Movie Review - Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince.

There are NO stars in Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince.

What happened?  

I must say that the Harry Potter books are some of my favorite books of all time. J.K. Rowling did a masterful job of creating memorable characters we care about, of building a world that is fantastic and fanciful yet tinged with reality, and creating a good versus evil plot that rivets us even as it arcs over 7 novels. The movies on the whole have done a good job of bringing these books to life, from the screenplays to the casting and the production design.  Note: I positively love the character of Snape and the fabulously talented Alan Rickman does him so well. 

The sixth movie is as usual a good adaptation...but I'm disturbed. There are no STARS in this one. What happened to Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris.  These wonderful cats are nowhere to be seen. Not even a rat in sight since Scabbers turned into Peter Pettigrew back in the Prisoner of Azkaban story. Ugh. So disappointing. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the secondary characters: Harry, Hermione and Ron.

Anyway, the movie seems long a long set-up for the final story (which I understand is going to be divided into two movies). Hopefully, the director will make sure that the STARS are back for those two. 

I give it three 1/2 meows. 

Movie Review - The Proposal

Romantic Comedy is the perfect Friday night kind of film.  You laugh, you feel the love...it's nice. The Proposal with Sandra Bullock fulfilled the Romantic Comedy criteria:

1. Heroine you love. Sandra is always loveable...although in this one she doesn't start out that way. Instead, she's a very unlikable boss. But you know pretty quickly she's going to undergo a change. 

2. Handsome hero. Ryan Reynolds is appropriately hunky.

3. Comedic antics. Particularly the scenes with the exotic dancer and the "post shower" were quite funny.

4.  Quirky secondary characters.  One word: Betty White...Okay that's two words. But she was fantastically funny. And she's an animal lover. What's not to adore there.

5. Animals. Here I have a problem. The family pet was a cutie pie dog. Come on Hollywood. What a cliche. Why not a cute cat. We cats are much more adorable and emotive.  

The Proposal was a fun night at the movies. Sure it was predictable. We, the audience, knew where this story was going, but we definitely enjoyed the journey. 

I give it three meows.

Classic Movie Quotes

The cat is the center of the universe. In keeping with this truth, last Sunday’s blog included the following quote:  “Catness is never having to say you’re sorry.” This comes of course from the famous movie, Cat Story.

This posting garnered much acclaim. Popular demand (Okay I admit it was one reader suggestion), requires a further walk down the memory lane of cat movie quotations.

Who could forget the following:

"They may take our lives, but they can never take out cats!" - Bravecats.

"The first rule of fight club is...bring a cute kitty." - Cat Fight Club.

“Lord Voldecat is back.” - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Cat.

“No, Mr. Bond. I expect to you to ... find my cat." - Blofeld in Goldcat

"Of all the gin joints, in all the world...that cat had to walk into mine." Catablanca. 

"Life is like a box of litter...you never know how many clumps you'll get." - Forrest Cat.

"You had me at meow."- Jerry McCat.

"I had the time of my life, and I owe it all...to the cat." Johnny in Cat Dancing.

"Nobody puts the kitty in the corner." Johnny in Cat Dancing.

"I'll make him an offer he can't refuse...I'll offer him the cat." Brando in the Catfather

"I'll be back...after I find the cat." Arnold in Termicater

"The cat? You can't handle the cat!" Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Cats

"Frankly, my dear...I don't give a damn that we'll always have Paris. Where's my cat?" - Gone with the Cat.

But by far greatest number of quotes come from the groundbreaking Sci Fi classic, Cat Wars: 

 
"These are not the cats you're looking for." 

"Go with the cats, Luke."

And the most famous:
"Luke...I am your cat." 

If I’ve forgotten any of your favorites I hope you’ll post them as a comment.  Until then: May the cats be with you.