Dark Knight Rises - Midnight Movie Review - Spoiler Free!

Dark Knight Rises is, of course, the third and final installment of the Chris Nolan / Christian Bale Batman trilogy. It has been hotly anticipated. So, did it live up the hype? Was it as good as the first two? How does it stand on its own as a film? 1LR has the answers!

Dark Knight Rises

So let's answer those questions right away. The Dark Knight Rises is a good film but it doesn't live up the hype, suffering from a few serious flaws. It was not as good as the first two films in the series - I'd put it as the worst of the three movies but still a very good film. Even if you never saw the first two films I still think you'll find this movie to be enjoyable.

Let's start with the positive.

I loved how bold Christopher Nolan was with the choice to jump forward eight years in the future. Batman is retired and Bruce Wayne's broken body is hidden away from the world because he lives like a recluse. 

I thought that the main players (Batman, Bane, Catwoman, Commissioner Gordon, and John Blake) all did excellent jobs. The Bruce Wayne's character arc closely mirrors the first film. His body is broken and he believes Gotham doesn't need him anymore. After a massive failure, he is at zero - he has nothing - and he has to relearn how to be Batman again. But the character with the best emotional moments in the film is Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce's butler. Michael Caine really breathes a soul into this character unlike any previous performance as this character. Anne Hathaway's Catwoman is a more practical take on the character than Michelle Pheiffer or Halley Berry's.

I also loved how far this film pushes the envelope of comic book villains. Bane actually manages to top the Joker in one category - overall mayhem caused. As a villain, he was extraordinarily successful in fulfilling his goals. Let's just say that irregardless of who wins - Batman or Bane - Gotham could never be the same ever again. Some of the things Bane does are absolutely brutal... which makes him hard to predict on the screen. You never know what he's going to do next. They also avoid the "big, dumb, muscle-bound idiot" stereotype. Bane is shrewd and he has a clever tie to Bruce Wayne's past that brings the franchise full circle.

There is one big surprise twist in the film that I don't think anybody saw coming and I hope nobody ruins it for you. At the climax of the movie there's a very suspenseful moment that just lingers on and on. Just when you think, "Nah, they couldn't have done that!" they sell you on it, leaving your mouth gaping open. The very ending of the film is very pleasing but not in a completely satisfying way. Honestly. I wanted to say, "But wait! What happens next?" which is a sure sign that the film is a good one.

The continuity between this film and the previous two is absolutely airtight. The film opens to a service honoring Harvey Dent who died in the second film. Characters are often remembering and recalling events that occurred in the previous films. We are treated to a return appearance of a prior villain (I won't spoil who). And ultimately, as all good trilogies do, this film takes Bruce Wayne back to his origins from the first movie.

And, of course, it's always a good thing when a film can be faithful to the source material it comes from - the comics. The Dark Knight Rises is perhaps the most loyal in the regard of the three films in the series. It goes so far as to use specific panels from comics almost as a storyboard in a few places (I'm thinking of one classic picture with Bane in particular).

But this film also has a few flaws, some of them somewhat serious.

The first is the pace of the film. Let's just say that it is overindulgent. The film takes way too long to get off the ground and there are several long stretches when Batman is nowhere to be seen. At one point, a little boy sings the entire Star Spangled Banner. I get why they did it - it's suppose to be a tense moment - but the payoff was spoiled by the trailers anyway. This film could have really benefited by trimming it down to two hours.

Secondly, the film is too dark. I get that it's Batman, it's Gotham and it's suppose to be dark, seedy, dirty, gritty. But I want to be able to tell what's going on. When you have both Batman and Catwoman, both dressed all in black, fighting bad guys (also dressed all in black) in near total darkness it is hard to follow what's going on.

A big problem for me was understand-ability of the dialogue. I really had a hard time hearing what was being said in quite a few places. Bane was the worst with his face-mask thing but Batman was sometimes hard to understand as well as a few minor characters. The ultimate effect of this was that I probably missed some important information that would have helped me tie the loose pieces of the somewhat murky plot together.

The combination of these three factors - the meandering plot, the dullness of the color pallet, and unintelligible dialogue - makes this film seem dull at times.

I have a good half-dozen nit-picks I could go on about as well. Such as - in the beginning of the film we see Bruce Wayne at the doctor and the doctor tells him he has no cartilage left in his knee among a wide variety of other trauma-induced ailments. Bruce gets a brace for his knee that solves the problem but there are times that he's without the brace and apparently his knee doesn't bother him anymore. Also, Batman's faith in Catwoman is without cause. Time and again he gives her the benefit of the doubt and even places himself at risk because of her... but why? Why does he treat her any differently than any other criminal? The thin answers in the film don't adequately address the issue. I could go on, but I won't.

So as I said... Ultimately, this film falls short of the first two films. But we here at 1LR review films based on their own merits, not in comparison to any other work. The Dark Knight Rises is a very enjoyable comic book movie and serves as a fitting end to this Batman trilogy.

1LR REVIEW - 15 out of 20! It's a Hit!

1LR Midnight Movie- Dark Knight Rises - Fanboy Reactions

Ultra Batman Fans!

We all know who comes to midnight shows: The Ultra Fans. And let's just say the Ultra Fans were pumped.

When I first arrived at the theater twenty five minutes early I noticed that the parking lot was PACKED. I had to park at the nearby grocery store! I had already purchased tickets and when I got into the theater I realized I was going to have to sit in the front row! There were a TON of people dressed up for the event. A bunch of them wore Batman T-shirts and the like but a few brave fans dressed up in character. I noticed some of those cheap plastic Batman masks they sell at Target and the like. Planet X comics showed up to hand out free comics and discount coupons which was cool (but they only gave them to the fans in the DBOX seats... Booo! Where were they for Amazing Spider-Man?).

During the movie, the fans were mostly silent. There really aren't very many reaction shots in the film. Twice the audience laughed at truly funny moments in the film. The surprise twist got a reaction from the crowd and the ending of the film really got the fans pumped. They applauded when the film was over but booed when there was no post-credit scene.

After the show, I eavesdropped on several conversations. The general consensus I heard was that everyone enjoyed it, just not as much as the first film. People thought Bane was a good villain, just not as good as the Joker. People loved the ending and the surprise twist. I heard a bit of nitpickery on plot details but nothing too serious.

Overall, Fanboys were pleased and if you enjoyed the first two films I think you'll enjoy this one as well.

1LR Midnight Movie: Dark Knight Rises: Instant Reaction

I just got home from seeing the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises.

Honestly? This was a hard movie to watch at midnight. I've seen plenty of midnight movies but this one was a challenge to stay awake during. First, everything is black on black with shadows thrown it to make it more dark. I understand that they're going for mood but visually there were times I was having a hard time deciding what I was watching or where my eyes should focus. Secondly, I had heard early reports of hard to understand dialogue and I agree with them to a certain extent. I found myself wondering more than a few times, "What did he just say?" Bain is the worst by Batman isn't much better. Finally, the plot is a slow march that has a number of points where it simply seems to grind to a halt. Even the soundtrack is just simply THERE in the background, rhythmically beating away. The sum total of all of this was that it was a challenge to actually stay awake and focused during this film.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying it's a bad film. It isn't (I'll save my few review for another post here in a little bit). There are some good twists in the film, I loved how faithful it was not only to the continuity of the first two films but also to the comics (even using specific images from comics), and the character arc Bruce Wayne goes on it a great one.

But my instant reaction is this: It falls short of the first two films. Still good, but if falls short.

1LR Midnight Movie: Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises at Midnight

Fanboys rule!

One Lost Road is at it again! This Friday morning at 12:10 AM we'll be attending the Dark Knight Rises at Frank Theatres in York, PA's Queensgate 13. We'll, of course, be there looking for superfans who are dressed for the occasion! I'm sure it'll be a rowdy crowd and we're looking forward to seeing you there!

Of course, you can look forward to 1LR's instant reaction right after the show is over!

Marvel Media Mania: Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Midnight Review - Spoiler Free!

The Amazing Spider-Man is a 2012 theatrical release.

The Amazing Spider-Man

With this movie, Sony resets the Spider-Man continuity. This is the origin story all over again. I'm not spoiling anything if I say Peter gets bitten by a spider and gains great power. Uncle Ben is killed and he becomes a superhero.

While the specifics were changed slightly the origin story plays out very similarly to the first film. I was almost disappointed. I really think that they should have more fully developed Peter as a character both before and after the spider bite before killing Uncle Ben. What's the purpose of redoing this very familiar story unless you're going to enlarge it and examine it in greater detail? 

Everything in this film just seems to have a... labored quality to it. Even Spider-Man swinging around isn't easy. Unlike the previous films, New York is choked full of obstacles to swing around in this film such as clotheslines, birds, fire escapes, cranes, telephone wires... you name it. I guess this reflects the more gritty realism of this film. Unfortunately, the story has this same struggling-to-move-forward feeling to it. 

Much of the film relies far too heavily on coincidence. Without giving too much away there are far too many times in the story that something just HAPPENS TO HAPPEN that propels the story forward but doesn't make a whole lot of sense. At one point, Spider-Man receives what appears to be a grievous injury. He can barely stand. But then, all of a sudden, the injury is totally forgotten and never brought up again. And, near the finale of the film, there is a sequence that reeks of Hollywood set-up. Not only is it improbable, it's also completely unnecessary. Peter's relationship with Flash completely changes halfway through the film without explanation. 

One shock to me was the casting for Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Ben is played by Martin Sheen. He  does okay but comes up short in the role. Sally Fields as Aunt May was the real stretch. Gone is the white-haired old widow giving sage advice. Instead we have a more youthful woman who, instead of doting on Peter, doesn't ask ask any questions when he returns home night after night with mysterious cuts and bruises.

The film's big disappointment is with Peter's parents, however. To me, examining Peter's parents is what was suppose to set this film apart from the others. Quite simply, they failed to develop this adequately. We're given hints that there is a mystery surrounding their disappearance/deaths but we're given very little actual evidence. The film really sets itself up for a sequel to more fully explore the mystery.

The Lizard/Dr. Connors is a pretty straightforward villain. Visually, he looks great and the action sequences with him are very well done. He makes a great physical match for Spidey. My complain with him is that he lacked depth. Sure, he poses a threat to the city but the whole, "I created him," seemed to be a bit of a stretch to give the villain emotional weight. 

The effects are really great. We don't get nearly enough Spider-Man swinging action as I would have liked but when we do get some it's amazing. The shots from Spidey's POV are spectacular.

Emma Stone is the real star of the film. As Gwen Stacy she bats her beautiful eyes and makes you wonder why Gwen can't have her own movie. There's one great sequence when she's trying to convince her father not to come into her room. 

Andrew Garfield is a great Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He's got a very natural smile and he nailed the angst-filled teenager role. 

I liked the angle the film takes on Spider-Man and the law. Captain Stacy is determined to capture Spider-Man as a "vigilante." This is a reoccurring theme from the comics that was absent from prior films. 

Notably absent is J. Jonah Jameson although we do briefly see the Daily Bugle news station. Norman Osborne is mentioned several times but does not make an appearance in the film... sequels, anyone? Harry's classmates are likewise trimmed down to just Gwen and Flash. If this movie is about Peter's high school years why not more fully flesh out his school friends?

So in conclusion, although this film certainly has its flaws I think you'll find watching it to be an overall enjoyable experience. 

1LR REVIEW - 13 out of 20! It's a Glancing Hit!

1LR Midnight Movie: Amazing Spider-Man Instant Reaction

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I just got back from the midnight showing of Amazing Spider-Man.

Was it truly "Amazing?" Well... it was good but I wouldn't call it "Amazing."

The comparisons to the prior films are inevitable. It wasn't as good as the first or second Spider-Man films but it was better than the third.

It's hard to define why that it. In some ways the story felt forced along as if it took effort to get from one scene to another. There's a good deal of, "Why did that happen like that?" Answer: "Because that's what needed to happen to move the story forward." The film lacks strong central themes to tie the disparate storylines together.

The film hints at some mysteries concerning Peter's parents but it doesn't give enough information to even really tease you.

There IS a mid-credits scene but I can say the audience felt disappointed by it.

So "Amazing?" No. Worth watching. Definitely.

1LR Midnight Movie: Amazing Spider-Man - D-BOX Seat Experience

D-BOX seats... the next big hit in movies?

My wife and I have just returned from the midnight showing of The Amazing Spider-Man. I was so pumped for this film that I wanted to upgrade my seats to include the new feature, D-BOX. What's D-BOX? It's seats that move with the action of the film. It cost an extra $8 a ticket! So... was it worth it?

I'd say... maybe? It certainly was cool but I don't think I'd shell out the extra cash for just any movie. Also, D-BOX isn't without its down sides as well.

First, the chairs have a little panel that you can adjust the amount of motion you're going to get. I cranked mine to max while my timid wife set hers on almost nothing. "We paid $8 for these seats!" I said. "If we wanted to sit still we'd sit elsewhere!"

Once the movie started, the first big "bump" from the seat was when Flash Thompson hits Peter in the head with a basketball. You could tell quite a few people were new to the D-BOX experience because the moment was followed by "Whoa!" and nervous laughter. That first bump actually made me jump a bit.

During action scenes, the seat goes crazy, bumping and swinging this way and that. The range of motion isn't that great but it does add that tactile dimension to a film that is otherwise absence. The coolest movements came during the shots from Spider-Man's POV when he's swinging. The seat shifted quickly from forward to back to side to side. In this way, it brings you closer to the action on the screen.

But in another way it actually took me out of the movie. I found myself at times NOTICING how the chair was moving. And at that point it became a distraction from what was happening on the screen.

I've had several back injuries and I must admit that toward the end of the film my back did start hurting. My wife, on the other hand, admitting that she cranked her seat up to max once she realized it wasn't going to be, "so bad."

I found myself wondering who programmed the seat movements... was there some input from the creative team on the movie or not? It seemed to me that the soundtrack controlled the movements more than anything else.

D-BOX... interesting experience but I doubt I'll be a regular.

1LR Midnight Movie: Amazing Spider-Man - Fanboy Reactions

Obviously the coolest
group of girls there.

Classic Spidey... nice!

Fans were pumped before the show. I saw quite a few people with Spidey T-shirts on but nobody dressed in full costume. The crowd was large for the midnight show - Larger than what I saw for the Avengers, actually, but smaller than Harry Potter 7 or a Star Wars film. I've included pictures from tonight's show in this post.

So, how did fans react both during and after the Midnight showing of Amazing Spider-Man? During the show, I could tell that the audience was along for the ride. There were collective gasps and "Whoas!" as the movie progressed. The film was much more series and stark than previous incarnations and it lacked funny reaction moments.

After the show, I eavesdropped on several conversations about the movie. Generally, fans were pleased with the film. I heard a number of wives/girlfriends asking their geek husbands to explain a little bit more about the comics behind the characters.

The family that enjoys Spidey together, stays together!

Spider-Sense... tingling!

I dug the black-and-red Spidey effects on this shirt!

Spidey fans showed up in droves.

Proud Spidey fan!

Cool Spidey shirt!

1LR Midnight Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man

One Lost Road would like to formally invite you to the Frank Theatres at the Queensgate 13 in York, PA for the midnight showing of The Amazing Spider-Man 3D on July 3 (12:10 AM).  We're very pumped for the movie and decided to go deluxe so we upgraded our seats to D-BOX (motion seats). We'll be on the lookout for superfans in costume.

Marvel Media Mania: Men in Black III - (Midnight Show Review - SPOILERS!)

Men in Black III was released today. Warning, I'm not holding back the spoilers on this one. I'll put in a jump break for those that don't want to have it ruined for them by accident.

MIB 3 poster

1LR Midnight Movie: Men in Black III Fanboy Experience

Pretty empty, right?

Does Men in Black have fanboys? I don't know. I've been to quite a few midnight shows and this one was pretty sparsely attended. Here's the theater I was in:

Still the Frank Theatre had some special events. First, they actually filmed a special "trailer" using footage from the movie and footage they took themselves at the theater to promot their special MIB3 party on May 26. This party will include an alien costume contest, petting zoo, car show, BBQ, and more. That sounds kinda cool for a theatre to do.The theater also had a drawing tonight. It was a "guess the number of swedish fish in the jar" contest with the prize being a gold fish. How does this tie into MIB? There's a throwaway line in the movie about fish. Weak link, but still pretty cool. The best was the crashed ship the theater had constructed complete with flashing lights and yellow tape. I'm going out on a limb but I'm guessing the theater manager is a big MIB fan.

Party flier from the theater

MIB drawing for a fish? FLUSH!

I only saw one brave fan dressed up. She even had a gun. BRAVO, MIB fan! I guess MIB fan...er...girls do exist!

Very cool fangirl in MIB costume!

Crashed alien ship with flashing lights!

1LR Midnight Movie: Men in Black III Instant Reaction

I just got back from the midnight show of Men in Black III.

No subliminal message here.

Overall, I've got to say I was pleased by the film. It's a time travel film, of course, and I have a big soft spot in my heart for time travel. The tone of the movie seemed more serious than the first two films. MIB3 comes across as being more serious. In the first two movies you never really consider that Agent J or Agent K will die because all of the violence is very cartoony. In fact, in the cartoon series Agent K's false death was a running joke. The movie starts out with Zed's funderal and the hook for the whole storyline of his movie is Agent K's death so it puts everything in a more somber mood.

Not that the mood change is all bad. Like I said - I liked it. This film actually has a real villain that poses a real threat - something the first two lacked.

But don't worry - there are still a bunch of jokes thrown in there and fans of MIB won't be disappointed.

1LR Midnight Show: Men In Black III



Prom? Nope. We're going to see MIB3!

This Thursday, May 24, 1LR will be at the Frank Theater (Queensgate Shopping Center) in York, PA to watch the third Men in Black movie. You're welcome to join us. I'll be looking for superfans who have dressed up in costume. My review should be up sometime around 3:00 AM on the 25th. I hope to see you there!

1LR Midnight Movie: Avengers - TWO Scenes During the Credits

ATTENTION GEEKS:

There are TWO scenes during the Avengers end credits. You'll want to stay to catch both of them.

Even the Avengers think the end-credits scene is funny.

The first comes right after the CGI "stylized" credits. It's a little epilogue to show what the bad guys are up to after the fight ends. I won't ruin it, but it features a very surprising guest star that I guarantee nobody in the theater saw coming. It really comes out of left field - I'll have to go back and rewatch but I don't even think they dropped any subtle hints about this character in the movie. It really sets up future Avengers related films. I'll give you a hint: It's a cosmic-level being that you'd think they would never tap for the Avengers movies.

The second scene comes at the end of the credits. This is a follow up on a joke Iron Man makes a few times in the film. It's kinda like that scene in Spider-Man 2 where Spidey rides the elevator... hilariously awkward.

1LR Midnight Movie: Avengers - The Fanboy Reactions

Who goes to see a midnight show? Fanboys! And let me tell you, there were out in droves! Now, were not talking Harry Potter 7 part 2 here but there was a heavy turnout.

First of all, TONS of people dressed in costume. One clever group dressed as every Avenger from the movie, except the Hulk. So a young girl stepped up wearing all green with toy Hulk fists on. Brilliant! I saw a lot of people with the cheap Thor and Iron Man masks on. There were even some homemade costumes (including one really cool Iron Man helmet). Of course, there was a large sampling of Avengers related T-shirts. Bravo, fanboys!

All right... You all dress up in elaborate superhero costumes
and I'll just wear my suit and sunglasses, and say I'm
"Agent Colston" okay fellas?

The film has a number of in jokes or insinuations that fanboys picked up on. I don't want to spoil it, but there's a surprise appearance in the cut-scene in the middle of the credits that got a HUGE reactions from the fanboys but may leave some casual fans scratching their heads going, "Who was that?"

Joss Whedon's brand of delivering the unexpected got loud approval from the crowd. Whedon definitely had his way with this script and he in particular had a lot of fun with the Hulk.

Walking out at the end of the film, I heard quite a few people voicing their appreciation from the film. Some were weighing whether or not it was better than the first Iron Man. I, myself, wouldn't go that far but this movie was made to make fanboys happy.

1LR Midnight Movie: Avengers Movie Instant Reaction

The Avengers impresses...

Wow. This is one of those movies that is so full you have a hard time remembering everything you wanted to talk about when you walk out of the theater.

I don't want to steal too much of my own thunder for the "official" 1LR review, but I can say that this movie made the fanboys happy. It had to be structured just right to introduce, like, 20 very unique concepts quickly but also to not bore the superfans.

Like all of the Avengers movie leading up to this one, it was FUNNY. You can definitely see Joss Whedon's fingerprints all over it.

Bravo, Avengers! Marvel successfully pulled off a feat equal to that of the simultaneous filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy - they made a superhero film universe that works.

Simply put - GO SEE THE AVENGERS!

1LR Midnight Movie Review: Captain America - The First Avenger (Spoilers!)

Captain America

Captain America - The First Avengers is a first rate film. I would call it more of a character based film than a "action movie." There's one chase sequence early on and until the final fight scene other action sequences are done as a part of a montage or showing for just a few seconds. I didn't mind, however, because they really take time to develop the character of Steve Rodgers and build his relationships with the other characters. The fight sequences they do present are very well done - nothing comes off as campy. It's nice to see Cap kick the door down, guns a-blazing, mowing down Hydra agents!

Chris Evans does a great job as both Captain America AND Steve Rodgers. It's funny because even though Cap transforms physically, mentally he remains the same person - he's just now able to act on the impulses he was physically unable to before. So even though Cap is big, strong, and buff you still see he's socially awkward and geeky. No inspirational Cap speeches in this film (a bit of a disappointment for me personally) but it would have seemed out of place with the direction they went with the character.

Like Thor, I particularly enjoyed how funny this movie was. Tommy Lee Jones delivers many great lines in a deadpan voice that strikes just the right chord for humor.

I went to this film with my friend Sam who isn't a comic book fan at all and even he enjoyed it. The theater was very full for a midnight show (not Harry Potter full, but still a good crowd) and the crowd seemed pleased with the film overall.

1LR REVIEW: 17 out of 20 - It's a Solid Hit (with Cap's shield)!

1LR Midnight Movie: Captain America - The First Avenger

It's that time again! This Thursday into Friday at midnight, 1LR will represent at the Captain America: The First Avenger midnight showing! Meet at the Queensgate 13 Frank Theatre in York, PA. Hope to see you there!

Watch the trailer!

1LR Midnight Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Spoiler Free!)

I just got back from seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 at the first midnight showing. 

Simply put, this film is fantastic. The mood of this film is exactly what it needs to be - mournful, dramatic, weighted down with anxiety, and reminiscent of the past. 

Two cautions:  

1) Do NOT go see this movie if you haven't seen all the rest of the movies or read all of the books. First, it won't make any sense to you at all. Second, why would you want to ruin the ending? Start from the beginning and get the whole story! That way it means something!

2) Don't take youngsters to this film. By far the most graphic of the movies, in one scene bloody dead bodies are given a close-up. In another an image that looks like an aborted fetus is shown for several seconds. Definitely could be very scary for kids even around the 5th grade or older. I know some of the stuff creeped me out!

By remaining faithful to the books this film pulls off something rarely seen in Hollywood: A great last installment to a movie franchise. 

Even if you've read the books and you know how things are suppose to go, you'll still find this film emotional and surprising. The filmmakers used humor well to break the tension and the audience reacted with genuine laughter. In other sequences, the film tugs at your heartstrings quite effectively. The action is quick and punches you in the gut.

Look for this film to smash box office records. 

CRITICAL REVIEW: 17 out of 20. It's a hit!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: The Midnight Show Experience

If you weren't at the first midnight showing for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 then... I'm sure your neighborhood was quiet. Because EVERYBODY was there and I mean EVERYBODY. I haven't seen so much excitement and fan turnout for a movie event since... the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. This was beyond anything for any Star Wars or comic book movie midnight showing I've ever seen.

I went to the Frank Theares at the Queensgate 13 in York, PA. The line for people that prepurchased tickets was literally wrapped around three sides of this massive building. I think the number of people that showed up kinda crushed the system. Nobody ended up in the right theater - My ticket said 13 but I ended up in screen 11. I do believe they sold out all 13 screens for this showing.

Of course fans turned out in droves dressed up in costume. Lots of fans carried Harry Potter books, merchandise, wands, and other memorabilia with them. Quiet a few of the costumes were very impressive! Everyone was in a festive mood - almost like a carnival! The crowd was composed of the old and the young alike. I expected the older folks to just be "tagging along" with their kids but several of them that I spoke to had read all of the novels. The youngest people I saw seemed to be around 7-8 years old - too young for this film, in my opinion!



I saw this movie in 3D. The glasses they gave you weren't the normal 3D glasses you get at a movie - they were specially designed to look like Harry Potter's glasses. That's the first time I've seen something like this done and it added a very nice touch to the experience.



You could go see this same movie tomorrow but you won't have the same experience I had going at midnight. This is what midnight shows are at there best - a little mini-convention for fans to get together and just bask in their collective enjoyment of the film.