In Theaters: *****Fantastic Beasts: Crimes 0f Grindelwald (2018)

*****Fantastic Beasts: Crimes 0f Grindelwald (2018)  This movie came out for Thanksgiving and I have viewed it three times.  I always love the Harry Potter movies.  Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) is really evil.  Not only is he evil, but he has a special magnetism wherein people like him.  Contrary to that is our team of two couples, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) and then Tina’s sister, Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) who would make a formidable team but they are all breaking up and at odds with each other.  However in this mess, Queenie is enticed by Grindelwald, and the promise of free love with non-magical people.  Two characters play part in this story from Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, a younger version (Jude Law) and Nicholas Flamel (Brontis Jodorowsky).  In fact it is Flamel who saves they day when the aurors, including Newt’s brother, get over their heads trying to confront Grindelwald.  I love every minute of this.  I even purchased the screen plan and read it again so I wouldn’t miss anything.  Great fun!

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This movie is delightful.  We are introduced to three new characters, all friends of the father of Harry Potter, Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), who is actually a werewolf, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), escaped from Azkaban Prison, and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), who was the fourth corner of the friendship.  Peter is actually Ron's rat for most of the movie.  While Sirius is blamed for betraying Harry's parents, it is actually Peter who did this.  There is actually a fourth character, Buckbeat, the Hippogriff.  Hagrid, who is now teaching magical creatures introduces the class to hippogriffs, who are wild and proud creatures.  Draco Malfoy runs afoul of the hippogriff, and is injured.  As a result the hippogriff is ordered to be set down.  This is the only Harry Potter movie directed by Alfonso Cuarón.  It may have been me, but it seemed the terrain was different than other harry Potter movies.  Hagrid's home was down quite a hill.  However the action is just as intense, and the plot twists are fun.  This movie also showed less of the Quidditch play than some of the others.  However harry gets his new broom at the end of the movie.
We are also presented Dementor's in this movie--faceless soul suckers who guard the Prison of Azkaban and are invited to guard the entrances to Hogwarts.  Sometimes they get out of bound, and harry keeps fainting when he is close to them.  However Lupin teaches him the Patronus spell, which he finally master by the end of the story.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne,   This is a new work from J.K. Rowling.  It is presented as a script for a play.  I would really like to see it performed.  Reading this scene to scene is very exciting.  It is one of those books you are compelled to keep going.  It is written in two parts with two acts in each part for a total of four acts.  Harry and Ginny’s youngest son, Albus Severus and Draco’s only son, Scorpius become fast friends at Hogwarts.  They are both in Slytherin House.  There is a rumor that Scorpius is the son of Voldemort.  He consequently has difficulty making friends.  But this story gets really interesting when the two boys decide to steal a time turner and go back in time to prevent the death of Cedric Diggory “the Spare.”  The are encouraged in this by Delphi, the nurse of Cedric's father who misses Cedric in his old age.  They find it is difficult to change the past, but more easy to screw things up.  They come back from two attempts to find the world entirely different.  In one universe Harry Potter died and Voldemort won.  This is a dark world.  In turning this seen right, they discover their accomplice is not who she says she is.  Turns out Delphi is in fact the daughter of Voldemort, whose goal is to change the past to make the present different.  Albus and Scorpius get sucked back in time with Delphi, to the time with Voldemort killed Harry's parents.  And she could have succeeded.  This book is about parenting, and being true to you friends.  It is family and friends that can help change the tide in the end.  In one of the alternate universes Harry Potter was a very bad father, driving his son away.  This story is terrific.  My only regret is that it had to come to an end.  I love these characters that Rowling created.

Picture Book: Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2017.
The movie of the same name, has an adventure in New York City in which Newt Scamander talks about the book he is working on.  This is the book.  The highlight here is the section on Dragons.  There is a picture and brief data about each of the types of dragons, ten in all.  There is a four-page fond out featuring the  Ukrainian Iron Belly.  Every page delights, from the introduction which tries to explain what is a beast.  Admittedly not all creatures in the books are beasts, but the Centaur chose not to be classified with intelligent beings.  This includes many creatures seen in the Harry Potter series, including the Troll, Merpeople and the Gnomes.  Ghosts are not included.  There are also animals featured in the Newt Scamander movie such as the Bowtruckle and Niffler.  I love the creativity and really enjoy the illustrations.  This book features 81 different creatures, not counting the dragons separately.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Book Review; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:Illustrated

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, By J.K. Rowling (original copyright 1999), illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2017.
I love the original Harry Potter story, and this is only enhanced by the beautiful illustrations.  Among other illustrations there is Severus Snape, a pack of Hippogriffs, and so much more.  We see the owls in their rookery, different students faxing the Bogart, and Harry's aunt blowing up like a balloon.  In this book we are introduced to Grindylows and werewolves.  There is also a good representation of Professor Trelawney.  we are also introduced to the Wizard's Bus and this appears in the cover illustration.
This story is again set at Hogwarts School of Magic.  This year Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban.  It is generally believed he is on his way to kill Harry Potter, consequently Dementors are allowed to be just outside the school, where they can examine all people coming into the school.  Problem with this is that harry Potter has a bad reaction to Dementors.  This reaction plagues Potter throughout this book.  Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher takes Harry under his wing to teach him a spell to chases the Dementors away.
This book has a terrific ending, when a much different result that that expected.  I recommend the book, and especially the illustrated version. 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Illustrated version)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York 2016.  (Originally published 1996.)
Combining the artwork with this fantastic book really brings the story to life.  Again we are given four or five portraits of important characters (Hagrid, Mrs. Weasley etc,)    also with important scenes such os Hogwarts in winter and Diagon Alley.  The pictures of Aragog and his spider  offspring is just creepy.  In this book the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts has been opened, which releases a basilisk, a snake like creature.  The basilisk has been wreaking havoc on the school, but caused no deaths.  I you look at it directly you die, but so far everyone has seen it through reflection rather than directly.  When the basilisk takes Jeannie Weasley captive, Ron and Harry follow, with Professor Lockhart, not so brave as he would have us believe, but he does know a good memory spell.
This story ends with the Phoenix bird coming to help Harry.  He brings the sword of Gryffindor.  On of the more fascinating illustrations is of the Phoenix.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated Version

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, New York, 2015, originial publication 1997.
For Christmas, Sheri purchased the first two illustrated versions of the Harry Potter series.  I quickly fell in love with these books again.  I read the originals, when they were first coming out.  Sometimes we had to buy several copies of the books so the kids and we parents wouldn't have to fight over them.  It was always a race to get them read.  The illustrated version add so much.
J.K. Rowling introduced us to a new world with "The Sorcerer's Stone."  An so many exciting characters, starting with Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and who lives in a closet.  And then Ron who becomes his friend, and Hermione, who starts out bossy, but mellows rather quickly; and so many characters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.  This book entertains, and delights, and they added pictures make it even more delightful.  I enjoyed the new read, as much as the old, and even more so with the pictures jumping out at you.  I especially like pictures of Hagrid.  I think he is my favorite character, with his oversized body and oversized heart, and always doing things to help others and animals. 

Movie review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts is the prequel to the Harry Potter.  It is produced and story from J.K. Rowling.  It features the author of one of Harry Potter's favorite books.  Newt (Eddie Redmayne) is a collector of fantastical beasts, which he keeps in his suitcase (magically expandable).  He has traveled to America to release a Thunderbird in Arizona.  However, first one, and then a few more of his beasts get away and cause problems.  Tina (Katherine Waterston) arrest him and takes him to the Ministry of Magic.  She is a disenfranchised Auror and is trying to get in the good graces of the ministry.  However they don't believe her and send her on her way.  Newt befriends Kowolski (Dan Fogler) who is a no-mag (normal person).  They also meet Tina's sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol) and the four make quite a group, and engage in capturing the creatures.  At the same time an obscurus loss in the city, causing great damage and in fact killing people.   This includes a senator.  The head of the Aurors (Colin Ferrel) is very interested in the obscurus, and maintains an investigation outside of the ministry.  Newt and Tina are blamed for the deaths perpetrated by the obscurus, and sentenced to immediate death.  Only with magical creatures, and Queenis's help are the able to escape.
There is plenty of action here, and the creatures are unique and interesting.  They seem to make this movie.  The antics of different creatures are very well done.  I really enjoyed this film.  by the time this film is over, they must erase the memories of the entire town, including Kowolski who is having a romantic relation with Queenie.  However some memories linger in his subconscious.

Movie Review: ****Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Here is another fantastic view of the Harry Potter world.  In this film we are introduced to Harry Potters ability to speak to a snake.  As a result, Harry wonders if he should have been in Slythirin House.  It also makes him a prime suspect when the Chamber of Secrets is opened; and children start disappearing.  The good thing about this is they are only frozen and not killed, because they see the Basilisk (giant snake) directly it would kill them, but reflected it only freezes them.  Even Hermione meets this fate.  We are also introduced to Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) in this episode, ton's younger sister, who is used by Draco's father to introduce the journal of Lord Voldemort.  When people start getting frozen, Hagrid is accused, because of his relationship with a giant spider, who in the end is not the cause.  Harry travels t the spider's lair to learn more, and barely escapes in a mystical car.
This film resolves when Harry confronts the beast in the Chamber.  When he is about to be killed, the Phoenix and the hat bring to Harry's aid the sword of Gryfindor.  Harry destroys the evil journal with a tooth from the Basilisk.
This movie also introduces us to house elves.  Doby shows up at Harry Potter's home, and does all he can to prevent Harry Potter from returning to school.  He is the house elf of the Draco family and knows of the plot to open the Chamber of Secrets.  Hermione takes it as her quest to free the house elves.

Movie Review: ****^Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

This is a great continuation of the Harry Potter story.  This year Dumbledore is back at Hogwarts, and they have the task to figure out how to kill Voldemort.  Part of this plan is totally unexpected.  Dumbledore, is intent on discovering how they can defeat Dumbledore.  To do this he must review the memories of Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) (prior potions teacher who has agreed to come back to teach) with regards to a conversation with Tom Riddle (Voldemort).  This conversation had to do with Horcruxes, and how you could put your soul into a physical object, and thereby assure your own immortality.  This could be done by murdering someone.  They discover that Voldemort did this several times, and thus there are many Horcruxes around, which must be destroyed.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince:

Draco Malfoy also received a special mission from Voldemort, and Snape is brought into this agreement with a spell he cannot brake, to assist Draco.  Dumbledore and Harry meet regularly to review memories of Voldemort in the pensieve.  Harry Potter does very well in school thanks to a book owned by "The Half Blood Prince" which he has found.  This gives keys to making potions and casting curses.  

Dumbledore and Harry visit a cave, where they feel they will find a Horcrux.  This experience leaves Dumbledore in a weakened state, he had to drink a poison to get to the Horcrux, but they do discover what they think is the Horcrux.  As they get back to Hogwarts, Draco has let death eaters into the school.  He faces Dumbledore, but is not able to kill him, but Snape does kill him.

The last scene is Harry chasing Snape.  He uses a curse from the book, and Snape says, don't use my own curses on me.

I enjoy all the Harry Potter movies.  This movie is no exception.  There is plenty of action.  The movies keep getting a bit darker as we go along, and the murder of Dumbledore was not expected.

Movie Review: ****^Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This movie is made perfect by the appearance of Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) who is the "teacher" of the dark arts.  Actually she is a plant of the ministry who is to keep an eye on Hogwarts, and make sure that news of Voldemort's return is considered to be nothing more than a lie.  Because they are not able to really learn at school, they set up a special class, Dumbledore's Army, and hold class in the room of requirements.  This organization mirrors the Order of the Phoenix, an organization among the adult wizard world which is set up to protect against Voldemort.  In the meantime Hagrid has been among the giants, and shares a half brother who he has brought back with him, and who is living in the wood.  This half brother is a full blood giant, and more wild.  When Umbridge breaks up the gang, and discovers their name, Dumbledore is forced out of the school, but instead of going quietly, he flies off with the help of his phoenix.  However the school is left unprotected, in Umbridge's care.  Voldemort uses an ability to invade Harry's mind, and lets him know that Sirius in danger (this is not true, but a vision put in Harry's brain by Voldemort.)  Umbridge intervenes before they are able to go to the rescue.  She is intent on breaking the group and incriminating Dumbledore.  For this reason Hermione is able to lead her on a wild goose chase, where the giant and the centaurs are able to take care of Umbridge.
The group takes off to the rescue, and find themselves in the ministry, where prophecies are kept.  Voldemort is intent on having the Harry Potter prophesy.  Harry is able to recover this, but as it is a trap, death eaters are waiting for them.  The Order of the Phoenix comes to the rescue, but in the struggle Sirius dies.  Also in the struggle Dumbledore battles Voldemort in the Ministry, and his existence can no longer be denied. 
This movie keeps up the tension of the series.  It is very well done.  It continues the fight of good against evil. 

Movie Review: ****^Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I am seen all the Harry Potter movies, but this is only the second review as I have just gotten done watching this again.  These are movies that you watch over and over.  "The Goblet of Fire" is the fourth in the series.  This is the movie were Voldemort comes back.  I liked this movie because I recognized The Doctor as (David Tennant) as Barty Crouch.  The new teacher for defense of the dark arts is Alastor Moody (Brendan Gleeson).  This is a dual role.  The plot is Voldemort wants to come back from being a glob in which he was left.  However the conditions must be just right.  He plants a spy in the Tri Wizard Cup games with the goal of getting Harry Potter to him, so he can set up those conditions.  Voldemort is evil, as are those who surround him.  Barty Crouch is just bad, and Voldemort has this snake that talks, it is just bad.  Harry has dreams of this evil plot, but doesn't figure out what is happening until it is too late.
Lots of action this version, and lots of relationship strife between our three leads, Harry, Hermione and Ron.   Too many top rank actors to list them all, but this show is a good time, and lead us to further adventures.

Movie Review: *****Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

First we loved the books, then the movies. This movie presents us with an imaginary world inside out regular world.  In this world there are sorcerers and sorceresses, and they live side by side regular folk without the regular folk knowing they are there. 

Harry(Daniel Radcliffe), although he has a destiny in this world, has been raised by his “regular” or “muggle” aunt and uncle.  They have not treated him kindly, spoiling their own boy while making harry live under the stairs.  Into this world is thrust a plethora of letters, inviting Harry to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.  His aunt and uncle try to keep him from this fate, even escaping to an island in the sea.  To this island comes Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), on his flying motorcycle.  I love the part where he knocks down the door and then says, “Sorry about that.”  One of my favorite lines from the movie.  Harry is on his way to the witchcraft school, and he learns he has a special place in the witch’s world. 

He is a first year, and put into the house of Gryffindor.  Two friends he met on the train are also placed in this house, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint).  The head of their house is Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith).  The headmaster of Slytherin House is Professor Snape (Alan Rickman).  Snape holds a bit of contempt for Harry, and Harry always misinterprets his intentions.  At school there is a mystery.  Someone let a troll into the house.  It was luck no one was killed.  However Hermione and the others determine someone is looking for the Sorcerer’s Stone, which will make someone immortal.  As they make this discovery, it falls on them to prevent the robbery of the stone.  They have to go through all the charms protecting the stone, following someone who has gone this way before them.  That someone turns out to be the professor of defense against the magical arts, Professor Quirrel (Ian Hart) who has been inhabited by the dark magician who must not be named.  The confrontation between Harry and Voldemort, he who must not be named, is classic.  It is a struggle between good and evil, and this movie is very tense to the end.  Richard Harris portray Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Book Review: The Tales of Beedle Bard

This is a series of short stories written by J.K. Rowling and would be consistent with the Hogwarts world Grimm Fairy Tales.  Their are five stories included, with commentary from Albus Dumbledore.  He credits Hermione Granger with translating the stories.  It is published in 2008 by Mixed Sources.
I really enjoyed the first story, "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot."  This is about the son of a wizard, who is stingy with his services to his non magical neighbors, unlike his father who tried to help everyone.  The pot forces the son to be empathetic, and teaches him a good lesson.
"The Fountain of Fair Fortune" presents three witches and a knight who seek the fountain.  In the end the all leave their troubles behind in the struggle to get to the fountain.  It seems perhaps the fountain was not magical at all.
Both of these two stories are interesting as Dumbledore points out, in that they have interaction between magical and nonmagical people.
I did not care for "The Warlock's Hairy Heart."  Too bloody for my taste.  Dumbledore points out that it is difficult to manipulate love, and in this case the warlock had hidden his heart away to avoid love.
"Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump" is entertaining.   It is very similar to "The Emperor's New Clothes."  The king is determined to learn magic, and forbids and hunts down all other magical beings.  He is taken in by a con artist, and doesn't learn any magic.  The Babbity Rabbit, an animagus escapes the emperor and the conman by transforming into a rabbit.  Albus points out this story teaches that death cannot be conquered with magic.
The last story, "The Three Brothers" we already know from the last Harry Potter.  The three brothers defeat death, and are given a wand, a magic stone to defeat death, and an invisibility cloak.  The first two brothers are captured by death all the same.  A wizard kills the first brother in his sleep to steal the wand.  The second brother brings his love back to life, but finds she is not really among the living, but only a half life.  He suicides to really join her.  The youngest brother, uses the cloak to hide from death, and then when he is of good age gives the cloak to his son, and meets death willingly.
Of course a point to the story in the last Harry Potter is if this legend is true, and if these items actually exist, so as to defeat death.  I enjoyed this book and it was a fast read.

Movie Reviews: ****^Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 2

I think everyone has seen Harry Potter.  I saw it in 3-D in Logan while we were there.  Sheri had already seen the movie, but said she preferred the extra dimension.

The story was intense, as it was suppose to be, and the battle was entertaining.  I have only a couple minor complaints.  I wish they could have focused more on the battle, and a little less on Harry.  Of course I guess the story was Harry.  My only other complaint, is the epilogue left me hollow somehow.  I think I would have liked to have seen more characters like Melville and Luna.  Other than the three, the only character I recognized was Draco.
With this movie, the series is now complete, and our heroes have finished Hogwarts.  Harry Potter has been a joy for our family throughout.  I remember bringing home four or five copies at a time when a new book came out.  Nobody wanted to wait.  I also remember Thanksgiving weekends seeing the movie when it came out, one in San Diego with cousins.  It has been a fun ride.

Movie Review: ****^Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I

What is not to like about a Harry Potter movie.  The only thing keeping me fro giving this movie the full four stars is the  movie deals too much with the visions of Ron Weasley.  This had to do with the horcrux they were carrying.  It is part of the plot but it could have been doe in a less compromising way.

The snake was extremely scary, and I jumped out of my seat.  This was very well done.

The presentation of the Lovegood residence was very good, and the explanation of the Deathly Hallows.

This movie ended very sad.   It divides the book into two parts.  There was someone in the back of the theater crying uncontrollably.  Her friends were telling her to shut-up.  I had tears in my eyes.  I don't blame her for being emotional.