I have never seen a film so sincere and remain very entertaining. The movie musical Hairspray radiates with so much optimism that it can brighten your view of the world! It will leave you smiling even after the credits have ended and you’re out of the cinema. Hairspray is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same title (also adapted from the 1988 comedy film by John Waters). The story takes place in `60s Baltimore and revolves around Tracy Turnblad (newcomer Nikki Blonsky), a plump teenager whose dream is to become part of the “coolest” teenage dancers in the local TV program of WYZT station, The Corny Collins Show. She finally gets her chance when Corny Collins announces that one of his council kids (the teenagers who dance in the show) is taking a leave of absence and there will be an audition for a new dancer. Tracy’s timid best friend, Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes)-whose mother won’t even allow Penny to watch the show, accompanies her to the audition. But Tracy is instantly turned down by Velma von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), WYZT’s station manager because of her size and her support for the integration of the white and black people of America. Velma also choreographs the dances in the show. She is also Amber’s (Brittany Snow) mother–one of the council kids-and being such makes sure that her daughter gets the most exposure in the show. When Tracy finally gets in the Corny Collins show, she becomes a threat not only to Amber’s popularity but to the latter’s relationship with the show’s heartthrob Link Larkin (Zac Efron), as Link becomes increasingly fond of Tracy.

Hairspray is one movie that is able to gather a perfect set of cast. No one can be more perfect for the role of Tracy Turnblad than Nikki Blonsky, who instantly caught my attention the moment she appeared on the screen, singing “Good Morning Baltimore.” She did her role very well as the vibrant, hefty high school teenager. She’s so optimistic about the world and even believes that “fairness is just gonna happen.”

Amanda Bynes, despite her few lines, faultlessly played her role as Tracy’s best friend, shy and unsure but always supportive of Tracy nontheless. They’re total opposites, yet they get along, understand each other and Penny always has nice words to say to Tracy.

After a long time, we see John Travolta dancing again. But this time in a fat suit (and in high heels!), playing Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad who had shut herself inside the house working as a laundress, because of her appearance. I enjoyed seeing Christopher Walken dance, who played Wilbur Turnblad. If there is one touching scene in the film that I won’t ever forget is Wilbur’s admission that his heart “only beats for the size 60″ woman who is his wife. And that was complemented by their duet “(You’re) Timeless to me.”

As the wicked Velma and a true stage mother, no one can question Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance. She’s manipulative and will do anything (even cheat) just to make sure her only daughter will not be outshined by anyone.

Queen Latifah always shines in any role that she does. She’s simply vivacious as Motomouth Maybelle, a local R&B deejay who hosts the Negro Day on Corny Collins Show.

Relatively unknown actors that simply steals the screen without effort are Elijah Kelley (who played Seaweed, Maybelle’s son and Penny’s love interest) and Taylor Parks (as the energetic Little Inez, Seaweed’s sister).

Hairspray is so fun to watch that slow-paced moments passed unnoticed. It’s so joyful and unpretentious. It’s a candy-colored celebration of the outsiders. Humor is always a good tool to make a political/social stand about inequality and discrimination. Yes, they do exist and most of us forget that the people we consider “outsiders” or some of us tagged as “uncool” have feelings, too. Most of all they have talents, maybe much better than us.

I recommend Hairspray as a must-see film. Really worth your money. Great singing, great dancing. I had a great time watching!

Hairspray is directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman; written by Leslie Dixon; music by Mark Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Mark Shaiman. It stars John Travolta (Edna Turnblad), Christopher Walken (Wilbur Turnblad), Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma Von Tussle), James Marsden (Corny Collins), Amanda Bynes (Penny Pingleton), Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle), Zac Efron (Link Larkin), Brittany Snow (Amanda Von Tussle), Elijah Kelley (Seaweed), Taylor Parks (Little Inez), and Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad).

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I’m currently enjoying the songs in the film! “Go, mama, go, go, go!”

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Wesley (Rupert Grint), and Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) return to Hogwarts for their fifth year only to find out that their beloved school is at risk. Using the wizarding newspaper, The Daily Prophet, the Ministry of Magic is trying to discredit Albus Dumbledore and Harry of their claim that Lord Voldemort is rising again to power. The Ministry also interferes in Hogwarts and sends Ministry official Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) to take the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Realizing this, Harry, Ron and Hermoine form a secret group-Dumbledore’s Army-where they can learn proper defensive magic. The threat of Voldemort’s return intensifies as Umbridge continue to meddle in Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest book in the seven-book series, but the film version, incidentally, is the shortest (138 minutes) among other Harry Potter films. But director David Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldenberg are able to incorporate the essential points of the book, although they modified some of them (e.g. in the book to find #12 Grimmauld Place, it should be revealed to you by the secret keeper of the Order; Haary first met Luna Lovegood in the Hogwarts Express and Ginny’s the one that introduced him to Luna; Harry learned about thestrals-those winged horses that pull the school carriages-from Hagrid and not from Luna; etc.). Yates added glimpses of what’s coming in the next Harry Potter film installment. It is also in this film that The Daily Prophet is given a bigger role. It creates progression of events and fill the gaps between subplots. While Nicholas Hooper did variations on “Hedwig’s Theme” (the main theme/musical score of all previous Harry Potter movies) it’s only in The Order of the Phoenix that “muggle” songs (mainstream music) are played in the movie.*

There is noticeable improvement in the acting of the three main characters (Radcliffe, Grint, Watson); they sure have grown-up, although, sometimes Watson seems out of breath when delivering her lines. I like the new additions in the cast. Imelda Staunton, gives justice to Dolores Umbridge character, as if she came out of JKR’s book. Some say that Umbridge dominated the film, but then the book is Umbridge-ful, too. Casting Helena Bonham Carter as the mad-Azkaban escapee-Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange is perfect. I wish she had more scenes in the film. Nevertheless, she’s amazing! She never fails to amaze me with her acting. Whatever role is given to her, she portrays with perfection. And Grawp is adorable! And Evana Lynch (Luna Lovegood) is lovely, a welcome sight on screen. I’m glad this film gives Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) more exposure. Did you catch that sad look on her face when she saw Harry and Cho talking?

Despite the many diversions from the book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is still an enjoyable film.

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*I need to verify this claim. But if my memory serves me right, it’s the first time that I heard mainstream/rock music wafting from the wireless in the Gryffindor common room.

I was one of those who avidly read all the Harry Potter books. I stumbled upon Harry Potter at a time when it hasn’t created a world craze yet. I love prowling the children’s book section in bookstores, looking for something that might interest me–even stories meant for toddlers. And there it was, the first book. So I bought it. From then on, I got hooked; stuck with it until the last. And after the long wait, finally came, the seventh book.

Prepared for the task Dumbledore left him, Harry waits to come of age. When he turns seventeen, it’s time to face Voldemort and perhaps end his evil plans. So Harry, together with his best friends Ron and Hermoine, embarks on a journey to destroy the remaining horcruxes that will also destroy parts of Voldemort’s soul that’s hidden in each of them. As they find each horcrux, Harry knows that it is only a matter of time and he has to face his enemy.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we see the main character grow up-enter adulthood. We feel the burden that has been put on his shoulder-the task that only him alone must do to save the wizarding and muggle worlds. His strength is tested and how much trust can he put in the people who care about him. We witness more death, lives sacrificed, which make this book the darkest of the seven. We know at last why it’s very important in the story that Harry has his mother’s eyes and the weapon of The Boy Who Lived that the Dark Lord knows not. Finally, Snape’s loyalty is revealed-is he good or evil or neither.

From the very beginning, Harry Potter has always been about the fight between good and evil, love and hate. Author J.K. Rowling concludes this battle in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, instilling the series into a classic. Rowling did not finish the book just to finish it. Instead, she created a seamless saga. All questions, unresolved matters that sprung from the first book are settled in the final installment. Overall, Deathly Hallows is worthy read. All is well, indeed–for J.K. Rowling and the millions of Harry Potter fans.