Thoughts on the Film Industry

Wow, long time, no post. A fair bit has happened since December 22, including the fact that I'm writing this from a MacBook Pro, not my Dell notebook. But that's another story, perhaps for another time.

I've just been to the movies to see a great little Australian film - Hey Hey Its Esther Blueberger. I've been looking forward to seeing this film for quite a while now - I do believe it was originally supposed to be released before December Boys, but, like so many Australian films, it was delayed. Starring Keisha Castle-Hughes, Toni Collette, Christian Byers (from December Boys) and newcomer Danielle Catanzari, it is the story of a private school girl who doesn't fit. I really enjoyed it. Some of the writing was a touch rocky in places, but then again it was better writing than Emerald Falls, the telemovie that I watched last night that had a great premise, but was horrifically written (and was like nearly every Australian soap written and rolled into one).

It got me thinking on the drive home how that, with the exceptions of Order of the Phoenix and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, that the only movies that I have really enjoyed have been lower budget. I won't say shoestring budget - they all have a little bit of money behind them - but they're not the massive budget feature films that the studios have an obsession with. Juno, December Boys and Esther Blueberger were all far more enjoyable, and looked great on screen. Yes, I liked Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, but a lot of that has to do with the fact that Dead Man's Chest was so bad, and I dislike how unnatural it felt. It really is sad, these films are so great, but do not get anywhere near the publicity they deserve. For example, the closest cinema to me that showed December Boys was in Cheltenham - half an hour away.

I can't help but wonder too how many other great scripts like these are out there, waiting to be made, but aren't, because the funds have to be redirected to a film like The Golden Compass when it goes over budget. It has me thinking about the sorts of films I want to make - while everyone dreams of wanting to be behind the next Lord of the Rings, I now think I would be prouder to say I had made a film like Juno - a good story, great looking and enjoyable for people of all ages. (Except for the Old Kingdom trilogy - I'm desperate to see them on film and the only way to do them justice would be big budget.) The fact that films like Juno have done so well has me hoping that we shall see more of these good films, more often.

My AFI membership is due for renewal. I had considered not renewing it, seeing as the AFI price at cinemas is generally more than the student concession price. But today has my decision made - I will be rejoining, to show that I love and support good Australian filmmaking. I'm going to try and aim to see as many Australian films as I can as well, so I can help vote for the AFI awards. I'll also try and review as many as can. Here's to more good films for the rest of the year!

Long time, no blog

Nearly a month, in fact! Shows that not much has really happened. I've decided I still do not understand why work has to open so late leading up to Christmas, as it just costs more and leads to grumpy staff (i.e. me).

I'm going to Sydney for my cousin's wedding - we leave the day after Boxing Day and the wedding is the Saturday. Kind of a silly day for a wedding but, hey, gives me a holiday from work! It has made Christmas a little more rushed this year though - I packed Tuesday as I didn't know when else I would get a chance, and we're going to see The Golden Compass on Boxing Day as that's the only day both Dana and I can go until she gets back from Thailand.

Speaking of movies, not sure if I have already mentioned it, but this year is shaping up to be another great one - Sweeney Todd in January, Inkheart now in March and Half-Blood Prince at the end of the year, can't wait!

Election

I'm not normally into Politics, but I did follow this election with a little bit of interest, including actually going to the effort of checking the news headlines on my phone last night at the JPC Valedictory to find out who had won (which I suppose was slightly brought on because of boredom). Anyway, when I got home, I checked out news.com.au, and found this rather funny article covering the television coverage - http://blogs.news.com.au/news/news/index.php/news/comments/election_night_at_our_place/.
The video shops must have had a fantastic night last night, between the election and Star Wars. I'm really not sure which is worse, but I did like this article (and the drinking game sounds like fun).

You know it's getting close to Christmas when...

...lots of things you want are all on sale. At the same time.

Big W has Guitar Hero for Wii (or PS2). Toysrus has the new Big Brain Academy for Wii bundle. Target has Buzz: The Hollywood Quiz, a CD I want, and 15% off iTunes cards. Not to mention Order of the Phoenix next week, and At World's End the week after.

So what to do? I could wait to see if I get them for Christmas of course, but I never get games (Mum did offer to buy Guitar Hero, but then I wouldn't get much else, plus I hate knowing what I'm getting) and I now might be going to Sydney for a wedding the weekend after Christmas, and if I don't get enough time off work I may have to fly back, which would likely end up as my Christmas present. So now I'm thinking of getting Buzz (seeing as I've been waiting for a movies version since I first heard about the Music one, and also seeing as I was close to buying it with 15% off last weekend - glad I waited!) and Guitar Hero, as its a really good price. Big Brain can wait until Christmas or next year (though if Big W sells out of Guitar Hero I'll get it instead), and the CD can go on the Christmas list as well. Next dilemma is whether to use my gift card I received last night as a prize from uni (which I found rather funny) to pay for Buzz or to save it for Pirates (seeing as at the moment I'll be getting Phoenix from Big W). Decisions, decisions.

At least I've finally finished exams now (hence the posting break) and will have plenty of time to play them! I'm kind of missing uni already, even though I am going to Berwick tomorrow to be part of a meeting regarding reaccreditation of the Accounting degrees, which should be interesting. Plus there's a small gift (and I'll laugh even more if its another gift card). While I don't miss the exams or other workload, I do miss going to lectures and seeing my uni friends nearly every day. In the mean time, I do have lots of plans for the holidays, starting from cleaning out my room again, watching my way though all the DVDs I've bought and haven't watched, doing more outside and Film Festival stuff. My one big resolution is to have at least one computer-free day a week (I'm excluding the Wii in that - some may disagree, but its an active activity), which I don't know if I can follow it through, but I'm going to try. Wish me luck!

Ben Lee at the Peninsula Lounge

Well, I saw Ben Lee at the Lounge last night, and it was everything I expected and more. He really is a fantastic performer - he really interacted with the audience, getting us to sing along to songs. He played a few songs from Ripe, as well as some from Awake is the New Sleep, and 'Cigarettes Will Kill You', of course, as well as one or two others from when he was younger, and a few covers as well. I loved things like how he was playing an acoustic guitar during the night, and randomly decided during one of the covers to switch to electric - so he just stopped and swapped, plus other funny moments when he and the keyboard player were slightly out of key/time (not sure which, but it didn't sound right!) so they stopped, fixed it, and took up where they were. He encored with Catch My Disease and We're all in this Together, as I expected - I love the fact that he never sings Catch My Disease the same way twice!

The Lounge is a fantastic venue as well - we were expecting to stand, but there was a few couches at the side of the stage, so we grabbed them, and that was our spot for the rest of the night! It was rather funny, most people chose to stand further back at the front of the stage, rather than at our side where you could get closer and still see - all the better for us! We just moved to sitting on the back of the couch once he started, and stood on it for other times, which was great. I'm just disappointed I didn't think to bring my camera. I tried to use my phone, but he was in this gold shiny suit, which looked awesome, but didn't help the poor VGA camera on my phone :( Kisschasy is playing there in a few weeks as well, so Laura and I were discussing going to that as well, but like everything, its on the 24th of November, where I currently have the JPC Valedictory, the Federal Election (but my weekends have now switched at work, which is awesome), the work Christmas Party (ironically at the Golf Course around the corner from school and the Valedictory) and now Kisschasy. Why does everyone have to choose that day?! Oh well, I'm excited about the Valedictory, I have a new dress I'm itching to wear, and it should be a good night.

2008 now will have to be a brilliant year to match, let alone beat, 2007 - though, now I think of it, it has a good start, what with the movies coming out, the film festival, and my 21st - but we shall just have to wait and see!

Ben Lee

I'm rather excited at the moment - I've just gone and bought tickets to see Ben Lee live at the Peninsula Lounge. It will be the first 'adult concert' I've been to as well - my last actual concerts being The Wiggles and Peter Combe (who played the Lounge recently as well, wish I'd known, I would have gone - same with Evermore who were there last Thursday, and who I think are/were at the 21st as well, but I have a distinct aversion to the 21st). I like the fact its at the Lounge as well: its close, not a huge venue, and while there is the disadvantage it won't be seated (though as Mum pointed out to Dad when we were discussing it, we're younger than them, and I'm used to spending days on my feet thanks to work) its much, much cheaper than so many other concerts and shows around (i.e. certain people I may or may not be related to and her friends paying over $100 to see Good Charlotte in the city at one of the stadiums) and should be a great night with great music (not that GC would be bad, of course!). At least I'll have a decent answer if I'm ever on Rockwiz or Spicks and Specks :P

The iPod has landed...

...into my hand. And it's a wonderful feeling.

I had preordered it from Target on Tuesday, expecting it to arrive Wednesday or Thursday, and was then rather annoyed when it didn't. My annoyance towards Apple (though, when I think about it, the delay may have been a Target problem) was then compounded when the new Ben Lee album, Ripe, which I had preordered (a month ago) and had an iTunes card ready and waiting on my bedside table, wasn't released on its expected release day of Saturday. However, they called Saturday afternoon to say it had arrived - unfortunantely at 4:30, which while I probably could have rushed down and picked it up, would have meant having to pay for parking and not having time to mess around with it anyway thanks to my sister's 18th.

So I picked it up after work today, and bought it straight home and began syncing. Finished relatively quickly which is great. I'd never really used an iPod before, so I'm still getting used to the click wheel, which worked a little differently to what I expected. I was also a touch annoyed as it didn't have the plastic over the screen that most devices with screens (like my mobile) had, only plastic over the whole device, and the screen was already dirty! Luckily, it came off with glasses cleaner, and I've now stuck one of my PDA's screen protectors over it (which I didn't do a very good job of cutting, but oh well) until I can get a case. Target has 25% off Belkin accessories at the moment, and there's some cases there I like the look of, but unfortuantely there's none for the new models, though I think I'll wait and see if I get one for my birthday (Mum offered that if I waited to buy the actual iPod, they'd give me part of the money for my birthday, but I concluded since I don't like knowing what I'm getting for my birthday, I wanted to be able to use it now since I use MP3 players most during semester and exam study and that there's a heap of accessories I want that I might as well get it now and get the accessories for my birthday). I must admit as well that the fact the back picks up fingerprints like it is no tomorrow is a pain, but I'll get over it. It was also great that once I logged into iTunes, the Ben Lee album was available, so I've downloaded that as well.

Now I'm sitting here listening to Ben Lee on my new iPod, and both are brilliant.

The December Boys Premiere

As mentioned previously, at the last minute a friend of mine won tickets from the Herald Sun and invited me to go, and of course I said yes. We decided to train it, thinking that there would be no parking in Camberwell (the premiere was at Rivoli), and it was a beautiful day so I got to wear a dress.

It's funny - you would think over 5 years that I would get used to seeing the pandemonium (or fandemonium) that Daniel Radcliffe causes. But its nothing to actually being there. Both sides of the street were filled with people, and I feel rather sorry for those who were just going to the cinema normally! After a little issue getting the tickets, we wandered off and went to Target and Borders (I love Borders - we need one down this way!) we came back and got to walk the red carpet (for the first and hopefully not the last time), which was really cool. Spoke to Bianca from HP Events, then went up into the cinema foyer (where there was free champagne which I couldn't drink seeing as I had to drive home from the station) and a sudden outburst of noise told us that we had walked the red carpet just minutes before Dan himself. We then waited in a spot where we could see the carpet in an attempt to see him doing press interviews, but then they opened the cinema (with free water and popcorn!) so we went inside. I must say that the cinema was absolutely beautiful - its the first time I've been in any sort of old-fashioned cinema, and it was wonderful - except we sat just in front of the stairwell with the idea that no-one would sit in front, and I realised a little too late that I couldn't see the bottom of the screen - not that it really mattered.

After waiting ages for them to finish with the press, all the actors and the director came in and introduced the film - then they all left! So I only saw Dan in the flesh for around 5 minutes, and we right at the back of the cinema (though he did leave to go to Rove, so I'll forgive him). The other actors filed out, but from reports I've since read, they were there after the screening.

The film itself was beautiful - as any film shot in Australia tends to be. The story was well written, the acting was fantastic, and I completely lost track of time. I'm also eargerly hoping there's a soundtrack released - the music was beautiful, and a specially written song was used on the credits, which I hope turns up in iTunes if nothing else. The jury is out on Dan's accent - while he's no Hugh Laurie, I thought he did a pretty good job, though other people disagree with me on that. At any rate, if I get the chance to see the film again I will, and I'll certainly be buying it on DVD.

On the way out I saw John Blackman (from Hey Hey It's Saturday) and Richard Wilkins, which was kind of cool. Would have liked to have stuck around, but we were catching the train late enough as it is. Speaking of which - if this ever happens again, I'm driving - had to wait half an hour for a train at Camberwell, followed by another half an hour at Richmond. Didn't get home until 10!

Since then, the Australian media has been bombarding us with interviews - to the point I'm almost getting sick of them! I loved Rove though, especially seeing Dan stayed on the couch (which I was hoping for) and he gave some great answers to $20 in 20 seconds. I also enjoyed listening to Matt and Jo interview him. These interviews, which don't ask the same old stuff, are great. I just wish Hamish and Andy weren't on holidays, and I'm still hoping that he'll be on Enough Rope with Andrew Denton one day. Must admit I did find it funny this morning that Dan was going to be on the channel 7, 9 and 10 Morning shows, which all run from 9 to 11 - I only watched Kerri-Anne as I'm a bit of a Channel 9 girl, and have had quite a bit of respect for her since the John Stamos interview (plus she always goes along with the Chaser boys).

So that was my first premiere experience - nothing on a HP premiere I'm sure, but it was certainly an eye opener! Fingers crossed its not the last as well.

(P.S. - Ordered my 80GB silver iPod Classic from work yesterday, can't wait for it to arrive!)

2007: The best year ever (and its not even finished!)

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

To Touch or not to Touch?

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

I wants a iPod

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.

Television

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

Every Car You Chase

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.

Hello from Virgin Broadband!

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.

I shouldn't get my hopes up, but...

...I may be able to get broadband finally!

http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22130960-31037,00.html

http://www.apcmag.com/6796/review_virgin_broadband

http://www.virginbroadband.com.au/prelaunch/

Sounds like a pretty good deal, will work with our router and that as well. Not to mention free calls to Virgin mobiles! I could end up using none of my mobile phone credit at this rate, or next to none anyway.

Thoughts on Deathly Hallows

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

The Road to Deathly Hallows - viewing the Goblet of Fire, joining the Order of the Phoenix

...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?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (again, again)

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

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (again)

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).

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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.