Why? (And you will probably understand why I'm posting it now once you have read the list!)
- Deathly Hallows - Enough said.
- The Order of the Phoenix film
- Getting preview tickets to the Order of the Phoenix film
- My beautiful dress for my sister's valedictory that only cost $10
- Wednesdays being the best day in the history of Australian television ever
- PotC: At World's End being not as bad as Dead Man's Chest
- Got promoted at work
- Got made part time at work (and therefore a second discount card)
- Got a HD TV
- Got a Wii
- Got an iPod (well, I'm getting one - same thing really)
- Not so many public personality deaths this year (touch wood!)
- Finally getting Broadband
- Dan Radcliffe live on Rove (well, that doesn't happen until Sunday, but it will be awesome)
- Pat winning premiere tickets to December Boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to be one of the luckiest people in the world, honestly! I thought I used up my luck for this year with the preview tickets for Phoenix, but then this happens! Its set a big standard for 2008, thats for sure. I think the only things that could top it would be going on the Half-Blood Prince set or being announced as Director/Producer for the films of the Abhorsen trilogy :P
Anyway, just had to let the world know, now I'm off to try and finish the Macroeconomics assignment that I was going to finish Sunday as I'd decided I wasn't going to stand around outside the theatre. And try and stop thinking about what I'm going to wear... doesn't help that I keep imagining the HP premieres, never mind that this is the premiere of a lower-budget Australian film in Camberwell :D
So the new iPods were announced last night, with all but the iPod Touch available now. The main two I was looking at were the iPod Touch and iPod Classic - until I saw the price. AU$549 for 16GB as compared to AU$479 for 160GB! Its too bad really, I do like the look and design of the iPod Touch, but the extra cost and less capacity just isn't worth it. It works like a PDA as well, so in some ways its bad luck it didn't come out last year - I would have bought it instead of my Palm PDA. Oh well, I'll be just fine with the 80GB iPod Classic for AU$349 I think - I only really want to have trailers on it when it comes to video, not full movies (thats what my notebook is for) and as I only have an 80GB hard drive in my notebook, I don't really see me needing 160GB! The 30GB would have been just fine as at the moment I only have 10GB of music (and it doesn't grow at a particularly rapid rate), but now I'm thinking I might use it as an additional way of backing up my notebook, and also keeping a copy of our photo collection on there - currently that's only backed up on CD, and it seems so much more convienent to just have to pull my iPod out of my bedside table if there is ever a fire or something (touch wood!). So now its just a matter of finding where I can get it cheapest - I really don't feel like waiting for double staff at Target or Kmart or Officeworks (I'd like to be able to get some use out of it this semester, otherwise it won't be used much until next year), so hopefully Toys R Us gets them in :P
It's strange actually. I used to want one back in year 12, and Mum and Dad were going to pay half for my 18th birthday, but then we got the car and so it didn't happen. I then went out and bought a Palm PDA with the ability to play music from SD cards, which I thought would be perfect - except for the fact that it only takes up to 1 gig cards. This was perfectly fine for a while (I just had one with my HP soundtracks on it, and another with the rest), but lately thats started to get on my nerves, plus I got a heap of new music from a friend, which has led to me tidying my iTunes list again, and, for some reason, I've strayed away from the soundtracks - I bought a few CDs (including Evermore and Snow Patrol) from JBs, and thanks to my wonderful Broadband, I've fallen in love with the iTunes Music Store, from which I've preordered Ben Lee's new album. In short, while I love my PDA, it just doesn't cut it for media.
So I've gone back to wanting an iPod - I still think they're the best value in the larger size players, plus the files from the Music Store won't play on anything else. I started looking early last week, thinking that everyone would have them in their catalogues for Father's Day (not that they're ever on sale, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage). Yet no one had them, which is rather odd. After a bit of searching on the Internet, it turns out that Apple are announcing new ones on Wednesday (Thursday in Australia). This is pretty good timing for me, I must admit, but now I'm itching to know how these ones are going to differ - I'm quite happy to pay $349 for the current 30gig one, I don't want to have pay more for a 32gig flash memory touch screen one, as is currently rumoured. Speaking of rumours, I've been watching a few of the Mac websites incase there's a leak and it's rather funny - people talking about the rumours is like what us HP fans were like before Deathly Hallows, except its all 'Steve said this' or 'Steve said that'.
Anyway, now it's just a matter of waiting until Thursday, which I both do and don't want to come - I have to do my HCI for Multimedia presentation as well. At least I know what's coming with that.
I've spent the last few days trying to figure out why I feel so behind on uni work, when I'm working less than last semester. Then it hit me - apart from the fact I have mostly afternoon classes compared to morning, its because of the TV.
Back in 2005, while finishing year 12, my TV viewing was resticted to House, as, quite frankly, if I was only going to allow myself a few hours a week, it was the only show worth watching. Compare it to my TV viewing now....
Mondays: Top Gear on SBS (which has just finished, only to be replaced by something which is short term, and then I bet Mythbusters will be back), a random episode of Spicks and Specks on ABC2, ER on Channel 9 (which was starting to jump the shark in 2005, but Channel 9 rushed it back last year as John Stamos was so popular in the US and I agree that it is improving again) and Enough Rope with Andrew Denton on the ABC (which I've decided I'm probably just going to record people who look interesting - I recorded one two weeks ago and still haven't watched it, but Shane Jacobsen of Kenny fame was on this week, so I've recorded it).
Tuesdays: Nothing, luckily.
Wednesdays: The TV stations have finally cottoned on that this is the night of the week people are most likely to be at home watching. We have Thank God You're Here and House, courtesy Channel 10, Spicks and Specks and Chaser courtesy Channel 2 and I just saw an ad for RPA on Channel 9. We now have to pull out the VCR again, as we can't record two shows at once like I hoped with the PVR, only watch one and record one. Channel 7 has also started showing some good movies, but as I don't like movies with ads anyway, it well and truly doesn't get watched.
Thursdays: Tends to be used for watching the shows recorded on Wednesdays.
Fridays: I work most Fridays, so they involve coming home, watching the footy for a few mins then going to bed.
Saturdays: Actually there's nothing on Saturdays really at the moment - RocKwiz on SBS when it's on, if I really need a study break there's The Sideshow or Parkinson on Channel 2, and I actually watched an episode of The Dame Edna Treatment on 9 the other day, rather scary to tell you the truth. Hang on, how could I forget? Before the Game on channel 10 - I'm not a footy fan, but this is produced by Roving Enterprises, and is really clever and funny, and just makes football almost enjoyable.
Sundays: These are disturbed by Millenion meetings every three weeks, but Kath and Kim is back! Yay! Only seen half of the first episode - should watch it over breakfast tomorrow. And of course Rove on 10 is always good.
Well there you go, I don't know why I've written a whole post about this when I could have been reading Deathly Hallows - I'm up to chapter 34, a chapter number I shall never forget... Anyway, there's my viewing habits, which looking back could be considered a little odd for someone my age, but then I've always been odd that way :P
A couple of weeks ago on the radio, they played this awesome mash-up of 'Chasing Cars' (by Snow Patrol) and 'Every Breath You Take' (by The Police). The DJ said at the time to go do a Google search for it, and I only remembered yesterday, and I managed it to find the DJ's website - www.partyben.com. There looks like there's some other really good stuff on there, but I haven't had a chance to look. Apparently its now on the standard playlist at the Austereo network stations, but I've only heard it once. I'm wondering where it fits in with piracy and all that as well, seeing that I downloaded it from the DJ's website, but he didn't pay for it....Oh well.
Well, we've had it for nearly a week now, and after a few hiccups, seems to be working rather nicely. We couldn't get a 3G signal originally, but after some playing around on Sunday (which I missed, but was then shown some funny photos of Dad outside our barn, with modem, my notebook and an old corded Telstra phone) we now have the modem sitting outside the study door, on a garbage bin, and a much improved speed (not as good as the barn roof apparently, but still an improvement on dialup :P ).
I took a few minutes out from uni work today to upload some photos from the city last Tuesday and the 'Deathly Hallows' weekend. You can see them at my Flickr page.
While we were in the city we went to Skydeck 88 at the Eureka Tower. The view was pretty awesome, and while I didn't personally go out on to 'The Edge', we did go on the open-air balcony next to it, which was incredibly windy and incredibly cold and felt like I was at the snow, but was so much fun, possibly more fun than the Edge, which costs an extra $8(!).
We also went to see 'Order of the Phoenix' in IMAX. The 3D was cool, but not as amazing as I expected. While there were bits that looked truly fantastic (such as the Thestrals, and the fact it felt like you were on set watching them film the scenes), there were times the effect didn't really work, and as the film was obviously shot for standard film with the 3D as a kind of after-thought, the running scenes that were shot hand-held (and looked great non-3D) were just too blurry and weird looking. Not to mentioned the 20 mins was the real maximum time you could watch - the strain on your eyes is just to great.
And so I really should return to my accounting homework - this standard cost and budgeting stuff that I'm doing at the moment just confirms my thoughts that I want to be a financial acccountant, and not a management accountant. The annoying thing is that doing the work for this subject is cutting into time I'd prefer to spend on subjects such as HCI, which is much more interesting. That's uni, I guess. Even more scary is the thought that it's already week 5 - and it sure doesn't feel like I've been there for five weeks.
Well, after all the buildup, and expection, and (for me) seven years of waiting, I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows just before midnight on Saturday the 21st of July. That was slightly unexpected - I knew I had Sunday as well to read, and so I was taking my time (well it felt like I was taking my time anyway) and yet finished it Saturday, partly due to the fact that by 10 I was at the point that there was no point in stopping. My immediate reaction? A feeling of completeness and fulfillment. I didn't cry or anything, which I half expected to do, but I think I was so enraptured throughout, then so happy with the ending that I didn't, which is probably a good thing, but the film version may be a different story!
Is it my favourite? I don't know. I loved Prince, and the surprises within it. I felt that there were less surprises in Hallows, partly due, I suppose, to the fact that what could happen was narrowed down, and had been discussed so much, that a lot wasn't surprising for that reason. Also my favourite fan-fiction was scarily close in some respects - although I always said I read them to see someone's theories on what happens, it was still rather close on some aspects. I've started reading it for a second time, but I think at most it will be equal with Prince as my favourite.
I'm actually looking forward to hearing the actor's responses to it - this was the first time they had signed on to it before having the ability to read the book before hand, and so I'm looking forward to hearing what Dan, Emma and Rupert think. I think its going to be an interesting film - it is more cinematic than Prince, but I don't think I'd want to direct it - what to cut for starters, and I have no idea of which director, except perhaps Peter Jackson. I'm looking forward to the Polyjuice Scenes already - I'm sure Dan (and Emma and Helena Bonham Carter as well) are going to have fun with those! And it may be interesting to see what sort of classification it gets as well...
I've had a bit of a look around to see what people on the Internet think, and it seems that a lot do not like the epilogue. While I do (in the main) disagree with them, it would have been nice to see what careers they all went into, and also how George went on without Fred. Even just a mention of 'presents from Uncle George' would have satisfied me. I expect that Jo will answer a few of those bits and pieces at the webchat on Tuesday. I also like the fact that while the series was tied up nicely, there is still lots and lots and lots of room for fan fiction. There is, after all, nineteen years to fill in, and then there is the second generation. :)
So, overall, I'm happy, satisfied, however you like to put it. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, not just for giving me one of the best weekends ever, but for creating this amazing world that, no matter what people say, will be a classic that will continue on in the years to come, and that I will be always proud to say that I was, and will continue to be, a fan.
Oh, and I must admit it was fun watching all the newsbreaks and spotting us in the background - I was interviewed for '9am with David and Kim', but the guy asked me to explain HP in 30 seconds, with my immediate reaction being 'is that possible?' (plus I'm shocking at thinking on the spot) and turning round to the others, leading to Dana talking about Hogwarts and making it on, and me being cut. Ah well - I am destined to behind the camera after all, not in front :P
...and acknowledging the Half-Blood Prince (ran out of room in the title).
Well, I'm now approximately 5 chapters into Half-Blood Prince. I finished Goblet Thursday, and in my rush to finish on time, I went straight into Phoenix, which I finished yesterday, which has to be the fastest I've read it since the weekend of its release. This means that I haven't had a chance to post about either until today, and that means I cannot remember anything I was going to say about Goblet. I did think about writing notes as I read it, but in some ways that seems awfully like school, and I didn't want to be doing that while reading it for the final time pre-Deathly Hallows. Maybe one day I'll do it, I don't know. The main reason I was blogging about the books was that I wanted to record my thoughts, but that's kind of been ruined by my forgetting - but then again it must not have been important.
Phoenix I found interesting to read post-film. Not that it pointed out things that the film cut that perhaps should have been in it (it didn't), but it did remind me of scenes that I now remember seeing photos of them filming - like McGonagall in a wheelchair by the lake reading the Daily Prophet announcing the return of Voldemort, and Harry's (or James', for that matter) double skipping stones on a lake. I can't help but wonder how much footage is lying around that they shot that wasn't used. Sure, there's always lots on a film, but they seem to have almost shot the book ending, then changed their minds and used the ending included (which I do like). I was also thinking too about how I think I almost like how Sirius is portrayed in the film better than in the books - I understand why he is like he is in the book (same as I understand why Harry is like he is in both book and film), but when I read the book the first time, I remember not feeling too sad that Sirius was the character who died (not to mention relieved I had finally gotten to that point - the big question for Phoenix was always who was going to die, and before reading I had guessed Hagrid, but at points in the book you think its Ron, Fang, Professor McGonagall or Hermione), partly because I didn't feel as emotionally connected to him, even if he was the last sort of family member for Harry. The film however, while it hinted at how much Sirius hated being locked up, he was still kinder, and you could really see how much he truly cared for Harry, and so I had a much stronger connection to the character.
As I said, I'm a few chapters into Prince, and due to the fact I haven't as yet started packing for the weekend, plus uni Wednesday and Thursday, and Toy Sale Thursday and Friday, I doubt I'm going to have time to post about Prince, and this may well be my last post before the Book (scary, I know!). I just thought I'd mention about how much I like the first chapter - 'The Other Minister'. I really like seeing how the Muggle and Wizarding worlds are linked, and like I discussed with others when we first got the book and saw what the chapter was about, how funny the idea is that people like John Howard, Tony Blair and George Bush would know that the wizarding world existed (though, as the Lexicon points out, none of those were in power at the time of Book 6 - Clinton was the US President at the time, and I think that Blair and Howard would have been just after, I know Blair was PM when Princess Diana died in 1997, anyway). The chapter does a good job as well of showing both sides of the story, the terror that Voldemort inflicts, and the immediate differences between Fudge and Scrimgeor. Its just a pity that the chances of it making the film are so, so small (even if I was directing, I'd cut it and go straight to Spinner's End).
So I'm afraid that's all, folks. In a few days, all will be revealed. As for what's after that, who knows?
And so I was right - the film was even better on a second viewing. My issue with the speed disappeared, and confirmed my feelings that Phoenix is like Azkaban - but without the plot holes.
Now its been released, I thought I'd mention a few things that I didn't talk about yesterday. First of all, there was a twist, even for a book-and-film fan like me. I'd read on the Internet fairly early on that Marietta Edgecombe had been cut, and that Cho would be the 'snitch' instead. This made sense, and in some ways would have been an easier way to break Harry and Cho up. However, they didn't develop their relationship up enough (something I was a touch disappointed about, but Harry and Sirius's relationship was far more important), and then, Snape tells us that it was because of Veritaserum. I loved that. I also loved the look on Ginny Weasley's face whenever Cho was mentioned when she was around. That's one of the great things about this film - that if something has been cut, it has been subtly hinted at, as well as those little 'fan' moments, like Ginny or the goat (I laughed so much at that).
The acting was brilliant of course - Evanna is amazing, and you can't help but grin stupidly when she's on screen. She's absolutely gorgeous. Not to mention Imelda Staunton is incredible as Umbridge. In some ways, Umbridge is the worst of the villians in the series, with her horrific punishments, and that the students cannot escape her. She's not outwardly evil like Voldemort, which in some ways makes her all the more terrible. Helena Bonham Carter is also fantastic - she is completely deranged! The original cast members are much improved, and Dan's crying is again an improvement on Azkaban. The only issue I have with that whole scene is that with the removal of sound and all it reminds me a little bit too much of Frodo and Aragorn in The Fellowship of the Ring, but that's okay.
Also, I must admit that I did find it a little funny that, again, lines were repeated from the previous film, and they had a different scriptwriter this time. In particular a line of Moody's at the start, but sadly I can't remember what it is! I also like how when Harry is explaining Patronuses (which should have been done in Azkaban) he basically quotes what Lupin told him. Oh, and they cut that weird line from the trailer! Though I'd still like to know where it's from. I guess if I went and watched the trailer again I'd probably figure it out.
I also like how Yates was able to truly show what being in school was like (in Defence Against the Dark Art Class), something Newell tried to do in Goblet and didn't quite work, yet Yates achieved it in one scene.
I should also mention the visual effects (being the multimedia person that I am). I'm still disappointed that they didn't make the centaurs like those in Narnia, but as they didn't really do a lot I suppose it doesn't matter anyway. With Grawp, they were able to put humanity into the character in a way I didn't think possible, not to mention Emma did a fantastic job acting against him. The thestrals, while looking different to how I pictured them, were still great. I would have liked to have seen flying on them from one of the characters who couldn't see them though. Tonk's hair change came off better than I expected, and I like how apparition appears. I'd love to know what effect Rising Sun worked on - perhaps the writing on the hand? I hope they update their website with that information.
So, overall a fantastic film (though am I ever going to say a Harry Potter film is bad?) that I'm looking forward to seeing again - in IMAX. I should mention too that one of my friends reckons the Dumbledore/Voldemort fight is one of the best ever - and he's a Matrix fan :P
I'm listening to the soundtrack currently...it is rather weird to see the words 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' in my iTunes playlist. The score is rather different, but its pretty, and I'm looking forward to the music book, even if I'm not sure how well these themes are going to play on piano. Plus it has a touch more of 'Hedwig's Theme' than Goblet as well, which is great. I'm not sure as to whether it overtakes Azkaban as my favourite though. They are so different, which is fantastic, but Azkaban will always have a soft spot in my heart. After now two different composers (and I expect Nicholas Hooper will be hanging around for Prince as well), I can't help but wonder if it would be kind of weird to go back to John Williams for the seventh (or Chris Columbus, or Alfonso Cuaron, or Mike Newell for that matter). We shall just have to wait and see.
As I mentioned yesterday, I'm seeing the film again tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to seeing how the film plays on a second viewing. While it felt like it ran so fast on the first viewing, a second viewing always feels longer. The 'running fast' thing may be just me by the way - one of the first comments I heard at the end of the screening by someone was "that felt like a real film". Perhaps I'm just so used to the length of the book, I don't know. I was thinking today as well about the fact how everyone talked about splitting Goblet into two, but yet that never came up for Phoenix - it's pretty obvious that there's not enough story for two. I was also thinking about how Phoenix was the first book released after the films, and how Phoenix was the first book release I went to....(I'm getting sentimental again, I know).
There's more stuff I'd like to comment on, but in case some of those who read this happen to check it before seeing the film, I won't mention it yet. But there are some cute little 'fan' moments that made me laugh. I'm also looking forward to the fact some of the people coming have never been to Gold Class before, and I must admit we have never 'done' Gold Class to this scale (we normally order standard movie food, this time we're getting dinner food. But I'm still getting a choc-top - must not break tradition, well that tradition anyway. I did kind of break one by seeing it in Vmax first - was worth it though, if nothing else for the experience).
Okay, I confess.
I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix today.
Through a friend of a friend, we were able to get double pass to a preview screening run by Village Roadshow this morning. We had to leave our mobile phones in the car, with no other hand held devices on us, and arrive a half hour early for security checks. There were TV cameras and still photographers outside, and people in suits, and periodic checks by Village staff. It was all very exciting. Not to mention that the movie was incredible. I won't talk about it now (we're not under non-disclosure agreements as far as I know, but I'd like time to let it sink in), so I'll leave that until after when I see it on Wednesday.
Well, just as I thought I was getting my reading back on track, I was sick Sunday night. My plan had been to finish Azkaban Sunday, then watch the film that night. Did not happen. I ended up finishing it Monday, which then meant I couldn't watch the film until last night, thanks to stocktake.
Continuing on from my last post, I could see more of a link between Azkaban and Phoenix this time around - apart from the Sirius link, there's also a hint of the anger that is to come from Harry in the future. I'll talk more about that though when I get to Phoenix.
I did have more to say on Azkaban, but now I can't remember what! I do find it a little odd how, in the space of a few hours, Harry is able to go from hating someone he hardly knows, to wanting to live with that same person - says how bad the Dursleys are, I suppose. And I like how Sirius goes from being called by his surname, to being called Sirius - by all of the main trio, actually, yet even in the later books, Professor Lupin is still called by his surname.
I remember being pleasantly surprised seeing the film for the first time - the series went from having a very-much-big-blockbuster feel, to a more arthouse like feel. I think that, without having seen Phoenix, Alfonso Cuaron has to be my favourite director - he just seems to have this innate ability to tell what is right for the film and the world. Yes, he did some not-so-great cuts to the storyline, but it is such a visual masterpiece, and has my favourite soundtrack of all time, I can forgive him.
Also, I won't talk about the acting again, but last night I couldn't help but notice how much I love the scene with Aunt Marge. Apart from the fact most of the lines are taken from the book, watching Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia is just so great. I also must admit I like how they closed the film with Harry getting the Firebolt. Oh, and while I hated the fact that they changed the credit style at first, now I have it on DVD, I love watching the footprints.
And let me just go on the record - I think when JKR said the film forshadowed Deathly Hallows, I think she was referring to Harry and Lupin on the bridge. I'm just as likely wrong, but oh well.
The next few posts in the 'Road' series, by the way, are probably going to be a little messed up, as I'll be seeing the Phoenix film before I finish the book (and guessing will be itching to post about it) and I also probably won't be able to watch Goblet beforehand either (or finish the book for that matter - I'm only about 12 chapters in!)
Stage 2 of the Road to Deathly Hallows is now complete - I finished Chamber of Secrets Sunday night, but it took me until last night to watch the film version, thanks to work and being kind of tired.
It is interesting now to go back and read Chamber post-Prince. JKR said that the Half-Blood Prince storyline was originally in there, and to me its rather obvious where it would have come in as well - surely Snape's comments would have been in the book that the trio got the Polyjuice Potion recipe from ('Moste Potente Potions')? I don't really know how having that information so early would have affected the series as a whole though, and even know as I think about it, I don't know if that is going to be important in Deathly Hallows at all, though it does raise the question as to why Voldemort accepted him as a Death Eater when he wasn't pure-blood - perhaps because he hated the fact he was a half-blood so much?
There is a theory going around the Internet that the different books of the series 'mirror' each other - books 2 and 6, 4 and 5 with Goblet being the turning point and therefore book 7 will mirror 1. While it is a bit of a cool theory, and I can see their links, I don't necessarily see this as being important (or even intentional) but there is no doubting that Prince and Chamber are closely linked, right down to the fact that the Bloomsbury versions have very similar colour schemes!
Originally Chamber was probably my least favorite, but as I've grown older (and with Prince) I've come to see it in a rather different light. I like the prejudice themes, and the backstory, and you begin to see just a hint of the politics of the Ministry of Magic. The diary, which seemed so small, and something least likely to pop up again, is possibly the most important part of the whole story. When it was originally said by JKR that something significant occurs in Chamber, I was sure it was Gryffindor's sword that was going to be explained. That's one of the great things about Potter, you can be so sure, and end up so wrong!
The film version of Chamber of Secrets was the first film I saw after when I consider that I became 'truly obsessed'. I actually saw it three times at the cinemas, a record which still holds to this day. The acting was so much better than Stone, but to this day I still sometimes laugh at the change in Dan and Rupert's voices :P. To me, it shows how fantastic an actor Dan is that at such a young age he was able to act against Dobby, and for it to look completely believeable - there are adult actors who have been unable to achieve that! There are still some faults with the film - while I love the themes in the score, the score itself is too similar to Stone for my liking. Also, while the ending is beautifully emotional, its still so weird that all the focus went to Hagrid. I know they obviously wanted a different ending to Stone, but surely, they could have come up with something better. Not to mention the repetition of lines - something I'm glad they stopped by Azkaban. Oh, and I can't help but smile at all the Harry/Ginny moments. So cute!
I think a thought I had last night summed up my thoughts on Chamber of Secrets rather well. As Harry and Ginny are about to leave the Chamber in the film, Harry says to her 'Don't worry, it's just a memory.' The truth is it is so, so much more than a memory.
I was just thinking - there is really two forms of the 'Road to Deathly Hallows' - one based on time, and one based on reading the books. Well this post is a time based one that I'd like to acknowledge.
After approximately 3 weeks of checking my Hotmail account and the Village website almost daily, Order of the Phoenix tickets were finally released. It was rather odd, actually. Village changed the title of the film on their coming soon page late last week, so I knew it was soon. And, finally, on Tuesday evening, the bit of green text appeared on the page, saying that tickets were available, so I checked, and it was only for Dandenong, Waverley Gardens and Shepparton. So I went down yesterday to Karingal to find out, and after hanging around for a while waiting for them to open, discovered it was today. When I went down today, it turns out they opened slightly earlier, so I had 4 people in front of me (including Karen from work) and with 10 tickets, the privilege of being the biggest order so far. When I mentioned about the website she said that was odd and that they had strict instructions not to sell them until today, so who knows. I also got 3 of those Movie Millions things, from which I know have a $7.50 ticket and two times $2.50 choc tops :)
I'm also trying to track down the Order of the Phoenix video game. As mentioned recently, I just got a Wii, so I really want the Wii version rather than the PS2 one, and had decided I would be happy to pay either $80 for the Wii or $50 for the PS2. You can then imagine my annoyance to see that Target has the Wii version at an introductory price of $85 (plus discount). I then went to Big W today only to find that they are holding it off show for their Toy Sale and even then it will still be $90! So now I'm getting Dana to check Toys R Us and I'll look at Kmart as well, but I really can't believe neither Target or Big W are prepared to offer it at $20 off the RRP.
There's been quite a bit of HP film news on the TV this week, with Sunrise, Today and A Current Affair all having "exclusives". I would like to know how interviewing Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint for a film can be considered exclusive when other media outlets in Australia and the rest of the world also got interviews. They all ask the same questions as well - I can't help but wonder if there was an interviewer who didn't ask Dan about the kiss. Richard Wilkins then proceeeded to talk about the possible spoilers from that supposed hacker (one part of which I accidentally read when stupid me did a Google search for Harry Potter). Luckily it was about the part I had read, but if I had been Emma Watson (who is probably resigned to that sort of stuff happening by now) or hadn't already read that, I would have been mightily unimpressed. I'm assuming he did the interviewing for Today as well, but I missed that, due to the fact that 1. I had put the TV Remote in the wrong spot and 2. as Sunrise had advertised that they had the interviews I was taping them, even though I don't like Sunrise. Looking back, it turns out that I could have actually watched the Sunrise interviews, as it was when I was home and awake, as compared to Today, which was while I was asleep. Anyway, now that problem is unlikely to happen again. I bought a PVR from Aldi today (which was a rather enlightening experience - the line outside the store was longer than the lines I've been in for Harry Potter books (everyone was buying either the PVR or garden pumps for some reason), and they were so used to it and organised they should sell Harry Potter books. I'd hate to work there though - it would be like Toy Sale every week!) which has twin (SD) tuners so I shall be able to tape both.
So that's another of the time-based milestones on the way to the Deathly Hallows release - that's uni, uni exams and ticket preordering down, only stocktake, the film, uni results (which I'm not looking forward to!) and toy sale to go!
(I've just discovered where the 'Road to Deathly Hallows' came from - subconsciously pinched it from MuggleCast. Sorry, but I like it, so its staying.)
It's one month to go today! It feels only yesterday that the date was announced and it seemed so far away. At that point I had 13 weeks of uni which I hadn't even started, plus exams, and now all I have is one exam left tomorrow, followed by stocktake, then the film and then.....the book.
My feelings are kind of all mixed up inside; a combination of excitement over the weekend, the desperation to know the answers to questions I've been wondering about for 7 years now, and sadness at the fact that so much will be over. These are, after all, the books that have affected my life so much, giving me a world to escape to, indirectly influencing my career choice, showing that some of my problems are so small as compared to what Harry has to face. Life will go on, certainly, but there won't be the same amount of theorising and discussion, and less of the minute details to discuss over and over.
But those of us that are around for this event are lucky. Lucky to be part of something that the world has never really seen before, and may not see again. Lucky that we were able to do such theorising and discussion, that the next generations will not be able to do, who will instead treat the books like we do The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings - read them over and over, perhaps discuss their implications on society, but never be able to have hours-long conversations on what will happen next, or if Snape is good or evil. We are so lucky in that regard.
What will happen in the future post-Book 7 to the fandom, and the books as whole, we can only guess. But one thing is for certain - the magic of the Harry Potter books will never disappear.
Well, to be technical, I won the silent auction held a work for the Nintendo Wii that the store won for having displayed their Nintendo section correctly (or something along those lines). So I still had to pay for it, but saved myself somewhere between $50 to $100, and my sibling are putting in as well, so its a joint effort. I had been considering getting one, so the timing was great. I've always been a Sony girl, but I'm no hard-core gamer person (i.e. my favourite games are the Harry Potter ones and Buzz and the like!) and while I was planning to wait for the PS3 to come down in price, it doesn't have full compatibility with PS2 games, and as my sister informs me, the EyeToy doesn't work either, so we aren't holding out much hope for the other USB games to work. So now I have a PS2 and a Wii, which at first I was a touch disappointed with when I first played with other peoples, as I felt it wasn't as responsive as I expected, but playing it now I'm either used to it, or the sensor bar wasn't set up properly the first time.
It's also solved my slight Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix dilemma - if I was going to buy one I was going to wait til the Toy Sales, but the game comes out next week, so I was trying to decide whether to buy it on PS2 or hold off. Decision made now! Mind you, I'll probably end up with the PS2 and PC versions as well, seeing as they've gone back to each being different, but I'll wait 'til they're cheap.
I thought that I'd take a short break from studying for my Accounting Information Systems and Financial Modelling subject (and yes, it really is as boring as it sounds) for a bit of Deathly Hallows discussion.
My plan is to read each book and watch each corresponding film (where one exists, that is) with the plan of finishing Half-Blood Prince the night of July 20th. How that is going to fit with stocktake and the Toy Sale I do not know, but I shall try my best. This is a method I use for most book and film releases (and exams as well, I find the escapism does wonders for my brain), except I rarely time it right (I ended up skipping most of Order of the Phoenix for Half-Blood Prince, and I was halfway though Goblet of Fire for the film, but then again that was 2005, and I had year 12 to contend with that year). This plan obviously isn't going to work for the film as I don't want to leave myself 10 days to read Half-Blood Prince, but hey, book overrides film.
Anyway, on Thursday I completed Philosopher's Stone, and I watched the film last night. Both for the final time without knowing the end (or so I expect, anyway). I was thinking as I read and watched (obviously) and there were two things in particular that interested me in particular. First of all, Professor McGonagall was there when Harry was delivered to the Dursley's, but has never (that I can remember) mentioned it to him. I don't think that it's going to play any part in Deathly Hallows, but I wouldn't mind seeing his reaction to this piece of news. I don't know why, but it interests me, like other bits and pieces that aren't important to the storyline (like how the Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts are chosen).
The other was that the first conversation Harry and Dumbledore ever have is in front of the Mirror of Erised. Again, not something that is going to affect Deathly Hallows, but interesting that from the start the two of them seem to have a relationship beyond that of headmaster and student, without the relationship growing to become that; it just naturally starts that way.
Also, its funny how the film seemed so awesome when it came out, and yet now the visual effects seem so not-so-great. Not to mention how little and cute all the kids were. It's still a wonderful film, but you can't help but laugh at parts now.
Stay tuned as the Road to Deathly Hallows continues...
I hate being sick.
Admittedly, it's only a cold and there is others far-worse off than I am (not to mention that no one likes being sick). Not to mention it's kind of my fault - it's what you get when you spend 5 days just going from uni to work to sleep and then the cycle starts again. Naturally it had to be the week before exams as well.
Moving on to better things - I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End last night and was rather pleasantly surprised. I didn't particulary like the second one, I felt that the sword-fighting scenes, especially at the end between Norrington and Will and Jack, were too long, and the jokes felt a little mouldy. Oh ,and how one of Will's lines changed between the trailer and the film.(However I did like the scenes with the cannibals and the bone cage). My feelings going into the 3rd then intensified with the trailer (Jack was in 95% of it, and the 2nd one had left off with the impression the film was going to be about finding Jack, what with the 'At World's End' subtitle and all) and then again with the reviews coming in (and Richard Wilkins actually saying why he didn't like a film) and then again with not hearing anyone say they liked it until Saturday - the day before I actually saw it!
So, as you see, I went in with absolutely no expectations, and this was probably for the better, as I did truly enjoy it. It certainly has it faults, but is just a good, fun movie. It has a fantastic score, there was a bit more in the way of character development, some clever visual effects and managed to evoke emotions in a way that neither of the first 2 did (although that could be because I was sick as well), not to mention filming something with the same angles and camera movements that I imagined something in HP. Most people's complaints was with the length as 3 hours is very very long, but I actually didn't notice time zooming past like I did with the second. However, how I will feel about that on a second watching, especially on DVD, may be a different story.
Like I said, it has it's faults. Plotlines do get a little messy in the middle, with some unnecessary ones. There are a couple of bits and pieces that I think could have been hinted at a little more in the second. Some of the stuff with Jack, although a cool visual effect, was unnecessary in my opinion, and added unnecessarily to the length. I missed the more natural looking cinematography of the 1st and 2nd, especially at the end fight. Again they don't age the characters when there's a time difference. Also I felt there was a few explanations missing. But the good makes up for the bad. (As a side note, I'd read on the Internet that they were supposed to be showing The Golden Compass trailer with it, but they didn't. At least they had the Phoenix one. And the cinema was full of Phoenix stuff.)
In some ways you almost feel that the second was unnecessary, and didn't contribute much to the storyline at all. But how I would have edited it down to just one and not have it 4 hours long I have no idea, so I won't complain. Much.
And the ending is one I didn't expect at all. Especially the scene after the credits. There's rumours going around about a fourth. Although I hope they don't, it could be quite interesting to see how the story goes.
Its (nearly) the end of the mid-semester break. I've had 2 assignments that are both due Monday to do, along with work and Millenion and movies. Hence it hasn't felt like much of a break. But I was just thinking about it, I don't really regret it. I'd prefer to be busy all the time rather than sitting around with nothing to do like I (felt) like I did all summer. I only wish that there were a few more hours to each day; perhaps that way I could work on my film script or get a bit more reading done. At least they are nearly done now; one needs 1/2 a question finished, the other one more paragraph, a conclusion and some editing.
Most people know I don't like MySpace. I think it's a waste of space, and there are much safer ways for people to meet and give their opinion on the world. I also think people change on MySpace, or at least seem different as to who they are in the real world. Anyway, lately I've been visiting the pages of the people I went to school with. I didn't go to the reunion last year, thinking no one can have done anything remotely interesting in a year, but, looking at their pages, boy have people changed. And not necessarily for the better too...
I must stop looking at HP people's livejournals. May have just been spoiled a bit about the 'Phoenix' film. I know I have already read the book, but I still want a bit of a surprise when I get to the movie, when I see someone else's take on it. I believe that WB has let too much out this time, and I'm surprised the pre-screening viewers didn't have to sign non-disclosure agreements. Anyway, it doesn't stop me from looking forward to the film (and wishing desperately that I could direct 'Prince', can see it so vividly in my head).
Less than 100 days until 'Deathly Hallows'! Less than 100 days until we know it all! I personally was hoping for a 2007 release date, but as its getting closer, I keep thinking about how everything is happening for the last time, especially the cover art. In some ways I wish I could drag it out so it never ended, but all good things must come to an end at some point, musn't they? That weekend (or week, or month even) is going to be the best ever, whatever happens. Plus there will still be the films, and the fanfiction, and who know what else that the future may bring.
