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I stopped reading the new Harry Potter book just long enough to go see the new Harry Potter movie.

The book, so far as I've read, is great. No spoilers here, but I'm 280 pages in and enjoying it tremendously.

The movie gets a big meh from me, although George (not the Potter fanatic I am) enjoyed it more. It irritates me when the film deviates so far from the book. I understand it's necessary, that if it was a true version of the book it would end up being 8 hours long . . . but still, it bugs to see the film makers trimming off some of the meatiest parts of the story.

The worst part of the movie was definitely Michael Gambon, the actor they cast as the new Dumbledore. (Particularly when compared to the late Richard Harris, who was a kick ass Dumbledore.) The problem with Gambon is that he is not -- emphatically, not -- Dumbledore. Dumbledore is not supposed to be a mean old grouch. He's supposed to be somewhat lighthearted . . . at least, when he's not facing down the Big Bad. So why does Gambon's Dumbledore scowl and snap, and generally act as though his sciatica is acting up?

Anyway, must run . . . I still have five hundred pages to read (yea!). My sister has already finished the book, and keeps calling to see if I'm ready to talk about. I've been answering the phone shrieking, "No spoilers! No spoilers!" before she can say a word.

By the way, was I the only one who got a little teary eyed when first cracking open the book? The last one . . . sigh. Truly the end of an era.

Posted 22 July 2007 at 08:04 PM