Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • July 29, 2009
‘Harry Potter’
(continued from Entertainment page) exhilaration. Radcliffe, who’s spent half his life playing Harry Potter, does not have a lot of razzle-dazzle this time. He is not as much fun to watch as in earlier installments. This may have to do with the movie’s darker nature, but the script has opportunities for lighter moments that never materialize. Hermione has been relegated to an extra. She interacts very little with either Harry or Ron, and plays her romantic scenes awkwardly and unconvincingly. Grint fares better with screen time, but Ron is never involved fully in the adventure. He is there for scenes in which Ron and Harry talk about their respective infatuations, but contributes little more. The romantic -- if you can call them that -interludes become tedious and slow the action considerably. Broadbent is a welcome addition. This actor effortlessly conveys the essence of whatever character he portrays. His Professor Slughorn is intelligent, absentminded, guarded, mysterious, troubled, and fearful, as required. Broadbent commands attention whenever he is on screen. Many characters from the earlier films chime in with a few bits of dialogue here and there but are otherwise unnecessary to plot. Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) shows up halfway through as the voice of caution when Harry becomes increasingly involved in elaborate intrigue. Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), filmed mostly in close-up, delivers his menacing lines with long dramatic pauses. Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) pops up, only
to fall asleep for most of his screen time, and Professor Flitwick (Warwick Davis) ambles about more as set dressing than plot ingredient. Tom Felton’s Draco Malfoy has a larger role than in previous Potter films and is seen lurking in dark corners, traveling to cryptic locations, and secretly plotting. Felton has the knack for looking evil at all times, playing his role with little dialogue and a disturbing sneer. The actor who really makes a commanding impression is Frank Dillane as 16-year-old Tom Riddle. Shot mostly in close-up,Dillane conveys a maturity and intelligence mixed with malevolence that comes through perfectly. He appears in only one scene, but he is one of the best things in “Half-Blood Prince.” The major problem with “Half-Blood Price” is that it is a transitional film, promising -- but not yet delivering -- the good stuff. It is often ponderously wordy in an attempt to keep the viewer up to speed, but memories are short. The script assumes a lot of knowledge on the part of the viewer, and only a devoted reader of the books will easily recognizes nuances and foreshadowing. I was reminded of “The Empire Strikes Back” and how disappointed viewers were at the inconclusiveness of that “Star Wars” installment. The same holds true for “Half-Blood Prince.” The final scene is a setup for the upcoming two-part finale, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” to be released in 2010 and 2011. Don’t expect all plot points to be tied with a neat bow. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” rated PG, is far too long at over two and a half hours. Though it is always visually remarkable, it will likely confuse those who do not know Potter lore chapter and verse. For Potter fans, it will be a delight, as they will fill in the blanks left by the screenplay. Groh). Rhoda’s mother, Ida (Nancy Walker), was on hand to try manipulating her daughter’s life whenever possible. Julie Kavner (“The Simpsons”) played Rhoda’s sad-sack, whiny sister, Brenda. “The Paper Chase: Season One,” based on the motion picture of the same name, features James T. Hart’s (James Stephens) emotionally and intellectually challenging first year at an Ivy League law school. “Angel of Death” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is the story of Eve (Zoe Bell, “Death Proof”), a cold-blooded assassin employed by a ruthless crime family. When she suffers severe head trauma on the job, Eve begins to hallucinate and becomes haunted by her victims.
Aries Ð March 21/April 20 You always get fired up and Aries Ð March 21/April 20 put your “all” into every and put You always get fired upventure, Aries, and this latest one venture, Aries, your “all” into every is not to be taken lightly. Accept is not to be friend and this latest one help from a taken on Tuesday. lightly. Accept help from a friend on Tuesday. Taurus Ð April 21/May 21 Taurus Ð April 21/May 21 come Don’t let your stubbornness Don’t let your stubbornness come between you and your mate this between Taurus. It’s foolish this pride week, you and your mate to let week, Taurus.healthy conversation. discourage It’s foolish to let pride discourage healthy conversation. Work through your difficulties. Work through your difficulties. Gemini Ð May 22/June 21 Gemini Ð May 22/Junewhen a big Don’t sit on the fence 21 Don’t sit on the fence when a bigYou decision is placed in your lap. decision isknow whatyour lap. You already placed in to do, Gemini. alreadyothers will come around. The know what to do, Gemini. The others will come around. Cancer Ð June 22/July 22 Cancer Ð June 22/July 22 easy-going While you usually are an While you usually arethateasy-going individual, Cancer, an doesn’t give individual, Cancer, that doesn’t giveof others the right to take advantage others the right tospirit. advantage of it your generous take Be sure to do your generous spirit. Be sure to do it with tact and professionalism. with tact and professionalism. Leo Ð July 23/August 23 Leo Ð July 23/August on this week, With so much going 23 With soit could be easy for you to lose Leo, much going on this week, Leo, it could be easy for you to lose focus of what’s important. Your genfocus of what’s important. unexpected erosity could lead to an Your generosity could lead thean unexpected relationship by to weekend. relationship by the weekend. Virgo Ð Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo time to take a well-deserved It’s Ð Aug 24/Sept 22 It’s time to take a well-deserved break, Virgo. You’ll find that break, Virgo. You’ll find that time to once you give your battery once you give your battery time to be a recharge, next week’s work will recharge, next week’s work will be a breeze. breeze. Libra Ð Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra Ð Septare tipped in your favor The scales 23/Oct 23 The scales are tipped inexciting opporthis week, Libra. An your favor this week, Libra. An exciting opportunity will present itself by Wednestunity will present itself restWednesday, ensuring that the by of the week day, ensuringfun, fun and more fun. will offer, that the rest of the week will offer, fun, fun and more fun. Scorpio Ð Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio Ð Oct 24/Nov 22 Cast your suspicious nature aside, Cast your suspicious nature aside, Scorpio. That business venture that Scorpio. That business venture that you heard about is a sure thing. Set you heard about is a sure thing. Set your sights on success and you’re your sights on success and you’re bound to be pleased with the results. bound to be pleased with the results. Sagittarius Ð Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius Ð Nov 23/Dec 21 It’s time to throw in the towel on your It’s time to throw in the towel on your latest relationship, as much as it pains latest relationship, as much as it pains you to do so, Sagittarius. It doesn’t you to do so, Sagittarius. It doesn’t appear that your efforts for reconciliappear that your efforts for reconciliation are being well-received. ation are being well-received. Capricorn Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn Ð Ð Dec 22/Jan 20 Don’t get caught in your friend’s Don’t get caught upup in your friend’s problems this week, Capricorn. Even problems this week, Capricorn. Even though you want be supportive, though you want to to be supportive, that person is just asking too much that person is just asking too much of of you right now. you right now. Aquarius Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius Ð Ð Jan 21/Feb 18 It’s time be the life of the party, It’s time to to be the life of the party, and you’re just the person get the and you’re just the person to to get the ball motion, Aquarius. Yet don’t ball in in motion, Aquarius. Yet don’t get discouraged if they don’t “click” get discouraged if they don’t “click” - not everyone has your winning taste. not everyone has your winning taste. Pisces Feb 19/March 20 Pisces Ð Ð Feb 19/March 20 Projects around the home are particuProjects around the home are particularly important this week, Pisces. It’s larly important this week, Pisces. It’s time set other plans aside and make time to to set other plans aside and make spending some time home your spending some time at at home your main priority. main priority.
DVDs
(continued from Restaurant page) of the 1970-1971, final season and contains audio commentary by Thomas and series co-creator Bill Persky. “Rhoda: Season One” features the first year of one of the most successful spinoffs in TV history. Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) had been a comic highlight of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” for four years until the producers gave Rhoda her own program in 1974. “Rhoda” transplanted its main character from Minneapolis to her native New York, where she meets and marries Joe Gerard (David
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