So, I've created a blog. I was inspired by my friend (and roommate) Bobby Frasier. You can check his out at http://rwfrasier.blogspot.com/. I tried to resist the creation of such a blog after the Xanga fiasco... does anyone even remember Xanga? I know you do Jim. I just didn't think anyone would care to keep checking my blog. Whatever. Over it. If you're here, you apparently have some morbid curiosity about what I would like to say so here goes:
Welcome to Palm Cove.
Is it just me or are touch lamps probably one of the coolest inventions ever? I think we all feel a little magical when we merely brush our fingertips against the base of one of these lamps and the room is suddenly filled with light. My parents have one in the guest room in their house (where I've been staying all week watching the cats) and the highlight of my night is when dusk settles in and I go into the room and turn on that light. "Lumos!" I mutter and the room is instantly awash in glorious light. Is that not the coolest thing ever? Then again, maybe it is just me.
Speaking of magic, I would like to discuss Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. First of all, I'll just get it off my chest. I loved this movie. Was it different from the book? Yes, of course; at some parts, almost irretrievably different, and yet, it was still a fantastic film. I'm currently re-reading the book and there are, of course, some happenings that I would've liked to have seen in the movie. Unfortunately, they just wouldn't have fit with the way the movie was made. When making a movie based on a book, the screenwriter(s) must decide what's most important to tell the core story of the book. Sadly, this means that a lot of stuff gets left out. There are so many things from the novel that were left out of the film simply because at this point in the vast mythology of the HP films, they wouldn't make sense. For instance: the entire arc of Dobby the House Elf. In the sixth installment of the novel series, Harry enlists Dobby and Kreacher (another house elf, begrudgingly enslaved to Potter) to tail Draco Malfoy and report to him (Potter) what he (Malfoy) is being so secretive about. This is a prime example of a story element that would be completely out of place as, in the movies, Dobby was only mentioned in the second one and Kreacher was barely mentioned in the fifth. To have these two house elves, who play relatively large parts throughout the series (one more than the other), just randomly show up like they've been there the whole time would confuse the non-Potter reading viewers. Sadly, believe it or not, studios produce films to make money. Sure, if they can tell a good story while doing it, that's great too. On the whole, however, it's cash they're after. To alienate an entire viewing audience by introducing and re-introducing important (albeit minor) characters randomly here and there throughout the movies wouldn't make sense to studio execs. They know that Harry Potter fans are going to see the movies anyway (if for no other reason than to be able to yell about how much better the books are) so they simplify to pull in the non-literary types who just like to go see a sweet movie about really friggin' cool magic. I think I've rambled on enough about that for now. In closing, the Harry Potter series of books: I'm in love with them. The Harry Potter series of movies: I'm in love with them also. One must simply learn how to separate the two before one can truly appreciate both.
