geldof again

another great australian interview. i usually think richard wilkins is a bit of a wally, but this is worth listening to.

i don't know if these links work, or stay 'active' or whatever, but i'll keep it here for the future just in case.

http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=1d041bbd-98bf-4049-b348-9c9bbefecfaf&f=39

http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=62b282f8-b90d-4536-aa55-127a38005a79&f=39


http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=79391969-ccca-4c20-abad-06d2ee797b98&f=39

how to dismantle an atomic bomb

i have been listening to this album over and over and over again.
what a fantastic album. i know i'm a die hard fan, but i'm pretty blown away.

i found it unpacking a box. we have moved a LOT. too many times to mention. my dh is pretty haphazard in his packing tecnique. (lol, mentioned this in a previous entry on this blog). so i was looking for something else entirely and there underneath an old chip packet, pair of socks - yes more socks, dobby would be overjoyed - here is a brand new copy of this album that i have LONGED to own.
i run - somewhat bemused - to ask steve how this got there and he says off hand "oh, yeh. i bought that for you a couple of years ago. was wondering what happened to it." o_0.
unbelievable.

still, this might take away some of the devestation of missing out on tickets to the (sadly postponed) concert in brisbane.

i can't even start listing great moments here cos i will just start gushing, and i really don't like gushing.

ah, well. happy dance here right now.

goblet of fire movie

well i got to look at the gof movie on dvd on the weekend. i really enjoyed the extras (not the games - yawn) but then i'm a sucker for behind the scenes stuff.

my first impressions of the movie pretty much stand now. i think it's a sophisticated fan fic.

i *wish* i could really love it. there are so many elements that are wonderful, but i just was left a bit *humpfh* about it all.

i don't really understand how you can care about the books so much (as the producer and some of the actors obviously do) and just kind of miss it.
now before everyone jumps up and down and says "it's an adaption" i KNOW that. i am quite comfortable with lots of the cuts they made. i think that it was a mighty task to bring such a huge story to the screen in anything less than mini series length.
some of the cuts/changes i am quite comfortable with.
eg.
*barty junior's backstory
*SPEW
*layered plot elements in the maze
*less quidditch world cup (sad but ok)
*voldie's eyes not red - you needed fiennes' performance

but i DON"T understand -
*why they had to totally change the point of the dragon sequence and make some time sucking chase when they were so short of time to start with! it could easily have been half as long (though after my dh worked in post production at a disney studio for a while i can totally understand some exec saying 'we've spent $x developing that dragon, let's get our money's worth)
*sirius in the fire was just RIDICULOUS i was embarassed.
*what was with barty crouch and the tongue thing? surely he could have twitched his shoulder or something else for his dad to recognise him. the tongue was too confusing with nagini etc. enough snakes already!
*butchering the mood at the end, like harry just kind of 'got over it' really quickly was awful. i've read about the 'film making rule' that after the climax you have to wrap it up in x minutes, but i was still disappointed.
the depth of harry's experience is expressed so much in the caring of sirius, mrs weasley and ron and hermione. it was so diminished.
*hagrid would not GROPE madame maxime. he's a hot blooded giant and all, but his shyness would surely not allow him to cop a feel in front of dumbledore etc!!!!!!

regarding the performances:
gambon ..... *sigh*
i kept an open mind for this second viewing. i put harris out of my head all together. but when he came rushing in and shoved harry up against the cabinet... i mean HONESTLY! and even more offensive was how he was draping himself over fleur delacour before the third task. i do like that he was more energetic and had the sparkle that poor old richard was lacking in cos due to his ill health, but he had none of the self possession and dignity of dumbledore. he had none of the aura of great wisdom. yes, he is troubled about events and finds himself without all the answers, but he wouldn't be falling apart all over the place!

emma watson.
her eyebrows were distracting me!

rupert grint.
i love him as ron. his querelous "where!?!?" when told to hold professor mcgonnagal's waist was priceless. he has been limited by the movie characterisation i think, but has it down imo.

dan radcliffe.
he's not the greatest actor of the age, but i buy him as harry. he captures something of his inner world i think. given the material and the way things are cut i think he does really well. the next movie will really show if he has the goods or not.

maggie smith.
perfect

tom felton.
it annoys me that he doesn't have the same accent as his father. (who is also spot on imo)

gleeson
i liked his moody. he was cantankerous and quirky. i could see why harry would trust him and feel betrayed by him.

fleur (can't remember the actor's name)
just not veela enough. gorgeous in a very human way, but not statuesque and intoxicating!

SO
the flow from one thing to another just didn't win me over. i didn't get swept up. i couldn't suspend my disbelief. i don't mind fast pacing, or slow pacing or whatever , as long as it works. i wish i loved this movie, but somehow the whole just didn't end up greater than the sum of it's parts to me.

however, not everyone agrees with me.
here are some thoughts of others more learned than myself.
http://swordofgryffindor.com/2006/03/21/goblet-of-fire-pensieve/


http://www.mugglematters.com/2005_11_01_mm_archive.html
scroll down about half way to these two posts
Worth the Price of Admission - and then some
Merlin's Movie Review of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
and
A Couple other Notes About the Goblet of Fire Movie

melencholy

it is the pits really. and it's all because of possibilities and lost opportunities. true grief has a purpose i can embrace. but this melencholy has no bounds and benefits nothing.
aaaagghhhhh!

hp course

travis at sword of gryffindor has been posting the lessons from a literature course he's taking at a local college. it has some good questions as a starting point for looking into the harry potter series.

http://www.swordofgryffindor.com/

gryffindor the brave

i was reading a part of a discussion about the 'train incidents' in HP. some people were referring to the fact that on a number of occassions, a higher number of gryffs hex a lesser number of slytherins (one scenario citing 5 to 3). the comment was then made "how's that for so called gryffindor bravery?". several other comments along the same lines also referring to the less than perfect morality of some character's actions.
it was bugging me and i think i have worked out why.
there is a mistaken assumption made in using the word 'bravery' to mean 'nobility'. these two things are quite distinct i think, though often overlap in the execution.

it's good to work that out.

cheers,
jo