Monday, 23 July 2007

Two Films And A Book

Well it was an eventful weekend for me. Ok, not exactly eventful. I'm hyping it up a little. Maybe a lot. Definitely a lot. There was the Saturday morning hangover, and this time I tried my boyfriends cure. Sleep through it. It worked better than any of mine. I might try it again.


So to the events.


First, the new, and final, Harry Potter book came out. Personally I wasn't one of those who camped out overnight, or pre-ordered it. It all seemed a bit pointless. It's not like the publishers where going to produce just a handful was it ? Buying a copy was unlikely to be an issue. I mean they wouldn't have wanted to leave anyone in the awful predicament of having to borrow it off their lucky friends. Where's the profit in that ? And as I expected, I had no problem picking up a copy at a reasonable time of day. Post hangover of course.


I did a little rereading before allowing myself to curl up and set out on the new adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the final instalment. It hit all the right spots as far as I am concerned. I won't say any more on the unlikely chance that someone stumbles across this before they read it. I'll wait a little. After finishing it I checked out some of the Harry Potter forums. I do not by nature frequent forums, but none of my friends had finished reading it I just wanted to share some of my "Did you.....?", "I can't believe....." "What about ...." and "OH MY SAINTED AUNTS !!!" with someone. Ok so that last one is somewhat more polite than I would normally be, but there might have been kids present. I really wish I hadn't bothered. I did not share any of my happy with anyone, just left wondering WHY ?



Why do some people ask really stupid questions ? Did they read the book ? No, really, I'd like to know. Questions along the lines of "What was X about ? They never mentioned it again." So the next chapter wasn't in your copy then ? Pivotal pieces of the story where missing from just your copy ? I'd get a refund. Or "What happened to Y ?" Again I ask, did you actually read the book ? 'Cause in my copy it told you what happened to Y. Really it did. We are not talking about curious little details here, not things that only a true obsessive, clued into every last twist and turn, would get, we're talking about fairly major plot pieces. I might be having a go at kids here which seems dashed unsporting but, to be honest, I think the stupid questions where from adults. I suspect most kids were off talking to their pals about it, in person. Having read and completely understood the whole thing. Possibly on levels way beyond anything I did, or care to. It seemed to tick off some other people too. They could be bothered posting replies.


Next gripe. The number of people who thought that the whole thing was way too predictable. This hacked me off. As another kindly, hacked off type pointed out the author has been leaving clues as to the direction the book might take, and people have been generating theories for about a year. If you regularly visit the forums, discuss the clues, or possible clues and read the theories then yes, it's possible, even likely, that you anticipated some of the book, maybe more. I didn't. And neither did everyone who will ever read the book. So no, I didn't think it was predictable beyond what I have learned to expect from a grand good v evil storyline. Very few of those have a totally unexpected outcome. Go figure.


And on to all those who decided they didn't like where Ms Rowling took the book - go write your own. Oh I really am a sour puss sometimes. And I like it.



So much for the book, on to the films. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Transformers. Enjoyed the Harry Potter film. Dolores Umbridge was ever bit as fluffy and unpleasant as she should be. Well dome Imelda Staunton. When I read the book I couldn't imagine who would play her, and while Ms Staunton lacks the toad like quality, I think any actress would have, I thought she was marvellous. All the more offensive for her pink fluffiness. Transformers was brilliant. Cheesy, funny and plenty of giant transforming robots. Perfect. Shia LaBeouf was fab. I first really noticed him in Holes where he did a great turn as Stanley Yelnats and he was highly entertaining again as Sam Witwicky. To be honest, right at this moment I can't think of anything else to say about it. But that's because I am tired, not anything to do with the film. Optimus Prime rules. Yay.


Need to go sleep. Too much Potter reading.

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