Friday Night! Movie Night!

If we’re not talking about books, we’re probably discussing movies.  Even better, movies adapted from books.  Whether it’s which actors should play what character or what we picture the book’s world looking like on the silver screen, we’ll spend hours  deciding just what will make the movie perfect.  

This Friday will be dedicated to Harry Potter (said with a British accent).  With its final *tear* cinematic release in 7 days, we thought it would be fun to wax reminiscent about our bespectacled hero and his motley crew of friends.  Enjoy our list of Top 7 Favorite Things from Harry Potter.

Monica

As most of you know, I’ve only seen the movies, so my faves come only from those.

1. Emma Watson.  I’ve already shared my love for her, but I just think she’s the cutest.  And I love her as Hermione.

2. Loyal friends are hard to come by, but when you’ve got them you have to hold onto them with everything you’ve got.

3. I love that you can always tell Ginny has had a thing for Harry.  So cute!  And then so va-va-voom!

4. Ron is the best friend anyone would want.  A bit thick at times, a bit clueless at others, but always good for a laugh and fiercely loyal to the death.

5. I love the world that has been created.  Every tiny detail is so well-thought out and orchestrated.  I feel instantly transported to London, or Hogwarts or the woods behind the school.  There are not many movies I can watch over and over, but HP marathons run regularly at my house.  

6. I love that as the kids grow up, the movies become darker.  Time grows darker as it passes and the Hogwarts team has to be even more dedicated to the cause than ever.  And they are.  They know the risks, but that doesn’t slow them down.  They love their worlds and their families, and want a bright future for each.    

7. Good always wins.

Lindsey

Wow, I don't even know where to begin.  I first started reading Harry Potter after the first movie came out.  We drove from Tennessee to California.  In 3 days I read books 1-4.  That is a lot of Harry Potter!  I realized I needed to snap out of the Harry Potter world when I was at Disneyland chuckling at the silly muggles and their amusement rides.

1.  Some movies know how to cast a character and these movies are no exception.  I loved everyone cast! I'm a big Emma Watson fan myself.

2.  The 4th book (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), was my favorite book for years (nearly a decade).

3.  After finally reading the 7th book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it is now my favorite book.  I don't know what took me so long to read it but I only just read it a few months ago.  Sometimes the end of a series makes me sad and I just can't bring myself to the inevitable end.

4.  Since I haven't yet seen the last movie (Part 2) I have to say the Part 1 is currently my favorite movie.

5.  I'm fascinated with wands.  When reading the books I love the connection they have with their owners.  Each wand is unique and has meaning.  I know this is a bit dorky but I want to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter just so I can buy a wand.

6.  I hope Monica doesn't kill me for this one.  Most brides-to-be have bachelorette parties the night before they get married.  Not my sister.  We spent her last "single" night standing in line to buy Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  As dorky as this may seem, it is one of my favorite memories, and not just Harry Potter memories, all time favorite memories.  The people we met.....the clothes we saw....the things we heard.....the excitement....everything.  It was great.

7.  Finally, I'm going to have to agree with Monica.  I love how dark they get.  Sometimes, I feel especially nowadays, people are afraid of a little darkness.  For some reason I love a good tragedy.  A perfect world is boring.  It's the darkness that makes light so much better.  There would be no good without the evil.  I'm not saying Harry Potter is a tragedy, but I'm saying that I'm glad everything doesn't go as perfectly as it should.  But good does overcome evil, just as it always should and always will.

Julianne


Harry Potter. What can i say? This series is what created what I am today. For the past 11 years I feel like i have lived and breathed Harry Potter. So you could say...... I'M BLOODY OBSESSED with it!! Now let's get started with this list (which is in no particular order)
1. I am in LOVE the Weasley twins. They are the perfect pair. Their connection with each other cannot be described in words. Any scene, book or movie, that involves them is always one of my favorites.
2. Hogwarts is my dream school. That place is bloody amazing! All those rooms and secret passages to explore! Who wouldn't want to go there?!? I will say that when my eleventh birthday came around I was extremely disappointed I did not receive a letter to Hogwarts. I just kept thinking it got misplaced in the mail or they couldn't find my house. Then I realized the startling truth..... I was a muggle :/
3. My favorite room in Hogwarts would hands down have to be the Room of Requirement. A room that can change into anything you need it to be at that moment. If i had this room that would be all I need. Don't give me a house, just give me the room of requirement and I'll change it into any room of the house I need.
4. Harry and Ginny's first kiss. Movie version = awwwwkkwaarrrddd. Book Version = PURE GOLD. I  honestly hate their kiss in the movie. Its horrible. But in the book, it's bloody BRILLIANT! I love how spontaneous it is and how Harry just goes for it and even surprises himself. It was the perfect first kiss for the two of them. I mean it takes place after a victory from Quidditch, could it be more perfect? I think not.
5. I love how intricate and unique the whole story is. The story flows from book to book. Rowling never leaves out a detail. You know that if a question comes up you will find out the answer sooner or later.
6. Why can't Quidditch be a real? I would be so beast at that sport. When I read the books I always love imagining the Quidditch matches.
7. That the number 7 has a reoccurring appearance in the books. 7 books. 7 years at Hogwarts. 7 positions to play in Quidditch. Harry's birthday is in the 7th month of the year. Gryffindor Tower is on the 7th floor. 7 Horcruxes. 7 days till the last movie comes out. Plus many more.... its just something to think about.
P.S. Lindsey, if wanting a wand is dorky then let's be dorky together and get our own wand.

What are your favorite Harry Potter moments?

You're welcome.

Friday Night! Movie Night!

If we’re not talking about books, we’re probably discussing movies.  Even better, movies adapted from books.  Whether it’s which actors should play what character or what we picture the book’s world looking like on the silver screen, we’ll spend hours  deciding just what will make the movie perfect.  

This Friday will be dedicated to discussing what movies we think are better than the books they are based on.

Monica

I recently read Beastly by Alex Flinn.  I struggled through it for most of the book.  For the most part, first person narrative doesn’t bother me, but it did here.  And if I hadn't been reading it for a book club, I probably would not have finished.  The main character, Kyle, is arrogant, disrespectful, vain, and downright unlikable.  Then he gets cursed and has to break the spell before the deadline set by the witch.  IMO, he never redeems himself, he still is an arrogant jerk and I never grow to like him.  Now, in the movie, it’s a different story.  I actually liked the movie, didn’t love it, but I was entertained enough to watch it again. Kyle is much more likable and I actually believe he wants to be a better person.  It was so much better than the book that I’ll even forgive Vanessa Hudgens her monotone voice.  So head to your nearest video store or a Redbox and check it out.  

Lindsey

Julianne

What is you favorite book-turned-movie?

Friday Night! Movie Night!

If we’re not talking about books, we’re probably discussing movies.  Even better, movies adapted from books.  Whether it’s which actors should play what character or what we picture the book’s world looking like on the silver screen, we’ll spend hours  deciding just what will make the movie perfect.  

This Friday, let’s talk about the movies that inspire us to read the book it’s based on.

Monica

In most cases, I won’t watch a movie, unless I’ve read the book it’s based on.  I think there are a lot of moments in a movie that wouldn’t make sense if you hadn’t read the book first.  When I do watch the movie first, it’s usually because I had no idea it was based on a book.  This doesn’t happen a lot now, but it used to.  One of my favorite movies is Where the Heart Is, but I have never read the book by Billie Letts (didn’t know it was a book for years).  I know this is a problem easily remedied, but for some reason I also worry that the book will ruin the movie.  The opposite is usually true.  But I have added it to my TBR (to-be-read) and am really inspired to read it.  Harry Potter is another one for me, but I 

won’t start the books until after I see the last movie next month.  I am honestly so sad that the movies will be over!  I love them.  One of the reasons I have not yet read the books is that I am able to watch the movies and relax.  No comparisons to the books, no disappointment in omissions.  Just pure entertainment.  So sometimes watching the movie first, has its advantages.

Lindsey

I go through periods of time where I think that every movie is based on a book.  I'll see a movie, then think "I have to read that book!"  I look for the book only to find out that one does not exist.  Other times I think that a movie is just a movie, I never even consider that it was ever even a book.

Just recently I had a birthday.  My dad was so excited for me to get my present.  I could not imagine what it could be.  Finally it arrived and to my amazement it was the Amazon Kindle.  Gasp!!!!!  I love it!  I never thought I would enjoy one simply because I love the smell of books, the look of books, and having that collection on my shelf (not to fail to mention that I do judge a book by it's cover).  But I do love my Kindle (I'll get to the point soon enough).  After a while I got bored of reading the manual, I decided to go to Amazon and look at books, see what I could find.  I was so excited to see they had books for free and only $0.99 (trust me, I got a lecture from my husband "I know how much you read......we're not going to go broke over books....).  One of the suggestions that popped up was The Princess Bride.  Wait!?  What!?  That's a book?  I know I sound silly, especially to those of you who know that this is a book, but I honestly had no idea.  The Princess Bride is in my top 5 favorite movies.  After this discovery, I'm hoping the book will be up there too.

Julianne
I love finding out when movies are based on books because then its just another book for me to read. So normally if a movie is about to come out and it looks interesting I try to figure out if it is based on a book. My inspiration to read a book because of a movie goes back a few years.



When I was in 5th grade I went and saw The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. And let me say I LOVE THAT MOVIE. So right after I saw the movie I flew through the entire series. To this day it is still one of my FAVORITE books.

What movie has inspired you to read the book?

Friday Night! Movie Night!

Image from here.

If we’re not talking about books, we’re probably discussing movies.  Even better, movies adapted from books.  Whether it’s which actors should play what character or what we picture the book’s world looking like on the silver screen, we’ll spend hours  deciding just what will make the movie perfect.  

This Friday let’s talk about who our favorite book character-to-movie character is.

Monica

This makes me want to lop off all of my hair!

I have not read these books yet, but I love Emma Watson as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter.  It might be because I have a tiny girl-crush on her, but I think she’s just brilliant.  I’ve read a little here and there from the books and have heard an awful lot about Harry Potter (I have 3 siblings that are obsessed), so I feel like I can make an informed enough decision about this.  You’re more than welcome to disagree...  I have loved watching her grow from the awkward know-it-all to a stunning know-it-all.  Hermione is one of my favorite fictional characters and I haven’t even read the books!  So I obviously believe Miss Watson has done an excellent job with the character.  

My husband and I went to a movie last year, it might have even been Deathly Hallows Part 1, and I had a 10 minute chat with one of the concession stand workers about my love for Emma Watson.  He also agreed.  My husband just shook his head at me and laughed.  But she’s great!

Lindsey

Julianne

Still romping through the wilderness...


Who is your favorite book character-to-movie character?

Friday Night, Movie Night...

If we’re not talking about books, we’re probably discussing movies.  Even better, movies adapted from books.  Whether it’s which actors should play what character or what we picture the book’s world looking like on the silver screen, we’ll spend hours  deciding just what will make the movie perfect.  

This Friday will be dedicated to discussing what our favorite movie based on a book is.

Monica

One of my favorites is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.  I loved the book and I loved the movie just as much.  Not only is it one of my favorite adaptations, but it is also just one of my favorite movies.  Casting was perfect and they never strayed too far from the story.  The only part I was disappointed about was the ending, and I mean the very final scene.  It was so different from the book.  If you’ve read The Wedding, also by Nicholas Sparks, you’ll understand why.  Other than that, it was a great adaptation and I would without hesitation recommend both.  Besides, you can’t go wrong with Rachel McAdams or Ryan Gosling.  

Lindsey
I would have to say one of my favorite books to movies is The Godfather.  They are both classics for a reason.  A few years back I bought my husband The Godfather 1 and 2 for father's day.  Neither one of us had seen them yet.  We watched them and fell in love.  I doubt a day does not go by that we don't quote either The Godfather or Seinfeld.  We're huge Seinfeld fans, to a point where it's a bit dorky.  When we were first married we didn't have cable, but we did have Seinfeld and we watched it EVERY day, for a year.  We also had The Godfather.  It didn't get watched as much but it was watched quite often.  As you can tell, my family doesn't get tired of things (especially my girls).  Recently, my husband came home with a copy of the book.  He read it and said it was better than the movie, which surprised us both, because we love the movie so much.  So when he finished, I read it.  It was a great book, and I agree that it was better than the movie.  Obviously the book was more insightful, but I liked that we learned more about a few charachters that were not developed in the movie.  Like Johny Fontane.  He has a pretty big part in the book.  The only thing I didn't like;  I have been reading only young adult books for a couple of years now so I'm used to their "PG-13" ratings (which is why I enjoy them so much).  The Godfather definitely has an "R" rating and it was definitely written for guys.  The "romance" scenes made me want to puke.  I did my best to skim over them.  But overall it was a good book and it made watching the movie more enjoyable.  There are things a viewer might miss, having not read the book.


My daughter is literally eating a book right now.  I guess that means I'm done.

Julianne

What is you favorite book-turned-movie?

Friday Night, Movie Night...

Image from here.

If we’re not talking about books, we’re probably discussing movies.  Even better, movies adapted from books.  Whether it’s which actors should play what character or what we picture the book’s world looking like on the silver screen, we’ll spend hours  deciding just what will make the movie perfect.  

This Friday will be dedicated to discussing what movies based on books we’re looking forward to seeing.

Monica

I am looking forward to so many!  Lindsey shared her excitement for Hunger Games and that is at the top of my list as well.  Although, I am not completely enamored by the casting. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch?  I pictured a hot drunk.  What? You don’t think those two things go together?  Hmm...  Jennifer Lawrence’s look was such a major transformation that I can totally buy her as Katniss now.  I wasn’t so sure at first.  The Host is another one I am very excited for.  I just recently saw that Saoirse Ronan is rumored to play Melanie/Wanderer in Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi novel.  She’s not exactly who I pictured (seems too young), but I think she’s a great actress.  A few of the many others are The Mortal Instruments, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Beautiful Creatures and If I Stay.  I can’t wait to see these stories come to life outside of my head.

Lindsey

All right!!!  Go ahead and take all mine.  Sheesh.  I guess I only have one more to add to your list (or at least one more for the moment) and that book is Maze Runner.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I know Monica had a hard time getting into it (if she ever did), but I really enjoyed it.  For Monica it lacked the love story, I don't always need that.  Other than The Hunger Games I guess the next book I am really excited about is Forest of Hands and Teeth.  That book freaked me out!  I just hope the movie will too. 

Wait!!!  I just remembered another one!!! Incarceron... One person is cast so far....Taylor Lautner.  Hmmm.  I'm not too sure how I feel about that.  I think he could do it but he's definetaly not my first pick (or second).  And I think Emma Watson is being considered for Claudia.  Or is she being considered for another movie?  I don't know.  I'm just glad that Hollywood has jumped on board with all these good books.

Julianne doesn't exist.  We've made her up.
Hehehe

What movies from books are you looking forward to?