THE LAST CHAPTER, AT LAST!

THE FINAL SPELL HAS BEEN CAST!

On July 21, 2007 two incredible things will happen! The first incredible thing is that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling's final book about "the boy who lived" will finally be  here, and it will surely be a day of joyous celebration!  As fans, we have waited so many years to find out if Harry Potter will once and for all vanquish the dark lord and live! 

The second incredible thing that will happen simultaneously is that, per Jo, it will be the absolute end of the Harry Potter series.  How will we fans manage the future without another HP book to look forward to and speculate about? 

Well, all good and magical things come to their own ends.  Without a doubt, it's been a firebolt of a ride, and I am both laughing and crying at the same time.   But here's a bright light at the near end of the tunnel... we will still have two more HP movies to look forward to!  Woohoo!

I have to say that I think it is interesting that the publishing date will be July 21, 2007... eight days after the fifth HP book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, ignites in theaters and 10 days before Jo's and Harry's birthday.  Well, Jo will definitely have a sparkling and magical 42nd birthday this year celebrating the culmination of an incredible accomplishment at such a young age.  Go, Jo!

Twenty-one is magical too.  It's divisible by seven, and three seven's equal 21.  And three, of course, is the primary number of wizards (Harry, Hermione, and Ron) that makes up our important saga. 

Not only is 21 an important number, it's an important age (and half of 42) for people in many countries.  And it can be a prosperous card game... a game of risk and chance.   Harry is definitely a young wizard who takes many risks and chances.

The year 2007 should be considered an extremely fortunate and lucky year.  Sevens are always good luck.  If you add the two and seven together, you get nine, which is also the number of great things.  I'm sure that Book Seven's success will be outstandingly lucky in '07 and for many years to come.

And if that's not enough, here are a few more ideas about DH's publishing date.  If you add up all of the numbers for the month, day, an years (ala numerology)- 7+2+1+2+0+0+7  = 19; 1+9 = 10; 1+0 = 1 - you get the grand total of one. The number one is considered a powerful number because it represents the  individuality, unity, birth, and renewal.  So, it's an interesting irony that the last book's publishing date might suggest a happy ending to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.   Will Harry, Hermione, and Ron prevail?  Dare we hope to read about Voldemort final moments, Harry's victory, and of a new and bright world  where wizards and muggles live happily together forever?  Well, I certainly do.

I've got my copy of DH reserved and on July 21st, 2007, I'll be doing what millions of other HP fans will be doing... reading, reading, reading... and I'm not too proud to admit, I might start at the last page first.

BOOK SEVEN HAS A NAME!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows... Brrrrr!  Sounds ominous to me.  Hallows are Saints, but Deathly Saints sounds a bit spooky, too.  I'd simply prefer 'dead saints,' if given a choice.  Will Harry be asking (ala Glenda, the Good Witch), "Are you a Good Hallow or Bad Hallow?" 

But let's think about the different meanings Jo might be implying.  Since Halloween ,aka All Hallows Eve, is a night when the spirits can more easily and readily make contact with the physical world and magic is heightened, then it  could be the perfect night for Harry to fix his broken 2-way mirror, because Sirius will seriously be hollering at him.  I can't think that this isn't the perfect and intended setup for their reunion (even if it's only temporary) . And if the mirror doesn't provide a clear connection, then I'll bet the Ministry of Magic's "Veil" does.

Deathly Hallows could  translate rather conveniently (perhaps with a ghoulish stretch) into Death Eaters.  And I think there are a lot of  other spirits, dementors, ghosts, ghouls, banshees, and the like who have more than a thing or two on their  ethereal minds that they have been dying to tell the land of the living. 

I can't disregard that Deathly Hallows may be a location... a graveyard, perhaps.   Is that the graveyard where Lily and James are buried?  It might be a tomb, a catacomb lined with talking sculls of former wizards who will have saintly words of wisdom to impart to Harry.

Or, could the Deathly Hallows be an ancient book of spells, or a spell in a book of spells.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'll ask Professor Slughorn.  I think Jo covered spells pretty thoroughly in HBP, so I am leaning away from this uncharming thought.

It might be a horcrux, but I personally don't think so... unless it is a statue or statues of deathly saints... like the four Hogwarts founders.  I can't validate that they are officially "saints," but unofficially they might be deemed as such.

Well, until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is on the book store shelves, your guess is as good as mine.  The one thing we know for sure is that now Book 7 has a name.  

*****

Harry Potter Podcast Photo:  July 30, 2006

Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA

I attended the Official Scholastic Podcast at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in L.A.... and (from where I stood) I could see in a corner far, far away, Emerson Spartz of MuggleNet.com, Melissa of The Leaky Cauldron, and Cheryl Klein, continuity editor for the HP books.  For over 90 minutes, they chatted with and discussed possible Harry Potter book 7  "what ifs" with an enthusiastic audience, which included Potter fans young and old.   I plan on commenting more on some of the theories and rationale for those theories in future commentaries.  Some of the ideas brought up today I have discussed in length on this site.

I was intrigued that the trio asked my 2nd Potter Poll question regarding Snape's loyalties... in the same order as does my poll.   Could one of them actually have found my little site?  Hmmm.

I have to admit, however, that being in the "back forty," it was not easy to hear everything Emerson, Melissa, and Cheryl said.  I, along with my immediate podcast neighbors, missed a few jokes here and there.  I'll have to listen to the replay to catch the punch lines.  

 All it all, it was a lot of fun, and it was great to be amongst so my HP fans.   The feeling was quite magical,  in fact.

CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Network Broadcast - May 8, 2005

**Updated May 10, 2005

Just a few words about the network broadcast of the extended version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets aired Sunday, May 8, 2005.  Thank you to responsible for adding the deleted scenes back into the movie… too bad there were so many commercial breaks (about every 5-6 minutes) that I got bored half-way through the picture… regardless of the added scenes.  (Never thought I’d say that about Harry Potter but then it’s not the movie’s fault, really).

I was initially excited to see the snippets of the upcoming theatrical release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire but again I was disappointed.  Maybe I’m asking or expecting too much?  I don’t think so… and I’ll bet I’m not alone in my opinions.  The interview clips were sweetly offered like magical carrots being dangled just in front of me for a few seconds then they just vanished into thin air before I realized it and were replaced by an advertising spot.  Of course Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are always cute and fun to watch and listen to… and that’s my point -- I wanted to watch and listen to them more.  No, there just wasn’t enough of them or teaser scenes from the upcoming GOF film or the production to take home and keep me excited until next November.

So thank goodness the interviews and teaser for GOF are at least viewable on the internet… and with no commercial interruptions.

BACK TO THE TOP

Happy Happy New Year Everyone! 

With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince coming out this next summer we all have something to be celebrating and looking forward too.  And of course, next November we will be treated to the feature film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."  I'm sure there will be a lot of exciting news to come, least of which is when Ms. Rowling gives birth to her new little baby.  Ms. Rowling, I wish you a safe and easy delivery and bless you and your family this coming year and all the years to come.

I would like to send my love and healing thoughts to the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunamis in the South Pacific.  My heart is very sad and I can only pray that those who have survived this terrible event will find hope and help from all people around the globe, as I know they shall.   I send love and light to all.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

If you were wand-ering what took me so long to say anything about the great news about HBP hitting the book stores next summer it's not for lack of trying on my part.  Believe me, if enchantments or spells could have rejuvenated my poor old PC  I would have used them.  As it was I'm not so sure the bad computer wizard wasn't having some fun at my expense.  Needless to say, I was without PC, Owls, Patronuses or Floo Powder and so couldn't post a single byte. 

The good news is that the good computer wizard twirled his wand and taa-daaI now have a new laptop.  So hopefully I'll be able to keep up with all the news from now on.

Hurray!! What a great gift from Jo Rowling letting all her fans know that she’s finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in the HP series. 

Mark your calendars on July 16^th, 2005 with lots of red and gold fireworks and get ready to apparate into the world of wizards, witches, fantastical beasts, Quidditch, and pure enjoyment.  I’ve pre-ordered my copy of HBP but I may also be standing in line at my local Barnes and Nobel or Borders bookstore just to join in the fan fun and magic.

Speculation has been terrific and will I’m sure the rumors and theories will continue to mount to greater and greater heights.  We’ve been given many tantalizing clues to whet our appetites and I have do doubt that the main course will be well worth the anticipation and wait.

Thank you, Ms. Rowling!!!

PRISONER OF AZKABAN DVD

**Updated November 25th, 2004

I picked up my copy of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" DVD on Tuesday, November 23rd.  I admit that with all of the Thanksgiving festivities I haven't had a chance to actually watch the complete movie but I did watch the "unfinished scenes" and the interviews sections.  I was disappointed there there were so few extra scenes included and I just find it hard to believe that there weren't more.  There were only five extra scene bits on the DVD; I have a feeling a lot more were left on the cutting room floor.  If these were the only scenes left out of the movie then the producers/director/studio should have just left them in.  They didn't take up that much extra time.  I am especially sorry the scene where Ron have Harry the Pocket Sneakoscope was deleted.  Even more so, I wish both scenes with Sir Cadogan had been included in the original theatrical release.  I just feel that the background story is that important and should be told.  Nevertheless, I'm glad we, the fans, at least get to enjoy these "unfinished scenes" on the DVD.

I really enjoyed listening to  the interviews with Jo Rowling, Alfonso Cuarón, and all of the actors and producers... but, have to shake my head in wonder at whose idea it was to include Dred Head's inane gobbledygook.   The jokes were not funny and I ended up  forwarding through his bits just so I could get to the parts where the actors, etc., were speaking.  That information was fun, interesting and entertaining. 

In the days ahead I hope to add more commentary about the DVD.  I can tell you right now that I can't wait to actually watch the feature again and I know I will love it just as much the seventh, eighth, and ninth plus times and I did the first.

SORCERER'S STONE - TELEVISION AIRING

** Updated November 14, 2004 

On Saturday, November 13th, the television network ABC aired Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  I was wrongly under the impression this airing would be the deleted scenes  version that they aired earlier in the year.  However, what I discovered is that not only was it not the extended version... they actually CUT more out of it.  All the way through a line here or a line there was missing, like Hemione telling Ron he has dirt on his nose. Too bad the networks/studios think that everyone has such a short attention span and memory.  I'm sure I am not the only Harry Potter fan who noticed.  I just hope that Warner Bros. will  sooner than later realize we all want to see the movie with all the scenes included; we promise not to get bored!