I am not a huge fan of Harry Potter. I can see the appeal of the books, certainly, but they aren’t really for me. Not to say I dislike Harry Potter, of course, and I can relate in a sense to the sort of Harry Potter fan who will go to midnight book launches and film openings wearing a full Hogwarts outfit complete with wand and Sorting Hat. It was only last year, after all, that I was making plans to go to the Nintendo Wii launch in Nottingham wearing one of my many Nintendo tee-shirts (which would have been hidden underneath one of my many Nintendo hoodies anyway). I didn’t go because I couldn’t afford to, but I think it’s safe to say that if I could have afforded to go, I would have. Oh yes.
That said, I do seem to get a rather immature delight from pretending that the world of Harry Potter infuriates me. Dropping my head in my hands whenever one of our friends (because they’re not just my Dad’s friends anymore) mentions the impending seventh book, or talks about the new film, has become almost habitual now. It’s silly really. I think it’s because it makes people laugh, and I have a deeply rooted urge to make people laugh, even if it makes me look foolish. I’m often doing that; making myself seem stupid or ignorant just to get a smile from someone. I seem to hop between Ignorance and Brilliance as and when it suits me, as and when I think whichever response is most likely to generate mirth.
I am, once again, sort of straying from the point. There’s something else I’m good at - digressing.
On Tuesday night Dad, Linda, a few friends and I went to to the midnight opening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’d never gone to a midnight anything before, despite planning, and I thought it’d be fun to go along. That night I didn’t say a single negative word about the franchise, probably because my internal censor (who, I imagine, bares a stark resemblance to Chris Barrie) thought the better of it. I had a thoroughly enjoyable night out, and the film was quite good too. It felt short, as though there were bits missing (Warner Bros. took the longest book and somehow managed to make the shortest Potter film to date), but it was rather enjoyable overall.
My only gripe with the film was its reliance on A-List British celebrities. If it were me, and I were in charge of a bloody great big film series such as Harry Potter, I’d be using it as a chance to cast unknowns in at least some of the bigger roles. Seeing Helena Bonham Carter cast in a role that she obviously enjoyed filming is lovely, but it might’ve been nice to see some fresh blood. Particularly as, according to online rumours, the character she plays briefly in this film plays a rather important part in the seventh book. Oh well. Hollywood needs bankable names, and casting Jeanne Bloggs or Daniella Noname isn’t going to make them any money. Except this is a Harry Potter film. It’s going to make them a ton of money whether they cast the role with Helena Bonham Carter or William bloody Shatner.
That’s my gripe over and done with.
Incidentally, I’d like to remind my loyal readers that nothing says “revenge” quite like success.
Edit: Apparently I’d completely missed my blog’s second Birthday at the end of June. I think I have a good enough excuse considering I’ve been totally altering damn near every aspect of my life, so I think my blog will forgive the belated “Happy Blogday” mention.
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