...in the world of Harry Potter. I can breathe a sigh of relief now. What an awesome story line! I laughed, I cried, I felt pangs of guilt and remorse over Snape's predicament. His final role in Harry's quest seemed to be the "je-ne-sais-quoi" of the entire series. And in the end, I think Rowling seemed to put a neat little bow around her grand package to the literary world. Well done.
There are so many things to say, but, alas, the new school year is encroaching upon me, and I have syllabi to type, sample papers to create for AP Language, schedules to look up, etc., etc., so I'm off!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
NO, I haven't finished HP #7!!!
So nobody spoil anything for me!!!
JENETTE! What are you doing!??? I have to avoid your blog for the rest of the week so I won't see your HP post. I almost committed HP suicide by scrolling down; I had no idea you had already posted on the book. aghhh! I don't read that fast.
I forgot so many blasted details of #5 and #6 that I had to go back and skim read them. And unfortunately, while skimming the plots of #'s 1-4 on Wikipedia, I saw some details of #7 that I shouldn't have! aghh! No big plot-turning details, but enough info to make me avert my eyes quickly and get out of that page pronto! STUPID MEDIA!
So I'm gonna go read now. I'm only on page 150, so I've got some catching up to do!
JENETTE! What are you doing!??? I have to avoid your blog for the rest of the week so I won't see your HP post. I almost committed HP suicide by scrolling down; I had no idea you had already posted on the book. aghhh! I don't read that fast.
I forgot so many blasted details of #5 and #6 that I had to go back and skim read them. And unfortunately, while skimming the plots of #'s 1-4 on Wikipedia, I saw some details of #7 that I shouldn't have! aghh! No big plot-turning details, but enough info to make me avert my eyes quickly and get out of that page pronto! STUPID MEDIA!
So I'm gonna go read now. I'm only on page 150, so I've got some catching up to do!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Harry Potter--the final countdown (and the movie, too!)
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains information and opinions pertaining to the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. Those of you who have not seen the fim yet and plan on it need not read on!
Sadly, the IMAX 3D version of Order of the Phoenix was sold out for ALL shows Saturday. So we had to "settle" for the plain ole' cinema version. Second time for me. Sigh. :p
Personally, I LOVED the movie. I think it's the best one so far. One of the biggest complaints I keep hearing from people and various critics is how "dark" the movie is, both in cinematic presentaion and in theme. Well. I guess those people forget the premise of this particular book, for, indeed, it is masterfully dark; yet "light" rushes in to save the day just at all the right times. However, I think that's one of Rowling's main points. Harry and the gang are growing up, the sky is metaphorically filled with ominous predictions, and just when things seem to be at the lowest point for Hogwarts and the lot, Rowling pulls a brilliant tactic by bringing her audience back to the main point of her series to begin with: good WILL ultimately triumph over evil. As the ensuing Voldemort invades Potter's mind and begins to convince the teen he has lost, Harry says, (paraphrased because I can't remember the exact words) "No, you're the one who has lost because you'll never know love and friendship. And I feel sorry for you." BAM. That's it for me, folks. I can't get into all these theological debates and wars over Harry Potter. To me, and to the general majority of people out there who READ for pleasure, those lines epitomize what this series has always been about (without oversimplifying the sub-plots of the series, of course!)
Oh, and the flashbacks! I've always loved those type of scenes in movies. They make your mind work quickly and force the audience to visualize thematic connections from one point to another.
As we left the theater my brother commented that he thought the directors were trying to cram too much into the movie. I see his point, but my only response to that is, "You should see what they left out!" Which is quite a bit. No Dobby the house elf, no Ron and his new adventures on the Quidditch field, and definitely no flying brain trying to attack Ron in the Department of Mysteries scene at the end. Whew. This was Rowling's longest book so far (I guess we'll see if that holds true when my #7 is delivered Thursday) and if Hollywood would have treated this book at face value, we'd be facing a monster much bigger than the tidily packaged 143 minutes we just paid to view.
I heard another person say they thought the movie focused too much on the Umbridge dilemma at Hogwarts. I'd like your thoughts on that, Casie. I can't decide whether I agree with that or not. Oh, and Sirius' death, to some, seems overshadowed by other happenings. I can't decide about the treatment of those two.
But overall, the fact that I thought a couple times through the movie, "Hey, what about...." was completely trivialized by the enormity of everything else that was featured in the film. In the end, I think the film was "spot on." Ok, ok. No more British quips.
RESPONSES WELCOME!!!!!
Sadly, the IMAX 3D version of Order of the Phoenix was sold out for ALL shows Saturday. So we had to "settle" for the plain ole' cinema version. Second time for me. Sigh. :p
Personally, I LOVED the movie. I think it's the best one so far. One of the biggest complaints I keep hearing from people and various critics is how "dark" the movie is, both in cinematic presentaion and in theme. Well. I guess those people forget the premise of this particular book, for, indeed, it is masterfully dark; yet "light" rushes in to save the day just at all the right times. However, I think that's one of Rowling's main points. Harry and the gang are growing up, the sky is metaphorically filled with ominous predictions, and just when things seem to be at the lowest point for Hogwarts and the lot, Rowling pulls a brilliant tactic by bringing her audience back to the main point of her series to begin with: good WILL ultimately triumph over evil. As the ensuing Voldemort invades Potter's mind and begins to convince the teen he has lost, Harry says, (paraphrased because I can't remember the exact words) "No, you're the one who has lost because you'll never know love and friendship. And I feel sorry for you." BAM. That's it for me, folks. I can't get into all these theological debates and wars over Harry Potter. To me, and to the general majority of people out there who READ for pleasure, those lines epitomize what this series has always been about (without oversimplifying the sub-plots of the series, of course!)
Oh, and the flashbacks! I've always loved those type of scenes in movies. They make your mind work quickly and force the audience to visualize thematic connections from one point to another.
As we left the theater my brother commented that he thought the directors were trying to cram too much into the movie. I see his point, but my only response to that is, "You should see what they left out!" Which is quite a bit. No Dobby the house elf, no Ron and his new adventures on the Quidditch field, and definitely no flying brain trying to attack Ron in the Department of Mysteries scene at the end. Whew. This was Rowling's longest book so far (I guess we'll see if that holds true when my #7 is delivered Thursday) and if Hollywood would have treated this book at face value, we'd be facing a monster much bigger than the tidily packaged 143 minutes we just paid to view.
I heard another person say they thought the movie focused too much on the Umbridge dilemma at Hogwarts. I'd like your thoughts on that, Casie. I can't decide whether I agree with that or not. Oh, and Sirius' death, to some, seems overshadowed by other happenings. I can't decide about the treatment of those two.
But overall, the fact that I thought a couple times through the movie, "Hey, what about...." was completely trivialized by the enormity of everything else that was featured in the film. In the end, I think the film was "spot on." Ok, ok. No more British quips.
RESPONSES WELCOME!!!!!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Earth-Shattering Decisions
Within the last two days I have come to two important conclusions:
1.) Birthday Cake flavored ice cream is fabulous and I could actually eat a pint in one sitting. And eating it straight out of the GALLON container is extra devious. ;p
2.) Wearing flip flops while it's raining and deciding to step over the outside doormat = recipe for disaster.
I fell yesterday--because of my own stupidity (see comment #2 above)--and ended up with a very bruised, skinned up knee. Walking is very painful right now. I feel that I am paying the price for poking fun at my brother and his "gimpy-ness." You know what they say: all things come full circle.
I'm going to see the new Harry Potter movie tomorrow at noon--and again on Saturday at the IMAX theater in Atlanta. I feel like a kid again; I rarely get excited about movies, but this one comes with anxious anticipation. And then there's the last book...I've had it pre-ordered since the day it went on the Amazon home page. Not a little obsessive, am I? Nah. Hey, at least I'm not lined up at the book store waiting...
1.) Birthday Cake flavored ice cream is fabulous and I could actually eat a pint in one sitting. And eating it straight out of the GALLON container is extra devious. ;p
2.) Wearing flip flops while it's raining and deciding to step over the outside doormat = recipe for disaster.
I fell yesterday--because of my own stupidity (see comment #2 above)--and ended up with a very bruised, skinned up knee. Walking is very painful right now. I feel that I am paying the price for poking fun at my brother and his "gimpy-ness." You know what they say: all things come full circle.
I'm going to see the new Harry Potter movie tomorrow at noon--and again on Saturday at the IMAX theater in Atlanta. I feel like a kid again; I rarely get excited about movies, but this one comes with anxious anticipation. And then there's the last book...I've had it pre-ordered since the day it went on the Amazon home page. Not a little obsessive, am I? Nah. Hey, at least I'm not lined up at the book store waiting...
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