tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72892815631336514972024-03-14T03:24:10.464-07:00The Flying ScribbleNoniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-63287847048613050382012-02-23T15:08:00.001-08:002012-02-23T15:28:49.476-08:00And the Award for Pretending To Know About Movies goes to...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1">It’s almost the end of a vacation week so now it means that I have go back to work on the projects and homework I’ve procrastinated it on (as usual). But how horrible is it that this week coincides with Oscar week? While I should be thinking about the Treaty of Versailles for European History, I’ve might’ve been thinking a lot of about who and what the Oscar winners are going to be come Sunday night. (</span>But I love movies and Oscar sunday is basically my family’s Superbowl, so I guess it makes sense that I love <strike>procrastinating with</strike> thinking about the Oscars.) </div>
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<span class="s1">I put together a list of predictions for the categories I’m looking forward to seeing the most. So here we go-<b> the predictions for the 84th Academy Awards</b>.......</span>*drumroll*: </div>
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<span class="s1">Best Visual Effects and/or Best Makeup, <i>Harry Potter</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I think one of these awards will go to <i>Deathly Hallows Part 2 </i>just so the Academy will say that they gave Harry at least <i>one</i> award. Otherwise, <i>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</i> will win Visual Effects and <i>the Iron Lady </i>will win Best Makeup.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Best Art Direction, <i>Hugo</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I think it can go either way: Harry or Hugo. I think Harry deserves it because Stuart Craig & Co has been almost always consistent for eight films, and they really just should give Harry Potter a technical award already. But Hollywood ADORES Hugo to death and the sets, the lighting, and subtle CGI <i>are</i> magnificently done. Plus, they recreate 1920‘s Paris! Everyone loves Paris! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Best Original Score, <i>The Artist</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Since <i>The Artist</i> is a silent film and all, the music takes a bigger role in the film than usual (and I have a hard time resisting getting up to tap dance whenever I hear this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akPLgepB1dI">track</a>.) But don’t worry Howard Shore! If it’s any consolation to you, The Flying Scribble award for Best Score will go to<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ZbOvymXhc"> your score</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="s1">Best Animated Feature Short, <i>La Luna</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris</i> is quite charming, but I think they'll give it to <i>La Luna</i> as a consolation prize for (gasp!) not giving Pixar a nomination in the Animated Feature category.</span><br />
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<span class="s1">Best Adapted Screenplay, <i>The Descendants </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">This *might* be the only award it’ll get this Sunday.</span><br />
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<span class="s1">Best Original Screenplay, <i>Midnight in Paris</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Woody Allen + Paris = Oscar gold, or so they say. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Best Animated Feature, <i>Rango </i><br />
If I wrote this on Jan 24th when the nominations came out, there would’ve been a lot of exclamation points and bolded words in this category, but it’s been almost a month and I’ve almost gotten over the heartbreak that is <i>Tintin</i> not getting nominated*. But of course, even if it did, the award would’ve (rightfully) went to Rango because it’s just a <i>quirky</i> homage to western film (plus Johnny Depp)! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Best Actress/Actor in a Supporting Role, Octavia Spencer & Christopher Plummer for <i>the Help</i> & <i>the Beginners</i> respectively </span></div>
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<span class="s1">They’ve been sweeping every other award so I don’t see why the Academy will decide to not let them end their award sweeping on a high...unless they truly are evil. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">Best Actress, Viola Davis for <i>the Help</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">If Viola Davis won, I think it'll be ok for Meryl Streep because she’ll probably get nominated next year, and the year after next, and the year after that. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">Best Actor, Jean Dujardin for <i>the Artist </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">First: YAY Gary Oldman for getting nominated! </span><br />
Second: Jean won the Screen Actors Guild award, and don’t the awards usually predict correctly 99% of the time who’s going to to get the acting awards?<br />
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<span class="s1">Best Director, Michel Hazanavicius for <i>the Artist</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">It takes a lot of guts and a lot of faith in his film to make a black & white film decades after Hollywood stopped making black & white films.</span><br />
Runner up: Martin Scorcese for <i>Hugo</i>.</div>
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<span class="s1">Best Film, <i>The Artist </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Cuz it’s The Artist, yo. That is all. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">So that’s it-all my Oscar picks for the year twenty-eleven. Even if I don’t get my work done, at least I can say to everyone that I predicted at least some of the winners out the 14 categories correctly. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">(Oh, umm, before I end this post I guess I <i>should</i> mention that the only films I’ve seen out of all nominated ones were <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2</i>, <i>Hugo</i>, <i>Tintin</i>, <i>Rango</i>, and<i> the Iron Lady</i>. Heh.)</span><br />
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<span class="s1">*I think I’m mostly sad that the dvd’s not going to have the <i>Nominated for Best Animated Feature</i> title slapped on to its cover because you know...WETA sorta deserves it. The transitions, people. The transitions between scenes! They're <i>amazing</i>.**</span></div>
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<span class="s1">**Why Academy, why?!! </span></div>
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</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-70316570095706412792012-02-21T19:19:00.000-08:002012-02-21T19:32:39.359-08:00Mush Pot!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>mush pot</b><br />
noun<br />
1. a compilation of reviews of everything Nonie has been wanting to review for the past couple of months whether it be tv, books, or films.<br />
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<b>Books</b><br />
<i>Legend</i> by Marie Lu<br />
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<span class="s1">It’s a great thriller. The plot is fast-paced and the references to <i>Les Mis</i> were abundant, thus making the book pretty good. The only problem was that I wish it was just a bit longer to get to know the characters more and to stretch out the storyline a bit. Everything just felt so sudden, especially the romance and the events leading up to the climax. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>The Fault In Our Stars</i> by John Green</span></div>
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<span class="s1">All I can say is that, to me, it’s worth the hype. But um, maybe it was<i> too</i> perfect? Something feels off, but I just can’t place my finger on it. </span></div>
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<i>Saving Francesca</i> by Melina Marchetta</div>
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<span class="s1">If there was an award for publishing like the Emmys called the Storybook Guild Awards* and there was a “BEST ENSEMBLE” category, <i>Saving Francesca </i>would get nominated and rightfully win it. The cast of characters is the best thing about this book. Each and everyone has a purpose and they’re real; they’re all people I’d see walking in the hallways at school. And Melina Marchetta has a gift for dialogue. Nothing felt out of place in this story. Now, the story itself is dark but it’s also cute. It also plays like a romantic comedy but at its heart is a story of a struggling family. It’s everything wrapped up into one and to me it was perfect. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Fire</i> by Kristin Cashore</span></div>
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<span class="s1">It started out as a really well-written, engaging fantasy, and ended up more like a large scale fantasy soap opera (but still super well-written) because SPOILER ALERT, no one’s parents were who they seemed to be. But still, Kristin Cashore and publishers, can <i>Bitterblue</i> come out like tomorrow? Or at least next week? May 1st is 68 days away. Drats. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>The Monstrumologist</i> by Rick Yancey</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Oh the gore! Oh the descriptions of mangled human corpses! I just couldn’t bring myself to finish it and I don’t exactly know why. Okay, so maybe I couldn’t finish because the first six pages...<span style="font-size: x-small;">scared me</span>. I definitely recommend this if you’re a fan of Zombie stories and/or <i>the Walking Dead</i> and you need something else to quench your thirst for tales of the undead. I promise to myself that I will finish this book someday..as soon as I learn to remember that everything in the book is fiction. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Hopefully, the award will also have a better name. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>TV</b><br />
<i> Downton Abbey</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">DO I EVEN NEED TO WRITE ABOUT THIS SHOW. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">What I’m looking forward to in season 3 the most (in order of importance </span><span class="s2"><strike>to me</strike></span><span class="s1">): 1. Branson’s first family dinner at Downton, and 2. the portrayal of the <i>roaring twenties</i>. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">P.S. Dear Julian Fellowes, Please give Sybil and Branson a proper storyline next season because they were two of my favorite characters in Season 1 but you turned Branson creepy in the middle of the season 2 and they were both sadly underused. Also, would it be possible for you to send me a copy of the scripts of season 3? I promise I won’t share them with anyone</span><span class="s2"><strike> except maybe a friend or two</strike>.</span></div>
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<b>Movies</b><br />
<i>The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris</i><br />
This 2012 Oscar-nominated animated short is impeccably animated and enchanting. Also, it's about the power of stories so it’s basically impossible for me to not like it. But wait...Why I am reviewing this when you can watch it for yourself?! Vimeo's being weird and not letting me embed, but you can check out the short <a href="http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/2012/02/fantastic-flying-books-of-mr-morris.html">here</a>.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hugo/">Hugo</a></i><br />
I’ve been in the midst of love/hate relationship with this film since last November. It’s worth seeing because the art direction is truly, madly, deeply <i>gorgeous-</i><i> </i>the sets, the costumes, the cinematography, and the subtle graphics. The actors are just nailed their roles (especially Asa Butterfield as Hugo and Sacha Baron Cohen as the Station Inspector). Throw in Howard Shore's score and everything worked like clockwork (hehe haw haw). I think what's bothering me so much is that the film felt like it was split up into two parts. Part 1 feels like <i>Hugo</i>, and part 2 feels like <i>George </i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Méliès</i></span></span><i>: the Biopic. </i>Not that it matters since Roger Ebert gave it 4/4 stars and the film’s been picking up tons of awards and nominations this year (all of them deserved though!).<br />
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Oh, and the marketing lied. The ads made it seem like a magical, <i>Charlie & the Chocolate Factory</i>-esque film but I honestly don’t think any person under 12 will like it because the story <i>takes its time</i> to unravel. When I went to the theater, I think I was the youngest person there (and it was packed). It’s a children’s movie for adults.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/illusionist/">The Illusionist</a></i><br />
It's artsy, quiet, and also the most depressing and grimace-inducing animated movie I've ever seen (figures since the film's about being alone and growing up). It had a really unique animation style. I can't quite explain it, but it felt like the 2D was layered. It just simply POPs out at you.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/boy_in_the_striped_pajamas/">The Boy With the Striped Pajamas</a></i><br />
I remembered why I stay away from movies and books about WWII when the end credits started rolling. Textbooks and WWII research projects are gut-wrenching enough for me. AND SORT OF SPOILER ALERT, the last couple of scenes of this film were just <i>numbing</i>. Oh, and it didn't help at all that it was about two <i>children</i> (one of whom is played by Asa Butterfield, by the way).<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/attack_the_block/">Attack the Block</a></i><br />
If I had to pick a favorite film out of everything I saw last year, I’d probably pick this one. <i>Attack the Block</i> is one of the best alien invasion movies EVER. It’s simply clever, funny, brisk, and unsentimental yet surprisingly poignant. The aliens were creepy, the techno background score rocked, and the final scene put a smile on my face. Yep, it’s pretty much flawless and I seriously cannot overhype this movie enough. <i>Disclaimer:</i> The movie’s about a street gang and they do stuff that street gangs are known to do, so the movie really deserves the <i>R Rating</i>.<br />
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Coming soon to this blog near you: 2012 Oscar Predictions! And perhaps a Downton Abbey season finale recap. Woo-hoo?<br />
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</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-78591849530905875882012-01-20T11:43:00.000-08:002012-01-20T13:28:44.864-08:00Tintin and His Ginger Quiff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><i>(cue dramatic John Williams music)</i></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><i>In a world before Hiccup and Toothless...</i></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><i>Harry and Hedwig....</i></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><i>and Sam Gamgee and Bill the Pony, there was...</i></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><i>Tintin</i>, <i>the</i> Belgian reporter and his brilliant fox terrier Snowy out to save the world from evil bad guys in a series of comics written by the amazing artist, Hergé aka George Remi. There’s <i>no</i> shortage of globe-trotting, slapstick comedy, dangerous villains, and crazy (but funnily plausible enough) adventures with a colorful cast of characters in these books. </span><br />
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<span class="s1"><i>The Adventures of Tintin</i> are greatest comic books series ever written. Seriously. (Although I should tell you, I might have a <i>slight</i> disadvantage picking the best of the best of comic books seeing as Tintin are the <i>only</i> comic books I read. Heh) In these intelligent, layered, well-researched, beautifully drawn, satirical books, Tintin and Snowy travel the world and deal with everything from Al Capone to South American revolutions to Eastern European politics to sunken treasure to horrible Opera singers to the excess of the Soviet Union. And oh yeah, they go to the moon. THE MOON. Twenty years before the real first lunar landing. These books have EVERYTHING <span style="font-size: xx-small;">except romance</span> and provide a wonderful snapshot of the 20th century. </span><br />
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<span class="s1"><b>There's a reason why some people want the series to be called the Adventures of Tintin </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">and Snowy</i><b>. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">And <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4lQFdfTsy0&feature=related">the film</a> just last Sunday <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N45fQuqCxo">won the Golden Globe</a> for Best Animated Feature. Er, I *may* have teared up a bit when they announced it.</span><span class="s2"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Umm, ahem, yes, I know I shouldn't take these film award shows waayyy too seriously...but I mean, it's TINTIN!)</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1">But however wonderful that award is, the award is a Golden Globe and that’s the issue: The Golden Globes are given by foreign journalists, the keyword there being <i>foreign</i>. The movie has been overlooked (*cough* BOMBED *cough*) critically and box office-wise on this side of the world, obviously because Tintin is indubitably and unapologetically European. </span>(I bet you my bowl of Cheerios that the Oscar's going to <i>Rango</i>.) Belgian or not, no childhood hero of mine should have to suffer through this embarrassment, so here here are six reasons why you should go running to see it now!<br />
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<b>(1)</b> <b>It’s visually stunning. </b>Pulling a Chris Traeger (from <i>Parks & Recreation</i>), I’ll say that’s it LITERALLY the most gorgeous animated feature I’ve seen. <span class="s1">It is brilliant- no PHENOMENAL animation and use of motion capture. It’s jaw-dropping and I almost fell out my chair while watching it with my 3D glasses on. I remember when the first sneak peek pictures came out my brother and I went around the house in a rampage that Spielberg and Jackson were going to ruin our favorite childhood hero’s story. We went into the theater sweating, <i>begging</i> Spielberg that everything will go alright </span><span class="s3" style="font-size: x-small;">(because we have a telepathic link with Spielberg obviously)</span><span class="s1">, and two hours later we were able to wipe the sweat off our brows while walking out because it did. <i>Thank you</i> animators at WETA digital. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>This was LITERALLY my pose for the entire two hours sans Snowy.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b> (via <a href="http://markeetoo.tumblr.com/post/15413907980/was-thinking-about-how-bad-i-wanna-watch-the">markeeto</a>)</b></span></div>
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<b>(2)</b> <b>The story’s just infectious with its energy. </b>It’s an adventure story: a classic, quaint, smart early 20th century adventure story. This is Indiana Jones <i>decades</i> before Indiana Jones came to life. It starts quietly enough: Tintin’s enjoying an afternoon walking around a flea market and he happens to find a model ship of <i>The Unicorn</i>. From there the story jumps forward and never stops as Tintin heads out to find the secret of <i>The Unicorn</i> before the villains do. It’s exhilarating and I haven't had this much fun watching a film in a loonng time.<br />
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<span class="s1"><b>(3)</b> <b>Cinematography and transitions. </b>It’s an animated film so it’s <i>probably a bit</i> <i>easier</i> getting the cameras around everything but hey, credit is due where credit is due. The filmmakers have to think creatively about where to place the cameras, right? And they do. The camera sweeps all throughout the film, following Tintin's escapades through windows, on the streets of Brussels, in the Moroccan town of Bagghar, and etc, so so so <i>beautifully</i>. And the transitions. Holy. Cheesecakes. WHEN TINTIN AND CAPTAIN HADDOCK SHAKE HANDS, THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN AND THE HANDS TURN INTO SAND DUNES. WHO THINKS OF TRANSITIONS LIKE THAT?!?! And <i>The Unicorn</i> BURSTING through the sand. And the chase sequence. AHHH. The way Tintin turns the motorcycle handles around to use them and a wire as a zipline. AHHH again. I might get a heart attack just getting too excited about it. </span><br />
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<span class="s1"><b>I LITERALLY cannot wait for all the behind the scenes special features the blu-ray's going to bring. (<a href="http://fuckyeahspielbergmovies.tumblr.com/post/15817889652/behind-the-scenes-on-the-adventures-of-tintin">via</a>)</b></span></div>
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<b>(4)</b> <b>Tintin’s introduction scene </b>rocks. That is all. And his gravity-defying quiff got a special scene (psst..the scene involves mirrors).<br />
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The biggest issue with the film that American critics seem to be having with the film (besides the mo-cap) is Tintin himself. Everyone seems to want a backstory for him. After reading each book countless times, I can say that he just doesn’t <i>have</i> one. He’s meant to be enigmatic. I don't think I've realized this until I came back from the film, but the biggest mystery in the entire series of mysteries is <i>Tintin</i>. From what we the readers know, he has no parents or family to speak of besides Snowy. He doesn’t have much of a life outside of being a reporter, no determinate age (I always thought he was in his late teens/early twenties), and we don’t know what the deal with his name is (is <i>Tintin</i> a pseudonym for his journalistic activities or what?!), but that’s<i> okay</i>. Hergé gives us everything we <i>need</i> to know about him: </div>
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<span class="s1">Tintin's a ginger, quiffed reporter whose signature outfit consists of a beige trench-coat, a blue sweater, and brown plus fours. He’s whipsmart, adventurous, eager, innocent-ish but calculating, dynamic, and </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: x-small;">ridiculously good-looking for an animated character.</span><span class="s1"> He also knows the meaning of truly packing a punch. </span><br />
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<span class="s1">And Jamie Bell captured him very well. The mannerisms, the expressions and the tone he gives to Tintin are perfect. The rest of the actors (Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, etc)<i> nailed</i> their roles as Captain Haddock and Thompson & Thomson respectively. And Daniel Craig was surprisingly sinister as the bad guy. </span><br />
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<b>Real Tintin is wondering how and why motion-capture Tintin looks better than he does...</b></div>
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<b>... while motion-capture Tintin has just noticed that his quiff is fashionably triangular instead of rectangular like in the books. </b><br />
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<span class="s1"><b>(5) It will make you smile. </b>It made me smile and I’m pretty sure there’s at least one smile-inducing scene for everyone (and OF COURSE it will because the screenplay was written by the hilarious and witty British writing trio Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish). One of my favorite scenes is when Tintin’s trying to figure out why everyone’s after his model ship of <i>The Unicorn</i>, and a grin comes on his face and he says, “...And I know where I’ll find the answer...the library!” </span>I'm sorry everyone. I tried to but I couldn't stop myself from <i>awww</i>ing. It was too <i>adorable</i>. How many characters do you see these days exclaiming enthusiastically that they need to go the library to get information besides Hermione?<br />
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<span class="s1"><b>(6)</b> <b>It’s a lovely tribute to Hergé.</b></span><span class="s4"><b> </b>Hergé's the artist who's inspired everyone from Walt Disney to Brad Bird. </span><span class="s1">If you pick up a book after seeing the movie (hopefully!), you’ll see that there are little details the filmmakers sprinkled throughout to show their love and appreciation for Hergé's world: Tintin’s apartment had</span><span class="s5" style="color: #cc0000;"><b> red</b></span><span class="s1"> armchairs and a desk next to the window; Tintin <a href="http://www.fandango.com/movie-trailer/theadventuresoftintin-trailer/136352">gets knocked out </a>numerous times </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: x-small;">(I assure you that I’m not a sadist! Hergé has Tintin getting clubbed or hit with a brick or rake or wine bottle or something almost all the time. It just won't be Tintin without those scenes)</span><span class="s1">; there are guns and aeroplanes; Snowy saves the day plenty of times; Captain Haddock can swear colorfully and the bad guys are refreshingly old-fashioned. Though some might disagree with me, even though it’s not animated in the traditional sense, the art and design of everything is still very Hergé. There is nothing out of place here, </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: x-small;">except for a few lapses of reality but I’m not even going to go there.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So yeah, in conclusion, GO SEE <i>The Adventures of Tintin!</i> And thank you <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r5NtGSo_0k&feature=related">Spielberg</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKgpDOWWD_8&feature=related"> Peter Jackson</a>, <a href="http://www.wetanz.com/meet-the-crew-again-chris-guise-on-tintin/">WETA</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cytGIvwJ3NA">the writers</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baBbcOwYPEY">Jamie Bell</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCQ2mCM23V4">the rest of the cast</a> for not being afraid to bring out their inner Tintin nerd while making this film. As the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbQYOZ3VlYs&feature=related">cartoon series Tintin</a> would strangely say, “YAHOOO!” </span><br />
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<b>"I LITERALLY cannot wait until Steve lets me stop doing all this publicity stuff."</b><br />
<b> -Jamie Bell </b></div>
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</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-45531583136360516692011-09-19T16:10:00.000-07:002011-09-20T22:54:58.546-07:00the one starting again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bonjour, mes amis!<br />
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It's been a while, eh? I think I'm just going to skip the <i>omg-i'm-so-sorry-i-haven't-blogged-i've-been-too-busy-with-school-and-life-and-EVERYTHING-and-did-i-mention-i'm-a-senior-now?</i> because everyone's already heard variations of that, so I'll cut to the chase:<br />
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Today's a Monday, and here's something thought-provoking for a Monday- a JJ Abrams talk on storytelling and his inspiration. The truth is, I haven't seen anything from JJ Abrams unless you count the <i>Star Trek</i> and<i> Super 8 </i>trailers and 1.5 episodes of <i>Lost</i>, <i>but</i> judging from those, everything else I've read about him or seen in an interview of his, and this talk, he's nothing short of a genius (and zealous) filmmaker and storyteller. </div>
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His talk is one of my favorite TED talks along with Sheryl Sandberg's:<br />
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Not really bookish or anything, but I admire her. :)<br />
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I'm hoping to post at least once a week because I've really missed writing here. I just never had anything interesting to write about at all, unless you count getting to eat a Pizza-in-a-Cone in Providence, Rhode Island. (It was seriously a pizza in a cone.) I consider it one of the highlights of my Providence trip:<br />
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(More on the Pizza-in-a-Cone to come later!)<br />
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I also got a <a href="http://noniekiran.tumblr.com/">tumblr</a> in the time I vanished. I took the title Objarkas from <i>Plain Kate</i> by Erin Bow which is so lyrical yet very <i>eerie</i> at the same. Honestly, I don't know if I'm going to be keeping the tumblr because it's a<i> total </i>time-sucker but it is the site which I'm updating the most right now (and there are so many beautiful things there), so if you want to see what I'm up to, I suggest heading onto over there. :)<br />
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Ciao for now,<br />
Nonie<br />
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p.s. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goliath-Leviathan-Trilogy-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/1416971777/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316475499&sr=8-1">Goliath</a></i> is coming out on September the 20th, which also happens to be <i><b>tomorrow</b></i>! I won't be able to read it for a couple of weeks, but still- it's finally releasing! *flails*</div>
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Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-57587453212339005552011-07-28T13:57:00.000-07:002011-09-19T17:00:05.057-07:00today's the 28th of July...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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... and two very exciting things popped up while I've been roaming around New England and stumbling over Rhode Island's beaches* these past few days (in the 100 degrees heat which is <i>always</i> great...NOT).</div>
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<b>1) The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner received the <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/award-winners-2011/">2011 Mythopoeic Award</a>!</b> (Actually this was a couple of weeks ago, but I only found out about it like...yesterday.) :D I can't imagine a more deserving series. If you haven't read any of the books yet, go straight to the library to hold <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thief-Queens-Book/dp/0060824972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311886634&sr=8-1"><i>the Thief</i></a> (the first book). Don't make me track you down to throw the books into your windows or hide them under your pillows! You wouldn't want that, and tracking you down would make me feel weird, so uh...<i>please</i> read these books? </div>
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<b>2) <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20419951_20513357,00.html#20993772">Exclusive pictures</a> of Josh Hutcherson as Peeta and Liam Hemsworth as Gale released thanks to Entertainment Weekly!</b> I refuse to post the EW cover here because the photoshop is a tad ridiculous, so instead here are my favorite stills** from the movie they've shown so far.</div>
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<b>Best friends. </b></div>
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<b>Josh/Peeta. With an apron. And <i>bread</i>. </b></div>
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Before anyone freaks out about Josh's seemingly still brown hair, remember that it's just a lighting trick! Take a look at <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20419951_20513357,00.html#20993772">the slideshow</a>. His hair is definitely dirty<i> blonde </i>and it <i>falls in waves over his forehead;</i> <b>don't worry</b>. :) </div>
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*takes sigh of relief* </div>
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I think the Hunger Games makeup crew got it right, don't you think? :D </div>
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* Rhode Island's beaches are made up of shells and rocks, so we couldn't have this dramatic run up to the water with our hair flying behind us, and with smiles and laughter etched onto our faces. Instead we had to slowly walk over rocks so we didn't fall and break our teeth, while occasionally letting out a tiny squeak or two. Still, the view was <i>breathtaking</i>.</div>
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** Is it just me being sappy, or is the still with Jennifer and Liam is <span style="font-style: italic;">too adorable</span>? Awwww. </div>
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*** EDIT: More Hunger Games promo pictures are right <a href="http://joshuahutcherson.blogg.se/2011/july/fler-bilder-fran-entertainment-weekly-dalig.html">here</a> (thanks to <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/">Bookshelves of Doom</a>)</div>
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Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-25261481764988860842011-07-19T21:14:00.000-07:002011-08-27T15:38:37.633-07:00*Waves*<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hiya! Believe or not, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth after seeing Harry Potter. Hurrah! There’s just been a lot of work to get done over the weekend, and sadly, I can’t find the USB cord for my camera and I really really wanted to post a couple of pictures from the midnight premieres because everything was fantastic there.</div>
<br /> But it’s been 4 days since the release of the movie, and it seems that the USB cord itself dropped off the face of the earth, so I don’t think I can put off writing about the movie any longer for a couple of pictures.
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<br /><div>Tee hee, I can hear some of groaning, <i>“No Nonie! Not another Potter post! The official <a href="http://mockingjay.net/2011/07/19/lionsgate-releases-the-hunger-games-motion-poster/">teaser poster</a> for the Hunger Games came out! That's the <b>new</b> movie news. Get with the times already!" </i>but hey, I never got closure on last week. :D So here’s Day #1 (or Day -3) with just a couple of my thoughts on the film:</div><div>
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<br />I walked out of the theater wanting to jump in the air and cheer with happiness. That never happened before with a movie before. Of course, it’s not fair to judge it like that since this series holds a sentimental value with many people but still; we have to acknowledge that the filmmakers did a good job here. Coming from the bottom of my heart, I think this is the best film in the series. :D<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div>I'm pretty sure most of you who wanted to watch the movie have already seen it, but I can't be too sure, so <b>beware of spoilers!</b></div><div><b>
<br /></b></div><div><b><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orDkuetV3wU/Tib7X962idI/AAAAAAAAAsA/OtCxaboYcUo/s320/harry_potter_01_0714.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631464773250353618" /></b><ul><li>The first part was all about the dynamic of the trio, and this second part is all about Hogwarts, and Harry himself of course. It was just a bit surprising seeing Emma and Rupert not having much to do.</li><li>Call me silly, but in the first few shots of the Gringrotts heist scene, I actually thought it was Emma under all the Bellatrix make-up. Helena BC was that phenomenal. She <i>nailed</i> Emma's facial expressions.</li><li>I loved Professor McGonagall’s geeky, happy giggle after setting the statues to life. And she had the first tear-inducing line in the movie: “It’s nice to see you Potter.” The audience burst into a big <i>“AWWWWW”</i> when she said that.</li><li>Fred's death scene from the book is not here. The scene they replaced it with, where he's cornered, alone and wandless, by a Death Eater, is <i>chilling</i>. It's horrible to watch, but so cinematic.</li><li>I can’t even talk about the Snape vs. McGonagall duel without getting speechless.</li><li>Actually, there are so many scenes in this movie I couldn’t talk about without getting inarticulate, just because of the sheer awesomeness of it all. Like in my notes about this movie I wrote a couple days ago, I had "EEEEEEEEEEEEE" written out next to McGonagall’s name just because I just couldn’t explain it any other way.</li><li>Next to Alan Rickman’s name I have this random scribble. It’s not even an “EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Just a large, random scribble on the page.</li><li>And that, friends, should explain how incredible he was in this movie. Even an “EEEEEEEEEEEE!” can't describe him. He stole every scene he was in, and played broken-hearted-but-nevertheless-heroic Snape with perfection.</li><li>I would like to hand over an award to the person who decided to to put in the line <i>“You have your mother’s eyes”</i> line in Snape’s death scene. That was GENIUS. Everyone says that to Harry, but it means <i>so much more </i>when said by Severus Snape. Everything else in his memories was heartbreaking, especially the scene where he's holding a dead Lily, crying, with baby Harry in the crib sobbing. Just heartbreaking. </li><li>His death was also the most horrid. It's not shown directly, but seeing the silhouette of Snape and hearing it was dreadful. I hate Nagini.</li><li>But <i>hooray</i> for Neville for cutting its head off! The whole scene is just <i>epic</i>. I think I cheered the loudest here. I’m <i>very, very, <b>very</b> </i>thankful that they didn’t mess up <i>the Prince’s Tale</i> or Neville’s role in the story. The character developments of Snape and Neville were my favorite parts of the book, so they were the two parts I was most anxious about, but they delivered. <i>Thank you, thank you,<b> thank you</b></i> Steve Kloves and David Yates!</li><li>Neville’s line about being mad about Luna was the cutest, and most spontaneous thing about the movie.</li><li>I loved Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)’s scene when he hesitates to go over to the Death Eaters, and loved Narcissa Malfoy too. The scene on the bridge where Draco and Narcissa kept on walking but Lucius turned around, looking around a bit lost and sad was a wonderful way to end the Malfoy family storyline.</li><li>The third tear-inducing line after McGonagall’s and Snape’s was Dumbledore’s: “Harry, you <i>wonderful</i> boy. You <i>brave, brave</i> man.” Michael Gambon delivered that line faultlessly. Some people started crying so loudly that it got distracting. Heh.</li><li>I loved how they showed a disgruntled Filch getting ready to clean up the castle during the final scenes. Once a Hogwarts caretaker, always a Hogwarts caretaker. ;) </li></ul><b><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suwEuYsNS-Y/TicGp-NQqiI/AAAAAAAAAsI/I5J6LYkb2eA/s320/neville%2B.tiff" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631477177193114146" /></b><b><div style="text-align: center;">Staring contest time. </div></b></div><div><b>
<br /></b></div><div><b>
<br /></b></div><div><b>The Technical Parts</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div><ul><li>I’m sort of curious as to why they decided to not have the huge crowd of people during the final battle between Harry and Voldemort. To make the victory more subtle? I did like the Harry-Hagrid hug though.</li><li>I'm also curious as to why they decided to make Bellatrix and Voldemort turn into confetti-like pieces when they died. (But evil people never die normally in fantasy movies so...hmm...)</li><li>The screenwriting was great. They changed the book for sure, but it all fit somehow. </li><li>But Tonks and Lupin deserved more (or they should've gotten in a line before the battle about Teddy!). Lupin's line about Teddy would appear to come out of nowhere for the audience members who didn't read the book. </li><li>The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00518HARW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=01ADAY9K7TSKME6BAKP8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">music</a> by Alexandre Desplat is beautifully haunting; it’s the ideal soundtrack for this movie. Just listen to <i>"Severus and Lily,"</i> <i>"Statues,"</i> <i>"Courtyard Apocalypse"</i> and <i>"Lily's Theme." </i></li><li>Um, though I love Desplat's score, I definitely burst into tears when I heard the original John Williams theme during the epilogue. Hearing John Williams sort of sealed the ending; It all started with John Williams and ended with John Williams. It was the perfect way to bring it to a full circle. </li><li>I'm one of the HP epilogue-lovers *ducks from flying shoes* so I enjoyed how the epilogue played out here. I think they did good job aging the actors, and Albus Severus was adorable. (A couple of people did snort when Harry said his name, though.) :) I just wished it was longer though. Another two minutes wouldn't have hurt... </li><li>Who else liked the Chocolate Frog jumping out the window like it did in the first movie? :) The little references to the other movies made me happy. </li></ul><blockquote></blockquote>
<br />There's so much more I could talk about, but ah, I think I shall end here. :D</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I think they ended the series in the best possible way. It still amazes me that they kept the series going for 10 years with almost the same cast and crew they started with. It was breathtaking really. This is a bit late, but thank you to all the directors, the crew who brought the world alive, and of course the actors, Daniel, Emma, Rupert, and all the supporting actors for bringing the characters, the ones we love or love to hate, alive. And of course, <i>thank you</i> JK Rowling for putting everything in motion. :D</div><div><b>
<br /></b></div><div><b>Geekiness Alert:</b> After discussing with friends and brother, we all realized that instead of comparing Voldemort with Darth Vader/Anakin, it should be <b><i>Snape</i> </b>vs. Darth Vader.</div><div>
<br /></div><div> <b>Voldemort = Emperor Palpatine! </b>Full character discussions likely to come soon. :D </div><div><b>
<br /></b></div><div><b>Geekiness Alert over.</b>
<br /></div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-11376007359461681292011-07-14T13:17:00.000-07:002011-07-14T18:42:15.906-07:00"Please excuse my mawkishness Harry but..."<div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote></blockquote><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><b>Day #2 </b></div><div><br /></div><div>...In about 3 hours <i>Deathly Hallows Part 2</i> is going to start rolling in the theater, and well, then it's going to end. It's been an emotionally draining week to be honest. I've finished rereading the books, and I just finished our HP movie rewatch. I hate being mawkish but <strike>MY CHILDHOOD IS ENDING IN 4 HOURS NOOOOOO!! </strike>it's going to be....strange, for the lack of a better word, to not be able to call up my friends about the new HP trailer or to not watch a new Rupert Grint interview on Mugglenet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div><div>It is the last couple of hours before the movie so here are a couple of my favorite moments from the series: quotes, fanart and gif-wise. :) </div><div><div><br /><div><br /><img src="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/images/chapters/ps/c01--the-boy-who-lived.jpg" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 191px; " border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under </i><i>the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen. Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up. One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on, not knowing he was special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he would be woken in a few hours' time by Mrs. Dursley's scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles, nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley...He couldn't know that at this very moment, people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and sayin</i><i>g in hushed voices: </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"To </i><i>Harry Potter - the boy who lived!"</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-cSgY9--CA/Th9xuaAXRLI/AAAAAAAAAq4/DuPcA39ORjU/s400/6989675120.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629343101305177266" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></div><blockquote><i>"But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve ft mountain troll is one of them."</i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></i><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Sorcer</i><i>er's Stone</i></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i><b>What Hermione says (Order of the Phoenix film):</b></i></blockquote></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/ramyachinta2012/?action=view&current=diannethepoohtumblr.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/ramyachinta2012/diannethepoohtumblr.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /></b></div><div><blockquote><blockquote><i><a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/ramyachinta2012/?action=view&current=doxyeggstumblr.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/ramyachinta2012/doxyeggstumblr.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></i><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><br /><br /></span>“Wit beyond measure is a man’s greatest treasure.”</i></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-</i>Luna <i>(Order of the Phoenix)</i></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><i></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VQNShul0UFY/Th900cu-5jI/AAAAAAAAArQ/D1otj4eebWA/s400/dumbledore1.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 176px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629346503651681842" />"It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities.”<br /></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- </i>Dumbledore<i> (Chamber of Secrets)</i></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <i>"When in doubt, go to the library."</i></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> - Ron (<i>Chamber of Secrets</i>)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span"><blockquote style="white-space: pre; "></blockquote><blockquote style="white-space: pre; "></blockquote><blockquote style="white-space: pre; "></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><blockquote><i style="white-space: normal; ">"So top grade's O for Outstanding," Hermione was saying, "and then there's A-"</i><div style="white-space: normal; "><i>"No, E," George corrected her, "E for 'Exceeds Expectations.' And I've always thought Fred and I should've got E in everything, because we exceeded expectations just by turning up for the exams."</i></div><div style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> - <i>Order of the Phoenix</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></blockquote><div style="white-space: normal; "></div></span></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span></blockquote><blockquote><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tx1XIm6q4r4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></blockquote><blockquote><i>"Percy wouldn't notice a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing one of Dobby's hats."</i></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Ron <i>(Order of the Phoenix)</i></blockquote><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6rfxjxSnLU/Th9z8XAOKsI/AAAAAAAAArI/1gTOl8rh1AY/s400/Neville_by_Forbis.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629345540040698562" /><blockquote><i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=neville%20longbottom&order=9&offset=24#/drd99b">Neville </a>by Forbis)</i></blockquote> <blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><i>“We’ll all keep fighting, you know that right, Harry?”</i></blockquote><blockquote>-Neville (<i>Deathly Hallows)</i></blockquote></div></blockquote><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8OBtRHRczdc/Th98Hdece2I/AAAAAAAAArY/ShYjbU7ns-g/s400/lily__s_letter_by_shyduck.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629354526849661794" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i><a href="http://shyduck.deviantart.com/gallery/11314728#/d2g3nbh">Lily's Letter</a> by</i> Shyduck<i>)</i></div><blockquote><i>When I’m 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I’ll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, “After all this time?” And I will say, “Always.”</i></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Alan Rickman</blockquote></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDHbgo1fbX4/Th-AWh0wmVI/AAAAAAAAArg/_T6FWa90x-Y/s400/Snape_and_Dumbledore__HP7__by_kyla79.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629359183761545554" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i><a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=dumbledore#/d11qrop">Snape and Dumbledore</a></i> by Kyla79)</div><blockquote><i>"No story lives unless someone wants to listen. The stories we love best do live in us forever. So, whether you come back page by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”</i></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-JK Rowling</blockquote><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63EY4qbTtvE/Th-BBp0_XvI/AAAAAAAAAro/pypZQ4rCGuE/s400/harrypotter.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629359924644372210" /> <blockquote> <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XdVVAVMXvfM?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;">I believe that <a href="http://taherehmafi.tumblr.com/post/7536298449/watching-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2">this</a> is what I'm going to be like when I watch the movie. <strike> NOOOOOOO I AM NOT PREPARED FOR THIS!!</strike></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-43124667420909980242011-07-13T19:51:00.000-07:002011-07-13T21:04:29.106-07:00The Artistic Talent of Harry Potter Fans aka Fanart<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Day #3</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SPOILERS FOR DH! </b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFwu6ljkwx8/Th5nolGC2MI/AAAAAAAAAqg/WK74H0PtUXk/s400/Ron_Weasley__s_Brilliant_Day_by_yaytime.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629050531109591234" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=ron+weasley#/dsg4ro">Ron Weasley's Bloody Brilliant Day</a> by yaytime)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVJ1mP-BZA/Th5cnoTYhNI/AAAAAAAAApo/53OR0QEvCVQ/s400/50c97f60867d061c28d944789b1d1938.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629038420163069138" /><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=harry%20potter&order=9&offset=72#/dknxg6">harry potter</a> by Ekara)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68Vmayc_YIY/Th5dv1VnlbI/AAAAAAAAAp4/79chFfY4zZE/s400/neville_watercolor_sketch_by_feliciacano-d38hvfx.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629039660612687282" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=neville+longbottom#/d38hvfx">Neville Watercolor Sketch</a> by feliciacano)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efnJzXzgEac/Th5d90pVmAI/AAAAAAAAAqA/yIv1nU2XoHI/s400/being_harry_potter__s_friend_by_kumu18-d2y01mi.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629039900945127426" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=harry%20potter&order=9&offset=144#/d2y01mi">Being Harry Potter's Friend</a> by Kumul8--click for larger version! :D)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OVm6eBnvNpA/Th5fNlUg4uI/AAAAAAAAAqI/t6FGCx8-ddU/s400/teddy_tries_to_remember__by_burdge_bug.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629041271220789986" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://burdge-bug.deviantart.com/gallery/5652956?offset=72#/d1mg32u">teddy tries to remember</a> by burdge-bug)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJK3DvE62Ss/Th5oICkikEI/AAAAAAAAAqo/jbk7XgBt2EQ/s400/Burrow_Deluxe_or_Ron_is_rich_by_VivalaVida.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629051071598071874" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=ron+weasley#/dqnlml">Burrow Deluxe or Ron is rich</a> by Vivalavida)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2L0PX3F-rk/Th5irrwlR4I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/0zdNEg2Jjbc/s400/enough_responsibility_by_burdge_bug-d3nm1ns.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629045086880089986" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://burdge-bug.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3nm1ns">Enough Responsibility</a> by burdge-bug)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5F0RaFF7sII/Th5jQrlVryI/AAAAAAAAAqY/jhSIZ2NHNyk/s400/Snape__s_Sense_of_Humor__by_girl2004.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629045722488090402" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=fred+and+george+weasley+snape#/d71jr9">Snape's Sense of Humor</a> by girl2004)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I <i>could not</i> stop laughing when I saw <a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=harry%20potter&order=9&offset=672#/d34zm3x">this</a>. :D</div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-76642763603439431602011-07-12T20:46:00.000-07:002011-07-13T15:16:55.560-07:00Hogwarts Hogwarts Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, teach us something please...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Day #4 </div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wbZ0dcwWVZs/Th4VSQC5AnI/AAAAAAAAAo4/QAhwIs33fi0/s320/hogwarts.tiff" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 225px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628959987548619378" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>One of my favorite aspects of Harry Potter is<b> Hogwarts</b>. Any school student can connect to the</div><div>setting because there's always teachers: eccentric teachers, caring teachers, the everyone's-</div><div>favorite-teacher teachers, strict teachers who always assign you loads of homework even though there's something important coming up, and teachers who'll hate you no matter what you seem to do (very very rarely though).</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBsa_AP7h4E/Th4W9mQcsfI/AAAAAAAAApI/Ar4_ApNylA0/s320/hogwartsteachers.tiff" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628961831757066738" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; ">(Hogwarts Staff image via <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/hogwarts%20staff/GalleryGuru/Featured%2520Fanartist%2520Threads/Elzora/Elzoramontage1.jpg">link</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; "><br /></span></div><div>And our school has a team system. It's very similar to the four houses in Hogwarts except we don't get sorted in on our first day and we get randomly placed so it doesn't matter at all. What makes it fun is that some of our teachers care and instead of calling them teams, they call them <i>houses</i>. :D </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and then there's the endless social drama that we have to try earnestly block out because it's nearly <i>impossible</i> to get back out when we're pulled into it. Not good. </div><div><br /></div><div>Definitely <i>more exciting</i> than the drama are the <b>classes</b>. Learning our subjects is a bit different than learning Hogwart's subjects, because umm Harry's subjects are...magical. Writing an essay about the toxins in soap for Chemistry is not like writing up an essay on the purposes and benefits of a bezoar for Snape's Potion class, but the classes can get similar (or *cough* you can <i>pretend</i> they're similar if you're a <strike>desperate</strike> Harry Potter fan). </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year my friend and I while thoroughly discussing how similar our school was to Hogwarts in Chemistry class compared our teachers to Hogwarts' teachers, and our classes to Harry's classes (because you know, it's important to learn the skills of comparing and contrasting!)</div><div><br /></div><div>When we compared classes we saw that: </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Chemistry = Potions. </div><div style="text-align: left;">US History = History of Magic</div><div style="text-align: left;">English = Charms (the comparison is a stretch but both classes are fun and we learn vocabulary and latin prefixes from both of them!)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Biology = Herbology </div><div style="text-align: left;">Personal Fitness = Quidditch class from the first book</div><div style="text-align: left;">Math = Arithmancy </div><div style="text-align: left;">Astronomy = Astronomy :D</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Defense Against the Dark Arts was left out of the list unfortunately, because it's a bit too magical, unless you count Personal Fitness as DADA because you're definitely learning how to defend yourself sometimes (learning how to run quicker is part of defending yourself)... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And there's also Transfiguration but there's no hope at all with finding a class we can equate it with. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So yes, if you ignore DADA and Transfiguration, you'll see that there's not many differences between we learn and what Harry and his classmates learn or between our schools and Hogwarts (except the fact that Hogwarts is a boarding school <strike>and it's not real </strike>). YEAH.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><b>Who's your favorite Hogwarts teacher and what's the one class you would like to </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><b>if you got the chance to go there? </b>My favorite teacher is McGonagall. I think she and I would've </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">gotten along splendidly...maybe. My favorite class probably would've been Charms though, or </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">maybe DADA? :D </span></div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-79485450449889462242011-07-11T14:26:00.000-07:002011-07-11T16:38:45.872-07:00"Now let's have a beach party...in London!"Day #5: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Harry Potter Youtube Frenzy</span><div><b><br /></b><div style="text-align: center;">14 minutes and 37 seconds of Harry Potter spoofery for your viewing pleasure. Ah-ha! :D</div><div><br /><iframe width="429" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y18LUMkVt2Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br />An egoistical Harry is <b>priceless</b>. :P </div><div><div><br /><iframe width="429" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fMLMZmnNzsg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br />This montage <i><b>saved</b></i> this year's Oscars. Hurrah!</div><div><br /><iframe width="429" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sge5pUSJIRY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br />(P&P trailer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARWfCBr0ZDM&feature=related">here</a> because it's so much more funnier if you've</div><div>seen the original :D)</div><div><br /><iframe width="429" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qH9F23eaBgg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br />(Stranger than Fiction trailer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj4MC8Nqpjg">here</a>)</div><div><br /><iframe width="429" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wmwM_AKeMCk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This is probably one of the weirdest parodies I've seen, but I'm saying that's a good thing. :D (It's produced by University of Michigan students (yay!) and the lyrics for Act 1 Scene 1 is right <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmwM_AKeMCk">here</a>) </div><div><br /></div><div>GAH. There were so many more videos I couldn't find. I should think about bookmarking them next time if I ever find them again, don't you think? Heh. </div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-66333331024582713272011-07-10T19:48:00.000-07:002011-07-10T21:21:48.077-07:00And the final countdown begins*cue <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyggY_R3jU8&feature=related">the final countdown music</a>* <div><br /></div><div><div>Day #6</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>How it all began:</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>It was a TV Spot that changed everything. I think it was the TV spot below in fact, because I vaguely remember laughing at Ron's response to Professor McGonagall transforming into a cat, and this was the only spot I found with that scene in it.</div><div><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EUFnibFynKE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My brother and I turned on the TV on a November night after working on what seemed like countless hours of homework. My dad just happened to walk in as soon as the spot started running, and watching it together, all three of us got amused with the various complications the characters were getting into in it (someone blew up a feather!). My dad especially liked the graphics in the McGonagall transforming part, so as soon as the spot ended, he immediately asked us if we wanted to see it. We answered with a yes, as eagerly as a 7 year old and a little 5 year old could. </div><div><br /></div><div>So off to the movie theater we went a couple days later and I walked out of the matinee show blown away. Three best friends! Harry! Ron! Hermione! Magic! A mysterious school! Weird teachers! Hagrid! Dragons! Evil villain! It was my first foray into a fantasy world and I was delighted in every bit of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I got the real <i>book</i> for Christmas, which changed everything once<i> again</i>. JK Rowling became my author hero and the world of Hogwarts and the magic became real. (....And Dan, Emma, and Rupert became my favorite actors in the whole entire universe for portraying my literary heroes onscreen.)</div><div><br /></div><div>It's strange to think it's been a decade from that point, but it <i>has</i> been a wonderful decade. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're a Harry Potter fan, how did you first get started on the series? Or...if you're not much of HP fan, where did you first hear about it? :D </div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-53909580132660148522011-07-09T20:00:00.000-07:002011-07-11T16:27:44.502-07:00I can hear the crickets chirping over here<div><br /></div><div>Next week I'm planning to do something Harry Potter-y everyday because the end is coming on Friday (it's here already?!), and I've been a poor poor fan indeed. So everyday starting from tomorrow and ending on Friday, I'll be posting Harry Potter related videos, art or.....umm, oh, er...yeah...I haven't exactly planned out anything yet, but expect SOMETHING! </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, here's John Green's video on conquering his biggest fear, <b>heights</b>. *shudders*</div><div><br /><iframe width="430" height="274" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GWjYcWoaSbI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /></div><div>As someone who's downright terrified of high places, I found John Green's act very inspiring and heroic<i>.</i></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-23419324937470170052011-06-28T14:03:00.000-07:002011-06-28T16:01:06.133-07:00Tuesday Tribulations and Miscellany<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div></b><b>the tribulations: </b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>1) The release of <i>Bridge of Clay </i>by the<i> </i>awesome, clever, brilliant, <i>awesome </i>Markus Zusak has been delayed (yet again). I've read that it's supposed to come out this September (September 1st to be exact!), but it doesn't even have an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=bridge+of+clay+markus+zusak&x=0&y=0">amazon page</a> yet. A little puzzled when I saw, I searched and searched the web until I came upon <a href="http://doubledaybooks.tumblr.com/post/5132726392/amazon-reports-that-doubleday-will-publish-markus">this answer</a> about the book by Doubleday (Markus Zusak's publishing company).</div><div><br /></div><div>If you don't feel like pressing the link, I'll spare you the news quickly: We now have to wait until <b>2013 </b>for the book<b>.</b> <i>Nooooooooooooo.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>2) I landed on a spoilery review for <i>Goliath</i>. <i>NOOOOOOOOOO</i> The review though was only mildly spoilery, and my eyes only caught one thing before my mouse clicking reflexes started working again and I clicked out of the page. Of course, that one thing ended up being something something I was looking forward to seeing. EPIC FAIL. </div><div><br /></div><div>I learned my lesson. I'm never ever ever going to look up reviews for it anymore. </div><div><br /></div><div>Please excuse me while I weep and gnash my teeth on the other side of the room. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>the miscellany: </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>1) Bill Gates read (and really liked) <i>the Hunger Games</i>. No really, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/summer-reading-favorite-books-of-bill-clinton-bill-gates/2011/06/24/AGtigAlH_blog.html">it's true</a>. That's pretty cool, yes? :)</div><div><br /></div><div>2) I want to watch<i> Super 8</i> sometime before it leaves the theater because it seems like the type of movie that should be seen in theaters. </div><div><br /></div><div>A little tidbit about this movie which got me waayyy too over eager to see it: it's called Super 8 because the kids are shooting a film with a super 8 camera. (I like cleverly named movies.) </div><div><br /></div><div>I should also mention that it came out on my birthday. That little birthday fact could be playing a big role in my increasing want to see the film more than other reasons. Heh...because really, when's the next time that a<i> Steven Spielber</i>g movie (a critically successful one at that too) is ever going to come out on <i>my</i> birthday?! ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>3) It's happening again. Articles similar to the the Harry Potter farewell/in memoriam/good-bye articles that came out during the release of <i>Deathly Hallows</i> are now slowly coming out day by day. </div><div><br /></div><div>The site I really want to point to for this is <a href="http://www.blogger.com/tor.com">Tor</a>, for their insightful and profound homages to JK Rowling and HP several of its bloggers are writing (as part of their Harry Potter celebration, <a href="http://www.tor.com/features/series/potterpalooza-on-torcom">Potterpalooza</a>). </div><div><br /></div><div>They're <i>all worth a read</i>, but some of my favorite essays are:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-or-sorcerors-stone">Bouncy Prose and Distant Threats: An Appreciation of<i> Harry Potter and the Philosopher's</i> (or <i>Sorcerer's)</i> Stone</a></div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/mischief-managed-an-appreciation-of-harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban">Mischief Managed: An Appreciation of <i>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</i></a></div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/rewatching-the-potter-films-harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban">Rewatching the Potter Films: <i>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</i></a></div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/genre-in-the-mainstream-the-literary-merits-of-potter">Genre in the Mainstream: The Literary Merits of Potter</a></div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/genre-in-the-mainstream-the-literary-merits-of-potter">The Boy Who Lived...With His Gran</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/growing-up-potter">Growing Up Potter</a></div><div><br /></div><div>And though this essay's not part of the HP celebration, it's HP related and I've been wanting to link it since forever so, here you go:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/03/ron-weasley-romantic-hero">Ron Weasley, Romantic Hero?</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I would also suggest taking the time to read the comments too. Most of them are just as thought-provoking and touching as the essays themselves. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone is having a good (and hopefully tribulation-less) Tuesday! </div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-77533483234923419372011-06-22T18:18:00.000-07:002011-06-23T19:06:43.316-07:00And the Oscar for Best Animated Feature of 2012 goes to...<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks to<a href="http://www.blogger.com/ireviewbooks.tumblr.com"> Shanella</a> and Pixar (on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/DisneyPixar">twitter</a>) for letting me know that the first official teaser poster for Pixar's 2012 release <i>Brave</i> came out! It's beautiful and intense. The title design, the lighting/sun/sky<i> behind</i> the title design- I'm rendered speechless.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TiEPgzNV08g/TgKfX_ovlHI/AAAAAAAAAog/PurLHy2Lwus/s400/I%2526%25238217%253Bd%2Blove%2Bit%2Bif%2Bthey%2Balso%2Bmade%2Bthis%2Binto%2Ba%2Bbook%2B%2526%25238230%253B%2Bwith%2Bpictures.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621230519479932018" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From just the teaser poster and <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/28/brave-pixar-first-look/">the concept art</a>, it looks like the film will be sort of like Pixar + How to Train Your Dragon + Braveheart + Tim Burton all put in a blender to create a perfect mix of animation + story. :D</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And let's see...since this is a <b>Pixar</b> movie:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>It's going to be a treat visually (If the <i>poster </i>can give me chills because of how stunning it looks I'm sure the movie's going to be 100 times <i>more</i> stunning!)</li><li>characters are going to pretty awesome</li><li>the story will probably make us tear up at least a little bit at the end (or as in the case of UP, maybe in the first 5 min)</li></ul>This is <i>definitely</i> going to be a must see next summer! It really does look fantastic. So fantastic that I'm going to predict that this movie's going to be #5 on my best Pixar movies list! (#5 because <i>Monster's Inc</i>, <i>Toy Story</i>, <i>Ratatouille</i>, and <i>the Incredibles </i>are non-negotiable in my world). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The one thing I'm not looking forward to is the debating that starts whenever a Disney movie comes out. The debates are usually about two things: Princesses and <i>Pixar vs. Disney</i>.</span></span> (When it comes to Disney princesses and fictional princesses in general, I agree with <a href="http://www.megcabot.com/2010/12/the-princess-thing/">Meg Cabot</a>. When it comes to the Pixar vs. Disney feud, I think that Pixar rocks and I can never NOT like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T1LtolHX_E">classic Disney animation</a> soo it's a draw between them for me.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hm, I can imagine the headlines already:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>"FINALLY Because of Pixar, We Have A Princess We Can All Root For" </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>"Pixar's Brave Princess <i>Brave</i>r than Disney's"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>"Brave's Princess is how an animated role model should be" </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>"Pixar's Scottish Princess Takes the Cake For Best Animated Princess"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>"Pixar Princess Beats Disney's <i>Tangled</i> Princesses" </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...and etc. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="font-size:8pt;><span class=">(No, <i>of course</i> I'm not <i>still</i> sore about the Academy Award's <i>Tangled</i> snub...and <i>Tangled</i>'s loss to <i>Toy Story 3</i> for Best Song. Ha ha, what's makes you think that?!). </p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;">If anyone's going to see <i>Cars 2 </i>this weekend, have fun seeing the teaser trailer for <i>Brave</i>! </div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-58252672687252010362011-06-21T09:45:00.000-07:002011-06-22T14:51:19.253-07:00Gallivanting through Florida, Part 2 {Misadventures in Universal}<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sooo...I'm not exactly what you would call a thrill seeker (I'm not one for surprises) and I have a huge fear of heights. (Would my boggart be a high diving board or something? Maybe.)Because of the two aforementioned qualities of my personality, I don't particularly enjoy roller coasters much to the dismay of my friends. But because I didn't want to be a party pooper and ruin everyone's mood, I put on my brave face and calmly stood in line for the rides with everyone else. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://adampowers.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/sam-and-frodo.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 412px;" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If Sam can bravely carry Frodo up Mt. Doom, then gosh darn it, </b><b>I can bravely get on a one minute roller coaster ride</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Something went really strange that day because it seemed like we got stuck on almost every ride we went on! Getting stuck on a ride was not, to put it simply, fun, especially for someone like me who doesn't particularly enjoy dangling around 100 ft (or higher) in the air like others for long stretches of time, but looking back on it, our escapades in Universal wouldn't have been half as memorable if the rides didn't stop every now and then.</div><br /></div><div>The best rides we got stuck on:</div><br /><div>1) <b><a href="http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/Attractions/dudley_do_rights_ripsaw_falls.aspx?ComponentId=1656&SourcePageId=9048#10">Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls</a></b>: The electricity shut off right before we were about to fall off on the drop. And then it started right before we could say anything and we plunged down quicker than on any water ride I've ever been on before (I don't think we were supposed to fall). I screamed like I never screamed before.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>2) <b><a href="http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/Attractions/dudley_do_rights_ripsaw_falls.aspx?ComponentId=1656&SourcePageId=9048#page=Amusement-Parks_Islands-of-Adventure_Attractions_the-incredible-hulk-roller-coaster.html&expID=13-17601&contentID=13-1646&seq=1">The Hulk</a></b>: Technically <i>I</i> didn't get stuck on it, but my group members did! I didn't go because my brave-Sam-on-Mt-Doom-face fell off as soon as someone suggested going on this: </div><div><br /></div><img src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/19687418.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" border="0" alt="" /><div>...and I couldn't muster enough courage to put it back on, so my advisors and I ended up sitting in a cafe nearby and enjoyed some nice lemonade while waiting for everyone else...FOR OVER ONE HOUR. It was on a Wednesday morning, so there was<i> no one</i> there at the park so we realized that something was fishy when my friends didn't come back in ten minutes. When we went back to the ride to see what was up, the ride attendants were telling nearby questioners that some of the riders were stuck and there was no way to get them down. HAHAHA. So we had to wait for another half an hour until the ride started properly moving again. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>3) <a href="http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/Attractions/dudley_do_rights_ripsaw_falls.aspx?ComponentId=1656&SourcePageId=9048#page=Amusement-Parks_Islands-of-Adventure_Attractions_harry-potter-and-the-forbidden-journey.html&expID=13-15522&contentID=13-14110&seq=3"><b>Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey</b></a>: We were speeding through the castle, and then suddenly, everything- the video they were playing, our carts, lights-shut off. We were in the complete dark and I could hear some startled screams and voices. A couple minutes later we heard an announcement from the ride attendants apologizing for the inconveniences. Then our carts started bobbing up and down. Up and down. In the dark. For a long time. More startled screams ensued. The ride started up again soon, and we did end up seeing the familiar faces of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson on the screen again much to everyone's relief.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14xQW6Bfolg/TgAc2pPt7vI/AAAAAAAAAng/cttj9uf8hcI/s320/DSCF0613.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620524060068671218" /><div style="text-align: center;">Butterbeer!! I liked it very much.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qq-DVbt8QlA/TgAeuCuzR_I/AAAAAAAAAno/SMooA8bL2bg/s320/DSCF0575.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620526111314364402" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I could not get some Fish & Chips at the Three Broomsticks. :(</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LrdpAzk2KRM/TgAgOLZVt8I/AAAAAAAAAnw/-za8Q-viICU/s320/DSCF0595.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620527762907707330" /><div style="text-align: center;">Spiderman waved at me right before I snapped this picture. I also got a very awesome picture with the Green Goblin (not pictured). His smile was the epitome of EVIL (<a href="http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/Green-Goblin-sideshow-e.jpg">as usual</a>). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksGACoYaQgo/TgAihZ0rH1I/AAAAAAAAAn4/580FPAJq9T0/s320/DSCF0618.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620530292221222738" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Universal Globe!! No matter where we went that day, I had to make sure we got at least one picture in front of the globe because you know...it's <b>The Globe</b> or as I knew it when I was a little girl, <b>the globe that always spins around before every Jurassic Park movie</b>. It's every bit as sentimental to me as Disney's Castle. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Universal was our last theme park during our visit. The next day, we woke up early, and sadly said good-bye to the 95 degree weather and the greenery we rarely have up north during the month of May. *tear*<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQla5B-oln0/TgAk3fMJpMI/AAAAAAAAAoA/8T_A1PPjLrs/s320/DSCF0641.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620532870642246850" /><div style="text-align: center;">I did some catching up with the world done on the bus ride back to airport:</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hU0VqaexxxA/TgAl4BWyUlI/AAAAAAAAAoI/m1AupGInyPY/s320/DSCF0646.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620533979325289042" /><div><b>Moral of the post:<i> </i></b>Fear of anything can become overcome if you put on a brave face doing it, unless you're scared of <a href="http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/Attractions/the_incredible_hulk_roller_coaster.aspx">roller coasters</a> that can make you feel like your face is melting off. <i>Fake it till you make it</i>, some people say. That and...deep breathing really helps.</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-14732300062582347372011-06-20T09:24:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:50:36.208-07:00Gallivanting through Florida, Part 1 {Running Around Disney}<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hello. :) Long time no see, eh? How's summer been for you? I hope all of you are doing fine. I've just narrowly survived junior year of high school, and I've used this first weekend of summer to put together bits and pieces of myself I've lost these past few stress-inducing weeks. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> I've hit a road block with blogging. I've read no books in the past three weeks, nor have I seen movies worth writing about. The linkage I've created a long time ago is now outdated (I mean, every Hunger Games fan knows that Donald Sutherland (!) <a href="http://mockingjay.net/2011/05/31/donald-sutherland-cast-as-president-snow/">is going to be</a> Pres. Snow right?) For that reason, it seems I've no other idea than to talk about the most exciting thing that's happened to me this past month: Orlando, Florida! (Disney's at least a little fun to talk about and hear about, right?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>In the first week of May, I've had a lucky opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida with a school team for a national competition and it was GREAT. Meeting and becoming friends with students from all over the country was interesting and eye-opening just seeing how different people are in other regions of the country. I've never spoken to <i>that many</i> people with different accents before (or had that many people point out <i>my</i> mid-western "accent"). </div><div><br /></div><div>Just some pictures and my narration:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMTLympuAkg/Tf6F9o4DyaI/AAAAAAAAAlI/uSiekiqq4B0/s320/DSCF0165.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620076678996019618" /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFb9ZJRWn-M/Tf6HCCs5KXI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/7sj04Xt2m24/s320/DSCF0167.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620077854159612274" /><div style="text-align: center;">Flying over the evergreens. At this time, my friend and I were discussing whether or not we'll ever see an alligator during the course of the trip (we didn't).</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPsQmpc24jY/Tf6IClE1tOI/AAAAAAAAAlY/7AsFcv1blPA/s320/DSCF0170.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620078962898482402" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No one was actually smiling for being in Orlando when this bus pulled up because this was outside the airport when we had been waiting for our bus to come for over 2 hours already. Being the good friend I am, I tried cheering my friends up as soon as I saw the bus (not ours) but no one cracked a smile. I did end up comforting our travel agent, who was a bit frantic at the time seeing as her clients were very UNHAPPY though she didn't know I was smiling and goofing off because of the Orlando board.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfebCKnqsgs/Tf6OnOYZVFI/AAAAAAAAAlo/EB7vxAPyPdc/s320/DSCF0199.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620086189531419730" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The fact that I started laughing as soon as I saw those two panels just shows that it doesn't take much to make me laugh. :P We went shopping right away at Downtown Disney as soon as we finally reached our hotel and unpacked. The comics strips shown above were in stores all around Downtown.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And so we went shopping for the whole day basically and ate a lot of divine Ghiradelli ice cream. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>STORYTIME! </b>When I was holding a Mickey Mouse Stars Wars light-saber in a store and started to wave it around, this random boy, who couldn't be older than eight, came up to me and started hitting my light-saber with his and said something about battling against evil (I'm really not making this up). WELL, since I <i>couldn't</i> just walk away (the boy was getting <i>very</i> into his Jedi role), I started hitting back (softly of course!). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And so there we two were- me, a sixteen year old girl, and an eight-year-old kid having an all out battle between good and evil in the middle of a Disney store. At the end of our battle, the kid later complimented me on my Jedi fighting skills and skipped gleefully away. Yes, I apparently have <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h38VV7qkYNc">mad Jedi skillz</a>. Fear me! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TD-uoPoWoPU/Tf6UtjZyxfI/AAAAAAAAAlw/HmBZ6q9-_Ic/s320/DSCF0322.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620092895323407858" /><div style="text-align: center;">We spent the second evening in the Disney Hollywood Studios. Guess where the real buildings stop and where the set starts! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(We were competitive, networking students by day, Orlando tourists by night- we only went to the parks after 5 everyday)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILwVS3X8FNA/Tf6gAUC_XvI/AAAAAAAAAmY/lY8Ah6nQOuM/s320/DSCF0266.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620105312246652658" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hollywood studios was absolute <i>heaven </i>because it has a bunch of filmmaking events. Because my advisor knew I liked seeing all behind-the-scenes shows, she took our group to the Indiana Jones stunt show where we saw how they did the camera work, produced stunts, etc. I would've ran down onto the set pieces if they allowed people to down and particularly asked the cinematographer guy to let me sit in his chair, work with the camera, and revel in doing so...but of course I couldn't. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since this was my first time in Disneyworld and one of my friend's also, we both plotted to get a picture with all the Disney characters. Alas, we ended up taking pictures with no characters at all because by the time we went to the parks everyday, it ended up being too late. But, in Epcot (another Disney Park which was just as amazing as Hollywood studios) the next evening, we did get to see...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjoq18G_nvc/Tf6WS4rh7rI/AAAAAAAAAl4/X3ERYQ9stzA/s320/DSCF0367.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620094636201733810" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strike>college guy in an Aladdin suit working for a summer job </strike></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">ALADDIN!!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">His bodyguard lady kicked my friend and I out of his line (to get a picture) because he had to go on break. So sadly, he ended up being the only Disney character we got within 10 ft. of, and the </div><div style="text-align: center;">song <i>Prince Ali</i> ended up getting stuck in my head for the rest of the evening (though the </div><div style="text-align: center;">latter's not necessarily a bad thing :D).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6p8ea1-_IE/Tf6YSSj_ylI/AAAAAAAAAmA/lv1nFf1COIM/s320/DSCF0370.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620096824992844370" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uH4G0uEffKc/Tf6ZmFc3y9I/AAAAAAAAAmI/ryaXyRlpYyY/s320/DSCF0371.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620098264582310866" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots and lots of ducks galore. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And...the final Disney event of the trip, Disney's Electrical Parade which was its own magical experience in itself!</div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftUyDrXHSh4/Tf6-ocAgWHI/AAAAAAAAAnA/3FDJupKSxr8/s320/DSCF0508.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620138986927315058" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qntQU57885g/Tf6lpg7NCPI/AAAAAAAAAmg/FeRdEl7srAQ/s320/DSCF0517.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620111517636430066" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjRidyotT1M/Tf6lqILbxKI/AAAAAAAAAmo/8AUHP6yFt54/s320/DSCF0519.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620111528173487266" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8Tlw51EHtI/Tf6lqS7w7kI/AAAAAAAAAmw/TLyehus0--k/s1600/DSCF0528.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8Tlw51EHtI/Tf6lqS7w7kI/AAAAAAAAAmw/TLyehus0--k/s320/DSCF0528.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620111531060555330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One of the dwarves totally waved at me, yo. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So Disney was thrilling. It's<i> such</i> a happy-making place though I've never heard that many crying babies in my entire life. Of course, if Disney was a bit overwhelming for me, it must've definitely been too much for the poor toddlers. My advisor gave my friend and I tours around Disney since we were the only two in our group who haven't been down south before, and we made sure to hit all the classic Disney rides such as the Spinning Tea-Cups and Dumbo, and ate <b>omg-totally-delicious-mouthwatering-scrumptious</b> <i>funnel cakes</i> all throughout. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 2 of Orlando coming tomorrow!! Muhahwahaha. What? You think I'm going to leave you with just Disney? There's <i>still</i> Universal to go through! We got stuck on A LOT of rides which was pure torture for me because 1) I hate heights and 2) I have an intense dislike of roller coasters in general. So yes, tomorrow = Universal, but for now, I'll just leave you this: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <iframe width="380" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aEryAoLfnAA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""> </iframe><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:) </div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-21484055312799111162011-05-25T13:10:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:41:17.917-07:00anticipating...You guys, I just saw that the official blurb for THIS SURE TO BE VERY AWESOME book that I am eagerly waiting for came out, and I had to write about it.<br /><br />*takes deep breath*<br /><br />So THIS SURE TO BE VERY AWESOME book is called GOLIATH, by Scott Westerfeld. I can honestly say that this is the most highly anticipated book for me of 2011.<br /><br />Here’s the new, official blurb that got released onto the <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Goliath/Scott-Westerfeld/9781416971771">Simon & Schuster</a> page:<br /><br />*Spoilers for the previous two in the trilogy of course*<div><br /><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299808712l/9918083.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 475px;" border="0" alt="" /><i>Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaimAlek's throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren't technically enemies.<br /><br />The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is as it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld's brilliant trilogy. </i><br /><br />*******<br />Please allow me to go all fangirly for a second:<br /><br />OMGOMGOMGOMG. EEEEEEEEEE!!! AAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! *throws confetti* EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!<br /><br />*takes a deep breath* Okay, I’m all done now. ;) *phew*<br /><br />Now that I’ve gotten rid of all of that, I should be able to write rationally:<br /><br />My review (and hopefully not a gushfest *blush*) for Leviathan is <a href="http://noniekiran.blogspot.com/2010/08/leviathan.html">here</a>. When I read it last summer I fell hard for the story, the characters, and omg, the era (EEEeeee WWI era! <-- so much for being rational). I slept with it under my pillow everyday, no joke.*<br /><br />Then along came the sequel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Behemoth-Leviathan-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/1416971750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306356553&sr=8-1">Behemoth</a>, a couple months later in October and I loved it just as much as I did the first (hmm...I never reviewed this book...maybe I ought to?).<br /><br />Now, the final book in the trilogy is coming out this fall, and I can hardly wait for it, though the release date has been moving around. First it was sometime in October. Later, SW announced that it would be released the 13th of September, and now apparently, the date has been pushed back a week to <b>September 20th</b>. *sigh*<br /><br />Some VERY VERY VERY LUCKY people might have already gotten an ARC of this SURE TO BE AWESOME book <a href="http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/RNA/RNA_BookExpo_V2/documents/2011/BEA_Autographing_Ticketed_Authors.pdf">today in BEA</a>, from 1-2 today, Scott Westerfeld was there signing GOLIATH ARCS. *cries*<br /><br />But it’s okay. I can wait 117 days. I have waited before for HP, Hunger Games, and other series, so I can definitely wait for this book.<br /><br />I have predictions for this final novel as to what will happen to Alek with his royal title, Deryn, and certain revelations, but they shall come later, maybe the day before the release date. But Scott Westerfeld told Alan Cumming that the story will have a happy ending, so thinking positively, there will be! Hehehe. Can’t wait to read reviews when they start coming out. :)<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span>* Well for two days, but that’s because I read the book at night and I had to put it <i>somewhere</i> before I fell asleep...</span></span><br /><br /></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-38168026027276123042011-05-21T21:42:00.000-07:002011-06-21T21:54:08.585-07:00An Abundance of Katherines by John Green<a href="http://www.mostlyfiction.com/images/cover_L-A/abundancekath.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 280px;" src="http://www.mostlyfiction.com/images/cover_L-A/abundancekath.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><div><span style="font-style:italic;"><br /></span></div>When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun-but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predicability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself by Printz medalist John Green, acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska.</span><br /><br />-totally copied down from inside cover<br /><br />So there I was last week, strolling down the shelves of my school’s library, wondering what to do. In my left hand I had 1<i>3 Little Blue Envelopes</i> by Maureen Johnson, and in my right I had <i>An Abundance of Katherines</i> and I was reading the blurbs for both, trying to decide upon which book to quickly check out before the lunch bell rang. Umm...Johnson or Green? Road trip across Europe or road trip across midwest USA? Er...Envelopes or Katherines?!<br /><br />And then of course, I ended up picking Green, the road trip across midwest USA, and Katherines because of the line about the Austro-Hungarian Archduke. (If you know how geeky I get with anything that has to do with the WWI era, my decision shouldn’t surprise you so much. :D)<br /><br />I read the book after school.<br /><br />And then the next day in class when we had free time.<br /><br />Then after school again.<br /><br />Then the next day, I took it out of my backpack in the same class and read it. And I finished it. Then I closed the book and thought about it while sketching stage floor plans for the rest of the hour.<br /><br />And now I’m finally getting to write this review a couple days later.<br /><br />I don’t know how John Green does it really. He manages to create the craziest and sometimes unbelievable scenarios for high schoolers and well, makes them believable. I’ve never seen or heard of a girl who runs away and leaves clues for her friends to find her, or of a heartbroken guy leaving on a road trip to discover a mathematical theory about relationships, but hey, his stories work. ;)<br /><br />I adored Q in <i>Paper Towns</i>. He was smart, funny, nerdy, and oh-so-obsessed with Margo, and Colin’s exactly like him, expect he’s more smarter (in a prodigious type way), (not funnier though), nerdier, and oh my goodness, even more obsessed with his Katherines. For that last reason alone, Colin Singleton, the Chicago prodigy, was um, a bit exasperating? I wanted to knock some sense into him in the beginning. WHY OH WHY was he moping around about the 19th Katherine dumping him so much when he was intelligent and had so much to live for other than a relationship? But then, that was the point, I thought. Colin’s full of himself sometimes, and with him getting so frustrated about being so textbook-y, his insecurities about himself, shine through. If Colin didn't have his insecurities, his character development wouldn’t have been more interesting and thought-provoking.<br /><br />Hassan, Colin’s jocular, religious-but-not-really best friend, was one of my favorite characters. His dynamic with Colin, how he helps Colin get back on his feet with encouragement and silliness, and how he improves himself in the process is heartwarming. (There’s this scene at the very end with Hassan that left me relieved and grinning like crazy. Seriously, I couldn’t stop grinning like <i>a lunatic</i> for several pages.) I liked Lindsey Wells and thought her relationship with the duo and her personality was interesting. And oh the setting? The story was kind of refreshing, being set in a farmland. I actually thought Gutshot, Tennessee was real for a second in the beginning.<br /><br />About the actual story itself, there are some parts that dragged, but there would always be a scene so poignant, so touching right after that all the traces of the dull part vanishes. The situations Colin and Hassan get into with wild feral boars, crazy interviews, and the Katherines were funny and silly but always end up moving you in some way or another.<br /><br />The writing (.....Must...Resist....Gushing...Must...Stay...Calm...), John Green’s style, flows, as I said before when reviewing <i>Paper Towns</i>. It’s never strained and the dialogue is always rhythmic and natural. John Green’s writing style highly impressed me when reading <i>Paper Towns</i> and Katherines reminded me how brilliant I thought it was again.<br /><br />And...adding to the awesome writing, characters, and story, is the format of the book. I learned several German, Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, and Ancient Greek words because of its footnotes! Green’s hilarious, quirky notes about Colin, the languages he knows, and what’s happening/Colin’s past were always quite informative and also quite hysterical. It feels like the format <i>makes</i> the book sometimes. ;)<br /><br /><i>An Abundance of Katherines</i> is a coming-of-age tale about being careful with insecurities, finding out what you truly need in life, sticking by your friends through thick and thin, and being okay with yourself, being (and staying) unique by being yourself, and making math interesting. I enjoyed it very much. Even though it’s considered lighter fare than <i>Paper Towns</i> and <i>Looking For Alaska</i> (which I still have to read), the book being about high school grads and all, the language is a bit strong and there’s some <i>stuff</i> being talked about, so I recommend it for people....13+.<br /><br />If seeing that Archduke Franz Ferdinand makes a cameo here somehow doesn’t excite you like it did me, I hope this review did! <i>An Abundance of Katherines</i>, though not perfect, is a truly lovely story. John Green is SO good with his formula.<div><br /></div><div>-Nonie</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-43246319565181850022011-05-18T19:33:00.000-07:002012-01-19T18:57:13.873-08:00Riddle: What do Katniss Everdeen, Tintin, and Colin Singleton all have in common?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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1) Twitter burst into excitement today, and the server died for a while and that’s probably because <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/05/18/the-hunger-games-jennifer-lawrence-first-look-exclusive/">EW</a> released a brand new and shiny exclusive picture of <strike> Jennifer Lawrence </strike> Katniss Everdeen! <br />
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Fierce and brunette with a bow and arrow in hand- YES, Jennifer Lawrence <i>is</i> Katniss! EEEEEEEEP. (I’m glad Gary Ross and his crew weren’t joking about sticking to the character descriptions in the books. :D) The Hunger Games outfit (bow, arrow and mockingjay pin included) is making the fangirl hidden inside of me dance, but I probably won’t give in to the temptation until the trailer comes out.</div>
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*cough* Now they just have to release <i>Josh Hutcherson’s</i> picture as Peeta.....and I’m <strike>praying </strike> hoping that his transformation will be good as Jennifer’s (since I put a lot of expectations on his makeup crew before) I’m waiting with bated breath and crossed fingers...</div>
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2) For any Tintin fans out there, the trailer for the movie came out <a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/05/trailer-review-the-adventures-of-tintin">a couple days ago</a>!<br />
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The aeroplanes, fights, Thompson and Thompson, and the Unicorn crashing into the waves all give out a Tintin vibe so I’m pumped for the movie. The motion capture is kind of.....eerie or weird? I don’t know what I think of it but I’m just hoping I’ll get used to the animation before December (with it being directed by Steven Spielberg, there's no way I can't not watch it, even with the animation!).</div>
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3) If you’re into YA, and you haven't read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abundance-Katherines-John-Green/dp/0142410705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305773629&sr=8-1"><i>An Abundance of Katherines</i></a> by John Green yet, then</div>
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read it! That’s all. I keep on saying this, but I’m going to write a proper review for this soon (no, seriously, I will!), but I whole-heartedly recommend it. Just don’t get put off with Colin Singleton’s character too soon, because it's worth it in the end. Why yes it is. :D</div>
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Ciao for now,</div>
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Nonie</div>
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</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-21354841960741656682011-04-28T13:20:00.000-07:002011-08-12T20:42:47.871-07:00Because Thursday is the day before FridayBecause it’s Thursday and not Friday yet, I feel obligated to post this:<div>
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<br />Last week, I got my hands on a new camera so I scavenged around looking for good photo ops and angles and the like, and I ended up taking this picture:
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<br />I just like the colors....and the sun. :D</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The sky turned into this like 10 min. later-
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<br /><div style="text-align: left;">I realized that I take pictures of clouds...A LOT. But at least I'm not a <i>cloudy</i> person-hahaha!(All right, all right. I'll stop with the <i>pun</i>ny joking.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />I JUST got <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Was-Fire-Favorite/dp/1935618040/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304024644&sr=8-1">the Girl Who Was on Fire</a> from the library. (You know...it’s that anthology written by a group of YA authors about that one series...er...what was it? <i>The Fire Games</i>? <i>The Hunting Games</i>? <i>The Hungery Games</i>? Oh yeah, <i>THE HUNGER GAMES!!!</i>) I’m super duper excited to read this. I already read some essays that were available <a href="http://www.smartpopbooks.com/book/the-girl-who-was-on-fire">online</a> for some time, and they were fantastic. Interesting, in-depth, thought-provoking, well-written, and fun, so I thought I would pick it up. And now it’s here so I can READ the whole thing!! I feel like jumping with happiness.
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<br /></div><div>Um...what else? Well, there’s the new (and pretty good) trailer for the last part of Harry Potter:
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<br />Heh. :P (I mean, I <i>am</i> a Harry Potter fan, so I <i>had</i> to stick the trailer in a post <i>sometime</i>.) And I sort of already watched it like 35 times (hmm...or was it 37?) Analyzation (aka Nonie’s ramblings about it): SNAPE! I’m overjoyed (really) to see Snape so many times (epic Snape apparation scene at 1:18 with some amazing music playing in the back) and a glimpse of the Prince’s Tale. I got depressed when I saw Tonks and Lupin reaching for each other’s hands, but the depression turned into happiness when I heard Ron speaking his one line, and when I saw (I think) Oliver Wood (yay!) flying over the castle. And the Battle at Hogwarts scenes with their brilliant special effects made the trailer even more fabulous than it already was (yay for Professor McGonagall’s army!). </div><div>
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<br /></div><div>Oh, and I really can’t tell you how much I <span style="font-weight:bold;">love</span> how the trailer starts with the original Harry Potter theme sort of. (I LOVED the whole trailer, but Harry Potter trailers are <i>always</i> good, and it’s been a while since I heard the original John Williams theme.) The most randomest/most amusing part was the Harry-grabbing-Voldemort-and-jumping-off-a-roof scene. My first thought about that: <b style="font-style: italic; ">UMM...Harry/Daniel Radcliffe did NOT just grab Voldemort and jump of a roof. </b>So I replayed it, and I realized that he <i>did</i>, and now I can’t wait to see what that’s all about on July 15th. :P
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<br />(And this is random but I just realized that Voldemort doesn’t wear any shoes and seeing him walk bare-footed threw me off for a min. Er, that’s probably because I never thought about Voldemort’s shoes before...that’s a bit weird...okay, I'll stop now.)
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<br />Recent Book Recommendations:
<br /><i>Castle in the Air </i>by Diana Wynne Jones
<br /><i>A Conspiracy of Kings</i> by Megan Whalen Turner
<br /><i>The Running Dream</i> by Wendelin Van Draanen
<br /><i>Smiles To Go </i>by Jerry Spinelli</div><div>and</div><div><i>The Girl Who Was on Fire</i> (because I already know that I'm going to think that it's amazing by the end of the read.)</div><div>
<br />I’ll write some reviews soon and actually put some bookish content here, hopefully as soon as AP testing week is over (in only two weeks...eek!). Right now, I need to go back to studying. :)
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<br />Happy Thursday! </div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-14060643545045621402011-04-16T20:56:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:51:06.459-07:00Saturday, Um, Friday FiveEven though it’s almost the end of Saturday, let’s pretend it’s Friday, so I can do <a href="http://paperhangover.blogspot.com/">Paper Hangover</a>’s Friday Five! :D I really was going to do it on Friday, but I umm...got caught up with other things, so I’m doing it today....20 minutes before Saturday ends....<br /><br />Ahem, so the topic: <i>What five characters would you trade places with for a day? </i><br /><br />1. <b>Hermione Granger </b>(of <span><i>Harry Potter</i></span>)- This one is a no brainer for me. :D She’s been a role model for me since I was little. Not only is she intelligent, loyal, brave, she gets to hang out with Harry & the gang, and she gets to take the most awesome classes. I would LOVE to take Ancient Runes or Arithmancy, and I think I would find Muggle Studies fascinating too. ;)<br /><br />2. <b>Cammie Morgan </b>(of <span style="font-style: italic; ">Gallagher Girls</span>)- She goes to Gallagher Academy...a school for SPIES! I would be able to finally realize my life-long dream of becoming spy if I went to that school (Yes, I really, really wanted to become a spy when I was younger (and still kind of do...)- I blame you,<i> Spy Kids</i>, <i>Mission Impossible</i>, and <i>James Bond</i>).<br /><br />3. <b>Deryn Sharp</b> (of <span style="font-style: italic; ">Leviathan</span>)- She’s a quick thinker, adventurous, (sharp), determined, and she gets to save the day plenty of times (she’s just EPIC). Also, the extreme fear of heights I have now would be replaced by an undying love of it instead! (I would die if I had to live aboard the Leviathan now. *faint*)<br /><br />4. <b>Sammy Keyes </b>(of <i>Sammy Keyes</i> series)- Along with Hermione, Sammy was another role model for me. She’s a detective, and one a hilarious one at that too. :D I would eat Gram’s oatmeal for breakfast, sit with Hudson on his porch while drinking lemonade, see what Marissa and Casey are up to later, and see if there’s any mystery to solve in the meanwhile.<br /><br />Random tangent: When I was in middle school, I bought a pair of converse high-tops because I wanted to be just like Sammy (they’re her signature pair of shoes), and go around and solve mysteries. Then I realized that nothing really happens where I live so the become-a-high-tops-wearing-12-year-old-detective-like-Sammy-Keyes-plan failed epically. *Sigh*<br /><br />5. <b>Sophie Hatter </b>(of <i>Howl’s Moving Castle</i>)- She’s smart, funny, kind, and umm... lives in a moving castle with Howl *cough* I would also try to make a spell and say hi to Michael. :D<br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Who would you want to trade lives with for a day?</i></b> Hope you all are having a nice weekend so far! :)</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-40765136832074775422011-04-10T14:26:00.000-07:002011-06-22T12:05:54.099-07:00So the Hunger Games Cast Came Out...So, I've been somewhere else for a while (and totally skipped writing in March-<span style="font-style:italic;">oops</span>) working on the usual- schoolwork, tennis, final exams, worrying about college, and whatnot, but I had to come back to lay out my thoughts about some important news here:<div><br /></div><div><b>The Hunger Games movie has been cas</b><b>t</b> (but just the main trio though)...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">and it was announced back in March that <a href="http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/confirmed-jennifer-lawrence-will-play-katniss-in-the-hunger-games.php">Jennifer Lawrence</a> will be playing Katniss Everdeen!</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_h1YP1qz9XQ/TaIlT1kUkEI/AAAAAAAAAh8/FINIzHlTE5w/s320/Jennifer-Lawrence.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594074709874741314" />I’m <i>absolutely thrilled</i> about it because a) She CAN ACT (as seen in <i>Winter’s Bone</i>- Her character is actually very similar to Katniss’s in the movie, and she’s gotten numerous awards/nominations/*Oscar nomination for Best Actress* for the role), b) She went through a <a href="http://www.hungergamestrilogy.net/2011/03/jennifer-lawrence-talks-about-hunger-games-with-ryan-seacrest/">grueling audition with Gary Ross</a>, the film’s director, and she passed, so obviously she captured Katniss pretty well, and c) Suzanne Collins <a href="http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/hunger-games-author-suzanne-collins-jennifer-lawrence-could-inspire-a-rebellion.php">thinks she’s awesome</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I'm very excited to see her as Katniss. :D<br /><br />Then, just last Monday, <a href="http://www.movieline.com/2011/04/front-runners-no-more-liam-hemsworth-and-josh-hutcherson-lock-up-hunger-games-leads.php">castings for Peeta and Gale came out</a>! Peeta will be played by Josh Hutcherson (left), and Gale will be played by Liam Hemsworth:</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wdtcs2y0Rv0/TaImCqs7qKI/AAAAAAAAAiM/YYOr5b-2YII/s320/Josh%253ALiam.gif" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594075514411919522" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The good news is that when I read about casting is that I didn’t cry out/scream <i>“What?!!!!”</i> like I did when the Percy Jackson movie casting was released a couple years ago. My first thought was, “Okay, <i>this can work</i>."<br /><br />And after thinking about it for a while (and <a href="http://mockingjay.net/2011/04/10/katniss-peeta-rue-photoshop-graphic-by-houseofcards/">seeing fan art</a>), I believe that it actually can.***</div><div><br />I actually don’t know anything about Liam except for the fact that he acted besides Miley Cyrus in <i>the Last Song</i> and I haven’t seen that, so I can’t say anything about his acting, but I think he has <b>the-Gale-look</b>. He’s tall, lean-ish, has a rugged look about him, and I can totally imagine him with black hair, leather-soled boots, hunting gear, and squirrels and rabbits strapped to his belt and around his shoulders, and walking around looking a bit solemn. (And he and Jennifer Lawrence look like cousins! Yay!)</div><div><br />Now about Josh Hutcherson...It’s been amusing, but a little bit more shocking/disturbing to see all the hate he’s been getting (more than the other cast members) because he’s Peeta and not Hunter Parrish or Alex Pettyfer. So I really wanted <a href="http://www.bookittyblog.com/hunter-parrish-vman-culture.jpg">Hunter</a> to get the role, but for more superficial reasons. (I mean, he LOOKS THE PART already.) But thinking about it now, I'm really happy that Josh got the role, even though he doesn't look like Peeta, who by the way (to <i>non-Hunger Games</i> fans), looks like this:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCBKXpnzOJ4/TaInRyrVuTI/AAAAAAAAAiU/k-Xdq6Bug68/s320/Peeta.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 260px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594076873762388274" /></div><div><br /></div><div>JH is basically the exact opposite of who Peeta is physically. He’s got brown eyes instead of blue, really dark brown hair instead of blonde, and OMG his hair is definitely not falling in waves over his forehead. But who really looks like Peeta anyway <strike>except Hunter Parrish</strike>?<br /><br />The good things about Josh: He's a little more stocky than the others, but that’s what Peeta’s described as right? Stocky not lean. Medium height. Strong enough to haul 100 lb flour bags arond. Soft-looking. Boyish. Not a pretty pretty boy. JH fits each requirement perfectly. All I have to say about his dark hair and brown eyes is that if the LOTR makeup crew transformed <a href="http://turbo.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2009/12/orlando-bloom.jpg">dark-brown haired</a> Orlando Bloom into <a href="http://criticschoice.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Orlando_as_Legolas.jpeg">white-blonde haired</a> Legolas convincingly, I have no doubt that the HG makeup crew will be able to do the same.* (There’s nothing a little Hollywood make-up and magic won’t fix!)<br /><br />About his acting, I’ve seen Josh Hutcherson in almost every movie he’s been in (<i>Zathura, Journey to the Center of the Earth, etc</i>) and he’s a great actor (which is <i>probably</i> why I’m not worried about his casting). He knows about emotions, he knows how to be charismatic, and he’s good with action sequences, so there's no way he won't be able to pull Peeta's role acting-wise. JH <i>beat out</i> Hunter and Pettyfer (and......everyone else who auditioned), so he was much better at being Peeta than everyone else. Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins both said that they knew that he’s <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/04/05/hunger-games-peeta-gale-statements/">perfect for Peeta</a>, that <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/04/07/hunger-games-suzanne-collins-gary-ross-exclusive/">he was their first choice</a>, and that he had great chemistry with Jenn in the screen tests, and I believe them and I have faith in Josh. He <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/13/sxsw-detention-star-josh-hutcherson-wants-to-play-some-hunger-games/">wanted this role badly</a>, and he got it, so we should give him a chance and see what he’ll do with the character.**<br /><br />No director or author wants to purposefully ruin their story, and it sounds like the HG movie team is trying to make the best movie they can. The whole cast (so far) is enthusiastic about their characters and the series (especially Josh :P), they know how big this series is and<a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/18/jennifer-lawrence-talks-hunger-games/#more-32516"> how much responsibility just landed on their shoulders</a> to get everything right, and since <a href="http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/gary-ross-defends-jennifer-lawrence-casting-says-hunger-games-author-approves.php">Gary Ross</a> promised to dye each character’s hair their respective hair colors, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. So...thinking optimistically, JH, Jenn, and Liam will of course blow our minds away when we see the movie opening weekend March 2012 of course.***</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, we should trust Gary Ross's vision for the movie. He and his crew know more than us about what's going to happen. (Now I'm really excited about the trailer! :D)</div><div><br />Thoughts, complaints, revelations, etc about the Hunger Games movie or something of the sort? Write away below in the comments. :D</div><div><br /><br /><font size="1"><span>*Hey HG Makeup Crew! *Waves* If you guys are reading this somehow, you know I’ve put a lot of expectations on you. Sorry about that, but you will be able to change JH’s hair right? And make sure his hair is falling over his forehead in waves right? Because that’s sort of important to the HG fandom (*cough* and me *cough*). If you don’t change his hair, there’s going to be a lot of angry fans...<br /><br />** Disclaimer #1: I am NOT JH’s agent who stole Nonie’s Blogger account to put her client in a positive light or a devoted JH fangirl (definitely NOT the latter!). I just think he shouldn’t be judged so quickly and be given a chance. He won over Suzanne Collins (and Peeta’s <i>her</i> character), so who knows? Maybe by the time we see Josh in March, we'll all be saying,<span style="font-style:italic;">"Hunter Who?"</span><br /><br />*** If the movie doesn’t turn out so well, and everyone ends up being horrible, then that just means I wasted the whole post (hopefully) boosting everyone's morale about it, but I actually think it’ll turn out well. I think Suzanne Collins being in the movie crew will mean that the movie will go in the right direction and it certainly looks like it is so far. :) </font></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><font size="1"><span>P.S./Disclaimer #2: If the movie doesn't end up being too good, and you've raised your expectations about the movie because of this post, but are disappointed in March, then I am not to be blamed. Personal opinions are opinions of that person alone, and I am just stating mine. Heh.</font></span><br /></div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-83656723697812544502011-02-25T12:44:00.000-08:002011-06-22T11:37:29.766-07:00The Beginning of the End. Or Probably Not.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm pretty sure the whole world knows about the Borders-filing-Chapter-11-bankruptcy right now. For my town (which has three Borders bookstores), there are some good news because of it and some bad news. The good news is that there will still be two Borders standing. The bad news is that one will be closing, and unfortunately, the one that's closing is mine (great, huh?).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Truthfully, when I first read the article about the closing in my town's newspaper, I was okay with it. Of course I was upset, but it all seemed gradual. Everyone knew that it had to happen one day or another. (I think I was still in denial- <i>How can Borders (especially <b>my Borders</b>) close?! They're <b>book</b>stores! They're <b>educational</b>! They help improve <b>literacy</b>! They apparently serve great hot chocolate and have an awesome Jane Austen/Charlotte Bronte collection!)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After finally going to visit the store, the news hit me. My Borders is <i>closing. </i>This is what I saw when I first walked in:</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ece1S4kUSNQ/TWhny0L0VVI/AAAAAAAAAhM/mzk2SnkwO6I/s320/everythingborders.gif" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 260px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577822261197690194" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Isn't that just plain scary?</div></div><div><br /></div><div>And then I turned around and saw <i>HP and the Order of the Phoenix</i> on a nearby shelf. Right there I realized that this is where I bought all the last three Harry Potter books. This was where my family, friends, and I stood eagerly in line until 4:00 in the morning of July 21st, 2007 to get<i> Deathly Hallows </i>in our hands. This was where I bought all my <i>Percy Jackson</i> books, <i>the Hunger Games trilogy</i>, and basically where I bought all the books I cherish deeply today (and also where a saleswomen first introduced <i>Twilight</i> to me- before it become a phenomenon), and now it's <i>closing? </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I don't know what else to say now; the denial's gone, but the truth is still settling in. There are only two things (entertainment-wise) I really need to function well in my life: a bookstore and a movie theater. Sadly, both seem to have unpredictable futures ahead of them. As we can see, the movie industry is suffering huge losses as well. Theaters are shutting down, studios are filing for bankruptcy, and Hollywood is facing uncertainty, just like the publishing industry has been from what's been happening to books and bookstores. There'll be unemployment now, and <a href="http://oinks.squeetus.com/2011/02/why-brick-and-mortar-still-matter.html">according to</a> Shannon Hale, an estimation of 10% decrease in sales of books. </div><div><br /></div><div>Does the bankruptcy of Borders signal what's going to happen to other bookstores in the future like Barnes & Nobles and indie bookstores because they can't keep up with online retail stores sales like Amazon? *cough cough* It better NOT. Because just like what Shannon Hale (again) <a href="http://oinks.squeetus.com/2011/02/why-brick-and-mortar-still-matter.html">wrote</a> about the bankruptcy, brick-and-mortar stores still matter enormously. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is wishful thinking but I'm 98% sure that bookstores will continue to thrive (as long as they sell e-books and e-readers now just like B&N), and so will movie theaters because one day movies will become reasonably priced again so theaters will be able to show them and people will be able to view them! And really, I like going to bookstores. To browse, and to find the books I really want to read. I especially love going over when there's a brand new release to see the excitement within everyone, and to see people quickly running over to the shelves to go get the shiny, new books before anyone else, or to stand in line to receive the book and break into a huge smile when the book finally lands into their hands. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's just like how I love going to movie theaters during opening weekend to see everyone walk quickly into the theaters to grab the best seats, and to hear a hush fall over the crowd when the opening titles come on. Sometimes if the movie is really popular (as in the case of <i>Harry Potter</i> or <i>Toy Story 3</i>), roaring claps and cheers come on instead of the hush, and because I'm sentimental and weird, I start tearing up and start thinking about how amazing it is to be able to enjoy and celebrate something together <span class="Apple-style-span">(Yeah, like I said, I'm weird)</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I guess that's what they do, bookstores and movie theaters. They bring communities together, and I don't think we can survive without them. Well, <i>I</i> can't at least, so I'm hoping they're here to stay. *fingers crossed*</div><div><br /></div><div>- Nonie</div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-12717374573118087772011-01-29T15:40:00.000-08:002011-06-22T12:00:49.573-07:00Linky LinksJust some links I’ve been wanting to share (some for a looong time):<br /><br />Stephanie Perkins’ post about <a href="http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com/2010/12/so-that-john-green-thing.html">her journey</a> as a writer is so inspirational, and then Kiersten White’s post about <a href="http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/2011/01/dumb-girls.html">dumb girls</a> made me rethink some things...<br /><br />Attolia fans: I found this page on the Queen’s Thief fansite, <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/">Sounis</a>, that shows the <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/439067.html">gorgeous concept art</a> for <i>the Conspiracy of Kings</i> cover. It’s amazing to see how much work goes through making the physical book itself and be able to look behind-the-scenes.<br /><br />Dean Hale (Shannon Hale’s husband) wrote <a href="http://www.dreadcrumbs.com/2011/01/my-night-with-them.html">this</a> heartwarming post on his blog, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/dreadcrumbs.com">Dread Crumbs</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Congrats to Shannon Hale herself, for <a href="http://oinks.squeetus.com/2011/01/garrison-keillor-wished-me-a-happy-birthday.html">being mentioned</a> on NPR on her birthday! :)</div><div><br />Choco, in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/inwhichagirl.blogspot.com">In Which a Girl Reads</a> recently wrote about <a href="http://inwhichagirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/underappreciated-books.html">her favorite underappreciated books</a>. Mine? <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Princess-Rod-Espinosa/dp/1932453369">The Courageous Princess</a></i> by Rod Esponisa (a lovely graphic novel), <i>Sammy Keyes</i> (my favorite mysteries when I was in middle school but no one seems to have read these!), and basically the rest of Wendelin Van Draanen’s novels. What are yours?</div><div><br /></div><div>Scott Westerfeld put up <a href="http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/2011/01/meet-up-tazza/">some footage</a> of a real Tasmanian Tiger. It's strange to think that they're not really roaming around Australia anymore.<br /><br />Want to know what books topped the NY Times bestsellers list during the week of your birthday? Find out on <a href="http://www.biblioz.com/best_sellers.php?a=0&i=43166485">Biblioquest’s International</a>! Some bestselling books on my list are <i>The Chamber</i> by John Grisham, <i>Disclosure</i> by Michael Crichton, and <i>Beyond Peace</i> by Richard Nixon. :D What books came out during your birthday week?<div><br /><div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/jamesdashner.com">James Dashner</a>'s right. I really, really liked <a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/459807/The-King-s-Speech/overview"><i>the King’s Speech</i></a>. Yeah, I’m jumping on the bandwagon, because wow, everything was just <i>so</i> elegant: the acting, cinematography, the music...<br /><br />Speaking of<i> the King’s Speech</i>, the Oscar/Academy Awards nominations <a href="http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html">came out </a> a couple days ago if you haven’t seen them yet. The nominees aren’t as predictable as I thought they would be, so I’m really looking forward to February 27th now. ;)<div><br /></div><div>But it looks like the academy made a huge mistake with the <i>Best Animated Feature</i> category because why isn’t TANGLED there??!? I mean, Toy Story 3 is going to win anyway, <i>but</i> a nomination is a nomination, and it was a <b>critical</b> <i>and</i> box-office success! (And...I unquestionably adored every bit of it.) It deserves a nomination! :(<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />Anywho, in a somewhat related note, Meg Cabot back in December wrote about <a href="http://www.megcabot.com/2010/12/the-princess-thing/">the Princess Thing</a>. It’s worth reading. :D<br /><br />Anddd, that’s all for now. Ciao for now! I'll have a review of <i>Revolution</i> by Jennifer Donnelly very soon...<div><br />-Nonie</div></div></div></div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289281563133651497.post-80392967960093673882011-01-09T13:25:00.000-08:002011-06-22T21:04:41.440-07:00About the Bouche de Noel...<div style="text-align: left;">It's always been a dream of mine ever since I started French, to bake a<i> perfect</i> <a href="http://www.foodtimeline.org/christmasfood.html">Bouche de Noel</a> for Christmastime...</div><div><br /></div><div>So I did make one this year. It didn't look at all like my <a href="http://noniekiran.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-holidays.html">ideal logs</a>, but hey, it looks okay :-D <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">(but please don't laugh when you see the pictures</span>)</span> - </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSo1jr2DC3I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/Fr9chKb1UZw/s320/DSC02455.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560315577123408754" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSpAhQHlBbI/AAAAAAAAAgY/ZLZRoc0T1x0/s320/DSC02461.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560327629948913074" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"> A <i>very</i> chocolatey filling...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSopJXIx40I/AAAAAAAAAfY/YKr_W4nQm-Y/s320/DSC02448.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560301930748699458" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSoswtXIgqI/AAAAAAAAAfo/it4lviFKS6c/s1600/DSC02441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSoswtXIgqI/AAAAAAAAAfo/it4lviFKS6c/s320/DSC02441.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560305905264263842" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSoswcLmDnI/AAAAAAAAAfg/3ltnmG_0qnU/s1600/DSC02462.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8KYeKgMbPeI/TSoswcLmDnI/AAAAAAAAAfg/3ltnmG_0qnU/s320/DSC02462.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560305900652465778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It turned out to be <i>real tiny </i>(about 6 inches in length to be exact). Why? Well, for some strange, mysterious reason unbeknownst to me, 2/3's of the cake got burnt and turned <b>charcoal black</b>. The sight of my beloved cake left me in anguish and completely shattered (seriously), but fortunately, it didn't do the same to my mom who just quickly salvaged the edible 1/3.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The frosting part didn't turn out so well either because the cake broke into pieces as soon as I started rolling it up to start spreading the cream, so then I had to turn to my trusty home-made chocolate filling to glue them all together again. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And call me weird, but despite all these mishaps, I'm quite proud of how the Bouche turned out to look almost like a <i>real</i> log with real tree bark, layers and all (see last picture), even though yes, I know the cake's not supposed to be like that. And...it didn't taste<i> bad</i>. A little too chocolatey perhaps because of the extra frosting I had to use for gluing, but overall <i>I</i> <i>liked</i> <i>it</i>. :D</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, after the whole incident, I resolved to just write a letter to Santa in French next year for extra credit. I'm still a little burned out from all that cooking...</div><div><a><br /></a></div><div>-Nonie</div></div></div>Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047555977706793967noreply@blogger.com8