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Only Lovers Left Alive, a review by Danae Cassandra

Only Lovers Left Alive
Year of Release: 2013
Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Anton Yelchin, Mia Wasikowska
Genre: Drama, Horror

Overview:
The tale of two fragile and sensitive vampires, Adam (Tom Hiddleston) and Eve (Tilda Swinton), who have been lovers for centuries. Both are cultured intellectuals with an all-embracing passion for music, literature and science, who have evolved to a level where they no longer kill for sustenance, but still retain their innate wildness. Their love story has endured several centuries but their debauched idyll is threatened by the uninvited arrival of Eve's carefree little sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska) who hasn't yet learned to tame her wilder instincts. Driven by sensual photography, trance-like music, and droll humor, Jim Jarmusch's ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE is a meditation on art, science, and the mysteries of everlasting love.

My Thoughts:
I'm kinda torn on this film. I loved the performances - Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are great, and this is a great character study, especially of Hiddleston's character. There's such great atmosphere, beautiful scenes and interesting ideas. It's wry and melancholy, with an interesting criticism of both the decline of art and culture and of those who bemoan the decline thereof.

Still, something about it didn't click with me. Maybe I wasn't in the proper mood - and it's a moody piece, there's very little plot here. I want to go back to it at some point, probably when I'm more in the mood for an art film or drama. Despite the presence of vampires, this has very little horror.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.75/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 40/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 28th, 2016)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a review by Dragonfire

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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This is the first movie to have a different director and it is the first to start making odd changes and leaving out important explanations.  I still think it is stupid that Hagrid's hut and the Whomping Willow are moved and that long bridge is added along with that clock tower thing.  There isn't a proper explanation for what animagi are and the fact that they have to register with the Ministry of Magic.  A few things about Harry's dad and his friends are left out, including that they wrote the Maurader's Map.  Those little things would have just taken a few minutes to explain.  This is the smallest of the explanations left out, but it is the beginning of a bad trend with the movie. 

This movie does the best job at capturing the magical aspects of Hogwarts, with ghosts floating about all over and the paintings always moving.  I absolutely low how the paintings are done in this movie.  The rest of the movies barely show the paintings moving.  The sense of wonder and magic is out in full force in this one.



I did post a review after I saw the movie in the theater.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on July 15th, 2013)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

EPISODE 13: SUSPECT
So many suspects, so little time. More than one person had the opportunity and motive to shoot Lionel Luthor, but the prime suspect is Clark's dad.

My Thoughts:
This is the "Who Shot Lionel Luthar?" (Who Shot J.R.?) Episode. I really enjoyed this episode... especially since it has been so long since I seen this episode... I didn't remember it at all! So it was like watching it for the first time again.

EPISODE 14: RUSH
Chloe goes wild. Pete goes bad. Clark goes along with the whole, nonstop party when Pete slips a certain red k ring into his pal's pocket.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode.I really enjoyed the "hot" Chloe and the daredevil Pete scenes.This is one where Clark is slipped Red Kryptonite and he and Pete tell Chloe the secret... both Pete and Chloe being effected by a parasite... so of course once the parasite was removed Chloe forgets about Clark's secret.

EPISODE 15: PRODIGAL
Lex locates half-brother Lucas in order to get enough votes to oust Lionel from the corporation. Lionel feigns blindness to his advantage. And Lucas may have an agenda entirely his own.

My Thoughts:
This one... to me... is not that great of an episode... it is ok at best. The big thing happening in this episode is the realization that Lionel Luthor is no longer blind.

EPISODE 16: FEVER
Martha is pregnant, but there's no joy when that news comes with the realization that she may be dying of exposure to meteor dust. Lana and Chloe examine their feelings for Clark after he is similarly stricken.

My Thoughts:
This is one of those episodes that even after watching it I don't know just how much  It goes up and down on how much I like it. The meteor dust makes both Martha and Clark sick... I think the scene where Chloe tells the sick Clark her feelings is my favorite... though sad...  scene of the episode.

(From Smallville Marathon on August 2nd, 2007)