Foo - The One-Stop Harry Potter Thread

Who braved the crowds of pre-pubescent teens with crushes on Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson?

My girlfriend went with her teen nephews....last I heard she said it was "ok". I didn't have that much bravery...I'll hold off a bit myself.

Did anybody see it already?

who didn't?

Hermione did, but they had to delete the scene to keep the rating.

Hermione did, but they had to delete the scene to keep the rating.
LOL'D

I'm not one of the cool kids. :rolleyes: I don't stay up past midnight just be the first to blab about a movie or book. But we have promised our 6 y.o. that we'd take him to see it since he's already read the book.

My boyfriend, and to make it worse he had to leave for work at 6am.

I just don't get it, sorry.

Why should I wait in line, when next week the theatre will be practically empty? Then I'll go - maybe - if my 12 year old daughter wants to.

I'd be hard pressed to care less about the Harry Potter franchise. That aside, I've been to exactly one such midnight showing, and I'll never do it again. By about 1:30am, sitting in a dark room, in a comfortable chair, it was tough to stay awake. I'll just stick with being patient and waiting for the DVD.

My mom probably did. She likes Harry Potter, don't know why. I've never read any of the books, never seen any of the movies, and I hope I never have to.

I did, yes. They pulled it off beautifully. It was such a dark book, with the bad guys winning in the end and Harry being a jerk through most of it, that it was a tougher movie than the others. Twas cool.

geeks

I went with 7 girls, snacks and drinks. Good times :)

These things are like parties if you do it right - and some of costumes people were walking around in were awesome. The fireball wallet got my vote for best prop and these two college girls were walking around in hawt Hermione costumes (low neck, high skirts). And everywhere in between.

I had originally planned to, with my daughter, but this week has been too crazy to be able to stay home from work so she could sleep in the next day.

The books are fun, the last two movies were good, and to me it's just a fun pop-culture thang. We will definitely be at a the release party for the final book in the series, a week or so from now. She's read each of the books many times (ten or more) and it's a pretty healthy obsession, as far as I'm concerned, so I don't mind indulging her interests.

Hermione did, but they had to delete the scene to keep the rating.
ROFLMAO'd

Why should I wait in line, when next week the theatre will be practically empty?That's my vote too.

I read the books so far....very good stories, but I don't have to see the movie with screaming kids on opening night and so late I can't hardly get up for work next morning.

In the theater I went to there weren't any kids under 18 with about a 5-2 ratio of girls to guys. Apparently you'll don't go to the right theaters ;)

Taking my kids this weekend. They're both big fans and so far the reviews sound pretty good.

No, but I went to a midnight showing of Spiderman 3 a while back.

Best..movie...EVAR!

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/bf/150px-Potter.jpg

He's not all that attractive if you ask me.

That's Sherman T. Potter, you idiot!

:)

geeks

Please don't insult me. Harry Potter is NOT a geek thing.

Please don't insult me. Harry Potter is NOT a geek thing.
Shouldn't you be riding your bike?

geek.

:D

To quote the man show, I'd rather take a bus load of hair dressers to see snoopy on ice than see this flaming turd of a movie.

No, but I went to a midnight showing of Spiderman 3 a while back.

Best..movie...EVAR!
meh.

I can wait for the movie. I'll snap up the book though ASAP.

Taerom and Michigander - I spent several years holding an attitude like you two guys did. Someone gave one of the books to one of the kids as a birthday present, and I figured, "why not?" It isn't going to compete with Tolstoy or Shakespeare, for being high literature (whatever that is) but the stories are far more interesting than Barbara Cartland, or Steven King books.

I realize some people don't feel at ease with the genre, but that's no excuse to put down the writing or the people who do enjoy the stories.

Taerom and Michigander - I spent several years holding an attitude like you two guys did. Someone gave one of the books to one of the kids as a birthday present, and I figured, "why not?" It isn't going to compete with Tolstoy or Shakespeare, for being high literature (whatever that is) but the stories are far more interesting than Barbara Cartland, or Steven King books.

I realize some people don't feel at ease with the genre, but that's no excuse to put down the writing or the people who do enjoy the stories.

I must disagree, at least as far as the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. (Most of his other stuff is indeed crap.) You see, I read the second book, and saw one of the movies. Childish garbage in my mind. To each is own, but it's not my thing. With a lot of things that happened in those books/movies, people would have killed each other over realistic equivilant situations. I can't stand it when something is that Disney'd up. Fantasy is fine with me, like I said I like the Dark Tower series, but that level of childishness is something I can't stand.

meh.

I can wait for the movie. I'll snap up the book though ASAP.

Taerom and Michigander - I spent several years holding an attitude like you two guys did. Someone gave one of the books to one of the kids as a birthday present, and I figured, "why not?" It isn't going to compete with Tolstoy or Shakespeare, for being high literature (whatever that is) but the stories are far more interesting than Barbara Cartland, or Steven King books.

I realize some people don't feel at ease with the genre, but that's no excuse to put down the writing or the people who do enjoy the stories.
I'm with you zorro. I definitely think that the entire premise is kind of random and fairytale like, and for the most part meant for children. Therefore, I'll give props to JK rowling for her accomplishments as a writer, and for creating such a sucessful story, but I'll never read any of the books. I will probably see the new movie though, It's interesting enough for me to waste my time for a few hours to see it.

I must disagree, at least as far as the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. (Most of his other stuff is indeed crap.) You see, I read the second book, and saw one of the movies. Childish garbage in my mind. To each is own, but it's not my thing. With a lot of things that happened in those books/movies, people would have killed each other over realistic equivilant situations. I can't stand it when something is that Disney'd up. Fantasy is fine with me, like I said I like the Dark Tower series, but that level of childishness is something I can't stand.

Ditto, couldn't have said it better. Childish drivel to me. Then again I was reading tolkien in grade 3 so I just can't understand how writing quality has degraded instead of improved.

But...big caveat, I do like the fact it is getting people who may not read, into reading. To each his own, but the books, story lines and especially character development are weak imo.

I'm with you zorro. I definitely think that the entire premise is kind of random and fairytale like, and for the most part meant for children. Therefore, I'll give props to JK rowling for her accomplishments as a writer, and for creating such a sucessful story, but I'll never read any of the books. I will probably see the new movie though, It's interesting enough for me to waste my time for a few hours to see it.

Tolkiens books were novels for children to read....being a long time fantasy fan, there are a million series out there that are better and even have a better story, Harry Potter is the harlequin (sp) novels for kids (and some adults). Easy fluff you can rip through quickly. That in and of itself sets it apart.

Agreed. There's a reason you hear people talking about how they read the new HP book the night of purchase, and those are what.... 600 page books?

But as I said, I still give her props. I don't care if she ****ted on a piece of paper and printed it. To be that successful you gotta be doing something right.

Tolkiens books were novels for children to read....being a long time fantasy fan, there are a million series out there that are better and even have a better story, Harry Potter is the harlequin (sp) novels for kids (and some adults). Easy fluff you can rip through quickly. That in and of itself sets it apart.

The Hobbit was a children's book. The Lord of the Rings, most definitely was not.

Rowling is quite adept at weaving short threads into books, which are, in turn, parts of a larger and coherent whole. This is definitely literature for the masses - which is something that few have presented as well as she has. While the books are a relatively easy read, they have become progressively less "fluffy" as the series has progressed.

I know better than to attempt to dictate taste, but bashing seems harsh and a tad curmudgeonly. What one might expect of close-minded muggles. :p :D

Who braved the crowds of pre-pubescent teens with crushes on Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson?

My girlfriend went with her teen nephews....last I heard she said it was "ok". I didn't have that much bravery...I'll hold off a bit myself.

Did anybody see it already?
I just went to see it! just came back, the kids were begging me! they liked it :)

Sorry you are correct, LOR isn't, I just think of it that way as I read it when I was young.

Sorry you are correct, LOR isn't, I just think of it that way as I read it when I was young.

No worries. I read it between 6th and 7th grades (back when Tolkien was still alive - barely) :eek: It was quite a grand adventure story for me back then, but it sure seemed a richer story when I re-read it several years later.

Here's where I could take a gratuitous swipe at what's happened to kids' reading skills these days, but having seen some of the homework my daughter had in High School a few years ago, I'd be lying through my teeth if I said the curriculum has been dumbed down since the 70's.

I've been to a few midnight premiers this year.
Spiderman 3
Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End
Transformers


I couldn't care less about Harry Pooper.

I wasn't as precocious as you, Maelstrom. It took me until the 5th grade to get into Tolkien. :) As an adult, I've really enjoyed Rowling's books. I saw the first 3 movies, and really couldn't be bothered with any more of them. I find movie versions of books to be terribly disappointing, and the Harry Potter series is no exception.

Went to see it tonight. Thought it was really good! I like both the books and movies, and don't worry if it's "proper" literature or not. They're fun to read, and while Rowling's style can be a bit repetitive and awkward at times, I would not hesitate to call them good books. No, it's not Dostoevsky, but it's not trying to be.

Edit: Though I've never really finished a Dostoevsky book :o...

I wasn't as precocious as you, Maelstrom. It took me until the 5th grade to get into Tolkien. :) As an adult, I've really enjoyed Rowling's books. I saw the first 3 movies, and really couldn't be bothered with any more of them. I find movie versions of books to be terribly disappointing, and the Harry Potter series is no exception.

Ironically it was the teacher. She did 30 minutes of reading in the morning and started reading the hobbit. I got so annoyed that she couldn't continue reading I ended up getting the book (ok the parents did) in the boxed with LOR and read them all over the next couple of years. I re-read them in highschool for English and saw past the adventure and "read between the lines". I see the books as childrens books because the adventure and descriptions are rich, continue into adulthood and there was a lot of foreshadowing and parallel realism.

If it wasn't for that teacher taking such an interesting direction in what she taught I doubt would have ever have read it. Since then everything I read is measured against Tolkiens ability to tell a story.

When does Emma Watson turn 18?

maybe you should ask this guy:

http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051107/051107_chris_hanson_vsml_9a.vsmall.jpg

You know what? I'm just glad when anyone under 21 reads these days. Our kids get more stupid each year. it seems.

I like HP because it's good fun. So is Tolkein and Lovecraft and Kafka and many others. I like videogames too. Please don't pretend that because you my have read Tolkein or Dickens that means you have some sort of God-Given right to determine what literature is. I have found great literature from James Clavell and Neil Gaiman alike.

F-T-W.

In the theater I went to there weren't any kids under 18 with about a 5-2 ratio of girls to guys. Apparently you'll don't go to the right theaters ;)


That must've been the version with the deleted scenes;)

That's my vote too.

I read the books so far....very good stories, but I don't have to see the movie with screaming kids on opening night and so late I can't hardly get up for work next morning.


Bingo. And, to be honest, I'm looking forward to Book 7 a whole lot more than I ever was to Movie 5.

Hermione did, but they had to delete the scene to keep the rating.

Like that one time, at wizard camp....





.....I turned that ginger kid into a mouse, and laughed as the owl tried to take him away.....it was like totally funny, ohmigosh!

Bingo. And, to be honest, I'm looking forward to Book 7 a whole lot more than I ever was to Movie 5.
Double Bingo!!

Half-Blood Prince left my mouth watering for the finale. Especially to see if my (controversial) prediction comes true.

Please don't insult me. Harry Potter is NOT a geek thing.
Yes it is

I went the day after it opened with my grandparents and little brother.

Worst part of the movie was that Alan Rickman wasn't involved enough. :mad:

maybe you should ask this guy:

http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051107/051107_chris_hanson_vsml_9a.vsmall.jpg
Your pastor?

The guy who cares a cubicle with me at work said he went, and that it left out a lot from the book.

No, but I went to a midnight showing of Spiderman 3 a while back.

Best..movie...EVAR!

Wow. I found this to be one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. Story wise. It sucked. The action was good. That's it.

Yes it is

Then you, don't know what a geek is. There is a difference between dorks and geeks.