Unwinnable

I can’t even remember the first time I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or even the first time I read its sequel, Chamber of Secrets. My copy must have been in the initial printing, though, because there’s an extra “r” in the word “Professor” on the bottom of page 283. I do remember getting the third Harry Potter book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, for Christmas in third grade and reading it by the fireplace that evening.

Two years later, my fifth grade teacher caught me “covertly” reading the fourth book under my desk in class. Let me say that again – I was trying to hide a 734-page hardcover beneath a kiddie desk. Luckily, my teacher thought it was hysterical. My Hogwarts letter didn’t come that summer, but I didn’t lose faith, and the fifth book was my favorite hidey-hole during the emotional roller coaster of middle school. (more…)

I finished the third episode of The Walking Dead with a slightly disturbing sensation: a real affection for the characters in the game, including the protagonist, Lee and especially his near-surrogate daughter, Clementine. The others were pretty close to my heart too, a varied and fleshed-out crew of randoms who became a part of this group out of necessity. As horrific things happen to each one of them, I watch with genuine empathy, and I worry for them. But these are videogame people.
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If there were two things that the Harry Potter franchise seemed to lack, it was more information for its insatiable fans and a unique experience in the world of wizards. (more…)

It is a gray and rainy morning in New York City.  While the weather begs me to channel Broadway Danny Rose and head straight for the Carnegie Deli, I instead make my way to the Discovery Times Square Exhibition Space. Abandoning upper-middle class neurosis for magic, and shedding my signature fedora, necktie and vintage men’s clothing (“La-di-da, La-di-da, la-la”) for my house robes, I hurry to catch the train that I know is waiting; the train that is headed for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I was lucky to attend the sneak preview of the new Discovery Times Square Harry Potter: The Exhibition last Friday. The show is comprised of props, costumes and set pieces featured in the Harry Potter films.  There are many things I find charming about the films. The first two films absolutely brought the books to life (while staying true to the plot, thank you Chris Columbus) and the subsequent films (while dropping the ball on the plot in many ways) did offer cool visual movie moments and many fun and exciting effects. So, while I may grumble, admittedly loudly, at each recent installment, I am still dutifully there at the midnight release, and as such had to be there on opening preview day for this show. After all, this very clearly fell into the “cool visuals” and “fun and exciting effects” category.  (more…)