The Ultimate Fan Dedication

There are many people out there who call themselves "dedicated fans" to different things. For some, dedication may mean just reading the books, buying them, watching the movies, etc. For others, that isn't enough; just reading the plot does not cut it for them. That is where role playing comes in.

Role playing, to explain to those who do not completely understand the idea, is creating different plot variations based on an already-existing plot. There are infinitesimal outcomes, all dependent on the imagination of those taking part in it. Participants write out the different plots together, usually portraying one or two characters at a time and interacting with others. It requires a lot of cooperation.

Role playing can also be more active; you can physically portray a certain character and verbalize the dialogue between other characters. It can also be more or less a game played online without much plot; you are a certain character, and can go through the game without having to interact with any other characters. It is something that is subjective to you as a fan; you make of it what you will, and you can choose just how involved you'd like to be. There is no right or wrong way to role play.

Harry Potter role play has been one of the most popular role plays today, alongside other popular choices like Twilight and Dungeons and Dragons. Personally, I have quite a bit of experience with role playing in Harry Potter. Before I talk about that, however, I'd like to take a look at a few popular Harry Potter role play websites.

Hogwarts Extreme

This ten-year-old website is one of the largest role play sites out there. Members can choose to role-play or to just interact with one another on the site. It sorts each member into houses, where they can opt to take different classes Hogwarts would offer. The different "locations" of the castle symbolize different chatrooms where members can role-play with one another. Members can also earn money, cards, and other fun prizes

I found this site to be pretty easy and straight-forward. It offers information about those who found the site, and who are currently working with it. It deals with Hogwarts in the present, and is mostly a big online game for fans to really delve into.

Hogwarts Live

This website is strictly a game where members gain points by achieving daring feats. Such activities include defeating beasts, performing well in a class, and overcoming Death Eaters, even Voldemort, in order to win points and become the next Hogwarts Champion.

I enjoy that this website has a specific purpose. It is directed towards those who are more into playing games rather than writing out role play scripts.

Harry Potter Independent Role Play

This website is no longer available; however, it is one I participated in for a few years in my youth. It was started around 2004 by a few friends of mine, but I became a member in 2005. There were only about ten of us total who participated. We were a strictly script-based role play; we had different forums titled with different locations around Hogwarts. Each person portrayed a few characters, and planned which characters they would interact with offline before actually posting it in the forum.

Our role play focused on Hogwarts during the time of Harry's parents, and I played both of Neville Longbottom's parents, as well as two other made up characters. I will not go into much further detail to spare the length of this update; however, if you would like to know more about my specific plot ideas, feel free to comment!

Overall, I completely enjoyed my experiences with role playing. It completely opened my eyes to new possibilities, and my imagination and creative skills were bettered because of it.

Advice

For those of you interested in role playing, I would give the following advice:

• Find what type of role playing interests you; writing scripts, playing games physically, online, etc.
• Decide what existing plot or subject interests you.
• Figure out if you'd like to be in the past, present, or future of the plot.
• Pick some friends, or an online website, and start role-playing.
• Do not be afraid to let your imagination run wild. That is the goal of role-playing.

As always, any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, leave a comment!

Coming Next Time...

I will be bidding my blog farewell after next week, so if any of you have suggestions for my next topic, please let me know!

Pottermore Really Potternone?

I really can't say how disappointed I am with this website.

Not only is it very slow to load, but it is not easily accessible. It takes you around in circles, making you read the same "new information" multiple times. I still have not been able to be "sorted", which is the one thing I have been looking forward to about that site.

Granted, it's still in Beta testing, when it was supposed to be opened to everyone by October. Sorry guys, but you're going to have to wait until all the glitches have been sorted out.

According to the website, it is "currently only available to those who are part of the Beta," but the Pottermore Insider will contain up-to-date information about Pottermore.

Really? Because all I can seem to find are drawings that current users have uploaded depicting multiple important scenes in the first book.

However, for those who are Beta users, there is a separate blog site with updates and commonly asked questions/answers. The latest update, November 9th, says that after being shut down for three days, the site is running with no speed or stability issues. I guess I'll have to be patient for this change to take place permanently, but I can say that I'm still having issues with this.

Personally, I'm not necessarily sorry for those who are still waiting for entry. Hopefully by the time it opens up to the public, it will be a more accessible and more informative site.

Any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions? As always, leave a comment!

Coming Next Time...
I plan to discuss the idea of role playing and how Harry Potter has taken on a new life through it. Thoughts, comments, concerns? Post them here, or tweet at me on potterview's twitter, "potterview".

Update Pushed to Tomorrow

Hello readers,

Sorry for the wait, but I will be postponing my update until tomorrow. Because my mom's computer is an inch from death, and will not let me stay on any website for more than 2 minutes, I cannot update on this computer. Therefore, tomorrow, when I get on a different computer, I will update.

My apologies for the inconvenience!

Thanks for staying faithful, and you'll be hearing from me shortly

Disappointment Ensues

The title says it all. After purchasing my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, I was thoroughly disappointed with the lack of special features in the "Two-Disc Special Edition".

When I went to go look at the special features, normally there are multiple menus that take you through the special features. To my dismay, one menu pops up with 3 bullet points: "A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe", "The Goblins of Gringotts" and "The Women of Harry Potter". Yes, they are all fascinating topics, and I loved learning more about each. However, in the past, dvd special features have also included deleted scenes, going behind the scenes in multiple areas, and different interactive games involving the plot of the particular movie. How lame was that?

I was especially disappointed because, so it seems, everything has converted to blu-ray. In order for me to have the special features I have been used to, I would have to buy the Blu-Ray combo pack, which was not only a full $10 more, but would also require a special dvd player that could read Blu-Ray discs; of course, I don't own one. Go figure. (I will link, once again, to the video I included in the last entry to further my point):

Enough with my whining, however. I will analyze the special features at face value.

A Conversation with Daniel Radcliffe and JK Rowling
The best part of this special feature was the inclusion of clips from when Daniel was first hired to play the part of Harry. Let me just say, adorable. It was great to see how the actor himself has matured and how the series has affected his life. It was great to see this filmed conversation between the writer of the series and the main actor, which was apparently their first filmed conversation together.

The following clip includes part of their interview. I would have to say this was definitely my favorite special feature aspect of the dvd:

The Goblins of Gringotts
The heading pretty much gives it away. Visual look at the in-depth process the actors in Harry Potter went through to become goblins. I must say, takes quite a bit more time and effort than I thought it would! It also goes into the development of certain goblins as characters, including Griphook, the goblin who helped Harry, Ron and Hermione break into Gringotts.

The above picture shows Griphook during the scene where Harry and him seal the deal, and he agrees to take the trio to Gringotts.

The Women of Harry Potter
The beginning of this section opens with JK Rowling discussing her role as a woman writer and how being a woman has affected her writing, as well as her creation of the different women roles in Harry Potter. Fantastic feministic piece, and really shows an in-depth development of the women characters. I will say though, I honestly did not learn much in this section. Kind of a disappointment.

Blu-Ray Features
Okay, so I'm getting back on my soap box: The Blu-Ray special features include all of the above, and additionally:
-Maximum Movie Mode hosted by Matthew Long (Neville Longbottom) and other cast members (80 minutes)
-A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe (as listed above)--Discusses the process of bringing Harry Potter's character to life, the decade of films and how their lives have changed by the fame that they've both experienced.
-The Goblins of Gringotts (as listed above)--Hosted by Warwick Davis, it includes the process of "becoming a goblin" in the films, from the auditions and casting to makeup, prosthetic tests and filming the final scenes.
-The Women of Harry Potter (as listed above)--Shows an in-depth look into the women in Harry Potter's life and the critical role they play in the films.
-When Harry Left Hogwards--BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Morgan Matthews has been given access to the decision-making processes that have been kept a secret until now. Includes stories of the faces we know, and those we don't, as we come to the end of one of the most successful eras in cinema history.
-WB Studio Tour London--The Making of Harry Potter
-Deleted Scenes

Now, I don't know about you, but I think that should have been included for all of us that aren't fortunate enough to have Blu-Ray. I will digress.

Additional bad news, however, to Harry Potter fans: Warner Brothers has announced that they will halt production of the films and put them "in the vault", like many Disney movies, on December 29th. Hurry up and go get your movies, kids--otherwise it'll be awhile before you can go out and buy them again! For further information on this press release, go here.

On that note, I officially know what I am asking for as a gift for Christmas: All 8 movies on Blu-Ray combo pack, and a Blu-Ray dvd player. Take notes, friends.

Coming Up Next...
I plan to discuss more updates on Pottermore (or lack of) as well as possibly discuss the differences between viewing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 3D vs. regular 2D

Anticipation Builds

This may not apply to everyone, but I can definitely say that in anticipation levels, the DVD Release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 definitely beats both Thanksgiving and Christmas break currently; to me, that is saying something.

Anyway, in case none of you have been reading my past few blog updates or looked at my countdown on the blog, here it is; HP7p2 will be released on DVD this Friday, November 11. (Insert any excited exclamation here).

This release will be the last movie release we can expect. To many, this is a bittersweet ending (including myself). I have been an avid follower of all the releases and developments in this series, so to me it's almost as if a part of my childhood is ending here. However, I know that I will continue to read the books and watch the movies, so it's not completely over; there's just nothing new to anticipate. Moving on now from the emotional rant.

The new DVD will most likely, just like all the others, include interviews with the cast and crew, show behind the scenes footage and include deleted scenes. One interview has been leaked to youtube that will be included on the DVD, and it is JKR talking with Daniel Radcliffe on how she almost killed off Ron Weasley during the writing of the books:

I don't know how this information affected any of you, but when I was listening I was VERY grateful that JKR did not decide to kill Ron in the series. Not that this information is any surprise; I'm sure that I wasn't the only one who wondered if the trio would make it through the series. Nevertheless, I am very glad Ron made it.

The following video is the commercial promoting the DVD release in the US. It shows some features that will be included (hopefully not just on the Blue-Ray combo-pack!):

I can't really say much else that is factual on the DVD release. Only thing I can predict with nearly absolute surety, however, is that every video store is going to be PACKED this Friday. I know I'm going to get up to Wal-Mart as soon as I can to go buy the DVD. Once I do? Don't expect to see me for a couple of days.

Coming Next Time...
Once I watch the dvd (probably more times than I should dare to admit), I plan on updating about the features, and commenting on things I like/dislike, etc.  As always, any thoughts/comments/requests/concerns, please comment!

Update For A Reader--More Character Analysis

Once again I'd like to thank my readers for being actively involved in this blogging process. Without your input, my job would be very hard. So, thanks again!

Now, Bryar has requested that I discuss the actors who portrayed Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius Black, and the Malfoy clan. Because there are multiple characters included in this request, this will be my weekly update. Next week I will discuss predictions for the coming DVD, which I might add comes out in 10 days (!!!!!!!!!!)! I digress.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Bellatrix Lestrange was played by Helena Bonham Carter, who has not received any formal training in acting (as a fun side note). This does not show, however, while she plays Bellatrix.

In the series, Bellatrix doesn't come into the plot until book 5 (Order of the Phoenix). Her character, however, is one of pure evil. Carter was able to completely delve herself into this evil; like I said about Rickman's performance of Snape, when Carter walked onto the screen as Bellatrix chills went up and down my spine. The resemblance Carter has with the description of Bellatrix in the novel is perfect, even without the makeup. That is not the most important characteristic Carter obtains for the portrayal of Bellatrix, but it is one that definitely stands her apart from the other possible actresses.

Though Bellatrix's evil nature isn't necessarily described completely in the books, I feel that Carter hits the nail right on the head; the maniacal laughter and evil expressions Carter uses throughout definitely help bring to life the character of Bellatrix. The scene that sticks out very clearly in my mind is in the fifth movie when the Order and the Death Eaters are in the Ministry.

All in all I would definitely say that the choice to cast Carter as Bellatrix was perfect.

Sirius Black

Sirius Black was played by Gary Oldman, but only appeared in films three, four (briefly), five, and seven (briefly). The character was killed off during the fifth movie, but still played a role in the remainder of the series in Harry's flashbacks.

Oldman was able to encompass the playful, rebellious and protective nature of Sirius, especially in his relationship with Harry. Sirius was more of Harry's friend than godfather, due to his incapability to fully take care of him, and due to Sirius' desire for companionship. These characteristics, I feel, were more highlighted in the books than the movies.

During the third movie, Oldman did a fantastic job of showing how Sirius had become weakened due to life in Azkaban, and how his spirit had dwindled a bit. However, I feel that Oldman could have done a little better in the fifth movie with showing more energy. Sirius, though an older man, was always described as energetic and playful. During the fifth movie, especially in the scene at the ministry, I do not feel that Oldman was able to show that side of Sirius, merely the protective and loyal side.

Despite the few nit-picky details, I would still say that Sirius was portrayed well through Oldman.

Malfoy Clan

I would love to go in-depth with all the Malfoy characters, but I will only choose Draco to go into fully. I will, however, touch on Lucius.

Lucius Malfoy was played by Jason Isaacs. Lucius throughout the series was an evil, but cowardly character, always described as having a "slow drawl". I definitely think Isaacs hit all of these characteristics dead-on. I definitely have no complaints on casting Isaacs as Lucius!

Draco Malfoy was played by Tom Felton. Like his father, Draco was also considered to be an evil yet cowardly character with a "slow drawl", which Felton was able to encompass as well. His Slytherin and pure-blood pride were also two main driving points behind his entire being. Felton was able to hit on this throughout the series as well.

My favorite scene including Draco, honestly, is during the sixth movie (Half-Blood Prince) when he is about to "kill" Dumbledore (I put this in air quotes because we all knew he wouldn't do it...coward). The gravity of the situation at hand and how petrified Draco was during the scene was something that readers could only attempt to imagine while reading. During the movie, however, I could definitely see the emotions Draco was struggling with. Felton did a fantastic job at interpreting this scene.

Up until the ending of the 7th movie part 2, Draco hadn't truly ever forgotten his debt to Harry and the gang, but due to his pride and cowardliness, he was never able to express it. I'm very glad that Felton was able to show that as well, even in the last scene when they run into each other at Platform 9 3/4; Draco could only nod in their general direction.

Overall, those casted to play the Malfoy clan made yet another fantastic portrayal of characters from the books.

Coming up next...

Next week I will be making predictions on the DVD, as well as discussing other topics revolving around the movies. The next two updates will be my last on the movie series, and then I will revert back to discussing the books. As always, any requests/comments/concerns, please share!