Perhaps the most important thing to know about “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One” is that it is a vast, marked improvement over the last entry in the series.

“Nowhere Boy” is not a biopic of John Lennon’s life. It is also not about the formation of the Beatles, though that is a forgone conclusion by the end of the film. “Nowhere Boy” portrays just a brief part of Lennon’s formative years in Liverpool, particularly the struggle between his strict aunt who was his guardian (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his freewheeling mother (Anne-Marie Duff) for his loyalty and love.

“A Film Unfinished” presents a different view of the Holocaust: real documentary footage recently uncovered in German archives after nearly fifty years.

It’s that time of year again – when the weather outside isn’t debilitating and you’d rather do something – anything – than study for your midterms. Never fear, because Hurricane Bookshelf is here with all of your picks for a fabulously well-read break.

In the cinematic world, there is a fine line between heavy-handed and understated. “Hereafter,” director Clint Eastwood’s latest collaboration with Matt Damon, straddles that line and nearly falls into schlocky territory.

“Howl” (the film) might be shorter than its source material: Allen Ginsberg’s seminal and potentially unlawful diatribe against the state of society in the 1950s.

“Hands All Over,” Maroon 5’s latest album, rarely strays from the styles with which the band has achieved so much success.

Ben Affleck, against all odds, has proven himself to be a very capable director and screenwriter. While some of his past performances were suspect, this is not the Affleck of “Gigli” infamy. He is at his best when filming what he knows, namely the grittier side of Boston.

Renowned playwright, actress and professor Anna Deavere Smith spoke to an enthusiastic crowd Monday evening as the first Stanford Distinguished Professor of the year. Her appearance, sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences Center for the Humanities, captivated the sold-out crowd in Gusman Concert Hall.

Teen movies have a certain cachet. Some are established classics, think "Ferris Bueller" or anything from John Hughes’ filmography, and some, like "Mean Girls," are newer. But the funny thing about the genre is that the truly great films become legends, while the mediocre are simply forgotten.