I went to watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night, and I was seriously excited, I had even booked the tickets in advance to have the best possible seats. But I have to say, I was really disappointed. Not in the seats- they were indeed great, but in at least half on the movie itself.  I know a 600-pages book is hard to fit in a movie, even if 3 hours long, but I really feel like they've left stuff out and dealt badly with other stuff they decided to keep.

First of all, we see Harry at a diner in a train station, thinking of hitting on the waitress. What the hell?? Harry is always described as really shy when it comes to girls, he did a mess with Cho, and the only time he got the guts to express his feelings was when he kissed Ginny. And then he sees Dumbledore at the station, he's come to pick him up without any warning, as if Harry were a postal package. And anyone who's read the books knows how Dumbledore's always been very careful that Harry was informed on what was going to happen. In the movie, after they go to Slughorn Dumbledore casually mentions he's not going back to the Dursleys but at the Burrow. Gah. Plus I honestly think in the time they showed them at the station they could have fitted a nice short scene with the Dursleys, it'd have been hilarious, in the book it's a great scene. 
Then Harry gets at the Burrow, and of course no one knows he's coming, Ginny just casually sees Hedwig and figures out he's there. Because of course that's how Dumbledore would do it, especially in a time of war as the one book 6 is set. Just drop casually Harry over there. And they don't even mention the profecy!!! Book 5 ended with Harry listening to it but not sharing it with Ron and Hermione, and in book 6 Dumbledore tells him to share its contents with them. They don't mention it once. Like Sirius' death as well. He's dead and that's it, Harry doesn't even remember Sirius. Wtf???
And the Diagon Alley scene- the Weasleys Wizard Wheezes scene was great I have to say- of course Harry, Ron and Hermione are wandering around randomly alone. Because that's exactly how it's done in warfare, sure. No Invisibility Cloak or anything. Plus, they got it all wrong with Malfoy!!! In the book he goes to Borgins & Burkes alone, ditching his mom somehow. Instead in the movie it was not only Draco and Mommy, but all the death eaters, and it looked like they were giving him the Dark Mark or something. And that's just plain wrong, I hated it.

Even the scene on the Hogwarts Express bothered me, Harry used the powder to get darkness, but I didn't like it. Just like I didn't like Luna finding him, I know she's a nice, funny character but I love Tonks so much and I really missed her. 

The thing that really bothered me, like, a lot, was the way they handled Dumbledore's lessons to Harry and the way Harry behaved with Slughorn. In the book it's so funny to see Harry avoiding Slug's dinners with any excuse, he even schedies Quidditch practice on the exact same nights. In the movie, instead, Harry is sucking Slug up so muchI was afraid he'd become a cristallized pineapple himself.  That's not like Harry at all. And my friends who hadn't read the book were all like "Wow, Harry's become an insufferable brown-nosing guy, I hate him" and that drove me mad 'cos that's the exact opposite. 
And when Dumbledore was showing Harry the memories, he tells Harry everything. While in the book he wants Harry to understand it on his own, doesn't give away the solution like that. I know it's because of time issues but I didn't like it.
And then, suddenly, the Burrow is on fire. Sure, 'cos Bella would do that exactly, piss Voldemort off by wandering around destroying everything, with the risk of being caught. Plus, why?? Why destroy the Burrow, when it wasn't in the book? There's already enough violence and injured and dead people as it is, no need to add it just because it's spectacular. In the time they showed that useless scene, with Harry running around randomly, they could have shown another memory, they showed just 2 of them all and didn't even explain everything. They didn't say the Horcruxes were important objects to Voldemort, even at the end, when Harry got the fake one, they didn't explain what it was supposed to be, the story of the 4 foundators of Hogwarts. Gah. 
I have to say, I really liked the scene of Harry and Dumbledore in the cave, it was spectacular and scary just like I imagined it to be. Of course they didn't explain what Inferi were, but they were really scary to me so that's ok. 

I read around about Harry/Ginny fans being upset with this movie, and now I understand why. I've never been a supporter but I really feel they've been treated badly. The kiss was... normal. It wasn't in the moment of triumph after winning the Quidditch Cup, it wasn't Harry kissing her, but they were randomly in the Room of Necessities and she kissed him. Which is exactly the opposite of what the kiss is about, in the book it feels like Harry has finally grown, after Cho's disaster and he's ready to take a step forward. Instead he stayed there with his eyes closed, like a schoolboy, and she kissed him. And then they randomly mention it later when Hermione says "As long as you don't snog in public, Ron's cool with that". Just like that. Even the moment when Hermione was crying because of Ron and Lavender, there was something that bothered me: she and Harry were discussing their relationships openly, she asked him how he felt about Ginny, openly admitting she liked Ron. Which is something that in truth happens at the end of book 7.

One think I liked was Dumbledore's death. It was well done, scary and moving, and I loved Draco's troubles and his pain. But at the end, when Snape tells him he's the Half Blood Prince, there are no explanations. Just, I am that. Period. No explanations on why half-blood, or even a mention to the fact that Prince was his mom's last name. 

And then, why, WHY do you have to show Draco's attempts with the vanishing cabinet 10 minutes after the beginning of the movie?? And why should Mr Weasley suspect of a Vanishing Cabinet? If he did suspect it, wouldn't he say it to Dulbledore at once? Come on, that's totally out of the blue.
 

So, once again, the movie was great as in special effects and in the mood it sets, and I really like the actors, especially Emma Watson, I think she's a great Hermione (the Potions scene with her hair bushier at every scene was hilarious). And I understand that this is a movie adaptation of a book, it doesn't have to be exactly the same. 
But I really feel like they haven't done justice to the movie and left out too many important moments, to focus on other stuff but with a wrong angle. I'm sorry to say this because I really love the saga but I'm not happy with what I've seen.

...enough said.

Jan 20th 2009, Barack Obama is the new President of the United States. Good luck to you. May your and our hopes and dreams be fulfilled together.

I almost find it hard to believe it yet. Obama won. He really did. He is the 44th President of the United States.

This is not just "good news". This is history. Yesterday, Nov.4th, will be in history books. Forever. We are really living history.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

...and history books should report also the way he thanked his wife Michelle:

"And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama."

Obama IS the American dream.

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

Not because he is black, at least not only because of that. He represents the dream of anyone who works hard to reach their dreams, and refuses to subject to the world's thinking.

"I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements."

He was able to wake young people's conscience: there was never so much support and participation to a candidate's campaign in the history of the United States. Not even JFK got so much before becoming President.

"It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep."

Obama knows us. And by us I mean the young. He knows there is so much love, passion, emotions, committment, strenght, and most of all, so much hope, in our generation. Instead of telling us what to do, without even bothering to know us, instead of thinking we're all the same, he came to us. He used our means of communication, he reached out to us. And we all responded. The myth of our generation's apathy has been defeated. At last. And, I hope, for good.
 

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.  I promise you, we as a people will get there. There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.
And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

...can't you see what he is saying? We will get there. It won't be easy and it won't be immediate, and lots of work will be needed, but we will get there. And he will be honest, and mostly, he WILL LISTEN to us. And I really have the feeling he will. Because that's what he's good at- listening to people, being a people's man. This is the key to his victory, this is why so many people, from so many different backgrounds, races, social status wanted him to be their President.

"To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

Democracy, liberty, opportunity, hope: isn't this the American dream? Isn't this what thousands- millions- of people looked for, migrating to the US? Unyielding hope. Opportunity. How long has it been since a political leader used such words in such a way? And people need to hear stuff like that. They always need it, but mostly in a moment of crisis as hard as the one we're living right now. And they're not just words- 'cos inspired, hopeful, optimist people are more willing to work harder for what they believe in. That's a fact. And you can bet they will. They'll work their asses off to get a better country for themselves and their kids. Because what they voted- what they want- is not Obama's America. It's their America. The one they've dreamt of all their lives.

"That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."

Yes We Can. We can believe in Barack Obama, thus we can believe in ourselves. We can rise our heads and we can really make this world a better place. Not because we say that- but because he is the perfect example of how hard work, humility, hope, and ability to look ahead- they all pay off, in the end.
He is the President of all those who refuse to adjust to the way of the world and still want to believe that justice, honesty, respect and committment will be rewarded. And therefore, he is my President, too.

As Obama says, We're the ones we've been waiting for. Now let's prove it to the world. And I've never felt more American than today.
 

OMG. Bill Lawrence just posted on FF. And he PMed me!!!! *thud*

I mean ok ok, I know it could also be someone else, but he used the same nickname he had on the NBC forum and mentioned the fact that I was the one who gave him the link to the forum... and that's true!!
So... OMG. 

Bill Lawrence just posted on fanforum.