Your Highness

Universal Pictures

Rated R

Running time: 102 minutes



In Universal Pictures Your Highness, Prince James Franco's bride-to-be, Lady Zooey Deschanel gets kidnapped from their castle home by the evil wizard Justin Theroux. Franco then goes on a quest with his knights to rescue Deschanel - along with his lazy brother Danny McBride.

A cross between The Three Musketeers as well as The Princess Bride and Xena: Warrior Princess, this film is much more of an action film than a comedy that the trailers make it out to be. You can feel the jealousy that loser brother Danny McBride has for his heroic brother James Franco, but never forget that they are brothers. McBride reminds me of Oliver Platt in The Three Musketeers. although not as sophisticated, while Franco reminds me of Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride. On the eve of the Royal Wedding, one can imagine the chaos Theroux created during Franco's wedding and why the brothers are now on a quest. The quest picks up when they encounter fellow warrior Natalie Portman, a hot woman who can kick serious ass, but who has her own quest to get Theroux. Treachery and villainy abound as evil Chosen One Theroux needs virgin Deschanel to fulfill the ancient astrological prophesy to give birth to a dragon which he can control for his evil deeds. While a lot of magic bolts were flung around, it is surprising that the bolts were not actually deadly but only threw everyone around. The Great Wize Wizard is the most perverted muppet-like character I have ever seen, even more so than the Minotaur. At least you can understand the Minotaur's beastiality in his home lair.

The 3-D-like opening credits were pretty cool, especially when watching a 2-D film. I can imagine how they would look like in a real 3-D movie.

Rated R for violence, language, and sexual situations. Running time: 102 minutes.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

 Pancho's Movie Reviews

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Warner Bros. Pictures

Rated PG-13

Running time: 146 minutes






























Click below to watch the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 trailer.



Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 has Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter on a quest to destroy Lord Voldemort's, Ralph Fiennes, horcruxes - items which contain pieces of Lord Voldemort's evil soul. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic has declared Harry as Undesirable No. 1 - so Harry and his friends Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are pursued by both the Ministry and Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters.

The movie is based on the first half of the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The movie changes the format of the other Harry Potter movies in that the movie does not take place at Hogwarts, the magical school for wizards as it normally does, but takes place on the road as Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave home and run from the Death Eaters - as well as Harry, Ron, and Hermione searching for a way to destroy the horcruxes. The movie follows very closely to the book, which is not surprising as author J.K. Rowling is one of the producers. Although, there are parts of the movie that may be confusing to people unless you have read the books or have seen the other movies. For example, house elves like Creature and Dobby are suddenly thrown into the story. Creature and Dobby this time look less like computer animation figures but more like real characters, which shows how far computer animation technology has improved. The film also has an animated sequence, telling the tale of the Deathly Hallows. The animation is an animated version of shadow puppetry which is very interesting as you rarely see this kind of animation style, which is a form of stenciling, in a movie.

This is a dark movie, both in theme and is also visually dark. The movie reminds me of a vampire movie. You know the movie is going to be dark when the Warner Bros. logo disintegrates as the picture begins. The movie has some intense action scenes, but when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in the camping scenes in the middle of the movie - the movie slows down. After the camping scenes - the movie picks up again and you feel the intensity and the danger for the characters. For those who have not read the book, several characters and icons in Harry Potter's world die - or are destroyed. There are several scenes which are very sad and I started to tear up - and I already knew what would happen from reading the books, and I still teared up. The film's climax is more of an anti-climax as it leads into the next film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which will premiere next summer - where the real climax will be portrayed. I personally can not wait to see the war at Hogwarts in the next movie.

Rated PG-13 for violence. Running time: 146 minutes.

Click below to watch another trailer with the cast and crew of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.



Click below for a trailer of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2.



Pancho
All people smile in the same language.