Harry Potter = Harry Puffer?

Okay, I'm getting off topic again. I should seriously change this blog to Disney/Harry Potter or something...

Anyway, yet another child star has fallen into the evil temptations and pitfalls known as SMOKING. And that person is our own Harry Potter, boy wizard, the Chosen One, defeater of He Who Must Not Be Named....... also known as Daniel Radcliffe.

Supposedly, our own Harry has gotten addicted to ciggies, lighting up on the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince constantly. It's reported that Dan goes through about twenty cigarettes a day, and that his co-stars, including Rupert Grint, are frustrated about his nasty habit and are begging him to stop. Producers are also trying to persuade Dan to quit - or if anything, not smoke in public - so that the Harry Potter franchise won't get tarnished.

Yeah I know - at least he's not doing drugs (well, as far as we know). In fact, there really isn't even any proof that Dan is going through 20 cigs a day, nor is there any proof that Rupert and crew are begging him to stop. But I still believe it. It seems pretty legit, considering that pictures of Dan smoking DO exist...

The only thing I kind of don't buy about the "co-stars being outraged" part is the fact that I've seen pictures of Seamus Finnigan and Ginny Weasley with ciggies, which also sucks a lot that they smoke but doesn't account for why exactly they'd be outraged that Dan would. Unless it's solely Rupert we're talking about here.

But WHY would anyone smoke to begin with - whoever it is? Smoking is DISGUSTING!! Seriously, smoking is probably one of the filthiest habits known to mankind. I don't understand why someone would want to voluntary suck on a lighted stick full of nicotine, tobacco, and other crap that first of all smells awful and second of all is known to cause serious health problems. It always makes me sad when I see someone I know lighting up - whether I know them personally or if they're celebrities.

However, there's a few things that have seriously cracked me up about this. First of all, I'm laughing about the nickname (Harry Puffer? HAHA. I'm trying to figure out who gave him this nickname in the first place. Please tell me Neville Longbottom did.) Second of all, I'm amused and slightly bewildered by the fact that allegedly, the Harry Potter producers are riled up about this and NOT about the fact that Dan Radcliffe has spent two seasons on a stage butt naked, where he played a boy who has sexual fantasies about horses. Say WHAT? If that didn't already tarnish the Harry Potter franchise, I don't know what did...

Seventh HP Films Divided Into Two Parts!

So, this has absolutely NOTHING to do with Disney, but I'm equally a fan of Harry Potter and just wanted to mention this in the blog.

It was just announced yesterday that Warner Brothers is going to split up the seventh movie into two parts! YAY!!!! Honestly, you have no idea how happy this makes me. I LOVE the books like you won't believe, but I have NOT been a fan of the movies because to me, they make it seem blaringly obvious that they're trying to make huge profits while spending the least amount of money possible.

The movies just get created as fast as they possibly can, and beloved scenes and dialogues get scrapped mercilessly along the way. The last three movies have made me extremely disappointed leaving the theatre's midnight showing. The first two were great because they stayed true to the book. The fourth and fifth ones were, eh, alright... nothing like the greatness of the books, but acceptable. The third one... don't even get me started. Worst movie adaptation I have EVER seen in my life... but I've argued about it so much that I've gotten sick of talking about it. As of now, I pretend that the movie doesn't even exist.

Most of the problems dealt with precious scenes being either cut down or cut out because of time limits. Because the last one is going to be in two different parts, much of the emotion lost from the previous films should make their way back, and all I can say is I can't wait.

Too bad they're splitting it up seven months apart. The first will come out in November 2010, and the second will come out May 2011. Why can't they just release the whole thing at one time? That's the only problem I have with this situation. I wouldn't mind waiting until May 2011 for both parts at one time. They could put up an intermission like with Gone With The Wind, or something like that. But whatever... I'm happy they've decided this in the first place... I expected much less of Warner Brothers, I must admit.

Honestly though... in the past two-part movies have always been, to me, very enjoyable as long as they're well made. Take Gone With the Wind and the TV miniseries Anne of Green Gables. Both are long movies, but both were well-made and movies that people would want to sit through to watch. I know I will sit through both and love every minute of both of them. Harry Potter is one of those movies that if well made, people wouldn't complain about the length. I always hear arguments that people would get bored from overly long films. Well, if the movie is one of those Will Ferrell comedies or whatever, sure. Not Harry Potter. Good grief!

So long story short... yay for a Harry Potter two-parter! =D