In a new interview Steven Spielberg talked about his decision to pass on Harry Potter back in the late 1990s/early 2000s.
I’ve had chance to make a lot of movies that went on to be big hits with other directors and other studios, because I can’t do everything. I was offered Harry Potter. I developed it for about five or six months with [Potter screenwriter] Steve Kloves, and then I dropped out. I just felt that I wasn’t ready to make an all-kids movie and my kids thought I was crazy. And the books were by that time popular, so when I dropped out, I knew it was going to be a phenomenon. But, you know I don’t make movies because they’re gonna to be phenomenons. I make movies because they have to touch me in a way that really commits me to a year, two years, three years of work.
As I posted back in October, a new version of ITV’s 50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments aired this past weekend and the new list is now online and may be read below! Since there are new moments other moments have changed places or even been removed. Click here to see the original 50 Greatest Moments from July.
50. The First Meeting Between the Trio on the Train – Philosopher’s Stone
49. The First Glimpse of the Ministry of Magic – Order of the Phoenix
48. Ron’s Howler – Chamber of Secrets
47. The Mirror of Erised – Philosopher’s Stone
46. Dancing in the Tent – Deathly Hallows Part 1
45. Dobby’s Arrival – Chamber of Secrets
44. Dementor’s on the Train – Prisoner of Azkaban
43. Harry and Ron in the Flying Ford Anglia – Chamber of Secrets
42. Neville Defends Hogwarts on the Bridge – Deathly Hallows Part 2
41. Sirius Black and Harry – Prisoner of Azkaban
40. Harry and Ron’s Dispute – Deathly Hallows Part 1
39. Pesky Pixie’s of the Cornish Variety – Chamber of Secrets
38. Lupin Turns into a Werewolf – Prisoner of Azkaban
37. Harry and Cho’s First Kiss – Order of the Phoenix
36. Harry’s Left at Privet Drive – Philosopher’s Stone
35. The Yule Ball – Goblet of Fire
34. Aunt Marge’s Comeuppance – Prisoner of Azkaban
33. Owls Deliver Harry’s Hogwarts Letters – Philosopher’s Stone
32. Harry Returns with Cedric’s Dead Body – Goblet of Fire
31. Dolores Umbridge Punishes Harry – Order of the Phoenix
30. Snape vs. McGonagall – Deathly Hallows Part 2
29. Dumbledore Drinks the Potion in the Cave – Half-Blood Prince
28. Fred and George’s Firework Display – Order of the Phoenix
27. The Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake – Goblet of Fire
26. Harry Summons His Patronus to Save Sirius – Prisoner of Azkaban
25. The Chess Room – Philosopher’s Stone
24. Harry Gets His Wand – Philosopher’s Stone
23. Dementors in the Underpass – Order of the Phoenix
22. Ron Takes the Love Potion – Half-Blood Prince
21. Sirius Black is Murdered – Order of the Phoenix
20. Ron Returns and Destroys the Horcrux – Deathly Hallows Part 1
19. Lord Volemort is Reborn – Goblet of Fire
18. The Arrival of Beauxbatons – Goblet of Fire
17. Bathilda Bagshot/Nagini – Deathly Hallows Part 1
16. The Sorting Ceremony – Philosopher’s Stone
15. Buckbeak the Hippogriff – Prisoner of Azkaban
14. Molly Weasley Kills Bellatrix – Deathly Hallows Part 2
13. Harry vs. Voldemort: The First Battle – Goblet of Fire
12. Hagrid Arrives to Rescue Harry – Philosopher’s Stone
11. Harry’s First Quidditch Match – Philosopher’s Stone
10. Platform 9 ¾ – Philosopher’s Stone
09. Dobby’s Death – Deathly Hallows Part 1
08. Hermione Hits Draco – Prisoner of Azkaban
07. Harry’s First Visit to Diagon Alley – Philosopher’s Stone
06. Voldemort vs. Dumbledore – Order of the Phoenix
05. The Death of Dumbledore – Half-Blood Prince
04. Ron and Hermione’s Kiss – Deathly Hallows Part 2
03. Snape’s Death – Deathly Hallows Part 2
02. Harry vs. Voldemort: The Final Battle – Deathly Hallows Part 2
01. The First Sight of Hogwarts – Philosopher’s Stone
TotalFilm has compiled a list of 50 Things We Learned from Harry Potter. The list contains some philosophical lessons as well as some amusing ones, so there is something for everyone. Each lesson has a description showing how the books or movies taught us these various lessons. Some of them may be read below and the full list is here.
Don’t Fear The Reaper
The Lesson: Death should not be feared
Mad, Bad & Dangerous
The Lesson: Nobody does unhinged like Helena Bonham Carter
Team Effort
The Lesson: Sometimes you can’t make it on your own
Confidence Is Key
The Lesson: You can achieve anything with self-belief
Comeuppance
The Lesson: Always treat those below you with kindness
Protecting The Nest
The Lesson: Don’t get between a mother and her young
Wielding The Axe
The Lesson: Jo Rowling is ruthless
ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas starts tonight (with one of my favorites, The Santa Clause) and as I posted last month they are having a Harry Potter Weekend this weekend as part of their lineup with the network television premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Sunday night at 8:30pm! Today ABC Family have emailed a tv spot for the event which you can watch below:
Here is the schedule: Saturday:
7am/6:00c – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
10:30am/9:30c – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2:30pm/1:30c – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
5:30pm/4:30c – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Sunday:
7am/6:00c – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
11am/10:00c – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2pm/1:00c – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5:30pm/4:30c – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
8:30pm/7:30c – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
9pm/8:00c – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Can you believe that it has been exactly 10 years since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone came out in theatres? I can still remember waiting for the movie to come out, it was on my friend’s birthday. Do you remember when it came out? Who would have known that 10 years later we would have 8 films, HUGE stars in the main cast, the most successful film franchise, a theme park in Florida and a Studio Tour on the way in London. As Ollivander said to Harry, “I think we can expect great things from you.” Hopefully in 10 more years people will be just as in love with Harry as we were from the start [for some of us since 1997 or 1998].
A trailer for Harry Potter: The Definitive Collection has been posted online, the trailer was included on the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II DVD. This special collection will be released on 2012 on BluRay. The trailer states that it includes “unrated bonus features.” I assume that within the coming months WB will be releasing more information about the set, such as the release date and what special features will be included.
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