My love afair with Harry Potter

This Friday the final movie in the Harry Potter Series will come out. This event will be a bitter sweet event for me. You see I have a love affair with Harry Potter. 7 novels,  10 years, 8 movies. I saw Harry Potter and the Scorcers Stone after listening to the audio book on trip home from college. I was instantly hooked. Since then I have purchased and read all the books as well as bought the movies in blu-ray and regular dvd. I am currently trying to get all the books in hardback now. I think I'm a little obsessed with Harry Potter don't you!? 


Why do I love The Harry Potter series? 
There's something magical about the story.   J.K. Rowlings (the author of the Harry Potter series) has created a world with wizards and magic. To be able to wave a wand, same a spell and effect a magical change on some person, object, or situation. Also, they made me feel nine years old, in a way that reading the books or watching the films of my youth could never do now. It's not nostalgia.It's called new direction. I also love Harry Potter because  the films are pretty faithful to the books, where it matters most. And I admire that. It happens so rarely. I usually love the book book and hate the movie but with this series I love both!  Another thing I really love about the books is the characters are really believable and are extremely easy to fall in love with. I especially love the relationship between Harry and Ginny. I like that even through they are really meant for each other that they are able to let each other go for a time but still end up together in the end! I also love the relationship between Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I like that just are really loyal and genuinely love each other as friends. Something very hard to find and harder to keep in real life. 


Needless to say I will have a package of tissues with me this Friday when I go to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  It will be like I am saying good bye to friends. However, I am thankful they will still live on in my heart. 


What movies do you absolutely love and why do you love them ? 

My Movie Dirty Dozen

My blogging buddy Alex challenged us to post about the twelve movies we can't live without. I don't understand why he refers to the challenge as the "Dirty Dozen" but I've really enjoyed this challenge just the same. So without further interruptions, here's my movie dirty dozen in no particular order....

1. Gone With The Wind 

What Southern girl doesn't love GWTW! It's full of action, romance and drama. When I was younger I wanted to be Scarlett. She's so beautiful and she had such a way with men. However, I definitely prefer Melanie to Scarlett. Melanie is so loving, caring and peaceful. She sees the good in everyone. I strive to be like Melanie but I have yet to attain that much goodness. My favorite quote from the movie is, "I'll think about that tomorrow." 

2. Harry Potter Movies

I love the Harry Potter books so its only natural that I like the movies as well. If I had to choose only one of the Harry Potter movies I would choose Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire. This movie starts to take the Potter movies to a darker more sinister tone. I love the dragon fighting sequence. Also, the movie yet again underlines the importance of comradeship and friendship. 

3. Anne of Green Gables Trilogy

Ladies if you have never seen these movies or read the books you must! They will transport you back in time to a simpler age where a young orphan girl struggles to find herself and the adventures she has along the way. Of the three movies, Anne of Green Gables the sequel is my favorite. There she struggles with choosing a life that others expect her to live or creating a life all her own. You will laugh, you will cry but ultimately these movies will warm your heart.

4. Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Okay this is one of the few movies (if any) that I actually like the movies better than the book. Don't stone me Tolkien fans please! My favorite episode is Return of the King. It's the ultimate showdown of good versus evil and it doesn't disappoint. You will be hanging on to the edge of your seat until the very end. I recommend the extended version of the trilogy otherwise you will miss some wonderful scenes.

5. Singin' in the Rain

This is the finest movie musical of all time in my opinion. It's filled with drama, comedy, and romance. You can't help but smile, laugh and sing when you watch this movie.  My favorite song is "Good Morning," sung by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner, and Debbie Reynolds. The movie is a guaranteed pick me up.

6.Star Wars Trilogy

This is the movie that started it all. This movie showed me that my imagination could take me anywhere I wanted to go. I remember watching this movie with my big sister when I was about 8 years old. I never knew that anyone could imagine such a fantastic place. Luke Skywalker was the first boy I ever had a crush on. My older siblings still tease me about it. Return of the Jedi is my favorite. Good triumphs over evil.

7. The Wizard Of Oz

What can I say about this movie. It's a timeless classic. What's not to love. Okay there is one part of the movie that gets on my nerves. It's where the Lion sings "If I were King of the Forest." The way he sings it is just awful. Thank goodness for the fast forward button. I love this movie and all the characters in it. Well all long to escape sometimes and the Wizard of Oz can help us do just that. The Wicked Witch is my favorite character hands down. I know crazy huh? 

8. Up

This movie stole my heart the first time I saw it. I love dogs and there are tons of dogs in this movie. I especially love Doug. He's so cute and lovable. I also can identify with the main character Carl Friedrickson and his loneliness and need for a new adventure. I love the moral of the story-when one adventure is done start another one and look up in life! :)

9. The Women

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This is without a doubt the funniest chick flick I have ever seen! A movie about women starring only women. The 2008 version is so much better than the 1939 original. This movie is an accurate portrait of how women act with their girlfriends. At the heart of the hectic story is Mary’s discovery that her husband is having an affair with Crystal,  a gold-digging vixen who works at the perfume counter at Saks Fifth Avenue and how her girlfriends react. 

10. His Gal Friday

This is a hilarious war between the sexes comedy starting Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.

A newspaper editor played by Cary Grant meets his ex-wife/ex-star reporter's fiancee the day before they are set to be married. She says she will be happy to live a life where she will be treated like a real woman, not a newsman. Grant spends the rest of the movie, trying to lure Hildy back into the life they shared. A fast paced comedy, this movie will keep you laughing. 

11. The King and I

The King and I is based on the book -Anna and the King of Siam, the story has been filmed at least three times. This time is the best of all with a great mixture of drama, romance and music.My favorite "serious" musical.

12. North By NorthWest

The epitome of a Alfred Hitchcock movie. It's a tale of mistaken identity and the cross country mishaps that follow. This movie is often refereed to as "the first James Bond movie." It's non stop action will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

I hope you've enjoyed my movie dirty dozen. What are some of your favorite movies? 

M is for Movies

M is for Movies

In honor of today's letter I am going to post my top ten movies of all time (in no particular order). 

1. Anne of Green Gables-the trilogy. Total chick flick! I love these movies-especially the first two. The third one is ok but it's not true to the books.  This trailer shows parts from the entire trilogy.

2. UP by Pixar. This movie always makes me smile.  The animation is incredible and so is the story.Viewing life as an adventure and keep looking up.  I wish they made collars for dogs that help them talk. Heaven only knows what Sophie would say!

 3. Harry Potter Series. I love the books and I love the movies. I was very disappointed in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price. It was very different than the book. I am not looking forward to the last two Harry Potter films either because they are going to change the ending. Here's a montage from all the movies so far.

4. The Women

This is like the only movie ever made that i like the remake better than the origonal. Ladies- this movie is so us! It's hilarious. And what a great cast! Jada Pickett-Smith, Meg Ryan, Annette Benning, Debra Messing.  

5. Singing in the Rain- A great mix of laughter, love and music! My favorite song in the movie is "Good morning!" Unfortanly I cannot find any clips on Youtube that I can embed into my post. However, I did find a cool Usher tribute to Gene Kelly you can find it here

6. The Wizard of Oz

I like the Wicked Witch. I just think she's cool. I could not find a movie clip of her on you tube that I could use. I am going to tell you what my favorite line from the movie is: You cursed brat! Look what you've done! I'm melting! melting! Oh, what a world! What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness? Oooooh, look out! I'm going! Oooooh! Ooooooh!

7. Gone With the Wind

What Southern Girl hasn't dreamed of being Scarlett O'Hara. However, the older I get the more I wish I could see the good in everyone like Melaine. I'm still working on that. This is one of my favorite scenes

 

8. Casablanca

I love Boggy. He's one of my favorite actors of all time. He's so classy.

9. His Gal Friday

Cary Grant is another one of Hollywoods best men of all time. At least I think so. I love him in this role-trying to break up his exwifes remarriage.

10. the King and I

Anna travels to Siam to teach the Kings children. What's not to love.

What are you favorite movies? I'd love to know!