Monday Catchy Quote No. 174
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of your week:
Flitwick: You do realize we can’t keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely.
McGonagall: That doesn’t mean we can’t delay him. And his name is Voldemort, so you might as well use it; he’s going to try and kill you either way.
- Click here to learn the source.
-BAM
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ makes record-setting $43.5 million at midnight screenings
With 3,800 locations screening “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ at midnight Thursday, the eighth and last movie based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books netted $43.5 million in its first three hours of release.
The midnight haul for “Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ crushed the previous record held by “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” which recorded $30 million in midnight earnings in 2010, reports my intrepid colleague Adam Kemp.
With the movie’s opening-weekend projections are aimed at $150 million. But it will be interesting to see if “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” can challenge for the record for all-time best opening weekend. “The Dark Knight,” starring Christian Bale, the late Heath Ledger and “Harry Potter” actor Gary Oldman, rocketed to $158 million the weekend of July 18, 2008.
Read more of Adam’s story on the huge buzz surrounding “Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ by clicking here.
-BAM
Video: Oklahoma Harry Potter fans test their knowledge of the magical series
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NewsOK videographers Kyle Roberts and A.J. Sinker ventured out to Oklahoma City area movie theaters Thursday night to chat with fans lining up for midnight screenings of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” Kyle decided to put the knowledge of these faithful fans of the Boy Who Lived for this NewsOK video.
To read my column about saying another goodbye to Harry Potter, click here.
-BAM
Potter fans say goodbye to Harry again as “Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ opens in theaters
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From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To read my colleague Dennis King’s features on “Harry Potter” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, click here. To read his review of “Deathly Hallows: Part II,” click here.
BAM Column: Potter fans say goodbye to Harry again
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” closes out the blockbuster film franchise based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series, which ended with the final novel’s release in 2007.
For fans of the Boy Who Lived, it’s all ending all over again.
Now that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II” has apparated into a mind-boggling number of movie houses, devotees of J.K. Rowling’s beloved fantasy saga are finally getting the chance to see the good-vs.-evil epic’s thrilling finale play out in big-screen (3-D optional) cinematic glory.
But legions of Potterheads also are bracing themselves for the inevitable letdown that comes with saying another goodbye to Harry.
“It all ends,” the “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” posters have declared in large, dramatic letters. As with all endings, this one is as bittersweet as it is unavoidable.
Make no mistake, the theatrical debut of “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is more than a big-budget denouement 10 years in the making. It’s not exaggeration to say it marks the end of an era in our popular culture: The Harry Potter book series has sold 450 million copies globally, the film franchise has grossed $6 billion worldwide, and Rowling’s sprawling tale has introduced an array of magical terms into the cultural lexicon.
Memories revisited
Like many fans, my children and I have spent much of the last week at Potter watch parties, viewing the previous movies in the series with friends in anticipation of seeing the eighth and final film this weekend. As we’ve made our way through the Blu-rays two films at a time, the excitement at these gatherings has grown perceptibly in children and adults alike.
But we haven’t been watching with the keen focus of seeing something new. We’re wondering what will be omitted from the finale, recalling how certain bits played out in the books, grabbing another snack or drink from the kitchen, because we’ve already seen these adventures. We’re just revisiting.
As our movie marathons have run into the wee hours of morning, they have conjured up memories of magical midnight book release parties, of painting a lightning bolt scar on my older son Chris’ forehead and taking him to sample Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, play simulated Wizard’s Chess and count down to the arrival of another novel in Rowling’s enchanted saga.
Our family fell under the British author’s powerful spell sometime after the release of her second book, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” which debuted in the U.S. in 1999. Now 16, Chris has grown up with the story of the young wizard’s quest to vanquish the villainous Lord Voldemort unfolding around him.
Family experience
Chris, the oldest of my three children, was a mere grade-schooler when I read him the first two novels, and we would eagerly mark our mental calendars and venture out to a bookstore soiree when each subsequent book finally arrived. Reading them aloud became such a family tradition that we continued long after he was perfectly capable of reading them himself.
In between book releases, we had the movies to keep us in the magic, starting with Chris Columbus’ 2001 storybook adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” For the first few film outings, Chris would don his handmade robes (courtesy his grandmother) and list the many commonalities between Harry and himself while waiting for John Williams’ tinkling opening theme.
After each cinematic journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, my husband, Patrick, Chris and I would break down what was left out of the book and eventually conclude the movie was good fun but not as transportive as the book.
With “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” garnering stellar reviews, the blockbuster franchise has achieved critical acclaim exceeded only by Pixar’s animated films (“Cars 2” notwithstanding). The eight Potter films all have easily earned a fresh certification from review aggregator RottenTomatoes.com, meaning at least 60 percent of the reviews have been positive.
Sharing the story
In 2007, my family attended our last Hogwarts-inspired book release celebration, as Rowling unleashed her seventh and final installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” on the Muggle world.
Once I cracked the book on that summer Saturday morning, I read for nearly 20 hours straight to finish it before Sunday’s dawn, closing it with a sense of both satisfaction and sadness. I’ve no doubt that I will have similar mixed feelings when the credits roll at the end of the second film director David Yates has cast from the book.
Still, Hogwarts isn’t going anywhere, no matter how battered the climactic battle leaves it. The last Potter book release party back in 2007 was the first for my younger son, Gabe, who hadn’t even reached his first birthday. Now, 4, the boy has watched a few of the movies with wide-eyed wonder, and I look forward to taking Gabe and his sister Brenna, 12 months, on their first literary journey to the Harry’s magical world.
Plus, hope for something new still burns like the Goblet of Fire at Pottermore.com, where Rowling has promised “an online reading experience unlike any other” will open this fall.
-BAM
DVD review: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Ultimate Edition Blu-ray”
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A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
DVD review: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Ultimate Edition Blu-ray”
The Boy Who Lived tries to unravel the mystery of Lord Voldemort’s seemingly unbeatable power and navigate the hormonal tides of teenage romance in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth installment of the blockbuster film franchise based on J.K. Rowling’s best-selling books.
With the wizarding world now fully aware that Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned and is marshaling his wicked forces, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) gives Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) a harrowing crash course in the Dark Lord’s tragic and ominously evil childhood. The wise Hogwarts headmaster is sure that the secret to Voldemort’s vast might and seeming immortality is hidden in a murky memory in the mind of Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), the vain potions master Dumbledore recruits back to the school.
When he isn’t delving into Voldemort’s past and preparing for the impending clash of good and evil, Harry gets caught up in the complicated and absurd politics of high-school love affairs, including the alternately sinking and soaring sensation of falling for Ginny (Bonnie Wright), his best pal Ron’s (Rupert Grint) younger sister.
With “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” the eighth and last film in the series, new in theaters, Warner Bros. has rushed to release more of its “Ultimate Edition” Blu-ray treatments, including the package for “Half-Blood Prince.”
The new two-disc treatment of “Half-Blood Prince” film comes with fancy packaging, collectible character cards and a hardcover picture booklet, along with the latest hourlong installment of the engrossing eight-part making-of documentary “Creating the World of Harry Potter.” While extensive, many of the bonus features, including the multilayered Maximum Movie Mode, behind-the-scenes featurettes, extended and deleted scenes and TV specials, are recycled from previous DVD and Blu-ray releases.
Unlike the “Ultimate Editions” of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Chamber of Secrets,” “Half-Blood Prince” unfortunately doesn’t include an extended cut of the movie.
— BAM
Video: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II” reveals “The Story of Snape”
The end is finally here.
With the theatrical opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II,” the eighth and final film in the blockbuster franchise based on J.K. Rowling’s wonderful books, upon us, Warner Bros. has released a new “The Story of Snape” featurette that addresses one of the biggest mysteries solved in Rowling’s final book (and presumably the last film): Is Professor Snape (deliciously played by Alan Rickman) a good guy or a bad guy?
- BAM
Twinprov invited to more national festivals, debuting “Dirty Harry Potter Rap”
Buck and Clint Vrazel of Twinprov channeling the Weasley twins of "Harry Potter" fame.
Oklahoma City-based comedy duo Twinprov, made up of twin brothers Buck and Clint Vrazel, continues to break onto the national stage with their 10th consecutive invitation to perform at an out-of-state improv festival this year.
In April, they became the first improv troupe from Oklahoma to perform at the prestigious Chicago Improv Festival. In June, Twinprov made its debut at the Colorado Improv Festival in Colorado Springs and The Twin Cities Improv Festival in Minneapolis.
Twinprov will be going back on the road in September, performing at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin and Kansas City Improv Festival before travelling nearly halfway around the world to headline Improvaganza! The Hawaii Festival of Improv. The Vrazels were invited, but unable to attend festivals in Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
In 2009 and 2010, Twinprov produced a string of popular movie-themed raps in conjunction with NewsOK and performed many of them live at advanced screenings and midnight premieres held at the Harkins Theaters Bricktown 16. Harkins Theaters engaged the Vrazels to create a sequel to their “Harry Potter Rap” which will have its world premiere at the Harkins Theaters Bricktown 16 at the midnight debut of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2″, the final entry in the groundbreaking film series. The new rap, titled “The Dirty Harry Potter” features original music by Twinprov collaborator Phil Dow, aka DJ Philonious Tao, currently working with the Vrazels on their first full-length album.
To help defer some of the travel costs associated with upcoming festival appearances, OKC Improv is hosting a fundraiser performance titled “Twinprov & Friends” at 8 p.m. Friday at Ghostlight Theatre Club, 3110 N Walker. Buck and Clint will be inviting some of their favorite improvisers to join them on stage, making a for a one-of-a-kind event featuring the state’s top improv talent.
There will be a raffle for a chance to win prizes including tickets to the fall run of OKC Improv, the chance to perform in a scene with the Vrazels, and improvised serenades and songs from Buck and Clint. Donations will be accepted throughout the night. Tax deductible donations can be made to Twinprov at any time via OKC Improv by following the instructions at www.okcimprov.com/p/donate.html.
Formed in 2009, Twinprov is a nationally-recognized one-of-a-kind comedy troupe made up of two-of-a-kind twin brothers Buck and Clint Vrazel that specializes in creating reality-altering improv, sketch, and musical comedy. The Vrazels have been performing and teaching improv for 11 years and are a driving force in the Oklahoma improv scene. They are co-artistic directors of OKC Improv, the state’s premiere professional improv showcase, where they currently teach classes and perform with numerous troupes.
As Twinprov, Buck and Clint have performed and taught at theaters and festivals around the country. As their rapper alter-egos The Doppelgangstas, they’ve played several concerts and opened for nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot. Their YouTube videos have garnered more than 165,000 views and their “New Moon Rap” was featured on “Last Call with Carson Daly.” They are the creators of the original musical long-form improv shows Rap-sody, String Theory and Dream Machine.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Twinprov to debut new “Harry Potter” rap at midnight Thursday
Oklahoma City-based comedy duo Twinprov, made up of twin brothers Buck and Clint Vrazel, will be debuting their brand new rap song, titled “Dirty Harry Potter,” this Thursday at the midnight screening of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ at the Harkins Theaters Bricktown 16.
In 2009 and 2010, Twinprov produced a string of popular movie-themed raps in conjunction with NewsOK and BAM’s Blog and performed many of them live at advanced screenings and midnight premieres. One of those songs, “The New Moon Rap” has more than 100,000 views on YouTube and was featured on “Last Call with Carson Daly.”
Harkins Theaters engaged the Vrazels to create their latest rap, a sequel to their 2009 “Harry Potter Rap,” posted above, to mark the midnight opening of the eighth and final film in the blockbuster film franchise. “Dirty Harry Potter” will feature original music by Twinprov collaborator Phil Dow, aka DJ Philonious Tao, currently working with the Vrazels on their first full-length album.
Also, Twinprov will also be staging a fundraiser performance called “Twinprov and Friends” on Friday to defer some of the trave costs associated with attending upcoming improv festivals in Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; and Honolulu, Hawaii. The performance is set for 8 p.m. Friday at Ghostlight Theatre Club, 3110 N Walker.
The Vrazels will be inviting some of their favorite improvisers to join them on stage, making a for a one-of-a-kind event featuring the state’s top improv talent. There will be a raffle for a chance to win prizes, including tickets to the fall run of OKC Improv, the chance to perform in a scene with the Vrazels, and improvised serenades and songs from Buck and Clint. Donations will be accepted throughout the night. Tax deductible donations can be made to Twinprov at any time via OKC Improv by following the instructions at www.okcimprov.com/p/donate.html.
The Vrazels also will be performing on Saturday night at the OKC Improv Summer Run Finale at Ghostlight Theatre Club with Alternate History and “Villain: The Musical” during the 8 p.m. show and with Locust Pocus and Sketchers in the Wry for the 10 p.m. show. Tickets are $10 each, $5 for improvisers and improv students. Admission is free if you’re celebrating your birthday with OKC Improv. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made via email at okcimprov@gmail.com or by phone at 405.343.1570. For more information go to www.okcimprov.com.
Formed in 2009, Twinprov is a nationally-recognized one-of-a-kind comedy troupe made up of two-of-a-kind twin brothers Buck and Clint Vrazel that specializes in creating reality-altering improv, sketch, and musical comedy. The Vrazels have been performing and teaching improv for 11 years and are a driving force in the Oklahoma improv scene. They are co-artistic directors of OKC Improv, the state’s premiere professional improv showcase, where they currently teach classes and perform with numerous troupes.
As Twinprov, Buck and Clint have performed and taught at theaters and festivals around the country. As their rapper alter-egos The Doppelgangstas, they’ve played several concerts and opened for nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot. Their YouTube videos have garnered more than 165,000 views. They are the creators of the original musical long-form improv shows Rap-sody, String Theory and Dream Machine.
-BAM
Science Museum Oklahoma preparing to host final Bright Night of Harry Potter
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ marks the end of the blockbuster film franchise based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, and Science Museum Oklahoma is getting ready to host its final event celebrating the series’ latest installment.
On Friday, the museum will host its last Bright Night of Harry Potter, an overnight event that includes a roundtrip ticket to the Cinemark Tinseltown theater to see the film.
“It’s time to say goodbye. It’s the end, finished, kaput! And we plan on going out with a bang,” said Drew Smith, Bright Night coordinator at Science Museum Oklahoma, in a news release. “So, come refresh your spells and herbology knowledge, enjoy Science Museum Oklahoma Butterbeer, test your Quidditch skills and practice dueling. We want to make sure you are ready to take on you-know-who by the time we get you to the film.”
The Bright Night of Harry Potter starts at 6 p.m. Friday and lasts until 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Activities will include wand making, Quidditch matches, wizard duels and more. The cost to participate is $45, with a $10 discount for museum members and active military, or $20 for adult chaperones who don’t want to participate in hands-on experiments. One adult is required for every six kids.
My husband and older son attended the Bright Night for “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and had a great time, so this event comes recommended by the BAM clan.
For more information, call 602-6664 or go to www.sciencemuseumok.org.
-BAM
Box office report for July 11, 2011: “Transformers 3″ tops the chart for second straight week
Michael Bays’ third bombastic outing with Shia LaBeouf and Hasbro’s “robots in disguise” continued to rule the box office for the second straight weekend.
According to IMDB, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” took in an additional $47 million over the weekend, raising its total to $261 million since its opening the week before Independence Day.
Two new films were in the second and third spots: The R-rated comedy “Horrible Bosses,” starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, was No. 2 with $28.1 million, while the family-friendly comedy “Zookeeper,” starring Kevin James, was No. 3 with $21 million.
“Transformers 3″ will undoubtedly have to yield the top spot to another sequel this weekend: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II,” the final film in the wildly successful franchise based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, opens at midnight Friday.
1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) $47M $261M
2 Horrible Bosses (2011) $28.1M $28.1M
3 Zookeeper (2011) $21M $21M
4 Cars 2 (2011) $15.2M $149M
5 Bad Teacher (2011) $9M $78.8M
6 Larry Crowne (2011) $6.26M $26.5M
7 Super 8 (2011) $4.83M $118M
8 Monte Carlo (2011) $3.8M $16.1M
9 Green Lantern (2011) $3.12M $110M
10 Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011) $2.85M $57.7M
-BAM
