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SWEEPSTAKES
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Harry Potter
and the Half-Blood Prince
Directed by David Yates
Screenplay Steve Kloves
Source: Novel by J.K. Rowling
Characters ... Cast:
Daniel Radcliffe ... Harry Potter
Rupert Grint ... Ron Weasley
Emma Watson ... Hermione Granger
Jim Broadbent ... Professor Horace Slughorn
Robbie Coltrane ... Rubeus Hagrid
Michael Gambon ... Professor Albus Dumbledore
Maggie Smith ... Professor Minerva McGonagall
Alan Rickman ... Professor Severus Snape
Bonnie Wright ... Ginny Weasley
James Phelps ... Fred Weasley
Oliver Phelps ... George Weasley
Julie Walters ... Molly Weasley
Mark Williams ... Arthur Weasley
Helena Bonham Carter ... Bellatrix Lestrange
Dave Legeno ... Fenrir Greyback
Timothy Spall ... Wormtail
Synopsis: In the sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, and in both wizard and muggle worlds Lord Voldemort and his henchmen are increasingly active. With vacancies to fill at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore persuades Horace Slughorn, back from retirement to become the potions teacher, while Professor Snape receives long awaited news. Harry Potter, together with Dumbledore, must face treacherous tasks to defeat his evil nemesis. (written by IMDb Editors)
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Top 10 Weekend Reports
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE / JULY 17-19, 2009
1. [Seq.] **Harry Potter #6 [WB/Debut]-$79.5 mill
Venues: 4,325 | 5-Day-CUME: $159.7 million
This segment courtesy of BoxOfficeMojo.com
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'Harry Potter' conjures up $79.5 mill/5-day domestic take totals $159.7 mill
Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” grossed an estimated $79.5 million from 4,325 theaters over the weekend for a five-day domestic opening of $159.7 million, the best start ever for the still-magical franchise. Film also was an international powerhouse. This segment courtesy of Variety.com
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JULY 24-26, 2009
2. [Seq.]**Harry Potter #6 [WB/2nd wk]-$30 mill (-61.5%)
Venues: 4,325 | CUME: $221.8 million
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JULY 31-AUGUST 2, 2009
2. [Seq.] **Harry Potter #6 [WB/3rd wk]-$17.7 mill (-39.9%)
Venues: 4,393 | CUME: $255.5 million
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AUGUST 7-9, 2009
4. [Seq.] **Harry Potter #6 [WB/4th wk]-$8.8 mill (-50.4%)
Venues: 3,455 | CUME: $273.8 million
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AUGUST 14-16, 2009
7. [Seq.] **Harry Potter #6 [WB/5th wk]-$5.2 mill (-42.3%)
Venues: 3,455 | CUME: $283.9 million [**& the Half-Blood Prince]
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AUGUST 21-23, 2009
8. [Seq.] **Harry Potter #6 [WB/5th wk]-$3.5 mill (-31.6%)
Venues: 1,936 | CUME: $290.3 million
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AUGUST 28-30, 2009
This week's Top 10 dropouts:
[Seq.] **Harry Potter #6 [WB/7th wk]-CUME: $294.4 million
This segment courtesy of BoxOfficeMojo.com
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HARRY POTTER
& THE SORCERER'S STONE
-- Perfect family fare!
3 stars (out of 4) [(2001)US-UK/WB/Rated PG] - (2 hrs. 32 min.)
Directed by Chris Columbus
Screenplay by Steve Kloves
Source: Novel by J.K. Rowling
Main cast:
Daniel Radcliffe ... Harry Potter
Saunders Triplets ... Baby Harry Potter (opening scenes only)
Emma Watson ... Hermione Granger
Rupert Grint ... Ron Weasley
Review:
R u the only one on the planet who hasn't seen it yet? 200 million dollars in 15 days (and over a 3/4 of a billion worldwide as of 2/20) - nuff said!
Great actors in very small roles include:
--Dame Maggie Smith (GOSFORD PARK)
--John Hurt (CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN)
--Richard Harris (THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO)
--Alan Rickman (BLOW DRY, DOGMA).
BUT even experienced Brit thespians get a workout against the three precocious kiddies that carry the whole show quite ably on their tiny backs. Though Robbie Coltrane (THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH) does get in some Giant-sized scene-stealing, but he's the only adult that does.
See it soon, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (second of seven films to be made) will be out by next Thanksgiving!!
Supporting Cast-Hogwarts faculty-staff:
Richard Harris ... Professor Albus Dumbledore
Maggie Smith ... Professor Minerva McGonagall
Robbie Coltrane ... Rubeus Hagrid (Hogwarts groundskeeper)
Warwick Davis ... Goblin Bank Teller/Professor Flitwick
Alan Rickman ... Severus Snape (Potions Professor)
David Bradley ... Argus Filch (Custodian)
Leslie Phillips ... The Sorting Hat (voice only)
Supporting Cast-Hogwarts students:
James Phelps ... Fred Weasley (Ron's bro/George's twin)
Oliver Phelps ... George Weasley (Ron's bro/Fred's twin)
Matthew Lewis ... Neville Longbottom
Tom Felton ... Draco Malfoy
Jamie Waylett ... Vincent Crabbe
Josh Herdman ... Gregory Goyle
Devon Murray ... Seamus Finnigan
Alfred Enoch ... Dean Thomas
Supporting Cast-Muggles:
Fiona Shaw ... Aunt Petunia Dursley
Harry Melling ... Dudley Dursley
Richard Griffiths ... Uncle Vernon Dursley
Additional cast:
Vern Troyer ... Griphook the Goblin
Derek Deadman ... Tom - Bartender in Leaky Cauldron
Ian Hart ... Professor Quirinus Quirrell
John Hurt ... Mr. Ollivander
Richard Bremmer ... He Who Must Not Be Named
Geraldine Somerville ... Lily Potter (Harry's mom)
Adrian Rawlins ... James Potter (Harry's dad)
Ray Fearon ... Firenze the Unicorn (voice only)
David Brett ... Dedalus Diggle
Paul Marc Davis ... Ghost of the Cavalier
Julie Walters ... Molly Weasley (Ron's mom)
Bonnie Wright ... Ginny Weasley (Ron's sister)
Chris Rankin ... Percy Weasley (Ron's dad)
Eleanor Columbus ... Susan Bones
John Cleese ... Nearly Headless Nick (Ghost)
Terence Bayler ... The Bloody Baron (Ghost)
Simon Fisher Becker ... Fat Friar
Nina Young ... The Grey Lady
Luke Youngblood ... Lee Jordan
Sean Biggerstaff ... Oliver Wood
Danielle Taylor ... Angelina Johnson
Leilah Sutherland ... Alicia Spinnet
Emily Dale ... Katie Bell
David Holmes ... Adrian Pucey
Will Theakston ... Terrence Higgs
Scott Fern ... Terrence Higgs
Elizabeth Spriggs ... Fat Lady
Cut from film:
Zoë Wanamaker ... Madame Hooch
Warner Bros. website for HP series-http://www.warnerbros.com/#/page=home&asset=088517/Harry_Potter_and_The_Deathly_Hallows_-_Part_1_-_In_Theaters_THIS_FRIDAY&type=video/
AMPAS (3 Oscar nominations/NO wins):
--Achievement in costume design: Judianna Makovsky
--Achievement in art direction & set direction: Stuart Craig - art director & Stephanie McMillan - set decorator
--Achievement in music (Original Score): John Williams
[Oscar Note: This is a toughie - 3 little noms that got skunked this year, but he's got seven more tries to meet Mr. Oscar]
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HARRY POTTER
AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Action-packed but uneven sequel crams scenes together to be faithful to the bookreaders but ultimately derails the big-screen action!
2-1/2 stars (out of 4) [(2002)USA/Warner Bros./Rated PG] - (2 hrs. 41 min.)
Directed by Chris Columbus
Screenwriter: Steve Kloves
Source: Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Lead characters/Cast
Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe
Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger - Emma Watson
PLUS new character:
Gilderoy Lockhart - Kenneth Branagh
Review:
Well now, here's a 'Harry Potter' story that should scare the little kiddies right back to the nursery room. Finally Harry's adult audience gets to see the young wizard get his hands dirty while solving the riddle of the 'blood on the wall.'
Unfortunately, this tale is so grim that it really doesn't merit repeated viewing and is little too much over the top while the original left most adult audiences wanting more.
The excessive length of J.K. Rowlings source novel has also forced the filmmakers to dash through the daily doings of Hogwarts school and get to Harry's 'stunning' new enemy.
Similarities to "The Ring" aside, this is a bold effort that almost succeeds but flying cars and villains that morph into giant snakes still have a 'been-there-done-that' feeling.
Only Kenneth Branagh's ("Rabbit-proof Fence") hugely comic performance (that is undone by the story at the end) saves this from being just a darker rehash of Harry 1.
I really think the fault lies with writer J.K. Rowlings source material, and would hope in future that the screenwriters will expand on the material instead of slavishly copying its derivative situations that are only a revelation to ten year old readers.
In conclusion, if you're not a pre-teen then you shouldn't buy - but RENT - Harry 2. If you are a pre-teen, then you've already pre-ordered the DVD.
[Final note: And if you haven't already - READ THE BOOKS (they're much better than the movies - so far)!]
Supporting characters/Cast
Nearly Headless Nick - John Cleese
Hagrid the Giant - Robbie Coltrane
Professor Flitwick - Warwick Davis
Uncle Vernon - Richard Griffiths
Albus Dumbledore - Richard Harris
Lucius Malfoy - Jason Isaacs
Professor Snape - Alan Rickman
Aunt Petunia - Fiona Shaw
Professor McGonagall - Maggie Smith
Mrs. Weasley - Julie Walters
Moaning Myrtle - Shirley Henderson
Aragog - Julian Glover
Professor Sprout - Miriam Margolyes
Mr. Weasley - Mark Williams
Dobby - Toby Jones
Ginny Weasley - Bonnie Wright
Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton
Argus Filch - David Bradley
Madam Pomfrey - Gemma Jones
Tom Riddle - Christian Coulson
MOVIE TRIVIA (Pt. 1) from IMDb.com Daniel Radcliffe has said that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is his favorite book.
"Let's just hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day" dialogue was improvised by Radcliffe and Isaacs.
Daniel Radcliffe was initially only offered £125,000 (approximately US$181,500) to film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The Actor's Union Equity stepped in, however, and negotiated new terms that increased his salary to roughly £2,000,000 (US$3,000,000).
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Zoë Wanamaker does not appear in this film as Hogwarts' flying instructor, Madam Hooch. Her character was written out.
Christian Coulson landed the role as Tom Riddle, even though he was 23 and exceeded the 15-17 age group set for auditions.
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Many Harry Potter fans went to see the Scooby-Doo remake just to see a Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets trailer.
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The Weasley's car is a Ford Anglia. This is actually the same color and model car that author J.K. Rowling and her best friend from school used to ride around in when they were younger. She used the car for the book, and later the movie, out of her fond memories driving in it.
Fourteen Ford Anglias were destroyed to create the scene where Harry and Ron crash into the Womping Willow.
The train station interior used in the film is Kings Cross in North London, whereas the exterior shot is actually St Pancras. The two stations are adjacent to one another, but not the same building. This was done because the architecture of St Pancras is much more visually appealing
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As Hagrid is taking Harry away from Knockturn Alley, we see, in one of the shop windows in the background, an entire set of Harry Potter books.
As Harry enters Prof. Dumbledore's study, a portrait of Gandalf the Grey (LotR) is included in the collection of the great wizard paintings. It is above the doorframe and slightly to Harry's right.
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Notable Crew:
Production designer: Stuart Craig
Music by John Williams
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MOVIE TRIVIA (Pt. 2) from IMDb.com
Some of the portraits in Hogwarts are actually faces of production designer Stuart Craig and executive producer Mark Radcliffe.
-------------------------------------- A cinema manager in Stavanger in Norway reported that the film was making his younger patrons ill. Evidently many children who had overindulged on sweets and popcorn were throwing up when Ron begins vomiting giant slugs. "It is not a particularly fun task for our employees to have to wash away the sick," he said.
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While chatting with the Grangers at the bookshop, Mr. Weasley says, "I understand that other muggles are afraid of you." This makes little sense unless you know that both Hermione's parents are dentists.
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The tapestries hanging in the Gryffindor Common Room are copies of the "Lady and the Unicorn" series, a set of 16th century tapestries that are now displayed in the Cluny Museum in Paris.
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CAMEOS: All four of director Chris Columbus's children appear in this movie. Eleanor Columbus plays Susan Bones (also plays her in the first movie), Brendan Columbus plays a boy in study hall, Violet Columbus plays the little girl with flowers and Isabella Columbus plays the little girl in the bookstore
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When Harry and Ron are called to the dormitory it has been ransacked. As Harry sifts through the pile of books on the floor you briefly see Volume 4 of the Encyclopedia Magica from TSR's Dungeon and Dragon's second edition.
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In the UK, this became the first movie to achieve a million DVD sales in its first weekend.
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Kate Duchêne, who plays Miss Hardbroom on the TV series "The Worst Witch" was reportedly offered a role in the movie but supposedly declined. But if you watch closely during the final scenes in the Banquet Hall, at the head table on the left side you will catch a glimpse of her in her Miss Hardbroom costume.
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"We've got something worth fighting for." -Harry Potter
HARRYPOTTER
& the Order of the Phoenix Fifth time is the charm (too) as actor Daniel Radcliffe carries the film from start to finish with his earnest portrayal of 'Harry Potter', though Imelda Staunton holds her own as the new teacher in town!
3-1/2 stars (out of 4) [HP#5/(2007)UK-US/WB/Rated PG-13] - (2 hrs. 18 min.)
Directed by David Yates
Screenplay by Michael Goldenberg
Source: Novel by J.K. Rowling
(Returning) Cast ... Lead characters:
Daniel Radcliffe ... Harry Potter* (Lord Voldemort's nemesis)
Emma Watson ... Hermione Granger*
Rupert Grint ... Ron Weasley*
The Order of the Phoenix (**Newbies to film series)
Gary Oldman ... Sirius Black (also 'Padfoot' the dog)
Mark Williams ... Arthur Weasley (Ron's dad)
David Thewlis ... Remus Lupin (Part werewolf)
Brendan Gleeson ... Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody (Ex-auror)
Alan Rickman ... Severus Snape (Hogwarts Potions professor)
Natalia Tena ... Nymphadora Tonks** (changes hair color at will)
George Harris ... Kingsley Shacklebolt** (the African auror)
Peter Cartwright ... Elphias Doge**
Bridgette Millar ... Emmeline Vance**
Review (1st viewing, non-IMAX):
"You know, I really hate children." -Dolores Umbridge
Just a few first impressions, I'll have more to say after catching this in 3-D on the IMAX screen, but I would like to comment on how impressed I was with Peter Yates direction (his first big-budget film), and I'm also glad to hear that he has been recruited for Harry Potter #6.
I especially liked the way he included little details and characters in the background that only people who've read the books would get while simplifying the storyline for the muggles watching for the first time.
I should also commend actress Imelda Staunton ("Vera Drake") for making 'Delores Umbridge' even more evil than she was in the book, not only stealing every scene she was in but making them all-the-more uncomfortable for the audience. A hideous woman wrapped in a giggle and a smile, and a possible Oscar nomination for Staunton (I can not tell a lie).
As for the returning cast, I was amazed by the superb acting of Daniel Radcliffe as the title character, that guy has definitely been doing his homework in between movies, including nailing down the supremely difficult role of the horse-blinding stable boy in "Equus" (naked nightly on the London stage as we speak, can Broadway be far off?). It's too bad the Best Actor Oscar is the toughest category to score a nomination, let alone a win. Kudo's to Daniel, nonetheless!
All-in-all this latest chapter in the series was a true delight, and I almost cried more than once (there I said it). Gotta see this one again though, then I'll report back with the final verdict ...
ADDENDUM to review:
HARRY POTTER 5 - THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (w/ 3D finale)
First off, let it be said that IMAX is NOT the best way to experience handheld photography and extremely dark settings, BUT (and it's a big but), it does provide one of the most fantastic wizarding duels of the decade a much worthier visual platform.
Voledemort vs. Dumbledore is indeed the best use of 3D technology so far in the short history of 3D movies. Too bad the rest of the movie didn't lend itself to the format, it sure would be cool to see an entire 3D-Potter movie (maybe for #7, eh Harry?).
So, if you're a diehard Potter-fan within 100 miles of an IMAX theater, and are willing to pay $15 (or less) for 12,000 watts of sound & polarized 3D glasses, then this may be a road trip worth doing.
If only they had this technology when LOTR was out, what a blast that would have been. I can see why Lucas wants to redo the Star Wars trilogies, laser battles are awesome in 3D.
"I suspect the Nargles are behind it." -Luna Lovegood
(NEW) Cast ... Supporting characters:
Imelda Staunton ... Dolores Umbridge (new *DODA teacher)
Helena Bonham Carter ... Bellatrix Lestrange (Askaban prisoner)
Evanna Lynch ... Luna Lovegood* (age 15/new Hogwarts student)
Tony Maudsley ... Grawp (Hagrid's half-brother)
Timothy Bateson ... Kreacher (Sirius' house-elf)
Sam Beazley ... Everard
John Atterbury ... Phineas
Richard Leaf ... Auror Dawlish (Ministry muscle)
Sian Thomas ... Amelia Bones
Apple Brook ... Professor Grubbly-Plank (scenes cut?)
(Returning) Cast ... Hogwarts staff/Students:
Michael Gambon ... Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster)
Maggie Smith ... Minerva McGonagall (Teacher)
Emma Thompson ... Sybil Trelawney (Teacher)
Warwick Davis ... Filius Flitwick (Little person/Teacher)
David Bradley ... Argus Filch (Custodian)
James Phelps ... Fred Weasley* (Ron's brother/twin #1)
Oliver Phelps ... George Weasley* (Ron's brother/twin #2)
Katie Leung ... Cho Chang* (Asian student)
Matthew Lewis ... Neville Longbottom* (clutzy student)
Devon Murray ... Seamus Finnigan* (Scottish Hogwarts student)
Robbie Coltrane ... Rubeus Hagrid (Hogwarts gamekeeper)
Bonnie Wright ... Ginny Weasley* (Ron's sister/student)
William Melling ... Nigel 2nd Year* (smallest student/red-haired kid) Alfie Enoch ... Dean Thomas* (Darkly-complected student)
Afshan Azad ... Padma Patil *(South Asian twin #1/student)
Shefali Chowdhury ... Parvati Patil* (South Asian twin #2/student)
Tom Felton ... Draco Malfoy (student/Lucius' son/Hates Harry)
Jamie Waylett ... Vincent Crabbe (School bully #1/Hates Harry)
Josh Herdman ... Gregory Goyle (School bully #2/Hates Harry)
NOTES:
*DA = Dumbledore's Army (see student cast lists)
DODA = Defense of the Dark Arts
More Returning Cast ... Supporting characters:
Ralph Fiennes ... Lord Voldemort (Leader of the Death Eaters)
Julie Walters ... Mrs. Molly Weasley (Ron's mother)
Fiona Shaw ... Petunia Dursley (Harry's "muggle" Aunt)
Richard Griffiths ... Vernon Dursley (Harry's "muggle" Uncle)
Robert Hardy ... Cornelius Fudge (Ministry chief)
Jason Isaacs ... Lucius Malfoy (Death Eater)
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BOXOFFICE records (2007)
--Had the biggest first-day gross of any "Harry Potter" movie.
--Was released in 4,181 US theaters. A record for a Warner Bros. release.
--Had the biggest IMAX opening ever, pulling in $1.9 million.
--Broke the Wednesday opening day record previously held by Spider-Man 2 with a 44.2 million dollar domestic gross.
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Key Crew members
Original Music by Nicholas Hooper
Director of photography: Slawomir Idziak
Editor: Mark Day
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Flashback/Occlumency sequences:
Adrian Rawlins ... James Potter (Harry's dad)
Geraldine Somerville ... Lily Potter (Harry's mom)
Robert Pattinson ... Cedric Diggory (late Hogwarts student & Cho's boyfriend)
Alec Hopkins ... Young Severus Snape
Robbie Jarvis ... Young James Potter
James Walters ... Young Sirius Black
Charles Hughes ... Young Peter Pettigrew
James Utechin ... Young Remus Lupin
Additional cast (from IMDbPRO.com):
Harry Melling ... Dudley Dursley (Dementor scene only)
Chris Rankin ... Percy Weasley (Ron's estranged brother/Ministry official) Jason Boyd ... Piers
Richard Macklin ... Malcolm
Kathryn Hunter ... Mrs. Arabella Figg (the neighbor/testifies @ trial)
Nicholas Blane ... Bob
Daisy Haggard ... Voice of Lift (voice)
Death Eaters: Richard Cubison, Peter Best, Tav MacDougall, & Richard Trinder
Arben Bajraktaraj ... Azkaban Death Eater C
Centaurs: Jason Piper & Michael Wildman
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TRIVIA (courtesy of IMDb.com)
-- Evanna Lynch beat over 15,000 girls for the role of Luna Lovegood.
--The radish earrings worn by Luna Lovegood were actually made by Evanna Lynch (the actress portraying her).
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Techie trivia
--The most expensive set was the 200 foot-long hallway in the Ministry of Magic. All of the action scenes were shot using hand held cameras.
--The Hall of Prophecies is entirely computer generated, including all the shelves & every single orb on them.
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Dog trivia
--Padfoot, Sirius Black's canine alter-ego, was played by a Scottish Deerhound named Cleod.
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Watch the Trailer [from Movies.Yahoo.com]
"Stay in formation everyone.
Don't break ranks if one of us is killed." -Mad-Eye Moody
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HARRY POTTER
& THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
What can I say - third time is the charm for this sorecery series!
3-1/2 stars (out of 4) [(2004)USA/Rated PG] - (2 hrs. 21 min.)
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron
Screenwriter: Steve Kloves
Source: Based on the novel by: J.K. Rowling
Lead Characters/Cast
Harry Potter (3rd year) - Daniel Radcliffe
Ron Weasley (3rd year) - Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger (3rd year) - Emma Watson
Review:
Once again, fans of J.K. Rowling can mutter the fateful words, "it's still not as good as the book," BUT, what they can't say is that this film fails to take this series to the next level - the adult level. For the first time, the critics are unanimously praising Alfonso Cuaron's ("Y tu mama tambien") clever, if not entirely faithful, rendition of the third (of seven+) installments in the Harry Potter saga.
Seven years of schooling sounds almost as bad as med school and like med school there's a lot of body parts being either amputated (Pettigrew's finger) or injured (Malfoy's arm, Ron's leg). Cuaron has a lot of fun with Rowling's storyline and mixes things up for both readers and filmgoers alike. He also seems obsessed with talking shrunken heads, chocolate, and the mistreatment of small birds (re: the Whomping Willow).
Quibbles aside, this is a highly entertaining and suspenseful edition and well worth checking out ON the big screen, and though I was a latecomer to reading the stories I will wholeheartedly join in with Rowling-philes everywhere and say that you can greatly enhance your enjoyment of the series if you do one thing first - READ THE BOOKS!
Supporting Characters/Cast
Sirius Black - Gary Oldman
Professor Snape - Alan Rickman
Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton
Rubeus Hagrid - Robbie Coltrane
Albus Dumbledore - Michael Gambon (replaces orig. actor who passed away)
Peter Pettigrew (later as Wormtail) - Timothy Spall
Professor Lupin - David Thewlis
Professor Trelawney - Emma Thompson
Professor McGonagall - Dame Maggie Smith
Main Designers:
Production designer: Stuart Craig
Visual effects supervisors: Roger Guyett & Tim Burke
Music: John Williams
Additional characters
Vernon Dursley ("muggle") - Richard Griffiths
Petunia Dursley ("muggle") - Fiona Shaw
Mrs. Weasley - Julie Walters
Aunt Marge - Pam Ferris
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HARRY POTTER & the GOBLET of FIRE
Best opening weekend boxoffice AND the most entertaining of the four released so far, now it's up to the remaining three to take the series where Peter Jackson took 'Lord of the Rings' - the Oscar SWEEP!
3-1/2 stars (out of 4) [(2005)USA/WB/Rated PG-13] - (2 hrs. 37 min.)
Directed by Mike Newell
Screenplay by Steve Kloves
Source: based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Lead characters/Cast
Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe
Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger - Emma Watson
Review:
A common complaint leveled at the "Harry Potter" series has been it's failure to live up to the imagination of author J.K. Rowling with most ardent fans admitting that the movies pale in comparison to the books they were based on. That sore point has finally been resolved by taking the story into more mature territory garnering not only a PG-13 rating but also the most sophisticated special effects yet created for this film series.
'Harry Potter' has graduated from boy wizard to action hero as he encounters so many life and death situations you could easily surmise that by the time movie #5 ("HP & the Order of the Phoenix") rolls around he'll be 14 going on 40 - emotionally anyway. One positive consequence the series newfound maturity is that it could one day make 'Harry Potter' a candidate for Oscar's attention. Especially in the coming years as Harry faces deeper and more complicated issues while pursuing the truth surrounding the death of his parents at the hands of Lord Voltemort.
In addition to the many amazing technical feats and monsters created to menace Harry, the story itself offers perhaps the scariest scenario any young boy must face when he comes of age - asking a girl for a date. To be able to watch a character many fans have practically grown up with finally become involved in more earthbound pursuits proves a huge boon to the franchise by adding a level of romantic comedy heretofore beyond the juvenile trio.
Of course, the series already has a lot of built-in humor provided by its menagerie of adult characters ranging from 'Hagrid' (Robbie Coltrane) the half-giant to new additions like tabloid reporter 'Rita Skeeter' (Miranda Richardson). I would like to note that (in my opinion) the one 'newbie' that steals every scene he's in is actor Brendan Gleeson's as the hilarious 'Mad-Eye' Moody (aided in no small part by his roving mechanical eyeball).
If the series can continue to push into more universal themes while exploring its magical ones there is certainly an opportunity to attain a level of complexity that could capture some Oscar glory in the future, not unlike the way Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movies lurked in the background until the finale swept 11 categories. And the addition of Oscar-caliber actors to the cast (like Ralph Fiennes as 'Voldemort') only pushes the envelope the much further into Potter's hands.
Here's hoping Potter's muggle friends behind the camera keep raising the bar and turn the finale into a true moment of 'eternal glory'.
Supporting characters/Cast
Rubeus Hagrid - Robbie Coltrane
Lord Voldemort - Ralph Fiennes
Albus Dumbledore - Michael Gambon
Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody - Brendan Gleeson
Lucius Malfoy - Jason Isaacs
Sirius Black - Gary Oldman
Rita Skeeter - Miranda Richardson
Severus Snape - Alan Rickman
Minerva McGonagall - Maggie Smith
Wormtail - Timothy Spall
Argus Filch - David Bradley
Filius Flitwick - Warwick Davis
Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton
Arthur Weasley (Ron's dad) - Mark Williams
Neville Longbottom - Matthew Lewis
Padma Patil - Afshan Azad
Parvati Patil - Shefali Chowdhury
Additional cast (newbies galore):
Madame Olympe Maxime - Frances de la Tour
Igor Karkaroff - Pedja Bjelac
Cornelius Fudge - Robert Hardy
Moaning Myrtle - Shirley Henderson
Barty Crouch - Roger Lloyd Pack
Viktor Krum - Stanislav Ianevski
Cedric Diggory - Robert Pattinson
Fleur Delacour - Clemence Poesy
Barty Crouch Junior - David Tennant
Fred Weasley - James Phelps
George Weasley - Oliver Phelps
Ginny Weasley - Bonnie Wright
Cho Chang - Katie Leung
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