Saturday, July 21, 2007

It's Time!!

I'm headed to London in less than 12 hours!!

I'm so freaking excited!

I haven't been back since 2001



I leave you with the famous words of John Denver:

"All my bags are packed
Im ready to go...

' Cause Im leavin on a jet plane..."




Book the Seventh

"Within hours you will know what happens to Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest in their final adventure. All the secrets I have been carrying around for so long will be yours, too, and those who guessed correctly will be vindicated, and those who guessed wrongly will not, I hope, be too disappointed! As for me, I feel a heady mixture of excitement, nerves and relief. 'Deathly Hallows' remains my favourite of the series, even after sever re-reads; I cannot wait to share it with the readers who have stuck with me through six previous books."

-J.K. Rowling




Best. Book. In. The. Series!

I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't finished the book, but this book is positively amazing!

I am going to miss reading about more years with Harry, Ron, and Hermione at Hogwarts.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone was just some book I picked up because I was bored one day back in 1999... I would have never expected it to become a craze and still find myself addicted 8 years later.

I'm sure the movies are going to continue to be great and gross more millions and I can't wait for this movie!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

"It's changing out there. There's a storm coming..."

Tonight I caught Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in the theatre. I'm a big fan of the books and movies. I know I'm a dork, but there is something so exciting about watching a book that you love come alive on screen. Plus, the fifth book is one of my favorites.

I think the movie was made pretty well. It was the first in the series to be dark and dreary and those aspects were played up pretty well. I did feel like it was a little short though. The book is pretty long and I feel like some chunks were cut out and others meshed together. There were a few scenes from the book I was anxious to see on screen, but some weren't in it at all.

I think it is crazy how much these kids have grown up since the first movie in 2001. They have matured in their roles as well and it shows on screen.

Here's a look through the years...


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)


The good thing is they look the age they are supposed to according to their characters. They really did good casting when they chose these three.




Now it's only a few more days until the release of the seventh and final book in the HP series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I cannot wait! I'm going to England the day after it comes out so I will probably be spending most of my air time on reading this.
As exciting as it is, it's also kind of sad. After the movies are done and over with, the craze and anticipation will end. I'm going to miss the Harry P series when they're done, but I'm glad it's a fad that I got to experience.





Tuesday, July 10, 2007

"These eyes have seen the most beautiful dream..."

"I hear your voice from down below
the sweetest sound i've ever known
you call me closer to the edge
to take a step and just let it go..."
- Falling: Tyrone Wells
I recently listened to the album "Hold On" by singer/songwriter Tyrone Wells, and it is amazing. He is a really talented guy. He's kind of soulful and he has a great voice.


You can listen to him at www.myspace.com/tyronewells

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Fish and Fireworks!


We decided to spend the fourth of July in Wilmington, like we did last year. Except this time, we decided to skip the annoying, noisy, and crowded beach.

Our first stop was Fort Fisher Aquarium on Kure Beach. It was really great. They have done a pretty good job with that aquarium. They could use a few more sharks and maybe some
dolphins, but it's pretty cool otherwise. And, they had a TCBY, which is pretty amazing!





We then hit up the Independence Mall, where we vowed not to spend money. The only person who kept up their promise was Upama.

After that we headed downtown to grab dinner and watch the Fireworks. We should have known that Downtown Wimington would be absolute mayhem. We walked the street for at least forty-five minutes before finding a place to eat where we wouldn't have to wait over an hour. We chose this place off Market Street called Dixie Grill. Not bad on food, but the service was kind of crap.



After dinner we walked into complete chaos trying to find a place to sit to watch the fireworks. There is a courthouse that faces the river and a lot of people sit on the stairs or in the courtyard above the stairs, which is where we were last year. When we got up to the courtyard this year, there was no concrete place to sit, and we had not brought a blanket. We ended up sitting in the grass and Sherry got some gum on her jeans, but we had a pretty good view of the fireworks.







Friday, June 15, 2007

I Give It A Ten

The Ten, a movie which will release on August 3rd in limited cinemas, looks to be one hilarious movie. A star-studded cast and unique plot are probably why this movie did great at all the film festivals. Adam Brody, Winona Ryder, Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba, Famke Janssen and so many more!






The film consists of ten different stories. Each story tells the tale of someone defying one of the ten commandments. Paul Rudd narrarates the film, but also commits a crime against the commandments as well. Here is a run-down:

1. A guy (ADAM BRODY) becomes an accidental hero after falling out of a plane
Thou shalt have no other gods before me

2.
A librarian (GRETCHEN MOL) has a sexual awakening in Mexico with a swarthy local (JUSTIN THEROUX)
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth

3. A husband (A.D. MILES) skips church with his family to get naked with his friends and listen to Roberta Flack
Remember thou keep the Sabbath Day

4. A mother (KERRI KENNEY-SILVER) enlists an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator (OLIVER PLATT) to be a father figure to her children
Thou shalt honor thy mother and father

5. A doctor (KEN MARINO) kills his patients "as a goof"
Thou shalt not kill

6. A man (PAUL RUDD) presents all of these stories to the audience while struggling with his own moral dilemma: having to choose between his beautiful wife (FAMKE JANSSEN) and his also beautiful, but somewhat younger, mistress (JESSICA ALBA).
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7.
A woman (WINONA RYDER) falls in love with, and then steals a ventriloquist's puppet
Thou shalt not steal

8.
A Rhinoceros learns the pitfalls of gossip
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor

9. A prisoner (ROB CORDDRY) covets his fellow inmate's "wife"
Thou shalt not covet thy neighhors wife

10. A police detective (LIEV SCHREIBER) covets his neighbor's Cat Scan machine
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods


I'm anxious to see how all this goes down!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Roadside Romeo and Wicked Wedding Overseas!



Disney is in works with Yash Raj Films to make disney animated movies, Bollywood Style! Complete with song and dance numbers, of course.

The movies will be made in Hindi and they will use local talent to voice the animations. Disney and Yash Chopra hope to push out at least one animated feature a year. They also hope that the display of Indian culture will be relevant worldwide.

Knowing Yash Chopra and the living legacy of Yash Raj Films, known for great hits like Veer-Zaara and Mohabbatein, these films will be nothing short of excellent.

The first project in works, Roadside Romeo, features the voices of two A-list Bollywood stars: Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The movie will center about a spoilt dog who is abandoned on the streets of Bombay. Roadside Romeo is scheduled to be released sometime next year.


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Great news! I found out today that I am going to England later in July! I haven't been back since March of 2001, so I am over-joyed!

My cousin, Pooja, who just passed her final dental exams, (Congratulations!!) is getting married on July 29th in England. My mom and I will fly down on the weekend of the 20th and return August 7th. I can't wait!

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I recently finished reading the book, Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of The West, by Gregory Maguire. The book was amazing. It really put a spin on the Wizard of Oz story, and I definitely like this one better. I recommend it for anyone looking for a good summer reading book.

After I read it, I was told to listen to the broadway musical soundtrack and watch the play because it is entirely different, but still good. I've listened to the soundtrack, again...amazing. Idina Menzel has such a great voice. And I saw a bootleg copy of the original play with the original cast, Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenowith, etc. It was also great. Then I learned that the musical is on tour in LA, Chicago, and...London! I haven't made any other plans yet, but I am definitely going to see it one night when I am there. That and Equus. Maybe I could meet Daniel Radcliffe. HA!