Total Film has an interesting opinion piece/feature online where they have twelve things that should have been kept in the Harry Potter films.  Here are a few, the rest are at the link!  I agree with every single one, especially the following few:

Peeves The Poltergeist: Pesky prankster Peeves is an anarchic poltergeist whose only goal is to create chaos. His sworn enemy is Argus Filch, the school caretaker, who has to clear up after him. Rumours that he could be the ghost of Jeremy Beadle remain unfounded. Rik Mayall did film a scene as Peeves for Philosopher’s Stone, but it got chopped.

The Origins Of The Marauder’s Map: If you’ve never read the book, the magic map given to Harry in Prisoner Of Azkaban seems to have ‘lazy plot device’ written all over it. In fact, what it actually had written all over it is ‘Messrs Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs’, which is a clue as to its origins and a whole subplot about Harry’s dad, Sirius Black and the other map creators being animagii – those with the ability to turn into animals.

Kreacher’s Hoarding: Aged house elf Kreacher would have been a no-brainer to cut from the fifth film, but JK Rowling herself insisted on his appearance. But his role was snipped to a virtual cameo, wandering around the Order Of The Phoenix’s HQ (Sirius Black’s family home) grumbling and cursing. In the book, the sour creature has a major role to play in betraying Sirius to the Malfoys. A big plot point about him hoarding old Black family heirlooms was left out, but will have to be addressed at some point in the film series….

Thanks TLC!

Dose.ca has posted a nine-minute clip of the first five Harry Potter movies, and it also includes never-before-seen scenes from the earlier films.  You can watch the video here at the site.

It is called Harry Potter Exclusive – A Retrospective.

The LA Times has a new interview with Steve Kloves, the screenwriter for all the Potter films except for Order of the Phoenix.

What, if anything, can you say about the climactic moment between Snape and Dumbledore? In the book, it’s a short but intense scene.

It is informed by everything [Potter readers] have come to know is true. So if you watch the film carefully, there are performance moments that are quite extraordinary, Alan Rickman [who plays Snape] especially. There is something we added that you can look forward to, a short scene between Harry and Snape prior to the big event. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays to the audience. It should be a haunting moment for Harry. While I was writing, I just had a notion about a moment between him and Snape, something Harry could look back on and question as to why he didn’t act differently.

Thanks The Leaky Cauldron!

J-14 magazine is having a contest for US fans 21 years and younger to win a Harry Potter film series box-set containing the first five movies. The case itself has been autographed by actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown).
The sweepstakes will run from now until August 9, 2009.

Thanks JC.net

Just a reminder to everyone that abc Family will be having another Harry Potter weekend this weekend! They will be showing Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire.  And during commercials they will be airing clips from Half-Blood Prince!  PoA will be on on Saturday at 8pm and 4:30 pm on Sunday.  GoF will be on on Sunday at 1pm and again at 8pm.

Thanks to Melanie for the reminder!

Lochaven International, the company who have provided jumpers, cardigans and tank tops for the Hogwarts uniform since the Chamber of Secrets film will be selling the House jumpers. Prices range from £35 – £45 and all items are available here.

I already have my own sweater that I got last year and you can see photos HERE! Ignore how dumb I look, ha ha.