Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Movie)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Movie)
Plot:

On Harry's 11th birthday he is informed that he is a wizard and will be attending Hogwart's school of wizardry and magic. Harry is living with his aunt and uncle, as his parents were killed when he was a baby. The aunt and uncle are hesitant to let Harry go, or even deliver him his mail, yet they can't overpower the giant Hagrid that comes to tell Harry about his abilities. Harry ends up heading to Hogwart's where he takes classes on potions and broom riding, makes new friends (namely the famous Ron and Hermione), and even makes the quidditch team. However the three friends soon discover that something is amiss at Hogwart's, as a troll is on the loose and a giant three-headed dog is guarding something in the basement. Harry is also in the process of learning who he really is, being the boy who lived despite being attacked by fame evil wizard Voldemort. The three friends fear Voldemort is attempting to use the sorcerer's stone to return to power and decide they need to get to the stone before Voldemort. After battling a maze of traps, Harry makes it to the stone only to find his professor, Quirrel, already there attempting to bring Voldemort back. Harry nearly dies, yet his touch burns Quirrel and he survives in time for Dumbledore to save him. Before Harry leaves for the summer he learns Dumbledore will destroy the sorcerer's stone. Yet Harry doubts he heard the last of Voldemort.


Comparison to book:

I'm currently in the process of re-reading the first Harry Potter novel, as it has been years since I have read it. Thus, I can't really relay any significant differences between the book and the movie at this time. I plan to update this section when I'm done reading. I do, however, remember thinking that the movie was a pretty accurate rendition of the book. Most of the Harry Potter movies have to remove some scenes for length reasons, but they are all pretty true to the original plot line.


Review:

This is an excellent movie that is very significant to tweens. Harry Potter was first published in 1998, yet every year the next generation of tweens checks out the giant volumes, carry them around school, and become completely immersed in Harry's world from beginning to end. The stories grow in maturity as the characters grow, making the first couple volumes the most appropriate for younger tweens. This series has significant staying power, with the final installments of the movie still coming out years later. Tweens have grown up alongside Harry Potter and will continue to do so for years to come. Librarians are mostly thankful to the series for encouraging children to read, and we can still use the popularity for this purpose today. Tweens that have seen the movies can be drawn into reading the series, and the movie is appropriate for the age group such that vice versa can be said. A media presentation on movies would really be remiss if it lacked the presence of the young wizard.

Eclipse (Movie)

Eclipse
Plot:


There have been a string of killings all over Seattle, and Victoria (a vampire, also enemy of Bella and Edward) is back and hunting Bella, determined to take Edward's lover as her's was taken from her. As it would turn out, Victoria is creating a newborn (new vampires) army to attack the Cullen clan. The Volturi (vampire secret police) are aware, but just letting it happen because they sort of don't like the Cullens. Mostly because the Cullens have super awesome powers, yet won't join the Volturi. The movie of course features the famed love triangle between Bella, Jacob, and Edward and has Bella constantly being pulled back and forth between the two as they both step in to watch her and protect her from Victoria. Jacob even cuddles Bella in a tent in from of Edward (awkward, right?) and then kisses Bella before the big battle between the Cullens and the newborns (even more awkward unless you're team Jacob) (Edward probably isn't team Jacob). In the end, the Cullens triumph, however the Volturi are all, "You need to turn Bella into a vampire. Or else we'll do something bad and Volturi like." So now Bella has to be a vampire. That'll probably happen in the next movie.


Comparison to book:

The movie is a lot like the book with just a few tweaks here and there. The newborn vampire army is handled a little differently, with Victoria using a human to control it. Also, the string of killings is presented a little differently, but I mean it's a movie, so it kinda has to be. Also, there is a newborn that tries to seek refuge, but the Volturi kill her anyways. That wasn't in the book. But to be honest, the movie mirrors the book almost completely.

Review:

I really went back and forth on including Twilight in *anything* because some of the content is really questionable for tweens. In my personal opinion, there is a level of violence and sexual tension that really may be more appropriate for older teens. But the reality is, this is what tweens are consuming. I decided to go for balance. Tweens are also watching the movie "Sucker Punch" but that doesn't even border on appropriate. Twilight is in a gray area, and I felt comfortable placing it at the "older tween" end of the spectrum because so many tweens and moms are standing in line for hours before each of these movies comes out. Tweens are coming to school in shirts that say "My boyfriend is a vampire". The 'vampire' craze is an important part of tween culture right now (like it or not). So, here is the latest Twilight movie: Eclipse. It is what it is, really. Bella isn't the best character, the story is a tad violent, and borders on inappropriate. However, if tweens are going to watch it, librarians can use this knowledge to encourage kids to 'read' instead. Maybe understanding what tweens like, we can try to find materials for them they may enjoy that are more on their level that include vampire love triangles. Or we can sigh, hand them the giant Twilight books, and just be thankful they are reading.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Movie)

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Movie)
Plot:

The Baudelaire children are orphaned and must live with Count Olaf. However, when Count Olaf tries to kill them on the train tracks for their inheritance money, the children are removed from his custody. Which was just as well, because he is crazy, his house is dirty, and he is using them for their money. However before the children leave, Olaf vows to find them and still get their money somehow. The children then go to live with their Uncle, who seems actually nice (despite the fact that he has a giant room full of snakes). The uncle divulges that they are going to Peru with his assistant. But lo and behold, the assistant that shows up is Count Olaf in disguise! The children try to warn Uncle Monty, but he fails to hear in time and is killed by Olaf. Olaf escapes just as the authorities start to figure out what has happened. Then the children go to live with their aunt, and Olaf shows up as a fisherman trying to woo the aunt. The children start to see a pattern of their family members being targeted and many, including their parents, perishing in fires. In the end, the children are placed back with Olaf who tries to marry Violet in a final attempt to get the Baudelaire fortune. Before Violet is forced to say, "I do" in the play, Klaus discovers a giant glass in Olaf's tower that can be used to set fire to things (including the Baudelaire mansion). Klaus burns the wedding contract and Olaf goes to prison.


Comparison to book:

I have only read book 1 (The Bad Beginning), and the movie is a combination of the first three books. The end of the movie is where the plot from book 1 comes into play with the marriage debacle. However, the movie is very very different from the book in many ways, especially ending with Klaus discovering Olaf's secret.


Review:

Lemony Snicket's series is extremely popular with tweens, and the movie is funny and appropriate for this age group. The movie is a few years old, but tweens still talk about it and seek it out in relation to the series. New tweens are discovering the series each year, and as a result seek out the books or vice versa. The movie will remain significant because of its connection to this series for quite some time. Librarians can use the movie's popularity to introduce the series to young readers. Many tweens have seen and enjoyed the movie, but are unaware that there is a whole series of books that connect to the movie. We can use the popular Jim Carrey movie to attract readers, which is always a good thing. We can also encourage children reading the books to watch the movie and compare and contrast the two. Kids really love pointing out the differences.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Movie

Plot:

Greg Heffley has a bully of a big brother, a potty training younger brother, and a best friend that is the definition of a late-bloomer. On top of all that? Greg is starting middle school, a huge transition. Greg is determined to be 'cool' by middle school standards, but he is having trouble finding his way. He ends up on safety patrol (not cool), losing to a girl in wrestling (not cool), and eating lunch on the cafeteria floor (do I even need to say it?). Then he loses his best friend, Rowley (allegedly not cool) in the process. Diary is a hilarious movie, but also has an underlying theme of being true to yourself. In the end, Greg decides to let go of "being cool" and just be himself. But does that help him get Rowley back? Or avoid the dreaded rotting cheese on the blacktop? Or be more popular than Fregley? You'll just have to watch to find out.


Comparison to book:

I was surprised at how true to the book this movie was. There were slight changes, such as Greg wrestling a girl, sitting on the cafeteria floor, and his touching speech at the end when he is standing near the cheese on the blacktop. A few things were omitted, such as the haunted house Greg and Rowley built in the book. But aside from these few minor tweaks, the movie is almost exactly like the book and even uses some of the cartoons from the book. Tweens will love watching the book played out on the big screen.

Review:

I loved this book and I loved this movie, and I'm not even a tween. I love how it is so appropriate and relevant to the tween age group. It was written specifically for tweens, about tweens, and as a result is hugely popular. You don't have to worry about inappropriate content, and it is incredibly enjoyable. Greg is dealing with what many tweens are dealing with in transitioning into middle school, and tweens will be able to see themselves in his journey through the crowded halls of middle school.

Holes (The Movie)

Plot:

Stanley Yelnats is cursed, all thanks to his no good, pig stealing, great great great grandfather. The movie does an excellent job of depicting a somewhat complicated, yet engaging, story of a young boy that is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shoes fell from the sky, and the next thing Stanley knows he is at Camp Greenlake serving 18 months for stealing. At Camp Greenlake campers are forced to dig holes every day to build character. Soon Stanley begins to understand there is more to the hole digging than than just character building. The story flashes back and forth to Stanley's history, where his great great great grandfather failed to follow through with a promise to a fortune teller and his great great grandfather was then robbed blind by Kissin' Kate the bandit, proving the Yelnats have been cursed ever since. The movie flashes back to the pig stealing, how Kissin' Kate became Kissin' Kate (when Sam, her onion selling lover was killed for kissing her). Somehow everything comes together when Stanley discovers they are digging to uncover something lost by Kissin' Kate Barlow. When Zero, a fellow camper, runs off, Stanley eventually follows him. Stanley in Zero survive in the very same place Stanley's great grandfather survived in the desert, living on onions in the soil that have been growing from Sam's original farm (Kissin' Kate's lover). When Stanley carries Zero up to a stream (mind you, Zero is the descendant of the fortune teller, and Stanley is the descendant of his no good pig stealing grandfather), the curse is broken as Stanley has fulfilled his grandfather's end of the bargain. Stanley and Zero return to the camp and uncover the suitcase the warden (a descendant of Kate) has been looking for right when lawyers show up to save Stanley. Stanley survives an invasion of yellow spotted lizards because yellow spotted lizards hate onions; luckily that is what Stanley and Zero had been surviving on. In the end, the briefcase recovered says "Stanley Yelnats" on it, so the contents belong to him. The curse broken, Stanley and his inventor father become wealthy in the end.


Comparison to book:

The movie is almost EXACTLY the same as the book, making for a lengthy movie. The only real difference is that in the book Stanley is initially described as 'hefty', whereas that storyline doesn't really come about in the movie. However the intricate plot is depicted accurately in the movie. I had to admit, I wasn't sure it could be done.

Review:

The movie is REALLY good. It is completely appropriate, engaging, and heartwarming. I enjoyed the movie as much as the book, which is something I rarely find myself saying. The movie is older, yet the book is still so popular with young readers that the movie can be used to draw in new readers. The movie and book are difficult to book talk or even describe (see above) as the story is so complex. However, it isn't too complex to understand. Just complex enough to make it suspenseful and entertaining. Librarians can use the movie to support the book and vice versa. Tweens will love how accurate the movie is, and also tweens that may have some trouble understanding the book will enjoy having a movie to help them comprehend. I can't say enough about how great the movie, casting, and soundtrack are. They did Holes justice and I can honestly say that if you love the book, you'll love the movie.

Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief (movie)

Plot:

Zeus' master bolt has been stolen. The suspected thief? Son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson. The only problem? Percy actually didn't do it. Actually, Percy doesn't even know he's a demi-god until he is attacked by a fury at school and is rushed to a camp for half-bloods (demi-gods). Someone has framed Percy, Hades has taken Percy's mom, and Percy has ten days to return the bolt else the Gods will war (with humans caught in the middle). Percy decides to leave the camp and head to Hades to save his mom. In order to leave Hades, Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover would need one of Persephone's pearls. The three set out across America to recover the pearls and head to Hades. The journey is not without incident, as they have to battle a hydra and medusa in order to recover the pearls. Percy confronts Hades, and the bolt appears in the shield a fellow camper, Luke, had lent him. Percy discovers Luke framed him, and rushes to return the bolt to Zeus to tell him and stop the war. Persephone helps, disabling Hades so that they can escape Hades. Percy battles Luke at the entrance to Olympus, wins, and returns the bolt.


Comparison to book:

The movie is vastly different from the book. Basically the entire plot is different, missing key events and characters from the book. The thrust of the movie plot is traveling around to recover Persephone's pearls, however in the book Percy is given the pearls as a gift from his father. In the book, Percy is given this journey as a quest to recover the bolt. In the movie, Percy sets out against the will of the camp with the main intention of recovering his mother. Despite glaring differences, the movie is good in its own right.

Review:

I actually enjoyed the movie, despite how different it was from the book. The casting was excellent, the effects were really well done, and I enjoyed it. I think my favorite part of this movie is that it is a representation of one of the most popular series right now: the Percy Jackson books. Tweens are consuming these books at record pace right now, and many local libraries can't keep them on the shelf. Tweens love to *complain* about this movie. They watch it, but they are all annoyed that it strayed so far from the story of the book. I think the movie is relevant in tween culture right now. Tweens are watching it... but they are very opinionated about it. Librarians can use this to their advantage! Tweens that have seen the movie can be urged to read the book, assured that it is even better. The movie will also spark debate and critical thinking, as many tweens have very strong feelings about the movie one way or the other.