Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2

So check this out.  Last week I was checking the movie theatre websites and was surprised to find that Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 will already be showing on the 13th of July and not the 15th as originally believed.  But the problem with that is I work in the week.  I devised a clever plan to try and twist my producers arm to let me go see the film the morning of the 13th.  My plan, as hopeless as it was, was better than nothing. Maybe, just maybe it would be 'Yes'. 


"You want me to be the best editor possible right?", I tried.  A very suspicious "Yes?" reply.  " So I was thinking if you can give me off on next Wednesday morning, then I can go and see Harry Potter Part 2 and learn SO much from editing.". She laughed. 


And you will never guess the response! My producer didn't say yes... that's obvious...


But even better!!! She gave me tickets for the special screening premier in South Africa that happened this past Sunday.  I went crazy!  So all the people in the office laughed at me because they didn't know that I'm such a big Harry Potter fan, while they all pretend like they don't know why Harry Potter is so great.  People, it's 2011 for goodness sake, it is save to come out of the Cupboard Under The Stairs, there are millions of us already out! It's okay to like Harry Potter in the open.

I'm not going to give away any spoilers.  What I can definitely warm you about: you're going to need some tissues, especially if you are prone to tears in movies.  The film was amazing, some of the fanatic book readers might have a problem at some of the bits, but I was particularly pleased that they captured the emotion and the essence of the book.  That being said, most of the things are exactly the way they are in the book, and the things they changed is either better or it doesn't matter because the rest of the film is just so amazing.  Also note, I don't think it is appropriate for children under the age of 13, even if the rating is only PG-13.  


What I like about the films is their maturation (and I must admit their budget): the scenery and set's have such wonderful texture and life.  It's absolutely remarkable. The trailer promised one big show down with massive special effects and use of magic, and it paid in full.  For a while, at the start of the film, it's almost like they are teasing you by not showing too much showy dueling magic. But the first moment [Not Going To Spoil It For You Person] whips out a wand and starts duelling, throwing impressive flames at [Blah blah], all the hair on my body just shot up... I had Goosebumps so much in this film it was ridiculous (see how I worked in a spell there!). 

I don't want to say much, because it would be an injustice to try and explain it to anyone in words, the only thing that could explain it properly is the actual book itself.

What I can tell you is how much fun it was to go to a media premier, it was my first time, so if you think I'm being stupid, then well forgive me - hopefully I'll have many more.  There was witches walking around handing out free candy, there was a magician doing pretty impressive tricks, a photo booth with props to capture the Harry fever, and it was all free!  So was the popcorn and cold drinks at the door.  And I've had someone else pay for popcorn and cold drinks before, but this is much better, because it feels like people are sharing their abundance.  This is the way a movie should be viewed.  It was the perfect way for me to see the last instalment of Harry Potter.  


Did I also mention that Barry Ronge (website), the well known South Africa film critic was also in the cinema.  I wanted to walk up to him and say what a big fan I am and that one day I'm going to do his job, but I just wanted to enjoy the Harry Potter moment so I just let him walk beside me as we were exiting the cinema.

My verdict: go and buy your ticket NOW!  If you haven't watched any of the other Harry Potter films, go rent them, watch them and go see the last one in the cinemas, you won't regret it.  I want to say don't take in a popcorn at all so nothing distracts you, but you are going to need a large one, because for a large part you're going to need something to chew away the nervousness, and that also gives you an excuse to go see the film again.  "Oh, I looked down during that part because of my popcorn, so I have to see it again." 

Not that you need an excuse, so get a large popcorn and enjoy the film.  I can't wait for this weekend, because them I'm going to see it again, this time in 3D! Maybe I'll see you there... Finite Incantatum.

Harry Potter 7 Part 2 (Preview)

Me buying HP7 in 2007

So it is official!  Less than a week before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is released and it feels unreal!  I can still remember the first time I saw the first Harry Potter film with my Aunt, and how convinced I was throughout the film of Snape's guilt!  Feels like last week when I was standing in the cold, 11pm with a bunch of my friends to buy The Deathly Hallows book and not going to bed after reading at least the first chapter.

It truly has been a good companion for the past decade of my life, something that I'm sure a lot of other people have experienced as well.  And now the final film is finally here, and I have my pick to go see it in every format available, unfortunately The IMAX South Africa closed last year, I would have loved to see the final showdown there, I saw Harry Potter 3 at the IMAX and it was breathtaking. But no worries, the Imax screen is 10 times bigger than a normal cinema, so I'll simply have to go see it 10 times in the cinema. 3D and normal 2D.


So a couple of weeks ago I was editing the one show, Frenzy on e.tv, and they regularly have a movie review, and I was so glad they did one on Harry Potter (how could they not!) and I was fortunate enough to edit that episode (Argh! Who am I kidding, I looked through the scripts of the shows available and when I saw the one had a Harry Potter review I pounced on it like a Gryffindor Lion!)


So I inter-cut the trailer with the review and it was amazing, but I was disappointed that the editing was finished and I had to do the rest of the episode's content! The next day a new and final trailer was released, so I had another chance to edit it some more.  Luckily the content producer of Frenzy was very keen to put in the latest footage.


Needless to say it was better than the previous, amazing insert (we need to get a word that describe something better than amazing - I know - Dobby! It was completely Dobby!!!)

My favourite character of all time!

So when it was time for the content producer to view the episode, I went and got myself a small popcorn and enjoyed the Harry Potter the same way you would devote to a film - with popcorn.  And let me tell you, it was really Dobby!

So my recommendation for all you fans: get yourself a small popcorn, download the HD version of both trailers (here and here) from HPANA, pop them in and enjoy.  For the  Hardwood-Phoenix-feather-core fans like me, make it a large popcorn and watch the trailers on loop! Ah, Bliss!

X-men: First Class

I have been a fan of X-men since I was a child; I watched the episodes as a child and was captivated in fantasies of my own super human abilities.  Invisibility, teleportation, telekinesis (this one was always a favourite) and the human torch (so was this one) to name a few.  

However, Storm has always been my favourite X-men character, simply because I liked the feeling of strong wind blowing against me and could just imagine how it would feel if I could control that power.  

But it’s interesting that we have such a liking towards stories of superhuman abilities: X-men, Heroes, The Fantastic Four and you know there are many more.  But I think it is more than just our desire to be better than what we are and to be special.  I think it about relating to the ostracising and discrimination that these characters face.  On some level most of us can identify with this feeling of being shunned because of whatever reason.

But anyway, I don’t want to get too philosophical in my first post, I'll keep that for later.  So X-men: First Class, directed by Matthew Vaughn; wow another great instalment in the X-men series.  As could be expected from the same Director who brought us the magical Stardust and the kick-ass... well... Kick-Ass.  I was afraid when I heard they used completely new cast for X-men: First Class, but that being said I don’t know what else I expected because Charles Xavier (my namesake) and Erik Lensherr where young back then and the actors need to reflect that.  But what I thought was quite entertaining is the cameo appearance of some of the actors from the previous X-men films.  I won’t say how or who in case you haven’t seen the movie, but go see it. 

Michael Fassbender as Magneto

 The actor who plays Magneto (Michael Fassbender) really does an excellent job, I also think he has the look and the skill to be a James Bond; he was truly exceptional in his delivery.  What I'm glad about in this Origins story, is that I never found there was a shortage of visual effects and display of abilities.  In the X-men Origins: Wolverene I craved for more visually satisfying effects that showcased the mutants abilities.  I think the difference is that in X-men: First Class it was the origin of many main characters which gave them the opportunity to show more of every mutant’s ability.  Personally I hope that the next X-men (there better be one!) should be the continuation from where this one ended.  Because they have gone and shown most of the main characters' origins, the ones that are left now can be shown as Professor X gains students and Magneto... Well gains soldiers...

When talking to my friends about it and seeing the posts on Facebook, most people got the same feeling after watching this film.  The desire to watch all the other X-men films again, which I think is a good thing. They left you wanting for more even after giving you a lot!

So if you haven’t watched it, go get yourself a large popcorn, and go see that film!  It has to be seen on a big screen!