chriscuomo

Notable among guy-in-rubber-monster suit epics for the fact that this is a Korean film, rather than Japanese. Some of the building-trampling scenes are impressive by standards of the genre, but other than that this is pretty much formulaic with cheap visuals, toy tanks and aircraft, and silly dialogue. Monster tramples buildings, annoying little boy teams up with scientist to stop the destruction. The ending with Yongary's slow death despite the boy's grieving is oddly moving.

Take one Star Wars film, cover liberally with Wonka sweets, add in a dash of Cinderella (the evil step-family is pure cliché), and you've got a recipe for a meal of Hollywood leftovers. But a tasty one!

The storyline is an almost blatant ripoff of Star Wars (which this film franchise clearly aspires to being). Featuring Harry as the Luke Skywalker character: prodigal youth unaware of the mystic power he possesses, and occasionally using it recklessly; Hagrid as the Obi-Wan sage (though he looks more like Chewbacca); Dumbledor as Yoda; and Hermione as Leia. What it lacks is a charismatic villain to play the Darth Vader role. And you'll feel it, especially at the ending.

The film is worth seeing if only for the gorgeous visuals. Hogwarts is incredible and almost begs to be explored. Prepare to be amazed. The Quidditch scene is the only letdown, overblown and uninteresting. Tacked on to liven up a draggy part of the film. Kind of like the pod racing in Episode I. Oops! There's that Star Wars comparison popping up again!

Blessed with a talented cast and crew, and cursed with repeated stabs at "significance" and Big Issues, this was a unique import. Somewhat of a North-of-the-Border Room 222 with it's multi-ethnic cast and issue-driven story lines. While Room 222 is mostly forgotten today, Degrassi is still fondly remembered cult fave around the world. That's in part due to the talent in front of the camera. It's reputation ultimately hinges on the shows handling of the many weighty issues it tackled during its run: abortion! child abuse! suicide! It felt at times that the show's writers were a bit too determined to distance Degrassi from the superficiality of American teen TV. Many had a superficial tv-movie feel to them. Caitlin's epilepsy was never referred to again, for instance. All in all, a quality show that bowed out - or graduated - gracefully, rather than limp along like its fluffy American contemporaries (Saved by the Bell and 90210) did.