Hogwarts Herald

According to what I think was a United Kingdom based poll, the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone, ranked in the top 10 kid’s films ever made. It was ranked number 5. It seems that most of the best films for kid’s are made by Disney or animated. Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone is part of the five on the list that were not made by Disney or Disney/Pixar. It is also one of the three non-animated movies to be on this top ten list.

Shrek was the top ranked film. Pirates of the Caribbean was ranked second. Finding Nemo was ranked third. Toy Story was ranked fourth. The Lion King was ranked sixth. Mrs Doubtfire was ranked seventh. Monsters Inc ranked eighth. Ice Age ranked ninth. Wallace and Gromit ranked tenth.

The three main actors in the Harry Potter Films all made it into the top 20 list of highest paid celebrities under 30 put together by Forbes. Of the three Daniel Radcliffe brought in the most money making $32.5 million for the year ending June 2008. That put him ahead of popular teen musicians and actors Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. Emma Watson also made the list with her earnings being $7.1 million. Rupert Grint was behind her bringing in $6.4 million, which was still enough to make the top 20 list. No one was anywhere close to the Beyonce Knowles, who is at the top of the list with $104 million. The second place person, Justin Timberlake, actually barely earned more than half of what Knowles earned, as his earnings were $57.3 million.

Below is a trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that was originally made for the Japanese market and has since been floating around the Internet.

This is an interesting trailer as it has Daniel Radcliffe introducing the trailer to Japan and even saying a few words in Japanese. It starts with the scene with Harry apparating with Dumbledore for the first time. It then shows the scene of what appears to be one of the special meals that the new Potions professor has with the students he thinks show promise of becoming important/influential wizards. It also has the odd scene that I really do not think is in the book at all with Harry and Hermione in the library and him boasting he is the chosen one after Hermione says a girl is only interested in him because he is the chosen one and then Hermione hits him on the head with a newspaper. It then has a montage of scenes about Albus Dumbledore revealing to Harry the mission he wants him to complete relating to retrieving the memory from Professor Slughorn, which certainly makes this a very revealing trailer for those who have not seen the book and in my opinion kind of gives it away too early. It also has several scenes relating to the end part when Dumbledore and Harry go on the mission to get one of the horcruxes, although, if you have not read about that in the book those scenes will not seem very obvious. It ends with Dumbledore saying “You are the chosen one, Harry. You must not fail.”

The other day Emma Watson posted an update on her website. One of the things she mentions is that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows begins doing test shots for Part 1 (remember this one is being released as two movies, i.e. it is broken into Part 1 and Part 2). Sounds like the test shot she is going in for on Monday, January 27, 2009, is mostly costume fitting, making her hair browner, and possibly also some rehearsal. She sounds excited for the shooting of the next Harry Potter movie and seeing Dan Radcliffe and Rupert Grint again, as she has not seen Dan since the summer and Rupert since the autumn.

Other things she talked about in her update is that she is taking the SATs this Saturday. Sounds like she is getting ready to apply to university and that includes some universities in the United States.

Here is an article about Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, talking about the Ron and Hermione relationship that takes place in the 7th book. He is dreading the romantic scenes that occur between Ron and Hermione in the 7th book and soon to be in the 7th movie because that means he has to film romantic scenes with Emma Watson. The kiss scene is expected to be part of the filming that begins next month for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movies. You would think it would be nothing when Rupert recently did much more graphically romantic acting in the movie Cherrybomb. Apparently, though the idea of a romantic thing with Emma Watson is more daunting.

It sounds like it is more daunting than the more intense scene in Cherrybomb because he has known Emma Watson for much longer than Kimberley Nixon, who he did the scene with in Cherrybomb. He is hoping that Emma will be similarly distracted as Kimberley was when they did the scene in Cherrybomb. He mentions they kept themselves distracted by doing crosswords in between takes on the set of Cherrybomb and that he has a stack of crosswords ready for the upcoming filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I guess even when a scene is just an act it can be nerve racking. It must be hard, though, since he has been doing the movies with Emma Watson for many years now and did not even know about the kissing part until the 7th book came out, but it has been long enough to get ready for it or to think too much about it and get more nervous. Sounds very Ron-like, though, and thus a good way to be in character.

I just found that there is another trailer for the movie now out. It shows a lot more scenes than the first one I posted about here.

Overall I do like the trailer and it looks like the movie will be exciting. However, at the same time the trailer seems to have a lot of added dialogue that is more screenplay than what I remember from the book and I only relistened to this book as an audiobook the beginning of this month, so it is rather fresh in my mind. It just seems to have a lot of added things that are not in the same spirit as the book, but I do not think they are bad enough to make it too far off from the book. This trailer does have some of the more interesting scenes, such as introducing Professor Slughorn, the part where Ron Weasley ends up accidentally ends up under a love spell meant to have gotten Harry interested one of the girls wooing over him as the Chosen One, and the when Ron collapses in Slughorn’s office because the liquor had been poisoned.

The one scene that really gets me as absurd is when Hermione tells Harry the girl he is staring at is only interested in him because he is the Chosen One and he replies “But I am the Chosen One” and then Hermione hits him over the head with a newspaper. He then says something like “K, Sorry, kidding.” This is a funny scene, but I really do not think anything like that happened in the book and it seems like unnecessary fluff when there is already is more than enough good stuff actually in the book including stuff that they probably cut to keep the movie length reasonable.

Here is an article I read yesterday about some of the real life locations that are related to the upcoming theatrical release, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It talks about five places to visit and the scenes that take place there related to the books and movies with a main focus on how they might appear in the sixth movie due out this summer.

The first location the article mentions is Hogwarts Library. The filming location for this is Duke Humpfrey’s reading room in the Oxford’s Bodleian Library. This is a medieval library that you can visit on a paid tour. There is expected to be at least one scene of Harry and Hermione in the library in the sixth movie relating to when Hermione is trying to find out about horcuxes.

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Below is a trailer for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

It does not really show much of what is in the movie, but rather pretty much just shows the scene where Harry Potter goes into the penseive and sees the memory of Professor Albus Dumbledore first meeting Tom Riddle/Voldemort at the orphanage and telling him that he is a wizard and has a spot at Hogwarts. It ends with the movie name, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince appearing on a black screen, and the below dialogue between Harry Potter and Professor Albus Dumbledore.

“Did you know sir? Then?” asks Harry,
“Did I know I had met the most dangerous wizard of all time? No.” answers Dumbledore.

It seems like this particular scene seems to quite accurately depict this part of the book, although I do not remember that last dialogue actually existing in the book.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is still over seven months away from release, but they are already beginning at least talks about the production of the two part movie for the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The actually 54 weeks of shooting begins next month in London with the first movie being expected out in November 2010.

I just read an article about Toby Jones again being Dobby the House Elf’s voice for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The House Elves have been pretty much entirely cut from most of the Harry Potter releases and it includes some rather central stuff that I was kind of disappointed that they cut, especially Hermione taking up the cause of the treatment of elves. I am glad that the House Elves will be in the final set or at least we know Dobby will be, as there are certainly two House Elves that are central characters in the last few books. If I am not mistaken the House Elves have only been in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, so far.

It even seems that there will be no Dobby or Kreecher in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which until a week ago I did not really think about being necessary. However, I recently reheard the book via audiobook and realized that those two have some very important scenes that would be quite sad to not have in the movie. I have not really researched if they are in the upcoming movie, but the article I just read about Dobby’s return in the two movies based on Book 7 made it seem like they are not.

This post is filled with stills from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie, which hopefully will actually come out this summer after several delays that seem to be mostly based on them trying to release the movie when they think it will get the most money and less to do with it being ready. I have put a few stills before the post break, but be sure to click the read more, as there are plenty more after the break.

Harry and Hermione in a Winter Scene

Albus Dumbledore

Professor Slughorn with Harry Potter and I think that might be the lucky potion in Slughorn’s hand

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Stopping by Emma Watson’s official website has been very informative for me this fine day. By the way, if you haven’t been, it’s a lovely and well designed site and you should definately visit. Different journal entries to date have updated me on some amazing things!!!

First of all, it was posted that the principal filming on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has finshed. Filming finished on Saturday May 17th, and now the entire cast and crew is “eagerly awaiting the November release.” HBP is scheduled to be released in theaters in the US November 21, 2008. I, for one, will be in line at 10 minutes to midnight in my wizarding best. My goal on the read-along is to be done with boox six in time for the November release of the film. I had better get cracking!

The next wonderful tidbit is about Harry Potter the Exhibition. That’s right, just like Titanic: The Exhibition and Bodies: The Exhibiton, there will now be Harry Potter: The Exhibition. A 10,000 square foot experience that will include costumes props and artifacts of many of the Hogwarts environments including the Gryffindor Common Room and Hagrid’s Hut. The Exhibition will be opening Spring of 2009 and will be touring the world stopping in at least 10 cities. Let’s hope Vegas is one of them. Of course, Titanic and Bodies were both supposed to be here for only a month or two, and they are both still here several years later. One can only hope the same will be true of Harry. More details as they come in, I promise!

In other news, not from Emma, it looks like Warner Brothers has heard my cry of lament. The official Harry Potter website has been updated with tons of new content. Games and graphics. Finally it is more than just an ad for the newest DVDs. It has the Sorting Hat, and Olivanders Wand Shop where you get your very own wand. And everywhere you navigate there is something interactive and fun! Thank you Warner Brothers for paying attention to what your customers want!!!

And finally, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, Scholastic has announced a special edition of SS to be released in September. The new copy of the book will have a brand new cover by Marie GrandPre as well as some extra tidbits from JK Rowling. I can’t wait!!!

The Soundtrack of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” with the movie music created by Nicholas Hooper, is now available for download on iTunes.

***WARNING - may contain spoilers***

So, it’s officially out! The fifth movie in the Harry Potter series, “Order of the Phoenix,” officially opens today - The first public screening started at 12 midnight -

It was an extremely difficult task to slice down the text of Book 5 - a book with so much (girth) plot and character development - to fit into a 2 hour film and still move along the story enough to pick up with the next installment. As I’ve read in other reviews, this is definitely a film for fans of the books; the creators took quite a few leaps of faith assuming that their audience is already aware of the back story as they hopped from plot point to plot point.

As I am a big fan of the novels, I did enjoy the movie and the experience of watching the first run of a movie.

The movie beginning was a bit long and “artsy” for the pace of the remainder of the movie - the opening scene shows Harry at a playground being tormented by cousin Dudley but Harry’s anger is quickly overshadowed by the arrival of dementors. The story is set in motion as Harry is forced to use magic in front of muggles to ward off the attack.

The Order of the Phoenix arrives at Privit Drive to rescue Harry and escort him to the Black House in London. I was disappointed in the use of the Black House - I had really enjoyed the scenes in the book that centered there -

Mr. Weasley accompanies Harry to an inquisition at the Ministry of Magic - where Harry is accused of the underage use of magic in front of muggles without cause. Luckily, Harry is cleared of the charges - but he quickly finds out that no one really believes (or wants to believe) that the Dark Lord has returned. The Ministry was well represented - showing the magical world of bureaucracy, even if at it’s worst.

Harry is able to return to Hogwarts, but it is no longer the accepting refuge that he had previously enjoyed. Between his classmates distrust and the Ministry’s attempts to stifle the students’ freedoms (personified in new Professor of the Dark Arts, Delores Umbridge), Harry feels more alone than ever, except, perhaps for his newfound compatriot, Luna Lovegood (a, seemingly, off center Ravenclaw). The movie depicted Professor Umbridge quite well, although Imedla Staunton really never resembles a toad - she’s believable as a blind follower of her superiors/ideals, but she didn’t really have the underlying ugliness that Umbridge had in the book. Luna, on the other hand, was great - her character was my favorite part of the movie.

When it become apparent that the students are going to have to act on their own if they want to continue their practical training of magic - they turn to Harry - as he is the one among them with real experience defending against really dark arts. Dumbledore’s Army is created. These scenes were great - showing the kids learning and practicing the spells, as Umbridge and her minions attempt to thwart their efforts. In the wake, we’re introduced (quite suddenly) to Hagrid’s Giant brother, Dumbledore is dismissed, George and Fred get expelled and Harry and Cho snog.

Through Harry’s new found “gift” of “seeing” the students determine that “you know who” is on the move and attacking the Order (most specifically, Sirus Black) - they journey to the Ministry to save Black and fight the death eaters. The scenes here are entertaining, but a bit scattered; again, a knowledge of the book(s) is invaluable - Sirius is killed by his cousin, Askaban escapee, Bellatrix Lestrange - Harry’s anger is again, quelled by an more dangerous presence - Lord Voldamort. Harry and Dumbledore vanquish the dark lord - but not before he is, finally, seen by the Minister of Magic and others.

There is a lot of humor and excitement in this 5th Harry Potter film. I thoroughly enjoyed it - it wasn’t 100% true to the book - but it told the story well -

Can’t wait for next week to see how it all ends!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, OOTP, Harry Potter Movies, Movie Review

until the release of the fifth Harry Potter movie, Order of the Phoenix - This time (that is, Wednesday morning) in 14 days many will have already seen the film and will be busily critiquing and analyzing.

I have not yet seen whether or not a movie theatre near me will be hosting a midnight showing of OotP on the 11th, but I’m researching it. In the event that there is no “late late” showing, I’ll be in the audience for a matinee that afternoon so we can get straight into the discussing!

***Update - my local theatre does have a midnight showing - midnight, on a week day? I’m going to have to take a nap!***

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter movies

Warner Brothers has announced that the US release of Order of the Phoenix will be July 11th rather than the originally-scheduled July 13th date. Not as creepy as Friday the 13th - but two days earlier is pretty cool.