Harry Potter and the Hyphen-Something Doodad
I can’t say I paid rigid attention to it, by which I mean that I left the room without pausing the film to get snacks, borrow thread from Gen, sign for packages, and so on. First of all, I know a few general things about the HP-verse because I live in the world, but I haven’t read the books or seen the movies, don’t plan to, and don’t care. I don’t have anything against it; if I’d started out with it, I’d probably have liked it, but life, she is short.
Second of all, I don’t have to care, because A) it’s up for Best Cinematography, so following the plot isn’t a priority, and B) it isn’t going to win anyway, so I spent the bulk of the running time hemming curtains, and when Alan Rickman came onscreen, I’d watch. (And also the scenes with the owl. My dream of having a pet owl still hasn’t died, apparently.) The rest of the time, I mostly listened.
I had a perfectly enjoyable, and in fact productive, time with the movie as a result. My in-house authorities suggest that it isn’t the best movie in the set, but it isn’t the worst either, so if you’re like me and feel merely neutral towards HP, you can survive someone making you rent it if you have something to work on to pass the time.
Death Race 37, Sarah 21; still stalled at 6 out of 24 categories completed
Tags: Alan Rickman Harry Potter and the Blah-Blah Fishcakes impractical pets of our dreams movies Oscars 2010 Death Race
Save Harry Potter for when you’re sick & bored. It’s perfect – you’ll breeze through the writing & the story will keep you engaged. I swear Harry cured me of the flu!
I always wanted my own giraffe. (Great tags, as usual!)
I keep meaning to see this movie.
I grew up with the Harry Potter series, so I almost can’t help but be fond of it, and it stands the test of time well in that I looked forward to the last book coming out in my early twenties about as much as I looked forward to the whatever-eth book coming out in my mid-teens, and have actually been meaning to go reread them. The films I could take or leave – I usually have enjoyed seeing them in the theater (other than the fact that EVERYTHING IS VERY LOUD), but am not lining up at the door at midnight on release day and usually don’t feel the need for repeat viewings.
Nevertheless: I could take or leave the owl but I want a wand. Failing that, however, I will accept a broomstick.
Oh, I want a pet owl so bad. Good to know I’m not alone there.
My father, a latecomer to the Harry Potter phenomenon but a devotee nonetheless, has been known to declare very earnestly after a few too many gin-and-tonics that he would like his own, personal owl to run errands for him and do other owl-y things. The emphasis on “personal” cracks me up every time he says it.
My second favorite movie in the series, behind PRISONER OF AZKABAN.
The HP audiobooks are fantastic. Jim Dale reads them, and he does voices, and I used to purposely miss my train so I’d have an extra ten minutes waiting for the next one to listen to them.
Alan Rickman is the only reason I’ve seen the movies. Is it wrong that he manages to come across kind of sexy to me?
Your in-house authorities are correct. I’m fondest of #5 myself because Steve Kloves didn’t write it; most people seem to appreciate #3 the most because of Cuaron.
Oh, and I agree with Margaret, the books are a total breeze (I’m rereading #6 right now). You could get through several in a day, if you didn’t have to feed the cats.
@Dsayko (and others) You should try to listen to the Stephen Fry HP-audio books too, he makes marvellous voices (his take on Lockhart cracks me up every time I hear it:-D ) – in seven books there is just one I don’t like. I personally think Dale is a bit annoying, but I’m biased – I love Fry’s voice:-)
@ Mystery Amanda,
I also don’t want an owl, I kept parakeets as a kid and they’re kind of bitey-scratchy-messy. Of course, so are my cats, but the cuddles are compensation. And I do have lots of brooms, but they’re the ordinary sweep-up-the-cathair kind, not the Quidditch and travel sort. That brings us to the wand. Thanks to my loving and talented nephew, I have my very own hand-carved wand, with an Olivander-stlye storage box, The wand’s handle is shaped into a cat’s paw. But I have to add my own magic. Gotta work on that.
Anne-I totally think Alan Rickman is sexy. He could read me a bedtime story any day!
Second on @Dsayko’s comment. Jim Dale is extraordinary as a reader. I listened to the whole series before picking up any of the books to read. If you have any kind of commute or listening time the audio books are top notch entertainment.
Anne: if it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Anne: There is no time when Alan Rickman doesn’t come across as sexy, so: No, you are NOT wrong!
@Mystery Amanda and Robin
When I got my PhD, my friend Jill’s nephew (aged 4 or 5 at the time) thought I needed a wand to go with my academic robes and silly hat, which seemed very Harry Potter-ish to him (and to me, now that it’s in my head). He was even so generous that he gave me his own wand. I carried it around most of graduation day and still have it in my office. It has sound effects!
I have a cd of former RADA students reading Shakespeare sonnets, and can I tell you? The one where Rickman whispers “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” into the mike? Holy cats in a sidecar! ::blushes, fans self::
So, anyway: HP& etc. I’m a fan of the flicks mostly to get my H!IT(B)G kicks. It’s wonderful to see all my favorite Brit actors pop up for a scene to chew. And nobody chews like the Brits. And Imelda Staunton is adorable even when evil.
When one cannot have a pet owl, the next best thing is to bookmark these photos of an angry owl in a box:
http://reynen.livejournal.com/97704.html
Sars, probably you have read it, but just in case… Farley Mowat’s “Owls in the Family”?
Sars, I agree with Margaret in CO; read the series when you have a long train/plane, etc., ride. I first read them aloud to my daughters, @ 10 years ago, and anxiously awaited the release of the final four books like a lovestruck teen waiting for the next issue of Tiger Beat! the first 2 books read more like children’s literature, but JK Rowling really hit her stride with the later books, and her writing style became much more lush as the series progressed. The final book brought me to tears on more than one occasion. It’s a great adventure, and I think you’d love the books. The movies are okay for what they are, and we’re quite fond of them in our house.
“Harry Potter and the Blah-Blah Fishcakes” may be my favourite tag ever. Thanks for a giggle on an icky winter Tuesday!
@Mollie: Love! The rage eye is my favorite.
I clicked on the link without a whole lot of thought involved and nearly inhaled an entire slice of Colby Jack cheese. Ack.
Meanwhile, I am meeting members of the Nation all over LJ.
@attica, where, oh where, can I get this cd??? This is up there with Ron Perlman as Vincent reading love sonnets on that tape my friend had in college! Yum.
And Angry Owl In A Box is now my new band name.
Oh, the third picture! My kitty routinely hides in boxes, and therein becomes The Great White Huntress of the Serengeti, Stalker of All That Moves, Queen Of All She Surveys™. My ankles bear testimony to this.
The owl is ten times more awesome than my cat.
@Jen S: right here! (The Fiennes ones are also, um, fine.)
just had to add my voice to the chorus about Alan Rickman. Ever since Truly, Madly, Deeply, I have adored him. And I can’t figure out how to italicize the movie name – sorry!
Having him portray Snape meant that I never doubted the character would be redeemed.
@Mystery Amanda: GREW UP w/the Harry Potter series? Thanks, now I feel old.
@Ferretrick: The first Harry Potter book was released in the US when I was thirteen, although I don’t think I read it until I was 14. I turn 25 on… the 25th.
I kind of feel old too. For my sister’s 11th? birthday, my mom gave her the first two books (so I guess I was about 15 or 16). After that, we were both hooked.
Sars, life IS short…precisely why you should read them! After the 1st and 2nd book they transform from children’s books to just plain amazing literature. They are awesome. The movies…meh. I feel like they butcher each book more than the last.
Oh, I am now SO IN LOVE with that owl. Especially the one-eye shot, where it looks exactly like he just popped open a tall, frosty can of asswhoop and is making sure you heard the “FWWSSSHHHH”.
That owl is going to eat Prometheus’s liver when it gets out. Just sayin’. And I wouldn’t stand too close when that happens.
See, this is why I like to dress formally (no, it’s not a non-sequitur): I have, on separate occasions, rescued a bird and a bat … in my hat. No, they didn’t start out there – I used it as a combination scoop/trap to corral them! And I rolled up two raccoon kits in my jacket when they were wandering out by themselves onto a major road (two separate trips, since the first one resulted in wrapping up one raccoon kit and one … big pile of foliage) – they made the trip to the animal rescue habitat in a proper carrier together, though. And I did a mouse scoop-and-rescue at school with my makeup bag.
Apparently, a lot of layers makes it possible to do some varied rescues.
Also? For someone who isn’t professionally engaged in rescuing Wild America, I feel as if a lot of critters have flapped, skittered, or crept across my path – and that’s not counting kitties. WUPWT?
@Mollie: the owl’s varying pupil size, even in the same pic = creeeepy.
I’m with Elisa, life’s too short not to read Harry Potter. The books’ wild popularity should not be held against them. Plot-thread-tying that would stand up to any mystery writer and such a rich universe — there’s good reason they’re beloved.