Oh hey, look at that, I haven't blogged since Saturday. It completely slipped my mind since then. And seeing as to how no one really noticed (or at least didn't say anything), I supposed it's not that big of a deal.
I'm a little over a third of the way through #VEDJ. I don't like it. I really, really don't. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed Subway's Veggie Subs and I really don't mind Veggie Stir Fry with Rice, but I just want to enjoy chicken. I'm just getting so frustrated with this challenge that I've almost just quit several times. For example, yesterday, it was like Wendy's was out to get me. I stopped for some quick food, and they accidentally put a juicy hamburger in my to-go back. I ended up throwing it out the window of my car, because I wanted to stick my face in it.
#EEDJ has also slowed down. Not because I don't want to do it, but because my knees have started to hurt me. I think it started after I did that trike ride last week, which was the most uncomfortable, awkward riding contraption ever. I'm still taking it the #EEDJ, it's just been slower and less. I think I may be able to pick it up back up tonight.
Also, I might see HP and the Deathly Hallows Part Two in Imax Friday.
VACATION in FOUR DAYS!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
BEDJ 16: "Do You Want to Drop Some Lemons?"
I really, really wanted to talk about how frustrated I am with how last night ended, but I feel like that's not an appropriate story to throw out there all willy-nilly.
I'm just either the worst Mack Attacker in the history of the universe, or girls around here just aren't interested.
If you really want to know the story, you're welcome to talk to me on skype about it.
-------------------------
EEDJ: There will be none today.
VEDJ: Rice and veggies
: fruit mix
: Coke! (dun dun dun)
I'm just either the worst Mack Attacker in the history of the universe, or girls around here just aren't interested.
If you really want to know the story, you're welcome to talk to me on skype about it.
-------------------------
EEDJ: There will be none today.
VEDJ: Rice and veggies
: fruit mix
: Coke! (dun dun dun)
Friday, July 15, 2011
BEDJ 15: Hogwarts Will Always be There to Welcome You Home
WARNING. CONTAINS MAJOR DEATHLY HALLOWS SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOKS (what the hell are you waiting for, serious, it’s been out for years?!?!) OR WATCHED THE FINAL MOVIE, THEN DO. NOT. GO. ANY. FURTHER.
After nearly 12 hours after I watched Deathly Hallows Part Two, I'm still looking back and remembering all the cheer-worthy and tear-inducing scenes with fondness. I said it last night on Twitter and on the BEDpost, and I'll say it again: it was such a “wow” movie. This is how you adapt a Harry Potter novel. The movie benefited tremendously by being split into two parts. You can say it was a money move all you want, but I don't care. It was worth it. If they want to make an extra $300 million dollars so I can get a worthy adaptation, they could have split it into seven parts if they so desired.
After nearly 12 hours after I watched Deathly Hallows Part Two, I'm still looking back and remembering all the cheer-worthy and tear-inducing scenes with fondness. I said it last night on Twitter and on the BEDpost, and I'll say it again: it was such a “wow” movie. This is how you adapt a Harry Potter novel. The movie benefited tremendously by being split into two parts. You can say it was a money move all you want, but I don't care. It was worth it. If they want to make an extra $300 million dollars so I can get a worthy adaptation, they could have split it into seven parts if they so desired.
Every book-to-movie project has changes that can't live up to the novels, but an overwhelming amount of the differences on screen last night were greeted by me with acceptance and understanding. The biggest change, of course, was the Final Showdown between Harry Potter and Voldemort. I anticipated the cut of the lengthy conversation and one-spell battle between them from the books, mainly because such a scene just wouldn't work in a movie like this, but I didn't anticipate to like it as much as I did. I was surprised by how well it worked for me, especially since I think I was one of the few that loved how it went down in the novel. Dare I say that I'm wishing that's how the book version would have transpired?
The biggest thing I appreciated about the film was the use of dialogue taken straight from the novels. Normally, fans are lucky to get those one or two lines they recognize, but this movie was just overfilling with it. By doing so, I feel like the movie makers acknowledged that JK Rowling's written words were already a masterpiece that didn't need enhancement. From the conversations with Griphook and Ollivander in the beginning to Snape's memories to the Forest Again, I smiled every time the words were spoken.
I cried. Not as much as I did when I first read the book though. I remember reading through the night and into the next day, and sobbing when Dobby died, when Fred died, when Harry walked through the forest, to the point where my mother was worried about me. The feelings were still there last night, like a wave of emotion that poured over my body during those scenes, but not with the same intensity.
I'm left with a heavy heart knowing there are no more movies to wait for. I won't have the much-discussed post-Potter depression, but I will long for more. As many have said, this is the end of an era - the swan song of the series - but at the same time, I agree with others who said the end came a long time ago. The end came when I wiped my last tear away and sighed with the book closed on my chest. The end came when I turned the final page, knowing that 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, all was well. The movies were just a way to prolong that ending, to make the wound of missing a wonderful series less severe, and to allow that injury to heal with the ointment of the films.
And just because it ended, that doesn't mean I can't go back.
Things that didn't work for me:
- My biggest gripe was King's Cross. For a casual viewer who might not have read the books, it was not adequately explained why Harry Potter had the ability to return from the dead. Especially since this was something most fans of the books didn't really understand in the first place.
- There were some awkward moments that distracted from the experience. Voldemort giggling. Not having both Crabbe and Goyle in the Room of Requirement. Voldemort giving Draco an uncomfortable hug. Dumbledore's words of wisdom at the end felt off. That Harry/Voldemort apparating as one entity through the Hogwarts grounds. The CGI-aged actors in the epilogue.
- I would have liked to see Fred's death on screen. And although we didn't get to see it in the books, I would have liked to see Lupin and Tonks' deaths as well. And a return from Kreacher leading the House Elves into battle would have been awesome to see.
Thinks I loved:
- The Forest Again. When Harry used the Resurrection Stone on the way to his death, I cried. It was beautifully executed and handled with the respect and care I so desperately wanted.
- The Prince's Tale. I was pleased (especially after OOTP botched “Snape's Worst Memory”) to find that Snape's memories of Lily and the events of Dumbledore's death were also handled with the care they deserved. And the added line in the boathouse “You have your mother's eyes” gave me chills.
- Neville Longbottom and Professor McGonnagal. Kicked. So. Much. Ass.
- Molly Weasley and the line you were waiting for.
- Ginny Weasley. Although she didn't have much screen time, every time she was there made me happy, especially since every scene with her was fueled with noticeable passion. Her reaction when Harry came back to Hogwarts. When she was the first to step in front of Harry when Slytherin wanted to turn Harry over to Voldemort. When she completely lost it when she thought Harry was dead.
- Most of the changes worked on so many levels. We got to see Ron and Hermione destroy the Horcrux instead of hearing about it, and I liked their kiss. I was pleased to see the addition of the final Harry/Ginny kiss. The added battle with Nagini also added more action and suspense.
- The actress who played the young Lily Evans was adorable. As was the actor who played Albus Severus Potter.
- I've always said that Draco was more of less assisting the rebellion by default, so it was nice to have my theory vindicated when Harry asked him in the Room of Requirement why he didn't rat the Golden Trio out at Malfoy Manor.
Those are my thoughts. Do you agree? What did you think?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
BEDJ 13: A. Potter in a Snake’s World
WARNING. CONTAINS MAJOR DEATHLY HALLOWS SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOKS (what the hell are you waiting for, serious, it’s been out for years?!?!), THEN DO. NOT. GO. ANY. FURTHER.
In the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling offers us a foggy glimpse of the Wizarding World 19 years after The Boy Who Lived defeated Lord Voldemort. At Kings Cross, Harry and Ginny are taking Albus Potter, their second child, to board the train for his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While we get various cameos by Draco Malfoy and his family, hear about Neville Longbottom’s job, and witness the love affair between Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley, the most important thing we’re shown is the apprehension Albus is feeling about being possibly being sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor.
There has been intense speculation about which House the 11-year-old would eventually be Sorted into. I realize the discussion is frivolous because it’s fiction, and usually fictional worlds can only exist within the pages of the book, but JK Rowling is a creator of a different breed. Even after her series ended, she revealed revelation after revelation about our favorite characters. Hence, discussions like “Which House will Albus be Sorted Into” exist, even more so because she probably knows.
The answer to the question then? My money is on Slytherin.
First of all, we all know how Rowling likes to give clues about character’s secrets, such as Sirious being named after the dog star and Remus being named after the boy raised by wolves in Roman mythology. Therefore, with Severus in the name, that’s clue one. Clue two comes in Albus’s initials: ASP, which is a type of snake.
We’re also shown that Albus is most like Harry, who has some prominent Slytherin traits. While Harry had some of those traits (such as talking to snakes) due to Voldemort, he also had cunningness, resourcefulness, determination, and ambition. These are the qualities that truly make a Slytherin a Slytherin. And if Albus is like Harry in personality as much as he is in appearance, it makes sense. (I think I should note that while I think Harry would have been great in Slytherin, I think his Gryffindor qualities were more prominent.)
Thirdly, Harry calms Albus’s worries by telling him that Severus was a Slytherin and he was “probably the bravest man” he ever knew. When Albus protests again, Harry assures him that if gets into Slytherin, the House will have gained an excellent student. After nearly two decades, the dark reputation, while still there, would have at least faded. I’d like to think that Harry realized that Hogwarts can’t have the division of the rest of the Houses versus Slytherin, because that kind of animosity breeds negativity. We’re shown again and again in the series that it doesn’t matter what House you’re in, a true judgment of character relies solely on your actions.
From a story-telling perspective, Sorting him into Gryffindor after such a poignant moment between father and son just seems like a waste of time. And why focus the epilogue on Albus? Why not James, the firstborn? Why not Lily, the lastborn? It would have been a better ending anyhow if we’re shown Harry’s last child heading off to Hogwarts. But Rowling chose Albus, who she said in an interview that his story is the most interesting of the new generation. What would be interesting about a Potter child entering Gryffindor? We’ve seen that before, there’s nothing new and different about it.
So until Rowling writes his story and tells me different, Albus Severus Potter will be Sorted into Slytherin in my world.
----------------------------
VEDJ: meatless ravioli
: juice
: A poptart
: two slices of pizza and cheesy bread
EEDJ: Three miles (jogged 6/10th of a mile of that)
Tomorrow, I'll be posting my thoughts as I prepare to watch the last Harry Potter film at midnight.
In the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling offers us a foggy glimpse of the Wizarding World 19 years after The Boy Who Lived defeated Lord Voldemort. At Kings Cross, Harry and Ginny are taking Albus Potter, their second child, to board the train for his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While we get various cameos by Draco Malfoy and his family, hear about Neville Longbottom’s job, and witness the love affair between Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley, the most important thing we’re shown is the apprehension Albus is feeling about being possibly being sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor.
There has been intense speculation about which House the 11-year-old would eventually be Sorted into. I realize the discussion is frivolous because it’s fiction, and usually fictional worlds can only exist within the pages of the book, but JK Rowling is a creator of a different breed. Even after her series ended, she revealed revelation after revelation about our favorite characters. Hence, discussions like “Which House will Albus be Sorted Into” exist, even more so because she probably knows.
The answer to the question then? My money is on Slytherin.
First of all, we all know how Rowling likes to give clues about character’s secrets, such as Sirious being named after the dog star and Remus being named after the boy raised by wolves in Roman mythology. Therefore, with Severus in the name, that’s clue one. Clue two comes in Albus’s initials: ASP, which is a type of snake.
We’re also shown that Albus is most like Harry, who has some prominent Slytherin traits. While Harry had some of those traits (such as talking to snakes) due to Voldemort, he also had cunningness, resourcefulness, determination, and ambition. These are the qualities that truly make a Slytherin a Slytherin. And if Albus is like Harry in personality as much as he is in appearance, it makes sense. (I think I should note that while I think Harry would have been great in Slytherin, I think his Gryffindor qualities were more prominent.)
Thirdly, Harry calms Albus’s worries by telling him that Severus was a Slytherin and he was “probably the bravest man” he ever knew. When Albus protests again, Harry assures him that if gets into Slytherin, the House will have gained an excellent student. After nearly two decades, the dark reputation, while still there, would have at least faded. I’d like to think that Harry realized that Hogwarts can’t have the division of the rest of the Houses versus Slytherin, because that kind of animosity breeds negativity. We’re shown again and again in the series that it doesn’t matter what House you’re in, a true judgment of character relies solely on your actions.
From a story-telling perspective, Sorting him into Gryffindor after such a poignant moment between father and son just seems like a waste of time. And why focus the epilogue on Albus? Why not James, the firstborn? Why not Lily, the lastborn? It would have been a better ending anyhow if we’re shown Harry’s last child heading off to Hogwarts. But Rowling chose Albus, who she said in an interview that his story is the most interesting of the new generation. What would be interesting about a Potter child entering Gryffindor? We’ve seen that before, there’s nothing new and different about it.
So until Rowling writes his story and tells me different, Albus Severus Potter will be Sorted into Slytherin in my world.
----------------------------
VEDJ: meatless ravioli
: juice
: A poptart
: two slices of pizza and cheesy bread
EEDJ: Three miles (jogged 6/10th of a mile of that)
Tomorrow, I'll be posting my thoughts as I prepare to watch the last Harry Potter film at midnight.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
BEDJ 12: Those Cunning Folk Use Any Means to Achieve Their Ends
Surprisingly, I haven't put much thought into which house at Hogwarts I would be sorted into. When I first read the books, I assumed I find myself in Gryffindor, and didn't really think twice about it. I didn't actually have any reasons, I didn't spend hours analyzing my own personality, I just thought that's where I'd like to be. When I discovered the world of fanfiction and started writing my own, I became to slowly grow an appreciation for the Slytherin House, until I ultimately decided, if given a choice by the Sorting Hat, I would chose Slytherin.
Which has caused quite the uproar among my online friends. “No, Justin,” they say with confidence, “you would be in Hufflepuff.” (Which, according to several online Hogwarts tests, is true. I suppose I'll only know this for sure when Pottermore arrives on scene, and JK Rowling's sorting test takes me where I'm supposed to go.)
One might say I don't have the classic Slytherin traits of a pompous and self-important attitude, manipulation, and evilness, but that's exactly the the presumption of the House of the Snake that leads to such a negative outlook toward Slytherin. Those are not the qualities that Slytherin possesses no more than Gryffindor possesses dimwits, Ravenclaw possesses lack of common sense, and Hufflepuff possesses the socially inept.
Furthermore, the qualities in each of the Hogwarts Houses can lead a student down a negative path as well. The daring of the Gryffindor House can easily lead to recklessness and arrogance. The intelligence of the Ravenclaw House can easily lead to egoism and close-mindness; and the loyalty of the Hufflepuff House can create blind and irresponsible devotion.
I realize that what I'm about to say is Hufflepuff through and through, but I would chose Slytherin because I want to change the way Slytherins are viewed. We love this story about Harry Potter, and for seven books, we are taught that it shouldn't matter whether you're Muggle-born of Pureblood. How can a prejudice as big as magical blood be expected to change if one as small as which Hogwarts house you're in can't do the same?
If it's always the rest of Hogwarts versus Slytherin, that's what helps facilitate darkness.
What House do you think I'd be in and why? What House do you think you'd be in and why?
--------------------------
#EEDJ: I missed yesterday because my day literally just consisted of me buying a new car, working, and making my dinner before I went to bed. Today, I jogged a full half mile without stopping, so I was proud of myself for this.
: 2 miles (.5 mile jog, 1.5 mile walk)
#VEDJ: granola bar
: Meatless ravioli
: Pierogi with ketchup
: a glass of orange juice
: two bottles of water, three glasses and counting
-------------------------
This will likely be the first of several #BEDposts in which I talk about Harry Potter this week. Prepare for "Why I think Albus Severus Potter Will Be Sorted Into Slytherin" tomorrow.
Also, this is my new car. She doesn't have a name yet though.
 |
| Sexy |
Monday, July 11, 2011
BEDJ 11: Hakuna Matata
"It means no worries, for the rest of your days."
I didn't intend to actually buy a new car today. I initially wanted to look around all week and find something I really liked by Friday and then make a decision, but I found a vehicle I fell in love with and was able to get a monthly payment plan I was comfortable enough paying.
So I'm the proud owner of a black 2005 Nissan Altima. It was a little more than I hoped to spend, but there didn't seem to be any point buying anything older and more used. This baby has less than 40,000 miles on it. And it has air conditioner (a feature that was disabled in my Kia because it would have cost $1,000 to fix). And it has all those fancy gadgets like an automatic locker for my keychain, power windows, a CD player, and even a place to store my sunglasses. This is the nicest car I've ever owned.
and I think I deserve it.
It took me a few minutes into driving to determine what song would be the first to grace my ears as I made my maiden voyage. I finally settled on "Hakuna Matata," which seemed appropriate (especially if the problem-free philosophy continues to hold true to my car situation), and then proceeded to listen to a variety of other kid songs (including more Disney, the Muppets, and Veggietales).
I still need a name for her, too. Any suggestions?
As I drove away from the lot, I gave my old car the finger and swore quite profusely at her.
------------------------------------
VEDJ: Salad
: Poptart
: Two bottles of water
: MORE TBA
EEDJ: TBA (if there's time today)
I didn't intend to actually buy a new car today. I initially wanted to look around all week and find something I really liked by Friday and then make a decision, but I found a vehicle I fell in love with and was able to get a monthly payment plan I was comfortable enough paying.
So I'm the proud owner of a black 2005 Nissan Altima. It was a little more than I hoped to spend, but there didn't seem to be any point buying anything older and more used. This baby has less than 40,000 miles on it. And it has air conditioner (a feature that was disabled in my Kia because it would have cost $1,000 to fix). And it has all those fancy gadgets like an automatic locker for my keychain, power windows, a CD player, and even a place to store my sunglasses. This is the nicest car I've ever owned.
and I think I deserve it.
It took me a few minutes into driving to determine what song would be the first to grace my ears as I made my maiden voyage. I finally settled on "Hakuna Matata," which seemed appropriate (especially if the problem-free philosophy continues to hold true to my car situation), and then proceeded to listen to a variety of other kid songs (including more Disney, the Muppets, and Veggietales).
I still need a name for her, too. Any suggestions?
As I drove away from the lot, I gave my old car the finger and swore quite profusely at her.
------------------------------------
VEDJ: Salad
: Poptart
: Two bottles of water
: MORE TBA
EEDJ: TBA (if there's time today)
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