The Fault In Our Stars

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves."

I woke up on January 10 feeling normal - much calmer than the night previous when I had a minor breakdown after calculating how much it would cost to get me to LeakyCon this year, and said number being far too large for me to obtain. Then I checked Twitter. And I realized with more excitement than I can quite convey here that January 10 was TFIOS Day. The more I read tweets from Nerdfighteria exploding with excitement, the more excited I got. I checked my Amazon order, and realizing that it wouldn't be shipped unti January 19, cancelled the order and decided to go get my copy at my local Chapters. After class, of course.

Which mean that I had to sit through class, nearly bouncing with excitement, until I could go get my beautiful green j-scribbled copy of The Fault in Our Stars. I started reading it that night, and devoured it. I took it to school and read it during my free time. I stayed up until 1:30 last night finishing the book.

I loved the book right from the start. It has John's typical flair to it - fun writing, quirky characters - so I just ate it up. I loved Hazel and how she looked at the world. I loved Augustus Water's constant metaphors. I loved their interactions. I even grew to love Isaac and Lidewij. I cursed at Van Houten (right in the middle of the Arts Centre hallway, mind you). I fell in love with Hazel and Gus' Amsterdam. But nothing affected me more than the ending. I have never weeped more openly, or felt more pain, from a book. Not even Harry Potter. I was just sad during Harry Potter. In The Fault in Our Stars, I felt Hazel's distraught. I put myself in her position. I can honestly say I have never identified that closely with a character, or felt what they were feeling that strongly. During the last 100 pages or so, I texted my boyfriend "I love you" repeatedly because I just couldn't stand what was happening. It was both amazing and horrifying, and kudos to John Green for being able to put that emotion into Hazel and her story.

Even with the distraught, I would read The Fault in Our Stars again in a heartbeat. John's writing has a way of capturing me that no one else's does, he pulls me right in, and I can't wait to reread The Fault in Our Stars (after I finish some other books in my ever-growing pile of "to read" books).

The Hunger Games Sneak Peek

So everyone who watched the VMA's got to see a sneak peek for the Hunger Games movie. I didn't watch it (I think I would have poked my eyes off/driven a pencil into my ears) but Twitter gave me the link to watch the trailer after it aired.

What we got was 58 seconds of, what I thought, looks exactly as The Hunger Games should. I already love Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. The logo is really cool looking (I don't mind the fire effects, some people were saying they looked cheesy, but they looked fine to me. *shrug*). But...I hated, hated, whoever  was doing the voice over. Peeta? Gale? Not sure. But I hated him. My first thought was "Whoa, gangster?" and neither of them are anything close to that. When I watched it a second time, and thought about it a bit, the more I hope to hell that it's Gale, because I could at least forgive Gale sounding all harsh. He's kind of a harsh guy. But Peeta, man, do not make my Peeta Malark sound like that. Do not do it. (I really don't think it was Peeta. I think Gale was giving Katniss a pep talk before she left for The Capitol. But I'm still going to be nervous about it until I see who was talking.)

So...all in all, I liked it! I'm excited to see more, and I really hope the films can live up to the books.

[REVIEW] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Well. Now that my very word vomit-y LeakyCon blog posts are all out of the way...I have something a little more fun - Deathly Hallows Part 2 review! Yeah! I almost appologized to anyone who isn't a Potter fan, but then I realized that it's my blog. I do what I want. XD

It’s been a few weeks since the release now, and I have seen the film a total of four times. The first was the amazing amazing screening at LeakyCon, the second with Kayla, the third with Randy, and the fourth with all of my friends (or, many of them) for my birthday. It’s been about a week since I’ve seen it, so hopefully I’ll actually be able to say something about it.

All in all, I was happy with the film. I started to write this out in paragraph form, but I think I’ll do better in lists. It may not be as long then. (Maybe.)

• I absolutely loved the stuff at Shell Cottage (THEY PUT IN THE “HERE LIES DOBBY A FREE ELF” BIT IN. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS) and the Gringott’s scene was BRILLIANT. That dragon broke my heart a bit, the way it was abused, the poor thing. Even Hermione using Reducto on it’s tail! Uhm. But all in all, yes, I loved it.
• I think one of my favourite added scenes was when Voldemort was walking through Gringotts, feet bloodied, all of the Goblins dead. God that was scary. Voldemort was so so scary in that scene. It was so well done.
• Aberforth was perfect, so was the Hogshead. I don’t have anything much more to say on that front, but I love love loved it.
• When Neville showed up in the portrait, I got major goose bumps and was overcome with the urge to cheer. (I blame LeakyCon.) And then when the trio came out of the other end into the Room of Requirement...oh goodness the chills. I was again overcome with the urge to cheer. (Still blame LeakyCon.)
• When everyone is in the Great Hall and Snape does his “everyone will be treated as a traitor aka die” speech I was actually a bit scared of him, even if his eyes did look sad.
• Seeing McGonagall scared was really...well, scary for me.
•  The “how dare you stand where he stood” line almost made me tear up. But that’s just because I’m still grieving for Dumbledore.
•  That whole bit with Harry telling Snape off was so wonderful, and so book 7 Harry. When the Order walked into the Great Hall, all bad ass...I once again, got chills and wanted to cheer. (Sigh. LeakyCon.) 
• Snape vs. McGonagall. God she is such a bad ass. And Snape was terrified! And totally didn’t want to fight her.
• “Blow it up? Boom?” “BOOM!”
• “I’ve always wanted to do that spell!”
• Where was Grawp?
• The Chamber of Secrets scene was so good! I’m so glad they added that. And the kiss. Ohhh the kiss. Finally.
•  I was extremely happy with the film until DRACO APPARATES INTO HOGWARTS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, KLOVES. NOT POSSIBLE! And then...the film took a bit of a turn for the worst, for me. Though I did like the Room of Requirement scene! I really liked Harry’s added bit to Draco – asking him why he didn’t sell him out. That was lovely.
• “THAT’S MY GIRLFRIEND, YOU NUMPTY!”
• “Not my daughter, you bitch” was so disappointing. Molly screamed it in the book. Like, fiercely. She didn’t just say it and then look terrified when Bellatrix came at her. No, she was pissed the fuck off. Fred was dead, she wasn’t about to loose Ginny too.
• I missed the bit with the House Elves. I wanted to see Kreacher with the locket, head of all of the House Elves being all fierce and RAWR.
• Oh, hello magical boat house that we’ve never seen before. Nice to meet you.
• Snape’s death scene was so violent! I mean, we didn’t see it, but the sounds and jerking and just a;kajdafsdf. Alan Rickman was so brilliant. I actually also liked that his memories were tears. It’s very poetic.
• The Prince’s Tale was so well filmed. The editing! Oh, the editing! It was glorious! And Alan Rickman. Oh my Merlin, he was a GOD. (Not Oscar worthy, though. Just saying.) But I didn’t cry, which is strange.
•  But...how did Snape have Lily’s memory? When she was telling Harry to be brave? Continuity is your friend, Mr. Kloves.
• I was surprisingly happy with Fred’s death. Seeing him dead on the ground, his family distraught around him (my god, George’s face
• “I’ll go with you!” My heart...it broke a bit.
• The forest scene. Oh, the forest scene. It was so perfect. And I was fine...right up until Sirius started to talk. And then I lost it. Sirius, you are still my hero.
• Neville. What can I say? He was so freaking bad ass. I loved it. I loved him blowing up the bridge. I loved him being all cocky when Howarts was protected and the Death Eaters couldn’t get to him. I loved the “oh shit” look on his face once the Death Eaters go passed. I loved him standing up to Voldemort. What I didn’t love...was his speech. It was directed right at the fans. And I really wanted to see him get his head set on fire, as awful as that sounds. I wanted to hear him yell “DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY!” – that’s all that would have been needed. Voldemort never would have let him go on about how Harry will always be with them. Neville would have been Cruicio’d before Harry’s name was out of his mouth.
• Awkward Voldemort hug. Nothing else needs to be said.
• I missed hearing Hagrid sob. That would have been so heart breaking, and probably would have sent me over the edge.
• When Harry falls out of Hagrid’s arms, (which looked like it hurt, bee tee dubs. Ouch.) George turns to talk to Fred. Oh my heart.
• I am actually okay with the "Let's finish this like it started. Together!" scene. Harry saw no way out and was trying to kill Voldemort. He figured, hey, if I can't kill Voldemort any other way, maybe we will get smushed. And then they apparated. Inside Hogwarts. *flail* But nonetheless. I am now not as distraught about that bit as I was when I first saw it.
• I wanted to hear Harry tell Voldemort that he was going to die. and that he was willing to die to protect the people at Hogwarts so now THEY were protected. I wanted to hear Harry call him Tom more than the once. I think without having Voldemort's own curse backfire, I think we lose the power of Voldemort being his own downfall and we lose Harry keeping his innocence. The weird disentegrating made death seem less real and final. Basically, I just didn’t like that whole final battle much. It was okay but...not great.
• When did Voldemort and Bellatrix turn into vampires that explode into dust? The thing I loved about the fact that their bodies – especially Voldemort’s – remained in the books was that in the end, he was nothing more than a man.
• I didn’t like the Nagini’s death either. That whole scene was just iffy to me. The bit with Ron and Hermione trying to kill her, and the Neville coming up with the sword and she again turned to dust. I would have loved to see her headless body hit the ground.
• Where was the cloak? It’s called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but we only see the cloak once, and it’s totally brushed over! Bah.
• Harry, why you know fix your wand? And is it just me...or would the Elder Wand not break that easily?
• Old Harry looks like John Green. Just saying.

...okay, that was pretty damned long.

Overall, I liked the movie. It was pretty good. The first part is still better, and Half-Blood Prince is still my favourite (I think), but it was pretty good.

[REVIEW] Thor

Randy and I went and saw Thor on the weekend in 3D (not my choice - it was the only thing available at the Camrose theatre). I didn't write down my thoughts right after, so I may not remember a lot about it, but I'm gonna do my best.

Going into the movie, I knew next to nothing about Thor. I knew the he is the Norse Thunder God, and that his father is Odin. That's about it. I knew nothing about the "super hero" version of him. I knew nothing about the movie - other than the fact that it looked good, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings were in it and that Kenneth Branagh was directing it. I didn't even realize that Anthony Hopkins was playing Odin.

I was generally very satisfied with the film. Asgard was absolutely beautiful - the animators and designers did such a wonderful job with it - Jötunheim (I had to look up how to spell that) made me feel cold just looking at it, and earth...well, it was earth, wasn't it? Nothing special about it, it looked like your every day town, except for where Mjollnir (had to look that one up too) landed. Which, I think, is also perfect.

The costumes, props, etc. I think were also all very beautiful and fitting for the sets. The Frost Giants were especially cool. They seemed to me to be almost made of solid blue rock, which made their red eyes especially creepy.

From a directing side, I was a bit worried about Kenneth Branagh directing an action flick, but it was needless. I loved his vision, the only thing that I was a little "meh" on, was the 3D. The film was directed as a 3D film, it was directed as a 2D film. There was nothing in it that made the 3D spectacular, or even needed. The 3D did nothing but take away from the film. It made the fight scenes, which would have been epic without the 3D seem like nothing spectacular because when I go see a 3D film, I want things flying at me. Whether it be blood, or weapons, or pineapples, I don't care as long as something gets thrown towards me. Or, if that doesn't happen, I want to be able to feel like I could step into the world. I want to feel like if I walk towards the screen, I should be able to peek around the edge of it into the world. I didn't feel that either. But that's not uncommon. One of the only films that I've seen in 3D that utilized it really well was Avatar.

As a rule, I thought the actors - especially Stellan Skarsgard (who is one of my favourite actors ever) and Anthony Hopkins - did a good job with their characters. The only two I really didn't like were Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings. Natalie Portman's portrayal of the character seemed very stock, but at the same time over exaggerated. Nothing was really that interesting about her portrayal of her - and maybe that was just the character itself, but she seemed like she tried to make it more interesting by over playing everything a little too much. I was really surprised at how much I disliked Kat Dennings in this role - I loved her as Nora in Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist, but every time she opened her mouth I wanted something to hit her over the head. I wanted the Destroyer to fry her. I have a feeling that maybe she was cast for a larger role and they had to cut a lot of her scenes, so that could have a lot to do with it, but still. I shouldn't want one of the "good guys" to explode into a ball of flames every time they speak.

But all in all, it was an enjoyable film. It was beautifully shot, I loved the magic/science, and let's face it, Thor being shirtless was a definite bonus in this one.

Anna and the French Kiss [Review] (Spoiler Free)

As soon as I watched John Green's review of Anna and the French Kiss I wanted to read it. Maybe it was because my favourite author was recommending it, or because it was Stephanie Perkins' first novel and I wanted to support a fellow Potter fan, I'm not sure. But I knew nothing about the story. And then I looked up the story, and discovered that it was set in Paris, and had this absolutely gorgeous boy in it. I'll admit though, it didn't sound like anything spectacular. It sounded like another teen romance. But I ordered it anyway, because I still really wanted to read it.

And then I started to read it.

I could not put this book down. I read it in less than 24 hours. I sped through the pages, craving to know more about Anna (who I related to more than Cassia from Matched, oddly enough.), about St. Clair (or should we refer to him as Etienne now?), about Paris, about everything. Anna was basically me, minus the author father and the boarding school. She loves film more than she can really express, she's terrified of the unknown, she and her best friend have some crazy traditions and she adores her family. (Or at least, her brother and mother.) And Etienne...oh my god don't get me started on Etienne. I was as in love with him as every other girl in that book. Gorgeous, English AND French, yet American too, fun to be around. Sigh. Yes please.

I'm not usually one to read strictly romance books. I like romance in books, but not just romance books. Maybe I've been looking at the wrong romance books before this, I don't know, but there is something about this book that just made me fall in love with it. Stephanie Perkins' story, her writing, everything about it was just so fun to read. It is what would happen if John Green and Maureen Johnson collided and somehow made one new person. That is this book.

Matched - Allie Condie [REVIEW] (Spoiler Free)

I have never read anything by Allie Condie before - I'd never even heard of her before I picked up this book at my local bookstore. And I'll be honest, I picked it up because I loved the cover. Even after reading the book jacket, I was like "meh" - the dystopian features intrigued me, but a love story? I don't normally like reading romance books - they're all so predictable. You know, boy meets girl, boy and girl over come some sort of obstacle, boy and girl fall in love, the end. But then I started to read the book; I've started to read the first chapter of a book before I buy it. And before I knew it, I was on Chapter 6. If that wasn't a hint that I needed to read that book, then I'm not sure what it was.

The book itself started off slow, but it wasn't boring. Condie slides the reader very smoothly into Cassia's world, giving little tidbits of what is happening, but just enough so little alarm bells started going off in my head. This was not a good society, not at all, but at the same time, I could see how the human race had gotten to that point. The events of today, plus the little tidbits of history I gleaned from the book fit together to make The Society very well. I actually really liked what Condie did with The Society. I mean, I hated The Society, with their Officials and their pills and their single-path lives, but the entire time I read about them, I wanted to know more. As a writer myself, I was jealous that I hadn't come up with The Society myself.

The characters themselves were all very lovable and believable. I haven't grown attached to any yet, which is a shame - there is no Rue* in this book, I wouldn't cry if any of them died. But Cassia herself is very relatable, I see so much of herself in me; the want to do something good for the world, to make it a better place, her love for her family, not wanting to hurt anyone...I could go on.

Matched was one of those books that I couldn't put down - even if it took a while for it to get really exciting. Once the climax hit, I really couldn't put it down. I read until 2 am to finish it. I think that is as good of sign as any at the quality of book this is. I can't wait for the next installment.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 [Review]

Last week I did a review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 on my YouTube channel, but because it's YouTube and long videos get boring, I couldn't really say everything I wanted to say. SO, here we go - my in-depth review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. (This WILL contain spoilers if you haven't seen it.)

Right from the beginning from the film, I was emotional, which has only happened for me with Half-Blood Prince, where I started to tear up as soon as the score came up and the title appeared (though I credit that to Nicholas Hooper's genius). This time, it was Hermione who did it for me. Emma Watson was so brilliant in this film, it blew me away. I haven't been overly astounded by Emma before this first scene with her obliviating her parents, but this time, as soon as I saw Hermione in her bedroom, with that look on her face, chills ran up and down my spine, tears were in my eyes, and I even gasped. I don't gasp in films that often. She got the emotion so perfect and the way the David Yates made her disappear from the photos....merlin, it was heartbreaking. And then when she obliviated the Death Eater in the Muggle coffee shop...the way her hand shook. I just...wow. The whole thing was just amazing, and I can honestly say it was one of my favourite sequences in the films, right next to the fish story that Slughorn had in HBP.

I thought the acting in this film in general was just so good. Emma really stood out to me this time, but the others were just as good - Draco, for instance, in the first Malfoy Manor scene. The look on his face when he Voldemort kills Charity Burbage made me feel EXACTLY what he was feeling. (I loved that scene in general, by the way. The room was exactly how I pictured it, though I didn't expect Thicknese to be there, but that's not a biggie. My only problem with it was that Voldemort talked about the connection his wand and Harry's wand had, which wouldn't happen, but I get that Yates needed him to say that, other wise it wouldn't have gotten talked about.) Lucius was also SO wonderful in this film. His part was very small, but Jason Isaacs made it so very memorable. He was so decrepit and rundown and just very un-Lucius. Costumes and hair/make-up did a wonderful job on him, and Jason Isaacs, as always, brought everything to the table. Especially if you compare him to Yaxley, who I thought, acted and looked like Lucius in his prime, before the fiasco at the Ministry; the expensive robes, the I'm-better-than-everyone air, spending so much time in the Minister's (and Voldemort's) pocket. Even his long hair was reminiscent of Chamber of Secrets-era Lucius.

Speaking of the Ministry, Bill Nighy as Rufus Scrimgeour was brilliant. He wasn't really how I pictured Scrimgeour, but it wasn't one of those times where I was so caught off-guard by how different my Scrimgeour was to the one on the movie *cough* Narcissa *cough*. Movie!Scrimgeour worked really well, and Bill Nighy was such a good casting choice. The way he spoke as Scrimgeour almost gave me chills. His voice just kind of crept into my head, which I loved. The only thing I didn't love about Scrimgeour, was the reading of the will scene, which was no fault of Nighy's. I had always scene that scene as an interrogation in the books, but it wasn't in the film. It was more like a conversation between friends than anything - and Harry and Scrimgeour were anything but friends. The only hint of book!Scrimgeour I got was when he handed Harry the snitch with the cloth, instead of his hands. I was incredibly disappointed with the choice to cut the scene like that.

HOWEVER, I did love the Minstry of Magic scene. The trio's transitions from the trio to the Ministry workers was hilarious and just perfect. The actors who took the place of the trio acted just like them, I almost didn't even see Reg Catermole, Mafalda Hopkirk and Albert Runcorn - I just saw Harry, Hermione and Ron. Especially with Reg/Ron. I was disappointed with Harry not taking Mad-Eye's eye from Umbridge's door, but his "I must not tell lies, Dolores" made me so happy! Those lines (and the Dumbledore's man through and through bit) has been something I've really missed from these films, so I'm so so so glad that they put that in there!

Another scene I was really really pleased with was the Doe scene. The form of the doe itself was so beautiful, and the setting Yates chose was exactly how I saw it in my head. The light was so gorgeous in this scene, from what I can remember, anyway. The bit of Voldemort's soul in the Horcrux was really well done, as well, I thought. The inky, oily blackness of it disgusted me, like it should. Though I was disgusted and disturbed by the nakedness of Harry and Hermione. It worked wonderfully, but I wasn't expecting them to all of a sudden be naked.

Style-wise, I also really loved the Tale of the Three Brothers. I love love loved the animation on it. The colour of the background made it feel like parchment being drawn on by someone, which was just so cool. I would have liked to have Xenophilius explain it, rather than Hermione, but he was so distracted about Luna being gone and having Harry Potter in his house that it worked will. Speaking of Xenophilius - I LOVED HIM. When I first heard that Rhys Ifans was going to play Xenophilius, I was concerned. I had only ever seen him in The Replacements as the football kicker (and by football, I don't mean the American one) and that didn't jive in my head at all. But seeing him in DH as Xenophilius, with his long hair and his interactions with Luna and inside his crazy house...he was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I especially loved him at the wedding, even though we only saw him briefly with Luna. (The wedding, by the way, was gorgeous. I want a wizard wedding! And Fleur's dress! Ah! So pretty! Aunitie Muriel angered me, like she should have, but ahhh I haven't wanted to hit an old lady more in my life!)

Speaking of creepy old ladies...BATHILDA BAGSHOT. Ohmygod. She was perfect and terrifying and SO FREAKING CREEPY. As soon as I saw her I recoiled. With her cataracts and her layers and stooped back....ew. I could almost smell the stench coming from her, especially once they got inside the house. So gross. And then the snake came out of her. I really wanted to curl up inside myself. I hate snakes. It was so scary. And when Nagini came at the screen! Merlin! I have never jumped so much in a film. I was probably half a foot off my seat. *shudder*

Let's move on to not snake talk. I hate snakes.

Oh! Oh! When the trio is caught! I want to talk about that! I loved the chase scene! I'm really disappointed that Greyback hasn't had a bigger part in the films. He's just so damn scary in the books, but he's barely even there in the films. And instead there's that other Snatcher, who reminds me a bit of a Vampire from something Anne Rice would have written, who is creepy as HELL, but he's no Greyback. I mean, Greyback could have done everything that that Snatcher had done and it would've been more creepy, at least for me. Though I suppose Greyback isn't pretty enough or something to be the head Snatcher.

I love the exchange between the Snatchers and the Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor. Especially Bellatrix trying to get Draco to say that Harry is Harry. And he didn't even rat Harry out. I really love Draco in this film. So much. The cellar bit is really perfect too, Luna makes me so happy. I love her. The only part I didn't like in this scene was the fact that Bellatrix carved Mudblood into Hermione's arm. I get the symbology behind it and the reference to numbering in Nazi concentration camps but...I can't see Bellatrix using a knife to torture someone. Anyone can use a knife. Muggles can use knives to torture people. But only witches and wizards can use Crucio, and I think Bellatrix would have seen that. She wouldn't have used a torture technique that Muggles could use. No way.

That being said, I loved the escape scene. And Dobby's, "Kill? Dobby never meant to kill! Only seriously maim or injure!" I laughed so hard! Even though I was almost in tears by that point because I knew he was about to die. Which was another thing that bugged me - he didn't get a burial scene! That was one thing that I needed to see in this film; the headstone that said Here Lies Dobby: A Free Elf. I needed that! And it didn't happen.

One more disappointment before I move onto the soundtrack - the lack of explanation about The Taboo. One minute Harry is saying Voldemort the next, it's You-Know-Who. No explanation, nothing. That really bothered me. I know it was all a time thing, but still. Bothered.

Okay! Now! The soundtrack! I only just downloaded it today and I've been listening to it while I was writing this. I am severely disappointed with it. Nicholas Hooper's scores for Order of the Pheonix and Half-Blood Prince gave me chills every time I listened to them. Even Patrick Doyle's score - which I didn't like very much - moved me emotionally at times. This one...I get nothing. There are some really gorgeous parts - like the last twenty seconds of Ron Leaves and Obliviate...but I'm just generally very unimpressed.

That being said! I was very happy with this film in general. It was probably the best one, and the one I left the theatre being happiest with upon first seeing it. I've found things about it that I don't like as I've thought about it, but usually it's the other way around - I pick it apart in theatre, and find more and more things I like as time goes on. So all in all, I'd say I would give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Four chocolate frogs out of Five.