The Deathly Hollows

So i finally finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and i don't know how i feel. The Journey has been amazing, and she definatly brought the story full circle. I can honestly say i am satisfied with the ending. J. K. Rowling did a good job, no i'm pretty sure i can say a great job of giving me the closure i needed. i think what i love the most i how she brought everything down to the smallest detail home. She has always had a knack for referancing things and bringing back the smallest detail that you had barely noticed the first time around, and then it suddenly becomes completely center stage and soooo important. I love that kind of investment. Now for me Hermione has always been my favorite of the three, and that has stayed true throughout all seven of the books. I mean honestly though, who doesn't love an insufferable know it all? I love it that in the seventh bok she is really able to take charge and use her strengths to figure out all the folk-lore, and the clues. if Harry is the backbone, the spine of the story, Hermione is the heart. I also loved the fact that Dumbeldore played as large a part after his death, as he did in life. Which kinda makes sense considering he is one of the most powerful wizards in the world. I love that we finally got his history, we learned about him, and why he had such a strong connection with Harry. It made everything that happens in the previous books become something entirely new, and different, and even more touching and amazing. i am also in love with where she took McGonagaul (who has always been one of my favorite charachters, i can't wait to see Maggie Smith in the seventh movie. she is gonna kick ass!) Over all, the ending sequences of the book were awesome, i think the duel between him and vauldemort were amazing, I loved it that Harry called him Riddle. The way Dumbeldore explain everything to Harry just fit. I'm really glad J.K. rowling didn't kill Harry, because to me, that would mean that it's ok to give up, and one person can't beat an army. For me, that is exactly what Harry Potter was fighting for, one person making a difference.

Over all the end was sad, but I am happy that it's over, it's been a great run Harry. i'm gonna miss you.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Before I start this, I just want to say that i cant stand it when people get upset because certain aspects of book are altered on the very long journey from page to screen (or stage for that matter) it is a very complex process on deciding what stays and what gets left behind when creating a film that is based on a book. Every possible thing is looked at. It is also a huge undertaking to create the look of a film or play from a source that is loved by millions of people. I have the utmost respect for Actors, Directors, and Designers who take on that kind of undertaking. I can't stand it when people look at monthes of work and decided that because certain changes were made for the sake of an entire project that the film was bad, or it was a horrible film/play. As an actor i go out of my way to make a roll my own, thats what makes it special. That's why i was cast, because i had something in me that i could bring to a charachter that no one else could. i'm never going to be able to do it just like another actor. As a designer i go out of my way to make a show look different from the original work, thats why i was hired, to create a new world, a new creation from an original source, i reference the source, as well as many other aspects but first and fore most i create something new. That's our job. With that said, i will now step of my soap box.



an advertisement for the film


Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge


Daniel Radcliff and Evanna Lynch in one of my favorite parts of the film


Helena Bonham Carter kinda rocks my world... i'm not gonna lie

I loved Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I personally feel this is the best film in the series so far ( replacing a mantel that was held by the third film). To me, they blended the right amount of references to the book, continuity of the first four films, and taking it to the next level. It met and exceeded all my expectations. One thing that had worried me was that using so many kids in this film, the acting wouldn't be as strong, but all of the kids were amazing. Daniel Radcliff, was superb in this film. I think being in Equus really helped him to grow as an actor. i also loved newcomer Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) she had the most amazing quality about her, i always watched her when she was on the screen. I also enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter, and am eagerly awaiting to see what she does in the next film. One of the aspects of the film that i loved that i didn't knotice in the book, was how much of a biggot Dolores Umbridge was. Her charachter was truely evil, and hatefull, with out doing anything that was really criminal, she was just cruel. She totally abused her power to shape the world the way she wanted. I could be wronge, and i need to reread the book, but I don't remember that aspect being as strong in the book. Visually, as always, the film was fantastic. The end sequences blew me away (the film is playing in the imax 3D, you know that is the shit. I'm so going to see it in imax too!) Over all i seriously loved this film. the only thing it lacked for me was Maggie Smith, but She will be in the next one, and I know she won't let me down.

Literary Gems

Ok so by night I am a club dancing, theatre going, chocolate martini drinking fiend, with a killer wardrobe, and a fantastic wit. By day, I work in a bookstore, glamerous I know. And while every night i pray that my two worlds will collide and I can finally drink a choco-tini at work, alas that ship has not yet sailed. but it's ok, i love my job. I love books, I used to read two or three a day. sadly that number has greatly dwindled, but I still love books. As of late though i have a new book addiction: Bargain Books. Go to your Barnes & Nobles, and check out their bargain section. Now I will admit, while some of them are total crap, the ones that are amazing are totally amazing. Basically book lovers gold. The other exciting part is they are usually Hard cover (another guilty pleasure of mine! i only buy hard cover, unless its totally not available) i have gotten countless great finds, and payed at the most six dollars. How can you not buy them, it's like they are begging you to be literate. just so that i can prove to you how amazing it is, i figured out all the books i've gotten as bargain in the last year, and all of them were hard cover.

Little Children - Tom Peorta
Bridget Jone's Diary - Helen Fielding
What Was She Thinking ; Notes on a Scandal (this book is something fierce!)
Olivia Jules and the Over-active Imagination
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azcaban (3.00!)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (delux edition for 5.00)
Lovely Bones
101 Dalmations (the original novel Disney based the film on, for one dollar!)
Legally Blonde
The Devil Wears Prada (it was 1.50 they practically paid me)
Everyone Worth Knowing
Dry
Magical Thinking
Fluke - Christopher Moore (this is one of my favorite books, please go check it out)
Star - Pamela Anderson (an awful book but at 1.50 i had to)
Dress your family in Denim and Corduroy
I'm not Julia Roberts
Lipstick Jungle
That's Right I said it - Wanda Sykes
James Dean: Live Fast, Die Young
With Out You - Anthony Rapp (my hero)
Peter and The Starcatchers
A Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy; the complete volumes (the delux adission for 3.00)

If after reading that list, you haven't started getting ready and getting in your car to go to the B&N, then there is no hope for you. there are so many amazing books out there that i know i'm never gonna get the chance to read, just because i can't afford it, but bargain books have made it so much easier, and i enjoy looking through the stacks of utter crap for a little treasure.