Harry Potter London Premiere - my thoughts

I was incredibly happy to tune into the Harry Potter live premiere. These books and movies have been apart of my life since I was 12, which is nearly 12 years ago (I turn 24 in August). I have been to countless midnight book releases, midnight movie showings, collected the books in both paperback and hardcover, have harry potter figures, lots of HP tshirts, cosplayed from the books, wrote HP fanfic, shipped characters that shouldnt have been shipped, followed every step Dan, Emma, and Rupert have taken in their careers, collected all the movies on DVD, visited Wizarding World of Harry Potter…

ETC ETC ETC

I’m not trying to make it seem like i’m the BIGGEST Harry Potter fan (as there is a video on youtube of the biggest fan that begs to differ), I am just trying to show how this series has been in my life and I love it. The books and its wonderful author have been an inspiration in my own writing and I aspire to create something as worthwhile as this. Because its not really about all the money that has been made, but about the passion the series ignites in its fans. The appreciate they all have for the series. The love. ~by ButerflySamurai

“Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home” - JK Rowling London Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiere

Sucker Punch Animated Shorts - Move Over Animatrix...or not!

Instead of linking all three of these my Facebook page (and continuously spamming everyone that has friended me over there), I compiled all three animated shorts into this blog entry. Now I can talk about them as well as drool over them.

Three animated shorts have popped up today to accompany Sucker Punch, which releases tomorrow March the 25th.

While the source where I found the shorts recommends them for viewing after the movie, I could not help but to view them prior. I, of course, am ready for my Sucker Punch fix despite all the grueling and horrible reviews floating around about it. After waiting on a movie for a year or so, I will watch everything pertaining to it and defend it in anyway possible.

After watching the three shorts, I don't think viewing the movie first is absolutely necessary. If you've seen the trailer a couple of times (or a couple hundred like myself) then each of these shorts adds to familiar elements that are in the trailers. They do not spoil anything about the plot - or lack thereof according to reviewers - about the movie. If anything, they just try to add on to the portions of the movie and may enhance the viewing of it, considering these little back stories will not be in the feature length film.







Each short takes place in a different level of Baby Doll's mind - ala Inception, but probably not as good. Having not seen the movie as of yet, I am unsure if the level of her imagination (minus the Brothel of course) is the correct order the videos are in, but I managed to put them in the order other sources have them in.

Animatrix is one of my favorite things on this planet! It was such a successful addition to the Matrix trilogy and is better to me then one of the movies in the trilogy. Animatrix utilized different directors and art forms for the majority of its animation which is something these Sucker Punch shorts did not do, but I really enjoyed this shorts. I think they all evoked the same emotion from me and were more similar then they are different, which does not put it on the level of the Animatrix as an animated accompaniment to a film. I found them enjoyable nonetheless.

Coming Soon 3/11 - Red Riding Hood, Mars Needs Moms, Battle:LA

This weekend we have three movies, two about aliens and one about the color red.

Red Riding Hood stars Amanda Seyfield and Gary Oldman and appears to be a gritty, dark, and twisted version of the classic fairy tale. From the trailer, the movie seems absolute gorgeous in my opinion. I love the usage of the "red hood", how it is always the brightest color and juxtaposed against the surrounds - especially the snow scene where it is a brilliant red spot and almost symbolizing a loss of purity. The movie seems to be taking on the sexual awakening analysis of the old story and throws in the werewolf. The trailer seems a hodge podge of about three storylines and I'm interested to see how they merge together.

Mars Needs Mom is a Disney movie with Seth Green voicing Milo, a young boy who must save his mother who has been abducted by aliens to raise Martian children. This animated film is going to have to compete against Rango, which released last weekend, and seems to be a pretty hilarious and standard Disney movie. It seems quite entertaining and would be perfect to take children to see.

Battle:Los Angeles is a movie I have wanted to see for a very long time, ever since I first saw a teaser trailer. Alien invasion movies are some of my favorite to see and Battle:La's trailer is really good for a trailer. The concept is, of course, simple. Aliens are attacking Earth to steal it's resources and will destroy all human kind to do so. Michelle Rodriguez is in the film and I am a huge fan of hers. Explosive and riveting, Battle:LA is sure to be better then the last alien invasion film, Skyline, which was highly disappointing. Whether humans win or lose, Battle:LA is a must see this weekend.

Here is an interview from Attack of the Show with Rodriguez. She is certainly a very intelligent woman and talented actress.

Seventh Film is Exhilarating - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

It is the beginning of the end. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is the seventh film in the Harry Potter series, bringing the events of J.K. Rowling’s last book to the big screen. After seeing the film and remember the outrage of the film being split - with many thinking Warner Brother’s was milking fans of money - the decision to have two separate films was a great choice. Now, instead of heavily rushed films like Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince, viewers have a film incredibly rich with moments and scenes straight from the book making this the best Potter film out of all of them.
It is dark times. Voldemort is particularly powerful, taking over a great deal of aspects of the Wizarding and Muggle world alike. He dishes out Avada Kedavra curses like he’s handing out candy. He is terrifying, seemingly even making his own followers fear him which is evidence in the Malfoy family.
However, The Chosen One - Harry Potter - knows how to make the formidable Voldemort vulnerable again. That is why he and his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, go on a quest to find the Horcuxes - objects that hold a piece of Voldemort’s nasty soul.
Deathly Hallows is a slow start to the epic finale of the movies, as it probably should be since it is setting up for the big showdown in Part 2. The dark tone of the movie allows viewers to feel the heavy emotion that is showing on screen. Even happy occasions are ruined by Death Eaters and we find the trio on the run, avoiding getting themselves killed. Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint deliver outstanding performances. Of course, they have had ten years to perfect their roles as the infamous trio. Radcliff said they gave it all they got for their last time playing these characters. It shows.
The movie is not all doom and gloom, however. The juxtaposition of the light hearted moments make the film even more believable, makes the audience feel even more connected to these characters. Use of comedic moments, either with dialogue or magical accidents, provide a nice break from the hardcore atmosphere of the impending doom of the Wizarding world. Fred and George, the hilarious pair of Weasley twins, always provide a laugh or two. Deathly Hallows allows others to provide some chuckles including Fleur Delacour/Weasley turned into a bra-wearing Harry via Polyjuice Potion.
Let’s talk about magic as it is not a Harry Potter movie without magic. Deathly Hallows does not have as much magic as the past films and magic is certainly not the focus of the movie. However the scenes in which use a great deal of magic, such as the chase scene near the beginning and the incredibly swirling mass of Voldemort’s soul coming out of the locket Horcrux, are very subtle yet effective moments that says “Hey, we know this is a fantasy, magical movie. Here’s your magic.”
Exhilarating. That is what Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was. Although probably the slower of the two movies, Part 1 was still a great ride for the audience. The movie is probably more suited for those who have been devoted to reading the books or a fan of all the movies, as this particular movie jumps right into the thick of things instead of explaining past events. And if you have not been apart of this phenomenon in some way, then why not? Pick up Sorcerer’s Stone and get started. You do not want to miss being apart of this.

The End is Near - Harry Potter's finale brings memories

I was twelve years old when I first read The Sorcerer's Stone. My good friend and partner-in-geeky-crime presented me with the book when we should have been listening to our teacher. I begin reading it right there in class - the rest is history as they say.

Now, nearly twelve years later, the series still enchants me and its millions of other fans across the world. From the books to the movies to the video games to the toys to the shiny new amusement park, Harry Potter is a phenomenon to be reckoned with.

And now the final movies are being release.

On November 19th, Part One of what is sure to be an amazingly accurate and action-packed finale begins. Deathly Hallows has Harry and company on the run from the powerful and intense Lord Voldemort. Part 1 will not show their final showdown, but it will not be a snooze. The first 24 chapters of the book is packed with situations and settings ranging from fight scenes on broomsticks to weddings to emotional deaths. Part 1 is sure to not dissapoint.

I am devoting the entire week to Harry.
November 15 - watching Sorceror's Stone and Chamber of Secrets
November 16 - watching Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire
November 17 - watching Order of the Phoniex and Half Blood Prince
November 18 - relaxing all day, taking an after noon nap, and going to a midnight release of Deathly Hallows Part 1!!!!
November 19 - possibly seeing the movie again with sane people who do not go to midnight releases

There are plenty of things I have left to do in this fandom, like visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, but this movie brings tears. What has been twelve years of my life all comes down to seeing the seventh book come alive on the screen. It's incredibly, hauntingly beautiful, and I can not wait till midnight strikes on the 19th.

Punched in the Face - Preview of Sucker Punch

I can not exactly remember when I heard of Zack Snyder’s latest creation. All I know is that it excited me beyond anything…and as more information comes about the film which debuts in March, I can not stop grinning.

The story goes a little something like this: