James Review -Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone

 

Magic, wizards. Iconic staples of fantasy, stepping stones to a larger world of stories. In the late 90s, J.K. Rowling brought forth something incredible, something truly magical, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And it all started with Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone... aka Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. In England, it's Philosopher's Stone. But it's also Sorcerer's Stone in the United States. The book released in 1997 and, four years later, the world saw a film adaptation directed by Home Alone director Chris Columbus and starring the remarkable Daniel Radcliff as Harry Potter himself alongside the likes of Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, the late Richard Harris and Ian Hart as Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and Professor Quirrell respectively.

The story is a simple one.

A dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort terrorizing the world of wizards and muggles murders the parents of an infant named Harry Potter, but the child survives the attack while Voldemort loses his power. To keep Harry safe, Hogwarts professors Dumbledore McGonagall deliver him to his relatives Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, the latter of whom is the sister of Harry's mother, at Privet Drive. For the next ten years, Harry lives with the Dursleys, who treat him horribly due to their disdain of wizardry, before he is visited by the half-giant Hagrid and learns the truth of his family, their death, and the wizarding world. Harry is invited to attend the wizard school Hogwarts and makes new friends in Ron and Hermione and Neville Longbottom, attending classes and playing Quidditch. 

However, the atmosphere shifts after Harry and his friends stumble across a three-headed dog and an incident takes place during a Quidditch match with Harry nearly getting killed and the prime suspect being Professor Snape. Harry soon learns about the Philosopher's Stone and believes Snape is out to steal it. While in the Forbidden Forest serving detention, Harry encounters a dark figure drinking unicorn blood and realizes that Snape wants to steal the Stone for Lord Voldemort, the man who killed his parents. Determined to stop Voldemort from getting it, Harry, Ron and Hermione journey past Fluffy, the three-headed dog, and go through the trap door to the chambers where the Sorcerer's Stone is being protected and they pass many challenges such as flying keys and wizarding chess. 

When Harry goes to confront Snape, he encounters Professor Quirrell near the magical Mirror of Erised, learning that Snape wasn't the one who tried to kill him during the Quidditch match or let a troll into the castle or was trying to steal the stone for Voldemort, but Quirrell himself. Quirrell reveals that he shares his body with the disembodied and powerless Dark Lord, whose face is on the back of the rogue professor's head. Voldemort attempts to get the Philosopher's Stone, which Harry ended up getting, but Harry fights back against the enemy. In the end, Quirrell dies, Voldemort flees empty-handed and Dumbledore ensures the Stone is destroyed while Gryffindor wins the Hogwarts House Cup before Harry returns to the Dursleys for the summer.

I read the book with my mom before watching the movie and before I played the LEGO game LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 on the Wii. This was back in 2010. Reading the book and seeing the film was where my Harry Potter fandom truly began, after I glimpsed one of the early films at a relative's house and saw a bit of Order Of The Phoenix while on a plane years prior. I've seen all the films and listened to every audiobook version of every book, now an HBO series adapting the books is coming soon and we will see it. Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone is worth the read and the watch, especially if you want to get into Harry Potter. 10/10.

-James M

James Reviews -WATCHMEN (2019) HBO series

 

Back in 1986, DC introduced the world to the WATCHMEN universe, igniting a legacy that thrived for decades. Initially a standalone story, WATCHMEN, which showed what if superheroes existed in our world, eventually spawned merchandise, a couple movie adaptations and, wouldn't you know it, prequels and sequels as well as a TV series on HBO. The HBO show is our topic for today and, wouldn't you believe it, it's a sequel to the comic.

Set in a world where superheroes existed and America wins the Vietnam War with help from a god-level superhero, WATCHMEN (2019) takes place thirty-four years after the events of the comic, which ended with the main antagonist Adrian "Ozymandias" Veidt dropping a giant alien squid on New York to stop a nuclear apocalypse. While Dr. Manhattan, Laurie "Silk Specter II" Jupiter and Adrian return, we meet new characters such as Angela "Sister Night" Abar and Wade "Looking Glass" Tillman, who witnessed the 1985 attack on New York, and learn the truth about the WATCHMEN world's first hero Hooded Justice as well as his connection to Angela's grandfather Will Reeves.

Just like the comic, WATCHMEN is dark and explores deep themes such as legacy and the impact of vigilantes and most of the action takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Speaking of Tulsa, the show starts in 1921 DURING a real tragedy known as the Tulsa Massacre. Yes, those who learn history who watch this show will learn about the somewhat obscure 1921 Tulsa Massacre. Look up the event for yourself. This show pulls no punches and is heavily rated TV-MA, so expect blood, intense violence and some nudity, especially when Doctor Manhattan comes into the picture.

Tim Blake Nelson, famous for playing The Leader in the MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE, plays Looking Glass and Adrian Veidt is portrayed by British actor Jeremy Irons, who'd already played Alfred Pennyworth in the DC Extended Universe in 2016's BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE and it's follow up JUSTICE LEAGUE. The entire cast fill the roles of their characters incredibly well, doing a great job across each episode, and there are many callbacks and Easter Eggs to the comic. I will not be giving away any spoilers for the story, but the show ends on quite the wild note. I saw each episode and enjoyed it, just as I enjoyed parts one and two of the animated adaptation. WATCHMEN (2019) is a 9.9/10 and I suggest you see it if you find the time.

James Reviews -Knuckles (2024)

 

In 2020, after years of development hell, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie finally released, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and was a massive hit. With the success of the film, the Sonic franchise was rejuvenated, and the way was paved for the Sonic Cinematic Universe with 2022 seeing the release of Sonic 2. Nearly two years later, as we prepared for Sonic 3, the world saw Idris Elba's Knuckles get his own show, which guest starred Adam Pally as Green Hills policeman Wade Whipple (who is also the main star of this darn show).

So, I watched this whole series, and saw some videos about it on YouTube, what are my thoughts on this?

Honestly, KNUCKLES is fine. Its nothing too special or groundbreaking, its all about our favorite red echidna and Wade Whipple on a pretty wacky adventure. As someone who grew up watching wacky, childish stuff along with some pretty dark stuff, I like my cartoony over-the-top nonsense. KNUCKLES is a comedy through and through, and Adam Pally hits the comedic beats well, while throwing in plenty of seriousness when needed.

The show is six episodes long, with Ben Schwartz's Sonic appearing for a time in the first episode, even though he has a couple of lines with Tika Sumpter's Maddie having a mostly minor role. One of the top highlights in this series is Back To The Future's Christopher Lloyd, who voices the deceased Echidna warlord Pachacamac. Remember him from Sonic Adventure? Then, we get to the show's villains gallery.

First, we have The Buyer, played by Scottish actor Rory McCann, a former ally of Doctor Robotnik and the show's main antagonist, who hires G.U.N. Agents Mason and Willoughby to get that red echidna. We also have bounty hunter Jack Sinclar, who is an old friend of Wade from a bowling team, and finally Pistol Pete Whipple, Wade's father and a bowling legend. English actor and The Princess Bride legend Carey Elwes takes up the role and the character is lovable and scummy at the same time.

Now, I won't spoil the whole story, but the writing is interesting at best, and KNUCKLES offers a pretty alright soundtrack. If you like Sonic, go ahead and watch it. My overall ranking for this is 6 out of 7 Chaos Emeralds. It isn't perfect, but the show has some fun to it, even though it was kinda poorly received by most fans. Catch you next time, ya'll.

-James M

James M's review of Doctor Who: The Legend of the Sea Devils

 

Sorry for the delay, Whovians. 

Today, we're here to discuss/review LEGEND OF THE SEA DEVILS, the Thirteenth Doctor's penultimate episode before the big one and the second special of 2022 after the New Year's Eve of The Daleks episode.

In this serial, The Doctor, Dan and Yaz visit a Chinese town under siege from the Sea Devils and have to team up with a pirate queen in order to defeat them. Despite all the odds against them, they saved the world and defeated the group of Sea Devil pirates causing trouble while The Doctor's relationship with Yaz is explored even further. That's right, The Doctor and Yaz have become a couple, you gotta love these kinds of relationships and stuff.

Anyway, what do I think of this episode?

It's dang good, has quite the entertainment value like all Doctor Who episodes have to a degree. And nearing the end of her run, Jodie Whittaker has done an impressive job as the Time Lord. While it sure has been fun, the end is nigh again and nothing lasts forever. 

The action was quite well-choreographed and the pacing did not feel off in the slightest, even the actors as well as the crew knew what they were doing with this wild episode.

Overall, LEGEND OF THE SEA DEVILS gets a solid score of 9/10. If you're a long-time Whovian who wants to see the aquatic dinosaur people again, this is just the show for you.

Now, its time for the endgame. Next time, The Doctor will meet some old friends and foes again and face her impending regeneration. Bring on the Fourteenth Doctor, BBC.

-James M