Voldemort Archives - The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

Sep232010 by Chris Holmes1 Comment

Exciting new trailer for “Harry Potter and the Obscene Bank Account”

Movies

Of course I'm just joshin' ya. It's actually the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (or HP7 as the kids are calling it, and I'm nothing if not down with the youth of today). But I'm not too far off, am I? Anyway, check it out: Très intense, no? Is it really possible that the book came out over three years ago? I'll have to read it again I suppose, since I have little recollection about what happened. I certainly don't remember the bit with the multiple Potters. I also don't remember if Voldemort wins or if he gets his hand chopped off then turns against the Emperor - so don't spoil it for me!

Jul202009 by Chris Holmes6 Comments

GFS at the Movies: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Movies

If it accomplishes nothing else as a film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince provides plenty of grist for the mill of debate over the pitfalls of translating literature to the big screen. Because I think how you feel about this movie will hinge in large part upon your expectations of its fidelity to the source material. So let's get this right out of the way, in case you're one of the dozen or so people who haven't seen the movie or read J.K. Rowling's book - this film is more of an interpretation of the sixth Harry Potter novel than a straight adaptation. I took a rather forgiving approach to the omissions, additions, and changes made by screenwriter Steve Kloves but even I must admit to some puzzlement over some of his decisions. For the sake of brevity I'll mention just a few...

Jul232007 by Chris Holmes1 Comment

Book review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Books

So it has come to this. After ten years and seven novels the magical saga of Harry Potter has finally reached its conclusion. The countdowns are over, the hype begins to subside, and the biggest question surrounding J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (besides whether Severus Snape is indeed friend or foe) can be answered - was it a worthwhile journey? (more…)

Jul162007 by Chris HolmesNo Comments

Movie review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Movies

As J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has become increasingly dark and complex, filmmakers tackling the source material have found it more challenging to present the stories without compromising the integrity of the novels. This prickly problem first reared its head with 2004's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the first film in the series to meet with angry rumblings from some Potter-philes. The fifth and newest installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (henceforth OoP), faces the biggest challenge of all. The source novel was not only the longest of the first five (800+ pages), but it contained numerous detailed subplots and character explorations. For the film, director David Yates for the most part successfully left out what could be without making the st...

Mar302007 by Chris Holmes2 Comments

One bad cover and one puzzling trailer

Books, Movies

A few items of interest were released in the last few days. First, the cover for the seventh and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released. I gotta say, while our friends across the pond usually have better covers for the Potter books, they really blew it on this one: Contrast that with the much better American edition: The American edition may be a bit sedate, but apparently the back and inside covers combine to form a pretty cool scene that involves Lord Voldemort. The British cover is a giant, goofy mess, by contrast. Although I guess pirate booty is somehow involved in the story if the illustration is indicative of the book's plot. Switching gears, the first teaser trailer for the third and final movie in the Bourne trilogy (The Bo...