This was a big week in the Fanboy world with two premieres that we've waited some time for: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and the season premiere of "Entourage."
Let's take a look at both.
Sunday night has become a great night again on HBO with a two-hour block of "True Blood," "Hung" (which if you aren't watching, you should be) and now, "Entourage."
It's been nine months since we last saw Vinnie Chase and the boys get back on their game when Vince was offered a part in a new Martin Scorsese picture called "Gatsby." And with bated breath we waited -- only to be let down by a dull and untimely season premiere.
A lot has been said about the plot lines of "Entourage" being the same every season: Vince gets girl. Vince loses girl because he cheated on her with another girl. Vince gets movie. Vince loses movie. Vince gets a better movie. The gang fights. Everything is great in the end, but the truth is the show has never really been about the plot. It's about the friendships and the characters we've grown to love.
And with this season premiere, HBO is lucky we do, in fact, love these characters.
While a few terrific lines are thrown out, the episode is basically dull. The only thing saving it are the interactions of Ari, the agent, and Lloyd, the gay assistant, who is now demanding a promotion.
And how about at least being relevant? Vince appears on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno as host, and jokes backstage that they will save a racier story for Conan who airs at a later hour. Come on guys, the Leno/Conan switchover has been planned for what, two years? You didn't think that when your premiere aired months after the switch that it would be a bit dated?
But while the season kickoff was lacking, we'll stick around. Because it's "Entourage." And we love these guys.
Let's take a look at both.
Sunday night has become a great night again on HBO with a two-hour block of "True Blood," "Hung" (which if you aren't watching, you should be) and now, "Entourage."
It's been nine months since we last saw Vinnie Chase and the boys get back on their game when Vince was offered a part in a new Martin Scorsese picture called "Gatsby." And with bated breath we waited -- only to be let down by a dull and untimely season premiere.
A lot has been said about the plot lines of "Entourage" being the same every season: Vince gets girl. Vince loses girl because he cheated on her with another girl. Vince gets movie. Vince loses movie. Vince gets a better movie. The gang fights. Everything is great in the end, but the truth is the show has never really been about the plot. It's about the friendships and the characters we've grown to love.
And with this season premiere, HBO is lucky we do, in fact, love these characters.
While a few terrific lines are thrown out, the episode is basically dull. The only thing saving it are the interactions of Ari, the agent, and Lloyd, the gay assistant, who is now demanding a promotion.
And how about at least being relevant? Vince appears on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno as host, and jokes backstage that they will save a racier story for Conan who airs at a later hour. Come on guys, the Leno/Conan switchover has been planned for what, two years? You didn't think that when your premiere aired months after the switch that it would be a bit dated?
But while the season kickoff was lacking, we'll stick around. Because it's "Entourage." And we love these guys.
On the flip side of "Entourage's" disappointment, "Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince" rose to the challenge more than any Potter film thus
far.
All right, full disclosure: I'm a huge Harry Potter dork. I've read all the books. I've seen all the movies. "Half-Blood Prince" was far and away my favorite of the series, so my anticipation of this film was at a high.
From its first moments, the film captures the book's bleak feeling. The sense that something truly wicked this way comes bears down on you until the credits roll. And while some will miss the whimsical classroom scenes at Hogwarts, the foreboding that replaces is it is just as enticing.
The first thought that ran through my head when our favorite wizards were together on screen is "Holy crap, these guys got big." Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, could be a tight end for most football franchises. Emma Watson, as Hermione Granger, even sports cleavage at one point. A far cry from the troll-battling first-years of "Sorcerer's Stone."
While the film does have a few flaws, they are easily overlooked because of the performances given by its cast. Yes there are a few standouts, (Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn is pure magic on screen) but the brilliance of the film comes from the chemistry of all its actors.
The worst part comes at the end of the film. With the gauntlet thrown down for our young wizards, you realize it's back to waiting. So see you in November 2010 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One." Part two debuts six months later in July of 2011.
All right, full disclosure: I'm a huge Harry Potter dork. I've read all the books. I've seen all the movies. "Half-Blood Prince" was far and away my favorite of the series, so my anticipation of this film was at a high.
From its first moments, the film captures the book's bleak feeling. The sense that something truly wicked this way comes bears down on you until the credits roll. And while some will miss the whimsical classroom scenes at Hogwarts, the foreboding that replaces is it is just as enticing.
The first thought that ran through my head when our favorite wizards were together on screen is "Holy crap, these guys got big." Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, could be a tight end for most football franchises. Emma Watson, as Hermione Granger, even sports cleavage at one point. A far cry from the troll-battling first-years of "Sorcerer's Stone."
While the film does have a few flaws, they are easily overlooked because of the performances given by its cast. Yes there are a few standouts, (Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn is pure magic on screen) but the brilliance of the film comes from the chemistry of all its actors.
The worst part comes at the end of the film. With the gauntlet thrown down for our young wizards, you realize it's back to waiting. So see you in November 2010 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One." Part two debuts six months later in July of 2011.
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