Lost Boys The Thirst (aka Lost Boys 3) (2010)

Lost Boys is classic, Lost Boys The Tribe is not. Lost Boys Thirst is in between, thanks mainly to Corey Feldman (Bordello Of Blood, Bikini Bandits, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) doing his best to save the film on his way to saving the world from vampires.

Feldman reprises his role asEdward Frog from the previous two films, and he is even reunited with his onscreen brother Alan Frog (Jamison Newlander). Corey Haim was meant to be there to make up the trio from the first film, but his untimely death meant he is only seen in flashback.

The Thirst combines elementsof recent vampire mythos with the classic Lost Boys scenario. That means we have young, sexy vampires distributing vampire blood as a drug (as seen in True Blood) at nightclubs (like in Blade) and we even reference Let The Right One in (when a vampire enters a house uninvited). Top that off with Feldman doing his best Batman voice (continuing the serious attitude he had in the first film), some digs at his own reality show, and flaunting an array of inventive weapons, and you have a film that works as unsophisticated entertainment. I expect there will be another film, and I look forward to it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010)

This is supposed to be the darker Harry Potter. It’s not really dark, and that’s because the series is hampered by its juvenile beginnings and main audience. There is a little blood and killing, but nothing too sinister. It’s part 1 of a two parter series finale, and that does allow them to avoid a happy ending (much like The Empire Strikes Back) as Harry and friends continue the fight against he who must not be named (Lord Voldemort).

The films, like the books, suffer from too many characters and no flow in the story. There are fewer characters in this film, which should simplify matters, but there is still no pace or rhythm. There is potential to create a sense of despair or suspense when Harry, Hermione, and Ron are on the run in some impressively desolate locations, but it doesn’t happen. The film jumps from drama to action to comedy to boredom with no cadence. A wedding is thrown in for no apparent reason, as are people flushing themselves down toilets. The film is a mess and increasingly tedious as it progresses. At least young males have Emma Watson for eye candy. I’m not sure who young women have to ogle in the film. Robbie Coltrane? Alan Rickman? Bill Nighy?