A trial post

Woot~

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Rants, raves and spoilers

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
~ J.K. Rowling

This is my erm…. third time reading this? I know, I know… it’s just crazy but a nice kind of crazy don’t you think, getting swept up in Potter mania? This is a proper summary of the latest and last *sniff-sniff* Potter book.

Dumbly wrote out a will addressing 3 items that will help Harry, Ron and Hermione in their quest to destroy all the Horcruxes.

Ronald Bilius Weasley received the Deluminator or the Put-Outter. We saw Dumbly use this in The Philosopher’s Stone where he extinguished all the lights wit one click. It incidentally also has othe rmagical properties that aided Ron in finding Harry and Hermione again when he left the team in a huff of a temper.

Hermione Jean Granger got a Runes book titled Tales of Beedle the Bard. This book captures the details of the history of the deathly Hallows and helped all 3 to understand their significance.

Harry James Potter received a the first snitch which he caught in his first ever Quidditch game. Inside, Dumbly has placed the Resurrection Stone. The snitch would only open for Harry when he was about to die and he can use the stone.

Such a grim heading but seriously… I was fast losing track of whose dead by whose hand even before I’ve gotten through the first quarter of the book. Yeah, I know… I’m lousy that way. I’ll just document the main characters ya?

Charity Burbank – Hogwarts Muggle Studies professor, killed at the Malfoy’s mansion by Voldy (yes, I luuuurve Peeves and his way with words!) himself.

Hedwig – Harry’s snowy owl, killed during Harry’s escape from No. 4 Privet Drive. *sniff-sniff* Mrs D is so depressed over this.

Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody – Fame Auror and mentor of Tonks, killed during Harry’s escape from No. 4 Privet Drive. His body was never recovered.

Rufus Scrimgeour – Minister of Magic, killed by Voldy and his minions.

Bathilda Bagshot – Historian of Magic, was dead for sometime in Godric’s Hollow. Dead by Voldy’s hand too?

Ted Tonks – Father to Nymphadora Tonks, killed by Death Eaters.

Peter ‘Wormtail’ Pettigrew – killed by his own silver hand. About time for comeuppance and good riddance, I say! Pui! Traitor!!!!!! Scumbag!!!!!

Dobby – House elf, killed by Bellatrix Lestrange during his rescue of Harry, Ron, Hermione from the Malfoy Mansion. E texted me saying she cried bukets here. I myself wasn’t that emotional yet, that will come later. Heh…

Vincent Crabbe – Follower of Draco before turning into a Death Eater himself. Died by his own doing by casting the spell for cursed fire, Fiendfyre, which he couldn’t outrun. Dumb ass.

Fred Weasley – Twin to George Weasley. Died at the final Battle of Hogwarts. Now, I turned on the taps for Fred. How can Rowling finish off one twin? How!??? I couldn’t stem the flow of tears!!! Fred, the handsome one. Fred, the joker, Fred, my love!!!!!!!! Argh~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remus ‘Moony’ Lupin – A full-fledged werewolf and husband to Dora Tonks. Killed at the final Battle of Hogwarts.

Nymphadora Tonks – Wife of Remus Lupin. Died together with him at the final Battle of Hogwarts. *sniff-sniff*

Severus Snape – Hogwarts Potion Porfessor, informer to both Dumbly (term courtesy of Peeves again…) and Voldy. He was killed by Nagini, under Voldy’s orders. But before he expelled his last breath, he managed to extract his memories and handed them to Harry.

Those memories showed another side of Snape – the human side, as the insecure teenager who found comfort and companionship in none other than Lily Evans. Lily was his confidant and friend, whom he eventually fell in love with, not that she knows it of course. It was Snape who offered his allegiance and services as Voldy’s informant to Dumbly in exchange for protection for Lily. Even after Lily died, he continued to protect Harry. The reason? Oh drats… even I found it dumb. Oh well. Anyway…. He continued to protect Harry from Voldy because of his love for Lily and that Harry had Lily’s eyes.

Which is why before he died, he requested that Harry look into his eyes. He died looking at “Lily” in a way. Heartwarming or tacky? You decide.

Drats… Now I can’t hate him properly as the turncoat.

Bellatrix Lestrange – One of the most loyal Death Eater and cousin to Narcissa Black, killed by an enraged Molly Weasley.

Nagini - (Pet) Snake of Voldy. Neville, the unlikely super hero, loped off the reptile’s head with the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

Albus Percival Wilfric Brian Dumbledore aka Dumbly – I know he died in the Order of the Phoenix but do you know how and why? Don’t give me the smart ass answer of “Avada Kedavra” arh! It was pre-planned between Snape and Dumbly that if he should die, it should be by Snape’s hand because it would determine the ownership of a particularly powerful magical object…

Harry Potter/ piece of Voldermort’s soul - Yes, yes… He dies – sort of. Voldy took a shot at him and his aim was true. But Voldy’s couldn’t kill Harry because of their blood magical linkage (Voldy used Harry’s blood for resurrection remember?). So when Voldy is alive, the magical linkage is alive and therefore Harry cannot die. Instead, the Killing curse meant for Harry destroyed the piece of Voldy’s soul that was left inside Harry. This sounds so convulated.

Voldemort – Died by his own doing when his wand did not obey him and the Killing Curse rebounded on him a second time in his life. Orh-bi-good. But seriously, what an anticlimatic way for the greatest-Dark-Wizard-of-all-time to die. 

George Weasley – But missing one ear, which was blasted off by Snape with a well-placed ‘Sectumsempra’.

Aberforth Dumbledore – Brother of Dumbly and he is actually the proprietor of The Hog’s Head!!!!

Percy Weasley – Finally came to his senses and was welcomed back into the fold and participated in the Battle at Hogwarts.

Molly Weasley – Wife of Aurther Weasley. The personification of my now-favourite phrase of “YOU BITCH!” while she blasts Bellatrix Lestrange to nothingness. *standing-ovation*

Neville Longbottom – Not only did Neville lead the rebellion from inside Hogwarts in the final leg of the battle, he also participate in the Battle at Horgwarts, aided by his very formidable grandmother! Do say hello to Professor Longbottom at the end of the book, when he takes on the appointment of Herbology professor!

Harry, Ron and Hermione – As I’ve mentioned to a few people, it is a children’s book. A phenomenal, widely acclaimed children’s book. You can’t kill off the leads! If not, Rowling will have to deal with many lawsuits involving serverly traumatised children (and some adults too I should think!)

A horcrux is an item that a Dark wizard uses to store parts of his soul for the sole purpose of attaining immortality. It is made in the presence of a murder together with a spell to trap a part of a ripped soul inside the object. Horcruxes can only be destroyed by another more powerful magical object to the point where it cannot be magically repaired.

The first Horcrux is Tom Riddle’s diary, which was left in Lucius Malfoy’s care. He passed this on to Ginny Weasley in The Chamber of Secrets, where it used Ginny to open the Chamber to release the Basilisk. It was destroyed when Harry plunged a Basilisk fang into the pages and burnt a hole through the pages.

The second Horcrux is Marvolo Gaunt’s ring aka The Resurrection Stone. It was hidden in the Gaunt’s house where Dumbly found it and destroyed it with the Gryffindor sword.

The third Horcrux is Slytherin’s locket, which was hidden in a cave by the sea. This was the horcrux that was to be Dumbly’s downfall, as in the attempt to retrieve it, Dumbly drank the potion surrounding the locket, which made him delusional and weak. He was unable to battle and was killed by Snape. The destruction of this horcrux was left to Harry.

The fourth Horcrux is Hufflepuff’s cup. This was place in Gringotts and guarded zealously by Bellatrix Lestrange’s magic spells. Harry, Ron and Hermione broke into Gringotts to retrieve the cup. Hermione and Ron then entered the Chamber of Secrets, took a Basilisk fang and destroyed the cup. As to how they got in, it was written that Ron imitated Harry’s hissing and the door opened. Rubbish if you ask me – Parseltongue is so easily picked up?

The fifth Horcrux is Ravenclaw’s Diadem. It was hidden in the Room of Requirement when Voldy returned to Hogwarts to request for a position from Dumbly. It was destroyed in the fire curse, Fiendfyre, which was set by Crabbe.

The sixth Horcrux is Nagini the snake, which was chosen for her symbolic animalistic link to Slytherin. It was killed by Neville Longbottom with the Gryffindor sword.

The seventh Horcrux is none other than Harry himself. When Voldy’s Killing curse rebounded, he was weakened so much that a piece of his soul attached itself to the only living thing left in the wreckage, Harry – sommething which I doubt Voldy meant to do. It is this piece of Voldy’s soul inside Harry that allowed him to see into Voldy’s mind and speak Parseltongue. This was destroyed by Voldy’s himself when he thought he had killed Harry with a Killing Curse – only to destroy the last piece of his soul.

So essentially, there are 6 “official” Horcrux, 1 unintented Horcrux and 1 Voldy = soul that is ripped into 8 pieces. Not the magically powerful number of 7 but it auspicious in the Chinese context! Too bad Voldy didn’t 发.

The deathly hallows are objects created when the Peverell brothers manage to thwart Death. It is believed that anyone that holds all 3 objects would become the Master of Death.

The first Deathly Hallow is the Elder Wand, a powerfully magical wand that rendered the owner nearly undeafeatable. The ownship of this wand is a mightily sticky issue so go read for yourself. It is a pain to summarize.

The second Deathly Hallow is the Resurrection Stone, which was placed in the Gaunt ring and bequested to Harry by Dumbly inside a snitch. The user of the stone can communicate with the dead. Harry only managed to open the snitch and use the stone when he was about to die in tha hands of Voldy. He summoned his dead parents, Sirius and Lupin for comfort.

The third Deathly Hallow is none other than Harry’s Invisibility Cloak which he inherited from his father.

Harry returned the Elder Wand to Dumbly’s tomb after the Battle of Hogwarts, while the Resurrection Stone was lost in the Forbidden Forest and never found. The Invisibility Cloak is the only Hallow that Harry kept.

William ‘Bill’ Weasley and Fleur ‘Phlegm’ Delacour – They have a daughter Victoire Weasley.

Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks – They have a son Ted Lupin, which Tonks gave birth to just before they perished at Battle of Hogwarts.

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger – This one is a long time coming I should think. They have 2 children, Rose and Hugo Weasley.

Harry Potter and Ginerva ‘Ginny’ Weasley – Don’t tell me you didn’t expect this. They have 3 kids, Albus Severus (poor kid… He has a lot to live up to. Imagine the burden of trying to live up to the names of the great Headmasters of Hogwarts.), James and Lily Potter.

Draco Malfoy and me – Yes, I married Draco Malfoy. Since I couldn’t have Fred, I’ll take the second most handsome one which is Draco. We have a son and named him Scorpius Malfoy.

With an ending providing a glimpse into the future after Voldy’s death, is there anyone out there who, like me, thinks that Rowling is setting herself up for a sequel? What do you think of “Albus Severus Potter and the Rise of a New Evil”?? It was a nice and happy closure but I guess I would have preferred if she had just ended it with the defeat of Voldemort.

You can see check out the Black family tree if you are a super Harry Potter fan. The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione are in there too!

It is so weird to know that there will be no more Harry Potter books to look forward to yearly anymore. Nevertheless, for the Potterheads out there…

P/S: Finally finished writing!

PP/S: Whatever happened to Umbridge?

Nobody But You

Nobody But You
~ Julie Kenner

A night together with a runaway diamond smuggler Al Alcott convinced Jacey Wilder that she has found her right man – all the right trappings for marriage, home and kids. If only she didn’t mistake him for a serial killer and ran out on hom. Now that she has sorted that problem out (its a case of mistaken identity. Happens all the time right? By the way, I am not a famous blogger, not by all counts… Haha), Jacey just wants to find Al to rekindle the romance and cop a feel on his thoughts about tying the knot and settling down. In order to do that, she engages David Anderson, part-time author and part-time private detective to track down Al. Obstacles abound in the search like a supposedly dead Al, car vandalism and a stalker. Enroute, the undeniable chemistry that keep flaring up between Jacey and David makes Jacey questions if she is looking in the wrong direction – if her perfect man is already within sight. Will she be able to convince herself that the repressed yet kooky artist is soulmate to the down to earth, responsible yet flightly author?

I particularly enjoy Millie, David’s busybody aunt that wants him happily married to Jacey as she schemes, plots and badgers him on his singlehood. Her life long love relationship with Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon also cracks me up mightily as she figures that whatever works for Mel, will work in real life too.

Maybe I don’t understand the facination with film noir and those 50′s film covers because I sure didn’t like the cover on this book! It’s so… I-don’t-like. Dumb reason but not that it matters to you right? Sometimes personal preference comes into play when it concerns oneself so what ever makes you happy!  

First glimpse of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
~ J.K. Rowling

Oh wow… Wow…

Just 15 hours since I got my hands on the book, I finished it. But that is nothing compared to E, who competed her own epic journey with Harry within a mere 7 hours! And what a ride it has been. I just want to put down the thrill is the experience I have been through, no major spoilers, I promise! Maybe I will be a proper review another day.

Officially launched at 7.01 am local time today, I was all geared up to head to the bookstore to soak up some of the Potter Mania that grip all Potterheads worldwide. My family, friends and colleagues all thought I was nuts to do that for just a book (it is not JUST any other book!) and I drove them crazy with my incessant murmurings and requests for companionship on this special buying trip. All of them said no! No! So I went alone, reaching only at 7.30 am and shocked to find that there is a long queue snaking right out of the bookstore!The queue was moving really slowly and I didn’t get my hands on a book until 45 minutes later and I was already on an edgy, irritatable mood. Do not keep me away from my Harry Potter!

I was the first 200 customers of the day and got the specially printed paper bag. I chose to buy the adult cover, with picture of the Slytherin locket in front. I started learning towards the adult covers from the 5th book onwards, so my collection is split into 4-3 to the children’s covers. The adult covers are a lot more boring and dull compared the the vibrant, colorful and eye-cathcy children’s cover. Frankly, it is weren’t for the fact that Harry Potter is already a household name, the cover does not inspire much confidence in its contents. The title is meaningless on its own and the nondescript locket (looks more like an oversized and heavy pendant!) does nothing to add meaning to the title nor suggest what and how readers can relate to it in the book. By the way, I think the locket is really ugly, with its ornate “S” design and gems inlay. Where is the snae resemblance? Weighing in at about 600g and spanning 607 pages, this is only the second longest book in the entire series (The very boring and tedious Order of the Phoenix wins hand down at 766 pages!).

The start of the book was choppy and tedious and I braced myself for the disappointment of Order of the Phoenix all over again. The first few chapters are long and draggy and generally headed no where. The pace then picks up gradually and throws you into a wild ride of discovery and adventure. You will not be able to put down your book at all as you revisit everything, everyone and every place that has been covered in the past 6 books. It helps that Harry, Ron and Hermione are now of age, meaning that they can start using magic to zip all over the place, which speeds up the story greatly! Overall, this has been one frigging fun of a joyride as I round up the Harry Potter saga in the comfort of my bedroom. There is a lot of details to swallow in one sitting but I know I will certainly read this book again and again and again and find new details to marvel over each time. I came out of this read in a mixture of moods – numbed by death and despair by nearing the end of the book but also acknowledging that this is not a dark a book as compared to Order of the Phoenix.

Going into some details, I got to admit that I cried buckets when some of the characters died and at those “revelation” chapters. Just couldn’t stem the flow of tears as I keep asking Why. There were appearances of  ”effing”s and “YOU BITCH!” , language which Rowling employed that made me grin. I always thought that as much as the book is aimed at an adult audience, much of the readers are also kids. Time to bring out the white fluid correction pen! Haha.

What a way to spend and end my Saturday, It was worth it.

Happy Harry Potter Day 2007

I finally got my hands on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsat Popular Hougang Mall. Damn but it took me long. The system just had to break down! But I am triumphant!

    

This is my Harry Potter weekend. Read, read, read!

Second Sight

Second Sight
~ Amanda Quick

Writing under the psuedonym Amanda Quick, Jayne Ann Krentz writes up another wonderful novel of romance and mystery. The Amanda Quick persona is one which Krentz produces most of her Victorian historical romances and I am quick to point out (pun unintended!) that all of them have met with much success! Is it any wonder that Amanda Quick is my absolute favouritest historical romance writer ever? I think I have read almost all of her novels written under the Amanda Quick name!

Photographer Venetia Milton has her share of her secrets – from her father’s bigamy to her special paranormal ability of viewing people’s aura. She has been engaged by the Arcane Society to photogragh the artifacts in their club, where she meets Gabriel Jones and indulges in a night of illicit passion. Heir of an age-old society of scientists, alchemists and physics, Gabriel has a few of his own secrets. Together, initially aided by Gabriel’s cousin Caleb, they embark on a quest to track down a killer that is on the prowl for an mystic and ancient formula of the Arcane Society. This is a book that is packed full of details of mystery, evil and adventure, dark alleys, unusual clubs and cramp attics, supernatual abilities and card tricks and the indespensible romance!

Caleb later drops out of the story without explanation. Frankly, this story would have chugged right along without this character but I strongly suspect that she is just laying the grounds for a continuation and establishing the linkages between the novels. Still, what an ungainly way to of doing so by abruptedly axing Caleb from the stroy for “family reasons”. It was largely unsatisfying to be fobbed off with such a poor argument.

There is a noticeable drop in the number of chapters devoted to sex and ravishment in this book compared to her past titles. I really can’t make up my mind if I should be depressed and despondent about the lack of “descripters” or cheer that she has decided to focus more pages on building the mystery story plot (which is really quite thrilling!). The male and female leads used to be fornicating at every chance, on every available surface and in just about every situation - the most common being the quiet study, on the carpet or desk, in front of the fire place. Not to mention in a moving carriage, in a secluded corner of the park and definitely in bed. I shudder to think that the Victorian age is all about sex, sex, sex. Quick leaves nothing to the imagination anyway, with her detailed and very explicit sex scences.

Ok, I made up my mind, I’m miserable over the lack of sex. Afterall, I do live my life vicariously through her characters!

This is the first of the series of books on the Arcane Society. There are only 2 so far, with the other being White Lies, which is fast-forwarded to contemporary America.

If you are just a big a fan as me, do check out her other titles, all of which listed below I’ve completed.
1.  Seduction
2.  Surrender
3.  Scandal
4.  Rendezvous
5.  Ravished
6.  Reckless
7.  Dangerous
8.  Deception
9.  Desire
10.  Mistress
11.  Mystique
12.  Mischief
13.  Affair
14.  With This Ring
15.  I Thee Wed
16.  Wicked Widow
17.  Slighty Shady
18.  Don’t Look Back
19.  Late For The Wedding
20.  The Paid Companion
21.  Wait Until Midnight
22.  Lie By Moonlight
23.  Second Sight

I think I am a voyeur!!!! Oh, and Quick’s new book The River Knows is out in stores.

A Force Like Nothing on Earth

With me, chances are I’ll notice only the commercials for the Air Force and Navy. Yes, yes, I am very biased this way. The air force, afterall, is sort of like my alma matar.

The air force, is afterall, all about the planes and the chaps that fly them – read pilots. And the image that is conjured up with that little word? Tom Cruise ala fighter pilot in Top Gun. You are not too far wrong if you assume that pilots are the cream of the crop in the air force, they are – just that there are a lot of other players in the service as well and all have to work together in order to get the planes flying. You need to engineers and technicians to repair the aircrafts, you need logisticians to maintain the runway and facilities, you need air traffic controllers to direct air traffic and you certainly need pilots to fly the planes.

The new ad for the air force with the new tagline “A force like nothing on Earth” has been running for quite a while and I’ve gotta say, it is definitely one of the better commercials produced between the tri-services. The ad this time round focuses on technological prowess of the airforce and teamwork and pays tribute to the other professions within the air force as well.

There are air traffic controllers stationed at their monitors and with their headpieces. There are also some physically on the group directing the planes for take off and landing. But the air force cannot operate alone as a line of defence – there are the other 2 services too! The ground support crew is represented by the men in green, with their painted faces, and shaggy hats, running from their vehicles to the helicopters, ready at a moment’s notice to be deloyed for national defence and security. Despite all these, the bottomline that really sell the air force as a career are the planes, and the chaps that fly them (again!). You see the planes zipping in and out of formation in the air with ease and the pilots working together. I thought the thumbs up the pilots gave was a bit too much of a stretch but it looked good on television anyway. And anyone noticed the first scene with a pilot pulling the visor down? He is wearing glasses. After years of stringent regulations where pilots are to have perfect eyesight, the rules seem to have ease a bit in the past few years. Perhaps because Singapore has a heavily myopic population? Hehehehe….    You will see the closing scene in the ad re-enacted in this year’s NDP where the F15s will zoom overhead the CBD area in their fly past.

In the older ad of ‘Above All’, it focuses on a different part of the human emotional scale, preferring to sell air defence as peace and serenity. This is evident in not only the scenes but also the music. By the way, do we have meadows and rock formations like that in singapore anyway??? The fighter planes, their slipstream and shadows are featured prominently, personfication of protectiveness. They are a sumbol of defence and protection from above, in the sky.

‘Set your sights higher’ zooms in on international collaboration of the air forice in drawing on the best techonology worldwide to enhance our own defence. It also sells the Singaporean connection, regardless of the physical barriers.

‘Mission ready 24/7′, as the name suggests, is to showcase the air force’s operational readiness at any one time. Frankly, I hate this ad and feel that the prodcers ought to be shot. The concept is so 90s, with choppy connections of different scences and tacky one liners from time to time. Urgh!

All the ads have a play on the words used, with the exception of Mission Ready 24/7, suggesting not only that the air force provides protection and defence from high above in the air, but also to urge people to join the air force as a means to elevate and improve themselves. Join the air force and be a cut above the rest? You decide.

You can catch the all commercials here.

Supernatural: Season 2

Supernatural
Warner Brother’s Television

The brother was the first to start watching this and I only caught on when I saw the very, very handsome leads in show. Shallow but at least I’m tuning in. They are already in Season 3 in the United States but we are not too far behind with Season 2 now airing on Channel 5 and AXN.

Jared Padalecki plays Sam Winchester, the younger of the brother spirit-busting duo.  He is a cynic and disbeliever before, but with the death of his girlfriend (supposedly killed by a demon), he channels all this anger and angst and pitches in with his brother to hunt and kill all things evil. He is the more reserved of the duo and takes on the role as researcher and scout. He is also one that rules by emotions and relies on that to make judgements, evident from the episode where he and Dean, having decided that the trio of vampires were harmless, released them instead of killing the vampires. His boyish charm is also drastically enhanced by his unwavering loyalty to his family – he would do anything for and to protect Dean. Appearance-wise, he has this laid back charm and off-kilter smile that would melt hearts from 3 feet away.

Jensen Ackles plays Dean Winchester, the older brother to Sam Winchester. THIS IS THE REAL REASON I AM WATCHING SUPERNATURAL. How much more yummy can he get? Aaaaaah~ My kind of man! I love the angular lines and chiseled features that defines his face. I love that infectious grin that turns my mind to mush and limbs to rubber. I love the low baritone voice that reminds me of deep, dark, decadent chocolate. I want that man. Dean Winchester is a thrill seeker and continues his late-father’s career of hunting and vanquishing demons and spirits. He is into this purely for the love of the hunt, so much so that he has amassed a huge arsenal of weapons and has become a weapons expert in the art of killing the evil beings. Other things that he loves include his Chevy and feisty females. A flirt, yes, but a very charming flirt. With his bad boy good looks, he can wear a rice sack and still come out looking sexy. Some things in life are just so unfair!

There are the usual idiosyncrasies in the series (different scenes patched together, senseless actions and all) but they have come up with a good, solid story plot for each episode and together, they all build towards a different final ending each season. They characters have depth and each facets are slowly uncovered with each episode – giving viewers something to build upon each time. Dean and Sam have progressed much since the first season and are still growing. This is also the same for the rest of the supporting cast. A good things since it lures the viewers in to identify with the character and keeps us interested. The supernatural beings that they come in contact with are also given air time to build their “evil” characteristics, thus giving a more fulfilling picture. We wouldn’t want to be watching a show for its mindless brutality and killing would we? Even the methods employed for annihilation of the evil spirits are given some thought to make it believable. With a great cast and a solid foundation of story-telling, I am enjoying this series immensely.

Kudos to the Emmy nomination! I am lending my support there too!

Not a Girl Detective

Not a Girl Detective
~ Susan Kandel

This is one out-and-out femme fatale chick mystery story. And who is the greatest and most famous girl detective of all times? Kudos to those who answered ‘Nancy Drew’. 70 years on, she is still a ripe young teen thrilling readers with her prowess in detecting and sleuthing. But this book isn’t about Nancy Drew, its about her story, her conception, her fans and her technique. In the middle of all that, mix in a murder and the famous Spanish artist Salvador Dali and you’ve got yourself one heck of a story.

Our female protagonist is Cece Caruso, an expert on and an avid fan of Nancy Drew. She attends conventions, gives seminars and write books on Nancy Drew and her pseudonym author Carolyn Keene. For someone who thinks that she will never match up to her heroine, she is roped into a situation where life imitates art and she takes on a detective role to investigate the murder of one of her close friends. She exemplifies what made Nancy Drew stand out and is as persistent and thorough as Nancy was and manages to unearth the elaborate plot of murder to uncover the secret behind the painting of Nancy Drew.

This book packs quite a bit of background information on Nancy Drew and Salvador Dali. For those who are already familiar with either characters, it will be a breeze to understand the references made. Otherwise, it will still be a pleasurable read, and you get a fantastic introduction to 2 very prolific people in history! It might just pique your interest enough for you to get started on your own research.

Hairy Pooter and the Disorder of the Phonies

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Warner Brothers Production
Directed by David Yates

P had an extra ticket for me to the company’s screening of the movie so we out at the cinema till midnight on a Thursday. And what a waste of time. Sheesh. Harry Pooter and the Disorder of the Phonies This movie was so bad, us Harry Potter fans were snoozing at our seats by the end of the first hour.

The first thing that hit me was – Daniel Radcliff and Harry Potter has grown up! And so has Dudley Dursley! Look at how tall and beefy both have become. Gosh. Their faces have matured, voices broken and I could not help but pay particular attention to their physique. It can certainly be said that their acting has improved as well, with less of the exagerated facial movements and more subtle execution of moods. With the growing up of the characters, they were also clothed differently – tending towards the preppy chic, with blazers, t-shirts, collars and sneakers. These are characterized by the mix of formal and casual styles and earth tone colors, but yet maintaining the freshness and energy level of the wearer. I like their clothes indeed.

I have grouses against Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort though. It really is such a waste that a good looking guy like that got reduced to a white glob in this film. That little thing aside, Voldemort hardly came out as a threat in this film. He is almost reduced to the background with only small cameo appearances throughout the show, taunting Harry in visions, and makes his only main appearance at the battle at Ministry of Magic at the end. By then, I have lost my interest in the draggy and incoherent film. The flashes of lights from the wands merely zipped past in front of my eyes without me noticing much of them.

Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, on the other hand, was a joy to watch. She did her “Ahem”s and sickly sweet voice so well I was grinning everytime she came on. Not to mention that pink really is her color! I felt that she didn’t have enough room to showcase her acting capabilities here. Staunton really melded into her role so well I felt like slapping her at some point for her reprimand of Harry and gang.

Overall, Harry Pooter and the Disorder of the Phonies Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was dissappointing and lacklutre, after all the hype and anticipation drummed up for this release. It came across as disorieted and haphazard, with director Yates just picking scenes which would look good in motion picture – special effects, action, loud explosions, rather than having a smooth, coherent story line. Each scene was disjointed from the preceding one, as if they were unrelated events merely cut and collated together. In fact, the ride through the two hours thirty minutes was so choppy I was feeling queasy at the end. For all that action, Q, who isn’t a Harry Potter fan to begin with, found this film incomprehensable. The first question he asked after coming out of the cinema was “What was that all about?”. A clear indication that a film has failed, when you fail to bring across the storyline and message and thus resuting in viewer disengagement. Harry Pooter and the Disorder of the Phonies by any other name would be just as lousy.

I wonder how J.K. Rowling could have stood aside and watch her book being mauled like this. With only 2 more films to go, I hope something is done to right the poor directing, producing and cinematography that the Harry Potter series has sunk into. We can only hope that it does not continue and culminate in the ultimate diaster of an ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Bring back Chris Columbus. He was the only one that really understood the magic of Harry Potter. Remember that feeling of magic (literally) when he brought us Muggles for the first time into Diagon Alley? Its suppose to feel like that.

UPDATE!
It seems that I am not alone when it comes to bad reviews for Hairy Pooter!

The Bully says: i agree. it was crap
Moo-Moo says: ya!!!!!!!!!!! waste my time lah!!!!! 2.5 hours somemore
The Bully says: no quidditch.
Moo-Moo says: lousy storyplot. cho chang also very fugly
The Bully says: n i thot the centaurs will kick the bloody woman in the face.
Moo-Moo says: ya lah!
The Bully says: dat kiss, fucking hell, say until like wat
Moo-Moo says: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The Bully says: cho was not drop dead gorgeous
Moo-Moo says: FUGLY
The Bully says: luna was a much better actress
Moo-Moo says: but she wasnt kooky enough too
The Bully says: but she got potential
Moo-Moo says: agree
The Bully says: good for sth like “i saw dead ppl” sequel
Moo-Moo says: better than miss 臭
The Bully says: she’s no more than a calafair
Moo-Moo says: dont say, i fell asleep u know
The Bully says: ya, knoe wat u mean. the onli highlight was dat rows in front of me 2 ppl started fighting becos of seat kicking. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Moo-Moo says: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. at least u got some entertainment out of your $9.50!