...I swear I'm going to puke!

If anyone has been hiding behind their notebook/computer: there are lollies, posters, shirts, colouring books, diaries, calenders, computer games, board games, even holidays tours and the list goes on..... forever
I dunno 'bout you guys but the marketing push to suck it for all it's worth is starting to put me off.

I'm starting to have serious doubts as to whether the movie can live up to all the hype. Then again I don't think any movie I ever seen based on a book has lived up to expectations. There's always something that gets lost in the translation. Even Silence of the Lambs which is a GREAT movie, completely loses a dimension to the characters that is present in the book. Just wondering whether anyone has found a movie that has succeeded in this regard?

Helen, i am defiantly on your side with this matter!
i can not stand all the over advertisements, pictures of 'Harry Potter' and such.
I will of course go and see the movie but the media is going to drive me totally mad!

Good Luck Coping:)

Strength, Love and Courage
Steven


(Media) + (Harry Potter) = Havoc

I read a review of the movie and they said Harry Potter was the very first book-on-movie (like a book-on-tape), everything was exactly the same as the book, no variations allowed. The reviewer said that as a result the movie was rather flat. Well, reviewers can be full of crock as we all know, but it did make me wonder. Naturally it's lovely for the author that she could stipulate no changes, but movies are a different media to books. Anyway, in a few short days we'll be able to make that judgement for ourselves.

Re the merchandising, I guess my only thought is to hope that the author is getting a percentage of the take. Every year there's a new craze for children to demand, and parents seem willing to part with their hard-earned cash for plastic crap with decals of whoever is popular. It seems like crass commercialism at it's worst (second only to what they've done to Easter which is my favourite holiday - selling hot cross buns in January for gods sakes) but for some reason I don't feel that the Harry Potter books are diminished because of it. In fact, maybe I feel like it's nice to see a book driving the frenzy this time around instead of a movie or TV series or a girl band.

However, when I heard that Bob the Builder was in the top ten I realised I'd completely lost touch with popular culture. I desperately hoped it was a one off, then came . . . Mambo Number Five. This really is the stuff of nightmares to me. Bob the Builder might look like a harmless, helpful sort of guy, but he pushes all my buttons, and not in a good way. The sooner he disappears into television history the better for my blood pressure.

I know what you all mean. Harry's little face is one everything, even toothpaste and toothbrushes!!
It's a a bit over the top, but as Louise says, at least the craze is driven by a BOOK and not some churned out tv show.
I wonder if all the merchandising will burn poor old Harry out? I hope not because the books are great and I hope the magic behind and within the books has enough strenght to carry Harry through all they hype and merchandise and find him a place in literary history.

Sorry about the post being so negative and all but I was in an inexplicably bad mood yesterday.
Louise, if you think Bob the builder is bad, try living with an eighteen year old brother who absolutely loves that song to bits! He often tapes stuff of rage/ video hits - just songs that he likes and shows me them at a later stage. Bob has been taped three times now. Don't ask - he's a strange boy, and the dynamic of two siblings living together without parents to intervene is somewhat unusual.

For a change of pace I just found the most wonderful CD - White Monkey, by Danielle Spencer. So if you're looking for some good music...although most people tell me my taste in music is a little out of the ordinary

ps so sorry to hear about your guinea pig Louise, mine is absolutely the most foul tempered creature in the world but I know when he dies that I'll cry for ages. I remember this chicken that I'd rescued from certain death from the vet school farm only to have it attacked by a butcher-bird while I was letting it out in the yard. Nature can definitely be a cruel mother.

Dear Helen, I feel so much better now. No-one in my house actually likes "Bob the Builder" although the kids sing it sometimes to put the wind up me because they know I detest it, but to have a brother who actually likes it! Well, let's be generous and assume it's only because his name is Bob too. But still, you did say he was eighteen?

White Monkey sounds interesting. I might suss it out. Although I rarely just sit and listen to music in recent years. And I can't read/write and listen. When I'm writing a book I seem to lose a lot of my attention span - I think my RAM gets used up working out the story in my subconscious - so even when I'm not physically working on it I can't concentrate on too many things at once, and I forget stuff. Still, perhaps that's just because it's a complicated plot. Hope so. I'd hate to think I'll get like this every time I'm "in the zone".

I know what you mean Louise, when I have to do some very concentrated work I have to turn my music off
( esp in the last minute cram sessions at four in the morning). Sometimes though, when I'm writing I can be listening to music and just completely phase out, can't hear phones, music anything. That's when I know that I'm writing something really good. Doesn't happen very often though.

Helen, I love that it doesn't happen very often. That's what makes it so special when it does. It's like the best intoxicant in the world because it takes you somewhere completely outside your own reality and lets you live there, then it brings you back safely without a single side-effect, except maybe a lingering feeling of satisfaction. SO much better than drugs.

yes, I've been to the movies and well I thought harry potter was okay. ( that's just okay, not brilliant or excellent) There was a lot of attention paid to scenery/effects etc and the result was beautiful, however I suppose I was a bit disappointed. Maybe it was because it was built up so much, or maybe it just can't carry the story where you're imagination can. Or maybe, I'm just too plain old.
my prediction - Lord of the Rings is definitely going to be the better movie

Helen, sorry to completely disagree (and I'm sure it's because I wouldn't let myself read the book first) but I loved the movie. I felt like I was ten again and I just sat there with wide eyes and bated breath while one exciting/scary/funny scene rolled into another. The characters were so likeable and so real, and I just love Alan Rickman so much that I hung on Professor Snape's every word - so pleased that he wasn't... well, you know - don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet.

The one thing that was even better than the movie, though, was the trailer for Star Wars 2. After I watched that I'd completely forgotten what I came to the cinema to see. I'd been bitterly disappointed with Phantom Menace, but the Attack of the Clones (is that the right title?) looks SOOOO romantic, and my, hasn't Ani grown up nicely. It's not on until May 2002 so it's a long wait, but I'll be there on the first day to see it, no doubt about that!

I'm really keen to see the movie, but I am going to wait for my boyfriend to read the book. He's not much of a reader (I'm working on that though!), so it might be a few weeks, but I think I'd prefer to wait til the hype has died down anyways - no packed out cinemas then.

I haven't read Lord of the Rings (Started it 3 times and haven't gotten into it). I'm going to watch the movie and if I enjoy it maybe I'll try the book again.

i saw Harry Potter today...i loved it and thought it kept with the book for all. I went witha friend who hasnt read the book so she didnt know, but boy it was great.
Im agreeing with you Louise about Ani growing up nicely in the Star Wars preview. Yum o.... how is that?
Had to laugh also at the Monsters, Inc. preview with the sherades! Did you see that too?

Yum O is right! Not classically handsome, but there was something innocent about him, and yet dangerous at the same time. I'm so looking forward to seeing how he turns to the dark side. And were Natalie Portman's costumes beautiful or what? - gave me so many ideas for my own work. It's great that there are so many fantasy movies coming out. Not only will it whet people's appetites for fantasy novels (always looking at the main chance, I know) but it gives us fantasy fans a chance to get some visual input to help our imaginations along.

And I LOVED the charades in Monsters Inc. I was trying to work out the voices and one was definitely Billy Crystal. "Ahh Real Monsters" is one of my favourite cartoons so I've got a soft spot for doofy monsters.

one was John Goodman.. the big blue one!!! loved it!
Any how, it should be a great laugh. This is the start of these life like cartoons...strange huh!
Not wrong about Star Wars 2.... cant wait...
Did you know Dinotopia have been filming a movie...how good is that!

Displaying my ignorance, I know, but what's Dinotopia, Timna?

We are going to take the kids to see Harry Potter this weekend! I can't wait and now with yor rave reviews I can't wait even more. What a bonus to see the Star Wars preview... I love those movies.

I love Ah Real Monsters too Louise, esp. Krumm.

deb