Friday night, waiting on mascarpone cupcakes

[cleolinda]

So I saw OOTP again on Thursday, because I am just that big a loser. My mother wanted to--well, she wanted to see Transformers, but my sister wanted to take a friend of hers to see OOTP, and obviously she can't drive while she's on painkillers, so my mother got shanghai'd into seeing Harry Potter instead. Fortunately she liked it, although she said she wished she'd known she was going to end up seeing it in the theater, since she would have rewatched GOF in that case. She's a casual DVD viewer of the series, really; never touched the books in her life. Anyway, I did notice that, when you first see Kreacher muttering to himself, after Harry walks up the staircase and away, he turns to the wall... where he starts talking to the covered portrait of Sirius's mother. Moreover, you can actually hear her muttering back, so she did make it in, in some small form. Also, I listened to the music a bit more carefully this time, and while I still don't know that it's as memorable as anything from the third or fourth movies, I do think I like the music to the all-out battle in the veil room.

God, I hope I'm not coming down with something. I've been chilly and achy and tired the last couple of days.

Linkspam:

Via newsong: Blogathon 2007, for charitable causes. It sounds like the kind of thing I'd love to do in theory, but--somewhat ironically, given that I don't get out of the house enough--I'm not sure that I could guarantee that I could be there all 24 hours.

Via notashamed: 1_18_08, for all the known facts about Cloverfield, as opposed to 011808, which is for discussion and speculation. Speaking of which, there's a strange new picture up at the 1-18-08 official site.

Catching up on a comment from tzikeh: "J. Alfred Lolfrock - Rip-off. Not cleverly thought up by the poster, but massively, massively ripped off, and with no attribution."

Lady Bird Johnson dies at 94.

Police: Fake cop pulls over real cop.

Miss NJ reveals alleged blackmail photos... which were obtained from her Facebook. I'm telling you, people, once you put it on the internet, you cannot take it off. ETA: Pageant rules Miss N.J. can keep crown; Miss NJ releases Facebook photos; World says "Wait, that's it?"

FBI: Collar-bomb victim a plotter; Bomb plot suspect's alibi: Body in freezer.

Mom says she, toddler kicked off plane "after she refused a flight attendant's request to medicate her son to get him to quiet down and stop saying 'Bye bye, plane.' [...] Penland said other passengers began speaking up on her behalf, and the flight attendant announced they were turning around and that Penland and Garren were going to be taken off the plane."

"Fewer high school students are having sex these days, and more are using condoms. The teen birth rate has hit a record low."

New search begins in Earhart mystery.

Report: Pirate attacks up sharply.

Bus-sized squid washes up on beach. NOOOO NOT MY KRAKEN!

Prince CD giveaway angers industry.

Gunman tastes wine, cheese, then leaves, "request[ing] a group hug before departing."

Oh hi. You need new socks.

From lezopez: 11 movies saved by historical inaccuracy.

Book chain pulls Tintin from children's sections.

The 20 best and worst celebrity blogs.

'Xanadu': A flop on screen, a waste on stage.

Okay, I had long enjoyed "EAT SHIT, JESSICA, IT'S CARROT!" as one of the great fandom lines, but I hadn't realized until now that it comes from a video. Watch Graham Norton read fangirl message board posts aloud (in appropriate Valley Girl tones) while Orlando Bloom giggles helplessly, and see if it does not make your entire day.

Latest 'Potter' sets box office record. Well, duh. A little Harry Potter minispam for you:

Entertainment Weekly articles: Bonham Carter: ''I took my sadism a bit too literally'' (or, of perforated eardrums and duels that got cut); Daniel Radcliffe bares his...thoughts; On-set secrets from darkest ''Harry'' yet; scans from the new issue itself.

Interviews: ComingSoon.net interview with the kids: If you've ever wondered how a director affects an actor's performance, Daniel Radcliffe gives a couple of fairly good examples. Also includes the surreal exchange, "Who do you think's going to die?" "I think it could be you actually." Also, the three kids doing Moviefone's Unscripted interview, where they ask each other questions sent in from readers. ("What was the most extreme thing a fan has ever done?" "Oh, the girl in the towel!" "No, no, no, we're way past that now.")

Fun: HP Spoiler Generator ("Severus Snape burns down Hogwarts, and everybody celebrates after signing a massive advertising contract with McDonalds"; "Ron Weasley is killed by a crazed fan in the lounge, with the candlestick"; "Voldemort kills Hedwig the Owl with the help of a small zombie cat"); new wand replicas at Noble Collection (if nothing else, you get a closer look at what the movie prop wands look like); Daniel Radcliffe visits a Japanese all-girls' Hogwarts; 'Hogwarts' school to open in India. Also, of all the Harry Potter tribute bands, I have to say that "Weasleys Tore My Flesh" probably wins on name alone.

Oscar campaigns crop up in summer's heat.

trailer_spot: 10,000 B.C., Sleuth, Bee Movie, 11th Hour, Golden Age, Feast of Love; Lust Caution, Dark Is Rising, December Boys, Death Sentence, Get Smart, In the Valley of Elah.

Dark Is Rising official site.

Golden Compass Posters: Exclusive First Look.

Say It Ain't So -- Daniel Craig Says 'Bond 22' Will Contain Roger Moore-Style Comedy. WELL AT LEAST MY MOTHER WILL BE HAPPY.

Dark Knight Teaser Debuts in Two Weeks.

Movie Pics: 'The Night Watchman,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Cloverfield,' and Woody's 'Midnight in Barcelona.'

Naomi Watts Joins Clive Owen in Tom Tykwer's 'The International.'

James Marsden Gets ‘Enchanted’ For Real-World Disney Fairy Tale. Another trailer I saw at Midnight Harry Potter (and which our audience loved).

A casting breakdown for four Watchmen roles.

Pajiba's scathing review of Captivity, " I Am Pissed the Fuck Off": "But, more than anything, I don’t want anyone to see this film — I want it to fail spectacularly. I want the filmgoers of this nation to prove that we’re above this sort of contempt and hate of the female sex. That we’re not actually a nation of sick, twisted frat-boy fuckers who’d get off on this sort of deprivation. That there is a line, and that we, collectively, recognize that it’s been crossed, and we won’t subsidize it anymore. That we can reluctantly accept the insulting comedies, the drab thrillers, and the tiresome, lifeless romantic comedies, but that this sort of noxious cinematic poison is not only deplorable, but morally criminal."

Sam Rockwell Confirmed to Star in 'Choke.'

Ronan To Star In Lovely Bones. Saoirse Ronan--"Seersha" is the pronunciation I'm hearing?--is also young Briony in Atonement.

Potential Artemis Fowl cast?

Warner Bros. Acquires Septimus Heap.

Spielberg Eyes Chicago 7.

Cheadle and Pearce Sign to Star in Steve Martin Espionage Thriller.

Proyas Counts on Dracula Year Zero.

'Young Indiana Jones Chronicles' Finally Coming to DVD.

Alec Baldwin: Please Don't Go See My New Movie. Well, "new," but it was made in 2001 and shelved since then, so...

Comments

[lafemmezilla.livejournal.com]

That Graham Norton / Orlando Bloom bit is hysterical! It DID totally make my day, thank you miz cleo. :)

As for Roger Moore, well, he's fun too!

[flamingtoilet.livejournal.com]

Prince is fucking brilliant. We need more musicians to take a stand against the idiots running the music industry. It's the only way to get any change made.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

You know, really, he's just ensuring that people hear his music, which somehow, the actual record companies aren't managing to do. I'm just sorry it's not included in *my* newspaper.

[ambiguousreason.livejournal.com]

the "eat shit, jessica, it's carrot" video is one of the greatest things i've ever seen. i love it.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Re The Dark is Rising trailer: yes, I've waited more than twenty years to hear a generic, American-accented Will Stanton say "Awesome!"

There is no containing the hate.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I kind of want this movie to bomb so hard that it will stand as a warning to all other movie adaptations: it's only the reasonably faithful ones that make the money.

[cosette-esk.livejournal.com]

I have been waiting for an Artemis Fowl movie since I was 12! They better start working on it. I haven't even read the Last Colony yet I got to depressed after codename Vegetable died. Helena Bonham Carter goes down in history as one actress that I will like in anything I see.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

The Graham Norton interview cracks me up EVERY time I watch it, and I've watched it countless times. It's THAT good.

[elina.livejournal.com]

The most awesome thing about "Weasleys Tore My Flesh" is that it's a beautiful rip-off of the most perfect haiku-ender ever. Like so:

The night is so dark
I am alone...as ever
Weasels rend my flesh

[leucocrystal]

Hey, if seeing it twice makes you a loser, well then so am I, because after walking out from seeing it today (for the first time, I'm afraid), I was compelled to turn right back around, go in and watch it again. :)

Also, I just had to let you know that your review has been a great source of shorter, much more articulate versions of my own thoughts on many aspects of the film, so thank you very much for that.  I linked to you a few times in my own review (which I just posted, since I guess I couldn't wait), in fact.  Because, as usual, your thoughts on things are pretty damn awesome. :)

[this-quiet.livejournal.com]

If I recall correctly, the towel incident was something that was also mentioned in previous interviews.... there was a girl in a towel who just randomly turned up and started chasing the car DanRad was in down the street, right?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I want to say the towel had something written/printed on it, and then she opened it and flashed him. And he was way young at the time--this was maybe circa Chamber of Secrets?

[jennnk.livejournal.com]

steve martin espionage thriller? bwuh? am I thinking of the wrong steve martin? father of the bride steve martin?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I want to say he's done a couple of straight roles--The Spanish Prisoner? And I haven't seen it, but I think Shopgirl was more seriousish.

[jaded-lady.livejournal.com]

nice linkspam! the cast(?) for artemis fowl would be perfect -- jason statham is exactly who i picture for butler, and of course, kiera knightly = <3

the hbc article reminded me of all the reasons why her bellatrix just did not work for me.

[sennical.livejournal.com]

Okay, I just cried with laughter over the "EAT SHIT JESSICA, IT'S CARROT" video. How have I not seen that before?

[lyrainverse.livejournal.com]

YES YOUNG INDIANA JONES!!! This is how I fell madly in love with Sean Patrick Flanery. Except at the time I called him "Seen."

Also, I'm guessing that "Weasleys Tore My Flesh" is a ripoff/homage to "Jaguars Ripped My Flesh," a collection of Tim Cahill's travel writings. (I wouldn't know that except I have that book on my shelf right next to me.) Or else it could be related to a number of other things that I'm too lazy to Google right now.

[dives.livejournal.com]

Oh maaaaaaaan I remember the towel girl. In fact, I think I used to post at a forum she was on.

I feel old now.

Re: Fowl casting, I maintain Theodore Chester (http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0cwBsGw4jGTvqKj5EfIhY76Djmbq2VNq6ctpCFcGgeFpF*BCuvu2Vjbq8U8eEIJiI4xfhEXH8!6wlNRwxJs7jaFzJDZdwExE77JKHO2igZxHBXY4fInF!Xs*XbwKism3C41fhGJqFhOL!UV522abXmQZJLLfzObj!gaVOcUC9q9Q/Slightly%20says%20brace%20yourselves%20lads.BMP?dc=4675517363788869890) (he was in that new Peter Pan, and apparently nothing else?) would be great as Artemis-- I think he might be a touch old now (16, I think), and he doesn't seem to be Making A Career or anything, but whatever.

[ter369.livejournal.com]

So I saw OOTP again on Thursday, because I am just that big a loser.

I lose bigger. I saw it 3 times in 48 hours.

It can sound a bit rude or oneupmanship-y when folks do this, which I don't intend at all, but I'll go ahead and say that I did hear Kreacher and Mrs. Black complaining together on my first viewing. I like that a bit of dialog from the book is going on among the Order when the kids are trying to listen in on the extendable ears, and I'm pretty sure Sirius calls Snape "Snivellus". That scene-stealing cat gets the laughs at that point.

This last viewing, I realized that Harry wears the same T-shirt in the final scene (walking to the train) as he did in the opening. It looks whiter and brighter in the final scene. I also thought more about the scene where he's packing his trunk to leave at the end of the year. He seems to be picking out a lingering piece of glass in his hoodie.

This viewing, I realized it's like he's packing away part of childhood, which is why he's in the more formal jacket at the end, the one he wore to his hearing. Alas, this may be the end of the Potter hoodie.


Also, I listened to the music a bit more carefully this time, and while I still don't know that it's as memorable as anything from the third or fourth movies, I do think I like the music to the all-out battle in the veil room.

The music during the battle in the veil room, all those bass strings, is great. Much of the score is twee and annoyed me. Whatever is playing during the Twins' departure from Hogwarts sounds like something out of River Dance. And there's a big lift from the opening of Les Miz when Harry and Arthur step out of the phone booth into the Ministry's foyer.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, in my defense, the midnight crowd was kind of vocal, so it was hard to hear everything--I did catch "Snivellus" the second time.

(Aww, hoodie!)

And the score during the rest of the movie... isn't that great. Like when the kids are running down to Hagrid's (I think?), and it's all cutesy xylophones (I think? I'm not good with instruments). But I love the Ministry bass strings--there's something about the way it works with the movement on screen. It's very... I don't even know the words for it. Stern and oblique, or something. Oblique in the sense that another composer might have scored each spell individually in a really obvious way. But the Hooper track is more like a grim curtain behind the action.

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

After some of these horrendous-sounding book adaptations, I think Choke will be awesome. Anjelica Huston is EXACTLY who I pictured as Victor's mom. That alone makes me extremely excited.

At first I thought that

[xander77.livejournal.com]

Girl in the towel seemed like a Girl in the Tower riff, and we'd have some news about a KQ6 remake/movie/parody (which would rock)

A link of minor interest:
http://www.truthandbeautybombs.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=4997&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Turns out that removing Garfield's remarks in "Garfield" improves the quality of the strip (well, duh, any change would) and turns it surreal/pathetic/hilarious. Some of the essays linked (and TVTropes) will probably have a major effect on my writing.

[r-a-black.livejournal.com]

I noticed that scene with Kreacher the first time I saw it, and it felt really eerie to watch him doing that, since he was polishing what looked like the spot under her portrait where her name would be. You can hear her muttering the stuff she yelled in the books, you know like "Filthy half-breeds besmirching my house" and then Kreacher saying something like "Don't worry mistress, Kreacher is here."

I really liked that they kept details like that in, ones only the bigger fans would really have kept an eye out for, you know like Bode in the elevator with the chicken breathing fire in the box. In this case though, I think they changed his name to Bob, because that name came up in the credits along with other names that come around that scene, but then again I can't even be sure that they did the whole thing by order of appearance.

Anyway, those are the things I always find amusing, because in a while I'll be watching this over on DVD with my brother, and I'll be constantly saying "That's Sirius's mother behind that thing. That man was killed by Devil's Snare. That woman, and that woman gets killed, though we don't hear about it till the next book..." with my brother going "WHAT?" every so often.

[inner-critic.livejournal.com]

Actually, just as a piece of useless trivia, that man's name is Bob in the book as well as the movie. Broderick Bode is an Unspeakable working for the Department of Mysteries. Bob with the fire-breathing chicken works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

I'm probably only saying this to compensate because I failed to notice Kreacher talking to the portrait of Sirius' mother, and now feel incompetent.

[marumae.livejournal.com]

Oh my Mom and I read Septimus Heap, they were cute but very corny and fun books. I don't quite know what to think of them being translated into movies.

I freaking LOVED 'Get Smart' as a kid and I cannot WAIT until the movie comes out *shakes fist* you'd better not SUCK.

I'm also amused we have just about every actor in Hollywood and beyond being rumored for Watchman, wasn't this project cancelled ages ago? I swear there was even a website up before it was taken down, or am I dreaming?

Oh it's about time they dusted of Artemis Fowl, I know the fans were a little bitter that it wasn't getting the "Harry Potter" treament certainly. I personally was never fond of the books, but still..

Enchanted looks so adorable, what do you think Cleo my love?

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I loved Get Smart as a kid too, and I have great respect and affection for Steve Carell because of the 40 Year Old Virgin and The Office (though more so the former than the latter), so I'm hoping he didn't make a mess of it.

[lauramcvey.livejournal.com]

They're making a Septimus Heap movie already? I enjoy the books, but a lot of it is- how do I put this?- inspired by Harry Potter.

I actually feel kind of sorry for the flight attendant. I mean, it was wrong to kick the woman off the plane, but I think we've all had moments when we want to scream at parents to shut their kids up already. I was in a bookstore last week, and this kid- about four or five- was running around in circles screaming his head off while the mother just stood there and smiled. I wanted to smack the kid. Then again, the article doesn't say if the mom tried to quiet the boy down.

:D

[lymonyfresh.livejournal.com]

"Ron Weasley blows up the Houses of Parliament from an abandoned insane asylum"

...wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.

Re: :D

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Hee. I want to see the version of Movie 2 where Tom Riddle brings Ginny down to his Chamber of Music Secrets and shows her his life-size Wedding Ginny doll.

[maeritrae.livejournal.com]

Your pronunciation of Saoirse is accurate. It means freedom.

[animejosse.livejournal.com]

Wait, the mom wouldn't drug the kid, so the flight attendant - despite the fact that no one else seemed to mind - kicked her and the kid off the plane? O__o

Oh, and hi. Decided to stop lurking after unexpectedly finding your book in my favourite shop. I loved the book, especially the tiny white mice.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Aww, yay! Glad you enjoyed it!

[ex-hellodoll259.livejournal.com]

You aren't terribly loserish - my friend and i cancelled our friday night plans to see OOtP again, after seeing the midnight one.

Also, I think it was you looking for Remus in the old order picture - he's to the left of Lily. I checked. :p

btw, i am massively jealous you saw a golden compass trailer - we saw one about something called stardust that looked confusing.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Nah, wasn't me--I knew where Lupin was. : )

And I'm jealous *you* saw Stardust--it's my favorite Neil Gaiman book, although they're not doing a very good job with the marketing (hence "confusing"; Gaiman's talked about that on his own blog).

[token-girl.livejournal.com]

No matter how many times I see that Graham Norton clip it still cracks me the hell up. I can't believe you've never seen it. Fire your people.

Also, the Harry Potter kid's need to stop with the all out charm assault. I am only one woman and they are just too adorable lately. Especially that Rupert Grint. Having said that, I'm still not going to feel the least bit sorry for him when Emma snaps and beats him about the head with a clue bat.
"Maybe we'll die"?
Honestly.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Have you seen what Neville looks in real life, btw? DAMN.