Reviews You Can Use
I’ve been wondering whether to see it or not, given that I’ve thought most of the other Harry Potter movies were pretty bad. Survey of PetiteDov says: Order of the Phoenix better than the rest and yes, Helena Bonham Carter is still crazy after all these years. Very well then. See it I shall.
Update: Speaking of Helena Bonham Carter, her grandmother was Violet Bonham Carter, née Violet Asquith, daughter of a WWI prime minister and close friend of Winston Churchill. Which I think is pretty cool.
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I was actually surprised that it was quite scary in some parts. Really well acted and enjoyable (although a bit long).
Comment by Petitedov — July 13, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
A guy in my botany class who apparently can’t read (a silly yankees fan who cheered my teacher on when he told us he failed all cubs fans for “having no common sense,” btw) was raving about the HP movies and how good they are the other day. It’s the popular opinion with the folks who don’t read. Makes you want to cry. He says he stayed up late to go to the local premiere and wore a cape. Not a cloak, a cape.
I’m not sharing specimens or hints with him anymore. He can find and identify his own darn weeds.
*wanders off to Prof. Sprout’s class to conjure up the elusive dandelinus grossus*
Comment by Anwyn's sister — July 13, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
I read Violet Asquith’s memoir on knowing Churchill in his early days, up until his seeming exile from high office in the 1920s. It was a good read, like a detailed & edited conversation with the lady over tea. Anyone who thinks they know Churchill solely from his WW II days ought to read it.
I am looking forward to this Harry Potter movie. Maybe it will be seen on the big screen this time? (I missed the first 3 in the theaters, mainly because of timing, and a laggard interest in the series.) I enjoyed the fifth book a lot, Umbridge is another literary brickbat tossed at the British educational system. (Why do British writers seem compelled to bite the hand that taught them? Must be something there…) Harry gets to stop being an apprentice hero and take action on his own, instead of waiting for Dumbledore or Hagrid to point the way. That alone ought to make the film fine viewing.
Comment by exdem13 — July 14, 2007 @ 4:22 am
Actually I don’t know nearly *enough* about Churchill during WWII because I’ve only read the two volumes existing of Manchester and John Keegan’s very short survey. I definitely need to read the Asquith nevertheless, though.
Order of the Phoenix is still my favorite HP book.
Comment by Anwyn — July 14, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Question: Will Rowling kill Harry off in the final book?
Comment by thelmajoy — July 16, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Gee, I don’t know, my advance reviewer’s copy must’ve gotten lost in the mail.
Comment by Anwyn — July 16, 2007 @ 9:29 am
thelmajoy~ I’ve got an extra copy of Sorcerer’s Stone I can loan you. It’s high time you displeased mother and reveled in the wicked witchcraft with the rest of us. ;-)
Comment by Anwyn's sister — July 16, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Ha! I will never join you. Not so much due to the anti-witchcraft thing, but rather not to be a joiner! Although I have to admit my addiction to Lost is primarily due to the urging from Anwyn to watch it.
For Anwyn’s sister: I have a new analogy for you in the form of a question.
Do candy cigarettes for children encourage smoking later on in life?
For Anwyn: Do you think Rowling will kill HP off in the final book?
Comment by thelmajoy — July 16, 2007 @ 11:36 am
I was anti-joining for the first few years after they were out. Didn’t read the first book till the first movie came out. Being anti-something because you’re anti-joiner can make you miss out on as much as being pro-something simply because everybody else is.
I’m about 50/50 whether I think she will or not. I think it would be fairly cliche if she did, and while it would have an emotional impact, it would be a fairly cheap one. I think she could make a better one by killing off a couple people close to Harry–“Look what this battle cost me,” etc.
So I have no educated opinion farther to one side than the other. I hope she doesn’t, both for the reason I mentioned and because, obviously, I don’t want Harry to die.
Comment by Anwyn — July 16, 2007 @ 11:45 am
thelmajoy~ No. I loved candy cigarettes as a child (always got them from Harry Greene’s), but smoking disgusts me beyond belief.
Comment by Anwyn's sister — July 17, 2007 @ 9:56 am
I believe the memoir of Churchill was written by the lady as Violet Bonham Carter, after the great man had passed away. Manchester might have used it as a source in his books. I don’t remember the name, my parents own it right now. Will have to look the next time I get over there.
Comment by exdem13 — July 18, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Manchester does quote Violet heavily; his indication is that she loved him very devotedly.
Comment by Anwyn — July 18, 2007 @ 8:57 am