'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne & J.K. Rowling: Mel's Quickie Review

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016. 

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

 

Group Book to Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Begun a decade ago and encompassing six shelf-bending novels, the seventh and concluding volume of the international literary phenomenon that is the Harry Potter saga comes to a bombshell-packed - and oh so satisfying - conclusion in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, arguably the most wildly anticipated release in modern publishing history. (from Goodreads)

Sadly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final book in this spellbinding series by J.K. Rowling. I have to say, I was one of those who had spent hours agonizing over what would go down in this final installment. I had notebooks full of theories..yes I needed a life, but that is neither here nor there. There is so much on the line for Harry and his friends and it all comes to a head in this poignant conclusion. 

In all honesty, upon reflection after the initial omg I finally know what happens feeling faded, I really was not overly impressed with this book. I didn't find it flowed as well as it's predecessors. The story seemed to stutter several times before finding a rhythm towards the end. Did I still enjoy it, yes, of course. However, when held up to the first six books I found it lacking.  A must read, of course, merely to see how all those loose ends get tied up. But not an earth-shattering finale in my opinion. 

My Rating: 

I try to be a fast reader, I really do, but I simply ran out of time here, and I haven't even started The Deathly Hallows. Since I am a terrible person, you won't be getting my opinion of the book, but I will tell you my opinion on the movies.

These two movies are probably the most-watched flicks in my household, and really, I'm not sick of it, yet. It's a nerve rattling story and it made me cry and flinch and even snort a few times. 

Though I do think there was a lot going on (which will probably also make me huff in the book), which left a lot to remember, and a lot to click here to there from there to here. I like braiding with stories, but come on... We don't need five million strands going on at one time.

All in all I think it's a great conclusion to this saga, tied up everything in a nice little bow, and didn't disappoint at all. As a movie on its own, it's highly enjoyable.

My Rating:

And so we leave the best for last! This book had to have been a challenge to write; with all the storylines Rowling needed to bring full circle and the loose ends to tie up. For those Potter fans that think they knew exactly how this would end, don't be so sure, Rowling keeps you guessing until the very end about what will really happen. I loved this book most of the series, how fantastic as a reader is it to be invited into this person’s life, to live with them for several years, to experience their pain and happiness, joy and sorrow. Through these 7 extremely well written books we have gotten to ride along with Harry and company and now we get a front row seat to the finale! We’ve read Harry’s journey, now we get to read the destination!

I think Rowling did a fantastic job and it was a fitting end.

My Rating:

Along the way they have left entirely too much out of the books when making the movies, it just makes me ill. They completely destroyed Neville’s character, he was definitely a main character in the books and they tried to turn him into a side show in the movies, they make up for that slightly in the final movies. The relationship with Harry and Ginny was NOT, NOT, NOT relayed at all accurately in the movies! That being said, the movie in and of itself, LOVED IT! Part 1 was a bit slow in places but it was a necessary step to get to the finished product. I saw Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows part II at a midnight showing; there were more people there in costume than not. It was so fantastic, the kids were having duels and playing quidditch, there were even 2 grown men dresses as Sirius and Severus dueling it out with their wands; it just made the experience all the more fantastic.

The fastest 2.5 hours of my life, from start to finish this movie kept me engrossed and anxious. I’ve read the book twice, I know what’s going to happen! And yet, I was sitting on the edge of my seat like a giddy school girl. There is a lot of darkness in this movie as well, many people die, many senseless deaths; sacrifices are made and the bonds of friendship that have been forged are put to the ultimate test, who will make it out with their lives? If you are the one person on the planet who hasn’t seen this movie (any of these movies) you must! It touches those of all ages and all walks of life. 

My Rating: 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling: Review

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even the Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And yet . . .

As with all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate—and lose a few eyebrows in the process. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort—and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability. (from Goodreads)

This series is so sporadic with quality it astounds me. There is no real middle ground; I either love, or I hate the book, and I can say for Half-Blood Prince, it's the former.

This book is amazing. It has suspense, and romance, and humor, and heart-break, and even with everything going on I wasn't bored! There wasn't a moment where I was waving my hand and huffing because two [or more] characters were taking a billion years to figure out the obvious, nor were there spots where I was growling at the characters for being idiots.  

Also, without spoiling anything, I'm gonna hint real quick here...You all should know by now how much I love love-stories that have been budding and growing for YEARS (years, people, YEARS!). And we see that here... And this makes me very happy. :3

All in all I REALLY enjoyed this installment in the series, and I'm very much hoping the next one (the final book) won't disappoint.. I like to end on a bang.

My Rating:

Now, I couldn't have liked this movie that much (and neither did my family, for that matter) considering we don't own it. Whoops. So I'm going on memory with this review, so hang with me, guys...


...um. In all honesty, everything I read from book six, I don't remember seeing the movie. Some things seemed familiar, but that was the extent. This bothers me... Main points are brushed aside, and look flat-out wrong (*cough* aforementioned love-story*cough*), characters are forgotten, points are dulled, I just... This gives me a headache, readers, seriously.


I don't know why I let Mel talk me into this; I used to love the movies! And now, so far, I approve of two, hate two, can separate ONE and then, there's this... I have tainted my favorite movies... Though, I suppose that's not on Mel or the books, but on the directors, now, isn't it? 


*sigh* I am genuinely scared of how my opinion is going to drop when I finish book 7... For book 6, here, I'm not as disappointed as I was for the previous film (or book 3....will. not. let. this. go.), so...

My Rating:

Treasured Thursdays: Harry Potter Style Part 4

Treasured Thursday is a weekly event created by Touya over at The Reader's Garden that is all about our most treasured. I'm hosting it here now, for those of you who are interested in joining me. This month, as you all know by now, we are ALL about Harry Potter, so we decided to focus on HP specific topics. This week we're talking about (as weird as this is going to sound) our most treasured Death Eaters. Come on, you all know, everyone has at least one Death Eater they have a soft spot for. Here are ours. 


For me, this was simple and honestly, I'm surprised I'm the only one who made this choice. My most treasured Death Eater is..

That's right people. Severus Snape. I have to admit, I spent a good portion of the series loathing his character but once you know his back story, that changes things slightly. Who here has never made a bad choice? Never wanted to take something they've done back? I know I have. Snape lived his mistake every day. And while I didn't like the way he treated Harry, I understand it better now. I can't imagine how confusing that must have been for Snape. I can't say more, obviously because we don't do spoilers. But I will say this, he is probably the character with the most depth in the entire series. And he was perfectly portrayed by Alan Rickman. He simply IS Severus Snape. In my opinion, Severus Snape is one of the greatest characters ever written. 

Be real, people, there are no 100% Death Eaters that we all truly LIKE. They are all a bunch of evil people, for God's sake! No one sides with them, and not one of us were crying if they died. And if you are, well… Let me know who, otherwise I’ll just be hiding now.

But! With that very ranty thing, I have to say, this one? This one I LIKED.

Bellatrix Lestrange.. 

Now, heh, I realize she’s killed off my favorite character ever (I won’t say in case you haven’t seen the movies but… Yeah, get off the computer and go WATCH IT. Urgh.) and has caused more heartbreak than one person can handle, but come ON guys… The poor girl is brainwashed! 

Honestly, I find her story a bit sad. She is so helplessly and utterly in love with Voldemort (guess this really proves looks don’t matter, eh?) and I’m really not sure she truly and fully understands he would kill her in an instant to get his way. And though I usually detest females who are THIS obsessed with a guy, I actually like how this was done. It’s not like Voldemort pretended to love her back because he has mental issues, he just treated her like a good pet kitty and called it a day (at least in the movies, haven’t gotten that far yet!)

Bellatrix, while batshit and evil as they come, would definitely be someone I do treasure… Even if that makes me weird… Especially because I cheered when it was all over… *blinks* Ah, well. I loved it all the same!

Narcissa Malfoy; hands down! She is more active in the books than the movies but when she is in the movies it is almost always about Draco. Hate the Death Eaters and even the Malfoys all you want but, she is a mother first and foremost and I LOVE that about her! Her protectiveness of her son is what makes her so special to me. She defies Voldemort to find Draco, it’s exactly what I would have done. I can’t say more without letting loose some spoilers and we can’t have that. She’s my pick, enough said!

These are our most treasured, tell us about yours!

Tammy's Two Cents: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Book to Movie Review

There is a door at the end of a silent corridor, and it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?

Harry has a lot on his mind for this, his fifth year at Hogwarts: a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey; a big surprise on the Gryffindor Quidditch team; and the looming terror of the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. But all these things pale next to the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — a threat that neither the magical government nor the authorities at Hogwarts can stop.

As the grasp of darkness tightens, Harry must discover the true depth and strength of his friends, the importance of boundless loyalty, and the shocking price of unbearable sacrifice.

His fate depends on them all. (from Goodreads)

This book annoyed me far more than any in the series, why is that you ask? Dolores Umbridge! I’m convinced that Rowling was receiving hate mail regarding the Dursleys and had to create a character we could loath even more than Vernon; mission accomplished! Even the book sleeve described her as having a "personality like poisoned honey." Aside from that, I loved it. Surely it’s the darkest of the series yet. This book still provides us some unexpected twists and turns. Just another aspect of Rowling’s writing that makes you want to read her books. We are left with an emotionally exhausting ending, on many levels. The surprising yet exciting climax left me in tears, not to mention the biggest secret of any of the books is revealed. So big in fact, after reading the final installments in the series you will realize, this secret molded the events that took place after its discovery.

What I liked most about this book, in particular is that we finally get some answers to all those burning questions that have plagued us thus far. And we are left asking ourselves at what point in someone’s life do they begin to question the balance of good and evil that lies within them?  

My Rating:

I LOVED this move by itself. If you read the book, however, it was extremely disappointing. This is the movie for me that I really started to notice the lack of content from the books moving to the screen. Neville Longbottom is, in my opinion, a main character in the books. He is reduced to a side kick in the movies, especially this one. I don’t think they translated what we experienced while devouring the book onto the screen very well. There were necessary parts of the book noticeably missing from the movie, it was upsetting. Having said that, I have watched this movie dozens of times and I do love it. I am able to separate the book and the movie and make them 2 separate entities, it is still unfortunate.

And let me just say, the word “Ahem” makes my skin crawl; when I hear someone giggle I want to smack them; and this movie will make you hate the color pink! But that’s just my two cents.

My Rating: 

Adaptation of the book 2/5 Quills

The movie in and of itself 5/5 Quills.

Treasured Thursdays: Harry Potter Style Part 3-A Double Dose

Treasured Thursday is a weekly event created by Touya over at The Reader's Garden that is all about our most treasured. I'm hosting it here now, for those of you who are interested in joining me. This month, as you all know by now, we are ALL about Harry Potter, so we decided to focus on HP specific topics.  This week we're giving you a double dose; our most treasured member of Dumbledore's Army and our most treasured member of the Order of the Phoenix. 


Once again, Tammy got my pick first and it seems I got Lana's as my second choice, so I'm going to do something a little different and talk a little about both Luna Lovegood & Neville Longbottom. 

These two are probably the most loyal of Harry's friends aside from Hermione & Ron. (Ok and Ginny, sorry. You know what I mean.) They have none of the information Ron and Hermione do about what Harry has to do, and still, they are always there to support him and do what must be done to help the cause. They put themselves in mortal danger again and again to help Harry fight the Death Eaters. 


Luna is one of my favorite characters in the books (not so much in the movies). She is so unique and while most of what she says is a bit insane, there are little nuggets of knowledge there, too. 


"Oh, come on. You heard them, just behind the veil, didn’t you? They were just lurking out of sight, that’s all. You heard them."

And then we have Neville. The boy who has had just as tragic a childhood as Harry, without the neglect, of course. Neville was a favorite of mine from the moment at the end of the Sorcerer's Stone when he braved the Hogwarts hallways at night to try and warn Harry about something. Even though he was terrified of what could be out there, he still did it, to help his friends. 


'We were all in the D.A. together,' said Neville quietly. 'It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real – or was that all just a game or something?'
'No – of course it wasn't –' said Harry impatiently.
'Then we should come too,' said Neville simply. 'We want to help.'

I love both these characters dearly & really hoped to see them become a couple at the end of the series, but unfortunately Ms. Rowling didn't see fit to show us much of their future. 

 Onto my most treasured member of the Order of the Phoenix. I almost picked Dumbledore, but honestly, in my mind, one man stands out above the rest. Since the moment I finished Prisoner of Azkaban, I loved Sirius Black's character. To me it seemed, Sirius had always been something of an outsider, even in his own family. Then he had James and Remus at school, but then once the Potters were dead, he was left with nothing, quite literally. Unjustly imprisoned and left with the stigma of being a Death Eater, Sirius' life was far from fair.

"Believe me. I never betrayed James and Lily. I would have died before I betrayed them."

 I love the relationship between he and Harry. He is sort of a parent substitute/uncle/godfather/brother/friend all rolled into one. What I love about it most, though is that Harry doesn't just need and depend on Sirius to fill those holes in his life; it's definitely a two way street. Sirius needs Harry just as much. They are each other's family. 

Sirius is loyal and brave and somewhat arrogant at times. He can behave more like a teenager than a grown man when he's feeling useless but, he always comes through for Harry. Always. How can you not love a person like that? 

Combo meal, comin’ up!

HA! I love it. Mel has Luna and Tammy has Tonks. But seriously, there are no other people I feel the need to tip my hat to! I love when we’re all different but.. Ach. They have Neville and Sirius so it’s all good! ;D

Luna Lovegood, honestly, I didn’t trust her when she first came on screen. I thought she was just acting so…well…odd, to perhaps get in good graces with Harry and BANG stab him in the back, or something of that nature. But noooooooooo. I was wrong. Per usual when it comes to this series.

After I figured out she wasn’t going to kill anyone I liked, I began to just love her! Though nothing she says is really taken seriously, I believe she is onto something. And like Dumbledore, she comes up with the cutest little lines.

"Mistletoe," said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry's head. He jumped out from under it. "Good thinking," said Luna seriously. "It's often infested with nargles."

She’s a wonderful character and definitely a treasure!

As for Tonks…

…I love my fierce women! And if she isn’t that then I don’t know who is. She’s bitchy and fierce, but not to the point where she appears in a scene and I go, “Here we go; time to get pissed at the characters.” Nope. I love her.

Only thing I’m curious about it, why we didn’t see any story with Remus… Uh. In all honesty, seeing the movies first, I didn’t know they were together or even interested in each other until about the end. Actually, I thought he was her FATHER. I can tell this is gonna piss me off when I get to the book this is mentioned in, because lemme tell ya, if my girl got as shafted as it appears she did, I have a problem here… Urgh.

Sorry, sorry, I’m threatening the book before I even get to it. Bad Lana, BAD.

Anyway. Tonks is definitely my most treasured member of the DA- and the only contest? Mel’s got it covered ;)

“Don’t. Call me. Nymphadora.”

Neville Longbottom . Again, his storyline was much better in the books than in the movies; at least they included him in the movies at all! His story and watching him grow and battle his inner demons is almost as prolific as Harry’s. When Harry’s parents were killed and he was unfortunately tied to Voldemort we had a great many other tragedies as well. In the books, this is recognized, not so much in the movies. I really wanted to see him and Luna in the end as well, to see how they’d gotten along since leaving Hogwarts. I guess that is what imaginations are for!

TONKS! You know how I like my strong female characters; if they have a bit of bitch in them, even better! Here is yet another story line that was explored more fully in the books; Tonks and Remus. The movies don’t even show the struggle she had to get her man, he was so hesitant in the beginning; not only because of what he is,  but because of their age difference as well. It is such a great part of the books. I don’t understand why they couldn’t include it in the movies. We were on vacation in Florida when DH came out and I was reading it on the beach, crying like a baby. GAH! I swear they cut more stories from the movies than they left in. I’m aggravated now just thinking about it.

These are our most treasured, who are yours? 

Group Book to Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly. (from Goodreads)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series by J.K. Rowling. Overall, this book is one of my least favorite in the saga. We do  meet even more new characters and some new creatures, and that is always exciting. However, the story felt drawn out to me and downright slow in some places. I felt like the action started, stuttered and then stopped in certain areas. The climax is really what saved this book, in my opinion, from being mediocre to the core. While I did enjoy it overall, it still sometimes felt like a chore reading this book. 

My Rating: 

As much as I thought the book was redeemed by its ending,I found the movie to be beyond redemption almost from the beginning. Brilliant and funny scenes were left out of the adaptation leaving me bereft. Some characters were either completely omitted, changed or downgraded. Whole chapters were glossed over or left out; fifty pages cut down to seven minutes in the film. The replacement Dumbledore, I think, was the biggest letdown for me. I know it was unavoidable, but I just felt this actor came off as creepy in the extreme.  It was disappointing to say the very least.

My Rating:

And we return to the *sigh-time* books.

Would someone please explain this to me? I mean, I realize that the third book blew me off my feet and was very enjoyable and all that good stuff, but seriously? I’ve read four, (obviously) and 3 of them have bored me. This is where I gave up last time I tried reading these, and seriously, if Mel wasn’t telling me book five was good, I’d probably give up again.

To me, there was just so much going on in this book; it’s no wonder Rowling got bored. It’s a 700+ page book, and honestly, a lot of it wasn’t really necessary . . . Just my opinion. Like Rita Skeeter. I know she has her purpose, but with everything else going on in this novel, did we really need to add another person? If she’d have kept it on the Tri-wizard Tournament, I wouldn’t have gotten so friggin’ bored (and she might not have, either).

Another thing; can we stop with the Dark Arts teachers? I understand the point, it’s an easy way to enter new characters, but really… By this time I know they’re either evil or leaving! It’s not really a spoiler at this point—they’re all crazy. The job is cursed. Just give it to Snape, dammit, he actually WANTS it and he could probably handle whatever “curse” was on it. Bah. Why can’t a student be evil? Or the school be attacked? There are a lot of ways to introduce a new villain besides this schoolteacher. It is predictable and predictable is boring…

So, at this rate, my expectations for book 5 are low, again. Watch, I’ll like this one more! Haha

My Rating: 

2.5, really, but we don’t do halves and I’m rounding down today, so…

Now, for the movie. This is kind of like book 2 for me. After Chamber of Secrets, this was my favorite movie in the series. I thought it was traveling darker than 1-3 (and I love dark stuff) and I was startled several times when I watched it.

But I have to mention this. Now that I’ve read the books, I have to know, when did Hogwarts turn into McKinley? WHY does everyone have to sing and dance now like we’re watching Glee? (This coming from the girl who will watch any and every musical on the planet…) First we have them singing, “Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble” and now, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang come in with a performance? Seriously? I love musicals as much as the next person, but really?

And Ron…Dammit, Ronald. THIS is where I truly started hating Ron Weasley. All he does from here on out is pout and whine and cry over a bunch of crap. Sure, he’s upset about Harry getting the spotlight again, but if he had stopped and used the brain that was put up there (for apparently no reason), would he really WANT this? To be the boy-who-lived and be the one everyone looks to when there’s a problem? And instead of ignoring the life out of your date, why not go and ASK HERMIONE OUT IF YOU LIKE HER SO MUCH? I was hoping this was JUST in the movies but no. The only reason I mention it here is because it was very OBVIOUS to me in the movies.

Besides Ron, I really did like the movie…Even if half the book was missing…but really, unless we divided it in two, how do you get 700+ pages into a 2½ hour movie?

So, just looking at it as a movie, it’s a 4.5. Looking at it as a BOOK-TO-MOVIE, it’s a 2…so I’ll go in the middle and say three quills. Seem fair?

My Rating:

In the fourth installment of the series, Harry and his friends face new challenges and some of our beloved secondary characters take on a more prominent role. My personal new favorites are Fleur and Viktor along with their headmasters Maxine and Karkaroff. As well as one of my all time favorite parts of all the books, The Unforgivable Curses.

Rowling magnificently conveys how Harry and his friends are maturing in their fourth year and brings forth some resentments and infatuations. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that Rowling is definitely moving on to more serious matters. Friendships and honor are put to the test as the tension, jealously and anxiety comes to a head.

Rowling's undeniable talent keeps the suspense building throughout the book, I found myself flipping back several chapters to re-read certain things to ensure I was understanding some of the intricately entwined plots correctly. The Goblet of Fire will leave you anxiously awaiting the next installment.
My Rating:

FINALLY! I am not so upset that they left stuff out of the movie, I didn’t have to deal with the Dursleys!! WooHoo!!! I am, however, extremely upset that they boiled several chapters in the book down to 15 minutes in the movie.  Let’s be honest, when you take a 734 page book and attempt to squeeze it into a 2 hour movie, you are bound to miss some of the good stuff! 

I just watched this movie again (for the 51st time!) and as usual, it flows so well and before you even know it, it’s the end.  I can’t get away from the lack of story for Neville in the movies though, he was so much more prominent in the books and his story is almost an afterthought in the movies.

We come to the end of another fabulous Harry Potter movie. Of course, in the end, Dumbledore has the best line! “Dark and difficult times lie ahead Harry, soon we will all have to make the choice between what is right, and what is easy.” Somebody please tell me when Harry has ever been able to take the easy way out???? It was perfectly spoken though. LOVED IT!!! But that’s just my two cents.