tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68341283225742315292024-03-14T05:32:05.745-07:00SugarSkull IndustriesA lifestyle blog for awesome people.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-75330478656341271052018-12-20T21:27:00.000-08:002018-12-20T21:27:06.950-08:00Dice Porn - aka how I learned to love D&DHi,<br />
It’s been a minute since I’ve last been on the blog. Months, probably even a year or so. No matter, I’m going to share my latest obsession with you, Dungeons & Dragons. Even more specifically, the pretty, pretty dice in my current collection.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos by @glitchmatic. Lips & Dice are mine</td></tr>
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It’s hard to believe I just started playing for the first time in January of this year. I’m pretty lucky my boyfriend is a feckin’ amazing Dungeon Master and had all the guides, tiles, minis and game modules to start not one but two different campaigns for me and my friends.<br />
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J has played Dungeons & Dragons since forever ago and rekindled his desire to play again after watching HarmonQuest. Since getting back into the game we have both fueled our D&D obsession even more by listening to The Adventure Zone and watching Critical Role. What J didn’t realize is the plethora of colorful, shimmery, gorgeous dice appealing to female players now available.<br />
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What started with a set of navy blue dice with bronze lettering- my Ravenclaw House colors - has now blossomed into multiple sets of swirly, sparkly, colorful dice. I love the aesthetics D&D is host to. I love all the fantastic, magical, creative characters you can role play as. I don’t plan on stopping with these dice photos either, I hope to create more art as tribute to the greatest game of all time.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-23681336398677926712016-08-18T14:04:00.002-07:002016-08-18T14:06:38.267-07:00Cosplay From Start to Finish - Mercy from Overwatch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In an attempt to chronicle my journey as a beginner cosplayer, I have taken a page from book of the amazingly talented, beautiful, and awe-inspiring cosplayer, <a href="https://thegeekyseamstress.com/" target="_blank">The Geeky Seamstress</a>, and decided to dedicate a post about the making of my latest cosplay project, the character Mercy from Overwatch.<br />
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For my first difficult build, I wanted to do a video game character from a fairly recent game. Now usually play Legend of Zelda, Twilight Princess, Okami, the Lego Games and the Batman Arkham Asylum franchise, games that usually play by yourself, an action adventure heroes' journey. I'm scared to death of any FPS, or First Person Shooter in which you play on a stage or map with your friends or random gamers all over the world, like Call of Duty, League of Legends or Overwatch. They just seem way too competitive and advanced for me, hell I have yet to finish Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, but the character designs are amazing and seem very difficult.<br />
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I was determined to make a video game character cosplay build, as a way to teach myself some more skills. I fell in love with Mercy because she seemed fairly tall, one aspect I have to my advantage and also because she is technically in her 30's, which I am as well, and something you rarely see in popular characters. <br />
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For this build I followed Youtube tutorials from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/evilted40" target="_blank">EvilTed</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/punishedprops" target="_blank">Punished Props</a>, on how to make armor from foam. With some trial and a whole lot of error, I finally got the hang of it and made my below Mercy build. I also constantly reference cosplayers that had already built Mercy to see how they made the wings or her chest-piece. Cosplayers <a href="http://chrixdesign.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/building-mercys-wings-from-overwatch.html" target="_blank">Chrix Design</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OshleyCosplayDiary/" target="_blank">Ashley Oshley</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pizoobie/" target="_blank"> Pizoobie</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TashaCosplay/" target="_blank">Tasha</a> of Spiral Cats fame have all made recent Mercy builds. They are all extremely top-level cosplayers but I didn't let that scare me from doing my build. <br />
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Time - Approximately 5 weeks. I worked all day some weekends and most nights after work for about 4 hours at a time. I'm definitely not a all-nighter master cosplay builder. I had to take breaks after a few hours, if I did not my work suffered and I made huge errors.<br />
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Here's how I made it.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Chest-Piece</span></u></b><br />
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I started with the chest-piece built from EVA foam floormats I bought at 5 Below. I tried looking for foam at Home Depot and Loew's and GOT LOST. When I saw them at a discount store I took it as a sign from God to do this Mercy build.<br />
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Her chest-piece is tough to figure out. In the awesome, amazing Blizzard reference artwork Mercy's chest-piece is a single uninterrupted piece, molded quite realistically to mimic a bikini model's boobs and torso. <br />
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It's like some-one took a naked clothing mannequin and cut off the front. I researched long and hard (that's what he said) to determine how I was going to do recreate this. I went off the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho5BIBxwiPA&list=PLsOXPvyXNuG-udKu04EZYDdLE9bHuNrpe" target="_blank">EvilTed female armor tutorial</a> and decided to make a chest-piece in three parts, the underbust piece, the boobie cups, and the top piece. I also bought a cheap heat gun and some contact cement. <br />
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I followed the tutorial, covering myself in plastic wrap and duct tape to make a pattern, which I then transferred to paper, and traced it onto the flat foam. I later learned that foil and duct tape are a tiny bit easier to use in pattern making rather than plastic wrap.<br />
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You heat the foam with heat gun to make curves and use the contact cement to glue in place. I also used liberal amounts of hot glue to secure.<br />
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You can do this for her leg guards, and also her halo. To make nice, visible ridges in the foam I followed Punished Props tutorial - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTZFx_oFF-I" target="_blank">The Secret to Creating Perfect Foam Ridges.</a> Remember to keep your blades sharp, with a sharpener you can find at a hardware store, cutting into foam will dull them pretty quick, causing them to make weird tears in your foam.<br />
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Once I had a finished armor piece that fit, I used Plastidip that you can get at Walmart in black, white and clear to seal and paint the foam.<br />
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For the halo, I also hot glued some thick jewelry wire through the middle to keep it's shape and also glued some hair combs I got from Joanne's on the sides to keep in place. I also glued a ribbon in the back to tie, so it would stay on my head, just below the ponytail. Then I sealed with clear Plastidip and painted gold with craft acrylic paint.<br />
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To secure the armor to myself, I use a bunch of parachute buckles that you can for way cheap at Walmart. Follow Punished Props again for their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_qxMULsR1c" target="_blank">tutorial</a> on how to glue down straps.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Wings</span></u></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JYq5SOU8d2tqZAcFQEnea14kia_V7U_yu2dT_Dc-KqrqMjxiAq4I47Bc0QpY3GwjJbUxOGERst0etV2HWKt1kmb2IagmLkTORzgK1Tq4UFYrPEtavJ7oZC8W7wQWtaEvTLfwzhJUCx9Y/s1600/dal_arts_20160813_animefest_kathytran_209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JYq5SOU8d2tqZAcFQEnea14kia_V7U_yu2dT_Dc-KqrqMjxiAq4I47Bc0QpY3GwjJbUxOGERst0etV2HWKt1kmb2IagmLkTORzgK1Tq4UFYrPEtavJ7oZC8W7wQWtaEvTLfwzhJUCx9Y/s640/dal_arts_20160813_animefest_kathytran_209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/slideshow/characters-come-alive-at-anime-fest-8596436/28" target="_blank">Photo Cred - Kathy Tran with the Dallas Observer</a></td></tr>
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The wings, I took a chance, said a Hail Mary, and hot glued some PVC pipe I had cut down at a angle to a piece of foam that covered my shoulder. I then tinkered away adding additional foam layers and more glue until the back-piece could rest comfortably on my shoulders.<br />
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The wings I used cut lengths of PVC pipe that I bent slightly in a curved shape. I used hot glue to attach the pipe to a foam pieces cut to look like the wing structure on top. The mechanical feathers, I cut the shapes out of cardboard and sandwiched it between layers of regular craft foam in white and black, the hot glued directly to the PVC pipe. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLBPI6lrDsWQbvSOwz8xY37CVnxGcNeBAPTQ_d3IuUUy7AO-SyWnLPoXFJKzVRHzYXdYOZorQQOkhkdfXFJM0Wq5G8J3ZTtUqhpZ0yPklRnBvOSBijBHKsUNQ8QSMzFdbq6Zj3dl7X1YI/s1600/20160703_111209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLBPI6lrDsWQbvSOwz8xY37CVnxGcNeBAPTQ_d3IuUUy7AO-SyWnLPoXFJKzVRHzYXdYOZorQQOkhkdfXFJM0Wq5G8J3ZTtUqhpZ0yPklRnBvOSBijBHKsUNQ8QSMzFdbq6Zj3dl7X1YI/s320/20160703_111209.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the yellow feathers I tried to use really thin plexiglass sheets from Hobby Lobby but I ended up horribly shattering the entire sheet trying to use scissors. I decided to cut apart the plastic packaging on some random items, the clear plastic tube of Christmas ornaments, the clear plastic box holding some curtains, etc. and spray paint them yellow. I attached the wings to the other pieces using bits of velcro. Some sweet cosplayers explained to me later that I CAN use plexiglass but I have to cut into it using an Exacto knife or box blade. The more you know, people. The more you know. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bmIBUX1W-8_z_8TDA70zpRizNyWqgYsyrfijSuvpcADibS6BjtBSEbV5k4LQypV1F4pcDZiiNPq2OvLuUPMyh4T3S0MQ3NOKvGFXWJOPHNC5H3FT8whWV8GrHSz5egsAF7c62tXp3UMM/s1600/_45B8229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bmIBUX1W-8_z_8TDA70zpRizNyWqgYsyrfijSuvpcADibS6BjtBSEbV5k4LQypV1F4pcDZiiNPq2OvLuUPMyh4T3S0MQ3NOKvGFXWJOPHNC5H3FT8whWV8GrHSz5egsAF7c62tXp3UMM/s640/_45B8229.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I special ordered her patch, which still hasn't arrived in the mail, so I just used Sharpie to color it in.</td></tr>
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<b>Completed - August 2016</b><br />
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<b>Debuted - AnimeFest 2016</b><br />
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<b>Finished Cosplay Photography - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ryanpollackphotography/?pnref=lhc" target="_blank">Ryan Pollack Photography</a></b><br />
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Let me know if you have any other questions or would like a post on how I built my props, Mercy's Caduceus Blaster and Staff!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Work in progress photos my own, unless specifically notated.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-47055686852142015142016-07-22T07:25:00.004-07:002016-07-22T07:25:44.073-07:0010 Easy Tips to Surviving a Comic-Con<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Pk_iY9dXQgge84K-a3XzPtaCnrMu8cez-xEDUeLiQk5CV4F_0I96qMPtNFLxqwbOmg9103aWuP6wNZ3f4bc1Tn7U03SNuEJwnSTBnLYQtB3AT1tlFMuIOXMjNCYz0zADW4HElL2TzgZ0/s1600/CCILogo-R_Large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Pk_iY9dXQgge84K-a3XzPtaCnrMu8cez-xEDUeLiQk5CV4F_0I96qMPtNFLxqwbOmg9103aWuP6wNZ3f4bc1Tn7U03SNuEJwnSTBnLYQtB3AT1tlFMuIOXMjNCYz0zADW4HElL2TzgZ0/s320/CCILogo-R_Large.png" width="265" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
With San Diego Comic Con in full swing, I wanted to share my
tips to surviving a Comic-Con, large or small, local or national, whether you
come as you are or if you are wanting to cosplay for the first time. Read on.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Comic-Cons, short for “Comic Book Conventions”, is a
gathering for fans of movies, cartoons, anime, board games, tv shows, comic
books, novels, games, toys, anything and everything pop culture based. You may have heard of a local events with 700
people attending to massive 3-day conventions with over 20,000 attendees. Cons range from small and intimate to
sprawling and massive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thinking of attending?
You don’t have to be intimidated or feel overwhelmed. There is nothing better than connecting with
fellow fans of a book, show or game that you love Follow these easy tips to ensure you have a
great time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tips for Attendees.</b></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1. <b><u>Wear Comfy Shoes</u></b>. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I know this seems like a
no-brainer but oftentimes for the big conventions you will have to park several
blocks away from the hotel or convention center. The closest parking get typically full early
on. The bigger the convention space the
more walking you will do, and you don’t want to miss out on any panels or photo
opportunities.</span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<br /></div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Bring Cash Monies. </span></u></b></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Another no-brainer. You will see vendors selling all sorts of
gloriously geeky and amazing things.
Also, many cons will feature celebrity guests, actors from your favorite
shows, high-profile comic books authors and artists. Most of the celebs do charge anywhere from
$20 - $80 to take a photo with them, or a lesser amount for an autograph. For really popular guests, you may need to
pre-purchase the photo opp package directly from the comic-cons website. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>3. Print Off the Schedule or Make a Screenshot of
the Schedule and/or Map.</u></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some conventions will have a map and schedule printed
for you to use, others may not. To save
your battery life on your phone make a screen capture of the schedule. Many cons host panels with celebrity guests
that you may want to attend. It’s very
common for convention goers to start lining up anywhere from 30 minutes to an
hour or longer to attend the more popular panels. If you are not sure when or where a panel is
taking place, don’t be afraid to ask!
Your fellow attendees will most likely know and this is a great way to
talk to people.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>4. Bring An Empty Water Bottle and Eat Before You
Go.</u></b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For larger cons, the lines to buy
food or drinks can be very long, especially around meal times. Bringing your own empty water bottle allows
to have water with you, so you aren’t dying of thirst sitting in line to get
into panel. I also recommend grabbing a
burger or some tacos just before you go.
Often the food and drink prices are much higher at the convention. Some smaller conventions allow you to leave
for food and re-entry later.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>5. Wear Your Fandom. </u></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Feel free to wear your favorite Harry Potter
shirt, or anything else that displays the games, tv shows, movies or characters
that you like. This helps other
convention goers to strike up a conversation with you. It’s a pretty awesome feeling when a fellow
fan spies your t-shirt and you can both nerd out over something you both
love.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Tips for Cosplayers</b></span></div>
<div>
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This brings me to my tips for those that would like
to try cosplay, something I definitely recommend. Cosplay is short for “Costume Play” in which
fans of any show, movie, anime, cartoon, game or more, make or buy costumes to
dress like their favorite character at a convention or just any time they feel
like it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknaCVPRVsssPr8Tbu0egN2C31o1nP2AJ6lL8Zp7QwuMMwAUnxBa_EYMAPD6uU1INQb33tEmN64ij8jj8OVgxBARCwxZGQQaw72WpiK7uimxYxr7h5ruF2OrSMHhN3lU_3VZCmd8f05WKb/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknaCVPRVsssPr8Tbu0egN2C31o1nP2AJ6lL8Zp7QwuMMwAUnxBa_EYMAPD6uU1INQb33tEmN64ij8jj8OVgxBARCwxZGQQaw72WpiK7uimxYxr7h5ruF2OrSMHhN3lU_3VZCmd8f05WKb/s640/088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the greatest draws of a
comic-con is seeing all the cosplayers dressed as their favorite characters. You
may ask to take photos with them, don’t be shy, many do not charge to take a
photo with you. There may be some
featured guest cosplayers, professionals or semi-professionals that are paid or
compensated to attend that may charge a fee but most do not. Don’t let professionals that have worked hard
for years to hone their costume making skill, deter you from trying out cosplay
for yourself. Anyone and everyone can do
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4vss4cge83DNHoIVags88daZHUY8drkDYRt3sRpFMMWp76CXWDDnqpOFumd17j6G3fAWP9YbVakSrfGHsFqeHJwOR97gcljbQNuhjgPm45t6kFXcFWt5VzrCqOiUOxdcEvA7IZ1gZmg4/s1600/20160213_143252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4vss4cge83DNHoIVags88daZHUY8drkDYRt3sRpFMMWp76CXWDDnqpOFumd17j6G3fAWP9YbVakSrfGHsFqeHJwOR97gcljbQNuhjgPm45t6kFXcFWt5VzrCqOiUOxdcEvA7IZ1gZmg4/s320/20160213_143252.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you plan to wear a costume, here are some additional
tips.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>6. Find the
Cosplay Hideaway.</u></b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some conventions will
host a room for cosplayers to take a break, sit down and make small repairs if
need be usually called the Cosplay Hideaway or Cosplay Lounge. Not all conventions will have
one though, but you can write to the organizers ahead of time to ask if they
can have one. Typically it will be put
together by a member of the local cosplaying community, so tips or donations
are appreciated. Those cosplaying can
take a much needed break away from photographers to rest a bit in their
costumes.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>7. Pack Some Flat Shoes</u></b>. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you are a beginner cosplayer, you may see
many cosplayers wearing heeled shoes.
This looks great in photos and you may be wearing heels to participate in
a group photo shoot while at the convention but I do recommend packing some
flat shoes to wear when your feet inevitably get tired.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>8. Bring a Mini Hand-held Fan. </u></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some costumes you can wear in the summer heat,
others have multiple layers and may keep you hot, especially while waiting in
lines. Bring a mini hand- held fan to keep yourself
cool throughout the day.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1v1IYnddhfKFhU-byJCeMC30_rV1GURicM4vHLqtNzDyk-mezEGRKkdpYauszbrmp5E6mKU1SCnLUXXLD827ainGMlGOFTllHN4RDM6TJDVe3-aHSbWBF5dqs1Sp0Wmm2rSg-4Nf_FN_/s1600/31v7gVUV20L._SY300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1v1IYnddhfKFhU-byJCeMC30_rV1GURicM4vHLqtNzDyk-mezEGRKkdpYauszbrmp5E6mKU1SCnLUXXLD827ainGMlGOFTllHN4RDM6TJDVe3-aHSbWBF5dqs1Sp0Wmm2rSg-4Nf_FN_/s400/31v7gVUV20L._SY300_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>9. Take Selfies</u>.</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This may sound self-explanatory but I can’t believe how many times I’ve
spent an hours getting myself ready in my cosplay and then forget to take
pictures of myself in costume. Take a
quick break to grab a selfie or two, by yourself or with another cosplayer.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>10. Remember You Are In Character. </u></b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Familiarize yourself with your character’s
name because attendees will likely be calling to you by your character
name. Say you are dressed as Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, be prepared to hear “Buffy!
Hey Buffy!” Yep, that person is trying to talk to you.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
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Cons come in all types and sizes. The bigger ones have more popular guests and
plenty of great goodies to buy but the smaller ones put you in direct contact
with more local talent and artists, which can be great to visit and hang out
with, one on one. To find out which conventions big and small
are in your area, use <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>. You could also plan the next up and coming
convention or conference of your own, use the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/l/conferences/" target="_blank">Eventbrite Conferences </a>page to get you started. I may have to use
this to get a local Breaking Bad convention started in my area!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Large or small, local or national, conventions are a great
way to interact and make friends with your fellow fans and artists or creators of
any tv show, movie, anime or game you love.
What convention are you wanting to go to next? Let me know in the comments!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Additional Tips</b></u><br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
If you are wanting to get a photo opportunity with your fav guest celebrity, try <a href="http://www.vodkamakesyouhappy.com/fan-days-2016-feb-photo-ops/" target="_blank">Sevi's tips </a>from her blog <a href="http://www.vodkamakesyouhappy.com/" target="_blank">Ware is the Vodka?</a><br />
<br />
For more first timer tips, check out <a href="http://thetipsyverse.com/2016/06/29/geek-101-conventions/" target="_blank">Katie's post</a> from <a href="http://thetipsyverse.com/" target="_blank">The Tipsy Verse.</a><br />
<br />
For those wanting to go to the Big Kahuna of all conventions, San Diego Comic Con, see <a href="http://www.thenerdygirlie.com/2013/02/the-nerdy-girlie-top-11-tips-for-san.html" target="_blank">Megan's great tips</a> from <a href="http://www.thenerdygirlie.com/" target="_blank">The Nerdy Girlie. </a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-72027386176368896272016-04-19T11:01:00.000-07:002016-04-19T11:01:36.735-07:00Head West - Siblings Trip to CaliforniaHi all. It's been two weeks since I got back from a siblings trip to the San Francisco area. I'm the oldest of three girls and we all flew out to California to attend my cousin's wedding and also spend two days in San Francisco. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTtzzzi0OZ6swvSmDRDl3GOZthooICgeLByQDHrVUsijV_y9Dvf3Tn6DGVMcU2w4S9la4qo514rx8aQazXVRnOKvfrXTE3HhlRMRmAn2YQsZ4T1b1s-LGJoxqzj8Eb7nhKsbQ4ndzuUaL/s1600/12985441_10154009038373444_8452614319339204362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTtzzzi0OZ6swvSmDRDl3GOZthooICgeLByQDHrVUsijV_y9Dvf3Tn6DGVMcU2w4S9la4qo514rx8aQazXVRnOKvfrXTE3HhlRMRmAn2YQsZ4T1b1s-LGJoxqzj8Eb7nhKsbQ4ndzuUaL/s640/12985441_10154009038373444_8452614319339204362_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have no idea if sibling trips are a thing now, but due to all our younger cousins getting married in out of town locations, my sisters and I really enjoy meeting up and hanging out for a few days. I'm usually the third or fifth wheel because my brother in law and my youngest sis' steady boyfriend usually join us, and ya'll I do not mind it AT ALL. This is because both my sisters have really great taste in guys and I get along fabulously with them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiF9cUo-suaq9W1KhmT7wvdviN7JHC5Jy9tQrYD055UDlFrpIfNs0bgbj5uL2zm_M8RHUCY5ZANIFyXWDMoqprDE5XnFukywvShf-7mXXy_F-Z5MbRaqzudDCIKviKCDOfs0Y_8k9AE40/s1600/12919905_10104050747741018_5433641407236635103_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiF9cUo-suaq9W1KhmT7wvdviN7JHC5Jy9tQrYD055UDlFrpIfNs0bgbj5uL2zm_M8RHUCY5ZANIFyXWDMoqprDE5XnFukywvShf-7mXXy_F-Z5MbRaqzudDCIKviKCDOfs0Y_8k9AE40/s400/12919905_10104050747741018_5433641407236635103_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best crew in the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The wedding, held near SF at a vineyard was beautiful and there's is nothing better than being surrounded by my dad's family, our family in Seattle. As the saying goes, family always gets together for "weddings and funerals" but now that my sisters and I are full-blown adults, it's so amazing that we can travel together. You are just surrounded by warmth, love and laughter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I should point this out, my middle sister on the left opted for flats. She's still 5'6".</td></tr>
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After the wedding, we took the BART to San Francisco, dropped off our bags and took an Uber ride to the Golden Gate Bridge. I cannot recommend enough going during the spring when all the beautiful plants are in full bloom. It is obvious the city spends funds to maintain and keep the bridge and it's surrounding walk ways in excellent shape year round. The attached Visitor's Center and Round House Cafe still look original to year in which they were built.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gah, all those flowers were so stunning!</td></tr>
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Our hotel, with it's wonderful rooftop views was actually located in the <a href="https://stories.californiasunday.com/2015-05-03/in-the-tenderloin/" target="_blank">Tenderloin</a> neighborhood. I only mention this because it one of San Francisco's last affordable neighborhoods that hasn't been gentrified and/or sanitized and therefore you will likely see homeless people sleeping on the streets, covered by a thick blanket. We took the BART to the Civic Center/UN Plaza station to get there and just before you emerge to witness the beautiful architecture of white and gold domed Civic Center, you must climb up the steps right by a broken escalator, lined with bits of trash and smelling strongly of piss. <br />
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Its dirty, its real, it's life, and they do not sell souvenir postcards of Tenderloin in any SF gift shop. And......I actually enjoyed staying there. I did not get any pictures of the used hypodermic needles we spotted on the curb or of the cross-dressing 6' 3" black man who cheerfully walked up to us and told the little baby girl of my sister's old roommate, whom we meet for Thai food, to "never listen to the haters." Because you know what? He's right. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roof-time Happy Hour!</td></tr>
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Later, during that first night, we made the ill-advised decision to walk from the Tenderloin over to the Fillmore District for some post-dinner drinks, trudging steeply uphill three consecutive blocks, mainly because we got lost. Eh, you live and you learn, and then you get an Uber.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you realize you walked uphill three blocks....in the wrong direction.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More snacks, after we ate dinner. If there's one thing you must do in SF, it's eat ALL the time.</td></tr>
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Day Two - By a stroke of good fortune, my good friend C deduced from Instagram we were were in San Francisco, the same time she would be in city and set up a reunion of sorts, an early lunch at 11 am in Chinatown. I felt straight out of the police detective movie, set in the Bay Area like <i>Bullitt, Zodiac,</i> or <i>Dirty Harry</i>. Meet me. 11 am. Chinatown. R&G Lounge. So the squad and I walked through Union Square into Chinatown, through the Dragon's Gate. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C and I, together again.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For my first lunch of the day we had crispy duck with rice, noodles and winter-melon soup</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traveling with sisters that use Instagram is the best.</td></tr>
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The sisters and their guys choose not to get first lunch with me in Chinatown but rather shopped for good deals. After reluctantly bidding C goodbye, the squad was ready to get sushi in Japantown, somewhat close-by.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyi9A04rJFtbvvwUycahyphenhyphenT3A-ATFXLQ-Gk8mV5Op-6VR_E-xHsvcY2tnPS2Oal2r8LCrrWzuQEPWtJO1S4JUadmfY8TzR-6iyH5uss2J9qL2hasWeZvBSTy5gKJzttHkz3p2x37SlYT2S/s1600/12439364_10154009048723444_6566255129805163646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyi9A04rJFtbvvwUycahyphenhyphenT3A-ATFXLQ-Gk8mV5Op-6VR_E-xHsvcY2tnPS2Oal2r8LCrrWzuQEPWtJO1S4JUadmfY8TzR-6iyH5uss2J9qL2hasWeZvBSTy5gKJzttHkz3p2x37SlYT2S/s400/12439364_10154009048723444_6566255129805163646_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get ready, second lunch! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Akojr7Mt9rvrhNPaaGGSGvjNvf0-inWkK8b08SQvDyD0eVy11ah4VRfhfudTntF00DV6tvrMiAhBuve02D1__xROybh7k3zOIyx5RNRbh6jX17iT0O-tTzFik8jJKIUOWzJSUYHUfhtI/s1600/944988_10154009048843444_6793472290533604784_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Akojr7Mt9rvrhNPaaGGSGvjNvf0-inWkK8b08SQvDyD0eVy11ah4VRfhfudTntF00DV6tvrMiAhBuve02D1__xROybh7k3zOIyx5RNRbh6jX17iT0O-tTzFik8jJKIUOWzJSUYHUfhtI/s400/944988_10154009048843444_6793472290533604784_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food, so I had to get the octopus. Luckily my bro-in-law was game to try it too. It was a little sweet with a barbecue like sauce, not too rubbery at all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-kpQ3sXT7FXbpqMENXwirKviUSlZmbxkeNBwS8x3Vo3JOrbJU4hG3KimyjAsxIOU3Gxc473Gg0IDSmD7Wg_VfYWZ2jiSHKqYbfVHAo2xxxMORGfpoODfGRdPw7dQRm2aP1qCJ_u2nj00/s1600/12923384_10154009051393444_5313679490424327831_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-kpQ3sXT7FXbpqMENXwirKviUSlZmbxkeNBwS8x3Vo3JOrbJU4hG3KimyjAsxIOU3Gxc473Gg0IDSmD7Wg_VfYWZ2jiSHKqYbfVHAo2xxxMORGfpoODfGRdPw7dQRm2aP1qCJ_u2nj00/s320/12923384_10154009051393444_5313679490424327831_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubble tea or "boba" tea with cotton candy is a thing in Japantown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I have mentioned, we could not stop eating, pretty much amazing food, ALL DAY. Left and right at the wedding, everyone was recommending House of Prime Rib in San Francisco, and weirdly enough despite being a family of all girls, my family eats steak on the reg for almost every holiday. We eat it done medium and with a horseradish sauce strong enough to strip paint off an airplane.<br />
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<br />
House of Prime Rib - you did not disappoint.<br />
<br />
Well, now I'm back to living by myself and working a high stress job, but you know, getting to spend this time with my siblings makes it all worth it. <br />
<br />
Also I just learned two other younger cousins just got engaged, so we will be making more sibling trips in the future.<br />
<br />
How about you? Do you ever travel with your adult siblings without your parents?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-86883614995827453722016-03-31T10:05:00.000-07:002016-03-31T10:05:08.136-07:0010 Things Batman V Superman; Dawn of Justice Did Right<div class="MsoNormal">
In case you haven’t heard, critics and audiences have been
trashing the new <i>Batman V. Superman; Dawn of Justice</i> film <a href="http://io9.gizmodo.com/batman-v-superman-spoiler-faq-of-justice-1767720335" target="_blank">left </a>and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/shortcuts/2016/mar/29/most-savage-batman-v-superman-dawn-justice-reviews" target="_blank">right</a>. While I do agree with many of the complaints,
I actually liked the film. I’ve always
been a stalwart DC comic book fan but there are some points in the movie that
Zack Snyder and Co, actually did right. Obviously,
spoilers will follow, but I’m guessing you are not reading this to determine whether
you will go watch the movie or not, but rather because maybe you enjoyed the
film too.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ_yfSmAm7vlEWcqb0uzq4a58yU3mWwuONHMwSEfu0E3_urDYzU7s-Ku52oXjXoyNFJ-xo9I8Zf7BC3g7bBU8A8A6wqBlqrB9p0x_bRp3C2EUKPDteVZDesFxC28gFmDw-Uuoy7J6Vtw5/s1600/Batman-v-Superman-Dawn-of-Justice-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ_yfSmAm7vlEWcqb0uzq4a58yU3mWwuONHMwSEfu0E3_urDYzU7s-Ku52oXjXoyNFJ-xo9I8Zf7BC3g7bBU8A8A6wqBlqrB9p0x_bRp3C2EUKPDteVZDesFxC28gFmDw-Uuoy7J6Vtw5/s400/Batman-v-Superman-Dawn-of-Justice-picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><b>Wonder Woman and her theme song.</b></u> Duh, obviously. I won’t pull any punches here and I do
realize this fair ground to enrage the masses, that the best character in the
film isn’t even one of the main characters, but by gods! DC fans have seen such disastrous attempts at
Wonder Woman before. Gal Godot’s
performance was perfection. A Wonder
Woman to appeal to pretty much everyone, and her theme music was so energizing
and bad-ass. </span><u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Everyone</u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> in my
theater sat up and took notice once that music started.</span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV08-F2VRmsfEB7DmNuTOseV6Ult8DIMJN6kH-JFRrILNX_8ulKRK31BEpLVt-cHJUb6Tdhzd7BGD0k880LRgS3Y3chSMpxiEGA92hF-8L7yJNVbkEzEa7XsUNPYgfa4bqCPyLR0OM5N8/s1600/wonderwoman28a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV08-F2VRmsfEB7DmNuTOseV6Ult8DIMJN6kH-JFRrILNX_8ulKRK31BEpLVt-cHJUb6Tdhzd7BGD0k880LRgS3Y3chSMpxiEGA92hF-8L7yJNVbkEzEa7XsUNPYgfa4bqCPyLR0OM5N8/s400/wonderwoman28a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few years ago, this was the Wonder Woman we would have seen on tv.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
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<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <u>
</u></span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>Cameos of Aquaman and Cyborg.</u> </b> Now I do realize that not all the cameos in
the film were handled well, ie Jimmy Olsen but Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Ray
Fisher as Cyborg were handled well. We
get a clear look at Aquaman in costume and see a bit of his powers. This tiny bit was immensely satisfying to
me. A head and shoulders above what we
usually see as a cameo in superhero films, usually we only get to see a part of
their costume, or the actor in their civilian clothes. Aquaman is a character that has largely been
ridiculed in recent pop culture. Snyder
took a risk in showing Aquaman in costume on screen. Both the non-white casting for Aquaman and
the inclusion of a black character, Cyborg, in the new post 52 Justice League
have been seminal in seeing more persons of color roles in the superhero
world. Synder made the right decision to
have both heroes appear in the film, rather than reduce them to merely
appearing in a photo, as they did with Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pw8wUcsbDcqgG0_uTAGzHzcKSgUZ6e0YZZ90yT8zYJkQn62dfA5edIKm17FuF6ulJyTHHGESngiatEyNv7EP7UIADY_aIhrRA2MnW0yfU-PeyT8DukT-nu1ADxojeCSIsenQxnwHB3wm/s1600/aquaman-no-text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pw8wUcsbDcqgG0_uTAGzHzcKSgUZ6e0YZZ90yT8zYJkQn62dfA5edIKm17FuF6ulJyTHHGESngiatEyNv7EP7UIADY_aIhrRA2MnW0yfU-PeyT8DukT-nu1ADxojeCSIsenQxnwHB3wm/s320/aquaman-no-text.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH2TuACumoHWFZyrjvTjVeS3oLzXCcapx5y4C2TSjV9Ha2QtEpjhRd2WNFbhj3thpFc2IF6sGCMlFenStuXf1M8AtkuZZyCuFEy4kFXJ7Bv_OuOiJQQXsyhKUycwOYS-OdSLjpgL1DAew/s1600/Ray.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH2TuACumoHWFZyrjvTjVeS3oLzXCcapx5y4C2TSjV9Ha2QtEpjhRd2WNFbhj3thpFc2IF6sGCMlFenStuXf1M8AtkuZZyCuFEy4kFXJ7Bv_OuOiJQQXsyhKUycwOYS-OdSLjpgL1DAew/s400/Ray.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <u>
</u></span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><b>Batman’s fight scene.</b></u> –While this version of
Batman rubbed many fans the wrong way, Batman’s fight scene against the men
holding Martha Kent hostage, is simply put, one of the very best fight scenes
to ever occur in the Batman franchise.
Yes, I do admit Batman’s fight with Superman was not handled as nearly
as good and felt quite stilted and fake in some spots. <i>The Dark Knight</i> is still my favorite Batman
movie and despite Christopher Nolan’s jaw dropping talent in writing, shooting
and directing ability, the fight scenes in <i>Batman Begins</i>, <i>The Dark Knight</i> and
<i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> are quite competent but never really cinematic. Nolan only comes into his own with fight
scenes after <i>Inception</i>. Car chases,
action scenes, special effects; the man blows all the competition out of the
water, but a raw, physical choreographed fight scene? Not so much, until like I mentioned,
<i>Inception</i>. My favorite part of Affleck’s
fight scene? Multiple bullets to Batman’s
head. We see a henchman get the drop on
Batman and fire two rounds to the back of his head and Batman reacts
realistically. There’s panic in his eyes
as he moves the eff out of the way. I
have NEVER seen that in a Batman movie and it’s something that happens to you
pretty quick in the Arkham Asylum/City/Origins video games. As Batman you can take a bullet to the head
once, but after two or three times you’re dead.</span></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>Focus on the heroes’ mothers.</u> </b> I probably don’t even have to tell you how
many time we see a father’s influence on a heroes journey and hear nothing
about the mother. She’s either dead or
barely holding it together. I can count
on one hand the few times a mother is included at all; <i>Brave</i> probably being the
best example. I have read about critics
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/25/review-batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice" target="_blank">flippantly dismissing </a>the plot line about both Clark and Bruce’s mothers
sharing the name Martha, as being superficially coincidental and idiotically conceived. Now, granted, I do agree that even though
this moment was properly foreshadowed by Bruce seeing blood seep out of his
mother’s grave, the pay-off was mishandled somewhat and was not as potent as it
could have been. However, the
realization that both Batman and Superman, have the same motivation is not lost
and I applaud that a big, dumb superhero movie realizes this and plays up the
mother’s influence, something you RARELY see, in any action film, period.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pkaKS95iHkHkmYGrKQfu7FbjjdOYhn4WA8gKc4r5ZWjK3iBoJ17zr21P_umHgNb3nB8vK_EIshcC_kBJWU2wVK7E68yiXsJ-d5b_XJpTJ9lmGezUrEmxf7KzSOPqke2lM61pHYrwOgKX/s1600/96b7c656eecc141e10b773c61952d610-650-80.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pkaKS95iHkHkmYGrKQfu7FbjjdOYhn4WA8gKc4r5ZWjK3iBoJ17zr21P_umHgNb3nB8vK_EIshcC_kBJWU2wVK7E68yiXsJ-d5b_XJpTJ9lmGezUrEmxf7KzSOPqke2lM61pHYrwOgKX/s400/96b7c656eecc141e10b773c61952d610-650-80.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><b>Superman does the right thing even when he is
hated. He is not a god, and he has
limitations</b></u>. Another accusation fans and
critics have against Zack Snyder is that he has almost fatally mis-interpreted
Superman. Most are in agreement that
this version of Superman is too grim, too dark, and doesn’t make for an
enjoyable film. I do agree in some part
but Snyder did not misinterpret Superman.
This is a very real facet of the Superman mythos. Superman carries the weight of the world on
his shoulders, not because he should (or shouldn’t as Lex, Bruce and others in
film imply) but because he can and he struggles with that decision every day. Superman IS NOT A GOD. He lacks the ability to foresee every
unanticipated impact of his actions. His
motivations to help come from his innate goodness as developed by his human
parents. This is not unlike
ourselves. Do you use your talents and
abilities for good? This is a struggle,
America as a world power, sees EVERY DAY!
Do we take action against the terrorists in other countries? Does that ultimately help or hurt us? Does that help or hurt others?</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTf24bIReodMXU7j2ntmid8GBhBehxU49DEyIE4M-TkBNPYodIEgawMNhykczyRoP63prsjcZpfPBKCWvVgpjorr6kTbvuy1PmfAcZUN1H_BOV5RXqG5yyDw_uB60c8QTyEl5LO0igTm-/s1600/Batman-V-Superman-Flood.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTf24bIReodMXU7j2ntmid8GBhBehxU49DEyIE4M-TkBNPYodIEgawMNhykczyRoP63prsjcZpfPBKCWvVgpjorr6kTbvuy1PmfAcZUN1H_BOV5RXqG5yyDw_uB60c8QTyEl5LO0igTm-/s640/Batman-V-Superman-Flood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">6.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <u>
</u></span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>America is not the only country featured. Mexicans!</u>
</b>Yes, I’m half Mexican and I have to make everything about Mexicans, all
the time, and every time but lord above!
Superheroes seem to go everywhere except Mexico and I liked that Mexico
is portrayed as having a different opinion than in the US. You ever read Japanese manga and realize that
almost every story revolves around Japan as being the only country really ever
mentioned in that world? And then you
slowly realize this is what American movies, tv shows and media must seem like
to other nations as well? As I have
said, I wouldn’t expect a big, dumb superhero movie to realize this but this
one does.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrscoDsfpIpiUk2JhDPO5AbfhP6zt5ADSem1ZYeKRJP7WH5ZCWU99uAoAtLhKbSpMVCXMXXv0LW8UUzu1XHVKP24EyEg17Kuzb8bmBwi4DzJDfmYK6n40TtWMYRo-H9r-sGdVPLhKn_Gnq/s1600/PHswR8BvnE70vx_1_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrscoDsfpIpiUk2JhDPO5AbfhP6zt5ADSem1ZYeKRJP7WH5ZCWU99uAoAtLhKbSpMVCXMXXv0LW8UUzu1XHVKP24EyEg17Kuzb8bmBwi4DzJDfmYK6n40TtWMYRo-H9r-sGdVPLhKn_Gnq/s640/PHswR8BvnE70vx_1_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><b>DC’s Trinity in action.</b></u> DC’s Trinity refers to DC Comics Big Three,
Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Every
official incarnation of the Justice League features them and they have had
several comic arcs all to themselves.
There is no comparison in the Marvel world. Maybe Iron Man, Captain America and possibly
Spider-Man but even then you’d have some lively debate as whether is should be
Thor rather than Spider-Man. I
digress. Watching DC’s Trinity fight a
Big Bad like Doomsday at night, amidst swirls of dust and rubble, this is
concept that sold this film out of the gate, and in this Zack Snyder does not
disappoint. This is really the number
one reason anyone would friggin’ watch this movie, at all and this is why I do
not even lament the 2.5 hour run-time.
This scene lives up to all various incarnations comic book nerds have
pictured in their heads for decades.
Decades, people! This was
probably the trickiest of hat tricks the film had to complete, and they nailed
it!</span></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">8.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <u>
</u></span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><b>Jeffrey Iron’s Alfred is a marked improvement on
Michael Cain, and is actually shown to be doing some work. </b></u> Who knew Alfred Pennyworth could actually be
improved upon, after Michael Caine? I
don’t really count Sean Pertwee’s amazing work on <i>Gotham</i>, as his role is somewhat
of a prequel version of Alfred, like trying to compare Alex Guinness to Ewan
McGregor, because while they are playing the same character, each are playing
Obi-Wan at different ages and thus are not the same role. As much as Michael Cain ably plays the sage
adviser role to Christian Bale’s Batman, his Alfred doesn’t really do much work
around Wayne Manor. He introduces Bruce to Lucius Fox early on, whom tends to
most of Batman’s tech. Caine’s Alfred
just kinda wanders around the Batcave and gets repeatedly hood-winked by Selina
Kyle. Iron’s Alfred can be seen working
on equipment and the Batmobile, literally getting his hand dirty as he acts as
Bruce’s voice of reason. This is not the
Alfred that hangs out around the house like everyone’s genial drunk uncle but
rather the jack of all trades, Alfred Pennyworth that has become common in the
comics.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZL-WcImwrr67Cqg9NqMYzPjV58GbRbbRxabG9K7ObFEDt6O4ILC0ymp4nQZdW9zxNWpJjgbwUXlJDmu1mGTK1PYJtQUl9wqlgw7c65LpHKdI-Ws5-L9f11naXt8Xb1FJWTOmywHOdiXA/s1600/_1455835671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZL-WcImwrr67Cqg9NqMYzPjV58GbRbbRxabG9K7ObFEDt6O4ILC0ymp4nQZdW9zxNWpJjgbwUXlJDmu1mGTK1PYJtQUl9wqlgw7c65LpHKdI-Ws5-L9f11naXt8Xb1FJWTOmywHOdiXA/s640/_1455835671.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">9.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <u>
</u></span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><u>Progression on Batman’s timeline, Wayne Manor is
gone and a modern glass enclosed house in now on the grounds.</u> </b> I do agree with most, we don’t need to see
another interpretation of Batman’s origins in another DC film for at least 10
years. It’s been sooooo overdone and
Batman is probably the one character, audiences the world over, know about. We don’t need to witness his parents murder, time
after time after time. However, I don’t
hear anyone commenting on the progression of Batman’s timeline, something this
film takes the time to set up. Clearly
the Joker has gotten to one of the Robins, Wayne Manor has been destroyed and
Batman has seen some darker days. This
is a Bruce Wayne with gray in his hair and no longer in his 30’s. We have never seen a Batman quite this old
before, even George Clooney was 36 back in 1997 during the filming of <i>Batman
& Robin</i>, Ben Affleck is 42. Again
for a big, dumb superhero movie this was handled surprisingly well.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfinCiGr8eNfNwBv96-00ANPvfL2Y9KkG9diCLPblfeOmbuZ1ujvkGXmPOuEs-g2ZEZTLY50QWxwVoU_zlSpzq9k4aRk1UNrnthc2pR9CJ8i1nP5r_JBiB1f0q6R1KYJ5EVHdeZkwdELmt/s1600/Alfred-Jeremy-Irons-Wayne-Manor-Batman-V-Superman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfinCiGr8eNfNwBv96-00ANPvfL2Y9KkG9diCLPblfeOmbuZ1ujvkGXmPOuEs-g2ZEZTLY50QWxwVoU_zlSpzq9k4aRk1UNrnthc2pR9CJ8i1nP5r_JBiB1f0q6R1KYJ5EVHdeZkwdELmt/s640/Alfred-Jeremy-Irons-Wayne-Manor-Batman-V-Superman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X2gDufCzF7cu4MZVfuIPgtlV9hUn2aylNB7wzEe37pc-WYpFqGm1O6nLarHeQJFg6On-bczyM9Gkp6M9zyoiEmrl8db4dlOc24ECOTx0Zj4T74DtxnQHN0nxA1U_nJ8q5_x19YA_scRb/s1600/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-ben-affleck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X2gDufCzF7cu4MZVfuIPgtlV9hUn2aylNB7wzEe37pc-WYpFqGm1O6nLarHeQJFg6On-bczyM9Gkp6M9zyoiEmrl8db4dlOc24ECOTx0Zj4T74DtxnQHN0nxA1U_nJ8q5_x19YA_scRb/s640/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-ben-affleck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">10.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><b>Accuracy to the comics, almost all the major
plotlines have precedence in the comic book history</b>.</u> The connection between the two Marthas,
Superman’s death at the hands of Doomsday, Batman vs. Superman and their
differing ideologies, Batman aging appearance and radically pro-military
stance, Darkseid’s eventual recruitment of Superman, Batman causing harm by not trusting. Different versions exist of both Lex Luthor,
Superman and Batman in the comics.
Batman has killed and has used guns in the comics. I have heard other review accuse Snyder of
not remaining true to the comics, and I could maybe make a case for that if you
went by canon, which has be re-done and rebooted over the decades many, many
times and did not include any of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elseworlds" target="_blank">Elseworlds</a> comics. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Via Wikipedia, Elseworlds was the publication
imprint for American comic books produced by DC Comics, in which stories take
place outside the DC Universe canon.
Some Elseworlds titles include Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns,
in which a grizzled, elderly version of Bruce Wayne goes after criminals and
even Superman with insane amounts of violence and ruthlessness. Even if you only wanted to count what is
canon, then you need to realize that Batman, in his very first appearances,
used guns and killed people <a href="http://gizmodo.com/7-times-batman-has-bent-his-no-guns-rule-1634040693" target="_blank">all the freaking time. </a> I agree with many that this is not my all-time
favorite interpretation of the character but to wrongly assume that Snyder and
Co. did not do their research or were not faithful to the comics in any way is
dead wrong. If anything Zack Snyder has
proved he has gone deep into the DC legacies of both Batman and Superman, even
if you didn’t like the presentation, the love, the research and the
understanding of these beloved characters was always there. Audiences shouldn’t always have to go beneath
the surface to enjoy a film, but for those that do, you will be rewarded.</li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBlF2wbpjtvJQS8pL0_m-yab3ypBo-w2KODUE_qHDPWDvM4w44F3wPyNdBGtfya-MyktJVc2GVSjKvYnyZrwVaF_e4BHRU4-XtkBwSB3JX8eBrAFQJgxRo4bFrpns3w-IMKtU6qy_HY97/s1600/pic_52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBlF2wbpjtvJQS8pL0_m-yab3ypBo-w2KODUE_qHDPWDvM4w44F3wPyNdBGtfya-MyktJVc2GVSjKvYnyZrwVaF_e4BHRU4-XtkBwSB3JX8eBrAFQJgxRo4bFrpns3w-IMKtU6qy_HY97/s640/pic_52.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the pages of the Dark Knight Returns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYVWC2bgouwqCCwESJ2ebMJeUaf3O0ItbhZISBBcukukgy4I2Tx35bgvk7h-Mmdz8eMBIt4OfMj3rYd4adFauJi8Xc97a8_04xJnHwhmByzZBjJ8dTqdVmg-8Rn2mun8s6Z5i0Judhgo3/s1600/batman-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYVWC2bgouwqCCwESJ2ebMJeUaf3O0ItbhZISBBcukukgy4I2Tx35bgvk7h-Mmdz8eMBIt4OfMj3rYd4adFauJi8Xc97a8_04xJnHwhmByzZBjJ8dTqdVmg-8Rn2mun8s6Z5i0Judhgo3/s640/batman-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div>
<div>
Look, I’m no great defender of superhero movies. I was disappointed <i>Deadpool </i>turned out to be little more than a Lifetime movie cancer drama with two actions scenes added to the beginning and the end. It needed to be funnier, have more action and really needed to be directed by <i>Guardians of the Galaxy’s</i> James Gunn. But this movie was any better than it had any right to be. <br />
<br />
Even one of the most deservedly, geek-lauded directors of our time, Joss Whedon, could only make one and a half good superhero team movies and he knows comic books better than any living director today, he wrote one of the best versions of the X-men comic book to date. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLbh2EW1x5TYj41NNWnIQKg4IzD9BKgaueiIrxS6xBusX2exyi5kqZ_1r-Qe2rlZoT7_hTopIB27tccnwz4xyg4svEOaOAXOf1fm3yejb7P7AmMdWMurVB1G7XDtMp8EFilUb6_yJ3tb6/s1600/file_171647_0_astonishing-xmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLbh2EW1x5TYj41NNWnIQKg4IzD9BKgaueiIrxS6xBusX2exyi5kqZ_1r-Qe2rlZoT7_hTopIB27tccnwz4xyg4svEOaOAXOf1fm3yejb7P7AmMdWMurVB1G7XDtMp8EFilUb6_yJ3tb6/s400/file_171647_0_astonishing-xmen.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check it out, it is glorious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
These type of movies are notoriously hard to get anything right. I know geeks like to point out that the director of the Mad Max movie franchise, George Miller, had a <a href="http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-first-ever-look-at-george-millers-scrapped-justice-1708165083" target="_blank">Justice League movie</a> in the works with Armie Hammer as Batman, which in theory sounds amazing until <a href="http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2013/06/19/justice-league-mortal-the-dc-comics-movie-event-forever-damned-to-development-hell" target="_blank">you realize</a> the movie was to be filmed entirely as a CGI-Animated film, “Australian filmmaker George Miller was hired to direct the $200 million plus-budgeted Justice League. Early reports suggested that the movie would be a CGI-animated feature with the characters brought to life via motion capture technology a la Robert Zemeckis’ <i>The Polar Express</i> and <i>Beowulf</i>.” I rest my case. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I leave you with this;</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Jim Gordon</b>: <i>He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
DC will survive this, Zack Snyder will survive this, the true fans will survive this, Batman and Superman will survive this. They can take it. And I can too.<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-43815818424164349322016-03-15T14:45:00.000-07:002016-03-15T14:45:50.602-07:00Ghostbusters Reboot - I Ain't Afraid Of No Ghosts.....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqM-bRluyB543JM01Pt_hr3Ru_F5axKscfxIymhzDXThWQLGsrobWh8iTxH_4TsRVe5KZRdCaVjdRBa98OCtVVNjXosWo0pGzCjJ8F5DPgFGBK6T1STkGAaYkM0LqrU4v2aDTWG2s-1KW/s1600/CYO2t5QWQAE0U1W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqM-bRluyB543JM01Pt_hr3Ru_F5axKscfxIymhzDXThWQLGsrobWh8iTxH_4TsRVe5KZRdCaVjdRBa98OCtVVNjXosWo0pGzCjJ8F5DPgFGBK6T1STkGAaYkM0LqrU4v2aDTWG2s-1KW/s320/CYO2t5QWQAE0U1W.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="https://twitter.com/paulfeig" target="_blank">@paulfeig</a></td></tr>
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....OR HATERS!!!!!</div>
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Surprising probably no one, there have been many vocal haters, mostly men but some women too, on social media outraged at the upcoming <i>Ghostbusters</i> reboot film helmed by <i>Freaks and Geeks</i>' Paul Feig and starring Melissa Carthy of the <i>Bridesmaids</i> fame.</div>
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I have only really asked one such self-described lady nerd why she dislikes the Ghost-busters reboot from the trailers alone. In short, she said "they took a movie and put women in place of men. Gave them the same character traits and personality of the men and now women are supposed to jump for joy?....forces Paul Feig to come up with better schtick (sic) and and original roles for women."</div>
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To which I offered this rebuttal , "I don't think Ghostbusters is too sacred to be immune from remakes....I loved what Feig and McCarthy did in <i>Spy</i>, which was original and proved to me they could handle the Ghostbusters franchise."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF0z-7L16cMDf2AVAaJZtN-busCqdGYx3NU2IJtH7w2SFouWKIqhwc73Lp4nD_ZHQ8aydoPb-IVrGPH9sUJ5MNJL_Mt6N67D3W1zZx8uT9aLL1lCBy4KUVJpgEgpAShggrBN6L4imyz-o/s1600/tumblr_nietuwOyWZ1u5sqpxo2_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF0z-7L16cMDf2AVAaJZtN-busCqdGYx3NU2IJtH7w2SFouWKIqhwc73Lp4nD_ZHQ8aydoPb-IVrGPH9sUJ5MNJL_Mt6N67D3W1zZx8uT9aLL1lCBy4KUVJpgEgpAShggrBN6L4imyz-o/s400/tumblr_nietuwOyWZ1u5sqpxo2_500.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fCMZwzsL0f0FhSbdzzNuLwtyxjqv4rCLRLBT5iTIjYNyuymcxgfP8FgxVflmljwG8_q3eKDQ0cR1VXJ8nAYtu3zydX1tGSj3p3rU7V24nHT4kHBFdEjoTh0Im50yRlneMqWnAuo8hbR2/s1600/tumblr_nietuwOyWZ1u5sqpxo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fCMZwzsL0f0FhSbdzzNuLwtyxjqv4rCLRLBT5iTIjYNyuymcxgfP8FgxVflmljwG8_q3eKDQ0cR1VXJ8nAYtu3zydX1tGSj3p3rU7V24nHT4kHBFdEjoTh0Im50yRlneMqWnAuo8hbR2/s400/tumblr_nietuwOyWZ1u5sqpxo1_500.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPM42TcC1uR_a4eSCAZYSdgPqwaF_OOuSiaN2rK06KSjz4dP65UyEZl4ASfaPUFv7fcbIcScugxPVs2Qx0a4XDUjo5mJc5Bp_qcbP5l4W5cpJu4x-ABNvk190_imDsvVMpSOl9FHW4Apr/s1600/tumblr_nq26v3i1s91txuao5o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPM42TcC1uR_a4eSCAZYSdgPqwaF_OOuSiaN2rK06KSjz4dP65UyEZl4ASfaPUFv7fcbIcScugxPVs2Qx0a4XDUjo5mJc5Bp_qcbP5l4W5cpJu4x-ABNvk190_imDsvVMpSOl9FHW4Apr/s400/tumblr_nq26v3i1s91txuao5o1_500.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Action, humor and original roles for women all around. </div>
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Feig and McCarthy know what they are doing. <i>Spy</i> has a 94% on <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spy_2015/" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes</a> and this <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/07/spy-review" target="_blank">glowing review</a> on IGN.com. You could've hated the movie, but cumulative reviews would disagree with you. I can add that it was easily one of my favorite movies of 2015, in addition to <i>Mad Max: Fury Road</i>, <i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> and <i>Spotlight</i>. Oh and two of those movies I just named are sequels or soft reboots.</div>
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I get that some men, not all men, feel invalidated by seeing a Ghostbusters sequel without male leads. They feel they are being overlooked as the core Ghostbuster audience to which any and all sequels should appeal to. What the old audience is slowly realizing is that Ghostbusters have always appealed to a much larger fan-base than just white males that grew up during the 80's. </div>
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I'm excited to see this movie. I love Ghostbusters as a young girl growing up in the 80's and 90's and am thrilled to see an all female squad. That does not and will never invalidate the original Ghostbusters films starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson. The reboot is it's own thing. I do not view it, in any way, potentially tarnishing the original films. A good franchise will always survive. Look at Batman, Star Wars, and James Bond.</div>
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Tldr; This Ghostbusters movie was not made for you. Watch it or do not, but please, get over yourselves. No one appointed you gate-keeper for the franchise. Doesn't matter how many cartoons, comics or Ghosbusters toys you bought or your parents bought for you. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-72825147340424112882016-03-01T11:58:00.003-08:002016-03-01T11:58:47.397-08:003 Tributes to the late, great Bea Arthur in Postmodern Cartoons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenyhmrYJl76_6CZwn-5UkjGJzV0rQ2Ri32RClD0wu78FLWQvE58a4duGZjux_VuaRYR0OKsyIgfiMr4xbITKGdlKW9eC87eNwUqcl57vitmhuWNM2s3LrJxt1zPP43hCDbHCcwyJ3zbjL/s1600/x240-6mW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenyhmrYJl76_6CZwn-5UkjGJzV0rQ2Ri32RClD0wu78FLWQvE58a4duGZjux_VuaRYR0OKsyIgfiMr4xbITKGdlKW9eC87eNwUqcl57vitmhuWNM2s3LrJxt1zPP43hCDbHCcwyJ3zbjL/s640/x240-6mW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of my obsessive fandoms is cartoons, which stretches all
the way back to my formative years watching <i>Batman,The Animated Series</i>. I have never stopped watching cartoons. Starting in the late 90’s some cartoons have
reached or succeeded the same level of storytelling as live action shows for adults. My favorite shows of all time are <i>Avatar; the
Last Airbender</i> and <i>Breaking Bad</i>, IN THAT ORDER!!!</div>
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Sacrilege, I know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of you may be aware that some cartoons like <i>Adventure
Time</i> and Nickelodeon’s current <i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> series are just as
much for an adult audience as they are for a children’s audience. Ditto for <i>Steven Universe</i>, <i>Gravity Falls</i>,
<i>Tron Legacy</i>, etc. IGN.com does <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/31/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-the-war-for-dimension-x-review" target="_blank">weekly recaps</a> for <i>TMNT</i> and <a href="http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/wander-over-yonder-tackles-true-character-motivati-232532" target="_blank">ADV Club</a> for <i>Wander Over Yonder</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Series creators are making the cartoons they want to
see. Not necessarily as a children but
cartoons they want to watch today, as adults in their mid-30s with their kids. One of the reasons I know cartoons are appealing to adult
audiences is all the subtle references to 80’s and 90’s pop culture, such as <i>The Golden Girls.</i></div>
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Because I watch so many cartoons on the reg, I was surprised
to see Bea Arthur referenced in not one but two current cartoons. Let’s take a look shall we?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmD5B_4s5qSCBCm6glLW8SLLonpPSsizs4hjd4NJ1Qt8CjrfJGl5SZ23ZIskN2szhxNBteRvYR68bdBOBmO5RfPIRGlbM1c_yuBwBWl9wz6kBvBDYk-DAAFAk8wEkr07Yw5fr6dnETW-1c/s1600/bea_arthur174859--300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmD5B_4s5qSCBCm6glLW8SLLonpPSsizs4hjd4NJ1Qt8CjrfJGl5SZ23ZIskN2szhxNBteRvYR68bdBOBmO5RfPIRGlbM1c_yuBwBWl9wz6kBvBDYk-DAAFAk8wEkr07Yw5fr6dnETW-1c/s400/bea_arthur174859--300x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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(If you don’t know who Bea Arthur is, stop right now and
google Her Majesty. Then watch an
episode of <i>The Golden Girls</i> on the interwebs or whatever and marvel how a group of
women in their mid-50’s get away with the raunchiest lines pre-<i>Sex And The City</i> days.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Futurama – Amazon Women
in the Mood. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Air Date - 2/4/2001.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMsm8LbxKI3DOgm5RPTPlYg75ubBGA1K1rYBfmNsvJ_R_W80_VAN0T1bE8cGK4LAwdlGA-9Uon5gVUJdN_YIx2vHumY1M_TZoxx7vJHeSoTtuZ3h978MNor3jvr_WwUvZ8mjo2Vv32cQp/s1600/Futurama-01_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMsm8LbxKI3DOgm5RPTPlYg75ubBGA1K1rYBfmNsvJ_R_W80_VAN0T1bE8cGK4LAwdlGA-9Uon5gVUJdN_YIx2vHumY1M_TZoxx7vJHeSoTtuZ3h978MNor3jvr_WwUvZ8mjo2Vv32cQp/s320/Futurama-01_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the <i>Futurama</i> episode, Amazon Women in the Mood, Bea
Arthur voices the character/robot Femputer.
Bea’s signature deadpan delivery is in full comedic display reciting lines
such as “Death by snu-snu!” This is less
a tribute and more an appearance of Bea Arthur in the postmodern cartoon world,
prior to her passing away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj18EddNHXzvr4gvv-fZvhB7G4ss6W8yXEjUPbjU4Y2pVVYUQf-ulcIcHI22IMI_69X-PWGE6r1AyZrbBcJCaIYBThFU7Tuz1E-WPz7t_5dP8zccmr47yAu5R5-c2b73aACDdKiLO0w6fP/s1600/Futurama-Season-3-Episode-1-36-27bd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj18EddNHXzvr4gvv-fZvhB7G4ss6W8yXEjUPbjU4Y2pVVYUQf-ulcIcHI22IMI_69X-PWGE6r1AyZrbBcJCaIYBThFU7Tuz1E-WPz7t_5dP8zccmr47yAu5R5-c2b73aACDdKiLO0w6fP/s400/Futurama-Season-3-Episode-1-36-27bd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-u1nqYy3Itfk89Nv6b8HF90tflYphIVRPRsjwiso0szY5BHbN-ArlpeciNYakno8KaiUNwQ009iUAKRDeb9_WXaOodLy9XRrPBPp_NgAYDTHBjjOBOpOBmSEX-Qj5J8H5QO6zYelqwNg/s1600/301a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-u1nqYy3Itfk89Nv6b8HF90tflYphIVRPRsjwiso0szY5BHbN-ArlpeciNYakno8KaiUNwQ009iUAKRDeb9_WXaOodLy9XRrPBPp_NgAYDTHBjjOBOpOBmSEX-Qj5J8H5QO6zYelqwNg/s320/301a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Teen Titans Go! – Two
Parter Part Two. (That is the actual name of the episode.)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Air Date - 11/25/2015.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me pre-face this by saying if you loved the original
Teen Titans, (which I did) then you will probably hate the Teen Titans Go! reboot. If you loved Ren & Stimpy, even just a
little bit, you will enjoy this show. (Which
I did and do). The humor is irreverent,
off the wall and madcap to say the least.
It’s like a super-hero themed Mad Magazine come to animated life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a fairly recent episode the Teen Titans infiltrate the
Justice League and antics ensue. Most notably, Cyborg, in an attempt to call
upon a hidden reserve of courage, uses Green Lantern’s ring to conjure up the
Golden Girls, minus Sofia. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I pretty much spat out the beer I was drinking during a lazy
Sunday afternoon. Now I have proof this
show was made for me, and stoners possibly, but mostly man-children (or more
like, women-children who do their own taxes) like myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Wander Over Yonder – The Family Reunion</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Air Date – 2/22/2016<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqwwAZ4I_bhR4X3VJgwdIfX3rRyqPLxtNinLLwOZ9IAGAOOB0I-oygHnj9OtKeFgkMLt3rSkHtYEzCtqe9d-45j8-Ol-hntXoSz8_IKkf8ZX2v31K-47xa5zmoCrfnwgPJZGO4Dxd5XS6/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqwwAZ4I_bhR4X3VJgwdIfX3rRyqPLxtNinLLwOZ9IAGAOOB0I-oygHnj9OtKeFgkMLt3rSkHtYEzCtqe9d-45j8-Ol-hntXoSz8_IKkf8ZX2v31K-47xa5zmoCrfnwgPJZGO4Dxd5XS6/s400/hqdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wander Over Yonder follows a best friend duo of a perpetual
do-gooder named Wander, voiced by 30 Rock’s Jack MacBrayer, and his tough,
sassy lady friend Sylvia, voiced by April Winchell, who is another fabulously comedic
actress with a similar low vocal range as Ms. Bea Arthur herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Both Wander and Sylvia are both members of different made up
alien races, traveling a vast, wide galaxy.
Sylvia is a Zbornak, a race of tough talking, hard hitting part
dinosaur/part horse hybrids with a figurative heart of gold. A Zbornak, okay?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBW28nlglTViMZp4XAC1uZaKPPsFKz01qhjRctQQkjr8Q9U5djtGfaqM8jnG6D6Xy6R7hIftlkpnsSvjp5SSLOYWfWOJFpv8y41MvA07zgp9At_tYRfuJCfiDtvyouyKFE3DHCsGxnd21/s1600/S1e21_Sylvia_--It%2527s_not_just_a_house--.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBW28nlglTViMZp4XAC1uZaKPPsFKz01qhjRctQQkjr8Q9U5djtGfaqM8jnG6D6Xy6R7hIftlkpnsSvjp5SSLOYWfWOJFpv8y41MvA07zgp9At_tYRfuJCfiDtvyouyKFE3DHCsGxnd21/s400/S1e21_Sylvia_--It%2527s_not_just_a_house--.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the episode “The Family Reunion” Sylvia and Wander go to
meet Sylvia’s family which is headed by her mother, who is named Dorothy. And looks like this. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64QZdV4Gkit7vYOCr9ObvgkFGD8ypSR4d-5-T564vPmzj4-m910JJqWbnKBmyW2fJc3QcXTCgNhP6vUXsb3JI8q1BVPavCAmVpCkSgwfuaM9JgzwLQphTQkk2J613o4oV-_xNvrwV-ME6/s1600/640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64QZdV4Gkit7vYOCr9ObvgkFGD8ypSR4d-5-T564vPmzj4-m910JJqWbnKBmyW2fJc3QcXTCgNhP6vUXsb3JI8q1BVPavCAmVpCkSgwfuaM9JgzwLQphTQkk2J613o4oV-_xNvrwV-ME6/s320/640.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMMsZARUaDbQvv26jw3lI4XP6hMHkeeUaisfWL5_tTr6U8eyZv7-VRfT9JwRJziVsYNxIgzmRcgjZc_a5rHEru9O7FNzRCRdCUoJWVYpZXa5Ek0iKfYe3FS3124wUyACijpRLmkjBbEcw/s1600/beaarthurfront1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMMsZARUaDbQvv26jw3lI4XP6hMHkeeUaisfWL5_tTr6U8eyZv7-VRfT9JwRJziVsYNxIgzmRcgjZc_a5rHEru9O7FNzRCRdCUoJWVYpZXa5Ek0iKfYe3FS3124wUyACijpRLmkjBbEcw/s400/beaarthurfront1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue tinged hair and heavy lids......</td></tr>
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Dorothy the Zbornak, as in Bea Arthur’s character Dorothy Zbornak in <i>The Golden Girls</i>.<div>
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I see what you did there, Craig McCracken. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIktas8Gpb2K8Gv175B4FIDYzHEmXrOVpe3jJptLGUZrHNEZ_61_GJQQlQoiOwmGcl4CDPUiSsIz7vkqp6YAyWt3tu7ZUtYoPvstagYz5MnILHJtA4TTivuRSKWVvLYY83USHQ2vq32MRe/s1600/960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIktas8Gpb2K8Gv175B4FIDYzHEmXrOVpe3jJptLGUZrHNEZ_61_GJQQlQoiOwmGcl4CDPUiSsIz7vkqp6YAyWt3tu7ZUtYoPvstagYz5MnILHJtA4TTivuRSKWVvLYY83USHQ2vq32MRe/s640/960.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Long live the memory of the Bea Arthur! May her legacy be spread to the more future generations to come.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-58200709321502416672016-02-23T11:01:00.001-08:002016-02-24T08:02:17.893-08:00So, Batman, Cookie Monster and a Jawa walk into a bar....Stop me if you've heard this one. So, Batman, Cookie Monster and a Jawa walk into a bar because the Abbey Underground in Denton, Texas was hosting a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/754133391387512/permalink/754438008023717/" target="_blank">Fandom Dinner and Cosplay Cocktail Party</a> Saturday night from 5pm-2am. A bar hosting a party for people in costume with drinks, food, a Lego Minifig vendor, a band, a costume contest and a DJ? Hail yiss!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajWtp3Pd2A73cH67II-o4pEGfR-fBdqI_TITwECcmWEbxc9pHMXYKj1OsDOk8sc1-ZhZeueTioL3J6I9Gj_XUMS74fMq31YbcbbQWB8pDsLKhW-OOEeA28NHsrO5zZNAgSh71oSwhLrWc/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajWtp3Pd2A73cH67II-o4pEGfR-fBdqI_TITwECcmWEbxc9pHMXYKj1OsDOk8sc1-ZhZeueTioL3J6I9Gj_XUMS74fMq31YbcbbQWB8pDsLKhW-OOEeA28NHsrO5zZNAgSh71oSwhLrWc/s400/030.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I decided to attend purely on a whim. Did I know anyone going to this party? Well, no. Did I have a costume ready to go within a day's notice? Actually, I did! I made a couple of cosplay costumes last winter after attending last year's <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2016/01/convention-spotlight-wizard-world-tulsa.html" target="_blank">Wizard World Comic Con</a> in Tulsa, OK, where I came away ablaze with inspiration. </div>
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Prior to that convention I rarely attended cons and truly believed that I would never cosplay simply because I am plus-sized. However after witnessing so many young cosplayers at the Tulsa Comic Con, from little children to teenagers dressing up in costumes they had made themselves. I changed my mind. Drastically. Cosplay is for everyone. I get a huge thrill out of someone recognizing my fandom and a huge surge of happiness whenever I make decent looking props from a pile of garbage, or clay, or felt, or cardboard. </div>
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So for the cosplay party at the Abbey Underground, I donned my Ramona Flowers costume from Scott Pilgrim comic/movie, complete with the "Power of Love" sword made from a plastic Halloween ninja sword and Ramona's iconic purse made from a spray painted cookie tin and went forth to meet a bunch of strangers, in costume.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOtR_oHQbnnrm5W9wRgO884DQtGFF03eAr_GYQOhGKVtUiEZOXEEmOKTS9iljvJzLzII21jrY-H9Ns2M54UoUvaVeZx9-TQ80RZqhtl6xpmIf6SK1ulNe0RB0p-tTwxKvmRRzULGZh0ZA/s1600/20160220_190430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOtR_oHQbnnrm5W9wRgO884DQtGFF03eAr_GYQOhGKVtUiEZOXEEmOKTS9iljvJzLzII21jrY-H9Ns2M54UoUvaVeZx9-TQ80RZqhtl6xpmIf6SK1ulNe0RB0p-tTwxKvmRRzULGZh0ZA/s320/20160220_190430.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I arrived a little early. Most people arrived later in the night, but I didn't know what to expect so I got there a little after the doors opened at 5 pm, to be sure I would be allowed in.</div>
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I met the featured cosplayer, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/misspmjcosplay" target="_blank">MisspmjCosplay</a>, who was dressed as the upcoming Suicide Squad movie version of Harley Quinn. She was there to raise proceeds for the non-profit agency <a href="http://www.heroicinnerkids.org/" target="_blank">Heroic Inner Kids</a>. I loved that she is a HUGE DC fangirl, like myself. She had recently completed the Dagger Type, gold and black version of the new 52 Batgirl Comic costume, which she explained the plotline in precise detail to me, and my jaw practically dropped. She is the real deal and a lovely person to boot.</div>
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As the costume contest was taking place, I met a super-cute, friendly cosplay couple. She was dressed as Kagura of the Wind from Inuyasha, which I used to beg my younger sister to tape for me on VCR whenever it aired on Cartoon Network back in the day. Her husband was dressed as Metal Gear Solid's Snake. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecAUh7xjUuSQQerWdAEivWKkaHXvGYMayoP8CpX3oXZgzh_zH9lESJ4SsD1qy12k4ONZztMHD-cqc0ABWntqmdYvA2_wPR9n0a4LbTXoN4WlMs5eLjqL5UvpBKrLOXSgV7hGBrm54-eae/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecAUh7xjUuSQQerWdAEivWKkaHXvGYMayoP8CpX3oXZgzh_zH9lESJ4SsD1qy12k4ONZztMHD-cqc0ABWntqmdYvA2_wPR9n0a4LbTXoN4WlMs5eLjqL5UvpBKrLOXSgV7hGBrm54-eae/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new friends in line for the cosplay contest, standing behind Elsa and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEpx2sf3VMGfZEB032V4ABrL75vzgd4pcDVfEGwO9ty-ahIkHpcrwFozE7PsDefU3ElBN9yJ4mbX9Sma93JQx1PI-7S8cw8j0z7NOz-Maou7W-ukdQw36fz6dUsdVE0uljqpCj7hDlRBC/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEpx2sf3VMGfZEB032V4ABrL75vzgd4pcDVfEGwO9ty-ahIkHpcrwFozE7PsDefU3ElBN9yJ4mbX9Sma93JQx1PI-7S8cw8j0z7NOz-Maou7W-ukdQw36fz6dUsdVE0uljqpCj7hDlRBC/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4BTD6QK7GHXwvCszLiVVZ2LVm3nhVMyw8zw2cDLdBex0h0xrCO8qqimGEOwPW4gxjnhtDnZgRhcbYoPDjnOo8kuhiWnLaAO5WEfhE-OxzkkZWnruwlQn69cBj7J4WYJcnCNo1ufKbJPE/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4BTD6QK7GHXwvCszLiVVZ2LVm3nhVMyw8zw2cDLdBex0h0xrCO8qqimGEOwPW4gxjnhtDnZgRhcbYoPDjnOo8kuhiWnLaAO5WEfhE-OxzkkZWnruwlQn69cBj7J4WYJcnCNo1ufKbJPE/s320/010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhn14lRnGO0fLNP02Sn2USCIhVFVY1vMCnviM65i3R8f2KZdZmxqTQuAOrnACVlYRlKwAluYIlUkh9c_t-yKdciVDCOATIAxp6gbd0U4ZVOBGjaoRlSwm0vfqd02-0jhBLV8vDFLT-l-u/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhn14lRnGO0fLNP02Sn2USCIhVFVY1vMCnviM65i3R8f2KZdZmxqTQuAOrnACVlYRlKwAluYIlUkh9c_t-yKdciVDCOATIAxp6gbd0U4ZVOBGjaoRlSwm0vfqd02-0jhBLV8vDFLT-l-u/s400/014.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kagura of the Wind by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/t0xicassie/" target="_blank">@t0xicassie</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vDDtcrI1JAYyvZ8Pr_6o0ZL9VSeA6MoUNpEvvBKxHNu2m_TZe-kczjGcyXZsh55oLvEBMUMzX3F2mvdDZTDTgLHWwrr0RxAiBpAePNJMm6DRU9Q-jQYFgezhk5vGKWrl8G82FrLRmKur/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vDDtcrI1JAYyvZ8Pr_6o0ZL9VSeA6MoUNpEvvBKxHNu2m_TZe-kczjGcyXZsh55oLvEBMUMzX3F2mvdDZTDTgLHWwrr0RxAiBpAePNJMm6DRU9Q-jQYFgezhk5vGKWrl8G82FrLRmKur/s320/016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5KX6hB8tia7s60xNowCOsMNzYQe35Dr_z9mW9ySfYnetY4OTTfd-u8HDoEX9w-xSgk_fndMGAaBCQKEJ7bPDe-wRSp5U2QeIhmCDa8zDufKdt4JI-2Bx-Fh6sEnaXHRMg7FcOAiNSPw4/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5KX6hB8tia7s60xNowCOsMNzYQe35Dr_z9mW9ySfYnetY4OTTfd-u8HDoEX9w-xSgk_fndMGAaBCQKEJ7bPDe-wRSp5U2QeIhmCDa8zDufKdt4JI-2Bx-Fh6sEnaXHRMg7FcOAiNSPw4/s400/019.JPG" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lil' Link and Twilight Sparkle!</td></tr>
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Sadly, my new friends didn't win. Top Prize went to a cosplayer from Borderlands but as the night I geeked out with new people on superhero movies from the 90's such as The Phantom and Dark Man. My metal cookie tin purse felt apart twice but both times cosplayers immediately came to my rescue, corralling my wallet, keys and phone, handing them back to me. Thank you, Princess Leia!<br />
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The band Luna Royale played dressed as Obi-Wan, Doctor Who, and Batman on the drums. It's too bad I didn't take a full photo of Batman in costume as he was wearing the black underwear over grey leggings version. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Leia and Jafar looking on.</td></tr>
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After the band and some weird Dragon-Ball Z male fight/strip show?!? (it was weird. Two actors play-fought then stripped to the waist, grinding up on Harley Quinn. I took pictures as first but even my camera was like, "wha??? Ah hell, no!") the DJ started spinning, mostly playing Michael Jackson and oldies. No Drake or Bey. I stayed until my purse exploded for the last time, all over the dance floor. Then left awash in a vague feeling that I just experienced a very odd but fun fever dream.<br />
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I don't know that I would go again to small events outside of the larger conventions, it makes for a memorable experiences but it is really difficult to remember different cosplayers you might have met before, because they look soooo different from costume to costume. Also some of the cosplayers have pre-established groups or family members that they cosplay with, so it seemed to me that they weren't super open to outsiders. I usually make friends quite easily but with costumes involved, it just seemed different, not quite as easy. People do kind of look at your costume and what it represents, rather than seeing you as a person. It's just what we do as humans. <br />
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I want to definitely keep cosplaying but sometimes I just got to remember that the friendliest face I have, is actually my own. <br />
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Until next time!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "pt sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;">(All photos are my own. Please let me know if you'd like to be credited as one of the above cosplayers. Thanks)</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-43317308147583509672016-02-16T15:49:00.001-08:002016-02-16T15:49:42.253-08:00Speed Dating at a Comic Con<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey guys and gals.
Over Valentine’s Day weekend I attended the Dallas Comic Con Fan Days
2016 with my bestie, where we decided to go in costume and attend the speed
dating event hosted by SciFi Speed-Dating.
Ah, Nerds in Love! The headline
practically writes itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5R16fNTnNKPftQB71x1XY2VCULsE63TCKHD_4kPE6HLjWkNxtMQLFKIA_iJKAQTbtdDLl223M_zVFjhyphenhyphen_LJYgN17_NQ1NN85h03fro59-H-2UFxN_kToD1EMwjMTkZfQOTCfzO-9Td53/s1600/20160213_143252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5R16fNTnNKPftQB71x1XY2VCULsE63TCKHD_4kPE6HLjWkNxtMQLFKIA_iJKAQTbtdDLl223M_zVFjhyphenhyphen_LJYgN17_NQ1NN85h03fro59-H-2UFxN_kToD1EMwjMTkZfQOTCfzO-9Td53/s400/20160213_143252.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet a life size Ninja Turtle is off my bucket list.</td></tr>
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“Do it for the story!”
I urged my also single, best friend.
“We will go in costume! It’ll be
hilarious.” I promised. This seemed to me to have all the potential
in the world to be the best meet-cute scenario in the history of
adorkability. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMYVPotaZe60Z5_qLJPc-feoSw-aafRaMJzzAxJYcNnyMDWMdemXiFT-kdrRpbC7TNwCj_HGMMP0X7gVxgKsmyyGSiCZR_R9riKKo81LGrPSyehv77gDK4aJJhgZO83Scva59cLSLekjU/s1600/12743993_1176734292356866_7280597439039177520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMYVPotaZe60Z5_qLJPc-feoSw-aafRaMJzzAxJYcNnyMDWMdemXiFT-kdrRpbC7TNwCj_HGMMP0X7gVxgKsmyyGSiCZR_R9riKKo81LGrPSyehv77gDK4aJJhgZO83Scva59cLSLekjU/s640/12743993_1176734292356866_7280597439039177520_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SciFiSpeedDating/" target="_blank">SciFiSpeedDating</a></td></tr>
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I had my cosplay all put together and carefully thought
out. I dressed as Marceline, the Vampire
Queen from Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time.
I made the red axe-guitar from cardboard and a hockey stick, made a
custom French Fry shaped purse emblazoned with the phrase “Daddy, why?” (as in
her famous song, “Daddy, why did you eat my fries?”), and even found a plushie
of Marceline’s stuffed bear, Hambo, to attach to my purse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA5AX1tRUUIbmEBbtVjRgIkdjSgDm-bXJJDaHi4ayEDiXNUYXyuoz3oPqxxE6ZCQXgbzfQ3yxRJyg6izKNwYtXfNDaXOr9adkv5qfl7cN3rNIWg37UKrJTV5GrkU8G-CBzVdVRkmgwFp6/s1600/20160213_122659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA5AX1tRUUIbmEBbtVjRgIkdjSgDm-bXJJDaHi4ayEDiXNUYXyuoz3oPqxxE6ZCQXgbzfQ3yxRJyg6izKNwYtXfNDaXOr9adkv5qfl7cN3rNIWg37UKrJTV5GrkU8G-CBzVdVRkmgwFp6/s320/20160213_122659.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I'm using a selfie stick because I live alone and am too lazy to use a tripod, or get a timer.</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, Sci-Fi Speed-Dating, turned out to be no
different than regular, normal, every-day speed-dating, just without booze or
the opportunity to have a drink. The
guys still skewed younger, somehow a 16-year old managed to sneak his way
in. The guys are still super-shy, not
willing to give a connection a chance, despite the fact that I managed to talk somewhat knowledgeably about Death Note, Soul Eater, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Deadpool in a seamless flow. There were a lot of guys rocking the Green Lantern and Captain America t-shirts. At least this time it was free, for the ladies at least.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I did get to meet some super-chill nerd ladies, which actually
happens to me, a lot. I tend to walk
away from speed dating with a new lady friend to add to my squad. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The convention itself
was cool. The speed-dating event sucked
up so much time that I didn’t get to sit in on any panels. I definitely loved seeing all the various
cosplays, kept an eye out for amazing plus-size cosplay.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU2LwhH49OoxPrAJgmzewrnCC4wZ9kuE6fRhI_gl0vBoQnIB5hzDwB_ip33UD15klXOpRWwsdm6zjAlbMBM-2uccM4KLhJEAKcCalfdc2bPo_ym_PfeakytNUiktRS7oanQehA9qoom5x/s1600/20160213_173025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU2LwhH49OoxPrAJgmzewrnCC4wZ9kuE6fRhI_gl0vBoQnIB5hzDwB_ip33UD15klXOpRWwsdm6zjAlbMBM-2uccM4KLhJEAKcCalfdc2bPo_ym_PfeakytNUiktRS7oanQehA9qoom5x/s320/20160213_173025.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Xi7NzeOcglk4evhUQec4Ml5bGFrK8yNDy1d1QDrqEhE7rO52nFHDYK6rVjRbBp4q_uH0FQ-ltvRgWD2fgUofhiUA6zkb8bq3bwioZZL0289Sewcg3blh8N5l9JjSu2IEshd2Q9ODCVgg/s1600/20160213_173540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Xi7NzeOcglk4evhUQec4Ml5bGFrK8yNDy1d1QDrqEhE7rO52nFHDYK6rVjRbBp4q_uH0FQ-ltvRgWD2fgUofhiUA6zkb8bq3bwioZZL0289Sewcg3blh8N5l9JjSu2IEshd2Q9ODCVgg/s320/20160213_173540.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How much do you love this Agent Carter cosplay from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/feministafatale/?hl=en" target="_blank">@feministafatale</a>?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IVb8R3jeI4I1me80TNB4PFCQh11xzQkgEU50lVA94p85RQKeiOmr48Mc9vCNCexyfSXhIv5T2FroLcvFIXGph5dJzDu9GL1Y7s5v-sklS8x9EcfTryftA7ZHn1N3Bu_l2EQWg6T9ljRk/s1600/20160213_173708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IVb8R3jeI4I1me80TNB4PFCQh11xzQkgEU50lVA94p85RQKeiOmr48Mc9vCNCexyfSXhIv5T2FroLcvFIXGph5dJzDu9GL1Y7s5v-sklS8x9EcfTryftA7ZHn1N3Bu_l2EQWg6T9ljRk/s320/20160213_173708.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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I’m still going to get my dork on going to more conventions,
but for now I’ll stick to striking a conversation in line rather than rely on
speed-dating. Not even the potential
presence of superheroes can save it from being a waste of time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">(Unless noted, all photos are my own. Please let me know if you'd like to be credited as one of the above cosplayers. Thanks)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-55320488647459188802016-02-12T13:21:00.000-08:002016-02-12T13:21:11.273-08:00Convention Spotlight: Wizard World Tulsa - Day ThreeDay Three – October 25, 2015<br />
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On the last day of Wizard World Tulsa I actually got to the
convention kind of early, partly because I was terrified I would sleep past my
check-out time at the hotel so I woke up super early and grabbed breakfast
downtown. Afterwards I walked around to see more of the city until the convention
started. Downtown Tulsa is very walkable.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(All photos are my own. Please let me know if you'd like to be credited as one of the below cosplayers. Thanks)</span></div>
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On Saturday I kind of broke down and bought more stuff than
I was originally planning to. I bought a
Deathly Hallows necklace after eyeing them several times at Gillygoods
Emporium. By Sunday, I was all in, like
a gambler with an addiction. I didn’t go
buck-wild but I did get a very cute <i>Game
of Thrones</i> meets <i>Pokemon</i> t-shirt
from Tee Turtle, a Black Panther t-shirt because he is my favorite Avenger, and
a Dumbledore Funko Pop figurine. I know,
I know….stuff I didn’t need but it was there….and I was there so….enough said.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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While I was buying I did come across some of my favorite
cosplayers of the whole con. I mean
c’mon! These ladies of all ages were just killing it. The teen cosplaying as Ramona Flowers from <i>Scott Pilgrim</i> was so shy and sweet, her
mom so excited I was asking for a photo.
I mean, this is what fandom is all about, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Around noon I headed back to the assembly hall to see
“Behind the Voice with Nintendo’s Charles Martinet”, I figured it would be good
way to take a seat, chill a bit and wait for the coffee I had to kick in. What I didn’t expect was Charles’s boundless
enthusiasm and positivity. Charles is
the voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario and Waluigi, in every version of the Mario
Nintendo games. Charles is so super
likeable and upbeat, he answered audience questions and championed the idea of
doing what you love, because then you’ll never work a day in your life. He made this jaded little 32 year old heart
of mine grow in size because it’s never too late to pursue what you love, and
you never know where opportunities will arise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The last panel I sat in on was “Diversity in Comics; Illegal
Alien Icons” with DC writer and university professor Jai Nitz talked about
Mexican representation in the DC Comics world.
This was one of my favorite panels because it felt like Jai was talking
directly to me. Jai is bi-racial, white
father and Hispanic mother, just like me!
Jai looks completely Caucasian, just like me and his family can be
traced in Texas, by way of Mexico, by way of Spain, just like mine. So when he traced the appearance of Hispanic
characters like El Dorado, Vibe, and the recent Jaime Reyes version of Blue
Beetle, I was like, “man this guy is in my head”. I love Blue Beetle because it takes place in
El Paso, TX where all my family is from.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jai wrote and updated the originally white character El
Diablo into a Mexican character for DC Comics and now has seen that character
reach mainstream through both the DC Lego game and also the upcoming <i>Suicide Squad</i> movie. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I really have to commend Wizard World for hosting panels
that address the growing need for representation and gender equality in our
fandoms. Sometimes I feel conventions
are just sort of fluff entertainment and nothing of real consequence, so I was
ecstatic to see Wizard World Tulsa address real life issues that I think about
constantly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shortly after, I then sat in on Kids Costume Contest as the
last part of my day before heading back home and yes, I’m female so I did
“awwww” at all the teeny tiny Vaders, Links, and Buffy the Vampire Slayers but
I was insanely proud of the girl dressed as Leonardo with her pigtails whipping
back and forth. Girl, don’t let anyone
hold you back in being whoever you want to be. </div>
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Supporting each other, letting our mutual love of our heroes
propel us even further in better people, and teaching a new generation in
believing in themselves and giving them to the confidence to be whatever they
want to be. This is what fandom is all about.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-47130303145117747502016-02-12T13:18:00.003-08:002016-02-12T14:54:09.487-08:00Convention Spotlight: Wizard World Tulsa - Day TwoDay Two - <o:p></o:p>October 24, 2015<br />
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I arrived at the convention center on Saturday close to noon
and walked around the Exhibition Hall, where I found out vendors were selling
beer! Beer at a comic con? How is this possible? This is allowed? I love Wizard World Tulsa!!! I spotted the most adorable mother-daughter
cosplay team walking past me, I love – LOVE that the mom was Peggy Carter and
her daughter vintage Captain America, because, really, any mom will tell you
their baby is the absolute love of their life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">(All photos are my own. Please let me know if you'd like to be credited as one of the below cosplayers. Thanks)</span></div>
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My first panel experience of the day was “Women in Genre
Fiction: Gender Stereotypes and Breaking Past Labels” which featured a panel of
female writers. This panel was fricking
amazing and even touched on the intersectionality of social issues that get
crossed with feminism, for example, author Meg Perdue brought up the fact that
the Ian Fleming Bond novels do not specify the race or heritage of James Bond
at any time, he does not have to be intrinsically white in every
iteration. The panelists discussed examples
such as <i>Sense8</i>, <i>Inside Amy Schumer</i>, <i>Orphan
Black</i>, <i>Orange is the New Black</i>,
and <i>Mad Max: Fury Road</i> as
stereotype-breaking new works of entertainment.
I also loved panelist Madalyn Singer’s, who is a transgender genre
author, comments about writing in general, how writers have to appropriate; “We
need to be observant.” The saying “write what you know” doesn’t lead to better
gender and ethnic representation in books and shows. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Next, I went to the giant assembly hall to see the “Out of
the Shire with Sean Astin” Q&A panel.
Taking questions from the audiences I learned about Sean early acting
days with his famous mother Patty Duke, and also got to hear how key scenes
from the film <i>Rudy </i>were
accomplished. It’s so great to hear when
a celebrity is just as geeky and enthusiastic as the fans. Sean also mentioned getting offered his
personal dream role of Twoflower from the Discworld series and how his favorite
scene to shoot from <i>The Goonies</i> was
when he got to kiss the female lead.
Sean was also presented with a commendation from the state of Oklahoma
for depicting acts of friendship, bravery and courage, which I thought was
incredibly thoughtful and cool.</div>
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I also went to the “Voices In Your Head: Justice League
Edition With Kevin Conroy and Phil LaMarr” Q&A panel. Now, the <i>Batman the Animated Series</i> was my <i>Star Wars</i> growing up. That stuff was my jam, and remains so to this
day. Kevin Conroy is my Batman, Mark
Hamill is my Joker, Bruce Timm is my God and those versions of Superman, Wonder
Woman, Martian Manhunter Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl, my heroes, then,
now and until the day I die. So yeah…..I
was pretty excited!</div>
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Phil represented both fandoms with a Green Lantern t-shirt
underneath a Planet Express work shirt and answered questions about <i>Samurai Jack</i>, <i>Justice League</i>, <i>In Living
Colo</i>r and <i>Static Shock</i>. Dude has superb comedic timing and when
prompted to recite Green Lantern’s oath did a version as Hermes from <i>Futurama</i>, “In brightest day, in blackest
night, no villain shall escape my sight…until you file the correct the forms
and paperwork”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Kevin did not
disappoint either, he re-told his beautifully humble 9/11 story which you can
find on the <i>Gotham Knight</i> DVD
Commentary and also gave some solid advice to an audience member that asked
about how he struggle with alcoholism which runs in his family and how he
overcame it. Kevin said, “we are all
human, there are no superheroes, which is why they appeal to us so much” you’ve
got to stop blaming other factors for your behavior and change for yourself and
no one else. I was also very happy to
hear Kevin drop a couple of f-bombs here and there, to add emphasis to his
story, not to insult anyone, because it’s one of my own personal flaws, I tend
to curse a lot, especially when I get excited telling a story. So hey, Batman and I have something in
common!<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the panels, I grabbed myself a cheeseburger from the
concessions stand and a beer and settled in for the Wizard World Costume
Contest. Like, no lie, I’m sitting in
the second row sipping from a tall-boy.
My favorite were the Sanderson sisters from <i>Hocus Pocus</i> but the female Droogs from <i>A Clockwork Orange</i> were so bad-ass.
One lady had a (fake) chain belt that she was whipping around, I was
like “DANG!” There were multiple Harley
Quinns as per usual but the little girl sitting next to me during the show
screamed out “AHH! I love Harley! Dump the Joker! He’s no good for you.” Kids, they get it, man. They really do.</div>
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Unfortunately I did not stay to the end, not because I
didn’t want to, but because as it turns out, the carrying capacity of my
bladder is just slightly less than a tallboy can of beer.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-39809614002625402112016-01-26T10:48:00.000-08:002016-02-12T13:16:07.043-08:00Convention Spotlight: Wizard World Tulsa - Day OneHello again. In my <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2016/01/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">first post for 2016</a>, I mentioned how I wasn't ready to review 2015 in full. This is because I got the opportunity back in October to cover all three days of the Wizard World Tulsa Comic Convention 2015 for a pop-culture website for women, PaperDroids.<br />
<br />
<b>Update -</b> My full coverage has been posted at <a href="http://www.paperdroids.com/2016/01/28/wizard-world-tulsa-comic-convention-2015/" target="_blank">PaperDroids blog </a>- please read for coverage of all three days.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(All photos are my own. Please let me know if you'd like to be credited as one of the below cosplayers. Thanks)</span><br />
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Day One - October 23, 2015</div>
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Before Wizard World Tulsa, my convention experience was
limited to the time I went about 8 years ago with my younger sister to a local
anime convention inside a halfway crumbling janky-looking mall, in the
pre-streaming anime days, when you had to buy dubbed DVDs from Sam Goody and
Borders. I went more recently with my
friend to Dallas Comic Con Fan Days for Saturday only, where I dressed up as a
casual Wonder Woman lugging around three to four merchandise bags at a time,
and not generally knowing how to do “hero poses” despite dressing as superhero. Would I be able to stand all three days of full blown
convention put on by Wizard World in a different city four hours away? </div>
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Day One, I got to the Cox Convention Center in Tulsa just as
the door were opening at 3pm. I didn’t
take a costume this time, preferring to dress comfortably, but I did bring a
back-pack with an empty water bottle.
The convention was nicely laid out, well-staffed and brimming with
excited volunteers. The building itself
is very pretty inside and it’s hard not to go “ooh” and “ahh” immediately as
you walk in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was super surprised to see a good amount of diversity
among the convention goers and staff.
Sometimes nerd events or conventions make me feel alone in a sea of
white dudes but Tulsa was actually different.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Exhibit Hall had plenty of seating and interesting
booths to look at. My favorite booth was
probably Gillywag’s Emporium focusing on Harry Potter-themed items. I bought
two beautiful posters from artist Andrew Heath, he has such beautiful,
minimalist, color-saturated artwork from all your favorite movies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Getting there early also afforded me the opportunity to get great
shots of the cars from TV shows and movies, such as <i>Jurassic Park</i>, <i>Back to the
Future</i> (so timely as it was 10/23/15) and the 1960’s <i>Batman</i> television series.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What had me most nervous about the convention was asking
cosplayers if I could take a photo of them. I didn’t want it to be awkward and
I wanted to make sure my pictures did all their hard work on their costumes
justice, but I was nervous the convention center would be sooo packed that I
would endlessly be bumping into to people trying to get a good shot and thus
wasting everyone’s time but I dunno, Tulsa was magical. All my shots came out beautifully and I’m
amazed that people know how to pose themselves so flawless, while in
costume. I couldn’t even strike a pose
like that in my everyday clothes.
Cosplay takes confidence, people!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I attended two panels on Friday, the first being “Are
Fanboys Too Mean 2.0?” which probably
started out with good intentions but quickly devolved into why some superhero
movies suck and why studios make crappy reboots. I was hoping the panel would address why
fanboys are mean to each other and maybe lightly touch on Gamergate, even
getting my hopes up when seeing the panel was made up of mature men and women,
in their 30’s and 40’s, but the topics was more directed at why fanboys get mad
at the source creators for their favorite movies/shows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second panel, “The Female Superhero and Her Secret
Weapon” fared a little better in my opinion as the panelists were all female
creators, whom did a better job of staying on topic. There was a healthy dialogue with the
audience on successful female characters.
I particularly liked hearing from Stephanie Hans, a French comic book
artist for Marvel, talk about how she was influenced by Lynn Varley’s work as
the colorist on Frank Miller’s creation of the character Elektra in the
Daredevil series.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All in all, it made for a pretty pleasant first day at the
convention. The panels could have been
better but I understand that since Friday had the shortest hours, Wizard World
was probably saving the better stuff for Saturday and Sunday.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-28147929993245872992016-01-20T13:42:00.000-08:002016-01-20T13:42:24.621-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two<br />
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Who could have known?
Who could have known that esteemed and hallowed British actor Alan
Rickman would have <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewchampion/actor-alan-rickman-dies-at-age-69#.udL7NpyMz" target="_blank">passed away</a> last week, along with David Bowie? Both after battling forms of cancer. </div>
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I first became aware of Alan Rickman when my dad made us
watch Die Hard on VHS. Before Die Hard,
the most effective villains were either Emperor Palpatine or the Nazis, not
even counting Darth Vader because he redeemed himself in the end. All other villains, in my limited child-hood
knowledge of movies, mostly came from the earlier Bond films and many made the
most bone-headed moves that would later spawn the Austin Powers parodies. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Until Die Hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Until Alan Rickman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rickman’s Hans Gruber was intelligent, crafty, well-spoken
and near invincible. He wasn’t like Jack
Nicholson’ Joker, he didn’t exist simply because the hero created him and vice
versa. His was a villain that had a
plan, who had brains, and could prove he was superior in every way to Bruce
Willis’ red-blooded American hero. There
is no other actor who can play an international criminal mastermind and make
you believe in your bones, like Rickman can.
There are many Die Hard sequels, and even more Bruce Willis action
movies, but there is only <u>one</u> Die Hard, and a large part of that is
because of Alan Rickman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then there is Professor Severus Snape.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll explain more below but let me just say that Snape’s
character in the books is complicated, yes, but not nearly as subtle, nuanced
and secretly caring of his students than Rickman’s portrayal in the films. Simply put, he elevates the character to
unexpected heights, beyond was required of him.
The Harry Potter fandom will miss an integral character that was as real
to them as any teacher, mentor or friend in real life. </div>
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Spoilers below.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Book</span></u><o:p></o:p></div>
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The last ten chapters, unsurprisingly flew by. As I explained in my <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2016/01/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_13.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, I broke up
the last book into two parts just as the movie had done. One thing that I forgot to mention last time
was the reveal of Harry Potter’s age.<br />
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Hermione finds James and Lily Potter’s headstones in the
Godric’s Hollow’s graveyard with their date of births both being in 1960 and
the date of their death as 10/31/1981.
From this we know Harry was born 7/31/1980. I don’t recall putting this together on my
first read-through of the last book, eight years ago. I was born in ’82 and my parents in ‘62. While this doesn’t change my opinions much,
it is strange to think Harry, Ron and Hermione are all 2 years older than me
when I always thought the characters were much younger. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Another item I forgot to mention, was just how much I
freaking cried when Dobby dies in the first half. I can’t say the last book as a whole is my
favorite, too many cherished characters die and the epilogue is quite a
let-down. In the first half, Dobby dies
nobly and we the readers are given some time to recoup before the finale, when
majors characters are just dying left and right. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The book doesn’t not specify whether Griphook dies, as he is
not specifically mentioned as one of the goblins that goes to Malfoy Manor and
is murdered out of rage by Voldemort.
Though Neville is able to summon the Sword of Gryffindor during the
Battle of Hogwarts, which would seem rather difficult to do unless Griphook did
perish. Lavender’s fate is also not
specified in the books, as she is in grave peril but is shown to be feebly
stirring after falling off a balcony.
Both film versions of Griphook and Lavender do die. Wormtail’s on-screen death was bizarrely left
out, making large plots of Film Three and minor parts of Film Four, utterly unresolved.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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After a long lull, we finally get more details of House
Ravenclaw than the last few books combined.
Professor Flitwick is finally specified as the Head of House Ravenclaw,
we get to learn of the Grey Lady, and Ravenclaw’s diadem plays a larger role in
the plot than say Hufflepuff’s cup, which doesn’t get nearly enough
attention. The new focus is limited to
Ravenclaw, we don’t learn any new details of House Hufflepuff. However, both houses remain to participate in
the Battle of Hogwarts while Slytherin leaves the castle. I love Professor Sprout’s response to
Professor McGonagall’s request to defend the castle; <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Filius Flitwick</b>: "<i>I suppose you are aware
that nothing we do can indefinitely prevent You-Know-Who to enter the school,
right? —</i>"<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Sprout</b>: "<i>But we can delay it.</i>"<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Minerva McGonagall</b>: "<i>Thank you, Pomona.</i>"<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadly her role in the film is relegated to Molly Weasley,
though she does make a small appearance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, for the thing I’ve dreaded, that <i>epilogue</i>…….<o:p></o:p></div>
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……………………..<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s not my favorite ending.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s one of the reasons the last book and the last film are
not my favorites.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speeding ahead 19 years is bad enough, we miss all the
potential wonderful moments of the trio’s adult lives, their first date, their
weddings, their eventual occupations, the re-building of Hogwarts, the birth of
their first child, second child, third child in one case……I could go on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-people-find-the-epilogue-of-Harry-Potter-so-profoundly-unsatisfying" target="_blank">I know I’m not alone</a> in hating the epilogue. J.K. Rowling just put a stop to all of the potentially
wonderful endings in our head as to what the trio did next after a tragic,
emotional journey of love, loss, pain and acceptance that, for many of us,
lasted through years of our own formative childhoods and adolescent years. Compared
to the ending in our heads, the actual written epilogue is just so mundane,
boring, and unimaginative. For one of
the most magical tales of our time, the ending just doesn’t even come
close. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The ending basically consists of they got married, had kids,
bam! The end! Too damn bad if you were
curious as to what our three heroes eventually grew up to become, what jobs
they might have had. According to the
epilogue, they didn’t have new adventures, didn’t meet anyone new, stopped
growing as characters, and all had kids in their early 20s at the same
time. We don’t even know what happens to
George! What happens to the perfection of the character that is Luna? What happens
to Hagrid, to Seamus, to Dean? How even
cares about Malfoy? And Ron is still
somewhat of an asshole, after 19 FUCKING YEARS!!! Hermione doesn’t even say a word to Harry in
the epilogue. What fresh hell is this?<o:p></o:p></div>
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All outrage aside, I do realize that J.K. Rowling completely a herculean task worthy of all accolades. There is no doubt she is the greatest writer of our time. She kept her world scale -able, and within scope and by god, released those seven tomes of fantastical tales like clockwork. Which more than can be said about George R.R. Martin. She did not write about every wizard to have existed, she kept laser-focused and finished her generation-spanning saga in impressive time.</div>
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Well done!</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Movie</span></b></u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Steve Kloves acts, again, as screenwriter on the last film
and does a mostly admirable job of condensing plots and characters. This film is actually the shortest in the
series. When I mentioned <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/12/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_29.html" target="_blank">Film Five</a> being
the shortest previously, I should have specified that is was the shortest film
based on an entire book. Many details of
the finale are re-worked, changed, and even left out entirely. I realize this is necessary to present a film
with a better flow and more tension. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The reveal of Lupin and Tonks son is cut out, as is Percy’s
apology to his family, much of Aberforth’s reveal of Albus is shaved down, as
well as Hagrid’s involvement in the Battle of Hogwarts. Both he and Percy show up randomly without
explanation. I still believe Kloves best
work was <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/12/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">adapting the fourth book</a>, <i>Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Mercifully Luna, whom I have decided is my favorite
character in the books, has most of her scenes intact, as well Neville. Flitwick has a few additional things to do,
though McGonagall duel with Snape is minimized and her duel with Voldemort is
completely cut out. Seamus has more to
do in the last film, including a punch-line that has been 8 movies in the
making. Props to Kloves and the actor, Devon Murray, for knocking that out of the goddam ballpark.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Filch is back in handful of scenes as our comedic relief as
well as Voldemort, himself, giving Draco the world’s most awkward hug, which
was rumored to be improvised by Ralph Fiennes and kept in the film.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite the PG-13 rating and light comedic beats, the last
film is not kid’s stuff. Voldemort’s
true form and Snape’s rather bloody death can attest to that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnPByGatK2lJu4GZx49605mcKpFaU0U4Zl2_fvf2-c7qUfrYvSVeaSVpW4DF3tvmCHzSKbIsiDwq23eI1S1h30bLDxtyA6Q0wBZo8BOkX2Vu1JIrNqDDar7L8OwqfPeYA0LFtPF36AZxb/s1600/Voldemort%2527s_mutilated_soul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnPByGatK2lJu4GZx49605mcKpFaU0U4Zl2_fvf2-c7qUfrYvSVeaSVpW4DF3tvmCHzSKbIsiDwq23eI1S1h30bLDxtyA6Q0wBZo8BOkX2Vu1JIrNqDDar7L8OwqfPeYA0LFtPF36AZxb/s320/Voldemort%2527s_mutilated_soul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYobppZhIhwSmQQEmpsnUOyr2nw960PecC4346_oucBBs44jCbbdu6yG2_ePfoH2Nv-VNm8hjd0gFbkWcZfsl8VDS-QzfwGRjRquqgRrqDSb6oOGeQgkVs-LG2elsNw0Ll7dQAlJ414hiQ/s320/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-732.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blood splashed all over that window. In the book there is just the green light of the killing curse.</td></tr>
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Alan Rickman’s layered performance aside, I still do not
care for Snape’s character, though Rickman goes a long way in subtly showing
how he cares, in by holding back his punches with McGonagall, hesitating much
longer than necessary in attacking her.
As I mentioned with <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_18.html" target="_blank">Film Three</a> and <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2016/01/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">Film Six</a>, Rickman’s Snape goes beyond
his book counterpart and is shown to be truly protective of his students. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c5BFvBUSFZ54CdMaMt4arUr5fFyMGFEYL9cd7G-2qYRmMBb_IlNfpC9tWUPUULD_8tfaOwtNUPYytIWJ1kmawAbVpVfdy1qJpXaawZqWJqIfRq8bgPHFEcBPvVyZtPe3FfxY12_XOXaJ/s1600/mcgonagall-vs-snape-o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c5BFvBUSFZ54CdMaMt4arUr5fFyMGFEYL9cd7G-2qYRmMBb_IlNfpC9tWUPUULD_8tfaOwtNUPYytIWJ1kmawAbVpVfdy1qJpXaawZqWJqIfRq8bgPHFEcBPvVyZtPe3FfxY12_XOXaJ/s400/mcgonagall-vs-snape-o.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcUJS_pfA84i5XcWVQE1D5Qn16UfJivhMxoMajHrZ5bLCbVInZicNI0BMRjGMP-LhOyWGE_UBxQDF5v7UXuzrxLnvHubpgyDcJOiBBfzUx44_RmP-c4NjvraCoixw9ozXC9JP22SE-ron/s1600/maxresdefault+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></div>
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I still have problems in that Snape still is fully obsessed
with Lily Potter, so much so that he completely ignores a bawling infant
directly behind him. Unrequited love
rarely stays as an innocent love. It can
turn to full blown obsession. Such obsessions
in the real world, so rarely ends as well as in this book. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIohaAJAfQ2o0eN8XsAJzTkpu_iknpFw3N1ci3B1Wx1HAdMxdPoM7shcwkB2tYcVmxlpu_9ZCNTLResG6hViCV4oYxq0Nreg3p2oGAsXWyq19eqizeUJI0JwakZAa2b8120WfPMJPvaNPJ/s1600/snape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIohaAJAfQ2o0eN8XsAJzTkpu_iknpFw3N1ci3B1Wx1HAdMxdPoM7shcwkB2tYcVmxlpu_9ZCNTLResG6hViCV4oYxq0Nreg3p2oGAsXWyq19eqizeUJI0JwakZAa2b8120WfPMJPvaNPJ/s320/snape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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His death is slightly underhanded to miscasting of Daniel
Radcliffe and the young actress that plays a young Lily Potter as neither have
green eyes or even remotely the same shade. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbgLoaALoAHp7ZLXSo3ZzZ7YTxeHcrTw67nT3V7ij27uh0sQxCJ-SoJPoK7AOKgwOYyboyVqARl3G6o0TxxpTTkDfDx461DNDBcZA14y7yTZRgZSVWeItmPY_Qk2ac8Q5_ug5plD7yhw2/s1600/Harry-Potter-7-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2-severus-snape-and-lily-evans-27568079-1920-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbgLoaALoAHp7ZLXSo3ZzZ7YTxeHcrTw67nT3V7ij27uh0sQxCJ-SoJPoK7AOKgwOYyboyVqARl3G6o0TxxpTTkDfDx461DNDBcZA14y7yTZRgZSVWeItmPY_Qk2ac8Q5_ug5plD7yhw2/s320/Harry-Potter-7-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2-severus-snape-and-lily-evans-27568079-1920-800.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has brown eyes....Radcliffe's are blue.</td></tr>
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My favorite shots include the opening scenes at Shell Cottage, after the recap of Voldemort breaking into Dumbledore's tomb. Wouldn't everyone love to live in a beach-side cottage like Bill and Fleur's?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sounding like a broken record, but again, I love any shot of the Dementors, circling the castle. They are just so cinematic and haunting, floating in the air.</div>
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There are some wonderful shots during Snape's flee from Hogwarts, very reminiscent of the Third Reich in many World War II movies and documentaries.<br />
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I love that the Shield charm cast by Professor Flitwick, Molly Weasley, and Professor Slughorn resembles a living object with a visible nervous system.</div>
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The film pulls off Professor McGonagall's spell to enchant the suits of armor stationed around the castle from the very first book, to become animated and acts as ground forces for the side of good. An impressive move to rival Gandalf and Dumbledore and one mercifully kept in the films, though her duel with Snape is kept short and her duel with Voldemort is entire cut.</div>
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Equally impressive are the shots of the Death Eaters might and destruction during the Battle of Hogwarts.<br />
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During a lull in the action, prior to Harry giving himself up to Voldemort in the forest, we get to one of the worst deaths in the book and this truly amazing shot which depicts the Weasley family in different states of anguish composed in such a way, reminiscent of Dutch masters like Rembrandt or Vermeer. Ginny, stands slightly right of center, staring straight at us and Harry.<br />
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Shots from pensieve sequence are almost as beautifully composed though not quite as layered as the above shot.<br />
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I was surprised and delighted to see the filmmakers decision to follow Ron and Hermione's task to defeat the Hufflepuff cup Horcrux in the Chamber of Secrets, my favorite set from the entire movie. In the book, we follow Harry and so do not witness Ron and Hermione's own little escapade. I love their little adventure, and would honestly watch more sequels with just the two of them.<br />
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Lastly, the King's Cross scene and the below shots from the finale with Voldemort mark as some of my favorite from the last film.</div>
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Now, back to that ending.
I want to just point out that 19 years later would have seen Harry, Ron
and Hermione at age 36. Sirius Black,
Remus Lupin and Severus Snape were all 33 years old during the events of Harry Potter
and Prisoner of Azkaban, and 36 years old during the events of Harry Potter and
the Half Blood Prince. Gary Oldham being
46, David Thewlis was 40, and Alan Rickman was 57 during the time of filming
the third movie.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ljuNTrWAOovxT7KNpnexcSt4FBEwsq0lYPqLyxrvb5VkiKzFqA6-YWAsCK2eh4hFJRUGY-jMUkAcQLW7sIdmIszawIjXGq5hMUaMLqFebcIsoahfq794xeJJtowUeshijK6TuxRdds-/s1600/GARY-OLDMAN-as-Sirius-Black-in-Warner-Bros.-Pictures-fantasy-Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix.-Photo-by-Murray-Close-35-960x1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ljuNTrWAOovxT7KNpnexcSt4FBEwsq0lYPqLyxrvb5VkiKzFqA6-YWAsCK2eh4hFJRUGY-jMUkAcQLW7sIdmIszawIjXGq5hMUaMLqFebcIsoahfq794xeJJtowUeshijK6TuxRdds-/s320/GARY-OLDMAN-as-Sirius-Black-in-Warner-Bros.-Pictures-fantasy-Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix.-Photo-by-Murray-Close-35-960x1280.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the books all these people are 36 years old.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9XBvKraeCisxPCdRRe6MtS-t7y-ULZc7CpJvyzpm7N46Ccryh9-Tz7ICYQnjOHjiSvl6UeEJEwk7KhGCKm_p6J7RWwO-9fm-u3BFyesNoDew-s-J5beByFP-edz87XKT9I2kp2mzQX6H/s1600/2ee65134a52f7ac788af66956defb218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9XBvKraeCisxPCdRRe6MtS-t7y-ULZc7CpJvyzpm7N46Ccryh9-Tz7ICYQnjOHjiSvl6UeEJEwk7KhGCKm_p6J7RWwO-9fm-u3BFyesNoDew-s-J5beByFP-edz87XKT9I2kp2mzQX6H/s400/2ee65134a52f7ac788af66956defb218.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh571KPurn24uLmae_HeJw6gXnO9Clu5eswGW4-OsE3U-VftG34uIzwXCOHF9pj_uSG3zJ7ifqf8C5lZPpVZnUqWS-S5JAJOgcSpRTwqzRAQQlhweo200nukPaUGV6HR84epoJET25TXle5/s1600/lupon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh571KPurn24uLmae_HeJw6gXnO9Clu5eswGW4-OsE3U-VftG34uIzwXCOHF9pj_uSG3zJ7ifqf8C5lZPpVZnUqWS-S5JAJOgcSpRTwqzRAQQlhweo200nukPaUGV6HR84epoJET25TXle5/s320/lupon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w_v9OuhJzi6VSGeEemGg18c9o5i7o4Zqw7HjYPa3zhTvfZwwv-S7gtPOoNVi-I_7ABf-1pA00f4f-ud8MDmiNG6qdIfROPdwbDlyPn5pXGBuJk3kFbgJDVnWH_4EpblloLKcgzRr8bGq/s1600/Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-II-hermione-granger-26399476-1280-544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w_v9OuhJzi6VSGeEemGg18c9o5i7o4Zqw7HjYPa3zhTvfZwwv-S7gtPOoNVi-I_7ABf-1pA00f4f-ud8MDmiNG6qdIfROPdwbDlyPn5pXGBuJk3kFbgJDVnWH_4EpblloLKcgzRr8bGq/s640/Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-II-hermione-granger-26399476-1280-544.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah......</td></tr>
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Apart from my disappointment in the epilogue, I will miss,
truly miss, Alan Rickman’s Professor Snape.
Both he and Rupert Grint worked wonders in making their respective
counterparts simply a joy to behold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rupert’s Ron Weasley is still my favorite, out of all the
books and all the films. His scene in
Gringotts, his heart wrenching sobs over Fred’s body show demonstrate his the
sheer talent of his acting ability from his very first scene. Both his and Alan Rickman’s performance made this world real
for me. </div>
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J.K. Rowling provided and will continue to provide, hope, light and encouragement to generations of children. Whom must all struggle to understand what is dark, what is scary, what is immensely sad and to find the courage to make it to the other side. For love. For each other.<br />
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Thank you Ms. Rowling, from the entirety of my own heart.<br />
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I eagerly await the next time I delve into the world of Harry Potter
whether introducing them to a new friend or my little nephews, my god-child, or even kids of my very own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For Mr. Rickman,</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Goodnight, sweet Prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-89455423153532190032016-01-13T08:48:00.002-08:002016-01-13T08:48:35.539-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello there, I decided to break up the last book of the
series into two parts, first reading Chapters 1 through 24, and stopping to
watch <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I started this <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">project</a> of <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_10.html" target="_blank">re-reading</a> and <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_18.html" target="_blank">re-watching</a> the
Harry Potter series several years as a full-fledged adult. The release of the last book, <i>Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallow</i>s occurred in 2007.
Films, 7 and 8, were released November of 2010 and July of 2011,
respectively. At the time of this post, that marks eight and a half years from the last
time I read Book Seven. Eight years ago,
I was 25. If you had told me what would
have happened in those eight years, I would not have believed you. Not one bit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will explain why below, but for these reasons the last
book resonates with me as an adult so much more so than when I initially read
it at age 25. At least the first half,
anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again, spoilers to follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Book</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Originally I wanted to re-read each of the Harry Potter
books and watch each of the films to glean any additional information I could
about the other house, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, specifically. If you are a middle level nerd like I am, you
would have heard about the reveal of the beta phase of the then, newly created
Pottermore site, from your Alpha-level, mega obsessed about all things Harry Potter, best friend
back in 2012. <br />
<br />
If you were lucky enough
to be allowed in on the beta phase, then you would be sorted into one of the four
houses after taking a multiple choice test. Keep in mind, I was about to
turn 30 that year, and my dorky-ass self was sorted into Ravenclaw, my above
mentioned best friend into Hufflepuff.
Both of us were disappointed we were not in Gryffindor.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve since gotten over it and am now proud to be in Ravenclaw. Me, a tax paying adult with a mortgage, who can schedule their own doctors appointments, like a big girl. I decided to
re-read all the books to find details on House Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff that I
might have missed on my first go around.
Turns out, I didn’t really miss shit because Rowling herself just doesn’t
write much about the other houses, period.
She makes the Ravenclaws out to sound like weirdos, Hufflepuffs as sad sacks
and Slytherins as members of Hitler's Youth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What I didn’t anticipate was how the later books, Books Six and Seven, would resonate to me much more as an
adult than they ever could, when I first read them at age 25. In those eight years since I first read Book 7,
I lost my dad, unexpectedly, a month after I turned 27, witnessed in fear as other family member battled with their health and learned that my same best friend was diagnosed with cancer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Shit happens. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bad things happen to good people, and keep happening and
keep happening.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUqLLm7usJ8GIF_7S3m8GBDkwo9Ni_FatPPYFicOYTGDDlLUXMYUFbCNdgCugQId1kqB3Cc_MffvYcghm1R_jXFbwKxTBv4WlNgrUZq-8gBGpyFegWcSMLrPy8jE5ul4iQiViOF3yYIm-/s1600/Official-DH-Chapter-Art-harry-potter--26-the-deathly-hallows-200254_400_462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUqLLm7usJ8GIF_7S3m8GBDkwo9Ni_FatPPYFicOYTGDDlLUXMYUFbCNdgCugQId1kqB3Cc_MffvYcghm1R_jXFbwKxTBv4WlNgrUZq-8gBGpyFegWcSMLrPy8jE5ul4iQiViOF3yYIm-/s320/Official-DH-Chapter-Art-harry-potter--26-the-deathly-hallows-200254_400_462.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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It’s hard to swallow this and keep pushing forward. The biggest grace you can hope to attain is
to know when things are beyond your control and what forces you do have the capacity
to control. Nowhere else in the series is this very sense of loss and acceptance
more personified than in this first half of the last book. I say first half because the last half
features in my opinion such a bull-shit, Mickey Mouse, happy ending that
completed destroys the subtle, nuanced heart-breaking depiction of adult life
that the first book so delicately weaves, but more on that later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our intrepid trio of heroes spend much of the first half of the
book spinning their wheels in no direction.
Agonizing with the wish to control that which they cannot, the immediate
destruction of the four remaining Horcruxes.
Harry suffers loss after loss, his parents, Sirius, Dumbledore, and now
Dobby, Mad-Eye Moody and Hedwig, that to simply survive and carry on seems a
most monumental task. Forget defeating
the Dark Lord, simply getting out of bed each day is a horrible struggle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To take on a task in which they have no real plan, were not
given clear instructions and do not have the requisite knowledge seems
impossible to accomplish. Harry, Ron and
Hermione must live day to day, isolated from the others, and not knowing
whether they are doing the right thing and what they are supposed to be doing
at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is what it means to be an adult.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is no manual, no instruction book and what’s worse is
that no one can tell you with 100% certainty, what you should be doing. No one knows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know many young
women like to blog to keep a positive space, one they can control and
motive themselves. That is to be
applauded but too often it seems that they get wrapped up in their own illusion. Everyone lives a separate life from their
Instagram life, or Facebook life. No one
has a life full of beautiful clothes, inspiring trips, delectable meals and
adoring boyfriends. Even if they did,
they probably also have crippling confidence issues, family members suffering
with declining health and possibly even paralyzing amounts debt. Bloggers need to be able to lift the veil
sometimes and let their fans know, they are not alone, and everyone struggles
in some form or fashion.<br />
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The first half of Book Seven shows Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s
struggle to accept what they cannot control and to act on the forces that they
can control. This was my father’s
favorite prayer;<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The courage to change the things I can,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>And the wisdom to know the difference</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Horrible, sad, scary, unfair things happen, it’s part of
life, but real courage comes from knowing when to move on, to come back twice
as strong, to finish what you have started, despite the anger, the pain, the
fear and the guilt. This is only
something I finally learned within the eight years following the first time I
read this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Film</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-cJ1K_FsqKxUbR4q0ah7I7Veh-E6XHLD8RX4xMoohEc3HeuHl9paAUK45ugOOgpp35cwOPyXMMOVT9tBDWmqMjNRbXnFcqeGNseZyHOvHJyPwiy-jUbAjKOdYqrHJRwKmj3rPJoH-Ioi/s1600/Deathly_Hallows_1_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-cJ1K_FsqKxUbR4q0ah7I7Veh-E6XHLD8RX4xMoohEc3HeuHl9paAUK45ugOOgpp35cwOPyXMMOVT9tBDWmqMjNRbXnFcqeGNseZyHOvHJyPwiy-jUbAjKOdYqrHJRwKmj3rPJoH-Ioi/s400/Deathly_Hallows_1_poster.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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When the 7<sup>th</sup> film came out, I remember thinking
this was the best film of the entire series.
It’s quite odd to re-watch all the films within weeks of each other,
rather than to wait years in-between while watching the movies for the first time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can honestly say, I still believe the Film Seven to be the
best of the series.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again screenwriter Steven Kloves sticks closely to the book
plot, wisely condensing and cutting scenes and characters when it makes
sense. We do not see Tonks’ parents, the
return of Viktor Krum nor Dean Thomas.
Lupin does not reveal Tonks pregnancy nor is told off by Harry when he
wishes to leave his unborn child. We do not see Wormtail’s final end in Part
One, though it may be included in Part Two. <br />
<br />
Really the only omission that I wish would the filmmaker would have kept
was Kreacher’s heart-breaking backstory concerning the death of his master,
Regulus Black’s death and Harry’s selfless act of giving Kreacher Black’s
locket to keep for his very own. It’s
such a poignant and tender moment in the book, showing how truly Harry is the
hero, not for being the Chosen One but by his treatment of those that everyone
considers beneath them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq26z24nmdyBOTNmQOVWLV2iXBJJlwx_5gzSB6cfaxaZWuz8NiS0trmxIW7YofoiG54gJECUzotuoDeJsXwmF2a6kGjTDXy7_TEajNCRNhg9ma9PQZkXrquBmpJprAuFnPku76LyYDiX8a/s1600/HP7_framestore_kreacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq26z24nmdyBOTNmQOVWLV2iXBJJlwx_5gzSB6cfaxaZWuz8NiS0trmxIW7YofoiG54gJECUzotuoDeJsXwmF2a6kGjTDXy7_TEajNCRNhg9ma9PQZkXrquBmpJprAuFnPku76LyYDiX8a/s400/HP7_framestore_kreacher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It sets up Dobby’s later sacrifice more subtly, rather than
the film’s choice to reintroduce Dobby earlier in the film at Grimmauld Place,
assisting Kreacher with the capture of Mundungus which has all the subtlety of
a blunt blow to the face. My middle
sister who has not read the books picked up on this immediately, whispering to me in
the theatre, “I bet he’s going to die”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JFtMLTcHV4XLnSUtk3PwcRX285iRII_zfxBVtpAlSGGAF93QoZAKmr3j1ByfwNIR9uGZ8aPRvlMlQ6FCkiZ6ynYcgzMIBLH96mDXEaTRQSf1u2Ze3ennoAYM2ohYdQBu3pesO3KZ7TgS/s1600/6a00e54ee7b6428833014e606305e2970c-500wi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JFtMLTcHV4XLnSUtk3PwcRX285iRII_zfxBVtpAlSGGAF93QoZAKmr3j1ByfwNIR9uGZ8aPRvlMlQ6FCkiZ6ynYcgzMIBLH96mDXEaTRQSf1u2Ze3ennoAYM2ohYdQBu3pesO3KZ7TgS/s400/6a00e54ee7b6428833014e606305e2970c-500wi.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc3poj0R6sxbNHMDDZeYAc1-peiNMxoO5Nq5mnN95Uj46ZCwqvjWaluB0jn3eDuX_LN_7m6pSEbGG8TobaRw-3iRo276Rk6YR49DWyH0t-zjQKE70AwU_4DS8UZc4OnJ0-2qUr-ov9QHv/s1600/_1310668445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc3poj0R6sxbNHMDDZeYAc1-peiNMxoO5Nq5mnN95Uj46ZCwqvjWaluB0jn3eDuX_LN_7m6pSEbGG8TobaRw-3iRo276Rk6YR49DWyH0t-zjQKE70AwU_4DS8UZc4OnJ0-2qUr-ov9QHv/s400/_1310668445.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Part One is just as grim-dark, fast paced and with higher stakes as any of the Christopher Nolan
Batman films. Our trio is in constant
danger, the Godric Hollow scene with the snake coming close to be being just as
scary as the scene with Harry and Dumbledore surrounded by the zombie-like,
Inferi infested lake in the last movie. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGiebYG9N5pZfQWjg4FaxdL7xJkGt_tgP9NlDuVtuyYhq0accLGXR6XsJEVjcgdlwBaaTvNNluWVIV8Po898xzQhU3krgzR0kygjTm_3xFOiBbDoqkxjt_yc352AFdhXG1YeIuriTkbwh/s1600/RMOMHPPart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGiebYG9N5pZfQWjg4FaxdL7xJkGt_tgP9NlDuVtuyYhq0accLGXR6XsJEVjcgdlwBaaTvNNluWVIV8Po898xzQhU3krgzR0kygjTm_3xFOiBbDoqkxjt_yc352AFdhXG1YeIuriTkbwh/s400/RMOMHPPart1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It’s not without its equally amazing light hearted moments as
well, such the Seven Harrys scene, George sneaking into the kitchen to catch
Harry and Ginny kissing, and Harry’s attempt to cheer up Hermione.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the last films all three leads have reached the same talented level of acting and I cannot commend them all enough. Rupert’s Ron is still my favorite though, he
NEVER overacts and sells each of Ron’s ranging emotions so absolutely convincingly. Perusing the IMDB page, I
never knew that Rupert Grint used his earnings from the Harry Potter franchise
to buy <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2108756/Harry-Potter-selling-ice-creams-Rupert-Grint-fulfilling-childhood-ambition.html." target="_blank">his own ice cream truck</a> to provide free ice cream to the neighborhood kids
and also to the crew and cast at the final Harry Potter wrap party. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBUh0a9we7WjOSO7sv7C3R4pgkRxTig1i46u2pbNKYOFqv4zlhjXbvmC6U6aAxFrrvDbb94aEsdyHxw3XldFczAdf89HfIn9017Z6GB-hj5ciOAAWiGWsSGs2MIgj95CS8bxeHoiw1pU8/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBUh0a9we7WjOSO7sv7C3R4pgkRxTig1i46u2pbNKYOFqv4zlhjXbvmC6U6aAxFrrvDbb94aEsdyHxw3XldFczAdf89HfIn9017Z6GB-hj5ciOAAWiGWsSGs2MIgj95CS8bxeHoiw1pU8/s640/hqdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this kid.....look at that face! He can nail any emotion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My favorite shots include Voldemort’s first victim in the
film, Charity Burbage as she is killed and looks Draco Malfoy in the eye, a tear gently trickling down her right cheek. Tom Felton’s
Draco is also perfection, aptly conveying Draco reluctance, fear and hesitation
throughout the film. Simply from his
reactions the audience knows Draco is not evil.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love how claustrophobic the long hallway is in 12 Grimmauld
Place, symbolically nearly swallowing the three leads in utter darkness.<o:p></o:p><br />
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And of course the beautiful symmetry in the below shot, straight from the
pages of the book, of Ron and Hermione nearly holding hands, as if they fell
sleep that way, their hands gently breaking apart during their slumber.</div>
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The shots from the Magic of Ministry, especially the overhead shot during Mrs. Cattermole’s trial, showing
the dementors being kept at bay is hauntingly striking, as well as the composition in the shot showing Hermione's blood covered hands as she set up the enchanted barriers after their close escape from the Ministry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The camping sequences also provide no shortage of
breath-taking exteriors as well as the graveyard scene in Godric’s Hollow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoga0eheJcuY-_gmZ0pphJ6WaHXYFMLCThEimVd9_9eVuEgZknQI-3FOPcFlspCGjXzKiEw6P9VkzuPGrXz1CLODoL-dZ5BRwOpwJS9fliXc_Kwe-cWv6Q-GC68GiCjrMtZ5zjeM2pi7jb/s1600/Harrystandinginfrontoftent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoga0eheJcuY-_gmZ0pphJ6WaHXYFMLCThEimVd9_9eVuEgZknQI-3FOPcFlspCGjXzKiEw6P9VkzuPGrXz1CLODoL-dZ5BRwOpwJS9fliXc_Kwe-cWv6Q-GC68GiCjrMtZ5zjeM2pi7jb/s640/Harrystandinginfrontoftent.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pbkhDuXn6yz79dm7HTQHPtTsb3W3CvVnFp00Ktoc9opsqUlEDK42vVDxOLTgFaRSiMODpIdXJ-T84rIlEi7eh5KY0psIraMYZHVyGFXoEso1ceHFV28KY-Zl6eBm4OAw605rL_bXA2Fm/s1600/Harry-Potter-And-The-Deathly-Hallows-Part-1-BluRay-hermione-granger-22577776-1920-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pbkhDuXn6yz79dm7HTQHPtTsb3W3CvVnFp00Ktoc9opsqUlEDK42vVDxOLTgFaRSiMODpIdXJ-T84rIlEi7eh5KY0psIraMYZHVyGFXoEso1ceHFV28KY-Zl6eBm4OAw605rL_bXA2Fm/s640/Harry-Potter-And-The-Deathly-Hallows-Part-1-BluRay-hermione-granger-22577776-1920-800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lastly, the animated Deathly Hallows sequence cements this
film as my favorite of the entire series, so far.</div>
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Next up, the last few chapters of the last book and Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two. The end is near!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-22281662651035172252016-01-06T16:00:00.001-08:002016-01-13T08:15:55.861-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy New Year, guys and gals! I didn’t want to stop in my <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">on-going </a><a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/12/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_29.html" target="_blank">series</a>
of re-reading and re-watching the Harry Potter series to do some sort of 2015
year in review. Most of what happened
you probably saw on my blog and to be honest, I wasn’t into reviewing the year,
not just yet anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, to continue on, I have just finished the penultimate
book in the series, <i>Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince</i>. I’m re-reading from a more adult perspective ten years and some months years later from the original summer release of Book Six back in
2005. Initially I started this project
as an attempt to pick out more details of Houses Ravenclaw and House Hufflepuff
since Pottermore, would later sort me into Ravenclaw and my best friend into Hufflepuff. Like almost everyone else I was convinced I
would be in Gryffindor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Book Six is one of my favorite books in the series, along
with <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_10.html" target="_blank">Book Two</a>. As soon as I finished
reading Book Six for the first time, my mind was ablaze with the possibilities
of what kind of object the seventh Horcrux would turn out to be. Like my pronunciation of Hermione, the actual
pronunciation of Horcrux was, way, way off from my interpretation. (Why can’t they be Hor-cruz/Hor-cruise?) Book Six has one of the better endings being
entirely open-ended and somewhat cliff-hanger like, leaving ALL Harry Potter
fans salivating in anticipation for the final installment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As always, spoilers to follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Book</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Despite Book Five being a long, slow read in some spots, I
dived immediately into Book Six and my experience could not have been anymore
different. Since I didn’t have to wait
this time around between installments, I could instantly tell that Book Six
flows much more swiftly and is a more enjoyable read.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Following the Prime Minister’s introduction to new Ministry
of Magic head, Rufus Scrimgeour, and Narcissa Malfoy’s Unbreakable Vow with
Snape, Dumbledore shows up at the Dursleys’ to pick Harry up, for the first
time ever. Gone is Dumbledore’s attempts
to ignore Harry, gone is Harry’s building frustration, gone is the somber
attitude that pervaded most of Book 5.
Dumbledore is in fighting shape, kindly staying by Harry’s side and
delivering zinger after zinger, teaching the Dursleys about the finer points of
manners and actually confronting them about how ill they’ve treated Harry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hell, yes! Finally!
This is the Dumbledore we know and love.
After Book Five, Book Six seems lighter, faster, funnier and all around
more thrilling!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishMyT1WyXChbsV_2Xhs1lxbN7KxAvzpyF2FuKUPcNSQfVfMz9h8eYbKSglBwm29XrEhIGtPgu6G_U6a-V9jR1ZIrmzvNz9Rqhbv6Jey6RcfoartawR2iXQgs4p5Er155Al_8kn5GN3K4/s1600/Hbp_15_anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishMyT1WyXChbsV_2Xhs1lxbN7KxAvzpyF2FuKUPcNSQfVfMz9h8eYbKSglBwm29XrEhIGtPgu6G_U6a-V9jR1ZIrmzvNz9Rqhbv6Jey6RcfoartawR2iXQgs4p5Er155Al_8kn5GN3K4/s320/Hbp_15_anniversary.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean look at all these freaking amazing covers!</td></tr>
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Despite the growing dangers of Voldemort’s Death Eaters, the
book mostly passes over Draco’s burdensome task for the majority of the book,
only returning to the present dangers towards the very end. Something the film does not overlook, to
better dramatic effect, I feel. However,
Book Six sticks mainly to the Slug Club, Dumbledore’s activities seeking Riddle’s
memories, Quidditch and the growing attractions between Ron and Hermione and
Harry and Ginny.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And like peanut butter and chocolate, what could go better
together than zombies (I mean Inferi) and Harry Potter? When I first read about the Inferi, I was
like, “no f#cking way, this is AMAZING” and I’m still pleased to admit that 33
year old me still feels the same way. It’s
too bad they aren’t really mentioned again but still the scene in the cave
always give me chills.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Book Six and Book Two show many parallels, which may explain
why they are my favorites in the series.
Both heavily feature flashbacks Tom Riddles’ and both feature physical
tasks of some sort for the finale. Both
are quite cinematic, fighting the giant basilisk and obtaining the Horcrux from
a zombie-infested cave. Goblet of Fire
also features quite cinematic scenes as well, but does not delve into Riddle’s
past rather features Voldemort’s reveal in human form. Both Books Six and Two
also give Ron, my favorite character in the films, still undecided in the books,
more of a plot-line of his own. In Book
Two he helps Harry while Hermione is incapacitated and in Book Six has an
expanded plot-line stemming from Book Five about being the Quidditch Keeper. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not too much of
fan of the books that feature Ron, Hermione and Harry constantly bickering,
which is why I don’t rate Books Three, Four and Five any higher. I get that the bickering is a sign of the
three leads maturing but as an adult I just don’t care for it much.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are some characters in the books I hate because of the
way Rowling writes them. Unless Harry is
always biased and totally imagining it, Snape almost always acts with unabashed
revulsion and fury. He is supremely
nasty to not only Harry but Ron, Hermione and Neville as well. There is no reason for his hatred toward
Neville who is pureblood. None. Ron is another that character that comes off
cruel and somewhat idiotic in the books, once he becomes prefect he constantly
talks down to the first years and is always trying to cheat by copying off Hermione and
Harry's homework. </div>
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Malfoy is pretty nasty as
well. Book Five sees him totally abusing
his power as a prefect and the beginning of Book Six we see both he and his
mother treating Hermione and Ron poorly at Madame Malkin’s. Raising him up, the better to see him fall, I
understand, but all three characters fare much better in the films, which is a
rare argument. To believe the films are
better than the books in some way.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Film</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Steve Kloves returns as screenwriter for the remainder of
the film series. I’m appreciative of the
way he skillfully condenses the plot and combines characters. We still see George and Fred’s shop open up
and Quidditch makes a triumphant return but Bill is absent and different Death
Eaters take the place of the ones in the book.
Also left out is the final fight between members of Dumbledore’s Army
and said Death Eaters. The Slug Club
visits and Riddle’s memories are also quite condensed. </div>
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Kloves adds a scene at the train station, the scene where the
Burrow is set on fire, and adds more to the tension to the cave scene, Harry
being actually pulled into the water by the Inferi. There is also a stunning sequence that shows not just any "Muggle bridge" as described in the book being destroyed by Death Eaters but THE. ACTUAL. MILLENNIUM. BRIDGE. One of the most famous bridges in London.</div>
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Luna rescues Harry on the train instead of Tonks, and
appears in her signature outfits from Book Five, having been previously cut out
in the prior movie. I just love Luna so
much in both the book and film versions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>A part of my adult side wasn’t really feeling the budding romance between Harry and Ginny in the books. Yeah Ginny is sassy af. And pretty. And popular…..it just felt to me she was a prize to be won, for Harry. She has more in common with Cho Chang than she does with say, Luna and she doesn’t understand Harry the way both Luna and Hermione do.</div>
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She is the most eye-rolling obvious choice that it wasn’t
all that inspiring and a bit of a letdown.
I don’t understand why Hermione
would ever be attracted to the book-version of Ron, when Harry is the only one
that can even remotely rise to her level.
However in the film, Ginny is a bit more of a quiet, wiser soul that
does prove that she does indeed understand Harry but again Luna and Hermione
fare just as well, and I still believe would make inspired matches for Harry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The film also allows Draco more of a dramatic arc than the
book. It’s curious that in the previous
film Draco acted as comedic foil with Filch, instead of being viciously nasty
as in the book. </div>
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This film we see Draco looking like a Bond villain, constantly dressed in a black suit. He goes from comedic sidekick to tortured
soul without stopping to show himself as a character who almost deserves the
fate he gets, as in the books. I like
the film’s version of events better, allowing us to sympathize with Draco.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTIiYqkdw6XwRm7hcoRfGyCffoWV_4rkuhbabEkhxEKzVbtRmlBpHc3qvFz7cyRMnDXpc8EoT1z_EypQLM0iS179NPhvs9kfNV1qENSOdKIGXpefkx7dJXG5VbF4bMXaZzUNoyiCvzQw/s1600/hbpdraco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTIiYqkdw6XwRm7hcoRfGyCffoWV_4rkuhbabEkhxEKzVbtRmlBpHc3qvFz7cyRMnDXpc8EoT1z_EypQLM0iS179NPhvs9kfNV1qENSOdKIGXpefkx7dJXG5VbF4bMXaZzUNoyiCvzQw/s640/hbpdraco.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I’ve mentioned, both Snape and Ron fare much better in the
films. Alan Rickman’s Snape is a bit
softer, a bit gentler and truly begins to look out for the well-being of all
his students starting in the third film, he even drops a line in front of Harry
in the fifth movie explaining that Cho Chang revealed the D.A. against her will. Rickman’s Snape kills Dumbledore with a soft
look, and heavy heart not with a face of full of anger as in the book.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf5OlBsthJUwTrV3Kx2L0rfa4PgUMwu2JFW3T7lMGb6E2HeotbExrSUoTjyW0mTU4AMS15X-1nPyFV2bEiVuhuxjNkesTs0FDy6zs1RhFfZvJVcPNIgwbqH1s-CU35KnqOrH2aS48FIc/s1600/Helena-in-Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-helena-bonham-carter-17820581-1920-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf5OlBsthJUwTrV3Kx2L0rfa4PgUMwu2JFW3T7lMGb6E2HeotbExrSUoTjyW0mTU4AMS15X-1nPyFV2bEiVuhuxjNkesTs0FDy6zs1RhFfZvJVcPNIgwbqH1s-CU35KnqOrH2aS48FIc/s640/Helena-in-Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-helena-bonham-carter-17820581-1920-800.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His hair is also much fluffier for some reason. True heroes always have great hair.</td></tr>
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Ron too, is less obnoxious than in the books. Ron has always been my favorite in the films
because of Rupert Grint’s amazing acting ability. He nails the ability to act and re-act even
when he is not speaking his own lines from the beginning of the series. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL6DQD0llQV6EspexU1tlWZIXsqgEhnNmlIPktkaUuF-aUbchudxcJgxRVYukjqiB8sXhbm6sqpE5ryv9LjlxwAkauk4LY_c7vPZrVf3y95yECPINxkVMQKTMryZbFIcyrTrsI7eNjhY/s1600/Ron_in_Quidditch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL6DQD0llQV6EspexU1tlWZIXsqgEhnNmlIPktkaUuF-aUbchudxcJgxRVYukjqiB8sXhbm6sqpE5ryv9LjlxwAkauk4LY_c7vPZrVf3y95yECPINxkVMQKTMryZbFIcyrTrsI7eNjhY/s400/Ron_in_Quidditch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God, I loved his funny looking Keeper helmet.</td></tr>
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It took five films but in the sixth movie,
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have finally caught up to Rupert. Whereas before, Daniel would not react enough
and Emma would tend to over-act both have matched Rupert’s ability in this
film, now able to play off one another and demonstrate their strong comedic timing. Despite the heavy subject matter, the film
does not get too dramatic, having wonderful comedic moments between the three
young leads.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXpWSYvCG4Dd-_Cl7g6W_Tu3U_1jBLWHD5knXrQn2_UqL5nwjrckH8gEcqtZTzaqxvs5o6rz6Xehux49eTFHBuzoFJmLfm10PgWuioA8_r7CTbFyd5Tr8RUOmnW1byLMjHYH80d0Vf30/s1600/-Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-ronald-weasley-17296389-1920-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXpWSYvCG4Dd-_Cl7g6W_Tu3U_1jBLWHD5knXrQn2_UqL5nwjrckH8gEcqtZTzaqxvs5o6rz6Xehux49eTFHBuzoFJmLfm10PgWuioA8_r7CTbFyd5Tr8RUOmnW1byLMjHYH80d0Vf30/s640/-Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-ronald-weasley-17296389-1920-800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kdcc5WqWeRHaM8jf57kmw4IM5x4D7P9reJ043odOTd3LouR_wYb_tEg-jXWJI9ZeNP4hry7l0leYQXANrUAVSX7KQV2mhqE72MwvH4lrgncOD3W8lPRR0C_RtrowGvrdsweB8s38Eg0/s1600/The-Half-Blood-Prince-Harmony-Screencap-harry-potter-30945808-500-200.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kdcc5WqWeRHaM8jf57kmw4IM5x4D7P9reJ043odOTd3LouR_wYb_tEg-jXWJI9ZeNP4hry7l0leYQXANrUAVSX7KQV2mhqE72MwvH4lrgncOD3W8lPRR0C_RtrowGvrdsweB8s38Eg0/s640/The-Half-Blood-Prince-Harmony-Screencap-harry-potter-30945808-500-200.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The cinematography in the sixth film is noticeably darker,
at times it felt as though I was watching a James Bond film with Harry taking
instructions from Dumbledore to use Slughorn’s party as a way to get closer to
him. Incidentally Harry Potter and the
Half Blood Prince is the only film in the series to get nominated for cinematography.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLxC-BoZDecM7uW8waQ3t4d_CXomvvhcAXZ403xOFkD_yd5PzhPFGPGJc2NlVNbCOFiUj6LGXYpnpo3pusclOKznWIUAgKYsH7yVaGbaNWIbCXZG08DG5Ox90gQUkMYIhBsLQAi2WigI/s1600/cb9ec8eefcd792a748bc98947964f0ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLxC-BoZDecM7uW8waQ3t4d_CXomvvhcAXZ403xOFkD_yd5PzhPFGPGJc2NlVNbCOFiUj6LGXYpnpo3pusclOKznWIUAgKYsH7yVaGbaNWIbCXZG08DG5Ox90gQUkMYIhBsLQAi2WigI/s400/cb9ec8eefcd792a748bc98947964f0ab.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacwOsma-MRZ8IACbrAVfbMDXvoj9fic5lv1lkpWFzolxAjrKzBCKCnRn1gC1LEiP12JURfOw0kthwTHOLI7A6iNvDefTic1PC7NK76dFCuIk9KTy74cN-5nCYLjoeTSJ4GC1lsIwtx1w/s1600/Neville_waiter_at_the_Slug_Club_Party.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacwOsma-MRZ8IACbrAVfbMDXvoj9fic5lv1lkpWFzolxAjrKzBCKCnRn1gC1LEiP12JURfOw0kthwTHOLI7A6iNvDefTic1PC7NK76dFCuIk9KTy74cN-5nCYLjoeTSJ4GC1lsIwtx1w/s640/Neville_waiter_at_the_Slug_Club_Party.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The name is Potter....Harry Potter...</td></tr>
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My favorite shots include the wonderfully framed symmetry of Narcissa and Snape performing the Unbreakable Vow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27xpy_IKQXpJbYRgCTzx_ZE6kiniaO4DIpY8iloh_hQAdQxUG-fGP3CkEN3w4V-HKMLH1hGTg6-OBTiSNO9RWl4CGK4ksoJq5eQMJlt3GYos5U-m1XvSzmz9iedRMD6qX1XIazGs4yuE/s1600/tumblr_lp2d0lDL8n1qf325lo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27xpy_IKQXpJbYRgCTzx_ZE6kiniaO4DIpY8iloh_hQAdQxUG-fGP3CkEN3w4V-HKMLH1hGTg6-OBTiSNO9RWl4CGK4ksoJq5eQMJlt3GYos5U-m1XvSzmz9iedRMD6qX1XIazGs4yuE/s640/tumblr_lp2d0lDL8n1qf325lo1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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Any shots featuring the Great Hall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq3vo4K1k8ydLb0j6sZSEmGtrgByQMtqb8zsAukrqu6kb14JZ7mTufSxqNSOz0RJc_2r6njzVSZzOXORig0KSHA4cjRKntxqIDWugmvb3d0z3RCdn01zg-sIJnLVzDnhz4iR7dl-1k8Q/s1600/Aurors_GreatHall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq3vo4K1k8ydLb0j6sZSEmGtrgByQMtqb8zsAukrqu6kb14JZ7mTufSxqNSOz0RJc_2r6njzVSZzOXORig0KSHA4cjRKntxqIDWugmvb3d0z3RCdn01zg-sIJnLVzDnhz4iR7dl-1k8Q/s640/Aurors_GreatHall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Quidditch game was also wonderfully shot, using the red of the Gryffindor uniforms against the white snow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOHfUPe6AN43yQxYMe4aGbb7pPtezuwrlwZLZiBtofljLNyvGcLJARfqTKyWcZS4EoXBk9Cab_JEb4A01tnQqPh9q_cXoIFrihA4gJ5bK3AasdyfHThDXFPu-x3zxIFP8HG8SZXtQc7w/s1600/Quidditch-scene-from-Harr-001.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOHfUPe6AN43yQxYMe4aGbb7pPtezuwrlwZLZiBtofljLNyvGcLJARfqTKyWcZS4EoXBk9Cab_JEb4A01tnQqPh9q_cXoIFrihA4gJ5bK3AasdyfHThDXFPu-x3zxIFP8HG8SZXtQc7w/s640/Quidditch-scene-from-Harr-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVi7lflbfZvNe9kx9fW2d0FiLRGqMBdb_E13IHQkHpqJ83zsNsfV3ivU1O4pPIF78ciMoqEsFShrntp1pCfbwQRdzWbLEJbkvXDIaF1lUwhnBWE2IkeaahyUswE3jmP61lcUOAS3Gr54/s1600/hbp_promos5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVi7lflbfZvNe9kx9fW2d0FiLRGqMBdb_E13IHQkHpqJ83zsNsfV3ivU1O4pPIF78ciMoqEsFShrntp1pCfbwQRdzWbLEJbkvXDIaF1lUwhnBWE2IkeaahyUswE3jmP61lcUOAS3Gr54/s640/hbp_promos5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also loved the interior shots of both Hermione and Draco seeking refuge around the Hogwarts castle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XCZ6_avT3XuCU-dvTeq8iYSK6w9bFIDz51RjaxKoeo58dSVMLFHLCq30CVWmSPC8OlLlc19mp4-HPdEHD6GuaHLAmLJvUuQ1IHMuWxsqj_Cff_JHa9-qsMPS6MsXF-HygFEghhVcLT8/s1600/Halfblood-01900.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XCZ6_avT3XuCU-dvTeq8iYSK6w9bFIDz51RjaxKoeo58dSVMLFHLCq30CVWmSPC8OlLlc19mp4-HPdEHD6GuaHLAmLJvUuQ1IHMuWxsqj_Cff_JHa9-qsMPS6MsXF-HygFEghhVcLT8/s640/Halfblood-01900.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK9qvfgqaSIsv8aJY0La7CAcgehZ-gzElAhGnjm8tMfg4mnPzvSyacWlYQBSzzhekX_sfkiaiTxgGiuHJd7eXMC4ywddiKHZx0juwcxenVzUY60-39Hrgdv3g3ROXszEzexNxLJ-dKls/s1600/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-886.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK9qvfgqaSIsv8aJY0La7CAcgehZ-gzElAhGnjm8tMfg4mnPzvSyacWlYQBSzzhekX_sfkiaiTxgGiuHJd7eXMC4ywddiKHZx0juwcxenVzUY60-39Hrgdv3g3ROXszEzexNxLJ-dKls/s640/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-886.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also loved the beautiful composition and use of colors in Katie's attack and Harry's attack on Draco.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKykKYEjSH4bctWtTKvAz5liXJm9QMQ0e4yo2hfNIZxLI40W3TFjaMAzYIAAXMFrhlJFz4M-yYrqoUESYmbYXbxTGJUlKNCDw3Nh2sskVBYPf_Om_JKbvuxY43d7Vi7JRgjlBMMDfi3U/s1600/Katie_Bell_in_terrible_pain_after_touching_a_cursed_necklace_1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKykKYEjSH4bctWtTKvAz5liXJm9QMQ0e4yo2hfNIZxLI40W3TFjaMAzYIAAXMFrhlJFz4M-yYrqoUESYmbYXbxTGJUlKNCDw3Nh2sskVBYPf_Om_JKbvuxY43d7Vi7JRgjlBMMDfi3U/s640/Katie_Bell_in_terrible_pain_after_touching_a_cursed_necklace_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7sdNofxLmniN32UHCwVvKq0gaZDnw_nxAE7bqRG_z-Yl3bu85f3vLlARgTwt1LnUd-1YvptzSRVZf_-LSccujDqNuo7hj56HelYCd-mKblnfdgCiui84xxdantVOGkK0aNEF1iV798c/s1600/Halfblood-02934.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7sdNofxLmniN32UHCwVvKq0gaZDnw_nxAE7bqRG_z-Yl3bu85f3vLlARgTwt1LnUd-1YvptzSRVZf_-LSccujDqNuo7hj56HelYCd-mKblnfdgCiui84xxdantVOGkK0aNEF1iV798c/s640/Halfblood-02934.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also any time we saw Dumbledore's mind vault or to borrow a term from Sherlock, mind palace, or the use of the pensieve.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_6stp-IshGadkuQ1nkuEq-mip6Tjz2KxkocOOWQG_AqcPv4eEV5fXqpSazHPCfxbdp97VMuT8I4f4O9RmeglkG8e01ot4M3apNuqZSk5H3rhRohoQZRcM1tb4BMDjye0qD8c-kQMfbg/s1600/Half-Blood-Prince-Trailer-Screencaps-harry-potter-1884833-800-343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_6stp-IshGadkuQ1nkuEq-mip6Tjz2KxkocOOWQG_AqcPv4eEV5fXqpSazHPCfxbdp97VMuT8I4f4O9RmeglkG8e01ot4M3apNuqZSk5H3rhRohoQZRcM1tb4BMDjye0qD8c-kQMfbg/s640/Half-Blood-Prince-Trailer-Screencaps-harry-potter-1884833-800-343.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1wkpc9fNmOB2xnKlhTPIUdfhzbQbbCOPJJeiK0B_rQ_dfT2QeZ7xmwe8BBTsgRnMMbkZo3QoV5PdxKF-eVHtWelsBNsRXmGVd_403Kp-N8uZvj2VgkPMBHmcAc8GTaNFRtO781GYsq4/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1wkpc9fNmOB2xnKlhTPIUdfhzbQbbCOPJJeiK0B_rQ_dfT2QeZ7xmwe8BBTsgRnMMbkZo3QoV5PdxKF-eVHtWelsBNsRXmGVd_403Kp-N8uZvj2VgkPMBHmcAc8GTaNFRtO781GYsq4/s640/hqdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And lastly the entire sequence in the eerie, creepy cave which featured one of the scariest moments in the entire series, as the music completely cuts out as Harry kneels before the cursed lake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34U2JDSHuImIcqzWgkmglFfi0HuBqv7B9BrZhqWWUJaPLPlH78notwTBJakPKvevU6wB_YK3ulT6fHL_QWM2dJuxhV3FKf23T-U5bco3wUeIi98svTM-6QARtc1JzjQWRnc0otsFodxk/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34U2JDSHuImIcqzWgkmglFfi0HuBqv7B9BrZhqWWUJaPLPlH78notwTBJakPKvevU6wB_YK3ulT6fHL_QWM2dJuxhV3FKf23T-U5bco3wUeIi98svTM-6QARtc1JzjQWRnc0otsFodxk/s640/original.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If Book 2 and Book 6 are neck and neck as my favorite book
in the series, Film Six wins over Film Two by a landslide. The actors have maturely nicely, the subject
matter is darker yet still enjoyable and Dumbledore gets a Gandolf-worthy
moment that is absolutely awe-inspiring. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX511qvh6DFwpDTlJGLPMywUIKBygGNGcFhyXr8r2r_EFiR_-udf1ftMuOCKy6AqtGJzqi5XDisccLU0RosEyk3iAKIepRWVLeOev1cJcZvnSjinZAqMLHP6NaYcXWlBm-rFNIXGW7ZpI/s1600/dumbledore-hbp-cave.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX511qvh6DFwpDTlJGLPMywUIKBygGNGcFhyXr8r2r_EFiR_-udf1ftMuOCKy6AqtGJzqi5XDisccLU0RosEyk3iAKIepRWVLeOev1cJcZvnSjinZAqMLHP6NaYcXWlBm-rFNIXGW7ZpI/s640/dumbledore-hbp-cave.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7R0nq5MfGEZ7Krx-p2rIOgdBHbBcHgbTEuluSxa02lg7uVIlRa0nJgk5V69iNPU1rztNk3hg_qOdTJzSFDpsnsEP7jF6mIhntF99NL5P04Y5CaDWrjVpqEd7hrCsDvFXEn4Z0n1yhCY/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7R0nq5MfGEZ7Krx-p2rIOgdBHbBcHgbTEuluSxa02lg7uVIlRa0nJgk5V69iNPU1rztNk3hg_qOdTJzSFDpsnsEP7jF6mIhntF99NL5P04Y5CaDWrjVpqEd7hrCsDvFXEn4Z0n1yhCY/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumbledore. BAMF!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Up next is the very last book, which I will review in two parts since
Book 7 was adapted into two films.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-89824758215189994252015-12-29T15:56:00.001-08:002016-01-13T08:06:12.360-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/12/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">Resuming</a> my quest to re-read and re-watch each of the Harry
Potter books and movies, years later as a full-grown adult, I have come to the
fifth book, <i>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now my copy of the fifth book is the Bloombury edition,
which was printed and sold in the U.K.
At the time of the book’s release, I was in London as part of the
Radio/TV/Film overseas summer course in British Broadcasting co-hosted by my
school, the University of North Texas, and the University of London. My classmates and I stayed with host families
for two months in the Muswell Hill area.
I had spied the local bookstore, Muswell Hill Bookshop, and on the night
of the fifth book’s release went to stand in line to buy a copy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Went I got to the bookshop I couldn’t help but grin in
amazement. I stood behind a long line of
young local kids standing with their parents, chatting excitedly in British
accents and dressed in long black robes and pointed witch hats. I SWEAR to God, it was like being dropped off
at the 9¾ platform in person. It was
like stepping into the books themselves, and I’ll never forget that treasured
memory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book itself, on the other hand, is my least favorite
book, so far. I say so far, because
maybe in re-reading the last two, I may turn out not to like them as much as I
previously thought but I highly, highly doubt it. It starts sad and slow, remains at a somewhat
sluggish pace and then ends in an incredibly sad manner but I’ll get to that
more below.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spoilers to follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book </span></b></u><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Of course we are introduced to new characters such as
Nymphadora Tonks (Don’t call me Nymphadora!), Kingsley Shacklebolt, Luna
Lovegood and the villainous Dolores Jane Umbridge. We also get see Bellatrix and what she is like, aside from Dumbledore’s flashbacks in the previous book. I think it’s safe to assume that Barty Crouch
Jr. gets executed with the lone-standing arch with the fluttering veil, which
we see in the Ministry of Magic and are lead to believe functions as the wizarding
world equivalent as the death chamber but Book Five does not specify his fate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsy4TNmakZH8xaMDN6cQVQJxbJvppCRH7QsgEEHn8vP3b4oGQrkaqt5H5iFMs6Lz3FxHS4TP5XF2qzRFyTB8cRqeN8k7skRjLbfbCQzOuYE3enuN_UwxCMURg-fC0NzOz47t_B9jQDtM/s1600/c38--the-second-war-begins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsy4TNmakZH8xaMDN6cQVQJxbJvppCRH7QsgEEHn8vP3b4oGQrkaqt5H5iFMs6Lz3FxHS4TP5XF2qzRFyTB8cRqeN8k7skRjLbfbCQzOuYE3enuN_UwxCMURg-fC0NzOz47t_B9jQDtM/s320/c38--the-second-war-begins.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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As far as my Ravenclaw/ Hufflepuff standpoint, there are
both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students that participate in Dumbledore’s Army
but the most revealing details found in the Sorting Hat’s new song. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">For were there such friends anywhere<br />
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?<br />
Unless it was the second pair<br />
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,<br />
<br />
So how could it have gone so wrong?<br />
How could such friendships fail?<br />
Why, I was there, so I can tell<br />
The whole sad, sorry tale.<br />
<br />
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those<br />
Whose ancestry's purest."<br />
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose<br />
Intelligence is surest."<br />
<br />
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those<br />
With brave deeds to their name."<br />
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot<br />
And treat them just the same."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFj4o5LRGB782GBGVDnhaABtIx3j3BXSX4XFHPP1VkxQgD26mUnC3CPDKcVYOYgBoV-8XRnAGsfOo1hyl5sG6plRnMNCBOjpHSfVchhfwfkheNPwwl8OuObBlry-FVJXU-VoYkpH6LuuE/s1600/11-the-sorting-hats-new-song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFj4o5LRGB782GBGVDnhaABtIx3j3BXSX4XFHPP1VkxQgD26mUnC3CPDKcVYOYgBoV-8XRnAGsfOo1hyl5sG6plRnMNCBOjpHSfVchhfwfkheNPwwl8OuObBlry-FVJXU-VoYkpH6LuuE/s320/11-the-sorting-hats-new-song.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So Rowena and Helga were best friends, according to the
song, and whereas Rowena choose to teach the students she found to be the
smartest, Helga chose whoever was leftover and treated them the same. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My respect for Hufflepuff just skyrocketed. Looking back as an adult, I’m like , “what
the hell kind of quality teacher just cherry-picks students to teach? Isn’t the very nobility of the teaching
profession teaching<u> all</u> children what they can, despite the differences
in the students backgrounds and talents.”
The other heads are all a bunch of dicks. Hufflepuff is amazing. I honestly don’t know why that house gets looked
down upon when Helga is all like, “it don’t matter, I’ll teach everyone!” That is what Superman would do, that is what
Obi-Wan Kenobi would do. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ok, rant over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My favorite parts of the book are most certainly include
Luna. She is such a lovely, complex and </div>
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realistic character to join the main three.
I also liked the Weasley Twins’ major supporting arc of quitting school
to start their own shop, they proved to be one of the brightest spot in very
dark and sometimes depressing book. I
wish we could have witnessed more of Ron’s victory in Quidditch rather than
following Harry and Hermione into the Dark Forest. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Right up until this book, I had a secret theory as to why
Dumbledore seemed continuously negligent of Harry’s safety. Through the last four books, he has
repeatedly has been non-involved and not pro-active in any of the elements
threatening the school. In Book Five, he
even mentions that he left the newly orphaned Harry’s on the Dursley’s doorstep
with a letter detailing the situation. A LETTER. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know this had to happen so that the plotlines could happen
at all but I secretly thought that Dumbledore had some sort of time-turner of
his own, since he so deftly explains to Hermione how to use it to save two
lives at the end of Book Three, when she was explicitly made to promise to only
use it for her lessons. I thought that
since Dumbledore is so powerful, wise, and always looking so ancient, that he
has lived Harry’s adolescence multiple times in an attempt to defeat
Voldemort. Every time he has tried to
nurture Harry, Harry does not develop to his fullest without the maximum amount
of struggle and thus ends up not able to defeat Voldemort. </div>
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Dumbledore is forced
into a hands-off approach with Harry in order to ensure his later victory. I even believed that Dumbledore’s use of the pensive
was to enable him to keep track of the multiple time lines he has lived. He keeps going back in forth in time to save
as many innocent lives as possible but many it would seems many are completely
unavoidable and still doomed to die.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alas, this book seems to puncture the air out of my theory,
as Dumbledore regrets not telling Harry about the prophecy sooner. Seems odd to me that he would have regrets if
he could have just continues to jump back in time. Also I remember when I first read the book, feeling
that the prophecy was a bit of a let-down once the book revealed what the “weapon”
was that Sirius was referring to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This book is hard to read mainly because of Harry’s built up
rage and the punishments he is forced to endure by Umbridge. Although I did like his discovery of his
father’s true nature through Snape’s flashbacks; neither being the shining hero
Harry has been told and neither the evil bully Snape always accused him to be,
but a combination of both, as most people are in reality. This instance more than anything struck a
chord with me in regards to Harry maturing, the realization that our parents
are vulnerable people that make very human mistakes, rather than unbreakable
heroes we grow up imagining them to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Movie</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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A new screenwriter, Michael Goldenberg, wrote the screenplay
for fifth film. I liked that he tweaks
the ending so that Harry defeats Voldemort in attempting to possess him at the
end, telling Voldemort he is not weak because he knows love and friendship and
that makes him strong, “<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">"</span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">You're the weak one. And you'll never know love. Or friendship.
And I feel sorry for you.”</span></i>This is not really
evident in the book, or is phrased in such way that I did not pick up on
it. <br />
<br />
In the book Dumbledore arrives to
save Harry and Harry becomes possessed by Voldemort, struggles and then passes
out. The movie does of better job of
showing us that despite losing Sirius, Harry is ultimately triumphant. This concludes the fifth film with a bit of
an upbeat ending whereas the book is super depressing. Also the sit down with Dumbledore is toned
way down in the movie, making for a natural resolution. In the book Harry screams and breaks shit in
Dumbledore’s office. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I also liked that Luna is kept more involved in the plot in
the film than in the book, which does not mention her for a long period during
the middle. When she reaches out for
Harry’s hand to console him after losing Sirius was beautifully done with both
actors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ron and Ginny unfortunately get shorted in the film. There is no mention of Ron’s prefect badge or
even any mention of Quidditch at all. However we do get to see Ron’s, Ginny’s
and Luna’s patronus forms in the film when it is not mentioned in Book Five, at
this point in time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not much is changed about Umbridge, Oscar-nominated actress
Imelda Stanton completely slays, even if she is conventionally much prettier
than the book version of Umbridge. That
goes without saying for the movie version of Tonks, as well. Helena Bonham Carter also completely nails
the role of Belletrix.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately much of the connective tissue of the plot has
been cut out. This is the shortest film
in the Harry Potter series, which did not surprise me at all since so much had
been cut out. There’s no explanation to
what the Order of the Phoenix is, whole parts of Sirius’ background is left
out, Percy’s fight with the Weasleys is left out, he just shows up doing Fudge’s
bidding out of nowhere. Voldemort
appears wearing a black suit on the train platform, entirely without explanation. Ginny, Neville and Luna are captured when
audiences that haven’t read the books have no knowledge that they volunteered
as lookouts to help Harry in the books. </div>
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Steve Kloves, screenwriter of the previous four movies would cut and
condense plotlines but would at least have a character make a passing reference
as to why it was left out. That is not
the case here. I may have missed one of
Umbridge’s proclamations prohibiting Quidditch but it’s rather strange that
none of the character ever comment upon it.
There’s also no revelation that Umbridge sent the dementors after Harry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My favorite shots are in the beginning, in which we find
Harry’s feeling isolated on the neighborhood playground and also the tunnel
covered in graffiti in which Harry and Dudley are attacked by dementors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Also the overhead shot of the beautifully tiled floor during
Harry’s trial.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Ministry of Magic sets are also completely
breath-taking, as well as the Order of Phoenix’s ride through London, and the Azkaban breakout scene.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, my least favorite book and so far, my least
favorite movie but there’s more to come and despite not being my favorite, any
Harry Potter book/film is head and shoulders above any other book/film franchise
series to date.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-7570227918387858372015-12-08T13:31:00.001-08:002016-01-13T07:55:05.162-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">Continuing</a> <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_10.html" target="_blank">on</a> <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_18.html" target="_blank">to</a> the fourth book in the series, I have been
re-reading and re-watching the Harry Potter series, after more than a decade,
from a different perspective. I’m much
older and one would hope, wiser. I also wanted to re-read the series for more details of the much overshadowed
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff houses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I first came across the Harry Potter series right as the
Book Four was coming out. My younger
cousin had the first two books with him, the weekend my dad and stepmom got
married. I finished both in no time,
found the third book and was all set when the fourth book came out later that
year. Interestingly, the beginning of
Book Four does a good job of describing the past plot-lines in the first few
chapters, making it seem as though it was designed to bring in new readers
right away, setting them up to understand the story, and letting them read the
first three books at another time, if they chose to do so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire </i>gets right into the trio’s
growing pains and we experience Ron, Harry and Hermione going through the ugly emotions of
jealousy, fear, isolation, awkwardness, and unrequited love. This book also established the pattern of a
heart-breaking death for each of the remaining books in the series. Book Four launches head-long into puberty and
emerges on the other side more mature due to darker themes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As always, spoilers ahead.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"> Book</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a name='more'></a>In Book Four we meet a whole score of new characters and the wizarding world is expanded once again to reveal the global wizarding
community, the Ministry of Magic, the Death Eaters, the other schools of magic
and even more magical creatures such at giants and the merpeople.<br />
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Within the Ministry we meet Ludo Bagman, Amos Diggory,
Bartemius Crouch Jr and Sr, and Winky the House Elf. At Hogwarts we meet Mad-Eye Moody, Professor
Grubbly Plank, Padma Patil, Madame Maxine, Igor Karkaroff, Victor Krum and Fleur
Delacour. We also meet Rita Skeeter
within the wizarding world at large and come across mentions of the Lestranges
and the Lovegoods. Clearly, J.K. Rowling
is setting the ground work for additional characters to come.</div>
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As far as Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff mentions, Hufflepuff gets
more of a spotlight in this book since Cedric Diggory is in Hufflepuff and is
the Hogwarts first champion in the Tri-Wizard Cup. Professor Sprout is finally specified as the head of Hufflepuff and during Hermione’s push for S.P.E.W. we learn the Hufflepuff dorms
are close to the kitchens. Unfortunately,
Rowling keeps reminding us that Hufflepuff is extremely sore at Harry
competing, since Hufflepuff so rarely wins at anything, and also hinting that
Hufflepuff usually loses the most in Quidditch, which makes Cedric the rare
Hufflepuff champion. Ouch, J.K., ouch.
Cedric’s father, Amos, is rather a jerk to Harry most of the book, which
I guess was meant to temper the heart-break of Cedric’s death.</div>
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I can’t really determine why Hermione’s campaign for the societal
welfare for the house elves is so prominent, other than to set up the relations
between wizards and other magical creatures such as the giants, centaurs,
dementors and elves. This would explain
why Dumbledore keeps Hagrid around, as a positive envoy to the giant community,
and also what Dumbledore fears about Voldemort that he will ally with the
dangerous creatures to wreak havoc that Dumbledore alone in not equipped to
face.</div>
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I understand this but Hermione
never really talks to any of the house elves when she first establishes her campaign
and this just kind of smacks of racial undertones that we experience in real
life </div>
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ourselves. The well-meaning but blatant
unawareness of the privileges that white people experience. I’m not saying Hermione was unaware of wizard
privilege but rather than speaking to a house elf about their experience
straight away, she just goes to the library.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Voldemort reveals more details than we’ve ever received
during the climax, he mentions the powerful magic that protects Harry while he
is with the Dursleys and although each of appearance of Voldemort is quite
terrifying he still makes the dumb decision to wait a whole freaking year for
an absolutely convoluted plan to succeed and bring him Harry Potter in the
flesh. All he needed was Harry’s
blood. He did not have to have him
directly in front of him and he did not have to attempt to duel with him. Duel?!? WTF?
You did not offer a fighting chance to either of Harry’s parents. Why start with manners now? And do more research, numb-nuts! You didn’t know about twin wands? You could have had Malfoy or Snape be kind to
Harry for once and find out more details about him. So you’d know what to expect. Ok, rant over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Movie</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The fourth film seems to condense and re-arrange characters
and plotlines even more so than the previous film, which is to be expected
since the fourth book is so much longer than the previous three. We don’t see Bill or Charlie, Ludo Bagman is
entirely cut out and replaced by Barty Crouch Sr., no Winky or Dobby. George and Fred’s plotline is eliminated, as is
S.P.E.W. There is no mention of Hagrid
being a giant and being removed as a teacher, and Rita Skeeter’s role is
greatly reduced and we barely see any of the Quidditch World Cup, though the
events in the beginning; Voldemort in his father’s house, mirror what happens
in the book.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Barty Crouch Jr is introduced from the start and both his
role and his father’s role are greatly expanded. The subplot about his faked death in the book
is cut. This makes sense as the audiences that have not read the books would
have been greatly confused as to who Barty Crouch Jr is but I still worry that
much of the connective tissue of the plotline is still absent since in the
book, those details were mentioned but in a film, it would be hard to show,
especially the scenes with the Death Eaters and why Crouch Jr. acts apart from them, why they have their own
agenda.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a result, more characters that we are familiar with get
more moments than what was allotted in the book and are really an unexpected
joy to witness. First off, Filch! I remember at some point watching one of the
Harry Potter films and turning to my sister and whispering, “Filch is the best
part in the movies.” <br />
<br />
I think that
opinion must have started with this film.
David Bradley, who plays Argus Filch, and is also well-known for playing
Walder Frey in the Game of Thrones series, very nearly steals the movie in his
limited scenes. Filch does not play the
comic relief role in the book, but provides very welcome comic relief during
the darkest times in this film.<o:p></o:p></div>
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McGonagall gets more to do, especially in the Gryffindor
dancing lesson scene which is not in the book but highlights more of Rupert
Grint’s acting ability. He still eclipses
both Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson at this point, but both are maturing and
catching up fast as actors. Some of the harder
passages in the book to read are when Harry and Ron are feuding, Rupert makes
Ron’s actions subtle and believable.
Daniel just kind of randomly explodes with hatred, there is no lead up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flitwick and Snape get to do more, Flitwick even gets a few
lines while Alan Rickman’s Snape get to provide a bit of physical comedy. </div>
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Neville has a few beautiful scenes in which
he is practicing dancing by himself in the boys dorm room and even stays out the latest for Yule Ball. Even Seamus, who is normally in the
background, shows concern and takes care of Harry after the second task,
pulling him out of the water and wrapping him in a towel. You get the sense that the child actors have
really grown up together and are just as close knit as real life classmates or
siblings even.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My favorite shots include the beautiful tracking shot in the
beginning, as Ginny leads the way to the old boot – port-key, up a grassy hill
just before dawn. She and the boot are silhouetted
against a dark cloudy sky tinged with streaks of gold. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanO2AaVJbKvbkpV4q114nnQlQuMgcPfZLP8ZsbH58lq9wcMqmaOgpPqqSKKmm8jhmum8nx5Q-7FPtn4Xzg5V-ONSNTf_QmJSqbzfM7u8v8_mSINQnVH5wF27WadQR6l5A1PznU8AxyQQ/s1600/HPGoblet+Hermione+Portkey.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanO2AaVJbKvbkpV4q114nnQlQuMgcPfZLP8ZsbH58lq9wcMqmaOgpPqqSKKmm8jhmum8nx5Q-7FPtn4Xzg5V-ONSNTf_QmJSqbzfM7u8v8_mSINQnVH5wF27WadQR6l5A1PznU8AxyQQ/s640/HPGoblet+Hermione+Portkey.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also anytime we see the Durmstrang ship or the Beauxbaton’s carriage pulled by winged horses. </div>
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Lastly, the climactic scene in the graveyard when Harry and Voldemort’s wands connect, it’s reminiscent of the Star Wars light-saber battle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR12cLeN7E8tSfnpPazX42P7AIy3pYeNdkgDNDHB0OZ1aJDUV1g-BIwojjXW_Vc7Fxy6QsMyFOLKe9lC_DtdGPoqaLDp0Sc_J5xVbq0IyO0jummZihQRVnqDT3H7amUXSfuBC9l1KI27Y/s1600/2005_harry_potter_and_the_goblet_of_fire_069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR12cLeN7E8tSfnpPazX42P7AIy3pYeNdkgDNDHB0OZ1aJDUV1g-BIwojjXW_Vc7Fxy6QsMyFOLKe9lC_DtdGPoqaLDp0Sc_J5xVbq0IyO0jummZihQRVnqDT3H7amUXSfuBC9l1KI27Y/s640/2005_harry_potter_and_the_goblet_of_fire_069.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cedric’s death is beautifully done, there is enough weight
and time allotted, so that we feel the gravity of the situation. In the books Harry rarely sheds tears but
here in a visual format it was absolutely necessary to witness. Daniel Radcliffe performs this
magnificently. Amos Diggory is much more
agreeable in the film and it’s absolutely heart-breaking to see him cry out in
pain. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5LRLV3JzYNQ4LLXn4Gvntjhn8IQPOBb3nJQdV_XxaZaaCrDbrhRM8P1WREcxBfk-DkQ0RWCwTCqtOMH-vekPMlrEUmhmaax9nmJLeTf_STor44poEDKLyrETn-uvmceLxxvy4HbdCUc/s1600/tumblr_luflicEh0q1r19909o1_r1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5LRLV3JzYNQ4LLXn4Gvntjhn8IQPOBb3nJQdV_XxaZaaCrDbrhRM8P1WREcxBfk-DkQ0RWCwTCqtOMH-vekPMlrEUmhmaax9nmJLeTf_STor44poEDKLyrETn-uvmceLxxvy4HbdCUc/s640/tumblr_luflicEh0q1r19909o1_r1_500.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This, every time....</td></tr>
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I have to commend the director Mark Newell, for not only keeping the same look from Alfonso Cuaron’s third film and thus making the transfer seem seamless but for also allowing Cedric’s death to move more slowly, even though in the book Moody rushes Harry away from all the others. Newell also managed to get a more spirited performance from the actors playing Fred and George, than in the previous films. </div>
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Like the book, the fourth film functions superbly as a catalyst
for the rest of the series, as Harry responds to Hermione's question at the end “Everything’s
going to change now, isn’t it?” “Yes.”
Onto to the next!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-83813144499202047092015-11-18T14:50:00.003-08:002016-01-13T07:47:35.126-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanIf you missed my <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">previous</a> <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter_10.html" target="_blank">posts</a>, I've been re-reading and re-watching the Harry Potter series in order. Mostly because I wanted to read it again from the perspective of my Pottermore assigned Ravenclaw House, but also because now I'm a full-blown adult with a home mortgage and I was curious to see how the series has held up.<br />
<br />
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is notable in my opinion for expanding the Harry Potter world to include Harry's father James' generation and for also developing Hermione into a stronger, passionate character. <br />
<br />
(Warning - Spoilers)<br />
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Hermione is amazing as f**k, in this, although her character is put on a painful journey through a majority of the book. She tries to genuinely protect Harry and yet is sworn to secrecy about having a time turner. Thus she has to resort in tattling on her friends and is shunned by Ron for most of the book. I would argue that Ron isn't really unfairly harsh to Hermione since he cannot know her motivations and really reacts as anyone normally would but not even Harry suffers as much as Hermione in the third book. Hermione undergoes a fantastic hero's journey that could rival Harry's own.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Book</span></u></b><br />
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<a name='more'></a>As far as any further mentions of Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff students, Book Three introduces the Quidditch Seekers of each house, Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang. I guess it's not really all surprising in retrospect that both are described as handsome/attractive and kind. It's the kind of blah, generic, friendly personality that most of the "red shirt" characters get suited with.<br />
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Another point of contention that I wanted to bring up, is the size of the Hogwarts student and staff body. In Book Two we learn that there are five second-year Griffindor boys, at least up to this point in the series, Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean. Following this line of logic, there must five Griffindor second year female students, of which Hermione, Lavender, Parvati are specifically named. That would make each year of each House roughly 10 students, which would be 70 students per each of the four houses for a total of 280 students, rounding up we can assume the total student body may be 300 students.<br />
<br />
In Book Three, we learn that the Slytherin Cheering Section during the Quidditch Cup Final numbers around 200 peoples and represents 1/4th of the school. Now author J.K. Rowling herself has <a href="http://www.beyondhogwarts.com/harry-potter/articles/doing-the-math-how-many-kids-are-at-hogwarts.html" target="_blank">mentioned</a> in interviews that she imagined Hogwarts as roughly having 1,000 students. By those numbers each house would have 250 students, and each year within those houses having approximately 35 or 36 students.<br />
<br />
There is no way Snape is teaching 70 kids in double potions.<br />
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That said, I would believe that there are probably at most 20 kids per year, per house. I think it's reasonable to believe that there are probably many more students in years younger than Harry's especially if their parents believed Voldemort was vanquished and umm...celebrated. So 20 per year, for 7 years, for 4 houses is approximately 560 total students, which we can reasonably allot 10 more students per house for a grand total of 600. Add in 100 teachers and 300 house elfs (remember they do all the cooking and cleaning) we get a grand total of 1,000. <br />
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The reason I care at all is that my high school graduating class had 642 students. In some instances that's more that the ALL the students in Hogwarts combined. Let that sink in a bit. Now it suddenly make sense to me why Hermione is the smartest, Harry is the best all around, and why students marry each other in later years. The wizarding world must be INCREDIBLY small. The most wizards you will ever see in one place is clearly at that school, and to think I didn't date in high school because there wasn't anyone I liked that liked me back. Boo. <a href="http://time.com/aziz-ansari-modern-romance/" target="_blank">Aziz Ansari</a> is right, having too many choices is paralyzing. <br />
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Lastly, Snape. (shakes head) Snape. Is. A. D*ck. <br />
<br />
I get why he acts the way he does with Harry, but that in no way absolves him of his abuse of Hermione, Ron and Neville. Especially Neville. Snape's the kind of bully to Neville that could seriously have him wind up in the suicide watch prevention category. There in NO REASON for Snape to be as nasty as he is to his own pupils and Neville's suffereing baffles me, frankly, since Neville's grandmother has some type of influence in the wizarding world and doesn't look after Neville as well as Malfoy's father does for him.<br />
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Snape motivations in the third book towards the Marauders aren't even to keep up his cover as a Death Eater. He just wants Lupin and Sirius dead because they made fun of him. Sirius? Okay, maybe, that's a mixed bag. Snape has no way of knowing Sirius was framed and maybe even blames him for Lily's death but Lupin? WTF, dude? All he knows of Lupin is their childhood grudge and STILL hopes for Lupin to be given the dementor's kiss. He even keeps up his disappointment within Dumbledore's presence, like.... Dumbledore asked you to chill, dude. Plus he's working for Dumbledore as a spy, he doesn't have to keep up appearances and pretends he wants murder/ harm all Harry Potter related former Griffindor students in front of Dumbledore. Like, drop the act, you know, but he <u>doesn't</u> because he actually wants these people dead. Not for Harry's sake, but for his own. D*CK MOVE, MAN!<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Movie</span></b></u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKq9Y7Oh-0tmVa35hA1gT96g99b4KXf8i9NgPVkCmowBO03HUCo59kFmjsHfzSwrDfYRKOxIJ786QNQ5YE2EghuF7X6BUBFdu3Uyy1MWmFcor0_-3FAAsihJjAoY3gMI71GmEZ_EuG3A/s1600/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKq9Y7Oh-0tmVa35hA1gT96g99b4KXf8i9NgPVkCmowBO03HUCo59kFmjsHfzSwrDfYRKOxIJ786QNQ5YE2EghuF7X6BUBFdu3Uyy1MWmFcor0_-3FAAsihJjAoY3gMI71GmEZ_EuG3A/s400/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban-movie-poster.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Initially, I remember thinking the third film was quite a radical departure from the Harry Potter series, thus far. We see the Hogwarts students wearing contemporary clothing around the school, rather than their school robes for much of the film and the grim-dark look is introduced in this film which the rest of the series adopts. Hogwarts is much larger, looks darker and has funky touches added such as the Frog Choir, a new Dumbledore and a new Flitwick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m2LYQmeJf0NcEccg1p99KdF09XgA5U-jlPmWoIj7ltlvokN3WbxgXgxGstBmrV_cwZNCHlr91Un3HkpFlhzRr4KKHO_SUBpy-9rPwTpEj1xfPbpF6NPNBswDiznzFtprwzsIOC1VDsc/s1600/here-s-the-real-reason-prof-flitwick-looks-different-in-the-later-harry-potter-movies-pr-413676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m2LYQmeJf0NcEccg1p99KdF09XgA5U-jlPmWoIj7ltlvokN3WbxgXgxGstBmrV_cwZNCHlr91Un3HkpFlhzRr4KKHO_SUBpy-9rPwTpEj1xfPbpF6NPNBswDiznzFtprwzsIOC1VDsc/s320/here-s-the-real-reason-prof-flitwick-looks-different-in-the-later-harry-potter-movies-pr-413676.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flitwick 2.0 - still played by the same actor, Warwick Davis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TXtv8ks219LzDvM5SUCh3i8hGeXji1wR7bCXfntHVt3jNN424m4Iie9mp7WIn59i6njHZZ66IfdnjBT18u5qeTXmhNiyIkKZXL-D6toBFiKj7MIQuLnJvHMJ1rBRcHcPYm6duFNwmMU/s1600/dumblewars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TXtv8ks219LzDvM5SUCh3i8hGeXji1wR7bCXfntHVt3jNN424m4Iie9mp7WIn59i6njHZZ66IfdnjBT18u5qeTXmhNiyIkKZXL-D6toBFiKj7MIQuLnJvHMJ1rBRcHcPYm6duFNwmMU/s320/dumblewars.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Gambon takes over for Richard Harris, whom had passed away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBo8bDJvsEKv_tTF1kAEWUfpEDUzTBM5MMLfj4BCMNm2T4KGE92IBvNeeygwB72TBeKGL6aPZRoVkR-v9wuQ7Cy_-haW7WY9yInl5kxdSChpJn-7e2KPJbr4xDpZwjQ2BWfxEuX9-mBE/s1600/hp_when_the_fat_lady_sings_by_softball9pitcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBo8bDJvsEKv_tTF1kAEWUfpEDUzTBM5MMLfj4BCMNm2T4KGE92IBvNeeygwB72TBeKGL6aPZRoVkR-v9wuQ7Cy_-haW7WY9yInl5kxdSChpJn-7e2KPJbr4xDpZwjQ2BWfxEuX9-mBE/s400/hp_when_the_fat_lady_sings_by_softball9pitcher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn French as the new Fat Lady is hilarious.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Watching it a second time, I can still see the traces of the Christopher Columbus directed first and second movies. Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, does retain the core Harry Potter actors, themes, music and settings but still manages to open up the Hogwarts castle environment as a true, interactive setting just at the book thematically expanded into the past generations of Hogwarts students.<br />
<br />
Again, screenwriter Steven Kloves does an incredibly admirable job of condensing the plot. Cuts must be made and really the only thing that really suffers is the elimination of the Quidditch Cup side plot. Trelawny's classes, Buckbeak's trials, and the trips to Hogmeade are significantly reduced but done so in a truly organic manner, plus Kloves pens one of the most quotable lines in the film series which is deftly performed by Michael Gambon with a bit of real life sleight of hand magic trick. Beautifully done.<br />
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Cuaron shoots film with action going on in both the background and the foreground, resulting in breath-taking, painterly-like compositions. <br />
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Visually, any shots with the Death Eaters or the Whomping Willow as it cycles through the seasons, are my favorite.<br />
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I did appreciate the inclusion of more POC students, but kind of got disappointed when the only black student with any lines resembled more of the stereotypical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro" target="_blank">Magical Negro trope</a>, especially because he just reveals exposition and is listed as simply Student 1 in the credits.<br />
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I did like the decision to tone Snape's dickishness from the book waaaay down. Rickman's Snape still gets onto to Harry and Hermione in class but says nothing to Neville and is shown during the climax of the film as trying to protect the children from Lupin's werewolf form. <br />
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He is also cut from the hospital scene where Dumbledore suggests to Hermione to re-do the day's events, so we don't even see his childish disappointment that Lupin and Black weren't immediately rounded up and attacked by the Dementors. This Snape goes down much, much smoother.<br />
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Lastly, this film seems to support the 10 students, per year, per house theory that I was running the numbers for above with the book series. Hagrid's first class for Care of Magical Creatures clearly shows about 20-21 kids, which we see both Slytherin and Griffindor third year students attend. The scene for Lupin's class for Defense Against the Dark Arts seems to be about 40 students and makes sure to show class robes for all four houses, as the kids line up to face the boggart.<br />
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Next up, Book Four.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-43505046786556144352015-11-10T10:33:00.001-08:002016-01-13T07:39:22.306-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<div class="MsoNormal">
Continuing on my <a href="http://sugarskullindustries.blogspot.com/2015/11/re-reading-and-re-watching-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">mission</a> to re-read and re-watch all the
Harry Potter books and movies, approximately 15 years later since I first
started when Book 4 came out, I have to admit that <i>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</i> was always my favorite book
prior to Books 6 and 7.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s not a popular opinion, and I totally understand why
most prefer Book Three over Book Two.
The plotting in Book Three is denser, and has more world-building
elements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second book in my opinion just so cinematic. Reading it the first time, I could definitely
picture an Indiana Jones type movie in my mind’s eye. The Basilisk made for a fantastic villain,
versus the whodunit aspect of the third book, which had more difficult elements
to translate to film. I’m a movie
director at heart so I always read books in the same way, picturing them as
movies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again, I was re-reading to keep an eye out for any mentions
of Ravenclaw and by extension Hufflepuff students. Ravenclaw, because that is the house I was
sorted into by Pottermore, and Hufflepuff because that is the house my best friend
was sorted into. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Below are my thoughts on both the second book and the second
film. <br />
<br />
The same as last time, spoilers
are abound.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Book</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a>As for the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff aspect we do learn some of
the students in each house. Percy
Weasley’s girlfriend is revealed to be Penelope Clearwater of house Ravenclaw,
also Head Girl and also one of the Basilisk’s victims who gets attacked along
with Hermione. From house Hufflepuff, we
learn of Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Professor Sprout, while not specified as the Head of House
Hufflepuff in the second book, comes to the forefront for a bit as she is
responsible for caring after the Mandrakes, which are crucial component of the
restorative draught for the Basilisk victims.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the second book, we are introduced to Dobby the house-elf
and Draco’s father Lucius Malfoy. I mention this because it seems that while
Lucius is just as evil as Malfoy, there is evidence that Draco speaks with his
father constantly and they are actually quite close and even love and care for
one another. This will later factor into
how Voldemort torments and breaks apart the family of his closest supporters.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Again, Harry, Hermione and Ron frequently break the rules,
not because they aim to cause trouble but because they take it upon themselves
to fix any situation harming themselves or the school and again the adult
teachers, whom by the way, ALL KNOW MAGIC, refuse to investigate or take any
type of proactive efforts to shield to the students and the school from any possible dangers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We also meet a young pre-Lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle. What was interesting to me is just how by the
book and rule abiding Tom seems to be.
Aside from framing Hagrid, Tom is not only a prefect but Head Boy in his
year, this is very different from the constantly rule-breaking Harry Potter. I can’t help but wonder, is Dumbledore sort of grooming Harry to eventually
defeat Lord Voldemort? Knowing that only truly Harry can be the one to defeat him. Dumbledore doesn’t rush to defeat every
little threat and seems to provide Harry with enough leniency to grow and
figure out how defeat whatever is threatening the school. It seems he is trying a different approach,
whereas Tom Riddle was an uber-achiever and followed the rules, Dumbledore
allows Harry the freedom to find his strengths on his own. Does this put the other student’s safety at
risk? Hell yes but whateves…its’
Dumbledore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Also poor Ginny. Not one of the adult teachers attempts to locate her
within the Chamber. Lockhart is pushed
into doing it as a fools’ errand but McGonagall pulls the emergency brake
rather quickly and is like, “oh shit, the monster about which we have been
getting repeated warnings and frequent attacks ALL YEAR LONG, is loose. Somebody get Dumbledore and lock up the
school!” Like WTF lady, you use magic,
could not one of you at least go check on little Ginny? Not even Snape mans up, and remember Ginny is
a red-head much like his once true love, Lilly Potter nee Evans. He is obsessed with Harry for much of the
book series for having the same eyes as Lily, and he can’t even give Ginny,
who probably resembles Lily more than Harry, a second thought? <o:p></o:p></div>
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All minor quibbles, though.
The book is still phenomenal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Film</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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The film holds up just as well. There are some minor changes, nothing too
overtly different. Kenneth Branaugh seems older than I imagined Lockhart being, but works well against Alan Rickman's Snape. </div>
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Director Chris Columbus wisely add additional tension and
drama into the film’s three action set-pieces, making the movie a little
scarier than you’d expect. When Ron and
Harry drive the flying car, the Ford Anglia, to Hogwarts, there is an added
part in the film when Harry slips out the passenger door and is dangling
straight over the Hogwarts Express train.
Ron struggles to pull him back inside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x3xBXkTB5EdIdqM2hJlqe9TOxL1UGKjvhxj_KGpiQ1gcvSkAPSpRd7XCXbbto_D4wheZAm1LdyOD_HMsaFON1wgSw-qbpmWx7RQVXmQjaw4JqSVGG8YNWhFU15iIOQUY2hKfmYuB_Ik/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x3xBXkTB5EdIdqM2hJlqe9TOxL1UGKjvhxj_KGpiQ1gcvSkAPSpRd7XCXbbto_D4wheZAm1LdyOD_HMsaFON1wgSw-qbpmWx7RQVXmQjaw4JqSVGG8YNWhFU15iIOQUY2hKfmYuB_Ik/s400/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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During the Forbidden Forest scene in which Harry and Ron go
to ask the giant spider, Aragog, questions about Hagrid’s involvement with the
Chamber of Secrets a chase scene quickly ensues as both are driving the flying
car again to escape the giant spiders, running towards them to feast on them
both. They outrun the spiders to pause
in clearing in the woods, when suddenly a giant spider arm wraps around Ron’s
neck through the open driver’s side window.
This added part made me jump out off the couch, me, in a woman in my 30’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The movie set of the actual Chamber of Secrets is so
beautifully constructed, with the row of giant stone snakeheads flicking out
their tongues in various positions. I’m
reminded again, why Book Two will always be one of my favorites.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Onto Book Three! <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-81731710196607902202015-11-05T10:36:00.004-08:002016-01-13T07:26:04.688-08:00Re-reading and Re-watching: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone<div class="MsoNormal">
So yeah, I’m a Harry Potter nerd….who isn’t, really? On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate myself as an
8. I’ve read all the books, watched all
the movies, logged onto to the Pottermore site in its second beta testing phase
and have gotten sorted into Ravenclaw. </div>
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</div>
<br />
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I can’t really rate myself any higher because I haven’t
watched A Very Potter musical online, I don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of
all things Harry Potter, and I have never been to the Wizarding World of Harry
Potter or LeakyCon. Don’t worry, I’m
working on going there someday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thinking it was a good idea to refresh myself with the
source material, this time from a
Ravenclaw perspective, I dived in head-first into the first book, <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone</i> (Philosopher’s
Stone if you want to be super-technical about it), and Christopher Columbus’ first film in the
Harry Potter film franchise by the same name.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are my thoughts. <br />
<br />
Beware, spoilers here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Book</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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The book rarely mentions any details about the Ravenclaw or
Hufflepuff Houses. There are some
references to students in both houses during the Sorting Ceremony but outside
of that, I think Harry and Ron pass some Ravenclaw students on the stairwell. I guess this is to be expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At no time do any of the Hogwarts teachers investigate how a
troll got into the school or how a student’s broom was being affected enough to cause Harry's near death. Professor Snape has his suspicions and tries to
confront Quirrell about them. I assume
he’s keeping Dumbledore informed of the situation, but McGonagall and the others just seems to
be like NBD, no big deal, most of the time.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Film</span></u></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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Like the books, the films get better and better as the
series progresses but the thing is, the first film is actually pretty
great. Both Book One and first film are
excellent in their own right. Are they
the best in their respective series?
Probably not, but both function well as launch pads for both franchises.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the film we see a few Ravenclaw students sitting behind
the Gryffindor students in the Great Hall scenes but not once could I spot a
Hufflepuff student.</div>
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Watching the first film, I’m reminded again of Rupert Grint’s
acting ability which initially greatly out shined his cast mates in the first
film. Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe do catch up eventually, but Rupert is excellent from the very start..<o:p></o:p></div>
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As with any adaptation some scenes from the book have been
greatly condensed and/or eliminated altogether but this was done rather
skillfully in my opinion, although the film still ends up being two and a half hours
long.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My favorite scene is probably the iconic scene of the
Hogwarts first year students riding in tiny boats topped with little glass
lanterns across a moon-lit lake, to see the Hogwarts castle for their and our
first time, complete in all its towering majesty. Truly beautiful and indicative of the series’
fantastical and magical journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My second favorite scene is not in the books per se, and is
really just a transition showing the castle during the winter, covered in snow.
Harry releases his owl Hedwig, who takes a soaring flight out of the courtyard
and past the castle towers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now onto to the second book!<o:p></o:p></div>
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What are your thoughts on the first book and/or first film?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-31152898897665643152015-10-19T14:43:00.000-07:002015-11-05T10:38:36.155-08:00New Halloween Movie PlaylistIt seems to me that Halloween comes second only to Christmas. Everyone loves Christmas and Halloween. Both outrank every other holiday. Both have treats, their own playlists, their own movie marathons, etc. I originally wanted to run through a list of my favorite Halloween movies, which include popular favorites like <i>Ghostbusters,</i> <i>Young Frankenstein</i>, <i>Sleepy Hollow</i>, <i>Night of the Hunter</i>, and <i>Nightmare Before Christmas</i>, but I decided to recommend some current movies that may have originally flew under your radar when they first came out, all of which you can find on Netflix streaming.<br />
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Just note that I'm not a horror fan AT ALL. I can stomach <i>The Shining</i> and <i>Silence of the Lambs</i> nothing scarier. I can't handle torture porn, Japanese horror, or stuff like the <i>The Evil Dead </i>remake. Nope, nope, nope. Ain't no way I'm sitting through women being mutilated or worse on screen. HELL NO. <br />
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The following recommendations feature may feature some gruesome deaths but nothing too realistic or extreme. Certainly not like anything you've seen in the <i>Game of Thrones</i> series.<br />
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<b><u>1. Monsters (2010) dir. Gareth Edwards</u></b><br />
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Prior to directing the current US <i>Godzilla</i> remake, Gareth Edwards made <i>Monsters</i> on a shoestring budget. The movie follows two Americans as they try to escape an alien infested quarantined zone in Mexico. Due to its tight budget the movie doesn't show the alien life forms in full for the majority of the movie until a stunning sequence at the end. After Hurricane Katrina and subsequent storms/natural disasters, the scenes of devastation in this fictional version of Mexico really hit home.<br />
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<b><u>2. Drive Angry (2011) dir.Patrick Lussier</u></b><br />
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In<i> Drive Angry</i>, Nicolas Cage plays a mostly straight man,lead role. He's a man with a mission driving around in this ridiculously sweet, fast car. He's paired up with pre-Johnny Depp, Amber Heard for no real reason, but you won't really remember either them after seeing William Fichtner as the bad guy, simply named The Accountant.</div>
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As Satan's right hand man, Fichtner spends most of the movie slaughtering his way towards our leads, retaining his icy blue stare and his sharp sense of humor. He has the all best lines in the entire film and you know when actors say it's more fun to play the villain, you just know Fichtner is having a blast, and you will too when you witness his performance.</div>
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3. <b><u>Attack the Block (2011) dir. Joe Cornish</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qmcN3VMLN7bwnxSM7AT7fQMHMxTrkRETN2V2tDR9gvoohewXLvrh0hhDnmf_FAJkM2pf4K0xgm8GmlUb0ufDMOBmdTIGMs-SaWTjWNefTjOYg8V5dE2s95GlspLujibkCL81Vic26lc/s1600/Attack_The_Block_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qmcN3VMLN7bwnxSM7AT7fQMHMxTrkRETN2V2tDR9gvoohewXLvrh0hhDnmf_FAJkM2pf4K0xgm8GmlUb0ufDMOBmdTIGMs-SaWTjWNefTjOYg8V5dE2s95GlspLujibkCL81Vic26lc/s400/Attack_The_Block_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For any of you that watched the new Star War teaser trailer and wondered who the black kid was, actor John Boyega had his star-making lead role first in <i>Attack The Block</i>, which featured a gang of British teenagers defending their apartment block from attacking aliens. What's interesting here is that Boyega plays Moses, the leader of a gang, that includes black and white kids. Moses doesn't start out as a hero or a destined savior. Dressed in a hoodie and sporting a banana covering the lower half of his face, Moses has more than a passing resemblance to Trayvon Martin, and indeed in the beginning leads the others into vandalizing and bullying people on his own block.</div>
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We gradually see Moses transform into a true leader once the aliens land and begin attacking. Boyega makes you go from mildly disliking to 100% believing into the hero this kid has become. Add to that the fact that aliens resemble more monster-like qualities such as pitch black fur, glowing fangs and claws, and you have the rare action sci fi - horror movie that features people of color as our heroes.</div>
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<b><u>4. The Crazies (2010) dir. Breck Eisner</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y7m9c7brz_sUEvqvLzTWef02HR0nafS4Fc73HXOH7GIPVDKR7ksb7g1JE-jqnoSgS2sdIP5QD-NmfCiJalQ7nMwtdRBoE_ErZS-2P3iVRJfY62Gqt1KPlkqAb31chB545z0h7qhmqGU/s1600/MV5BMjAzMDU5OTg0NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDQ4MjcwMw%2540%2540._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y7m9c7brz_sUEvqvLzTWef02HR0nafS4Fc73HXOH7GIPVDKR7ksb7g1JE-jqnoSgS2sdIP5QD-NmfCiJalQ7nMwtdRBoE_ErZS-2P3iVRJfY62Gqt1KPlkqAb31chB545z0h7qhmqGU/s1600/MV5BMjAzMDU5OTg0NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDQ4MjcwMw%2540%2540._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" /></a></div>
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Initially I thought <i>The Crazies</i> would be much scarier and gorier than the film actually turned out to be. I gave it try because I love Timothy Olyphant in the series <i>Justified</i>. Here Olyphant plays the main character, a sheriff, in a town that becomes infected by a toxin and turns the townspeople into violent killers, a not quite original spin on the zombie trope film but what elevates this from a paint by the numbers horror film is Olyphant's competent performance and the action sequences set in Rockwellian locations just oozing small town charm.</div>
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<i>The Crazies</i> is about on par, scare wise with an average episode of <i>The Walking Dead</i>, and not one of their top ten scariest episodes. However this film gives you what <i>The Walking Dead</i> cannot; a satisfying resolution.</div>
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<b><u>5. Trollhunter (2011) dir. Andre Ovredal</u></b></div>
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<i>Trollhunter</i> is a found-footage, documentary-style format, much like <i>The Blair Witch</i> and <i>Cloverfield</i>, and you expect to be either horrible or hilarious or even better, both. The film features a protagonist seemly patterned after the kind yet serious, fatherly Dr. Van Helsing in Dracula, and you cannot help but be invested in following his work tracking Norweigan trolls. </div>
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The movie ultimately turned out to be much better than I expected. As with <i>Cloverfield</i>, you do not see many glimpses of the trolls in full view and the ice-swept scenery adds to the mysterious, slightly scary effect.</div>
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<b><u>6. Let the Right One In (2008) dir. Tomas Alfredson</u></b><br />
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<i>Let the Right One In</i>, a story about a young boy encountering and befriending a child vampire, was recently remade in the US as <i>Let Me In</i> (2010) starring Chloe Moretz. Many of the scenes were duplicated virtually shot by shot so there is not really a drastic comparison between the two.<br />
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I prefer the original Swedish version, as the actress playing Eli the vampire has more an androgynous looks that plays better into Eli's mysterious origin. The audience is never really sure, who or what Eli is or came from. The film plays like a moving painting. The frozen Swedish landscape provides a backdrop for what is part fairytale, part nightmare story of a boy growing up and a child that will never be able too. Haunting in every sense of the word.<br />
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So what about you? Any new recommendations for Halloween movies I should see?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-11562105081461422652015-09-29T10:35:00.000-07:002015-09-29T10:35:12.354-07:00Postcards from Milan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRdgGVcMUF2IQY4vYYwofPe1r_zKX3f2rE4T0kepyY49rV-SXazxvNUqq3yOncaX0MMpYXJ0cU3DZVQD3GY1L7tXnUgI955fghUNvnJ0GIn3piz2UG3VzWbIPOKTZOX0j3tbkqevdxRY/s1600/IMG_20150913_111833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRdgGVcMUF2IQY4vYYwofPe1r_zKX3f2rE4T0kepyY49rV-SXazxvNUqq3yOncaX0MMpYXJ0cU3DZVQD3GY1L7tXnUgI955fghUNvnJ0GIn3piz2UG3VzWbIPOKTZOX0j3tbkqevdxRY/s640/IMG_20150913_111833.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Milan likes to have fun. On the way to see the Duomo of Milan, my parents and I were weaving through the beautiful streets lined with impossibly tall, incredibly old ornate buildings, the kind you'd see in most major cities in Italy, when we came across clearing and saw a modern sculpture of a hand flipping you off, placed right in the middle of the street.</div>
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This is Milan, I thought. Where Renaissance era architecture rubs right up against modern skyscrapers. Milan looks as much to the future as it does the past, and better than the places we visit before, Rome, Florence and Venice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving by train in the gorgeous Milano Centrale railway station.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch. Cheese and tomatoes on focaccia bread, no tomato sauce.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duomo di Milano - The Milan Cathedral </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the world's oldest shopping malls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milan is a good mix of renaissance and modern.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A touring German group to advertise visiting Thuringia, Germany</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork on the enormous doors to the Duomo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Galleria.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonard da Vinci statue in the Piazza della Scala, close to the Galleria and Duomo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Maria delle Grazie, church that houses the Last Supper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Needle and thread sculpture outside the Cardona metro station right by our hotel room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sforza Castle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coat of arms for the House of Visconti and the Duke of Milan. A viper devouring a human. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom's new whip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floor in the hotel in which we were staying. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just a replica of the Last Supper, which actually dominates the entire wall. You can't take pictures of the actual work and tours are limited to 15 minutes at a time in the sealed room because it is so fragile. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Succulent planters right next to the church housing the Last Supper.</td></tr>
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Goodbye for now, Milan! Goodbye Italy. I can't wait to come back again.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-22626809596882132192015-09-25T14:05:00.003-07:002015-09-25T14:05:30.152-07:00Venice/ Venezia - 2 Days in Venice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKuX6NdyolwAOM2J-iUzRxwUVph-ETxQkJSAP63MJ5KvauS184KoMT5EhseKwGL_e1JjEQDUmbQWNqjTEV-mUjFiKdVwCzvoHQ0Zmssr3G9I_6fHu9SmggIimI7aVNJhZxVDzDktF0jA/s1600/IMG_20150912_160931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKuX6NdyolwAOM2J-iUzRxwUVph-ETxQkJSAP63MJ5KvauS184KoMT5EhseKwGL_e1JjEQDUmbQWNqjTEV-mUjFiKdVwCzvoHQ0Zmssr3G9I_6fHu9SmggIimI7aVNJhZxVDzDktF0jA/s640/IMG_20150912_160931.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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When we, my parents and I, first arrived at the train station in Venice from Florence we saw the beautiful greenish water immediately. All the canals and all the buildings fronting them, their stone steps entirely immersed in the lapping green waves. Walking alongside canal there are quite a few souvenir stands, filled with captain hats and those elaborate glittering Venetian carnival masks but as I was passing one such stand I saw for a brief second a t-shirt that featured a square shaped maze and along the bottom of the maze there was a phrase in white letters, "Venice - Get Lost".</div>
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That turned out to be the most appropriate phrase of our stay in Venice, it is sooooo easy to get lost. Not in a bad way, per se, but a good number of streets dead end at the water of the canals. Venice is like a maze if you aren't familiar with where you are going. Fortunately for me, I have a great sense of direction and love getting lost, then finding my way back. I surprised my mom by finding our hotel, when I sensed that the dead end we kept turning away from actually continued a bit to the right. I just decided to go back to this hole in the wall restaurant where the narrow footpath seemed to dead end and once I stepped up to the door, I saw that the street continued through a tiny alleyway to the right and lo and behold, our hotel!</div>
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<u>DAY ONE</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Santa Lucia train station.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the metro boats.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcjgoGIzXc2F2Eoo_2_vrwRW61tz-Fd0_7YOIpGo8NwVMzoJB88r1vxrDRR5VTMK2Iolb501yiKZiO5-CevfCHnxTH5gekBdxbyv8bc0x7-IO2pIYfqgzXnjiE4Dnm78n2PuYYmaw3eQ/s1600/763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcjgoGIzXc2F2Eoo_2_vrwRW61tz-Fd0_7YOIpGo8NwVMzoJB88r1vxrDRR5VTMK2Iolb501yiKZiO5-CevfCHnxTH5gekBdxbyv8bc0x7-IO2pIYfqgzXnjiE4Dnm78n2PuYYmaw3eQ/s400/763.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuGoyF4egdou7_NR_0-siucZzZRVQtp-0E16DOtJ5WHH-WLpdIoEmscsrW5brGRNz0hxv8ElvPUimMJR9lR-VARireIkDvvtIxI1Kn7Ci_5JNhfOUDd072v0x4Wb4iZD-H5AEUjY1lTs/s1600/787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuGoyF4egdou7_NR_0-siucZzZRVQtp-0E16DOtJ5WHH-WLpdIoEmscsrW5brGRNz0hxv8ElvPUimMJR9lR-VARireIkDvvtIxI1Kn7Ci_5JNhfOUDd072v0x4Wb4iZD-H5AEUjY1lTs/s320/787.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dragon embellishment helped me to remember the way to the hotel. I would see this guy and know we were on the right path. This looks straight out of a Harry Potter movie. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLuewIF-ASizggh6WBOpr6ojYHihPEE5LdcpjNH84-4iGSJsaOiLqM8_nd-Yyhj8S3volxF5JmQuFgN3eJbRM3lI1_NJqNdR3U5XLi592H8_l84PQ50QJ3QTFUyEvJtRPPcElfCbfDsk/s1600/811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLuewIF-ASizggh6WBOpr6ojYHihPEE5LdcpjNH84-4iGSJsaOiLqM8_nd-Yyhj8S3volxF5JmQuFgN3eJbRM3lI1_NJqNdR3U5XLi592H8_l84PQ50QJ3QTFUyEvJtRPPcElfCbfDsk/s320/811.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lion of Venice. In Rome, a wolf could be found everywhere from the Legend of Romulus and Remus, a shewolf raised both brothers. In Florence, you could find a boar everywhere. In Venice, a winged lion was seen everywhere.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcg4IbSsggxeL2Z3sJrlNz7Kr-AEI7LCUMlWR2LmTusOrEG2r1Z-yA5YAVyWYJsb-iMI2Wz4jroZ5MXIiKm_eBfRAi7zzBGyFeLj_5cQh9V6aIt7XZtH3yIVzHDg7-KBKG7tjwRnKfvg/s1600/828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcg4IbSsggxeL2Z3sJrlNz7Kr-AEI7LCUMlWR2LmTusOrEG2r1Z-yA5YAVyWYJsb-iMI2Wz4jroZ5MXIiKm_eBfRAi7zzBGyFeLj_5cQh9V6aIt7XZtH3yIVzHDg7-KBKG7tjwRnKfvg/s320/828.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Theodore of Amasea, the first patron saint of Venice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mark's Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mark's Basilica.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner, spaghetti with clams.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mark's square at night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a drink at the bar right by our hotel.</td></tr>
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<u>DAY TWO</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Murano to see the glass factories.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At one of the glass workshops in Murano.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master glass-workers only become masters after 40 years.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCCfCLr5UwrJc-6vcZjTXIHlPQ0-7MIzwiSF2I-H4svBJthY0GJaSb_iEvZ9QOKBKf_WI-fZPHYTpWF2UBLJZJQUboHqbyltijajM61u03nOkr-2RToE34IFWWZtPgjsS9ZiqjgL7Gk0/s1600/984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCCfCLr5UwrJc-6vcZjTXIHlPQ0-7MIzwiSF2I-H4svBJthY0GJaSb_iEvZ9QOKBKf_WI-fZPHYTpWF2UBLJZJQUboHqbyltijajM61u03nOkr-2RToE34IFWWZtPgjsS9ZiqjgL7Gk0/s320/984.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Construction barges. The construction crane is on a boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rialto Bridge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spritz - people were drinking this everywhere. The Spritz (German: "splash" / "sparkling", also called Spritz Veneziano or just Veneziano) is a wine-based cocktail commonly served as an aperitif in Northeast Italy. The drink is prepared with prosecco wine, a dash of some bitter liqueur such as Aperol, Campari, Cynar, or, especially in Venice, with Select.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner - pasta with squid ink at the bar right by our hotel. It was a little salty, kinda earthy but ultimately unique and tasty. The next few days in the bathroom was different experience however.</td></tr>
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Goodbye Venice. You can be sure I'll be back some day, next stop Milan!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-31185703345262744612015-09-22T13:08:00.003-07:002015-09-22T13:08:33.668-07:00Under the Tuscan Sun - 2 Days in Florence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I feel that to really experience Florence, one must do while also visiting Rome, at least for the first time. Florence is really the yin to Rome's yang.</div>
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Florence seems more serene, subtle, elegant while Rome can be loud, noisy and crowded. Rome is better for touring, their running water fountains are all in working order while you could barely find a working fountain in Florence. Florence once served as the capital of Italy, from 1865 to 1871 and owes much of its prominence to the uber powerful Medici family while Rome has been brought to power, after the fall of the Roman Empire, by the Catholic Church. If Florence is for the few, then Rome is for everyone. </div>
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<u>DAY ONE</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duomo in Florence. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJArCVzTytDVOa06EBccFNcTT7U5q9Yq5FiPyh6TlKEmEk41ooimOX2to0cG0ha2bSG3WYTLAuizF5s18ixENu7F-mdXdpNHnN9sUMXm8ogD7zbmIXEAQ1UyLxaO5hsSlzqj4KNU72PQ/s1600/511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJArCVzTytDVOa06EBccFNcTT7U5q9Yq5FiPyh6TlKEmEk41ooimOX2to0cG0ha2bSG3WYTLAuizF5s18ixENu7F-mdXdpNHnN9sUMXm8ogD7zbmIXEAQ1UyLxaO5hsSlzqj4KNU72PQ/s640/511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exterior of the Duomo marble panels in green, white and pink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj7RSqVw_rebKu8uM-AqkTXbhCtUmZDFhcVmE5N34WPjQH8t_THK7ATCNh2H_8vH5jultqCCHCrq1id2aUEdsvjPECq6FAgoLcfH2PrL-X5fSkh980GvuqLOIILmuwEQXIe83-Uf4Fho/s1600/514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj7RSqVw_rebKu8uM-AqkTXbhCtUmZDFhcVmE5N34WPjQH8t_THK7ATCNh2H_8vH5jultqCCHCrq1id2aUEdsvjPECq6FAgoLcfH2PrL-X5fSkh980GvuqLOIILmuwEQXIe83-Uf4Fho/s320/514.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palazzo Vecchio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTC2g-gUxhMKwRqy7TFaqesuPjCnEceOlvRv-D7ChyphenhyphenaFNtdWJworgTLgV_WCuQV5hSgqQVJR2QIeYCRFTQ_VgjPidlMnL5UZz3UTC3N25OflcEU0cIZ95anKCY077S3xN51gsvtYpNnY/s1600/532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTC2g-gUxhMKwRqy7TFaqesuPjCnEceOlvRv-D7ChyphenhyphenaFNtdWJworgTLgV_WCuQV5hSgqQVJR2QIeYCRFTQ_VgjPidlMnL5UZz3UTC3N25OflcEU0cIZ95anKCY077S3xN51gsvtYpNnY/s640/532.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOybfSwtt3vDWyz7MFXs5NzGraBBV0ZvL6WsbLrZfK3Kf5ATkvVRQLr6BXUwbBlGKc5OaGqARxccIeu_nWcuOZqvy8YdYjNO7yRwvtR4w1DfANq7bVT6WMhgjcor2H0gBoMXHyjzbKEc/s1600/543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOybfSwtt3vDWyz7MFXs5NzGraBBV0ZvL6WsbLrZfK3Kf5ATkvVRQLr6BXUwbBlGKc5OaGqARxccIeu_nWcuOZqvy8YdYjNO7yRwvtR4w1DfANq7bVT6WMhgjcor2H0gBoMXHyjzbKEc/s640/543.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ponte Vecchio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piazza della Repubblica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUGSxkSECOKkO1SILNsGToorWssB85ARpayTHcegVlnprw1_PcqxWOIScioAZB_OsIpYLKge_fYzYX1BWjEsAdgbLxSH_henCV9uccP3iNq2gdY-ZsSazo9YBeiRSa012xPuDYT5sggA/s1600/568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUGSxkSECOKkO1SILNsGToorWssB85ARpayTHcegVlnprw1_PcqxWOIScioAZB_OsIpYLKge_fYzYX1BWjEsAdgbLxSH_henCV9uccP3iNq2gdY-ZsSazo9YBeiRSa012xPuDYT5sggA/s320/568.JPG" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom, she just so cute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeORUpc5Ax06PqoaWuzmAhVxgHD0NuOgnDs3RxGXgovrYqaORcR6D2jVjF1ymWdha8Ow-CWhSaYFaMtrWzkHwIxhq1VzgIlwm-hm97Sv4MP30u_Vsvd_JcU57PmqIU6PgfR8P58DUqVpU/s1600/572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeORUpc5Ax06PqoaWuzmAhVxgHD0NuOgnDs3RxGXgovrYqaORcR6D2jVjF1ymWdha8Ow-CWhSaYFaMtrWzkHwIxhq1VzgIlwm-hm97Sv4MP30u_Vsvd_JcU57PmqIU6PgfR8P58DUqVpU/s400/572.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner, my dad had the veal scallopini.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had the polenta with cuttlefish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLPybiTPnyZK7GnifW0NB4yHgVn-4hj2S4EOZRU2nu4g-Ktg4uA_flbLp8AL5FLfHY1Jg1016fIPrCWsQnQYJic6we-J6MHVCKxfVHZu-NFJgnXKtLk10F-TqtAUl-6vNA_69t9-XtrE/s1600/574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLPybiTPnyZK7GnifW0NB4yHgVn-4hj2S4EOZRU2nu4g-Ktg4uA_flbLp8AL5FLfHY1Jg1016fIPrCWsQnQYJic6we-J6MHVCKxfVHZu-NFJgnXKtLk10F-TqtAUl-6vNA_69t9-XtrE/s640/574.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moms had the sausage and beans.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh1acBM1sl46g1M8b-3P0-uG43xx7BnA0mgUfPbT3rOjyDItwlremQRECwYtF_V7JYnkaM0yxcTTC8njG0Fcyc9du7XAAtdkNDq-JQIIzjzgZxeck4qfLAu65V2ZGGCqeyosNk7EyRyA/s1600/575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh1acBM1sl46g1M8b-3P0-uG43xx7BnA0mgUfPbT3rOjyDItwlremQRECwYtF_V7JYnkaM0yxcTTC8njG0Fcyc9du7XAAtdkNDq-JQIIzjzgZxeck4qfLAu65V2ZGGCqeyosNk7EyRyA/s400/575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underpass right where we were staying, graffiti is everywhere in Rome and just slightly less in Florence. My mom hated it but I liked some of the artwork.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>DAY TWO</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whereas Rome has the Tiber River, Florence has the Arno River. Such beautiful views.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piazzale Michelangelo, high in the hills, features a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David and overlooks all of Florence.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence uses the fleur di lis or Florentine lily on its coat of arms and is seen in many places around the city. Interestingly, my family, the Narvaez coat of arms features five white fleur di lis on a field of red</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills of nearby Fiesole, a town overlooking Florence proper and founded by the Etruscans prior to the Romans.</td></tr>
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Beautiful place, now on to Venice!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301609794890662032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834128322574231529.post-75415128402027650462015-09-16T10:30:00.001-07:002015-09-16T10:31:08.573-07:00Roman Holiday - Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiWPdIPOT7ua22v2xXrHAOKNbj3-Ta9OYP5Bc0_Vx3SxEKS1fQOzU8Eh508NpUEXGpulEQ2uYC374p_ZFlegHN_LdZ6Z9vkqeOxfVIA_BdjWhc99LWZhJuT-g9ZmuSpPIiUn8jWo2VzM/s1600/IMG_20150911_224256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiWPdIPOT7ua22v2xXrHAOKNbj3-Ta9OYP5Bc0_Vx3SxEKS1fQOzU8Eh508NpUEXGpulEQ2uYC374p_ZFlegHN_LdZ6Z9vkqeOxfVIA_BdjWhc99LWZhJuT-g9ZmuSpPIiUn8jWo2VzM/s400/IMG_20150911_224256.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div>
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Probably surprising no female ever, I actually did some research prior to packing for my trip to Italy. Dreamt of it, fantasized about what perfect little outfits to pack. See, I wanted to look like I belonged in Italy and decided upon the advice of travel blogs and posts to pack mostly layers and mostly black clothing. Black is chic and fits in anywhere, right? Well the truth of it is, you can pretty much wear anything you want to, especially in Rome. There are SO MANY tourists, everywhere, that you can wear shorts, flip-flops, sports bras, sweats, yoga pants.....whatever you please, and no one will bat an eye. </div>
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You will only pass for Italian, if you are dressed for work or going out, complete with at least four inch heels, which only suffices for walking short distances on the cobblestones. If you are carrying a camera, no matter what you wear, forget about it, you are a tourist. So you may as well dress for the weather. Life is too short and Rome is simply to beautiful to even care about that stuff.</div>
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On our third and last day, my mom lead the way to the open-air market in the morning for breakfast and to pick up some groceries for a picnic lunch, olive-studded rolls, peaches, prosciutto and cheese. We took a Hop On/ Hop Off Tour Bus to visit the Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo and the Bocca Della Verita or the Mouth of Truth.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom successfully getting some prosciutto.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the Vatican, St. Peter's Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>La Pieta</i>, inside St. Peter's Basilica.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing of the Swiss Guard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh running drinking water pours everywhere in Rome, its completely safe to drink. Take a water bottle and you can fill up near most of the landmarks you visit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhUVKEDGshrTi7q4u8QRKsIa6cynEHrilzRobk2gc_g8-mC0NZpF2z2qH4b07WJs7Uom3mb6Zo5zHnIfxl7bxhqA-oie-m7h5B6BiHJ_kpSeYHMrrQOAi7C_lfbWgNwGS_L5P4cz9C-g/s1600/381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhUVKEDGshrTi7q4u8QRKsIa6cynEHrilzRobk2gc_g8-mC0NZpF2z2qH4b07WJs7Uom3mb6Zo5zHnIfxl7bxhqA-oie-m7h5B6BiHJ_kpSeYHMrrQOAi7C_lfbWgNwGS_L5P4cz9C-g/s320/381.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castel Sant'Angelo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German priests eating a picnic lunch in the shade.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lv4l9wGL1mrCYK3tXgg6lt7TseiKKLwW-RHgcS3ldJPAsa06_0_mpKuPgzfzimyDaEF1vpTu1OfucE3FUMUM8D0HD6gOJOWqOqHtEVEeM4AdyMFp1WfKpkknO9X4_E1fIi6uZh3SKDI/s1600/412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lv4l9wGL1mrCYK3tXgg6lt7TseiKKLwW-RHgcS3ldJPAsa06_0_mpKuPgzfzimyDaEF1vpTu1OfucE3FUMUM8D0HD6gOJOWqOqHtEVEeM4AdyMFp1WfKpkknO9X4_E1fIi6uZh3SKDI/s320/412.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiber River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWVGufd-_eQ-ibn6OatvgCFmtgfnewCtWVgHuCvFBGWlI9fu0FDgpSzH3QvlAA2eTyshQjDjtb7KvkqO_iG8buDsLx2xM1mxSS-5pcgaYGhKmFquuX7vM0FvNFJ40xUfAt9GtH9Nzs_s/s1600/418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWVGufd-_eQ-ibn6OatvgCFmtgfnewCtWVgHuCvFBGWlI9fu0FDgpSzH3QvlAA2eTyshQjDjtb7KvkqO_iG8buDsLx2xM1mxSS-5pcgaYGhKmFquuX7vM0FvNFJ40xUfAt9GtH9Nzs_s/s640/418.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiberina Island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-99Tia1WNaVMCjJTqKoyMRowEWDqynTNOpKZeSaeU-XkUqfZJe08wNXDrAwEkf8zJhObIESV-cLYPhbmvzcEGh_vAKPIP3sSdTVFmtfO4jN0rbBh4yL65FZ19GCon7N2t1pwsPXvQko/s1600/428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-99Tia1WNaVMCjJTqKoyMRowEWDqynTNOpKZeSaeU-XkUqfZJe08wNXDrAwEkf8zJhObIESV-cLYPhbmvzcEGh_vAKPIP3sSdTVFmtfO4jN0rbBh4yL65FZ19GCon7N2t1pwsPXvQko/s400/428.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peter's at night.</td></tr>
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Goodnight and goodbye Rome! On to Pisa and Florence.</div>
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