"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001) - Soundtrack

While we are waiting for the last premiere of the movie about the boy who lived, I want to write about not less important part of every story - the soundtrack. Music helped to create a magical atmosphere and made "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" a wonderful fairy-tale. It was created by talented and one of my favorite composers, John Williams. He has written music for many great movies, for example, "Home Alone", "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (yes, he likes working with Chris Columbus, who is the director of first and second "Harry Potter"), "Schindler's List", "Saving Private Ryan", "The Patriot", "Catch Me if You Can" and others. And he always writes very powerful music, which makes movies perfectly finished. Especially, I love his Christmas tunes in family movies. 

As for this soundtrack, "Prologue" will be always the best composition for me. Why? It's simple. Because it is the beginning of great story, which I adore. 

Release date - October 30, 2001

The full soundtrack (with my favorites compositions):

1. "Prologue" 2:12



2. "Harry's Wondrous World" 5:21
3. "The Arrival of Baby Harry" 4:25
4. "Visit to the Zoo and Letters from Hogwarts" 3:23
5. "Diagon Alley and The Gringotts Vault" 4:06
6. "Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters and The Journey to Hogwarts" 3:14
7. "Entry into the Great Hall and The Banquet" 3:42



8. "Mr. Longbottom Flies" 3:35
9. "Hogwarts Forever! and The Moving Stairs" 3:47
10. "The Norwegian Ridgeback and A Change of Season" 2:47
11. "The Quidditch Match" 8:29
12. "Christmas At Hogwarts" 2:56



13. "The Invisibility Cloak and The Library Scene" 3:16
14. "Fluffy's Harp" 2:39
15. "In the Devil's Snare and The Flying Keys" 2:21
16. "The Chess Game" 3:49
17. "The Face of Voldemort" 6:10



18. "Leaving Hogwarts" 2:14



19. "Hedwig's Theme" 5:11

"The Hobbit" (2012) - on the set news - Orlando Bloom

Peter Jackson had confirmed that actor Orlando Bloom joins upcoming Middle-Earth story "The Hobbit". The director wrote on his own Facebook page this statement:

"Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I'm excited to announce today that we'll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that's why he makes such a wonderful elf."

I'm very glad to hear it! I like very much Orlando's character and hope he will make this story more interesting (if it's possible for such amazing adventure).

"The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" ("Приключения Тинтина: Тайна единорога") 2011 - Trailer

Before I've read the plot of this upcoming movie, I thought it would be story just for kinds. But then I discovered that a director is Steven Spielberg and a producer is Peter Jackson (who is working on his 'Hobbit' now), I've changed my mind. Then there was a big surprise for me to see who plays the main parts - Andy Serkis ('The Lord of the Rinds' trilogy), and a British comedian duet Simon Pegg / Nick Frost ('Shaun of the Dead', 'Paul'). Now I think it's going to be a good adventurous story (as it is promised from headline). The plot reminds me the mix of 'The Chronicles of Narnia', 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'The Golden Compass'. Movie is based on a series of comic strips created by the Belgian artist Georges Rémi (his pen name is Hergé). I'm not interested it, especially I dislike the style of its pictures (you can see belong the 'Adventures of Tintin' cast). But I saw new trailer of this upcoming movie and it has impressed me in a good way. The story is about a young reporter Tintin (played by Jamie Bell), who meets Captain Haddock (played by Andy Serkis), and together they have to discover the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are two identically detectives Thomson and Thompson, also on the search of this treasure. The movie is the first part of a trilogy, which probably is going to be in 3D. 

Release date: December 23, 2011 (world wide)

До того, как я прочитала о сюжете этого кинофильма, была уверена, что эта история всего лишь сказка для детей. Но когда я узнала, что режиссером фильма является Стивен Спилберг, а продюсером - Питер Джексон (который сейчас занят своим «Хоббитом»), я изменила свое мнение. Актерский состав также оказался большим сюрпризом – Энди Серкис (тот самый Голлум из трилогии «Властелин Колец») и британский комедийный дуэт Саймон Пегг / Ник Фрост («Зомби по имени Шон», «Инопланетянин Пол»). Теперь я уверена, фильм получится захватывающим и приключенческим (как нам и обещает его название). Сюжет напоминает мне микс из кинофильмов «Хроники Нарнии», «Пираты Карибского моря» и «Золотой Компас». Кинокартина основана на комиксах бельгийского художника Жоржа Реми (псевдоним Эрже). Если честно, то мне совершенно не понравился его стиль рисования (героев «Приключений Тинтина» можно посмотреть внизу поста). Но я посмотрела новый трейлер, и он меня приятно впечатлил. История рассказывает нам о молодом газетном репортере Тинтине (его играет Джейми Белл), который встречает капитана Хаддока (Энди Сэркис), и они вместе отправляются на поиски сокровищ Сэра Фрэнсиса Хаддока. Саймон Пегг и Ник Фрост играют двух близнецов-детективов Томсона и Томпсона, также ищущих эти сокровища. Кинокартина ожидается стать первой частью трилогии, предположительно сделанной в 3D.

Дата премьеры – 23 декабря 2011 (всемирный прокат)

'Adventures of Tintin' Cast 

  

Official trailer

Top-5 movies of the week - 25.05 - 01.06

After the Cannes Film Festival is over, I have more time for writing about other movies and events. I'm returning to my recently started topic. One of the hottest releases of this spring is already in our cinemas and this movie has big chances to get a great box office, but also there is a couple of movies, which can be interesting for you.

1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"
Of course, this movie is the most expected of spring season. I'm a fan of the trilogy, but since the cast has changed, I didn't think that the 4th movie can be as interesting and impressive as first ones. Still there are Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, who saved this movie. I didn't watch it in 3D, but it is made visually very good, with nice views, special effects and costumes. The one thing, which I really dislike in it, is the love story between priest and mermaid. Actors Sam Claflin and Astrid Bergés-Frisbey are beautiful, but not so talented. They are a horrible replacement of Orlando Bloom and Keira Nightly.

Trailer - http://elenastr.blogspot.com/2011/01/pirates-of-caribbean-on-stranger-tides_30.html

2. "The Tree of Life"
The Palme d'Or winner Terrence Malick releases his new movie world wide. I'll watch it just on June 9 and can't wait for it. I'm interested in, because I love when Brad plays not "macho man" characters, but a real man, a father. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his hard adult years as he tries to settle a complicated relationship with his father. Sean creates very depressed person Jack, who finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.

Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXRYA1dxP_0

3. "Kung Fu Panda 2" 
Family comedy about a panda, who becomes a hero, was successful, so it's not a surprise that creators made a sequel. Now the main character must save kung fu. He with his four friends starts a journey, which will be full of dangerous and funny moments. I've seen video about how it was made, that's why I can tell you - everybody, especially actors, did a great job creating such a nice animation movie. I'm sure they will be proud to show it to their kids.

Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ftH73f3xg

4. "Priest"
The latest movie about vampires with Paul Bettany tells us a story about how legendary priest fights the evil and tries to safe his niece. It is made in not so good 3D, but it is worth watching because of atmosphere, leading actor, music by composer Christopher Young and this beastly vampires. 

Trailer -  http://elenastr.blogspot.com/2011/04/priest-2011-trailer.html

5. "Bridesmaids"
I was choosing between this melodrama and the 2nd "Hangover", so I prefer this movie. It has a crazy cast. Every woman is different from others, but they can get wild together and have an unforgettable trip. And as one critic from 'New Yorker' said: "The movie is uneven and lurching, but it provides many laughs."

Trailer -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrRd2QSsGc4

I wish you to have a great week!

64th Cannes Film Festival - The End

64^th Cannes Film Festival is officially over and every star returns directing and starring in movies. All awards were given and the city lights wouldn't shine so brightly as in the last 12 days. I'm very glad of the jury's choice. It was very unusual that a director didn’t show up to present his movie, but Terrence Malick hasn't arrived either at the end and his Palme d'Or for his "Tree of Life" was excepted by producers William Pohlad and Dede Gardner. French director and actress Maïwenn got the Prix du Jury for "Polisse". She was incredibly emotional, for a moment I thought she would faint. Also I’m very happy for Kirsten Dunst (she couldn't believe here luck after Lars von Trier’s joke) and Jean Dujardin (he played a leading role in the new silent black-and-white movie). Prix de la mise en scène went to Nicolas Winding Refn for his “Drive” and it was a very nice moment, when he thanked to Ryan Gosling. So closing ceremony ended without any surprises, everyone was happy and satisfied. I hope the next year’s Festival would be also funny, eventful, a bit shocking and memorable, because the 64^th Festival was.

Searching for interesting videos from Cannes I've found this live performance of Jamie Cullen at the opening ceremony. He sang "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra and "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys. But my favorite moment is when Melanie Laurent dances with Uma Thurman.



And I want to share with you some of the most interesting photos from the latest Cannes photocall after the closing ceremony.

Palme d'Or - Terrence Malick ("The Tree of Life"), but the award was excepted by producers William Pohlad and Dede Gardner  

Ryan Gosling congratulates and kisses Nicolas Winding Refn, who got Prix de la mise en scène  

The end of the Ceremony - Winners and the Jury

The Jury member - beautiful and talented Uma Thurman

Prix d'interprétation féminine - Kirsten Dunst ("Melancholia")

Kirsten Dunst ( Prix d'interprétation féminine ), Robert De Niro (President of the Jury) and Jean Dujardin ( Prix d'interprétation masculine )

Prix du Jury - Maïwenn ("Polisse")

Grand Prix - Dardenne brothers ("The Kid with a Bike"/"Le Gamin au vélo") and Nuri Bilge Ceylan ("Once Upon a Time in Anatolia" / "Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da")
 

Everything good has come to an end.


Pictures - ZIMBIO

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II" - Poster with Daniel Radcliffe

It's left less than two months to the world premiere of the last part of epic story - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2". I'm very exited to see this last movie and now just reading again books about 'the boy who lived' (this time on English), trying to remember all feelings, which I experienced many years ago. So I want to share with you the latest poster, which I have accidentally found on the web. Enjoy!

Release date - July 15, 2011. (a couple days after my b-day! I think it would be a great present!)

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Winners

List of the Winners of the 64th Cannes Film Festival 

Palme d'Or - Terrence Malick ("The Tree of Life"), but the award was excepted producers William Pohlad and Dede Gardner

 

 Grand Prix - Dardenne brothers ("The Kid with a Bike"/"Le Gamin au vélo") and Nuri Bilge Ceylan ("Once Upon a Time in Anatolia" / "Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da")

Prix du Jury - Maïwenn ("Polisse")

  

 Prix de la mise en scène - Nicolas Winding Refn ("Drive")

Actor Ryan Gosling ("Drive")

Prix d'interprétation féminine - Kirsten Dunst ("Melancholia")

Prix d'interprétation masculine - Jean Dujardin ("The Artist")

 

So the Festival is coming to an end. All prizes are given to those people, who really earned it. And I'm very exited to watch all 'In Competitions' movies.

  

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Day 12 - Closing Ceremony

Now I'm watching the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. Here is the link - http://www.udirect.tv/streaming-canalplus-live.php (it's on French, but it's still simple to understand who is getting an award.)

The host Melanie Laurent and the Director of the Jury Robert De Niro (he dot a long standing applauses)

 

Robert De Niro

Beautiful Uma Thurman

 The Jury

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Day 11

The Festival is going to an end with the last movie 'In Competition', which is the latest work of Radu Mihaileanu. "The Source" (original title "La Source Des Femmes") is a story of a little village somewhere in North Africa, where women always fetch the water. They are bored of this work, so they're making a sex strike to force men to provide the water into the village. The director with actors gave a press conference and told that his movie is a reflection of the revolutions in the Arab world: "These revolutions represent a huge step forward. We wrote the film with the same sort of intentions, and we bet on the chance that women would be the ones to bring change, not simply throughout the world but especially in the Muslim world." Also he added that the village in his movie is not less important than its characters: "The main character in the film is the village. It was amazing, with ochre colours, that earth… it needed just a little bit of colour. We made the decision to borrow from the culture of all the Arab countries without betraying the unity of the Arab-Berber Moroccan whole. We used blues, yellows, oranges. The light was kind to all of the colours, the ochre, the walls, and skin tones as well." As for the photocall, the actresses looked very cheerful, so I hope they portrayed their characters with such passion.

A movie, which is chosen to close the Festival, is "The Beloved" (original title "Les Bien-Aimés") by French screenwriter and director Christophe Honoré. He presented his movie along with actors Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Louis Garrel, Paul Schneider, Christophe Honore, Laudivine Sagnier, Rasha Bukvic and the composer Alex Beaupain. This musical shows two love stories, which are survived by a mother and her daughter and takes place in the 1960s and 1990s, happening in Prague, Paris and London. The director told the journalists about how he understands the filmmaking: "I've never been of the view that the role of cinema is to film everyday life, but I do try to make films that are true to life." Catherine Deneuve said about working with Christophe Honoré: "I’ve always liked Christophe’s way of portraying female characters and love affairs. When I heard about the project, I was immediately interested. During filming, Christophe was very attentive, friendly and open." The screening of the movie will be tomorrow, May 22, but some critics, who just saw it, think it is very boring, except the decor.

The last movie presented 'Un Certain Regard' is "Elena" by Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose movie was once nominated for a Palme d'Or. This year he came to tell a dramatic story about complicated relationships between parents and sons. Can it be interesting? I think definitely yes - this movie just got SPECIAL JURY PRIZE.

And tomorrow we will discover who earned the other awards. There are rumors that "Drive" by Nicholas Winding Refn has good chances to win.

"The Sourse" photocall - Radu Mihaileanu, Leila Bekhti, Hafsia Herzi, Hiam Abbas, Sabrina Ouazani, Biyouna

"The Beloved" photocall - Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Louis Garrel, Paul Schneider, Christophe Honore, Laudivine Sagnier, Rasha Bukvic, Alex Beaupain

 "Elena" photocall - Andrei Zviaquintsev,  Elena Lyadova, Nadezhda Markina

 More photos from sunny Cannes - http://www.panarmenian.net/photo/ , http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Day 10

It seems that the weather in Cannes supports everybody, who came here to present or value new movies. The 10th day is doing to its end, but during it many events have happened. Firstly, I want to tell you about the latest work of the director Nicolas Winding Refn. His movie is called "Drive" and promises to be very exiting. This story is about a stunt performer, played by Ryan Gosling, who sometimes works as getaway driver. Nicolas Winding Refn said about his movie: "Being realistic is OK, but it's not necessarily very interesting. We weren't aiming to make a documentary. But we wanted to strike a balance so that the film wouldn't become over-stylised." For him it wasn't usual to make movies at Hollywood, so he told how it feels to make movie there: "It was extraordinary, I was in this house with a swimming pool and an orange grove, it was mythical for me to be in that place. And the incredible thing was that everybody was helping me, while I had all these negative preconceptions. The producers were always there for me. I was able to make the movie I wanted to make." Other characters in "Drive" are portrayed by actors Carey Mulligan, Bruce Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. Finally, I want to add that some critics are impressed by their performances and really enjoyed the movie.

The next movie I want to write about is "This Must Be The Place" by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino. The film deals with a middle-aged wealthy rock star, who is bored and depressed in his retirement and takes on the quest of finding his father's tormentor. So leading actor Sean Penn is Cheyenne, who wears a long black wig, uses eyeliner and starts his journey across America. The most of all I liked the press conference and what Sean Penn answered about the meaning of rock'n'roll: "Rock'n'roll is extremely important. It's a sort of polite society disease. The film follows its own story and Cheyenne pursues his quest to get out of depression".

As Cannes Film Festival likes to make tributes to the legends of the cinematography and the last two days were dedicated to Stanley Kubrick. His wife Christiane Kubrick and a star of "A Clockwork Orange" Malcolm McDowell came to Cannes to visit movie premiere "The Skin I Live In" and to lead the film masterclass "Le Lechon De Cinema: Malcom McDowell". The widow was very touched by such warm greeting, so she said: "I am proud to be here but I never wanted to be here. My husband should have been here but he didn't come." And then there was a moment of silence. Some people will be always remembered.

"Drive" photocall -  Ryan Gosling, Nicolas Winding Refn

"Drive" press conference -  Ryan Gosling, Nicolas Winding Refn 

"This Must Be the Place" photocall - Sean Penn, Eve Hewson, Judd Hirsch

"This Must Be the Place" premiere - Sean Penn, Eve Hewson, Paolo Sorrentino

Tribute to Stanley Kubrick - Christiane Kubrick, Malcolm McDowell

More fresh photos from Cannes you can find here -
http://celebrity-gossip.net/cannes-film-festival-2011/ , http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/

It is left just two more days and this competition will be over. In a couple of days we will know the winners and those who hadn't pass. But now the Festival goes on and has something more to show.