Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Ten years after the first Harry Potter adventure, the 8^th final and shortest, installment of J.K. Rowling's immensely popular seven volume literary masterpiece comes to a close.

Before the last confrontation between Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his arch-nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) takes place, Harry Potter, along with Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), must find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, items in which the Dark Lord has embedded pieces of his soul in his quest for immortality. However, the destruction of each Horcrux makes the amphibious faced, Lord Voldemort, even more dangerous. The stakes are higher and no one, not even Harry, is safe.

In what may be his best film to date, returning helmer, David Yates, perfectly blends the thrilling feature with an emotional underpinning. Surprising revelations and complexities are uncovered such as Professor Severus Snape's (Alan Rickman) hostile nature towards Harry.

One of the many extraordinary scenes involves a magical bank heist featuring great 3D special effects and prosthetic makeup, taking up to four hours to apply on each of the dozens banker goblins.

The epic finale, augmented by impeccable acting in addition to well merged practical and visual designs, captures the imagination, delivering a satisfying, climactic conclusion.

Horrible Bosses

Drawing from pop-culture formulas, this brazen comedy directed by Seth Gordon, and written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, leaps with high energy, comedic plot twists.

Three disgruntled employees, office drone Nick (Jason Bateman), accountant Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and dental assistant Dale (Charlie Day) hire murder consultant MotherF* Jones (Jamie Foxx) to kill their bosses, that is the sadistic David Harken (Kevin Spacey), the irrational Bobby Pellet (Colin Farrell) and the sexy man-eater Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston). The three buddies aren't exactly criminal masterminds and things don't turn out as planned, but it's too late to backtrack.

Though not a new theme, what propels the action and makes the raunchy, dark comedy work so well is the inept approach to the terrible plan and the dynamics between the three different, not so smart, but likable characters. Colin Farrell is barely recognizable, Jamie Foxx steals the show, Jennifer Aniston turns up the heat, while Charlie Dale delivers most of the laughs.

Fans will particularly enjoy viewing their old time favorites, Donald Sutherland and Bob Newhart in their cameo appearances.

Larry Crowne

Resonating with today's economic issues, is this heartwarming story about Larry (Tom Hanks), an unemployed and divorced middle aged man who enrolls at the local community college to widen his job prospects. Fellow college student Talia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and the public speaking professor Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), provide Larry just the right spark needed to pull his life together.

Featured in their comedic roles are a mix of familiar and up-and-coming performers including Bryan Cranston as Mercedes' husband Dean Tainot, Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson as Larry's friends and neighbors Lamar and B'Ella, as well as Wilmer Valderrama as Talia's boyfriend, Dell Gordo.

Notwithstanding the one dimensional characters and a predictable script, the strong acting make this light romantic comedy an uplifting summer entertainment. 

CARS 2

A spy theme with menacing villains, a colorful cast of cars, boats, planes and trains, characterize CARS 2, Pixar’s 12th full length animated action adventure feature, directed by Academy Award winner John Lasseter.

Lively and humorous, it is the most technically challenging Pixar movie to date, with detailed state of the art, eye popping visuals, and front-row car racing views at the World Grand Prix.

Race car star Lighting McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and his best friend tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) are ensnared in an intriguing international espionage orchestrated by master British spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). The action packed journey leads Mater to an explosive spy chase through the streets of Japan, Italy, France and England.

Among the returning cast are Larry the Cable Guy, whose character Mater takes center stage in CARS 2, and Owen Wilson who displays his trademark drawl and personality. John Turturro, as the fierce race competitor Francesco Bernoulli, gives the character just the right amount of Italian bravado, while the film's coolest spy car, Fin McMissile, transforms itself into a hydrofoil and a submarine, and climbs up steel walls through its wheels' steel magnets.

Fans would particularly like the cameo appearances of real life Formula 1 racing champions Lewis Hamilton and NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon who add a touch of authenticity.

With Michael Giacchino's swift score, CARS 2 carries a message about friendship, it is fun and beautiful to watch.

The Art of Getting By

In this sensitive depiction of first love and emerging adulthood, first time director-writer Gavin Wiesen convincingly navigates through the characters' life-changing experiences and the realization of the imperfect world surrounding them.

George Zinavoy is a smart, introspective, insular senior high school student, overwhelmed by a sense of futility, lack of self-confidence and motivation. He is challenged by three dedicated educators, the Principal Martinson (Blair Underwood), his English teacher Ms. Herman (Alicia Silverstone) and art instructor Harris McElroy (Jarlath Conroy), as well as his mother Vivian (Rita Wilson) and stepfather, Jack Sargent (Sam Robards). However, his perspective changes when he develops a romance with the popular and beautiful classmate Sally (Emma Roberts), who brings him out of his shell and into a new view on life.

Notwithstanding the predictable script and cliché dialogue, the characters are relatable. Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) well portrays an aloof character who tries to find himself, while rising star Emma Roberts (It's Kind of a Funny Story) is charming in depicting Sally, a free spirited character.

Gavin builds an emotional connection to George's journey by delivering a timeless feel and beginning the feature with a rough documentary aesthetic. Use of a handheld camera at the beginning of the feature is gradually transitioned to a steadier camera, as George becomes more grounded.

The feature speaks to the complicated and confused age where teenagers try to find inner strength and overcome personal challenges.

Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts

The gift giving tradition practiced in Islamic courts was an expression of affection, friendship, gratitude for services rendered, piety, and, in diplomacy, formalizing alliances. This theme is the center of the international groundbreaking exhibit premiering at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) featuring 250 impressive works of various media, from collections in America, Europe, and the Middle East, ranging from the eighth through nineteenth centuries.

Five years in the making, and curated by Islamic art specialist Linda Komaroff, the exhibit can be viewed in any order within the three broad sections of Personal Gifts, Pious Gifts, and State and Diplomatic Gifts that were documented or identified from textual or archival resources.

Objects of personal adornment such as jewelry, belts, garments, and precious utilitarian objects are on view in the Personal Gifts section. Included are a Pair of Bracelets from the 11^th century Syria or Egypt, made of gold fabricated from sheet and decorated with wire, as well as a late 16th-17^th century Turkey Comb made of rock crystal inlaid with gold and set with emeralds and rubies.

The Pious Gifts given to mosques or shrines expressed piety and humility before God. Finest of their type, these gifts were notable for their size and expense. Preferred were the lighting gear, such as giant candles and candlesticks, for evoking God's light. On display is a glass Lamp of late 14^th century Egypt or Syria. Expensive carpets were made to fit specific spaces in a particular shrine. Huge porcelains plates, and water vessels are also included.

State and Diplomatic Gifts were used in formalizing alliances, sealing peace treaties, and included courtly regalia such as jewel-encrusted horse trappings and robes of honor. On view is a Portrait of Fath Ali Shah, Iran, Tehran, c. 1800-1806; Timur Receiving Gifts from the Egyptian Ambassadors, a double-page composition from a manuscript of the Zafarnama of Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi, Iran, Shiraz, 1436, as well as Sindukht Comes to Sam Bearing Gifts, folio from the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp, Iran, Tabriz, 1525-35. Also on display is the Presentation of Gifts by the Safavid Ambassador to Selim II at Edirne, double-page painting from the Sehname-i Selim Han, Turkey, 1591, Shah Jahan Receives the Persian Ambassador, Muhammad Ali Beg folio from the Windsor Padshahnama, India, c. 1633, and a Rosette, from the Mshatta Facade, Mshatta (Modern Jordan) 8^th century.

All these magnificent gifts of historical significance share in common elite objects with rare and expensive materials made by the best artists. Communication through gift giving and receiving provided an artistic framework for cross cultural exchange and interaction.

A small contemporary component is included in the exhibition, displaying the work of innovative artists with Islamic roots, Sadegh Tirafkan, Shahzia Sikander, and Ahmed Mater, commissioned to produce new works interpreting the theme of Gifts of the Sultan.

The exhibit runs from June 5, 2011 through September 5, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Following its presentation at LACMA, the exhibit travels to the Museum of Fine Arts in Huston October 23, 2011 - January 15, 2012, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, Spring 2012.

Tim Burton

Creating a stir is Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA) latest retrospective of Burbank-born Tim Burton, the live action and animated film writer, director and producer, known for his humorous-horror signature themes often referred to as 'Burtonesque.'

Over 700 works, many from Tim Burton's private collection, display the full range of Burton's extraordinary creativity through photographs, concept art, drawings, paintings, writings, film and video works, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes and cinematic ephemera that include unrealized or little known projects personal to Burton that were not meant to be publicly viewed when created.

At the exhibit entrance awaiting the visitors is Trick or Treat (1980), a huge mouth with giant teeth leading to the three sections that trace the filmmaker's creative process from childhood to the present.

Surviving Burbank (1958 - 1976), marks the artistic creativity and energy displayed in Burton's early works of odd character doodles and sketchbooks. 

Next is Beautifying Burbank (1977 - 1984), illustrating the emergence of Burton's signature motifs, with several wild and amusing creatures, following his studies at CalArts, founded by Walt and Roy Disney, and four years as an animator at Walt Disney Studios. 

The final section, Beyond Burbank (1985 - present), centers around Burton's blossoming and successful feature film career through screen works such as Pee-wee's Big adventure (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Making use of LACMA's outdoor space is a deer shaped topiary that originally appeared in Edward Scissorhands (1990). Balloon Boy, a 21-foot-tall, 8-foot-diameter, many eyed-creature will be displayed at the Los Angeles Times Central Court, near the Bing Theater where related film screenings will be shown during the run of the exhibit, and will be part of LACMA's permanent collection.

Particularly engaging is Robot Boy (2009) which at specific intervals, lights up, then opens up, and quickly shuts down. Accompanied by Danny Elfman's chilling music is the atmospheric dark and spooky room with a colorful rotating Carousel (2009) surrounded by walls filled with diverse creatures' eyes pointed towards the visitor.

Burton's unique visual style brings to the surface a visual culture that illuminates and infectiously teases one's imagination.

Organized by Ron Magliozzi, Assistant Curator, and Jenny He, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, with Rajendra Roy, the Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, the exhibit runs from May 29, 2011 through October 31, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Following its presentation at LACMA the exhibit will travel to La Cinématèque Française, Paris, March 7 to August 5, 2012.