Our Finnick is a Jolly Sailor Bold, and More Catching Fire Casting News

As of today, it’s one month until The Hunger Games DVD is released, so we’ll be revisiting some of our favorite topics about the Girl on Fire and the Boy with the Bread, but as filming for Catching Fire approaches, all the talk is about Victors of previous Games. Now in place, a firey Johanna, an award-winning Wiress and Plutarch, and a dream”boat” Finnick. Join me after the jump for some thoughts on why these choices may actually bode very well for the Quarter Quell next year. [Read more…]

Just The Spells – and Nothing But the Spells!

I read somewhere that the worst film editing job was a Thai theatre owner’s attempt to cut The Sound of Music down from more than three hours to half an hour. Solution? Cut out all the music, of course!

A Latin Lover (think ‘Virgil,’ not ‘Valentino’) decided to do much the same with the Potter movies: what would the movies be like if they were only the spells? The answer to that question is provided below for your viewing pleasure. Hat tip, James!

The Man in Black: Alan Rickman Interview and Oscar Prospects

Back in December, John Granger and I had the opportunity to chat on Middle Earth Network Radio with delightful host Dave Kale on the subject of the DVD extras offered with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Though we really enjoyed (and discussed at great length) the segment on both female characters and the actresses who portray them, I bemoaned the lack of a really wonderful documentary sequence featuring Alan Rickman, as I have been delighted, amazed, and ultimately deeply moved by his riveting performance as the prickly and profoundly complex Potions master. This article from The LA Times, does something to alleviate that gap, including some nice thoughts on Rickman’s decade of playing one of the most misunderstood guys in black since Johnny Cash and even ponders Rickman’s Oscar prospects.
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Pubcast tonight on Middle Earth Radio Network

Join Dave Kale, George Naylor, and yours truly for a live pubcast as we look back over at the Harry Potter events of 2011!

Join us for a live Pundit Podcast!

Tonight, join Elizabeth Baird Hardy and John Granger, along with Dave Kale, as we discuss the new Deathly Hallows part 2 DVD with extra features in a live podcast on Middle Earth Radio!