Reviews

I love the Harry Potter franchise, but unfortunately this particular branch is not to my liking. Although we get to see Dan Fogler play Jacob Kowalski yet again, it is not enough to hide the many weak points of this movie. First of all, you feel that JK. Rowling has already embellished in her memoirs a little too often concerning her beloved characters, but this movie basically steps on several aspects that we have come to know as canon from the Harry Potter universe. Second, this movie creates a hostility towards the viewer by being dark and dramatic - much like the emo Harry Potter from the fifth movie who hated everyone around him. Now, I don't mind a little darkness, but I feel as if the director wanted to really introduce the dark side of Grindelwald in this movie. And I did not like it. On a positive note, I think Jude Law made a convincing role as a young Albus Dumbledore, although I do not believe for a second that the Mirror of Erised would show that particular desire of Dumbledore, when a much more obvious one comes to mind.

As a fan of the supernatural, I was intrigued when I heard about Lucifer. However, seeing as I've been burned before, I started watching it with relatively low expectations. I was positively surprised by the shows' wittiness and clever dialogue. The devil is portrayed as a charming fellow who knows his way around the ladies; at least till he meets officer Chloe Dancer. His cheekiness and sarcasm makes him a breath of fresh air compared to the characters often found in supernatural shows, where the devils and demons are constantly acting as if they have a stick up their behind. Lucifer is not trying to be dark and mysterious, but fast-paced and humorous. At least that is my perception after watching the pilot. I will follow this show and hope it will continue this promising trend.

At the age of 8 I was introduced to Silver Fang. It was in the form of a Norwegian dubbed VHS with a PG-12 rating and the goriest scenes removed. At the time it scarred me for life. However, as a grown-up I realized I had discovered the best anime ever made.

We follow Silver (Gin in Japanese), an Akata Inu pup trained to be a bear hound. The first seven episodes (total of 21) are seen from the point-of-view of humans. After this, the point-of-view is changed to dogs. When humans are involved, the dogs are heard barking and whining. The story-line is strong and compelling, with twists and turns along the way. The anime tells the story of how Silver and other dogs take matters into their own paws by recruiting other dogs to cleanse Futago pass of violent bears, led by the one-eyed bear Akakabuto. Please be advised that this anime is filled with violence, blood, and many killings of dogs, bears, and humans. If you hate the thought of animals dying, then this anime is not for you. However, if you can handle the warning above and enjoy an epic adventure, then Silver Fang will hit you faster than a Cutting fang of Sirius' sword draw (Zetsu Tenrō Battōga)!

This movie filled my body with so much adrenaline, I almost decided to sign up for a marathon after watching it. I felt incredibly satisfied as I watched Liam Neeson tear up Paris. The plot is simple: Ex CIA agent decides to take matter into own hands when his daughter is kidnapped by Albanian traffickers. By using his honed skills, he does his utmost to track down the perpetrators and bring his daughter home. This movie has the major action requirements covered: lots of violence, no mercy, and adrenaline-infusing scenes. Liam Neeson is a great actor, and this movie adds to his repertoire! 93 minutes is all it takes for your adrenaline meter to go from naught to max!

Draft Day was a movie I had heard little about and had on the back burner. I decided to watch it on a whim, and I am glad I did! It tells the story of Cleveland Browns' head coach and his actions during the NFL draft. The build-up is well made and I became enthralled as the story grew more intricate. Please be advised that this movie is not for everyone. Its whole plot is the NFL draft (hence the name Draft Day) and if you are not a Football fan, you might not derive much pleasure from watching this. In my opinion, Draft Day is the underdog of 2014. I expected nothing and was positively surprised again and again for 110 minutes!