Godfather trilogy

Released in 1972 and became an immediate American classic - lines from this are repeated to this day. It's 175 minutes long and directed by the king of long films, Coppola. Brando (On the Waterfront) plays the Godfather you see above - people mimic his accent in this all the time. Pacino (Scarface) is the young son who is slotted to take over. Caan (Elf) is the older son, but he's too hot headed. IMDb writes, "The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son." Duvall (Open Range) also appears along with Keaton (Hannah and Her Sisters) and Shire (Rocky). 

Part two came out in 1974. De Niro (Raging Bull) makes an appearance. IMDb writes, "The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York is portrayed while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on his crime syndicate stretching from Lake Tahoe, Nevada to pre-revolution 1958 Cuba." Truth is I got a little confused and bored with this one. I didn't think it was as good as the first.

IMDb writes, "In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don Michael Corleone seeks to vow for his sins while taking a young protégé under his wing." Fast forward to 1990 - that's how long it took to get the third one made. This one didn't do as good as the first two. A lot of fans didn't really seem to like it - me - it was my favorite of all three. It might have been because I was older and understood more though. It might also have been because a young Garcia
(Untouchables) was in the movie. Wallach (The Holiday), Mantegna (Searching for Bobby Fischer), Fonda (Jackie Brown), Coppola (Sophia director of Lost in Translation), and Hamilton (Love at First Bite) were also in the film. All in all, I say: SEE ALL three in a row in a movie marathon.

LOTR series

Lord of the Rings series.

In 2001, Peter Jackson released LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring. 9 set out of be rid of the ring from the book The Hobbit.
1) Baggins is played by Wood (US - Wilfred).
2) Astin (US - Rudy) plays Gamgee.
3) Boromir is played by Bean (UK - Game of Thrones).
4) Greenleaf is played by Bloom (UK - Zulu).
5) Took is played by Boyd (Scotsman - On a Clear Day).
6) Gandalf is played by McKellen (UK - X-Men).
7) Brandybuck is played by Monaghan (German - Lost).
8) Aragorn is played by Mortensen (US - GI Jane).
9) Gimli is played by Rhys-Davies (Uk - Indian Jones).

Also appearing: Blanchett (Australian - Blue Jasmine), Weaving (Nigerian - Matrix), Csokas (New Zealander - XXX), Holm (UK - Alien), and Lee (UK - Dark Shadows). If they weren't in Harry Potter then they showed up in this series - the Australians, and United Kingdom actors were super busy in the early part of the 21st century.

In LOTR: The Two Towers the groups is separated. Sam and Frodo are pretty much on their own. There is tons of action and fighting in this. The fighting, by the way, is amazing.

My favorite and yes, maybe because it's all the hot guys. There is just so much going on by this point that I don't think any plot description will do - if you haven't read the books you'll have to trust that is was well done and just mind blowing. All in all, I say: SEE THEM all in a row to get the full effect and suspense. I would do a marathon if I were you.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Book)

I didn't think it was as thick as Goblet, but this book was made into two movies. I have already blogged on both. Amazon describes the plot as, "In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the epic tale of Harry Potter, Harry and Lord Voldemort each prepare for their ultimate encounter.

Voldemort takes control of the Ministry of Magic, installs Severus Snape as headmaster at Hogwarts, and sends his Death Eaters across the country to wreak havoc and find Harry. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione embark on a desperate quest the length and breadth of Britain, trying to locate and destroy Voldemort’s four remaining Horcruxes, the magical objects in which he has hidden parts of his broken soul. They visit the Burrow, Grimmauld Place, the Ministry, Godric’s Hollow, Malfoy Manor, Diagon Alley...

But every time they solve one mystery, three more evolve—and not just about Voldemort, but about Dumbledore, and Harry’s own past, and three mysterious objects called the Deathly Hallows. The Hallows are literally things out of a children’s tale, which, if real, promise to make their possessor the “Master of Death;” and they ensnare Harry with their tantalizing claim of invulnerability.

It is only after a nigh-unbearable loss that he is brought back to his true purpose, and the trio returns to Hogwarts for the final breathtaking battle between the forces of good and evil. They fight the Death Eaters alongside members of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore’s Army, the Weasley clan, and the full array of Hogwarts teachers and students.

Yet everything turns upon the moment the entire series has been building up to, the same meeting with which our story began: the moment when Harry and Voldemort face each other at last."

All in all, I say: READ IT - you will be satisfied with the ending and be sad at heart that it is all over.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Horcruxes according to wikia.com are, "A Horcrux is a powerful object in which a Dark wizard or witch has hidden a fragment of his or her soul for the purpose of attainingimmortality.^[1] Creating one Horcrux gives one the ability to anchor one's own soul to earth if the body is desroyed; the more horcruxes one creates, the closer one is to true immortality. Creating multiple Horcruxes is suggested to be costly to the creator, by both diminishing their humanity and even physically disfiguring them."

Year 6 - war is raging. This book is violent, gruesome, bloody, and darker than the last. I was disturb by how violent and dark things had gotten. 

Yates is still director. We go back to one of the earlier screenplay writers which means a lot is different or missing. Slughorn is played by Broadbent (UK - Gangs of New York). It wasn't bad, but it was as true to the story as I would have liked. All in all, I say: READ IT and then SEE IT

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Year five at Hogwarts. Things start to get darker and more dangerous - the reader can tell. A secret is brought back and you're on pins and needles.

So, a new director was picked - thank God, so I decided to see this one afterall. Yates (UK - State of Play tv series) directed. He is a serious director - I mean his themes are serious, so there was hope for this film. I believe there was also a new screenplay writer on this one than the last 2 - again hope. Irish actor Gleeson (Troy) plays Mad-Eye Moody. Lestrange is played by Carter (UK - Fight Club). Trelawney is played by Thompson (UK - Sense & Sensibility). The only problem - it isn't very memorable. It was ok, but I wouldn't say I was on the edge of my seat. All in all, I say: READ IT and then SEE IT

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Year four at Hogwarts and the largest book of the four. So large in fact that it is a travesty that it wasn't made into two films.

Lacking in a lot of ways - mostly because (not sure I mentioned this yet) it needed to be two (2) films! I think I got my point across on that. Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) directed this one. He would have been better suited to the third installment. It just didn't feel as suspenseful as the book. This one should have been called Harry Potter and Let's All Hook Up and Become a Couple, or Harry Potter and Let's Fall in Love. Spall (UK - Enchanted) played Wormtail. Pattinson (Twilight series) appears. I'm bitter at this point and I'm about to say forget ever seeing a movie again because I feel 3 & 4 were ruined. All in all, I say: READ IT and see if you want, but it's a little disappointing. Know why - IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Year three at Hogwarts. Also, my all time favorite in the series which is kind of surprising because of what happens. I think I read it like three times. Sirius Black is the prisoner and he has a secret.

Oldman (UK - The Dark Knight) is Black and he is perfect for the part. Thewlis (UK - War Horse) is Lupin. Irish actor Gambon (Gosford Park) played Dumbledore from this point on. First mistake, the director was Cuaron (Gravity). Second mistake, the screenplay. This movie was a disgrace - I hate it even to this day. Hate is a strong word - I loath - is that stronger? This film was nothing like the book. I'd like to pretend it never happened. All in all, I say: READ IT and then pretend they never made a movie about it - trust me.