But I am the chosen one!

[alexsarll]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the book I remember least - except for the ending, of course. Because it's basically Part One of the two-part series finale, isn't it? And the film's not even that - it's Part One of a three-part finale because they're splitting Deathly Hallows in two. Which is why I was surprised by how brilliant the film was, although I shouldn't be, because unlike the books they do consistently get better each time. The camerawork, the lighting, the locations all contribute to a sense of a widening world, but also a darkening one; the book is pared back mercilessly but sensitively, revealing its core. There's also, bafflingly, a sudden jump in the levels of innuendo, which I would say was just the effect of watching a film with curiousbadger except I've seen people who didn't say the same. Little things outside the director's control play into it, too - Luna Lovegood so effortlessly able to steal any scene she's in, or the lad who plays Draco being at that awkward stage of ageing where boyish good looks have yet to become adult handsomeness and the golden boy temporarily looks lumpish.
Also, have I ever mentioned that in spite of everything, I have even more of a crush on Bellatrix than I do on most Helena Bonham-Carter characters?

Lenny Henry talks about his love for A Matter of Life and Death. The programme is probably of more interest to Lenny Henry fans who don't yet know the film than to fans of the film who aren't that bothered about Lenny Henry. I used to like him, years back in the Delbert Wilkins days, and I suppose he still has the Neil Gaiman association, but it still seems slightly odd that we have the same favourite film. Though he is, after all, British, so nothing like as surprising as the show's revelation was that Martin Scorsese is also a massive P&P fan.

UK Drug Policy Commission's report shows signs of the Commission having seen The Wire, calls for 'smarter' drug policing with a focus on harm reduction; Home Office sticks fingers in ears, sings 'na na na I'm not listening'.

The Isle of Lewis, within two days, had its first Sunday sailing of the ferry, and then its first gay wedding. Less than ten days later, a mini-tornado wreaks havoc on the island. If the god-botherers don't capitalise on this, they're even more stupid than I thought.

Comments

[stephens.livejournal.com]

Oddly I was thinking for the first time that Malfoy was looking rather dashing, but yes Luna steals all with her bizarre awesomeness it is true.

I think some kind of cock-shouting HP marathon is definitely in order.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Really? During the early films I thought he was the one who'd grow up to be the biggest/most messed-up star, and he yet may, but here he was just in that awkward phase.
Though he did have very good tailoring, it's true.

[stephens.livejournal.com]

I think that it was outfit-related, definitely, it gave him a better gothic air.

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

Have you heard his Feltbeats musical abortion?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

No, and the name alone convinces me that I should endeavour to keep it that way.

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

It has no beats on the whole, it's him howling the worst lyrics you ever heard in a Noughties Mockney accent (you know, Jamie T and Kate Nash rather than Albarn) about girls over badly played acoustic guitar. His favourite artist is Jack Johnson.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I like Jamie T!

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

The accent not the music! If Felton sounded like Jamie T musically and had his lyrical prowess it'd be less of an issue. But you know what I mean about the accent, and in Felton's case it's definitely a musical affectation (his normal voice is posh meets mid-Atlantic).