Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie)

Ahhh, yes. Harry Potter. Unless you have lived under a rock this year, you would know that it is a good year for Harry ... and JK Rowling ... and Warner Brothers. Earlier this year, the 6th book of Ms. Rowling's series made its record breaking debut. And now, this past weekend, the 4th movie was released.

Apparently, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire made a somewhat decent premiere. Selling a mere $102million in tickets. Of course, 10 of those dollars once belonged to me. The movie was directed by some guy named Mike Newell, the Brit to direct a Potter flick. Presumably, according to other critics, he brought some British sensibility to the movie. Sure ... but really how would I know.

What I do know is that he directed a wonderfully dark and thrilling (albeit too short for a Potter Purist) movie. So let's get that part out of the way. The tome was a monster at 740 pages. It would have been impossible to cram all of that in a two and half hour movie. So why not two? I think Potter fans would have waited, but there apparently was no natural breaking point in the movie. Plus, Newell learned from one Mr. Alfonso Cuaron that an adaptation did not have to be exact while staying true to the story.

I do wish I could have seen Dobby, the Durselys, S.P.E.W. (and if you don't know what that is, you should really read the books!), more of Rita Skeeter, the Giant Squid, Peeves(who hasn't appeared in a movie yet!) and then some. But that story that was shown on screen was the essence (and really the whole point) of the book.

While a bit choppy at times, Newell keeps up a nice pace that's never dull. The movie becomes especially entertaining around that time of the Yule Ball when our Hero and his pals attempt to conquer the horrible world of dating. The movie's grand finale, the rebirth of Voldemort is quite wonderful and almost exactly how I pictured it when I read the book.

The kids in the movie keep becoming better actors and it is always fun to see the best of Britain's thespians conquer the magical world. All in all, this is indeed the best Potter flick to date. The biggest problem is now we have to wait another couple of years for the next movie and perhaps even the final book. Sigh.

Last Words: Magical (duh), I recommend it, I want to see it at an Imax theater.

Three Wishes

Darn NBC for purposely messing with our emotions!

Three wishes is a reality program that, believe it or not, actually features real people. Basically, Host Amy Grant and her homies roll in to Small Town, USA and set up a "wish tent". There, the townsfolk make wishes. Perhaps not surprisingly, the show then grants (haha, grants ... get it? Amy Grant) three of those wishes. Of course the most compelling tear jerking stories are chosen.

Take the teenage boy who wanted his step-dad to adopt him. Or the little girl who was in a horrible accident and needed expensive and risky surgery to get back to a normal life. How about the woman who just found she was adopted and wanted to find her real mom. And most recently, the teacher and mom who lost her hearing and could no longer hear her students sing or her son cry for help.

Each episode is ended with a concert / cry fest where the last wish is granted. Amy Grant makes for a great host. She's got that small town gal feel about her and seems genuinely interested in helping out the small town folks. (Unlike Ty Penington, for example, who just sometimes is way to annoying to be sincere).

And in the end, how can you complain about a show that actually does a bit of good? So our emotions are exploited a bit in the process. Big whoop.

Last Words: Watch it, I recommend it, it is a feel good show