Prodigals and Hipsters

"Hipsters are 'older brothers' pretending to be 'younger brothers'" - Ben Wolaver

What is it about the hipster movement that has so gripped pop-culture in the past few years? As someone who is constantly labeled a hipster, I tend to notice this more than your average American, yet most people can tell you to some degree what a hipster is. I personally love wearing plaid, have a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, enjoy listening to obscure indie music artists, am a conneuseur of coffee, and love literature. This seems to be enough to group me with the much more liberal "Hipster" hipsters that are generally more cynical, atheist existentialists. That, I DON'T relate to. Hipsters are also generally concerned with environmentalism, social justice and equal rights - even at risk of personal jeopardy or alienation from the masses.

Interestingly enough, there seems to be a movement growing more and more in the American church to be a "Christian hipster" - to skirt tradition and go off on our own to enact change we believe in.
So what exactly gives hipsters that 'sex-appeal', that desire to be a self-designated outsider that so attracts us?

I believe it lies in the same reasoning behind why many people sponsor children through World Vision and Compassion International, the same reason behind why many people volunteer at the local homeless shelters and food banks. Don't get me wrong, I am by no means discouraging this form of generosity. I am simply pointing out the fact that it is now attractive to associate with the lowly. Humility out of pride. Showing up to volunteer in the ghetto with our Starbucks and desire to help, because it is, well, COOL.

Instead of true humility and service out of a genuine love for God and our neighbor - an attitude like Jesus - we find many people with the attitude of a Pharisee parading as an inner-city Jesus. A desire to do right simply out of arrogance and self-importance. THIS is one thing that bothers me about the modern-day "Christian Hipster" movement.

Many times Jesus would use parables to expose the Pharisee's hypocrisy in public, and in Luke 15 we see one of the most obvious criticisms of the religious leaders. As he associated with 'sinners' the Bible says that the religious leaders "grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”" (Luke 15:2 ESV). Immediately Jesus told 3 parables, finishing with The Prodigal Son. (If you want to read it click HERE.) Most pastors focus on the younger brother, how he squandered his father's wealth and in humility came back to his Father, who received him with open arms. And indeed this is a glorious reception for the son, who lost everything.


 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:17-24 ESV)


The younger brother realized his error, humbled himself, and came to his father as a servant. Adopting an attitude as a servant is certainly no strange concept to the Christian faith. Christ himself humbled himself by becoming human to live and die among us. And we are even encouraged to imitate Him in this humility. (read Philippians Chapter 2 for this!)

The older brother in this story is often overlooked, unfortunately. Even though he lived in his father's house and had everything he needed, he still couldn't rejoice when his brother was restored to the family. All he saw was his brother's sin, not the fact that he had returned. "...he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’" (Luke 15:28-30 ESV)

Up until this past century it was an extremely attractive thing to be a squeaky clean Christian. In other words, people looked up to you and considered you better than others if you went to church, knew scripture, abstained from drinking, sex, cursing etc. In the 21st century we find ourselves in a world where the exact opposite is true. Public views of the church are increasingly more and more negative, and the world criticizes and ridicules Christians who isolate themselves in the confines of the church using words like "legalistic" and "judgmental". This is where the "Christian hipster" music finds its roots. It is a fact that people like to be accepted and their actions approved. By criticizing the body of believers and setting out to associate with those who need help - being something of a prodigal Christian - we find that the world accepts us more and what we do. At what cost though? This facade of humility, acting like the prodigal son while we are nothing more than an older brother, is ripping at the foundation of our faith! What is that foundation? LOVE. Pure, unadultered, selfless, genuine LOVE - straight from the heart of our heavenly Father and intended to be shared with the world out of the overflow of our hearts.

Please don't misunderstand, I am glad that people recognize the flaws in legalism and judgment in the church. I am glad that young people are desiring to pour into the lowly, the poor and 'sinners' as Pharisees would call it. At least needs are being met!

The challenge is that we must remember who we were, and who we are. We are all unworthy of the Father's mercy. We are ALL called to LOVE those around us, and we are most importantly called to die to self. As it says in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."


So who are you?
Do you have the heart of a younger brother, humbly returning to your Father?
Or do you have the heart of the older brother, unable to rejoice in other's joy because your eyes are turned inward?
Are you trying to look like a Prodigal? Or have you found yourself at the place of actually being a Prodigal?
Do we love because He first loved us?

Signing out,
The Buckland Fiddler

Coldplay - "Mylo Xyloto" Album Review

Artist/Band: Coldplay
Album: Mylo Xyloto
Rating: ★★★★☆

Just last year I was talking with a friend of mine about the constant evolution in the music industry when the comment was made that "People just don't understand that music changes!" And this is oh so true. Styles have subtly shifted into an electronic pop/based sound in the past couple of years, hearkening back to the 80's and incorporating techno and dubstep influence to create a style all it's own. Some of the aforementioned music is cliche and canned, yet there remain artists who can take the sounds of the times and craft them into something creative and accessible. While many people would say that if a band has a good sound they shouldn't change it, I would say that adapting sound is a sign of a band's maturity and ability to relate to the culture.

With all this being said, one could honestly say that Coldplay is a band without fear. It would seem that way, anyhow, after the release of "Mylo Xyloto", Coldplay's newest and definitely most ambitious project to date! After the popularity of 2008's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" one would have expected Chris Martin, Johnny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion to continue in the art-rock vein of their music. Or at least the space-rock sound of 2005's "X & Y". Instead, Coldplay viewed their 5th record as an opportunity to start from scratch - seemingly delivering a metaphorical middle finger to all expectations. Already being praised by some and blasted by others, "Mylo Xyloto" is polarizing fans because of it's drastic departure from the Coldplay we've grown accustomed to.

Let's start with the good. On "Mylo Xyloto", Coldplay has created a hypnotizing sound unlike anything they have ever done. Tossing out the alternative and space rock riffs for techno beats and synth riffs, this new record is gaining the attention of the pop market that they had never quite had. "Viva La Vida" had a few hits that became popular in the pop saturated market, but "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" and "Paradise" are two singles that have already crossed over, getting the attention of people who have never before liked Coldplay. The pop feel is strong, with auto-tuning used for effect (such as on the oh-so-catchy "Hurts Like Heaven"), catchy synth hooks and bass drops. Brian Eno is credited as having played on "Mylo Xyloto", and providing what the boys in the band like to call "Enoxification". Eno contributed to "Viva La Vida", and his presence on Coldplay's records certainly takes their music beyond what one might normally expect. Take for instance the electronic beeps and heavily distorted synth of "Princess of China." Speaking of "Princess of China", this tracks features the surprising yet fitting presence of Rihanna. If all this talk of electronics and pop singers is scaring you, don't fret! There is your fair share of classic acoustic-based Coldplay music on "Mylo Xyloto" - the contemplative "Us Against The World", the religious meets sci-fi "UFO" and even the paranoid "Major Minus."

Now the bad..... Sigh. Chris Martin has always been a deep writer; using metaphors, religious imagery and history to influence his lyrics. For "Mylo Xyloto" Martin was apparently inspired by NYC graffiti and the White Rose Movement, which was an intellectual uprising against Nazi Germany. Even though this comes through clear on some tracks, many of the lyrics on this record are shallow and weak. "Up In Flames" for example is one track that attempts to build up, but the lyrics (and the music) fail to ever reach a climax. "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" is another example of a song that just seems to try too hard using pads and riffs rather than focusing on building around lyrics. The songs on "Mylo Xyloto" are all catchy, very radio friendly, and for all purposes are good songs but the problem lies in the fact that they just never seem to ever reach the emotional impact that the previous 4 records achieved.

Where is the newest "The Scientist" or "Fix You"? Where is a pounding anthem like "Viva La Vida"? While "Enoxification" certainly is helping Coldplay gain a new hold on the music market, it's complete 180 seems to be alienating their long-time fans who simply want the good old boys who wrote "Yellow" and "Clocks" back. While I am a huge fan of the new record, I see what they are saying. Electronic music is not a bad thing, but as soon as it becomes a gimmick rather than a tool, it has been abused - and Coldplay is dangerously close to this!

Still, "Mylo Xyloto" is definitely worth purchasing.

Must own tracks: "Hurts Like Heaven", "Us Against The World"

Mutemath - "Odd Soul" Album Review

Artist/Band: Mutemath
Album: Odd Soul
Rating: ★★★★★
Produced by Mutemath

Mutemath never ceases to amaze. Their self-titled debut was a solid indie-alternative record, featuring such fan favorites as Typical, Chaos, Stare at the Sun and Reset. Then there were the mind-blowing music videos! When Paul Meany, Darren King, Roy Mitchell-Cardenas and Greg Hill returned to the studio to record a follow up, the band was split on what musical direction to take. After much frustration and a near break-up, Mutemath decided to scrap everything they had done so far and start from scratch. Recorded in New Orleans, "Armistice" was a huge leap in musical maturity. Featuring a more prominent synthetic and electronic edge, this record was both innovative and accessible. Supported by a live show that is regarded by many as one of the best in the world, Mutemath held onto their position as one of the best alternative bands in the industry (and we'll ignore the fact that their song "Spotlight" was featured prominently on the Twilight soundtrack). Earlier this year however, Mutemath announced that guitarist Greg Hill was no longer with the band, and that the third record had been recorded as a trio. Needless to say, fans were a bit nervous as it was uncertain what was gong to happen next.

I am glad to say that "Odd Soul" is probably the most solid offering yet from the New Orleans rock group. While their previous efforts were more electronic in nature and held more of an alternative rock feel, "Odd Soul" goes back to the band's roots and incorporates soul, funk, blues, classic rock and 80's pop elements for a surprisingly diverse record. The title track, the launch single "Blood Pressure" and several other tracks such as "Tell Your Heart Heads Up", "Allies", and "Cavalries" feature a more raw, almost White Stripes-like, guitar presence. Definitely influenced by soul, funk and blues rock artists, "Odd Soul" is almost an ode to music of the past. Combine that with very soulful vocals, retro 70's drumbeats (Check out the song "Prytania") and the presence of organ and synthesizer, and you have a record that is closer to New Orleans jazz than a Mutemath record.

Lyrically, Paul Meany has always been very artistic and vague, disguising real life issues with rhetoric and metaphor rather than sticking to a particular them. This time around, however, Meany revisits his childhood growing up in a religious family and its impact on him as an individual. This is NOT from a Christian perspective though. Lyrically, Meany is very quick to talk about the problems he has with organized religion and his departure from it. While Mutemath DID come from the ashes of a former Christian band called Earthsuit, they will be quick to assure you that Mutemath is strictly a rock band. A self-proclaimed Universalist, Paul Meany conveys a message of frustration and cynicism on "Odd Soul". I was once a son, now I'm on my own. Wade through everyone, And I've got myself to show. The trials and tribulations seem to always track me down. Gonna ride off into the sunset and try me another town (Odd Soul). Haven't you suffered enough on the straight and narrow? Stand on your own (Cavalries). "Blood Pressure" seems to discuss the effects of legalism - Why can't you do a little more for Jesus? Why can't you? Blood pressure... keep rising. "Walking Paranoia" takes a different angle to the same idea. I am a nervous wreck. Jesus is coming back. Gonna catch me at a porno rack. I'm about to have a heart attack. Am I on hell's highway? Cause I'm walking paranoia. 


Each song on "Odd Soul" follows this theme. While it is depressing to see such frustration coming from such a talented man, Meany certainly raises excellent questions. What kind of a church did he go to that disillusioned him so much? Why is it that Meany must sing I'm undecided if kidding or not. Under the smiling, you never know. Fall in a line if you're standing around. Let the harvester carve your soul (Quarantine)? Both a musically and lyrically intense record, "Odd Soul" makes you think. I can't begin to touch the surface when it comes to the lyrical depth. Each song carries weight and rawness.

I would suggest that "Odd Soul" is Mutemath's strongest work to date. While much darker lyrically, the musical ingenuity is refreshing in a market flooded with pop clones.

Track Listing:
1. Odd Soul
2. Prytania
3. Blood Pressure
4. Tell Your Heart Heads Up
5. All or Nothing
6. Sun Ray
7. Allies
8. Cavalries
9. Walking Paranoia
10. One More
11. Equals
12. Quarantine
13. In No Time

Switchfoot - "Vice Verses" album review

Artist/Band: Switchfoot
Album: Vice Verses
Rating: ★★★★★

It is difficult to put a band like Switchfoot in a proverbial box. With 7 full length records and a greatest hits collection since their debut in 1997, expectations have been enormously high for the follow up to 2009's Grammy award winning record "Hello Hurricane". While HH was a very well written record, it somewhat polarized fans. Those who loved it swore by it's clever instrumentation and more experimental vibes; yet there remained a fragment of the fanbase that longed for a return to a more guitar-driven-arena-rock record like Nothing is Sound" (2005). Even though "Oh, Gravity" (2006) and "Hello Hurricane" had a few songs that channeled the sound that made them famous with the song "Meant to Live", these records seemed more like fun side projects than an actual follow up to "The Beautiful Letdown" and "Nothing is Sound".

So now we have "Vice Verses", one of the best records Switchfoot has ever released. Building on the huge sound of "Nothing is Sound" combined with the emotional and lyrical rawness of "Hello Hurricane" and Jon Foreman's solo ep's; "Vice Verses" explores themes of death, life and renewal through the concept of the constant battles we face in life. "I am the war inside, I am the battle line, I am the rising tide, I am the war I fight." ("The War Inside"). Foreman's writing has never been so potent as now. "Restless" depicts a soul searching for God "Running hard for the other side, The world that I've always been denied, Running hard for the infinite, With the tears of the saints and the hypocrites../ I am restless, looking for you." "Thrive" and "Vice Verses" channel Foreman's solo writing style, while "Selling the News" is a welcome journey into new territory for Switchfoot as Foreman speaks rather than sings the verses. The album opener and closer "Afterlife" and "Where I Belong" bookend the record well, pondering life after death. And these are just a few that I chose to mention. The songwriting is solid from beginning to end.

"Dark Horses" was the first single released from "Vice Verses" and while I loved the song, I find that it gets overshadowed by vastly superior songs. This is one record that I had high expectations for, and Switchfoot has delivered. Every song is deep. Every song makes you think. Every song is well written, produced and performed. Don't miss out on one of 2011's best albums so far.

Track Listing:

Afterlife (3:37) The Original (3:15) The War Inside (3:39) Restless (5:18) Blinding Light (4:17) Selling the News (3:35) Thrive (5:12) Dark Horses (3:54) Souvenirs (4:15) Rise Above It (3:33) Vice Verses (5:08) Where I Belong (6:53)

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark - Movie Review

Katie Holmes stars in "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark"

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
Rated R for violence and terror
Filmmaking: ★★☆☆☆
Moral Rating: ★★★☆☆


"Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" could best be described as a strange hybrid between "The Others" and "Pan's Labyrinth". And Indeed this comparison is almost necessary, as "Don't Be Afraid" was written and produced by Pan's Labyrinth creator Guillermo Del Toro. Del Toro is also responsible for the "Hellboy" films and is currently working on a sci-fi picture called "Pacific Rim." If it seems as if Del Toro is all over the place, it is because he is! Long attached to the now in development film adaptations of "The Hobbit", Del Toro decided to leave the director's chair so he could pursue other projects, one of which ended up being "Don't Be Afraid". Generally speaking, Del Toro's projects are creative, well made, and somewhat scary. So his latest definitely arrives with high expectations. Would it live up to it's producer's reputation? Would it be as scary as the 70's original tv movie it was based on? Well let's examine the film, shall we?!

"Don't Be Afraid" stars Guy Pearce as Alex and Katie Holmes as his girlfriend Kim, who are in the middle of renovations at a huge mansion when Alex's daughter Sally comes to stay with them. Things begin to happen when Sally discovers a hidden basement where the former owner of the property, Mr. Blackwood, had died. Things begin to happen when Sally finds a grate blocking creatures that live under the house from  entering and wreaking havoc, however due to a highly illogical series of events, she ends up listening to them and letting them in. Without ruining anything, I can say that one thing leads to another and soon we discover the history of the place while Alex and Kim struggle with knowing what to do with Sally (is she crazy, or telling the truth?).

As you have probably already surmised, the plot (while simple) is FULL of the typical types of plot holes and illogical, nay, plain stupid behavior that gets our characters into these messes in the first place! While the scares are good, it is impossible to get over the fact that people in horror movies NEVER follow the rules of logic. (What do they teach in schools these days?) For instance, we discover that the creatures are trying to take Sally and that they can't stand the light. Despite this there are sequences in which Sally is left alone in the dark, scenes where everything would be fine if they would simply turn on the freaking light! And then of course, there are the photos. One major plot point of the movie was that Sally was able to capture the image of some of these creatures on film, leading to a scuffle (even killing one), yet the climax of the scene ends with a hug from daddy dearest, and the pictures (and the body of the dead creature) are never mentioned, or seen again. What is the point of a sequence like that if you don't get anywhere? Come on, Guillermo.

Despite the lousy story and script, this movie DOES have style. I mentioned in the opening paragraph a comparison to "Pan's Labyrinth". "Don't Be Afraid" shares many of the same fantastical views of nature and the property, much the same way "Pan's Labyrinth" did. The lighting and cinematography convey the idea that this movie is in fact a fairy tale, and not a thriller, and this IS the case. The story incorporates fairy tale ideas and character design by the half way point, and in this regard "Don't Be Afraid" is distinctly Del Torian. Rather than focusing on the horror of what the creatures might do to Sally, the film instead showcases the weirdness of them and the grotesqueness of their appearance. Rather than focusing on the characters at hand and leaving the antagonistic force in a shroud of mystery, Del Toro's approach makes us focus on the fairy tale aspect of the narrative. We see much of the so called "dark fairies" as they try to capture Sally (presumably to eat her teeth. Imagine THAT kind of a tooth fairy!) rather than experience suspense through the unknown like Hitchcock. Along with this fantasy treatment is a BEAUTIFUL score and some gorgeous lighting.

In conclusion, a beautiful design and musical score cannot save what is ultimately a cliche, un-scary horror film. Del Toro has an eye for design and fairy tales but for some reason "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" falls flat. Perhaps it is the undeserved R rating that led me to expect a better scary movie, or maybe it was the coldness and intensity of his previous works, but "Don't Be Afraid" is a bit of a paradox. On one hand if functions well as a fairy tale, utilizing a little girl and horrible creatures to tell it's tale. BUT on the other hand, it tells us that it is a horror movie - at which it really falls short. I would advise waiting to see this until it is out on DVD. But still, it's worth a rental!

Signing out, The Buckland Fiddler

Racism and the Cinema - thoughts on "The Help"

Emma Stone and Viola Davis star in "The Help", now in theaters

Racism. You would think that by now, in the technological progress of the 21st century, that we would have moved beyond such a horrible reality. But the reality is that racism still runs rampant in our nation, predominantly in the south. Growing up in Memphis has given me a deeper insight into this mess than I ever cared to know, but now that I do know, I do care. How could someone ever judge someone and treat them as inferiors based solely on the color of their skin?

I went to see "The Help" this past weekend with a couple of friends. I had heard that the movie was a must-see and that Emma Stone shone as an actress. Yes, I went for entertainment purposes - not to be enlightened- yet left the theater deep in thought. In case you haven't seen it (or read the book), "The Help" follows a young journalist nicknamed Skeeter (Emma Stone) as she returns to her hometown of Jackson, MS following her graduation from Ole Miss. She promptly accepts a job as a housekeeping advice columnist for the newspaper as all her friends are busy starting families, having babies, hosting bridge parties, etc... with the assistance of 'the help', or the black maids that work in their houses. 

As a progressive woman who has always shied away from tradition, Skeeter begins to write an exposé on 'the help' with the assistance of several maids, to shed some light on the unfair treatment and racial prejudice against these black employees. Along the way she gains friends in Aibileen and Minny (Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer) and loses some old friends ( Bryce Dallas Howard as the infuriating Hilly Holbrook). Facing danger of social rejection and their safety from the KKK in the ever heating Civil Rights Movement, Skeeter publishes the stories of these maids as an anonymous book called "The Help", which starts to illuminate the heartache and unfairness that is racism.

The performances in this film are nothing less than amazing. The production design of the early 1960's looks exactly like every picture your grandmother ever showed you. But the reason that this movie is so darn good is that it has HEART. At the core of this movie is a story of relationship. Whether it is Skeeter's strained relationship with her mother, her gained friendship with Aibileen; or whether it is Hilly Holbrook's cold hatred towards Minny, or the outcast "white trash" Celia Foote (played by Tree of Life's Jessica Chastain) "The Help" is jam packed with people wanting to be loved, wanting to be accepted. If we think about it, that is why racism is so wrong. We are withholding love from someone who has every right to receive it. Who are we to withhold love from someone for a reason so horrid as race or skin color? As a Christian I am reminded of Colossians 3:11 when it says "Here (in Christ) there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."  

We could also look at John 12:34 - "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Or perhaps 2 Corinthains 13:11 - "Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." Biblically speaking, there is no justification at all for racism. Which makes perfect sense. The simple ugly truth about racism is that it won't go away. As long as there are people rejecting God, rejecting His perfect LOVE then there is absolutely NO way that they can love others. So what can we do? We can show the love of God to them. As the saying goes "You may be the only Jesus they ever see." 

How do we confront racism? With love. With God's unending love. Through our actions, our attitude, our humility, and our love the world will know that we are God's and that He desires for them to know Him. No matter what skin color, what heritage, what horrible sins they may have committed- no matter what, God desires for all men to know him. "By this will they know you are my disciples, that you love one another." Thus says John 12:35. We can make an impact. We simply must show HIS love to those around us. 

"The Help" is rated PG-13 for thematic material and is in theaters now. I do not recommend it for children because of language and the intense thematic material surrounding racism. See it and let it challenge the way you think about your relationships!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images
Filmmaking: ★★★★☆
Moral: ★★★★☆


The Harry Potter saga is finally brought to a close in the 8th (yes I said 8th) film in this gargantuan, box-office shattering franchise. Regardless of how you feel about the films, some sort of recognition needs to be given to the producers of the Harry Potter movies for maintaining the quality of a film series for so long. In fact, the Harry Potter movies seem to have gotten better as they went along. For most franchises, if an 8th film is ever made it is usually either a straight to DVD release or a made for tv movie. While the 1st 4 Harry Potter films are fun fantasy flicks akin to something like the Narnia films, the last 4 in the series - Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 really are comparable in tone and quality to the Lord of the Rings films. 


Deathly Hallows Part 2 picks up RIGHT where Part 1 left off, throwing us rather suddenly into the conflict. Harry Potter is still hunting down the Horcruxes that contain parts of Lord Voldemort's soul so that he can destroy them, and ultimately destroy the Dark Lord. (If you wonder what the heck a Horcrux is, I recommend reading the book or doing a little bit of Wikipedia investigation!) The story to Part 2 is very straightforward, as Harry, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts one final time to find the final piece and end up joining an epic final confrontation with the Dark Lord and his army of Death Eaters. If you have read the book there is nothing new here, except for a few reordering changes to make the movie 'more suspenseful'. In my humble yet honest opinion, they made the story MUCH better and a more exciting film. Despite these improvements however, there are still many moments where the pacing is much too slow. Clocking in at just over 2 hours, I feel that the split in the final chapter required a bit of stretching to fill screen time. Once the film gets rolling though, you never stop until the conclusion.


Acting-wise, Deathly Hallows showcases the actors at their finest. Daniel Radcliffe shines as Harry, giving him an intense emotional depth. As he sees his friends die for him and realizes the sacrifice that he will be required to make himself, we believe that he is actually struggling. Daniel is one of those actors who truly can act sans dialogue. Emma Watson ( my favorite actor in the film) and Rupert Grint have also grown into their own as Hermione and Ron. Although these actors are fantastic, I found that Alan Rickman's Severus Snape stole the show yet again. Although a major player in the final chapter of the Potter saga, Snape was curiously missing from most of the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Now, as his part in the story plays out, we see many more layers to the intriguing dark arts teacher/ headmaster. On a negative note, the only part of the movie that I found to be rather cheesy and unneeded was the epilogue. The cast plays themselves 19 years in the future even though only a minimal amount of makeup effects were used to age them. This led to a very unbelievable and humorous ending to an otherwise incredible film.


Deathly Hallows Part 2 excels on many levels, but I found that the most appealing aspect of the film was the cinematography and visual effects. Eduardo Serra, the cinematographer from Part 1, returns to the gritty, dark look that made Yates' installments so riveting for me. From the muted grays and ominous landscape shots, to the intense and sweeping battle sequences at Hogwarts, this film is much darker in tone than any of the previous films. As the thematic material gets darker, so does the look and feel of the film. The wizard battles are fantastic to behold, as Serra's camera work takes us across the entire battlefield - as if to immerse us in it's enormous scale. While not as sweeping as a battle sequence in The Lord of the Rings, something about these battles feel more personal. We see what the stakes are instead of merely understanding the concept.


Morally, there is no sexual content, little language, and virtually no blood in Harry Potter. The violence is VERY intense though and the body count high in Deathly Hallows Part 2. We lose characters that we know and the emotional tension is high. The PG-13 rating is very appropriate and I would certainly caution parents from taking young children to see it. The magical content in the films is dumbed down to a level similar with that in The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia so there is no need to worry about witchcraft content. The magic used in Harry Potter is a more fantasy based magic akin to that in fairy tales. While the books did delve into very controversial content, the films are much more family friendly in this regard. I say this only because I know there are many people who are wary of the Harry Potter series because of uncertainty in this area.


Overall, I thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was a worthy conclusion to an epic film saga. While the pacing at times was slow and there were some rather shallow emotional moments, this film is incredibly well made (forgetting of course the terrible epilogue). It is almost sad to think of the Harry Potter saga as being over, but it certainly makes me excited to see the next fantasy epic from Warner Bros. - Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - in December of 2012. 


Signing out,
The REAL Bowman