Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince

I was finally able to take a loooooong leave from work (after one year in the job) and I specifically scheduled it during Harry Potter week. I also planned the Bohol trip so that we were back in Manila the day before the film opens.

It has been my sort of tradition to always watch the Harry Potter films on the first day on the first full show of the nearest cinema. I usually go alone since the movie opens on a weekday and everybody would be at work or at school. The only time I was with someone was when Teta pretended to be sick and went with me to Gateway, only to find out that Gateway movies do not start until lunchtime. So we had to run to the nearest SM mall — Santa Mesa — for the first showing. Stupid, right? So we got there on time, but Teta got guilty 15 minutes into the movie and decided to go to work after all!!

This year, my boyfriend wanted to come watch the movie with me — he took a week off from work for our Bohol trip too. OK, so we agreed to meet at Megamall at 10am because the first full show was 10:30. Of course, on such an important day, the LRT 2 had to have technical problems, and the MRT had to conduct their earthquake drill and I was really pissed because I was already 10 minutes late. Schatz was not yet there, so I bought the tickets, I got some snacks and I even had a quick trip to the bathroom. When I went outside the cinema, he wasn’t there. I was panicking, because the movie was about to start. When I called him, I was practically screaming and in tears – partly, I was silently screaming to myself: next time, don’t bring a non-fan! They just don’t understand!. That made me remember the time I was supposed to wake up early to get the last HP book…again, as a personal tradition, I have to be outside the bookstore before it opens. The last time, PEOPLE WERE ALREADY LEAVING THE STORE when we got there. #$%^&*()

So anyway, the movie. I managed to calm down, and made it inside the cinema about 10 minutes before the movie started. He came in 20 minutes later. I did not have a lot of expectations about the movie, so I guess I enjoyed it – it is Harry Potter, after all! No use comparing it to the book so I won’t. I even loved the trailer — I cry every time I watch it. AND I cried when Dumbledore died. AND the boyfriend, seeing me in tears, blurted out “Patay na ba?” (Is he dead?)…DUUUUH. Hinde, nagkukunwari lang!! At the end of the movie, he said he finally realized the answer to my trivia: why the Japanese version retained the “Prince” in the title: ハリーポッターと謎のプリンズ。At least, he learned something (even if he never read a single page of the book…)

ハリーポッターと賢者の石

Sad that the series finally ended. One more movie (OK, 2-part movie) and it’s over. But I don’t want it to end yet so I decided to challenge myself on a new Harry Potter level – in Japanese! I got the first book via an Ebay seller (Ebay and Paypal = EVIL!). I was also bidding for the 2nd book, but I got outbid twice.

The book is secondhand but in very good condition. It even has a copy of the Owlpost　（ふくろう通信） inside! There was a small bit on the translator’s note and how she found some things difficult to put into Japanese, like knickerbocker glory or sherbet lemon. Haha! Until the book, I’ve never heard or read of knickerbocker glory! I read reviews on Amazon about the translated series, and some people are not too happy about it. Well, I am no expert so I cannot comment. All I know is that I am enjoying this immensely (I’m still in the first chapter – Katakana makes my head swim…). Nearly Headless Nick, for the win!! ほとんど首のないニックになったから。

So many unexpected twists, so many interesting characters, so many deaths…

I thought I prepared myself for all the blood, and I thought as long as Hagrid makes it alive, I was ok…but I was wrong.

I was surprised (to say the least) about who did not make it till the end (just some notable characters):

Hedwig – Hedwig!? Yep, the owl was the first to go. Hit by a curse when Harry was being transported from Privet Drive.
Mad-Eye – NOOOOO! His magical eye was later found stuck to the door of Umbridge’s office at the Ministry. That bitch. She was using the eye to spy on the Ministry rank and file.
Scrimgeour – I just had to mention him. He became Minister of Magic after Fudge. The baddies killed him off too.
Ted Tonks – Nymphadora Tonks’ dad, a Muggle.
Fred Weasley – (*&^%!
Remus Lupin – Yes, the werewolf…He died in the Battle of Hogwarts
Nymphadora Tonks – Died with her husband, Remus…She gave birth to a boy, whom they named Teddy Remus Lupin, and Harry is godfather. Now, little Teddy is an orphan.

But the death that affected me most was DOBBY’s. Yep, the Malfoys’ former house elf. He died saving Harry. Once again, Dobby saved Harry but this time, he did not survive. Couldn’t hold back the tears. I just had to cry for him. Damn Bellatrix. It felt really good when Mrs. Weasley killed her.

But I am happy Snape was vindicated in the end. I knew he was a good guy…a little too lovesick for my taste, but he was ok.

The ‘Deathly Hallows’ were supposed to reveal clues when translated to different languages. Here are a few:

French: de mort sanctifie
German: tödlich heiligt
Spanish: mortal santifica
Japanese: 死んだように神聖化する

I don’t think they made a lot of sense, and the nearest was the Spanish translation.

Because I was devouring the book so fast, I might have skimmed over some bits of information. Like, why were Lily’s eyes important? I don’t think it was THAT important. I want to re-read it…but Aya is waiting (tagal na nagsabing next siya sa book). How long will I have to wait again…

As expected, Harry ends up with Ginny (whose real name is actually GINEVRA…I thought all along it was VIRGINIA…Will have to read Chamber of Secrets again. I just had to make sure.); they have 3 kids: James, Albus Severus and Lily. Ron marries Hermione and have 2 kids together: Rose and Hugo. ^_^

Oh yeah, Dumbledore is really dead. Now get over it!

Some bit of Potter news from Japan: Book doesn’t conjure up long lines in Japan

Well, that was quite expected, wasn’t it? They don’t really want to read a thick novel in English. Why does Matsuoka-sensei need a year to translate?! Pinoys are lucky, we can read English ^_~

The bartender in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is actually Aberforth Dumbledore??

Throughout the HP series, there have been references to the Hog’s Head barman: he was there the day Trelawney was being interviewed by Dumbledore for the job of Divinations teacher; Dumbledore mentioned that he receives news about the activities of Voldemort’s followers because he was ‘friendly with the local barman’, and this particular barman was at the funeral of Albus Dumbledore.

Eventually, JKR did admit that the barman is indeed Albus’ brother, Aberforth. ^_^

I’ve read the spoilers already…the real spoilers. So I’m really thinking that I should excuse myself from class on Saturday. ^_^

Harry and Ginny/Ron and Hermione finally end up together. Wipee!

I’ve always felt that somehow, Snape will redeem himself…and it looks like I’m right. Yes!

I can’t think clearly, my posts do not make a lot of sense. That’s because I’m so full of HP and that is all I can seriously think about these days.

Woohoo! Today is the day!

Ok, traditionally, I used to see the HP movies on the first full show of the day…The last time I did that was with Teta (who decided to back out, and go to work instead, haha!) in SM Manila. Classy, huh?

Anyway, today, I can’t do that…technically, I can, since I am already eligible for leaves at my new job.

But I don’t want to push it. I was already on sick leave last Monday. So I’m just going to see it after work. Papa got us some tickets from their group’s ‘block screening’, whatever that is. I so want this day to end now.

Then on the 21st, I’ll be getting the 7th book…from National Bookstore in Rob Place Manila. Again, classy. Heh, I know lots of people would rather get their copies from more high-end places like Fully Booked. But what the heck. I won’t go that far to get my HP. Rob Place Manila is nearer and more convenient…which means, I will probably one of the very first to grab a copy. ^_~

Which also means, I will be late for my first class in Intermediate Kaiwa. So what? ^_~ They can wait.

…Sirius Black dies in the movie? No kidding…

No, no, no, no…tell me this isn’t true…that JK isn’t really prepping us up for his murder…

Death of Harry Potter Makes Mythological
Sense

Jul 5, 4:42 PM EST
The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Brace yourselves, Harry Potter fans. No matter how desperate you are for Harry to live, some experts in classic literature and mythology say that finishing off the young wizard would make sense — in a literary kind of way.

J.K. Rowling has never shied from darkness in her phenomenally successful series — it started with the murder of Harry’s parents, continued through his discovery that an evil wizard was trying to destroy him, and has included pain and torture and the deaths of major characters. She’s already promised two deaths in the seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” coming out July 21, and has refused to commit to Harry surviving. But she couldn’t kill Harry off, could she? She wouldn’t do that, would she?

Read the article at MSN.com

Now there’s a reason for me to go to the United States…in 2009.

According to this MSN article, Universal Studios will open a Harry Potter theme park called the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

JK Rowling is even working with the technical/creative team to make sure that the park will feel REAL. This sounds sooooooo great! I love theme parks, and this will probably be my favorite of all. ^_^