La prima cosa che venne in mente a tutti era che il governo centrale francese l’aveva fatto fuori. Forse non ne potevano più, forse aveva fatto qualcosa. Chissà. Il fatto strano era la modalità: uccidere con un picchetto? Mi pareva teatrale, quantunque fosse simbolico, significativo: ti uccidiamo col picchetto, a te che c’hai un campeggio e che sei selvaggio come tutta la Corsica. A te che sei così stronzo che ci impedisci di costruire selvaggiamente sulle coste, per salvaguardare la tua cazzo di Corsica-ah se anche noi avessimo Lui, ah, se anche noi avessimo Silvio il palazzinaro quante ne avremmo già fatte! No, non era possibile. Era troppo, troppo plateale uccidere col picchetto, figurati poi quanti testimoni avevano assistito al delitto! Di fatto però, tutti se la facevano nelle mutande e nessuno parlava, nessuno aveva visto niente.
Ehi ehi? Justice? Justice dove sei? Non aleggi sulle bocche degli onesti francesi? Nessuna testimonianza, nemmeno il cappellaio matto.
Evidentemente le vacanze impigriscono gli spiriti più onesti. Ma non i nostri. Noi volevamo sapere, in fondo eravamo dispiaciuti per Jean Reno.
In ogni caso il modo era a metà tra il partenopeo e il melodrammatico, non mi convinceva la pista francese, lo confessai anche agli altri:
“Se vuoi far fuori qualcuno, fai come i russi: usi l’elemento radioattivo, una sfregata di plutonio 45 morte nausea e sciupamento. L’avete visto quel povero Mitrhokin, le avete viste quelle foto che stava per tirare le cuoia, no?Era un verme, una larva. Oppure fai come i ceceni-filorussi, una schioppettata nella schiena, uno schioppettata appena fuori dall’ascensore…”
“Sì ma la conosci anche tu la situazione, l’abbiamo saggiata a dir lo vero…”era la Frangy, chiamava l’Inghilterra Albione, e diceva “a dir lo vero” manco Sanguineti.
“Frangy hai ragione, ma a me la faccenda mi puzza. Non vorrei che questo povero Jean Reno, che dopotutto è- pardon- era, un bell’uomo, ci avesse pezzato le cuoia per qualcosa di più passionale, più terra terra, cioè insomma per qualcosa di reale come il sangue e la carne e non ideale come l’indipendenza, la libertà. Dai non si muore più per quello, e dubito che qualcuno ci sia mai morto- e se mai- non un capo.”
“Sarà, ma sai bene che qui stiamo parlando di resort sul mare, alberghi con piscina, villaggi turistici. Un bel giro di soldi che potrebbe prendere avvio se solo non ci fossero loro”
“Ma poi, anche fosse, ne hanno fatto fuori uno, uno, seppur il capo ma è uno. Avranno già insediato il successore…”
Tutt’a un tratto mio fratello cominciò a gesticolare come un primate, producendo suoni, certo, articolati così:
“Oh, ma quella non è la sfigata che ci sta a fianco?La Rowling…. quella che ha la tenda da uno e sta sempre da sola, va in spiaggia da sola, ma pure in discoteca da sola?? Non ce la può fare vecchi, non ce la può fare.”
“sì, è lei. Andiamo a salutarla, magari vuole fare un pezzo di strada con noi”rispose Jonny.
Nel trambusto totale non eravamo riusciti a rimediare un taxi e nemmeno un passaggio. Decidemmo di avviarci a piedi, ma prima ci fermammo a parlare con la nostra vicina di tenda. Non sapevamo come si chiamava, noi l’avevamo soprannominata la Rowling perché una sera le avevo chiesto se voleva venire con noi a cena e lei mi aveva risposto, mentre metteva sul fuoco qualcosa che sembrava un calzino:
“Oh, no…Thank you for askying, but I’ve to finish my novel, a lot of work to do…”
Non era inglese, era, nella migliore delle ipotesi, danese. Qualunque cosa fosse quella donna un po’ bionda, un po’ grassa, decisamente pallida e con gli occhiali, noi da quella sera la sfottemmo senza ritegno alcuno. Ma chi è che si mette a scrivere un romanzo in campeggio? Devi avere dei problemi…ma lei, incurante, tutte le mattine si ricaricava il pc, per poter lavorare la sera.
La chiamammo Rowling in riferimento alla drammatica storia della scrittrice di Harry Potter, con la sola differenza che quest’ultima, seppur nella povertà, scriveva da un paesino dell’Inghilterra, all’interno di una catapecchia almeno riscaldata, e non in una tenda da uno nel bel mezzo dell’estate. Con la sola differenza che quest’ultima, dopo Harry Potter, aveva partorito miliardi. La Rowling danese ci disse che aveva dei progetti: era il terzo anno che veniva in Corsica, nel campeggio del fu Jean Reno, ma non era soddisfatta: voleva un campeggio in cui tutti stessero da soli, un campeggio per persone sole che vogliono stare da sole. Inutile dire che a questo seguirono sfottò d’alta caratura: ci immaginammo una pubblicità piena di sfigate come lei che si svegliavano la mattina e mettevano sul focherello un calzino a cucinare, portavano il pc a caricare e intanto si preparavano per una giornata di mare: costume intero nero, scarpe da scalatori, pantaloncini nascondi femmina e dulcis in fundo, camicia a quadri rimediata da un ex fidanzato degli anni 90 o, nei casi più disperati, dal padre montanaro. Immaginammo una voce bassa in sottofondo, con accento americano, che spiegava il tutto: “ Camping Rowling. Alone is the word.” “camping Rowling, you can stay alone” “Camping Rowling. You can improve yourself, really”, “camping Rowling, you can not socialize”…e chi ne ha più ne metta.

Any time a book captures the interest and imagination of a large number of people, that is good. The better the book or series, the more significant interest in it is. Take the Harry Potter series, for example: solid composition, wonderfully complex (yet still accessible) storylines, replete with references to mythology and a fan-base that created, quite literally, a new generation of readers. Impressive.

Twilight, by comparison, doesn’t shine as bright, in part because (love her or hate her) Meyer just isn’t the same caliber writer as JK Rowling. Her stories, while they have certainly captured the hearts of adolescent girls, lack complexity and are, perhaps, a little overdone in the areas of teenage angst and drama.

I know that many of my author heroes have made public statements against the Twilight series, and I understand this to some degree. Not only are the stories formulaic, but they also take a classic literary device (the vampire) and turn him/her into something far less fierce. Something almost fuzzy. They sparkle in sunlight, for crying out loud.

And while all of this is true, I read all the books. All four of them. I own them in hardcover. I recommended them to friends. I liked the first book and the second half of the fourth best, but I enjoyed them all.

It’s easy to criticize Twilight. It easy, frankly, to criticize any book or movie in which the monsters glitter. And with writers like Rowling and Gaiman out there creating storylines that make you believe in magic again, it’s easy to become highbrow about your literary tastes, shunning the likes of Twilight with it’s ridiculous marketing, which, to date, includes a line of pillows and throws emblazoned with the faces of Jacob and Edward. (Tell me you wouldn’t be frightened to find these in an adult’s home.)

But it’s a fun series. No, it’s not Tolkien. People won’t be pluming the literary depths of Twilight 50 years from now. It is, most likely, a flash in the pan, but it’s a fun one. If you’re an adult and you’re willing to remember what it felt like to be a teenager, to feel the first flames of what you were sure was love, then Twilight is even deeply personal, a weird and oddly sacred revisiting of your own adolescent fears and insecurities.

If you haven’t read it, I suggest giving it a chance. I’ll tell you right now that the books are better than the first movie and, I suspect, will be better than the second, as well. Consider it a guilty pleasure, like that Britney Spears song you like that no one knows about or your secret appreciation for The Girls Next Door. You might be surprised. You might even, perish the thought, find yourself claiming allegiance to Team Jacob or Team Edward. (Seriously, who chooses Team Jacob?)

The point is, Twilight isn’t the best thing in print, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable. Don’t allow the hype, good or bad, to keep you from reading something light-hearted and fun.

10. The Chronicles of Amber
Roger Zelazny

With the Amber novels, Zelazny created a very detailed and intricate fantasy universe. Fantasy fans have called this one of the most engrossing fantasy worlds they have ever read and remains a classic of modern fantasy.

9. The King of Elfland’s Daughter
Lord Dunsany

One of the most influential works of fantasy writing, Lord Dunsany’s 1924 novel of elves, kingdoms and magic laid out the groundwork for much of modern fantasy today. This is truly a pioneering work in the genre which laid out the groundwork for the writers who would come after.

8. A Song of Ice and Fire
George R. R. Martin

George Martin’s series is a richly constructed world grounded in both reality and fantasy. These unconventional plots keep the story fresh. The action is realistic while the events are unpredictable, adding a certain suspense around the characters, as you truly don’t know what will happen to them. The four books of the series thus far have grabbed the attention of high fantasy fans everywhere as they have proven to be some of the best there is.

7. A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L’Engle

This richly layered children’s fantasy has become a favourite to many readers over the years. Its deep themes may remind you of C.S. Lewis, with a hard look at what it means to be a child, as well as just being a great adventure. A Wrinkle in Time is a book which will stand the test of time.

6. The Harry Potter Series
J.K. Rowling

Sure, it may be bold of me to include a series which is so recent as high as #5. However, this is no ordinary fantasy series. This is the series which created a worldwide reading phenomenon, grabbing the attention of both kids and adults everywhere. Yet Harry Potter is not just hype; these are wonderfully crafted stories set in a fully realized magical world. The characters feel real, and even more so since we follow them through their growing years throughout the seven books. There are twists and very interesting plot devices all leading up to a final conclusion which does not disappoint. This series is one of the powerhouses of modern fantasy, and will remain so more a long, long time.

5. The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis

Its interesting that most of this list is comprised of stories written for children. Perhaps it says something about the child-like need for discovery in fantasy tales, and none sums it up better than the Narnia books. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has reached instant classic status, and the wardrobe in the title has become an icon for all portals into new and fantastic worlds. Lewis’ Christianity allegories also give this series an intellectual edge which doesn’t distract from the story. These seven books are some of the most beloved fantasy stories of all time.

4. His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman

Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy tells the story of two kids who are able to journey through the different dimensions which exist in the universe. These two children have a great destiny in the future of all the worlds which will affect the very nature of existence and spirituality. Pullman reaches for some pretty big goals here, but does not disappoint. He tackles the domination of organized religion while championing the freedoms of human thought and expression.

3. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass
Lewis Carroll

Carroll’s fantasy tale of Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole has captured the imagination of youth all over the world. This exercise in nonsensical logic, language and situations has become a book not only to enjoy, bu also to study. The metaphors in these two tales run deep and are often referenced by many other media. Alice and her crazy adventures simply make no sense; and that’s why we love them.

2. A Midsummer’s Night Dream
William Shakespeare

Let’s face it;  Shakespeare is the master.  Many of Shakespeare’s plays have an element of fantasy in them, but with Dream the bard went all out.  Shakespeare mostly played upon the idea of the fairy world and the mischievous creatures’ intrusions upon the lives of us regular humans.  Midsummer night’s dream is perhaps Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy, and its whimsy will live on for many centuries to come.

1. The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien

Choosing the greatest work of literary fiction was an easy task. It is, of course, the Lord of the Rings; the epic high fantasy of one hobbits journey to defeat the powers of evil. No fantasy world is as rich or detailed as Tolkien’s Middle Earth. It is as if he himself believed it to be a real place, complete with a full, fleshed out history and wonderfully detailed geography. And set in this world is a strong, heartfelt story which has proven to be ageless. This is a bold tale of massive proportions which also works on the simplest emotional level. A masterpiece in every way.

Har du lest alle bøkene om Harry Potter og sett alle filmene? Og likevel ikke helt har forstått reglene i Rumpeldunk, den mest populære sporten i magiverdenen! I denne boken får du en kort innføring i regelen, og hvordan de blir spilt i de forskjellige verdensdelene. Du får også historien bak spillet. En bok verdt å lese for alle Harry Potter fans!

This post is dedicated to those who urged me to read the Harry Potter series. At first glance, I didn’t consider it to be worth my time or of great literary value. At age 50, I honestly didn’t believe that I would find them as interesting as younger readers have these many years. But it was as rewarding as you implied. Thank you for the gift of the books and making the quick read possible. Most important, thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for the series without revealing critical spoilers. So I write this post spoiler-free for those of you even mildly interested in reading the series.

The Harry Potter series, in a nutshell, is about a young boy who has survived a tragic situation which took the lives of his parents.  An evil and powerful wizard named Voldermort believes he must take the life of young Potter before he can rule the wizarding world.  Each of the 7 books encompass roughly one year of Harry’s life.  So the story follows him through his wizarding education at Hogwarts to a climactic battle with Voldermort and his followers.

Let me tell you about my expectations before I tell you my reaction. I thought of the Potter series as strictly juvenile fiction, yet fun and imaginative for the interested reader. I also believed that it was widely popular because the characters were well-developed and likable, but mostly because young people could identify with the growing pains and struggles of a group of pre-teens. I didn’t know that the series would mature with the characters and that the storyline would intensify over the course of the events.

Seeing a couple of the movies early on only reinforced my impressions of a shallow, comical collection of stories that I considered quaint and novel. I’m thankful that I forgot many of the details of those movies and, later, I was able to read and enjoy the richness of each unfolding chapter.

I also found that, the further I got into the series, the more critical it was that I had the next book in my possession. I realized, with great delight, how enjoyable they were to me and how I would spend my lunch breaks, coffee breaks, and any other down-time I could find to read a little more each day.

During the first few books, I believed that I had correctly pegged this series. The stories were fun, filled with adventure and barely scary or thrilling. The characters easily grew on me and I looked forward to Harry breaking free of the Dursley household at the end of each summer. For me, the titled mysteries or adventures became secondary to the annual reunions and daily experiences of the students at Hogwarts. I enjoyed the routine struggles, detentions, Quidditch practices, and the culture of this fantasy world. The books were engrossing and each a little more mature than the one before it. There were obvious instances of foreshadowing and a growing sense of tension, but I figured that this was still juvenile fiction.

Over the course of the 7 books,  the series matures into a thrilling adult fiction with developed characters, intriguing mysteries and excellent villains.  By the end, you care deeply about the characters and feel the pain and loss they ultimately experience.  For a debut author, the series reflects her maturing talent and mastery of the craft.

I reflected on the unfortunate reaction of the church to the Harry Potter series. It seemed unfair at the time, particularly because they embraced the Lord of the Rings’ series of movies as fantasy while rejecting the Potter stories as evil. But many of the same themes are present in Rowling’s fantasy: courage, corruption, noble actions, quests, sacrifice, good versus evil, human frailties and deficiencies, redemption, and a glimpse at eternity. I understand that many of the elements of this fantasy world are anathema to the culture of the Bible, but the underlying story is about the human condition and the ultimate need for faith.

I finished the final book late last night and I can’t begin to describe how impressed I was with the series’ finale. The 7th book is easily my favorite and Rowling provides an amazing payoff for those who stick with it til the very end. I kept muttering, “Wow” and “Amazing” to myself as I tried to relax to sleep. I was blown away by the complex reveals and surprises of the story’s conclusion. It was incredibly rewarding and I recognize now why the series is considered an “instant” classic. Though unfolding over many years and clearly developed strategically from the very beginning, the series has one of the best endings imaginable. In my own thinking, I struggled with how I could have improved upon Rowling’s finale. My conclusion… no one could improve on this.

I was so touched, so moved by the final pages. I believe Rowling, during the last few chapters, managed to push this simple series to the pinnacles of great literature. It is breathtaking.

Thank you for this gift. I will cherish the experience for the rest of my days.

Several years ago at a composition symposium, Gary Tate and Andrea Lundsford led the participants in an activity where we focused on our own punctuation bete noire.

Mine was the semicolon; it’s source: Stephen King.

Like many readers and budding writers growing up in the 80s, King’s novels, short stories, and even essay collections (Danse Macabre, anyone?) were a constant source of fright, insight … and over-the-top punctuation. I placed the blame squarely on King’s shoulders, but he’s tough — not to mention skilled — enough to take it. So, when I was preparing a mini-lecture on punctuation for my freshmen this week, and searching for some examples of how the less popular marks (anything other than a comma, really) were used, I thought of King. Happily, I found a great example online, and I thought it might be good to share it here, just as I did with the tutors in my writing center this afternoon.

This is the original article: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20044270_20044274_20050689,00.html

This is the paragraph I used with my freshmen and tutors:

And so now the hurly-burly’s done, the battle’s lost and won — the Battle of Hogwarts, that is — and all the secrets are out of the Sorting Hat. Those who bet Harry Potter would die lost their money; the boy who lived turned out to be exactly that. And if you think that’s a spoiler at this late date, you were never much of a Potter fan to begin with. The outrage over the early reviews (Mary Carole McCauley of The Baltimore Sun, Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times) has faded…although the sour taste lingers for many fans.

King never fails to amaze: in this paragraph, and most of the rest in this essay, he consistently (and constantly) uses punctuation to create a distinctive voice.

When I stripped the paragraph of all punctuation and asked my students to punctuate the paragraph themselves — with the caveat that they must use parentheses, dashes, and a semicolon at least once  – none came up with the exact recipe a la King (My tutors fared somewhat better.). We discussed their various choices, then took a look at the paragraph above, with an eye to why King chose the punctuation he did. Here’s a little bit of what we came up with:

And so now the hurly-burly’s done, the battle’s lost and won — the Battle of Hogwarts, that is — and all the secrets are out of the Sorting Hat.

COMMA – this first comma indicates the beginning of a series.

DASH/es – King uses the dashes to insert parenthetical information that, while parenthetical, also signifies a familiarity with the text that would be appreciated by a fan of Rowling’s series.

COMMA – in this particular case, the “rule” regarding comma use before that doesn’t seem to apply — because the syntax is reversed? Because it is an aside? We weren’t sure. It certainly seems necessary, but how would you explain that necessity to a client … or to me? [Dr. Marcia Songer gave us the answer: "that is" is an introductory adverb clause. It is often referred to as an "interrupter," or an aside. Thanks, Marcia!]

Those who bet Harry Potter would die lost their money; the boy who lived turned out to be exactly that.

SEMICOLON – great example of semicolon use! The independent clauses are closely linked — most of my tutors selected this for the location of the “required” semicolon.

And if you think that’s a spoiler at this late date, you were never much of a Potter fan to begin with.

COMMA – after introductory phrase, of course. King loves to begin sentences with conjunctions, but it’s a stylistic flourish — don’t let it confuse you! If definitely signals an introductory phrase.

The outrage over the early reviews (Mary Carole McCauley of The Baltimore Sun, Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times) has faded…although the sour taste lingers for many fans.

PARENTHESES – clearly, a necessary use of parentheses; dashes would’ve  done to much to highlight the reviews — parenthesis are, in stylistic terms, a signal of either dismal or off-purpose commentary.

ELLIPSIS – OK, I have some problems with King’s use of ellipsis here. However, would a dash have had the same effect, or a (pedestrian) comma? Here are a few links to get you thinking about the use of ellipses:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/ellipsis.htm

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ellipsis.aspx

Hope this was helpful; it was certainly an interesting exercise for myself, my students, and my tutors. If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave them below. I would never call myself a punctuation expert, so I’m sure many of you out there have more information to share.

I’d also love to hear from teachers and writers who’ve found creative ways to teach or improve their own use of punctuation. It can be a very dry topic, but I suspect it doesn’t have to be!

There’s no worse evil to a reader than waiting for the next book in a Trilogy or series to be published. Or I might be wrong – when the author promises the end of the sequence but then the narrative overflows into yet another yet-to-be-unpublished book, that’s pure torture.

In the past few years, I have experienced this pleasure or let down depending on the goods delivered. Ms Rowling’s Harry Potter was when it all began. I was slow to jump on the bandwagon but when I started reading The Philosopher’s Stone, I was hooked. I only had to wait for the last 3 in the series - The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows. The buildup was huge - but worth it in the end. I wouldn’t mind owning the entire set in hardbound copy if I could afford it.

Mr Paolini on the other hand started out The Inheritance trilogy with Eragon. Again, I started reading Paolini’s works when Eldest was already available on the market. When I was done with it, Brisingr was the promised end to the sequence, scheduled to reach readers in September 2008. Come promised date, Paolini announces that this is not a trilogy after all and no deadline in sight for this untitled conclusion.

Dan Brown – what can be said about him that hasn’t already been said. Despite the hype, The Lost Symbol doesn’t seem to be creating tsunamis among the clergymen or the media as much as Da Vinci Code did. That’s not a book I will be buying for my bookshelf.

Matthew Riley is an awesome page turner. Schofield and Jack West Jr. are characters he’s popped in various books with no sequence to them. Read them in order of appearance, then you will be more in sync with the characters. But he did a number after Seven Ancient Wonders. The Six Sacred Stones began informing that the quest was over in the previous book, but a few years later, Jack West Jr. and team are forced on another quest. This was another I-cannot-put-this-down-pageturner but left me in the lurch saying that The Five Greatest Warriors will decide what happens. There is so much discussion and debate going on in http://www.matthewreilly.com/ and that spills over in Facebook. Shelfari has got the book already listed. Alas, the book is being released in Australia on 20th October 2009; rest of the world – unknown. :’( I just hope this Aussie continues his narrative in the same vein unlike some others.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/29/harry-potter-rowling-medal

Seriously.

W.  apparently didn’t give JK Rowling, the woman who single-handedly made reading cool again for a quadrillion different children, was denied a US medal…. because W. thought her book promoted witchcraft.

WITCHCRAFT ISN’T REAL!

This is obviously because a stupid quote in the bible that condemns witches, and religious nutjobs believe that this quote is directly from god. However, little did god know as he “wrote” the bible, witchcraft does not exist. There are no such thing as magical spells!

Such religious extremists would love to take the most classic fantasy book from modern times and hide it away from children. Children don’t read enough in this country as is, if there’s a book like Harry Potter that will bring children into the joys of reading, why stop it for an archaic law condemning witchcraft (which doesn’t exist!).

My guess is that they realized how Harry Potter is pretty much a more interesting and dynamic character than Jesus.

Hell, maybe the Republicans are DeathEaters.

Either way, this is definitive proof that religion and belief in god make you fucking out of your mind.

poor Laura, she’s actually a pretty smart lady.

…er de siste ordene Dumbledore sier til Harry Potter før Snape avslutter det hele med Ava Kadavra. Det er en mektig scene. Ikke for overlesset; egentlig ganske enkel og stilren- men likevel så dramatisk.

Det er ikke å kimse av å se Harry Potter and the Half-Bloodprince på kino. Det er alvor for en nerd som meg. Dagene har gått så fort, ukene har løpt – plutselig ble jeg nesten panisk fordi jeg ikke har sett Halvblodsprinsen på kino. Harry Potter må ses på kinolerret. I går løp jeg av gårde i det pene høstværet og så filmen på formiddagskino på Lillestrøm.

Så: Tilbake til Dumbledore og Snape. (Spoiler advarsel hvis du ikke har lest de to siste bøkene i serien).

Sluttscenen framstår som spesiell når du kjenner handlingen i neste bok/film – i selve finalen. Når du hører ordene til Dumbledore; ‘trust me’ og du vet hvor langt de ordene egentlig strekker. Men Harry vet ikke og blindes totalt av sviket han tror han begår mot Dumbledore. Det er stort å se. Og ganske vondt når man vet hva Snape ofrer i denne boka/filmen. Det er et vanvittig offer.

Jeg elsker Snape. Så er det sagt.

Filmen er ujevn. Noen av de aller beste scenene fra alle filmene er i denne filmen. Spesielt scener som involverer the deatheaters, i tillegg til den allerede omtalte sluttscenen. Det er blant annet en scene filmet i en kornåker som framstår som et visuelt mesterverk. I det hele tatt; det er det visuelle som er det aller beste i denne filmen. Kameravinkler, farger, scenografi. Det er fantastisk flott og dystert. For denne filmen er mørk.

En annen positiv ting er Draco Malfoy. Filmskaperne velger å gi Malfoy mer emosjonell dybde enn det Rowling har gjort (etter min mening). Det er veldig veldig fint. Jeg gråter en gang i løpet av filmen som varer i to og en halv time. Jeg gråter for Draco Malfoy.

Ellers har filmen en del klare svakheter. Handlingsmessig så er det lite fokus; vi drives fra enkeltscene til enkeltscene og noen av de er totalt malplassert og ganske kjedelige (begravelsen til den edderkoppen, Harry som ber ut en muggle jente på kafè). Jeg savner også noen scener og personer fra bøkene (Neville!)

Som før nevnt er dette en dyster film. Det blir av og til litt for monotont; litt for mange lange stirrende blikk hvor ‘mening henger i luften’ etter at ting har blitt sagt. Jeg har aldri vært veldig begeistret for Daniel Radcliffe, og han er ikke noe bedre her (men det veies opp av så mange andre fantastiske karakterer f.eks. Snape, Malfoy, Ron, Hermione og Luna). Det er, som det har vært omtalt i avisene, lagt mye vekt på kjærester og gryende kjærlighet. Jeg synes stort sett det funker bra, men noen ganger tipper det til litt vel klisjefyllt suppe.

Ellers kan vel også denne filmen ses på som et gigantisk springbrett for The Grand Finale som kommer i 2010 og 2011. Det blir stort!

Dimulai dengan sebuah pertanyaan: Apakah film Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince (HP 6) ini masih layak ditunggu sejak Warner Bros menundanya tujuh bulan lalu? Yang pasti novelnya sudah lama saya simpan di lemari karena HP 6 sudah terbit empat tahun yang lalu. Saya sudah nyaris tiga kali membaca buku setebal 607 halaman tersebut,  namun – seperti fans lainnya – sempat kecewa karena versi filmnya ternyata ditunda. Para penggemar Harry Potter juga sudah merasakan ‘serangan’ Stephenie Meyer lewat empat saga Twilight-nya yang tiba-tiba laku keras, bahkan versi film pertama literatur vampir tersebut sudah difilmkan – dan sukses besar.

ron weasley berevolusi di harry potter 6

Tapi franchise Harry Potter, mengutip majalah Cinemags sepertinya sudah terkena mantra ‘anti-kritik.’ Apa pun yang mungkin dikatakan oleh para kritikus film, serial Harry Potter tetap saja laku. Terbukti, orang berbondong-bondong menonton film keenam ini sejak gedung bioskop dibuka sampai tengah malam. Dalam lima hari pertama sejak peluncuran pertamanya 15 Juli 2009, HP 6 sudah meraih US $391 juta! Sayangnya, HP 6 terkesan dibuat hanya untuk ‘menopang’ seri ketujuh yang merupakan kisah pamungkas, sehingga nilainya menjadi kurang sebagai sebuah film yang utuh.

Pubertas
Seakan sengaja dikontraskan dengan keadaan dunia sihir yang sedang dalam bahaya, seri keenam ini menampilkan sesuatu yang berbeda: para siswa tahun keenam Hogwarts memasuki masa pubertas; sesuatu yang tak bisa ditangkal oleh mantra sihir apapun. Berkat kreativitas penulis naskah Steve Kloves, pakem tradisional ditinggalkan. Film tidak lagi dimulai di rumah keluarga Dursley, namun di sebuah coffee shop subway, di mana Harry Potter terlihat sedang menggoda si pelayan (atau sebaliknya).

Sahabat-sahabat Harry, Ron Weasley dan Hermione Granger juga tidak luput dari fenomena tersebut. Ron akhirnya berhasil mengakhiri ‘ketidakpopulerannya’ dan melepaskan diri dari bayang-bayang Harry ketika Lavender Brown ‘bergayut’ di tangannya. Selain itu, ia juga dipercaya untuk menjadi kiper tim Quidditch asrama Gryffindor. Si ‘kutu buku’ Hermione sekarang menjadi impulsif dan emosional karena cemburu melihat kedekatan Ron dengan Lavender. Kisah cinta monyet anak-anak Hogwarts tersebut menjadi semakin rumit ketika melibatkan Cormac McLaggen, Romilda Vane, Ginny Weasley dan Dean Thomas.

Namun tanpa mereka sadari, Hogwarts perlahan-lahan menjadi tempat yang ‘gelap’ dan menakutkan. Antek-antek Voldemort, para Pelahap Maut (Death Eaters) terus berusaha menembus mantra pertahanan sekolah sihir tersebut. Hal ini disadari oleh Dumbledore, sehingga ia melatih Harry secara khusus, walaupun ia belum siap. Sebagai langkah awal, kepala sekolah sihir itu memperkenalkan Harry kepada salah seorang temannya bernama Horace Slughorn, yang memiliki ingatan yang berguna untuk menyingkap masa lalu Voldemort, sehingga kelemahannya dapat diketahui. Di samping itu, Harry juga ‘dibekali’ dengan buku teks ramuan aneh dengan nama pemilik ‘The Half-Blood Prince’, yang berisi catatan-catatan rahasia sehingga ia menjadi murid paling pintar di kelas Potions.

Kisah Harry Potter, sebagai sebuah bildungsroman, memasuki tahap di mana proses pengembangan karakter utama berlangsung lama dan melelahkan, ketika kebutuhannya sering bertolak belakang dengan keinginannya. Ia ‘direkayasa’ oleh lingkungannya, sehingga tidak jarang gagal untuk berdiri sendiri. Sampai tahun keenam, Harry masih asal-asalan menggunakan mantra sihir, apalagi mengukur kekuatan lawan yang akan dihadapinya. Dalam teori Joseph Campbell, The Hero’s Journey (1985), sosok arketip utama, Hero (tidak bisa diterjemahkan sebagai Pahlawan), memang dibantu oleh seorang mentor atau guru. Ia memberikan ilmu, nasihat, latihan, bahkan senjata kepada Hero untuk menjalankan misinya. Namun, pada titik kulminasi waktu tertentu Hero harus berjuang sendirian tanpa kawalan sang mentor yang disebut The Wise Old Man tersebut. Dumbledore memang harus ‘dieksekusi’ pada HP 6 untuk memenuhi pola Hero’s Journey sebagai jalan menuju The Ordeal, tempat di mana ia harus menghadapi risiko sekaligus menyaksikan kematian sebelum meraih kemenangan. Hal ini juga menjadi semacam ‘a swift kick in the pants’ bagi Harry dalam mengatasi ketergantungannya kepada orang lain sehingga petualangan dapat dilanjutkan. Kedekatan, interaksi, dan emosi antara Harry dengan mentornya itu ditampilkan dengan sempurna dalam film ini.

Draco Malfoy, yang merupakan tokoh antitesis Harry selama ini terpilih menjadi eksekutor pertama Dumbledore. Sementara semuanya sibuk mengendalikan hormon mereka, Draco mulai memisahkan diri dari geng Slytherin. Ia mulai frustrasi dengan beban yang diberikan Voldemort kepadanya untuk melakukan sebuah misi yang sangat berat tersebut. Namun fakta bahwa Snape, pada saat-saat terakhir, mengambilalih peran Draco semata-mata merupakan kemahiran pengarang dalam mempermainkan perasaan penonton. Film diputus di sini sehingga menciptakan misteri besar untuk cerita selanjutnya.

David Yates sengaja menghapus pertempuran antara para  Pelahap Maut dengan penghuni Hogwarts dan upacara pemakaman Dumbledore dalam HP 6. Akibatnya film ini terasa kurang utuh sebagai sebuah cerita yang memiliki penyelesaian (ending) setelah klimaks. Tetapi kita semua tahu bahwa tujuannya hanya satu: agar film berikutnya menjadi lebih misterius dan ditunggu-tunggu. Bagaimana sebenarnya posisi Snape yang mengaku sebagai The Half-Blood Prince itu? Bisakah Harry bertahan tanpa Dumbledore? Atau apakah Hogwarts akan ditutup? Dalam sistem penceritaan, meminjam istilah Roland Barthes, HP 6 meninggalkan semacam kode hermeneutic bagi penonton dalam mengantisipasi Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows episode I dan II.

HP 6 bukan untuk ‘Newcomer’
Sebagai sebuah drama, HP 6 adalah cerita yang stagnan dan mungkin agak membosankan. Ia penuh dengan adegan dan tempat yang spesifik, serta karakter minor yang tidak begitu jelas perannya. Banyak dialog yang terasa begitu textbook, kaku dan tidak alami, sehingga membuat kita bertanya-tanya: Apa saja yang dilakukan anak-anak ini selama hampir satu dekade? Selain itu, terdapat kesan ‘berpanjang-panjang’ dalam menampilkan kisah cinta anak-anak Hogwarts, sehingga bahaya besar yang sedang mengancam menjadi ‘terpinggirkan’ dan klimaks terus tertunda.

Kali ini tidak ada lagi penjelasan-penjelasan detil mengenai suatu kejadian, karakter atau objek-objek yang ditampilkan. Penonton ‘harus’ sudah tahu plot cerita, latar, implikasi-implikasi dialog, dan lain sebagainya. Ternyata saya salah ketika menganggap bahwa HP 6 dapat menjaring penggemar baru tanpa perlu membaca buku. Salah seorang teman saya – non-fans – keluar dari gedung bioskop tanpa mengerti sedikitpun tentang film yang baru saja ditontonnya. Maaf teman, film ini ‘hanya’ diperuntukkan bagi para penggemar Harry Potter.

Lumos!

I was surfing around wordpress and searched ‘harry potter vs. twilight’, I got about a dozen posts and tired of hearing people, including myself, blabbering about who’s better.

So, to make it easier for all of us, why not just vote about through review and see who’s best!

Characters: [based on their role or personality in the books]
1. Harry James Potter vs. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen

2. Ginevra Molly “Ginny” Weasley vs. Isabella “Bella” Marie Swan

3. Ronald Billus “Ron” Weasley vs. Jacob Black

4. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore vs. Carlisle Cullen

5. Minerva McGonagall vs. Esme Anne Platt Evenson Cullen

6. Hermione Granger vs. Mary Alice Brandon Cullen

7. Pansy Parkinson vs. Rosalie Lilian Hale

8. Cedric Diggory vs. Mike Newton

9. Neville Longbottom vs. Eric Yorkie

10. Lord Voldemort vs. Aro Volturi

11. Lucius Malfoy vs. Caius Volturi

12. Severus Snape vs. Marcus Volturi

13. The Next HP Generation [James Sirius, Albus Severus, Rose, Hugo, Scorpius, Ted Remus, etc.] vs. Renesmee “Nessie” Carlie Cullen

14. The Blacks vs. The Cullens

15. Death Eaters vs. The Volturi

16. Dumbledore’s Army vs. The La Push Pack

Locations:
1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry vs. Forks High School

2. Malfoy Manor vs. Cullens Residence

Covers:
Harry Potter Series

Twilight Saga

Authors:
J. K. Rowling vs. Stephenie Meyer

Vote through review!

FACTS

Screen/Pen Name: J. K.Rowling [J- Joanne [her first name]; K- Kathleen [her grandmother's first name]; née Rowling]

Real Name: Joanne “Jo” Murray

Nationality: British [love them British folks!]

Birth Date: July 31, 1965 [same date as Harry!]

Birth Place: Yate, Gloucestershire, England, UK [always wanted to go there!]

Occupation: Novelist [as I soon will be!]

First Book: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/ Sorcerer’s Stone

Most Recent Book: The Tales of Beedle the Bard [Supplement for HP series, read it!]

Civil Status: Legally married but separated [sad]

Books written: 10 [have read them ALL!]

Five things to LIKE:

-  She’s BRITISH! Duh!

-  She’s a PHILANTHROPIST! In Layman’s term, a very charitable person who uses her wealth for the sake of those unfortunate!

-  She’s a NOVELIST!

-  She’s way cooler than STEPHENIE MEYER! [Twilight is SO out of Harry Potter’s lead!]

-  She used her birth date as Harry Potter’s birthday!

Five things to LOVE:

-  She’s responsible for HARRY POTTER!

-  She thought of HARRY POTTER while in a train trip by accident! So writing it was like a SIXTH SENSE!

-  She made one of her characters GAY!

-  She made HARRY POTTER COOLER THAN TWILIGHT!

-  Her books were made into movies TO DIE FOR!

Few things to SAY:

-  MAKE MORE HARRY POTTER BOOKS!

It was only when I finished reading all the books of the Harry Potter Series that I perceived various equivalences between Harry Potter’s politics and real-life politics. The presence of political concerns and issues found in the novels increased its popularity in terms of how politics was structured and executed in the story and how it is similar with actual politics. Personally, when I studied the comparisons further, my respect and admiration for the books and its author flourished. J.K Rowling’s immense effort in organizing every detail of her plot that she based on all realistic circumstances was something to be inspired about because it was a given opportunity for her to voice out her political viewpoints to her readers. Although there are those who consider it as Rowling’s agenda to indoctrinate her readers, in my own opinion, Rowling has her own set of beliefs and views of ethnics and she doesn’t reflect the kind of person who would take advantage of her popularity, in fact, Rowling is widely known as a philanthropist and has engaged charitable organizations of her own accord.

HOMOSEXUALITY AND SEXISM

The issue concerning the sexuality of the wise and modest mentor of our protagonist, Albus Dumbledore, caused quite a controversy from Rowling’s critics. There were accusations from the Catholic Church that the books were denouncing the Christian beliefs when Rowling declared the headmaster’s homosexuality. As mentioned before, J.K Rowling holds nothing against racism; the same goes for homosexuality. Despite the disapproval of religious individuals, Rowling stood her ground and even remarked that revealing a character’s sexuality emphasizes a positive effect to the gay community.

I, myself, am a huge gay supporter and I agree with Rowling about her perspective about equality between gender and race. As I see it, I think it’s the Catholic Church who has taken a wrong turn because first of all, it’s a work of fiction, yes, it does influence many readers but try imaging the world without racists or sexists and compare it with our condition now where colored people are being judged by their nationality and homosexuals are being abused by simply “coming out”. Just by looking at Obama’s victory in the 2008 US election, majority of those who voted are homosexuals and African Americans who’ve been constantly mistreated and attacked on account of their identity and color.

Somehow, the Catholic Church should at least pick a side instead of edging between equality and gender discrimination.

It was also said that Rowling’s novels seemed to favor a male-superior community in which patriarchal leadership is attributed alone. Again, I disagree for the reason that I didn’t notice any gender prejudice in any of Rowling’s books. True, majority of the main characters are male but female characters such as Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall and Ginny Weasley portrayed independent roles and, in most instances, grasp fair authority with their male counterparts. In fact, the male characters appear to show a great deal of respect and fairness with the female characters, even the antagonist Narcissa Malfoy elaborated the strong personality and importance of her role when she managed to persuade Severus Snape to take the Unbreakable Vow for the safety of her son. Another example is the Quidditch team where most of the team players from the Gryffindor team are female. Lastly, there is also the prefect system where prefect and head positions are always equally given to a male and female from each year.

Lycanthropy can also be compared to AIDS; if you study Remus Lupin’s character and the disapproving manner the Ministry of Magic was giving his kin, there is a huge comparison with how AIDS patience are being treated by the authorities. It was shown in the book that there are alternatives in controlling Lupin’s condition, although it might not completely cure his lycanthropy, he was at least given a sense of control over himself. The same with the use of AIDS, people with AIDS can still engage a normal lifestyle despite their condition because they can benefit from medication.

RACISM

In Harry Potter universe, the race segregation was not entirely focused on color but more on blood or heritage; Purebloods are known to be the superiors of the Wizarding World since it was a sort of unwritten law to their kind that magic should only be used by those born with it entirely, the Half-bloods are more of the middle class to which both the protagonist and antagonist were considered as one. The lower class are the Muggle-borns or, in negative term Mudbloods, which applies to wizards and witches who are born without magical blood, for instance, one of the protagonist’s best friend, Hermione Granger.

From my opinion, the purpose of racism in the novels is only a partial basis for the story to conceive an interesting plot, for example, the fact that Lord Voldemort is a half-blood is one characteristic to say that he and Harry share similarities with one another, it can also be considered as an attribute to elaborate Voldemort’s part of the story. It doesn’t manifest the idea that the author is a sort of racist, if that were the case then Rowling surely would’ve made the leading character a Pureblood and the villain either a half-blood or a muggle-born.

I think it was a good concept to start with because Rowling is phasing in the fact that race doesn’t matter. In particular, the golden trio is all of different classes with Ron being the pureblood, Harry as the half-blood and Hermione, the muggle-born but that particular distinction didn’t affect their friendship. It actually made their alliances with one another stronger if you noticed during the series. There’s also Hermione being the brightest charter and the brains of the trio, despite her class, she was able to stand out as a respected figure in the books. Actually, most of the antagonists are purebloods, like the Malfoys and the Death Eaters, all of which following a leader who is lower than their class. Not to mention the fact that Voldemort managed to become a powerful wizard and earn the reverence of his servants, all of which are purebloods, meaning to say that him being a half-blood was of no importance.

My country experienced a taste of Racism when a Chinese man, whom I won’t bother to acknowledge the name, called the Philippines a “Nation of Servants” due to the fact that majority of our fellow Filipinos are working abroad as housemaids and housekeepers, also the offensive statement of the Hollywood actor, Alec Baldwin, who erupted a dispute when he jested about Filipinas being “mail-ordered brides” so as to have more children. Being referred to as servants and prostitutes by those who think are above us is a conflict I refuse to make amends to. We, Filipinos, might be easily persuaded, we might be one of the most corrupted countries in Asia but I speak on behalf of my country that a person has no right to degrade someone who breathes and bleeds as much.

EDUCATION

This was mostly acknowledge during the fifth book when the antagonist, Dolores Umbridge, takes authoritative control over the school where she deliberately deprive the students from learning DADA properly and a series of rules and regulations stripping of students’ independence were enacted under her orders.

There was one incident in my school where a student was forced to take a Saturday make-up class for being absent in a class that she actually attended because the teacher overlooked her name from the attendance sheet. Because the teacher is so dependant on the attendance sheet and she distrusts the student, the student was left with no other alternative than to comply with it. The point is even if the teacher made the mistake, the student couldn’t argue against it because the teacher possesses the authority. There are even some cases where your grade is relied upon whether the teacher likes you or not, despite your academic performances. As far as I’m concerned, there are several ways for academic superiors to take advantage of their position and they do this for different reasons, but mostly it is to benefit themselves. In Umbridge’s case, she’s the sort who is prone to authority; as long as she was given control, she disregards rationality and virtue.

CLASS SEGREGATION

One of the most prominent settings in J.K Rowling’s novels is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which was established by the four founders who’s names were contributed to the four houses in which the students are sorted during their first term. Each house is endowed with a specific set of values; Gryffindor favors bravery, honor and justice; Hufflepuff chooses diligence, patience and equality; while Ravenclaw values knowledge, wisdom and intelligence; and Slytherin regards only the cunning and ambitious.

However, I considered the houses in a different perspective, while all the students from the story qualified one or two of the require values, the signification of the houses are more or less dependable on the student’s personality, not moral values. Take Slytherin for instance, seeing as that the founder is a racist, he only chose to accept those of pureblood heritage. Slytherin students such as Crabbe and Goyle are a bit too difficult to identify as ambitious or cunning. Majority of the Ravenclaw students seemed not only smart but also hold an essence of superiority compared to the Hufflepuffs who also conceive the value of intelligence but most of them portrayed as gentle and humble while as the Gryffindors are shown to be the good guys.

If we are to compare this in an ordinary student body, you will have the Slytherins as the bullies, the Ravenclaws as the jocks, Hufflepuff as the nerds and Gryffindor as those who just seemed to fit in fine.  But, as I said before, this is only my opinion. We all know that Luna Lovegood is far from being a jock, let alone, a cheerleader, and Cedric Diggory is difficult to depict as the low self-esteem, bookish sort.

Reference[s]: www.wikipedia.com

Once you get your hands heavy with these books, there’s no turning back, why? Because it’s just too brilliant to snap it shut! This I knew from experience and believe me when I tell you, it’s literally magic! Despite it being a children’s book, for the first half of the series that is, the Harry Potter saga is a piece of magnum opus that won fans of all ages praising each and every page. Who else to thank but the majestic mind who made it all possible through paper and an old manual typewriter, Joanne “Jo” Murray, best noted as J.K Rowling, was the brains behind this hugely successful work of literature. It was in the midst of a delayed train trip to London sometime in 1990, when Rowling, out of boredom I presume, created an orphan boy and named him Harry Potter. You can say Rowling was an enchantress herself after having accomplished bringing a realm of flying cars, talking mails, moving staircases and screaming books into life with the tips of her fingers!

Harry James Potter was no ordinary boy. As it happens, he couldn’t name one moment in his life that was halfway near ordinary. After having spent his childhood years inside a cupboard with three vile relatives chaining him with endless chores, Harry then faces the following chapter of his life studying magic and dueling with the darkest wizard of all time. Striving against a war and, at the same time, struggling with teenage life, Harry, along with his faithful companions Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, journey through out their seven-years term in Hogwarts, encountering countless of adventures fighting off mountain trolls, giant serpents, gargantuan spiders and fire-breathing dragons. Adventures that will, sooner or later, lead to a matter of life and death.

A story of suspense, action, comedy, tragedy, romance, thriller and drama, Rowling did not only triumph in pushing her readers in the very edges of their seat, she had also inspired thousands of fans with her input of friendship, love and honor. Apart from her outstanding style of writing, Rowling also managed to link fantasy with reality; most of the general predicaments in her novels are chiefly influenced by the major crises we are facing today such as wars, racism, sexism, terrorism, corruption and absence of independence and freedom. In conclusion with her influential narratives, Rowling implies the message that even magic can’t fix everything.

In addition to its success, the Harry Potter books continue to be an implement of inspiration for young writers, such as myself, in applying the talent of writing as a basis in making rational differences in our society. It is a given expectation that this notable masterwork will continue to motivate readers in the values of equality and ethnics and will remain an unforgettable hallmark of excellence in the history books of literature and entertainment.

Reference[s]: www.wikipedia.com

Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

Film Review by Isaiah Galarza

__________________________________________________

I am NOT a fan of J.K. Rowling. I found the books dry and boring and much too adolescent. I could, perhaps, be persuaded to read them aloud to my children once they’ve reached the age of reason or I might make a Christmas gift of them to my Nephews. Though, if sorcery and witch-craft are what you are looking for, then I suggest devouring a few Anne Rice novels… which are certainly NOT for children. However, being a Director myself, I felt obliged to at least see the Harry Potter films (That and it seems I only date girls who REALLY REALLY like Rowling.)

The movie The Sorcerer’s Stone was okay- it set up the universe but the ending was rather disappointing because NOTHING HAPPENED. In the climax of the movie Harry didn’t do anything, he didn’t fight the evil villain, rather he just locked gazes with some guy in a turban. The Chamber of Secrets was totally blasé- Harry was in a hot-tub with a nerdy ghost, but at least he had his sword and kicked some python tail. Yet it really didn’t add anything to the overall plot of the series and was kind’ve like going to Disney’s California Adventure… once you get there you realize it’s just a photocopy of something else. The Prisoner of Azkaban was cool- it was the first time we saw Harry pissed off and we got to see the great Gary Oldman as Sirius Black. Here, we find that Sirius was in wizard-jail for over a decade for a crime Peter Pettigrew committed. But at the conclusion of this movie, does Pettigrew get his due? Does Sirius get his vengeance? No. Pettigrew gets away, and Sirius is a fugitive of the law. They’re in basically the same situation at the end of the movie as they were when they started. So far nothing’s blowing my skirt up. Then the travesty of The Goblet of Fire is unleashed. We finally get to see the evil Lord Voldemort- the baddest wizard in the netherworld, the Darth Vader of Wicca, the one who killed Harry’s parents, and what does the Prince of Evil do? The greatest physical harm the Dark Lord casts upon Harry is… (drum roll)… he flicks Harry on the forehead.

W H A T  -  T H E  -  H  E  L  L   ! ! (Okay, Cedric dies, but nobody cares.)

THEN!… something remarkable happens. Completely out of nowhere, without any precedence, we have a masterpiece. David Yates is an English Director who’s most recent claim to fame was “Sex Traffic” and “The Girl in the Café”- both were made for British TV. Michael Goldenberg was the screenwriter who adapted the screenplays for only two other films. Nicholas Hooper is a composer who also has only two feature films to his credit. These are not exactly the guys you want to entrust a billion dollar franchise to. But what they were able to accomplish is absolutely extraordinary and far beyond what the Hollywood heavyweights were able to do previously. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is one of the best films of 2007 and is certainly the best in the franchise. No other movie of ’07 had so much universal appeal and was a complete story free of all the contrived tricks-of-the-trade most blockbusters utilize. This film had no pretensions whatsoever. It told the story of an angry young boy who is frustrated with the world he lives in and how blinded fear can make the institutions lead by adults.

The score deserves the Oscar as it is sublime and never eclipses the emotional angst of the characters. “Fireworks” is a track on the score that is jovial in its English pedigree and leads into hard rock in a vein of teen rebellion. “Dumbledore’s Army” speaks of adolescent optimism in the face of impossible odds. “Flight of the Order of the Phoenix” is a superb march, which invigorates the audience for the adventure to come. “The Kiss” is tender and innocent and explores newfound love kindling in the midst of chaos. But the most prolific track of this exemplary score is “Possession”. So muted an undercurrent is this piece that it creeps up on you and it allows the scene for which it was written to transcend celluloid and grip you into the drama. As it crescendos it resonates a thunderous lull into your senses that expresses the simultaneous tragedy and triumph of the crisis at hand, and leaves you with only a heightened sense of the stillness the moment when one faces their own death innately has.

That piece of the score is used in the climax of the film, yet it follows three (3!) action-packed battle scenes- any one of which would have sufficed as the climactic conclusion of the film. But Michael Goldenberg and David Yates had other plans. They gave the film something that was NOT in the book… an emotional climax that epitomized why Harry Potter is the hero. After Harry and his friends fight the bad guys. After the Order of the Phoenix combat the Death Eaters. And after Dumbledore brawls with the Dark Lord. All the magic in the world could not save Harry from his archenemy- Lord Voldemort. The ultimate evil could not be defeated by Dumbledore and tragedy befell Harry’s Godfather, Sirius Black. At the moment when Voldemort was invading Harry’s mind and fear, terror and hatred seemed to be winning, only one thing could save him. It was not an Unforgivable Curse, it was not Harry’s comrades, it was not the spirit of Harry’s parents… It was something every human being has the capacity of wielding, Pureblood or Muggle. It was Harry’s ability to love and therefore empathize with his adversary that allowed him the grace to vanquish evil. Yates directed Danielle Radcliffe exorcising his demon in such a cinematic furor that I would rank it among the great existential duals of all time. Mark Day, the films Editor, deserves accolade. And set against the hypnotic music of Hooper, this event, though having no action in any normal sense of the word, proves to be THE defining moment of all five films thus far. Dare I say, the most exquisite scene of any film all year.

And so, I ask you to view this film, for some of you more than once, with what I have said in mind. It is by no means the greatest film ever made. However, in the year of “300” and “Transformers” one blockbuster taught children that love can overcome the greatest of malevolence.

I know its too late to even blog about this but since its my blog…well I decided to do it

Anyways this is one of the many books that I would like to read over and over. The final book of the series…the Deathly Hallows picks off where book 6 left…the hunt for the remaining horcruxes – Salazar’s locket, Ravenclaw’s Diadem, Hufflepuff’s Cup, Nagini and finally Harry himself.

Accompanied by Ron and Hermione, Harry chooses to leave school in search of the horcruxes aided by the clues and artifacts that Dumbledore leaves to the three in his will. Meanwhile, Voldemort expands his power to the extent of taking over the ministry and acting from behind the scenes. He still fears Harry and so puts out rumors that Harry and his friends are fugitives.

The adventure takes the Gryffindor trio across the coast as they hunt for horcruxes and the means to destroy them. And the journey is not just about the horcruxes…we get to know a whole lot more about Dumbledore, his background, his friendship and enmity with Gellert Grindelwald, an ex-dark wizard not to mention the roots of Harry and Voldemort’s ancentry through the tale of the 3 Peverell brothers – Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus which explains the 3 Hallows which if united can help the wizard master death.

Deviating from the main plot, I found the concept of mastering death a bit interesting… the wand would give you immense power over others, the resurrection stone would let you communicate with the dead while not really reviving them per se…and the cloak would let you stay undetected for long and escape almost every curse. But how can you master death by yourself?

Anyways…the climax to the whole plot is the grand battle that is fought between the death eaters and the wizarding community at Hogwarts and where Harry realizes the means to the end…to finishing Voldy. And Voldy stubborn as ever refuses to realize the truth in Harry’s last speech and so dies.

Here’s yet another story of good vs evil…but told in a different context with a new contemporary feel to it. The characters I liked the most here are Harry and Hermione…ofcourse Ron too. But Hermione seems to be the ever resourceful always with a solution at hand…keeping Harry and Ron going. Ron wizens up from book 6 and infact acts as the binding glue that keeps the 3 friends together until the very end.

And well Harry…he finally figures out most stuff all by himself…gets his guessworks right not to mention keeps very level headed. Neville comes out well surprising everyone with his brevity and defiance of the death eaters. And that is so heartening to read through. Rowling really outdid herself on this one…A perfect conclusion to the long drawn series. A memorable one infact.

On the whole, a book that is a must read for those who haven’t read it yet…and one that would remain on my bookshelf the longest for sure I can only hope that the movies justify the book.

Review by Todd Murphy www.allaboutmovies.net

Directed by David Yates — Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman

RATING: 6.5/10

Click Here for the original review

BOTTOM LINE: The sixth film in the series continues on a darker narrative path, with a very even and mysterious tone with glorious visuals. However, as with the other films in this franchise, this is very light stuff indeed story-wise, making it hard to recommend to any one looking for a story with a bit of meat on the bone or a genuine cinematic experience.

THE GOOD: The Harry Potter films have become just as big a gold mine as the novels they are based upon and “The Half Blood Prince” continues this tradition with a much richer visual texture, darker overtones, and a somewhat quieter and subdued tone that is both welcome and unexpected. This time out Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is entrusted by Dumbledore to find out more information about his nemesis Lord Voldemort and his connection to new wizard teacher Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), all with the unexpected help of a text book formerly owned by the “Half-Blood Prince”. As with the other films, the twenty odd minutes specifically devoted to the Harry-Voldemort story line are quite fascinating, and subsequently set up a rather interesting climax to come in subsequent films. All round, the recurring cast are becoming rather good in their roles. Radcliffe looks quite comfortable as Harry, much more assured and confident as he has ever been in the role. Grint and Watson are likewise as strong, as are the entire supporting cast. The film is quieter, taking on a more sombre tone and has a moment or two that could be classified as scary; the cursed female student frozen in mid-air by an evil force certainly sends tingles down your spine. The film looks absolutely glorious visually, and is perhaps the first of the films to not look overly CG-ish and more natural. The appeal of these films is certainly for kids, although adults do enjoy them as well and on this front, this new Harry Potter film works.

THE BAD: The story is very light for a feature film. Not having read the books I cannot say if scenes have been omitted or not, but my general impression of this film, and the others before it, is that they have about a 20-30 minute section which holds the meat of the story (which is actually quite interesting), and the rest of it is devoted to the uninteresting teenage games played between the characters and the requisite and boring Quidditch match. As a result, unless you are really in to this stuff, there is hardly any meat on the story-bone. Despite the immaculate attention to visual detail and the overall good execution of performance, direction and editing, the base material barely qualifies as a cinematic experience. Harry Potter fans will probably be up in arms over this analysis, particularly given its appeal, but not every one is a fan.

Click Here for the original review

Todd Murphy is a film analyst and staff writer/reviewer for the film and DVD review web site, ALL ABOUT MOVIES.NET.

I am intrigued with this blog business and decided to try my hand at it again later this same day. When the newness wears off, it might seem like a chore but for now like any other “First” it seems exciting and full of promise. I learned from a fellow writer and experienced blogger that it is necessay to put some keywords in one’s blog so that it would get hits. What could be more popular now than the book titles of Meyers’ vampire series? Yet, I am not using the titles as a tease since I want to comment on them. I know that Steven King poo-pooed Stephenie Meyers’ writing abilities while he praised Rowling’s. My thoughts on that mattter are that King is a bit of a snob. True, Rowling’s vocabualry is extensive and very British and her imagaination is vast and fantasy -oriented as is KIng’s mind, but frankly I as a middle-aged adult prefer Meyers’ work. Her vampires are not so far out. Basically, her novels are love stories. In Twilight , we are reading the modern day story of Romeo and Juliet and the reason the love is forbidden is not that Romeo is from the wrong side of the tracks like Tony in West Side Story but that Romeo has a tragic flaw– he’s a blood sucker! So, the handsome but pale lover has his own Sylla and Charybdis to choose from. He wants to love the gal but he also wants to bite her and kill her. Ah, what to do? In the second book, he turns suicidal to save her. And she appears suicidal ( just like Juliet) Again, a dilemma as a reader wonders how a vampire can die but apparently there is a way. And we get to know Jacob better in New Moon. He is like Juliet’s Paris. He is an acceptable suitor for the girl but he also has a flaw- he turns into a werewolf that likes to attack vampires. Ah! Belle is also between a rock and a hard place. What I think is amazing is that Meyers can create such images and such three dimensional characters using a very unsophisticated vocabualry. I think this takes real writing skill!

Luego de una prolongada espera de prácticamente 2 años, llega Harry Potter y el Misterio del Príncipe, la sexta película. El 15 de julio me encontraba yo con mi entrada en la Sala C del complejo de cines más cercano, lleno de expectativa. Quizá fue eso, la expectativa… Luego de esa batalla final espectacular de la Órden del Fénix mis expectativas se duplicaron.

Si uno ve El Misterio del Príncipe sin haber leído el libro, seguramente salga un poco desorientado. La manera en que algunas escenas se desarrollan confundirán a mucha gente. Sin embargo, hubo varios agregados que sinceramente me dejaron con una sonrisa en la boca: la manera en que todo Hogwarts, reunido alrededor del cuerpo de un difunto, alzan las varitas a los cielos para eliminar a la marca tenebrosa que segundos antes Bellatrix Lestrange conjura me dejó sin palabras; el secuestro de Ollivander (adelantándose un libro), el muñeco de Umbridge en la tienda de Fred y George y  la aparición de la diadema de Rowena Ravenclaw en la Sala de Menesteres y la varita de Saúco en el escritorio de Dumbledore también. Son estos detalles y algunos más que me obligan a decir que esta película es una de las mejores. Sin embargo, los errores y omisiones me obligan a poner a La Orden del Fénix en el primer puesto.

Enumeré una lista de errores y de sus posibles soluciones que adjunto:

- Relación amorosa Lupin-Tonks – A este error no le encuentro solución. ¿Costaba tanto agregar algún parlamento que estableciera esta relación amorosa? No, sinceramente no. ¿Cómo nos damos cuenta en la película? Un “mi amor” de Tonks.

- Fenrir Greyback – Este pintoresco mortífago-hombre-lobo que aparece en varias escenas no abre la boca nunca. Ni un grito. ¿Cómo nos enteramos, quién es, de su naturaleza lobuna y de haber sido el transmisor de la enfermedad en Remus Lupin? Si yo fuera el actor, me sentiría muy deprimido.

- Las Memorias de Dumbledore - Cuando Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore comienza a mostrarle las memorias que a lo largo de su  investigación a Harry, no pude evitar notar que dos de las más importantes memorias son omitidas por completo: la de Gaunt que establece el linaje de Voldemort, la taza de Ravenclaw (imprescindible para las últimas dos) y cuando Voldemort le pide a Dumbledore ser el maestro de Defensa de las Artes Oscuras. Esta última es una escena que tenñia muchísimas ganas de ver, pero supongo que el presupuesto no daba para contratar a Ralph Finnes para interpretarlo. Supongo que podrían arreglarlo incluyéndolas en la primera parte de la séptima, si incluyen la escena del funeral.

- El Funeral – Como muchos saben, un personaje clave muere en este libro. El entierro, una escena muy conmovedora, clave para el siguiente libro (el señor tenebroso irrumpe en la sepultura para robarle cierto objeto) y omitida por completo. Esta escena, al ser el último capítulo del libro, es fácilmente incluible en Las Reliquias de la Muerte: Parte Uno.

- Snape como profesor – Esto sí que fue patético. ¿Cómo pueden no haber puesto al menos una escena de una clase con Snape? El hombre acaba de lograr su sueño y la peor pesadilla de Harry; fácilmente solucionable con un minuto de largometraje.

- Flashbacks – Una de las cosas que fue alabada por los críticos en La Órden del Fénix era la fuerte presencia de flashbacks que interconectaban a las películas. Algunas fáciles adiciones (como por ejemplo si Harry hubiera tocado el diario de Tom Riddle que destruyó en la segunda película) de tan sólo unos segundos de duración hubieran mejorado tanto la película como mi humor.

- El tema de los horcrux – No queda muy claro cómo destruirlos y haberlo aclarado en esta parte les hubiera ahorrado unos cuantos minutos de la siguiente.

- “Weasley is our king” Quidditch! – Un partido no fue suficiente. Pero, es mejor que nada ¿no?

- El príncipe mestizo – Hermione no explica el porqué del nombre “príncipe mestizo” lo que a esta altura es insultante. ¡Lleva el nombre de la película, por Dios! Otro minuto bien utilizado en la escena final en la torre de Astronomía perfectamente podría haberle puesto un punto final al tema.

- La batalla – la batalla al final de la novela fue amputada de la película. Espero que estén ahorrando para la gran batalla final, porque tiene que ser demasiado espectacular para eclipsar este error.

Para finalizar, me parece que se le hizo demasiado énfasis a Ron y Lavender y a Bellatrix Lestrange, pero le dan más ritmo a la historia y, de no haber cometido los errores ya descritos, ni lo hubiera notado.

En conclusión, Harry Potter y el Misterio del Príncipe es una buena película con excelentes actuaciones pero que podría haber funcionado mejor con un poco de ayuda al guionista. Muchos de estos errores son solucionables con una versión extendida en DVD, pero, debido a que La Órden del Fénix no la obtuvo, lo veo poco probable.