Old School - Potterfication and KONG

Nov. 2005 -

I picked up Ethan early from school and visited George, my old journalism advisor and general mentor from high school. He was doing pretty well, and I have to see him again during Christmas for dinner and beers.

Then Ethan and I went to see Harry Potter. I liked it pretty well, and that's coming from a non-Harry Potter fanatic. The pace of movie was pretty even and didn't drag on like the second film (I've never seen the first one). And, as every one predicted, I like the darker tone and elements. I think the only gripe I have is that I'm constantly trying to guess who's going to betray Harry in the end. It's not difficult to do, and it's happened in every film I've seen so far.
But, I love any movie that gives Brendan Gleeson and Warwick Davis work and lets Alan Rickman be snotty and creepy at the same time. And according to rumor (thanks, imdb.com) Rowan Atkinson was considered for a role. The world needs more Rowan Atkinson, especially in evil "Black Adder" mode.

"I have a cunning plan." ... "Oh, damn."

The end sequence of Harry Potter, starting with the maze bit, reminded me of a lot of other movies. I was thinking The Shining, Labyrinth (y'know, if you took that Lucious dude and gave him jersey-hair, he'd a look lot like Jareth from Labyrinth), Evil Dead, and Night Breed (based off of Cabal, a great novella by Clive Barker and another example of Barker starting a series and not finishing the damn thing).

I also picked up the new 1933 King Kong DVD (shocking, I know). I haven't rewatched the actual film yet (saving that so I can watch it with Ma), but I did watch the documentary on Kong that Peter Jackson put together for the DVD. I've been basking in the glory of other fans giving one of the greatest and most influential films its due. Rock on.

You don't fuck with the Kong.

Now, if I could only get my hands on Ran. I'll order it off Amazon when I get back. I would order it now, but, of course, I'm in heathen-country right now.

I think I might watch some Looney Tunes before bed. And, at some point, I will have to actually get some work in. Let's see...tomorrow I visit my dad. Thursday is Thanksgiving. Friday, I'm taking Ma and Ethan to Walk The Line, and Saturday I'm probably hanging with Derrick. Oh yeah, plenty of time for work in that schedule, heh.