Once again I must ask too much of you, Harry...

So because of my fantastical obsession with all things Harry Potter, I am currently running on four hours of sleep after working from 9-5 today. BUT I did get to see the midnight premiere of the Half-Blood Prince movie! I'm one of those people who compares everything to the book, so this movie did not quite live up to my expectations. Now, I think it was good just as a movie, but still, it's based on a book for crying out loud! They changed too many IMPORTANT things that they didn't have to change. Also don't read this if you don't want to hear any spoilers.

Things I did not like/were changed too much:
1. The Burrow was destroyed?! Um, don't remember THAT in the book. Kinda important considering the Burrow is like headquarters and a safehaven in book 7.
2. Harry is not lurking underneath everyone's feet while Dumbledore is killed. He is petrified by Dumbledore so that Harry is not released from the curse until Dumbledore dies. So by the movie standards he could still be alive.
3. The Death Eaters don't just walk in and out of Hogwarts. The DA and the Order put up a heck of a fight in the book.
4. Ginny and Harry. Or maybe its that I just don't like Bonnie whatever her name is. They played up too much romance.
5. Ok at the end Dumbledore's wand was sitting on his desk. YOU DO NOT LEAVE THE ELDER WAND JUST FLOATING AROUND! It has to be buried with him for the 7th movie. ugh.

Things I liked:
1. I thought Jim Broadbent was a really good Slughorn. A little less annoying than I pictured him in the book, but I still thought he did a good job.
2. The kids who played young Tom Riddle. Creepy, but he was absolutely perfect. And haunting.
3. They did keep the scene in the cave pretty accurate. I love how the whole cave was giant quartz. And the inferi were so gross!
4. I also really liked Narcissa Malfoy. I think they stayed true to the book on her character. She isn't all bad but she cares about Draco. I would have liked to see Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy). I REALLY like him.
5. Rupert Grint.

Overall I say, as a movie, it's good. As to following the book, not so much.

I have been changed...for gooooood.

Well it is official. I saw Wicked. I went last Sunday for my birthday (July 5th, I'm 20 ahhh!). And you know what, I did not want to love this show. When it came out like in 8th grade I was obsessed. Like I was dying to see the show and I had the cast recording playing 24/7. Now everybody likes it, so I guess I was trying to be all "I'm different" (cool, huh?). Well, too bad because it was AMAZING. Absolutely amazing. So I've got this big long review to give and I just want to throw out a disclaimer that I do not claim to know anything about acting/singing/dancing/musical writing technique AT ALL! This is just my personal opinion!

Ok let's start with the actors

Helene Yorke and Marcie Dodd

Helene Yorke (Glinda)- Um, love her. I actually had heard her before seeing Wicked on some Youtube videos, so I already knew she would be phenomenal. She was SO FUNNY! Helene's comedic timing was impeccable and she made Glinda so flighty and carefree, but could be serious when needed. Her singing started off a little rough in "No One Mourns the Wicked" when she went into some high soprano notes. Then again it was the last show in an 8 show week! But when she belted, look out! Loved it. Also, I got to meet her at the stage door. Well, first somehow I met her mom (random) who was there to see her. Helene was so kind and I'm always impressed when an actor is willing to talk, sign autographs and take pictures after a show even when I'm sure they are exhausted. We talked about the Battery's Down, Andrew's Blog, and her visit to New York City. More than I ever expected!

Marcie Dodd (Elphaba)- Funny story, my program had a slip that said Carrie Manokalos, Elphaba's standby, was on that night in Marcie's place. Well, my mom and brother did not have the slips. It wasn't until after the show that I realized it was Marcie and not her standby! Awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome. She came straight off of doing Elphaba on Broadway too. Her voice was a little nasally at points, but her belt was fantastic! This girl brought me to tears over and over again.

Wizard (Tom McGowan)-He was good. Actually he was in the Disney Channel movie Heavyweights with Ben Stiller. He was the camp counselor guy.

Fiyero (Colin Donnell)- He was really cute! And a good singer.

Olivia with Fiyero (Colin Donnell)

Nessa (Kristine Reese)- She reminded me of Dana Steingold in her looks and her voice. I was really excited that Nessa sings more in the show than on the cd and I was actually surprised by the role she plays in the show.

One thing that stuck out to me was the orchestra. They were so good! I know that they don't have to sound like the cd, but usually I can hear mistakes or the tempo is like light speed but I didn't notice anything.

Ummm, look at how much stuff they brought in just to go around the stage!

The set was also really cool. I heard that it was scaled down for the tour, but it was freaking awesome! They brought in practicaly the whole stage, and some animatronics across the proscenium. There were clocks everywhere (did I miss that symbolism?). How on earth do they move that stuff?

I'm glad that I was surprised by the story because I thought I knew the whole plot from the soundtrack. There were some plot holes, but I don't think people are really paying attention to that. Like if Elphaba loved Fiyero, how did she not recognize him as the scarecrow? She had him trapped in her dungeon but didn't recognize him til later? Also, Nessa all the sudden just decided to be the Wicked Witch of the East? I kinda missed where that was coming from. Sometimes the pacing was weird, like they would sing 3 songs in a row and then talk for 20 minutes.

LOVED IT. If you have the chance to see it ever in your whole life...you should.