Short AttentionSpan Updates

[norwich36]

So what should I absolutely, completely, and totally watch from Comic Con, given that (a) I have a really short attention span for online clips--about 3 minutes and I will stop watching, no matter how interesting it is, and (b) I have to watch at work after hours, which is another reason short is good, and (c) I've already seen the hilarious Ausiello interview with Lucy Lawless .

I went and saw Half-Blood Prince again this weekend, and enjoyed it rather more than the folks I went with, partially because I am far from a canon purist. (Half the time I can't remember what is canon and what is fanon in that fandom, anyway).

I agree with the people who think Tom Felton stole the movie. I never felt much sympathy for Draco in the actual book, but considering how little actual dialogue he had, I though TF did an amazing job portraying Draco's inner conflict, and I cared about the character for the first time in any of the movies. (I'm not a huge Draco fan overall, though I have certainly read my share of entertaining Harry/Draco fic in my time).

I also thought the movie made Slughorn a far more interesting and sympathetic character than he seemed in the book. That didn't bother me at all; considering how much of the film was Harry-Slughorn interactions, I would have been bored if he had remained as unctuous and annoying as he was in the book. Which is not to say that I liked him, but of course you're not supposed to like him.

Hero Fiennes-Tiffin was an absolutely brilliant piece of casting for Tom Riddle. Not only does he have exactly the same eyes as his uncle (which, let's face it, is one of the few recognizable things about Voldemort's face), but he pulled off the creepy entitled kid vibe fantastically well.

The people I went to see the film with weren't impressed with Ginny, but I actually felt that Ginny in the films makes me root for Harry/Ginny a hundred times more than the Ginny in the books. And again, I think a lot of that is just the acting, because it's not like they gave her character a lot to do.



I've also been watching Merlin. Or, well, half-watching, much of the time with the sound muted. I really dislike Uther, which of course you're supposed to, but since that's cutting into my Anthony Head love I think I can never really get into this show, despite my total adoration of Gwen and Morgana. And I guess I've seen enough now to read fic--in fact, I spent a good part of this weekend doing just that, so if anyone has good Merlin fic recs, let me know. (Mostly I read entirely through astolat's stuff and then everything on the first 5 pages of a delicious search).

So that's the state of fannish me. I will probably have a couple more spn bigbang recs before the end of this week, but nothing has been stellar enough lately to rec on its own, so I am waiting for certain themes to reach critical mass first.

Comments

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I agree with the people who think Tom Felton stole the movie.

He did and I was so thrilled.

Hero Fiennes-Tiffin was an absolutely brilliant piece of casting for Tom Riddle. Not only does he have exactly the same eyes as his uncle (which, let's face it, is one of the few recognizable things about Voldemort's face), but he pulled off the creepy entitled kid vibe fantastically well.

I had no idea about the casting! I definitely agree that it really worked.

The people I went to see the film with weren't impressed with Ginny, but I actually felt that Ginny in the films makes me root for Harry/Ginny a hundred times more than the Ginny in the books. And again, I think a lot of that is just the acting, because it's not like they gave her character a lot to do.

I agree with both of these opinions -- Ginny isn't very impressive in the movies, but she's tons better than she was in the books. By this time in the book universe, I hated Ginny, whereas I feel a sort of bland appreciation for the movie!Ginny, and the same goes for the H/G relationship.

[revenantrose.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with all of your comments on the new HP movie. Especially about Ginny; I can barely tolerate her in the books, and I generally block out all the Harry/Ginny stuff. But this is the first time I liked her, and I actually felt the H/G was very underplayed.

What sold me was the part where she's running through the field after Harry, like she'd follow him into Hell if that's where he was set to run off to. I know that's what they were going for, but what can I say, it worked. :)

I also thought the movie made Slughorn a far more interesting and sympathetic character than he seemed in the book.

Exactly. I think casting Jim Broadbent had a lot to do with it; his big round bewildered eyes always make me sympathize with his characters, no matter how unlikeable they might be.

[annaalamode.livejournal.com]

I am still puzzled by Ginny/Harry in the books. The movies do make it a little better, even if I don't think it is "well" done.

[miss-saigon.livejournal.com]

If you haven't read any of seperis' Merlin fic yet, I highly rec all of it. I also love franticsga's Merlin air force AU Be Resigned (http://franticsga.livejournal.com/tag/be+resigned) I know it sounds kind of weird but it is really excellent and my favorite comfort read in this fandom is syllic's Three Tasks (http://syllic.livejournal.com/tag/three+tasks) which takes a little while to get going but is absolutely marvelous in the end.

[mskatej.livejournal.com]

I wrote an extremely filthy (and wrong) Merlin/Arthur fic if you're in the mood for some Merlin porn?

No Magic Necessary (http://mskatej.livejournal.com/287983.html?style=mine)

[duskwillow.livejournal.com]

So glad you got into Merlin. :)

I've been bookmarking fic I liked since the show started (except for the last month and a half), so I have some +200 fics bookmarked here (http://delicious.com/duskwillow/merlin). I'd suggest checking out those with +100 bookmarks, and going by the summary with what sounds good to you. Because Merlin fandom is quite full of crack, so there really is all sorts of fic out there. Hee.
seperis wrote some brilliant stuff, so I'd start there. &hearts
Personally, I'm a big fan of Merlin AUs, so if that's your thing I have few best ones bookmarked here (http://delicious.com/duskwillow/merlin+au). Drastically Redefining Protocol and We're A Storm In Somebody Else's Teacup would be my favourites.

[xgirl2222.livejournal.com]

I really don't have and OTP for Harry in the books, for me anyone but Ginny (or Dumbledore *shudders*) will do. The Harry/Ginny relationship is one of the few things I have an issue with in the books. I mean she's a borderline stalker chick, who barely has any dialogue or interaction with Harry in books 1 and 2 (being saved by Harry in the chamber of secrets doesn't count sinces she's passed out for most of that scene). Is practically missing in books 3, 4, and most of 5. And is suddenly the love of Harry's life in books 6 and 7, which doesn't make sense. The movies do portray their relationship a bit better, but the Harry/Ginny is overshadowed by the chemistry between Harry/Herimone.

Seriously, if you show people clips of Harry/Herimione without them knowing anything about the books, you would assume those two are the ones that are going to hook up. Which kinda bums me out. I like Ron/Hermione in the books. But for movieverse Potter I'm all about Harry/Hermione and of course Draco/Harry.

Speaking of Draco, I have to agree that TF stole the show. I felt for him in the books, but I ached for him in the movies. And that's due entirely to the actor. I enjoyed the movie and I'm ok with most of changes (except for the one they made with Harry in the Dumbledore death scene). I really looking forward to the final two.