking out the enemy who killed his parents and so many others.

In my last Harry Potter theater experience I felt somewhat dissatisfied. Possibly because the story didn't really end - but I also felt like the entire film was Harry, Ron and Hermione camping. Nothing else really seemed to happen (I re-watched the film on DVD and my original feeling was wrong).

This time, however, I was engaged throughout. We pick up Harry and the gang right where we left them and they immediately are off to find another horcrux, but this time they know where it is - and there is actual adventure when they get there. It was fun to watch - and it continued pretty much nonstop.

As I said before, I had never read the books before - so there were a few things in the film that sort of confused (thankfully I had the other three with me to straighten out any of my questions).

For instance, I was a bit confused by the resurrection stone. I really wasn't sure what it did, or why it was needed. I thought that it was used to resurrect someone when they died, and of course Harry may need this.

Another thing that I mistook (which I took a lot of flak for by Mrs. Kano) was that I was sort of led to believe that Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) may have been Harry's father. I guess looking back at everything else in the other movies I should have known better - but that montage was a bit misleading (ok, laugh at me if you want).

I can't really give out some of my favorite parts of the movie, because they could be potential spoilers for those who haven't seen it. I will say this - it was a great way to end one of the most possible film franchises (if not the) in years.

I even got chills as they panned back from Hogwarts at the conclusion of the film - before the real conclusion.

It has been an amazing run for these characters. Eight films, and a finale that, if not perfect, was pretty darn close. A great way to say goodbye to characters we have seen grown up.

Goodbye. Thanks for an amazing adventure.

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