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Home , David Yates, Music of the Sun, Rihanna (book), Rupert Grint

Arts&Entertainment AtTheMovies SoundCheck and the Deathly Hollows: Part I is a good first half to the beginning of the end. Artist: RihannaArtist: :Album: Rated R Loud Directed by . Written by (), Genre: Genre:R&B Pop/R&B J.K. Rowling (novel). Starring , and . Running time: 146 minutes. Rated PG-13.

BY JESUS YANEZ BY GARY SUNDT the two join Ron (Rupert Grint), and they are phenomenal. Warner Bros. got rather inger and world-renowned music icon Rihanna debuted transport Harry to The Burrow, the mysti- lucky, considering they casted their leads a in 2005 with an urban-yet-teeny-bopper image accompa- et’s just be honest here: You’ve already cally protected of the Weasley family. decade ago, and none of them managed to Snying her first studio album, . Following made up your mind when it comes to In the space between the film’s open- a) die, b) develop substance abuse problems, her well-publicized assault scandal with Chris Brown back in LHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: ing and Harry’s arrival at The Burrow, three and/or c) utterly suck as performers. The 2009, Rihanna’s musical direction took a dark turn with Rated R, Part 1. This is not a matter of the quality of characters in the series have died, and one three leads, on whose backs rests a substan- her chart-topping album chock-full of songs with non-apologetic the stories or the mystery of the series. Your has been rather seriously wounded. When tial portion of the narrative, have grown into references to her failed relationship with Brown. opinion of any one installment comes down Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their the fine actors needed to play against the rest Her newest release, Loud, continues this “dark” trend, and to your predisposition to the Potter universe, exotic camping trip to find the remaining of the award-winning cast — which includes the result is an album that somehow manages to disappoint and and you either like the franchise or you don’t. Horcruxes (fragmented pieces of Volde- (but is not limited to) Fiennes, Helena Bon- impress at the same time; the quality of the songs is good, but only I am a Harry Potter fan, and I have mort’s soul), things don’t get much safer, ham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Rhys Ifans, that — good. been since I read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and more fan-favorites find themselves on Imelda Staunton and Alan (Hans mother- The letdowns ofLoud are rather poignant. For starters, many and the Sorcerer’s Stone when I was 11. I’ve the hit list. flippin’ Gruber) Rickman. It’s a daunting of the album’s songs just sound far too alike. Song after song, track read all the books, and I’ve seen all the films. We realize we have grown up with Har- task, but these three steal, run with and after track, listeners are treated to Rihanna’s unique voice, some I waited in the line outside of Harkins Flag- ry and Co., and now is the time to deal with eventually carry the show. sultry lyrics and electronic and bass-laden beats, but that’s it. Al- staff 11 for 12 rather cold, rather miserable death, betrayal, deceit, jealousy and, yes, I’ve heard some people say the latest though rather enjoyable, the dance/pop songs on Loud just end hours to see the latest entry. Accordingly, even sex. The stakes in the world of grown- film is the best entry since Alfonzo Cuaron’s up blending together in a slurry haze of music that makes hardly I like me some HP, and I liked me some ups are often high, and any misstep could Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, any of its individual entries memorable (or distinguishable). Deathly Hallows: Part 1. mean the end of something at any moment. but I don’t think that’s accurate — not yet, More than a few of the songs on Loud also happen to be in- At the start of Deathly Hallows, our he- But then again, this is the nature of the anyway. In terms of atmosphere and perfor- credibly boring tracks about sex. I’m not saying the subject of sex roes have had a long road to this point, and film itself, as fans will “avada kedavra” any- mance, this is a spectacular picture. Howev- in an album is inherently bad, but the uncreative ways in which the journey ahead seems more daunting body who screws up the story at this point. er, this is an incomplete film, and the ending the topic is presented in “S&M,” “What’s My Name?” and “Skin” than ever before. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) Fortunately, fans can keep their wands safely will only make you pine for the finale. Only hardly give such a fun activity justice. The three songs are obvious moves his family away from Number 4, in their pockets. Director David Yates, who when we’ve seen the second half can we go filler tracks, with not much effort put into them, especially lyri- Privet Drive, as the childhood home of “The started on a somewhat lower note with the about the arbitrary task of picking “the best cally. The album has its high points, however. Even with its lack of Boy Who Lived” will be an obvious target fifth installment, has grown exponentially Harry Potter movie.” But for being only half creativity — both artistically and lyrically — not all of the songs on for Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Herm- as a filmmaker, and he is able to wield and of a movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Loud are bad. Some of the more emotional entries like “California ione (Emma Watson) uses magic to erase translate the material with more ease than Hallows: Part 1 is a good film, and it will Bed King,” “Man Down” and “Fading” are wonderfully written all memory and evidence of her existence ever before. certainly wet any fan’s appetite for the final songs that show off Rihanna’s trademark voice. “Love in her home to protect her parents. Soon Similarly, Radcliffe, Watson and Grint showdown. the Way You Lie (Part II)” is easily another one of the album’s highlights. In the sequel to her August duet with Eminem, “Part ness of the seventh book with a decent-length film that never II” tells the side of the song from the female (Rihanna’s) perspec- Second Take: Harry Potter loses its pace. Although it might be missing important scenes tive, and the song fits her well. “Complicated” is another stunner from the source, Deathly Hallows: Part 1 builds on the book by and the Deathly Hallows: Part I in the album, which shies away from Rihanna’s typical vocal tricks including serene settings not found within J.K. Rowling’s pages. and allows her to display her incredibly powerful voice without Some of the changes made help embrace the same cinematic the silly repetitive “eh’s” and “oh’s” she’s known for. flavor of the books, which is something not easily done in ad- If you can’t tell, Loud was a difficult album to review. That aptations. said, the album is genuinely worth at least one listen. Loud is Deathly Hallows Part 1 is also a beautiful film, playing definitely one of those releases with songs that are easy to for- smoothly from scene to scene at the pinnacle of Potter CGI. All get, but because of tracks like “ (Part II)” BY TED GARDNER of the other Harry Potter movies have built up to this level of ar- and “Complicated,” the album manages to gain some credibil- tistic detail. None of the effects feel out of place or unnecessary, ity when it comes to the quality of its songs. While the tracks ovies are likely to either carbon copy the books they only adding to the movie (if not making the movie). on Loud are decently enjoyable on their own, the fact remains are based on (possibly doing those books justice) or The best part of it all isDeathly Hallows has been divided many of them are far too similar, and it’s this lack of creativity Mmiss completely. TheHarry Potter movie series does into two parts. If Deathly Hallows had been condensed into one that prevents Rihanna’s Loud from being a anything more than justice to the books, and with the latest release of Harry Potter movie, this adaptation could have missed too much source ma- just a “good” album. and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, fans are given one of the best terial or simply been too long. But if Part 1 is any indication, film adaptations of the series. Part 2 will only be equally as stunning and — I hope — provide Best tracks: “California Bed King,” “Complicated,” Deathly Hallows: Part 1 properly portrays the grim dark- a great end to a great series. “Love the Way You Lie (Part II)”

Nov. 24 - Dec. 1, 2010 | The Lumberjack 19